Do Catholics Worship Mary? What Does Scripture Actually Say?

[Ronald Nolette]

Churches named after Mary, Marian prayers, novenas, scapulars, and Marian titles do not by themselves establish worship. After all, Scripture itself gives Mary extraordinary honor:

• "Blessed are you among women" (Luke 1:42)
• "the mother of my Lord" (Luke 1:43)
• "all generations will call me blessed" (Luke 1:48)

The existence of special honor does not automatically equal worship.

More importantly, none of the examples you listed demonstrate that Catholics believe Mary is God, equal to God, the Creator, or worthy of the adoration that belongs to God alone.

You mention titles such as Co-Redemptrix, Co-Mediatrix, and Queen of Heaven, but merely listing titles does not establish worship. The question is what those titles mean, not whether they sound impressive.

Likewise, churches named after Mary no more prove Mary is worshipped than churches named after Peter, Paul, Joseph, or the Apostles prove those saints are worshipped.

You also appeal to your personal experience:

"Sisters and priests all said to worship Mary."

If that's literally what they taught, then they were contradicting official Catholic teaching, which explicitly states that worship belongs to God alone.

Ultimately, "it looks like worship to me" is not an argument. The question is whether Catholics are offering Mary the adoration due to God alone.

That's the claim that still needs to be demonstrated, not simply asserted.

You need to go and study pre vatican 2 writings about Mary.

She is blessed among woman not above. Other women were also called blessed.
Yes God picked Miriam to bear jesus
All generations call her blessed, as they do legions of other saints who glorified God.

Titles and attributes given to Mary:

Mary Most Holy
Mary conceived without sin
Mary Immaculate
Sacred heart of Mary
Co-REdemptrix
Co-Mediatrix
Queen of Heaven
Mother of all saints.
Lived sinlessly perfect
Assumption of Mary
Cause of our Salvation
Queen of Peace
Most hOLY
Most Pure
Queen of Creation
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of the Church,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of angels,
Queen of patriarchs,
Queen of prophets,
Queen of apostles,
Queen of martyrs,
Queen of confessors,
Queen of virgins,
Queen of all saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Queen of families,
Queen of peace
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,

Mother most admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Savior,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,

Now we can list the feasts devoted to Mary:

• January 1 – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
• January 8 – Our Lady of Prompt Succor
• February 2 – Presentation of the Lord
• February 11 – Our Lady of Lourdes
• March 25 – Annunciation
• May 13 – Our Lady of Fatima
• May 31 – Visitation
• August 15 – Assumption
• August 22 – Queenship of Mary
• September 8 – Birth of Mary
• September 12 – Most Holy Name of Mary
• November 21 – Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• December 8 – Immaculate Conception
• December 12 – Our Lady of Guadalupe

• Our Lady of Mount Carmel (July 16)
• Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7)
• Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15)
• • Month of Mary – May
  • Month of the Rosary – October
  • Feast of the Immaculate Heart – Saturday after the Second Sunday after Pentecost
  • First Saturday of each month – Dedication to Marian devotions

Sorry but Millions of Catholics Worship Mary! There are more Romanist websites devoted to the devotion of Mary than to the Lord Jesus. Once again, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck!

 

[Crazy Ivan]

Exactly, @Ronald Nolette - You can say I don't worship Mary, but man, everything about it smacks of worship of Mary.

 

[beechan]

Now we can list the feasts devoted to Mary:[/I]

• January 1 – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
• January 8 – Our Lady of Prompt Succor
• February 2 – Presentation of the Lord
• February 11 – Our Lady of Lourdes
• March 25 – Annunciation
• May 13 – Our Lady of Fatima
• May 31 – Visitation
• August 15 – Assumption
• August 22 – Queenship of Mary
• September 8 – Birth of Mary
• September 12 – Most Holy Name of Mary
• November 21 – Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• December 8 – Immaculate Conception
• December 12 – Our Lady of Guadalupe

• Our Lady of Mount Carmel (July 16)
• Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7)
• Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15)
• • Month of Mary – May
  • Month of the Rosary – October
  • Feast of the Immaculate Heart – Saturday after the Second Sunday after Pentecost
  • First Saturday of each month – Dedication to Marian devotions

Sorry but Millions of Catholics Worship Mary! There are more Romanist websites devoted to the devotion of Mary than to the Lord Jesus. Once again, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck!

Just as a person can honor a parent, a war hero, extensively and frequently (like visiting their grave weekly) without ever confusing them with God. The Church can celebrate Mary on numerous feast days without committing idolatry. The type of reverence remains entirely different, no matter how many times it is expressed.

Protestants read the Bible every single day, study it intensely, memorize verses, hang scripture on their walls, carry it everywhere, publish millions of copies, and hold it up as the inspired, infallible Word of God. Does that daily interaction mean Protestants are worshiping the paper and ink?

