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You don't really ask your friends for prayer in ANY way comparable with the way you pray to Mary, now do you?

The point is that Mary is not God, and neither is she Steve. When I ask Mary to give me strength it is something she can give and so can Steve. When I "devote my services of my own free will for the salvation of mankind" to Mary but not to Steve it is because Mary gave us the Word for salvation of mankind, but Steve did not; and if Steve did something extraordinary for the salvation of mankind, then I would wish to devote my services to him too.

The point is that Mary is not God, and neither is she Steve. When I ask Mary to give me strength it is something she can give and so can Steve. When I "devote my services of my own free will for the salvation of mankind" to Mary but not to Steve it is because Mary gave us the Word for salvation of mankind, but Steve did not; and if Steve did something extraordinary for the salvation of mankind, then I would wish to devote my services to him too.

Mary gave us the Word????? Mary gave us??? Good grief Annalex, look at yourself! In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. God used the womb of Mary in order to become man. You all make a whole big deal out of Mary's obedience as if it is something so extraordinary as to merit eternal awe of her. Listen, when God Almighty sends an angel to speak to you personally and TELLS YOU what He is going to do, your saying "be it done to me as you said" is frankly not a gift of yourself but an acknowledgement that God is God and He can do what He wishes.

Mary was a pious woman. She was a Godly woman in that she didn't hesitate to follow God. But God didn't ask her "Mary, if you don't mind...." or "Mary, will you?" Mary's will wasn't really a part of it, though God chose to use her and found pleasure in blessing her with the honor. But Mary did NOT GIVE US the Word. Mary did not give us salvation. Mary didn't contribute to our salvation. God could have used any other woman from the tribe of Judah to accomplish His will. Mary was the one He chose to use, and we are blessed because of it - by GOD HIMSELF.

Jesus willingly came down. The Word became flesh. He did it for our salvation. It was an act of HIS WILL that caused the Word to come into this world He could have impregated Mary against her will. It so happens that she willingly agreed - but, God being sovereign, wasn't going through all the houses of the women of Judah and saying "uh, wanna be the mother of the Messiah?" Mary was a specific part of God's plan throughout the ages. Had she objected to Jesus putting his life in danger it would not stop Him. He did not need Mary's permission. She was a mere woman. She was NO DIFFERENT in her birth, life, or death from "Steve" except for the fact that she happened to be the one that God used. It could be Steve is not a Christian. Mary became one. But she was a mere mortal. She was a sinner. She needed a Savior. And she followed after God. For that reason and that reason alone she deserves our admiration - but she does NOT deserve our worship and the way Catholicism "venerates" her is worship. They build statues to her. They pray to her. They ask for HER to protect them. They ask for HER to forgive them. They ask for HER to take the role of God as their mediator and their advocate and make her a co-Redeemer because she grieved when her Son died. When they sin, a little chant in Mary's name makes it all better. When they die, many commit their lives to Mary's care. And yet you will tell me that it isn't idolatry. You will tell me it is not worship. Well, if it looks like a duck and quacks like one... it is.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

# John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The point is that Mary is not God, and neither is she Steve. When I ask Mary to give me strength it is something she can give and so can Steve. When I "devote my services of my own free will for the salvation of mankind" to Mary but not to Steve it is because Mary gave us the Word for salvation of mankind, but Steve did not; and if Steve did something extraordinary for the salvation of mankind, then I would wish to devote my services to him too.

The distinction is that when I ask Steve for prayer, I'm not asking him to do anything other than pray to God on my behalf. I am not asking Steve to act on my supplication to God. Those are very different things. If I thought that Steve was in a position to personally grant me strength (or whatever), then I would just ask him for it. I wouldn't ask him for his prayer to God. If I asked him, and Steve could not give me the wisdom or advice for strength, etc., THEN I would ask him for prayer. Sometimes I might do both, but that would only be when I wanted more than Steve could give me. The point is that you are NOT simply asking for prayer, as has been advertised. You are asking for specific action other than prayer.

If you pray to a Saint for a specific action other than prayer, I'm guessing you think the Saint has the power to grant your request. Therefore, there is no need to "bother" God with it. I see this as problematic for several reasons, one being that it specifically diminishes your dependence on God.