What happens if a Pagan prays to one of the Saints or the Blessed Mother?

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anna_marie

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I have an acquaintance on Facebook who is Pagan and sometimes posts pictures of his alter. The other day, he posted an altar with statues of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. He also had a statue of another God (looked Hindu of some sort), and things like crystals, and other “magickal” items. It honestly made me really mad. From my understanding, we pray to the Saints and Mary to intercede on our behalf to God. But this person does not believe in God the same way Catholics do. He believes in a god and goddess and believes all gods and religious can “help” in his spiritual journey. It seems to me he is trying to use the Saints for his own selfish gain. What happens to his prayers?
 
Who knows. Maybe they’ll lead to his conversion. We should try to see it in the most hopeful light.

-Fr ACEGC
 
Don’t let his actions anger you. Whatever his intentions or beliefs, if these statues are on his altar, he is honoring them. I would be more inclined to anger if he were doing something disrespectful with them.

Regarding his intentions, you don’t know his heart, and no one but God can truly know his heart. The Holy Spirit may well be working on his heart by introducing our beautiful Saints to him.

Be an example of Catholic life to him, and if you get a chance, comment on your own love for our Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph. Ask him what about them he finds attractive, and LISTEN to his comments. Try not to bash him over the head with our theology, but rely on the Holy Spirit to know when speak or remain silent.

And pray to Saint Joseph and our Blessed Mother for his conversion. Then let God continue the work He has begun on this man’s heart.

I’ll pray for him, too. 🙏
 
There were pagans who approached Jesus, for instance, the Centurion who wanted his servant healed.
And Jesus healed him.
 
And, of course, St. Paul, when surrounded by the numerous temples and altars of the pagan Greeks, did not start by upbraiding them for idolatry (a concept undoubtedly foreign to them), but rather commended the religious impulse that led them to worship any and all possible gods, lest one be left out. He even noted a generic altar to “the unknown god,” in case there was one they didn’t know about who would be offended. And then Paul said, “Now, this God you already worship even though you don’t know Him? I do know Him, and I’m gonna tell you about Him now.”

So the “start from where we are and work from similarities to differences” approach has history. And you can undoubtedly tell your friend interesting things about the saints she venerates…
 
This reminds me of when the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant and put it in their pagan temple next to their pagan idol. Well every day the idol would fall and break in pieces.
So who knows maybe in time the Facebook pagan will realize only the prayers through the saints work and be converted. God works in mysterious ways.
 
I’d imagine the Saints and Blessed Mother might take it upon themselves to pray for that person and that they find the full truth.
 
Some practitioners of nature-based religions would associate Mary with the goddess/feminine aspect of the divine. It doesn’t sound like this person is intentionally being disrespectful. He is honoring the feminine aspect of the divine (albeit via a Christian symbol/idea).
 
What you’re referencing is an eclectic form of paganism. They view things from a syncretic standpoint and believe that the deities are accessible to everyone. Some adhere to deities from one pantheon but it appears the person you referenced doesn’t. You see a similar practice in some African Traditional religions. They employ Christian saints and angels in their worship.
 
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