Jesus Is Savior -- Why Pray to Mary?

[@treyedavis9466]

"Paul said pray for me." Praying for someone and to someone are two different things.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Exactly. We ask the saints in heaven to pray for us, not to us.

[@matahari8568]

@@TheFatimaCenter why dont you ask Jesus directly,..?

[@TheFatimaCenter]

@@matahari8568 We do, and we encourage you to continue to do so, but not to neglect honoring His Mother as He desires. All grace comes to us through the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Our Lord wants us to ask Her for these graces. God bless you.

[@matahari8568]

@@TheFatimaCenter "all grace comes to us through the blessed virgin mary" which verse in bible says this..? Sorry just curious..

[@TheFatimaCenter]

@@matahari8568 We would do well to let our curiousity take us a step further back, testing our assumptions to get to the really pertinent questions for our right service to God. Holding the Bible as the sole rule of faith fails under honest scrutiny even from testimonies found in Sacred Scripture. The Bible did not assemble itself, nor does it teach itself. The Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura is the height of diabolic pride, establishing one's own opinion as the rule of faith, a monstrous usurpation of the divinely given role of His Church. God bless you.

[@Samtheman2333]

9:20 "Devotion to Mary is necessary for salvation". I bet this priest seeks the Lord well but how can you say that?? JESUS died for my sins and He alone has saved me. Also, in the beginning of the video he literally says Paul asks for fellow believers to pray "for" him and the priest decides it's the word of God that says "to" him. I've read the entire bible and the understanding is not limited to priests. Jesus makes it clear that He is the only way to heaven. Nowhere is devotion to Mary included and Jesus equates Mary to every other human being on this planet. Know the word.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

The Blessed Virgin Mary is absolutely unique among all the other members of mankind, as She herself affirmed by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, saying "All generations shall call me blessed" -- a prophecy that all true Christians of every generation until the end of time will acknowledge the wonderful prerogatives given to Her: Her Immaculate Conception, Her Perpetual Virginity, Her Divine Maternity, Her bodily Assumption, Her Coronation as Queen of Heaven and Earth, and Her roles as Co-Redemptrix, Mother of Christians, and Mediatrix of all graces given to men.

[@Samtheman2333]

Very gentle response. I appreciate that as a brother in Christ. Maybe you could clear some things up for me. Why do you give Mary those titles, praises, and all hails when Jesus even denies the perfection of Himself to say "Why do you call me good? There is none good but God." in Mark 18:20?

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Dear Friend, Thank you for your important question. Our Lord’s words are recorded differently by the evangelists, though the sense is the same: “Why asketh thou Me concerning good? One is good, God.” (Mt 19:17) “Why callest thou Me good? None is good but one, that is God.” (Mk 10:18) “Why dost thou call Me good? None is good but God alone.” (Lk 18:19) Of course, since Christ IS God, this response gives no implication that the Rich Young Man had erred in calling Him good. Rather than a denial of His own divine perfection, these words of Our Lord seem to be an encouragement to greater faith on the part of the questioner. Citing the interpretation of St. Jerome and others, Cornelius a Lapide says: “This inquirer did not have perfect faith concerning Christ, nor did he believe Him to be God. To this faith Christ desired to raise and encourage him by chiding him, as it were, as though He had said, ‘If thou callest Me good, believe that I am God; for no one is good of himself except God.” Regarding the honor with which God has exalted the Blessed Virgin, and which He desires us to show toward Her, St. Alphonsus de Liguori writes (in the Introduction to his work, The Glories of Mary): “Since all graces are dispensed by Mary, and since all who are saved are saved only by the means of this divine Mother, it is a necessary consequence that the salvation of all depends upon preaching Mary, and exciting all to confidence in Her intercession.” I encourage you to read this entire book, or at least the first Part of it, for a better appreciation of this tremendously important topic. Chapter V of Part I, which discusses the necessity of Our Lady’s intercession for our salvation, begins on page 168 in this online text: archive.org/stream/thegloriesofmary00liguuoft#page/168/mode/2up God bless you. Father Gruner

[@Samtheman2333]

***** I actually have a few questions, Sir. I don't understand how you justify Mary being "good" if Jesus said that only God is good. I understand that Jesus called Himself good in this verse I'm just wondering how you include Mary when Jesus does not? The quotes you showed me were not from the bible. How do these books have the authority to contradict the bible? When God says to have no one before Him and do not worship other idols how is Mary worshiped when she is not in the Godhead? And which scripture do you use that says to worship Mary? It can't be Mark 3:32-35. Thank you God bless!

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Dear Sam, Catholics do not “worship” the Blessed Virgin. It would be a crime to WORSHIP as God anyone or anything other than God. But this fact is in no way against our seeking the prayers of the faithful upon earth or of the saints and angels in Heaven, in order that we might obtain the mercy, grace, and salvation purchased for us by Jesus Christ. From the earliest age of the Church, Christians have professed their belief in the Communion of Saints. Many Protestants to this day also repeat these words of the Creed, though they misunderstand the doctrine. It is Christ’s own express will for His Church that He dispenses His mediation through secondary agents. He delegates priestly powers to certain members of His Church, as St. Paul confirms: “Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the dispensers of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor 4: 1). It is also Our Lord’s will that we pray for one another. St. Peter was delivered from prison and death by the prayers of the faithful (Acts 12), and St. Paul assured the Christians in Rome that he also was relying on their prayers: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the charity of the Holy Ghost, that you help me in your prayers for me to God, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers that are in Judea, and that the oblation of my service may be acceptable in Jerusalem to the saints” (Rom 15: 30-31). It would be a denial of the doctrine of the Communion of Saints to suppose that we have no communication with the holy souls who have passed from this world, who obviously have even more interest in our well-being and salvation now that they are with God than they did when they were here on earth. This applies above all to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is the greatest of all the saints. That we should ask Her intercession for us is perfectly in accord with true Christian doctrine. We Catholics not only believe in Our Lord as our one Mediator, but we also do as He has commanded us in honoring His holy Mother. God bless you. Fr. Gruner

[@edd_menjr954]

Where in the scripture as in chapter/verse does it say to pray to saints and/or mary?

[@edd_menjr954]

Sorry for thr late reply this really doesn't tell me when you reply. Question so praying the saints is necessary for them to intercede for us? Or put in a good word? So we arent supposed to pray to them but ask them to pray for us? Also why is it necessary to pray to mary for salvation as you said in the end of the video?

[@edd_menjr954]

Edwin Mendez *****

[@edd_menjr954]

***** awesome! Also if you can provide the scripture as in 'chapter/verse' for each answer that would be very nice and helpful. Thank you & God bless.

[@sephoraferjuste]

alray We do not need people to intercede for us. We can and should pray to God directly. God hears my prayers just fine. I don't need Mary or saints to intercede for me. In fact, that goes against scripture. Jesus is the only mediator.

[@toddlyon7501]

I think the concept is more like My family and friends who are praying for me now. I understand you don't NEED people to intercede for you ... but I don't think it is a bad thing that my family and friends are also praying to God on my behalf (to help me when sick with cancer - which I don't want to sound to desolate my prognosis is good - but it is still very scary), while I also pray to God that I get through this and live to raise my daughter. While I understand their is no need for it, and I don't personally do this (ask the saints for their prayers as I would ask my biological sister to pray for me for example) .... that is the concept as I understand it or as it has been explained to me by clergy, to ask the saints (brothers and sisters in christ) for their support in praying for you.

[@PsyCygnet]

What? Surely you realise that praying to someone and praying for someone are two very different things. Paul said pray for me not pray to me.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Exactly. Removing the ambiguity in our expressions will go far to settle any confusion. Rather than discussing the question of praying to God vs. praying to saints, we might speak more exactly of worshiping God, as opposed to giving honor to or seeking the intercession of the saints. We can easily agree that we are to adore God only, and that we are to give honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:7). Likewise, if as St. James says (5:16), the prayer of a just man will greatly avail us, it is certainly worthwhile to ask our holy friends -- in this world or the next -- for their prayers. As you mention, we have the example of St. Paul who, by inspiration in his epistles, asks his fellow members of the Communion of Saints for their prayers. In other words, he directly solicits their intercession. To the Romans he "prays": “I beseech you therefore, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the charity of the Holy Ghost, that you help me in your prayers for me to God, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers that are in Judea, and that the oblation of my service may be acceptable in Jerusalem to the saints.” (Rom 15: 30-31)

[@georgepenton808]

If it is okay to ask people here on earth to pray for you then it is okay to ask people already in Heaven to pray for us.

[@ansel9132]

George Penton but no one is in heaven yet Except for enoch and Elijah

[@yamar6]

George Penton They cannot hear you anymore, They are not omnipresent/omnipotent only God and only God answers and listens to prayers, but you can ask fellow christians or belivers of Christ who are still alive here on earth to pray for you but not the dead ones for it is against God

[@jerbuckstv]

Pro Tein I agree with you. We should not pray to the dead persons but only to Jesus alone because He was the only one who conquered death. These two persons in the videos are really blind in the truth. Mary needs a savior and that is Jesus Christ. Let’s continue to pray in these two persons and even to those who are blinded by the truth.

[@loganross1861]

I never thought I’d be a Catholic, never in a million years... But God is doing something in me, and I’m starting to see how I’ve been so wrong about a lot of these things...I feel so guilty...

[@TheFatimaCenter]

God bless you for this comment. He is so good -- but the devil will not be idle in the face of the good work he sees being done in us. Apply yourself to Our Lady's protection and assistance through Her Rosary every day! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZ69fYWKob2laKM fatima.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/bt016_pray_the_rosary.pdf

[@loganross1861]

TheFatimaCenter if praying to Mary is wrong, I agree with the Protestants that it is really wrong. But right now I’m not sure whether it is or isn’t. I know that I’ve been wrong about enough to have to rethink this. One thing I’m having trouble with is Mariology.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

@@loganross1861 It would be useful to begin by setting aside the ambiguous expression of "praying to" the saints. Properly understood, there is nothing wrong with that expression, but it can be a stumbling block for someone who is accustomed to using the words only in the sense of adoration, as we would mean in speaking about praying to God. Protestants understand very well that we can adore only God, Who is our Creator and Redeemer, an infinitely perfect and eternal spirit. But they also understand that it is perfectly proper to show certain kinds of reverence to many of God creatures, such as to our parents and teachers, and to those who hold authority in society (since all authority in this world comes from God). This fitting reverence is at the heart of the doctrine of the Communion of Saints. Regarding another aspect of this teaching, it is clear from Sacred Scripture that God approves and even desires that we should ask for the prayers of others on our behalf. As Saint James says (5:16), "the prayer of a just man availeth much" - an obvious corollary of which is that if a just man’s prayers are powerful with God, then it is worthwhile to ask such a man for his prayers. In fact, we honor God by doing so since the just man’s virtue is ultimately the work of God. The truly Christian and biblical attitude toward Our Lady is seen in the salutation given by the angel Gabriel: “Hail, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women.” Our Lady’s dignity as the Immaculate Conception, never tainted by even Original Sin or any personal sin, and chosen to be the Mother of God is beyond our comprehension. It would be a blasphemy to disdain Her. Again Saint Elizabeth greeted Our Lady, referring explicitly to Her dignity as the Mother of God, with the same words that the angel had used indicating the utterly unique place of Our Lady among all of humanity: “Blessed art thou among women.... And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Our Lady in all humility confirmed the truth of the extraordinary dignity bestowed upon Her by God, in a prophecy describing all the true followers of Christ throughout the centuries: “Henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” God bless you.

[@luciadeloach9932]

Logan Ross there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Welcome home brother 🙏💕

[@Mickyboi1]

I was raised catholic and abandoned it for a few years when i found christ, i turned strongly against catholicism but as you said it feels like god is doing something in me to draw me back in...

[@mahderehailu8317]

i dont pray to marry becuase it says for there is one God and One mediator between God and men, the man christ jesus not ,marry ok

[@TheFatimaCenter]

There is no contradiction here with the doctrine of Our Lord as the one Mediator between God and men. We read in Acts, chapter 12, how Saint Peter was delivered from prison and death by the prayers of the faithful. Likewise Saint Paul assured the Christians in Rome that he was relying on their prayers: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the charity of the Holy Ghost, that you help me in your prayers for me to God, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers that are in Judea, and that the oblation of my service may be acceptable in Jerusalem to the saints” (Rom 15: 30-31). Thus it is clear not only that Our Lord desires and expects us to pray for one another, but also that in so doing - mediating for one another before God - we give no injury to the fact that Christ is our one essential Mediator. For it is Christ’s own express will that He dispense the graces which flow from His mediation through secondary agents, the greatest of these being His own Mother.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

@@bealightinthisdarkworld8225 It is Christ’s own express will that He dispense the graces which flow from His mediation through secondary agents, the greatest of these being His own Mother. Saint Paul confirms that Our Lord has willed to call certain members of the Church, whom He has delegated to share in His own priestly powers, to dispense the mysteries of God among the faithful: “Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the dispensers of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor 4: 1). Other passages could be cited to the same effect, e.g.: “Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Mat. 28:19); “Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained” (John 20:23). Neither does Our Lady’s appointed role in our salvation - in offering Her Son for our Redemption, in offering Her own merits on our behalf, and as Mediatrix of all graces - interfere or detract from the infinite merits and unique mediation of Christ Himself. The Blessed Virgin's complete freedom from sin (whether in the guilt of personal actual sin or of Original Sin, or in the effects of either kind of sin) is implicitly affirmed in the angel's salutation, in which he calls Her "Full of Grace." The doctrine of Our Lady's Immaculate Conception is also contained in the prophetic promise of Genesis, "She shall crush thy head," speaking of a victory that will be complete. Clearly, too, Christ's victory over Satan would not be complete if His Mother had not been preserved from Original Sin. The truly Christian and biblical attitude toward Our Lady is seen in this same salutation by the angel Gabriel: “Hail, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women.” Our Lady’s dignity as the Immaculate Conception, never tainted by even Original Sin or any personal sin, and chosen to be the Mother of God is beyond our comprehension. It would be a blasphemy to disdain Her. Again Saint Elizabeth greeted Our Lady, referring explicitly to Her dignity as the Mother of God, with the same words that the angel had used indicating the utterly unique place of Our Lady among all of humanity: “Blessed art thou among women.... And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Our Lady in all humility confirmed the truth of the extraordinary dignity bestowed upon Her by God, in a prophecy describing all the true followers of Christ throughout the centuries: “Henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”

[@TheFatimaCenter]

@@bealightinthisdarkworld8225 If you understand this to be a mark of disrespect toward His Mother, you have much to learn about Our Lord.

[@Kolchak_Enjoyer]

Mary*

[@a.r.4093]

Mother Mary has made numerous apparitions throughout history that have been CONFIRMED. She has performed miracles during such apparitions and has, in some cases, made accurate prophecies as well (predicted end of WWI and beginning of WWII at Our Lady of Fatima, also the Rwandan Genocide at Our Lady of Kibeho). Protestants will say "oh, that was the devil appearing as Mary". Well, at every single confirmed apparition, Mary's messages all revolve around repenting, turning away from sin and towards God, and praying/making sacrifices for sinners. To say the devil is appearing as Mary, based on what I just described, is extremely impractical and honestly even counter-intuitive--why would the devil be asking souls to turn away from sin and completely towards God? Therefore, this proves Mary's significance in Heaven.

[@TheMsSimone]

Paul asked people to pray to GOD for him, not to Angels. Big difference.

[@georgepenton808]

It doesn't say to. It doesn't have to. All it has to do is be taught by the Church. Not everything was written down in scripture---see 2 Thessalonians 2:15.

[@georgepenton808]

No difference at all. If people can pray for us so can angels. And so can saints already in Heaven.

[@truechristianstopsatan9434]

@@georgepenton808 People are People & The Angels are not People, We should not ask the angels to pray for us

[@cedillo107]

Jesus Die and Resurrected for our sin “past” the Holy Spirt guides in our “Present” and the Angels make sure the will of God is fulfilled in our “Future” Received Jesus as your Lord and Savior follow his commandments and you will receive salvation Thank You! My God is a loving and jealousy God and I will worship and pray to only him

[@truechristianstopsatan9434]

@@Kitiwake So what? it dosent matter you're not supposed to ask the angels to pray for us, Pray to them or praying to saints. Its a big sin you will end up in the lake of fire if you do not repent.

[@selectiveroots]

God's spirit in me is telling me this is blasphemous. I'll pray to God that you are led back to him. All in love. not hate.

[@cynthiax56]

➨The KING Honours his mother's request: ● 1 KINGS 2:20: Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”

[@philippicmen7558]

So did king Solomon do as his mother requested?

[@cynthiax56]

@@philippicmen7558 King Solomon was a flawed human being. King Jesus was without flaws. Jesus obeyed the commandments perfectly, including the one which tells us to honour our mother and father.

[@cynthiax56]

JESUS is a greater King than Solomon and always kept his word.

[@cynthiax56]

@Northern Wolf 1. Mary and the saints are not dead. They are alive n Cheist and share in his ressurrection. JESUS tells us in JOHN that whoever believes in him WILL NEVER DIE but will have ETERNAL LIFE. It the protestant reformers who are DEAD Because of thei rebellion against JESUS and his Chrch. 2. Take you own advice about CONTEXT, because you skipped over a great deaal of it. So stay tuned and I'm going to show you all the things you skipped over... 3. As great as Solomon was, Jesus is FAR GREATER and he DOES Keep his promises and he honours his mother just as the comandmets say to do.......

[@cynthiax56]

@Northern Wolf ➔ All of the following things that Protestants attack can be found in the Bible: Holy images are BIBLICAL and are not "Idols" .... ➔CARVED IMAGES IN THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, INTERCESSION OF MARY AND THE SAINTS, HONOURING MARY, AND BOWING AS A SIGN OF HONOUR AND RESPECT (All copied from the protestant version of the bible by Cynthia X) Sacred Images are Biblical & mocking & destroying them is a serious sin, an act of blasphemy: ➨ SACRED IMAGES: Sacred images are not idols and it is an act of blasphemy to attack them: ● EXODUS 25:18-22 God commands Moses to make STATUES of Angels. ● NUMBERS 21:8-9 God commands another image to be made, a serpent. ● EZEKIEL 41:18-25 KJV ➔ EZEKIEL's VISION OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD ADORNED WITH CARVED IMAGES: ... 18 And it was made with CHERUBIMS (ANGELS) and PALM TREES, so that a palm tree was between a CHERUB and EVERY CHERUB HAD TWO FACES; 19 So that the FACE OF A MAN was toward the PALM TREE on the one side, and the FACE OF A LION toward the PALM TREE on the other side: it was made through all the house round about. 20 From the ground unto above the door were CHERUBIMS (ANGELS) and PALM TREES made, and on the wall of the temple. 21 The posts of the temple were squared, and the face of the sanctuary; the appearance of the one as the appearance of the other. 22 The altar of wood was three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood: and he said unto me, This is the table that is before the Lord. 23 And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors. 24 And the doors had two LEAVES apiece, two turning leaves; two leaves for the one door, and two leaves for the other door. 25 And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, CHERUBIMS and PALM TREES, like as were made upon the walls; and there were thick planks upon the face of the porch without. ➨ BOWING as a sign of honour / respect: ●1 KINGS 2:19 Solomon bows to his Mother. (he HONOURS Her) ● JOSHUA 7:6: 6 Joshua & the elders of Israel tore their clothing and lay prostrate (face down on the ground) before the Ark of the Lord. (an OBJECT) ➨ INTERCESSION OF MARY & THE SAINTS IN THE BIBLE ...INCLUDING BIBLICAL PROOF that SAINTS ARE NOT AMONG THE DEAD: The Protestant claim that we are forbidden to speak to / pray to Mary and the saints is NOWHERE in the Bible. In fact, the following scriptures were copied (by me) directly from the Protestant version of the Bible: ... ➨INTERCESSION of a holy person on our behalf: ● JOB 42:8 8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams, and GO TO MY SERVANT JOB, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and MY SERVANT Job SHALL PRAY FOR YOU, FOR I WILL ACCEPT HIS PRAYER NOT TO DEAL WITH YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR FOLLY; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. ➨INTERCESSION of MARY: JOHN 2:1 At the wedding feast at Cana, it was Mary who asked Jesus to help the wedding party. ➨INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS: REV 5:8 The prayers of the Saints are offered to Jesus the lamb. ➨The KING Honours his mother's request: ● 1 KINGS 2:20: Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you.” (Jesus is the Greatest King and he also honours his mother's requests) SAINTS ALSO WORKED MIRACLES: ➨ JOHN 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. ➨ PAUL RAISES A MAN FROM THE DEAD: ● ACTS 20:7-12 9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. 10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.20: ● MARK 6:12-13... 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. ● ACTS 19:12 The Handkerchief of Paul healed sick people: 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. ● ACTS 5:15 The shadow of Peter healed the sick: so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. ➨SAINTS ARE NOT AMONG THE DEAD: AND THEIR INTERCESSION IS BIBLICAL: They share in the ressurrection of Jesus: (Protestants attack Biblical saints while they follow dead reformers) ● MATTHEW 27: 52 -53: When Jesus was raised from the dead Many were raised up with him. 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. ● LUKE 23 v 39-43...Jesus told the good thief "today you will be with me in paradise" ● REV 19 v 14...when Jesus returns he will be accompanied by his heavenly armies of saints. ● 2 COR 5 v 8...Paul tells us that to be absent with the body is to be with the Lord. ● JOHN 11 v 25-26...Jesus said I am the ressurrection and the life, he who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives, believing in me will never die. ● LUKE 1619-30 The story of the rich man and Lazarus show The Rich man, Lazarus and Abraham, all concious and interacting with each other even though they have physically died. ● LUKE 9:30-31 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. (Moses & Elijah were alive, and were yalking with Jesus) ● REV 6:10 The souls of the martyrs are before the throne of God, crying out for justice. (they are conscious and actively petitioning God) ● HEB 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ● MATT 17:1-13 ...At the Transfiguration of Jesus, he is seen speaking to Moses and Elijah, further showing that Holy ones of God are not among the dead. ➨HONOURING MARY: LUKE 1:48: All generations will call Mary Blessed. We Catholics are the ones who call her the BLESSED Virgin Mary and treat her accordingly. RELICS OF THE SAINTSS ● 2 Kings 13:21 The Bones of Elijah revived a man: 21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet ● ACTS 19:12 The Handkerchief of Paul healed sick people: 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. ● ACTS 5:15 The shadow of Peter healed the sick: so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. ● MARK 6:12-13... 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. (the use of oil, a material substance was used to heal people) ➨NOWHERE does the bible permit protestants (or anyone else) to Scrutinize & monitor the prayers of other people, nor to judge their sincerity or their salvation. Protestantism does not come from jesus. It began with Martin Luther in 1517 & exists Only to oppose the Catholic church which Jesus founded 15 centuries B4 the protestant revolt. They only know & accept the PARTS of the Bible that suit them and they do not have an accurate bible either.

[@gloriamartinez437]

Mary can't save you. Only Jesus can. Mary did not die for us. I admire her but I don't pray to her.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

So we strive to honor Her as much as Her Son desires to see His Mother loved and honored by us.

[@ilovepinkundies]

Did you even watch the video?

[@ilovepinkundies]

Jon Kim this quote is true, the rosary isn’t a lucky charm, it changes your interior disposition and orders it to love Jesus without you even being aware. It’s profound. Our lady is awesome.

[@ilovepinkundies]

Jon Kim as to you mr. Kim

[@2002THEBOY]

@@TheFatimaCenter never asked us or teach in the bible that all christian should do it, nowhere in acts of the apostle someone praying to Stephen to pray for them, this concept of praying to someone who is dead do not exist in the bible

[@makbelmillion6534]

I’m orthodox tewahdo.. I pray to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ our saver 🙏

[@stevenirizarry9427]

I love you brother, I’ll be visiting Ethiopia Lord willing to meet my girlfriend and soon to be wife (Lord willing) one day

[@englishrose6627]

I'm a.convert after a.completely messed up life, I was . reared an Anglican,.very close. I wanted.toget as. Lose to Jesus.as I could. I.understand the.devotion to Mary and saints. It all makes sense to me. Protestants seem to.pick on Catholics.yet.not Orthodox and.Coptic? It all makes.sense and I'm.greatful that God revealed it all to me. Without the fullness couldn't.go on.

[@5000NATE]

The first part of the Hail Mary is "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee." In the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel greets Mary by saying "Hail, thou art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women," (Luke 1:28).

[@garystanfield2274]

The Real Truth About "GRACE" All you hear today are preachers teaching the people that they are under GRACE, but GRACE is a pagan deity name, so let’s see what words GRACE replaced in scriptures. Psalms 103:4 He redeems your life from the pit, he surrounds you with grace / LOVE and compassion, Colossians 3:16 Let the Word of Christ / Yahweh dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and songs and spiritual songs, singing with grace / PRAISE in your hearts to Yahweh. Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace / YAHWEH, that we may receive mercy and find grace / YAHWEH to help in time of need. 2 Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace / FAITH that is in Yahweh. Romans 1:5 By whom we have received grace / the SPIRIT and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His name: 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace / SPIRIT of Yahweh I am what I am: and His grace / SPIRIT which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace / SPIRIT of Yahweh which was with me. Acts 15:11 But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace / SPIRIT of Yahweh, in like manner as they. 2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace /SPIRIT is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory / PRAISE in my infirmities, that the power of Christ / YAHWEH may rest upon me. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his righteousness, esteemed as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace / SPIRIT and truth. Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of Yahweh Messiah, and great [WAS THE] grace / SPIRIT [THAT] was upon them all. Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of grace / SPIRIT and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Acts 11:23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace / POWER of Yahweh, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto Yahweh. Acts 20:32 And now I commend you to Yahweh and to the Word of his grace / SPIRIT, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are called out. Romans 1:5 By whom we have received grace / FAVOR and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace / SPIRIT through the redemption that is in Messiah Yahweh: Ephesians 2:5,8 5. Even when we were dead in sins / TRANSGRESSIONS, hath quickened us together with Christ / IMMANUEL, (by grace / the SPIRIT ye are saved;) 7. That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace / MERCY in his kindness toward us through Yahweh Messiah. 8. For by grace / FAITH are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of Yahweh: Acts 20:24 But I hold not my life of any account as dear unto myself, so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord / Yahweh, to testify the Word of the grace / SPIRIT of God / Yahweh. 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace / SPIRIT of Yahweh I am what I am: and His grace / SPIRIT which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace/SPIRIT of God / Yahweh which was with me. Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace / FAITH according to the measure of the gift of Christ / Yahweh. Acts 15:11 But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace/SPIRIT of Yahweh, in like manner as they. 2 Peter 1:2 Grace / BLESSING and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of Yahweh and of Yahweh our Master. 2 Corinthians 9:8 And Yahweh is able to make all grace / BOUNTIFULNESS abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: Zechariah 12: And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace / FORGIVENESS and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God / Yahweh, called to be saints / elect : Grace / Peace to you and peace from God / Yahweh our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ / Yahweh Messiah. The following verses where GRACE was put is where PEACE goes: 1 Corinthians 1:3; Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4. This is Grace in Greek Mythology. The Trinity female deity of Joy, Charm and Beauty! The three Graces, relief sculpture from Thasos, Greece, 5th century bc; in the Louvre, Paris Still working on this one. "Grace" comes from the Greek word "charis," and the Latin word "gratia." "Charis" was a Greek deity, the wife of Vulcan. From the female deity "Charis" comes the Greek "Charities," three female deities, daughters of "Helios," the Greek/Roman high Sun-deity.

[@RedWolf5]

Those are the words of God himself.

[@EmileKleinhans]

Theres a difference between praying for and to a saint. And no need to pray for a dead saint.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Thank you for your comment. When taken to mean "render adoration," certainly it is correct to say that we must pray only to God. But the word has broader meanings, including "beseech" -- "I pray thee, hold me excused" (Lk. 14: 18). Taken in this sense -- not as an act of adoration, but as a plea made by a member of the Communion of Saints to other members for their intercession before God on his or her behalf -- prayer to the saints is undoubtedly right and useful. God bless you.

[@ivanthelion2829]

Are people really scared for praying Mary. Why would God punish you for that. This is why i pray to her because i believe in Jesus and God she will guide me towards them more closer I pray to all you in the comment section🙏🙏🙏

[@mortgagefinancing5558]

because mary is not God if your mother died someday would you pray to her like she can hear you ?

[@cynthiax56]

NEWSFLASH For protestants....JESUS came to us THROUGH MARY. She is the closest person to him & is in the bible & part of the gospel story. JESUS never told anyone that they could not talk to his mother, likewise the bible doesn't tell us we can't talk to her. Not only does Protestantism come from MEN, but nowhere are you given permission to scrutinize the prayers of other people

[@jeanie6279]

Well said! Mary brought Christ to us and her only purpose after that is to bring us to Him! Period!

[@samsmith346]

Wow you guys are wrong smh.

[@jibshis.2742]

Cynthia X it is not mary who chose jesus, jesus chose mary,

[@maurdib]

@@jibshis.2742 really? "your mother and brothers are here for you", Jesus , Who is my mother or brother or sister but those who do the will of my father? Did it sound like she was favored above others, even other women in the room to him?

[@kingandqueen4512]

I'll stick to praying to God not man

[@truthortreason9118]

Jesus is both God and man. Praying to him, you are praying to a man. He is man in virtue of Mary's acceptance of God's request that she bear the Saviour of the human race. There is no human closer to Jesus than his mother. The Mariage at Cana gives an indication of the power of her intercession for others. And that is merely the first of many throughout history. The saints comprise a familial and hierarchical structure.

[@truthortreason9118]

@Bloodhounder do you believe that Jesus had a human soul?

[@truthortreason9118]

@Bloodhounder then explain Matt 26:38, "My soul is sorrowful even unto death: stay you here, and watch with me."

[@truthortreason9118]

@Bloodhounder you deny the humanity of the Son of Man. you don't know diddly squat.

[@ameliadelcastillo5424]

Bloodhounder- I know this is an old conversation you were having here but I hope u see this. Let me ask you a question... Why in your church, it seems you do NOT honor Mary at all? Doesn’t scripture say Every generation will call Mary blessed because God who is mighty has done great things for her? (Luke 1:48-49) It seems to me that we Catholics are fulfilling scripture but that in your denomination you are not fulfilling or following it. So why don’t you honor her at all? Or do you give her some kind of honor?? Why don’t you call her blessed as the Bible says?” She did give birth to Jesus for heaven sakes !

