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: "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.

Canon Francis Ripley writes in This is the Faith: "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:

• Mother of God (Examination of Doctrine)
• Co-Redemptrix
• The Ark of the New Covenant
• May - The month of Mary
• Presentation of Mary
• The Immaculate Conception
• The Queenship of Mary
• The Assumption of Mary
• Our Lady of Fatima
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help
• Our Lady of Lourdes
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel
• Our Lady of Sorrows
• Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Our Lady of La Salette

There are five traditional Catholic beliefs about Mary:

1. That she is the Mother of God;
2. That she was Ever-Virgin;
3. That she was immaculately conceived (remained sinless too);
4. That she was assumed into Heaven and crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth;
5. 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.

Marian Prayers:

1. Prayer for Mary's Intercession by St. Francis
2. A Prayer to Jesus and Mary for the Holy Souls in purgatory
3. An Eternal Alliance with Mary
4. Dedication of oneself to the Blessed Virgin Mary
5. Prayer of Devotion to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

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