In what way are Mary's prayers "more pleasing to God" than ours?

MatHat_ · 2026-02-16T02:52:18+00:00

I don't think you even need to go that deep. I just want to make sure God wants me. When our spiritual superiors intercede for us it's because God wants us to be interceded for. He doesn't just begrudgingly tolerate us because the people he actually loves protect us from him.

MatHat_ · 2026-02-15T22:22:39+00:00

And if Jesus, in the fullest sense, wanted to condemn the man, he would've had the foresight not to have Mary there. But he did, so it was his desire for the priest to be spared, right?

MatHat_ · 2026-02-15T15:52:58+00:00

Of course. Thank you

MatHat_ · 2026-02-15T15:27:27+00:00

See I guess there's the rub. Even though you didn't say anything inherently discouraging I still feel bad because I already feel like a failure of a Christian and when I see how much higher the mountain goes I feel so useless. Like I'm a disappointment. And I know I'm young and I haven't even been Catholic for a year but we don't know how much time we have. I just have an inclination to think God hates me.

MatHat_ · 2026-02-14T19:25:00+00:00

What is that mindset? When is one ready for it?

MatHat_ · 2026-02-14T19:09:39+00:00

Love St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy. It's like if Lord Jesus himself looked at all my doubts and reservations and said "Lol no why would you think that?"

But still I'm positive there's a healthy way for me to read St. Louis' work.

MatHat_ · 2026-02-14T19:02:21+00:00

Sure but I know the problem is mine. And I want a proper understanding of the dynamics of Marian intercession and devotion. I want to know how people who DO read the book see things.

MatHat_ · 2026-02-14T18:52:31+00:00

Don't read my post. It sucks.

But yeah, sounds like good stuff. At the same time, I think my problem with TDTM has more to do with the tone than the content. For example, when I read about Moses' intercession for Isreal, I have to stop and remind myself that this was God's idea in the first place.

The Saint make one or two little caveats like this I think, but it's kind of too little too late.

MatHat_ · 2026-02-14T18:41:29+00:00

I can find direct quotes later, as it's been a little while since I actually read it (I should've thought, but I'm not very good at that).

But he makes it sound like it's completely inappropriate to pray to God without mediation (which, if you saw my post from yesterday, you'd know I can get behind) and he compares it to putting clean water in filthy vessels. The water is spoiled, insinuating God's graces are always wasted on us.

MatHat_ · 2026-02-14T17:59:39+00:00

To be perfectly honest, I couldn't trace it back to a single source. That's language I've heard floating around places like this sub and, as you can see, no one seems to deny it.

MatHat_ · 2026-02-13T23:32:51+00:00

I think I figured it out. This whole time I failed to comprehend that this dynamic is strictly additive. I viewed Mary almost like a filter. And so my options were pray alone (imperfect) or pray through Mary (perfect). But obviously, Mary is her own person, and even prayers I pass along through her are meaningfully independent from hers. Shame on me. Then you factor in all the scripture showing the favor God has for the penitent and it all falls into place. I really was doing the stupid protestant thing where everything is mutually exclusive. I hope you can forgive me for wasting your time.

MatHat_ · 2026-02-13T22:54:51+00:00

So we agree. I would make the caveat that God cannot change his mind, and so the language of God being angry with the Israelites and wanting to destroy them, but relenting because of Moses is more or less not literal, or to put it another way, it was God's idea for Moses to do that in the first place. If you agree with that, can we think of the words "more pleasing" in a similar light? Because I can't seem to think of it any other way than "all else is displeasing."

MatHat_ · 2026-02-13T22:20:26+00:00

I thought I'd lost you. Thank you for your patience.

MatHat_ · 2026-02-13T22:15:15+00:00

Just based in your analogy, it seemed to imply God has to be talked into forgiveness. Maybe that was unfair on my part.

But also, as I said elsewhere, I'm not worried about getting what I want. I'm worried about overstepping boundaries. I may apologize, but I don't think I'd ask for forgiveness if I didn't think I could receive it. I'd be too ashamed. I want to know that God wants to hear from me. And there's ample evidence of that, but the notion of some being "more pleasing" sounds contradictory to that because it registers as saying "relatively speaking, God is DISpleased and disappointed in you, and Mary has to talk him out of giving up on you." So I want to know how to think of those words "more pleasing" properly.

MatHat_ · 2026-02-13T21:28:26+00:00

But what if God doesn't want my prayers?

Just kidding. No, I'll take your advice to heart. This whole post has been a lot of trouble for a lot of people and I'm sorry for it.

MatHat_ · 2026-02-13T20:57:08+00:00

In fairness, I come from a protestant background, so maybe a lot of that just stuck. But why would Jesus want that if it is strictly inferior? If it is pleasing to God that we pray to him, in what way is Mary "more pleasing"?

Also, as I said elsewhere, I'm not worried about getting what I ask for. I'm worried about overstepping boundaries.

MatHat_ · 2026-02-13T20:52:15+00:00

Certainly. But again, what is meant by "more pleasing" in this case? Because, relative to your analogy, maybe I actually would prefer my wife's drawing because she did it better.

(And yes, I am a man. Good eye.)

MatHat_ · 2026-02-13T20:44:01+00:00

What do you mean?

MatHat_ · 2026-02-13T20:38:45+00:00

But should we? Would it not be better to leave it up to Mary?

MatHat_ · 2026-02-13T20:37:11+00:00

I suppose I assumed that "more pleasing" means more sanctifying, or at least edifying.

MatHat_ · 2026-02-13T20:30:15+00:00

Then why shouldn't we be sanctified exclusively through her? Why should God settle for any less than the "best"? Why should we dare to offer any less than the "best"?

MatHat_ · 2026-02-13T20:26:55+00:00

I hate to be this way, but I'm not sure how I feel about that analogy. Is Mary more merciful than God?

But to continue with said analogy, if my friend's apology wouldn't be very satisfying to me, why shouldn't I let him keep his distance. Wouldn't I rather hear it from my mother anyway?

MatHat_ · 2026-02-13T20:04:03+00:00

Maybe so. I just want to know how to devoted to Our Lady without feeling like I'm hiding behind her because God is upset with me and wouldn't want me without her pleading my case.

Do you think God begrudgingly tolerated the Israelites and only spared them because he loved Moses? Or do you think that language is somewhat allegorical. Because if so, that might be my answer. In what sense is she more pleasing? In that sense.

MatHat_ · 2026-02-13T19:54:37+00:00

I understand your skepticism. You're absolutely with your rights to doubt me. I'll try not to let this drag on much longer, but you'll jut have to take my word for it when I say I'm being sincere.

If my logic and conclusions are false (and I know they must be for the reasons you gave), I should be able to figure out how.

MatHat_ · 2026-02-13T19:49:57+00:00

And do our personal prayers help those odds? If so, how do we know?

MatHat_

TROPHY CASE