Virgin Mary Statue: 13 Ways to Respect Virgin Mary

The Virgin Mary (also called the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady, Madonna, or in Aramaic/Hebrew traditions, Miriam or Maryam) is the most revered woman in Christianity and one of the most universally venerated figures in human religious history.

She is honored as the mother of Jesus Christ, believed by Christians to be the incarnate Son of God, while herself remaining a virgin before, during, and after his birth (the doctrine of perpetual virginity).

Who is Virgin Mary

1. Biblical Portrait

Mary appears primarily in the infancy narratives of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, with briefer mentions in Mark and John:

• Annunciation (Luke 1:26–38): The archangel Gabriel announces to Mary, a young woman (likely 13–16 years old) betrothed to Joseph in Nazareth, that she will conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and bear a son named Jesus (“Yeshua” = “Yahweh saves”). Her response, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Latin: Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum). I believe this can be seen as the perfect act of obedience and faith.

• Visitation (Luke 1:39–56): Pregnant Mary visits her elderly cousin Elizabeth (mother of John the Baptist). Upon greeting her, the unborn John leaps in Elizabeth’s womb, and Elizabeth calls Mary “the mother of my Lord.” Mary responds with the Magnificat (“My soul magnifies the Lord…”), a revolutionary hymn of praise that echoes Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel and emphasizes God’s preference for the poor and humble.

• Nativity (Luke 2; Matthew 1–2): Mary gives birth to Jesus in Bethlehem, lays him in a manger, receives the shepherds and Magi, and flees to Egypt to escape Herod’s massacre of the innocents.

• Life of Jesus: She appears at the wedding at Cana (John 2), where she prompts Jesus’ first miracle (“Do whatever he tells you”). She follows him during his ministry and stands at the foot of the cross (John 19:25–27), where Jesus entrusts her to the beloved disciple (“Woman, behold your son… Behold your mother”).

• Early Church (Acts 1:14): Mary is present with the apostles in the upper room at Pentecost.

The New Testament never quotes her after Pentecost; tradition holds that she lived under John’s care, probably in Jerusalem and later in Ephesus (modern-day Turkey).

2. Core Christian Doctrines about Mary

Over centuries, four major dogmatic teachings about Mary were defined (especially by Catholic and Orthodox Christianity; Protestants generally accept only the first two as clearly scriptural):

1. Theotókos (“God-bearer” or “Mother of God”) – Defined at the Council of Ephesus (431) against Nestorius. It safeguards the truth that Jesus is one divine Person with two natures; Mary is mother of the Person, who is God.

2. Perpetual Virginity (“ever-virgin”) – Affirmed by the Lateran Council (649) and held by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and many early Protestants (Luther, Calvin, Zwingli). The “brothers” of Jesus in the Gospels are understood as cousins or step-siblings.

3. Immaculate Conception (1854, Pope Pius IX) – Mary was preserved from original sin from the moment of her conception in anticipation of her role as mother of the Redeemer. (Often confused with the virgin birth of Jesus.)

4. Assumption (1950, Pope Pius XII) – At the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken body and soul into heaven (called Dormition in the East). Celebrated liturgically on August 15.

3. Mary in Different Christian Traditions

• Catholicism: Highest Marian devotion. Rosary, Marian apparitions (Lourdes 1858, Fátima 1917, Guadalupe 1531, etc.), titles like “Queen of Heaven,” “Mediatrix,” “Co-Redemptrix” (the latter two are theological opinions, not dogma). May devotions, Immaculate Heart, scapulars, etc.

• Eastern Orthodoxy: Intense liturgical veneration (more hymns to Mary than in the West). Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos, Akathist Hymn, iconography (e.g., Theotokos of Vladimir). Strong emphasis on her Dormition and intercession.

• Protestantism: Generally honors Mary as the mother of Jesus and model of faith but rejects prayers to her, doctrines of Immaculate Conception and Assumption, and most devotions as unbiblical or excessive.

• Anglicanism / High-Church Lutherans: Middle ground—some honor Mary with feasts (e.g., August 15) and occasional prayers, but without Catholic dogmas.

4. Mary in Islam

In the Qur’an, Mary (Maryam) is the only woman named, with an entire chapter (Surah 19) dedicated to her. She is described as a virgin who conceived Jesus by God’s word (“Be!”), is called “chosen above the women of the worlds,” and is honored more highly than in most Christian traditions for her purity and obedience.

5. Historical and Archaeological Notes

• House of the Virgin Mary near Ephesus (Meryem Ana Evi) – A small stone house venerated since at least the 5th century; tradition says John brought her there. Visited by Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI.

• Early 2nd-century references: The Protoevangelium of James (c. 150 AD) expands her story (names her parents Joachim and Anne, describes her presentation in the Temple, etc.) and was influential despite not being canonical.

6. Iconography and Titles

Mary is depicted countless ways: Nursing Madonna, Pietà (holding dead Jesus), Immaculate Heart pierced with seven swords, Our Lady of Sorrows, Queen crowned with 12 stars (Revelation 12), etc. She has thousands of titles: Our Lady of Guadalupe (patron of the Americas), Our Lady of Częstochowa (Black Madonna, Poland), Stella Maris (Star of the Sea), Refuge of Sinners, etc.

