The spread of the coronavirus has brought about a new social order, but it has also allowed us to go back to ancient or sometimes forgotten devotions. The various forms of popular piety are a precious opportunity for prayer. However, we need to live them with faith, without being morbidly bound to particular rituals which could be repetitions; or being close-minded, claiming that only by such devotions can we be saved.
Especially for Marian devotions, it’s a bit like when a little child brings his mother a drawing made for her. It’s clear that the mother’s eyes will see that drawing as beautiful, no matter what. In fact, her gaze is radiant with love for her son. So it is for each of us before Mary, our Heavenly Mother. However, this does not mean that we can dictate to her to give us what we want. Besides, the favors that Our Lady grants us all come from God, given according to what He has planned for us.
The other aspect to bear in mind is that this plea, rather than containing an expectation of magical and immediate results, moves our hearts to conversion in the light of the Gospel. In fact, prayer is truly fruitful when it binds us spiritually to other people and stimulates us to roll up our sleeves to make concrete acts of fraternal charity. In this perspective, it is then fundamental to educate the new generations to authentic devotions. As a matter of fact, many families have come together these days to hear online Mass or say the rosary together. As Pope Francis says, “the various expressions of popular piety are a treasure trove of spirituality for many families.” (Amoris Laetitia 318)
