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Why Catholics (and other Christians) Pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary
 Many
non-Catholics have been trained from childhood to believe that one of
the clear proofs of the falsity of Catholicism is to be found in the
honor that is paid to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Catholic Church,
and in the innumerable trusting prayers that are offered to her by
Catholics.
At the
same time it is true that many non-Catholics, when they learn what are
the genuine foundations of Catholic devotion to Mary, are drawn by it
so irresistibly that ultimately they become Catholics. For the truth is
very simple and clear, and is all contained in the following two
truths.
- Mary
is the Mother of God (Luke 1:43). Catholics do not believe that God was
bound by any compulsion to have a Mother; they believe that He chose to
have a Mother and all that this implies. He chose to permit His human
body to be formed in her womb (Luke 1:35).
He chose to permit her to bring Him forth as a tiny baby into the
world. He chose to let her feed Him at her breast, carry Him in her
arms, guard Him from danger, and teach Him as any child would be
taught, to walk and speak and pray. He thereby chose to grant Mary a
power over Him that only love can bestow (Luke 2:51).
 Catholics
believe that in choosing a mother, the Son of God chose to grant her
the power over His will that the love of a good mother always wields
over a good son.
- Mary
is a mother to all men. Catholics believe that the Son of God chose to
come into the world through a mother in order that that mother might
accept as His brothers all the children of the sinful race of man. He
set an example as to how she should be honored and loved. He prepared
her for this motherhood of all by asking her to suffer every
conceivable form of pain (Luke 2:35), thus teaching her sympathy for
the sorrows of her children.
Had
she been His Mother alone, He would have spared her from pain, because
He had the power to do so and because He loved her with an infinite
love. He wrought His first public miracle at her request (John 2:1-11),
and when He was dying He reminded her that she had been destined from
the beginning to be a Mother to all (John 19:27). Catholics therefore
believe that Mary will be as eager to help them, in troubles of soul
and body, as every natural mother is eager to promote the welfare of
her child.
The
rosaries that Catholics (and other Christians) recite are but the
expression of their belief in these two truths (Luke 1:48). They know
that if Mary speaks to her divine Son in their behalf, there can be no
doubt about their receiving an answer to their prayers.
Imprimi Potest: John N. McCormick, C.SS.R.
Provincial, St. Louis Province, Redemptorist Fathers, May 2, 1960
Imprimatur: + Joseph E. Ritter, Archbishop of St. Louis, May 5, 1960
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