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Dear Edwin, We see in many places in Sacred Scripture that prayer to the Saints is right and useful - understanding by the word “prayer” in this sense not an act of adoration, but the plea of certain members of the Communion of Saints for another member’s intercession on their behalf before God. We see this teaching confirmed by the example of Abraham's prayer for Sodom (Gen 18:16-33). We have also the biblical example of the Jews many times asking Moses to speak to God on their behalf, and of God having regard to Moses’ prayer in spite of His anger toward the Jews. The same advantage of the erring faithful through the prayers of those who are more just is enunciated by God Himself in regard to Job, in His admonition to Eliphaz, the Themanite: "My wrath is kindled against thee . . . but my servant Job shall pray for you. His face I will accept, that folly be not imputed to you." (Job 42: 8) Even the words of Job’s enemies at an earlier place in that same book gives evidence that the ancient Jews knew that it was lawful to invoke the Saints. Job’s enemies taunt him as though he were too wicked to be heard by God: "Call now if there will be any that will answer thee, and turn to some of the Saints." (Job 5:1) Do the Saints continue to have knowledge and care and love for us, and do they continue to pray before God for our needs? The prophet Onias said of the prophet Jeremias (long after the death of Jeremias): "This is the lover of his brethren and of the people of Israel. This is he that prayeth much for the people and for all the holy city; Jeremiah, the prophet of God." (2 Mach. 15:14) St. James says that "the prayer of a just man availeth much." (James 5: 16) Obviously, if as St. James declares, a just man’s prayers are valuable, then it is worth while to ask him for his prayers. For what possible reason could death intervene in this relationship? Quite the opposite, whether being purified by the perfecting flames of God’s justice in Purgatory, or being already perfectly purified and admitted into the presence of God in Heaven, our friends and advocates in the next world are more powerful on our behalf than they ever were while here with us. And they are likewise more charitably disposed toward us now that they are rejoicing in the Vision of God. We do well to honor their merits and to seek their intercession, both of which acts redound to the honor of God Who produced such great holiness in them. Catholics believe in and practice the doctrine of the Communion of Saints for good reasons and in obedience to the Revelation given by God. God bless you. Father Gruner

[@barbaradallaire5668]

Name one sripture that says prayer to the saints is right and useful......??? Notice ...to the saints is stated here. but then you say plea of crtain members.......( for ) another member's Praying for is one thing, but praying to is error.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

By "prayer" you seem to infer only an act of worship, whereas the expression truly has other connotations. Using unequivocal terms, we may find that we have no disagreement. Seeking the intercessory aid of our fellow Christians, whether living or dead, is a right and useful exercise of the doctrine of the Communion of Saints. Meanwhile, we worship God alone.

[@barbaradallaire5668]

***** No , I am talking about communicating with our Lord and Saviour. He is our mediator who goes to the Father, with our requests. Make your requests known Ph 4;6 1;Peter 5;6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time; 7, Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.

[@mikewiththebluecar]

TheFatimaCenter those are prayers from the saints not to the saints. What Saint was Job & Abraham praying to?

[@dr.alanhales544]

TheFatimaCentre, F Grunter, There are no Biblical scriptures that say we can pray to Mary, Or the heavenly saints,Christians Can And should pray and intercede for each other, ON EARTH, In This lifetime, But NOT pray to the heavenly saints, Or get them to intercede for us. Praying to the heavenly saints, Is a Catholic tradition, NOT a Biblical teaching.

[@ryanalving3785]

This is a practical question about praying to Mary or other saints; how could they hear anything we say? I understand praying to Christ, God is all knowing and Jesus dwells in our hearts through faith; but the saints have left the world, their souls have gone to be with the Lord. How could they hear anything we say? How could Mary who is a single individual pray individually for millions of people every day scattered across the entire earth as they pray to her? Either omniscience or omnipresence is required for such a thing, and both are reserved to God alone.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Thank you for your question. As St. Thomas Aquinas explains, souls separated from their bodies no longer know things by natural means. The blessed souls in Heaven, however, do continue to have knowledge of exterior things through their direct vision of God. www.newadvent.org/summa/1089.htm

[@ryanalving3785]

@@TheFatimaCenter Perhaps you could answer another question for me, I have heard many say that they pray to Mary to bring their requests to Christ because they know Jesus loves Mary, and so they consider a prayer more likely to be effective if it is Mary asking rather than them. But I find in scripture that God loves *us,* Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And if God loves us with that perfect love of which he alone is capable, is it not to deny him a closeness to us who he loves to go through saints rather than to come to him ourselves? A father desires closeness to his children who he loves, is it good for them to ask a sibling to speak to their father rather than to ask him on their own? Doesn't that put distance between the child and the Father, for the child to feel they must speak to their Father through others when the matter is serious and the need great?

[@TheFatimaCenter]

@@ryanalving3785 Many places in Sacred Scripture confirm that prayer to the saints in this sense is right and useful -- not as an act of adoration, but a plea made by various members of the Communion of Saints to another member for his intercession before God on their behalf. We see this teaching confirmed by the example of the Jews many times asking Moses to speak to God on their behalf, and of God having regard to Moses' prayer in spite of His anger toward the Jews. This advantage that we experience, in seeking the prayers of those who are eminent in sanctity, is referred to by God in regard to Job in His admonition to Eliphaz the Themanite: "My wrath is kindled against thee ... but my servant Job shall pray for you. His face I will accept, that folly be not imputed to you." (Job 42: 8) These words, spoken by God Himself, are a clear illustration of what Saint James declared: "The prayer of a just man availeth much" (5:16) -- the obvious application of this lesson being that if a just man's prayers are valuable, then it is worthwhile to ask him for his prayers. Does death change this fact, or make it impossible for the saints to continue to have knowledge and care and love for us, or to continue to pray before God for our needs? On the contrary, the prophet Onias said of the prophet Jeremias (long after the death of Jeremias): "This is the lover of his brethren and of the people of Israel. This is he that prayeth much for the people and for all the holy city; Jeremiah, the prophet of God." (2 Mach. 15:14) Even the words of Job's enemies give evidence that the ancient Jews knew that it was lawful to invoke the saints. Taunting taunt him as though he were too wicked to be heard by God, these enemies say to Job: "Call now if there will be any that will answer thee, and turn to some of the saints." (Job 5:1) Whether being purified by the perfecting flames of God's justice in Purgatory, or having been already perfectly purified and admitted into the presence of God in Heaven, our friends and advocates in the next world are more powerful on our behalf than they ever were while here with us, and they are likewise more charitably disposed toward us. We do well to honor their merits and to seek their intercession, both of which acts redound to the honor of God Who produced such great holiness in them. And this applies above measure to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose holiness exceeds that of all the angels and saints combined, and who throughout Her entire life never refused the least thing that God asked of Her.

[@Schrankerle]

My concern is that if we are being deceived about this, even through seemingly good intentions, then prayers to Mary would be lost and not going to God. This would be a clever way to steer people from God and a great tragedy, akin to building on shifting sand. There is always a temptation to believe something that seems harmless or even seems good. Innocent people with good intentions could be mislead. Therefore I always pray as Jesus himself taught us to pray from his own words, firmly rooted in scripture.

[@chosensweety77]

@@TheFatimaCenter That is not biblical! the bible says after death comes the judgment, god did not comission us to answer or recieve anyone prayer in doing so you are insiuating that God needs some kind of healp or assitance? No He is all powerful and all mighty.... The creation doesn't need to help the creature in anything

[@gamutambo662]

So u are saying in turn then, if Mary prays for you, you too aught to pray for her, yet the Bible says the only Intercessor before God is Jesus....

[@georgepenton808]

No, Gamu, that is not what the Church teaches. The Church teaches that one MAY pray to saints already in Heaven because they love us and can hear our prayers, and asking one of them to pray for us is the same as asking a person here on earth to pray for us. We always have the option of praying directly to God or Jesus. Some of my prayers are to Mary, some to other saints, some are to the Father, some to Jesus, and some to the Holy Spirit. There is variety in the Catholic prayer life.

[@solarflarehd2177]

George Penton You cant pray through a dead person. You can only pray to Jesus who is the ONLY mediator between God and man. No saint can save us, no saint can pray for us.

[@luciadeloach9932]

Gamu Tambo do you pray for your family? Then by your own logic your taking the place of Jesus and committing sin

[@lafierasgamefarm258]

Lucia DeLoach it’s been a year and man hasn’t responded 😂

[@a.r.4093]

@@lafierasgamefarm258 Mother Mary has made numerous apparitions throughout history that have been CONFIRMED. She has performed miracles during such apparitions and has, in some cases, made accurate prophecies as well (predicted end of WWI and beginning of WWII at Our Lady of Fatima, also the Rwandan Genocide at Our Lady of Kibeho). Protestants will say "oh, that was the devil appearing as Mary". Well, at every single confirmed apparition, Mary's messages all revolve around repenting, turning away from sin and towards God, and praying/making sacrifices for sinners. To say the devil is appearing as Mary, based on what I just described, is extremely impractical and honestly even counter-intuitive--why would the devil be asking souls to turn away from sin and completely towards God? Therefore, this proves Mary's significance in Heaven.

[@mareduave9088]

What about we pray direct to God? We need to trust God.. If we pray through mary it means we lack of trust to God.. Im pure Catholic but im against that prayer or asking help to mary to pray for me or for us.. My heart is fully trust to Jesus..

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Jacinta's last words to her cousin Lucia (two of the three visionaries of the Fatima apparitions) speak of a very different view: “It will not be long now before I go to Heaven. You will remain here to make known that God wishes to establish in the world devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. When the time comes for you to say this, don’t go and hide. Tell everybody that God grants us graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary; that people are to ask her for them; and that the Heart of Jesus wants the Immaculate Heart of Mary to be venerated at His side. Tell them also to pray to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for peace since God has entrusted it to her. If I could only put into the hearts of all, the fire that is burning within my own heart, and that makes me love the Hearts of Jesus and Mary so very much!”

[@elliestretchprays7851]

Mar Eduave it means we accept we aren’t worthy to go directly to a God so we ask the one human we KNOW HE LOVES, His mother Mary. Pray for us dear momma

[@ryanalving3785]

@@elliestretchprays7851 Hebrews 10:16-22 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Of ourselves we are not worthy to come before God, but through our Saviour, by the blood of Jesus; we may have boldness to enter into the holiest where God's mercy seat sits, and to bring our supplications and petitions to him. The only way there is through Jesus, not Mary or any other.

[@elliestretchprays7851]

ryan alving Truth , thanks for sharing. I love our mother Mary but I’ll never love her more than her Son, Jesus loves her. As a woman, I look to her, her virtues, her purity, her obedience and service. I love Jesus with my whole heart, and I love His mother for saying yes to the arch angel Gabriel at the Annunciation. She is a treasure chest that contains the Treasure Jesus. God bless you and again thanks for sharing, I love Scripture.

[@Didida8BP]

@@elliestretchprays7851 so after Jesus rose to heaven, who did the other Christians pray to when none of the apostles or Mary were dead?

[@aizam5841]

Its not about whose right or wrong.At the end of the day, its all about our relationship with God.Our good works.If you dont agree with others own way of worship and prayers atleast respect it and not laugh and judge about it.We are all Christians believing that Jesus is the only way despite what denominations were all in.Instead of questioning each others belief why dont you enlighten the minds of those who dont know and accept Jesus as our Saviour.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

That is a dangerous presumption to assume that all who claim to believe in Christ are true Christians. Their sects, and their insistence on believing and worshiping only according to their own inclinations, is completely foreign to the Gospel.

[@jzak5723]

The Bible does not say there are many different paths to God, that is what Satan would like you to believe. There is only one true church. Some false teachers unfortunately, have distorted God's Word for their own benefit, and claims that all you have to do is believe in Jesus and you will be saved, regardless of what denomination or church you belong to. This cannot be so, because all denominations teach the Scriptures differently. For example, you can't have some churches teaching that things such as abortion, contraception, same sex marriage, homosexuality, masturbation, ordaining gays and lesbians is acceptable practice, and others condemning all of them, and many others cherry picking what they want to believe. That's not the work of the Holy Spirit.

[@aizam5841]

@@TheFatimaCenter I was born and raised Catholic but seeing other denominations accusing us makes me question and wonder and I get confused what to believe in anymore.It makes us all confused thats why Im here looking for answers.Eversince I was a kid Ive been attending praying rosary esp.every month of May.And now I hear people questions about Mary this and that.Thats why I said those comments here coz I somehow believed that there is nothing wrong with praying to Mother Mary.I may not noticed it but she leads me to know more about Jesus and its just sad to know that for some she is just someone else.

[@1JAMINben]

I'd like to be catholic, but this is just something I can't bring myself to swallow. The Bible says that Mary is blessed, but she isn't to be prayed to as far as I can tell. Even if she was it probably wouldn't be to the extent people pray to her now. She doesn't really seem to be the mother of God either. The mother of God would have had to have actually created God. I realize this isn't what catholics mean (at least I think so) but it just doesn't seem like it is an okay thing to do.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

1JAMINben No mother creates her offspring. Recall too that Saint Elizabeth by inspiration calls Mary the Mother of her Lord.

[@1JAMINben]

I know but it just seems to put Mary above God. And some of the prayer to her seem like something she wouldn't want to hear. Like asking her to appease Jesus as if he is crazy and wrathfully waiting to smite us. I might be misrepresenting your side (sorry if I am) but I have heard something to that extent and I could never pray to Mary like that. Do you have to pray to Mary to be Catholic?

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Dear Friend, Again as we know by the inspired Scriptures, all generations of true Christians will call Our Lady blessed -- will honor her as Our Lord Himself honored her in His lifetime, and as He continues to desire to see her honored for the tremendous prerogatives that He bestowed on her. That is, ultimately we are honoring His work in her soul. For the moment, you know that you will certainly do well to address her in the same words used by the angel Gabriel: "Hail, Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women!" Say those words to her several times each day. A great saint once said that we should never be afraid of loving or honoring Mary too much, because we could never in our whole lifetime love and honor her as much as Our Lord did, or as much as He desires us to.

[@1JAMINben]

That helps a tiny bit more, but is calling her blessed the same as praying to her? How can she even hear your prayers? She isn't like God. I can't bring myself to pray to Mary until I know without a doubt that the bible condones prayer to her and Saints. Also where did Gabriel say those words? I don't recognize them.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

The angel Gabriel's words are found in Luke 1, verse 28, and St. Elizabeth's in verse 43. Perhaps the whole notion of invoking saints would be more clear if we set aside the ambiguous expression of "praying to" the saints. Properly understood, there is nothing wrong with that expression, but it can be a stumbling block for someone who is accustomed to using the words only in the sense of adoration, as we would mean in speaking about praying to God. Truly, the meaning is entirely different in those two separate senses. You understand very well that we can adore only God, Who is our Creator and Redeemer, an infinitely perfect and eternal spirit. But you also know that it is perfectly proper to show certain kinds of reverence to many of God creatures, such as to our parents and to those who hold authority in society (since all authority in this world comes from God). We also do not hesitate to ask such persons to exercise their kindness and power on our behalf. The saints are persons who are rightly esteemed for the sake of their holiness. Since that holiness is the work of God's grace in them (with their own cooperation), our praise of their merits ultimately redounds to God Himself. It is also clear from Revelation that God desires us to seek the help of the saints, whose great holiness makes them very powerful intercessors on our behalf. (You are correct, by the way, that it is also only by God's power that the saints in Heaven can be made aware of our intercessions.) The passage from the book of Job is famous in this regard. God told Job's very offensive "friend" Eliphaz, the Themanite: "My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends, because you have not spoken the thing that is right before me, as my servant Job hath. Take unto you therefore seven oxen, and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer for yourselves a holocaust: and my servant Job shall pray for you: his face I will accept, that folly be not imputed to you: for you have not spoken right things before me, as my servant Job hath." Even the words of Job’s enemies at an earlier place in that same book gives evidence that the ancient Jews knew that it was lawful to invoke the saints. Job’s enemies taunt him as though he were too wicked to be heard by God: "Call now if there will be any that will answer thee, and turn to some of the saints." (Job 5:1) There are many other examples in Scripture confirming this Christian teaching, such as Abraham's prayer for Sodom (Gen 18:16-33). We have also the biblical example of the Jews many times asking Moses to speak to God on their behalf, and of God having regard to Moses’ prayer in spite of His anger toward the Jews. Regarding the fact that the Saints continue to have knowledge and care and love for us, and that they continue to pray before God for our needs, the prophet Onias said of the prophet Jeremias (long after the death of Jeremias): "This is the lover of his brethren and of the people of Israel. This is he that prayeth much for the people and for all the holy city; Jeremiah, the prophet of God." (2 Mach. 15:14) St. James says that "the prayer of a just man availeth much." (James 5: 16) Obviously, if as St. James declares, a just man’s prayers are valuable, then it is worth while to ask him for his prayers--in fact, we honor God by doing so. God bless you. Fatima Center staff.

