■ 1. Present day Catholicism teaches its people to fallaciously pray to Mary and Saints. Oftentimes, Catholics try to conceal (lie about) this to give their religious system more credibility among non-Catholics. Jesus commands us to pray to God (Mt. 6:6-8) or himself (John 14:14) and such are the only examples we see in Scripture (Acts 4:24 ; 7:59; etc.). NEVER are we taught to pray to anyone else. Hence, Catholicism is shown to be unscriptural.
■ 2. Catholic saints are, often, not real saints at all. One clear example of a Catholic saint who was a heretic was St Alphonsus Liguori. He was a Mary idolater who clearly was trusting in Mary for his salvation. The Catholic church has elevated him even beyond sainthood to being one of the couple dozen doctors in their church! Modern day post Vatican Council II has never changed their high exaltation of him, but why should it? The so called changes in Catholicism, since Vatican Council II, were only surface changes. They are just as wrong now as before Vatican Council II. Pope John Paul II is clear proof of this.
To be a modern day saint in Catholicism, one must be declared such by the Vatican after their physical death, and that comes about as a result of miracles through that person’s intercession to God for the one in need! The real truth is: All Christians, with no exception, are saints (1 Cor. 6:1; etc.) and that is while they are still physically alive, and miracles have nothing to do with it. A person becomes a saint instantly at the point of Biblical salvation, which is also the same time he is set free from sin addictions and made a new creation in Christ.
Dangerously, it is implied by Catholicism that all miracles are from God when that is definitely NOT true. The devil can actually be the source of miracles too! It is very important to know this, especially in our day. When the antichrist comes to power there will be plenty of miracles from the demons (Rev. 16:14) at that time!
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. (1 Pet 3:12)
... The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. (James 5:16-18)
■ 4. Catholicism also sets up those saints as examples, instead of the Lord Jesus and Biblical saints, such as Paul. Scripture is our guide (2 Tim. 3:16,17), not the Vatican or a Catholic priest. Do not be deceived.
There is a National Shrine in Fonda, New York to Kateri. Kateri's last recorded words before her death at the age of 23 on 4-17-1680 were, Jesus-Mary-I love you. Among other things at her shrine Catholics buy Kateri rosary beads! Sadly, Kateri medals are also available!
True salvation and peace with God is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom we can go directly without the aid of Mary, the mother of Jesus, a saint, priest or anyone else, including Saint Kateri. You must repent and place your faith in Jesus 100% for your salvation as you surrender your will to him. He is the only way to the father (Jn. 14:6), and true Christians should focus on devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, not a devotion to Mary. God bless you.
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