Is it Okay for Christians to Pray to Mary?
Mary’s special status as Jesus’ mother did not grant her any more access to God than any other Christian, as Jesus stated in Luke 11: “It is more blessed to be a follower of Christ than it is to be the mother of Christ.” Mary is not deserving of Christian prayers.
Mary, Mother of Jesus
Mary, the mother of Jesus, has always captivated Christians because she carried the Son of God in her womb and nursed him as an infant. Mary is admirable because of her selflessness, courage, and faith in God, but her unique position did not grant her special access to God.
Mary in the Bible
In Luke 11, after driving out the demon that had rendered him speechless, a woman exclaimed, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you!” The sentiment is echoed in the Hail Mary, one of the most popular Catholic prayers.
Why Do Catholics Pray to Mary?
Mary is revered in the Roman Catholic church as a mediator in her own right, and the practice of praying to her is supported by the doctrine of the Assumption, which states that she was born without the stain of original sin.
What Jesus Said About Prayer
‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,’ ‘Deliver us from the evil one,’ ‘Give us today our daily bread,’ etc. Matthew 6:5-13: Pray in humility and ask God for what you need in faith.
Sources
Luke 11:15, John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible. “Roman Catholicism: Beliefs and Practices,” Francis Christopher Oakley, Michael David Knowles, and Others, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018.
Why do we pray to Mary instead of Jesus?
Catholics do not pray to Mary as if she were God; rather, prayer to Mary is a remembrance of the great mysteries of our faith (in the rosary, the Incarnation and Redemption through Christ), praise to God for the wonderful things he has done in and through one of his creatures (Hail Mary), and intercession (second half of the Hail Mary).
Why is praying to Mary wrong?
Non-Catholics frequently confuse Mary, Jesus’ mother, by pointing to statues of Mary in Catholic churches and Catholics praying the Hail Mary as indisputable evidence of idolatry, blasphemy, or other heresies.
Who should I pray to God or Jesus?
Praying directly to God the Father We cannot go wrong when we pray directly to God the Father, who is our Creator and whom we should worship. We have direct access to God through Jesus, who is not limited to priests and prophets, but is available to all of us.
Why do Protestants not believe in Mary?
The Roman Catholic Church honors Mary, Jesus’ mother, as “Queen of Heaven,” but Protestants reject Catholic Marian dogmas such as the Immaculate Conception, perpetual virginity, and ascension into heaven because there are few biblical references to support them.
Is it a sin to pray to saints?
It is good and useful suppliantly to invoke them, and to have recourse to their prayers, aid, and help for obtaining benefits from God, through His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, Who alone is our Redeemer and Saviour, according to Catholic Church doctrine.
Why is Mary not God?
1. We have a faith proposition that directly contradicts the Church’s ongoing and authoritative teaching: Mary is not God; she is a creature of God and a human being, but she is neither God’s Co-Creator nor the Holy Spirit’s soul.
Do Catholics pray to Jesus?
There are a number of prayers to Jesus Christ in the Roman Catholic tradition, but they are usually not associated with a specific Catholic devotion with a feast day, so they are separated from the prayers that accompany Roman Catholic devotions to Christ like Holy Face of Jesus or Divine Mercy.
What are the benefits of praying the Rosary?
We can gain peace of mind, an increase in love for Jesus, unity with our Church, follow Mary’s request, better understand God’s will in our lives, and a greater focus on God rather than ourselves by praying the Rosary.
What is Jesus real name?
In Hebrew, Jesus’ name was ” Yeshua,” which means “Joshua” in English.
Do you have to pray to talk to God?
Because prayer is primarily rooted in religion, it can be thought of as a more formal way to communicate with God; however, you can pray in any way that feels comfortable to you.
How did Jesus say we should pray?
“When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come; give us daily bread; forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us; and do not lead us into temptation,” he said.
Why did Protestants remove 7 books from the Bible?
Luther attempted to remove Hebrews James and Jude from the Canon (notably, he saw them going against certain Protestant doctrines like sola gratia or sola fide) in order to make the Bible conform to his theology.
What religion does not believe in Mary?
However, Mormons believe that we pray to the heavenly father, with Christ as our only intercessor, so Mary no longer has grounds for worship, despite our reverence and gratitude for her.
What is the difference between Catholics and Christians?
Catholics also follow Jesus Christ’s teachings, but they do so through the church, which they regard as the path to Jesus, and they believe in the Pope’s special authority, which other Christians may or may not believe in, whereas Christians are free to accept or reject individual teachings and interpretations of the bible.