World Marian Movement

The World Marian Movement (also commonly referred to as "devotion to Mary" or the "cult of Mary") refers to the many groups of Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians who have a particular devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Devotion to Mary is grounded in the veneration of Mary's holiness as the Mother of God. This devotion includes recognizing Mary as the holy Virgin Mother of God, invoking Mary to be an intercessor with God, honoring Mary's role in salvation, believing Mary to be sinless, imitating Mary in life and dedication, and, for Catholics, recognizing Mary as the Queen of Heaven. Within the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches, devotion to Mary also includes numerous ceremonies and feasts in honor of Mary as well as specific prayers and litanies dedicated to and appealing to Mary in different forms. Both churches make a distinction between devotion to Mary and the worship of Mary, in which the latter is rejected because only God can be worshipped.  In defense of Jesus' divinity, the Council of Ephesus in 431 C.E. granted Mary the title theotokos, meaning Mother of God. Shortly thereafter, churches and chapels were being dedicated to Mary and rituals were developed, including daily prayer to Mary. The most important of these prayers to Mary is the "Hail Mary," which draws from Elizabeth's greeting to Mary as recorded in the Gospel of Luke. In modern times, devotion to Mary has significant influence in many Latin and South American countries.