A Roman Catholic devotion is a gift (total or partial) of oneself, or one's activities to God. It is a willingness and desire to dedicate oneself to serve God; either in terms of prayers or in terms of a set of pious acts such as the adoration of God or the veneration of the saints or the Virgin Mary.[2][3]
Roman Catholic devotions are "external practices of piety" which are not part of the official liturgy of the Catholic Church but are part of the popular spiritual practices of Catholics.[4][5] Catholic devotions do not become part of liturgical worship, even if they are performed within a Catholic church, in a group, in the presence of a priest.[6] The Congregation for Divine Worship at the Vatican publishes a Directory of devotions and pious practices.[7]
Devotion to saints, with the Virgin Mary as the most prominent example, is a key characteristic of Roman Catholicism.[8] Catholic devotions have various forms, ranging from formalized, multi-day prayers such as Novenas [9] to activities which do not involve any prayers, such as Eucharistic adoration outside Mass,[10] the wearing of scapulars,[4] the veneration of the saints, and even horticultural practices such as maintaining a Mary garden.[9]
Common examples of Catholic devotions include the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Holy Face of Jesus, the various scapulars, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Seven Sorrows of Mary, Novenas to various saints, pilgrimages and devotions to the Blessed Sacrament, and the veneration of saintly images, etc.
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While the Catholic Church considers the liturgy as central to the life and mission of the Church and encourages Catholics to participate in it as often as possible, it also acknowledges the objective nature of the liturgy and also encourages the cultivation of pious acts and personal devotions; the constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium, item 12 stating: "The spiritual life, however, is not limited solely to participation in the liturgy".[11][12]
Building on the Gospel of Matthew 6:6, which encourages private prayer, the Church thus encourages an "interior life" of prayer and devotion and the development of a personal relationship with God, as well as with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels and the saints.[11] The constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium, item 13 states:
Popular devotions of the Christian people are to be highly commended, provided they accord with the laws and norms of the Church, above all when they are ordered by the Apostolic See.[12]
It should be noted that Catholics worship only God and the Holy Trinity. The three level hierarchy of latria, hyperdulia and dulia (which were discussed by both Saints Augustine and Thomas Aquinas) determines the appropriate type of worship and veneration for different situations.[13][14][15] The term latria (from the Greek λατρεία, latreia) is used for worship, adoration and reverence directed only to the Holy Trinity.[16][17] Dulia is the kind of honor given to the communion of saints, with the exception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is honored with hyperdulia. Thus hyperdulia is below latria and above dulia.[13][14][15]
Several factors shape the effects of devotional practice, e.g. a strong emotional appeal, a simplicity of form which puts them within the reach of all, the association with many others engaged in the same practices and their derivation from the example of others considered to lead a holy life.[4]
Since the Middle Ages, popes have encouraged devotions such as Eucharistic Adoration outside of Mass, the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross. However, the position of the Church with respect to the primacy of liturgy over specific devotions has always been maintained.[11][18] On the other hand, pious devotions have influenced some important parts of the Catholic calendar such as the feast of Corpus Christi which arose after petitions by those following the devotion; or various Marian feasts that gradually appeared with the growth of devotions.[11]
In the Catholic tradition a wide range of devotions have been practiced, from the Holy Trinity to specific saints ranging from Saint Joseph to Saint Francis Xavier. Catholic devotions can form the basis of major community events e.g. the statue of our Our Lady of Zapopan attracts over one million pilgrims on October 12 each year as the statue travels through the streets moving from one Cathedral to another.[19][20]
However, various unapproved, yet at times prevalent acts such as the promotion of chain letters that contain prayers or the belief that the use of a statue of Saint Joseph can speed up the sale of a house have been discouraged as non-pious, superstitious and against Catholic values. In general, acts and beliefs that aim at the manipulation of divine power for specific gainful purposes are always condemned as contrary to Catholic devotional practices.[11]
