Quote:
Originally Posted by katajrocker
Veneration and worship are completely different. Veneration is just admiring or looking up to, while worship takes that to a much higher level. Mary could not live without God, she had no part in creating the universe. God CREATED Mary, and her life depends on Him. If one of us is wrong, God will forgive us when our death comes  |
Yes dear, I know the distinction. I was a very faithful Catholic myself, remember? We just talked about that. I soaked up any participation in the faith I could. The Rosary was a veritable Mountain Top experience for me, spiritually anyway, so many times I couldn't wait to pray it again. I believed I felt a genuine and reciprocal relationship with Mary, but when I explored that seriously, not looking to confirm my desires but looking to find the truth, I had no choice but to realize this "relationship" was really one way. It was me, thinking hard, wishing hard, using my imagination to speak for Mary. You know when you're in the shower and you have imaginary conversations with people in your life, and you direct the conversation to go the way you want it to? That's what my interactions with Mary were. Each and every time. Even the really emotional times that left me in tears were nothing but my imagination, powerful, coupled with strong emotions, conditioned by years of RCC practices.
I'm nut surprised you feel the way you do. We're taught this by the RCC, and our family and friends who are Catholic simply support these beliefs without interjecting any opposing facts or idea. We surround ourselves in a "safe" community where our questions will be answered with assurances rather than facts. I know you feel like you venerate, not worship Mary, but I'm telling you the Roman Catholic Church has usurped the love and devotion to ancient goddesses, changed her image a bit, changed her name and function, and taught successive generations this person was really the Mary from the Bible.
Don't take my word for it, dear. Look into it yourself.