[@vinrusso821]

Listening to a Catholic is like listening to a 1st grader debate a 12th grader. He almost gets confused. Their is so much wrong. Their were no Saints in Paul's time to pray to. Jesus says " Call no one Father but God" What and where did they decide about a Pope?? Where does it say this? Eating foods on certain days and other superstitious things. Jesus says "It does not matter what goes in to your body or eat, but what comes out of the mouth". Priest?? Where does it say Priest can't marry, and to confess to a human? Look in a Catholic church, Idol after Idol. Pictures of Mary? The Bible barely mentions Mary. Jesus calls her "Women". When she came to see him with his brethren, he said "These are my Mother and my brethren" pointing to his apostles.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Our Lord affirmed of His true followers: "The days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast." (Matt. 9:15) The reasonableness and scriptural consistency of the Catholic Faith can be demonstrated on every point of Protestant objections. We urge you to make a serious study of your questions. www.radioreplies.info/

[@tradicionmichoacana5758]

On the topic of the Pope: Mathew 23:9 And do not choose to call anyone on earth your father. For One is your Father, who is in heaven. Do not Cherry pick my brothers and sisters Read the whole message of what is being said and who is it being said to;and that would be the scribes and the Pharisees because they are leading with error and hypocrosy Themselves and creating people in there image and even 2 times worse then them . And if its the way you say that it is stop calling your father - father and call him by his first name we have to recognize that is not what he meant dad or father is also an earthly title just not to the way you would elavate The title father in comparison to God which is the Father of the father's.

[@lordbluntwell2353]

If anyone said a bad word about my mother I would be really really angry wouldn't you be? People should be very careful before saying a bad word about God's Mammy.

[@elliestretchprays7851]

Lord Bluntwell Truth! At the last judgement I wouldn’t want to be standing near anyone who spoke badly about God’s mother! Yikes!

[@darkswede1]

Is Praying to Mary not going against the Ten Commandments? There is a difference praying to God for someone than praying to someone.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Removing the ambiguity in our expressions will go far to settle any confusion. Rather than discussing the question of praying to God vs. praying to saints, we might speak more exactly of worshiping God, as opposed to giving honor to or seeking the intercession of the saints. We can easily agree that we are to adore God only, and that we are to give honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:7). Likewise, if as St. James says (5:16), the prayer of a just man will greatly avail us, it is certainly worthwhile to ask our holy friends -- in this world or the next -- for their prayers.

[@thebiblestudyhelper9389]

King David prayed with the saints and angels ...it's not all about praying to another person ..there is the simple aspect of joining the voices of heaven . It's probably one of the more deliberate forms of praise . The isolated Thought of only praying to God is a detraction of the true relationship with God that the Christ prescribed for his ministry ...the ministry of Christ is also in heaven and they are alive . Revelation 5:8 tells of the prayers of saints on Earth presented by saints in heaven . Prayers with saints in heaven is communion of the same church .

[@brodrickhill7729]

@@TheFatimaCenter hello, I know this is fairly old but I’ve been looking into Catholicism to understand your teachings. I’ve seen that you’ve been misrepresented in things based off of other Catholics I’ve watched but I do not understand this. In your comment you say that James 5:16 supports praying to our “holy friends - - in this world or the next” yet James 5:16 says nothing about praying to saints in the next world. It just says praying for saints that are here with you and that you should be praying for each other

[@TheFatimaCenter]

@@brodrickhill7729 Thank you for reopening this important discussion. St. James writes: "The prayer of a just man availeth much" -- the obvious application of this lesson being that if a just man's prayers are valuable, then it is worthwhile to ask him for his prayers.The doctrine of the Communion of Saints informs us of the union of the members of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church, whether in Heaven, in Purgatory, or on earth. In light of this, we see that the admonition of St. James is not restricted to other members of the Church on earth. Other passages demonstrate more explicitly that death is no barrier to the Communion of Saints. One in particular shows that Saints in Heaven continue to have knowledge and care and love for us, and continue to pray before God for our needs. The prophet Onias said of the prophet Jeremias (long after the death of Jeremias): "This is the lover of his brethren and of the people of Israel. This is he that prayeth much for the people and for all the holy city; Jeremiah, the prophet of God." (2 Mach. 15:14) Another passage to the same effect is the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15), Our Lord assures us that there is joy among the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance. Clearly, therefore, all of the blessed spirits in Heaven (including the Saints, who are now like unto the angels of God - Matt. 22:30; Mark 12:25) have knowledge and concern for us here below. It is inconceivable, then, that they do not also pray for us. Even the words of Job's enemies give evidence that the ancient Jews knew that it was lawful to invoke the prayers of others, both living and deceased. Taunting taunt him as though he were too wicked to be heard by God, these enemies say to Job: "Call now if there will be any that will answer thee, and turn to some of the saints." (Job 5:1) Our friends and advocates in the next world are more powerful on our behalf than they ever were while here with us, and they are likewise more charitably disposed toward us. We do well to honor their merits and to seek their intercession, both of which acts redound to the honor of God Who produced such great holiness in them. And this applies above all to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose holiness exceeds that of all the angels and saints combined, and who throughout Her entire life never refused the least thing that God asked of Her. Catholics believe in and practice the doctrine of the Communion of Saints for good reasons and in obedience to the Revelation given by God. We will be praying for you as you continue to explore the teachings of the Catholic Church! God bless you.

[@brodrickhill7729]

@@TheFatimaCenter Thank you for your reply! I’ll definitely look more into it because I’m still not fully convinced the scriptures given necessarily say that the saint should be looked to as intercessors. I would say based off of the 2 Macc. scripture, I can see why they could be sent to communicate with us possibly, but it still doesn’t say to pray to them or to ask them for prayers. I also do not have any knowledge on those books of the Bible since they aren’t at all in my Bible which I’m looking into as well I know it’s said that they aren’t to be worshipped and I know we both believe that. But what makes them any different from Jesus really if they are intercessors? At least based off of what you say is how it works. Scripture just says Jesus is our intercessor so why would they be intercessors? Is it possible to not pray to them at all and still be saved based off of Catholicism also? But regardless thank you again for the reply! God Bless You as well

[@georgepenton808]

I knew a girl whose grandfather was present at Fatima on Oct. 13, 1917, and saw the miracle of the sun.

[@auntbertha2077]

Protesrtants ask their friends to pray for them all the time, but they hav seizures when we ask the Mother of Our Lord to pray for us. y'all should stop scrutinizing others & try to be better people yourselves

[@hopeleslydevoted6170]

Fried Rice they just simple don't read the Bible

[@tmwfox81]

Fried Rice 1st Timothy Chapter 2 Verse 5 makes it extremely clear who you pray to. We are told to pray for other people but not to other people big big difference

[@the_player_xd_1520]

Mary is dead she is not alive in heaven she is waiting for Jesus second coming just like everyone else who is dead

[@bio2020]

We ask the LIVING to pray for us. Jesus taught THE LIVING HUMANS ON THIS EARTH to pray for each other. When Jesus taught us how to pray on the mount, he told us, "OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME".... as in, Jesus taught us to pray directly to God. Where do you get this idea that you can pray to dead saints and that they can hear you and will intercede for you? That is a made up idea by pagans. Why do you find it so hard to simply just obey Jesus and pray directly to Him all the time.

[@ricekrispies1917]

Definition of an idol: an image or representation of a god used as an object of worship. (Literally the first 2 commandments make it very clear) 1 commandment: Thou shalt have no other Gods other than me. 2 commandment: Thou shalt not make any graven images unto me Mary is not God. Mary did not die for your sins. Jesus did. Jesus says he is the way, truth and the life and no other man comes to the father except through him. Besides, Mary didn’t remain a virgin. In the Bible it mentions that Jesus had siblings. Mary and the saints were all human beings. They made mistakes just like we all do. Remember when the apostles hid when Jesus was arrested? They were human. If there was holiness within them it is because God’s Holy Spirit dwelt in their hearts, not because they themselves were holy

[@lmorter7867]

How can Mary hear the prayers of the all the Catholics praying to her at one time unless she is God?

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Thank you for your question, which we will submit to Father Albert. In the meantime we would simply note that St. Thomas Aquinas has also addressed this subject. (See www.newadvent.org/summa/5072.htm where he asks how it is that the saints can have knowledge of our prayers, and whether we ought to pray to the saints.

[@lmorter7867]

I looked at the info on the linked site and it really didn't address my question. I will try to word my question better. My question is not can dead people in heaven can hear us when we pray, it's - if thousands+ people are praying to Mary at one time how can she possibly hear and acknowledge them all at one time if she is not God?

[@TheFatimaCenter]

The ability of the saints to know of our needs and prayers proceeds from the unlimited power of God, not of their own power.

[@lmorter7867]

Where does scripture say that God empowers people with omnipotence and omnipresence? They would have to have that in order to handle thousands of prayers at one time.

[@jeanie6279]

Nobody says that the saints have "omnipotence and omnipresence", and nobody says these omni-qualities are even required for a saint to possibly hear our prayers and take them to God on our behalf. We don't know what qualities God wants to give to the saints, but i have no reason to doubt that He does give them abilities to help us. Don't all good Christians ask to be used by God to save more souls? I sure do! And I'm no saint! But if I make it to heaven you can be darn sure I want to keep helping more people get there, too! The saints' work is not finished once they arrive there. Surely in Heaven, which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, we can't possibly imagine the realities and abilities that will be, as what we experience on earth is a mere shadow of our existence as redeeemed humanity in the Beatific Vision! We cannot possibly know the ways of God nor what He has in store for us when we (hopefully) become saints in Heaven. But if God, in all His unfathomable power and glory, could decide to come to earth as a fragile baby who grew up as a lowly carpenter, what makes you think He would not also enable His saints, the people on earth who repented of sins, tried to sin no more, made reparation for sins, prayed for themselves and others and tried to save souls, believed in God and His great mercy and made it to heaven, thus becoming saints, wouldn't give His saints a share in His glory for the benefit of creatures on earth? He could certainly do such a thing! And I am certain that He does because in my life alone I have experienced the intercession of saints (Mary herself!) from Heaven, who communicated with me quite directly. And you don't have to take my word for it. But reference the Bible for one thing (others here have posted Scripture for you to read; please scroll up) and besides that you can read many many accounts of holy people who have had communion with the saints and heaven while on earth. If you want to know who they are, I will be happy to provide you some names so that you may look up and read their accounts. Praise God. He is amazing and has blessed His saints with supernatural abilities. Why wouldn't He? And why, indeed, would He? To use for our benefit to help us all get to Heaven. I thank God for the Cloud of Witnesses (aka, the Communion of Saints) every day, that I have recourse to them and they can pray with me (and you!) and for me (and you!) It is not wrong or in any way disrespectful or blasphemous to invoke the help and prayers of saints, no more so than if you ask your pastor, your uncle or your best friend to pray for you! Indeed, the saints in heaven can see God's face and take our prayers right to His throne! Ask them to! Now, all that said, keep in mind that praying with the saints does in no way diminish our prayers to God and our communication with Him. He is #1! Always and forever!

[@michaelminer3157]

We pray for the living. “For” is not the same as “to”. Why pray to the saints? Or to Mary? Pray to Jesus, God the Father. This conversation is uncomfortable.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Many places in Sacred Scripture confirm that prayer to the saints is right and useful -- understanding by the word "prayer" in this sense not an act of adoration, but a plea made by various members of the Communion of Saints to another member for his intercession before God on their behalf. We see this teaching confirmed by the example of the Jews many times asking Moses to speak to God on their behalf, and of God having regard to Moses' prayer in spite of His anger toward the Jews. This advantage that we experience, in seeking the prayers of those who are eminent in sanctity, is referred to by God in regard to Job in His admonition to Eliphaz the Themanite: "My wrath is kindled against thee ... but my servant Job shall pray for you. His face I will accept, that folly be not imputed to you." (Job 42: 8) These words, spoken by God Himself, are a clear illustration of what Saint James declared: "The prayer of a just man availeth much" (5:16) -- the obvious application of this lesson being that if a just man's prayers are valuable, then it is worthwhile to ask him for his prayers. Does death change this fact, or make it impossible for the saints to continue to have knowledge and care and love for us, or to continue to pray before God for our needs? On the contrary, the prophet Onias said of the prophet Jeremias (long after the death of Jeremias): "This is the lover of his brethren and of the people of Israel. This is he that prayeth much for the people and for all the holy city; Jeremiah, the prophet of God." (2 Mach. 15:14) Even the words of Job's enemies give evidence that the ancient Jews knew that it was lawful to invoke the saints. Taunting taunt him as though he were too wicked to be heard by God, these enemies say to Job: "Call now if there will be any that will answer thee, and turn to some of the saints." (Job 5:1) Whether being purified by the perfecting flames of God's justice in Purgatory, or having been already perfectly purified and admitted into the presence of God in Heaven, our friends and advocates in the next world are more powerful on our behalf than they ever were while here with us, and they are likewise more charitably disposed toward us. We do well to honor their merits and to seek their intercession, both of which acts redound to the honor of God Who produced such great holiness in them. Catholics believe in and practice the doctrine of the Communion of Saints for good reasons and in obedience to the Revelation given by God.

[@garlandjones7709]

@@TheFatimaCenter Moses was a MEDIATOR. Christ was the prophet like Moses. 1 Timothy 2:5

[@a.r.4093]

Mother Mary has made numerous apparitions throughout history that have been CONFIRMED. She has performed miracles during such apparitions and has, in some cases, made accurate prophecies as well (predicted end of WWI and beginning of WWII at Our Lady of Fatima, also the Rwandan Genocide at Our Lady of Kibeho). Protestants will say "oh, that was the devil appearing as Mary". Well, at every single confirmed apparition, Mary's messages all revolve around repenting, turning away from sin and towards God, and praying/making sacrifices for sinners. To say the devil is appearing as Mary, based on what I just described, is extremely impractical and honestly even counter-intuitive--why would the devil be asking souls to turn away from sin and completely towards God? Therefore, this proves Mary's significance in Heaven.

[@thebiblestudyhelper9389]

This is what God has been saying for a long time ... people who chose Christ are the living . When Jesus said let the dead bury the dead was the man with the shovel alive or dead ? If Christ says a man is dead he is dead no matter how well he works a shovel .

[@5000NATE]

The first part of the Hail Mary is "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee." In the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel greets Mary by saying "Hail, thou art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women," (Luke 1:28).

[@elliestretchprays7851]

Praying the rosary is to contemplate the birth, life, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. It’s simply asking Mary to pray for us. Why is that so difficult for people to understand? If you don’t want to ask the mother of God to intercede for you then don’t ask her. Why do you care if we love Mary and trust her to bring our prayers to her Son? I know some Protestants that love the rosary.

[@prosperitymagnet888]

At some point, when we resent God while consumed by evil during the tests of our faith, do we pray? No! We’re too clouded to do that. So as long as we’re in our normal state, praying to God, I believe, it makes sense to ask others to pray for us, especially Mother Mary, for our strength when we can’t even pray for ourselves.

