Why is the Virgin Mary so special to Catholics?

[Kofi]

The Virgin Mary is the mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ but the Bible doesn't offer us much information about Mary, but her role in God's redemptive process. Although the Gospels portray her motherly concern, they clearly show her subordination to her son. In John 2:4 , Jesus called her "woman" instead of mother. The Bible nowhere implies that she was born without sin. In fact, she herself recognized her need of a Savior ( Luke 1:47 ). She was qualified to give birth to the sinless Son of God because God chose her and miraculously caused her to conceive by the "overshadowing" of the Holy Spirit( Luke 1:35 ). All christian churches pay their respect but I think Catholics go to the extreme of making the virgin Mary a goddess and the mother of Jesus Christ in the spiritual sense. Mary was the mother of Jesus Christ in the physical sense but not spiritual sense and that is why Jesus called her "woman" instead of "mother" What do you think?

First of all i have to say Catholics do not make mary a godless person ok. And i though Jesus is god so if mary gave birth to jesus the GOD then she is the mother of Jesus aka GOD ok. You want scripture ok.

John 2:4; 19:26 - when Jesus uses the title "woman" (gnyai), it is a title of dignity and respect. It is the equivalent of Lady or Madam. Jesus honored His Mother as God requires us to do.

Luke 1:42 - "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus." The phrase "blessed are you among women" really means "you are most blessed of all women." A circumlocution is used because there is no superlative in the Greek language. Note also that Elizabeth praises Mary first, and then Jesus. This is hyperdulia (but not latria which is worship owed to God alone). We too can go through Mary to praise Jesus. Finally, Catholics repeat these divinely inspired words of Elizabeth in the Rosary.

Luke 1:48 - Mary prophesies that all generations shall call her blessed, as Catholics do in the "Hail Mary" prayer. What Protestant churches have existed in all generations (none), and how many of them call Mary blessed with special prayers and devotions?

She is mother in both Spiritial and Physical sense. I could go on and on about what Mary means to us Catholics but I will put it in simplest terms I know how. We rightly honor the Blessed Mother with special devotion. She was after all chosen by God among all women, to give birth to our Savior. She was born of immaculate conception, meaning without sin, from her conception she was totally preserved from the stain of original sin and she remained pure from all personal sin throughout her life. She accepted Gods plan. By her obedience she became the new Eve, mother of the living. Without her, Jesus would not exist. She is mother, where ever Jesus is savior. Which means she is clearly the mother of the members of Christ. Her major role is to play as our spiritual mother. When you were a child and you fell and scraped your knee, you ran to your mother for consolation. Well, Mary serves that purpose for all the followers of Christ. When we seek help, we call upon God and we call upon Mary for her prayers and comfort. Not because we worship her as a goddess, the way we worship God.

TO sum it up- Luke 1:46-49 says, "And Mary said: My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name."

All generations will count her blessed. What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what we believe about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary gives light to its faith in Christ.