Why do Catholics adore, worship and deify Mary so much?

[EloyCraft]

Just as there are many cover versions of songs with each singer putting his own style on it, the basic underlying melody remains the same.
Same with Bible versions, the message stays the same in all..:)

I don't think you understand. I don't know why Protestants don't get this but...

The fragmentation that Luther initiated isn't going to stop fragmenting. As it does the doctrine are going to get further and further from truth. More and more unreasonable. Just look at. Protestants now. Faith expressions are barely recognizable . They make Luther look ae Catholic as the Pope.

You are beIng set up to accept the anti-christ. When he makes the scene your love for truth will be tested.
Non trinitarians , Mormons JW's you guys will have it the hardest. That's all I will say.

 

[Pearl]

I agree 100%. For some reason, they equate religiosity with faith. They think that, in addition to the above, if they go to "theater" on Sunday and pray to dead people that somehow they are justified in God's sight. It is very, very tragic!

Here is a brief story. A few years ago I was a passenger in a car with a Catholic who was both drinking and smoking marijuana while driving. When we passed by a Catholic church, he crossed himself and said a "Hail Mary". Therefore, in his mind, he was fine with that illegal behavior because he had acknowledged a dead woman.

Very sad.

 

[Pearl]

With so many different and conflicting interpretations of Scripture and as many Communities all claiming to be guided by the Holy Spirit How do you know who has received the Holy Spirit.?

I once asked that very same question and was told, that I would know when it happened. And I did.

 

[JohnPaul]

Given the excessive number of threads and responses in this forum an others regarding Mary, I have to ask...WHY?

Why are Catholics so fixated on Mary? Why does every Catholic church have a significant number of statues and shrines to Mary on the premises and only the giant crucifix with Christ hanging on the cross and maybe a handful of stained glass windows depicting Him? Why do Catholics have shrines to Mary in their front yard and NOT a cross?

In my opinion, it's the magicians 'trick' of distraction taking ones' focus off Jesus, our Savior! How many 'Hail Mary's' have Catholics droned over the years? How many Catholic prayers even MENTION Jesus?

There is close to zero prophecy in the old testament about her other than a couple of references to 'born of a virgin' that refer to Mary 100s of years before she was chosen by God to carry HIS Son. Yet there is voluminous OT prophecy of the Messiah...Jesus.

And no, Genesis 3:15 does NOT reference Mary. The woman in that verse refers to Israel in and Satan's war to destroy Israel thus nullifying Gods' Word, not MARY!

Mary is NOT God! Mary is NOT A god! Mary is simply the 'birth mother' of Jesus chosen by God, no more, no less. So why all the hub-bub about Mary?

Because it's what they are taught in the Catholic Church, they'll go to the extent of venerating the Blessed Mother over Jesus Christ.

 

[Illuminator]

No. Jesus Himself told us to search the scriptures. Us. People. Commoners.
John 5:39 "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." Why would He have us read something we cannot understand? He wouldn't.
It's just like the Latin thing. None of the common folk understood it. Yet that was the way it was given, until the Bible was translated in their native tongue, so all could read. Now there is a magisterium, so folk have to listen to them, instead of reading for themselves. You will not get into Heaven on any coattails of any other man. You are the one responsible for your own soul. Look for yourself.

"sola scriptura" is a Latin phrase for "Bible alone". By your reasoning, the reformers used Latin so no one could understand it.

 

[Illuminator]

Because it's what they are taught in the Catholic Church, they'll go to the extent of venerating the Blessed Mother over Jesus Christ.

First, you don't know what "venerate" means. It does not mean "worship".
Second, venerating the Blessed Mother always leads to Jesus, or its a false devotion. Her soul magnifies the Lord. (Luke 1:46)
Third, "venerating the Blessed Mother over Jesus Christ" is another anti-Catholic myth, it's fear mongering nonsense.
Fourth, do Catholics make up lies about what you believe?

 

[JohnPaul]

First, you don't know what "venerate" means. It does not mean "worship".
Second, venerating the Blessed Mother always leads to Jesus, or its a false devotion. Her soul magnifies the Lord. (Luke 1:46)
Third, "venerating the Blessed Mother over Jesus Christ" is another anti-Catholic myth, it's fear mongering nonsense.
Fourth, do Catholics make up lies about what you believe?

I'm a former Cathoilic have been there done that, the RCC had the image of Mary above Christ.

