Two questions about Mary...

[jacobthompson16]

Okay I have a few questions about Mary mother of God:

1. Do Catholics give offerings to Mary? If so, isn’t all reserved to God?
2. Why do Catholics sing hymns to Mary when by definition a hymn is reserved for God?
   Mary and the pope are my biggest stumbling block… thank you!

 

[Jake_Hansen]

The topic of Mary is probably one of the biggest misconceptions that non-Catholics have about Catholics.

To answer your first question, no we don’t give offerings to Mary but we do pray to her and I will explain that when I answer your next question. Now we as Catholics don’t give up any burnt offerings or anything but I have heard of a mothers offering up their children to the holy family. Of course she is not literally giving away her child but she is telling God and Mary that she is going to give them up in a way that they will be able grow in the church and will know God and be able to follow His wishes.

Now I’m going to answer your second question with a question. Why would Catholics not acknowledge someone (Mary), whom that Jesus loved so much? Yes Jesus loves everyone very much, but Mary was His mother. Because of this bond between the two is the reason that Catholics pray to and have a deep love and respect for Mary.

 

[BLP]

I suggest reading the book Hail, Holy Queen by Scott Hahn. He explains Catholics beliefs on Mary beautifully and it’s a quick and easy read.

 

[boomerang]

Hello Jacob.

1. Catholics don’t offer up things to Mary, like they would to God, generally. About as close to an offering you’ll get is that some people will place flowers at Mary’s feet. I’m talking about statues here. It’s just like bringing flowers to your mom on mother’s day. It’s a nice gesture, it’s not worship.
2. A hymn can be about anything. Who has defined a hymn as exclusively for God only? Isn’t the Song of Songs technically a hymn? That’s about two people who have the hots for each other.

 

[kenmiller]

When my daughter completed communion with the RCC- she had one prayer memorized which was the Hail Mary . So yes there can be over emphasis that becomes adoration - So plenty of thought needs to be done with not crossing the line

 

[Steveabrous]

When my daughter completed communion with the RCC- she had one prayer memorized which was the Hail Mary . So yes there can be over emphasis that becomes adoration - So plenty of thought needs to be done with not crossing the line

I’m sorry, but, something only becomes adoration if its meant to give adoration. Nothing in the hail Mary gives adoration to Mary. Say it a million times and it will never be adoration. Are you telling me that your daughter didn’t have the our father memorized? Because we say it at every mass. She should have had that one memorized well before 1st communion.

 

[kenmiller]

I’m sorry, but, something only becomes adoration if its meant to give adoration. Nothing in the hail Mary gives adoration to Mary. Say it a million times and it will never be adoration. Are you telling me that your daughter didn’t have the our father memorized? Because we say it at every mass. She should have had that one memorized well before 1st communion.

Thanks for blaming a 8 year old - very classy.

Anyway yes she had one prayer memorized - the Hail Mary . And I hear a catholics use the term adoration when speaking about Mary all too often . Possibly just error I grant it.

My point is we need to be diligent and careful not to cross the line , because it does happen

 

[agnes_therese]

Thanks for blaming a 8 year old - very classy.

No one said she was to blame, just that she should have had the Our Father memorized, too. Frankly, if that were my daughter, I’d blame myself.

 

[kenmiller]

No one said she was to blame, just that she should have had the Our Father memorized, too. Frankly, if that were my daughter, I’d blame myself.

Fair enough - I blame the RCC , my opinion with their wrong emphasis

 

[Steveabrous]

Thanks for blaming a 8 year old - very classy.

Anyway yes she had one prayer memorized - the Hail Mary . And I hear a catholics use the term adoration when speaking about Mary all too often . Possibly just error I grant it.

My point is we need to be diligent and careful not to cross the line , because it does happen

In no way am I blaming your daughter. If she doesn’t have that memorized she is not going to mass enough, not her fault at all. I am Simply pointing out that what your describing is not consistent with catholic culture. You say you hear catholics talk about giving adoration to Mary? Adoration is defined as that which is due to God alone. No catholic would describe their affection to Mary as adoration. You may be confusing terms, we call the honor due Mary as veneration, not adoration. You may think I’m splitting hairs but I’m not they are two radically different things. If any catholic says they give adoration to Mary they need to be corrected. I personally have never heard a catholic saying they give adoration to Mary.

 

[kenmiller]

In no way am I blaming your daughter. If she doesn’t have that memorized she is not going to mass enough, not her fault at all. I am Simply pointing out that what your describing is not consistent with catholic culture. You say you hear catholics talk about giving adoration to Mary? Adoration is defined as that which is due to God alone. No catholic would describe their affection to Mary as adoration. You may be confusing terms, we call the honor due Mary as veneration, not adoration. You may think I’m splitting hairs but I’m not they are two radically different things. If any catholic says they give adoration to Mary they need to be corrected. I personally have never heard a catholic saying they give adoration to Mary.

I hear and read Catholics using term adoration in regards to Mary - My experience is an over emphasis with Mary in all due respect . I think in my opinion that we should least all be well cognizant of the potential conflict

 

[Steveabrous]

I hear and read Catholics using term adoration in regards to Mary - My experience is an over emphasis with Mary in all due respect . I think in my opinion that we should least all be well cognizant of the potential conflict

I have researched catholic material for 10 years, I was an amiture apologist. There are no catholic materials that use the term adoration in regards to Mary. If you have some please give me a reference and I will look into it. CATHOLIC material. I think you are confusing the term veneration with adoration, or getting your information from anti catholic sources. I have a hard time believing any catholic would regard mary with adoration. I really think you are confusding terms.

