You approached this woman with a friendly, calm demeanor. I do agree. The intention of my debriefing, however, is to uncover your moral objective. If your forethought was to simply question this woman's purpose for collecting donations, I see no harm. I adore the verses you shared as well. These are very focused on the centrality of Christ as mediator, the supremacy of His authority, and the sufficiency of his sacrifice. Not a word of fallacy is to be found in these words, nor do they dismiss any sort of prayer or the divinity found in our Mother Mary. I see that you are strong in your faith of Jesus as the sole redeemer and mediator between God and humanity. Be that as it may, Catholic theology makes a distinction between mediation of redemption (which is with Christ alone) and mediation of intercession (which can be shared by others, including Mary.) Just as we ask our loved ones to pray for us, I believe prayer from those deeply united with Christ is very powerful and influential. We believe that Mary, being fully unified with God in heaven, can intercede on our behalf. Catholics--I've come to believe--we are romantics of the Word. We do not just read the bible, we inhabit it. It is not just a rulebook but a divine love story between God and humanity, played out through covenant, incarnation, sacrifice, and resurrection. Every mass is telling of this story, Genisis all the way to Revelations, God finds us again, woos us, redeems us. Mary is venerated not as a distant figure, but as a tender mother who reveals the softer, nurturing face of God’s story. Catholics don't want to cherry-pick through the Bible. we want to embrace the Word as inspired: the beauty and the heartbreak, the poetry of the Psalms, the warnings of the prophets, the drama of the Gospels, the visions of Revelation. The liturgical calendar itself ensures that Catholics revisit the entire arc of Scripture throughout the year from Advent’s anticipation to Pentecost’s flame. We don't just belief in Truth, but truth that loves us back.
The Lord, of course, is our One true redeemer, just as He is to you. We come to know Him through His Word, which is not just ink on a page but living and active. How can any prayer direct to the Glory of God be invalid?
P.S
Martin Luther called Mary “the highest woman and the noblest gem in Christianity after Christ." John Wycliffe, a pre-reformation figure, once said, “It seems to me impossible that we should obtain the reward of Heaven without the help of Mary” Even Ulrich Zwingli said, “The more the honor and love of Christ increases among men, so much the esteem and honor given to Mary should grow.”
Luke 1:28, Luke 1:42, Luke 1:43