Questiong the church on Mary, the saints, & idolatry

[KarenElissa]

thank you all for your replies. I read them all and it seems lik you put a lot of thought into and effort into it. That really shows that you do care. Your getting me over to your side more and more but i’m still not completely convinced. What if we are all wrong about things like this. I get worried like that at times about me not living my life right enogh for God. Anyway thank you

A couple of thoughts, I know for me the whole Mary and the Saints thing took some time, and still is to some extent. I got to the point where I believed that the Pope is the head of the Church (the most important thing for me) and I agreed with everything else. I “understood” all of the stuff about Mary and the Saints on an intellectual level, I could tell you want the Church teaches about all of that, but I just didn’t really “get” it.

But I was to the point that I was ready to just keep going and trust that I would eventually “get” it. And I feel like I’m getting closer. I stopped reading so much theology and started reading some more devotional type stuff, people’s experiences, that kind of thing. And it has helped a lot! Hearing about how other people experience Mary and the Saints helps me to experience them more. And just jumping in and praying the Rosary. It didn’t really “do” anything for me at first, but slowly it is beginning to make more sense. And just being patient is the biggest thing for me!

As for your other concern, this is what I figure, and I think it is pretty much in line with what the Church teaches. I’m doing the best I can to follow God. I’m reading and thinking and learning and praying and talking to others and soaking all that in. Then I’m making a decision and just jumping in. And I trust that God knows I’m doing what I think is right and that He will honor that, even if it isn’t right.

The Catechism talks about having and “informed conscience.” It is talking more about moral choices, but I think the same idea applies here. The idea is that our conscience tells us whether a choice is good or not. It is the reasoning that tells us what we should or shouldn’t be doing. And we are to follow our conscience. But we are also supposed to be “informed.” I didn’t know isn’t the best excuse for sin, it is our job to search out whether something is a sin or not.

So I think that if we are doing our best to follow what we think is right, and if we are doing so in an informed way, reading, talking to others, praying, then I think God will honor that. I trust that He knows I’m doing the best I can to follow Him!

 

[St_Gabriel]

thank you all for your replies. I read them all and it seems lik you put a lot of thought into and effort into it. That really shows that you do care. Your getting me over to your side more and more but i’m still not completely convinced. **What if we are all wrong **about things like this. I get worried like that at times about me not living my life right enogh for God. Anyway thank you

But what if we are right?

 

[cgirl4ever]

Like everyone else I need prayers so as to remain strong in the faith and to grow in holiness. Likewise, I have relatives that have left the faith and are esentially living the lives of unbelievers. Please pray for them as well.

Thanks.

I will

 

[cgirl4ever]

A couple of thoughts, I know for me the whole Mary and the Saints thing took some time, and still is to some extent. I got to the point where I believed that the Pope is the head of the Church (the most important thing for me) and I agreed with everything else. I “understood” all of the stuff about Mary and the Saints on an intellectual level, I could tell you want the Church teaches about all of that, but I just didn’t really “get” it.

But I was to the point that I was ready to just keep going and trust that I would eventually “get” it. And I feel like I’m getting closer. I stopped reading so much theology and started reading some more devotional type stuff, people’s experiences, that kind of thing. And it has helped a lot! Hearing about how other people experience Mary and the Saints helps me to experience them more. And just jumping in and praying the Rosary. It didn’t really “do” anything for me at first, but slowly it is beginning to make more sense. And just being patient is the biggest thing for me!

As for your other concern, this is what I figure, and I think it is pretty much in line with what the Church teaches. I’m doing the best I can to follow God. I’m reading and thinking and learning and praying and talking to others and soaking all that in. Then I’m making a decision and just jumping in. And I trust that God knows I’m doing what I think is right and that He will honor that, even if it isn’t right.