[@denniskwarteng5858]

The bible says that not everyone will die. When the trumpet is blown, the dead in Christ will first rise, and then those who are living will join Jesus in the air. Unless if special accommodations were made for those during Jesus' days, everyone who has died is still dead and is waiting for the trumpet to be blown, including Mary. The dead is dead and knows nothing and therefore is unable to pray for you. Unless if you can prove that Mary went to heaven or that anyone apart from Jesus can be prayed unto, praying to Mary is not only a waste of time but also idolatry.

[@prosperitymagnet888]

@@denniskwarteng5858 I respect that sir. After all, we’re all entitled to choose what we believe in. But idolatry (worship of someone or something other than God) is different from seeking for help through prayer. Faith is faith, don’t need any proof. This is what I believe in. Thank you for sharing yours.

[@prosperitymagnet888]

@@martinkent333 Thank you sir for sharing this. We’re all entitled to choose what we believe in.

[@BrotherInChristDK]

Mary is dead stop this nonense

[@prosperitymagnet888]

@@BrotherInChristDK I respect your belief.

[@cynthiax56]

Protestants skip over vast amounts of scriptures, including these: ➨ INTERCESSION OF MARY & THE SAINTS IN THE BIBLE ...INCLUDING BIBLICAL PROOF that SAINTS ARE NOT AMONG THE DEAD: The Protestant claim that we are forbidden to speak to / pray to Mary and the saints is NOWHERE in the Bible. In fact, the following scriptures were copied (by me) directly from the Protestant version of the Bible: ... ➨INTERCESSION of a holy person on our behalf: ● JOB 42:8 8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams, and GO TO MY SERVANT JOB, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and MY SERVANT Job SHALL PRAY FOR YOU, FOR I WILL ACCEPT HIS PRAYER NOT TO DEAL WITH YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR FOLLY; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. ➨INTERCESSION of MARY: JOHN 2:1 At the wedding feast at Cana, it was Mary who asked Jesus to help the wedding party. ➨INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS: REV 5:8 The prayers of the Saints are offered to Jesus the lamb. ➨The KING Honours his mother's request: ● 1 KINGS 2:20: Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you.” (Jesus is the Greatest King and he also honours his mother's requests) SAINTS ALSO WORKED MIRACLES: ➨ JOHN 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. ➨ PAUL RAISES A MAN FROM THE DEAD: ● ACTS 20:7-12 9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. 10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.20: ● MARK 6:12-13... 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. ● ACTS 19:12 The Handkerchief of Paul healed sick people: 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. ● ACTS 5:15 The shadow of Peter healed the sick: so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. ➨SAINTS ARE NOT AMONG THE DEAD: AND THEIR INTERCESSION IS BIBLICAL: They share in the ressurrection of Jesus: (Protestants attack Biblical saints while they follow dead reformers) ● MATTHEW 27: 52 -53: When Jesus was raised from the dead Many were raised up with him. 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. ● LUKE 23 v 39-43...Jesus told the good thief "today you will be with me in paradise" ● REV 19 v 14...when Jesus returns he will be accompanied by his heavenly armies of saints. ● 2 COR 5 v 8...Paul tells us that to be absent with the body is to be with the Lord. ● JOHN 11 v 25-26...Jesus said I am the ressurrection and the life, he who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives, believing in me will never die. ● LUKE 1619-30 The story of the rich man and Lazarus show The Rich man, Lazarus and Abraham, all concious and interacting with each other even though they have physically died. ● LUKE 9:30-31 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. (Moses & Elijah were alive, and were yalking with Jesus) ● REV 6:10 The souls of the martyrs are before the throne of God, crying out for justice. (they are conscious and actively petitioning God) ● HEB 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ● MATT 17:1-13 ...At the Transfiguration of Jesus, he is seen speaking to Moses and Elijah, further showing that Holy ones of God are not among the dead. ➨HONOURING MARY: LUKE 1:48: All generations will call Mary Blessed. We Catholics are the ones who call her the BLESSED Virgin Mary and treat her accordingly. RELICS OF THE SAINTSS ● 2 Kings 13:21 The Bones of Elijah revived a man: 21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet ● ACTS 19:12 The Handkerchief of Paul healed sick people: 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. ● ACTS 5:15 The shadow of Peter healed the sick: so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. ● MARK 6:12-13... 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. (the use of oil, a material substance was used to heal people) ➨NOWHERE does the bible permit protestants (or anyone else) to Scrutinize & monitor the prayers of other people, nor to judge their sincerity or their salvation. Protestantism does not come from jesus. It began with Martin Luther in 1517 & exists Only to oppose the Catholic church which Jesus founded 15 centuries B4 the protestant revolt. They only know & accept the PARTS of the Bible that suit them and they do not have an accurate bible either.

[@aaroncreagh4402]

It's great to pray for people. I do it all the time. But praying to people, other than God, is forbidden. You have a commandment or two that goes directly against it. Don't forget that God, is a jealous God.

[@35snarf]

A prayer is a conversation with someone in Heaven. Therefore, if I ask someone to pray for me in heaven, we could classify that as a prayer. What is unlawful/unbiblical about that? I'm simply asking for prayers when I "pray" to a saint in heaven. They are not God, but they pray for me to God. _"Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will!"_ (Ps. 103:20-21). _"See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven."_ (Matt. 18:10).

[@nicolerose7090]

Where is it in the Bible to pray to any saint in Heaven? Jesus taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13. Now who will u follow? The interpretation of men or the Words of Jesus in the Bible?!!!

[@sephoraferjuste]

alray Are you even a Christian? How can you not use the Bible as the basis for everything. The Bible is the word of God, and the only book a christian needs. God gave us the law, which is the Bible, so that we can follow it. Tradition has nothing to do with scripture.

[@micheleD498]

alray wow really?! Mary is our protection from the enemy?? Where did you get that? Your priest?? I don't recall Mary being on the cross with Jesus...No one comes to the Father except through his son Jesus...not through mary. There is nothing holy about mary and she was not the new testament ark of the covenant. She was a sinner just like we are. The only Holy person that walked on this earth was our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

[@holsonarthurdexter]

@alray Jesus is our protection and weapon against the devil. Jesus is our everything. Our hope only in him. In Christ alone. Im a catholic but i dont do rosary and asking a prayer from saints. I pray directly to Jesus. The only now and forevermore. If you want people to pray for you, ask from your relatives, friends and the church members. Jesus bless all

[@timothym2241]

How do you go from Paul saying pray for me, to concluding you should pray to the (deceased) saints? And from that to pray to Mary?

[@TheFatimaCenter]

In the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15), Our Lord assures us that there is joy among the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance. Clearly, therefore, all of the blessed spirits in Heaven (including the Saints, who are now like unto the angels of God - Matt. 22:30; Mark 12:25) have knowledge and concern for us here below. It is inconceivable, then, that they do not also pray for us, or that we should neglect to ask for their prayers. God bless you.

[@brandonbandstra226]

Pray the Lord's prayer

[@elliestretchprays7851]

Brandon Bandstra yes! And this is a huge part of the holy rosary🎉🎉💕✝️🕊🍞🍷🎁

[@arkas14]

@@elliestretchprays7851 which is unbiblical

[@johnoconnell5875]

There is a difference in praying for someone then praying to someone, doesn't he understand that

[@TheFatimaCenter]

True, but there are also different connotations of the latter (what it means to pray "to" someone), as well as different kinds of prayer (that is, different ends for which prayers are made, regardless of whether they are directed to God or to the saints). As St. Thomas explains: "Prayer is offered to a person in two ways: one as though to be granted by himself, another as to be obtained through him. In the first way we pray to God alone, because all our prayers ought to be directed to obtaining grace and glory which God alone gives, according to those words of the Psalm (lxxxiii, 12): 'The Lord will give grace and glory.' But in the second way we pray to the holy angels and to men not that God may learn our petition through them, but that by their prayers and merits our prayers may be efficacious. Wherefore it is said in the Apocalypse (viii, 4): 'And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel.'" (Summ. Theol., II-II, Q. lxxxiii, a. 4) Thus the Council of Trent makes clear the propriety and usefulness of invoking the saints: "The saints who reign together with Christ offer up their own prayers to God for men. It is good and useful suppliantly to invoke them, and to have recourse to their prayers, aid, and help for obtaining benefits from God, through His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, Who alone is our Redeemer and Saviour. Those persons think impiously who deny that the Saints, who enjoy eternal happiness in heaven, are to be invoked; or who assert either that they do not pray for men, or that the invocation of them to pray for each of us is idolatry, or that it is repugnant to the word of God, and is opposed to the honour of the one Mediator of God and men, Jesus Christ." (Sess. XXV)

[@a.r.4093]

Mother Mary has made numerous apparitions throughout history that have been CONFIRMED. She has performed miracles during such apparitions and has, in some cases, made accurate prophecies as well (predicted end of WWI and beginning of WWII at Our Lady of Fatima, also the Rwandan Genocide at Our Lady of Kibeho). Protestants will say "oh, that was the devil appearing as Mary". Well, at every single confirmed apparition, Mary's messages all revolve around repenting, turning away from sin and towards God, and praying/making sacrifices for sinners. To say the devil is appearing as Mary, based on what I just described, is extremely impractical and honestly even counter-intuitive--why would the devil be asking souls to turn away from sin and completely towards God? Therefore, this proves Mary's significance in Heaven.

[@cynthiax56]

1. Going through Mary / Saints is OPTIONAL not mandatory. 2. Going through a Holy person to intercede for you IS BIBLICAL as I will show you. 3. You are not qualified to scrutinize the prayers of other people. ➨INTERCESSION of a holy person on our behalf: Job 42:8 8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams, and GO TO MY SERVANT Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and MY SERVANT Job SHALL PRAY FOR YOU, FOR I WILL ACCEPT HIS PRAYER NOT TO DEAL WITH YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR FOLLY; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. ➨INTERCESSION of MARY: At the wedding feast at Cana, it was Mary who asked Jesus to help the wedding party. ➨ INTERCESSION of the SAINTS: REV 5 v 8...And when he had opened the book, the four living creatureS and the four and twenty ancients fell down before the lamb, having every one of them harps and golden bowls full of incense and the prayers of the saints.

[@mengku7751]

Mary is not holy . she is a regular person

[@cynthiax56]

@@mengku7751 The same PROTESTants that refuse to acknowledge that Mary Is Holy, (Even though the BIBLE Tells us she is "Full of grace" ...purity) will acknowledge that Moses and others are Holy. Protestants are filled with rebellion against Jesus and everything they attack can be found in the Bible: Mary, Saints, confession, penance, good works, the Eucharist, Images that were used in the temples, etc etc. Protestantism has screwed up logic because it does not come from Jesus, but rather is a rebellion against him. It makes no logical sense to belittle the Mother that he chose for himself, and then think he will be pleased with you and welcome you into the same kingdom where she abides with him.

[@cynthiax56]

@@mengku7751 BTW You are following a very UN holy man. Martin Luther had visions of the devil and conversations with him as well. This is according to his own writings. Educate yourself and learn the truth about how un holy protestantism is and where it comes from

[@speedyplaysroblox1253]

I really don’t rememeber that I used to watch the Bible for kids and Mary is not a god

[@cynthiax56]

@@speedyplaysroblox1253 ummm no one of us ever said that she was God, so you can stop making things up.

[@martinitamaloii96]

This Catholic man is deceiving

[@prashant1718]

Please give biblical references about marry. As protestants ask for that.

[@antorashwin]

Why should we? If they believe in a strange, wicked, superfluous, unbiblical and crooked doctrine of Sola Scriptura...

[@brokeboyentertainment3110]

God doesn't want us to fight over religion because we are his children and he loves us

[@Remorsecode123]

Idolatry is a sin. You don’t have a Bible or what? Praising a human instead of Jesus is bad. If you need something, ask Jesus. He is the one who gives and forgives, not Mary or anyone else. You can ask Mary to pray for you, but why, if Jesus is alive and can hear you? That's intellectually not smart at all. is like I have the money and we are in the same room, but instead of asking me the person who has the money and the possibility of giving it to you, no, you pass me and ask my brother so I can give you that's okay, but why not just ask me? This is laughable.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Thank you for your question. Ordinary experience gives perfect insight into the wisdom of asking the saints to intercede before God on our behalf. As children we were prone to misbehavior, but we could often obtain undeserved blessings from our fathers by asking our mothers to speak on our behalf. In the same way, the saints stand before God full of merit, and perfected in their love for Him, so naturally their prayers will move Him more powerfully than our own. This applies above all to Our Lady, whose incomparable holiness makes Her a very powerful advocate on our behalf. In the Old Testament, the book of Job gives a clear example of the doctrine of the Communion of Saints. God told Job's very offensive "friend" Eliphaz, the Themanite: "My wrath is kindled against thee ... but my servant Job shall pray for you. His face I will accept, that folly be not imputed to you." (Job 42: 8) God bless you.

[@elliestretchprays7851]

Someone asked who did the early Christians pray to before Mary died...um God. Just like we do now, but now we have a beautiful way to pray to God, and that’s WITH His mother Mary. It’s beautiful. I’m Catholic and have only recently (the past 16 years of 54) been praying the rosary. I wish I had started praying this back in the eighth grade! It would have given me the strength, knowledge and courage to fight off the boys and saved me lots of heartache. Oh Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us!

[@thomasalundago6332]

Almost all my relatives pray the rosary. I don't understand there is something about it we can't explain.

[@Rol0123]

You need to read the Bible…

[@popeye9971]

Paul asked other believers for prayer while he was alive. He said “ Pray for me”. How do they interpret that as pray for me after I’m dead. Absent from the body present with the Lord. Why would Paul need our prayer?

[@TheFatimaCenter]

"Paul asked other believers for prayer while he was alive" -- surely a good idea for us too. And whom better to ask than those whose love for God has been perfected and who are now face to face with God in Heaven?

[@bio2020]

@@TheFatimaCenter Is this not NECROMANCY? You are trying to communicate with the dead, which is EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN. A dead Saint is still a dead human. Nowhere in all of Judeo-Christendom, does God ever teach us that 1) the dead can still hear us, 2) that you should talk to them. Jesus himself taught us how to pray. Why do you not follow his example? "Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed by THY name"...... Jesus taught you to pray DIRECTLY to Him. My goodness, you are in darkness and you can't even see it. Why is this so hard for the Roman Catholic Church to admit? The RCC adopted these pagan practices. IT IS TIME TO SHED THEM FOR THE UNITY OF THE BODY OF CHRIST. HEAL THE WOUNDS CAUSED BY THESE BLASPHEMIES. In the name of Jesus, I pray that the Roman Catholic Church comes into the complete obedience and direction of the Will of God.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

@@bio2020 God has taught us the propriety and usefulness of praying for the dead, and also of seeking the intercession of the faithful departed on our behalf, through His Church, the pillar and ground of truth (1 Tim. 3: 15). It is a blasphemy and affront to God Himself (Luke 10: 16) to despise such teachings. "The saints who reign together with Christ offer up their own prayers to God for men. It is good and useful suppliantly to invoke them, and to have recourse to their prayers, aid, and help for obtaining benefits from God, through His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, Who alone is our Redeemer and Saviour. Those persons think impiously who deny that the Saints, who enjoy eternal happiness in heaven, are to be invoked; or who assert either that they do not pray for men, or that the invocation of them to pray for each of us is idolatry, or that it is repugnant to the word of God, and is opposed to the honour of the one Mediator of God and men, Jesus Christ." (Council of Trent, Sess. XXV)

[@bio2020]

@@TheFatimaCenter First, God bless you. Second, again, Jesus told the living, to pray for the living. So that we may persevere until the end. And on the sermon on the mount, Jesus taught us to who we must direct our prayers.... "When ye pray, pray like this..... Our Father, who art in Heaven"..... I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. For the sake of the unity of the kingdom and the Church, why won't the RCC simply say "We will stop the practice of praying to saints, and only pray to Jesus/Father/God, for the sake of the unity of all Christians." ........ why won't you do this? Regardless of if you think you are right or wrong, for the glory of God and the unity of all Churches, why not just do this?