 

[beechan]

You need to go and study pre vatican 2 writings about Mary.

May be you show us your arguments first, how do writings about Mary differ before and after Vatican II?

Don't put a cup of muddy water on the debate table!

 

[Jack]

Many people claim Catholics worship Mary.

Do Catholics pray to Mary?

 

[Moonwood]

Mary cooperated in that she was Jesus' mother.

That's it.

That's no small thing, obviously. Motherhood is a special thing. But that was Mary's cooperation. She bore and raised Jesus. That's not something worth making a statue that shows her crushing the serpent's head, which is something ONLY the Messiah would do.

That's actually the point under dispute.

Scripture presents Mary's role as more than merely biological. When the angel announces the Incarnation, Mary freely responds:

"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38).

Mary's cooperation is not portrayed as passive or incidental. Her free assent is emphasized.

Likewise, Simeon does not simply prophesy about Christ. He specifically turns to Mary and tells Her:

"And a sword will pierce your own soul also" (Luke 2:35).

Scripture therefore presents Mary as uniquely sharing in the sufferings connected with Her Son's mission.

And Christians have long seen a connection between the woman of Genesis 3:15 and Mary, because Jesus, the promised seed, comes into the world through Her. So when Catholics depict Mary crushing the serpent, they are not claiming that She defeated Satan apart from Christ or independently of Christ. Rather, they are emphasizing Her participation in Christ's victory, just as Eve participated in Adam's fall.

The statue is expressing the New Eve theology found throughout Christian tradition: Eve cooperated in humanity's fall, while Mary cooperated in God's plan of redemption through Her obedience. Of course, Christ remains the victorious Redeemer. Catholics do not believe Mary defeated Satan by Her own power.

 

[Moonwood]

Do Catholics pray to Mary?

What do you mean by "pray to Mary"? If by "pray to Mary" you mean do we ask Her to independantly answer our prayers then no. If by "pray to Mary" you mean do we ask Her to join us in prayer to God then yes.

 

[Moonwood]

But yeah, you don't worship her.

LOL

We don't. Its only you and others telling us that we do, but we worship the one and triune God. So, it comes down to people simply not understanding what we believe and teach about Mary and why. But that doesn't mean all of them will never not come to understand. And its by God's Grace that we bear them with patience and charity in the meantime.

 

[Jack]

What do you mean by "pray to Mary"? If by "pray to Mary" you mean do we ask Her to independantly answer our prayers then no. If by "pray to Mary" you mean do we ask Her to join us in prayer to God then yes.

You pray to the dead? You ask the dead to pray???

 

[Moonwood]

You pray to the dead? You ask the dead to pray???

What do you mean by "pray to the dead"? Because a person has not only a physical body but a spiritual soul within that body as well. When our physical body dies, the soul doesn't because it is immortal. So if by "pray to the dead" you mean do we ask a dead physical body to pray then no. If by "pray to the dead" you mean do we ask the person who is alive in their spiritual form with God in Heaven then yes.

When Jesus returns, those whose body physically died will be raised and reunited to the soul, and thus those in Heaven and Hell will continue living but from that point on in their physical body as well again.

Regarding Jesus and Mary though, we have reasons to believe They are currently in Heaven already in both body and soul.

As we read in Scripture, "God is not of the dead, but of the living." That's why we ask Mary and our other loved ones in Heaven to pray to God for us and with us.

 

[Jack]

What do you mean by "pray to the dead"? Because a person has not only a physical body but a spiritual soul within that body as well. When our physical body dies, the soul doesn't because that is immortal. So if by "pray to the dead" you mean do we ask a dead physical body to pray then no. If by "pray to the dead" you mean do we ask the person who is alive in their spiritual form with God in Heaven then yes.

Scripture please.

When Jesus returns, those whose body physically died will be raised and reunited to the soul, and thus those in Heaven and Hell will continue living but from that point on in their physical body as well again.

Regarding Jesus and Mary though, we have reasons to believe They are currently in Heaven already in both body and soul.

As we read in Scripture, "God is not of the dead, but of the living." That's why we ask Mary and our other loved ones in Heaven to pray to God for us and with us.

How do you know it's Mary you're communicating with? How do you know it's not Satan? Does it actually talk to you?

 

[Moonwood]

Scripture please.

Regarding which part(s)?

How do you know it's Mary you're communicating with? How do you know it's not Satan?

What do you mean by "communicating with"?

 

[Jack]

Regarding which part(s)?

"If by "pray to the dead" you mean do we ask the person who is alive in their spiritual form with God in Heaven then yes."

Scripture please.

What do you mean by "communicating with"?

Do you talk to it? Does it talk to you?

