Catholic devotions

For devotions in the Eastern Catholic Churches, refer to the articles on the individual Churches or the corresponding Orthodox Churches.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops defines Catholic devotions as "...expressions of love and fidelity that arise from the intersection of one's own faith, culture and the Gospel of Jesus Christ."[1] Catholic devotions are not part of liturgical worship, even if they are performed in a Catholic church, in a group, or in the presence of (or even led by) a priest.[2] The Congregation for Divine Worship at the Vatican publishes a Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy.[3]

Devotion to saints, with the Virgin Mary as the most prominent example, is a key characteristic of Roman Catholicism.[4] Catholic devotions have various forms, ranging from formalized, multi-day prayers such as novenas[5] to activities which do not involve any prayers, such as Eucharistic adoration outside Mass,[6] the wearing of scapulars,[7] the veneration of the saints, the Canonical coronations of sacred Marian or Christological images and even horticultural practices such as maintaining a Mary garden.[5]

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.

Context and background

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 encourages the cultivation of pious acts and personal devotions; the constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium states, "The spiritual life, however, is not limited solely to participation in the liturgy. ... 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."[8]

Several factors shape the efficacy 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.[7]

Since the Middle Ages, popes have encouraged devotions such as Eucharistic Adoration, 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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11][12]

In Roman Catholic tradition a wide range of practices have developed, from devotions to the Holy Trinity to specific saints ranging from Saint Joseph to Saint Francis Xavier. The three level hierarchy of latria, hyperdulia and dulia determines the appropriate type of worship and veneration for different situations.[13][14] The term latria (from the Greek λατρεία, latreia) is used for worship, adoration and reverence directed only to the Holy Trinity.[15] Dulia (from the Greek δουλεία, douleia) 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]

Various unapproved 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.[10]

Devotions to the Holy Trinity

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.[16] The Novena to the Holy Trinity may include the Glory Be prayer, as well as other prayers, although the other prayers may vary.[17]

According to the Fátima seer Lúcia Santos, in late September or October 1916, the Angel of Peace appeared for the third time to herself and the other visionaries, her cousins Francísco and Jacinta Marto, and taught them a prayer of reparation to the Holy Trinity.[18]

Devotions to Jesus

Secondo Pia's negative of the image on the Shroud of Turin, used in the devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus.

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."[19][20] In many cases Eucharistic adoration is performed by each person for an uninterrupted hour known as the Holy Hour.[21] 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?".[22]

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.[23] 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).[24]

In the Roman Catholic tradition, the Sacred Heart has been closely associated with Acts of Reparation to Jesus Christ.[25]

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).[26] The Devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus was first approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1885.[27] Sister Maria Pierina de Micheli further promoted the devotion based on the image from Secondo Pia's photograph of the Shroud of Turin.[28][29] 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.[30][31]

Other devotions include the Divine Mercy based on the visions of Saint Faustina Kowalska, known as the "Apostle of Mercy",[32] and First Friday devotions which are related to devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.[33][34] and the Chaplet of the Five Wounds.

Marian devotions

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."[35] In 1993 Pope John Paul II encouraged priests to foster devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary.[36]

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.[37][38][39][40]

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.[41]

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.[42][43]

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.[44][45] 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.[46][47][48][49][50]

Other doctrine-based devotions include the Immaculate Conception which was declared a dogma in 1854[48][51][52] In the 20th century Saint Maximillian Kolbe encouraged consecration to the Immaculata, partly relying on the 1858 messages of Our Lady of Lourdes.[53][54]

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.[55]

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".[56]

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.[57][58][59] The Rosary and the devotional scapular continue to be encouraged together as key Marian devotions in the 21st century.[60][61][62][63][64][65][66]

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.[67][68][69][70]

Other Marian devotions include The Five First Saturdays, Seven Joys of Mary and Seven Sorrows of Mary.

Marian Processions

Annual Grand Marian Procession through Downtown Los Angeles

Processions have historically played a significant role in the liturgical and spiritual life of Christians throughout the world. In every culture, public anniversaries, triumphant heroes, religious festivals, and innumerable other events have been marked by parades of local leadership and activists — and participated in by the viewers. In this way, the entire community is able to reaffirm its values and traditions, while inspiring onlookers with a sense of purpose.

In Los Angeles, California, a Marian procession took place annually for roughly the first 100 years following the founding of the city. In an attempt to revive the custom of religious processions, in September 2011 the Queen of Angels Foundation, founded by Mark Anchor Albert, inaugurated an annual "Grand Marian Procession" in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles' historic core.[71][72] This yearly procession, intended to coincide with the anniversary of the founding of the City of Los Angeles, begins outside of the parish of La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora Reina de los Angeles which is part of the Los Angeles Plaza Historic District, better known as "La Placita". By way of city streets, the procession eventually terminates at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels where a public Rosary and Mass in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary are offered.[73] Subsequent years have seen the involvement and participation of numerous chivalric, fraternal, and religious orders, parishes, lay groups, political figures, as well as other religious and civic organizations.

