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Just one question here... What page numbers are you referring to? Is it the catechism book, or something else? Honestly, growing up my respect for Mary was as the woman whom was honored to raise Jesus.

This might sound a little strange because I don’t know if I can explain this well enough — it’s something that I “heard” during the time following my vision back in 2002...

Anyway, here goes...

The Holy Family a representation of the Holy Trinity that we have on Earth. Father, Mother, and Child - the miracle of creation - replicated in families throughout the Earth. The way God intended it to be. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a “replacement” for the Holy Trinity in any way shape or form. There’s more to what I’m saying, but I can’t find the words for it right now. There is a deep truth in there somewhere that I just can’t articulate... It was such a beautiful “zen-like” moment of understanding, peace and love at the time, maybe that is why I can’t find words to express it...

One note: It was clear to me that a family is not two women raising children as a “couple”, and not two men raising children as a “couple”. God is NOT “cool” with that, at all. [That was made abundantly clear to me in the days following... I was out with my husband during the time that I still felt like I was in the state of grace described by St. Teresa, and I saw two men (who seemed like a couple) with a small child, and I instantly felt sick to my stomach, and literally started crying and I said to my husband - quietly - that it was NOT right, and our Lord and Savior did not look kindly on that, it actually hurts His “heart” that children are not being properly raised with the direct role models in their life that they need. We actually had to leave the restaurant as I was so bothered by it during that time. And, I still have gay friends to this day, and I don’t feel ill, or cry over it anymore even though it does make me sad, and I pray for those children — just in the days, like I said, that I was still feeling that “state of Grace” was the feeling so overwhelming and powerful.]

Anyway, in all my years in the Catholic Church I never once heard anyone saying that Mary was above God. I do know of her being referred to as the mother of God, but only in the way that Jesus was God in the flesh here on Earth — only being recognized as the human mother of Jesus, and chosen and blessed by God to carry His son and care for him here on Earth. She was truly blessed to have been chosen, and if all women were as Mary this world would be a much better place...

I have a healthy respect for Mary, as I believe we all should. I see her as a role model for mothers, and Joseph as a role model for fathers. Of course, Christ remains the Ultimate “Role Model” for our lives, but in looking at the Holy Family there are things for all of us to draw strength from. In my case I “heard” that my Mother and Father were in Heaven and my parents here on Earth were not as important as recognizing our “family” in Heaven — and there was definitely an emphasis on looking to God our Father as our REAL Father — especially for people like me who did not have a decent fatherly influence here on Earth.

I’m very interested in this subject as I’m always examining the beliefs I grew up with versus the things I’ve learned in searching for truth on my own over the last 20 years...

Anyway, I know I probably didn’t explain this clearly enough, so please bear with me! I’m still working on writing my experience down, but this is one part that I’m stuck on as it’s really hard to explain to others. I don’t know if it was the Holy Spirit helping to heal my soul from the damage done by my earthly father and from my dysfunctional family - or whether it’s something that I will be able to explain to others, or that others will benefit from if I can find the words to explain it clearly (I don’t know if it was a way God was explaining a concept to me personally or if it was a “broad” truth that we should all be aware of...).

I personally have no problem honoring Mary, as I explained above. However, to place her ABOVE God our Father in Heaven, or above Jesus (God in the flesh) is not right, IMHO. You don’t get to Heaven THROUGH Mary, Christ Himself said the only way to the Father is through Me (Jesus).

Anyway, like I said it’s hard to explain my exact beliefs on this, and especially hard to express what I learned about these issues during that soul-searching (fighting for my soul) experience I had.

You have written a heartfelt comment. That said.When we say Jesus thru Mary is only about that He was born of the Virgin Mary. She has a special place in history. Human thru Mary. Not to mean only thru her to go to Jesus. We are all connected thru the Holy Spirit as Believers. The pray starts in Christ. The caution can turn into paranoia when we do not understand.-”If they are aware of what is going on, and can interact with our thoughts, just as angels can, and have love, then it is perfectly reasonable to suppose that we can ask for their intercession.

Think, for example, of the Transfiguration. Moses and Elijah appeared and talked to Jesus. Theoretically, they could have been asked by the disciples to pray for them or for some cause. That would have been an example of our asking “dead” people to pray. Nothing in the Bible would prevent them from saying “yes.”

Many Protestants do not grasp the communion of saints, and for some reason feel compelled to collapse every such instance into the “occult” or necromancy or having a seance: “contacting” the dead. The two things are completely different (see my explanation as to why that is).

I should clarify, too, that when we ask Mary to “help” us, we mean by her power of intercession. She can’t grant us things in and of herself, but only by virtue of the graces given to her by God. She is God’s instrument or agent, just as any creature is, but in her exalted position as the Mother of God, she is the best possible creature we can ask to pray for us. Many have greatly misunderstood the flowery language of Marian devotion: as if Mary herself were the source of the blessings and graces received. Not true. God is that, and this is Catholic teaching.” By Dave Armstrong
http://socrates58.blogspot.com/2008/04/why-do-catholics-pray-to-mary.html