For what it's worth, I think the focus was put on Mary sometime in the 18th or 19th centuries when anti-Catholic bigots started realizing that the religious wars had ended and that many Protestants didn't seem to hate Catholics to the extent that these bigots felt was necessary.
I think that it was when lay christians began to have the opportunity to read their Bibles.
Of course, to you ... it's all about Protestant hatred.
Not that there was any forgoing Catholic hatred.
I think that it was when lay christians began to have the opportunity to read their Bibles.
So, men such as Luther, Calvin and Wesley just "missed it"?