“I just can’t go along with that Mary stuff. It’s painful to even read the Savior denigrated in favor of Mary.”
Mary is venerated because she was the Mother of Jesus Christ.
Veneration of Mary supports and reinforces love for Jesus Christ Our Savior.
It is not a case where you can only love one or the other.
It is not a case where you can only love Jesus if you hate and denigrate his mother.
When the disciples wanted to venerate humans, God himself set them straight.
Matthew 17
.
“1. And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2.And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles;
one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said,
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
6. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
What is the Greatest Commandment? Case closed on the necessity to love Mary AND Jesus.