[@TheFatimaCenter]

@@bio2020 The truth, and fidelity to the teachings of Jesus Christ, is immeasurably more important than any number of people's mutual agreement -- especially if their agreement is in error; worse still, in heresy. God bless you.

[@krispelman6792]

We don't pray to mother Mary, we ask her to pray for us. Just like when us Catholic say hail Mary mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our deaths Amen.

[@UnOrthodox_Christian]

Kris Pelman right!!!!!

[@garystanfield2274]

Catholics have hundreds of prayers to MARY> SHE is dead in the grave waiting for her resurrection and not what some pagan POPE TEACHES AS TRUTH.

[@halo1403]

I pray to mary my mother .I pray to her knowing she will intercede with her son JESUS but I pray to MARY . Devotion to MARY is necessary for salvation if I pray to JESUS I pray to JESUS if I pray to MARY I pray to MARY

[@tangshangrangsamarak6908]

Make me clear about it... "Is there in the Bible or God spoken word, that we should pray to Mary?" Is she given the authority to bless someone? Why can you Pray directly to God.. is someone holding back at you to do that...? I want to share a word... God is our Father and we are the childrens of He's...!! Will a Father give his child a stone instead of food when the child is asking his Father for food...? No.

[@ShrimpinAintEz_com]

This is all dogma and your opinion. Nothing you have said is scriptural! I'll pray for you all. Matthew 6:7

[@manuelotero4927]

God bless you and its funny how they say all this crap but its not in the word of god

[@thebiblestudyhelper9389]

You are wrong about communion of saints not being scripture. Praying with saints and angels is in scripture many times.

[@ShrimpinAintEz_com]

@@thebiblestudyhelper9389 show me

[@ShrimpinAintEz_com]

@@thebiblestudyhelper9389 still waiting for that scripture

[@Abruzzi12]

Can your prayers and my prayers,St.paul, St. Peter, Mary, help the person who suicide?can we pray to the woman or the mother of John spoken by jesus Christ

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Thank you for your question. Yes, we do well and we act powerfully on behalf of all the departed to pray for their repose. Those who have died in compromised circumstances, including those who have committed suicide, are apparently in especial need of our prayers, so we should not neglect to pray for them. The actual moment of someone's death is never known to us, and neither can we know what graces God has extended to a person in their last moments, even when they are to all appearances beyond reach. The Church's public rites are offered only for those who have died in the practice of the Faith, but we would encourage you to pray for the souls of all of your departed relatives and loved ones, no matter what the circumstances of their deaths. God bless you.

[@wholiddleolme476]

Correct me if I'm wrong but Paul lived several hundred years before Constantine, so how did "Paul ask his fellow Catholics" anything? You can't put the cat back in the bag once you let it out, so please answer that historical impossibility satisfactorily. I know what you are implying by your statement, but I want to hear you say it out loud for all to hear!

[@35snarf]

Do you assume Catholicism was created when it was finally legalized by Constantine? He did not _create_ any Church. Christianity was being called _catholic_ by St. Ignatius of Antioch since the second century and likely before that. Paul was Catholic in that he held the same beliefs that Catholics do and was the earliest of leaders in the unbroken line of leadership (i.e. Apostolic Succession) that the Catholic Church has.

[@emsdiy6857]

I love and pray that you do find the truth there was also heresy from the very beginning never forget that

[@treadingtheway3730]

Is Mary omnipresent or has some god-like abilities that she can hear all catholics at the same time to pray for them?

[@TheFatimaCenter]

In this life, knowledge comes through our senses. In Heaven, knowledge comes directly from God, with Whom the saints are united.

[@treadingtheway3730]

@@TheFatimaCenter So where did you base your answer from, is it from scripture? Its like your saying everytime millions of people prays/asks, God would tell Mary, hey this person and that person is asking you to pray for them, is that what you're saying?

[@treadingtheway3730]

@@TheFatimaCenter if not, are you saying that Mary and the saints knows everything what God knows because they are one/united with God?

[@TheFatimaCenter]

@@treadingtheway3730 No, it is impossible that the saints could have the same limitless knowledge that God has.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

@@treadingtheway3730 St. Thomas Aquinas discusses the question of the knowledge of a separated soul here: www.newadvent.org/summa/1089.htm Much of what he discusses in those articles does not apply directly to the Blessed Virgin since Her soul has been reunited to Her resurrected, glorified body, but you will find in the final article a reference to the fact that external things are made known to the saints in Heaven through their vision of the light of God.

[@ForgottenHillbilly]

I completely disagree with this! No man can get to the father except by way of the son! It doesn't say by way of the son's mother nor by way of Moses or Abraham! Though it's good for others to pray for us it is not god to do anything just to be seen or to boast. Jesus said; ''6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.'' This don't only say not to boast or rely on others but it also tells us how to pray. We are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling so when it's comes to my salvation it's what's in my heart not what's in your heart concerning me. I am Christian but I don't follow any one denomination because im working out my own salvation. That being said I would like to remind folks that Jesus was a jew and jews are God's chosen people not catholic folks.

[@johnlop7763]

isn't she is just a human? why putting her as the same level as jesus? that's is just idolatry.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Thank you for your question. The Blessed Virgin is not on the same level as God, but neither is she on the same level as the rest of humanity. Having been chosen to be the Mother of God, her dignity is greater than that of any other created person, whether human or angelic. As she herself noted soon after the angel Gabriel had made known to her God's will in this regard, "Behold henceforth all generations shall call me blessed." (Luke 1:48) God bless you.

[@ryanjimenez4472]

Father thank you so much for clearing this issue about our holy mother. Mary is the beloved mother of Jesus and the person Jesus loved first.

[@Rol0123]

Read the Bible

[@xenagarcia4402]

I’m a Mexican All my family is catholic except my dad and I believe in christian and my dad and mom side of my family were mad at my dad and me and I didn’t know catholic were a big liar. There’s a lot to say about them but I rather you guys find the true kingdom of our god and only our father can save you no one else

[@sarahr7230]

This priest is wrong. They asked Jesus "How should we pray." Mary and the saints are not part of that..

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Even from Old Testament times, God has clearly demonstrated that we do well to seek the intercession of saints on our behalf. We see this confirmed by the example of the Jews many times asking Moses to speak to God on their behalf (and of God having regard to Moses' prayer in spite of His anger toward the Jews), and again when God, rejecting the prayers of holy Job's adversarial "friend" Eliphaz the Themanite, admonished him: "My wrath is kindled against thee ... but my servant Job shall pray for you. His face I will accept, that folly be not imputed to you." (Job 42: 8) Saint James declared: "The prayer of a just man availeth much" (5:16) -- and the obvious application of which this that if a just man's prayers are valuable, then it is worthwhile to ask him for his prayers.

[@sarahr7230]

that's not intercession that's fearful humans not wanting to face God..Moses told them what God said..not what moses told God about them

[@TheFatimaCenter]

St. Paul, by inspiration in his epistles, asks his fellow members of the Communion of Saints for their prayers. In other words, he directly solicits their intercession. To the Romans he "prays": “I beseech you therefore, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the charity of the Holy Ghost, that you help me in your prayers for me to God, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers that are in Judea, and that the oblation of my service may be acceptable in Jerusalem to the saints.” (Rom 15: 30-31) A number of other scriptural examples likewise demonstrate that God approves and even desires that we should ask for the prayers of others on our behalf, and that there is no contradiction here with the doctrine of Our Lord as the one Mediator between God and men. We read, for instance, in Acts chapter 12, how Saint Peter was delivered from prison and death by the prayers of the faithful. Does death change this fact, or make it impossible for the saints to continue to have knowledge and care and love for us, or to continue to pray before God for our needs? On the contrary, the prophet Onias said of the prophet Jeremias (long after the death of Jeremias): "This is the lover of his brethren and of the people of Israel. This is he that prayeth much for the people and for all the holy city; Jeremiah, the prophet of God." (2 Mach. 15:14) Even the words of Job's enemies give evidence that the ancient Jews knew that it was lawful to invoke the saints. Taunting taunt him as though he were too wicked to be heard by God, these enemies say to Job: "Call now if there will be any that will answer thee, and turn to some of the saints." (Job 5:1) Whether being purified by the perfecting flames of God's justice in Purgatory, or having been already perfectly purified and admitted into the presence of God in Heaven, our friends and advocates in the next world are more powerful on our behalf than they ever were while here with us, and they are likewise more charitably disposed toward us. We do well to honor their merits and to seek their intercession, both of which acts redound to the honor of God Who produced such great holiness in them. Catholics believe in and practice the doctrine of the Communion of Saints for good reasons and in obedience to the Revelation given by God.

[@HectorMartinez-gy8kp]

It would be great to be apart of the fIirst begins of the church, but I cant pray to dead saints

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Recall Our Lord's own words regarding the saints who are united to God in Heaven: "He is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (Mat. 22:32)

[@HectorMartinez-gy8kp]

amen :)

[@katolikongpilosopo8386]

Saints are not dead becuse our God is the God of the living not of the dead. Jesus makes it clear in the transfiguration of Jesus in Matthew 17:1-8. where He was talking with Moses and Ilijah . God bless...

[@HectorMartinez-gy8kp]

is pachamama alive too? Sorry bad joke, but the line seems to thin between venerating and worshiping, the other thing that disturbs me is the total authority of the church. Vatican 2 is out there, or how about that Bishop Barren guy talking about the privilege way to heaven( getting to heaven with or without jesus) When a church goes so far off the edge, (solo scriptura) is something that never changes.

[@lauryb.6982]

If you live by the bible you would not hat the bible never said to pray to mary nor saints because only God knows the heart of men. They cannot hear your prayers because than that makes them God and that's blasphemy. Why go to them when you can directly go straight to God?

[@ruthlesslatinos]

May God be with you but this I believe is truly wrong. We can pray for loved ones to God that is true we are alive and are praying to God, not praying for our loved ones to a dead person or Saint. We know from the Torah that Moses is in Gods house as God says it but we do not pray to Moses. We Jesus referred to Mary on the cross he is telling John that he must look of his mother as he is dying. He says mother this is your son and son this is your mother as it was customary for mothers to be looked after in their old ages. There is only one mediator between God and Man and that is the son Jesus Christ. Why do we add to it.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

ruthlesslatinos Dear Friend, the words of Job’s detractors demonstrate that the ancient Jews knew that it was lawful to invoke the saints. Taunting Job as though he were too wicked to be heard by God, they said: "Call now if there will be any that will answer thee, and turn to some of the saints." (Job 5:1) And that our prayers are fitting and useful to the deceased is clear from 2 Machabees 12:46, "It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins."

[@barbaradallaire5668]

Satan has deceived you with a nother book.....The Bible was written with a warning, not to add or take away from it or there would be a curse. The curse is a desception that you will believe a lie. It is too late to pray for the dead as their time of choosing salvation or not is over. Now is the day of salvation, while you still can make the choice. When you are dead, it's too late. Luke 16; 19-31. The desception is that you will believe the lies...a few of these being........... .....that there are second chances after you die or even go to a fictional place called purgatory where you can be bought or prayed out of......., .....another way other than Jesus our mediator, .....another book other than the Word of God, the Bible, and that the Pope is Vicar of Christ. Jesus does not need a man to lead His Church as He is our good shepherd. The errors are so many it would take a day to write them out here, but I hope and pray to God that you will seek Him while He may be found, for tomorrow may be too late.

[@TheChoirNerdz]

Barbara Dallaire Can you show me where the bible explicitly states Sola Scriptura? Or tell me what Martin Luther did? He removed some books from the bible that didnt fit what he was teaching. Tobit, Maccabees, etc. Don't add or take away right?

[@rachelmastaki1215]

Wow. So wrong pray for the living not to the dead. God why

[@bisayachannel7370]

Luke 2:48 all generation call me blessed.that's in rosary.only catolic the ppl of GOD.

[@DRUNKENSYLEMASTER619]

Catholic are the only chosen ?

[@borisvolansky]

Not even 30 seconds in and answered it. Key word is pray "for" me, not pray "to" me. You are wrong bro. Your a bro cause my only "father" is my Lord Jesus Christ. Your title "father" means nothing to me.

[@mortgagefinancing5558]

yes and further more why are people going to confession and saying "father forgive me i have sinned"? Christ already has died for us and God has forgiven...now we ask a man that? and call him father?

[@truthortreason9118]

1Cor 4:15, "For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you." 1Tim 5:1, "An ancient man rebuke not, but entreat him as a father: young men, as brethren."

[@manuelotero4927]

@@truthortreason9118 Read the bible it says in simple words confess no sins to know man plain and simple

[@jakepur8263]

Mortgage Financing Jesus gave authority to the apostle to forgive sin (John 20 .22-23 read this verse before commenting )

[@m.t1960]

Mary, she is not like any other woman, if she were like any other woman as some people say,! Then every woman who gives birth to a child would give birth to a God '.. so let us already remember whose mother is?It's mother of JESUS. our savior ,, even if you do not want to pray to her, she deserves at least respect and honor because she is mother of our LORD JESUS,.what you think if we speak so bad about his mother it's he happy???i don't think ...!!it's hurt him.and when we want to really love and honor JESUS,we should have little bit respect for his mother too,God bles you all

[@michaelmccartan8739]

Is praying to Mary beneficial to men for dealing with anger issues. And the need to find peace with the world and towords woman. Isn't this important. There is no female characters in Christianity. And you can't find that compassion and healing without the woman and mother figure. I have a very bad temper and praying to Mary really helps me with my anger issues

[@GTM23669]

Don't pray to or for anyone that are dead.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

On the contrary, regarding prayers for the dead, we read: "It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins." (2 Machabees 12: 46) And regarding the fact that the saints continue to have knowledge and care and love for us, and continue to pray before God for our needs, the prophet Onias said of the prophet Jeremias (long after the death of Jeremias): "This is the lover of his brethren and of the people of Israel. This is he that prayeth much for the people and for all the holy city; Jeremiah, the prophet of God." (2 Mach. 15:14) The propriety and usefulness of invoking the saints is thus clear, as even the ancient Jews knew, which is evidenced by the words of Job's enemies. Taunting taunt him as though he were too wicked to be heard by God, these enemies said to Job: "Call now if there will be any that will answer thee, and turn to some of the saints." (Job 5:1)

[@a.r.4093]

Mother Mary has made numerous apparitions throughout history that have been CONFIRMED. She has performed miracles during such apparitions and has, in some cases, made accurate prophecies as well (predicted end of WWI and beginning of WWII at Our Lady of Fatima, also the Rwandan Genocide at Our Lady of Kibeho). Protestants will say "oh, that was the devil appearing as Mary". Well, at every single confirmed apparition, Mary's messages all revolve around repenting, turning away from sin and towards God, and praying/making sacrifices for sinners. To say the devil is appearing as Mary, based on what I just described, is extremely impractical and honestly even counter-intuitive--why would the devil be asking souls to turn away from sin and completely towards God? Therefore, this proves Mary's significance in Heaven.

[@GodFamilyCountryCorp]

What more can we say - Mary is The Mother of GOD!

