My Catholic Cousin

[LadyKay]

I stay in touch with my far away family through FB.  My cousin became Catholic. None of us were raised in that religion so I say "became".  Anyway, the other day she posted on FB asking us to pray to the Mother Mary to help her sister in a financial matter. She explain it to us  how this works as she knows we are not Catholic. She said that Mary being the mother of Jesus. That if we ask Mary that Jesus listens to her because Mary is his mother. She then posted the prayer to the Virgin Mary.  I found this all to be a bit questionable. Nowhere do I see in the Bible dose it instruct us to speak to Mary the mother of Jesus. Or that Jesus has to answer these prayers because he must obey his mother.  I just wonder what are your thoughts on this and if there are any Catholics here or even people who use to be Catholic could explain this teaching to me. I do not wish for this to become a bashing of any's religions teachings. Just a mature discussion  and understanding.  

Edited August 7, 2020 by LadyKay

[Jayne]

My issue is not in total just praying to Mary - but in whole, Catholics believe Mary to be a "co-redemptrix" WITH Jesus.  This defies the word of God that says ONLY Jesus Christ can save.

Quote

 

From the Catechism....

"This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation…. Taken up to heaven, she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation. Therefore, the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.

By pronouncing her “fiat” at the Annunciation and giving her consent to the Incarnation, Mary was already collaborating with the whole work her Son was to accomplish."

Catechism of the Catholic Church, #969, 973

 

Would to God that our Catholic relatives and friends could understand that Mary has NOTHING to do without our salvation.  Jesus alone saves.

[Knotical]

The whole concept of praying to saints is rather pointless, quite frankly.  God is omnipresent and omnipotent, which means He is not too busy to hear our prayers.  That is really what praying to Mary or the saints is really suggesting.

[Knotical]

2 minutes ago, Jayne said:

My issue is not in total just praying to Mary - but in whole, Catholics believe Mary to be a "co-redemptrix" WITH Jesus.  This defies the word of God that says ONLY Jesus Christ can save.

Would to God that our Catholic relatives and friends could understand that Mary has NOTHING to do without our salvation.  Jesus alone saves.

Catholics believe in the Immaculate Conception which suggests that Mary became perfect when Jesus was placed in her womb.  There is also no scriptural support for this either.

[Jayne]

1 minute ago, Knotical said:

Catholics believe in the Immaculate Conception which suggests that Mary became perfect when Jesus was placed in her womb.  There is also no scriptural support for this either.

Actually, the Immaculate Conception is the belief that Mary was born sinless to her sinful parents.  In other words, she was sinless from her conception.

And yes, this is a lie, too.  She needed to be saved just like everyone else.

[missmuffet]

4 hours ago, LadyKay said:

I stay in touch with my far away family through FB.  My cousin became Catholic. None of us were raised in that religion so I say "became".  Anyway, the other day she posted on FB asking us to pray to the Mother Mary to help her sister in a financial matter. She explain it to us  how this works as she knows we are not Catholic. She said that Mary being the mother of Jesus. That if we ask Mary that Jesus listens to her because Mary is his mother. She then posted the prayer to the Virgin Mary.  I found this all to be a bit questionable. Nowhere do I see in the Bible dose it instruct us to speak to Mary the mother of Jesus. Or that Jesus has to answer these prayers because he must obey his mother.  I just wonder what are your thoughts on this and if there are any Catholics here or even people who use to be Catholic could explain this teaching to me. I do not wish for this to become a bashing of any's religions teachings. Just a mature discussion  and understanding.  

I would tell your cousin what you believe. 

[Debp]

8 hours ago, LadyKay said:

I stay in touch with my far away family through FB.  My cousin became Catholic. None of us were raised in that religion so I say "became".  Anyway, the other day she posted on FB asking us to pray to the Mother Mary to help her sister in a financial matter. She explain it to us  how this works as she knows we are not Catholic. She said that Mary being the mother of Jesus. That if we ask Mary that Jesus listens to her because Mary is his mother. She then posted the prayer to the Virgin Mary.  I found this all to be a bit questionable. Nowhere do I see in the Bible dose it instruct us to speak to Mary the mother of Jesus. Or that Jesus has to answer these prayers because he must obey his mother.  I just wonder what are your thoughts on this and if there are any Catholics here or even people who use to be Catholic could explain this teaching to me. I do not wish for this to become a bashing of any's religions teachings. Just a mature discussion  and understanding.  

Keep to the Scripture in answering her.   Ask her where in the Bible does Jesus tell us to pray to Mary....a Scripture, not Catholic teaching.   Just make your statements simple and brief, and back up your statements with Scripture.    You don't need to argue.   But you can post Scripture so others will not be deceived by her remarks.

13And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you [c]ask anything in My name, I will do it.  John 14:13-14.

 5For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.   1 Timothy 2:5-6.

[Fidei Defensor]

A good book to quote from to your cousin that is respectful is “Are We Together? A Protestant Analysis of Roman Catholicism,” by R.C. Sproul.

Here is a good summary: 

“J. C. Ryle said there is a hatred that is downright charity and that is the hatred of false doctrine. Sproul demonstrates great charity in this book as he addresses the false teachings of the Catholic church while also addressing the misunderstandings that Protestants often have about Catholic theology. Sproul's tone is loving and firm and unapologetic. This book is essential reading, especially in an age when so many Protestants are casually dismissing the significance of justification by faith alone and insisting that Catholics and Protestants are together in the gospel.” (Are We Together? A Protestant Analysis of Roman Catholicism, R.C. Sproul, review by Trisha, Good Reads) 

[R. Hartono]

If people pray to Mary statue the devil will listen n bless the request

[johnthebaptist]

9 hours ago, LadyKay said:

I stay in touch with my far away family through FB.  My cousin became Catholic. None of us were raised in that religion so I say "became".  Anyway, the other day she posted on FB asking us to pray to the Mother Mary to help her sister in a financial matter. She explain it to us  how this works as she knows we are not Catholic. She said that Mary being the mother of Jesus. That if we ask Mary that Jesus listens to her because Mary is his mother. She then posted the prayer to the Virgin Mary.  I found this all to be a bit questionable. Nowhere do I see in the Bible dose it instruct us to speak to Mary the mother of Jesus. Or that Jesus has to answer these prayers because he must obey his mother.  I just wonder what are your thoughts on this and if there are any Catholics here or even people who use to be Catholic could explain this teaching to me. I do not wish for this to become a bashing of any's religions teachings. Just a mature discussion  and understanding.  

If I want the Lord to know something, I don't pray to someone else hoping they will tell the Lord. I just pray to the Lord. As a matter of fact, I try to pray constanlty, as Paul instructed us to (1 Thess 5:17).