Here is the entirety of the Church's teaching on Mary, called the Four Marian Dogmas. Note nothing about deification.
Immaculate Conception - conceived without original sin.
Bible, Angel Gabriel, "Hail Mary full of Grace", and confirmed by revealed truth, and ultimately by Mary herself at Lourdes.
Virgin Birth - again, scriptural and verified by revealed truth.
Mother of God - that's a pretty darn good reason to hold her in very high esteem!
Assumption into Heaven - where she now resides as Queen of Heaven.
LITANY of LORETO
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of divine grace, pray for us.
Mother most pure, pray for us.
Mother most chaste, pray for us.
Mother inviolate, pray for us.
Mother undefiled, pray for us.
Mother most amiable, pray for us.
Mother most admirable, pray for us.
Mother of good counsel, pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, pray for us.
Mother of our Savior, pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, pray for us.
Virgin most renouned, pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, pray for us.
Virgin most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of justice, pray for us.
Seat of wisdom, pray for us.
Cause of our joy, pray for us.
Spiritual vessel, pray for us.
Vessel of honor, pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.
Mystical rose, pray for us.
Tower of David, pray for us.
Tower of ivory, pray for us.
House of gold, pray for us.
Ark of the covenant, pray for us.
Gate of heaven, pray for us.
Morning star, pray for us.
Health of the sick, pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.
Queen of Angels, pray for us.
Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Queen of Prophets, pray for us.
Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.
Queen of Confessors, pray for us.
Queen of Virgins, pray for us.
Queen of all Saints, pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.
Queen assumed into heaven, pray for us.
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
Queen of Peace, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us O Lord
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
El Bump-O
Beautiful Post.
This NOT meant to offend, just trying to understand a subject (Catholocism) I admittedly know little about.
I have a hard time making the leap from the Immaculate Conception to the fact that Mary herself was born without sin. Otherwise, Romans 3:10 would have to add "except Mary" ("As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one") to it, which it clearly doesn't.
Likewise, I find it hard to show in Scripture where anyone, much less Mary, has ascended into Heaven. See Joh 3:13 "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven."
I think part of the reason non-Catholics have trouble understand Catholic doctrine is the overall point that Catholic teachings are "not based strictly on the Sacred Scriptures" as the author of the original post noted. When you add human elements to a divine book, human nature can too easily modify, change or distort the intended meaning. I feel this is as much an issue in virtually every Protestant religion as well. Everyone, well intentioned as they may be, is interested in giving their intepretation of what scripture says instead of allowing the scripture to interpret itself through other scriptures.
My 2 cents...
God bless.