"Worship" of Mary

[Dr_Paul]

I have been re-reading True Devotion to Mary by Louis DeMonfort again and noticed in several places that he uses the word “worship” in his discussion of devotion to the blessed mother. It is very clear in the context of what he writes that he is not saying that Mary is a deity. In fact he emphasizes just the opposite. However, I question why he uses this word. Is it a problem with the translation? Has the meaning of this word evolved over time?

I frequently encourage/challenge my protestant friends to read this book before discussing the role of Mary. Although I have not had anyone challenge me on this, I’m not sure how I would be able to respond if questioned.

 

[LilyM]

I for one would say that this is a quibble on semantics … there are different definitions of the word worship and different acts and attitudes that can be called ‘worship’. The bible talks of worshipping money.

The fact that we are not to worship money (in the sense of treating it as an end in itself) doesn’t mean we can’t respect it for its usefulness, and indeed use it and accumulate it.

As long as we are giving our God his due, and are clear that Mary is an extraordinarily grace-filled human rather than divine in any way (which I think 99% of all Catholics would certainly say) then we’re fine.

 

[Della]

St. Louis de Montfort is referring to hyperdulia not adoration when he uses the word worship. For many modern Protestants the word worship means adoration, but it didn’t mean that alone before modern times. There are more modern translations of de Montfort’s writings that are more acceptable to modern ears. It might be good to suggest one of these to your Protestant friends.

 

[Fidelis]

If this is Worship…

“The most infallible and indubitable sign by which we may distinguish a heretic, a man of bad doctrine, a reprobate, from one of the predestinate, is that the heretic and the reprobate have nothing but contempt and indifference for Our Lady, endeavoring by their words and examples to diminish the worship and love of her, openly or hiddenly, and sometimes by misrepresentation. Alas! God the Father has not told Mary to dwell in them, for they are Esaus. …” (St. Louis De Monfort, True Devotion to Mary)

…is this Worship??

Luke 14:7-14 (KJV)

7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, 8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; 9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. 10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. 11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. 13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: 14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Both are examples of proper, though archaic, usages of the word “worship” and in both cases are clearly meant to express the bestowal of great honor and veneration on a person, far short of that worship that is given to God alone. No KJV reading Protestant thinks people will worship him if he displays humility. Similarly, no Catholic worships Mary on account of plainly devotional literature.

 

[Pax]

“Worship” is a derivation of the word “worthship.” In older usages it was applied quite liberally and not only in religious uses. It simply pertained to things having great worth. Naturally, many things have great worth. God, however, is above everything and what we extend to God in the form of worship and adoration is beyond anything we give to anyone and anything…and that includes the blessed virgin Mary. If you search out more writings by de Montfort you should easily discover that he does not honor/worship Mary in the same way that he worships God.

 

[Atreyu]

I have been re-reading True Devotion to Mary by Louis DeMonfort again and noticed in several places that he uses the word “worship” in his discussion of devotion to the blessed mother. It is very clear in the context of what he writes that he is not saying that Mary is a deity. In fact he emphasizes just the opposite. However, I question why he uses this word. Is it a problem with the translation? Has the meaning of this word evolved over time?

I frequently encourage/challenge my protestant friends to read this book before discussing the role of Mary. Although I have not had anyone challenge me on this, I’m not sure how I would be able to respond if questioned.

I’m not sure if this is also true in the USA, but in Australia (as well as the UK I’m pretty sure), magistrates are properly addressed as “your worship”, as opposed to judges that are properly addressed as “your honour”, or monarchs “your majesty”, etc. Does this mean we adore the magistrate in a manner that we should show to God alone? Of course not. Personally I like to use the Greek words “latria” for adoration/worship due to God alone, and “dulia” or “hyperdulia” (for Mary) for veneration/honour/worship of the saints, as the English words have a tendency to change over time.