An important and often asked question: Do Christians worship Mary? Do they believe that God has a mother? What is its true place in the Christian faith?
First: Correcting a common idea
Let’s start very clearly: Christians do not worship the Virgin Mary. Worship in Christianity is to God alone: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Mary is a blessed person, chosen by God for great service, but she remains a human being.
The confusion that sometimes occurs is because Catholics and Orthodox (not all Protestants) honor Mary in special honor and ask for her intercession. But this honor is completely different from worship. The difference is similar to the difference between the love and appreciation we have for our mother, and the worship we offer to God.
Second: Mary’s unique position
Mary has an unparalleled position in human history. She is the only woman who:
- God chose her to be the mother of Christ
- She conceived her son with the power of the Holy Spirit without human beings
- She carried in her womb the Creator of the universe
The angel’s greeting to her describes this status: “Peace be upon you, you who have been favored! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women” (Luke 1:28). Elizabeth continues: “Blessed is she who believed” (Luke 1:45).
But notice: All this beautiful talk is about her as a person who believed and obeyed, not as a goddess.
Third: Mary in the Gospel
The Gospel paints for us a very realistic picture of Mary. We see it:
- Confused When the angel gave her the good news: “She was troubled at his words” (Luke 1:29)
- Wondering“How can this be?” (Luke 1:34)
- Obedient“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38)
- Joy: “My soul magnifies the Lord” (Luke 1:46) – notice that it magnifies the Lord, not itself
- Worried When Jesus was lost in the temple as a boy (Luke 2:48)
- Present In the service of Jesus, but it does not interfere in His divine work (John 2:3-5)
- Standing Under the cross you suffer (John 19:25)
- With the students Waiting for the Holy Spirit to come (Acts 1:14)
She is a true mother, with perfect humanity and great faith.
Fourth: What did Christ say about his mother?
Christ’s attitude towards his mother teaches us a lot. At the wedding at Cana, I asked him to intervene when the wine ran out. His response was: “What have I to do with you, woman?” My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4). This was a nice lesson that his divine authority was not subject to any human authority, even his mother’s.
Once, when he was told that his mother and brothers were asking for him, he said: “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” Then he extended his hand towards his disciples and said: “Here is my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:48-50).
He did not say this out of contempt for his mother, but rather to teach that the spiritual bond with faith is more important than the physical bond.
Fifth: An influential position under the cross
The most beautiful scene that shows Mary’s position is at the cross. Christ, while in his greatest suffering, looked at his mother and John, the beloved disciple, and said to his mother: “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple: “Here is your mother” (John 19: 26-27).
At this moment, Christ was arranging his mother’s affairs after his ascension. But also, many Christians see this position as a symbol of Mary as a spiritual mother to believers. As the interpretation says: “And from that hour the disciple took her to his family.”
Sixth: Is Mary the “Mother of God”?
This title raises sensitivity among many Muslims. But let’s understand its meaning first.
At the Council of Ephesus in 431, the Church Fathers discussed a Greek title, “Theotokos,” which literally means “Mother of God” or “She who gave birth to God.” They were not venerating Mary with this title; They defend the divinity of Christ.
The logic is simple: If Christ is God (as Christians believe), and Mary is the mother of Christ (as a human being), then it can be said that she is the mother of someone who is divine. Not in the sense that she is the origin of divinity or older than God, but in the sense that the child she bore and gave birth to is a divine person.
The title “Mother of God” is therefore Messianic title (relating to Christ) before it was a Marian title.
Seventh: What about “Mary’s intercession”?
Some churches (Catholic and Orthodox) ask for the intercession of Mary and the saints. The idea is that we are asking them to pray for us, just as we would ask a fellow believer on earth to pray for us. The difference is that in heaven they are closer to God.
But this is not a common belief among all Christians. Many Protestants are content with direct prayer to God without the intercession of saints, following the verse: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 2:5).
Conclusion for thought
The Virgin Mary is the greatest woman in history, chosen by God for a unique service. She is a model of faith, obedience and humility. But she remains a human being, and we honor her and do not worship her.
The most beautiful thing Mary said about herself: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47). She herself bears witness that she needs a Savior, and that glorification belongs to God alone.