Rachel Evans
Italian Catholics hold Mary, the mother of God, in high regard. They refer to her as Madonna, which translates to my lady, and as the Queen of Heaven. The worship of Mary is a notable feature of Catholic practice in Italy, with many praying to her more frequently than to Jesus. The veneration of Mary is based on her relationship to Christ and her sinless nature, as well as her role in bringing salvation to humanity. Italian Catholics also commonly depict Mary with a child, emphasising her motherhood.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Intensity of devotion | 42.3% of Italian Catholics pray most often to the Madonna, compared to 38.6% for Jesus |
| Visibility in public spaces | Images of the Madonna are often more frequently seen than images of Christ, especially in public spaces |
| Patronage | Mary is celebrated as the patron saint of cities, towns and regions |
| Reciprocity in worship | Worship of Mary is expected to be a reciprocal relationship, where favours are granted in return for veneration and cultivation of her following |
| Veneration | Catholics venerate Mary as the Mother of God, a model of perfect love and obedience to Christ, and the most beautiful model of total submission to the will of God |
| Marian apparitions | Mary's gift of prophecy is testified through Marian apparitions, and she is venerated as the Virgin Mother of God |
| Marian titles | A rich range of titles are used to refer to Mary, including "Our Lady", Queen of Heaven, "Mother of Good Counsel", "Mother Thrice Admirable", Stella Maris (Star of the Sea), and many others |
| Marian devotions | Devotions to the Virgin Mary include simple Rosary recitations, formalized Novenas, and activities such as wearing scapulars or maintaining a Mary garden |
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What You'll Learn
Mary's titles
Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, is venerated by Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Oriental Orthodox Christians, and some Anglicans. While worship is reserved for God, Catholics honour Mary with great reverence because she is the Mother of God.
Mary has been given a rich variety of titles, many of which have emerged due to geographic and cultural reasons, such as the veneration of specific icons. Some of the early titles of Mary include Domina (lady), Regina (queen), and Stella Maris (star of the sea). Regina is the earliest of these titles, dating back to the 5th century. While the early emphasis in Stella Maris was on Mary as the Star that bore Christ, by the 9th century, the attention had shifted to Mary herself.
The title "Our Lady" is commonly used to refer to Mary as a sign of respect and honour. This title has equivalents in other languages, such as Notre Dame in French and Nuestra Señora in Spanish. Mary is also known as the “New Eve”, a title that dates back to at least the second century.
The Assumption, the belief that the Virgin Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven, was declared a dogma in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. From this belief, Mary gained the titles "Our Lady of Assumption" and "Queen Assumed Into Heaven". The Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches celebrate this occasion as the Dormition or the "Falling Asleep" of the Mother of God.
Mary is also known as the Mother of Good Counsel (Latin: Mater boni consilii), a title derived from a miraculous painting housed in a 13th-century Augustinian church near Rome, Italy. Another title, "Our Lady of Luján", refers to a small terracotta image made in Brazil and sent to Argentina in 1630.
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Marian apparitions
The Catholic Church believes that supernatural Marian apparitions can occur and that they are expressions of Mary's ongoing motherly care for the Church. Believers consider such apparitions to be real and objective interventions of divine power. The purpose of each apparition is understood to draw attention to some aspect of the Christian message, given the needs of a particular time and place. Apparitions are often accompanied by other alleged supernatural phenomena, such as medical cures and miracles. However, such miraculous events are not considered the purpose of Marian apparitions but are believed to exist primarily to validate and draw attention to the message.
The Catholic Church has a formal evaluation process for assessing claimed apparitions, and only the Pope can declare if an apparition is indeed supernatural. The process has evolved over time, but the goal has always been to provide Catholics with the assurance that their devotions will be fruitful. The Church will no longer officially declare that a Marian apparition is 100% worthy of belief unless the Pope decides to. Of the Marian apparitions deemed worthy of belief, the apparition at Knock, Ireland, on 21 August 1879, had the greatest number of witnesses, with at least 15 people claiming to have seen Mary alongside other holy figures.
Hundreds of Marian apparitions have been reported in the 20th century, but only a small number have been approved by a bishop. Of these, only 16 have been deemed "worthy of belief" by the Vatican, and only one has been Vatican-approved: Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. Other famous examples of Marian apparitions include Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico (1531), Our Lady of La Salette in France (1846), Our Lady of Lourdes in France (1858), Our Lady of La Vang in Vietnam (c. 1800), and Our Lady of Zeitoun in Egypt (1968-1971).
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Veneration vs worship
In the Catholic Church, Mary, the mother of God, is known as "Theotokos". She is also referred to as the Madonna, and in Italian, the Hail Mary prayer is "Ave, o Maria, Piena di grazia". Italians are known for their devotion to Mary, with 42.3% praying most often to the Madonna, compared to 38.6% for Jesus. Images of the Madonna are also more frequently seen than images of Christ, especially in public spaces.
