I'm just wondering why do Catholics worship Mary, the Mother of Jesus?

Originally posted by Jury
Well, maybe the Roman Church indeed is the Church of the Mother of God... considering the position of Mary in the Church.

But, for me, it has nothing to do with the Church that Christ has built.

Originally posted by sonnet
I am so glad that you distinguish between the Church that Christ build and the Catholic Church because there is a huge difference between the two. The church that Christ spoke of is the people who chose to follow Jesus as their Saviour while the other one is a building with men who run it that exalted themselves and twisted many scriptures to suit their bussiness called The Church.

The Predestines came from the Catholics. Before that time there was no other church. This idea that the Catholic Church is not the church that Jesus build is not supportable by history. The fact is that the emperor Constantine converted to Christianity at around 300 AD or so and there was no other church.

Catholics dont worship Mary, we honor her for who she is... she was pure and gave birth to Christ. She went through a lot knowing her son was going to die in the end. We dont worship her as such, but we do pray to her for intercession. The thought is that Jesus is as much Man as he is God, therefore he will listen to his Mother. Not necessarily do what she says because he is God, but he will listen to her.

Jury

Yes I know the Webster’s dictionary definition.

But here is the definition from the Catholic encyclopedia

Hyperdulia

As its Greek roots suggest hyperdulia is above and beyond dulia or respect which is rendered to most of the angels and saints.

Hyperdulia or extended praise is reserved to Our Lady alone because of he unique place among creatures in salvation history. Although the blessed mother ranks first among the blessed ones, the respect accorded her is on an altogether different plane from that reserved for God alone, otherwise known as latria.

My conclusion is that neither you or Webster’s are qualified to teach the Catholic Faith

If you have something to preach please preach it maybe it will stand on its own merit, I like listening to people who believe something, People who just believe against something get boring fast.

According to the Online Catholic Encyclopedia [not from the Webster's]

Originally posted by Jury
This is the Catholic Encyclopedia's full and authoritative information about the word WORSHIP:

The word worship (Saxon weorthscipe, "honour"; from worth, meaning "value", "dignity", "price", and the termination, ship; Lat. cultus) in its most general sense is homage paid to a person or a thing. In this sense we may speak of hero-worship, worship of the emperor, of demons, of the angels, even of relics, and especially of the Cross. [b]This article will deal with Christian worship according to the following definition: homage paid to God, to Jesus Christ, to His saints, to the beings or even to the objects which have a special relation to God.

There are several degrees of this worship:

- If it is addressed directly to God, it is superior, absolute, supreme worship, or worship of adoration, or, according to the consecrated theological term, a worship of latria. This sovereign worship is due to God alone; addressed to a creature it would become idolatry.

- When worship is addressed only indirectly to God, that is, when its object is the veneration of martyrs, of angels, or of saints, it is a subordinate worship dependent on the first, and relative, in so far as it honours the creatures of God for their peculiar relations with Him; it is designated by theologians as the worship of dulia, a term denoting servitude, and implying, when used to signify our worship of distinguished servants of God, that their service to Him is their title to our veneration (cf. Chollet, loc. cit., col. 2407, and Bouquillon, Tractatus de virtute religionis, I, Bruges, 1880, 22 sq.).

- As the Blessed Virgin has a separate and absolutely supereminent rank among the saints, the worship paid to her is called hyperdulia (for the meaning and history of these terms see Suicer, Thesaurus ecclesiasticus, 1728).

In accordance with these principles it will readily be understood that a certain worship may be offered even to inanimate objects, such as the relics of a martyr, the Cross of Christ, the Crown of Thorns, or even the statue or picture of a saint. There is here no confusion or danger of idolatry, for this worship is subordinate or dependent. The relic of the saint is venerated because of the link which unites it with the person who is adored or venerated; while the statue or picture is regarded as having a conventional relation to a person who has a right to our homage -- as being a symbol which reminds us of that person (see Vacant, Diet de théol. cath., s.v. Adoration, and authors cited in bibliography; also ADORATION; IDOLATRY; IMAGES, DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY).[/B]

To summarize up: the Catholics has different degrees of worship, namely:
1. Latria - worship of God
2. Dulia - worship of the saints
* Hyperdulia - worship of Mary

Now, ambrose and a1hsauce... rebuke your Catholic Encyclopedia. 🙂

Now, ambrose and a1hsauce... rebuke your Catholic Encyclopedia.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
The Predestines came from the Catholics. Before that time there was no other church. This idea that the Catholic Church is not the church that Jesus build is not supportable by history. The fact is that the emperor Constantine converted to Christianity at around 300 AD or so and there was no other church.

The Church - the woman who is supposed to be adorned with glory as a bride - now committed adultery in the sight of God.

Originally posted by finti
you learned this by only reading the so called catholic encyclopedia

just had to ask since since thats what you tend to ask those who see things differently than you, but I assume you once was a catholic since you have such and obvious grudge to their ways

I have Catholic friends. I used to ask them. I want to challenge their faith in return because they also used to ask about my own belief. I tend to answer them with the help of the Bible. Everytime I ask, all they can answer is "I don't know". So what they know about their faith? I'm asking the same here. If Catholic individual refused to claim they worship Mary but why their doctrines and authorities saying different? What have the priests done to them? "I don't know?"

What have the priests done to them? "I don't know?"

That's according to your opinion.

Worship services is God's commandment to His people.
Preserving the unity inside the Church. Unity in faith and works.
To us True Christians, it is an obligation.

That's according to your opinion.

Worship services is God's commandment to His people.
Preserving the unity inside the Church. Unity in faith and works.
To us True Christians, it is an obligation

Not according to our True God - the Father. If you view it a "weak faith", it doesn't matter. But, again I respect your opinion. 🙂

Not according to our True God - the Father

That's according to you.

The Catholics do NOT worship Mary....they use her as a telephone line...just as you use your pastor, Jury....It's a go between thing.

Jury

Problem is the English language.

Worship in English has multiple meanings. That is why the church uses Latin as an official language.

Veneration of Mary and Saints falls under the second English definition of worship

2. love somebody deeply: to love, admire, or respect somebody or something greatly and perhaps excessively or unquestioningly

But without the excessively or unquestioningly aspect.

Note the church uses three different words that you wish to equate to being the same even though you have been shown what the definition is in the catechism which is an official Church document.

The encyclopedia you are using for reference is the 1917 encyclopedia which had approval from a bishop but is not an official church document.

I’m thinking that people had a better grasp of English in 1917 which at best is a very imprecise language

1. Latria - worship of God yes
2. Dulia - veneration honor and love
3. Hyperdulia - veneration honor and love for the mother of Christ

Neither Dulia nor Hyperdulia are worship of a or the deity.

The Church has never equated Mary with God, She is the most perfect servant of God an example to us all of how to live and follow Christ.

Or do you think she is not a good example to follow?

Peace

Scott

Satan has them deceived with apparitions of the sleeping dead, like mary and others who are awaiting the 2nd coming when the graves shall be opened.

Could be that they are drunk with the wine (false doctrine) of babylon.