Through their prayers of intercession, the saints in heaven play an integral role in the life of the church on earth. The
Catechism of the Catholic Church (item 957) states:
Devotions to the Virgin Mary The month of May Many devotions and pious exercises are in some way related to the liturgical feasts of the General Calendar of the Roman Rite or of the particular calendars of dioceses and religious congregations. Dedication of the month of
May to the Blessed Virgin Mary dates from about the seventeenth century. Pious practices include the erection of a small "May altar" decorated with May flowers, a custom that stems from southern European countries. Parishes and private groups often crown an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary with flowers. This is referred to as a “May crowning.” This rite may be done on solemnities and feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or other festive days, and offers an opportunity to reflect on Mary's role in the history of salvation. In some countries, it takes place on or about May 1, however, in many
North American Catholic parishes, it frequently takes place on
Mother's Day, March 7th.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Devotions to the
Immaculate Heart of Mary date back to
Bernard of Clairvaux, and was further developed and popularized by figures such as
John Eudes and
Louis de Montfort. In 1830, the reported
Marian apparitions to
Catherine Labouré, played a significant role in promoting the devotion, particularly through the introduction of the
Miraculous Medal, which features the thorn-crowned
Sacred Heart of Jesus and the pierced
Immaculate Heart of Mary. Many parishes hold a novena each Monday to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. During the
Marian apparition of 13 July 1917, at
Fátima, the Virgin Mary is said to have requested the
consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart, and the practice of the
First Saturdays Devotion as reparation for
sins committed against her Heart. According to
Lucia dos Santos, one of the Portuguese visionaries, these requests were later reiterated during further Marian apparitions, notably during the
Pontevedra apparitions in 1925 and 1926. These reported apparitions contributed to the establishment of these particular devotions, and also personal consecrations to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The practice of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the First Saturday was initiated in Rovigo, Italy by Mary Inglese, a
Servite tertiary in 1889. It gained widespread diffusion after the
Marian apparitions at Fátima in 1917, and the
Pontevedra apparitions in 1925 and 1926, where the Virgin Mary reportedly requested this devotion as part of her message. The practice developed into the currently known devotion of the
Five First Saturdays. Among devotional articles, probably the most common are the
scapular of
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and the
Miraculous Medal, which dates to 1830. Also
Scapular of Our Lady of Good Counsel and the
Scapular of the Seven Dolours of Mary Regional devotions continue to generate local support such as festivals and celebrations. The festival of
Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga in the Philippines has been celebrated for centuries, and its icon continues to be venerated. Each year around
Pentecost, as part of a local Marian devotion, about a million people attend the
Romería de El Rocío in Spain. In
Los Angeles, California, an old custom of a Marian procession was revived in 2011 to coincide with the anniversary of the founding of the city. Various chivalric, fraternal, and religious orders, parishes, and other religious and civic organizations participate.
Other devotions Traditions vary across different cultures. Italians, for example, have a strong devotion to
Anthony of Padua. The
Tredicina refers to a thirteen-day Novena that takes places in preparation for the Feast of Saint Anthony on June 13. There are a number of devotional practices in honor of
Saint Joseph; these include the
Prayer to Saint Joseph and the
Novena to Saint Joseph. Saint Joseph's scapular was approved by Pope
Leo XIII in 1893. ''Saint Joseph's Medal
is a sacramental introduced in 1971 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Saint Joseph being declared the patron of the Catholic Church. A number of local devotions and customs to Saint Joseph exist around the world, e.g. Alpine regions, Josephstragen
(German for carrying Saint Joseph'') takes place on the 9 days before Christmas. A statue of Saint Joseph is carried between 9 homes, and on the first day one boy prays to him, on the second day two boys pray, until 9 boys pray the 9th day. The statue is then placed near a manger in the town church on Christmas Eve. Further devotions are the seven joys and seven sorrows of Saint Joseph, analogous to the
seven joys and
seven sorrows of the Virgin, and private devotions such as that to the most
Chaste Heart of Joseph. Devotions to the archangel
Saint Michael involve specific prayers and
Novenas to Saint Michael, hymns such as
Te Splendor as well as the
Scapular of Saint Michael the Archangel and the
Chaplet of Saint Michael. The
Prayer to Saint Michael is also a popular prayer, composed by Pope
Leo XIII.
Devotions to Saint George are also widely practiced by Catholics, given that he is one of the most popular saints in Christianity. These devotions and churches built in his honor date to the 6th century. Many other devotions to saints exist, such as the
Novena of Grace addressed to
Francis Xavier and the
Cord of Saint Francis associated with
Francis of Assisi. == See also ==