Praying to clay statues

  • Thread starter Thread starter anon64704623
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Vico said:
40.png
Aulef:
Yes, I aware of this.

I don’t know if you noticed, but I accepted your explanation back there regarding the workship, veneration and adoration.
Click to expand...
I mean that a closer word to English worship is Portuguese: dignidade, valor.
Click to expand...
And now I think you are mistaken, because “dignidade” is related to “dignity” and “valor” is related to “value”. And these two words I just mentioned are not used in context of image veneration.
 
No one should be praying TO a statue. You should be praying to God or Jesus or Mary or the saints, etc, who are real people, and you may look at a statue while you pray to remember them and give you a beautiful visual.
Mr X and Mr Z shouldn’t pray to a statue of buddha anyway.
 
Aulef said:
40.png
Vico:
40.png
Aulef:
Yes, I aware of this.

I don’t know if you noticed, but I accepted your explanation back there regarding the workship, veneration and adoration.
Click to expand...
I mean that a closer word to English worship is Portuguese: dignidade, valor.
Click to expand...
And now I think you are mistaken, because “dignidade” is related to “dignity” and “valor” is related to “value”. And these two words I just mentioned are not used in context of image veneration.
Click to expand...
Do you mean in Portuguese? The English dignity and merit do apply to those we venerate.
 
Naeb said:
Mr X and Mr Z shouldn’t pray to a statue of buddha anyway.
Click to expand...
That is easily said but difficult to do in some situation like mine. I am from a Buddhist family. When I enter the chinese cemetary with the rest of my family they will hand over joss sticks to me and WATCH me bow and pray to the Earth Deity, my ancestors and the Guardians of the Graveyard. Then we must participate and burn hellnotes TOGETHER. I can only speak silently in my heart, “O Lord Jesus, please forgive me for praying to this lifeless statue.”
 
I’m sorry they are pressuring you to do this. What’s the worst that could happen if you refuse? Are you still a minor?
 
I am no longer a minor. If I refuse, they would think that I am not filial piety to the ancestors.

Earth Deity which I am forced to bow and worship to.

The Graveyard Guardian that I also have to bow and worship and offer food to.
(no picture)
 
we do not pray to a statue, we ask the intersession of whatever the statue represents, so if we worship a statue of Buddha, as a catholic i would be breaking God’s first commandment.
 
I’m sorry, I didn’t realize your situation is so complicated. I think you should talk to a priest asap and hopefully he can help you find a solution or a way to talk to your family about this.
Is there any way you can find an excuse not to go to the cemetery with them that day?
Do you live with your family? You are no longer a minor, is it possible for you to be honest with them about your Christian beliefs? You should not live a lie your whole life or these situations will keep coming up and it will be mental/spiritual anguish each time.

If you do go to the cemetery and have to do the ritual, make sure you go to confession asap afterwards. My opinion is that having a family member upset with you in better than ‘worshipping’ a false earth deity. Think of all the saints who refused to worship false gods and who stood up for Christ. Maybe you have an opportunity to be holy like them! Martyr Saints of China, pray for us.

My prayers are with you.
 
I agree with Naeb. It’s easy for us to say that you should stand up for your beliefs, but I do believe you should. You are an adult and should stand up for Jesus. Don’t deny him. You must love God more than your parents, or spouse, or sisters or brothers, or children.

Now, I’m not in your situation and have no first-hand knowledge of your culture, but you said the worst that would happen is
anon64704623 said:
If I refuse, they would think that I am not filial piety to the ancestors.
Click to expand...
So what would be the consequence of this? Just some harsh words or looks? Jesus put up with this and more. I don’t know where you are exactly, so if you’re in China perhaps there would be worse penalties if you are reported?

What is more important, your faith or staying in your parents’ good graces? Are you still living with them?

Do you have access to a priest you can discuss this with? If what I have heard is correct, it is hard to meet as Catholics in China. Do you have access to an underground church? Obviously don’t answer these questions here, publicly, in any way that can get you in real trouble.

This isn’t the same as your situation, but in my college philosophy class, I had a very intimidating, harsh, militant atheist for a professor. He raved against Christianity. At the beginning of the year, he demanded that anyone who dared to believe in God needed to stand up.

I was the only one who did. He ranted and yelled at me and cursed my stupidity. But I made it through, kept defending God in my papers, and still got an A in that class, thankfully.

Now, you’re in a completely different situation and I’m sure in your culture it is very, very hard to live as a Christian. I applaud you for trying to be a true Catholic and live for Christ. I would encourage you to be faithful to God in this situation and refuse to bow down to idols.

God is asking you to go through similar trials like the early martyrs suffered when they were asked to bow down to statues of the Emperor. St. Paul said to count all these sufferings as joy, because we are counted worthy to suffer for Christ. He would be an excellent saint for you to study because he suffered so much persecution.

God bless you!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top