When did Marian devotions become prominent in the Church?

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JohnStrachan

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I notice that the Cult of Mary is not so prominent in the Orthodox and Protestant churches. Why is it different for Roman Catholics? When did devotions to Mary become “a thing” in the Roman Catholic church?
 
From the Catholic Encyclopedia:
The earliest picture of Mary is that found in the cemetery of Priscilla; it represents the Virgin as if about to nurse the Infant Jesus…the picture belongs to the begining of the second century

Pictures belonging to the fourth century are found in the cemetery of Saints Peter and Marcellinus; in one of these she appears with her head uncovered, in another with her arms half extended as if in supplication, and with the Infant standing before her. On the graves of the early Christians, the saints figured as intercessors for their souls, and among these saints Mary always held the place of honour.

Towards the end of the fourth century, the name Mary becomes rather frequent among Christians; this serves as another sign of the veneration they had for the Mother of God.

No one will suspect the early Christians of idolatry, as if they had paid supreme worship to Mary’s pictures or name; but how are we to explain the phenomena enumerated, unless we suppose that the early Christians venerated Mary in a special way?

Nor can this veneration be said to be a corruption introduced in later times. It has been seen that the earliest picture dates from the beginning of the second century, so that within the first fifty years after the death of St. John the veneration of Mary is proved to have flourished in the Church of Rome.

As it is admitted that the praises of Mary grow with the growth of the Christian community, we may conclude in brief that the veneration of and devotion to Mary began even in the time of the Apostles.
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From my Ecclesial History class, I know the rosary was attributed to the victory at the battle of Lepanto back in 1571. I also know that there was more prayers to Mary after the Council of Ephesus which makes sense as that was when they declared Mary as the Mother of God.
 
Where do you get that Mary isn’t as venerated by the Orthodox? The sheer number of Orthodox icons of her says otherwise. The Orthodox I have met also hold her in very high esteem.
 
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Well when you say Cult of Mary this sounds like a slanted question. Devotion to Mary is a better definition (like in your title). You can go all the way back to Justin Martyr (100-165) who in his writtings refers to Mary as the 2nd eve… Painting in the Catacombs from the early 2nd century depics Mary having a prominent place. As with anything prior to Catholics given freedom or worship (early 4th century) details a few. Iraneus (130-202) also had much to say about Mary and her importance.

But the Orthodox are not the same as protestants, they do have a deep devotion to the “Aeiparthenos” (Ever Virgin) as it is one of the strong themes of Orthodox Liturgy. And the title Theotokos is given alot of credence in their theology.
 
From what I have read, devotion to Mary started almost immidiately.

When Jesus saw his mother* and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. (Jn 19: 26-27)
 
JohnStrachan said:
I notice that the Cult of Mary is not so prominent in the Orthodox and Protestant churches. Why is it different for Roman Catholics? When did devotions to Mary become “a thing” in the Roman Catholic church?
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It depends on what you mean by devotions. Mary has always been venerated and revered in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Churches from the beginning. With regard to specific practices, you would have to describe which practices you are talking about as many of them developed over different times.
 
JohnStrachan said:
the Cult of Mary is not so prominent in the Orthodox and Protestant churches. Why is it different for Roman Catholics
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Good question.
I was introduced in elementary school. By the sisters of st Joseph and Encourage to buy and Bought a small. Mary statue to pray to.
There is not much info in the bible and the n.t.
That praying to saints or Mary. But triditions are difficult to change. Besides people want to believe prayi g to other spirits mary is ok
As Jesus said to the woman at the Well . Jews worship in Jerusalem and Samaria don’t know who they worship
Other religions protestant point to
Deuteronomy 13.
As praying to other denmi God’s. Is wrong.

It must have been when Empire constine 325ad absorbed the New religion and expelled the Jewish triditions.
 
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Jackj said:
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JohnStrachan:
the Cult of Mary is not so prominent in the Orthodox and Protestant churches. Why is it different for Roman Catholics
Click to expand...
Good question.
I was introduced in elementary school. By the sisters of st Joseph and Encourage to buy and Bought a small. Mary statue to pray to.
There is not much info in the bible and the n.t.
That praying to saints or Mary. But triditions are difficult to change. Besides people want to believe prayi g to other spirits mary is ok
As Jesus said to the woman at the Well . Jews worship in Jerusalem and Samaria don’t know who they worship
Other religions protestant point to
Deuteronomy 13.
As praying to other denmi God’s. Is wrong.

It must have been when Empire constine 325ad absorbed the New religion and expelled the Jewish triditions.
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Historically, not very accurate…
 
This is not to say that Marian devotions were nonexistent earlier.

But I have a vague memory of an explosion of devotion to Mary around 1100 ad. Notre Dame in Paris, St Bernard are expressions of it, but it was wider than that and a precursor to gothic. It replaced some of the millenial fears of Christ’s return that inspired images of Christ’s return.

Only a vague memory…
 
Has hasn’t only been in the Roman rite – Marian devotion is also prominent within the Eastern rite as well.

It isn’t unique to Catholics, but it’s certainly purest within the Catholic Church because of our devotion to Christ in the Eucharist through Her.

Perhaps ever since God made Her immaculate.
 
Devotions to Mary were most definitely established by the 7th Ecumenical Council (Nicaea II) in the 8th century as the veneration of icons of Mary was debated.

If one regards the use of the title Theotokos as a devotion, then that was already long established in Alexandria in the early 5th century: the use of the title vs Christokos was debated at the 3rd Ecumenical Council in 431.
 
Dovekin said:
This is not to say that Marian devotions were nonexistent earlier.

But I have a vague memory of an explosion of devotion to Mary around 1100 ad. Notre Dame in Paris, St Bernard are expressions of it, but it was wider than that and a precursor to gothic. It replaced some of the millenial fears of Christ’s return that inspired images of Christ’s return.

Only a vague memory…
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Lol! You’re way older than I ever would’ve imagined!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
 
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