It is a common Protestant belief that there is little to nothing special about the Virgin Mary. I have often heard it argued that asking for the prayers of God’s mother and her elevation to a position of high regard in the Church were later historical developments to appease former pagans who were used to worshiping female deities. This argument, however, ignores the first place that we begin to see the Virgin Mary honored among the Church: the Scriptures themselves. When greeted by Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, Mary exclaims:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
(Luke 1:47-50)
She clearly prophesies that all generations will called her blessed. We see Jesus Himself showing His mother reverence while He is being crucified, making arrangements for her to be cared for:
26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:26-27)
Even God Himself takes care of His mother.
Mary is also mentioned by name in the books of Acts, clearly having a place of eminence among the apostles and the early Church (Acts 1:14). The tradition of the early Church also holds that Mary’s body mysteriously disappeared after her death. Just as God the Father does not allow Christ’s body to face corruption and decay on earth, God the Son does not allow His mother’s body to face decay, instead assuming it into heaven along with her soul. This is clearly displayed in the icon of the Dormition (falling asleep) of the Theotokos (a Greek word meaning “the Mother of God”). As the apostles celebrate her funeral, Christ is shown standing in their midst, holding his mother’s soul in swaddling clothes, an obvious antithesis to Jesus’ own birth. God takes care of His mother.
We humbly ask for the prayers of God’s mother, asking her to entreat her Son to show mercy to us. Even those in the next life can entreat God to show His mercy to us, for all are alive to Him. “He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living.” (Mark 12:27). We ask for the strength to imitate her obedience in saying yes to God so that His presence may too dwell inside us as Christ became incarnate in her womb. May the Virgin Mary grant us her prayers as we celebrate her feast this Dormition and honor the Son she bore.
Pray for me.