[@GodFamilyCountryCorp]

***** Jesus is God. One God 3 divine persons. I guess you are not Catholic. The Blessed Mother is the Mother of God.

[@GodFamilyCountryCorp]

Gunnar Gude Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death Amen. It is in the Holy Rosary and is Dogma you liberal fool.

[@GodFamilyCountryCorp]

Barbara Dallaire Written like a true liberal modernist.

[@paulustarsus]

I don't think that this Priest has convinced me. I'm catholic, acknowledge the importance of the Virgin Mary, but do not pray to her.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

In what way, then, do you acknowledge your dependence on Her intercession for you?

[@paulustarsus]

@@TheFatimaCenter I don't feel that any intercession is required. Christ teaches how to pray, (in secret, direct with the Father, one-on-one, and with natural conversation).

[@TheFatimaCenter]

@@paulustarsus Consider please this easily apparent fact that the Blessed Virgin Mary plays a necessary role in everyone's salvation. It is precisely because there is no possibility of salvation except through Jesus Christ that our salvation has from the very beginning depended on the Blessed Virgin, for in the disposition of God's Providence, the eternal Son of God became man, our Redeemer Jesus Christ, only through the consent and cooperation of the Virgin Mary. Moreover, as St. Alphonsus Liguori teaches, we all have a continuing need of Our Lady's intercession for our salvation, and a corresponding obligation to seek God's graces through Her. Our Lady's intercession is necessary, he explains, "not with an absolute necessity; for the mediation of Jesus Christ alone is absolutely necessary; but with a moral necessity; for the Church believes with St. Bernard that God has determined that no grace shall be granted otherwise than by the hands of Mary." Our Lord remains as much the Son of Mary in Heaven as He was on earth, when He was subject to Her in most profound sentiments of respect and love. We can scarcely imagine His displeasure at seeing Her denigrated, especially by those who claim to do so in His Name. This topic is at the heart of the Message and requests of Our Lady of Fatima, in Her urgent plea for reparation on behalf of non-Catholics who outrage Her Immaculate Heart through their blasphemies and ingratitude in the very tenets of their false religions. God bless you.

[@paulustarsus]

@@TheFatimaCenter many thanks for your earnest explanation. Please understand that I am not Protestant-leaning. I believe that the Blessed Virgin is worthy of acknowledgement and honour, but considering Old Testament scripture and Catholic teaching to date, certain statements contradict the veneration of anyone except God; (Moses 10 Commandments, "I am the Lord, your God, thou shalt have no Gods before me"), (Christ teaching that not one jot or tittle be changed in the Law), (Christ's family, including Mary and James, not following Him or understanding Him from the beginning), (Christ asking, while his family were outside the room, ("Who is my mother and who are my brothers?"), And also the reluctance of the Catholic Church, to date, or many other religions for that matter, refusing women to its priesthood. Please also understand that I am not a religious nut, coming on here to spout tripe just for the sake of it. I honestly feel that the Catholic Church has tried to bend and please the masses over the years, even up to the most recent decision and apology of who was ultimately responsible for the death of our Saviour, thereby altering the story of the Precious Blood. Could it be possible that they have changed the status of the Blessed Virgin over the years to accomodate all mothers influence within the family?

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. If it were possible that the Church's authoritative teaching on any subject were foreign to Christ's original teaching, the entire body of beliefs would have no credibility. Thus, no, it is not possible. The Catholic Faith, the true Faith, is true in its entirety. The difficulty in our time is merely to distinguish the Church's authentic teachings from modernist ravings. God bless you.

[@carolinapilak4948]

You all make things complicated! I'm Catholic and will be until I die. I don't to pray TO Mother Mary, I pray WITH her or..., I ask her to pray WITH me. By the way, to those who say that Catholics are not Christians, first... really sad that you are uninformed! Secondly, Catholics are Christians. Our whole beliefs and our daily and Sunday masses are about Jesus Christ, thus... Christ-ians! The Catholic Church is the ONLY church that was founded by Christ. The rest, were founded by protestants. The first one, broke off so he can divorce his wife to marry his mistress. Then many broke off from the original protestants..., then many more brokeoff further to start their own churches! Thus, all the diffrrent sectors of protestants..., lutherans, methodists, baptists, "born again", etc. Men were credited for starting these new faiths! The Catholic Church is the only one that credits Jesus Christ! Amen!

[@marygrabowski7256]

The Bible says call no man Father . there is one Father our heavenly Father

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Both common sense and Sacred Scripture affirm not only that we all truly do have parents and educators, but also that we owe a special debt of reverence and gratitude to them. “Honor thy father and thy mother” is a law written both in our hearts and in Sacred Scripture, and Our Lord severely castigated the Pharisees for their conniving for financial gain at the expense of aging parents in need. Our Lord’s own words in rebuking the Pharisees, “And further you suffer him not to do any thing FOR HIS FATHER or mother,” (Mark 7:12) show that this issue is simply not in question - we do indeed have fathers and the term “father” is the correct one to use in their regard. Moreover, we have special inescapable obligations before God to our fathers and mothers. That is the plain sense of Revelation which Our Lord nowhere contradicts. What about the propriety of honoring the ministers of the Church’s Sacraments with the title “Father”? This is also both reasonable and demonstrated in Sacred Scripture. Saint Paul says to the Corinthians: “I admonish you as my dearest children. For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you.” (I Cor. 4:14-15) As a priest and bishop of the Catholic Church, he calls himself in a true sense the spiritual father of those whom he has assisted in generating into the life of sanctifying grace, and he knows that he is not violating any law of Christ in calling himself their father. Again in his epistle to Philemon (1:10) he says: “I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus.” Our Lord’s meaning is clearly that our Heavenly Father is incomparably more to be regarded than any father upon earth, and that no father or teacher on earth is to be followed in matters that would lead us away from God. Catholics do not call their priests or their natural parents “Father” in the same sense that we call God “Our Father.”

[@kahnquest_mK]

Jesus clearly spoke with Moses (a dead person) during the transfiguration. If Jesus can talk to dead people, so can we. ☺

[@afua4953]

Wow I never thought of it in that way

[@rubenkoster1015]

Because Jesus is God. We are mortal people. But hey, if you want to pray to death people who can not hear you, be my guest.

[@kahnquest_mK]

@@rubenkoster1015 Why the sarcasm and condescending tone? You are a rude person. The dead are kinder than you.

[@kahnquest_mK]

@@rubenkoster1015 And the dead are alive. God is the God of the living. Not the dead. Mark 12:27

[@rubenkoster1015]

@@kahnquest_mK you dont even know me, so dont judge. I just think its foolish to pray to mary. She also needs a saviour and thats Jesus Christ. And yes, she may be alive in Christ right now, but not in a way she hears your prayers. And where in the bible its says we should pray to mary. Pray to Jesus, He can help you, and not a mortal woman.

[@hay943]

People who say not to ask anyone to pray for them, then why do you all go to churches and prayer meetings and ask the pastors or brothers or sisters to pray for u or someone else?

[@denniskwarteng5858]

There is a difference between praying For, and praying To. Mary can't hear you, she's dead. Praying For someone is you praying TO God About the person.

[@bmanboyle1]

God bless the Fatima Center and there fantastic work. And all of those willing, please pray the rosary...... For mortal sins I've commited for as long as I remember, I have stopped. With the intercession of the blessed mother, I have been made witness to what will come to pass in the short future. To all those outside the faith, I urge for your conversion to Catholicism for your salvation. I will pray for you daily. To conclude, I recommend father Gruner's book, crucial ways to save your soul. At least give it a read. What's the worst it could do?

[@TheFatimaCenter]

www.crucialtruths.com/read.html

[@norabickfordhill7978]

Mary is NOT holy. Holy means that person has no sin. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God

[@catherineboyle1621]

@@norabickfordhill7978 I'm terribly sorry but you are wrong about the Blessed Mother and I hope before your passing on this Earth you learn the truth and convert. God bless

[@davidcrane6593]

"pauls fellow catholics?" what catholics?..... what verse mentions a catholic?

[@TheFatimaCenter]

The universality of the Church is explicitly referred to by Our Lord when He commissioned His Apostles to preach in His Name and by His authority throughout the entire world: "Going therefore, teach ye all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." (Matt. 28:19-20) The term "Catholic" (meaning Universal) has been used in association with the Church since its earliest years, and occurs in Christian literature as early as the year 107 in St. Ignatius of Antioch's Letter to the Smymaeans (#8): “Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be; as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.”

[@davidcrane6593]

catholic does not equal church anymore than baptist equals church. what you are saying doesnt back in scripture.... paul tells us "the Church" is the body of Christ-->[Col 1:18 KJV] 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence. and since we know there is ONLY ONE CHRIST JESUS and ONE BODY(Church).... we know "THE CHURCH" started WAY before anyone had ever heard the word "catholic". do you actually have a scripture that backs your "notion" or is it simply a tradition of men?

[@a.r.4093]

Mother Mary has made numerous apparitions throughout history that have been CONFIRMED. She has performed miracles during such apparitions and has, in some cases, made accurate prophecies as well (predicted end of WWI and beginning of WWII at Our Lady of Fatima, also the Rwandan Genocide at Our Lady of Kibeho). Protestants will say "oh, that was the devil appearing as Mary". Well, at every single confirmed apparition, Mary's messages all revolve around repenting, turning away from sin and towards God, and praying/making sacrifices for sinners. To say the devil is appearing as Mary, based on what I just described, is extremely impractical and honestly even counter-intuitive--why would the devil be asking souls to turn away from sin and completely towards God? Therefore, this proves Mary's significance in Heaven.

[@davidcrane6593]

@@a.r.4093 the problem is mary is not holy. She is not Deity(God).. and in scripture we are told there is only one mediator between God and man(us) the Person of Jesus The Christ(God in the flesh). So.. anyone who speaks to mary now that she is dead... is actually speaking to a devil.... The Lord specifically forbids Christians from attempting to speak to the dead. This is why HE killed saul and his sons the day after they attempted to conjure up a dead saint(samuel).--> 1 Sam 28: 19Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

[@a.r.4093]

@@davidcrane6593 In my previous comment, I wrote how protestants always claim the devil is appearing as Mary during Her apparitions-- BUT that argument is not valid, as the entire message of Mother Mary during these apparitions promotes repenting, turning away from sin, turning towards God, and praying/making sacrifices for sinners. To say the devil is appearing and begging souls to repent and turn away from sin and towards God is extremely impractical. Therefore, if these apparitions are real and exist, and if the miracles and messages of Mother Mary are entirely revolved around turning to God, there's no argument disproving Mary's importance in Heaven. Protestants always send back scripture in response, but that doesn't explain the reality of the apparitions, especially when I just established it's impractical to assume the devil is appearing and asking sinners to repent.

[@juvydeguzman4301]

We pray through another person, angel or Holy Spirit because God is pleased with them because they are holy. Like Mary, St. Paul, and St. Jeremiah, they are already selected by God to serve him even before they were born so God is pleased with them so God hears their prayers. Through them, God's heart melts so there is a possibility that what we are asking will be granted.

[@skobodabaws8946]

Gimme a verse

[@kevintboy9538]

@@skobodabaws8946 😂🤣 I want a verse to, I really tried not to comment but there's a itch.

[@lisahorne8059]

Holy Spirit is part of the trinity.

[@lisahorne8059]

I hear much talk about what another priest said years ago. What does the Bible say?

[@lisahorne8059]

Did you say Paul was Catholic? Where is that in the Bible?

[@maggiecoughenour4799]

I think the question is If we should not pray to Mary. Than why when we do Pray to Mary the Holy Rosary or Mary undo the knots...WHY does Heaven answer them directly.

[@ryanalving3785]

Because there are many spirits, and even devils can work miracles. Revelation 16:14a "For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles..." Deuteronomy 13:1-3 1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Muslims see answered prayers, pagans see miracles, occultists witness much uncanny; the question of any sign must be is it according to the word of God. If it is leading to prayer to another, honor to another, devotion to another; then it leads away from Christ, and must be wrong.

[@juvydeguzman4301]

We are all sinners. As what is found in exodus, God is about to vomit when Israelites commits sin. It was Moses who intercede for them. We need Mary, the mother of God, to intercede for us. But since you depart from the church founded by Jesus, there is no need to explain. You have no salvation anymore.

[@thebiblestudyhelper9389]

The lack of communion with saints is a detraction from the church relationship that Christ prescribed to his church . The modern idea of a personal relationship with Christ is dismembering the church and church ministry .

[@juvydeguzman4301]

Job 42:8 Job prays for Eliphaz and his two friends because of their sins. Exodus 32:30-32 Moses intercede for his people because they committed a terrible sin from the Lord and the Lord was boiling with anger on them.

[@vaticancitybride7137]

Angelic Intercession Prayer’s from Both Heaven and Earth ! Jesus Of Mary Is TRUTH Amen

[@lauryb.6982]

Jesus says I am the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE. Jesus is the only way to the Father. Christ never said to pray to Mary because only God knows the heart of men and that makes her God which is blasphemy pray to God not to MAN. NO BIBLE VERSES SAY TO PRAY TO MARY.

[@stevenirizarry9427]

@@lauryb.6982no bible verses have anyone praying to the Holy Spirit? Is that wrong? Of course not lol

[@susewambold8175]

Praying TO anyone other than Jesus/God is heresy. Praying FOR someone is very different than TO

[@TheFatimaCenter]

We would suggest that the essential distinction to make in understanding the Church's teaching on the Communion of Saints is in the various denotations of the word "pray" itself. When taken to mean "render adoration," you are correct to say that we must pray only to God. But the word has broader meanings, including "beseech" -- "I pray thee, hold me excused" (Lk. 14: 18). In this sense, St. Paul gives us the wholesome example of asking prayers from his brethren in Christ (e.g. 1 Thes. 5:25). God bless you.

[@LockMacFly]

I think catholics still have a decent argument when it comes to repetition and with images. But with praying to mary the argument is extremely weak for such a big action.

[@guspickett5638]

'to' and 'for' are pretty simple words, so why is this man confusing them? why should we pray to Mary? 'because its nice to pray for people, and people drew paintings of Mary ages ago' Jesus is salvation, not a church, not a priest, not the Pope and not Mary

[@TheFatimaCenter]

The confusion is not between "to" and "for", but between equivocal uses of the word "pray". Rather than discussing the question of praying to God vs. praying to saints, we might speak more exactly of worshiping God, as opposed to giving honor to or seeking the intercession of the saints. We can easily agree that we are to adore God only, and that we are to give honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:7). Likewise, if as St. James says (5:16), the prayer of a just man will greatly avail us, it is certainly worthwhile to ask our holy friends -- in this world or the next -- for their prayers.

[@guspickett5638]

I get it, but why did Pope Francis say a personal relationship with Jesus is harmful and dangerous? It looks to me like an organisation trying to maintain power by acting as a gatekeeper to God. My Anglican faith encourages me to have a direct relationship with God. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJDFp3qKmJuGg5o

[@TheFatimaCenter]

On this we can agree, that it is the statements of Francis themselves which are often problematic -- in fact "harmful and dangerous," not true expressions of the Christian Faith.

[@joellelim3129]

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:3).

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Ryan McCoy - To be more precise, we should say not that the Pope is infallible, but that the Pope's teachings are infallible when promulgated under certain strict conditions.

[@dr.alanhales544]

TheFatimaCentre, There are NO Biblical scriptures that sat we can pray to Mary or the heavenly saints, Catholics HAVE to twist the scriptures and the give nothing but pure speculations. The Bible says there is only ONE Heavenly mediator, And that is Jesus.