The Catechism talks about having and “informed conscience.” It is talking more about moral choices, but I think the same idea applies here. The idea is that our conscience tells us whether a choice is good or not. It is the reasoning that tells us what we should or shouldn’t be doing. And we are to follow our conscience. But we are also supposed to be “informed.” I didn’t know isn’t the best excuse for sin, it is our job to search out whether something is a sin or not.

So I think that if we are doing our best to follow what we think is right, and if we are doing so in an informed way, reading, talking to others, praying, then I think God will honor that. I trust that He knows I’m doing the best I can to follow Him!

thank you

 

[YADA]

The Catechism talks about having and “informed conscience.” It is talking more about moral choices, but I think the same idea applies here. The idea is that our conscience tells us whether a choice is good or not. It is the reasoning that tells us what we should or shouldn’t be doing. And we are to follow our conscience. But we are also supposed to be “informed.” I didn’t know isn’t the best excuse for sin, it is our job to search out whether something is a sin or not.

So I think that if we are doing our best to follow what we think is right, and if we are doing so in an informed way, reading, talking to others, praying, then I think God will honor that. I trust that He knows I’m doing the best I can to follow Him!

A cautionary note: many believe if they feel a certain way or believe a certain way that contradicts a teaching of the church they are allowed to follow this belief, that it is their conscience speaking…

The church [in its teachings and through the catechism] speaks of a properly formed conscience…this is one that has carefully considered the teachings of the church and used those teachings as a foundation upon which they approach moral [and as you alluded to] faith decisions…

it is not what your feelings about an issue are or your opinion regarding an issue …nor is it that you have come to a more reasoned answer then the church…there are moral truths and certainties…conscience is never to be corellated to moral relativism…

As my ethics and morality professor explained the process …if you have not asked and answered several hard questions that cover the action, the before and after consequences you have not used your conscience to arrive at a decisions…and the questions are the really tough part…the answers are where people hide…they usually know the answers and would rather not ask the question…

 

[Autumn_of_Life]

This is my first post to a forum – anywhere. I am so thankful for your thoughtful and prayerful responses to this question, which I will address following a brief “intro” story. I am a Methodist, but have been spending a lot of time with a new group of friends, who are all Catholic. At times I am the only Protestant in the group. I love Christ, and I throughly enjoy worshipping with them. I have attended Mass, prayed the Rosary (yes, I have studied and learned to* love *the meaning) and with my whole heart have participated in Communion EXCEPT that I do NOT, out of complete, total and sincere respect for the Catholic faith and every one of your cathechisms, partake of the Host. I would NOT do that because I love the Catholic church and I fully respect the meaning of the Host, whether I am Catholic or not. One of my Catholic friends very lovingly told me I was allowed to participate to the point where the Priest offers the Host, at which point I cross my chest with my arms and bow my head to indicate my “inability” to participate further. To my magnificent surprise, at one Mass, having waited in the line for Communion (during which time I am praying), when I stood in front of the priest with the Host, he then made the sign of the Cross on my forehead. It was one of the most meaningful moments in my Christian life!! That moment of symbolic acceptance and love is one of the high points of my life! More about my spiritual journey and how Catholics are “winning” me, soon. **For now I simply want to thank you again for these comments about Mary. ** As a Protestant, who believes Mary is truly worthy of our deepest love, I encourage Catholics to continue to share your feelings about the Blessed Mother! (My association with my new friends has opened such a love for the Holy Mother that I can hardly refer to her simply as Mary!). I encourage you to be ready to answer when a Protestant asks, or expresses curiousity about your love of the Mother of God. While some Protestants may initially misunderstand, your words and actions will echo in their hearts; (see! I’m saying “their” instead of “our”!). Your love and acceptance will open more doors and hearts than you will ever know! Catholics, please keep your ears and hearts open to questions and comments from Protestants. From personal experience, I can attest, those questions, no matter from what attitude they seem to be eminating, are often pleas and knocking.

More soon.

As my new friend, a priest, says when we part, and I know it comes from our Lord, “Love you!”