Worshiping Mary

I have heard many, many times an accusation against the Catholic Church and its practices, an accusation I myself made rather blindly, and an accusation which I now see is highly illogical and based in gross assumption:

"Catholics worship Mary."

I feel a need to deconstruct this accusation, in part because I myself, completely and totally despite myself, have been drawn further and further into understanding Mary since I became Catholic.

What is the cause of this?  I assure you that this a spiritual drawing-toward 100%; it is not a result of social pressure or common discussion.

I read no Catholic books on Mary.
I have no Catholic friends, so hearing her discussed is out.
My pastor is not at all particularly devoted to Mary, so she is more or less absent from my parish life.

Why, then, am I being drawn toward her?  Quite simply, it is because she is reflecting God toward me, and showing me more of his character, his sovereignty, and his love.  Sounds ridiculous, right?

But I have heard many a non-Christian describe experiencing and coming to understand more of God's beauty through a sunset

... or experiencing and coming to understand more of God's majesty when viewing a mighty plain or mountain range

... or experiencing and coming to understand more of Jesus' love and humility by serving the homeless and poor

... or experiencing and coming to love God more through a CCM song on the radio.

So why can't I experience and come to understand God more through a human being, a woman, his mother?  The truth is that Evangelicals have no problem with the idea of a "thing" witnessing God to us and helping us become closer to Him, so why do they have such a problem with a saint doing the same?

Answer: because it's a "Catholic" thing, and Catholicism is automatically wrong whenever it differs from what they do/believe.

Human beings are God's greatest masterpiece and his greatest tool of spreading the Gospel.  A rainbow or a sunset cannot compare, in all their beauty, with the God-beauty that is inherent in each human being.  How much more so with a human being who has freely, totally dedicated themselves to him by their own decision, i.e. a Saint?  Rainbows and Sunsets do not choose God, therefore they cannot reflect what it is to be sold-out to him.

But a human, a saint: they can choose God, and therefore are the greatest tool of reflecting his truth to them.

Mary, in her ultimate submission to God through bearing his son, has become the greatest of his servants.  She reflects him to me now, and the more I want of God, the more I also want to know and understand her, because all she does is draw me closer to him.

Now, on the point of worship, here is something to ask:

What is worship?

Worship is an action of the heart; worship does not have its substance in physical things or acts.  Yes, physical things or acts can greatly aide worship and even be channels of worship that confer God's presence, but ultimately, the heart is the decider of whether or not worship takes place.

Any evangelical knows that praise and worship music played and hands raised does not a worshiper make.  Many an Evangelical has lamented that they have stood in a "worship" service lifting their hands and singing the songs but left their hearts far from God the entire time.  It's human and we all do it--it's easy to "go through the motions" even if your heart isn't in something.

Once again, music played and hands raised does not a worshiper make.

Similarly, I could also don an ornate rob, set my laptop on a lectern, and pace in circles around the laptop swinging a censer of incense and chanting, but that too would not be worship if my heart was not set on adoring the laptop.

Worship is not in the garb worn, nor the language spoken, nor the actions taken, but in the heart.  The aforementioned actions would have the appearance of worship, or in philosophical terms, the "accidents" of worship, but they would not have the substance or worship, which only comes from one's heart attitude.

Coming to Mary ... it is true that many of the actions, words, etcetera of Catholics regarding Mary have the appearance of worship, but I can tell you now that I have never met a Catholic who had a heart attitude of worship toward her.  I have met Catholics who give little regard to Mary, Catholics who admire Mary, and Catholics who have a very strong devotion and loyalty to her, but none of them, I can tell you with certainty, have been "worshipers" or "adorers" of Mary.

To one who has no familiarity of a person and their manners or a group and their manners, it is nearly impossible to judge the sincerity of an action.  This is the same reason that Italians, known for their kissing greetings and vigorous embraces, could easily mistake German people to be cold and unloving.  This would be an easy generalization to make, since Germans do not display emotion in those manners, but it is not a reflection of what is felt in their heart, but merely a reflection of the community whose characteristics they have internalized.

I have a two-part challenge to those who believe Catholics worship Mary.  If you are among this number, and if you are strong enough to do this, I challenge you to do the following:

1. Ask a practicing, believing Catholic who is the real deal about their personal devotion to Mary.
Don't ask someone who only says "I grew up Catholic."  They have forgotten their home.
Don't ask someone who claims Catholicism, but anyone with a brain can see that they don't live it.  They are many.
Don't ask someone you know is a weak Catholic.  You are hedging your bets.
Don't ask a random person with a Rosary on their rearview mirror.  Most are just sentimental decorations.
Don't ask anyone over 60.  They grew up in a different time. They won't be able to relate it to you.

Don't know anyone like that?  In that case, you can ask me.  By God's mercy, I hope I fit that description.  847.769.4742.  I may have to call you back.  The toddler/baby life goes from 0-100 in seconds at times.

2. Pray to God the Father and ask him about Mary. 
Ask God to show you what is true and not true about her.
Ask him to show you how/where Marian beliefs originated.
Ask him to show you the truth regarding Mary.
And mean it. 

This is no different than what you ask a non-believer to do.  This is very reasonable.

Challenge issued.  Challenge accepted?  If you have the grit.