[fromscratchmom]

"Please tell me at what point during the Mass that people worship Mary."

I should have been more clear. The actions I was referring to are on the way in and on the way out of the pews, probably not considered part of the mass. But the act of kneeling and making the sign of the cross is what prompted me to ask my question, to which two different friends and now my husband have told me that it is directed toward a statue of Mary and then also that yes they do pray or in the case of the two friends they did say "worship" her. But your last post clearly explained what your view is on this. Thanks.

[sitetest]

Dear fromscratchmom,

"The actions I was referring to are on the way in and on the way out of the pews, probably not considered part of the mass. But the act of kneeling and making the sign of the cross is what prompted me to ask my question, to which two different friends and now my husband have told me that it is directed toward a statue of Mary..."

Really? Do you know what the Sign of the Cross is? Do you know what we Catholics (and Orthodox) say when we make the Sign of the Cross?

Forgive us this terrible blasphemy, but what we say when we make the Sign of the Cross is, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

We touch our foreheads, our chest, and our shoulders to trace the Cross of Christ on our bodies, so that we acknowledge that we are praying in the name of the Trinity, and especially of the Divine Son Who was crucified for us.

We often start and finish our prayers with the Sign of the Cross. That is whether we're saying a prayer of intercession to Mary or another saint, or whether we're praying to God Himself. It is our confession of our faith in the Trinitarian God, that all our prayers are prayed out of our faith in the Most Holy Trinity.

As for "worshipping" Mary, well, perhaps your husband and two friends should go find a different Church, as "worshipping" Mary with the worship due to God alone is considered idolatry in the Catholic Church.

I don't know where your husband and friends got their ideas, but their ideas certainly aren't Catholic.


sitetest

[JohnnyZ]

The actions I was referring to are on the way in and on the way out of the pews, probably not considered part of the mass. But the act of kneeling and making the sign of the cross is what prompted me to ask my question, to which two different friends and now my husband have told me that it is directed toward a statue of Mary

Going in and out of the pews -> one is supposed to genuflect, kneel before the Lord who we believe is present in the Eucharist. The tabernacle (a possibly gold container with a red candle or other light next to it, should be front and center but may be front and off to one side) contains the Body of Christ -- the transfigured Host. When someone enters the sanctuary they genuflect toward the tabernacle before entering the pew; when they're done for the day, they genuflect toward the tabernacle when leaving the pew. This is usually taught as "kneel before you go into the pew" without explaining about the Real Presence of Christ, so it's not surprising that you'd hear some creative explanations.