Among the many ways that I view my relationship with Jesus—and consequently God—is as a friend. That being the case, it demands that I put effort into maintaining and nurturing the relationship. I often ask myself, “How can I do this?” and find myself answering the question with a smile on my face, as I know that our Catholic tradition has a treasure trove of ways to help me grow in this divine friendship.
As with any friendship, I must continually be working to strengthen it. I cannot leave it to just the weekly Mass for that nourishment. I need other ways, also.
The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (SC) states, “The spiritual life, however, is not limited solely to participation in the liturgy. The Christian is indeed called to pray with his brethren, but he must also enter into his chamber to pray to the Father, in secret; yet more, according to the teaching of the Apostle, he should pray without ceasing” (12).
That is where our Catholic tradition of devotional prayer can help. Devotions connect what has happened in our sacramental and liturgical lives to other moments of our lives. They mark the flow of our existence, connecting us to the liturgical seasons and helping us to keep time and continuity. “But these devotions should be so fashioned that they harmonize with the liturgical seasons, in accord with the sacred liturgy, are in some way derived from it, and lead the people to it” (SC 13).
We have many devotions from which to choose. Some may be more familiar, such as the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross and the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. But others may be less familiar, such as pilgrimages, litanies, novenas, processions and the veneration of relics. These devotions help us to accompany each other in our spiritual lives and be in communion with those who have gone before us. They all ground us in what it means to be Catholic.
1. LITANIES
I am going to venture to guess that this devotion is not one often used for private devotion, but you may be familiar with litanies as they are used in various liturgical rites. The word “litany” comes from the original Greek word litaneia, meaning plea or petition. Liturgically, it is used at the Easter Vigil during the Baptismal Rite to call upon the saints of God to pray for the child being baptized and the family of believers. In the Order of the Anointing of the Sick, a priest may pray a litany for the healing of the person who is ill or call upon the saints in the Litany of Saints when anointing a person who is dying.
With much repetition and flow, a litany is a form of call and response prayer. A leader speaks an invocation, asking for a saint’s intercession or God’s accompaniment, and a group or individual responds. A typical response is “Pray for us.”
In doing a litany by yourself, consider taking each line as a meditation; respond slowly, letting the petition percolate in your soul. Some of the common litanies are:
Litanies of the Saints: We call upon the Saints—all holy men and women, these “clouds of witnesses” (Heb 12:1), those who have gone before us—to pray for us. These litanies express “the Church’s confidence in the intercession of the Saints and an experience of the communion between the Church of the heavenly Jerusalem and the Church on her earthly pilgrim journey” (Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, 235).
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mother: We invoke the intercession of the Blessed Mother using the many names we have to refer to her, as we traverse the sorrows and happiness of life.
Litany of Saint Joseph: We ask for protection through the intercession of the husband of Mary, Saint Joseph.
Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: Through the heart of Jesus, we ask for mercy upon us, for His love and for a heart to love like Him.
Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus: Through the many names of Jesus, we ask for His mercy and, by His life and death, invoke Him to save us, honoring everlasting friendship.
2. NOVENAS
A novena is a prayer said over a period of nine days for a special intention, such as a sick relative, help with finances, trouble in relationships and a deeper relationship with Christ. The prayer is fashioned after the nine-day period in the Acts of the Apostles during which Mary and the Apostles prayed after the Ascension of Jesus until the Coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The word novena comes from the Latin word for nine, novem.
A novena can be any prayer said for a particular intention. You can commit to saying the Rosary for nine days or use a specific ritual prayer like the Lord’s Prayer or another daily prayer found in a prayer book. There is not a specific formula—just a commitment and dedication to pray for the specific time. If you miss a day, do not fret—add the day on at the end. God hears our prayers. Your prayer may not be answered specifically by day nine but, in faith, we believe God will answer. “Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive” (Matthew 21:22). But keep in mind that sometimes the answer to our prayers comes in a way we had not envisioned at the time.
3. PILGRIMAGE
After a particularly profound health crisis in my life, I took a journey with my husband and children to Quebec. We visited Notre Dame Cathedral in Montreal, which was spectacular, but traveling up the St. Lawerence River, we discovered the Basilica of Sainte Anne De Beaupre about an hour north of Quebec City, visited by 1.5 million people every year. We were on a pilgrimage—a journey to a sacred place, a time of transformation, of seeking self-understanding or of contemplation of God’s abiding love. Knowing nothing about this magnificent shrine, I did not know what to expect. I had to ask myself why such a vast shrine would be in a rather remote location.
Saint Anne, the grandmother of Jesus and the mother of Mary, is not mentioned in Scriptures, but historical writings of the times reference her and her husband, Joachim. Devotion to Saint Anne came to the province of Quebec from France by settlers and sailors. Therefore, Saint Anne become the patroness of the province.
Upon entering the basilica, I gazed upon the ceiling, which depicted the life of Saint Anne and reflected what we know of Jewish women of her time. I was struck by the emotions welling up in me. Progressing further into the shrine, I noticed a case with relics, not sure at first what it was. Getting closer, I became aware that it was part of the forearm of Saint Anne, and my heart leapt unexpectedly. Being quite a pragmatic person, I was surprised by this sudden reaction. Thinking about Saint Anne and how she lived ignited my heart, and I asked her to intercede with God on my behalf, that I might have continued healing so I could be the mother I needed to be. I paused, peering at the three wonderful human beings close to me, and I was filled with the knowledge that God’s intimate love is real.
This relic of Saint Anne came to the basilica—which also houses two other of her relics—from Rome in 1892. Cathedrals, shrines and basilicas often house saint relics for us to venerate. Relics may also travel from place to place, and contact with them can tell us more about the people the saints were, how we are to be Christ’s disciples and how we all have the “universal call to holiness” (Lumen Gentium), leading us to God.
Some devotions require much planning—like a pilgrimage to a faraway holy site—and some require not as much, but each has many merits on shaping our relationship with God. Whatever devotions you choose for nurturing your spiritual life, they lead us back to the Eucharistic table, where we gather as the Body of Christ to be sent again into the world to serve as missionary disciples.
The Catholic Echo magazine has recently covered several other devotional practices. You can find those stories here:
“Understanding the Mysteries of the Rosary,” by Mike and Janice Zwilling. www.CatholicEcho.org/rosary
“Praying the Stations of the Cross,” by Deacon Chris Germak. www.CatholicEcho.org/praying-stations/
“First Fridays: A Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” by Father Chris Cicero. www.CatholicEcho.org/first-fridays/
