ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Shrines to the Virgin Mary

Alright kiddo, so imagine you have a very special person in your life who you love and who is really important to you. You might have some things in your room that remind you of them, like a picture or a stuffed animal they gave you. Well, for some people, the Virgin Mary is that special person in their life.

So, they might create a special place called a shrine where they can go and think about her and pray to her. A shrine can be a small table with a statue or picture of Mary on it, or it can be a big building called a church or cathedral dedicated to her. People might decorate the shrine with flowers, candles, and other things that make them think of Mary.

People who have shrines to the Virgin Mary believe that she is very important and special. They might pray to her to ask for help, to thank her for something good that happened, or to just talk to her like she is a friend. It's like having a special place to go and be with your special person, even if they aren't physically there.