Virgin Mary is simultaneously a humble Jewish girl from Nazareth, the Theotokos who bore the eternal Word, the sorrowful mother beneath the cross, and—in the eyes of hundreds of millions—the spiritual mother of all Christians and a powerful intercessor before her Son.

Her influence on art, music (from Gregorian chant to Verdi’s operas), literature, and popular piety is incalculable, making her one of the most enduring feminine archetypes in world culture.

Why should we respect (or venerate) the Virgin Mary?

In Christianity — especially in Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and some Anglican and Lutheran traditions — Mary holds a unique and irreplaceable place in salvation history.

The respect given to her is called “veneration” (hyperdulia in technical theological language), which is fundamentally different from the worship (latria) that belongs to God alone.

Here are the main reasons Christians give her this special honor:

1. She is the Mother of God (Theotokos)

At the Council of Ephesus (431 AD), the Church solemnly declared Mary to be Theotokos — “God-bearer” or “Mother of God.” This title does not mean she is older than God or the source of the divine nature; it means the Person she bore in her womb is truly God the Son, the Second Person of the Trinity. Honoring Mary as Mother of God is therefore a way of safeguarding the truth that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man in one divine Person.

2. Her fiat — total obedience and faith

When the angel Gabriel announced that she would conceive the Messiah by the Holy Spirit while remaining a virgin, Mary responded: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). This “fiat” (Latin for “let it be done”) is seen as the perfect human response to God’s will — the reversal of Eve’s disobedience. Her yes opened the door to the Incarnation.

3. Her unique role in the economy of salvation

Jesus received his human nature — his flesh and blood — from Mary. Every drop of blood he shed on the cross came from her. She cooperated uniquely and irrevocably in the work of redemption, not as a co-redeemer equal to Christ, but as the woman whose free consent made the Incarnation possible.

4. She was preserved from original sin (Immaculate Conception)

Catholics and many Orthodox believe that, in view of her role as Mother of God, Mary was preserved from original sin from the first moment of her conception by a singular grace of God (defined as dogma in 1854). This makes her the spotless tabernacle that carried the All-Holy God.

5. She is the model disciple and spiritual mother

At the foot of the cross, Jesus gave Mary to the beloved disciple (representing all Christians) as mother: “Woman, behold your son… Behold your mother” (John 19:26-27). The Church has always understood this as Jesus giving Mary to all believers as their spiritual mother.

6. Her life was one of perfect holiness and closeness to Christ

From the Annunciation to Pentecost (where she prayed with the apostles), Mary lived in total union with her Son. Tradition holds that she was assumed body and soul into heaven (the Assumption, defined 1950 for Catholics; ancient feast in the Orthodox Church as the Dormition).

Because of all these realities, the Second Vatican Council called her “Mother of the Church” and taught that devotion to Mary, far from detracting from Christ, actually leads us more perfectly to him (Lumen Gentium 66-67).

Respect and honor Mary in practice

Here are concrete, time-tested ways that Christians (especially Catholics and Orthodox) have shown devotion to Mary for centuries. You can start with one or two and gradually add others:Daily practices

• Morning offering & Angelus (at 6 am, noon, and 6 pm) — brief prayers recalling the Incarnation.

• Pray the Hail Mary slowly and thoughtfully (focus on each phrase).

• Wear or carry a blessed Miraculous Medal or brown scapular as outward signs of consecration to her.

• Greet her with a short aspiration during the day: “Mary, my Mother, keep me close to Jesus today.”

5 Classic prayers and devotions

1. The Rosary (the most recommended Marian devotion)

5–20 decades while meditating on events in the lives of Jesus and Mary (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, Luminous mysteries).

St. John Paul II called it “my favorite prayer.”

15–20 minutes a day can transform your spiritual life.

2. The Angelus (morning, noon, evening)

3. The Litany of Loreto — beautiful biblical and traditional titles of Mary.

4. Morning and Night Prayers to Mary

“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee” (Miraculous Medal prayer)

The Memorare (“Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary…”)

5. Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary (St. Louis de Montfort’s method)

33-day preparation ending with an act of consecration. Millions of saints and popes have done this.

Sacramental and liturgical ways

• Attend Mass on her feast days (Immaculate Conception Dec 8, Assumption Aug 15, Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec 12, etc.).

• Go on pilgrimage to Marian shrines (Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe, Częstochowa, Walsingham, etc.).

• Have a statue or icon of Mary in your home and keep fresh flowers or a candle before it.

Acts of life

• Imitate her virtues: humility, purity, obedience, silence, trust in God, charity.

• Defend her honor when she is mocked or misunderstood.

• Help mothers in need (pregnant women in crisis, single mothers, etc.) out of love for the Mother.

• Practice chastity and modesty in dress and behavior — she is the model of purity.

A simple beginning prayer you can use right now

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Or, in a more personal tone:

“Mother Mary, I want to know and love your Son better. Teach me to say yes to God the way you did. Take my hand and lead me to Jesus.”

Start small, be consistent, and ask her yourself — Catholics and Orthodox believe she is alive in heaven and eagerly intercedes for anyone who turns to her with childlike trust.