The New Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary defines “worship” as: “reverence, homage, or honor paid to God. Ceremonies or services expressing such reverence… to pay religious devotion to, to idolize or adore…” and Catholics agree. To worship is to adore and honor God in a special way that is reserved only for Him.
At first glance, perhaps Catholics do worship Mary. After all, Catholics are very devoted to Mary. They do “adore” her. They even pray to her for intercession. Aren’t all these things: devotion, adoration, and prayer reserved for God alone? Isn’t this idolatry? How much is too much honor? And what is the definition of adoration?
Worship and Adoration Are for God Alone
One argument holds that Catholics adore Mary. Since adoration is for God alone, Catholics worship Mary, and therefore, they are idolatrous.
Catholics really like Mary a lot; some might say they “adore” Mary. In this instance the word “adore” is being used loosely, in the same way a grandparent might adore their grandchild. Although the word "adore" is used to describe how Catholics feel about Mary, it is a semantic inaccuracy, not a heresy.
Catholics really love Mary, but they do not "adore" as in worship her because that would violate the first commandment, and Catholics realize this. True spiritual adoration is reserved for God alone. Catholics do not pour out this special “worshiping adoration” on Mary.
Honor and Veneration - for God Alone?
Another argument holds that honoring anyone except God is idolatry, and since Catholics honor Mary, they are idolatrous.
The fourth commandment (if you’re in a Catholic Bible, the fifth commandment if your Bible is protestant) commands the faithful to honor people, specifically their mother and father. Honoring a human being is permissible, even commanded by God.
Even the New Testament supports honoring people when Paul says: “Pay all that you owe, whether it is taxes and fees or respect and honor.” (Romans 13:7) This would suggest that it’s okay to honor the deserving, including Mary.
Does the Bible Say to Honor Mary?
A third argument holds that the Bible doesn’t say “honor Mary” and if the Bible doesn’t say to do it, it’s wrong to honor Mary.
Protestants believe that since the Bible does not instruct people to venerate Mary, that honor paid to Mary is non-scriptural and wrong. This is a difference in scriptural interpretation. When the Bible says, “All generations will call me blessed.” (Luke 1:48) Catholics see this as an instruction to call Mary blessed, and by honoring her special qualities, they obey this instruction.
Are Mary Statues Idols?
One might also argue that since all religious statues are forbidden idols, one may conclude that statues of Mary are idols and Catholics are therefore idolatrous.
Israel was forbidden to create images of God (Deut 4:16) because God is greater and more mysterious than any work of art depicting him, but they were permitted to make images which symbolically pointed toward salvation of the Messiah (such as the bronze serpent, the ark of the covenant and the cherubim.)
Later on, Christians were permitted to create religious art. The veneration of icons was upheld by the seventh Ecumenical Council (AD 787). This approval happened in the time when there was only one Christian Church, the Catholic Church, almost a thousand years before the Protestant fracturing of the Christian Church.
In the Scriptures (John 19:26-27) as Jesus died, he spoke to his mother and the nameless disciple who represents all believers. Jesus says, “Woman here is your son," indicating that Mary is the mother of all disciples. To the disciple He says, “Here is your mother,” indicating that Mary is the mother of all Christians.
Catholics see Mary as the mother of the faithful. In obedience to God they honor, but do not worship, this amazing woman.
For further reading on this subject, see Do Catholics Worship Mary?
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