The Novena to the Holy Trinity is a Novena which may include the Glory Be to the Father prayer, as well as other prayers, although the other prayers may vary.[21]
The Feast of the Holy Trinity is a devotional day celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost and honors the three Persons of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.[22]
Devotions involving Acts of Reparation to The Holy Trinity often involve the 20th century apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, which have been approved by the Holy See.[23][24]
Several widespread devotions in the Catholic tradition relate directly to Jesus Christ. Official Catholic teachings consider Eucharistic adoration an important practice which "stimulates the faithful to an awareness of the marvelous presence of Christ and is an invitation to spiritual communion with Him."[25][26] In many cases Eucharistic adoration is performed by each person for an uninterrupted hour known as the Holy Hour.[27] The inspiration for the Holy Hour is Matthew 26:40 when in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before his crucifixion, Jesus asks Peter: "So, could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?".[28]
Some devotions have the form of Acts of Reparation to Jesus Christ for the sufferings and insults that Jesus endured during His Passion or for the sin of blasphemy, e.g. the Golden Arrow Prayer.[29] Devotions involving the Sacred Heart of Jesus first appeared in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, but most current devotions are attributed to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690).[30] In the Roman Catholic tradition, the Sacred Heart has been closely associated with Acts of Reparation to Jesus Christ.[31]
The devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus dates back to Sister Marie of St. Peter in 1843 who reported visions of Jesus and Mary in which she was urged to spread the devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus, in reparation for the many insults Jesus suffered in His Passion. This resulted in The Golden Arrow Holy Face Devotion (Prayer).[32] Sister Maria Pierina de Micheli further promoted the devotion based on the image from Secondo Pia's photograph of the Shroud of Turin. In 1958, Pope Pius XII approved of the devotion and the Holy Face medal and confirmed the Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus as Shrove Tuesday (the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday) for all Roman Catholics.[33][34]
Other devotions include the Divine Mercy based on the visions of Saint Faustina Kowalska, known as the "Apostle of Mercy",[29][35] and First Friday devotions which are related to devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.[36][37] and the Chaplet of the Five Wounds.
A wide range of Marian devotions are practiced by Roman Catholics and the Catechism of the Catholic Church item 971 states: "The Church's devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship."[38] In 1993 Pope John Paul II encouraged priests to foster devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary.[39]
Some beliefs about Marian devotions have been asserted by the saints and theologians, but have not been dogmatically approved by the Church. An example is the belief that Marian devotions are a sign of predestination, supported by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint Bonaventure, and Saint Alphonsus Ligouri as well as R. Garrigou-Lagrange.[40][41][42][43]
In his Apostlic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Pope John Paul II emphasized the importance of Marian devotions by quoting Saint Louis de Montfort:
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, his Holy Mother, and that the more a soul is consecrated to her the more will it be consecrated to Jesus Christ.[44]
Roman Catholic teachings and traditions includes specific devotions as Acts of Reparation to the Virgin Mary for insults that she suffers. The Raccolta Catholic prayer book (approved by a Decree of 1854, and published by the Holy See in 1898) includes a number of such prayers.[29][45][46]
Devotions to the Immaculate Heart of Mary date back to St. Bernard and in the 17th century Saint Jean Eudes obtained the approbation and the first book on the devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.[47][48][49] However, the 1830 reported vision of Saint Catherine Labouré which introduced the Miraculous Medal depicting the thorn-crowned Heart of Jesus and the pierced Heart of Mary had a significant impact on the devotion. Pope Pius XII consecrated the human race to the Immaculate Heart on December 8, 1942.[50][51][52][53][54][55][56]
Other doctrine-based devotions include the Immaculate Conception which was declared a dogma in 1854.[57][58][59] The definition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by Pope Pius IX is viewed as a key example of the use of sensus fidelium generated by Marian devotions which couples with the views of the Magisterium rather than pure reliance on Scripture and Tradition.[59] In the 20th century Saint Maximillian Kolbe encouraged consecration to the Immaculata, partly relying on the 1858 messages of Our Lady of Lourdes.[60][61][62]
