In the Catholic tradition, devotions are popular prayers, rituals and pious practices used by individuals or groups to worship God or venerate Mary and the saints. Often devotions express a particular conviction about the object of the devotion: Eucharistic devotions are commonly an expression of Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist; devotions to Mary and the saints commonly express a confidence in their role as spiritual companions, guides and mediators.
Over the centuries, a wide number and variety of devotions originated in local cultures and reflected the unique spiritual and ethnic sensitivities of the local population; others originated in a particular religious community or order. Over time, these local devotions spread more widely through the universal church and were eventually sanctioned by church authorities. These popular and indigenous devotions are a manifestation of the Catholic sense of sacramentality -- the ability of time and space, nature, human relationships and human activity to mediate (signify or express) the presence, love and grace of an Incarnate God.
Although devotions are a supplement to the official prayer and public worship of the Christian community, in many cases they became a substitute for official prayer and practices when those practices seemed remote or inaccessible to people’s common experience. Thus, for example, it was not uncommon before the liturgical reforms of the 1960s to see Catholics praying the Rosary during a Mass which was being conducted in Latin.
As a part of the liturgical renewal which followed the Second Vatican Council, the Church made a deliberate effort to recover a proper understanding of popular devotions. The Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship warned that popular devotions cannot become substitutes for the Liturgy of the Eucharist or be incorporated into Liturgical celebrations. It stressed that the Liturgy has a preeminence over any other legitimate form of Christian prayer, no matter how worthy or widespread it might be. Moreover, the Congregation said, various forms of popular devotion, especially those associated with particular groups or regions, should not overshadow the common and universal nature of the church and its worship; nor should veneration of the saints take precedence over worship of the Divine Trinity. Learn More > Directory on Popular Piety. Congregation for Divine Worship. >Popular Devotional Practices. U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. > Q&A/Popular Devotional Practices. U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. > The Value and Limits of Catholic Devotions > It's OK Not to Like Some Devotions >How Personal Devotions Can Lead Us to God
Here is a quick-guide to some common Catholic devotions.
Advent Devotions -- Over the years, Catholics have developed a variety of devotions and customs to help them observe the Advent season. Each in its own way contributes to the Advent experience of waiting and watching, listening and preparing for the celebration of Christ's birth at Christmas, for the advent of Christ's presence in our daily lives, and for the Lord's return at the end of time. > Find a guide to Catholic Advent devotions here.
Chaplets -- A chaplet is a set of beads on a chain or a series of knots tied on a cord which is used in prayer. The practice of using beads or knots during meditation or prayer pre-dates Christianity and is widely used in many religious traditions. Chaplets occupy the senses so that the mind is freed to contemplate spiritual mysteries; they also help guide or structure private prayer when it is not possible to use printed or ritual texts. In the Catholic tradition, the most popular chaplet is the Rosary, but there are a variety of other chaplets such as the Divine Mercy Chaplet, which was created to contemplate and invoke God's mercy. (See Rosary below.)
Confession – “Confession” is the common name used by Catholics for a private form of the Sacrament of Penance (sometimes called the Sacrament of Reconciliation). This practice developed unofficially among the faithful in the Middle Ages and was so called because the emphasis was on the private confession of sins, unlike the formal Sacrament which was reserved for capital crimes and public penance. In the 16th century, the Council of Trent mandated the private form as the standard form of the Sacrament of Penance and required Catholics to celebrate the sacrament at least once a year if they are guilty of mortal sin. Over the years, an over-emphasis on the mortal nature of most sins made weekly or monthly use of the sacrament quite common. The liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council tried to balance confession of sins with other components of the sacrament: an awareness of sin as habits of behavior or attitudes rather than individual acts; the public or communal nature of reconciliation; and an emphasis on God’s mercy and love. Today, a majority of Catholics celebrate the Sacrament less frequently and more often than not in “Communal Penance” formats which include an opportunity for private confession. Most parishes continue to offer an opportunity for private individual confession before weekend Masses and during Advent and Lent. Learn More >A Guide to Confession. >Information About Celebrating Reconciliation. >Examinations of Conscience. >Schedule of Individual Confessions.
