Really, pardon my ignorance: so Christians pray to Jesus, and Catholics to Mary. What's the difference? - The Day of Pardon and Papal Penitence - hzrn.com

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Really, pardon my ignorance: so Christians pray to Jesus, and Catholics to Mary. What's the difference?
Published by: wktd 2010-03-19

I find it hard to search for Christians and Catholics stuff on the Internet 'cos it so broad and have many terms which a freethinker can't understand.

Are these two religions kinda related to each other? Why is there a split or something like that?

ha ha ha....

you did not know anything about Catholics.....

A Protestant views the bible as the revealed word of God and relies on private interpretation of the bible to find out what God teaches. The rule of faith is only-the-bible (sola scriptura) and private interpretation of it.

A Catholic on the other hand, believes in an authoritative teaching Church where Jesus -- God incarnate, has given his authority to a living institution (Church) to teach in his name with the Pope as its supreme head. So a Catholic does not start out by asking what the book (bible) says, he asks what does the Church teach. The bible is accepted as the revealed word of God, but only from the hand of the Church and with her explanation.

Protestantism (started ~ 1500) is a new (and perverted) innovation of what faith meant for Christians. The Protestant reformation and view of the faith doesn't pass the historical test. For the first 1500 years of Christianity before the Protestant reformation, the rule of faith was never only-the-bible (sola scriptura) and private interpretation of it. In fact many parts of the bible (scriptures) weren't even written until after Jesus ascended. The rule of faith (a teaching authority) was changed from what had preceded it for a millennia and a half. This has led to 1000's of different Protestant church's all interpreting the bible differently and proposing different things (contradictory) of what God revealed. Jesus didn't assemble and pass around a bible telling everyone make sure you read Matthew or certain other gospels, proposing that people read the bible to learn the faith. He authorized people to teach authoritatively in his name.

If one wants to find authentic Christianity one needs to look for that teaching authority -- and history clearly shows it resides in the Catholic Church. The only way to have an authoritative scripture is from an authoritative Church. And the only way to have an authoritative interpretation of the bible is from an authoritative Church. The Catholic Church's structure leads to unity in doctrine and teaching -- nothing can be officially pronounced as a teaching in the Church without the Pope's express consent/authority.

There were 17 general councils of the Christian Church (Catholic) before the year 1500 and the Protestant reformation. In all cases these general councils were presided over by the authority of the Pope. These general councils set down doctrines and settled issues/disputes with regard to the Christian faith and what are the official teachings of Christianity. Protestants have to systematically ignore what these authoritative Christian councils taught. In other words, systematically ignore many parts of the first 1500 years of Christianity, and start a new way of deciding the faith.

The first 17 general councils � �

1) Council of Nicaea (325) ... Hosius, Bishop of Cordova, assisted as legate of Pope Sylvester.
2) First Council of Constantinople (381) ... Pope Damasus
3) Council of Ephesus (431) ... presided over by St. Cyril of Alexandria representing Pope Celestine I
4) Council of Chacedon (451) ... Pope Leo the Great
5) Second Council of Constantinople (553), under Pope Vigilius and Emperor Justinian I
6) Third Council of Constantinople (680-681), under Pope Agatho and the Emperor Constantine Pogonatus.
7) Second Council of Nicaea (787) convoked by Emperor Constantine VI under Pope Adrian I.
8) Fourth Council of Constantinople (869), under Pope Adrian II.
9) First Lateran Council (1123) held at Rome under Pope Callistus II.
10) Second Lateran Council (1139) held at Rome under Pope Innocent II
11) Third Lateran Council (1179) took place under Pope Alexander III
12) Fourth Lateran Council (1215), under Innocent III.
13)First Council of Lyons (1245). Innocent IV presided
14) Second Council of Lyons (1274) under Pope Gregory
15) Council of Vienne in France (1311-1313) by order of Clement V
16) Council of Constance (1414-1418), under Gregory XI
17) Council of Basle (1431), under Eugene IV.

(Just to note, I am a Catholic, and I do not mean any offence to any other religions if my explantion seem to appear to have any.)

The simplest way I am able to explain is that Christianity is not a single religion, it is made up of different denominations all in who follow and beleive in Jesus Christ. So Catholics are also Christians, but have different 'rules/beliefs' to a Protestant denomination (church of England, Lutheran, Baptist, etc) who are all Christians as well. And they in turn each have their diferent 'rules/beleifs/traditions'.

In relation to Mary, Catholics hold Mary the Holy Mother of God in a much higher regard than to other Christian denominations (excluding Orthodox who seem the closest to the Catholic Church). For instance, we pray to Mary and dedicate Holy days to Mary where many other Christian denominations may not.

