Catholics over the centuries have been bombarded with questions or queries about the Blessed Virgin Mary and the praying of the Holy Rosary.
For most non-Catholics, the common belief is that Catholics pray through the Blessed Virgin Mary. However, in the Catholic Church, all prayers are made through Christ our Lord and not through Mary. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
Nevertheless, there are a number of factors one needs to know, admit, and appreciate about the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is clear that these are precisely what the Catholic Church has reflected upon, learned, admitted, and appreciated about her over the years.
Scriptures speak of her as a woman who is “full of grace, the Lord is with her, and she is blessed among women.” These are not mere words from the angel but divine favours God has bestowed upon her (Luke 1:28). In her humble response to God for the favours bestowed upon her, she acknowledged that she is the handmaid of the Lord. In her prayer of praise to God (the Magnificat), she again referred to herself as a lowly servant, yet she proclaimed that “all generations will call her blessed” (Luke 1:48).
It was not the Catholic Church that first called Mary Mother of God. Scripture tells us that when she visited her cousin Elizabeth, Elizabeth exclaimed, “Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognized this divine truth (Luke 1:43). Of course, this does not mean that Mary gave birth to God in His entirety, but that God, in taking on human form, was born through her like any human person.
Before Jesus died on the cross, He said to John, “Son, this is your mother,” and to Mary, “Mother, this is your son.” If John is a follower of Christ, and we are also followers of Christ, then John symbolically stood for all of us. This enjoins us to have a unique association with His mother, who was herself an ardent follower of her Son.
The Catholic Church, reflecting on Mary’s role, reveres, honours, and loves her for her “yes” to God and her unwavering faithfulness in following that commitment. Her role in salvation history was her choice, and it remains significant to God.
When Catholics pray the Holy Rosary or celebrate Mass in her honour, the Church implores her to pray with them or intercede for them. Catholics do not pray through Mary but rather ask her to speak with her Son on their behalf. This intercessory role is nothing new to her, as we see in the wedding at Cana, where her intercession prompted Jesus to perform His first miracle (John 2:1-11).
It is important to recognize that the term “prayer” does not always imply worship. For example, in legal contexts, a lawyer might “pray” to a judge, simply making a formal request for action. Similarly, when Catholics pray to Mary, they are not offering her worship but rather asking for her intercession, much like we might ask a friend or family member to pray for us. An example of this is the ancient prayer “We fly to your patronage,” where Catholics seek her assistance. In this context, “prayer” is used to express a request, not an act of worship. The Church has always maintained a clear distinction between prayers of worship, which are reserved for God alone, and prayers of intercession, which can be addressed to saints, including Mary.
If we closely examine the prayers of the Holy Rosary, which are rooted in Scripture, there is no invocation made through Mary:
- Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
- Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
- Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. (Luke 1:28)
Similarly, most of the reflections on the mysteries of the Rosary focus not on Mary but on her Son, Jesus Christ.
Interestingly, as Christians, we often ask our fellow believers to pray for us or intercede on our behalf for specific intentions. Yet, when Catholics ask Mary, who is considered by the Church as the mother of all Christians, to intercede for them, there is often misunderstanding. If we value the intercession of those around us, why is it difficult to appreciate the unique role of Mary in intercession?
Praying the Holy Rosary is not about Mary, but with her.
Besides the individual devotions Catholics offer daily to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Church celebrates special devotions in her honour every year, particularly in the months of May and October. As we approach the end of the month of October, make a conscious effort to pray with her – it is not too late. She is a compassionate mother who has interceded for many and will do the same for you.
Fr. Nicholas Aazine, SVD
Society of the Divine Word Ghana-Liberia Provincial
A Missionary Society Serving God through Humanity
Email: nicholasbetol@gmail.com
