Marian Devotion

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Hi Everyone,
I am a new Catholic, received into full communion this past Easter. However, I have been a Christian for almost 40 years in the Protestant faith.

A couple of weeks ago I agreed to join a small group at church doing a Marian devotion retreat. I got the book and the workbook, and went to the first meeting at which we watched a DVD for a few minutes and then discussed it. Every day throughout this week we are to read a devotional from the book, pray the prayer and ponder it, and do the work book. However, I have become very uncomfortable with this. I am very uncomfortable with some of the ideas in the book, and I’m not sure I can continue to the second meeting. For example, the author says we should offer Mary everything, including the right to dispose of the graces of our good works. I don’t mean to be critical, nor am I trying to minimize the role that Mary has in our lives. However, I am uncomfortable with this concept. Perhaps it is the many years that I spent as a Protestant; I don’t know. Anyway, I am thinking of quitting. I don’t mean to be critical of anyone or their devotion, I’m just not sure this is for me. Can someone please offer me some guidance and suggestions?
 
pkrjenkins said:
For example, the author says we should offer Mary everything, including the right to dispose of the graces of our good works. I don’t mean to be critical, nor am I trying to minimize the role that Mary has in our lives. However, I am uncomfortable with this concept. Perhaps it is the many years that I spent as a Protestant; I don’t know. Anyway, I am thinking of quitting. I don’t mean to be critical of anyone or their devotion, I’m just not sure this is for me. Can someone please offer me some guidance and suggestions?
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It sounds like the devotion as written by St. Louis deMontfort. I was never able to embrace this, either, though his advocates understand it to be very correct and somethng they feel called to practice.

If this is “not for you” then let it be. There is certainly no obligation to make it one’s own. Your being uncomfortable is a good sign that you aren’t being called to it. Be assured that it is not a devotion that the universal Church practices.
 
As a new Catholic, I think you might be plunging into the deep end of the pool. A devotion, even to God, is something that you must be called to, and is a grace which you receive from God. That being said, give the faith time to develop in your heart. If you never develop a deep devotion to her, I have little doubt that you will be very fond of the mother who Christ chose for Himself and for His Church. As a very comfortable alternative at this point in your faith journey, consider the absolute best kept secret in all of Christianity: a devotion to Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Talk about a personal relationship! It truly is you and the Lord, contemplating one another. Amazing things happen there. Miracles. Feel the presence not only of Christ, but of the Holy Spirit. If you do not currently spend a holy hour with our Lord (based on Matthew 26:40, Mark 14:37), please consider it. The spiritual benefits are incalculable. And, you will find that in faith, as in life, you cannot meet Jesus without eventually also meeting His mother.
 
I agree it’s a bit heady for someone new to the Faith. I’d suggest you start with Scott Hahn’s book Hail Holy Queen. Dr. H having been a Protestant minister and quite opposed to what he had been taught the Catholic Church teaches and believes came to the Church by reading what we believe from the source. There are other good books, but I’d start there.

The Church does not require Marian Devotions, or the invocation of the Saints, but does require that we hold that when our Lady and the Saints are venerated, and their lives are upheld as examples of great spiritual conformity to Christ that it is proper and not contrary to God’s law.

While the proper veneration and communion with our Lady and the Saints brings us closer to Christ, like any relationship you need to come to know and understand each other first. You don’t marry someone in the first hours after you meet them. So to with devotion to our Lady and the Saints, you must come to know them as reflections of God’s goodness, and not the source of His glory.
 
This is kinda out of topic, so I apologize in advance… But…

:clapping::tiphat:👋 WELCOME HOME!

I agree with the others. To me, devotions are like deepening the relationship between ourselves and God or Mary/the saints. But before that takes place, we do need to have an active relationship with them to be able to take it to the next level. Many former Protestants do talk about having baggage about Mary, even if it’s unintentional. I think that’s quite normal at the beginning.

If you are interested in other devotions, Eucharistic Adoration is a very beautiful and humbling devotion. There’s a solemnness about Eucharistic Adoration (and, if your parish has it, Holy Hour) that attracts me very much to it. You can pray, but mostly you’re there to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. It is indeed wonderful.
 
I was a Protestant before being Catholic. I developed Marian devotion over many years. I started by thinking about her words at Cana: “Do whatever He tells you.” This idea is always at the basis of Marian devotion. We only go to her so that she can send us to her Son and help us to do His will.
 
Hello everyone,

I was wondering how it is that a catholic can feel comfortable engaging in something like this and still feel as if one if holding fast to the tradition of the apostles ? Something like this is hard to find in the first 900 years of the Christian religion. I understand you have prayers to saints, there is no question about that. However, to devote one’s life to Mary…this seems a bit of a stretch.
 
God_Seeker said:
Hello everyone,

I was wondering how it is that a catholic can feel comfortable engaging in something like this and still feel as if one if holding fast to the tradition of the apostles ? Something like this is hard to find in the first 900 years of the Christian religion. I understand you have prayers to saints, there is no question about that. However, to devote one’s life to Mary…this seems a bit of a stretch.
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The authentic Catholic idea, which is supported in the first 900 years, even if not as fully developed is not a replacement of Christ by Mary, as it is adopting Mary as an example and advocate, follwing her example of how to commune with Christ. She is as much an advocate in heaven as those who support our spiritual lives here on earth.
 
