Marian devotion essential part of faith, says papal envoy

Published: 2004-12-09

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A papal envoy urged U.S. Catholics to deepen their Marian devotion as an essential part of their Catholic identity and as a way of strengthening their faith. "Maybe, in recent decades, through a wrong interpretation of the teachings recalled in the documents of Vatican II, Marian devotion has not always been assigned the place it deserves," said Belgian Cardinal Jan Schotte. "The time has come to revert this course." He said Marian devotion strengthens belief in church dogmas and teachings and helps protect against a "pick and choose" Catholicism. The cardinal gave the homily and was the principal concelebrant Dec. 8 during a Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. The Mass commemorated the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of the infallible dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

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