Liaudies pamaldumo Švč. M. Marijai praktikos Lietuvoje

Abstract

Straipsnyje nagrinėjamos liaudies pamaldumo Švč. M. Marijai praktikos Lietuvoje, jų kilmė ir struktūra. Lietuvoje plačiai praktikuojamas liaudies pamaldumas Švč. M. Marijai, todėl Lietuva verta būti vadinama Marijos žeme (Terra Mariana)

Lithuania is being called the Land of Mary (Terra Mariana) for almost 400 years. It acquired this title in Lvov on the 1st of April in 1656, when the king of Lithuania and Poland John Casimir said grace to sacrifice Lithuania and Poland to Mary in the face of clergy, senators and local people according to determinate order, i.e. genuflected in front of the altar. So, it is not surprising that Lithuania today is a catholic country, where the cult of Blessed Virgin Mary is dominating, but today’s practices of folk devotion for Blessed Virgin Mary are not widely discussed in fields of Lithuanian Catholic Church history and ethnology. Problematic of assessment, preservation and research of the Christian ethnic culture peculiarity today forms its relevance and novelty. This article analyzes practices of folk devotion for Blessed Virgin Mary in Lithuania, their origin and structures. The aim of the research is to inquire into practices of folk devotion for Blessed Virgin Mary that are practiced by Lithuanian people. To achieve the aim these tasks were raised: 1. To introduce practices of Catholic folk devotion in Lithuania. 2. To reveal practices of folk devotion for Blessed Virgin Mary in Lithuania, the most common prayers and hymns. 3. To explore the origins of practices of folk devotion for Blessed Virgin Mary in Lithuania. Thesis of the research – Lithuania justifies its title of the Land of Mary (Terra Mariana) given the abundance of folk devotion practices for Blessed Virgin Mary. Conclusions of accomplished research proclaim: 1. Out of 14 Catholic folk devotion practices in Lithuania more than a half (8) is being practiced for the adoration of Blessed Virgin Mary. 2. Practices of folk devotion for Blessed Virgin Mary in Lithuania are being practiced during the celebration of Church calendar festivals and family (wake) events. [...]