Struggling with devotion to Mary

[Goya]

Hello. Lately, I’ve been struggling with devotion to Mary. I am a new convert to the Catholic faith (Easter Vigil 2014) and I come from a Protestant background. I understand and believe all of the Marian doctrines and I have had a great love and devotion to Mary. I enjoy praying the Rosary and I even have made the consecration to Jesus through Mary using Fr. Gaitley’s book, 33 Days to Morning Glory. Lately though, I have been struggling with my devotion to Mary. I’m thinking it has something to do with my Protestant upbringing, but I feel like sometimes that devotion to Mary takes the focus off of Jesus. Am I wrong in feeling this or is it possible to overemphasize Mary? If so, how do we know when we start to over emphasize Mary?

I realize there’s a whole lot of ‘understanding’ of your sentiment here, as many come from protestant backgrounds. And I certainly do not feel it is appropriate for anyone to pressure you into any type of devotion vs another–so please don’t take my post as applying pressure, but all I can say wrt to Mary is to echo/paraphrase the words of the Angel to St. Joseph:

BE NOT AFRAID TO TAKE MARY AS YOUR [CELESTIAL MOTHER].*

• i.e.–Mother, in the order of divinity.

Mary takes your hand and leads you to Christ; and Christ welcomes you as a friend of his beloved mother.

Fear not; and never be ashamed of your beloved Mother.

Virtually nothing about devotion to Mary will ever lead you anywhere, but closer to Christ.