Cross See Sign of the Cross Veneration of the Cross Way of the Cross
Devotion to the Precious Blood – Devotion to the Most Precious Blood arose out of a late medieval spirituality common in western Europe which stressed how salvation was rooted in the bloody sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The devotion may have originated in Flanders as early as the 13th century, prompted by a relic of the precious blood in the city of Bruges. The Feast of the Precious Blood was celebrated in Spain by the mid-16th century and was added to the liturgical calendar of the universal church in 1849 by Pope Pius IX. It was removed in the liturgical reforms following the Second Vatican Council on the grounds that the precious,blood was already honored in other liturgical feasts.
Divine Mercy -- These devotions honoring God’s mercy revealed in Jesus Christ originated in revelations perceived by St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun and mystic, who lived in the first half of the twentieth century. During the course of Jesus’ revelations to St. Faustina he asked that a feast day dedicated to Divine Mercy be established on the Sunday after Easter, when the Gospel reading recounts the institution of the Sacrament of Penance. This feast was first celebrated in Poland and later in Vatican City. It was extended to the universal church by St. Pope John Paul II on the occasion of the canonization of St. Faustina in 2000. In addition to the annual feast, devotion to Divine Mercy includes a nine-day novena which precedes the feast and regular recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Learn More: > Everything You Need to Know About Divine Mercy > Why Catholics Celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday > How to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet
Eucharistic Adoration -- The custom of adoring or worshipping the Blessed Sacrament outside of the Liturgy (Mass) has its roots in an early liturgical custom of honoring the Eucharist while it was reserved on a separate altar or in a separate chapel during the Holy Triduum (the solemn period in Holy Week between the conclusion of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday and the celebration of the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday). Over time, the devotion was duplicated on other occasions and became in general an expression of the Catholic community's belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharistic Assembly and in the bread and wine consecrated at Mass. While preserving the value of adoring Christ present in the Eucharist, the liturgical reforms following the Second Vatican Council stressed the preeminence of receiving and being transformed by Christ present in the Eucharist. Learn More: > Reflective Guide to Eucharistic Adoration > Understanding the Real Presence Various derivations of Eucharist Adoration include the following: • Benediction -- Benediction is a short Eucharistic devotion during which the Blessed Sacrament is displayed on the altar, usually in a gold container called a “monstrance” (from a Latin word meaning “to show”) or pix. There is a short period of prayer and song, after which the presider blesses the assembly by making a sign of the cross with the Blessed Sacrament. The custom arose in the fifteenth century but was not officially sanctioned by the Church until 1958. • Holy Hours -- While the Eucharist was reserved or exposed in a separate place during the Triduum, the faithful were encouraged to spend one hour in prayer and adoration, a response to Jesus' challenge to the disciples in the Garden: “Can you not spend one hour with me?” The practice was gradually extended in Catholic practice to become a weekly or monthly occasion, which can occur whether the Eucharist was exposed on the altar or reserved in the tabernacle. Learn More: > How to Make a Holy Hour • Forty Hours -- Forty Hours is the practice in which the time devoted to adoration during the Triduum was repeated in a given parish or faith community at another time of year. The devotion, which spans a period of forty consecutive hours, includes a combination of private and public devotions, including the Liturgy, various private and public prayers and meditation, readings, hymns, and often a series of sermons or homilies dedicated to a specific theme. The devotion traditionally concludes with a Eucharistic Procession and Benediction. • Perpetual Adoration -- Perpetual Adoration takes place in specially designated chapels or churches where the Blessed Sacrament is displayed 24 hours a day, except during those times when the Liturgy is being celebrated. These chapels remain accessible to the faithful who wish to pray before the Blessed Sacrament at any time during the day or night. Learn More: > A Beginner's Guide to Eucharistic Adoration > Four Steps for Eucharistic Adoration > Eight Ways to Pray During Adoration > A Convert's Guide to Adoration > Step-by-Step Guide to Adoration • Eucharistic Processions -- Processions (or parades) are customarily used in human societies as a way of honoring special people or occasions; in the church, processions with the Blessed Sacrament are a way of honoring the Lord’s presence in the Eucharist. The procession may take place inside or outside the church; in either case it is traditionally accompanied by candles, incense, various liturgical ministers, and, when taking place outdoors, a large number of the faithful. A Eucharistic procession is a customary part of the Holy Thursday liturgy and is common in conjunction with the Feast of Corpus Christi, Forty Hours devotion, and on special patronal feast days.
