Question about Marian apparitions

[Asbestos_Mango]

I’m just wondering about this. A lot of people all over the world seem to have become devoted to a particular Marian apparition whether it be Our Lady of Fatima, or Lourdes, or Mount Carmel.

I’m personally devoted to the Virgin of Guadalupe. Living in the Southwestern U.S., she’s basically the “homegirl” apparition, and is the patroness of the Americas.

I’m just wondering why so many people seem to become attached to different apparitions, instead of just being devoted to the one that appeared in their own country/hometown/continent.

 

[Franciscan]

I’m just wondering about this. A lot of people all over the world seem to have become devoted to a particular Marian apparition whether it be Our Lady of Fatima, or Lourdes, or Mount Carmel.

I’m personally devoted to the Virgin of Guadalupe. Living in the Southwestern U.S., she’s basically the “homegirl” apparition, and is the patroness of the Americas.

I’m just wondering why so many people seem to become attached to different apparitions, instead of just being devoted to the one that appeared in their own country/hometown/continent.

You said you were devoted to our Lady of Gaudelupe. Your reason was that you live in South West. So are you saying you don’t understand why you have this particular devotion?

The answer is that she (Our Lady) took on the appaerance of the indigenous people of the land. To show her solidarity as their mother. Also more people are familiar with the apparitions that occured within their own land. It think it’s just common sense.

 

[Asbestos_Mango]

Um, no.

What I’m asking is, why would someone be more devoted to, oh, heck, I can’t think of the right word, a foriegn apparition rather than the one from your own neighborgood.

I’m not talking about situations where the family was from the Old Country and that was the icon/statue/computer-generated image of the Mother that they grew up with. I’m talking about… oh, how shall I put this?

It just seems like there are a lot of people praying to Our Lady of Someplace Else.

 

[Carrie_Andrews]

I went to Knock Ireland( I hadn’t heard of this apparition until I was planning my trip) and visited the place of Our Ladys apparition there and it made me feel very close to her and the Holy family. I think alot of Irish Catholics have a devotion to Our Lady of Knock. I have a Our Lady of Guadalupe pin on my travel bag. I love reading about her apparitons, but when I pray I don’t use a title to address her. I didn’t know about OL Guadalupe until about 10 years ago, and I’m sure I would have heard about her if I lived out west. Last time I was in AZ I noticed alot of OL of Guadalupe stuff for sale at the souvenir shops and you never see that in the east(at least I never see it).

 

[water]

Um, no.

What I’m asking is, why would someone be more devoted to, oh, heck, I can’t think of the right word, a foriegn apparition rather than the one from your own neighborgood.

I’m not talking about situations where the family was from the Old Country and that was the icon/statue/computer-generated image of the Mother that they grew up with. I’m talking about… oh, how shall I put this?

It just seems like there are a lot of people praying to Our Lady of Someplace Else.

I can only speak for my personal reason. I find the message of Fatima is very important to me. I’ve realized that praying the rosary has saved my soul; hence, I am attached to it.

Well, in fact, it does not really matter because the Virgin Mary is all the same no matter where She appeared to us. It is more important if we listen to her advices and take it to your heart.

 

[CSN]

I guess it’s the same thing about cheering for your favorite team. If you don’t have an apparition right in your area, I suppose you would not automatically choose the closest one.

Also, if you did have one right in your area, it would be surprising not to be attached to that one.

Having said that, I must say “Go Oilers” !

images.google.co.kr/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sportslogos.net/images/Hockey/NHL/EDM_83.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.sportslogos.net/logo.php%3Flo%3D83&h=539&w=545&sz=16&tbnid=HxQPnZBng_EAHM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dedmonton%2Boilers%2Blogo&start=3&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=3

 

[LilyM]

Interesting abou the ‘hometown’ aspect. Of course in Australia we have no such local apparition, although Our Lady Help of Christians is Patroness of Australia (and I live near her shrine). And there are some who have a particular devotion to her.

For whatever reason, though, the real biggie around here (and I love her too) seems to be Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Her image is in most of the local churches, and lots of public Novenas to her as well. I really have not the foggiest idea as to why this title in particular seems so beloved here.

And I just love Our Lady of Guadalupe, for two main reasons. The first is as patroness of the unborn, since I have an interest in prolife issues. But I’m also attracted by the fact that her aspect has such a strong indigenous Mexican flavour to it it. It reminds me that Mary really is for all peoples and places :yup:

 

[Asbestos_Mango]

I guess it’s the same thing about cheering for your favorite team. If you don’t have an apparition right in your area, I suppose you would not automatically choose the closest one.

Also, if you did have one right in your area, it would be surprising not to be attached to that one.

Having said that, I must say “Go Oilers” !

images.google.co.kr/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sportslogos.net/images/Hockey/NHL/EDM_83.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.sportslogos.net/logo.php%3Flo%3D83&h=539&w=545&sz=16&tbnid=HxQPnZBng_EAHM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dedmonton%2Boilers%2Blogo&start=3&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=3

I think a person would be most likely to be attached to the one they grew up with. So, if you’re from the Southwestern US, or Mexico but your family was from Mariopoch, you would be most inclined to OL of Mariopoch or the Virgin of Guadalupe because they would be what you grew up with.

If you didn’t grow up Catholic (and I didn’t, BTW. I was baptized as an infant, confirmed and received my first communion at age 33) I can see becoming attached to the most recent apparition because it would be getting a lot of publicity, and thus be the most familiar but in a sense, that would also be the apparition you grew up with as well.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help doesn’t seem to be geography specific, and I see a lot of icons of her in both Latin and Byzantine churches.

Oh, and in South Bend, IN, the sports bars are segregated.

Notre Dame fans do not drink with Purdue fans.

 

[GoldenArrow]

It just seems like there are a lot of people praying to Our Lady of Someplace Else.

I know EXACTLY what you’re talking about. The Lady of Someplace Else has gotten out of control. This Lady cannot be stopped without a Papal condemnation, I’m afraid, because no one’s listening to the Local Ordinary of “Someplace.”

Know what I mean?

 

[LilyM]

I know EXACTLY what you’re talking about. The Lady of Someplace Else has gotten out of control. This Lady cannot be stopped without a Papal condemnation, I’m afraid, because no one’s listening to the Local Ordinary of “Someplace.”

Know what I mean?

Nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more

I think the Local ordinary of Someplace (I take it you’re referring to a certain place with a first letter between L and N??) is perceived as having been somewhat rough on the seers and their supporters. Which gives them the appearance of being martyrs.

Add to this that Catholics since Vatican 2 have not been well-schooled in the critical importance of the virtue of obedience (even to the Local Ordinary, even when they think he’s wrong) and an awful lot of people are going to come down on their side rather than his. Sad but true.