Posts tagged with question.
Do you practise any special devotions for Mary in May?
Anonymous asked: How would you answer someone who claims that Catholics 'worship Mary like a goddess of sorts'?
I had this discussion with a Protestant friend just a few days ago, and I tried to explain to him there is a great difference between worship and veneration. When you are a Catholic you have a firm belief in the communion of saints, of which Mary is the greatest. In the Catholic mind this communion is not some distant theological concept, but a very real part of the faith. In as much so, that the saints become one’s examples in faith and one’s friends in time of joy and sorrow. When it comes to Catholics venerating or praying to Mary or another saint, these prayers are a request for intercession. It is like asking a friend to pray for you.
In the case of Mary, her ‘fiat’ at the Annunciation made her the first Christian. In a sense, this makes her the Mother of all Christians. This explains why Catholics honour her more than any other saint.
In Catholic theology there is a special word for the veneration of Mary, which highlights her unique status and asserts that only God is due worship: hyperdulia. It is defined by the Modern Catholic Dictionary as follows:
The special veneration due to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is substantially less than the cultus latria (adoration), which is due to God alone. But it is higher than the cultus dulia (veneration), due to angels and other saints.
Has there ever been a moment when you’ve strongly felt Mary’s presence?
Chair
- Occidentana: I wonder if they’ve ever made an Our Lady of the Chair.
- All about Mary: There is an ancient representation of Mary as Our Lady of the Chair, more commonly known as the Seat of Wisdom. Besides, there is also a chair of Our Lady. It is kept in the chapel of the Miraculous Medal in Paris. St Catherine Laboure saw Mary sit in this chair during her vision in 1830.
Is there anyone who would appreciate an All about Mary presence on Facebook?
Pilgrimage
Have you ever made a pilgrimage to a shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary?
I was wondering what you would like to see more of on All about Mary. Please leave your answers.
Would you like to see famous works of art, churches dedicated to Mary, engravings, prayers, devotions, miraculous images, icons, music, devotions, theme weeks, or anything else?
