Multiple devotions to Mary, Multiple questions

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There are a number of devotions to Mary. Is there any error - logical, at least - in saying, perhaps in a litany:
"Mary, Lady of the Snows, pray for us
“Mary, Star of the Sea, pray for us…”

Since these are two separate legends regarding separate apparitions, but relating to one person.

Or rather, is it odd advice to suggest to someone:
“You should pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe and to Our Lady of the Rosary”
since, again, there’s only one Mary?

Also, how are we to understand what “Our Lady of Guadalupe, Empress of the Americas” means, in terms of an individual believer’s life?

Note: I’ve another thread going, that has been going for quite some time, which is a more robust debate. My intent here is not to be difficult or foment discord, but rather to understand, in the minds of those who do practice a devotion to Mary, how this all works out. Or perhaps I’m asking a question that doesn’t need to be asked in the first place.
 
I have been wondering about this as well. Since I’ve started to explore Catholicism, I’ve found myself becoming quite close to Mary, for instance saying the Rosary and including the Hail Mary in my nightly prayers. However, I do not understand these different personas she has based on different apparitions people have supposedly had.
 
Pray the Rosary and Mother Mary will draw you where you will find the most benefit.

For me it is the Immaculate Conception at Lourdes, and Our lady of the Rosary at Fatima.

You do not have to believe any of the apparitions, even those approved by the church.

If a Bishop says he believes what someone has said, a vision, etc. , that does not mean it is approved by the church. So many of them prove to be false. You can check out the source yourself as believers will edit the messages to make them seem okay. Example: The latest movement for the “Lady of All Nations”, mystic “Ida or Ide or Isje Peerdeman.”
Check it out, don’t just fall for it.

Shucks, I am rambling on, sorry. I love the Rosary and the Mother of God.
 
peter26 said:
I have been wondering about this as well. Since I’ve started to explore Catholicism, I’ve found myself becoming quite close to Mary, for instance saying the Rosary and including the Hail Mary in my nightly prayers. However, I do not understand these different personas she has based on different apparitions people have supposedly had.
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A lot of it is no different to the various images we have of Christ.

Do we not at this time of year celebrate Him as a tiny helpless utterly dependent newborn born into poverty among the filth of animals?

And yet do we not also have a devotion to the Infant Jesus of Prague - celebrating a slightly different aspect of Him as an older child?

Do we not have the feast of Christ the King celebrating His Godly dominion over all?

And Good Friday, when He is truly the spotless Lamb of God sacrificed horribly to take away our sins?

And Easter when He is glorious, resplendent, joyously triumphant over death?

And do we not have the feast of Corpus Christi which celebrates His presence in the Eucharist?

Christ, while the same yesterday today and forever means different things at different times and to different folks. Likewise with Our Lady.
 
Hello. I think you post an excellent question. I’m a convert to the Catholic Church and have loved how the Church honours the Mother of the Lord. As I’ve always understood it, Jesus, when dying on the Cross, entrusted the Blessed Mother to St. John and he to her. The Church has always understood that Jesus meant all of us to share in that honour bestowed on St. John- that Mary is our mother, too, and we are to take her into our homes and hearts. Since she is the Mother of the Church and all believers, she has many titles and devotions. Some are related to apparitions, some are not. As for those related to apparitions, a previous poster was correct in stating that the faithful are not required to believe in them, even those approved by the Church. As we understand it, the Deposit of Faith closed with the death of the last Apostle, and nothing can be added or subtracted from it. Other titles and devotions to our Lady can be geographical in nature, as when a country entrusts itself to Mary’s patronage. Other titles of the Blessed Mother relate to the ways in which she helps us, such as Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Our Lady of Prompt Succor. Still other titles relate to Mary’s life of faith, such as Our Mother of Sorrows. Some titles are doctrinal in nature, such as her title of Immaculate Conception.
Now if you want to increase your love for Mary and grow in your relationship to her, I have some suggestions. First, if you get stymied by all the devotions and can’t decide which one to practice, ask the Holy Spirit to choose for you. Mary is the Holy Spirit’s masterpiece and will always help you to honour her. Make sure to talk to the Blessed Mother in your own words, too. Also, think about an area of your life that needs to be more faithful to the Gospel and invoke her help. For instance, if you’re struggling with some sort of sin, you may want to practice the devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, as this could remind you of her constancy and assistance. If you have a lot of painful sad experiences in your life that you’re having trouble getting over, you could practice the devotion to Our Mother of Sorrows. Lastly, whatever devotion(s) you choose, be sure to keep your Bible close by and read it often. I esp. love reading the Gospel passages about the Blessed Mother, because her life of faith was not at all easy, but decidedly inspiring.
Pax Christi
 
