The Editor, Sir:

Regarding the letter 'Why pray to Mary?' by Stacy-Ann Smith, March 30. Catholics journey to Lourdes to seek Mary the Mother of God's intercession. At the wedding of Cana, Mary prayed and interceded in faith. Her maternal concern for the needs of the bridal couple anticipated her maternal concern for all the children to be born to her in the church. In her Magnificat, Mary united the voices of many before and after her. Her canticle was the song of the Daughter of Sion, of all the poor whose only hope lay in the fulfilment of the promises made to our ancestors, "to Abraham and his posterity forever".

The Catholic Church teaches that Mary, by a special dispensation of God, was the only human to be conceived free from original sin. This was because God had chosen her from all time, and in accordance with Old Testament Scripture, to be the Mother of God.

Free from sin

The Church also teaches that Mary remained free from sin throughout her mortal life and that having completed the course of her earthly life she was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory. Catholics celebrate Mary's passage into heaven on the feast of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary which falls on August 15.

Mary's motherhood with regard to the Church is a consequence of her divine motherhood or virgin birth to Jesus. In God's design, she was linked to her Son's work of salvation and was, as her Assumption manifests, the first to share in His Resurrection. Catholics, therefore, do not worship Mary but honour her above all other prophet and saints.

All prayers to Mary, however, are ultimately directed to God. God may not give us what we want but he will certainly provide us with what we need.

I am, etc.,

PAUL KOKOSKI

pkokoski@mountaincable.net

Hamilton, Ontario

Canada

Via Go-Jamaica