The worship of Mary

One of the most common misunderstandings about Catholicism is that we worship Mary. This is simply not true. In Catholic theology, we distinguish between different types of honor:

• Latria: Adoration or worship given to God alone.
• Dulia: Honor and veneration given to saints.
• Hyperdulia: A special degree of veneration given to Mary as the Mother of God, but still strictly below worship.

We honor Mary because of her unique role in salvation history—she is the first disciple and the Mother of our Lord. By honoring the masterpiece, we honor the Artist.