Is Mary worshipped in the Philippines?

[vinny45]

My friend told me that Mary is worshipped in the Philippines. Just the way they parade her statue on the street for a couple of days and pray to her. We don’t usually do this in the U.S. Is there something wrong with what the Filipinos are doing?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

If your friend’s only evidence for his assertion that Mary is worshipped in the Philippines is that he witnessed a parade and prayers in her honor, then he has seriously misconstrued the intent of the Catholics he observed. Religious processions and prayers have long been means by which Catholics have honored, not worshipped, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Not all prayer is worship. *Prayer *simply means to make a request. Catholics believe that they can ask deceased Christians, particularly those known to be in heaven, for their intercession with God. Because of her unique relationship with Christ and because of her unique role in his mission, Catholics believe that Mary’s intercession is particularly powerful.

Catholics also believe in honoring God’s friends. Because Mary is the Mother of God, Catholics believe that she is particularly worthy of special honor that recognizes her Motherhood of God and her unique holiness. Sometimes such honor can take the form of a religious procession with an image of the Blessed Mother. If there is nothing wrong with honoring living human beings with parades in their honor, as we do for everyone from political leaders to sports heroes, then there is nothing wrong with honoring God’s saints in a similar manner.

Recommended reading:

Mary and the Saints
Any Friend of God’s Is a Friend of Mine by Patrick Madrid