Catholics do not pray to Mary as if she were God. Prayer to Mary is memory of the great mysteries of our faith (Incarnation, Redemption through Christ in the rosary), praise to God for the wonderful things he has done in and through one of his creatures (Hail Mary) and intercession (second half of the Hail Mary). The latter is addressed to Mary not as to a vending machine but a support person helping us to discern the will of God in our lives. Mary is a volunteer, highly recommendable and recommended, but not a mandatory and inescapable passage.
So, yes, Pliedes, we do pray to Mary (and all the other saints) but God is always the most important. Certain saints are known for certain help, so you pray to them specifically. Some of these are very old but help to keep each Catholic's faith high. An example of this would be when some Catholic's either place a statue or bury a statue (I can't remember which) of Saint Peter? in their front yard when they are trying to sell their house.
Some people say that the Catholic church is very reminiscient of a cult but all the things we do we can back up with scripture, as most churches can. I'm finding out quickly that there is a wealth of information to be found about any religion under the sun, including Catholicism. Unfortunately, there is also a vast amount of anti-religion stuff out there. I typed in Anti-Catholic papers and found about 5,130 results. Some people can't be happy with just living their religion and letting other people live theirs. They have to go out and bash other religions and try to prove that theirs is the best. This is actually the complete opposite of what they are told. Most religions are taught to be accepting of differences but some people would go so far as that they don't have to accept other religions like Jews or Catholics. How hypocritical is that? If someone is all about hate, than there is no religion for them.
[ September 18, 2003, 11:09 PM: Message edited by: Schroeder ]
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