What is the definition of worship to Catholics?

Answer 1

Roman Catholic AnswerThe definition of "worship" for a Catholic is more akin to the older definitions of the word, such as it is still used in England for certain magistrates who are addressed as "Your Worship". It is acknowledging someone's worth, dignity, or superior position. Thus in Catholicism there are two distinct kinds of "worship" depending on to whom it is given. There is the worship given to God known as adoration, and the worship given to the saints and angels know as veneration. These are very different things, but they both stem from acknowledging their respective dignity. The problem with the word in modern, American, protestant, English is that people think that Catholics give adoration to saints, angels, and even their statues - this is most definitely NOT the case and comes from a misunderstanding of the word itself, and history.