ROMAN CATHOLICISM
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Marian devotions are highly prominent within the Roman Catholic tradition, both at papal and popular levels. Pope Paul VI began his Apostolic Exhortation Marialis Cultus with this sentence:
From the moment when we were called to the See of Peter, we have constantly striven to enhance devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.[40]
In Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Pope John Paul II emphasized the importance of Marian devotions as follows:
Since Mary is of all creatures the one most conformed to Jesus Christ, it follows that among all devotions that which most consecrates and conforms a soul to our Lord is devotion to Mary.[41]
At the popular level, for centuries books such as True Devotion to Mary (which influenced Pope John Paul II as a young seminarian) have built a ground swell of Marian devotions among Catholics, to the point that tens of millions of pilgrims visit Marian shrines every year.[42] For instance, the statue of our Our Lady of Zapopan attracts over one million pilgrims on 12 October each year as the statue travels through the streets moving from one Cathedral to another.[43][44]
Marian devotions can take a unifying national dimension, e.g. devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe is a national symbol in Mexico, and in 1979 Pope John Paul II placed Mexico under her protection.[45] Similarly, national devotions to Our Lady of Šiluva resulted in Lithuaniabeing formally consecrated to Mary by Cardinal Sladkevicius and the Chairman of the Lithuanian Parliament, in September 1991.[46]
Marian devotions are also associated with a number of beliefs among Catholics which have not been dogmatically approved by the Church, but have been asserted by saints and theologians. An example is the belief that Marian devotions are a sign of predestination, namely that those who have strong Marian devotions are more likely to go to Heaven.[12] Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in the 12th century, Saint Bonaventure in the 13th century, and Saint Alphonsus Ligouri in the 19th century affirmed this belief, and 20th century theologian Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, who taught Pope John Paul II, supported it with modern theological arguments regarding the "signs of predestination".[12][47][48][49]
[edit]Diversity of devotionsMarian devotions among Roman Catholics are numerous and have diverse cultural dimensions. While there are many well-known devotions, there are many small, local and regional devotions. At the top level Catholic Marian devotions may be categorized into the following non-exclusive groups, based on the characteristics of the devotion:
A series of articles on
Roman Catholic
Mariology
General articles
Overview of Mariology •
Veneration of the Blessed Virgin • History of Mariology
Expressions of devotion
Art • Hymns • Music •Architecture
Specific articles
Apparitions • Saints • Popes •Societies • Hearts of Jesus & Mary • Consecration to Mary
Many other forms of devotional expression take place, e.g. there has also been the long established practice of dedicating side altars in Catholic churches, often called Lady Chapels, to Mary.[66] The tradition of May devotions to the Virgin Mary involves various ceremonies such as the singing of Marian hymns, readings from scriptures, a sermon, and singing by local choirs.[67][68]
From the moment when we were called to the See of Peter, we have constantly striven to enhance devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.[40]
In Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Pope John Paul II emphasized the importance of Marian devotions as follows:
Since Mary is of all creatures the one most conformed to Jesus Christ, it follows that among all devotions that which most consecrates and conforms a soul to our Lord is devotion to Mary.[41]
At the popular level, for centuries books such as True Devotion to Mary (which influenced Pope John Paul II as a young seminarian) have built a ground swell of Marian devotions among Catholics, to the point that tens of millions of pilgrims visit Marian shrines every year.[42] For instance, the statue of our Our Lady of Zapopan attracts over one million pilgrims on 12 October each year as the statue travels through the streets moving from one Cathedral to another.[43][44]
Marian devotions can take a unifying national dimension, e.g. devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe is a national symbol in Mexico, and in 1979 Pope John Paul II placed Mexico under her protection.[45] Similarly, national devotions to Our Lady of Šiluva resulted in Lithuaniabeing formally consecrated to Mary by Cardinal Sladkevicius and the Chairman of the Lithuanian Parliament, in September 1991.[46]
