Hi Catholic Soldier-

You said--

Quote
In all my years as a Catholic I have never worshipped a statue or icon of any kind, nor have I witnessed anyone doing so.


Ok I'm just going to point out the obvious. Am I missing something?? You say that you've never worshipped a statue or icon. But what are you doing when you are praying to Mary and other saints to intercede for you??? You are worshipping Mary. Ok you say Mary isn't devine. But in your very act of prayer to her, you are worshipping her. Only a devine being (God) can be prayed to. That's the error you hold right there. It seems that you are saying it's not worship to Mary by praying for her to interceded because she's not God. Mary is dead and powerless to intercede because she is not God. But only God has the power to work on our behalf, [/b]so whether you like it or not, Mary just became "God" when she is prayed to. Does that make any sense?? You say you've never worshipped an idle, but every time you pray to a Saint you've done it. You are deceived my friend. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bigglasses.gif" alt="" /> You are praying to these dead people who are powerless!! Do you realize you are worshipping dead people?? Their work on earth here is done and they do NOT have any work for you on your behalf or anyone's behalf while in heaven (and only God can do the intercession that you describe of the saints being able to do). Yes they are alive in heaven, but we are NOT to pray to them. That is worship and idolatry and it's also occultism.

I am interested in the history of all of this. I wonder what centuries did this get popular in the Catholic Church?? (I'm referring to praying to the Saints). Well that's another area of reading for me amongst so much reading.

Janean