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Mary is honored all around the world in many ways. There are special Marian devotions and apparitions that the faithful pray with and through to bring them closer to Christ. Every culture is different and drawn toward particular practices, each rich in love for Mary, Our Queen, Our Mother.
Mary is honored all around the world in many ways. There are special Marian devotions and apparitions that the faithful pray with and through to bring them closer to Christ. Every culture is different and drawn toward particular practices, each rich in love for Mary, Our Queen, Our Mother.
We asked some of our global ministries to explain and show how they honor Mary.
We asked some of our global ministries to explain and show how they honor Mary.
Who knows, a new Marian devotion could inspire you and your family!
Who knows, a new Marian devotion could inspire you and your family!
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH AMERICA
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico
Our Lady of Guadalupe holds a special place in the religious life of Mexico and is one of the most popular religious devotions. Her image has played an important role as a national symbol of Mexico.
According to tradition, Mary appeared to Juan Diego, who was an Aztec convert to Christianity, on December 9 and again on December 12, 1531. During her first apparition, she requested that a shrine to her be built on the spot where she appeared, Tepeyac Hill (now in a suburb of Mexico City).
However, the bishop demanded a sign before he would approve the construction of a church. Mary appeared a second time to Juan Diego and ordered him to collect roses. In a second audience with the bishop, Juan Diego opened his cloak, letting dozens of roses fall to the floor and revealing the image of Mary imprinted on the inside of the cloak. This image is now venerated in the Basilica of Guadalupe.
Family celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Procession honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe in Fall River, MA
Chapel in Mexico honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe
Honoring Mary with nature in a Marian Garden
Child decorating Mary statue at retreat at Notre Dame, IN
Creative ways to color and celebrate Marian Feast Days!
SOUTH AMERICA
SOUTH AMERICA
Blessed Mother Mary, Arequipa, Peru
It's difficult to know exactly the origin of this special devotion of the Blessed Virgin in Arequipa, Peru. The old story is a statue of Mary was found in a nearby hill in Churajon. The people wanted to move it to another community but a great storm stopped the procession. The next day they couldn't lift the statue, and it was believed that Mary wished to stay in the valley, and there a chapel was built.
On May 1 there is a large celebration dedicated to Mary. People of all social classes and ages come to venerate Mary.
Rosary and altar in Peruvian home
Our Lady of Fatima, Peru, INFAM
Although it originated in Portugal, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima is one of the most celebrated Marian Devotions in Peru.
The story begins when the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three young children, Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia, who were tending their sheep. From May through October 1917, she visited them on the thirteenth day of each month. Mary told the children that God would send peace to the world if Her requests for prayer and repentance were followed.
Many people didn’t believe the children had seen the Virgin, but Our Lady promised to give them a sign during her final visit to them. Thousands of people traveled to see the sign from heaven. Mary was faithful and awed the crowds with what is known as the Miracle of the Sun.
Celebrations honoring this special devotion take place every May 13 in various regions of Peru. These celebrations attract thousands of domestic and foreign tourists to activities like pyrotechnic games, food fairs, popular fiestas, and other religious and cultural events.
Festivities take place in many regions and the activities vary depending on the city. There are 19 parishes which venerate the Virgin of Fatima in Peru. They are located in Ica, Lima, Arequipa, Cuzco, Huacho, Huancayo, Iquitos, Huánuco, Puno, Tacna, Piura, Trujillo, Moyobamba, Puerto Maldonado, among other places.
Praying through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico
Group of teenagers with Mary, Peru
The participants in the Older Adult Project in Mexico, join with their families in the prayer of the Holy Rosary. Their continued prayer through Our Mother's intercession is for an end to the pandemic, that all the sick will be healed, and families are strengthened in faith.
Our Lady of the Rosary of Andacollo, Chile
Our Lady of the Rosary of Andacollo is a Marian devotion, whose image is venerated in the Sanctuary of Andacollo, in the foothills of the Coquimbo Region in Chile. Our Lady of the Rosary of Andacollo is the only purely Chilean celebration among many with which the country honors the Virgin Mary. Its origin goes back to the small image that, according to tradition, was found by an Indian in the vicinity of the Andacollo ore, at the beginning of the Spanish conquest.