Jennifoo said:
Hello. I think you post an excellent question. I’m a convert to the Catholic Church and have loved how the Church honours the Mother of the Lord. As I’ve always understood it, Jesus, when dying on the Cross, entrusted the Blessed Mother to St. John and he to her. The Church has always understood that Jesus meant all of us to share in that honour bestowed on St. John- that Mary is our mother, too, and we are to take her into our homes and hearts. Since she is the Mother of the Church and all believers, she has many titles and devotions. Some are related to apparitions, some are not. As for those related to apparitions, a previous poster was correct in stating that the faithful are not required to believe in them, even those approved by the Church. As we understand it, the Deposit of Faith closed with the death of the last Apostle, and nothing can be added or subtracted from it. Other titles and devotions to our Lady can be geographical in nature, as when a country entrusts itself to Mary’s patronage. Other titles of the Blessed Mother relate to the ways in which she helps us, such as Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Our Lady of Prompt Succor. Still other titles relate to Mary’s life of faith, such as Our Mother of Sorrows. Some titles are doctrinal in nature, such as her title of Immaculate Conception.
Now if you want to increase your love for Mary and grow in your relationship to her, I have some suggestions. First, if you get stymied by all the devotions and can’t decide which one to practice, ask the Holy Spirit to choose for you. Mary is the Holy Spirit’s masterpiece and will always help you to honour her. Make sure to talk to the Blessed Mother in your own words, too. Also, think about an area of your life that needs to be more faithful to the Gospel and invoke her help. For instance, if you’re struggling with some sort of sin, you may want to practice the devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, as this could remind you of her constancy and assistance. If you have a lot of painful sad experiences in your life that you’re having trouble getting over, you could practice the devotion to Our Mother of Sorrows. Lastly, whatever devotion(s) you choose, be sure to keep your Bible close by and read it often. I esp. love reading the Gospel passages about the Blessed Mother, because her life of faith was not at all easy, but decidedly inspiring.
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                            Pax Christi
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Very well stated! 👍
 
To those who’ve responded, how has your relationship with Christ grown as you’ve deepend your relationship with Mary? Do you find that prayer to Our Lady of All Nations leads you to Christ in a different way than prayer to Our Lady of Fatima?
 
losh14 said:
To those who’ve responded, how has your relationship with Christ grown as you’ve deepend your relationship with Mary? Do you find that prayer to Our Lady of All Nations leads you to Christ in a different way than prayer to Our Lady of Fatima?
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I believe,after much research, that the Lady of All Nations is Satan in disguise in order to mock Jesus and the Most Blessed Mother.

The Lady of Fatima:thumbsup:

The Lady of Lourdes:thumbsup:
 
Hello again. It’s been awhile since I’ve posted due to the Holidays. Hope everyone has a blessed Christmas Season and a wonderful New Year. 😃
Hello in particular to our OP, losh14. Again you ask an excellent question about how our relationships to Christ grow as we love and honour His mother. As for me, I find that reflecting on how the Lord worked in Mary’s life makes me deeply appreciate His holiness and compassion to us who, as unworthy sinners, stand before Him with empty hands. We do not deserve His mercy or pardon or all the many daily gifts He gives us. There are hidden blessings every day if only we look for them. He loves us while we were still in our sins, when we loved our sins more than Him, and yet Jesus suffered and died for us still. How can we even begin to fully comprehend this? 🤷
My relationship to the Blessed Mother is pretty simple. I do not practice any new devotions based on apparitions that haven’t been approved by the Church. I don’t see the point. I try to follow St. Therese of Lisieux’s example. She wanted to know the Mary of the Gospels and did not seek after new apparitions. Sadly, some people have an almost tabloid-like attitude towards these- this can be dangerous spiritually. I pray the Liturgy of the Hours- very difficult to learn, but worth it. Hey, this could be a great New Year’s Resolution for those who’ve never prayed it! 👍 I love the Magnificat and the great Marian hymns, especially Tota Pulchra Est- gorgeous. I love the Rosary, but don’t pray it near enough, so this will be one of my New Year’s Resolutions.😛
 
losh14 said:
There are a number of devotions to Mary. Is there any error - logical, at least - in saying, perhaps in a litany:
"Mary, Lady of the Snows, pray for us
“Mary, Star of the Sea, pray for us…”

