The following lectures, I believe, offer great clarity on how the Virgin Mary is to be rightly viewed, understood, and honored in the life of a Christian. If you listen to one, please listen to the other.

http://ancientfaith.com/specials/hopko_lectures/who_is_the_theotokos_part_1-1

http://ancientfaith.com/specials/hopko_lectures/who_is_the_theotokos_part_1-2

Concerning the Mother of God

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.

~St Elizabeth

Luke 1

My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And Holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
In remembrance of His Mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his seed forever.
~Theotokos