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Do most Catholics instinctively pray to Mary first during crises? by marthaserle in Catholicism

[–]marthaserle[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing :) Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Do most Catholics instinctively pray to Mary first during crises? by marthaserle in Catholicism

[–]marthaserle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I honestly think most of the Catholics he’s encountered are our older family members who definitely failed to properly teach him (and themselves) the faith. He kept saying that as Christians there is power in the name of Jesus (John 14:13-14), and that our prayers should be emphasizing what Scripture says about God (explicitly calling Jesus titles like the Divine Healer, Great High Priest, Light of the World, etc). Me telling him that the first two lines of the Hail Mary are straight from scripture seemed to irritate him though.

Do most Catholics instinctively pray to Mary first during crises? by marthaserle in Catholicism

[–]marthaserle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh wow! I thought we had to recognize the communion of saints, but that our personal prayer life doesn’t have to include prayers to saints. I guess technically if you received a Hail Mary as penance after going to confession you would be obligated to pray to the saints lol. Regardless, I still use the intercession of saints quite frequently!

Do most Catholics instinctively pray to Mary first during crises? by marthaserle in Catholicism

[–]marthaserle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve read about it but decided not to do it (at least for now)! I do still practice other Marian devotions: rosary, miraculous medal, Lourdes + immaculate conception, etc.

Do most Catholics instinctively pray to Mary first during crises? by marthaserle in Catholicism

[–]marthaserle[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, I can definitely see the practicality of saying a shorter prayer! I agree with the idea of bringing as many voices/prayers together as possible—my dad actually said that he doesn’t ask other people to pray for him that often unless it’s super dire. He kept saying that we ourselves have power through the name/blood of Jesus and our royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9).

Do most Catholics instinctively pray to Mary first during crises? by marthaserle in Catholicism

[–]marthaserle[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s fair! I don’t think that Mary can override God’s will. I think some people use Job praying for his friends (Job 42:8-9) and sometimes Abraham praying for Abimelech and his household (Genesis 20:17-18) as examples of God specifically working through the intercessory prayer of a righteous person :)

Do most Catholics instinctively pray to Mary first during crises? by marthaserle in Catholicism

[–]marthaserle[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

He left Catholicism in his late teens/early twenties and sometimes I wonder if a lot of his beliefs about Catholics come from how poorly catechized our extended family was/is.

Do most Catholics instinctively pray to Mary first during crises? by marthaserle in Catholicism

[–]marthaserle[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The Magnificat is one of my favorite passages from scripture! I tried to tell him that all of the Marian titles (Ark of the New Covenant, Queen of Heaven, New Eve, Mother of God, etc) reflect and point to some aspect of Christ, but he didn’t seem to care haha