Lourdes spirituality (Marian devotion and rosary)

Marian devotion

Catholics honour Mary as the Mother of God. She is not worshipped, as worship is reserved for God.

Mary is to be honoured because God chose her to be the mother of His Son. By her obedience to His will she set in physical motion the work of our redemption. Jesus, the Word of God, was made flesh in her and mankind was redeemed (restored to God’s favour).

Mary is the mother of the physical body of Jesus Christ, she is also the spiritual mother of the Church.

We honour her and ask for her intercession because of her unique relationship with God through her Son.

Mary is believed to have been free from original sin, in recognition by God of her part in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. The belief that Mary was conceived free from original sin is known as the Immaculate Conception. This dogma was proclaimed in 1854 by Pope Pius IX.

When Mary appeared to Bernadette in the Grotto and was asked to reveal her name she said, "Que soy era Immaculada Concepciou", "I am the Immaculate Conception".

Prayers to our Lady of Lourdes

Rosary

Often described as a Marian prayer, the Rosary is the story of the New Testament. As we recite our prayers we follow the lives of Mary and Jesus.

We follow Mary from the day the Archangel Gabriel asked her to become the Mother of Christ to the day she was crowned Queen of Heaven.

We follow Jesus from the moment He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, through His childhood, His adult ministry, His passion and death on the cross, His resurrection and ascension into Heaven.

Praying the rosary is turning to God with the help of Mary.

For further information on the rosary, see the entry about the rosary in the prayer section.

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