Claim: Devotion to Mary doesn’t please her—it breaks her heart.
The Big Question: Is this true? Let’s explore the facts.
This claim by Jack Chick in Why Is Mary Crying? is a textbook example of emotional manipulation. By painting Mary as heartbroken over the veneration given to her, Chick appeals to his readers’ emotions rather than providing scriptural or historical evidence. His approach distorts biblical truths and misrepresents Catholic teachings. Let’s unpack these claims one by one and bring clarity with Scripture and Church tradition.
Honoring Mary as Prophesied in Scripture
Chick suggests that honoring Mary displeases her. However, this contradicts Mary’s own prophecy in Scripture:
“For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” (Luke 1:48 KJV)
The question is: Are we part of the generation that fulfills this prophecy by calling Mary blessed? To honor Mary is not only scriptural but a direct response to her words in the Magnificat. As a faithful servant of God, Mary foresaw how generations would recognize her unique role in salvation history.
Jack Chick argues that Mary admitted her need for a Savior in Luke 1:46-47, where she says:
“My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”
But does this statement imply sinfulness? No. Mary rejoices in God’s saving work, acknowledging that her preservation from sin—her Immaculate Conception—was an act of God’s grace in anticipation of her role as the Mother of the Savior. This teaching aligns with the biblical principle of prevenient grace, where God acts in advance to prepare His chosen servants.
The Purification Offering: A Misunderstood Humility
Chick also points to Mary’s purification offering as proof of her sinfulness. Yet this misses the point of her humility. Mary observed the Mosaic Law to avoid scandal and to fully participate in the customs of her time, despite her unique role. Similarly, Jesus underwent circumcision and baptism, not because He needed purification or repentance, but to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:15). St. Bernard of Clairvaux explains:
“Truly, O Blessed Virgin, thou hadst no need for purification; but had thy Son need of circumcision? Be thou among women as one of them, for so too is thy Son among men.”
The “All Have Sinned” Argument
Chick quotes Romans 3:23—“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”—to argue that Mary was sinful. This interpretation is flawed. The Greek word pantes (all) often means “many” rather than every individual. For instance:
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22 KJV)
Clearly, not everyone physically died (e.g., Enoch and Elijah), nor will all be saved. Similarly, Mary, by God’s singular grace, was preserved from sin as part of His redemptive plan.
Graven Images and Mary’s Role
Chick falsely equates Catholic veneration of Mary with idolatry, referencing biblical prohibitions against graven images (Exodus 20:4-5). However, the Church does not worship Mary or images of her; instead, Catholics honor her as the Mother of God and ask for her intercession. This is analogous to asking a fellow Christian to pray for us, as Scripture encourages:
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.” (James 5:16 KJV)
Furthermore, Scripture itself records God commanding the creation of sacred images, such as the cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:17-21) and the bronze serpent (Numbers 21:8-9), as long as they are not worshiped as gods.
Mary as the Mother of God
The title “Mother of God” (Theotokos) is biblically and theologically sound. Isaiah prophesied:
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14 KJV)
This prophecy confirms that Mary bore the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully man. To deny Mary this title is to undermine the mystery of the Incarnation.
Intercession and the Wedding at Cana
Chick dismisses Mary’s intercessory role, yet Scripture provides clear evidence of its power. At the wedding in Cana, Mary’s request led Jesus to perform His first miracle:
“They have no wine.” (John 2:3 KJV)
Jesus honored her intercession, showing that her prayers carry great weight.
Mary as the Queen of Heaven
In biblical Israel, the queen was the king’s mother, not his wife (1 Kings 2:19). As Jesus is the King of Kings, Mary is rightly honored as the Queen of Heaven. Revelation 12 further affirms her royal status:
“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Revelation 12:1 KJV)
Chick’s Misrepresentation of Confession and Celibacy
Chick misrepresents Catholic practices like confession and priestly celibacy. Confession is rooted in Scripture, where Jesus grants His apostles authority to forgive sins:
“Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” (John 20:23 KJV)
Celibacy, too, is biblically supported, as Paul advocates for celibacy to serve God more fully (1 Corinthians 7:32-35).
Conclusion: Misguided Appeals and Distortions
Jack Chick’s tract Why Is Mary Crying? relies on emotional manipulation and misrepresentation of Scripture to attack Catholic devotion to Mary. The Bible, Church tradition, and historical evidence all support the honor given to Mary as the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven, and a powerful intercessor. Far from breaking her heart, Catholic veneration fulfills her prophecy in Luke 1:48:
“From henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”
It’s time to approach these topics with biblical accuracy and a sincere pursuit of truth, rather than relying on divisive propaganda.
This article was authored by Godwin Delali Adadzie, a Catholic apologist committed to addressing misconceptions and defending the truths of the Catholic faith. Read the expanded original version over here: Why Is Mary Crying? Jack Chick’s Gospel Tract About the Virgin Mary Exposed!