Commenting on Luke 1:39-56:
Mary was the instrument of John’s sanctification. She
brought Jesus to him. We honor Mary in our devotions because she is God’s
Mother and has great power with Him. We hope that God will sanctify us through
Mary, and hence we praise her in our prayers and beg her intercession. We
cannot love Jesus without loving Mary, and the love of Mary must lead to a
greater love of her Son. (Francis X. Doyle, Defense of the Catholic Church:
Combined with a Study of the Life of Christ Based on the Gospels [1927;
repr., Pekin, Ind.: Refuse of Sinners Publishing, Inc., 2022], 9)