QUESTION: Why do you have to ask Mary to take your prayers to Jesus? Can’t you just go straight to Jesus?
Of course, one can and should address Jesus directly in prayer; however, this does not negate Mary’s role. The question is a good one and possesses some complexity. All of the attributes of mercy and love attributed to Mary find their ultimate source in the Lord. The unity between the Mother and her divine Son is very intimate and unbreakable. Even when we address our prayers to Jesus or show him homage, we are also honoring his Mother and invoking her assistance. Mary rejoices when we come to her Son, no matter what the path. The Dominican priest, Fr. Jelly wrote that in this sense, even the most fundamentalist of Protestants are showing their respect to Mary in their devotion to Christ. Conversely, God is honored when we honor Mary. God loves us to honor Mary as a Father is pleased when his daughter is honored. Every honor we give to Mary is reflected back to God since we honor her for what He has done for her, with her, and through her. When we honor her, we honor Him. When Catholics address Mary, it is because there is something about her maternal qualities which soothe our souls and remind us of the great company of heaven— the home to which we hope one day to enter. Even in human families, the love and help of parents could just as well come from one parent or the other; but sometimes we want the strength of our fathers and at other times the feminine touch of our mothers. Mary is a creature, not God like her Son, and yet her abiding proximity and union to Christ makes her a fitting figure for our prayers. We reverence her, as we do all the saints, but true worship is addressed to God alone. Otherwise, we would fall into idolatry. Christ is our only mediator (1 Tim. 2:5-6) with the Father, but Mary can intercede (pray for us) with her Son Jesus. Jesus worked his first miracle at her request (Jn. 2:1-12). Just as we can ask other members of the Church on earth to pray for us (1 Tim. 2:1; 2 Tim. 1:3; Phil. 4:22), so too, can we ask members of the Church in heaven to pray for us (Rv. 5:8; 6:9-11; 7:10-12; 8:2-6; Mt. 22:31, 32).
We are also called to imitation of Christ. Did Jesus follow the commandments? Sure. Including the fourth commandment? Yes. Then if Jesus honored Mary his Mother and took her direction seriously, would this commandment be abrogated in heaven? Further, if Mary is given to us as our Spiritual Mother, are we not to pay the same respect to her as he did– imitating Christ even in this? Yes. The honor we give Mary our Spiritual Mother in no way subtracts from the worship we give to God any more than honoring our earthly mother does. In fact, it conforms to God’s holy will, and we who are adopted sons of God honor her whom the Son honored.
Filed under: Apologetics, Bible, Catholic, Faith, God, Jesus, Mary, Prayer, Questions, Religion, Saints |
Blogger Priest 
Father Joe, thank you for your kind words and response. I lean towards a Reformed way of thinking (Presbyterian ‘PCA’ to be exact) with a heavily influenced Calvinistic view. I am still a relatively new Christian and I am trying to learn as much as can. I want to be sure that I do not lead my children (or anyone else) the wrong way.
My understanding of what you have said here is that the saints (apostles and clergymen including Mary, etc.) stand out compared to the ‘average’ Christian. For example in Acts, once the disciples of Jesus received the Holy Spirit they were not merely enlightened with wisdom and the ability to speak other languages; they changed into something new completely.
I understand our desires as human beings to want to congratulate and look up to someone with such a status. This is especially the case of the great Prophets and Apostles we read about in the Bible. I find myself having a strong connection with such individuals like David and Paul because both their stories, in many ways, are similar to my own. But if I am elevating these men, am I not worshiping a false idol?
Remember in Acts 14 when Paul and Barnabas went into Lystra and the people thought they were Greek gods? Paul said to them “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.” They were of like nature with them, not God.
In my very small understanding of God and the Bible, all men and women since Adam, except Jesus who was both the Son of God and Man, are simply men and women. If you are saying that the moment a priest is ordained and he is instantly changed to a godly man then you are stating that Sanctification is also an instant thing and it would apply to everyone.
Having accepted Christ as my Savior and the Lord of my life through faith given by the Grace of God I believe I am Justified, but nowhere near Sanctified. I have a lifelong way to go before I can be considered godly, and I believe I’ll never reach Christ-like status until His return.
I do not intend to offend or condemn your beliefs, I only seek clarity and I thank you for your time. May God Bless you!
Fr. Jenkins, please help me understand. Would praying to or honoring Mary be the same as praying/honoring any other of God’s chosen? From Abraham, to Noah, to Moses, to David, all prophets, and apostles. They’re all unrighteous, fallible human beings and not worthy of such reverence. Jesus is the only Mediator, as you said, nothing else should distract our focus.