Praying to Statues?

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Do Catholics worship statues? Do Catholics pray to statues? My girlfriend said that she’s seen come catholics sitting on the ground before a statues of a saint, looking up at the statue, praying. This seems a little much. Opinions?
 
There is a man who goes to the 5:15 PM Mass every weeknight, and afterward approaches a statue of our Lord which is in front of the tabernacle, but down in the nave. He kisses the places of the five wounds, and genuflects before the statue for a significant amount of time. This always made me wonder… what’s the point or the reason? Then again, I always make a short bow before the statue of the blessed Virgin that is near the narthex, and I bow my head near a portrait of Pius X across from her statue. There is something tender about it… but actually kissing the things, or kneeling before them? I don’t know…
 
dje101 said:
Do Catholics worship statues? Do Catholics pray to statues? My girlfriend said that she’s seen come catholics sitting on the ground before a statues of a saint, looking up at the statue, praying. This seems a little much. Opinions?
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Sigh…once again…Catholics do NOT worship icons, statues, Mary, the Saints etc etc etc.

Worship is for God only. Got it? Icons, statues, etc etc may be venerated. Or honored. Or respected.

So if you see a true Catholic praying before a statue, they may indeed be praying to Mother Mary for her intervention. Not worshiping her, but respecting her. 🙂
 
dje101 said:
Do Catholics worship statues? Do Catholics pray to statues? My girlfriend said that she’s seen come catholics sitting on the ground before a statues of a saint, looking up at the statue, praying. This seems a little much. Opinions?
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I believe Catholics would say they are not actually praying to the statues of saints or Mary. They are asking the saints and Mary to intercede with G-d in the name of Jesus. The Catholics on the Forum are much more informed than I, and I’m sure they can tell you in more detail what the praying means. In Judaism, as you may know, even the APPEARANCE of praying to anyone other than directly to G-d, is forbidden.
 
Its a combination of a lot of things for each Catholic. For some Catholics that is simply how they show devotion. For others the statues help them to be imaginative in their prayers in a way that they could not normally do. For example as my mother was dying I got on my knees by her bed and kissed her hand and just stayed there with her. Objectively that could have looked like idolatry I guess, but for me in that moment it was a way of being close to and showing my love for my mother.

It is also important to recognize that the Church always makes the admonition to venerate the Saints and the Blessed Mother, not to worship them. Worship is due to God alone. Unfortunately some, and I do mean some some some, Catholics fall into saint-worship, but what they are doing is wrong and not consistent with the Church.
 
The challenge is to see beyond faith. It is not on the other side of the cosmos, but right near you. Look from death into life. I need no statues. I am a temple. I use what holy mother teacher church recommends to my senses. My experience has been that icons are helpful in many ways. Particularly from distraction. But to say we give worship due God to any thing created is false.

peace
 
dje101 said:
Do Catholics worship statues? Do Catholics pray to statues? My girlfriend said that she’s seen come catholics sitting on the ground before a statues of a saint, looking up at the statue, praying. This seems a little much. Opinions?
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If you look towards the roof of your church when praying, are you praying to the roof?

If you look towards the sky whilst praying, are you praying to the clouds?

If you lower your gaze or close your eyes whilst praying, are you then praying to the floor or the inside of your eyelid?
 
BVM_1221 said:
Sigh…once again…Catholics do NOT worship icons, statues, Mary, the Saints etc etc etc.

Worship is for God only. Got it? Icons, statues, etc etc may be venerated. Or honored. Or respected.

So if you see a true Catholic praying before a statue, they may indeed be praying to Mother Mary for her intervention. Not worshiping her, but respecting her. 🙂
Click to expand...
I apologize that this may be a bit repetitious for you as I know that Catholics receive this question quite a bit, but I just needed to make sure as I am considering converting to the Catholic Church.
 
dje101 said:
Do Catholics worship statues? Do Catholics pray to statues? My girlfriend said that she’s seen come catholics sitting on the ground before a statues of a saint, looking up at the statue, praying. This seems a little much. Opinions?
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Do Baptists pray to books ? I’ve seen photos of a Baptist service where the Pastor was holding up a bible and all in attendance were praying. Some were looking at the bible. :eek:

Seriously though, religious images are just a reminder of our faith as Christians. Just as the fish symbol on a car trunk lid, or a cross on the steeple of any church.

