What the study found
The study found that Marian devotion in the Catholic Church is presented as veneration, or dulia, rather than worship, or latria. It identified four main forms of devotion among Catholics in Indonesia: statues used as aids to prayer, pilgrimages to Marian sites, Montfort-style Marian consecration, and the rosary. The authors also say these practices deepen faith and bring believers closer to Christ without replacing divine worship.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say this matters because misconceptions can lead people to equate Catholic devotion to Mary with idolatry. The study suggests that sound catechesis, grounded in Scripture and Church Tradition, is needed so Marian devotion is understood and practiced in a balanced way.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used a descriptive qualitative approach and a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) guided by the PRISMA framework. They initially identified 200 articles through Google Scholar and then screened them for relevance, recency, geographical context, and methodological criteria. Four studies met the eligibility criteria and were analyzed.
What worked and what didn't
The review found four principal devotional practices: statues as prayer aids, pilgrimages, Montfort-style consecration, and the rosary with its emphasis on praise, imitation, and prayer with Mary. It also found two main challenges: external religious intolerance toward devotional symbols and limited theological understanding among believers. The abstract does not report comparative effectiveness between practices.
What to keep in mind
The summary is based on only four eligible studies, selected from an initial pool of 200. The abstract does not provide detail about the content of each included study beyond the practices and challenges identified. Limitations beyond the screening criteria are not described in the available summary.
Key points
- Marian devotion is described as veneration (dulia), not worship (latria).
- Four forms of devotion were identified in the reviewed studies.
- The practices reported were statues for prayer, pilgrimages, Montfort-style consecration, and the rosary.
- The authors say these practices deepen faith and bring believers closer to Christ.
- Challenges included religious intolerance and limited theological understanding among believers.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Marian devotion is described as veneration, not worship
- Authors:
- Agustinus Abraham
- Institutions:
- Sanata Dharma University
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-24
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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