Among the many Roman Catholic prayers and devotions, Rosary devotions and spirituality are among the most prominent, and most often recited prayers. The rosary is widely emphasized in Roman Catholic teachings, e.g. Saint Louis de Montfort's widely read book The Secret of the Rosary discusses the religious and mystical views on the rosary from multiple perspectives.[63]
Although the Scapular may have initially started as a Christocentric devotion, by the end of the Middle Ages it had taken on a distinct Marian tone, to the extent that the Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages called it "one of the main Marian devotions of Christendom".[64]
Rosary and scapular devotions have been supported, encouraged and linked by a number of Catholic figures such as popes, saints and cardinals and specific promises and indulgences have been associated with them.[65][66][67] The Rosary and the devotional scapular continue to be encouraged together as key Marian devotions in the 21st century.[68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75]
A number of devotions involve Marian Apparitions, e.g. major and approved apparitions such as Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Fatima or Our Lady of Akita as well as a multitude of regional devotions across the continents from Our Lady of Good Health in India to Our Lady of Licheń in Poland.[76][77][78][79]
Other Marian devotions include The Five First Saturdays, Seven Joys of Mary and Seven Sorrows of Mary.
In Catholic teachings, saints in Heaven have lasting links with humanity which can provide an abundance of good for the faithful.[80] The Catechism of the Catholic Church (item 957) states:
"It is not merely by the title of example that we cherish the memory of those in heaven; we seek, rather, that by this devotion to the exercise of fraternal charity the union of the whole Church in the Spirit may be strengthened. Exactly as Christian communion among our fellow pilgrims brings us closer to Christ, so our communion with the saints joins us to Christ."[81]
Devotions to saints may involve specific prayers, or acts such as the naming of children, schools or children after them.[80] Some devotions seek the intercession of saints, submitting specific petitions to them.[80]
Devotions to Saint Joseph include the Novena to Saint Joseph and the Prayer to Saint Joseph, as well as the Cord of St. Joseph. Saint Joseph's Medal is a sacramental introduced in 1971 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Saint Joseph being declared the patron of the universal church.[82] Saint Joseph's scapular was approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1893.[82] A number of local devotions and customs to Saint Joseph exist around the world, e.g. Alpine regions, Josephstragen (German for carrying Saint Joseph) takes place on the 9 days before Christmas. A statute of Saint Joseph is carried between 9 homes, and on the first day one boy prays to him, on the second day two boys pray, until 9 boys pray the 9th day. The statue is then placed near a manger in the town church on Christmas Eve.[83]
Devotions to Saint Michael involve specific prayers and novenas to him, hymns such as Te Splendor as well as the Scapular of St. Michael the Archangel and the Chaplet of Saint Michael. The Prayer to Saint Michael is also a popular prayer, composed by Pope Leo XIII.[84][85]
Devotions to Saint George are also widely practiced by Catholics, given that he is one of the most popular saints in Christianity.[86] These devotions and churches built in his honor date to the 6th century.[87]
A wide range of other devotions to saints exist, e.g. Novena of Grace is addressed to Saint Francis Xavier, while the Cord of St. Francis is associated with Francis of Assisi.
A wide range of other devotional practices can be found among Catholics. An example is the use of a Home Altar. This practice dates back to the early Christians who used to pray in their homes even before churches were built for public worship. In a Home Altar, a cross usually hangs on the wall, and images of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin and saints may be displayed, along with a copy of the Bible or other devotional literature.[88]
Catholic devotional practices are so wide ranging at the local level that that Catholics in one part of the world may be totally unaware of the local devotional practices in another corner of the world. For instance, devotions to, and the retablos depicting Santa Eduviges (Hedwig of Poland) in Mexico are virtually unknown to other Catholics, and she remains relatively unknown outside Poland.[89] In fact, despite having Spanish influences at their origin, many of the devotions practiced in Mexico are now quite distinct from those practiced in Spain.[89]