Indulgences -- An indulgence represents a deepening awareness and appreciation for God’s mercy, love and healing which an individual experiences as the result of performing certain prayers, devotions or pious works. In announcing the Jubilee Year of Mercy in 2015, Pope Francis explained that this healing of the temporal or personal effects of sin represents a gift -- an indulgence -- from God which frees an individual from the consequences of sin and enables them to act with greater charity and love. In the past, indulgences were often measured in terms of the time in Purgatory required for such healing, but the concept was misleading because Purgatory (like Heaven and Hell) exists outside of time and space as we know it. The "purchase" of indulgences was one of the practices strongly criticized by the Protestant Reformers. Learn More: > Revisting Indulgences by Fr. Ronald Rolheiser
Lenten Devotions -- Over the years, Catholicvs have developed a variety of devotions and customs to help them observe the season of Lent. Each in its own way contributes to the Lenten experience of prayer, penance and almsgiving in preparation for the commemoration of Our Lord's death and the celebration of his resurrection at Easter. > Find a guide to Catholic Lenten devotions here.
Litanies -- A litany is a form of prayer which uses a series of short invocations followed by common acclamations like “Have mercy on us” or “Pray for us.” The invocations recognize a particular attribute, role or title of the person being invokes -- Jesus, Mary or one of the saints. In many cases, both the invocation and the acclamation are frequently repeated; in others, the invocations vary but the acclamation is repeated. Litanies became popular in the Middle Ages when they were used during processions and other public rituals where it was impractical to use longer ritual prayers or readings, and among populations which were not literate. There are a wide variety of litanies dedicated to Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Mary and the saints. Learn More: > Find a list of common litanies here.
Little Way – The “Little Way” is a spirituality based on the example of St. Therese of Lisieux, a 19th century French nun (also called “The Little Flower” or “Therese of the Child Jesus”) who became one of the most popular saints of modern times. Therese entered a Carmelite cloister at the age of 15 and died nine years later after a painful illness; unlike many saints, who are venerated for heroic actions, Therese is revered for her simple and practical kind of spirituality outlined in her spiritual autobiography, “The Story of a Soul. ” The “Little Way” focuses on doing the ordinary and unremarkable tasks of daily life with devotion and humility. Therese was canonized a saint in 1925 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1997. Devotion to St. Therese is promoted by the Society of the Little Flower. Learn More: > Theresa and Her Little Way > What Is the Little Way? > The Little Way of St. Theresa
Marian Devotions– Although there is little historical evidence, it is likely that devotion to Mary began early on in the Christian tradition. For Christian believers, the gradual recognition that Jesus was both human and divine made Mary not only his human mother but also the "Mother of God" (“Theotokos” in Greek). By the 7th century, the church was celebrating five annual feasts of the Blessed Virgin. Although the Protestant Reformers rejected many of the claims made for Mary, the Catholic Counter-Reformation vigorously promoted them and popular devotion to Mary grew, especially in Spain and France. Mary’s Immaculate Conception, a feast first celebrated in the 15th century, was proclaimed a doctrine of the Church in 1854; her assumption into heaven was proclaimed a doctrine in 1950. In 1964, the Second Vatican Council recommended that devotion of the Blessed Virgin be generously fostered, but warned against exaggerations of Marian devotion which distract from focus on Christ, “the source of all truth, sanctity and piety” (Sacred Constitution on the Church, #67). Marian apparitions are considered to be private revelations; according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, apparitions don’t improve or complete Christ’s definitive Revelation, but help the faithful to live it more fully at a certain period of history” (cf. #67). The primary Marian feasts which the church celebrates each year are: Mother of God (January 1), Purification (February 2), Annunciation (March 25), Queen of Heaven (May 31), Assumption into heaven (August 15) birth (September 8), and the Immaculate Conception (December 8). Learn More: > 11 Questions About Mary > Origin of Catholic Marian Doctrines > Why Does Mary Have So Many Titles and Devotions? > Watch this video about Marian devotion >12 Marian devotions for special needs > How Love for Mary shaped Catholic faith
