## Apostolic Exhortation *Marialis Cultus* (February 2, 1974) by Blessed Paul VIThis Apostolic Exhortation *Marialis Cultus* (on the proper cultivation of the veneration of the Virgin Mary) is the most important post-Conciliar document from the Magisterium on Marian devotion. There is already a post about this document *here*. This post complements that previous one by providing the full text in Latin of the Introduction (nn. 13-16) taken from *Enchiridion Vaticanum* vol. 5 (1974-1976), pp. 42-46, with a careful Portuguese translation.**Collection:** *Enchiridion Vaticanum* vol. 5, paragraphs 13-100**Document:** Apostolic Exhortation *Marialis cultus* on establishing and promoting the proper veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary**Date:** February 2, 1974 (Feast of the Presentation of the Lord)**Source:** AAS 66 (1974) 113-168## Latin Text – n. 13: Introduction> *Marialis cultus* ut incrementis ditaretur, ex quo ad Petri cathedram sumus evecti, continenter dedimus operam; non solum scilicet nobis in animo fuit sensum Ecclesiae circa hanc rem et internum quendam impulsum, quo permovemur, exprimere, sed ad hoc adducti sumus etiam propterea quod haec pietatis forma, quemadmodum notum est, pars eximia efficitur sacri cultus illius, in quo fastigium sapientiae et culmen religionis quasi in unum confluunt, et qui idcirco officium est praecipuum Populi Dei.## Portuguese Translation – n. 13> Para que o culto mariano se enriquecesse de novos desenvolvimentos, desde que fomos elevados à cátedra de Pedro temos trabalhado continuamente; não foi apenas nosso intento expressar o sentir da Igreja sobre esta matéria e um certo impulso interior pelo qual nos sentimos movidos, mas fomos levados a isso também porque esta forma de piedade, como é sabido, constitui parte excelente do culto sagrado em que confluem por assim dizer numa unidade o vértice da sabedoria e o cume da religião, e que por isso é o ofício principal do Povo de Deus.## Latin Text – n. 14: The Liturgical Reform> Hoc quidem officium prae oculis habentes, semper fovimus et proveximus magnum illud opus instaurationis liturgicae a Concilio Oecumenico Vaticano Secundo susceptum, neque procul dubio, sine peculiari divinae Providentiae consilio evenit, ut primum eiusdem universalis Synodi documentum, quod Nos una cum venerabilibus Patribus approbavimus cuique – in Spiritu Sancto – subscripsimus, Constitutio esset a verbis *Sacrosanctum concilium*.## Portuguese Translation – n. 14> Tendo este ofício diante dos olhos, sempre fomentámos e promovemos aquela grande obra da renovação litúrgica empreendida pelo Concílio Ecuménico Vaticano II, e não por acaso, sem um especial desígnio da divina Providência, aconteceu que o primeiro documento daquela mesma Sínodo universal, que Nós juntamente com os veneráveis Padres aprovámos e ao qual, no Espírito Santo, subscrevemos, foi a Constituição que começa pelas palavras *Sacrosanctum concilium*.## n. 16: The Mariological Program of *Marialis Cultus*> **Latin:** Itaque in nonnullis quaestionibus libet immorari, quae ad necessitudinem inter sacram Liturgiam et cultum Dei Genetricis spectant (I); considerationes et normas directorias proponere ad cultum proprie marialem in liturgiae spiritu rite ordinandum (II); aliquot consilia tradere de pia exercitatione – praecipue de Angelo Domini et de Rosario – quae a populo Dei colitur (III).> **English:** Therefore, it is appropriate to pause on some questions that relate to the relationship between the sacred Liturgy and the cult of the Mother of God (I); to propose considerations and directive norms for correctly ordering the proper Marian cult in the spirit of the liturgy (II); to convey certain counsel regarding pious exercises, especially the Angelus Domini and the Rosary, which are cultivated by the people of God (III).## Structure of *Marialis Cultus*The Apostolic Exhortation is organized into three main parts:– **Part I (nn. 1-23):** The cult of the Virgin Mary in the renewed Liturgy, Mary in the liturgical calendar, lectionary, and liturgical year – **Part II (nn. 24-39):** Renewal of Marian cult, four directives: Trinitarian, Christological, Pneumatological, and Ecclesiological; four characteristics: biblical, liturgical, ecumenical, and anthropological – **Part III (nn. 40-55):** Marian devotions, theological analysis of the Angelus Domini and Rosary## Mary as Mater Ecclesiae – n. 17> **Latin:** Etenim Ecclesia horum temporum, de mysterio Christi atque de sua ipsius natura recogitans, eandem Mulierem invenit, et in prioris veluti fonte et in alterius consummatione, Virginem scilicet Mariam, quippe quae esset Mater Christi et Mater Ecclesiae.> **English:** Indeed, the Church of this time, reflecting on the mystery of Christ and on its own nature, finds the same Woman, both as a source of the first and as a completion of the second, namely the Virgin Mary, who is Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church.This passage directly echoes the proclamation of *Mater Ecclesiae* by Paul VI on November 21, 1964, establishing a direct link between these two major Marian moments of his pontificate.## Meaning for Contemporary Marian Liturgy*Marialis Cultus* serves as the theological basis for:– The renewed Marian liturgical calendar post-Vatican II – The feast of “Maria Mother of the Church” (Tuesday after Pentecost, established by Francis in 2018) – Revision of Marian votive masses – *Collectio Missarum de Beata Maria Virgine* (1986), 46 votive masses – *Directory on Popular Piety and Liturgical Celebration* (2002) – *Rosarium Virginis Mariae* (John Paul II, 2002)

Supplementary Reading

Marialis Cultus (original post) | Proclamation Mater Ecclesiae 1964 | Sacrosanctum Concilium | Lumen Gentium, Chapter VIII | Rosary of the Virgin Mary