Christ himself commanded that we pray for one another. So I really don’t see why you have an issue with Mary praying for us.
“Catholic attitude toasted God is that somehow God is just too busy to hear our prayers.”
Has anyone here besides you expressed this? No. Hardly.
“if only a more holy person than ourselves could mediate between us and God”
Mediators are not the same as intercessors. Intercessors are those who pray to God for us. They intercede.
“this would be more effective in getting our prayers heard than if we ask Jesus to be our mediator.”
Well now I have to ask you, do you sincerely believe that prayer is effective? If so, then why is it a bad thing for people to pray together on something?
INDEED:
Excellent post Dr. E. As an aside, I think the whole idea of praying to the saints rather than directly to the Father as commanded by Christ is blasphemous in that it seems that the Catholic attitude toasted God is that somehow God is just too busy to hear our prayers, or that if only a more holy person than ourselves could mediate between us and God that this would be more effective in getting our prayers heard than if we ask Jesus to be our mediator. The whole thing diminishes the Glory and power of God. Frankly I believe that it was designed to do just that. Catholic theology exalts man and debases God. That is the bottom line.
...I think the whole idea of praying to the saints rather than directly to the Father as commanded by Christ is blasphemous ...Really? So if I ask you to pray for me (please do!), I am blaspheming?
P-Marlowe wrote:
...it seems that the Catholic attitude toasted {sic} God is that somehow God is just too busy to hear our prayers...Again, really? If I ask you to pray for me again (and I do!), is that because I think God is too busy to hear my prayers?
P-Marlowe wrote:
...or that if only a more holy person than ourselves could mediate between us and God that this would be more effective in getting our prayers heard than if we ask Jesus to be our mediator. ...Wow, again, really? So if I ask you to pray for me (and again, I do!), does that mean I think you are more Holy than I or that I think Our Lord Jesus Christ is somehow NOT the Way, the Truth and the Light?
P-Marlowe wrote:
The whole thing diminishes the Glory and power of God.
What "whole thing"? Asking others to pray for us? Or is there more about Catholic Worship that bothers you to the point you condemn us? P-Marlowe wrote:
Frankly I believe that it was designed to do just that. Catholic theology exalts man and debases God. That is the bottom line.Aha! It is everything that Catholic's believe, is that what you are claiming?
My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden, For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm: He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree. He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He has sent empty away. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy; As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum, et exsultávit spíritus meus in Deo salvatóre meo, quia respéxit humilitátem ancíllæ suæ. Ecce enim ex hoc beátam me dicent omnes generatiónes, quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius, et misericórdia eius in progénies et progénies timéntibus eum. Fecit poténtiam in bráchio suo, dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui; depósuit poténtes de sede et exaltávit húmiles. Esuriéntes implévit bonis et dívites dimísit inánes. Suscépit Ísrael púerum suum, recordátus misericórdiæ, sicut locútus est ad patres nostros, Ábraham et sémini eius in sæcula. Glória Patri et Fílio et Spirítui Sancto. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc et semper, et in sæcula sæculórum. Amen.Wow, so you claim that the "bottom line" is that the theology of the entire Universal Church, extant since the Day of Pentecost "exalts man and debases God". Just wow. And with such clearly flawed reasoning. Do please pray for me and all of us debased (your implication) Catholics, as I assure you, we pray for you.