What are Catholics view on The Virgin Mary? I am confused//

United States
January 4, 2007 7:45pm CST
I am a baptist and I am confused about the Catholic's view on The Virgin Mary. As a Christian I understand her importance and her story was amazing. I feel sometimes though that Catholics worship Mary more than they do Jesus. Do I have the right idea or am I completely wrong?
2 people like this
8 responses
• United States
5 Jan 07
That's a common misconception. Catholics don't worship Mary. They honor her as a perfect model of humility. She is the perfect human being born without sin (the immaculate conception) and a woman of true virtue. Catholics have three tiers of honor: there is Latria (which is worship that is due to God alone) Dulia (devotion to the saints) and hyperdulia (devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the greatest of all the saints). I think the confusion come in because of the word "worship." Using the three different types of worship clarifies the Catholic position on Mary. There is a whole book written about Mary. It's called Meeting Mary: Our Mother of Faith if you want to read more about it. I hope this helped a little.
@urbandekay (18278)
23 Jan 08
Where in scripture does it say Mary was immaculately conceived? Or is this another innovation of the Roman Church. Where does Jesus advocate worshiping anyone but God? Another innovation of the Roman Church? all the best urban
@whacks (774)
• Philippines
27 Feb 07
The Catholics follow the Catechism, not the Holy Bible. To get the facts, surf and you'll find that easily. They pray to Mary and they even say Holy Mary Mother of God and so God is not from everlasting to everlasting because He has a mother... they say Pray for us sinners. The Lord Jesus says I am the way... No one goes to the Father except thru Me. The Lord still says Pray in My name. The Catholics pray to Mary then also in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. They overturn things but anyway they do not follow the Holy Bible so there's no problem. Catholics are not Christians for they are Catholics and they follow the Catechism.
2 people like this
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
27 Feb 07
Have you never asked a friend or someone in church to help you pray for something? What is the difference in asking Mary to help you pray for something. Anyway...it is not a requirement to ask for Mary to help you...you are free as a Catholic to pray directly to Jesus!
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
22 Jan 08
Typical anti-Catholic garbage. The person who started this thread wanted to learn about Catholicism. You clearly prefer to stay ignorant.
@jaaraf (14)
• Philippines
7 Jan 07
Catholics do not worship Mary. the relationship with Mary is more of a child asking the help of a mother. Statues do abound, but we do not worship statues. They are just representations, same as you would take a look at a photograph of a loved one in your wallet. There's actaully a term for the veneration of Mary called hyperadulia. WE ask the help of Mary to intercede for us with God since she is close to our Lord, being his mother.
• Philippines
27 Feb 07
I am not a Catholic. Catholics say that they do not worship Mary but with what they are doing, they are actually worshiping Mary. Their prayers are addressed to Mary especially that which they call the Holy Rosary.
2 people like this
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
5 Jan 07
Catholics are often criticised that they give extra importance to The virgin of Mary. Let's make it clear, the Virgin Mary is the Mother of God. Through out the catholic church's history, believers often prayed to the Holy Mary in times of war and distress not because the virgin Mary is much important than God, but because they feel closer to relate to the concept of a caring mother who is always there to intervene when things go wrong.
@qouniq (1966)
• Malaysia
22 Jan 08
how can Mary is a mother of god. Jesus is not a god he is a messiah.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
22 Jan 08
Jesus is the son of God AND God. That is the belief that we as Catholics hold. As such, Mary is called Mother of God because she was the mother of Jesus. I know some faiths see Jesus as just a messiah or prophet, but in Catholicism he is God who came down in human form.
@manong05 (5027)
• Philippines
18 Feb 07
Like in any other religions, there are adherents who are well informed in the doctrines of their faith. There is a large segment of catholics who believe that Mary is the Mother of God, that she was sinlessly perfect and a mediatrix between God and men. I've read books on Roman Catholics theology and these concepts are denied by the learned ones and those who have studied the Bible. They look to Mary as Blessed having chosen by God to bear Christ but nothing more than that. All other beliefs about her came later and are not found in the Bible.
2 people like this
• Pakistan
21 Jan 07
Holy MaryMaryam, I love her and she was an examplary woman and mother of JesusIssaYeshua. So it is alright to respect her, but to worship her is not alright as it is only GodAllahYHWH alone who is to be worshipped and who listen our prayers. I am an Ahmadi, a peaecful faith in Islam, others could have their own opinions, and I respect different opinions
• Philippines
17 Feb 07
I am a Catholic. Jesus for us is the son of the God the father and he is a God. Mary is the mother of Jesus. We pray for Mama Mary because we believe that if we pray to God together with her intervention our prayers will be easily answered. It is like we the one who prayed will be joined by Mama Mary in prayers to God. She is with us on our prayers to God.
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
23 Jan 08
I want to know all the best urban
• United States
18 Feb 07
But doesn't the Bible say that Jesus is our only Mediator? That sorta means that Mary couldn't intervene, right? I have some interesting information about Mary the mother of Jesus, if you want it. Just let me know...