As for the 'split' as you call it, the Catholic Church was the initial Chrisitian Church and from there the other churches derived from - Othordox, Lutheran, Church of England etc. The Catholic church follows the Pope in Rome, and as to the other Christian denominations, I am unsure.

Hope that helped, even just a little :)

Christians say that Jesus is God's son and the messiah. Catholics say Jesus is God. Its got nothing to do with Mary.

We all pray to Jesus.the catholics just ask Mary mother of Jesus to intercede for them. That's what people never get right .OK but that's how i understand it

Frankly speaking, to simplify the answer to your query, Filipinos who were under the Spanish regime for more than 4 centuries of colonialization were spiritually misled that even Christ needed a comediatrix in dealing with the problems of His people.Fictionally, this is what they pictured Christ:A hot-headed, hot-tempered God that needs to be pacified by His mother, yet the biblical fact is that Jesus is a loving, caring and endearing God who represents God the Father. Religion is man's way through good works reaching God. Chrisitianiy is God reaching to man by grace and menrcy.

Catholics pray to Mary for intercession on their behalf with her son Jesus. As the mother of Jesus she is revered to intercede for us with Him. Catholics do not worship her as God. She is considered to be most holy to have been chosen by God to be the mother of His only begotten Son.
Christians also use intercessory prayer. This is quite common practice to pray for one another for help in difficult situations. Both Catholic and Christians pray to Jesus as their redeemer and the Son of God who can cleanse us of sin and bring us into right fellowship with God the Father. There was dissension in the church many years ago over doctrine. These separations continue today in many religious sects.

the difference is one is false and the other is true. The bible is One but how can one agree with it and the other disagree. If the bible says Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man so it is but why worship Mary.
Isaiah 42:8 says
I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
These religions are not related unless you are trying to say about the Protestants but there have been other Churches true Christians throughout History that have never bowed to Rome and they had many who were killed for there faith by the Catholics.

Rome always tried to be the only religion and it never suceeded but that has not stopped it from still trying to do it and just watch them carefully and see what they are trying to do now and will also try to do latter.

Catholics are Christians. It is one religion; Christianity. There are many denominations; Catholicism, Anglicanism, Pentecostal Church, Baptists etc. Catholics also pray of Jesus as they are Christians and follow Christ. The split from the Catholic Church came to pass because of differing interpretation of the Bible, Protestants placing greater emphasis on faith over good works whereas Catholics believed that good works was as important as faith.

Catholics pray to Jesus through Mary. Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Your question is not of ignorance my friend, but the simple question as to revelations between faiths. I myself have asked that question for more than 20 years. I was Christened in the Catholic Church and worked with the Brothers for quite some time, but in 2004 I got myself baptized in the Baptist (Protestant) Church because of the answer of this same question you asked.

The two religions are of course very related to one another. The term Christian is usually used for Church denomination other than the Roman Catholic Church (like the Baptists, Calvinist, Adventists and many other more). Roman Catholics are Christians in general. Christianity is divided in many sub-groups, but the main division are the Catholics and Protestants. Many have questioned the Doctrines of the Catholics Church. The famous of all is Martin Luther who wrote his 99 Thesis criticizing the theological basis of these doctrines during the Age of Reformation (16th Century).

The most common similarity is that they have the same scriptures... The Bible. The difference is the versions of the Bible used by both party. Protestantism evolved from Roman Catholicism, thats why they were called Protestants because they protested the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Jesus is the main prophet of both religions. Both religions believe in the trinity but have different understanding and practice with regards to belief. Most practices of the Protestants are based on the scripture in the Bible so as do Roman Catholics but Protestant denominations practice the freewilling style of preaching, they inculcate the literal translation of the scripture to symbolisms, that's one unique aspect of the Protestant Church. Saints or Patrons on the otherhand are distinct features of the Roman Catholic Church.

Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox Church have a lot of Saints which they pray to in different cases (i.e. praying to St. Christopher when traveling or when in burden, other saints for diseases and suffer etc.) for their help in their forgiveness and guidance. Catholics pray to Mary because ithey believe she is pure of heart and as a mother, Jesus hears and heeds her words... thus praying to her could help channel to Jesus.

Protestants in the other believe that the Bible doesn't state otherwise... The scripture states that only through Him (Jesus) we find salvation... thus prayers are directed directly to Jesus.

The "split" happened because of the different belief and practice of each individual. We are in this world entitled to our own belief. But each Christian knows that we are ONE IN JESUS. Jesus said: "If he (Gentiles & Samaritans) is not against us, then they are with us."