Catholics, I need to pick your brain

lpstl

Pete is catholic, but he's not practicing. His family is very involved in the church and FIL just went through a ceremony to become a lay marianist. I tried googling this, but it just confused me.

How big of a deal is this? I feel like I should get him a little something, at least a card, but I need someone to explain exactly what this means before I do that. And nope, Pete wasn't of any help.

ootmother2

Good question but I've been Catholic all my life and have never even heard of this.

I do remember RingPop having a question about the Marianists though.  It's a socitey honoring the Virgin Mary.  It has religious and lay memember.

ohwhynot

From what I understand, Marianism is basically a society devoted to the special veneration of the Virgin Mary. Some Marianists become priests, others can become lay ministers, like your FIL.  I honestly have no idea if that means he can perform certain ceremonies, like the more generalized lay ministers can, but I do think that if he studied for it & had a ceremony to formalize it, a card or dinner or something would be a nice way to acknowledge his accomplishment.

ootmother2

add on


I think it's ordinarily called The Society of Mary if you want to google it.

mmdpm

A Marianist is a person who has felt a calling to God with a special pull towards Mary and goes through about a year of classes.  They are called for the below reasons

• To educate for formation in faith
• To provide an integral, quality education
• To educate in family spirit
• To educate for service, justice, and peace
• To educate for adaptation and change.

It is like feeling a calling to be a priest but to continue being a lay person as well. 

You can go to this site too for more info.

http://www.marianist.com/ministries.php?pid=182

mandybear7

The Society of Mary is a religious order (like Benedict, Franciscan, etc) and the priests are Marists. Basically, they have an intense spiritual devotion to Mary, like Benedictan priests follow the order of St. Benedict, Franciscans follow St. Francis, etc. A lay Marian is a lay person that pledge him/her to the society. It is a pretty big deal, because my understanding is the man/woman had to do alot to be offically be in the society and will be even more active in the church community.

A mass card would certainly be appropriate. Your H could also find out if he would like a new Bible, cross, or something you can get at a Catholic store.

lpstl

Mass card? Lay Person?

I feel like a moron...

Ok, so this is a big deal then. I'll get him something in addition to a card..

SwedishChick2011

DH is Catholic.  I just asked him and he really didn't know, even though he went to a Marianist university.  It looks like a Lay Marianist Affiliate is a part of the Marianist family, under the guidance of a Vowed Marianist.  It requires a deeper level of commitment to the Marianist community and the Church than the average Catholic.

Edit: It's probably not that well known even among Catholics because the Marianists are not as common as some others like the Jesuits. 

mandybear7

Lay person = someone who is not of the religious order (priest, nun, etc)

Mass card = religious card, something with Jesus/Mary/whatever on it- fine your nearest Catholic/Christian store, I always find nice cards and gifts for my uber Catholic relatives there (and the young cousins receiving First Communtion)

lpstl

Ok got it, Thank you!

mandy, I'm paging you from now on with all my catholic questions

Pirata13

Since he has a special devotion to Mary, most of the Catholic/religious stores would also have some various statues or plaques of Mary. When my niece/goddaughter was baptized, I got her a crufix as well as a beautiful plaque of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexican Virgin Mary). No idea where it comes from, but I have a fondness for Mary, especially Our Lady of Guadalupe. I have several candles, prayer cards, pendants, a print that is a copy of the painting in the Basilica in Guadalupe, Mexico, and actually one of my leg tattoos features OLofG. There are several "versions" of Mary--OLofG, Our Lady of Fatima etc. Sometimes the robes and her appearance differ slightly, the images are based on how she was described in the various apparitions in those locations. 

mandybear7

Well, those 13 years of Catholic school must have done some good Plus, FI was baptized, but went through RCIA to receive the rest of his sacraments this past year. I went with him to all of those meetings for support and learned a whole bunch, too.

cbvcru67

In Saint Louis, there are quite a few Catholic gift shops, you may be able to find something appropriate there.  The one I am thinking of, off the top of my head, is right by Ted Drewes on Chippea/Watson and Jameson I think.  I've never been inside that one, but there was also a smaller Catholic gift shop I went to out in West county off of Olive where I got a rosary for each of my two friends who had converted this past Easter.  I am not uber Catholic by any means, but I think if that's the direction someone is being pulled, it's nice to go out of your way to honor it.  Hope this helps!