Over the centuries, various devotions to Mary developed, including these: • Angelus – The Angelus (from the Latin word for angel) developed as a pious practice by which Christians were called to daily prayer each morning, noon and evening by the ringing of the local church bells. The Angelus consists of praying three Hail Marys and reflecting on Mary’s role in the Incarnation: the annunciation, Mary’s response to God's invitation, and the Lord’s birth. It began with a daily evening prayer and was expanded in the thirteenth century to include a morning and noontime prayer. Over the years, the noontime Angelus became the most popular and is famously depicted in Jean-Francois Millet’s painting (here) of a farm couple at prayer in their field. Learn More: > What Is the Angelus? > A Convert's Guide to the Angelus > The Angelus--for the Simple, the Distant, and Me • Apparitions – Over the years, various pious individuals (called “visionaries”) have reported supernatural experiences in which they perceived an encounter with the Blessed Virgin and received a message from her. These “apparitions” are considered private revelations which reinforce but cannot add to the deposit of faith received by the original Christian community from Jesus himself. Of almost 300 apparitions reported over the years, the church has declared only 12 as credible experiences worthy of belief. Official approval depends upon the probability of actual fact, the mental and spiritual reliability of the visionary(s), freedom from theological error, and the spiritual fruits of the event leading to a deeper conversion of heart, greater prayer, and works of charity. Under new rules adopted by the Vatican in 2024, some events which are not certified supernatural events may be approved for their spiritual value. Although often highly encouraged, belief in Marian apparitions is not required by the Catholic faithful. The most popular Marian apparitions occurred at Walsingham, England (1061), Prouille, France (1208), Guadalupe, Mexico (1531), Rue du Bac in Paris (1830), LaSalette, France (1846), Lourdes, France (1858), Knock, Ireland (1879), Fatima, Portugal (1917), Beauraing, Belgium (1932–1933), and Banneux, Belgium (1933). The church has not officially approved reported apparitions at Medjugorje in Bosnia/Herzegovina which were first reported in 1981; church officials have rejected claims for apparitions in Necedah, Wisconsin and Bayside, New Jersey. Learn More: > What the Church teaches about apparitions > How the Church judges Marian apparitions > Ten most common misconceptions about apparitions >11 "Fake" Apparitions • Immaculate Heart of Mary – Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a symbol of God’s love for the world and Mary’s maternal love for the church, emerged in the Middle Ages and grew in the seventeenth century as it was more prominently associated with devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The devotion was enhanced in the 20th century as the result of Mary’s reference to her immaculate heart in an apparition at Fatima, Portugal in 1917. Pope Pius XII dedicated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1942. Over the years, popular devotion to the Immaculate Heart was associated with attending Mass and receiving Holy Communion on the first Saturday of each month. The church celebrates the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the Saturday following the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Learn More >Novena Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary > Litany to the Immaculate Heart of Mary • Legion of Mary -- The Legion of Mary is an apostolic lay organization created by members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Dublin, Ireland, in 1921. Members are dedicated to non-material social and charitable assistance to those in need. The creation of the Legion was inspired by Frank Duff, an Irish layman, and shaped by the Marian spirituality of St. Grignion de Montfort. In addition to apostolic work, the activity of Legion members consisted of a regular weekly meeting and designated prayers. Its spirituality prefigured the “universal call to holiness” promoted by the Second Vatican Council. The organization spread to the United States in 1931 and by mid-century was one of the largest lay associations functioning in Catholic parishes throughout the world. • Miraculous Medal -- In 1830 St. Catherine Laboure, a French nun, reported a vision in which Mary revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception and requested that a medal be fashioned honoring the vision. The result was an oval medal, with an image of Mary standing on the globe and crushing a serpent under her feet (here); the image is surrounded by the words “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.” On the reverse side are twelve stars and representations of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary. The medal became popularly known as “the Miraculous Medal” because of numerous and presumably miraculous favors reported by people who wore it. • Our Lady of Fatima – Devotion to Our Lady of Fatima developed following a series of six apparitions of the Blessed Virgin between May and October, 1917, in Fatima, Portugal. During her appearances to three peasant children, ages 10, 8 and 7, Mary revealed herself as the “Lady of the Rosary” and requested daily recitation of the rosary for world peace and an end to World War I. She also urged that Russia, then on the verge of the October Revolution, be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart. At the final appearance on October 13 witnesses reported seeing unusual variations in the appearance and movement of the sun and the occasion became known as “the day the sun danced.” Devotion to Our Lady of Fatima is promoted by the World Apostolate of Fatima, formerly known as Our Lady’s Blue Army. In many locations the Apostolate sponsors the "Pilgrim Virgin"; these statues of Our Lady of Fatima travel among local homes where neighbors and relatives gather regularly to pray the rosary. • Our Lady of Guadalupe – Devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe is widespread among Latinix Catholics throughout the Americas. It evolved from the Blessed Mother’s appearances to a poor indigenous man named Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City in 1531. The Virgin was dressed as an Aztec princess, an image which according to legend was miraculously imprinted on Diego’s cloak, and spoke in a native dialect. