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Could you recall a Scripture verse of Mary praying? At what time did the Mother of our Lord and Savior pray to God?

Mary is the mother of Jesus. Gabriel, the Messenger of the Lord, gave her the good news. When he came to inform her of the conception of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, he said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you (Luke 1:28).”

The Lord highly favored her. It is rare for the Lord to highly favor anyone. But Mary was faithful and found favor in His eyes. How beautiful is that?

Yet, we cannot find any Scriptures of her praying.

Why Do Catholics Pray to Mary?

Catholics pray to Mary and ask for her intercession for a variety of reasons. It is important to understand that Catholic theology distinguishes between the worship that is due to God alone (latria) and the honor and veneration given to the saints (dulia).

Catholics believe that Mary, as the mother of Jesus and a faithful disciple, holds a special place among the saints and is worthy of honor and veneration (hyperdulia).

Here are some reasons Catholics pray to Mary:

1. Intercessory Role: Catholics believe that the saints, including Mary, can intercede on behalf of believers and bring their prayers and intentions before God. Just as one might ask a friend or a fellow Christian for prayers, Catholics seek the intercession of Mary and other saints, believing that their prayers carry more power.
2. Motherly Love And Care: Mary is seen as the spiritual mother of all believers because Jesus entrusted her to the care of the beloved disciple (John 19:26-27). Catholics believe that Mary’s maternal love extends to all Christians, and they turn to her with trust and confidence, seeking her maternal intercession and support.
3. Example of Faith: Mary is regarded as the epitome of faith and obedience to God. By praying to Mary, Catholics seek her guidance and seek to emulate her virtues, drawing inspiration from her unwavering trust in God’s plan.
4. Connection to Christ: As the mother of Jesus, Mary holds a unique relationship with Him. Catholics believe that by seeking Mary’s intercession, they can grow closer to Jesus, as she always directs them to her Son and encourages a deeper relationship with Him.

It is important to note that while Catholics pray to Mary and the saints, they do not worship them.

Worship is reserved for God alone, and the prayers addressed to Mary and the saints are requests for their prayers and assistance, recognizing their role as fellow members of the Church and the communion of saints.

So, how do Catholics demonstrate worship for the Lord God Almighty?

Is Praying To Mary Idolatry

The Catholic Church teaches that praying to Mary and the saints is not idolatry. Idolatry involves worshiping or attributing divine qualities to something or someone other than God.

But what does the Bible say about this topic?

Additionally, Catholics believe that praying to Mary and the saints does not detract from the worship due to God but rather seeks their intercession and asks for their prayers on their behalf.

The distinction between worship and veneration is crucial in understanding this. Catholics offer worship (latria) to God alone, recognizing His supreme authority and divinity.

But, how do they achieve this?

On the other hand, veneration (dulia) is the honor and respect given to Mary and the saints for their holy lives and their close relationship with God.

But, Mary’s closeness to God was not better than the other disciples of Jesus! As a matter of fact, there are at least three disciples who were close to Jesus Christ and God than her.

They are Peter, James and John in that order!

This veneration is not worship in the same way as directed to God.

Another point to consider here is, Catholics do not believe that Mary or the saints have any power in and of themselves.

They believe that God answers prayers through their intercession. Catholics see Mary and the saints as powerful intercessors and seek their prayers because of their closeness to God.

But the question of the hour is, Is praying to Mary unbiblical?

Yes, praying to Mary is considered idolatry because of concerns related to the worship of God alone sufficiency of Jesus Christ as the sole mediator between God and humanity.

Mary Praying – Who Is Our Intercessor?

Praying to Mary is idolatry due to the following reasons:

1. Worship of God Alone: The Bible commands believers to worship God alone (Exodus 20:3-6), and any form of prayer prayed towards Mary or any other saint is attributing divine qualities or worship to a created being, which is idolatrous.
2. Christ As The Sole Mediator: The Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”  According to the verse, believers should approach God directly through Jesus, without the need for intermediaries such as Mary or the saints.
3. Biblical Silence: There is a lack of explicit scriptural support for praying to Mary or seeking her intercession. Since the New Testament does not explicitly command or encourage prayer to Mary, its legitimacy as a practice is questioned and not Biblical.

