Joshua Bennett
The Virgin Mary is an important figure in the Catholic Church, and her role has been a point of discussion and debate. While some may assume that Catholics worship Mary, the core of their faith remains the worship of God. Catholics honour and venerate Mary as the mother of Jesus, recognising her unique role in human salvation. They believe that Mary intercedes for them with her son, Jesus, and they may ask her to speak to Jesus on their behalf. However, Catholics do not pray to Mary instead of Jesus; their prayers are always directed to him. This distinction between worship and veneration is essential to understanding the Catholic perspective on Mary.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Worship Mary | No |
| Honour Mary | Yes |
| Reason for honouring Mary | Mother of Jesus |
| Reason for honouring Mary | Mary's willingness to bear Jesus despite the risks |
| Prayer directed to Mary | No |
| Prayer for Mary's intercession with Jesus | Yes |
| Veneration of Mary | More than saints, less than God |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics honour Mary as the mother of Jesus
Catholics do not worship Mary, but they do honour her as the mother of Jesus. God honoured Mary by choosing her to be the mother of His only son, and Catholics follow suit. Mary was told by the angel Gabriel, "Hail, Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with you... Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus".
Mary's role in human salvation is also significant. When Jesus was dying on the Cross, he entrusted her care to the Apostle John. In their patriarchal culture, this ensured that Mary would not be cast aside by society as a woman without a husband or son to care for her. By becoming the mother of John, Mary became the mother of the Church and all its members.
Catholics believe that Mary intercedes for them with her Son, Jesus. They may ask Mary to speak to Jesus on their behalf and ask Him to answer their prayers. This is not a form of worship, as worship involves offering sacrifice, and Catholics do not offer sacrifice to Mary. Instead, they direct their prayers to Jesus, in the hope that Mary will influence Him to hear their prayers, as she did at the wedding at Cana.
Marian celebrations and devotions are common among Catholics, and some may kneel for hours in front of her image. While these practices may lead outsiders to believe that Catholics worship Mary, they are not worshipping her but venerating her due to her closeness to God.
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Mary is believed to intercede for humans with her son, Jesus
Catholics believe that Mary, the mother of Jesus, intercedes for humans with her son. This belief is based on the idea that Mary, as the mother of Jesus, has a unique and important role in human salvation. When Jesus was dying on the Cross, he entrusted his mother to the care of the Apostle John, demonstrating his care for her. This act also symbolically made Mary the mother of the Church and all its members.
Catholics accord Mary the title "Blessed" in recognition of her assumption into Heaven and her ability to intercede on behalf of those who pray to her. It is important to note that Catholics do not believe that Mary answers prayers herself, but rather that God answers prayers through her intercession. This is supported by the Catechism, which teaches that only God is to be worshipped, but that Mary and the saints can be venerated due to their closeness to God.
The belief in Mary's intercession is further reflected in the various titles given to her, such as "Virgin" or "Queen". These titles signify her exalted state as the greatest among the saints. Additionally, some early Protestants, including Martin Luther, also venerated Mary. Luther described her as "full of grace, proclaimed to be entirely without sin". However, he later discontinued his support for the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of Mary.
John Calvin, another Protestant reformer, rejected the notion that Mary could intercede between Christ and humanity. Despite this, he still honoured her as the Mother of Christ, granting her the "highest honour". The idea of respecting and honouring Mary is not unique to Catholicism, as evidenced by Calvin and Luther's views. However, they criticised Roman Catholics for venerating her to an extent that they believed constituted worship.
The distinction between veneration and worship is important. Worship in the ancient world was often expressed through sacrifice, which is still true in the New Covenant. Catholics do not offer sacrifices to Mary, but rather to God. Preaching, prayer, and honour are not restricted solely to God, and it is not considered sinful to speak to or honour Mary. Therefore, Catholics believe that their devotion to Mary is not worship, but rather a recognition of her unique role as the mother of Jesus and her ability to intercede on their behalf.
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Mary is not worshipped as no sacrifices are offered to her
Catholics do not worship Mary, and this is clear when considering that no sacrifices are offered to her. Worship in the Bible is related to prayer but distinct from it. Prayer is talking to God, but worship goes beyond that by offering something to God—a sacrifice. This is at the heart of worship, and true Christian worship is sacrificial.
