1. Mass According to the Rite of 1962 (Extraordinary Form) – one of the highest architectural achievements of language – and all of it pointing upward – and drawing us upward – to Him who is Supreme Architect of the World.
2. Stations of the Cross – the back story to the Mass and, no matter when or where I pray it, it sticks in my emotional craw like the shaft that ultimately finds its mark between Christ’s ribs as He hangs from the cross.
3. Rosary: Our Blessed Mother’s own 150 Psalms to her son and a gift beyond price for the Church here on earth.
4.Song of Songs (Canticle of Canticles) – The original (and preferred) theology of the (Mystical) Body.
5. St. James the Greater – the most intriguing of the Apostles – why does he always appear, apparently odd man out, with Peter (Tradition) and John (Scripture)? (Cf. Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51; Mark 9:1; Matthew 17:1; Luke 9:28; Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:33) Is it because he is the first martyred of the Apostles? Does he represent the Church militant? At any rate, Compostela is on my “bucket list.”
Honorable Mention (i.e. because I could only give 5!): St. Joseph, Job (of course!), St. Francis De Sales, St. Barbara, and Eucharistic Adoration.
Does Mass count as a devotion?
Thank you for posting the James question. I'll have to ponder it, too!
Matthew,
In other words, are you asking whether because Mass is an obligation on Sundays, its obligatory nature cancel out its devotional character?
Simple, perhaps too subjective, answer: Not for me.
Not so simple and longer answer: Since it's something I only get to the OLM on the rare occasion, I tend to luxuriate in the prayers the way I perhaps wouldn't otherwise.
Also, even the Holy Father speaks of those who "have a devotion" to the Rite of 1962.
That said, I'm willing to be corrected.
But for all that it sho' has that over-and-above sense most good devotions do!
JOB
Yeah, I guess I was thinking of Mass as being in a separate category, in part because it's not something we choose based on our particular spiritual leanings. But I take your point.
Great list, JOB!
I'll finance the Compostela for the entire Korrektiv gang when I win the lottery.
Thanks, JOB. This post has become my latest devotion.