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Marian devotions
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following Marian devotions are intercessions to God through the mediation of Mary, the mother of Jesus, or acts of devotions focusing on Mary .
- Hail Mary
- Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen)
- Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Mary, Mother of Grace
- Memorare (Remember O Most Gracious Virgin Mary)
- Angelus
- Holy Family (Holy Family Prayer)
Marian devotion is important to the Catholic, Anglican (particularly the High Church branch), and Orthodox traditions but most Protestants reject it as improper.
Protestants argue that Marian devotion is akin to worship, but we are to worship God (the Holy Trinity) alone, and not Mary or the Saints. Catholics and Orthodox note that this is not worship but merely veneration; however, Protestants do not accept that argument. Protestants are of the opinion that Marian devotion, even if not worship, distracts from attention to God, and devotion to Mary is likely to give rise to tendencies to equate Mary with God. Catholics however would argue that it is the wish of Jesus that Christians should venerate Mary because according to the New Testament she magnifies the Lord, and magnification of her magnifies God. Protestants also feel that many of the Catholic and Orthodox traditions about Mary are not found in the Bible, and therefore should be rejected. Catholics argue that Marian doctrine is implicit in the Bible.
The early reformers, however, believed that Mary should be held in highest reverence, and even advocated the use of the Ave Maria through “and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus” as a sign of reverence for and devotion to the Virgin.
Moreover, both Luther and Calvin believed the doctrine, now controversial among Protestants, of Mary's perpetual virginity. This belief is even attested to in the Augsburg Confession, one of the foundations of Lutheranism.