WHY IS THERE SUCH DEVOTION TO MARY ? Why is there such devotion to Mary when the Lord tells us that we must worship God alone? Why do we pray through Mary? And how is it that she promises salvation in her apparitions even though no one but Jesus Christ can save us? I wonder if I am doing right in praying to the Virgin Mary. *** Yes, you are, and the Church guarantees it. Maybe, however, certain notions of faith should be clarified. The Catechism of the Catholic Church can help in this matter. We must always remember that the Virgin Mary was a human creature like we are, the “handmaid of the Lord” (Lk 1: 38). She is the “temple of God, and not the God of the temple”, wrote Saint Ambrose, who so loved Mary and preached about Mary in the fourth century. But Mary, the first believer (Lk 1: 45), had a unique mission and became the Mother of Jesus, the Mother of her Lord (Lk 1: 43), the Mother of God, the theotokos (Council of Ephesus, in 431). She was “so highly favored” (Lk 1: 28). The devotion we accord to Mary is not that of divine worship, it is the devotion of veneration. The Lord is not jealous of his Mother. He loves her as any normal child. If she promises us salvation in her apparitions, it is always in reference to the salvation obtained through her divine Son, Jesus. He is our Savior. As Catholics, this is the essence of what we believe. Mary, our Mother in heaven, also cares for us, her adoptive children. She intercedes for us. We have a powerful and good Mother in heaven. It’s Jesus who wants it this way. What a gift! |