A Catholic Life: Mary, the Mother of God

In the Catholic faith we honor Mary as the Mother of God. We do not worship her, but we pray that through her intercession we may become closer to her Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ. This goes back to the Communion of the Saints. Above all, we know that Mary is not just the Mother of God but also our mother as well because Jesus gave her to us:

"When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household" (John 19:26-27)

St. Albert the Great wrote in Mary, Canice, p. 36: "Immediately next to being God is being the Mother of God." She held a unique role in salvation's history. Jesus Christ redeemed us, but Mary remains the Mother of Jesus and our spiritual mother. She is not equal to God but rather the most glorious person created by God because of her humility, trust in God, and above all, her Immaculate Conception. Cannon Francis Ripley writes in This is the Faith pg. 367: "Because of the inexpressible dignity that is hers, the Catholic Church has from the beginning given Mary the highest form of honor below that reserved for God alone. The Church's practice has always reflected her belief that, provided Mary is not "adored" (which is the unique honor given to God alone), she cannot be honored to excess."

Various articles of mine on Mary:

There are five traditional Catholic beliefs about Mary:

That she is the Mother of God;
That she was Ever-Virgin;
That she was immaculately conceived (remained sinless too);
That she was assumed into Heaven and crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth;
That she is Mediatrix of all Graces, Co-Redemptrix and Advocate for the People of God.

Numbers 1-4 inclusive have all been defined as infallible and must be believed. Number 5 has not been made a dogma of the faith. It is not a required belief of the Church.

"Q39: Why pray to Mary at all?
A: Because God wills that we should do so, and because such prayers to her are of the utmost value. God often wills to give certain favors only on condition that we go to some secondary agent. Sodom was to be spared through the intercession of Abraham (Genesis 18:20-33). Naaman, the leper, was to be cured only through the waters of the Jordan (2 Kings 5:9-14). Now Mary is, and must ever remain, the Mother of Christ. She still has a mother's rights and privileges, and is able to obtain for us many graces. But let us view things reasonably. if I desire to pray, I can certainly pray to God directly. Yet would you blame me if, at times, I were to ask my own earthly mother to pray for me also? Such a request is really a prayer to her that she may intercede for me with God. Certainly, if I met the mother of Christ on earth, I would ask her to pray for me, and she would do so. And in her more perfect state with Christ in Heaven she is more able to help me."
-- Adapted from Virgin and Statue Worship: Quizzes to A Street Preacher by Fr. Chas. M. Carty and Rev. Dr. Rumble. Order a copy of the booklet from: TAN BOOKS AND PUBLISHERS, INC., P.O. Box 424, Rockford, Illinois 61105.

http://audrey-shark.blogspot.com/2006/02/q-about-mary-and-saints-ii.html

Further information:

Marian Prayers:

"The Virgin Mother has no greater wish than to see her divine Son obeyed, loved, glorified, and exalted" (Blessed Columba Marmion)

4 comments:

Anonymous said...: My favorite humble prayer to Mother Mary: O, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful is the splenddor of Heaven, blessed Mother of the Son of God, immaculate virgin, assist me in this necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show herein you are my Mother. O Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of heaven and hearth, I humbly beseech thee from the bottom of my heart, succor me in this necessity. There are none that can withstand your power.
O show me herein you are MOther. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. (3 times)O HOly Mary I place this cause in your hands. (3 times)Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands. (3 times)Thank you for your mercy to me and mine. Amen.
Moneybags said...: What a beautiful prayer. Thank you for sharing it.
jerry said...: I think that the fact that God allows us to commicate with those who is now in heaven is a sign of love, and it prepares us to love all of the church.
Anonymous said...: A favorite prayer to Mary, Mother of God:O, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful is the splenddor of Heaven, blessed Mother of the Son of God, immaculate virgin, assist me in this necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show herein you are my Mother. O Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of heaven and hearth, I humbly beseech thee from the bottom of my heart, succor me in this necessity. There are none that can withstand your power.
O show me herein you are MOther. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times). say this prayer for 3 consecutive date and then you must publish it and it will be granted to you. Grateful thanks, J.D.