Popular Devotions

I would like to reflect with you during this novena on "Popular devotions" in the life of Catholics and the forms in which these devotions have been expressed here at Saint Anne Shrine.

First, What do we mean by Popular Devotions?

We speak of "popular devotions" to distinguish these forms of piety from the Liturgy. The Liturgical Worship is found first and foremost in the Eucharist (Mass and communion), in the Sacraments, and also in the Divine Office, the official prayer of the Church. What characterizes the Liturgy is the fact that it has been instituted by the Church and addresses itself to all Catholics the world over, whatever their country and culture. Thus, the Liturgy has a universal character and expresses the faith of the Church.

Popular devotions on the other hand, express the piety of Christians, their peculiar temperament and personality, as well as their culture. These devotions proceed from the piety of the faithful, subject, of course, to the control of the Church, which ensures that they are in accord with the faith. But they are not instituted by the Church. They are not the official prayer of the Church. Many subjective elements are to be found in popular devotions based on the personal taste of individuals and groups.

To enter into the spirit of the Liturgy, we must lift ourselves up to a higher level, that of the faith. That is why to understand the Liturgy it must be explained to us. Popular devotions: that's at our level. No need of learned explanations. Here, we feel especially comfortable, at home. Popular devotions have a natural resonance in our soul. The mere mention of some of these devotions will make this quite clear.

Think, for example, of the popular and familiar hymns we grew up with. We loved to sing them and probably still do. They were "popular" because people loved them. Those compositions were not always of the best musical quality and the words at times were pretty sentimental, but they touched our hearts and helped us to really pray with fervor. With what faith and gusto we sang them. Examples: Holy God we praise thy name; Come, Holy Ghost; Immaculate Mary; Silent Night, and so many others. Songs like those had very simple and even beautiful melodies. That made them prayerful. That's why they are so popular. People love to sing them. They were composed precisely to make people pray.

By contrast, there are other musical compositions than can only be sung by a trained choir. Even Gregorian Chant, which I think is very beautiful and prayerful, is not so for people who have not learned to appreciate that particular kind of music. It's so different from modern music. We cannot consider it popular today.

Besides religious hymns, popular piety is also expressed in religious objects people can see, like statues, that inspire the devotion of the people. People need to see and touch. That's part of being human. Should we be surprised to see people praying in church before their special saint with their hand touching the statue?

People love to venerate the relics of the saints. Among other objects that inspire the devotion of people, let us just mention briefly: vigil lights, that symbolize our faith and our love; processions, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, Month of Mary devotions, with the ceremony of crowning of the Blessed Mother. These devotions speak to the heart of people and inspire devotion. Novenas were also very popular in the past. They made people pray and their faith was nurtured. I would like to mention Nativity sets at Christmas time.

Importance of Popular Devotions

Popular devotions, for all their merit, should not replace the Liturgical Worship. Every Catholic knows that the Mass is the greatest and most important act of Christian worship. Together with Holy Communion and the Sacraments, it is essential to our spiritual life. But, the importance of the Sacred Liturgy should not make us belittle other forms of Christian piety known as "popular devotions." We need both for a well-balanced Christian life.

After Vatican II, certain ill-advised priests eliminated from their churches all forms of popular devotions, which they considered to be not spiritual enough, giving too much importance to feelings and emotions, if not at times what they considered to be outright superstition. So they removed from the churches all statues, even the Stations of the Cross. They did away with novenas, which had nurtured the piety of the faithful for generations. What aberration! The churches became cold and the worship lifeless. They killed the piety of the faithful.

People need sensible realities to support their piety. Something they can see. That is why God, in his wisdom, decided to save us by the Incarnation of his Son. The Son of God became man so that we could see God, hear Him. Then, Jesus instituted the Sacraments, that are precisely visible signs of his invisible actions in our soul. So, he uses things like water in baptism, oil in confirmation, bread and wine in the Eucharist, etc. Thus, God takes into account our human nature, with its need to see, to touch, to hear. Popular devotions, like the Incarnation, like the Liturgy, give a large place to the needs of the human heart.

The Church Recognizes the Value and Importance of Popular Devotions in the Life of Christians

The Vatican Council, in its Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, makes this very clear. "Popular devotions of the Christian people are warmly recommended, provided they accord with the laws and norms of the Church.”

Pope John Paul II acknowledged the value and importance of "popular devotions" in a letter on the Liturgy dated December 4, 1988. He even says something very remarkable here, namely that the success of the Liturgical renewal in the Church requires that the faith and piety of the faithful be nurtured by popular devotions. What he says is that there is a healthy relationship between popular devotions and Liturgical piety. "To safeguard the reform and ensure the promotion of the Liturgy, it is necessary to take account of popular Christian devotion in its relation to the liturgical life. This popular devotion should not be treated with indifference, since it is rich in values and per se gives expression to the religious attitude toward God... An authentic pastoral Promotion of the Liturgy will build upon the riches of Popular piety, purifying and directing them toward the Liturgy."

Conclusion: Devotion to St. Anne and to the Saints, generally, and devotional practices like novenas, lighting candles in honor of such a saint, have nurtured the piety of generations past, and can do so today and tomorrow. St. Anne Shrine has been a center of popular devotions and piety for generations.

Devotions Novena Index