Marian devotions are also associated with a number of beliefs among Catholics which have not been dogmatically approved by the Church, but have been asserted by saints and theologians. An example is the belief that Marian devotions are a sign of predestination, namely that those who have strong Marian devotions are more likely to go to Heaven.[12] Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in the 12th century, Saint Bonaventure in the 13th century, and Saint Alphonsus Ligouri in the 19th century affirmed this belief, and 20th century theologian Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, who taught Pope John Paul II, supported it with modern theological arguments regarding the "signs of predestination".[12][47][48][49]
[edit]Diversity of devotionsMarian devotions among Roman Catholics are numerous and have diverse cultural dimensions. While there are many well-known devotions, there are many small, local and regional devotions. At the top level Catholic Marian devotions may be categorized into the following non-exclusive groups, based on the characteristics of the devotion:
A series of articles on
Roman Catholic
Mariology
General articles
Overview of Mariology •
Veneration of the Blessed Virgin • History of Mariology
Expressions of devotion
Art • Hymns • Music •Architecture
Specific articles
Apparitions • Saints • Popes •Societies • Hearts of Jesus & Mary • Consecration to Mary
- Apparition-based: These include well-known and formally-approved Marian apparitions such as Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Fatima or Our Lady of Akita, and a multitude of regional devotions across the continents from Our Lady of Good Health in India to Our Lady of Licheń in Poland.[50][51] Such devotions have usually resulted in the construction of major Marian churches.[52]
- Doctrine-based: Specific popular teachings and beliefs among Catholics have resulted in Marian devotions, and generated sensus fidelium even before their approval by the Church. For instance, devotions related to the Immaculata and the Immaculate Heart of Mary were widespread among Catholics by late 17th century before Immaculate Conception was declared a dogma in 1854.[53][54][55] Such devotions can evolve over time, e.g. to the joint devotion to the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary.[56][57]
- Life of Mary: Specific episodes in the Life of the Virgin Mary have resulted in devotions that focus on that aspect of her life. Examples include the Seven Sorrows of Mary that recall her sufferings from the Prophecy of Simeon to the Crucifixion of Jesus. The Seven Joys of Mary on the other hand start with the Annunciation and end with her coronation in Heaven. Ongoing devotions such as Acts of Reparation to the Virgin Mary focus on her continued suffering at the present time as a result of insults and blasphemies.[58][59][60]
- Sacramentals: The Rosary and Rosary meditations continue to be key Marian devotions. Over the centuries, among other sacramentals various devotional scapulars, specially the Brown scapular became very popular among Catholics, to the point that the Catholic Encyclopedia stated: "Like the Rosary, the Brown Scapular has become the badge of the devout Catholic."[61][62][63] Joint devotions such as Rosary and scapular and associated devotions such as First Saturday Devotions have followed that trend.
- Miraculous images: Various icons, images and statues of the Virgin have been associated with reports of miraculous events such as healings and have resulted in local and national devotions, and the construction of Marian shrines. Examples include Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil, the Black Madonna of Częstochowa in Poland, Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn in Lithuania, andOur Lady of San Juan de los Lagos in Mexico among many others.
Many other forms of devotional expression take place, e.g. there has also been the long established practice of dedicating side altars in Catholic churches, often called Lady Chapels, to Mary.[66] The tradition of May devotions to the Virgin Mary involves various ceremonies such as the singing of Marian hymns, readings from scriptures, a sermon, and singing by local choirs.[67][68]
MAJOR ROMAN CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS TO MARY
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Apparitions:
Sacramentals:
- Our Lady of Akita
- Our Lady of Fatima
- Our Lady of Good Health
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Our Lady of Međugorje
- Our Lady of Knock
- Alliance of the Hearts
- First Saturday Devotions
- Immaculata
- Immaculate Heart
- Reparation to Mary
- Seven Joys of Mary
- Seven Sorrows of Mary
Sacramentals:
- Brown scapular
- Good Counsel scapular
- Miraculous Medal
- Rosary
- Rosary meditations
- Rosary and scapular
- Scapular of 7 Sorrows
- Black Madonna of Częstochowa
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Our Lady of Aparecida
- Our Lady of Candelaria
- Our Lady of El Rocio
- Our Lady of Good Counsel
- Our Lady of Licheń
- Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos
- Our Lady of Šiluva
- Our Lady of Solitude
- Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn
- Our Lady of Zapopan