my wife is sending me off to help her with her homework
I’d be interested to know what sort of class this homework was assigned in.
The question needed stems from the definition of a Votive Church, but I’m confused as to what a Votive Church is
I’m confused as well. I’ve never heard the term.
I think most Catholics are familiar with the word “votive,” at least as far as it is used in conjunction with “candle” to refer to those candles that we offer with our prayers. So, when I read your question, I equated votive with “offering.”
But
dictionary.com tells me the term has a broader meaning - it originates from the Latin word “vow.” One definition is:
Expressing or symbolizing a wish, desire, or vow: a votive prayer; votive candles.
So, based on this definition, I can suppose that a “votive Church” could be one that was built as the result of a vow.
There is such a Church here in Portland, Oregon. The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother (aka, “the Grotto”) features an outdoor Sanctuary as well as a small but beautiful church building on 62 highly-landscaped acres of gardens and pathways (with Stations of the Cross, Rosary meditation paths, etc). The mother of a young boy named Ambrose Mayer became seriously ill after giving birth to a daughter, and young Ambrose vowed to build a church in honor of Our Lady if God allowed his mother to recover. The mother did recover, and this boy grew up to become a Servite priest and establish this Sanctuary. So, I reckon the Grotto could be considered to be a “votive Church” because it was established as a result of a vow.
But that’s somewhat of a guess.
