In the sacristy this morning the pastor and I got into a conversation about different titles and images of Our Lady, and how different religious orders and congregations seem to have one that is particular to them.
For example,
We Franciscans are especially fond of Our Lady Queen of Angels, as the mother church of our Order was dedicated to Mary under this title. The Immaculate Conception is also dear to us, for other reasons.
Carmelites have Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, of course.
Redemptorists have Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Dominicans have Our Lady of the Rosary, we supposed.
The ones we couldn't figure out were the Benedictine family of Orders, and the Jesuits. Anybody have an answer?
19 comments:
This is interesting as the parish we attended in Burlingame, CA was Our Lady of Angels and it was the provincial house for the Capuchin Franciscan Friars. It was a wonderful experience for us as a family though it has been 35 years since we lived and worshiped there. Thanks for the memories! Cathy
I don't have an answer to your question, just wanted to add my own Augustinian take. We call her by Our Mother of Good Counsel. That's always been my favorite devotion to our Lady, under that patronage :)
That's an excellent question, Brother Charles. This evening after Mass, I'll ask one of our local Dominicans which Mary they prefer. I imagine you're right about Our Lady of the Rosary.
I think the Jesuits have always been specially devoted to Mary, She Who Keeps Seminarians From Slashing Their Wrists in Exasperation Throughout A Twelve-Blanking-Year Formation Period.
Jesuits: April 22, Mary, Mother of the Society of Jesus, Our Lady of the Way (Santa Maria or Madonna della Strada).
The SJ also has a special devotion to Mary, Mother of God - the giving of the Holy Name of Jesus (Jan 1) as the titular of the SJ. Plus, the Solemnity of the Assumption with Loyola making his conversion and his first vows at this feast though in different years. He also pronounced solemn vows at Our Lady's altar at the Abbey of St Paul outside the Walls.
With the Benedictines, there is a title of the BVM that a particular to an individual abbey. For example:
St Mary's (Morristown, NJ): Immaculate Conception
Belmont Abbey (Belmont, NC): Mary, Help of Christians
Glastonbury Abbey (Hingham, MA) OL of Glastonbury
St Meinrad Archabbey (St Meinrad, IN) OL of Einseldin
etc.
Servite Friars: Our Lady of Sorrows
La Sallete Fathers & Brothers: Our Lady of La Sallete
Salesians: Mary, Help of Christians
hi Fr. C!
i had the same conversation in the same sacristy with the same Pastor yesterday morning before Mass. i think the Dominicans do have Our Lady of the Rosary because i looked it up on the internet through my cell phone and showed it to Fr. Moe after the 5:00 pm Mass yesterday. i'll try to do some more "homework" for the other orders (the Benedictines and the Jesuits) that you're asking about. PEACE! ~tara t~
Redemptorists - Our Lady of Perpetual Succour/Help
Jesuits of the past had a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I don't know if they had a devotion to a particular title of Our Lady.
I just saw that you have the Redemptorists: my eyes must have jumped that line. lol
I believe the Jesuits are devoted to "Our Lady of the moral relativisim".
Great comments, friends. I knew we could figure this one out!
In the Diocese of Richmond, the Benedictine Abbey is dedicated to Mary, Mother of the Church.
I know many Benedictine Abbeys/Monasteries but each goes by a different title:
Cistercians in Prairie du Sac: Our Lady of the Valley
Community: Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles
Cistercians in Spring Valley: Our Lady of Spring Valley
So in the Benedictine Tradition it seems that "Our Lady" is the main title, and her patronage is everywhere, but they don't seem to have any one particular devotion.
Which kinda makes sense. Their spirituality is pure monasticism which tends to be more devoid of devotions than other spiritualities.
But of course, that still differs within the Benedictine family, to my observation.
I was about to say, the benedictines tend to favor a particular title based on a monastery. For instance,
st Louis Abbey here in St Louis, seems to favor and english version of the Madonna (who's name escapes me), because they are Ampleforth Benedictines. in fact, their habit even has a slight difference to say, a more german, mainland europe branch, St Bernard Abbey in Culman AL, and they seemed to honor Mary under the title "Our lady of Perpetual help (and yes I know some people say succor)". So I think in the benedictine case, it really depends on region. Perhaps it just was left up to the monasteries. I am no expert on the rule, but it doesnt really focus too much on marian devotion. Also given the Antiquity of the Order, that might be another reason. Many of the titles are more Middle age, which makes them coincide nicely with the Franciscans, the Dominicans, and the Redemptorists.
St Louis Abbey's official title is the Abbey of Saint Mary and Saint Louis. You know who the Louis is but Mary in the title is Mary, Mediatrix of all Graces.
The English Congregation's habit has antecedents in Spain.
St Bernard of Cullman are of Barvarian influence from their grandmother house.
Right, the RB does not address Marian devotion but from the earliest days monks always had a special devotion to the BVM. For example, the Cistercians, depending on nationality, add Maria to the monk's name: Fra Davide Maria (from Italy) or fr Marie-David (France). All Cistercian abbeys are dedicated to the BVM and have another patronage in addition. Think of Spencer, the Abbey of St Mary and St Joseph but often is called just St Joseph's Abbey.
i see that some others have done some "homework," as well, Fr. C. i have one more for you. the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement (Graymoor) honor Mary under the title of "Our Lady of the Atonement," which her feast day is celebrated on the 9th of July. i just thought everyone would be interested in knowing ths, since many may be familiar with the Friars & Sisters and Graymoor. PEACE! ~tara t~
pfinley: "st Louis Abbey here in St Louis, seems to favor and english version of the Madonna (who's name escapes me),"
I didn't look up this particular monastery but perhaps you are thinking of Our Lady of Walsingham. I was formerly Anglo-Catholic before crossing the Tiber. Anglicans particularly focus on this title of Our Lady (since it is particular to England) and the shrine is a joint Catholic and Anglican operation.
As a Jesuit, who enjoyed my 12 yr formation, and is not a moral relativist, I don't appreciate some of the comments here. Why do some people have to take a shot or tear down any chance they get?
Dear Anonymous:
I wouldn't trade my five years of Jesuit education (MDiv-STL) for anything.
the benedictines have Our Lady of Montserrat. The Jesuits have Madonna della Strada.
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