If you have never truly understood why Catholics love Mary…
You may have heard that Catholics “worship Mary.”
We don’t.
We honor her—because Jesus did.
And because she stayed when almost everyone else ran.
John 19:25–27
When Jesus 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 home.
The God of Israel is Jesus’ Father (Matthew 11:27), while Mary is His human mother (Luke 1:43). This is why the Catholic Church rightly calls Mary the Mother of God (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 495): not because she is divine herself, but because she is the mother of the second divine Person of the Trinity—God the Son, made flesh. Mary is not a “mother god,” nor is she the feminine counterpart of God. She is a human being—chosen, graced, and humble. She is not the mother of God the Father or God the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was never ashamed to declare the God of Israel as His Father, even though this very claim led to His crucifixion (John 5:18; 19:7–8).
At the foot of the Cross stood Mary, His mother, and John, the beloved disciple. Jesus knew Mary was not John’s biological mother. But He did not speak in symbols or sentiment from the Cross—He spoke a profound, eternal truth. In that moment, He entrusted Mary to John and John to Mary. Why? Because John represents all of us. We were there—represented in the beloved disciple—and through him, Jesus gave Mary to be our mother.
“The Mother of God.”
Does Mary have a place in your heart?
Have you recognized in her the motherly love that God Himself has ordained to help shape your life?
All true motherhood finds its perfection in Mary. She gave birth to our Lord and God. She nursed Him, raised Him, and followed Him all the way to the Cross. Of all women, she was chosen. She carried the Eternal Word in her womb. And the love between Jesus and Mary was pure—flowing directly from the Father.
In Mary and Your Everyday Life, theologian Bernard Haring writes:
“The Church cannot come to a full understanding of union with Christ and service to the Gospel without a profound love and knowledge of Mary, the Mother of our Lord and of ourselves.”
Vatican II affirms:
“At the message of the angel, the Virgin Mary received the Word of God in her heart and in her body, and gave Life to the world. Hence she is acknowledged and honored—not worshipped—as truly the Mother of God and of the Redeemer” (Lumen Gentium, 53).
Mary is a radiant tribute to motherhood itself. The bond between a mother and her child is unmatched. And so too is the bond between Christ and His Church—prefigured and fulfilled in Mary. Where Eve said “no” to God and brought death to the human race, Mary said “yes” and brought forth Life Himself.
Mary is the New Eve.
She is our mother too.
She watched her Son die for the children of the world, and now she waits in heaven—interceding, comforting, preparing us for our eternal home.
Scriptural Witnesses to Mary’s Role
- (Matthew 1:23) – “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel,” which means God is with us.
- (Luke 1:43) – Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cries out: “And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
- (Luke 1:35) – The angel declares: “The child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.”
- (Luke 1:28, 30) – “Hail, full of grace… you have found favor with God.”
- (Luke 1:48) – Mary proclaims: “All generations will call me blessed.”
All of Scripture, like a divine arrow to the heart, leads us to love her rightly. And the Saints throughout the ages have called her Blessed, as we do.
She lives in our hearts. With all the Saints, and through the One Spirit, we are joined in Christ—the true Vine.
A Morning Offering to Begin the Day
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I begin this day.
I thank You, Lord, for preserving me through the night.
Help me to make everything I do today pleasing to You, in accordance with Your will.
Blessed Mother Mary, watch over me.
My Guardian Angel, protect me.
St. Joseph, and all you saints of God, pray for me.
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day—
For all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart,
In union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world,
In reparation for my sins,
For the intentions of all my loved ones,
And especially for the intentions of the Holy Father.
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