Catholics do not view Mary as equal to Christ, but rather
The four Marian dogmas of Mother of God, Immaculate Conception, perpetual virginity, and Assumption form the basis of Mariology. However, a number of other Catholic doctrines about the Virgin Mary have been developed by reference to sacred scripture, theological reasoning and church tradition.
Answer: Why Pray to Mary? Because Jesus has given us his Blessed Mother as our great spiritual mother (Rev. 12:17), a heavenly advocate who intercedes for us.
She is still the Mother of Jesus Christ; still – for that reason – the Mother of God; and still the Mother of the Church. Hence her title “Our Lady”. Mary is a spiritual mother to everyone who loves her son. If we belong to Christ, then his mother becomes our mother too.
The Catholic's honor and love for Mary reflects their deep love of God, who made Mary who she is. In Luke 1:48 Mary proclaims that “All generations will call me blessed..” God created Mary as such a pure, graced filled creation that from then until all eternity she will be called blessed.
The phrase "pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death" demonstrates that Catholics view Mary not as a goddess to be worshipped, but as a helpful ally in the life-long struggle against sin and temptation. In all of the Marian prayers offered by Catholics, there is not a single claim of Mary's divinity.
The earliest recorded prayer to Mary is the sub tuum praesidium (3rd or 4th century) and the earliest depictions of her are from the Priscilla catacombs in Rome (early 3rd century).
The sinlessness of Mary refers to the doctrine in which Mary, mother of Jesus chose not to sin. It is upheld by the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as by high church Lutherans.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite), founded by James Jesse Strang rejects the virgin birth and believes that Jesus' father was Joseph, husband of Mary.
The Holy Spirit, through whom Mary conceived, is not just any spirit, but it is God himself whose act must be understood spiritually and not physically. Mary is "full of grace" according to Barth, but this grace is not earned but totally given to her.
Assumption versus Dormition
Some Catholics believe that Mary died before being assumed, but they believe that she was miraculously resurrected before being assumed (mortalistic interpretation). Others believe she was assumed bodily into Heaven without first dying (immortalistic interpretation).
Origin. The Hail Mary is rooted in Scripture — the initial lines are taken directly from the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke. We read that God sends the Angel Gabriel to proclaim to the Virgin Mary that she is to bear the Son of God. Upon coming to her, the Angel greets Mary, saying, “Hail, favored one!
The Catholic Church affirms wholeheartedly that we can go straight to Jesus in prayer. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, The prayer of the Church, nourished by the Word of God and the celebration of the liturgy, teaches us to pray to the Lord Jesus.
Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Catholic Church doctrine supports intercessory prayer to saints. This practice is an application of the Catholic doctrine of the Communion of Saints. Some of the early basis for this was the belief that martyrs passed immediately into the presence of God and could obtain graces and blessings for others.
Practicing Catholics know they read and hear Scripture at every Mass. Many also recognize that basic prayers Catholics say, such as the Our Father and the Hail Mary, are scriptural. But for most Catholics, the Scripture they hear and read is not from the Bible. It is from a worship aid in the pew.
The official position of the Holy See is that while the Holy Office has approved a few apparitions of the Virgin Mary, Roman Catholics at large are not required to believe them. However, many Catholics express belief in Marian apparitions.
Mary replaced the Protestant clergy with Catholics, imprisoning prominent Protestants such as Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, Anglican bishops.
A careful look at the New Testament shows that Mary kept her vow of virginity and never had any children other than Jesus.
But now, some Catholic scholars are gingerly voicing the view--long held by Protestants--that Mary had other children besides Jesus. So far, they have avoided a fight with the Vatican by not directly challenging doctrine, but their expansion of the “Holy Family” of Christmas lore is bound to dismay many Catholics.
The Immaculate Conception is the belief that the Virgin Mary was free of original sin from the moment of her conception.
The only human to ever escape the stain of original sin was Jesus. He was God who became flesh and He was conceived of the Holy Spirit in Mary's womb. Mary, on the other hand, was born into sin and that's why she needed a Savior. Mary needed Jesus, the One prophesied long before (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6).
The Hail Mary (Latin: Ave Maria) or Angelical salutation is a traditional Christian prayer addressing Mary, the mother of Jesus.
The Hail Mary is composed of three parts. The first two parts are from the New Testament written by Saint Luke. “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee” (Luke 1:28), are the greetings of the Angel Gabriel to Mary at the Annunciation.