Venerated for more than four centuries in the town that takes its name, the image was only officially recognized by decree of the Holy See on December 26, 1901. The devotion spread to throughout Chile and to other countries. The feast is celebrated on October 7.
One of the greatest devotions of the Brazilian people is Our Lady of Aparecida, who is the patron saint of Brazil. The history of Our Lady of Aparecida is that a group of men struggled to catch any fish and decided to pray for help through the intercession of Mary.
After first catching a clay statue of Mary in their nets, they caught so much fish they were forced to return to the port. In the photos we can see a procession in honor of Our Lady Aparecida in her Basilica in Aparecida, São Paulo and in an improbable place, in Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro
People gathered in devotion to Our Lady next to the arches of the Basilica of Nossa Senhora Aparecida
ASIA
ASIA
Archdiocese of Shillong, East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, Northeast India
Father Jim Phalan at Argatala, India, Rosary Rally
The month of May is devoted to Mother Mary in the Catholic Church. The Archdiocese of Meghalaya* in Northeast India practices devotion to the the Blessed Mother with great fervor and religiosity, especially during this time.
The Holy Rosary is devoutly prayed in common in parishes and in village faith communities in this area. One tradition involves moving from house to house while praying the Rosary and singing Marian hymns in the local language ‘Khasi.’ On the last Sunday of the month, a Marian Rally is usually organized in every parish which is attended by thousands of people, young and old.
The Archdiocese of Shillong, established in the year 1934, caters to over 30,000 Catholics. From its very beginning, the Diocese dedicated itself to the Patroness of Mary, Help of Christians.
Devotion to our Blessed Mother has sunk deep roots in the lives of the people and in their homes. Families routinely gather inside their homes to pray the Rosary together. Every prayer is concluded with a special intercession: Mary Help of Christians, pray for us.
*Meghalaya, meaning, the abode of clouds, is one of the seven sister states of North East India. It is the home for the indigenous people of Khasis, Jaintias and Garos. Meghalaya is also known as the Scotland of the East. People of the area amidst high rainfall and hilly terrain largely depend on vegetable cultivation for their daily sustenance.
Children's Rosary Rally, India
Procession at Holy Cross Parish, Mawkynrew, Meghalaya, India
Celebration at Holy Cross Parish in Mawkynrew, Meghalaya, India
Mother Mary, Tamil Nadu, India
Mother Mary is very dear to most of the cultures and communities in the world. For the Tamil Nadu community in Southeast India, Mother Mary symbolizes very life itself.
If you're visiting a new area and want to locate the local church, it is common to ask, MATHA KOVIL, meaning Mother Mary Church. For any and every need Tamils are inclined to approach Our Mother, whom through her mediation, answers most of their prayers. Devotion to Mother Mary is a common thing in Indian culture as it resonates in the hearts and minds of the faithful.
In the Melakovilpatti Parish run by Holy Cross Fathers, there was an organized Rosary Rally. People carried images of Mother Mary while reciting the Rosary. These pictures were blessed during the Eucharist and distributed to different communities of the Parish. Prayerful celebrations like this are wonderful ways for people to experience the love of their beloved Mother Mary as a community.
Mary is celebrated in homes and communities around India
Father Patrick Peyton visited New Delhi, India
The symbol of mother in Bangladesh normally evokes a feeling of love and affection, protection and comfort; and cannot be removed from the person of Mary. The people of Bangladesh feel more at ease with Novenas than any other prayer. Our people love to pray to Mother Mary every day.
Celebration of Family Rosary, Bangladesh
Mary is a Mother who will intercede for her children, which means everyone encounters her differently. But she always transforms us, takes us to Christ, and deeper in Liturgical Celebrations.
Procession in Tomulia, Bangladesh
Mother Mary is truly an inspiration to all, especially women in Bangladesh. Her courage to face the realities of life, her freedom to relate to God, and her mental power to challenge the social structure inspires the hearts of women today.
Processions, prayers, and faithful followers honoring Mary all over Bangladesh
Our Lady of Regina Rica, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Philippines
Regina Rica’s most recognizable structure is the 71-foot-high statue of Our Lady of Regina Rica, the Blessed Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus. The design was inspired by the Dominican Order's spirit and belief that Our Lady shelters her devoted children through her protective mantel.
