Q25, A5 — Whether the Mother of God Should Be Worshipped with the Adoration of _Latria_?

Objections

  1. It would seem that the Mother of God is to be worshiped with the adoration of _latria._ For it seems that the same honor is due to the king's mother as to the king: whence it is written (3 Kings 2:19) that "a throne was set for the king's mother, and she sat on His right hand." Moreover, Augustine [*Sermon on the Assumption, work of an anonymous author] says: "It is right that the throne of God, the resting-place of the Lord of Heaven, the abode of Christ, should be there where He is Himself." But Christ is worshiped with the adoration of _latria._ Therefore His Mother also should be.

  2. Further, Damascene says (De Fide Orth. iv, 16): "The honor of the Mother reflects on the Son." But the Son is worshiped with the adoration of _latria._ Therefore the Mother also.

  3. Further, Christ's Mother is more akin to Him than the cross. But the cross is worshiped with the adoration of _latria._ Therefore also His Mother is to be worshiped with the same adoration.

On the contrary

_On the contrary,_ The Mother of God is a mere creature. Therefore the worship of _latria_ is not due to her.

I answer that

_I answer that,_ Since _latria_ is due to God alone, it is not due to a creature so far as we venerate a creature for its own sake. For though insensible creatures are not capable of being venerated for their own sake, yet the rational creature is capable of being venerated for its own sake. Consequently the worship of _latria_ is not due to any mere rational creature for its own sake. Since, therefore, the Blessed Virgin is a mere rational creature, the worship of _latria_ is not due to her, but only that of _dulia_: but in a higher degree than to other creatures, inasmuch as she is the Mother of God. For this reason we say that not any kind of _dulia_ is due to her, but _hyperdulia._

Replies to objections

  1. The honor due to the king's mother is not equal to the honor which is due to the king: but is somewhat like it, by reason of a certain excellence on her part. This is what is meant by the authorities quoted.

  2. The honor given to the Mother reflects on her Son, because the Mother is to be honored for her Son's sake. But not in the same way as honor given to an image reflects on its exemplar: because the image itself, considered as a thing, is not to be venerated in any way at all.

  3. The cross, considered in itself, is not an object of veneration, as stated above (AA. 4, 5). But the Blessed Virgin is in herself an object of veneration. Hence there is no comparison. _______________________

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