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Days of Heaven: Mary’s Piety (Day 6)
In his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis says that “underlying
popular piety, as a fruit of the inculturated Gospel, is an active evangelizing
power which we must not underestimate: to do so would fail to recognize the
work of the Holy Spirit. Instead, we are called to promote and strengthen it,
in order to deepen the never-ending process of inculturation. Expressions of
popular piety have much to teach us; …especially at a time when we are looking
to the new evangelization.” (EG, 126)
In the Philippines, “these
expressions of popular piety” are very much alive and vibrant in the life of
the Filipino faithful through their observances of popular devotions and other
religious practices that some may criticize as propensity toward fanaticism.
Filipinos take pride in being
called “Pueblo Amante de Maria” – a people in love with Mary. Mary
plays an important role in the life of the people, like that of a mother to her
children. Hence, it is not strange to hear Filipinos call the Blessed Mother
“Mama Mary.” Devotees frequent her shrines, hold novenas and processions during
her feast days. Her image or picture is on the altar of almost every home. They
invoke her intercession for graces they need in life – anything from the
mundane to the spiritual.
Click this link to pray the entire novena:
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