Why Is Mary Praying to God Important?

The importance of Mary praying to God lies in her role as a model of faith and devotion. Mary’s prayers demonstrate her deep relationship with God and her trust in His plan. Here are some reasons Mary’s prayers to God are significant:

1. Humility And Surrender: Mary’s prayerful attitude reflects her humility and complete submission to God’s will. When the angel Gabriel appeared to her, she responded by saying, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word (Luke 1:38).” It shows her willingness to surrender herself to God’s plan, setting an example for all believers to trust in God’s guidance and surrender their lives to Him.
2. Deep Faith And Trust: Mary’s prayers reveal her unwavering faith in God. Despite the challenges and uncertainties she faced, such as the unexpected news of her miraculous conception, the journey to Bethlehem, and witnessing her son’s crucifixion, Mary consistently turned to God in prayer. Her faith and trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness serve as an inspiration to believers to rely on God in all circumstances.
3. Encouragement And Support: Mary’s prayers provide encouragement and support to believers. Her example of faith strengthens the faith of others and offers comfort in times of difficulty. In summary, Mary’s prayers to God serve as a model of humility, trust, and faith for believers. Her example encourages others to deepen their relationship with God and seek His guidance and grace through prayer.

What Are Some Scriptures of Mary Praying?

There is none! The Bible does not provide any specific instances of Mary praying. There is no Scriptural reference of her praying!

Nevertheless, there are passages that highlight her faithfulness and trust in the Lord God. Here are a few examples:

1. The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55): This is Mary’s song of praise and thanksgiving when she visits her cousin, Elizabeth. It is a beautiful song that sings of God’s greatness and mercy, and it shows Mary’s faith and trust in God.
2. The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38): While not a prayer, this event showcases Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel’s message. She humbly accepts God’s plan, saying, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Her acceptance and submission to God’s will show humility, gratitude, and prayerful surrender.
3. The Presentation at the Temple (Luke 2:22-38): When Mary and Joseph present Jesus at the temple, Simeon and Anna, two devout individuals (who were promised to see the coming of Christ), recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Mary’s presence and participation in this significant event demonstrate her devotion to God’s law and her role as the mother of Jesus.
4. The Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11): Though not explicitly mentioning Mary’s prayers, this story shows her concern for others and her trust in Jesus’ power. She speaks up on behalf of the wedding hosts, telling Jesus, “They have no wine (John 2:3)”, and instructs the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them.

If Mary didn’t pray to the Lord, why should people pray to her?

Why Pray To Mary And Not Directly To God?          

As Believers, in Jesus Christ, it is wrong, idolatrous, and unbiblical to pray to Mary. Here are a few reasons we’re supposed to pray to God directly:

1. Theology of prayer: The Bible says that prayer should be directed solely to God. In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray to the Father, as an indication that prayer should be exclusively offered to God. The Bible says in Exodus 20:3-6, “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” This is part of the Ten Commandments, and the first commandment states, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). This commandment emphasizes the exclusivity of worshiping and honoring God alone.
2. Mediatorship of Christ: Jesus Christ is the sole mediator between God and humanity, as mentioned in 1 Timothy 2:5. Hence, seeking the intercession of Mary or any other saint is unnecessary, as Believers can approach God directly through Jesus.
3. The Difference Between Veneration And Prayer: The veneration of Mary, while acceptable, should not involve prayer. Prayer should be reserved for communication with God, and any requests for intercession should be directed solely to Him.

Conclusion

Mary Praying Or Praying To Mary Beware!

Mary is the mother of our Lord. But that is not reason enough to pray to her. Our prayers are the highest representation of our worship.

Who we pray to is whom we worship. It doesn’t get higher than that! Don’t be deceived by this idolatrous and deceptive doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church.

If you pray to Mary you are worshipping her as the Lord God. The highest form of adoration among human beings is prayer.

Thus, the Seat of Satan has effectively diverted the worship due to God by worshipping the mother of the only Begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ!

He is the only route to God. So, if we don’t pray to him we are not worshipping God! Simple.

The Deceiver is deceiving millions if not billions of people with this devilish doctrine!

The important takeaway here is, we should direct our prayers to God and God alone. Christ is the sole mediator, and nobody else can or should take His place.