Catholics love Mary for her role in salvation. There are also many of us who recognize that she has appeared, along with Jesus, in numerous apparitions.
In 1907 she appeared at Fatima and warned world the world to pray for conversion or Marxism would bring destruction to the entire world. The influence from Russia would bring attacks on the church and the Pope in particular. The 3rd prophecy had been kept a secret until Pope John Paul was shot. That was the prophecy.
The Apotalate of Motherhood, is another amazing book which details Blessed Mary's and Jesus' messages for the world. I seem to recall her saying something to the effect that it was very sad to know that some of her children would believe that Jesus would be jealous of His own mother.
Make no mistake about it, we are undergoing spiritual warfare, and the Blessed Mother is among those fighting the good fight.
We need her more than ever, God certainly knew what He was doing.
Do you owe your salvation to Mary?
What exactly did she do to redeem your sins?
Did she die on the cross for you?
What sacrifice did she do which atoned for your sins?
Is giving birth to a PERFECT child somehow a sacrifice worthy of praise?
Is raising a PERFECT child somehow a burden on a par with giving your life as a sacrifice for the sins of those who hate you?
I really don't get this obsession with Mary. She's mentioned just a handful of times in the Bible, yet many Catholics put her on an equal plane with Christ. They may say they don't, but they do. I dare say that in my experience, it seems that Catholics by and large pay a lot more attention to Mary than they do to her son.
I suspect you are one of them.