Asking your pastor to pray for you is no different than asking a Saint to pray for you.
 
dje101 said:
I apologize that this may be a bit repetitious for you as I know that Catholics receive this question quite a bit, but I just needed to make sure as I am considering converting to the Catholic Church.
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You should. The CC has everything the Protestants have, but also have more. The most important being Apostolic Succession.

Also keep in mind that devotion to Saints is not required of Catholics. Various devotions are simply approved. And when a cult-like devotion develops, the Church investigates and steps in if it is out of line. Any small group can stray, be it Catholic or Protestant.

God Bless
 
How is praying before a statue different from the people of Israel making a graven image and praying before it?

How is it different from a greek pagan during Christ’s lifetime praying before a statue of Athena?
 
GloriousOrder said:
There is a man who goes to the 5:15 PM Mass every weeknight, and afterward approaches a statue of our Lord which is in front of the tabernacle, but down in the nave. He kisses the places of the five wounds, and genuflects before the statue for a significant amount of time. This always made me wonder… what’s the point or the reason? Then again, I always make a short bow before the statue of the blessed Virgin that is near the narthex, and I bow my head near a portrait of Pius X across from her statue. There is something tender about it… but actually kissing the things, or kneeling before them? I don’t know…
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I hope for his sake, he is the only one kissing that statue. Not very hygienic.
 
TrueLight said:
How is praying before a statue different from the people of Israel making a graven image and praying before it?

How is it different from a greek pagan during Christ’s lifetime praying before a statue of Athena?
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You answered the question already. A pagan god is not God The Father in Heaven

Look at the Ave Maria

Hail Mary, full of grace.
Our Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Imagine kneeling before a statue of Mary and praying that prayer. How can anyone say that is Mary worship ? Why would anyone ask a deity to pray for them ? Pray to whom ? Themselves ?
 
Statues are a meditation device. They help to place some people into a moment of time, into a remembrance, into a quiet place.
 
At_Trent said:
You answered the question already. A pagan god is not God The Father in Heaven

Look at the Ave Maria

Hail Mary, full of grace.
Our Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Imagine kneeling before a statue of Mary and praying that prayer. How can anyone say that is Mary worship ? Why would anyone ask a deity to pray for them ? Pray to whom ? Themselves ?
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So the statue serves as a focal object? I’m curious as many pagan an mystical practices use focal objects to direct their magic.
 
I wonder how a group of say, Baptists, would react if as they were having a prayer service in front of an outdoor Nativity scene with statues of animals as well as the Holy Family and all, if someone walked up and asked them why they are praying in front of statues ?
 
TrueLight said:
So the statue serves as a focal object? I’m curious as many pagan an mystical practices use focal objects to direct their magic.
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Not to offend you, but I was wondering if you are excited for RCIA because you are converting to Catholicism or because you want to argue.

Some of your questions seem to have a hint of being confrontational. However, I am just reading your posts and therefore it is impossible to determine someone’s actual tone. Please don’t take offense, I was just wondering.

God Bless.
 
dje101 said:
Do Catholics worship statues? Do Catholics pray to statues? My girlfriend said that she’s seen come catholics sitting on the ground before a statues of a saint, looking up at the statue, praying. This seems a little much. Opinions?
Click to expand...
I’ve seen people kiss photographs of their wives, husbands, parents, children, siblings, etc. Does that mean they love a piece of photo paper?
 
TrueLight said:
So the statue serves as a focal object? I’m curious as many pagan an mystical practices use focal objects to direct their magic.
Click to expand...
I have seen videos of Protestants circled around a cardboard cutout of Dubya, raising their hands over it and praying.

Was this a magic spell?
 
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