Can you help me explain devotion to the Virgin Mary?

[MJULIET]

A friend of mine, who is also Catholic, and I have had numerous discussions about the relative importance of Our Blessed Mother. I have had a great devotion to her all of my life. My friend prefers to “go directly to God.” She thinks that there is too much emphasis on the Virgin Mary that detracts from devotion to God. I say that it’s complementary and have given her all the obvious reasons for why we pray to Our Blessed Mother.

I have tried to research this subject, but have not found a satisfactory answer. Please help!

Thank you,

 

[Devon_Caffran]

These links should give you the answers that you need. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by this, please [contact Catholic Answers (http://www.catholic.com/home/contact.asp) directly.
**Recommended Reading:
**

• Immaculate Conception and Assumption
• Mary: Ever Virgin (Fathers*)
• Mary: Full of Grace (Fathers*)
• Mary: Mother of God (Fathers*)
• The Rosary
• The Intercession of the Saints (Fathers*)
• Praying to the Saints
• Saint Worship?
• ‘Brethren of the Lord’
• [: Part I (This Rock: August 1992)CRI’s**Mary (http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1992/9208fea.asp)
• [: Part II (This Rock: September 1992)CRI’s**Mary (http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1992/9209fea2.asp)
• [: Part III (This Rock: October 1992)CRI’s**Mary (http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1992/9210fea2.asp)
• [: Part IV (This Rock: November 1992)CRI’s**Mary (http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1992/9211fea3.asp)
• [: Part V (This Rock: December 1992)CRI’s**Mary (http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1992/9212fea2.asp)
• [: Part VI (This Rock: January 1993)CRI’s**Mary (http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1993/9301fea3.asp)
• [: Part VII (This Rock: February 1993)CRI’s**Mary (http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1993/9302fea2.asp)