Popular Devotions and Liturgy

     

What is popular devotion? The term Popular would mean that spontaneous; free actions of the people which also will be focused mainly on the human sentiments or emotional feelings.  Therefore lots of people will have the appealing tendency towards some place or person or thing etc., Devotion, denotes a certain level of affection in the things of God, and even without any qualifying prefix it generally implies that this is of a sensible character. On the other hand, by the term "devotions" in the plural, or "popular devotions", we commonly understand those external practices of piety by which the devotion of the faithful finds life and expression. The efficacy of these practices in eliciting feelings of devotion is derived from four principal sources. They are either by 

     1. The strong appeal which they make to man's emotional instincts, or
    2.The simplicity of form which puts them within the reach of all, or
   3.The stimulus of association with many others in the same good work, or
  4.Their derivation from the example of pious persons who are venerated for their holiness. 
    
   No doubt other reasons besides these might be found why this or that exercise brings with it a  certain spiritual unction which stimulates and comforts the soul in the practice of virtue, but the points just mentioned are the most noteworthy, and in the more familiar of our popular devotions all these four influences will be found united.

         

Therefore popular devotion would mean that forms of worship which emerges from the popular religiosity of the people. Popular Devotions are devotional practices of the Christian people. Such as - Rosary, Way of the cross, Adoration, Benediction, (40 hours), Charismatic prayer, Novenas of Mary and Saints; Traditional practices (nkhl;il> nghq;fy;> ML ntl;Ljy;> Neh;r;rp) wearing of medals, Rosary, keeping holy pictures etc..

          

According to Pope Paul VI in Evangeli Nuntiandi no 48 says that popular devotions manifest a thirst for God which only the simple and poor people can know. Pope John Paul II in Catechesi Tradendae says Popular devotions play a great role in faith formation of the people.  Pope has devoted an entire apostolic letter to a popular devotion—the rosary— "to promote it with conviction" and recommending to all the faithful, "Confidently take up the Rosary once again. Rediscover the Rosary in the light of Scripture, in harmony with the Liturgy, and in the context of your daily lives."

           Because popular devotional practices have such an important role in the spiritual life of Catholics. Faithful practice of popular devotions can help us to experience God in our everyday lives and conform us more closely to Jesus Christ. As Pope Pius XII pointed out, the purpose of popular devotional practices is “to attract and direct our souls to God, purifying them from their sins, encouraging them to practice virtue and, finally, stimulating them to advance along the path of sincere piety by accustoming them to meditate on the eternal truths and disposing them better to contemplate the mysteries of the human and divine natures of Christ.

Popular devotions can be classified into 4 categories according to Sartore:

1. Devotions to Christ, BVM, Saints (e.g. Sacred Heart, Holy hour, benediction, Infant Jesus Novena. Rosary, Litany, Pilgrimage to a shrine).

2. Devotions related to Liturgical year (e.g.Lent fasting and prayers, pilgrimages..)

3. Traditional practices (e.g. animal sacrifices, shaving the head, pilgrimages…)

4.    Devotions to religious objects ( e.g.Tombs of saints, birth place, medals and pictures

At the same time we need to be aware of the dangers related to Popular Devotions: (Cf. The New Leader, Jan 16-31, 2006, P.25)

1.    Superstition (may be carried)

2.    Profanation (losing the sense of sacredness)

3.    Commercial interest (Novenas, Masses etc)

        Sacrosanctum Concilium number 13 states that Popular devotions are highly encouraged provided they should be in harmony with Liturgy.  To avoid the dangers the following norms to be followed:

1.    Centered on Christ/ Saints/ Mary and not of any other individuals.

2.    Promote kingdom values: Justice, fellowship and freedom

3.    Faith and Life must be challenged.

4.    Place must be conducive

5.    All the commercialization must be avoided

6.    Silence and prayerful atmosphere must be kept

7.    Simultaneous activities must be avoided

8.    It is not nice to integrate with liturgy

9.    Pilgrimages should be guided to deepen the faith

10. These occasions are the means to evangelize the people.

Having seen the importance of popular devotions we need to understand the basic differences between liturgy and popular devotion.

Liturgy	Popular Devotion
Descending and ascending nature	Ascending nature
Public and community worship	Individual / personal interest
Given by Christ himself (Obligation)	By the Church (No obligation)
The role of ordained minister is needed	Any baptized person can perform
Grace is sure	Not sure of the Grace

We need not think that one is opposite to the other rather one leads to the other.  Popular Devotion must lead one to understand the greatest mysteries when they are celebrated. Since the liturgy is the center of the life of the Church, popular devotions should never be portrayed as equal to the liturgy, nor can they adequately substitute for the liturgy. What is crucial is that popular devotions be in harmony with the liturgy, drawing inspiration from it and ultimately leading back to it. (SC 13) While the liturgy always remains the primary reference point, "the liturgy and popular piety are two forms of worship which are in mutual and fruitful relationship with each other." Personal and family prayer and devotions should flow from and lead to a fuller participation in the liturgy.   We need to be aware of the unchristian social situations of inequality, injustice and discrimination which exist in the society.

Some Practical Guidelines:

1. Maintain certain order and decorum

2. Decorations, lighting, music not to disturb the people.

3. Avoid different ways of announcement of sale of cassettes, booklets.

4. Provide opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation.

5. Popular devotions to have god experience to the people as well it is a means of growth in divine- human relationships. 

6. It is highly recommended even to have counseling sessions where people would come and share their personal problems and get relieved from it.

7. These sorts of devotional groups should not divide the community of   the parish leading them to be individual or even a superior group in a parish.

8. Pilgrimages must be done with real interest.

9. Such devotional practices must help the person to be an authentic Christian. 

10. Faithful are to be encouraged not only to pray for their personal needs as well for the needs of their brothers and sisters in the community with whom they will also be interacting with them.

11. We need to promote real faith and devotion than false ways of practices.

Origin of popular devotions: Unlike the sacraments, popular devotions cannot be traced directly back to the ministry of Jesus and the practice of the Apostles. Most developed gradually over the years and even centuries as people sought ways of living out their faith. The origins of the more ancient devotions are often rather obscure. Some devotions, such as the rosary and scapulars, have come down to us as adaptations of the practices of religious orders. A few, such as devotion to the Sacred Heart and the Miraculous Medal, are considered to have their origin in a private revelation, that is, some vision or message given to one of the faithful.