I used to be able to turn to my bible for answers, but then I was told that I can’t interpret it the right way, so I feel like even that has been taken from me.
It’s not that you can’t read it on your own, but its that it’s easy to MISINTERPRET without help from the Church (and the Church holds firm beliefs on how certain parts of the Bible are to be interpreted)… Many Greek and Hebrew words (the original languages of the Bible) aren’t translatable into English, and so the English translations use the closest possible approximations. BUT… this means that important nuances may be lost. It’s also difficult to know why something was written without knowing the history and customs of the time. Certain practices and customs that were once common that no longer exist. They would be completely foreign to us, making it difficult to understand completely.
The best solution is to buy a good Catholic Study Bible, that allows you to read it with commentary, that explains WHY certain things are the way they are and why they are important.
The Ignatius Study Bible, while not complete, has most of the New Testament finished, and you can buy individual volumes quite inexpensively. This would be a good way to start.
I was saying the rosary, but now I’m struggling with the whole concept of praying to Mary. I’m going to be joining RCIA this fall just to learn more and hopefully get some answers.
I hope you get the answers you need too. With regard to praying to Mary, I’ve always thought of it this way:
- As a Christian, I assume you go to church. As part of the service, people often ask the congregation to pray for our intentions. Have you ever had the congregation pray for your sick grandmother before? If so, why? Shouldn’t I pray directly to God instead? Why should I even bother asking them to pray for her?
- Christians believe that we do not cease to exist when we die, but that many of us will enjoy eternal life in heaven.
- So… if these people do, in fact, continue to exist, why is it any different asking the deceased to pray for my intention than asking the living in my congregation to pray for my intention. It is the same thing.
- As a Catholic who attends Mass, you are not required to ask for the intercession of the angels, saints, or Mary outside of the Mass. That said, examine the following common prayer from Mass:
“And I ask blessed Mary, ever Virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.”
Catholics regard prayer as SO important, that we are literally asking EVERYONE in the heavens and on earth to pray along with us!
And finally, you ask “How do I know if Saint so-and-so can hear me”? Well, nothing is impossible with God. He can allow them to be privy to any information that he deems necessary, regardless of their state of existence. For example, Moses and Elijah appeared during the Transfiguration and were certainly aware of that event.
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