Hail Mary, Full of Grace. Part 1

Prior to my Catholic conversion I often wondered about the Catholic fascination with the Virgin Mary. I never questioned her role in our salvation but I seemed to think she was held in a higher regard than was necessary.

It wasn’t until I attended a mass a few years ago (pre conversion) while vacationing in Myrtle Beach that I began to understand and to accept the adoration of our Blessed Mother. The priest presiding over the mass dedicated his homily to Mary. He recounted a story about a time when he had visited a home of a protestant family. Following some idle banter the conversation turned to Mary. One of the hosts asked the priest why the Catholic Church held Mary in such high regard. They wondered why the church as a whole had so many statues and pictures of the Virgin Mother. Before he answered their questions the priest took an inventory of the room, then he began to answer their question with a few questions of his own. He asked who the woman in the picture on the mantle was. To which they answered that is my mother. And the woman in that picture over there? That is my grandmother came the answer.

It was after his questions that the priest began to answer their questions about Mary. He said to them just as you honor you mother and grandmother, so should we honor the mother of the Lord. He continued to explain that the church was not holding Mary in a higher regard than Jesus but rather the church honors her for being the handmaid of the Lord. She was the instrument through which God gave the world our greatest gift. It is only right that we should honor her. This struck a cord with me as a protestant. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, I now believe this was a defining moment in my eventual conversion.

In Christ,

Scott