I am wondering about the catholic religion. Why do catholics pray to "saints" and the "virgin mary", when there is only one way to reach God and that is through Jesus? Where in the bible does it say that we should pray to these dead people? If it isn't in the bible, then why is it done? Growing up I prayed to the saints and the virgin mary, not knowing why, but that that was what I was to do as a catholic. I was never told that Jesus is our only mediator, the only intercessor to God our Father. If Jesus actually died and rose from the dead, that makes Him still alive, right? So He is able to talk to our Father on our behalf. The other dead people never rose again, so they are dead, dead, dead. No life whatsoever in them. They have no way to talk to Our Father. In Revelations, Jesus tells us not to add or take away from the scriptures...isn't adding to the regulations of praying to the saints and the virgin mary a sin? When one prays to anything or anyone other than Jesus, aren't we breaking one of the ten commandments? Thou shalt not have no other God's before me? & Thou shalt not make any image/person an idol? I am confused. I don't want to meet Jesus and have to tell Him that I prayed to dead people instead of Him just because it was a thing we learned in catholic church. I know Jesus is the only way, truth, and light....why do we need anybody else to speak on our behalf? Isn't Jesus big enough? Did He or did He not die for me and you to be reconciled to Our Father in Heaven. Can you make me understand? Y.O.

-- Yolie (yondelac@nmda-bubba.nmsu.edu), September 15, 1999

Answers

Yolie,

I am gald to see you asking some very important questions about Catholicism. You have been influenced by Protestantism. Do you think that Jesus is not big enough when you ask a friend to pray for your benefit? Is prayer a fleshly act or a spiritual act. Do Christians die in spirit? Does God not say that He is the Father of the living. He says after the death of the patriarchs that He is the Father of the living, Abraham, Jacob etc... The souls of the faithful departed not only pray for us but are with Him in heaven. Think of it this way, you are not praying to the saints but with them. Just as a parish prays together because they are one with Christ so is the entire church on earth and heaven one Body of Christ. It is interesting the mediator misconception. You must understand that the mediation of redemption is totally different than the mediation of intercession. Jesus atonement justifies our salvation and He is the only way to the Father. Christ gives us salvation, that does not mean that others cannot pray for us and strengthen us with thier witness and holy lives. If the lives of the saints have no impact on the church why did they live? Why should we live? Why a visible church? Why commission Peter? The very book you point out (revelations) says that the souls in heaven pray for the church. Their prayers rise as incense to the altar of the Lamb of God. You are the one that is adding a falsehood by denying that the saints in heaven are not praying to and worshipping God. Remember on the last Day Christ is coming back with the departed saints to receive thier glorified bodies. They are with the Triune God before this event. At the Eucharist the whole body of Christ (heaven and earth) are at the banquet table receiving a foretaste of the feast to come. It is heaven on earth at the Eucharist. We are one BODY. The commandment of not worshipping idols you mention is a very good question. In the old testament the incarnation had not occurred. At the incarnation Of Christ He became fully human while at the same time being fully divine. This union is never to be separated. Christ has redeemed the evil use of idols to now be used to glorify Him. He became flesh. He says that a piece of bread is His body. Is that idolatry? Water washes our sins away. Idolatry? Crucifix? These incarnational things are now purified because they glorify the Incarnate Christ. When we see a statue of Christ or a saint, it is not the statue we worship or venerate, it is who they represent. It is like keeping an article or picture of a deceased mother or father. If you kiss the picture or whatever are you loving the picture or what the picture represents? It is a pure and holy thing to worship God with the gifts of creation he has given us. It points us to Him, it does not replace Him. I hope you understand the differenc here. remember that in the OT after the commandments were given that God Himself instructed Abraham to have representations of Angels in the Holy of Holies. Was God contradicting himself? Was He advocating idolatry? One last thing about adding and subtracting from the Word of God. No one subtracted more than Martin Luther. He took out 7 books that had been in the canon for 1200 years. He also wanted to take out the very book you mention, Revelation, also James. I will tell you with all certainty that the Bible that the protestants claim to have sole authority was given to them by the Catholic Church. The NT is not a book without tradition and context, infact no where in scripture does it say scripture alone. Paul says follow the traditions written and unwritten. In the early Church Christ gave authority of teaching and doctrine to Peter"s Church. There was no comprehensive NT, just letters written not to just anyone for private interpretation, but to the leaders of the church of Peter. These letters where collected anfd finished 70 years after the ressurection. In 1000 ad we have only 5% of the people in the world that could read. Did God make a mistake to come before the printing press and literacy? No in fact that those two elements brought about the demise of unity in the one church. God was very careful about the fulness of time and He wanted the authority to come from the church of Peter and not private interpretation. The Bible came from the Catholic church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The RCC has been protected against heresy by God Himself. Look at the historical record and how the Catholic church has been an immovable Rock, who has maintained doctrinal correctness. This is not to say she has been without sin. The OT church of Israel was noit perfect but God never said to leave the church. Christ said they sit in the seat of Moses, they have authority, even at His Crucifixtion He did not fight them. After the ressurection Christ established Peter to be in the seat of the new Israel. There has and will be sin in the church, but Jesus promises that the gates of hell will not prevail over her. Look at the fruits of the reformation. Schisms and factions and false churches total chaos and disunity. For 2000 yrs. the RCC has been the Rock that Jesus said it would be. Since the reformation 500 years ago all you see are pebbles in countless denominations that have thrown church authority out as well as the gifts of the sacraments, not to mention the gifts we have in the models of faith in the saints and The Holy Mother, who even the father of the reformation, Martin Luther called the Queen of Heaven. Luther also said that he would rather go back under the papacy than to lose the comfort of private confession and absolution. Luther would be Catholic today if he were alive to see what his disobedience caused.. The NT just didn't fall out of the sky, it came from the church Jesus gave authority to 400 years latter in the official canon. The Bible fine tuned the problems in the early church, this was after the church had been taught by oral tradition. The Bible is inerrant and authoritative but so is the church that Christ commissioned to give it to us.

