Virtues of Mary - Luigi Lanzoni

Though we adore God alone and render to Him alone the honor and glory that are due to Him from the creature to the Creator, nevertheless, as part of our worship of God we honor and invoke the friends most dear to Him. God's own mother is beyond all measure dearer to Him than His friends can be, therefore we venerate Mary, the Mother of God, with a special honor far higher than that which we give to angels and saints. (Summary Adapted from the Preface)