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To: Mad Dawg
"Most Catholics are not as fearful as some Protestants and we trust that God understands what some Protestants will not allow, namely: that one can kneel in front of a statue or painting and not be committing "latria.""

latria....I had NO idea what that word meant, so I looked it up. This is what I found in the Catholic encyclopedia...."Latria (latreia) in classical Greek originally meant "the state of a hired servant" (Aesch., "Prom.", 966), and so service generally. It is used especially for Divine service (Plato, "Apol.", 23 B). In Christian literature it came to have a technical sense for the supreme honour due to His servants, the angels and saints. This latter was styled "dulia". Etymologically, however, there is no reason why latria should be preferred to designate supreme honour; and indeed the two words were often used indiscriminately. The distinction is due to St. Augustine, who says: "Latria . . . ea dicitur servitus quae pertinet ad colendum Deum" (City of God X.1). (See ADORATION; WORSHIP.).... http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09036a.htm

""the state of a hired servant".....I would take this as God's servant....not yours. Certainly not one to be prayed to.

1,104 posted on 01/09/2010 3:02:47 PM PST by NoGrayZone (SARAH PALIN IS MY CUP OF TEA!)
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To: NoGrayZone
Look up abodah (or avodah) also "abdulla" and ebed melech. Then ask yourself why we call what we do in Church "services," "Divine services," or "worship services".

So latreia a few hundred years before Christ meant "service" as one might refer to a slave or a servant in Edwardian England as being "in service."

Then, as your reference shows, both latria and dulia came to refer to "religious" services, and there is nothing in the history (etymology) if the words themselves to make some kind of ordered distinction. So Augustine proposes that "latria be used for thee kind of "service" directed to God and "dulia" for other "service."

If you're going to bandy words, bandy 'em right. This is NOT the first time some Protestant has questioned our practices. I did not know that Augustine first proposed the technical distinction, but I had already made it for you.

""the state of a hired servant".....I would take this as God's servant....not yours. Certainly not one to be prayed to.

Who ever said anything about anybodys being MY servant? Or anything to deny that Mary is God's servant? And as for not praying, okay, from now on I'm frebbuxing (or whatever made up word I invented.)

1,116 posted on 01/09/2010 3:28:16 PM PST by Mad Dawg (Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.)
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