Inside The Scroll - Inside the Catholic Catechism

Doctrines of the Rosary And Prayers To Mary

(971) “All generations will call me blessed”: “The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin IS INTRINSIC to Christian WORSHIP.” The Church rightly honors “the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs. . . This very special devotion . . . differs essentially from adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration.” The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an “epitome of the whole Gospel,” express this devotion to the Virgin Mary. (Page 275)

My friend, you can call it what every you like, but when you bow yourself to a statue or erect a statue of Mary, and pray to her, it is WORSHIP. All through the Old Testament you can see how God hated this practice. He is a jealous God, and will not share his glory with anyone, because He alone is worthy to accept praise and honor and worship. This teaching is clearly unscriptural.

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

The Magi (wise men) came seeking the Lord, it is interesting to note that they did not kneel and worship, or pray to Mary, they worshipped the Lord Jesus.

Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and WORSHIPPED HIM: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto HIM gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

The Word of God forbids prayers and worship to anyone but to God Himself. In all cultures and religions people pray to their God. I know that Catholics pray to Mary out of ignorance, not realizing that what they are really doing is rendering worship to her.

Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and HIM ONLY shalt thou serve.

We are also commanded not to have any images of anything in heaven or on earth, and not to even bow down before them. Again this is very common practice among Catholics. I have seen the statues of Mary in the yards as I drive by. Many of the Catholic Churches have a life-size crucifix hanging on the wall. The Church members bow down to them, they say out of respect. None the less, they bow down. This is expressly forbidden in Scripture.

Exodus 20:3-5 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any LIKENESS of any thing THAT IS IN HEAVEN above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not BOW DOWN thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.

If you are involved in this practice, I know that it is not your intention to do wrong and worship idols, and you do not consider it to be idol worship. It doesn’t matter what you or I think or anyone else thinks. What does matter is what God thinks? What does God call it? Who are you going believe, man or God’s Word? Read the Bible, check me out! You are capable of understanding the simple truths of the Word of God, no matter what some men might tell you. Remember 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 from above.

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