Kisstheson, of course Mary did not feel the pain that Jesus felt, but she did feel her own pain. And as I said in my previous post, it was the death and resurection of Jesus that gives us salvation and only this. But Mary did support Jesus in His ministry. This is not to say that we are saved through Mary or anyone else but God for that matter. To Jesus goes the glory only He. God does allow all of us to participate in His redemptive work by letting us join our sorrow to His on the cross. That does not mean that my suffering or Mary's is what brings about salvation, only that God can join our suffering to His and allow us to participate in a SMALL manner.
Some people do come to Jesus through Mary. I have known of some people who first came to love Mary and through her to know and love Jesus. But this does not mean that Mary is in any way equal to Jesus, she is the greatest of all the saints and with all the saints she points us to Jesus.
Amy I would also recommend that before you discard the Catholic Church talk to a priest. We are only lay people and are not experts in Catholic theology. There is a reason why God is drawing you back to the Catholic Church, continue to search for the truth, but do so with someone who can answer your questions and help you to understand.
God Bless,
Nancy