How do we define worship as a Catholic?

Sts. Peter and John the Apostles receives the homage of the crippled that they healed through the Name of Jesus. Painting by Cosimo Gamberucci.

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Mark Joshua Arista September 4 at 5:11am

hello father!

sa catholic, how do we define worship?

Abe Arganiosa September 4 at 11:07am

Dear Bro. Mark,

WORSHIP. Acknowledgment of another's worth, dignity, or superior position. In religion, worship is given either to God, and then it is adoration, or to the angels and saints, and it is called veneration. Divine worship actually includes three principal acts, namely adoration (or the recognition of God's infinite perfection), prayer or the asking for divine help, and sacrifice or the offering of something precious to God. Worship as veneration also has three principal forms, whereby the angels and saints are honored for their sanctity, asked to intercede before the divine Majesty, and imitated in their love and service of God. (Etym. Old English weorthscipe, honor, dignity, reverence: weorth, worth +ship.)

[Modern Catholic Dictionary by Fr. John Hardon, SJ]

ADORATION belongs to God alone. But, Veneration is given also to Angels and Saints.

The Protestant Bible is very clear on this. It uses the word worship not only on God but also on human beings:

Luke 14:10 [King James Version 1611] But when thou art bidden, goe and sit downe in the lowest roume, that when he that bade thee commeth, hee may say vnto thee, Friend, goe vp higher: then shalt thou haue WORSHIP in the presence of them that sit at meate with thee.

Luke 14:10 [Geneva Bible 1587] But when thou art bidden, goe and sit downe in the lowest roome, that when he that bade thee, cometh, he may say vnto thee, Friende, sit vp hier: then shalt thou haue WORSHIP in the presence of them that sit at table with thee.

Luke 14:10 [King James Version] But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have WORSHIP in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

Later the word worship was changed by the Protestants into 'glory' and 'honor':

Luke 14:10 [Modern King James Version] But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, Friend, go up higher. Then GLORY shall be to you before those reclining with you.

Luke 14:10 [Revised Standard Version] But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that hath bidden thee cometh, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have GLORY in the presence of all that sit at meat with thee.

Luke 14:10 [American Standard Version] But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that hath bidden thee cometh, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have GLORY in the presence of all that sit at meat with thee.

Luke 14:10 [Contemporary English Version] When you are invited to be a guest, go and sit in the worst place. Then the one who invited you may come and say, "My friend, take a better seat!" You will then be HONORED in front of all the other guests.

Luke 14:10 [English Standard Version] But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be HONORED in the presence of all who sit at table with you.

Luke 14:10 [International Standard Version] But when you are invited, go and sit down at the place of least honor. Then, when your host comes, he will tell you, 'Friend, move up higher,' and you will be HONORED in the presence of all who eat with you.

Luke 14:10 [Good News Bible] Instead, when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that your host will come to you and say, 'Come on up, my friend, to a better place.' This will bring you HONOR in the presence of all the other guests.

The term worship was previously used for God and human beings as well. The distinction comes in the fact that worship of God is Adoration while those given to human beings or Angels are called Veneration... giving honor or recognition of their dignity as Man of God or as Angel, Messenger and Servant of God in Heaven.

What is pitiful is that the Born Again, the Baptists are claiming that Honor and Glory must be given to God alone. That is not Biblical. The Bible honored human beings and God himself honors those who are faithful to Him.