Popular Piety Directory

Greetings! Today I'm continuing my examination of church documents on devotional practices. Last time I introduced the USCCB's Popular Devotional Practices: Basic Questions and Answers (2003). After reading through the document I came across something that was published two years earlier by the Congregation for Divine Worship. The Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principle and Guidelines, issued by the CDW in 2001, provides an extensive examination of popular piety and private devotion and how these relate to the Liturgy. It looks like I hit the 'mother lode' with respect to reference works on devotions in the church.

The introduction illustrates the nature and structure of the directory:

This Directory contains two parts. The first, entitled Emerging trends, provides the elements necessary for the harmonization of Liturgy and popular piety. It draws on the experience which has matured during the long history and emergence of the contemporary problematic (Chapter 1). The teachings of the Magisterium are systematically restated since they are indispensable for ecclesial communion and fruitful action (Chapter 2). Finally, the theological principles, according to which difficulties concerning the relationship between Liturgy and popular piety are approached and resolved, are stated (Chapter 3). The possibility of realizing a true and fruitful harmonization of Liturgy and popular piety can only be achieved by a wise and committed respect for these presuppositions. Conversely, overlooking them leads to nothing but reciprocal and futile ignorance, damaging confusion and contradictory polemics.

The second part, entitled Guidelines, offers a series of practical proposals. It does not claim to be able to include every usage or practice of popular piety to be found in particular locations throughout the world. Mention of particular practices or expressions of popular piety is not to be regarded as an invitation to adopt them where they are not already practiced. This section is elaborated in reference to the Liturgical Year (Chapter 4); to the special veneration given by the Church to the Mother of our Saviour (Chapter 5); to devotion to the Holy Angels, the Saints and the Beatified (Chapter 6); to suffrage for the dead (Chapter 7) and to pilgrimage and examples of popular piety connected with shrines (Chapter 8).

The object of this Directory is to offer guidelines and, where necessary, to prevent abuses or deviations. Its tone is positive and constructive. In the same context, it provides short historical notes on several popular devotions in its Guidelines. It records the various pious exercises attached to these devotions while signalling their theological underpinning, and making practical suggesting in relation to time, place, language and other factors, so as to harmonize them with the Liturgy.


Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines, 2001, no. 4, http://www.vatican.va (accessed May 2006).


For additional information and a chapter-by-chapter summarization of the directory, you may want to check out The Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines -- A Commentary, edited by Peter C. Pham (Liturgical Press, 2005).

The Directory on Popular Piety and Liturgy is a great resource for devotions in the Church. Catholics will be encouraged to find that popular devotions are a living part of our Church and not a thing of the past. No doubt I will use this reference as I continue to discover the realm of Catholic devotions. God Bless Your Day!