Many devotees and tourists visit Regina Rica to pause and reflect in silence, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Here people pray for the healing of one’s family tree every day. They say that through daily prayers of the family tree, the effects of past sins of ancestors can be mitigated and forgiven, and blessings showered upon families living today.
Chapel of the Blessed Moreau, Family Rosary Crusade, Philippines
People have been praying the daily Rosary and the 2,000 Hail Mary Prayers on every first Saturday of the month in this chapel, located at Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
It is known that many have received answered prayers and healing experiences for individuals and families.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
EUROPE
EUROPE
Irish people have maintained a devotion to Our Lady dating back centuries and there are many signs of Marian devotion throughout the country. Grottos, shrines, and statues are to be seen at the main junctions of many Irish villages which have become part of our landscape and heritage.
Even now in a more secular era, the Angelus is still broadcast twice daily on national television.
Marian devotion is a time-honoured Catholic tradition in Ireland.
In Ireland, May is the month of Mary and when altars can be seen in many homes. These altars consist of a table with a statue of Our Lady and surrounded by flowers.
October is known as the Rosary month, when many people pledge to pray the Rosary daily with their families.
Father Peyton, known as the Irish Rosary priest, was born in Ireland in 1909 into a devout Catholic family in County Mayo Ireland. The Rosary was part of their daily prayers and laid a strong foundation for his faith.
Father Peyton devoted his life to spreading devotion to Mary and encouraging family prayer, especially the Rosary.
In 1954, the Marian Year, Father Peyton held Rosary crusades in nine dioceses in Ireland including at Knock, Ireland's National Marian Shrine.
AFRICA
AFRICA
Virgin Mary, Arusha, East Africa
Devotion to the Virgin Mary is very strong and influential in many households in Tanzania. In Arusha, and particularly in the Holy Cross parish, the devotion to the Virgin Mary is vibrant among all people, especially among children and women.
Every Friday school children come to the church's compound and the most popular place: The Grotto of the Virgin Mary. There, they recite the Memorare* and other simple prayers while standing or kneeling before the Virgin Mary. Thereafter, they dig into their dusty backpacks and scribble in their small, worn-out exercise books, finishing home assignments from school. It's truly a special place of prayer and homeworking/learning with the Virgin Mary. Our Lady of the Rosary, inscribed above the Grotto in Swahili, is never lonely. There is always someone praying through her - or studying nearby - at any given time during the day.
*The Memorare is a a daily prayer used in many occasions and particularly before all meetings in Arusha's Holy Cross Parish.
The Lady of Mothers, Cathedral of Evora, Portugal
Memorare
Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
SYMBOL OF MOTHERHOOD & CONTINUITY OF HUMANITY. In East African culture women are honored for giving birth to children and helping the family grow. This is why the devotion to Mother Mary has grown so widely, especially among women. You will find more women in the Legion of Mary devotion because they identify themselves easily with Mary Mother of God. She has interceded for many women who have issues in their marriages, especially those who cannot give birth.
Following the text Luke 1:37, “For nothing is impossible for God,” even all science proves it is impossible. Father Martin Sserunkuma, a Diocesan Priest based in Masaka, Uganda said, “I personally prayed for a woman last year who was told she would not be able to carry a child due to health conditions. And through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, she has a child named Rozario."
QUICK PASSAGE TO JESUS THROUGH HER. It is easy to get something from the father if you go through the mother. When children at home want to get something quickly and easy, they talk with their mother first, then the mother talks to the father.
So, it is for this reason that devotion to Mother Mary is strong in East Africa for this traditional concept of the mother as the best means to the father. Thus, Mother Mary to Jesus and Jesus to God the Father.
COMFORTER OF THE AFFLICTED. Women are known to be of soft hearts and consolers. Especially with all the problems in today's world, it's easy to run to Mother Mary, for she is able to relate to and understand all our life situations. We pray the Rosary as a defense against the evil one, but also a way of assurance that we are in safe hands with our Mother Mary.
Standing with her children amidst any of life's trials, a mother cannot abandon her child. Even when that child is a thief or known as the worst in the community, that child is still dear to the mother. Likewise, we make mistakes and communities label us bad people, but Mary Mother of God calls us her own. She never abandons a sinner, she intercedes and prays for the child to change.
Children's Ministry, Dandora, Kenya, East Africa
Children enjoying Mother Mary's presence after prayers
Rosary Rally, Dandora, Kenya, East Africa
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