Thank you for your response Bob!

I very much appreciate it! I tracked down a copy of Rome Sweet Home and look forward to using it as a starting point in my explorations. It's very nice to talk to talk to someone who — while disagreeing strongly — doesn't devalue Protestant denominations.

Thank you again.

Best,

Larisa

Hi Bob,

I just finished the book by Scott Hahn and it was very helpful. I might actually ask my Catholic boyfriend to look at parts of it because Hahn does a lovely job of explaining fundamental Protestant beliefs and I want my boyfriend to understand where I'm coming from. I'm not trying to convert him; I just want him to understand why some Catholic dogma is difficult for me.

I really liked how Hahn discussed the Scriptures behind Catholic practices and I was blown away by his Scripture-supported! assertion that Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide are not supported by the Bible in the ways I have grown up believing them to be supported.

This book gave me a great starting point for my research into Catholicism and I've decided that my next step is to really investigate those two assertions, both of which I never have really critically examined.

Thank you for encouraging me in my exploration!

Larisa

Hi guys,

Since the last question your answered I've visited my boyfriend's family and went to Mass with them (first time I've ever gone to Mass). I've continued to read and study and I have more questions!

I don't understand praying to saints and Mary.

• How is praying to a saint or to Mary and asking them to intercede on your behalf not giving them power outside of what is proscribed in the Bible?
  

My understanding was always that Jesus (and Jesus alone) was our intercessor and mediator and I don't understand how having the saints and Mary intercede and mediate isn't wrong. My boyfriend has described it as asking the saints and Mary to pray for you like you would ask friends and family to pray for you on earth.

• That seems to make sense to me but how is it OK to pray to those who are dead?

I feel like there are gaps in my knowledge.

I am also confused about Mary. I just can't seem to grasp why she is held in such awe and given so much power in the Catholic Church. I've read about her and I understand honoring her and learning from her example.

I have trouble though with the reverence and the language used about her. She seems to be described and discussed as having an importance approaching that of God or Jesus. I feel frustrated because I don't understand the feeling of love/adoration people have for her and where that feeling comes from as I see it in my boyfriend and I read about it in Thomas Merton's Seven Storey Mountain — I am part way through. His description is what triggered my frustration regarding my inability to understand the way Catholics feel about Mary.

• Where does Purgatory come from?
  
• How does it work?
  
• Whose idea was it?

I like the idea of having it — instead of either directly to Heaven or Hell at the end of life but it seems really not Biblical so I'm super uncomfortable with it.

That's where I'm at for the moment. I really do appreciate your taking the time to read and respond to my inquiries.

After meeting my boyfriend's family I feel even better about our relationship — they're wonderful people — and I am very happy with things between us so I'm motivated further to understand (and consider conversion).

Larisa