The cult (which means "pattern of devotional practices" rather than anything
more sinister) of the Virgin Mary was an important aspect of medieval religious
piety. From the 6th century in Byzantium and rather later in the West,
the cult of Mary expanded into a vast artistic, devotional, and imaginative
aspect of Christian piety.
In Northern Europe the Protestant Reformation largely killed the cult of
Mary. It is noticeable, for instance, that although Protestant churches
are still commonly dedicated to saints, I could only find one in New York
dedicated to Mary. Most Protestant dedications are to Saint John (which
one is not usually specified, but probably the gospel writer is meant)
, St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, St. Paul, or St. Stephen. All these
are New Testament figures and so the Biblicism of Protestantism is appropriately
emphasized. What is missing is the feminine aspect of the Divine. This
is precisely what Mary brings to Catholic, Orthodox and some Anglican piety.
But Protestantism, apart from African American churches, is a minor aspect
of New York City's religious life. Catholicism dominates Christian life
by the sheer number of Catholics. Orthodoxy is much less prominent, but
plays an important role in Queens. Anglican churches are also scattered
throughout the city, for the most part affected by Anglo-Catholicism. The
result is that Mary has more sanctuaries dedicated to her than any other
devotional figure, including Christ.
As well as her position as the leading patroness of ecclesiastical property,
the Virgin remains the focus of strong cults. These range from the slightly
antiquarian medievalism of the cult of Our Lady of Walsingham at St. Mary
the Virgin (W 46th St.), to the dramatic scenes which still surround the
festivals of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on 116th St. (whose Italian clients
now mix with her Hispanic devotees), to the simple devotion at Our Lady
of Guadaloupe on West 14th St., (whose Shrine in Mexico City represents
the survival of native Indian culture through centuries of oppression),
to the millenialist fantasies connected with the ongoing apparitions (since
the early 1970s) of the Virgin at the former Vatican Pavilion of the 1964
World's Fair.
Mary's appeal transcends many boundaries. The aggressive anti-Communist
Mary of some on the Catholic right, is the same Mary whose hymns are among
the most fervently sung at the services of the gay Catholic group Dignity.
[Indeed when the group split in 1989, the break off group toyed with the
idea of becoming "Dignity/Queen of Heaven" chapter. Sadly it settled on
"Dignity/Big Apple"]
In short, in the face of intellectuals' disdain, Protestant dismissal,
and Vatican II's Eucharistic Catholicism, Mary retains her place in the
affections of the faithful of many churches, owns more property than any
other, and represents the very deep currents of medieval religious experience.
Los Angeles may be named after her [its full name is "The City of Mary
Queen of the Angels"], but in New York also Mary can claim her title of
"Queen".
The vast majority of churches dedicated to the Virgin are listed here,
although a few may have escaped directory listing. Churches have been counted
if dedicated to Mary by name, under the title "Our Lady", or to one of
her feast days.
In all the Virgin Mary has at least 92 active sanctuaries in the city,
as well as lady chapels in virtually every Roman Catholic and many Anglican
churches.
Roman Catholic [76 Marian dedications]
Manhattan
Immaculate Conception, 414 E. 14th St., (212) 254 0200
Church of Notre Dame, 404 W 114 St., (212) 866 1500
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 448 E 116th St., (534 0681)
Our Lady of Loreto 303 Elizabeth, New York, NY (212) 431-9840
Our Lady of Good Counsel 230 E 90th St New York, NY (212) 289-1742
Our Lady of Lourdes Church 472 W 142nd St New York, NY (212) 862-4380
Our Lady of Peace 237 E 62nd St New York, NY (212) 838-3189
Our Lady of Pompeii Church 25 Carmine St New York, NY (212) 989-6805
Our Lady of Sorrows 213 Stanton St New York, NY (212) 673-0900
Our Lady of The Scapular Church 142 E 29th St New York, NY (212) 532-2232
Our Lady of Victory Church 60 William St New York, NY (212) 422-5535
Our Lady of Perpetual Help 323 E 61st St New York, NY (212) 838-1324
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs 91 Arden St New York, NY
St Mary's Church 440 Grand St New York, NY (212) 674-3266
St Mary's Byzantine Rite 246 E 15th St New York, NY (212) 677-0516
Spanish Church of La Guadalupe, 229 W 14th St., (212) 243 5317
Bronx
Immaculate Conception, 754 E Gun Hill Rd, (718) 653 2200
Immaculate Conception, 389 E 151 St., (718) 292 6870
Our Lady of Angels 2860 Webb Ave Bronx, NY (718) 548-3005
Our Lady of Good Counsel 4221 Park Ave Bronx, NY (718) 294-6981
Our Lady of Grace 3985 Bronxwood Ave Bronx, NY (718) 652-4817
Our Lady of Mercy 2496 Marion Ave Bronx, NY (718) 933-4400
Our Lady of Pity, 276 E 151 (718) 665 3880
Our Lady of Refuge, 290 E 196 (718) 367 4690
Our Lady of Solace 731 Morris Park Ave Bronx, NY (718) 863-3282
Our Lady of The Assumption 1634 Manhattan Ave Bronx, NY (718) 824-5454
Our Lady of Victory 1512 Webster Ave Bronx, NY (718) 583-4044
Our Lady of Mt Carmel, 627 E 187th, Bronx, (718) 295 3770
St Mary Star of the Sea 595 Minnieford Ave Bronx, NY (718) 885-1440
St. Mary Protectoress, Ukrainian Catholic, 1745 Washington Ave, (718)
731 9392
Although not specific to New York, this site does explain clearly one of
the major founts of the Virgin's power in New York - the devotion of Latin
American immigrants. All the major Latin American titles are explained
and illustrated.
Medieval Virgins -Our Lady of Walsingham [picture]
There is a cult statute of this Medieval Apparitionial Devotion at the
church of St. Mary the Virgin. The modern arising
of this cult is told in the The
Story of Our Lady of Walsingham. The annual pilgrimage to this Shrine
in England is one of the campest religious events in existence.
Our Lady of New York
A statue at the Anglican Church of St. Thomas, Fifth Avenue