Now, onto the distinction between veneration and worship. In Catholicism, veneration is a type of honour shown to saints and angels, distinct from the true worship due to God alone. It is shown outwardly by respectfully kissing, bowing, or making the sign of the cross before a saint's icon, relics, or statue, or by going on pilgrimage to sites associated with saints. The word veneration simply means to give great respect or reverence. In the past, schools of theology used the term "worship" as a general term that included both adoration and veneration. Today, Catholic sources may use the term "worship" to refer to the veneration given to Mary and the saints, which falls short of worshipping God and swearing eternal loyalty, obedience, and love. In the case of God vs. saints, it is important to remember that God alone may be prayed to for anything and that no other being should be attributed divine power. Saints, being human, are glorified in the presence of God, and we can pray to them to intercede on our behalf.
Veneration can have offerings, but there is no requirement to offer anything, unlike worship, which concerns reverence with a required sacrifice. The distinction between veneration and worship can be likened to the difference between a human ruler and God Almighty. In the Catholic Church, there are different types of veneration: dulia for angels, saints, relics, and icons; hyperdulia for the Virgin Mary; and protodulia for Saints Joseph and John the Baptist.
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Mary's role in salvation and redemption
In Italy, Mary is often referred to as the Madonna, and she is a central figure in Italian Catholic devotion. Images of the Madonna are ubiquitous in Italy, often seen in statues and pictures in the streets, and she is celebrated as the patron saint of many cities, towns, and regions. Italians frequently pray to Mary, and her intercession is sought for various needs and petitions.
Mary's obedience, faith, hope, and love are seen as essential to her participation in the redemption of humanity. By consenting to be the "God-bearer," she cooperated with God's grace and played a vital part in bringing salvation to the world. Mary's role as Mediatrix or intercessor is also emphasised in Catholic tradition. She is believed to continue her work of mediation and intercession in heaven, bringing the gifts of eternal salvation to humanity.
The title "Co-Redemptrix" has been proposed by some Catholic theologians to describe Mary's role in salvation. While this title has not been officially approved by the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church, it highlights Mary's cooperation with Christ in the work of redemption. As Pope John Paul II stated, Mary "intensely and mysteriously unites her life with Christ's sorrowful mission," becoming his "faithful co-worker for the salvation of the human race."
Mary's role in salvation is also understood through her suffering with her Son. As the Virgin Mother, she accompanied him on his torturous path to Golgotha and stood vigil at the foot of the Cross. Through her own suffering, she participated in the redemption of humanity and continues to do so through her mediation and intercession.
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Marian devotions
Within Catholicism, devotion to Mary is a notable characteristic, with 42.3% of Italians praying most often to the Madonna, compared to 38.6% praying to Jesus. This devotion is expressed through various forms, including multi-day prayers such as novenas, the celebration of canonical coronations granted by the Pope, the veneration of icons, and pious acts like the wearing of scapulars or tending a Mary garden. In Italy, images and statues of the Madonna are prevalent in public spaces, reflecting the deep-rooted devotion to Mary within Italian Catholic culture.
Anglican devotion to the Virgin Mary has also evolved over time. During the 16th century, following the Church of England's independence from Rome, mentions of Mary were reduced in the Book of Common Prayer. However, in the 17th century, there was a resurgence of Marianism, with poets like John Donne and George Herbert expressing their devotion in their works. The 19th-century Oxford Movement of Anglo-Catholicism and figures like John Henry Newman further contributed to the revival of Anglican Marian devotions. Today, Anglican devotions include the Anglican Rosary, votive candles, and pilgrimages to sites like Walsingham and Lourdes.
Lutherans, specifically High Church Lutherans, also engage in Marian devotions. While there may be variations in the specific practices among different Lutheran groups, they generally share a devotion to the Virgin Mary within their religious tradition.
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Frequently asked questions
Mary is highly revered by Italian Catholics, with 42.3% praying most often to her, according to a survey. She is seen as the Mother of God and a model of perfect love and obedience to Christ.
Italian Catholics venerate Mary because she is believed to be without sin and conceived by the Holy Spirit without the participation of any man, bringing Christ into the world. This belief is based on interpretations of Scripture, theological reasoning, and church tradition.
Italian Catholics often refer to Mary as "Madonna" or "Vergine Maria" in their prayers, such as the Hail Mary ("Ave, o Maria, Piena di grazia") and the Rosary.
The title "Madonna" is a sign of respect and devotion to Mary as the Mother of God. In Italian art, the Madonna is often depicted holding a child, which symbolizes both her motherhood and the presence of the saints as protective figures.
No, Italian Catholics do not worship Mary as a goddess. They venerate her as the Blessed Mother and Queen of Heaven due to her relationship with Christ. However, some other Christian denominations view Catholic Mariology as unbiblical and a denial of Christ's uniqueness.
