A significant aspect of Roman Catholicism that distinguishes it from other branches of Christianity is its veneration of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The importance placed on Mary is evident in Catholic practices, where statues and shrines dedicated to her often hold more prominence than those of Christ. When praying the rosary, the Hail Mary is recited nine times as often as the Lord's Prayer, highlighting this emphasis. In Scripture, the angel Gabriel addresses Mary as highly favored and tells her she has found favor with God. The Greek word for highly favored means to grace or endue with special honor, as seen also in Ephesians 1:6, where it applies to the body of Christ. Favor, translated from the Greek word charis, indicates graciousness and is often rendered as grace in the New Testament, emphasizing God's action in choosing Mary for her role. However, nothing in these verses suggests that Mary is worthy of worship; she is simply the recipient of God's grace and favor. Mary's cousin Elizabeth calls both Mary and her unborn Son blessed, a term meaning to speak well of or to celebrate with praises. This title is not unique to Mary, as Jael in Judges 5:24 is also called most blessed among women for her role in God's plan, yet no worship or shrine is dedicated to her. During Christ's ministry, Jesus Himself clarifies that while His mother is blessed, even more blessed are those who hear and obey God's Word, redirecting focus from veneration of Mary to the importance of attitude and conduct. Beyond the limited Scriptural references to Mary, the veneration of her finds roots in pagan practices, specifically the worship of the Mother and Child, originating from the religious system of Nimrod and Semiramis. This symbol of the Mother and Child, often depicted as a virgin Queen of Heaven bearing fruit, appears across ancient cultures under various names such as Ashtoreth among the Canaanites, Diana in Ephesus, and Venus in Rome. This widespread false worship, having spread from Babylon to many nations, eventually became established in Rome and throughout the Roman Empire, influencing the veneration of Mary within Roman Catholicism.