As the Mother of God, the Virgin Mary has a unique position among the saints, indeed, among all creatures. She is exalted, yet still one of us. Mary embraces God’s will and freely chooses to cooperate with God’s grace, thereby fulfilling a crucial role in God’s plan of salvation.
28 The angel came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with thee.” 29 But she was greatly troubled by his words and wondered in her heart what this salutation could mean.
30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:28-34)
Do Catholics Worship Mary?
The simple answer is no, Catholics do not worship Mary. We pray to Mary, but not in the same way we pray to God—and not to worship her as a god.
Why Should We Pray to Mary?
Because Jesus has given us his Blessed Mother as our great spiritual mother (Rev.12:17), a heavenly advocate who intercedes for us.
Some Christians will ask, “Why pray to Mary when we can go directly to Jesus?” And yet they have no problem asking others here on earth to pray for them, instead of simply and solely praying to Jesus on their own. Indeed, St. Paul says that God grants blessings “in answer to many prayers” (2 Cor. 1:11). And if the prayer of a righteous man on earth avails much with God (Jas. 5:16–18), how much more would prayers from one who has finished the race and now reigns with Christ in heaven?
The Gospel reveals to us how Mary prays and intercedes in faith. At Cana, the mother of Jesus asks her son for the needs of a wedding feast; this is the sign of another feast – that of the wedding of the Lamb where he gives his body and blood at the request of the Church, his Bride. It is at the hour of the New Covenant, at the foot of the cross, that Mary is heard as the Woman, the new Eve, the true “Mother of all the living.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2618)
26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Son, behold your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26-27)
Mary stands at the foot of the Cross with the beloved disciple, John witnessing it all. She hears Jesus say “Woman, behold your son.” And to the beloved disciple he says, “Son, behold your mother.” Jesus’ words go beyond simply providing for his mother’s welfare; he is establishing a new relationship in which Mary becomes the mother of us all. As Woman, Jesus bequests her with universal motherhood. The beloved disciple left unnamed stands for all humanity to take Mary as our Mother. Archbishop Fulton Sheen describes it this way, “As a son, he thought of his mother; as a Savior, he thought of us. So he gave us his mother: ‘Behold thy mother.’ Jesus gave us his Mother for all time to nurture, protect, teach, and guide us in the ways of Christ.”
The Magnificat
46 The Canticle of Mary. And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
48 For he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant;
henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is shown from age to age
to those who fear him.
51 He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has routed those who are arrogant in the desires of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has come to the aid of Israel his servant,
ever mindful of his merciful love,
55 according to the promises he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” (Luke 1:46-55)
“Christ himself willed to be physically formed in Mary for nine months and then be spiritually formed by her for 30 years. It is to Mary that we must go to learn how to have Christ formed in us. Only she who raised Christ can raise a Christian.” ― Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Let us ask our Mother to, “Make our hearts a suitable place to adore Jesus.”
The major feasts of Our Lady are:
- Jan. 1 (Mary, Mother of God)
- March 25 (Annunciation)
- May 31 (Visitation)
- Aug. 15 (Assumption)
- Aug. 22 (Queenship of Mary)
- Sept. 8 (Nativity of Mary)
- Sept. 15 (Our Lady of Sorrows)
- Oct. 7 (Our Lady of the Rosary)
- Nov. 21 (Presentation of Mary)
- Dec. 8 (Immaculate Conception)
The Memorare to Virgin Mary
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
Mary: God’s Dream Come True – Fulton Sheen Timeless Wisdom (3:29)
Mary: Mother of God (4:50)
Mary: Immaculate Conception (3:29)
Mary: Perpetual Virginity (4:40)
Mary: The Assumption (4:53)