Mary, the Mother of God, is one of history’s most depicted female figures. But why is she so venerated in the Church, and what is her role in each of us? Here, we ask Catholics in Turkey questions about the significance of Mary’s life and ongoing ministry in the Church, along with their insights about the Blessed Virgin.

Ilknur Orman: ‘We run to her’

–  “Who is Mary the Mother of Jesus to you?”

+ “Mary is the Mother of God, the bearer of the Word, the Ark of the New Covenant, my mother, and the mother of the whole church. She is the Mother of God because she bore the Son who is one with the Father. She is the bearer of the Word because she gave birth to the Word of God. She is the Ark of the New Covenant because the new covenant God made with us is based upon the Son’s spilled blood and pierced flesh. Therefore, just as in the Old Testament God’s Word was preserved within the Ark, Mary in the New Testament also carries the Word, which makes her the Ark of God. In the Old Testament, we now apply similarly to Mary, whatever meaning was attributed to the Ark—how it was carried before the people in battle and associated with fear and victory. In any hardship, we run to Mother Mary. We ask her to pray for us and to lead us on our way, and at the moment of victory, we praise and thank her. We run to her so that she speaks for us before God and prays for us as our mother. In battle, we carry the Ark of the Covenant—the Virgin Mary—in the front like a flag so that she may pray for her children. Mary is my mother and the mother of the whole church. She always prays for us before God so we may find the right way, be absolved, and be forgiven. We can also go before her with confidence. As our mother, she will pray for us to our Lord Jesus Christ.”

–  “What kind of impact does Mary have in your everyday life?

+ “When I started praying the rosary, I didn’t know what it meant. Within it, there were prayers about Mary and prayers to Mary. But after I began doing it, contemplating the Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries, I realized I was delving into the depth of those moments. I felt these mysteries had been revealed to me through Mother Mary and the prayers I asked of her. ‘What happened there at that moment? Where was Jesus during that time? Where was Mary, and how were they affected by each other? How did they look at each other? Or if they were not together, how did they feel?’ I’ve had many thoughts on these, things I never considered while reading the Bible. That is why I learned a lot by praying the rosary, and after a while, I discovered I could go to Mother Mary asking for her prayer. That is how it affects my everyday life. When I am distressed, I pray and ask her to intercede for me before my Lord. I do this all day and ask her for help.”

–  “What is Mary’s most remarkable trait and what does it teach you?”

+ “What attracts me the most about Mary is her marvelous humility. When the angel visited her to deliver the news, her response impressed me. What would I say? She didn’t say, ‘I don’t know if I can do it.’ ‘Who am I?’ ‘Did I hear correctly?’ She tried to understand what the angel told her and immediately said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your Word.’ I don’t know if I have ever had that kind of trust in all my life. But the answer of a girl at that age is incredible and powerful. Mary was humble. She probably thought, ‘If my Lord says so, it is so. That means it will be done; I will do this.’ ‘I will do what He tells me. He will provide everything, given that He makes me do this.’ She never doubted anything; that takes great faith. She didn’t focus on herself, her situation, her littleness, or her weakness… She didn’t consider any of that. She looked at God. That made her humble. She only focused on God and thought His power would see her through anything. That is why she said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your Word.’  She believed everything God had said would come true. She was an example of great faith and humility.”

• İlknur Orman

Erlinda Sure Yazar: ‘The rosary is our weapon’

– “Who is Mary to you?”

+ “Mary is the Theotokos, the one who gave birth to the begotten Son of God. Theotokos is the title of Mary, Mother of our Savior Jesus. Mary is not just any other saint; she is the Theotokos, the God-bearer, the Mother of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. Mary was preserved by God, born free of original sin through the Immaculate Conception; she was taken to heaven after death. I’m one of the millions devoted to Mama Mary, the Mother of God. Praying the Holy Rosary is my daily routine before bedtime and when I wake up. I pray the Holy Rosary, offering many intentions, asking Mama Mary to intercede and bring all our humble requests to His Son, Jesus, our Lord and Savior. The Holy Rosary is one of the strongest weapons to fight against the lies of evil. As we heard in the homily, prayers can move mountains of problems, obstacles, trials, dangers, and temptations. While praying the Rosary, I often ask for world peace, love, healing, and unity, asking Mama Mary to pray along with me.”

– “Have you ever had an encounter with Mary that you consider a miracle?”

