Catholic view on prayer is different from that in most Protestant denominations — at least that I’ve witnessed through personal experience and dialog with folks from non-Catholic churches.

Prayer for most Catholics is a sort of communication; for most Protestants, prayer is a form of worship. It is that distinction, I think, that separates the understanding.

One of the definitions of prayer is “to make a request”, and it is in this sense that we Catholics “pray to” Mary and/or the saints in heaven. It is also in the sense of worshipful prayer to the Trinity as well.

So, how can Mary hear all these requests, since she is not omnipotent / omniscient / omnipresent?

Mary, like all in heaven, is outside of time; she doesn’t have to be all places at all times; she, like all who have died, just are — as in an ever-present now.

But, what of the question of honor and worship? You mention that you’d never bow down to a statue of your father to ask him to bring a message to God on your behalf. The truth is, neither would I, and neither would most Catholics.

Over the centuries, people have honored people in different ways; one sign of honor and respect has been bending a knee or bowing. That continues in some cultures today, and has been something that’s been a part of Catholicism because of its universality for a long while. We show our respect to these whom have been seen as wonderful examples of faith and the Gospel — such as Mary — because of our respect for God’s work in them, and their loyal responses to God’s call. It isn’t a regular part of what even most Catholics do, though, and usually happens only at certain times (although none of that is absolutely required).

As for Moses, I’m guessing he would have found it unusual in his day; as we seem to find it unusual in our culture in our day. But, as I said, not all times and cultures have found it unusual … and with the understanding that I’ve provided above, I think it could be a good and worthwhile thing for us to acknowledge those in our Body who have done wonderful things by the blessings of God’s grace.

Paul certainly asks us to pray for each other, and asked for prayer for himself, and prayed for others. In the Scriptures, we do not see the whole of the Christian life, and of the devotional life either. It is a testimony, yet not a sole source for all things Christian. Jesus said that even he did not teach the Apostles everything, but the Holy Spirit would be his Advocate to lead them further — that “through the church the manifold wisdom of God might be known.” [cf Eph 3:10, empahsis added]

As this comment is already getting long, I’ll leave it here, hoping that I’ve been clear in my explanation.

As for the comment moderation, its mostly for comment spam, not to squelch contrary opinions — although excessively degrading or extremely anti-Catholic expressions that appear to lack charity/sincerity would by blocked or removed.

I typically don’t do much discussion in the comments, but as of late I’m feeling … generous. But, I’m not afraid of sincere discussion. Honestly, my purpose in starting a website and blog was to provide information and answers to questions on Catholic doctrine and practice — for both Catholics and non-Catholics. That cannot be a one-way street.

“Well, I guess let me start by saying that I won’t be praying for you. After all, I wouldn’t want to be accused of trying to make myself into some sort of mediator.

In all seriousness, though, that kind of gets to the heart of my answers to your comment.”

Interesting answer. I have never heard anything like that before. However, I think it lumps together intercession and mediation. Yes when I pray for my dad I am going to God on his behalf, however it doesn’t follow from that that we pray to other individuals in order for them to pray to God for us, or others.

I was thinking about this today, how does Mary answer all of those prayers being thrown up to her? I mean if an Atheist asked me how God can hear millions praying at the same time I can answer God is Omniscient and Omnipresent…how can Mary answer and act on the millions of hail Mary’s thrown up every hour of every day if she is not omni-anything?

“On the other issue of dulia, hyperdulia, and latria …
If you cannot see the distinction between honor and worship, then you must break a few commandments, right?

What I mean is this… We are commanded to “honor our father and mother”. However, if we cannot distinguish honor from worship, then we must be worshiping our mother and father, in order to keep the commandment. Yet, in doing that, we are giving to man the worship reserved to God alone, and thus having other gods … breaking the first commandment.”

Again I really respect the fact that you have taken the time to answer. I didn’t know when I saw the comment moderation if you would even allow challenging viewpoints (many blogs do that).

Well in short yes we are to honor our parents and yes that is different from worship. But I would never bend the knee before a statue of my deceased father and pray for him to give God a message on my behalf. That would go beyond honor into the area of worship.