Catholics do not offer sacrifices to Mary, and so they do not worship her. Instead, Catholics honour Mary because she is the mother of Jesus. God himself honoured Mary, sending the angel Gabriel to tell her: "Hail, Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with you...Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus." Mary could have refused, but she said yes to God and gave birth to Jesus.
Mary's role in human salvation is unique and important. When Jesus was dying on the Cross, he handed her over to the care of the Apostle John. In doing so, Jesus was caring for his mother as best he could within the patriarchal culture of their time. By becoming the mother of John, Mary became the mother of the Church and all its members.
Catholics believe that Mary intercedes for them with her Son, Jesus. They ask Mary to speak to Jesus on their behalf and ask him to consider answering their prayers. This is not worship, as Catholics are not praying to Mary instead of Jesus. Their prayers are always directed to Jesus, and they do not expect Mary to change things through her own abilities.
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Mary is seen as the greatest saint in the Catholic Church
Catholics do not worship Mary, the mother of Jesus. Worship in the Catholic Church is reserved for God and is marked by sacrifice. However, Mary is venerated, honoured, and revered by Catholics. She is often considered the holiest and greatest saint in the Catholic Church.
Mary is seen as the greatest saint because she is the Mother of God. She is the mother of Jesus, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Catholics believe that Mary was a perpetual virgin and without sin. She is seen as the model of perfect love and obedience to Christ. Her "yes" to God made the Incarnation possible, and without the Incarnation, salvation would not have been possible. Mary is also seen as the mother of the Church and all its members. When Jesus was dying on the Cross, he entrusted her to the care of the Apostle John, and by extension, all of humanity.
Mary's role in the Church is also tied to her intercession with her Son, Jesus Christ. Catholics believe that Mary intercedes for them with Jesus. This belief has resulted in various devotional practices, including prayers, hymns, feast days, the veneration of images and relics, pilgrimages to shrines, and the construction of churches dedicated to her. Mary is accorded the title "Blessed" in the Catholic Church, recognising her assumption to Heaven and her capacity to intercede.
The unique and important role that Mary played in human salvation, as well as her relationship to Christ, are the reasons why she is venerated and honoured as the greatest saint in the Catholic Church. However, it is important to remember that Catholics do not worship Mary, as worship is solely reserved for God.
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Catholics pray to Mary to speak to Jesus on their behalf
Catholics do not worship Mary; they honour and venerate her. God himself honoured Mary by finding her worthy to be the mother of His only son, Jesus. Mary played a unique role in human salvation, and Catholics believe that she is the mother of the Church and all its members.
Catholics pray to Mary, asking her to intercede with her Son, Jesus, on their behalf. They believe that Mary can plead with Jesus to answer their prayers. This is based on the biblical account of the wedding at Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine at his mother's request. Catholics hope that Jesus will grant their requests if his mother asks him to.
The practice of praying to Mary is often misunderstood, with some people assuming that Catholics worship her as a goddess. However, Catholics do not pray to Mary instead of Jesus or offer her sacrifices, which would constitute worship. Prayer is a conversation with God, and worship involves offering something to God, such as a sacrifice.
Catholics may feel a special affinity for Mary, finding it easier to talk to her than to God. They may also be devoted to her and celebrate her in various ways, such as through Marian celebrations and pilgrimages. However, this devotion does not constitute worship, as Catholics only worship God.
The distinction between prayer and worship is important in understanding Catholic practices regarding Mary. While Catholics may pray to Mary, they do not worship her, as worship is reserved solely for God.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Catholics do not worship the Virgin Mary. They honour her as the mother of Jesus.
Catholics believe that the Virgin Mary intercedes for them with her son, Jesus. They do not pray to Mary instead of Jesus, but they sometimes ask Mary to speak to Jesus on their behalf.
No, it is not sinful to honour the Virgin Mary. Honouring Mary does not take away from the worship of God, and Catholics believe that God himself honoured her.
Artists paint images of the Virgin Mary to help Catholics visualise her as a real person and not just a figure in the Bible.
No, Catholics do not worship Mary as a goddess. They believe that only God is to be adored and worshipped, but that Mary and the saints can be venerated because of their closeness to God.
