𝗗𝗢 𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗦 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗢𝗥 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗬?

We often hear many people say that Catholics worship Mother Mary. There are also people who may not understand why Catholics pray in front of statues or images of the Virgin Mary.

Whereas in the Scriptures it is very clear that there is a prohibition on worship other than to the One True God.

In this post, we would like to provide enlightenment on any questions or doubts about Catholic devotion to Mary.

And for Catholics, this article invites us to deepen our faith in the importance of the role of the Virgin Mary in the one and holy church.

Mary Is Not Worshiped

~~~~~~~~~

There is a difference between the words worship and praise. Worship is an honor that is served by prostrating and adoring; praise is a feeling born of admiration so as to give an award in a way of glorifying.

Worship in Latin ” Latría ” or in Greek “λατρεια ” (latreia) which means worship or cult that must be given only to God because He is the God of all creation, the source of goodness, wisdom, mercy, and our savior.

Worshiping God means giving all respect and absolute surrender because of our humility before the majesty of God.

Catholics only worship God , this is written in the Bible as the truth of faith.

” Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” Do not bow down to him or serve him, for I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God … ”

(Exodus 20:4-5)

Catholics do not worship Our Lady , to her special praise is given as a sign of our respect to the mother who gave birth to the Redeemer of the world. The cult given to Mary is known as “hiperdulía”, this is higher than the cult given to the Saints or saints called “dulia”.

Maria Woman of Choice

~~~~~~~~~~

Praise is given to Mary because she is the woman chosen by God to be the Mother of Christ; it means that Mary is not like the others because she received the special blessing and gift of being the Mother of God Himself.

Try to recall the story of Mary visiting Elizabeth in Luke 1: 41-42

“ And when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and cried with a loud voice, saying, Blessed art thou among women. and blessed be the fruit of thy womb “.

And so on….

Elizabeth’s statement confirms that Mary was a blessed woman because she was chosen by God to carry the Savior in her womb, and that is why we Catholics call her that from generation to generation.

Therefore, the reverence and praise that Catholics give to the Blessed Virgin has a strong biblical basis.

To Mary we give special love, imitate her life example, respect her and believe in her as the trust Jesus gave her.

He was the first fully glorified being of God, a concrete sign of the salvation of Jesus Christ in our humanity. Honoring Mary means acknowledging our faith in the powerful Passover fulfillment of Jesus Christ in us.

Mary always watches over us, loves us with the love of a mother who has no limits because Jesus himself has handed us over to her:

John 19: 26 ” This mother is your son “. We also love Mary in obedience to Jesus and faithfulness to the Gospel: Jn 19:27 ” this is your mother “. That is why with full confidence we face Mary to convey all needs and believe in the intercession of her motherhood.

Mary the Mediator to Christ

~~~~~~~~~~

We honor and glorify Mary because she is the mediator to Christ for all children who come to ask for God’s mercy. The Catholic Church has never taught that Mary replaced the position of the Lord Jesus as mediator.

The Church has always taught that Christ alone is the only way to the Father, and that only through Him are we reconciled to God; This means that Jesus is the only mediator between God and Man.

But there is another meaning of the word “intermediary” which refers to the seeker of assistance. For example: we often ask for the help of priests or others to be prayed for.

In this context, they also become mediators but do not mean to set aside the role of Christ as the main mediator. So in this case what we want to convey is that Mary is a special mediator because she is closer and united with the Word of the incarnation and at the same time becomes his Mother.

We can see an example of Mary’s mediating role asking Jesus for help in the biblical narrative of marriage at Cana of Galilee, the gospel of John 2:1-11.

Our Lady’s intervention in the first miracle of her Son was no accident. The narrative of the marriage at Cana highlights Mary’s cooperative role in the mission of the Lord Jesus.

So the prayers and praises given to Our Lady are not a form of worship, but of reverence and love as the Mother of God. There is no doubt that she is the most blessed and holy woman, and for that reason, Mary deserves to be loved, respected, and emulated.

Often there are also voices from non-Catholics saying that we worship Mary when they see us offering flowers, giving candles, and incense on statues or images of the Virgin Mary.

The offering is again not a form of worship. Catholics do not worship Statues or pictures; it is very clearly stated in Exodus 20: 4-5.

If we look at the narrative of Numbers 21: 8 “ And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a cobra, and put it on a pole; then every person who is stunned, if he sees it, will still live “.

God commanded Moses to make an idol as a symbol of salvation from death from the bite of a serpent, but not the source of salvation or salvation itself. Because true salvation is only in Jesus Christ.

Similarly, statues or pictures of the Virgin Mary or saints, not to be worshiped but to stimulate our faith and belief. Because behind the statue or image there is a figure who is a role model in life who has given a living testimony of his faith and belief in God.

Expressions of Faith Are Not Limited Eyes.

~~~~~~~~~

It should be clarified, when a Catholic prays and in front of him there is a picture, he never thinks of pleading with the picture. Again on the picture no; our thoughts are on the person behind the picture.

We have never believed or taught that pictures can talk, see, or walk. For us they are just representations of Jesus, Mary or a saint.

And if we kiss, give flowers, or give candles, incense, it is just a form of expressing love to him who is behind the picture.

This is also often the case in our lives. If we see our loved ones in a photo, we immediately remember the person in the photo, there is a feeling that is implied at that time, not the photo.

So again, the image or statue of the saint is only a representation, because the expression of faith is not limited to the sight of the eye, but goes beyond that.

With this I conclude, the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that this is a worship that is completely different from worship: no. 971.

“Indeed, from now on all generations will call me blessed “(Luke 1:48).” The Church’s reverence for the Blessed Virgin Mary is at the core of Christian worship “(MC 56).”

It is true that she is honored by the Church with special devotion. Indeed since ancient times the Holy Virgin has been revered with the title ‘Mother of God’; and in all their dangers and needs the believers while praying for her protection … The devotion of the People of God to Mary … though special, is essentially different from the devotion of prostration, which is offered to the incarnate Word as well as to the Father and the Holy Spirit , moreover strongly supports it “(LG 66).

He gets his expression in the liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God (cf. SC 103). And in the marian prayer – like the rosary,.. ”.

Amen.

Source: