Do not play semantically games. >Catholics pray to Mary and the saints. Anyone imploring someone in Heaven by favors would be called praying.
because Catholics really believe that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are real, and that Mary and the saints are real, and in a spiritual communion and unity through the Holy Spirit ..
And so forth and so one, but which is rationalization that ignore the utter absence of even one example of anyone praying/making supplication in Heaven to Mary or anyone else, much less to a crowned, enthroned Queen of Heaven.
the only text in heaven that comes to mind, and without any prayer but full of majesty, is And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
And which means you come up empty. Meanwhile, is this the official interpretation of your church, so that the notes (in part) in your NAB Bible cannot be correct?
The woman adorned with the sun, the moon, and the stars (images taken from ⇒ Genesis 37:9-10) symbolizes God's people in the Old and the New Testament. The Israel of old gave birth to the Messiah (⇒ Rev 12:5) and then became the new Israel, the church, which suffers persecution by the dragon (⇒ Rev 12:6, ⇒ 13-17); cf ⇒ Isaiah 50:1; ⇒ 66:7; ⇒ Jeremiah 50:12.; http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__P12V.HTM#$54O
So you admit Mary is in heaven, interesting. And that is what troubles you, for if you asked someone in your Protestant church to pray for you, you would be comfortable. I see where you're coming from. You just would be uncomfortable asking Lazarus, Martha, Mary the sister of Lazarus and Martha, or Mary the mother of God with us, to pray for your genuine needs. I get that. because Catholics really believe that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are real, and that Mary and the saints are real, and in a spiritual communion and unity through the Holy Spirit .. And so forth and so one, but which is rationalization that ignore the utter absence of even one example of anyone praying/making supplication in Heaven to Mary or anyone else, much less to a crowned, enthroned Queen of Heaven. the only text in heaven that comes to mind, and without any prayer but full of majesty, is And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And which means you come up empty.
Why herein is a marvelous thing, I don't feel empty at all. I'm inspired by what Mary said and did.
Meanwhile, is this the official interpretation of your church, so that the notes (in part) in your NAB Bible cannot be correct? The woman adorned with the sun, the moon, and the stars (images taken from ⇒ Genesis 37:9-10) symbolizes God's people in the Old and the New Testament. The Israel of old gave birth to the Messiah (⇒ Rev 12:5) and then became the new Israel, the church, which suffers persecution by the dragon (⇒ Rev 12:6, ⇒ 13-17); cf ⇒ Isaiah 50:1; ⇒ 66:7; ⇒ Jeremiah 50:12.; http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__P12V.HTM#$54O
I don't presume to speak for the Catholic Church as to whether or not there is an official interpretation of Revelation 12 in particular. I do know that Miriam is the Virgin of Israel, foretold by the prophets, a chosen vessel of God, of whom the world is not worthy; I know she is Israel, the very Israel of God and she brought forth the man child who is the Messiah, who will rule all nations. There is nothing anyone can say or do to separate her from Messiah or her from his holy catholic apostolic church. There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.