Praying to Mary

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descout

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My girlfriend was confused at how I pray to Mary. I had just got done explaining why I pray to her and that it is no different if I ask someone here on earth to pray for me. The part that confused her was that in my prayers I asked Mary to help or guide me in Doing, Thinking, and Speaking in ways that a Mother would respect. I ask each of these things and may give an example of what hard thing I am asking for her help on and then say a Hail Mary for each act. She was confused because she said I had just explained to her that I prayed to Mary and she is wondering how I can ask Mary to guide me. Is this form of prayer where I ask Mary to guide or do something wrong? Some background info, My girlfriend is a believer in the “sole mediator Jesus Christ”
 
No, it isn’t wrong. It is hard for a non-Catholic to understand how Catholics feel, respond, speak to Mary. And what Mary’s role in our lives is. Not to mention guardian angels and the saints. In the same manner you asked Mary to guide you, you can ask your guardian angel to guide you “(to light and guard, rule and guide”). Or asking St. Anthony to help you find a lost something or other.

You have to explain that just because Mary and the saints are in heaven, they are still sentient. Mary appeared to 3 sheppard children at Fatima. She isn’t simply sitting around Heaven doing nothing.
 
Ask her if she has any experiences with Christ outside of learning from scripture with him. That if that is real, it’s not within the sola scripture she’s taught, how is it proven to have any validity at all since it’s not in the bible.

She’ll stumble here, then tell her that you experience this same thing with Mary, and the two are entirely outside of the bible, in literals, but in essence, right within, you just have to read into the meaning of things, not just the letter.

Did Moses and Elijah show up when Christ revealed himself in his glory on the hill to the apostles, now if they did, as it’s written that they did, why not Mary, why not the Saints to us, just in case you need a sola scriptural reference?
 
To put it simply, we ask (pray to) Mary for whatever petition. She then goes to Jesus on our behalf with that petition. Mary doesn’t grant requests by her own power except the power of persuasion to Jesus.

We may have some common ground with your friend in that we also believe that you can’t get to the Father but by Jesus alone (that’s why we also often say, ‘in Jesus’s name’ - as told to by Jesus in the Scriptures - and we pray in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit).
 
Hi Descout

As the previous poster Roveau has alluded to, so often the complication comes in for no other reason than the failure to recognize the different meanings of the term “prayer” or “pray”. Here is one example of a standard definition:
**pray (pr ) **
v. prayed, pray•ing, prays
v.intr.
  1. To utter or address a prayer or prayers to God, a god, or another object of worship.
  2. To make a fervent request or entreaty.
    v.tr.
  3. To utter or say a prayer or prayers to; address by prayer.
  4. To ask (someone) imploringly; beseech. Now often used elliptically for I pray you to introduce a request or entreaty: Pray be careful.
  5. To make a devout or earnest request for: I pray your permission to speak.
  6. To move or bring by prayer or entreaty.
    (from www.thefreedictionary.com)
So the word “prayer” very clearly has more than one meaning. It can mean a prayer to God (eg the “Our Father”). Or the word “prayer” can mean a request or entreaty.

Now, as Catholics we believe that the souls in heaven ARE aware of us still here on earth We also believe that asking others to assist us in our prayers is all good. Many Protestants have prayer groups where several people get together to pray for something or someone. Well, we believe that the souls in heaven can also add their voices to our prayers here on earth. So for us, when we pray to God, we have the option of asking others, both on earth and in heaven, including none other than the very mother of Jesus, to add her voice to our prayers to God. Hence when we “pray” to Mary, we are not “praying” in the sense of worshipping or praying to God, but we are “praying” in the sense of asking her to add her voice to our prayers to God.

And as the very mother of Jesus, what better intercessor could we possibly have than Mary herself adding her voice to our “prayers” to God.

Patrick
 
prodigalson12 said:
Ask her if she has any experiences with Christ outside of learning from scripture with him. That if that is real, it’s not within the sola scripture she’s taught, how is it proven to have any validity at all since it’s not in the bible.

She’ll stumble here, then tell her that you experience this same thing with Mary, and the two are entirely outside of the bible, in literals, but in essence, right within, you just have to read into the meaning of things, not just the letter.

