janean said:
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"You say that you have 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.

That's your assertion. Our petition to the saints to intercede for us is not unlike your own petitions to friends to pray for you, exception being that the saint are in heaven having crossed the finish line and earned God's special favor and reward He has promised to all who persevere unto death.

You actually would have made a stronger objection by referring to our veneration (honoring) of the saints as equating to saint worship. But even this is in error. For the homage we give them (which they have indeed incurred) is not nearly the same as the worship and praise we give only to God, the Trinity.

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..only God can do the intercession that you describe of the saints being able to do.

Do you never request the prayers of your friends? Don't you realize that you are asking them to intercede for you? There's nothing wrong with this because in 2 Peter we are referred to as a royal priesthood empowering us to do this priestly duty for each other. But you are incorrect in thinking that this replaces, for us, the ultimate intercession of Jesus Christ who is our Great High Priest according to the order of Melchizadek.

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I am interested in the history of all 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.

That's one thing I can agree on, you are not yet well informed on this subject. In your research, please don't consult only anticatholic sources. You will find that petitioning the saints is steeped in historical precedent and is not just a hallmark of the Catholic Church, but also the Orthodox, and interesingly enough, the Anglican Church. (but try getting averagefellar to admit to that! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />)

"Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen." Eph 6:24

catholicsoldier <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/takethat.gif" alt="" />