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe became an object of devotion and a symbol of Mary’s special affection for the indigenous Americans converted to Christianity by Franciscan and Dominican missionaries during the colonial period. Our Lady of Guadalupe was named patron of “New Spain” in 1754, patroness of Latin America in 1910, and patroness of all the Americas in 1945. Pope John Paul II established December 12 as the official feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, “Mother and Evangelizer of America,” in 1999. Learn More: > A Convert's Guide to Our Lady of Guadalupe • Rosary -- The Rosary as we know it was introduced by St. Dominic in the early 13th century and popularized by Alan of Rupe in the late 15th century. Some early forms of the Rosary consisted of fifteen “decades” (groups of ten beads), but the popular Rosary used today consists of five decades; each decade consists of the Lord’s Prayer, ten Hail Marys, and the Glory Be. The beads help occupy the senses so that the mind can contemplate the sacred mysteries of Christ’s life, death and resurrection. These mysteries, assigned to different days, are divided into Glorious (on Sundays and Wednesdays), Joyful (on Mondays and Saturdays), Sorrowful (on Tuesdays and Fridays) and Luminous Mysteries (on Thursdays). Learn More: >Visual Guide to the Rosary. > Video/The Rosary in Two Minutes > Video/How to Pray the Rosary > The Mysteries of the Rosary Novenas -- A novena is a nine-day period of prayer inspired by the nine days Mary and the Apostles spent in prayer between the Lord's Ascension and the arrival of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. A novena usually consists of a specific petition, which is repeated each day, and a variety of other prayers. In the Middle Ages, novenas were a time of prayerful anticipation, calling the faithful to prayer and reflection in preparation for the celebration of major feast days. More recently, novenas became a form of devotional prayer addressed to Mary or one of the saints, petitioning their intercession for special intentions or needs. There is a wide variety of novenas, dedicated to various intentions, which may be prayed privately by individuals or publicly in groups. Learn More: > History of Novenas > How to Pray a Novena > The Power of Novenas > List of various novenas > 8 most popular Catholic novenas
Pilgrimages – Pilgrimages are journeys of moral or spiritual significance, associated with important people or events in a given religious tradition. Although they usually take place in a physical location, it is also possible to make virtual pilgrimages without leaving home. The main benefit of religious pilgrimages is a renewed and enlivened since of dedication and commitment. In the Christian tradition, the earliest pilgrimage destinations were the sites of Jesus’ life, passion, and resurrection in Palestine. Starting around the 4th century Rome became a popular destination for Christians wishing to honor the memory and venerate the relics of early saints and martyrs. During the Middle Ages, numerous sites throughout Europe became popular destinations. The most popular were the shrine of St. James at Compostella in northern Spain, the shrine of Augustine of Canterbury in southeastern England where St. Thomas Beckett was martyred, and the great gothic cathedrals of Europe like those at Cologne and Aachen in Germany, Nidaros in Norway, Notre Dame in Paris, and Chartres southwest of Paris. In modern times, the sites of various Marian apparitions have become popular destinations, including Guadalupe in Mexico, Lourdes in France, Fatima in Portugal, Knock in Ireland and Medjugorje in Bosnia/Herzegovina. During Jubilee Years, Catholics are invited to make a Holy Year pilgrimage to St. Peter’s in Rome. During the Extraordinary Year of Mercy in 2015-16, Pope Francis also designated various locations and local cathedrals as pilgrimage sites. Learn More: > Pilgrimage--a Soul's Sacred Journey > Practical Guide for a Catholic Pilgrimage >Step-by-Step Plan for Making a Pilgrimage > What Is the Point of a Pilgrimage? > Pilgrimage is Common in Every Religion
Relics --Relics are objects which are honored or reverenced in memory of a holy person. These may include pieces of the person's body such as bones or teeth, pieces of objects which belonged to them, or objects touched by them. In the Christian tradition, relics came first from the early martyrs and later from saints who were exceptional examples of Christian living. Veneration of relics was especially popular in the Middle Ages and spread widely as Crusaders brought back objects from the Holy Land thought to be relics of the early disciples, the martyrs, or Christ himself. Local churches competed for possession of the most famous relics, which were displayed in shrines and attracted pilgrims from far and wide. The practice of venerating relics too easily devolved into magical and superstitious activities pursued for economic gain and was rejected by the Protestant Reformers. Today veneration of relics in the Catholic Church is carefully regulated. Although the authenticity of many relics is often dubious, the lives of the individuals they represent continue to be powerful examples of Christian living for those who honor them. Learn More > Relics of Christ >The Physicality of Christian Faith > Why Catholics Venerate Relics