[@raymondreno6025]

ive read these comments, the majority were posted years ago, and of course by protestants. I think the biggest problem we face is the situation in the Church today. A return to the Faith before vatican 2 and a good immersion with the Bible and the Church Fathers could help us all in being able to propagate the Apostolic Faith to the heretics

[@michaelbeauparlant4373]

Why do protestants believe that Mary doctrine is a form of paganism?

[@brucewmclaughlin9072]

In all 73 books of the bible you can see for yourself if anyone prays to anyone other than God. The example in 73 books says you pray only to God . An apostate church says you can pray to any living saint ,or formerly alive saint , or angel or Mary the mother of Jesus. John 14:6 Mary not required, Heb 12:2 who are we too focus on? 1 Peter 2:24 Who atones for our sins ??

[@leespidey]

But father! In India,they are seeing her as godess and people are giving different names to her and making church of her name.. It's Ok.. Who follows bible's rules? But in India if you see other religion, Hindu.. They do same thing and praying the statues of thier godess! Isn't it written in bible the you shoud not pray to those non-living things! If you know this indian culture and hindu religion then.. We're doing same! And that's why they see us like fraud people! And that's why christians were attacked in India! I know that she is a lady who is great,lucky to be mother of God, and she deserves it But in India the things are going totaly crazy! Even catholic churches are doing this crazyness! Like they are making songs like hindu culture,doing prayers like ... You know it looks very strange to me and similler to Hindus! This isn't way to know the jesus! We need believers! True believers! Jesus is way,the truth and the life,If I read properly And I think that it should stop! I'm not telling you that don't pray to her but somewhere it's just looking weired in india My english is poor but i want tell anyone who can answer me!

[@TheFatimaCenter]

The problem you describe is the diabolical evil of inculturation, which is promoted even by churchmen. Cornelia Ferreira discusses this error in the attached article, drawing from a book titled "The Paganization of the Church in India." www.sspxasia.com/Newsletters/2004/Jan-Jun/Mother_Teresa.htm See also her presentation at a Catholic Family News conference here: www.catholicfamilynews.org/blog/2009/10/24/cornelia-ferreira-the-inculturated-mass-forerunner-of-the-abomination-unto-desolation-2009-cfn-conference

[@norabickfordhill7978]

But when we pray for someone else they are praying in the name of Jesus

[@GrandMarkeyz]

All the people in the world who believe in the one true God. Please pray to the Virgin Mary and read this to understand why. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

[@adelkamal6464]

I believe it's a moral honesty to say this so people know what I've been through God knows speak here in sincerity in April 2016, I got up from my sleep rare to happen for some reason the case with me saw something that no one believe and I'm being an Arab Muslim from Qatar, but I say the right word what I saw on the wall of my room clearly and for a period just a few seconds, but I am 100% sure an Image of Jesus Christ his face white close to an Arab or middle east people the eyes beautiful the face beard is light and the face shape is little long and head hair lay almost on his shoulders a bit I think I hinted his hands back ,Room was not dark,in the beginning i thought he looks some degree to one of my friend but inspiration jump to my mind he is the Christ and what i astonish about the scene was so clear this is a testimony and God witness I say the truth and why me have this experience I do not know but did happen ( this is not my real name due to personal reasons) yes I was awake when the image of Jesus Christ manifested. .Since 2001 and until now I see drawings or images of creature like us also writing show events of some of them occurred and others did not happen, but I do not know when I just realized that something will happen because of it and these drawings appear on the wall or the wall of my room, especially during the night but less in the day and the important these are clear to me. I saw Jesus face in real--the text in Arabic-هذا الكلام الذي اسرده حقيقي 100% ولو كنت بشك مما حصلت لي من تجربة لما دونت حرف واحد نعم لا يمكن ان تصدق بهذا الزمن بالقرن 21 وانا منهم لم اكن اؤمن بهذا لكن بعد الذي حصل تغيرت الاعتقادات والمفاهيم و ان الحياة بها اسرار لا يمكن ان يستوعبها العقل البشري شيء اكثر من معجزة برأيي نعم تجربة لا تصدق لا اعرف التفسير لكن حصلت . اليكم هذه الحادثة ... هنا اورد مشاهدتي لتثبت هذه الحقيقة . أقول الحق واليكم ما مررت في رؤيتي الواقعية وانا بكامل حواسي ومستيقظ وصاحي اعرف ما اقول هنا بنية صادقة لا تشوبها ذرة من الشك وكلمتي شرف وصدق في النصف الثاني لشهر ابريل 2016م وانا نائم -فجاة نهضت من نومي لسبب نادر مايحصل لي والله رأيت شيء لن تصدقوا وانا كوني . مسلم . حسب الولادة ومواطن قطري لكن اقول كلمة الحق ماذا شاهدت رأيت على جدار غرفتي بصورة واضحة ولمده لا اعرف لكنها قصيرة ممكن ثواني لكني متأكد 100%صورة السيد المسيح . لان الزمن كان سريعا.وجهه واضح وكأني لمحت ان يديه الى الخلف ومظهرة طبيعي جدا بدون وجود اي اشياء خارجه عن المألوف ووجهه بلحية خفيفة ووجهه شكله طويل وعيونه بها جمال لايوصف نظرات وعيون رائعة وشعررأسه يتدلى على كتفيه تقريبا بعض الشيء وملامح رائعة وابيض الشكل وقريب شكله كالعرب او من شعوب الشرق الاوسط وهذا ونور الغرفه بها اضاءة وقد اعتقدت بداية انه يشبه احد الاصدقاء بدرجة بسيطة لكن بسرعة احسست او ألهام روادني لا هذا هو المسيح والذي ابهرني الوضوح التام للصورة-هذه شهادة واوصل كلمتي لأرضاء ضميري ووهي امانة احس لابد من قولها ولا اريد الأموال او الشهرة لان الدنيا فانية لايهمني من يعارض لكن المهم انها الحقيقة النهائيةبعد هذا الذي حصل لماذا انا شفت ومررت بالتجربة لا اعرف-لكنها حدثت وهذا ليس اسمي الحقيقي لأسباب خاصة ومن 2001م والى الان اشوف رسومات وكتابات او صور مخلوقات تشبه الانسان وكذلك لأحداث بعضها حدثت وغيرها لم تحدث لكني لا اعرف متى فقط ادرك ان هناك شيء سيحدث بسببه وهذه الرسومات تظهر على حائط او جدار غرفتي خصوصا احيانا بالنهار لكن اغلبها بالليل المهم انها واضحة لي

[@liuqbajangmambesidaaqberaa6289]

I pray hail mary just as rmto honor Mary. As it is written in scripture that 'from now you (Mary) will be called bless art though among woman". Mary want to help human being when on the wedding party in Cana she ask Jesus help and Jesus did His first miracle to change water to wine. As a catholic that is my reflectiom if honor and people may agree or may not agree. Martin Luther founder of protestant church did pray this devotion too.

[@goldsurfer48]

Why is the word Catholic not in the Bible? But Christians, and Israelites is?

[@TheFatimaCenter]

The universality (or "catholicity") of the Church is most definitely biblical. This mark of the one true Church is assured in Matt. 28:19, in the commissioning of the Apostles with these words: "Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

[@goldsurfer48]

TheFatimaCenter Thank you , God bless. I saw someone else post it on here it's found in the Greek biblical text in the book of acts. Acts9:11 throughout G2596 Original: κατά Transliteration: kata Phonetic: kat-ah' ... all G3650 Original: ὅλος Transliteration: holos Phonetic: hol'-os

[@MrPanchoak]

As a former protestant the issue is not that we should pray for each other, but that we may do so even after the repose of that Saint. Protestantism fails to realize the veracity of the words of our Lord " whosoever lives and believes in me, shall never die." We always turned that to ourselves, but not to those around us. We therefore didnt see our own brothers as still living in Christ. Also their unholy tradition defines prayer as worship. That makes us "worshippers" of the created and not of the Creator. Their understanding of scripture is extremely limited, and does not consider the implications of the things they DO know.

[@tudor_trader]

LOL! Because it takes a GENIUS to figure this out :)))) 1 Timothy 2:5 --> For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, Mic drop...

[@MsOliveLeaf]

What? Paul asked his fellow catholics to pray for him. Is this priest on drugs? Paul became a Christian but the catholic church didn't even exist for over 300 years after Paul's death. Paul never told people to pray to the dead. He told the living to pray for him just as we pray for each other today. Communication with the dead is an abomination to God: Deuteronomy Chapter 17.

[@superior9980]

+MsOliveLeaf Peace be with you I have an honest question for you. WHO founded the Catholic Church and WHEN was it founded. I keep asking this question to people but no one seems to be able to answer. Perhaps you can?

[@jeanie6279]

Oh my, this is so easy to answer. Christ Himself founded the Church! We can read this in the New Testament, specifically the Gospels and Letters. But you must also read actual history and the writings of the Church Fathers. As John Henry Cardinal Newman said, based on his own life's search for truth, "To be deep in history is to cease to be a Protestant." In other words, in addition to the Bible, history and reason itself all point to the primacy of the Catholic Church, founded by Christ. Please forget the Sola Scriptora nonsense. You will not find the word "catholic" in the Bible per se (for that matter you won't find the words or even the implication "sola scriptora" in the Bible; if anything you will find implication as well as explicit comment that there is more to truth than what is written!), but there you will find the true Church. Consider this analogy: Gravity. Gravity existed long before Isaac Newton came along and "discovered" it, named it, experimented with it, wrote about it, understood it. The Catholic Church has been around a very long time, before it was named as such (and before the heresy and rebellion of Martin Luther who began the rift that separates Christians so woefully. Catholics pray for the return home of all our separated brothers & sisters)! God bless you!

[@ChuddleBuggy]

Saint Stephen, whose death by stoning the apostle Paul was witness to, was a devout man and undoubtedly dear to God and Jesus Christ. How come no one ever even talks about him, let alone ask him, or encourage others to ask him to pray for them?

[@superior9980]

+ChuddleBuggy While there are saints who's intercession is more commonly asked for, there is a prayer to Saint Stephen to pray for us: A Prayer by Deacon Keith Fournier Lord Jesus, you chose Stephen as the first deacon and martyr of your One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. The heroic witness of his holy life and death reveals your continued presence among us. Through following the example of his living faith, and by his intercession, empower us by your Holy Spirit to live as witnesses to the faith in this New Missionary Age. No matter what our state in life, career or vocation, help us to proclaim, in both word and in deed, the fullness of the Gospel to a world which is waiting to be born anew in Jesus Christ. Pour out upon your whole Church, the same Holy Spirit which animated St Stephen, Martyr, to be faithful to the end, which is a beginning of life eternal in the communion of the Trinity. Prayer to St. Stephen O glorious St. Stephen, first Martyr for the Faith, filled with compassion for those who invoke you, with love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles. I kneel at your feet and humbly beg you to take my present needs under your special protection. Vouchsafe to recommend it to our Lord Jesus. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me the grace to one day meet God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the angels and saints praise Him through all eternity. O most powerful Saint Stephen, Deacon and Martyr, do not let me lose my soul, but obtain for me the grace of winning my way to heaven, forever and ever. Amen.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Yes, a wonderful patron for us, in our time of increasing and bloody persecution, during the course of which (barring the Consecration of Russia) we must all expect to be required to make the sacrifice of our lives for the Faith -- as Our Lady of Fatima warned if Her requests were not heeded in time, "The good will be martyred."

[@ProtestantismLeftBehind]

Pray to God. Pray with the saints to God.

[@ivansanchez8724]

Blessed Virgin Mary she Give the Holy Rosary to saint Dominic and the Brown Scapular To saint Simon Stock during the Vision of Purgatory and in 1917 she come to Fatima and Blessed Virgin Mary Gave the Holy Rosary to the 3 Shepherd Children And she said Pray the Rosary Every day to obtain peace for the world

[@salcervantes3514]

Paul is asking the living to pray for him, not the dead. Mary And the saints are in the presence of the Lord in Heaven. Jesus is the only one that died and rose from the. dead.

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Thank you for your comment. St. James writes: "The prayer of a just man availeth much" -- the obvious application of this lesson being that if a just man's prayers are valuable, then it is worthwhile to ask him for his prayers.The doctrine of the Communion of Saints informs us of the union of the members of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church, whether in Heaven, in Purgatory, or on earth. In light of this, we see that the admonition of St. James is not restricted to other members of the Church on earth. Other passages demonstrate more explicitly that death is no barrier to the Communion of Saints. One in particular shows that Saints in Heaven continue to have knowledge and care and love for us, and continue to pray before God for our needs. The prophet Onias said of the prophet Jeremias (long after the death of Jeremias): "This is the lover of his brethren and of the people of Israel. This is he that prayeth much for the people and for all the holy city; Jeremiah, the prophet of God." (2 Mach. 15:14) Another passage to the same effect is the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15), Our Lord assures us that there is joy among the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance. Clearly, therefore, all of the blessed spirits in Heaven (including the Saints, who are now like unto the angels of God - Matt. 22:30; Mark 12:25) have knowledge and concern for us here below. It is inconceivable, then, that they do not also pray for us, or that we should neglect to ask for their prayers. Even the words of Job's enemies give evidence that the ancient Jews knew that it was lawful to invoke the prayers of others, both living and deceased. Taunting taunt him as though he were too wicked to be heard by God, these enemies say to Job: "Call now if there will be any that will answer thee, and turn to some of the saints." (Job 5:1) Our friends and advocates in the next world are more powerful on our behalf than they ever were while here with us, and they are likewise more charitably disposed toward us. We do well to honor their merits and to seek their intercession, both of which acts redound to the honor of God Who produced such great holiness in them. And this applies above all to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose holiness exceeds that of all the angels and saints combined, and who throughout Her entire life never refused the least thing that God asked of Her. Catholics believe in and practice the doctrine of the Communion of Saints for good reasons and in obedience to the Revelation given by God. God bless you.

[@Rene-uj5vw]

Can I ask Mary for protection? To defend me against the devil?

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Yes, and Her Rosary and the Brown Scapular are very powerful means of doing so. God bless you. fatima.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/bt016_pray_the_rosary.pdf archive.fatima.org/apostolate/pdf/brown_scapular.pdf

[@Rene-uj5vw]

@@anuiype do you think that if you die and you're with the Lord you're dead? I don't think so because I believe in life after death. The only true death is hel remember that.

[@ParanormalDestination]

Why does he dance around the Mary question??? It's really annoying!! I think there maybe was no Jesus??? I hope there is but all these higher ups know more than they let on!!

[@billmeehan7443]

They are all still asleep waiting for the lord when he comes again

[@rolanddeschain5937]

Amen!

[@ashleycoutinho3111]

would be great if there could be captions for the deaf (God bless~)

[@ashleycoutinho3111]

@Monica Merino I feel it's best that we pray for each other regarding this then.. (since that works for u). May The Son of God lead us into all Truth and may The Truth set us free

[@ashleycoutinho3111]

@Monica Merino sorry about deleting my earlier comment. Forgive me; felt I wasn't responding in the right spirit.

[@ashleycoutinho3111]

@Monica Merino Believe it or not dear Monica, that's how we complete every prayer in Church. Have done the same now; will continue to remember u before Jesus. God bless~

[@norabickfordhill7978]

God never told you to elevate mary. Jesus said he is the only way to the father

[@TheFatimaCenter]

Thank you for your comment. There is no contradiction or opposition in these two facts, that "No one comes to the Father except by Me [Jesus Christ]," and that the Blessed Virgin Mary also plays a necessary role in everyone's salvation. In fact it is precisely because there is no possibility of salvation except through Jesus Christ that our salvation has from the very beginning depended on the Blessed Virgin, for in the disposition of God’s Providence, the eternal Son of God became man, our Redeemer Jesus Christ, only through the consent and cooperation of the Virgin Mary. God bless you.