24/03/2026
Please read. In response to a question from yesterday.
๐๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐ฉ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต
In the tradition of the Catholic Church, different gestures express different levels of reverence. The Church carefully distinguishes adoration given to God from honour given to the saints, especially the Virgin Mary.
1. Latria
Latria is the worship offered to God alone, particularly to Jesus Christ truly present in the Holy Eucharist.
- Genuflection is made when entering or leaving a church that has the Tabernacle containing the Blessed Sacrament.
- Kneeling is the proper posture when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration.
These gestures express adoration of Christ truly present in the Eucharist.
2. Hyperdulia
Hyperdulia is the special veneration given to the Virgin Mary. She receives the highest honour among the saints because she is the Mother of God (Theotokos), the mother of Jesus Christ who is truly God.
Traditional gestures include:
- A bow of the head when passing a Marian statue, icon, or grotto.
- A respectful inclination of the body as a sign of reverence.
These gestures express honour, not worship.
While genuflection is reserved for the Blessed Sacrament, kneeling itself is a general posture of prayer. Therefore, one may kneel while praying before a Marian grotto or shrine. In such cases, the kneeling is directed to God while asking Maryโs intercession, not as an act of adoration toward Mary herself.
3. Dulia
Dulia is the veneration given to the saints. Acts of reverence toward the saints such as celebrating their feast days or seeking their intercession are ultimately done to honour Godโs work in their lives, not to worship the saints themselves.
Catechetical Department OLFC, Jos
