Worthy Devotions to the Mother of God

Mothers are blessed by God and have a critical role in their children's physical and spiritual development. Mary knew the difficulties of motherhood, and all mothers can look to her as a model and ask for her intercession. On the July 2 minor feast of The Deposition of the Honorable Robe of the Theotokos at Blachernae, let us take time to appreciate our mothers for their love and sacrifice as stewards of life.

Did you know?

The Rosary is a worthy devotion that developed in the Latin Rite Church but became a cherished and sincere personal devotion among many Eastern Catholic Faithful as well. Worthy devotions to the Mother of God also developed in the Eastern Catholic Churches. These devotions are designed as part of the liturgical prayer of the Eastern Churches but they can be prayed privately as well.  These devotions include the Akathaist, Paraklisis, Moleben, Irmoi and Marian hymns.  There is even a Rosary attributed to St. Seraphim of Sarov who was a Russian Byzantine ascetic.

The Byzantine Catholic Church also has many significant Feast Days dedicated to the Mother of God throughout the entire liturgical calendar. Some of these Marian Feast days even have a penitential period and are celebrated with great solemnity and tradition.  In fact, the very first Feast of the Byzantine Liturgical year is the Feast of the Birth of the Mother of God.