{"id":528,"date":"2009-07-16T22:18:00","date_gmt":"2009-07-17T03:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hugodlr.com\/?p=528"},"modified":"2009-07-16T22:18:00","modified_gmt":"2009-07-17T03:18:00","slug":"a-series-of-posts-worship-of-mary-the-saints","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hugodlr.com\/?p=528","title":{"rendered":"A Series of Posts \u2013 Worship of Mary & the Saints"},"content":{"rendered":"

I post on my blog<\/a> using Windows Live Writer<\/a>, and then that blog post gets pulled into my Facebook page<\/a> using Simplaris Blogcast<\/a>. But it doesn\u2019t seem to provide a link (only the first paragraph), so I\u2019ll see if the links I posted above go through. \ud83d\ude42 And now, on to your regularly scheduled blog . . . <\/p>\n

Translating from one language to another is difficult. Translating from one time period to another is difficult as well. If we try to read the English of Shakespeare’s time, we stumble and fall over unfamiliar words and outdated colloquialisms. If we try to read something translated from a different language we invariably run into phrases that cannot be translated literally because they have no corresponding words in the new language.<\/p>\n

For those who accuse Catholics of worshipping Mary we run into the same problem. All of the official writings of the Church are done in Latin. It has been the official language of the Church for hundreds of years. So in Latin we are told the following:<\/p>\n

We latira<\/i> God alone.
We dulia<\/i> the saints who surround God\u2019s throne and who surround us as a great cloud of witnesses.
We hyperdulia<\/i> Mary as the Mother of God.<\/p>\n

There is an exact translation of latira<\/i> into English: worship<\/em>. The Catechism and the church are clear \u2013 we worship God alone, and no one else. There is no equivalent translation for dulia<\/i> and hyperdulia<\/i> into English. In older English translations they are translated as \u201cworship.\u201d However, the definition for worship is more nuanced then most people know.<\/p>\n

Here’s the definition from answers.com for worship:<\/p>\n

Worship (noun)
1a. The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object.
b. The ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed.
Ardent devotion; adoration.<\/p>\n

Worship (verb)
1a.To honor and love as a deity.
1b. To regard with ardent or adoring esteem or devotion. See synonyms at revere(1)
2a. To participate in religious rites of worship.
2b. To perform an act of worship.<\/p>\n

I think in Christianity the term is more specific and applied only to God (Father, Son & Spirit), but in general usage it can be properly applied to the way Catholics interact with the saints, with Mary in particular, with pictures\/icons, etc. – it’s a "reverent love and devotion." It should not detract from our worship of God – it’s supposed to enhance our worship of God, lead us ever-closer to the source and summit of our strength – Jesus Christ, God with us.<\/p>\n

We honor Mary and the saints in the same way that Protestants may honor Billy Graham, Luther, Moody, Tyndale, King or any other celebrated preacher. We honor them with love and devotion the same way a husband honors and loves his wife. But we do not and never have worshipped them.<\/p>\n

Another point to consider is that we are never dead in Christ. We are either alive here on earth or we are (hopefully) with God \u2013 there is no middle ground. If we can ask one another for prayers here in this world, how much more can we ask those already around God\u2019s throne for prayers as well? That great cloud of witnesses that surrounds us is the same as the saints that are arranged around God\u2019s throne continually praising him. If I can ask you for prayers, how much more can I ask someone who is right next to God for prayers? All of our prayer goes directly to God; we can choose to ask others to pray with us or for us, both here on earth and already in God’s presence, but the prayer is always directed towards God.<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ is truly the only mediator between God and humanity, but he is not the only intercessor. Otherwise, why would we ever ask anyone else to pray for us again?<\/p>\n

Blessings & Peace,
Hugo<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I post on my blog using Windows Live Writer, and then that blog post gets pulled into my Facebook page<\/p>\n

Continue readingA Series of Posts \u2013 Worship of Mary & the Saints<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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