+ ”I experienced and encountered miracle senses at Panaghia Kapulo, Cyprus, in August 2008. About believing in Mama Mary, the Mother of God, I experienced her presence through my senses; I smelled a rare, sweet, beautiful perfume that started inside Mama Mary’s house and continued until we were in the middle of the mountain, with many big bells beside the roadway while we were visiting Panaghia Kapulo in Cyprus. Panaghia Kapulo was built on one of the highest mountains. Many tourists come to visit, just like Mama Mary’s house in Selçuk. On the way to the top of the mountain, people hang their prayer intentions on olive trees around. While on our way to Mama Mary’s house, as I came inside, I noticed that I was floating as I walked on the floor, and I didn’t even understand what happened to me. I kept trying to control myself until I touched the image of Mama Mary. I asked my employer to take a photo as a souvenir. When I touched the image, a rare, beautiful perfume filled the air, and I felt sensations touching all over my body. I was truly amazed that the sweet, beautiful fragrance lasted until we were on our way back down from the middle of the mountain. This is one of my precious, unforgettable events that I experienced miraculously. It was an amazing moment that puzzled my mind about the true meaning of that miraculous encounter. Days, weeks, months, and years go by, and up to the present day and night, praying the Holy Rosary lights my path to the true journey that God awaits.

– “Since then, how did your devotion evolve and continue?”

– “I pray the Holy Rosary daily by myself; by God’s grace, I joined an international online prayer in 2008, participating with many nationalities in different countries, praying the Holy Rosary, devotional prayers, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and Chaplet of St. Michael. Every day, there are many time schedules so anyone available can join or lead the prayer. Mostly, many people join at 10 am and 9 pm Philippine time. Recently, thank God, we parishioners at St. Helen shared our thoughts on creating an online prayer, so I shared the prayer guide we used to pray, and thanks to God, we have been granted this prayer group as Spiritual Warriors for nearly four years now. The more we pray, the more we gather together, the more we are blessed and become a blessing to everyone through the intercession of Mama Mary to His Son Jesus and by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

• Erlinda Sure Yazar

 Berkay Menteşe: ‘Mary leads us to Jesus’

– “Who is Mary to you?”

+ “After God, the Virgin Mary is our safest harbor. She is a beacon of calm in our stormy times and a refuge when we are lost. She is like a celestial star, pointing us in the right direction. She guides us, protects us, intercedes for us always, and loves us. Her love is greater and more faithful than a mother’s love for her child. She alone is the Mother of Christ, yet she is also the mother of us all.”

– “Why do you think it’s beneficial to pray to Mary?”

+ “We Catholics know this well. Mary never calls us to herself. She always leads us to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Her delicate hand guides us to the heart of God. She is our consolation and our hope. She is the gentlest way to God—a mother who embraces our wounded hearts, carries our tears to the sky, and prays silently for us when we are in pain.”

– “From an ecclesiastical perspective, what is the reasoning behind the inclusion of the Mary figure in the liturgy?”

+ “She is the woman who said “yes” to God’s grace. This ‘yes’ is more than just a word; it is a divine echo that opens the doors of salvation for all humanity. Mary, who responded to Gabriel’s greeting with faith, is the clearest example of obedience, submission, and love. For this reason, the Church respects her and is maternally bound to her. Mary is not just a figure; she is a living love, a mother who walks with us, and a refuge we carry in our hearts.

A priest once said, “After the Holy Trinity, the name the demons are most offended by is the Virgin Mary.” The chains of hell shake at the mention of her name. She is the epitome of purity and holiness—the only heart where sin cannot enter and the only place where the proud must bow down.

Two priests, whose names I have forgotten, shared a similar testimony: When Mary’s name is mentioned, darkness retreats and the devil falls silent. What great power and grace is hidden in her name!”

“O Holy Mother, intercede for us always.

O Heavenly Queen, never leave us alone.

Be an example for us on our journey of faith.

May we cling to faith, hope, and love as you do.

Let us endure with your patience.

Let us pray with your tears.

Let us listen to God’s voice in your silence.

One day, when this earthly life is over, lead us gently into the presence of your Son.

For those who walk with you will never be lost.”

• Berkay Menteşe

These testimonies evoke the words spoken by our Lord on the cross: “Here is your mother.” It is a call for every Christian to “take her into his own home.” Regarding this scripture, Pope Leo XIII said – in Augustissimae Virginis Mariae – “Whoever considers the height of dignity and glory to which God has raised the Most August Virgin Mary, will easily perceive how important it is, both for public and for private benefit, that devotion to her should be assiduously practiced, and daily promoted more and more.” So in this month of May, dedicated to Mary, let us offer her flowers of love and obedience, for she intercedes for the entire church. With Jesus, we receive all good, but we receive Jesus from our Lady. When we glorify her, she brings us closer to her Son in the Blessed Sacrament. Let us draw near to our Mother, praying the words of Saint Teresa of Calcutta: “Mary, mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.”