I have noticed many homes with statues of the Virgin Mary in their yard. Why do they have statues in their yard, is there any teaching on this? Do they have to have them blessed? What is the function of these statues?

-- Carrie Franks (carrie_franks@hotmail.com), April 04, 2002

Answers

Hi Carrie,

My estimate of an answer is that the statue is a reminder for us to recall Mary and ask for her to bless us and bring our intentions to her Son. The statues are often blessed in May. Spring time and Mary have a lot in common--they both are gentle and beautiful, and they both bring/brought life and hope to the world.

I don't think that the church "teaches" us to specifically put a statue of Mary in our yards. If it does, I'm in trouble! The Church does encourage us to look to Mary as a perfect Christian (the first who believed in Jesus) and reminds us that the Bible shows Jesus has a special love for Mary, and that he listens to her petitions.

Implicit in your post may be the question:

"When is Marian devotion exaggerated?"

The history of devotion shows exaggerations in both directions: deification and exaggerated identification with human needs, wants and concerns. Marian devotion exceeds sound theology basically when (1) her status as creature is disregarded (explicitly or implicitly); (2) when her subordination to the sole mediator Jesus Christ is questioned or practically ignored, and (3) when Mary replaces the existence, the magisterial teaching, and sacramental activity of the Church. Alas, most deifications are implicit heresies, not intended as such but victim of lack of theological cognizance and a consequence of affective exuberance. On a lighter note, I ran across a quote on the net that says:

"I know people who have them to ward off evil spirits and religious solicitors. I don't know about the evil spirits, but it sure works with Jehovah's Witnesses. They don't bother with a house with a statue of Mary in the front yard."

Enjoy!

Mateo

-- (MattElFeo@netscape.net), April 04, 2002.

I am sure you didn't mean it this way, but why is it a statue of a pagan god or pink flamingo or a jockey brings no comment, but a statue of Our Lady, the maid of Nazareth, the Mother of Our Lord does?

Mine is Blessed btw. :)

-- Thoughtful (Iwasjust@wondering.com), April 05, 2002.

Mateo, muy interesante la reflexión sobre la imagen de la Virgen María en los prados de las casas católicas. En nuestro país es muy común ver en las puertas o ventanas de muchas casas un poster con la imagen de la Virgen de Guadalupe y un texto que dice más o menos así: EN ESTE HOGAR SOMOS CATOLICOS Y RECHAZAMOS TODA PROPAGANDA ANTICATOLICA. No es de ninguna manera un amuleto, pero ciertamente hace que muchos no-católicos no toquen a nuestras puertas.

AGNUS DEI QUI TOLLIS PECCATA MUNDI, DONA NOBIS PACEM.

CORDERO DE DIOS QUE QUITAS EL PECADO DEL MUNDO, DANOS LA PAZ!!!

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), April 07, 2002.