u/christchex912

We’ve been busted.

Every Sunday, we don't actually go to Church to worship God—we just gather in a secret basement around a massive marble statue of Mary, swap recipes for communion wafers, and plot how to sneak more Mother Mary statues onto your neighbors' front lawns. I even tried to pay for my iced coffee with Rosary beads this morning because, as we all know, she is the true ruler of the economy.

We tried to hide it for 2,000 years, but the gig is up. Shucks. 🤷‍♂️

#CaughtRedHanded #MaryIsTheTrinityNow #Satire #PleaseReadTheCommentsBeforeYouExcommunicateMe

## Okay, Jokes Aside: Let’s Talk About "Worship"

If you're a Protestant friend who just stumbled on that post and had your heart rate spike, take a deep breath! We obviously don’t worship Mary.

The confusion usually comes down to a massive language barrier—both in how the English language has changed over the centuries, and how theology distinguishes different types of honor.

Here is the quick, no-nonsense breakdown of what Catholics actually believe, using the precise terms the Church has used for over a thousand years.

1. The English Word "Worship" Has Changed

In Old English, the word worship (from weorðscipe) simply meant "worth-ship"—to acknowledge someone’s worth or to show them honor.

* This is why in England, people still address mayors and judges as, "Your Worship."

* It’s why old traditional marriage vows used to say, "With my body I thee worship."

It didn't mean they thought the mayor or their spouse was God Almighty. However, modern English has narrowed "worship" to mean only the adoration we give to God. Because of this, Catholics and Protestants are often using the same word to mean two completely different things.

2. The Three Levels of Honor

To keep things clear, Catholic theology uses specific Greek and Latin terms to draw a hard line between God and everyone else:

Latria (Adoration): This is the sacrificial worship due to God alone (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). It is the acknowledgement of Him as the Creator and Supreme Being. To give latria to anyone or anything else is the sin of idolatry. Full stop.

Dulia (Veneration): This is the honor and respect we give to holy men and women (the saints) and angels. Think of it like a Hall of Fame. We admire them, we ask them to pray for us (just like you’d ask a friend on earth to pray for you), and we celebrate their victories for Christ.

Hyperdulia (Highest Veneration): This is a special, "super-sized" version of dulia reserved strictly for Mary. Why? Because she had the unique, unrepeatable role of carrying and raising the Son of God.

The Golden Rule of Catholic Theology: Hyperdulia is the highest form of honor you can give to a human creature, but it is still infinitely lower than Latria (which belongs only to God). Mary is a creature; God is the Creator.

So, do Catholics worship Mary? In the modern sense of the word, absolutely not. We love her, we honor her as Jesus' mom, but we worship God alone.