And so it was pressed home to me once again how deeply entrenched is devotion to Mary in Roman Catholic belief and practice. I also realized afresh how utterly unlike my own Christian experience such devotion to anyone other than Christ really is. The prayer offended me, and yes, years later, after reading dozens more books on Marian doctrine and piety, it still offends. But now I know why the prayer exists as it does, as well as the foundation upon which such devotion is placed.