12 January 2024, Las Cruces, New Mexico, Steven Zimmerman – Last night, I posted an image of the Blessed Mother on my social media. This is a photograph I took at a Church in Las Cruces, and it shows the Blessed Mother looking at three crosses. I didn’t know then when I posted the image the backlash I was going to receive on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok.
“You are an idolater,” wrote one X user.
“She is not God, and you are going to hell,” wrote another.
On TikTok, I was met with a video response that said Mary was the head of the Synagogue of Satan and that she would lead every Catholic to eternal punishment.
Through all the noise and hate, there was one honest question. “I’m not Catholic or Christian, but I have a question,” posted Amy, “but I know you should ask if you don’t know: do you worship Mary? If so, why? If not, what are you doing?”
The simple answer to your first question, Amy, is that we do not worship Mary. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that only God is to be adored and worshiped, but that doesn’t mean that Mary and the saints can’t be venerated (honored) because of their closeness to God (CC 971).
What we do is venerate Mary, the Mother of Jesus. And I will explain precisely why I venerate her. Before I do, remember one point: I am not a priest or a Church theologian, so I am sharing my opinion. I suggest you contact a Catholic priest for a response that may better explain Church teaching.
- Her relationship to Christ: Catholics believe that Mary is the Mother of Jesus Christ and that she played a significant role in human salvation. She is seen as a model of obedience and love for Christ.
I want to be a good Christian and do my best to follow everything God and Jesus have commanded us. I want to follow the life they have in mind for each one of us. I’ll admit it’s not always easy, and I need an example to look up to.
Daily, I look up to the Blessed Mother and St. Francis. The Blessed Mother followed God’s will perfectly, without fail, regardless of what her contemporaries said or felt.
Imagine being with a child, not having been with Joseph, and walking through the streets with all the fingers pointed at you, the talk behind your back, not to mention the accusations she may have faced. Still, she followed the will of God for her life, which gives me a strong example of what I can do, no matter what I face in life.
- Her role in the Church: Mary is considered the Mother of the Church because the Church is the body of Christ, and Mary is his Mother.
Paul calls the Church the Body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12. The key verses are 12 through 13 and 27:
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. . . . Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Paul writes similarly in his letter to the Romans:
For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another (Rom. 2:4-5).
We are all one in Christ, and Mary is the Mother of Jesus. Therefore, we honor her as the Mother of the Church.
We honor friends and coworkers daily with parties, plaques, awards, and more. How much more should we honor the Mother of our Lord and Savior?
- Her intercession: Catholics believe that Mary intercedes for them with Jesus.
I was told, even before the RCIA and my baptism, that if I asked anyone who is not living for prayer, I would secure my spot in hell. This is not true at all.
When you were ill, or trying to land a job, or find a home, did you ask anyone in your family or your friends to pray for you? I’m sure you did, and I’ve done the same.
As a Catholic, I believe all who hold my faith are members of God’s family. This includes those in heaven, purgatory, and on earth – all are alive and active. So, just as I ask my family and friends for prayer, why would I not ask my extended family of Saints?
Remember, we do not ask the Blessed Mother or the Saints to grant us what we are praying for; we are asking them to pray for us and that need. As Catholics, we do not worship saints or images of saints. We believe that the power of Christ is what answers prayers and causes miracles, not the power of the saints.
- Her role in the Incarnation: Catholics believe that Mary’s “yes” to God made the Incarnation possible, which is necessary for salvation.
Each of us has free will, the freedom to choose. Even Mary had the freedom to choose. She could have told the angel Gabriel “no,” and Jesus would still have been born. Remember, scripture says that Jesus “was born of a woman,” not that she was born of Mary. God could have used someone else to accomplish his purpose, or he could have accomplished it without humanity.
Mary accepted God’s will, which made the Incarnation possible, leading to our salvation through Christ. Reread those first four words; Mary accepted God’s will.
When I feel that God has called me to do something, I may not want to do that task; I may think there is someone better than me. While wondering why God has chosen me for something, I recall Mary’s willingness to accept God’s will for her life. With Mary’s example in mind, I know I can do whatever God calls me.
- Her closeness to God: Catholics believe that Mary was preserved from sin by God.
God is omniscient. God knows that Mary would not have declined the honor bestowed upon her. Even with our own free will, God knew what Mary’s answer would be. Because of this, Mary “Full of grace,” Mary is “the most excellent fruit of redemption.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says (SC 103): from the first instant of her conception, she was totally preserved from the stain of original sin and she remained pure from all personal sin throughout her life.
God knew Mary before she was born. He preserved her from sin. I fully believe God kept her close to Him, and she is close to both God and Jesus today. Because of that closeness, when I feel that I am too marred by sin or think I am not worthy to approach Jesus directly, I will ask Mary to intercede for me because of her closeness to God and Jesus. (we can always approach Jesus directly, regardless of where we are in life. I am only writing about a personal feeling).
- Her role as a mirror of virtue: Catholics believe Mary is a mirror of virtue.
Mary is a model of virtue because she reflects God’s perfection and holiness.
Mary showed humility in following God’s will and seeing herself as God sees her. Her faith in God’s will showed trust, commitment, obedience, and submission. Her perfect love for Joseph and Jesus exemplifies how to love and serve others.
Mary is a model of hope and patience. Mary demonstrated unfailing trust in God’s plan, even when faced with challenging circumstances, like the annunciation and the crucifixion of Jesus, by accepting her role with a “yes” and patiently waiting for God’s will to be fulfilled, showcasing her faith and resilience through difficult times; she embodies the idea of holding onto hope despite uncertainty.
As a Catholic, I do not worship Mary or hold her in the same regard as God or Jesus. I honor her, thinking of her as my Mother. I ask her to pray for me, as she would her own child. Jesus gave Mary to all of us as our spiritual Mother when he said, “Behold your mother” to John before he died on the cross.
John 19:26-27 “When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!'”
I do hope this has answered your question. Contact a priest if you have further questions about Mary, her role in the Church, and her relationship with Catholics.
Do you have a quesiton for a Catholic convert? If so, use the form below and I will do my best to answer your question(s).