 

[Todd977]

Okay I have a few questions about Mary mother of God:

1. Do Catholics give offerings to Mary? If so, isn’t all reserved to God?
2. Why do Catholics sing hymns to Mary when by definition a hymn is reserved for God?
   Mary and the pope are my biggest stumbling block… thank you!

The answer to your questions really depends on your definition of the words *offerings *and hymns. If you narrowly define the words *offerings *and *hymns *as things reserved for God alone, then faithful Catholics do not give offerings to Mary nor do they sing hymns to Mary. They may give something to Mary but it is not an offering according to your definition of the word offering; they may sing in praise or honor of Mary but it is not a hymn according to your definition of the word hymn. Catholics are monotheists and Mary is not their God.

 

[Dorothy]

Hello Jacob.

1. Catholics don’t offer up things to Mary, like they would to God, generally. About as close to an offering you’ll get is that some people will place flowers at Mary’s feet. I’m talking about statues here. It’s just like bringing flowers to your mom on mother’s day. It’s a nice gesture, it’s not worship.
2. A hymn can be about anything. Who has defined a hymn as exclusively for God only? Isn’t the Song of Songs technically a hymn? That’s about two people who have the hots for each other.

Although an allegory of lovers is used in the Song of Songs, it is mainly about the Bridegroom (Christ), and the bride (one’s soul, whether male or female), and the interaction of grace that attracts the soul and purifies it.

 

[kenmiller]

I have researched catholic material for 10 years, I was an amiture apologist. There are no catholic materials that use the term adoration in regards to Mary. If you have some please give me a reference and I will look into it. CATHOLIC material. I think you are confusing the term veneration with adoration, or getting your information from anti catholic sources. I have a hard time believing any catholic would regard mary with adoration. I really think you are confusding terms.

Materials I would agree. What I am saying is Catholics use the term about Mary in writing and daily discussion . Again may just be a slip of the tongue - But need to be cognizant of the conflict in crossing the line

 

[robwar]

Okay I have a few questions about Mary mother of God:

1. Do Catholics give offerings to Mary? If so, isn’t all reserved to God?
2. Why do Catholics sing hymns to Mary when by definition a hymn is reserved for God?
   Mary and the pope are my biggest stumbling block… thank you!

What do you mean by offerings? I think you are defining hymns narrowly as well. I would wager that your view is that hymns are an act of worship. Hymns are used in worship but just because there are some songs singing about Mary doesn’t mean that we are worshiping Mary. Your definition is that hymns are worship which would be reserved for God. There are a lot of songs that are not worship and the subjects are rather broad. Honoring someone is not worshiping someone. The Ten commandments state to honor our parents. Honoring our parents isn’t worship and doesn’t take away from honoring God. In fact if we honor our parents, we end up honoring God because that is what He told us to do. Mary is the mother of Jesus called theotokos. That doesn’t mean that Mary is a goddess. Mary in her magnificant did state all generations would call her blessed. That is what the Bible says, she would be called blessed.

 

[Steveabrous]

Materials I would agree. What I am saying is Catholics use the term about Mary in writing and daily discussion . Again may just be a slip of the tongue - But need to be cognizant of the conflict in crossing the line

If catholics are using the term adoration in connection with Mary that is wrong. I dare say it is even idolatry, if they are saying it with full knowledge. Which I doubt anyone is. Is it possible they are saying that they adore her? Which would be the human, or slang for love, bit not meaning actual adoration. I know that a lot of Marion devotees can be very zealous, and can seem to an outsider to be crossing the line. I can assure her that the church and every single catholic knows she is human and can do nothing on her own. Everything that the catholic church says about Mary is because of Jesus and says more about him then her.

Consider this Christ is fully God. And in that sense he loves her no more then us. But he is also fully human. And in that since he loves her more because she is his mother. He gave her to us at the cross to be our mother as well, and he wants us to honor her as such.

 

[SyroMalankara]

Materials I would agree. What I am saying is Catholics use the term about Mary in writing and daily discussion . Again may just be a slip of the tongue - But need to be cognizant of the conflict in crossing the line

No Catholics don’t. I do however see myriad of so-called non-denominationalists, evangelicals, baptists, and others saying “God told me”, “He said to me”, “The Lord spoke to me and said”… um, no he didn’t. You read it in the Bible. You are saying the Bible is God, instead of the inspired written word of God.

 

[boomerang]

I hear and read Catholics using term adoration in regards to Mary - My experience is an over emphasis with Mary in all due respect . I think in my opinion that we should least all be well cognizant of the potential conflict

Are you sure they aren’t using the term “adulation” instead of “adoration”? Regardless, using the word “adore” or “adoration” in regards to Mary would be a grave error, most likely the result of not understanding the word properly. In a similar way, many protestants get all wigged out by our praying to saints. They erroneously think “pray” means “worship”, when it actually means to “petition” “entreat” “ask” “plead” and so on. You can pray to anyone, alive or dead. “I pray you, pass the salt.” It’s a common word in legal documents, and has nothing to do with worship.

 

[cena]

Okay I have a few questions about Mary mother of God:

1. Do Catholics give offerings to Mary? If so, isn’t all reserved to God?
2. Why do Catholics sing hymns to Mary when by definition a hymn is reserved for God?
   Mary and the pope are my biggest stumbling block… thank you!

Any offerings we would give she would give directly to her son. So we would be giving offerings to God through Mary. If you thinks about it receiving our good works/devotions/prayers etc. through his mother would be more pleasing than receiving it without her intercession.