Catholics don’t “worship” Mary, she is honored as being the mother of Christ. You’re also told in the Bible to emmulate Christ in everything you do. He honored and obeyed his mother (Mary). But you don’t?
did He make a statue of Mary?
did He kneel before her?
did He pray to her?
did He light candles to her?
did He tell us to rely upon her for our salvation by going through her?
did He mention anything about wearing a scapular to avoid hell as the mary apparitions have done?
did He invoke her as Mediatrix, Advocate, Benefactress, Helper?
did He say none can come to Him unless they go through Mary?
did He ever tell us to pray to Mary?
Christians recognize the unique place of Mary in the Word.
Of all the Hebrew girls she was chosen to be the mother of Christ.
She is the mother of His brothers and sisters.
She was a sinner in need of salvation like the rest of humanity.
She is the wife of Joseph.
All generations will count her blessed for what she did.
Of course Catholics worship Mary! Seriously? You claim Catholics don't?
How do you ask her for stuff? Hmm? Text message? Email? Telephone call (cell or landline)?
By praying to her, Catholics violate The Commandments by worshipping anyone or anything OTHER than God Almighty.
Are there statues of her? Why do Catholics genuflect before her? Is that not a form of obeisance? And why show any such respect to anyone other than God? Mary can't do anything for anyone. Remember when Jesus, God The Son, said in John 14:6:
"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
No one. Except through me (Christ). Oh... And lest anyone think Mary has any role in Salvation or Grace, in John 6:44 Christ says:
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."
"...unless the Father who sent me draws him." The Father draws us to the Son. Not sure? Christ re-affirms this a few verses down in John 6:65:
'And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."'
So what does Mary have to do with these things? Nothing. Only Christ saves. Grace comes to us from God. The Father draws us to the Son.
So why pray to Mary? Why waste time venerating her, or any other departed soul when a) they can't do anything for you, much less hear you; and, b) you have direct access to God Almighty!
Remember when the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, what did Jesus say? Did he say "when you pray, say, 'Mary...'"? No. He said in Luke 11:
"11 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." 2 And he said to them, "When you pray, say:
"Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread,
4 and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation."
5 And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7 and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Kinda removes the need to pray to saints, Mary, or anyone other than God Almighty.
Happy New Year
Hoss