Devotions to saints

In Catholic teachings, saints in Heaven have lasting links with humanity which can provide an abundance of good for the faithful.[74] The Catechism of the Catholic Church (item 957) states:[75]

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.

Devotions to saints may involve specific prayers, or acts such as the naming of schools or children after them. Some devotions seek the intercession of saints, submitting specific petitions to them.[74]

A Saint Michael Chaplet.

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. Saint Joseph's scapular was approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1893.[76] 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 statue 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.[77]

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.[78]

Devotions to Saint George are also widely practiced by Catholics, given that he is one of the most popular saints in Christianity.[79] These devotions and churches built in his honor date to the 6th century.[80]

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.

Other devotional practices

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.[81]

Catholic devotional practices are so wide ranging at the local level 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. 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.[82]

See also

References

  1. ↑ USCCB, "Prayers and Devotions"
  2. ↑ Santi, Angelo de. "Liturgical Chant." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 29 May 2013
  3. ↑ Congregation for Divine Worship, Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, Vatican City, December 2001. Archived June 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Dues, Greg. Catholic Customs and Traditions:,p. 106, 1993, ISBN 0-89622-515-1
  5. 1 2 Ball, p. 341.
  6. ↑ Ball, p. 11.
  7. 1 2 Thurston, Herbert. "Popular Devotions." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 29 May 2013
  8. ↑ Pope Paul VI, Sacrosanctum Concilium, Vatican City, December 4, 1963 Archived February 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ Vatican Directory of Devotions item 11. Archived June 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  10. 1 2 Rev Neil J. Roy, in Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices by Ann Ball, 2003 ISBN 0-87973-910-X pages 1-16
  11. ↑ Rowe, William. Images of power: iconography, culture and state in Latin America, p. 271, ISBN 1-57181-533-3
  12. ↑ Fodor's Mexico 1996 ISBN 0-679-03249-5 page 242
  13. 1 2 Summa Theologiae: Volume 41, Virtues of Justice in the Human Community by Thomas Aquinas and T. C. O'Brien 2006 ISBN 0-521-02949-X pages 40-45
  14. 1 2 Summa Theologica, Volume 3 by Thomas Aquinas 2007 ISBN 1-60206-558-6 page1633
  15. ↑ Cabrol, Fernand. "Christian Worship." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 29 May 2013
  16. ↑ Trawicky, Bernard and Gregory, Ruth Wilhelme. Anniversaries and holidays, p. 225, 2000, ISBN 0-8389-0695-8
  17. ↑ Ball, p. 392.
  18. ↑ "Third Apparition of the Angel", Fatima-EWTN
  19. ↑ Stravinskas, p. 409.
  20. ↑ Sacred Congregation of Rites, Instruction On Eucharistic Worship, item 60
  21. ↑ Christopher, Joseph P. Raccolta, 2003, ISBN 0-9706526-6-6 pages 107-108
  22. ↑ Stravinskas, p. 498.
  23. ↑ Ball.
  24. ↑ Bainvel, Jean. "Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 29 May 2013
  25. ↑ Pope Pius XI, Miserentissimus Redemptor Archived August 12, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  26. ↑ "Golden Arrow", Catholic Tradition
  27. ↑ Cruz, Joan Carroll. Relics, p.57, (Sep 1984), OSV Press, ISBN 0879737018
  28. ↑ Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus Address 30 May 2010
  29. ↑ "Holy Face nun beatified, remembered by Pope Benedict XVI". Catholic News Agency. May 30, 2010.
  30. ↑ Cruz, Joan Carroll. Saintly Men of Modern Times. (2003) ISBN 1-931709-77-7
  31. ↑ Holy Face Devotion
  32. ↑ Alan Butler and Paul Burns, 2005, Butler's Lives of the Saints, Burns and Oats ISBN 0-86012-383-9 page 251
  33. ↑ Stravinskas, p. 428.
  34. ↑ White, p. 35.
  35. ↑ Catechism of the Catholic Church, Vatican
  36. ↑ Priests Must Foster Devotion to Mary, General Audience June 30, 1993, Vatican
  37. ↑ The Blessed Virgin Mary in England by Brother Anthony Josemaria 2008 ISBN 0-595-50074-9 pages 401-403
