It is sad to me that some Christians think that honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary is wrong.  Some seem to think Catholics are worshiping her as though she were God.  That’s not what the Catholic Church teaches.  We know there is only One God and that He came down from heaven to earth to save us from our sins and that His name is Jesus Christ.  We also know that it was God’s plan that Jesus be born of a woman:  “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” Galatians 4:4-5

In the Book of Genesis, the first Book of the Bible, God speaks to Satan and reveals His plan of salvation after the fall of Adam and Eve.  God tells Satan “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15  This verse is speaking about the Virgin Mary, the woman that will bear the child, Jesus, who will crush evil (Satan’s head).  This makes the Virgin Mary the holy tabernacle of God.  In her God would dwell and so when the Angel Gabriel arrives to tell her of God’s plan of incarnation, the Angel declares that she is “full of grace” and “highly favored”. Luke 1:28

The way the Virgin Mary responds to God’s call is nothing less than perfect. Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38  Mary declares in her song of praise to God, the Magnificat, that all generations will call her blessed. Luke 1:48  She is faithful to God and Jesus acknowledges His Mother in His final dying breath as He declares “Behold your mother” John 19:27  Now some may say that Jesus was only speaking to the Apostle John but do you really think that Jesus would have waited until He was dying on the Cross to make new living arrangements for His Mother?  No! Jesus was giving the apostles a Spiritual Mother.

We know that Jesus is calling us to love one another, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34  Should that love exclude the Mother of Jesus?  Maybe you believe that the Virgin Mary lived a life totally pleasing to God, maybe you are not sure…  Reflect again on the Scripture of Genesis 3:15.  God speaks with Satan about a woman that will oppose his evil; God said there would be enmity between them. This opposition is caused by the Virgin Mary’s faith, trust and obedience to God.

We can call upon our Spiritual Mother, the Virgin Mary to pray for us and to help us to honor her Son Jesus.  Let us declare as she did “Let it be done to me according to Your Word Jesus”.  Holy Mother of God, I’m sorry that all Christians do not love you as Jesus does.  Please forgive those who are uncertain about the power of your intercession and who openly criticize you.  We love you and know that you are in heaven in communion with Jesus and all the Angels and Saints and we pray that you will continue to help us to worship Our Holy Lord Jesus, Our Saviour, Our God with great zeal.  Amen.

I love You Jesus and Mary!