As the first and most perfect disciple of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary is honored with a special reverence by Catholics. As a Christian herself, she leads others to her Son and devotion to her is pleasing to Jesus.
Although she is honored more than any of the other saints, Mary is never worshipped like God. Mary’s importance is only because of Jesus. What the Church teaches and what is written in the Bible about her leads to a better understanding of Him.
Chosen by God, Mary was conceived without sin and filled with Grace. As a young girl, she consented to God’s plan to be the Mother of God. She devoted herself entirely to her Son Jesus, remaining sinless and a virgin for her entire life.
Mary accompanied Jesus throughout his life and supported his mission. She was intimately involved in the major events of his public ministry, encouraging the servants at his first public miracle in Cana to do whatever Jesus told them.
As man, Jesus loved his mother and He obeyed the 4th Commandment by honoring both of his parents, Mary and Joseph. Mary adored her Son with a maternal love as no other human ever could.
From the Cross where He was dying, Jesus gave his disciples to Mary and He gave his mother to his Church. As the mother of all Christians, she intercedes on behalf of Catholics who ask her to pray with them and for them.
At the end of her earthly life, Mary was assumed into Heaven, body and soul, by the power and grace of God. Crowned as the Queen of her Son’s Kingdom, Mary continues to worship Jesus in his presence along with all of the angels and the saints.
The Catholic Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary’s place in salvation history with various feasts, prayers, and devotions. The Church dedicates the month of May to her.
Mary brings Catholics closer to her Son:
Catholics regard Mary with special veneration:
Mary always leads to Christ:
And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For He has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”
Luke 1: 46-49
Mary is with Jesus one way or another:
She is the most important Christian:
Scripture shows that Mary has an important role:
“All generations will call me blessed”: “The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.” The Church rightly honors “the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs. . . . This very special devotion . . . differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration.” The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an “epitome of the whole Gospel,” express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 971
She was Jesus’ last gift as He was dying on the Cross:
Jesus’ mother is our mother:
The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is an intrinsic element of Christian worship. The honor which the Church has always and everywhere shown to the Mother of the Lord, from the blessing with which Elizabeth greeted Mary right up to the expressions of praise and petition used today, is a very strong witness to the Church’s norm of prayer and an invitation to become more deeply conscious of her norm of faith. And the converse is likewise true. The Church’s norm of faith requires that her norm of prayer should everywhere blossom forth with regard to the Mother of Christ. Such devotion to the Blessed Virgin is firmly rooted in the revealed word and has solid dogmatic foundations. It is based on the singular dignity of Mary, “Mother of the Son of God, and therefore beloved daughter of the Father and Temple of the Holy Spirit-Mary, who, because of this extraordinary grace, is far greater than any other creature on Earth or in Heaven.” This devotion takes into account the part she played at decisive moments in the history of the salvation which her Son accomplished, and her holiness, already full at her Immaculate Conception yet increasing all the time as she obeyed the will of the Father and accepted the path of suffering, growing constantly in faith, hope and charity.
Pope Paul VI, Marialis Cultus, 2 February 1974
Honoring Mary is essential to Christian worship:
Mary is the model of discipleship:
The Truth, Goodness, and Beauty of the Catholic Church
Monks in the marketplace:
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