Venerate definition: to regard with reverential respect or with admiring deference.

To honor (an icon, a relic, etc.) with a ritual act of devotion.

I think I completely understand what venerate means, and the Catholic Church does it with Mary, over everyone you can even say over God himself.

 

[EloyCraft]

agree 100%. For some reason, they equate religiosity with faith. They think that, in addition to the above, if they go to "theater" on Sunday and pray to dead people that somehow they are justified in God's sight.

I've never met Catholics like you describe.

Here is a brief story. A few years ago I was a passenger in a car with a Catholic who was both drinking and smoking marijuana while driving. When we passed by a Catholic church, he crossed himself and said a "Hail Mary". Therefore, in his mind, he was fine with that illegal behavior because he had acknowledged a dead woman.

How do you know why he crossed himself? Did He tell you?


Ya know you learn a lot about someone when you're their scapegoat. Also, if offending Catholics matters to you look up the word calumny.

 

[Illuminator]

What Every Catholic Worth His Salt Understands About Mary
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I can assure all of our separated brethren in Christ that properly catechized Catholics who know *anything* about Catholic theology at all are quite aware that:
1. Mary is not God (as there is one God - monotheism).
2. Mary does not save herself (contra Pelagianism).
3. Mary is nothing that God did not grant to her, in grace (Catholics believe in sola gratia every bit as much as Protestants do, even -- especially -- where Mary is concerned). Even the Immaculate Conception was an absolute, pure, one-way act of grace by God. Mary couldn't have possibly cooperated since it was the moment of her conception.
4. Mary does not compete with God, but declares His glory, as the "masterpiece" of His creation, just as praise of a masterpiece of art is praise of the painter or sculptor or composer (Catholics don't view veneration of saints and worship of God as identical, and don't espouse an "either/or" or zero sum game notion: viz., that veneration of saints somehow detracts from or contradicts the worship of God, and His unique glory and majesty).
source

 

[JohnPaul]

I've never met Catholics like you describe.


How do you know why he crossed himself? Did He tell you?


Ya know you learn a lot about someone when you're their scapegoat. Also, if offending Catholics matters to you look up the word calumny.

It's something we Catholics do, when passing a Catholic Church, or should I say did? As I no longer belong.

 

[JohnPaul]

What Every Catholic Worth His Salt Understands About Mary
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I can assure all of our separated brethren in Christ that properly catechized Catholics who know *anything* about Catholic theology at all are quite aware that:
1. Mary is not God (as there is one God - monotheism).
2. Mary does not save herself (contra Pelagianism).
3. Mary is nothing that God did not grant to her, in grace (Catholics believe in sola gratia every bit as much as Protestants do, even -- especially -- where Mary is concerned). Even the Immaculate Conception was an absolute, pure, one-way act of grace by God. Mary couldn't have possibly cooperated since it was the moment of her conception.
4. Mary does not compete with God, but declares His glory, as the "masterpiece" of His creation, just as praise of a masterpiece of art is praise of the painter or sculptor or composer (Catholics don't view veneration of saints and worship of God as identical, and don't espouse an "either/or" or zero sum game notion: viz., that veneration of saints somehow detracts from or contradicts the worship of God, and His unique glory and majesty).
source

Mary doesn't compete with God or anyone it's people who place her above big difference, Mary is dead.

 

[EloyCraft]

[

The exalt Mary to a bizarre extent and encourage praying to dead people instead of to God.

After the fall God put emnity between the virgin and her seed and the Serpent. Satan hated her so much him and his minions hate all virgins. Since these demons are gods worshipped by pagans all around the world pagans began sacrificing virgins all around the world. Virgins would be gathered in numbers to be sacrificed to the demons. You have heard of virgins sacriced to pagan gods ? You are in their company hating Mary.

I once asked that very same question and was told, that I would know when it happened. And I did.

In other words you have no idea who is or isn't guided by the Holy Spirit.

 

[JohnPaul]

In other words you have no idea who is or isn't guided by the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps you don't.

 

[Illuminator]

I think I completely understand what venerate means, and the Catholic Church does it with Mary, over everyone you can even say over God himself.

I have patiently exposed this false stereotype invented by hostile anti-Catholics; you are resistant to reason. This contradictory statement proves you still don't understand the difference between veneration and worship. Repeating the same lie over and over again does not make it true.