-- Pamela (Rosylace@aol.com), September 16, 1999.

Dear Yolie, Catholics do not pray to saints. I may ask a saint to intercede on my behalf to God either before or after I have prayed to God myself. I think I do this because of my upbringing. If I wanted something as a child, I knew I had to get permission or the ok for what I wanted, and I knew it had to be with the permission of my father. My father, at times, could be a very formidable person, so I would enlist the help of my brother, whom my father, at least always listened to. If it appeared that this approach wouldn't work, I would get his mother, my Grandma, to ask for me. What person isn't swayed by their mother? In the end, I still always had to ask for myself, but at least my father had been "softened" up somewhat by that time. I think I have transferred this approach to God and the method I use when enlisting His help in my life. Ellen

-- Ellen K. Hornby (dkh@canada.com), September 17, 1999.

www.amazingfacts.com

-- Michael(non-catholic) (mdroe@erinet.com), September 17, 1999.

I think that it is important to remember that ALL of us will live forever and ALL of us will experience the resurection of the body at the General Judgement (End of Time). The real question is where will we live forever after we are re-united to our bodies? I guess that will depend on how we live while we are here!

-- Br. Rich S.F.O. (repsfo@prodigy.net), September 18, 1999.

hello, you have brought up some very good points. First I would recommend that you do some studying of the Catholic faith and other faiths, but lets see if I can shed some light for you, not saying my light is right.

The bible clearly states that you can only get to the Father throught Jesus Himself. God already knows our hearts and doesn't need someone ( saints,angels, etc.)going to Him and begging (for lack of better word) for us. Does it do any good to beg? no. He will make the decision what is good for us and when we can have it. I guess it's a feel good thing?

No where in the bible does it say that Peter started the Catholic church. The bible says that Jesus said Peter is the rock on which he will build His church. The "Rock" which He is referring to is the "Revelation Knowlage" that Peter had whe he aked him who He thought He was and Peter said He was the Son oF God. It's the revelation knowlage that Jesus would build His church and not a man. There is no documented proof that Peter ever went to Rome.

The Bible clearly teaches us not to call any man Father, yet the Catholic church gives this name to their priests. The word Father that Jesus referrs to is in the spiritual sense not earthly sense like we call our dad. They have given power to there priests to forgive sin and sin is forgiven by God through Jesus. Man was given power from Jesus to do His works for the purpose of salvation, healings, etc. but only God can forgive sins. anyway, christians sins were forgiven on the cross, once we except Christ our we were born with is gone, we become new creatures in Christ.

There's so much to learn. Don't just believe what I say or anyone else, read, investigate, search for yourself, and most importantly ask God to give you revelation knowlage that Peter had to be able to understand the true meaning of His word. Talk to the Holy spirit everyday and become His friend, He is the worker, the power of the trinity.

Good luck and God Bless

-- frederick (paesan@home.com), January 05, 2001.

Yes frederick it is confusing for many when people insist that the Scriptures say don't call any man father. and then you turn right around and find many places where men refer to other men as father and even St. Paul refers to himself as a "father in faith" I wouldn't think St. Paul would go against the Scriptures. so maybe "call no man father" does not mean what some seem to think it does?

