Society of Mary (Anglican)

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Blessed Virgin Mary
A traditional catholic image of Mary, entitled the "Immaculate Heart of Mary"

Seal of the Medieval Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham

The Society of Mary is an Anglican devotional society dedicated to and under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As its website states, it is a group of Anglican Christians "dedicated to the Glory of God and the Holy Incarnation of Christ under the invocation of Our Lady, Help of Christians." The Anglican Society of Mary is not to be confused with the two Roman Catholic religious orders of the same name commonly called the Marists and the Marianists.

1 Objectives
2 History
3 Major Festivals of the Society
4 Devotional Societies within Anglicanism
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Objectives

The stated objectives of the Society are:

To love and honour Mary
To spread devotion to her in reparation for past neglect and misunderstanding
To take Mary as a model in purity, personal relationships and family life

Members of the society keep a Rule of Life, which includes traditional Marian devotions (such as the Angelus, the Rosary, etc.), intercession for the faithful departed members of the Society, participation in Mass on the major Marian feasts and solemnities and active engagement in apostolic work.

In localities where there are a number of members, they may come together to form local organizations called "Wards" or "Cells." These groups gather for prayer and fellowship. A magazine called AVE is published by the Society three times per year.

[edit] History

The Society began in 1931 by the combination of two other societies: The Confraternity of Our Lady (formed 1880) and the League of Our Lady (formed 1902). The American Region of the society received its independence in 1962. Although Anglican in origin, there are non-Anglican members of the society and they can be found all over the world. The main regional organizations are in England and the United States.