Why Do Catholics Honor Mary?
Catholics honor Mary because she is the Mother of God and the greatest of all saints. She holds a unique place in salvation history as the one who said 'yes' to God's plan and became the mother of Jesus Christ. Catholics do not worship Mary, but honor her with special devotion (hyperdulia) because of her unique relationship with God and her role in our salvation.
The Catholic Church teaches that Mary is the perfect model of faith, obedience, and love. She shows us how to respond to God's call with trust and surrender, and she intercedes for us with her Son. Honoring Mary helps us to grow closer to Christ and to follow her example of holiness and discipleship.
The Biblical Foundation
The biblical foundation for honoring Mary is found in several passages of Scripture:
Luke 1:28: The angel Gabriel greets Mary with the words, 'Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.' This greeting shows that Mary was specially chosen by God and filled with His grace.
Luke 1:42: Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, says to Mary, 'Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.' This shows that Mary is blessed above all other women.
Luke 1:48: Mary herself says, 'From now on all generations will call me blessed.' This prophecy has been fulfilled in the Catholic Church's devotion to Mary.
John 2:5: At the wedding at Cana, Mary says to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.' This shows Mary's role as an intercessor and her guidance to Jesus.
John 19:26-27: From the cross, Jesus gives Mary to John as his mother and gives John to Mary as her son. This shows that Mary is the mother of all believers.
Mary as the Mother of God
The Catholic Church honors Mary primarily because she is the Mother of God (Theotokos). This title was officially defined at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD and is based on the fact that Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is both fully human and fully divine.
Since Jesus is God, and Mary is His mother, Mary is truly the Mother of God. This does not mean that Mary is divine or that she existed before God, but that she is the mother of the divine Person of Jesus Christ. This unique relationship gives Mary a special place in salvation history and makes her worthy of our honor and devotion.
The title 'Mother of God' is not just an honorary title, but reflects the reality of Mary's relationship with Jesus and her role in our salvation.
Mary as the Perfect Model
Mary is honored as the perfect model of faith, obedience, and love. She shows us how to respond to God's call with trust and surrender, even when we don't understand His plan. Her 'yes' to God at the Annunciation (Luke 1:38) is the perfect example of faith and obedience.
Mary also shows us how to love God and others. Her love for God is evident in her complete surrender to His will, and her love for others is shown in her visit to Elizabeth and her care for Jesus throughout His life. Mary's example helps us to grow in our own love for God and for others.
As the perfect model of holiness, Mary shows us what it means to be a disciple of Christ and to live a life of faith, hope, and love.
Mary as Intercessor
Catholics honor Mary because she intercedes for us with her Son. Just as Mary interceded for the couple at the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11), so she intercedes for us in our needs. Mary's intercession is powerful because of her unique relationship with Jesus and her perfect holiness.
When we ask for Mary's prayers, we are not bypassing Jesus or treating Mary as a goddess. Instead, we are asking for the prayers of the greatest saint, who is close to Jesus and who loves us as her children. Mary's intercession helps us to grow closer to Christ and to receive His grace more fully.
Mary's intercession is based on her love for us and her desire to help us grow in holiness and to reach heaven.
Marian Devotions and Prayers
Catholics honor Mary through various devotions and prayers:
The Hail Mary: This prayer combines the words of the angel Gabriel and Elizabeth with a petition for Mary's prayers. It is one of the most popular Catholic prayers and is used in the Rosary.
The Rosary: The Rosary is a meditation on the life of Christ through the eyes of Mary. It helps us to grow in our understanding of the mysteries of our faith and to ask for Mary's intercession.
The Memorare: This prayer asks for Mary's help and intercession in times of need. It expresses our trust in Mary's love and her desire to help us.
Marian Feasts: The Church celebrates many feasts in honor of Mary, such as the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption, and the Nativity of Mary. These feasts help us to reflect on Mary's role in salvation history and to honor her for her unique gifts and virtues.
Mary and the Saints
Mary is honored above all the saints because of her unique relationship with God and her role in salvation history. While all the saints are worthy of honor (dulia), Mary receives special honor (hyperdulia) because she is the Mother of God.
This special honor does not mean that Mary is divine or that she should be worshiped. Worship (latria) is given only to God. Mary is a creature, but she is the greatest of all creatures and the most perfect example of what God can accomplish in a human being.
Honoring Mary helps us to honor all the saints and to understand the great things that God can do in those who love Him.
Objections and Responses
Some people object to Catholic devotion to Mary, claiming that it is unbiblical or that it detracts from the worship of God. Here are some common objections and responses:
Objection: 'Catholics worship Mary.' Response: Catholics do not worship Mary. Worship (latria) is given only to God. Catholics honor Mary (hyperdulia) because she is the Mother of God and the greatest of all saints.
Objection: 'Mary is just a human being.' Response: While Mary is a human being, she is the Mother of God and the greatest of all saints. Her unique relationship with Jesus and her perfect holiness make her worthy of special honor.
Objection: 'Honoring Mary takes away from Jesus.' Response: Honoring Mary actually helps us to grow closer to Jesus. Mary always points us to her Son and helps us to love and serve Him better.
Objection: 'The Bible doesn't tell us to honor Mary.' Response: The Bible shows that Mary is blessed among women and that all generations will call her blessed. The early Church honored Mary, and this practice has continued throughout Christian history.
Mary and the Church
Mary is honored as the Mother of the Church and the perfect model of what the Church should be. Just as Mary gave birth to Jesus, so the Church gives birth to Christians through baptism. Just as Mary cared for Jesus, so the Church cares for all believers.
Mary's relationship with the Church is based on her role as the mother of all believers. From the cross, Jesus gave Mary to John as his mother and gave John to Mary as her son (John 19:26-27). This shows that Mary is the mother of all who believe in Christ.
As the Mother of the Church, Mary helps us to grow in our faith and to become more like her Son.
Conclusion: A Gift from God
Honoring Mary is a gift that God has given to His Church. It helps us to grow closer to Christ, to understand our faith better, and to become more like the saints. Mary is not a competitor with Jesus, but is His greatest disciple and our perfect model.
Through devotion to Mary, we learn to say 'yes' to God as she did, to trust in His plan even when we don't understand it, and to love Him with all our heart, soul, and strength. Mary helps us to grow in holiness and to reach the goal of our faith: union with God in heaven.
Honoring Mary is not just a nice tradition, but is a powerful means of growing in our relationship with Christ and becoming the people that God created us to be.