I’m a former Protestant too, and had issues with the same thing initially.

Just remember that’s it’s not something you’re forced into, and very importantly it’s not something that you need to rush at all. You’re not somehow less of a Catholic if you don’t embrace this right away.

If I were you, I would focus on other areas of the Church, and just let Marian devotion develop naturally on it’s own over time, don’t try to force it. I kind of tried to force it at first, and it didn’t really click, but then I decided to sort of leave it to God and the devotion developed on it’s own in a natural way.

Just don’t let it be a negative influence on the rest of your faith. If it doesn’t click right away, please don’t worry about it, just let it happen in it’s own time.

I’ll be praying for you 🙂
 
pkrjenkins said:
Hi Everyone,
I am a new Catholic, received into full communion this past Easter. However, I have been a Christian for almost 40 years in the Protestant faith.

A couple of weeks ago I agreed to join a small group at church doing a Marian devotion retreat. I got the book and the workbook, and went to the first meeting at which we watched a DVD for a few minutes and then discussed it. Every day throughout this week we are to read a devotional from the book, pray the prayer and ponder it, and do the work book. However, I have become very uncomfortable with this. I am very uncomfortable with some of the ideas in the book, and I’m not sure I can continue to the second meeting. For example, the author says we should offer Mary everything, including the right to dispose of the graces of our good works. I don’t mean to be critical, nor am I trying to minimize the role that Mary has in our lives. However, I am uncomfortable with this concept. Perhaps it is the many years that I spent as a Protestant; I don’t know. Anyway, I am thinking of quitting. I don’t mean to be critical of anyone or their devotion, I’m just not sure this is for me. Can someone please offer me some guidance and suggestions?
Click to expand...
This is the “33 Days to Morning Glory” program, based on the writings of St Louis DeMonfort, Mother Theresa, JPII, and St Maximilian Kolbe. I understand the difficulty you are having, as I started this program (by my self) and got stuck at the same place. And I am a cradle Catholic. For myself, I put the book down and prayed to the Holy Spirit to guide me in this and give me understanding. I trust Him to show me what I am lacking here, or even if this consecration is for me.

The fact that I got stuck in that area and was unable to continue has nothing to do with my love for Mary–she is my spiritual Mother and I pray for her intercession, and believe everything taught about her and love her very much. I just am not enlightened enough to understand this type of devotion. So do not feel bad. Everyone has their own spirituality and God speaks to everyone a little differently. And sometimes what we don’t understand now will be revealed to us later, when we have grown a bit, or when God wants to lead us into a different direction.

I can’t tell you whether to quit or not, that is between you and God, but I do not think it is unusual for someone to say that a certain type of Devotion is not for them. You are not less of a Catholic because you can’t relate to this type of devotion, and do not let anyone tell you that you are. Pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance in this.
 
Thanks to all of you and your thoughtful answers. I really appreciate it. Yes, this is the “33 Days to Morning Glory” do-it-yourself retreat by Fr. Gaitley. I didn’t read the book prior to the retreat since we are all doing it together. Looking back, if I had it might have helped me make a more informed decision. I have considered continuing to meet with the group and read the book. However, I know that I will not consecrate with the others, as this is something I am uncomfortable doing. Since atttending but not following through seems disingenuous, I have decided to call or email the leader and tell her that I can no longer participate. When I made that decision I felt that a weight had lifted off my shoulders.

It is not that I don’t honor or venerate the Blessed Mother; I pray the rosary every day, and I believe in the role she has in our lives. I simply have some issues with some of the teachings in this book, and this is not something that I truly have a passion for - at least not yet.

Thank you again for your replies and the respectful manner in which you posted them. I sincerely hope I have not offended anyone.
 
It should be noted for others that are viewing this thread that Saint Louis de Montfort’s Total Consecration and Marian devotion is in complete and utter accordance with the Catholic Faith. His writings were put under ecclesiastical scrutiny and passed the test. It has been enjoyed by no less than 8 Popes and is of great antiquity. Saint Louis did not sit down one day and decided to create an entire Mariology on his own. He looked to the history of the Church and there found the answer. Consider for a moment that Saint Alphonsus and Saint Louis where contemporaries for a while. Yet they were completely unaware of each other and had no contact with each other or influence on each other. They both independently produced two monumental works of Mariology that say the same thing. The Glories of Mary and the True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin respectively. Because they both looked to the same sources. Those being found in the Church’s illustrious history.

This is a true and faithful Catholic devotion.

I believe every one is called to this devotion but that doesn’t mean every one should sign up for it from day one! Someone may be called to the priesthood but that doesn’t mean they’re ordained a week later. It takes time, prayer and patience. And no Catholic should feel bad if they haven’t made the Consecration. I believe those with a firm and solid Marian devotion will naturally come to do so in the future when they’re ready for it. So take your time and relax.

All one should keep in mind is that Saint Louis speaks in unison with the Church. Holy Mother Church herself proclaims this devotion with joy at Compline when those words are sung. “Hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope!”
 
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