Why is Mary exalted?

Question

Why is Mary seemingly exalted above Christ in certain religions? She was only a vessel.

Also I heard that the Immaculate Conception was not the conception of Christ, but rather Mary's mother was a virgin when she conceived Mary and so that was the Immaculate Conception.... Please tell my my Catholic friend is incorrect...

Finally, what could Mary do that Jesus could not do that would make people fall at her feet and say rosaries to her and stuff?

Answer 1

Why do we rely on others to be intercessors for us.?We do not need saints, Mary or priests to go to God on our behalf. He made it so that we can have direct communication with Him.

It is a beautiful thing to know that I do not need to ask anyone dead or alive to go to God for me. To speak to God for me. To love God for me. It is a shame when the world would brainwash people to believe that they cannot have a direct relationship with their creator.

I, too was taught that Mary's birth was an Immaculate one. However, this website straightened me out

http://www.catholic.com/library/Immaculate_Conception_and_Assum.asp

Your friend is incorrect. While I do not agree with everything on this website, I do know that Mary was born into sin just as every man or woman was. If Mary was born into this world without sin then the word of God is not the truth.

And God is not like man that He should lie. He does not have to. He does not have to prove Himself to us, we have to prove ourselves to Him.

Answer 2

The Immaculate Conception was when Mary conceived Christ through the Holy Spirit. Your Catholic friend is incorrect that Mary's mother, Anne, is the subject of the Immaculate Conception.

Mary is exalted because she is the Mother of Christ. She is NOT more important than Christ. Catholics pray to her to intercede to God and Jesus for them. People do NOT fall at her feet. They may PRAY at her feet. The Rosary is associated with Mary.

I am including a link about the Rosary and Mary

Answer 3

Mary is exalted, and should be. There are some excellent audio sets by folks like Tim Staples and Scott Hahn that really put Marian dogma into excellent perspective. For a free bee though, check out:

http://www.biblechristiansociety.com/download/mp3/mary_and_the_bible.mp3

Mary was as much as being "only a vessel" as the Ark of the Covenant is only a vessel. Check out what the Catechism has to say about Mary:

vatican.va/archive

The conception of Christ is THE Immaculate Conception. Mary was preserved from Original sin, your friend may have some mixed signals.

Finally, Mary, like the rest of us, can do nothing without Christ! She is the most perfect disciple. But she is also his mother. Isn't it acceptable (and wise) to ask someones mother to intercede for you?

Answer 4

There are so many misunderstandings and misconceptions regarding Catholic teaching on Mary. I have seen below some very good explanations from Catholics who know what the Church teaches and can articulate it clearly. What I have noticed is that there is a very staunch mindset that just refuses to accept or even listen to these explanations of Catholic doctrine. I do not understand why people stick with their preconceived notions and refuse to even look into this on their own to get the TRUTH..not just what others claim is the truth, who truly don't know or understand the Catholic faith.
The rosary is a meditation on the life and events of Jesus Christ and comes directly from scripture. The immaculate conception is the birth of Mary, conceived and born without sin through the grace of God as preparation for her becoming the Mother of Jesus in human form. She is ever virgin. She is our Heavenly Mother and she intercedes for us with her Son Jesus in all that we ask of her. She is not worshiped. She is revered and respected due to her state in life. She is Queen of Heaven and Earth and Queen of the Angels, crowned in heaven by her Son Jesus and Our Heavenly Father.

Answer 5

Mary is exalted above the angels and is the most blessed of all humans. She is NOT exalted above God. She was NOT only a vessel, but is truely the Mother of God (in the Person of Jesus)and the Queen (Mother) of Heaven.

The Immaculate Conception refers to the fact that Jesus saved Mary from all Sin at her Conception by working backwards from the Cross. Jesus was conceived at the Annunciation and born in the Virgin Birth.

Mary can do nothing except what God allows her to do. God has given her many Graces which she distributes to those who ask for them. Mary is a gentle Mother who loves to help her children and God is not jealous of this because he WANTS all of his creations to work together and help each other. That's why we are called the Body of Christ.

Answer 6

She is a mother figure in a patriarchal religion. But also the doctrines around Mary, which have no Biblical antecedents, were argued in the councils as the church spread into areas where goddess worship predominated and was being outlawed by the now Christianized Roman Empire. If you live in lands where the Greek Olympian gods are worshipped, swapping Mary for Aphrodite is not that much of a reach.

Answer 7

In the Gospel, it says that Mary was "blessed among women", and the Catholics took that and exhaulted her.
The Immaculate conception was the conception between Mary and the Holy Spirit. That is why Jesus, when he walked on this earth, was mortal and God.
I agree with you. Mary was a Saint, as WE ALL are Saints, because we are santified (set aside for God's purpose) when we give our lives to Christ.
Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father, but through me."
Those who exhault Mary and pray to Mary are missing out on a one-on-one relationship with our Father.
Although I have deep admiration for Mary as a mother of our Lord, she was a servant of God, and sacrificed for God, the same as Mother Theresa, and you and me.
God doesn't play favorites. He loves you and me just as much as he loves Mary.
You know, if there was only one person, you, on this earth, Jesus would have died just for you.
Cool.

Answer 8

The immaculate conception meant that Mary was conceived with no sin, no original sin. Catholics often "pray" to the Saints for them to intercede to Jesus or God the Father or the Holy Spirit. Who better to get on your side than the mother of Jesus.

Answer 9

Mary should be respected because she was a very special person chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus but in no way should she be prayed to! There is not one verse in the entire Bible that even so much as hints at such a thing. To pray to Mary is to commit idolatry....plain and simple.

Answer 10

She is not exalted above Christ. She is simply more accessible, according to her devotees.

She was a spunky young teen who agreed to be an unwed mother for God. That was really enough in a society that stoned such.

She was the quintessential "Jewish mother" (Just read the story of the wedding at Cana with a Yiddish accent). She never really understood her Son during His lifetime, but was present at Pentecost and received the Holy Spirit and understood.

She wasn't immaculate and she wasn't assumed into Heaven. And no, her house didn't fly to Italy afterward--maybe it fell on the Witch of the East.