-- Br. Rich SFO (repsfo@prodigy.net), January 05, 2001.

Start the New Year off with some good medicine for what ails your spirit:

Jesus Christ died for our sins.
Jesus Christ will save even the most stupid among us, if they'll let Him.
The Holy Catholic Church is Christ's ONLY Church in the world.
If you're not in the Catholic Church, it's all your own fault ! ! !
Mary the Mother of God prays for ALL sinners. Even anti-Catholics.
Catholics pray for all sinners, and for one another. All of us are sinners.

Catholics love the Holy Bible. No treasure in this life is greater to a Catholic.
Catholics, however, do NOT love private interpretations of our Holy Bible.
Catholics can't be bothered with hearing the interpretations of a non-Catholic. WHY ? ? ?
Because they're almost always a waste of time. Here's a spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down:

There's almost CERTAIN to be a non-Catholic somewhere here, or in the world, anyway-- who will reach heaven before all the Catholics assembled here today. --But it won't be because he/she knew the truth about Catholicism. It will really be because he/she was truly ignorant and didn't know any better. God is that way. He forgives us our sins if we come to Him with humble and contrite hearts. Especially if we are faithful Catholics!

Only the Church can offer us all the truth; and every blessing and grace afforded a soul by Jesus Christ. This includes, necessarily, all the truth contained in the Holy Bible. No other church or assembly can offer you this.

Happy New Year!

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), January 02, 2004.

In response to Eugene, It is foolish to assume that your religion or any religion offers any amount of truth. People find their answers in different places, for some that is Catholicism, for others Hinduism(etc.), but the avenue is irrelevant, because what people find in their religions comforts themselves. This does not mean there is one or any absolute or correct religion.

-- Alec (trips52@brandeis.edu), December 17, 2004.

An illusion may indeed be comforting in the short term - but then what? Only the truth can have lasting value. Eternal value. It is indeed foolish, and dangerous, to simply assume that your religion teaches the truth. If truth matters at all it is essential that one take definite steps to identify that religion which can demonstrate reliable evidence of truth, not simply offer assumptions and myths. No such religion existed until God Himself took direct action and reached out to us, thereby superceding all the religions men had devised in an effort to reach out to Him. When Jesus Christ said that the Holy Spirit would guide His Church to all truth, His promise was backed up by hard evidence. He was and is God, a fact He proved every day of His life on earth, by doing things only God could do.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), December 17, 2004.

What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his immortal soul? Christ posed this simple question. He gave us His Holy Church, wherein He was to dwell with His people to the end of the world. He is here to sanctify us and deliver us from death. This DOES comfort us, what could be more natural? Please tell us, Alec; what or who can deliver you from eternal death?

Does it comfort you to see how your life passes and no one comes to save you? Only a headstone will be left to show you ever lived, and Jesus Christ was determined to give you everlasting life. When He died on the cross He was your Paschal Lamb; willing to be immolated so you should never die. Or me; in His Church. --Not, however, to give anybody a particular ''religion that might comfort us''. That's short- sighted to the point of myopia. I don't want an illusory comfort. I belong to the True Church because He is there! We are in communion, united with Jesus in the Church. If He weren't here in the Catholic Church; if He were in some little lost boat bobbing over the seas on the storm, there is where we would have to go. The church would be there, just where He is. He lives, you see; and He calls all mortals to His Church, where they shall find life everlasting with Him. People don't find their answers in different places. (for some that is Catholicism, for others Hinduism(etc.) -- Christ is the one true answer. Ask Him for the answer yourself, sincerely. Give Him the benefit of the doubt and he'll take you into his Heart. You have nothing to lose.

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), December 18, 2004.

Dear Alec, unfortunately you have been misled by the trite sentiment, that people should believe any totally subjective "truth" which “comforts” them and that other people can believe totally different “truths” that are “true for them” but which contradict the “truth” which the other person believes. Every belief is either true or false. A belief can’t be true for you and not true for me. If you and I believe that contradictory things are true, one of us MUST be mistaken. For the sake of peace, we can agree to disagree, but it’s false peace to say “everybody is right”. To say “I don’t believe it but it is true for you” is nonsense.

And certainly as far as Christianity and especially Catholicism is concerned, it is NOT meant to “comfort” you. If your religion merely “comforts” you, I’d say it’s not really Christianity at all. It severely DIScomforts me when I think about the purpose of my life and what I need to do to attain that purpose.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), December 19, 2004.