Since these are two separate legends regarding separate apparitions, but relating to one person.

Or rather, is it odd advice to suggest to someone:
“You should pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe and to Our Lady of the Rosary”
since, again, there’s only one Mary?

Also, how are we to understand what “Our Lady of Guadalupe, Empress of the Americas” means, in terms of an individual believer’s life?

Note: I’ve another thread going, that has been going for quite some time, which is a more robust debate. My intent here is not to be difficult or foment discord, but rather to understand, in the minds of those who do practice a devotion to Mary, how this all works out. Or perhaps I’m asking a question that doesn’t need to be asked in the first place.
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If you prefer, you could just say, “Mary, pray for me”.
Just a thought.
 
Thank you all kindly for your thoughts. I’ll add a few responses here.

I’ll say that my spirituality does not include a Marian component, and that’s by choice. It’s something I’ve never understood and so never been able to practice with any sort of intention - ie, saying the Magnificat or singing the Ave Maria is just words to me. I know it’s not like that for those who practice a Marian devotion, otherwise you’d likely not do it. Hence my questions, since this is something outside of my understanding.
fred_conty said:
If you prefer, you could just say, “Mary, pray for me”.
Just a thought.
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When I pray I do ask the Lord for the angels and saints to pray alongside me.
Jennifoo said:
Hello again.
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Merry Christmas, Jennifoo. Maranatha, Kyrie Iesu!
Jennifoo said:
As for me, I find that reflecting on how the Lord worked in Mary’s life makes me deeply appreciate His holiness and compassion to us who, as unworthy sinners, stand before Him with empty hands.
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Women I know who are devoted to Mary echo much of what you say, in that they reflect upon Mary’s life and the Lord’s work in her. I could say the same when I read Scripture written by Paul or John, since I think of them in a fatherly fashion and can relate fatherhood to them, and also because Paul in particular wrote so much about himself, the Pauline epistles have some extraordinarily personal moments in them. Mary’s somewhat less revealed, and I long wish that the author of Acts had talked a little more about her role in the early Church at Jerusalem - did the Apostles look to her in a motherly fashion or was it more reverent?
Jennifoo said:
My relationship to the Blessed Mother is pretty simple. I do not practice any new devotions based on apparitions that haven’t been approved by the Church.
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1_with_God said:
I believe,after much research, that the Lady of All Nations is Satan in disguise in order to mock Jesus and the Most Blessed Mother.
Click to expand...
The apparitions do concern me greatly. I fear that devotees (not all, but certainly some) may get carried away by love and so are easily swayed into following something that is not founded. For example, the vision of Our Lady of the Snows was not recorded for centuries, which immediately casts it as suspect in my mind, and the literary genre of “Miracles of the Virgin” strikes me as more folk spirituality than something on which we can rely (as the genre includes tales of Mary pulling souls out of Hell). And Scripture cautions both to not be swayed by visions, and to test all spirits. So while the details in Juan Diego’s cloak, and the reports of more than 100,000 people witnessing the sun dance at Fatima are deeply interesting and present evidence to consider, other apparitions are less compelling.
 
Iosh, you said,
…is it odd advice to suggest to someone:
“You should pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe and to Our Lady of the Rosary”
since, again, there’s only one Mary?

Then I responded,
If you prefer, you could just say, “Mary, pray for me”.

Then you responded,
When I pray I do ask the Lord for the angels and saints to pray alongside me.

What I intended to say, and perhaps said it poorly, is that if you prefer not to use various titles of Mary, then just say “Mary,…” leaving off titles.

Just a clearification on my part.
 
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