Marian Devotions – Although there is little historical evidence,
it is likely that devotion to Mary began early on in the Christian
tradition. For Christian believers, the gradual recognition that
Jesus was both human and divine made Mary not only his
human mother but also the “Mother of God” (“Theotokos” in
Greek). By the 7th century, the church was celebrating five
annual feasts of the Blessed Virgin. Although the Protestant
Reformers rejected many of the claims made for Mary, the
Catholic Counter-Reformation vigorously promoted them and
popular devotion to Mary grew, especially in Spain and France.
Mary’s Immaculate Conception, a feast first celebrated in the
15th century, was proclaimed a doctrine of the Church in 1854;
her assumption into heaven was proclaimed a doctrine in 1950.
In 1964, the Second Vatican Council recommended that
devotion of the Blessed Virgin be generously fostered, but
warned against exaggerations of Marian devotion which distract
from focus on Christ, “the source of all truth, sanctity and piety”
(Sacred Constitution on the Church, #67). Marian apparitions
are considered to be private revelations; according to the
Catechism of the Catholic Church, apparitions don’t improve or
complete Christ’s definitive Revelation, but help the faithful to
live it more fully at a certain period of history” (cf. #67). The
primary Marian feasts which the church celebrates each year
are: Mother of God (January 1), Purification (February 2),
Annunciation (March 25), Queen of Heaven (May 31),
Assumption into heaven (August 15) birth (September 8), and
the Immaculate Conception (December 8).
• Angelus – The Angelus (from the Latin word for angel) developed as a pious practice by
which
Christians were called to daily prayer each morning, noon and evening by the ringing of the
local
Church bells. The Angelus consists of praying three Hail Marys and reflecting on Mary’s role in
the
Incarnation: the annunciation, Mary’s response to God’s invitation, and the Lord’s birth. It
began with a
Daily evening prayer and was expanded in the thirteenth century to include a morning and
noontime
Prayer. Over the years, the noontime Angelus became the most popular and is famously
depicted in
Jean-Francois Millet’s painting (here) of a farm couple at prayer in their field.
• Apparitions – Over the years, various pious individuals (called “visionaries”) have reported
Supernatural experiences in which they perceived an encounter with the Blessed Virgin and
received
A message from her. These “apparitions” are considered private revelations which reinforce
but
Cannot add to the deposit of faith received by the original Christian community from Jesus
himself. Of
Almost 300 apparitions reported over the years, the church has declared only 12 as credible
experiences
Worthy of belief. Official approval depends upon the probability of actual fact, the mental and
spiritual
Reliability of the visionary(s), freedom from theological error, and the spiritual fruits of the
event leading
To a deeper conversion of heart, greater prayer, and works of charity. Although often highly
Encouraged, belief in Marian apparitions is not required by the Catholic faithful. The most
popular
Marian apparitions occurred at Walsingham, England (1061), Prouille, France (1208),
Guadalupe,
Mexico (1531), Rue du Bac in Paris (1830), LaSalette, France (1846), Lourdes, France (1858),
Knock, Ireland (1879), Fatima, Portugal (1917), Beauraing, Belgium (1932–1933), and Banneux,
Belgium (1933). The church has not officially approved reported apparitions at Medjugorje in
Bosnia/Herzegovina which were first reported in 1981; church officials have rejected claims for
Apparitions in Necedah, Wisconsin and Bayside, New Jersey.
• Immaculate Heart of Mary – Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a symbol of God’s
love
For the world and Mary’s maternal love for the church, emerged in the Middle Ages and grew
in the
Seventeenth century as it was more prominently associated with devotion to the Sacred Heart
of
Jesus. The devotion was enhanced in the 20th century as the result of Mary’s reference to her
Immaculate heart in an apparition at Fatima, Portugal in 1917. Pope Pius XII dedicated the
world to
The Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1942. Over the years, popular devotion to the Immaculate
Heart
Was associated with attending Mass and receiving Holy Communion on the first Saturday of
each
Month. The church celebrates the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the Saturday
following
The feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
• Legion of Mary – The Legion of Mary is an apostolic lay organization created by members of
the
St. Vincent de Paul Society in Dublin, Ireland, in 1921. Members are dedicated to non-material
Social and charitable assistance to those in need. The creation of the Legion was inspired by
Frank
Duff, an Irish layman, and shaped by the Marian spirituality of St. Grignion de Montfort. In
addition
To apostolic work, the activity of Legion members consisted of a regular weekly meeting and
Designated prayers. Its spirituality prefigured the “universal call to holiness” promoted by the
Second Vatican Council. The organization spread to the United States in 1931 and by mid-
century
Was one of the largest lay associations functioning in Catholic parishes throughout the world.
• Miraculous Medal – In 1830 St. Catherine Laboure, a French nun, reported a vision in which
Mary revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception and requested that a medal be fashioned
Honoring the vision. The result was an oval medal, with an image of Mary standing on the
globe and
Crushing a serpent under her feet (here); the image is surrounded by the words “O Mary,
conceived
Without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.” On the reverse side are twelve stars and
Representations of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary. The medal
became
Popularly known as “the Miraculous Medal” because of numerous and presumably miraculous
favors
Reported by people who wore it.
• Our Lady of Fatima – Devotion to Our Lady of Fatima developed following a series of six
Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin between May and October, 1917, in Fatima, Portugal. During
her
Appearances to three peasant children, ages 10, 8 and 7, Mary revealed herself as the “Lady of
the
Rosary” and requested daily recitation of the rosary for world peace and an end to World War
I. She
Also urged that Russia, then on the verge of the October Revolution, be consecrated to her
Immaculate Heart. At the final appearance on October 13 witnesses reported seeing unusual
Variations in the appearance and movement of the sun and the occasion became known as
“the day the
Sun danced.” Devotion to Our Lady of Fatima is promoted by the World Apostolate of Fatima,
Formerly known as Our Lady’s Blue Army. In many locations the Apostolate sponsors the
“Pilgrim
Virgin”; these statues of Our Lady of Fatima travel among local homes where neighbors and
Relatives gather regularly to pray the rosary.
• Our Lady of Guadalupe – Devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe is widespread among Latinix
Catholics throughout the Americas. It evolved from the Blessed Mother’s appearances to a
poor
Indigenous man named Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City in 1531. The Virgin was
dressed as
An Aztec princess, an image which according to legend was miraculously imprinted on Diego’s
cloak, and
Spoke in a native dialect. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe became an object of devotion
and a
Symbol of Mary’s special affection for the indigenous Americans converted to Christianity by
Franciscan and Dominican missionaries during the colonial period. Our Lady of Guadalupe was
named
Patron of “New Spain” in 1754, patroness of Latin America in 1910, and patroness of all the
Americas in
1945. Pope John Paul II established December 12 as the official feast day of Our Lady of
Guadalupe,
“Mother and Evangelizer of America,” in 1999
