Question for Catholics?

The big problem with the usage of images as aids for worship is that there is a fine line between using it as an aid, and worshipping it as an idol. Consider the brazen serpent in the wilderness. It was initially used as an aid in the prevention of dying from the bite of the fiery asps. But later, the children of Israel burned incense before it (ref. 2 Kings 18:4). Today I see candles and incense being burned before these "statuary aids". Now what will happen if one of these statues in some way bleed? Do they say, "Oh dear, moisture has rusted the internal steel reinforcement and stained our statue." Or do they call it a miracle and burn incense to it? Today we see many Catholics flocking to places of miracles or "divine manifestations" whether it be a wall stain of the blessed virgin, or a burned cheese sandwich sold on eBay. That fine line has been crossed too many times. It starts innocently enough, but it opens the door for great error.

Here is my take on images, icons, jewelry and the like. When a father/husband has gone to war, we carry and display reminders such as bracelets and photographs. We use these things aids to remember them. However, it produces a longing, because you cannot touch, hug, or lovingly converse with them, for they are away. When they are home, there is really no such need for such aids, because he is in the back playing and laughing with the kids. If you need a hug or a word, just call.

The NEED for images and icons only proves that the Father is not home. Alive? Yes. But absent in a personal way. Faith without the need for crosses, jewelry, beads, icons, pictures, or statues proves that the Father is home and interacting in a real and personal way with their beloved.

IS that the same as if I ask you to pray for me.??

I think the prayer to Mary goes " pray for us sinners"

Read the prayers first rather than jump to the conclusions of others.

Praying to saints and the Virgin Mary and anyone else except God, you are simply asking them to intervene with God on your behalf, it is God therefore who ultimately grants your wish if He deems it necessary, and not the saints or the Virgin Mary.

No, it is like asking your family and friends to pray for you.

Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist Churches.

The Communion of Saints is the belief where all saints are intimately related in the Body of Christ, a family. When you die and go to heaven, you do not leave this family.

Everyone in heaven or on their way to heaven are saints, you, me, my deceased grandmother, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Mother Teresa.

As part of this family, you may ask your family and friends living here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother living in heaven to pray for you.

Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship.

And prayer to the saints is optional not required.

With love in Christ.

It is a misconception that Catholics don't pray directly to God. I am a devout traditional Catholic and I pray personally to God everyday. In addition, I do envoke the prayers of particular saints in Heaven b/c who better to ask then those closest to God himself. It would be the same concept of asking your mother, brother, pastor, aunt, or uncle to pray for you. I know there are those out there that "talk" to their loved ones who are deceased. Please tell me the difference between talking to deceased loved ones and asking for prayers from those holy saints in Heaven.

It's okay to have that poster of Brad Pitt or spiderman, but all hell breaks loose when someone sees a pic of the Blessed Virgin or a statue of a saint. Do those of you with pics of your friends or family hanging on your walls worship those people? I would venture to guess that you don't. Well those of us with holy pics hanging on our walls do not worship these images. Instead of some super hero or celebrity hanging on our walls to remind us how good looking they are or how heroic they may be, we have our holy images to remind us of the pious, virtuous, and humble lives that these people led and this in return will help us to strive to increase holiness within ourselves. And no we don't need these statues and holy images solely to aid us in leading a holy life, they are just stepping stones. Ultimately, God is our rock and through Him we receive strength to comply with His Will.

LOL I wonder if you pray to St William if he has to go tell St John what the prayer is then he goes to Mary and then Marry goes to Jesus. In Hebrews it states Jesus became human so he understands what we as humans go through so its absolutely ridiculous to pray to anyone else. Read the Bible.

I don't know why I feel compelled to answer this as I don't practice anymore but sometimes I'm on automatic pilot.....

Catholics do not pray to saints or to Mary, they ask them to intercede on their behalf. It's like asking your best friend to tell your mom you're pregnant.

nah, it's just talking to them for extra help. don't you remember as a kid, sometimes to get dad to go along with what you wanted - you had to enlist the help of your mom, older or younger siblings, aunts uncles.... The Saints have found favor with God for giving their lives fully and wholly to Him. asking them to pray for us is like asking your buddy to pray for you too. the Saints and Mary are NOTHING without God.

Not a Catholic,but only God should be prayed to.May Jesus bless.

Yes it is, but the church says that it is ok as long as they are catholic saints. It is like the holy spirit. Ghosts do not exist, except when it is convenient for the church.