Saints -- Early Christians were in the habit of calling any baptized person a “saint” (from a Latin word meaning “holy person”). The term was eventually reserved for individuals who were martyred for the faith and the deceased who were remembered in the local community for being exceptional examples of Christian faith and holiness. In 2017 Pope Francis added a third category, the free offering, dedication or sacrifice of one’s life in service to the faith. For many centuries saints were chosen by popular acclamation, but bishops eventually asserted jurisdiction over the selection of saints and by the 12th century formal recognition of saints required the approval of the Pope. Today the lives of potential saints are carefully investigated by Rome and entry into the canon of saints (“canonization”) is preceded by two preliminary stages, “Venerable” and “Blessed.” Saints are not honored for being perfect persons, but for some aspect of their lives which was an exceptional or heroic example of holiness or virtue. A wide variety of devotions developed over the years to honor the saints, including special prayers, litanies, and novenas, as well as shrines and festivities celebrated on the saint’s feast day. Although Catholics have a long tradition of honoring or venerating the saints, they do not worship them. Veneration consists of a certain respect and a desire to imitate their virtue, but differs from worship which is reserved to the Divine Trinity. Catholics believe that the example of the saints and their concern for those still living on earth make them powerful examples and advocates for the faithful. Learn More: > Who Decides Who Become Saints? > Why Do We Need the Intersession of the Saints? > How Do the Saints Hear Our Prayers? > Why Do Catholics Have Statues? > Why Catholics Pray to the Saints > Why Pray to the Saints? > Why Catholics Treasure Their Saints
• Communion of Saints -- The phrase "Communion of Saints" apparently originated in an early baptismal formula as "communion with the holy ones" and was eventually incorporated into the Apostles' Creed. The phrase refers to the People of God united in a common-union or community through the Spirit of Jesus and the faith, hope and promise of salvation which flow from his life, death and resurrection. This communion transcends time and space, so that it unites both the living and the dead in a common relationship of love and concern which can be an occasion of grace for both. • All Saints and All Souls -- Catholics celebrate the Communion of Saints in a special way on the feasts of All Saints (November 1) and All Souls (November 2). In European cultures the day preceding All Saints Day, October 31, became known as "All Hallows Eve"; many customs associated with Halloween symbolize the conviction that the boundary between this world and the next is in some way permeable. In Latino cultures, All Souls Day is celebrated as Dia de los Muertos, the "Day of the Dead." Learn More: > "Saints and Souls--Keeping Memory and Hope Alive" > Why Catholics Pray for the Dead > A Brief Guide to Visiting a Cemetery
Scapulars -- A scapular is an object of popular piety which is worn to remind the wearer of their baptismal commitment to live a Christian life. Devotional scapulars consist of two small pieces of cloth, wood or laminated paper about 1x2 inches which are attached with ribbons so that they can be worn over the shoulders. Devotional scapulars are derived from the scapulars originally worn by medieval monks. The monastic scapular was a large piece of cloth, draped over the shoulders, which hung down to the wearer's knees in both the front and back, and served as a kind of apron. Later scapulars, which sometimes hung down to the wearer’s feet, were adapted by various religious orders and confraternities as part of the community’s official garb (or “habit”) and were a sign of the community’s commitment to prayer and work. Religious communities were often identified by the color of their scapular, the most common being black (for Benedictines and Augustinians), brown (for Franciscans and Carmelites), white (for Dominicans) and blue (for Sisters of Mercy). According to popular legend, Mary promised St. Simon Stock that she would rescue anyone from Purgatory who regularly wore the brown scapular. Learn More > The Meaning of the Brown Scapular
