On Mondays, I answer questions frequently asked by those considering a return to the Catholic Church. How do I know this stuff? I was away for more than 30 years myself, and am the co-author of When They Come Home: Ways to Welcome Returning Catholics, a book for pastors and parish leaders interested in this ministry.
Why do Catholics worship Mary?
Catholics don’t worship Mary. Catholics worship only God.
We have a very special, loving relationship with Mary, Jesus’s mother. We believe she was born innocent of original sin, in other words, that as she told St. Bernadette, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” We believe she conceived thanks to the Holy Spirit and not only was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus, the son of God, but that she remained a virgin her entire earthly life. We believe that she was assumed into heaven in both body and spirit. Our brothers and sisters in other Christian and non-Christian faiths believe some but generally not all of these tenets.
Mary is called the first and greatest of all Christ’s disciples, and the Second Vatican Council said she “occupies a place in the Church which is the highest after Christ and also the closest to us.” Who wouldn’t want such a woman as a prayer buddy? The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults puts it this way: “There has been the basic sense on the part of the Church that Mary continues in heaven to be concerned for the growth of all members of the Church into holiness and an intimate relationship with her Son.”
While Catholics are not required to believe in Mary’s return to earth subsequent to her assumption, the Church has confirmed her appearance at a handful of sites, including Lourdes, Fatima, and Guadalupe.
It’s true that many Catholic homes display statues or icons of Mary… including more than a few with outdoor shrines to her (and yes, some actually incorporate bathtubs into the shrine). Generally, the purpose is to have a quiet, peaceful place to converse with our Blessed Mother and ask for her guidance and prayers.
