Devotions
Part 5 Liturgical Year

Chapter v51 Devotions and the Liturgical Year

Preliminary Questions

Can you think of devotions that are associated with specific times in the Liturgical Year?

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Bibliography

James O'Toole (editor).  Habits of Devotion: Catholic Religious Practice in Twentieth-Century America (Cushwa Center) ISBN 0801442567

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Devotions Per Annum

Many devotions are not associated with the liturgical year, but can be adapted to the season:

e.g. The rosary (sorrowful mysteries during Lent / glorious mysteries during the Easter season / joyful mysteries during Advent & Christmas.

The Liturgy of the Hours / Breviary / Books of the Hours in devotional form:

Little Office of the Blessed Virgin
Office of the Passion
Book of the Hours

"In fact, the origins and subsequent history of these devotions make it just as reasonable to suppose that they originated precisely when the received monastic office was becoming inadequate as a vehicle for the real worship of the monks, and that most of the real communal praying of medieval monasteries took place during the devotional offices rather than during the adjacent canonical hours." (Dehne,  pp. 335)

"Scholars in women's studies note that some of the most prominent and successful devotions were initiated by women, and certainly most of the devotions were practiced mainly by women.  If the official Roman liturgy can be fairly characterized as stereotypically masculine, then surely the popular devotions are stereotypically feminine." (Dehne, pp. 338)

"The devotional occasion par excellence -- afternoon or evening services in church -- has been occupied by the afternoon celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy, formerly possible only in the morning." (Dehne, pp. 338)

The constant repetition of the same themes is not boring precisely because its purpose is not to inform the mind but to nourish the spirit of the believer.  In the devotions the worshipper is not so much one to be instructed or motivated as a privileged person, a chosen and choosing one, a powerful intercessor who shares the friendship of the saints.  Briefly, the worshipper is subject, not object." (Dehne, pp.340) 

First Fridays

Holy Hour on First Fridays

First Saturdays

May:  Devotions to Mary

October:  Month of the Holy Rosary

March:  Month of St. Joseph

June:   Month of the Sacred Heart

November:  Month of the Poor Souls

The Tree of Life (containing names of all who have died during the previous year at a particular parish, hospital, etc.)  [..  the "Tree of Life"  at St. Vincent Hospice.  We invite the families who have lost loved ones during the past year to come back for a memorial service.  In preparation for this, we write the name of the deceased on a paper chain and then link them all around a tree. It’s very powerful, both for the families, the volunteers and the hospice staff.]

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Lent / Easter Devotions