The teaching of the Roman Catholic Church on the veneration and adoration of Mary, the mother of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, is something that most Evangelicals know little about, and even that small knowledge is often tainted with inaccuracies.

Let it be clearly understood at the very outset that the Roman Catholic Church states clearly and emphatically that the object of promoting adoration of Mary is to bring devotees closer to Jesus. Even de Montfort says in his True Devotion, “Christ must be the end of all devotions” (ch 2).

It must equally be understood that despite the good intentions of the Roman Church, such practices draw the devotees into a thick fog, and instead of bringing them closer to Jesus they blind them to the complete openness we have to the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone is able to procure salvation and who stands alone between God and the believer.

Roman Catholic Teaching.

 The Catechism of the Catholic Church says in Par 964, “ ‘This union of the mother with the Son in the work of salvation is made manifest from the time of Christ’s virginal conception up to his death’; it is made manifest above all at the hour of his Passion. Thus the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross. There she stood, in keeping with the divine plan, enduring with her only begotten Son the intensity of his suffering, joining herself with his sacrifice in her mother’s heart, and lovingly consenting to the immolation of this victim, born of her…”.

Par 971, “ The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship”.

Par 975, “We believe that the Holy Mother of God, the new Eve, Mother of the Church, continues in heaven to exercise her maternal role on the behalf of the members of Christ”.

 At the conclusion of John Paul II’s 1992 Introduction, authorising and endorsing the Catechism, he says, “I beseech the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Incarnate Word and Mother of the Church, to support with her powerful intercession the catechetical work of the entire Church on every level, at this time when she is called to a new effort of evangelisation” (p. 6).

The following titles are contained in the Church’s Litany to our Lady.

“Mary is a Refuge of Sinners.”

If Mary is a refuge of sinners it implies that a sinner can find a safe haven in Mary, a place of protection and security, as they seek her intercession.

But this is the work of Jesus. He and He alone has the only Name given under heaven whereby mankind can find protection and salvation. Can Mary provide something that Jesus has already promised to all who come to Him and place their trust in Him? This detracts from Jesus.

“Mary is the mother of Divine Grace.”

Now Paul records for us in 2 Cor 12:9, that when Jesus spoke to him He said, “My grace is sufficient for thee”. Everywhere in Scripture grace is always spoken of as coming from God. No mention is made of Mary, or anyone else, having anything to do with dispensing God’s grace.

“Mary is the Mother of God.”

 Now this must be to Evangelicals the most confusing of all titles, for the title seems to suggest that Mary is placed as being “before” God. Now while I am convinced that there are many Roman Catholics who in their ignorance believe that, it is not what is meant by the title. They argue this way. Is Jesus God? Yes! Is Mary the mother of Jesus? Yes! Then Mary isthe mother of God.

 Evangelicals would respond and say that Mary is the mother of His humanity and not of His divinity.

Rome would answer that Mary is the mother of the Person, not of one of his natures.

Evangelicals would respond, the Father is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, there is only one God. Mary is not the mother of the Father nor of the Holy Spirit, therefore she is not the mother of God but the mother of Jesus as a man.

“Mary is Queen of Heaven, Throne of Wisdom, Gate of Heaven, Star of Hope, Cause of our Joy.”

 To the Evangelical Christian who is steeped in the Scriptures, these titles are taking eyes off Jesus and focusing on untrue claims for the handmaid of the Lord, who was highly favoured by God and chosen to be the mother of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus.

In de Montfort’s True Devotion we read:

“Mary is the supreme masterpiece of Almighty God”, p. 2.

“Mary is the sanctuary and resting place of the blessed Trinity”, p. 2.

“Mary is the magnificence of the Almighty”, p. 3.

“Mary is the Holy City of God”, p. 3.

How can the Church of Rome in all honesty continue to believe that telling people that Mary is the supreme masterpiece of Almighty God in no way detracts from the unique position of Jesus, of whom God says through the apostle, “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, andwhich are on earth; even in him”,Eph1:10.

And again, “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell”,Col 1:19,

and, “ [He is] the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person” Heb 1:3.

He, Jesus, is God’s masterpiece, not Mary.

He alone is the magnificence of the Almighty , not Mary.

The Holy of holies in heaven is the dwelling place of the Trinity, Heb 10:19 , Mary is not.

The New Jerusalem (the Church of Jesus) is the City of God , not Mary.

De Montfort then adds to the words of Paul and says, “Eye hath not seen nor ear heard the beauty, the grandeur, the excellence of Mary”.

Then de Montfort claims,

“All true children of God have God as their Father and Mary for their Mother. Anyone who does not have Mary for his Mother does not have God as his Father” p. 16.

He also says on p. 23 that devotion to our Blessed Lady is necessary to attain salvation.

 On p. 16 de Montfort claims, “Such is the will of Almighty God who exalts the humble, that the powers of heaven, earth and hell, willingly or unwillingly, must obey her. God has made her dispenser of his graces, worker of his wonders, and restorer of the human race, destroyer of his enemies”.

 Again he is attributing to Mary what belongs to Jesus. On p. 13 de Montfort says, “Mary distributes all God’s gifts and graces to whom she wills, and when she wills and how she wills. No gift is given to man that does not pass through her hands”.

 To the Evangelical Protestant with the sure knowledge of God’s Word, such an injection of Mary into God’s plan of salvation not only contravenes the Scriptures but also removes Jesus from His rightful place of sole mediator, sole saviour, sole shepherd and sole giver of eternal life.

Devotion to Mary does not lead to trust in Jesus alone as Saviour and Lord, but to spiritual blindness.

Dermot Nash