Intro paragraph:
There are a lot of misunderstandings about what Catholics believe and why. Some come from history, others from personal experiences or incomplete teachings. My goal isn’t to argue—it’s to clarify. As someone who grew up in the Church of Christ, became a Lutheran Music Leader, and later became Catholic, I’ve wrestled with these same questions. Below are some of the most common misconceptions I hear—and what the Church actually teaches.
The truth:
Catholics honor Mary, not worship her. Worship belongs only to God. Mary is venerated because she said “yes” to God in a way no one else ever has—becoming the Mother of Jesus. When Catholics pray the Rosary, they’re meditating on the life of Christ through Mary’s eyes, asking for her prayers just like you might ask a close friend to pray for you.
The truth:
The Catholic Church actually compiled the Bible. Every Mass includes multiple Scripture readings, and the entire Bible is read through in a three-year cycle. Many Catholics also pray the Liturgy of the Hours, which is made up mostly of Psalms and Scripture passages.
The truth:
The Church teaches that salvation is a gift of grace—not something we can earn. But just as faith without works is dead (James 2:26), we show our faith through action. Works of mercy are a response to grace, not a replacement for it.
The truth:
The Mass doesn’t re-sacrifice Jesus—it makes His one eternal sacrifice present to us. Jesus offered Himself once for all on the cross (Hebrews 10:10), and at every Mass we participate in that same moment made timeless by God.
The truth:
Catholics don’t “pray to” saints as gods; they ask for their intercession—the same way someone might ask a pastor or friend to pray for them. The saints are alive in Heaven, part of the “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1).
Closing paragraph:
If these explanations surprise you, that’s okay—I used to believe most of these myths myself. But the more I studied history and Scripture, the more I discovered that Catholicism wasn’t what I thought it was. It’s richer, deeper, and far more biblical than I ever imagined.
Want to go deeper? Check out my recent article on Catholic Exchange, or listen to my interviews on Catholic Truth and The Catholic Recon.