For many Catholics in various parts of the world, paying homage and praise to Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ, is a highly important religious practice. Countless images of Mary have been made and venerated and are attributed various names and praises.

Mary is venerated and worshipped as "Our Lady of Fatima" in Portugal, "Our Lady of Lourdes" in France, and "Our Lady of Guadeloupe" in Mexico. In Asia, particularly in the Philippines, Marys image called Nuestra Señora dela Paz Y Buenviaje is likewise highly esteemed and worshiped. In the Bicol region, her image is called "Our Lady of Peñafrancia" and yearly, a procession is held in her honor.

Aside from worshipping the images of Mary, what other honors and attributes are heaped upon her by Catholics?

• Mary was made as the mediatrix (Catechism on True Devotion to Mary, .17)
• She was not tainted with sin (Glories and Virtues of Mary, p. 26)
• Its faster and more effective to ask help in her name than in the name of Jesus (Ibid., p. 201)

• God is subject to her (True devotions to Mary, p.9)

The confusing teachings of the Catholic Church regarding Mary are made more prominent in the following:

"Through her divine maternity, Mary in a certain way entered the divine family as a spouse who enters a royal home. With regard to the Father she became the first born daughter: I came out of the mouth of the Most High, the first-born before all creatures (Ecclus 24:5). With regard to the Son, she was a mother; with regard to the Holy Spirit, she was a bride." (Glories and Virtues of Mary, p. 43)

The Catholic beliefs quoted above state the confusing supposed relationship of Mary to the so-called Trinity. She is said to be the first born daughter of God the Father, the Mother of "God the Son" and the spouse of "God the Holy Spirit." But, does the Bible conform to these teachings?

Contradictions to biblical truth

• The Holy Bible makes it certain that there is only one mediator between God and man. In 1 Timothy 2:5 this is written:

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (New International Version)

Christ is the only One placed and purposed by God to be the Mediator between Him (God) and men. The Bible never teaches that Mary is the mediatrix.

• It is not true that Mary was without sin because, according to the Bible, all men have sinned (Rom. 3:23) and the only One who did not commit sin is the Lord Jesus Christ (I Pt. 2:21-22)
• The belief of the Catholic Church that it is much easier to ask anything in the name of Mary is unbiblical. In John 15:16, the Lord Jesus said to His apostles:

"...whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give you." (New King James Version)

Not in the name of Mary or anyone else can true Christians ask for anything from God but only in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

• To teach that God is subject to Mary is blasphemous. The Scriptures teach that the Father is the One who is above all, not Mary:

"One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Eph. 4:6, Ibid.)

Likewise, the Catholic doctrine that Mary is allegedly the mother of God (whom Catholics believe to be Christ Himself) contradicts the truth written in Psalms 90:2 that God has no beginning, that He is neither man nor the son of man (Num. 23:19). The Bible does not call Mary the mother of God but was introduced as the mother of Jesus (Acts 1:14), the two (God and Christ) being different and distinct from each other.

Even the teaching that Mary is allegedly the daughter, mother and spouse of the three persons in the Trinity is unfounded and likewise a blasphemy against God. The true God does not consist of three persons. He is absolute in oneness and a spirit in nature (Is. 45:21; Jn. 4:24). He does not recognize any other god beside Himself (Is. 44:8; 45:21).

On the other hand, Mary praised the Lord. She also recognized that God is her Savior. She herself said that she is a servant of the Lord. (Lk 1:38). She likewise declared: ""My heart praises the Lord; my soul is glad because of God my Savior" (Lk. 1:38, Todays English Version).

Therefore, it is not proper to worship Mary. It is improper to pray to her and ask for ones needs. Worshipping her would be going against the teachings of the Holy Scriptures and is a downright rejection of the true God.

References

Alberione, Very Rev. J. Glories and Virtues of Mary. Philippines: St. Paul Publications. n. d.

Beiting, Rev. Ralph W. Catechism on True Devotion to Mary. Philippines: St. Paul Publications, 1958

De Monfort, St Louis Mary. True Devotion to Mary. Bay Shore, New York: Monfort Publications, 1985