Sermon Tone Analysis

Do Catholics Really Worship Mary?

Over the years speaking to Catholics about theology I can remember this question was probably one of the first questions I asked.

Do Catholics really worship Mary.

I can tell you that I did not word it in the question form but in the accusative form.

I see other new protestants that join our interfaith discussion forum doing the same: “Catholics worship idols” “Catholics break the 10 commandments by worshipping Mary”.

Frankly for me it comes down to the fact that I trust what the other person is saying.

If they say they are not worshiping Mary then I trust that it is true and I have a misunderstanding.

However, that aside it is a good discussion to have and here are some of the things I learned.

With regard to Catholic saints Robert Morey a leading Christian apologist said

“The largest group of people worshipping gods and goddesses are the millions of misguided Roman Catholics who pray to and worship Mary and the saints.

Despite the official teaching of the Church of Rome that Mary and the saints are only to be “venerated” and not worshipped, millions of Catholics do not see the fine distinction and go right on worshiping Mary and the saints the same way they do God.

The saints took over the functions of the “local” pagan deities in popular religion.

The old pantheon of gods and goddesses were simply baptized with Christian names.

For example, the devotees of “Venus” worshiped Mary as “the Queen of Heaven.”

She was no longer the simple, humble Jewish girl who had the privilege of giving birth to the Messiah.

But she could now hear the prayers of anyone, at any time, anywhere, and answer them from her throne in Heaven.

Her divinity outshone her humanity.

She was no longer viewed as a sinner in need of God’s salvation, as she claimed in , but she was viewed by millions as a sinless goddess who did not need a saviour.2

The local gods and goddesses became the saints to whom prayer, allegiance, and worship is given.

Each local deity had his or her special province or trade to bless.

Thus in the ancient world were gods of the sea, gods of the air, gods of fertility, gods of good fortune, gods of farming, and gods of all the various labors of man.

The saints took over these pagan functions.

This is the historical origin of all “patron” saints of fishers, farmers, bakers, soldiers, masons, gamblers, travelers, the sick, etc.

That the Roman Catholic world is filled with polytheistic saint worship is admitted and condemned by modern Catholic theologians.

The problem of “paganism in Catholic dress” in such places as South America has been a special concern to the Vatican.

Various directives have been released to confront this problem, an example being the reduction of the number of the saints.

But we have seen no visible sign of change in the situation.”

Morey, R. A. (1989).

Battle of the gods: the gathering storm in modern evangelicalism (1st ed., pp.

37–38).

Southbridge, MA: Crown Publications.

The first thing to note is that Morey clearly says the catholic church teaches that Mary is not to be worshiped and modern catholic theologians also reject the worship of Mary.

It is an error to say that Roman Catholic theology teaches the worship of Mary.

Accusing all Catholics of being idol worshippers is a straw man logical fallacy .

Dr. Geisler notes the Catholic and gives protestant responses here.

It is certainly important to understand what someone when discussing theology with them

"The Veneration of Mary

The Mariological doctrine that is perhaps most repugnant to Protestants is the veneration of Mary.

This is based on her role as “Mother of God.”

This is obvious in one of the most popular of all Catholic prayers known as the “Hail Mary,” which ends: “Holy Mary, Mother of God.

Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.”

Catholic Defense of the Veneration of Mary

According to the teaching of the Catholic church, “Mary, the Mother of God, is entitled to the Cult of Hyperdulia,” meaning that Mary may be venerated and honored on a level higher than another creature, angels, or saints.

In other words, “In view of her dignity as the Mother of God and her fullness of grace, a special veneration is due to Mary.”78

According to the teaching of the Catholic church, “Mary, the Mother of God, is entitled to the Cult of Hyperdulia,” meaning that Mary may be venerated and honored on a level higher than another creature, angels, or saints.

In other words, “In view of her dignity as the Mother of God and her fullness of grace, a special veneration is due to Mary.”78

Catholic scholars are quick to point out, however, that “this [veneration due to Mary] is substantially less than the cultus latriae (= adoration) which is due to God alone, but is higher than the cultus duliae (= veneration) due to angels and to the other saints.

The special veneration thus given to Mary is called cultus hyperduliae.”79

So God alone is worshiped in the sense of latria.

Mary is venerated in the sense of hyperdulia, and saints and angels are honored with dulia.

Three kinds of arguments are offered in support of the special venerating of and prayers to Mary.

Catholics argue from Scripture, tradition, and analogy.

CATHOLIC DEFENSE OF THE VENERATION OF MARY

Argument from Scripture

Catholic scholars are quick to point out, however, that “this [veneration due to Mary] is substantially less than the cultus latriae (= adoration) which is due to God alone, but is higher than the cultus duliae (= veneration) due to angels and to the other saints.

The special veneration thus given to Mary is called cultus hyperduliae.”79

So God alone is worshiped in the sense of latria.

Mary is venerated in the sense of hyperdulia, and saints and angels are honored with dulia.

Ott summarizes the texts for honoring Mary at a level above all other creatures but below God.