>>Catholics do not pray to Mary or the Saints as a form of worship. Catholics pray to Mary and the Saints as a form of asking a trusted friend for assistance.<<
Youre second sentence is how it is explained to me by my wife (ex-catholic). And as Chuckles says, and I agree, that is not Christian, pure and simple. Just as Mormons say Jesus “mostly” died for your sins, this implies that going to Jesus through “a trusted friend for assistance” diminishes the personal relationship he wants to have with you.
If Jesus was your brother, and he, you and Mary were all walking the earth, do you seriously think it would help your cause to, instead of talking to Him directly, go to mom and ask her to present your case to him - after he has made it abundantly clear he wants a direct and personal relationship with you?
Would it not show unbelief in what he said? Would he, being a man, not feel slighted? Remembering that he was fully man, if you were him, wouldn’t you?
It appears, AlaninSA, many of us understand what Catholics mean by praying “to Mary” more than we thought we did. And it is the very thing you described above that we ARE saying is not Christian.
Christians do not put an intercessor between themself and Jesus - even Mary. It is, frankly, an insult to His promise.
If Jesus was your brother, and he, you and Mary were all walking the earth, do you seriously think it would help your cause to, instead of talking to Him directly, go to mom and ask her to present your case to him - after he has made it abundantly clear he wants a direct and personal relationship with you?
Would it not show unbelief in what he said? Would he, being a man, not feel slighted? Remembering that he was fully man, if you were him, wouldn’t you?
It appears, AlaninSA, many of us understand what Catholics mean by praying “to Mary” more than we thought we did. And it is the very thing you described above that we ARE saying is not Christian.
ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, to the last word. Thanks tons.