Did Moses and Elijah show up when Christ revealed himself in his glory on the hill to the apostles, now if they did, as it’s written that they did, why not Mary, why not the Saints to us, just in case you need a sola scriptural reference?
Click to expand...
That is a very interesting point. I have never thought of it in that way. I do know that the preacher she followed in her childhood, he had many encounters with Christ. He publicly professed them! Such as “halos” of light around his head while preaching, shooting a bear that God said he would shoot, etc.

What is the chapter and verse of the revealing himself on the mountain?
 
Matthew 17:3

Mary is a key, or gateway into our faith, she’s the ultimate evangalist we have these days, and her role is significant. If your girlfriend can get a working prayer life with her, just watch out, things will happen. Also, if you want to speed up the process, get her a miraculous medal.
 
Jesus is the redeemer so the Blessed Mother is the Co-Redeemer and those of the Catholic Faith Co-Redeem through Christ. She interceeds with her Son and God on our behalf. And “we” pray and are interceeding for each other.

And when she says “only the Lady of the Rosary can help you” You are very safe in taking that literally. Because she meant it literally. Let us thank God for Our Ladys message at Fatima and her offer to help.

The most Holy Vrgin in these last days and times which we live has given a new efficacy to the recitation of the Rosary. To such an extent that there is no problem, no matter how difficult it is. Be it temporal or Spiritual in the personal life of each one of us, of our families, that cannot be solved by the Rosary.

When one reconizes the place assigned to the Blessed Mother by Dogma and Tradition. One is solidly rooted in authentic Christology. The Truth about Mary protects the Truth that Jesus Christ is one devine person with a fully devine nature and a fully human nature. The Truth about Jesus is protected in his hypostatic union by the Truth about Our Blessed Mother. And every truth about Our Lady has its foundational seeding in scripture. be it explicit or implicit. Our Lady binds together in her very person in a living and indisoluable way, the Old and New Testament, people of God. Israel and Christianity. Mary is the connection between Jews and Christianity. Mary “is” the Seal! The instrument of redemption, mother of the redeemer. She suffers what he suffers, and he suffers what she suffers. As we suffer. And our suffering has a supernatural value, our suffering is redempative.

Have you ever read the 15 promise’s of the Rosary? Pray to the Blessed Mother daily, that is the “only” way in this time. The “only way”.

Our Holy Father said " This is the only thing that could help you now" as he held out the Rosary. “Pray it daily and ask for nothing in return”. Is exactly what he said.

God Bless you my Brother, Gary
 
I’ve always felt sorry for Protestants … they don’t know Mary like we do. I can’t imagine what my life would be without Our Blessed Mother. 🙂
 
prodigalson12 said:
Matthew 17:3

Mary is a key, or gateway into our faith, she’s the ultimate evangalist we have these days, and her role is significant. If your girlfriend can get a working prayer life with her, just watch out, things will happen. Also, if you want to speed up the process, get her a miraculous medal.
Click to expand...
When you say “watch out” does that mean bad or good? I think you are meaning just stand back and continue praying and Mary will do her part. Am I right?
 
descout said:
My girlfriend was confused at how I pray to Mary. I had just got done explaining why I pray to her and that it is no different if I ask someone here on earth to pray for me. The part that confused her was that in my prayers I asked Mary to help or guide me in Doing, Thinking, and Speaking in ways that a Mother would respect. I ask each of these things and may give an example of what hard thing I am asking for her help on and then say a Hail Mary for each act. She was confused because she said I had just explained to her that I prayed to Mary and she is wondering how I can ask Mary to guide me. Is this form of prayer where I ask Mary to guide or do something wrong? Some background info, My girlfriend is a believer in the “sole mediator Jesus Christ”
Click to expand...
Iv’e already discussed this at length in another thread, so I just wanted to post that thread here. I think the link for this thread I’ll post below, will answer the question your asking and many other questions. It will also give you many other great links and sources for the Catholic Church. Pleases let me know if this was helpful for you. I would also suggest that you have your girlfriend read the link below, I think it will help her understand a great deal more. Go to post no# - 7 & post no# - 9 in the thread below to see what I’m talking about, although I think all of the posts in this particular thread will be helpful.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=440185
 
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