I just find it to be a lot of word play that goes on when these things get brought up. It is fairly obvious that when you envoke something other then God even if it is in order to go to God for you, when God has not clearly said to do such scripturaly, I can not see that as anything but idolatry and misplaced trust. All our hope should be in God as Trinity, if Paul prayed to no one but the Triune God I don’t think it is wise for us to go beyond Paul’s example. Again I just can’t see the symantic distinctions between dulia and latria, honor and worship as applying to praying to another entity besides God. Honestly I simply can not see Moses coming up to an Israelite bowing down to a statue and praying “O Abraham…intercede on my behalf.” and asking the fellow what he is doing only to hear “I am honoring Abraham, NOT worshiping…this is dulia, not latria!” I can’t see Moses buying that at all.

Well, I guess let me start by saying that I won’t be praying for you. After all, I wouldn’t want to be accused of trying to make myself into some sort of mediator.

In all seriousness, though, that kind of gets to the heart of my answers to your comment.

If requesting the prayers of others represents mediation that would conflict with the sole mediatorship of Christ Jesus, then millions of Christians are do something unscriptural. But, if that’s not unscriptural — and I don’t believe it is, since praying for each other is quite plain to see in the New Testament — then there is nothing contradictory to the two verses you cited, as it represents a different type of intercession or mediation that is not the same as that of Jesus.

On the other issue of dulia, hyperdulia, and latria …
If you cannot see the distinction between honor and worship, then you must break a few commandments, right?

What I mean is this… We are commanded to “honor our father and mother”. However, if we cannot distinguish honor from worship, then we must be worshiping our mother and father, in order to keep the commandment. Yet, in doing that, we are giving to man the worship reserved to God alone, and thus having other gods … breaking the first commandment.

I’ll leave things there for now

Keep in mind that there is no doctrinal/dogmatic requirement to believe in any apparition.

I will not pretend to know the exact answer to your question. I don’t know if there even is one. I could speculate that her appearance was in a way that would be familiar and comfortable to those people.

Some people get hung up on Mary and the Marian doctrines. In my own faith, I am not troubled by the fact that I don’t appeal to Mary the way some in the faith do. Don’t get me wrong, she does play a role in my faith; but I don’t get into all the apparitions, etc they way some do. I look at the doctrines of the Church and take time to understand them and what they mean to my life.

The thing that I’ve found in my own studies of the Marian doctrines is that they reveal aspects and truths of who Jesus is; and lead to greater understandings of God and His wonderful work of grace in our lives.

Keeping that focus and carrying that understanding definitely brings strength and power to my relationship with God.

Hope that makes sense.

“Catholics are encouraged to give “dulia” or honor to the saints. We are further encouraged to give “hyperdulia”, or the greatest honor, to Mary. We are to give “latria”, or worship in the strictest sense, to God alone. As you see above, I used the word “honor” not “worship”. We do not worship anyone but God.”

I see different words describing the same thing. So when we pray to Mary (not me of course) and go to her for aid in our straits it is not worship somehow…because it has the word dulia tacked on? Do you think Moses would have bought that distinction if you pulled out a Mary statue and started saying “Hail Mary…”?

I think it is a rather well 1)Unbiblical distinction, there is NO distinction between latria and dulia Biblically 2) Biblically there is NO precedence of anybody praying to Mary or recommending the practice 3)It is rather obvious that you worship the one whom you envoke in your hours of need.

Also:
““pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.” This simply is a prayer asking Mary to pray to the Father with us. From this one should see that we are not asking Mary to forgive our sins – we believe only God can forgive sins, or even to save us from death.”

Why do I 1)Need Mary to go to God for me when Christ Himself said I can go to the Father myself. (Matt 6:6) And 2) Why do I need another go between between me and God when Christ is proclaimed as the ONLY mediator? (1 Tim 2:5)

I would like to hear your understanding of the various Virgin Marys we have.

If you look at some of the Latin American Traditions, most towns have their own “Virgin Mary” who supposedly is called something other than simply “Mary” Not only that, Think of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Why is her skin “Brown”? I guess one could say Mary was middle-eastern; but then we have Mary of Fatima. She was white…why does Mary change skin color?

Check out:
http://members.aol.com/bjw1106/marian5.htm#TARGET9

I don’t want too sound too ignorant on the topic, or write a huge comment but I hope you get my point. If not, shoot me an email. This is one of those struggles I was talking about in my blog.