Mary is the Mother of God the Son. Both Luther and Calvin (along with all the major Protestant founders) agreed. But she is a creature, like us, and is not worshiped in Catholicism as a sort of goddess. She is venerated due to the unfathomable honor of having been chosen to bear and raise the incarnate God.

You don't like the reformers views on Mary, so you are forced to cover it up.

If anyone who believes in the Perpetual Virginity of Mary is making Mary a “goddess” then Luther and Calvin would be doing so as well. But that is rejected as absurd by Protestants. Therefore, the premise must be discarded, lest Luther and Calvin be Mariolaters.​

“Why Should Anyone Care About Early Protestant Mariology?” | Dave Armstrong

​

 

[JohnPaul]

I have patiently exposed this false stereotype invented by hostile anti-Catholics; you are resistant to reason. This contradictory statement proves you still don't understand the difference between veneration and worship. Repeating the same lie over and over again does not make it true.

Mary is the Mother of God the Son. Both Luther and Calvin (along with all the major Protestant founders) agreed. But she is a creature, like us, and is not worshiped in Catholicism as a sort of goddess. She is venerated due to the unfathomable honor of having been chosen to bear and raise the incarnate God.

You don't like the reformers views on Mary, so you are forced to cover it up.

It seems like you are the one who doesn't understand, I was raised in the Catholic Church and know what I'm talking about as I experienced it, the worship of Mary and of Saints is one of the reasons I gave it up, perhaps you can say the things you say to someone who isn't Catholic and go by hearsay, but I lived it and know it.

So go preach to someone else, who doesn't know better, I'm not a Catholic Hater or any other denomination hater, I just say what is true and what I've experienced.

Have a good day.

 

[Illuminator]

It seems like you are the one who doesn't understand, I was raised in the Catholic Church and know what I'm talking about as I experienced it, the worship of Mary and of Saints is one of the reasons I gave it up, perhaps you can say the things you say to someone who isn't Catholic and go by hearsay, but I lived it and know it.

So go preach to someone else, who doesn't know better, I'm not a Catholic Hater or any other denomination hater, I just say what is true and what I've experienced.

Have a good day.

You "gave it up" by listening to anti-catholic rhetoric. Your "experiences" are grossly flawed. "worship of Mary and of Saints" is stupid insulting Catholic bashing, (like the sick title of this thread) and proves you don't know what you are talking about. You don't make honest replies to my post, you just keep repeating the same lies over and over again. Maybe you need to "experience" the teachings of your own reformers, and stop covering them up.

 

[JohnPaul]

You "gave it up" by listening to anti-catholic rhetoric. "worship of Mary and of Saints" is stupid insulting Catholic bashing, and proves you don't know what you are talking about.

No one day I was standing in Church and looked all around and couldn’t take the idolatry anymore, it was Saint Anthony of Padua day and the entire church was lining up to kiss the feet of St. Anthony’s effigy, that was the day I told my girlfriend now wife I can’t do this anymore and left, read the Bible and you might wake up too, I bash no one, I respect every denomination and the person’s right to believe what they want.

So you can continue with your attacks and bashing of me but it won’t do you any good you are just wasting your time.

Good day Sir.

 

[Pearl]

[

In other words you have no idea who is or isn't guided by the Holy Spirit.

You are the only one who can know for certain if you are or not. It isn't always possible to tell with others. But we have the gift of discernment. And as my pastor friend says, "You can tell a wolf from a sheep by their footprints."

 

[EloyCraft]

You are the only one who can know for certain if you are or not. It isn't always possible to tell with others. But we have the gift of discernment. And as my pastor friend says, "You can tell a wolf from a sheep by their footprints."

I asked how you discern. Why would I ask me that?
My problem with wolves in sheeps clothing is I just don't want to believe their wolves.

 

[EloyCraft]

You "gave it up" by listening to anti-catholic rhetoric. Your "experiences" are grossly flawed. "worship of Mary and of Saints" is stupid insulting Catholic bashing, (like the sick title of this thread) and proves you don't know what you are talking about. You don't make honest replies to my post, you just keep repeating the same lies over and over again. Maybe you need to "experience" the teachings of your own reformers, and stop covering them up.

Well, they need Catholics to worship Mary and all those other ignorant things they need us to be.
Must be aweful . I wouldn't like it if my faith required some other faith to be wrong.