Peter: Lord, I’ve noticed that in the Catholic faith, there is a great devotion to your mother, Mary. Some even pray to her and seek her intercession. Is this right? Does such veneration of Mary come close to idolatry?
Jesus: Peter, my mother, Mary, is indeed blessed among women. As the angel said, “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women” (Luke 1:28). Her faith, humility, and willingness to serve the Father are examples for all believers. She played a special role in God’s plan of salvation, but it is important to understand her place within the larger purpose of the gospel.
John: Lord, I remember your care for your mother, even as you hung on the cross. You entrusted her to me, saying, “Behold thy mother” (John 19:27). Does that mean she has a special role for all believers?
Jesus: Yes, John, Mary is honored for her faithfulness, and she is an example of perfect submission to God’s will. Her response to the angel, “Be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38), shows her deep trust in the Father. The Catholic faith honors her as the one who bore the Savior, and this devotion is rooted in her unique role in salvation history. However, Mary herself always pointed to God, not to her own glory.
Thomas: Master, some seem to pray to Mary, asking her to intercede on their behalf. Is this not placing her in a position too close to you, as if she were equal to you?
Jesus: Thomas, prayer and worship belong to God alone. It is written, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:10). The honor given to Mary should never take the place of the worship that is due to the Father, to me, or to the Holy Spirit. Mary, like all saints, can be asked to intercede in prayer, much like you would ask one another to pray. But it is important to remember that it is not Mary who grants grace or salvation. These come only from God.
Andrew: Then, Lord, it seems the danger lies in going beyond honoring Mary to exalting her in a way that competes with your place as the one mediator between God and man.
Jesus: Exactly, Andrew. As Paul later writes, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). Mary’s role is honored, but she is not the mediator of grace. All grace flows through me, for I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Those who honor my mother do well, but they must never let that honor turn into something that diverts their hearts from me.
Philip: So, Lord, is it right to honor Mary, but with caution that such honor does not become idolatry?
Jesus: Yes, Philip. It is good to honor her, for she is blessed and chosen by God. But always remember that her life points to the Father’s glory and to my mission as Savior. Any devotion to Mary should deepen one’s relationship with God, not replace it. True devotion to my mother leads to deeper love for me and for the Father, not to distraction or division.
Peter: Then, Lord, we should be mindful to keep our worship directed toward God alone, while honoring those like Mary who faithfully served Him?
Jesus: Yes, Peter. Worship belongs to God, and to Him alone. Honor those who have walked in faith, but always keep your eyes fixed on the One who gives life. Mary herself, in her humility, would have you look to me, for she declared, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour” (Luke 1:46-47). Let her example of faith inspire you, but let your worship and prayers be directed to God.
In all things, seek first the kingdom of God, and let your heart be centered on Him alone.
