by Les Zsoldos

Created on: December 26, 2009

Catholic devotion to the Virgin Mary is often criticized by other Christians.  However, this devotion is deeply rooted in the history of Catholicism and is also biblical.  Through their devotion to  the Blessed Virgin Mary, Catholics believe that they can come closer to God.

The Virgin Mary was predestined to heaven.  This is the reason that she was full of grace.  Because she was full of grace, she was also without sin.  Just as the Ark of the Old Testament had to be perfect in every way, Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant, bore no sin.  The Ark of the Old Testament bore God's word.  Likewise, the Ark of the New Covenant also bore God's word which was Christ.

Protestants often object that the Virgin Mary was merely a woman who gave birth to Jesus.  However, God chose to bring his son to the world through her.  From the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ received his humanity.  She fed him, clothed him, loved him and taught him to speak Aramaic.  The Catholic church refers to the Virgin Mary as the co-redemptress of the human race.  It is true that she needed a saviour but she was also a co-redemptress because she brought Christ into the world.  God did not need to bring his son into the world through a woman but he chose to do so.  He also decided to use her to defeat Satan.  This is mentioned in the first and last books of the Bible, Genesis and Revelation.

In the Old Testament it was the mothers of kings who were queens.  For this reason, it is biblical to refer to the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Heaven.  Catholics believe that she and the saints are alive in heaven and that she can pray for people on earth.  In fact, the church has three parts.  These are the church on earth which can be characterized as the church militant, the church in purgatory which is the church in suffering and the church in heaven which is the church triumphant.

Because the Virgin Mary was the mother of Jesus Christ, it is also fitting to call her the mother of God.  She was intimately connected to Christ.  For this reason, Catholics believe that it is beneficial and desireable to ask her to pray for them.  The last words of the Hail Mary are: "Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen".

The Blessed Virgin Mary is considered an exemplary model of humility, obedience, faith and virtue.  By honouring her, Catholics are following the commandment to honour their parents.  Just as one should honour one's parents, one should honour the woman who was the mother of Jesus Christ.  It is also good to honour St. Joseph, the father of Jesus Christ.

Catholic devotion to the Virgin Mary is based on the belief that it is important to honour the mother of Jesus Christ, a woman who was predestined to heaven.  Through their devotion to Christ's mother, Catholics believe that they can grow closer to God and gain inspiration.  Catholics believe that the Blessed Virgin Mary is the shortcut to Jesus.

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