What does the Catholic Church Teach about Mary?
Catholics do not worship Mary. Through prayer to Christ,
however, we may venerate (regard with great respect) the Blessed
Mother and ask for her intercession in our lives. We venerate Mary
also through praying the Rosary, which is a devotion whose words
are found in Scripture (e.g., when the angel Gabriel appeared to
Mary, greeted her, and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee: blessed art thou among women." Luke 1:28).
Regarding Mary’s Assumption into Heaven, the Catechism of the
Catholic Church says, "…the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free
from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life
was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and
exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be
the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and
conqueror of sin and death." The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
is a singular participation in her Son's Resurrection and an
anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians.
Mary, Mother of God, is venerable because she models to us
unconditional love. She stayed by her Son always, even as He was
brutally beaten and when He suffered the death of a common
criminal. “Her role in relation to the Church and to all humanity
goes still further. In a wholly singular way, she cooperated by her
obedience, faith, hope, and burning charity in the Savior's work of
restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason she is a mother
to us in the order of grace. (CCC)”
Personal Thoughts from Sarah:
As a Protestant convert, I used to find it difficult to understand why
many Catholics hold Mary in such high esteem. After studying
Scripture and Catholic doctrine, however, I understood. Mary is
the embodiment of beautiful femininity: loving, patient, trusting,
nurturing, and humble. And as a young, Christian woman, I feel
like I would glorify God in the best way by expressing the same,
beautiful traits as His mother. Over the years, I’ve truly grown to
love the Rosary (I’ve witnessed spectacular answers to prayers
through Mary’s intercession) and I’ve truly grown to love Mary
herself.