Sign of the Cross -- The Sign of the Cross is one of the oldest and most common ritual gestures used to mark or bless a person as a disciple of Jesus Christ. A small sign of the cross, traced on the forehead, hands or chest of an individual was in use as early as the early second century and is still used today in various sacramental rituals. A larger sign of the cross, which became more popular after the legalization of the Christian faith in the fourth century, consists of touching the forehead, breast, left and right shoulders with the right hand, accompanied by the words: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (the same words used at Baptism). The Sign of the Cross is a public declaration that one has been baptized into the Paschal Mystery of Christ's life, death and resurrection and believes in the triune nature of the Divinity present in time and space through the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. It is commonly used at the beginning and end of public or private prayer and is on occasion used as an abbreviated prayer of intercession. Catholics customarily bless themselves with the Sign of the Cross after dipping their hand in holy water as a reminder of their Baptism. Learn More: > Why Do Catholics Make the Sign of the Cross? >Why Do Catholics Make the Sign of the Cross?(video) > The Meaning Behind An Ancient Gesture > O Cross of Christ (Pope Francis) > Signing the Head, Lips and Heart > Boasting in the Cross > Why the Cross Is a Stumbling Block to Non-Christians
Veneration of the Cross – This practice normally takes place during the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday. When possible, the faithful approach the cross or crucifix, kneel and touch or kiss it in a gesture of reverence. Reverence for the cross originated in the discovery of what was believed to be the true cross buried in a hillside outside Jerusalem in the early fourth century. Legend says it was discovered by Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. The practice of venerating the cross on Good Friday began in Jerusalem shortly after the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 335ce. The practice, like pieces (relics) of the cross itself, gradually spread throughout the church and was being observed in Rome before the end of the seventh century. It was formally incorporated into the Good Friday liturgy in the early eighth century. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, veneration of the cross also takes place on September 14 which is the feast of the Exultation (or Triumph) of the Cross in both the Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions. Learn More: > Paradox and Passion of the Cross > The Crib and the Cross > Boasting in the Cross
Votive or Vigil Candles -- Votive candles or vigil lights are common in Catholic as well as Anglican and Lutheran churches, chapels and shrines. This display of candles, often in red or blue glass holders, are usually located off to the side, near a statue, painting, or side altar. Catholics light a candle when they are praying for a special intention. The candle symbolizes the individual's hope that God's mercy and grace will address the special need they are praying for. The word "votive" derives from a Latin word which means vow, and signifies the individual's confidence in God's promise to hear our prayers. The word "vigil" derives from a Latin word meaning waiting or watching; it signifies the spiritual and personal presence with which one accompanies a person in need, someone who is sick, or a loved one who is dying. In the past, sitting vigil with someone through the night literally required a vigil candle. Learn more: > Lights of Faith > Keeping Vigil > Keeping the Vigil > What We Must Learn to Become Fully Human > On the Tradition of Keeping Vigils
Way of the Cross – This devotion (also called “Stations of the Cross”) is a common practice performed during the Lenten season. It originated among early Christians who found spiritual value in re-tracing Jesus’ path along the via dolorosa (“way of sorrow”) from Pilate’s court to the site of the crucifixion on Calvary. When participation in this devotion became impractical for the average person, Christians began constructing the Way of the Cross inside or outside local parish churches, chapels and shrines. The Catholic Church standardized the traditional form of the Stations in the 18th century. Today the traditional devotion consists of fourteen “stations,” represented by paintings, sculptures or plaques depicting the events of Christ’s Passion starting with the trial before Pilate and concluding with the burial; in many locations local custom adds a fifteenth station, depicting the Lord's resurrection. Participants, or a representative of the community commonly pass from one Station to the next, reciting prayers and meditating on the saving events of Jesus’ passion and death. In Rome, a tradition of praying the Stations of the Cross publicly in the Colosseum on Good Friday dates back to the Holy Year of 1750; the custom was revived by Pope Paul VI in 1964 and has been continued by his successors. Learn More >History of the Way of the Cross >Virtual Stations of the Cross > Way of the Cross texts > My Life and the 14 Stations > Seven Other Ways to Meditate on Christ's Passion • Via Crucis -- In Hispanic culture, the traditional “Via Crucis” dates back to colonial times, when Spanish and Portuguese missionaries introduced the Way of the Cross to the Americas. The emphasis on the suffering and death of Jesus in Spanish devotional theology, combined with the oppressive social and political condition of the new converts, made the annual Via Crucis a particularly evocative and powerful spiritual experience. The devotion is replicated in Latinix Catholic communities today, where the entire community is often involved in planning and re-enacting the Lord's passion on Good Friday. Learn More > Via Crucis in San Antonio, Jalisco Mexico, 2015.