Thanks for the replies so far.
However, I should clarify my reason for asking the question, because far from “crumbling” Our Blessed Mother into little pieces, I wish for devotion to her to increase in every corner of the world!
I asked the question because in my diocese there is an annual novena in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help which is conducted by the Redemptorists. However, in recent years (5 - 7) I have become concerned that the preaching at the novena is frequently non-Catholic, and even anti-Catholic at times. Just this year a Redemptorist preacher told everyone to come and receive Holy Communion (in the context of telling a story about a homosexual man receiveing the Sacrament). The year before there were priests openly talking about ordaining women, that the Catholic Church prevents people from thinking for themselves, encouraging divorced persons to enter into second relationships. The list goes on. The liturgical abuses are horrific too. One of my chief concerns is that many of the 15,000+ people who attend the novena every day are not regular Mass-goers and they should rightly be able to assume that what they are being told during sermons is authentically Catholic and that the liturgy is actually that of the Roman Rite. What should be the best opportunity my city has for bringing back the faithful is leading countless souls astray. It was announced last week that two of the preachers are currently under investigation by the CDF for their dissenting views and publications. In short, I do not believe that the Redemptorists, who have conducted the novena here for about 30 years, should be invited back next year - the potential damage to the spiritual welfare of the faithful in my diocese does not bear thinking about.
I am in a delicate position in my diocese, and it is very difficult to air my concerns to the bishop, though it is impossible that he is unaware of what is happening, since the novena takes place in his cathedral church. A friend of mine suggested at a pastoral council meeting that another order could conduct the novena - as far as I can tell, there was no opposition from the clergy on principle, but rather because they believe that only the Redemptorists can conduct the novena in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. This is why I am looking for something concrete regarding the devotion. The situation is very grave…
Of course, I know the novena could be conducted under a different title, such as Our Lady of Lourdes, etc. etc., but the fact is that the novena has been going on for so long that people are attached to Our Lady of Perpetual Help - so I believe that it should remain under the auspices of Our Lady of Perpetual Help…
So, again, if anyone has any suggestions about my query I would be very grateful - I’m not sure where I can get a definitive answer on this, short of going to the CDWDS or something:shrug:
