That is why GOD FORBADE graven images.
Tell that to the Jews in the Old Testament when God gave them instructions to build the tabernacle. oooooh so graven.
You seem to be forgetting about the many passages where the Lord commands the making of statues.
So Pop's....The Bible doesn't say not to make the images...it says not to make them for the purpose of worshiping them.
Take a look at this picture:
Yes, I've see it many times. So??????
You want outsiders to think you are 'venerating' when what you are doing is worshiping. BUT ALL GRAVEN IMAGES ARE FORBIDDEN FOR THAT REASON. Thus every graven image in your churches, whether of Mary, Jesus or the saints is CONTRARY TO GOD'S LAW.
Lol!!!! You are a real Bob Hope!! Lol! We Catholics could care less what you call "outsiders" think. Besides Pop's, many Protestants/non-Catholics have pictures of Jesus and other Bible pictures in Sunday school for teaching children. Catholics also use statues to commemorate certain people and events, much as Protestant churches have three-dimensional nativity scenes at Christmas. Do you display a nativity at Christmas?
Don't try and tell me that Big Daddy is just looking at the statue so that it will remind him of Mary. He is worshiping before it. You may doubt it, but others won't
So Pop's, let me ask, when did you receive this power of being able to read one's mind, or know whats in their heart? Just by seeing a photograph no less!!! If you know what JPII is thinking just by looking at this pic. then maybe you can tell me what I'm thinking just by reading my post! I mean come on Pop's, don't you see how doltish that sounds??
You are giving to Mary what is God's alone, however you dress it up. I don't buy your distinctions. Nor do others. The majority of Roman Catholic worshipers are not so sophisticated. LOL Big Daddy even says 'in you I put all my hope of salvation'. Sounds more than 'veneration' to me. You just play with words.
Nope....and you have yet to prove it.
Besides pop's..take this in consideration. In Japan, people show respect by bowing in greeting (the equivalent of the Western handshake). Similarly, a person can kneel before a king/queen without worshipping him as a god. (you Brits don't consider your queen as a god when you bow down to her do you?)In the same way, a Catholic who may kneel in front of a statue while praying isn’t worshipping the statue or even praying to it, any more than the Protestant who kneels with a Bible in his hands when praying is worshipping the Bible or praying to it. Have you ever prayed with a bible in "your" hands??
That is called wishful thinking. The honour your worshipers pay to Mary diminishes from the glory of the Father's divine Son.
Again, your trying to mind read. All you have shown is private speculation.....nothing more. Lol!
I note you ignored Francis Liguori's prayer which was published in a book for use in worship which carried the imprimatur. Even you cannot apply your specious arguments to that prayer unless you close your eyes to much of what he said.
I've ignored nada pop's. The burden of proof falls upon you. I have yet to see where you have proven that what you posted has the the stamp of imprimatur. Heck Pop's, I tried to make it easy for ya. I could have said for you to show where the Magisterium tells us too worship Mary.
Now I've noticed you haven't shown where the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us to put Mary at the same level as God , and we are to worship her... how come? Seems to me that would be the first place you'd have gone!
Pax Christi
"From henceforth, all generations shall call me Blessed." ----Luke 1:48