 

[Crazy Ivan]

That's actually the point under dispute.

Scripture presents Mary's role as more than merely biological. When the angel announces the Incarnation, Mary freely responds:

"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38).

Mary's cooperation is not portrayed as passive or incidental. Her free assent is emphasized.

Likewise, Simeon does not simply prophesy about Christ. He specifically turns to Mary and tells Her:

"And a sword will pierce your own soul also" (Luke 2:35).

Scripture therefore presents Mary as uniquely sharing in the sufferings connected with Her Son's mission.

And Christians have long seen a connection between the woman of Genesis 3:15 and Mary, because Jesus, the promised seed, comes into the world through Her. So when Catholics depict Mary crushing the serpent, they are not claiming that She defeated Satan apart from Christ or independently of Christ. Rather, they are emphasizing Her participation in Christ's victory, just as Eve participated in Adam's fall.

The statue is expressing the New Eve theology found throughout Christian tradition: Eve cooperated in humanity's fall, while Mary cooperated in God's plan of redemption through Her obedience. Of course, Christ remains the victorious Redeemer. Catholics do not believe Mary defeated Satan by Her own power.

Her son was crucified right in front of her. Of COURSE she suffered. Good grief man.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

We don't. Its only you and others telling us that we do, but we worship the one and triune God. So, it comes down to people simply not understanding what we believe and teach about Mary and why. But that doesn't mean all of them will never not come to understand. And its by God's Grace that we bear them with patience and charity in the meantime.

She fits every definition of an idol. She is given deified names and titles. She is placed on par with Jesus in churches like the one I showed you in Boston. She is prayed to nine times more often than God Himself in the rosary. There are shrines all over the world to Mary. You can say that the church officially doesn't worship Mary but if this was a protestant church and they treated Luther or Calvin this way, you'd rightly think it was idolatry.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Just as a person can honor a parent, a war hero, extensively and frequently (like visiting their grave weekly) without ever confusing them with God. The Church can celebrate Mary on numerous feast days without committing idolatry. The type of reverence remains entirely different, no matter how many times it is expressed.

Protestants read the Bible every single day, study it intensely, memorize verses, hang scripture on their walls, carry it everywhere, publish millions of copies, and hold it up as the inspired, infallible Word of God. Does that daily interaction mean Protestants are worshiping the paper and ink?

Yes but other than a few verses in the gospels, Mary is not ever mentioned in all the epistles and after Acts2 or 3. Yes Mary is a blessed woman, but not to the extent Romanism has exalted her. Just a few that are unbiblical and made up by men:

1. Co-Redemptrix
2 Co-Mediatrix
3. Queen of Heaven
4. Ever virgin
5. Without sin.
6. Mother of all graces.
7. Fount of all mercies

Sorry but the calendar of the Roman church exalts her far above what the Bible does. Once again millions of Catholics do worship Mary and the ones who say they don't, if they kneel before her statue pray to her adore her and exalt her above women, They do all the same things they dop for the Father and Son. If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck and quacks like a duck- it's a duck! They do not confuse Mary with god, but worshi her anyway!

May be you show us your arguments first, how do writings about Mary differ before and after Vatican II?

Don't put a cup of muddy water on the debate table!

Tell you what. When you give the biblical proofs or moonwood does that Mary never sinned, was born without sin is co-redemptix, co-mediatrix and Queen of heaven then I will cite the Catholic references that show the adoration and veneration (worship of Mary)

 

[beechan]

She fits every definition of an idol. She is given deified names and titles.

Ah yes, because calling someone 'Queen Mother' or 'Mother of our Creator' magically turns a creature into the Creator.

By that logic, calling Queen Elizabeth II the 'Mother of the Nation' or referring to the 'Father of Modern Physics' (Einstein) means we are bowing down to burn incense at their altars.

 

[beechan]

She is prayed to nine times more often than God Himself in the rosary.

Only if you treat the Rosary like an automated tally-sheet.
Accusing Catholics of worshiping Mary because they say her name more times in a prayer routine is like saying a wedding guest loves the bridesmaids more than the bride because they talked to them longer in the reception line.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Only if you treat the Rosary like an automated tally-sheet.
Accusing Catholics of worshiping Mary because they say her name more times in a prayer routine is like saying a wedding guest loves the bridesmaids more than the bride because they talked to them longer in the reception line.

False analogy. And a straw man

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Ah yes, because calling someone 'Queen Mother' or 'Mother of our Creator' magically turns a creature into the Creator.

By that logic, calling Queen Elizabeth II the 'Mother of the Nation' or referring to the 'Father of Modern Physics' (Einstein) means we are bowing down to burn incense at their altars.

But the bible never bestowed the title of Queen of Heaven or Queen Mother to Mary.