  38. ↑ Fiat, M. Antoine. Life of Blessed John Gabriel Perboyre, Priest of the Congregation of the Mission, p. 56, ISBN 1-115-29333-8
  39. ↑ Saint Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary, 1868, ISBN 0-7648-0664-5 page 139
  40. ↑ McNally, Terrence, What Every Catholic Should Know about Mary ISBN 1-4415-1051-6 pages 144-147
  41. ↑ Pope John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Vatican
  42. ↑ Delany, Francis Xavier. "Raccolta." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 29 May 2013
  43. ↑ Joseph P. Christopher et al., 2003 The Raccolta St Athanasius Press ISBN 978-0-9706526-6-9
  44. ↑ Bulman, Raymond F. and Parrella, Frederick J., From Trent to Vatican II: historical and theological investigations p. 182, 2006 ISBN 0-19-517807-6
  45. ↑ Koenig-Bricker, Woodene. Praying with the saints, p. 134, 2001 ISBN 0-8294-1755-9
  46. ↑ Tylenda, Joseph N. Saints and feasts of the liturgical year, p. 118, 2003, ISBN 0-87840-399-X
  47. ↑ Stravinskas, p. 485.
  48. 1 2 Murphy, pp. 59-60.
  49. ↑ O'Donnell, Timothy Terrance. Heart of the Redeemer, p.272, 1992, ISBN 0-89870-396-4
  50. ↑ Calkins, Arthur. The Theology of the Alliance of the Two Hearts, Missio Immaculatae (English Edition) Year III, N° 4 (May to December 2007).
  51. ↑ White p. 34.
  52. ↑ "Agenzia Fides - Congregazione per l'Evangelizzazione dei Popoli". Fides.org. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
  53. ↑ Rasmussen, Martha, The Catholic Church: the first 2,000, p. 261, 2003, ISBN 0-89870-969-5
  54. ↑ Flinn, Frank K. and Melton, J. Gordon. Encyclopedia of Catholicism, pp. 409-410, 2007, ISBN 0-8160-5455-X
  55. ↑ Saint Louis de Montfort "Secret of the Rosary" ISBN 978-0-89555-056-9
  56. ↑ Vauchez, Andre. Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages, p. 1314, 2001, Fitzroy Dearborn Press ISBN 978-1-57958-282-1
  57. ↑ Vatican website for Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution Indulgentiarum Doctrina
  58. ↑ Petrisko, Thomas. Inside Heaven and Hell, p.105, 2000, St. Andrews Press ISBN 978-1-891903-23-6
  59. ↑ Pope John Paul II, 1996, Gift And Mystery, Doubleday Books ISBN 978-0-385-40966-7 page 28
  60. ↑ Cardinal Urges Devotion to Rosary and Scapular, Zenit, 2008
  61. ↑ Petrisko, Thomas W. The Fatima Prophecies, p. 345, St. Andrews Press, 1998, ISBN 978-1-891903-30-4
  62. ↑ Santos, Lucia. Fatima in Lucia's Own Words, Ravengate Press, 1976, ISBN 0-911218-10-6
  63. ↑ Lederhendler, Eli. Jews, Catholics, and the Burden of History, p.98, Oxford University Press, 2006, ISBN 0-19-530491-8
  64. ↑ Hilgers, Joseph. "Scapular." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 29 May 2013
  65. ↑ EWTN on the History of the Brown Scapular
  66. ↑ Lea, Henry Charles. A History of Auricular Confession and Indulgences in the Latin Church, p. 498, Adamant Media Corp., 2002, ISBN 1-4021-6108-5
  67. ↑ The Hindu Newspaper
  68. ↑ Vatican website: John Paul II at Lichen Archived October 23, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  69. ↑ Hermkens, Anna-Karina and Jansen, Willy. Moved by Mary: The Power of Pilgrimage in the Modern World, p. 217, 2009 ISBN 0-7546-6789-8
  70. ↑ Notitiae, bulletin of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 2002, pages 194-195
  71. ↑ http://www.thequeenofangels.com/wp-content/media/tidings-online20110906.pdf
  72. ↑ http://www.thequeenofangels.com/wp-content/media/marian_procession_seeks_prayer_for_los_angeles_on_citys_birthday___ewtn_n.pdf
  73. ↑ http://www.thequeenofangels.com/wp-content/media/tidings-online20110902.pdf
  74. 1 2 Ball, p. 504-505.
  75. ↑ Vatican website: Catechism of the Church, item 957
  76. ↑ Ball, p. 576.
  77. ↑ Ball, p. 275.
  78. ↑ Raccolta Manual of Indulgences Published by St Athanasius Press, 2003 ISBN 0-9706526-6-6 page 340
  79. ↑ Roy, Christian. Traditional Festivals, p. 408, 2005, ISBN 978-1-57607-089-5
  80. ↑ Trombley, Frank. Hellenic religion and Christianization, p. 345, Published by BRILL, 1994 ISBN 90-04-09691-4
  81. ↑ Storey, William G. A Catholic Book of Hours and Other Devotions, pp. xiii-xi, 2007, ISBN 0-8294-2584-5
  82. ↑ Lovell, Charles Muir. Art and faith in Mexico, pp. 43-44, 2001, ISBN 0-8263-2324-3

Sources

Further reading

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