Marian devotion? Yea or nay?

[Newbie2]

This is not a “Do you accept the Church teaching on Mary” thread, rather, a “Do you practice “extra” Marian devotion or not and why or why not”.

Poor choice of words in the question, perhaps, but this sort of a split off another thread and undoubtably a repeated topic.

Personally, while I accept Catholic Marian theology, it’s difficult for me to “get into”. Perhaps a Lutheran upbringing and midlife conversion have something to do with it.

I guess I’m particularly interested in others opinions who don’t “get into” Marian devotion. I’d also like to limit the “try it, you’ll like it” responses, because I’ve heard them all.

 

[Aquinas74]

This is not a “Do you accept the Church teaching on Mary” thread, rather, a “Do you practice “extra” Marian devotion or not and why or why not”.

Poor choice of words in the question, perhaps, but this sort of a split off another thread and undoubtably a repeated topic.

Personally, while I accept Catholic Marian theology, it’s difficult for me to “get into”. Perhaps a Lutheran upbringing and midlife conversion have something to do with it.

I guess I’m particularly interested in others opinions who don’t “get into” Marian devotion. I’d also like to limit the “try it, you’ll like it” responses, because I’ve heard them all.

Yes, I pray the three Hail Mary’s every morning and night. I also have begun praying the litany of oor lady of loretto. I understand the challenges that converts face. My father is a convert. I will be sure to remember you in my prayers.

 

[reff]

I say my rosary regularly, when I say my prayers at night, I say the Memorare, one hail mary, and a glory be. I love giving my devotion to the Blessed Mother of God.

P.S. I’m not a baptized Catholic and my RCIA doesn’t start until August

 

[SwizzleStick]

I’ve prayed the rosary daily for the last few years. There was a time when I also fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays, only eating bread and drinking water on those days. Now I only avoid meat on Fridays, which has nothing to do with the Blessed Mother, but is just my Friday penance.

There was a time when I read everything I could get my hands on regarding Marian apparitions from the library at Church, as well as our local public library. There are many books on the subject available (it was from information from them that I began the fasting on bread/water). I also read a book about Mary’s life as written by a mystic. That was a bit strange to me and I don’t know that I accept it as truth or not. Anyway, as of now, I only pray the rosary daily.

 

[Stylteralmaldo]

Marian devotion: Yea.

Why?:

The more I delve into Marian devotion the closer I have come to know Christ.

Why does it bring me closer to Christ?:

My relationship with Mary teaches me how to be a Christian as God intended. To know Mary is to know, by her example and encouragement, how to follow Jesus.

 

[jmcrae]

I don’t practice any kind of devotions regularly, but I always enjoy them when I think of them and do them.

I’m a mid-life convert, too.

 

[scylla]

Yea, I believe it is a must.

Unfortunately it is difficult for those who convert sometimes and for those who have baggage from non-catholic influences.

The real problem is the recent innovation of rejecting the freedom to love Mary and the Saints. Is it wrong to show love for others? Showing love for others highlights our faith’s freedom and the importance of our worship as true worship. (Malachi 1:11)

The Mass is the ultimate worship given only to God and as such singing, prayers and ways of showing love do not compare to the one Sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our Salvation which is offered at the Mass.

These are good things but one Mass is worth more than a lifetime of good deeds and love as that one Mass is the one Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. So it shows how much we fall short and how much we can show love with freedom as Catholics.

Since a Hail Mary also is just praising the Glory of God then the more I say it the more I praise God.

It took me a while to see this as before I didn’t even want to see a statue of Mary or hear a Hail Mary as it irked me. My wife used to force me to go to Calvary Chapel and even though I resisted it I gained a bit of non-catholic baggage.
I didn’t see the majesty of the Mass and the beauty of love for Mary which centers us on the gift of the incarnation and then our Salvation.

In Christ
Scylla

 

[BSHoop96]

This is not a “Do you accept the Church teaching on Mary” thread, rather, a “Do you practice “extra” Marian devotion or not and why or why not”.

Poor choice of words in the question, perhaps, but this sort of a split off another thread and undoubtably a repeated topic.

Personally, while I accept Catholic Marian theology, it’s difficult for me to “get into”. Perhaps a Lutheran upbringing and midlife conversion have something to do with it.

I guess I’m particularly interested in others opinions who don’t “get into” Marian devotion. I’d also like to limit the “try it, you’ll like it” responses, because I’ve heard them all.

Newbie, yes I think being a convert has something to do with it. My husband is converting also and that was something he really had to study up on. Catholic views on Mary cause much confusion in the protestant world mostly due to not understanding what Catholics really believe. That being said as long as you follow the Church’s belief on Mary you do not have to have “Marian devotion” as I assume you are referring to, to be a good Catholic. As a matter of fact some of our practicing Catholics come to Inquiry Class just because they like to. We had one very knowledgeable older Catholic man, probably in his seventies. He said he hadn’t said a rosary since he was a little kid, never could understand how you could say the prayers and focus on something else (the mysteries) and he just never got into it. Then you have on the other hand those who go to the complete opposite side of the spectrum and actually, and this is my personal opinion so everyone please remain calm , carry it too far. And btw, I am a member of our Rosary group at Church, just in case anyone thinks I am against Marian devotion.

 

[brycelaliberte]

It probably helps that I’m a younger convert (entering the Church next Easter) so I didn’t have as much baggage regarding prayers or devotions to saints.
I pray my rosary every night, and with my friend every Saturday night. It has given me an amazing sense of the glory of God and the power of prayer.

Try reading St. Louis Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary. It should help, at least a little bit.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

I have found that parishes, not just individuals, who have a devotion to Mary stay pretty orthodox. I can think of one parish here in the greater Chicago area that does not, along with no Eucharistic adoration whatsoever, along no confessions at all. They are experiencing great problems at this point.

As for me, I try to do five decades a day. I also try to say the Miraculous Medal prayer every day.

 

[Marsha_Adams]

I converted as an adult 27 years ago. From the beginning I was drawn to a devotion to Our Lady, probably because the Priest who baptized and confirmed me and the friend who introduced me to that priest both were very Marian oriented.

I’m not particularly pious, and don’t do many “extra” devotions, but I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Our Lady.

 

[water]

I guess I’m particularly interested in others opinions who don’t “get into” Marian devotion. I’d also like to limit the “try it, you’ll like it” responses, because I’ve heard them all.

Hi Newbie!!

If you go to mass and during mass your ask for Virgin Mary and the Saints to intercede for you, what is it that you try to find in people who don’t ask for their intercession. Would this make you feel better because you are not alone?

Personnally, I’ve been Catholic all my life, but I have a conversion due to the devotion to Our Lady - She is the One that helps me back to the faith. She is still leading the way to Jesus.

If you are somehow having interest in the devotion, read about the devotion to Our Lady by many saints. The first one in mind is Saint Louis de Montfort.

 

[ladylinguist]

I pray the rosary once or twice a week, but I don’t have an especial devotion to Mary. Like you, I’m a convert and Marian devotion is something that I’m still not entirely comfortable with. The rosary is easy, because you’re focusing on events of Jesus’ life, even if you are saying the Hail Mary.

 

[Newbie2]

I will be sure to remember you in my prayers.

Thank you.

Hi Newbie!!

If you go to mass and during mass your ask for Virgin Mary and the Saints to intercede for you, what is it that you try to find in people who don’t ask for their intercession. Would this make you feel better because you are not alone?

.

I’m not sure. I have no issues with the “normal” asking for intercessions from Mary and the Saints druing mass, but really don’t get much out of the “extra” prayers for intercession to Mary. Occasionally, I’ll do so specifically, but I get way more out of the LOTH Office of the Readings than praying the Rosary.

Perhaps that’s a Protestant hangover; i.e. being more associated with scripture.

 

[water]

Thank you.

I’m not sure. I have no issues with the “normal” asking for intercessions from Mary and the Saints druing mass, but really don’t get much out of the “extra” prayers for intercession to Mary. Occasionally, I’ll do so specifically, but I get way more out of the LOTH Office of the Readings than praying the Rosary.

Perhaps that’s a Protestant hangover; i.e. being more associated with scripture.

It’s great that you are having the other devotions; no doubt about that. In my opinion, having devotions does not happen over night. With grace, we grow in our spiritual life and this includes our devotions.

Many times, we do not realize how one prayer had actually helped us until years later. Furthermore, a devotion such as the Rosary, it is a powerful prayer that helps not only us but for many other souls especially for the Holy Souls in Purgatory and for conversion of sinners. Therefore, when you see there is no effect on you, there is always some effects on unknown souls whom you do not know – this can keep you to try to praying the Rosary daily.

 

[brother_sun]

Well, I might be saying something that goes without saying but the Rosary is not just a Marian devotion, it is a Christ Devotion. I would argue that it centers more around Christ than Mary and She points directly to her son. Each mystery brings you closer to the life of Christ.

Your brother in Christ

“If you are what you should be, you will set the world on fire!” --Saint Catherine of Siena

 

[Lief_Erikson]

This is not a “Do you accept the Church teaching on Mary” thread, rather, a “Do you practice “extra” Marian devotion or not and why or why not”.

Poor choice of words in the question, perhaps, but this sort of a split off another thread and undoubtably a repeated topic.

Personally, while I accept Catholic Marian theology, it’s difficult for me to “get into”. Perhaps a Lutheran upbringing and midlife conversion have something to do with it.

I guess I’m particularly interested in others opinions who don’t “get into” Marian devotion. I’d also like to limit the “try it, you’ll like it” responses, because I’ve heard them all.

I’m a very recent convert to Catholicism from Protestantism. I too have some difficulty getting into the Marian devotion, though I accept and greatly appreciate the dogmas. However, I’ll say that a point that helps me very, very much to “get into” Marian devotion is her connection to the ark. I remember how in the Old Testament, the ark of the covenant was the central place where God’s Spirit dwelt. It was God’s temple and absolutely crucial to Israel’s spiritual life. It contained the manna, or bread that came from heaven, and the Ten Commandments, which were the word of God. It also had to be completely clean, immaculate, like the Virgin Mary, and could only be touched by priests who had been ceremonially cleansed. It was an astonishing vessel of God’s power that was crucial to all Israel’s spiritual life.

So that’s how the value of prayer and devotion to Mary is made clear to me. She is the fulfillment of the ark of the covenant, and just as the ark played a crucial role in the spiritual lives of Israel as a point through which God’s presence was made manifest, so Mary, the living ark and fulfilling ark, is crucial to the Church’s spiritual life. Indeed, that is indicated partly by Jesus’ declaration that she is the mother of the Church in John 19:26,27, when Jesus tells the apostle John that she is his mother. Modern Protestants don’t have that good an explanation for how exactly she is the mother of the Church, what her role is, but the Catholic explanation is stupendous.

The Assumption of Mary is also implied in Psalm 132:8, which says, “Rise up, O Lord, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.” This refers, prophetically, to the rise of both Christ and Mary.

All these connections to the ark reveal to me how crucial the role of Mary is for the Church. Just thinking of her as our living ark is extremely helpful.

Praying to Mary is taking some getting used to, for me, but I have found it a very blessed experience when I’ve done it.