Roman Catholic Theology - Devotion To The Virgin Mary and The Saints

Devotion To The Virgin Mary and The Saints

Catholic belief holds that the church exists both on earth and in heaven simultaneously and thus, the Virgin Mary and the saints are alive and part of the living church. Prayers and devotions to Mary and the saints are common practices in Catholic life. These devotions are not worship, since only God is worshiped. The church teaches that the saints "do not cease to intercede with the Father for us... So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped."

Catholics venerate Mary with many loving titles such as "Blessed Virgin", "Mother of God". "Help of Christians", "Mother of the Faithful". She is given special honor and devotion above all other saints but this honor and devotion differs essentially from the adoration given to God. Catholics do not worship Mary but honor her as mother of Christ, mother of the church and as a spiritual mother to each believer of Christ. She is called the greatest of the saints, the first disciple, and Queen of Heaven. Catholic belief encourages following her example of holiness. Prayers and devotions asking for her intercession, such as the rosary, the Hail Mary, and the Memorare are common Catholic practice. The Church devotes several liturgical feasts to Mary. Although there are others, the major feasts of Mary celebrated on the liturgical calendar are: The Immaculate Conception, Mary, Mother of God, The Visitation, The Assumption, The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary; and in the Americas the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Pilgrimages to Marian shrines like Lourdes, France and Fátima, Portugal are also a common form of devotion and prayer asking for her intercession.

Read more about this topic:  Roman Catholic Theology

Famous quotes containing the words devotion to, devotion, virgin, mary and/or saints:

    I have never doubted your courage and devotion to the cause. But you have just lost a Division, and prima facie the fault is upon you; and while that remains unchanged, for me to put you in command again, is to justly subject me to the charge of having put you there on purpose to have you lose another.
    Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)

    Unconditional love also includes—the ardent desire to be abused: at that point it is a defiance directed against itself, and out of its devotion the very wish for self-annihilation finally arises: “Drown in this sea!”
    Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)

    But see, the Virgin blest
    Hath laid her Babe to rest:
    Time is our tedious song should here have ending;
    Heaven’s youngest teemed star,
    Hath fixed her polished car,
    Her sleeping Lord with handmaid lamp attending;
    And all about the courtly stable,
    Bright-harnessed angels sit in order serviceable.
    John Milton (1608–1674)

    Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
    Bible: New Testament, Luke 1:38.

    Up the Rebels, To Hell with the Pope,
    And God Save—as you prefer—the King or Ireland.
    The land of scholars and saints:
    Scholars and saints my eye, the land of ambush,
    Purblind manifestoes, never-ending complaints,
    Louis MacNeice (1907–1963)