Heshima ya pekee kwa Bikira Maria

Heshima ya pekee ni matendo mbalimbali ambayo Wakatoliki, Waorthodoksi na Waorthodoksi wa Mashariki wanamtolea Bikira Maria^[1][2] kutokana na neema ya pekee aliyojaliwa na Mwenyezi Mungu ya kumzaa kibikira Yesu Kristo, tena kutokana na utakatifu wake uliozidi ule wa wengine wote, isipokuwa Mwanae ambaye wanamuabudu kama Mungu^[3].

Kama heshima inayotolewa kwa watakatifu wengine, hiyo ya pekee pia inamlenga hasa Mwenyezi Mungu ambaye ndiye aliyemuumba, aliyemkomboa na aliyemtakasa vizuri kuliko wote.

1. ↑ "Mariological Society of America". Mariologicalsocietyofamerica.us. Ilihifadhiwa kwenye nyaraka kutoka chanzo mnamo 2017-09-25. Iliwekwa mnamo 2012-01-26. {{cite web}}: More than one of |accessdate= na |access-date= specified (help)
2. ↑ [1] Archived Desemba 2, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
3. ↑ Church theologians have long adopted the terms latria for the type of worship due to God alone, and dulia and proskynesis for the veneration given to angels, saints, relics and icons. Veneration, known as dulia in classical theology, is the honor and reverence appropriately due to the excellence of a created person. Excellence exhibited by created beings likewise deserves recognition and honor. We see a general example of veneration in events like the awarding of academic awards for excellence in school, or the awarding of Olympic medals for excellence in sports. There is nothing contrary to the proper adoration of God when we offer the appropriate honor and recognition that created persons deserve based on achievement in excellence.