Last week, I mentioned that the Roman Catholic Church insists that popes have only spoken infallibly twice in history: defining the dogmas of The Immaculate Conception of Mary and The Assumption of Mary. The Immaculate Conception of Mary is the idea that Mary herself was uniquely preserved from original sin at her birth and that she remained sinless her entire life (and don’t confuse Mary’s immaculate conception with the virgin birth of Jesus). This idea was made dogma in 1854. The Assumption of Mary, made dogma in 1950, is the idea that at the end of her life, Mary ascended bodily into heaven and was exalted as “Queen over all things.” Again, these are dogmas and therefore must be affirmed by all Roman Catholics – no debate allowed.
With this in mind, I would like to take a broad-lens view of what to me is one of the most disturbing aspects of Roman Catholicism: the extreme veneration of Mary. In fact, this veneration is so extreme that I cannot help but see it as idolatry. Now, the Roman Church itself claims that they do not worship Mary; they only venerate her with special devotion. But in reality, this is at best a distinction without a difference. Look at Roman Catholic art depicting Mary. Think of all the prayers and praise to Mary that you hear. How many people do you see wearing charms picturing Mary, placing decals of Mary on their vehicles, or featuring statues of Mary in house or yard? HaAt what point does “veneration” slip into worship?
Consider also the official teachings regarding Mary. According to The Catechism of the Catholic Church:
- Mary is uniquely sinless in birth and life (491–493)
- “in [Mary], the Church is already the “all holy”” (829)
- She is the Mother of the Church (963)
- Mary joined herself to Jesus’s sacrifice (964)
- Mary was bodily taken up into heaven and exalted to be “Queen over all things” (966)
- “the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix [i.e., mediator]” (969)
The list could continue. But, reading through the sample of attributes above, does anyone else come to mind? Perhaps… Jesus Christ? This is the worst aspect of the Roman Church’s “extreme veneration” of Mary: they take the attributes of Jesus and apply them to Mary. Both are sinless, both are head of the Church and make it holy, both ascended bodily into heaven and were enthroned “over all things,” both are mediators to whom we should pray, etc. Over and over, attributes and praise that can only be given to Jesus are given to Mary. Roman Catholic objections aside, if all this does not amount to idolatry, what would?
I challenge you: go to the New Testament and read the passages that speak of Mary. Do they approach anything close to the Roman Church’s veneration of Mary? Not by a long shot. In fact, in the New Testament, we read of Mary’s presence in Acts 1, and then she immediately fades out of the narrative. No “extreme veneration,” no bodily assumption. Mary is blessed and unique among women, and an example for all of us. She is also equally in need of the grace and mercy that come only through her Lord and ours, Jesus Christ. May we never give to another what belongs only to Jesus.
Studies in the Bible 