Marian societies

Marian societies (Марійські товариства; Mariiski tovarystva; Latin: Sodalitates Marianae). Canonically erected Catholic lay bodies which promote a Christian way of life for their members through a program of spiritual formation and group religious activity centered on the veneration of Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. The first body of this type was formed in Rome in 1563 by a Jesuit priest, J. Leunis, and the movement was subsequently introduced into a number of Catholic countries. Approbation to form Marian societies in Ukraine was granted in 1615 by Pope Paul V in response to a request by Metropolitan Yosyp Rutsky. Promoted mainly by priests and nuns of the Basilian monastic order through their network of schools, approximately 30 to 40 societies were established in Ukraine during the 17th and 18th centuries. In spite of some efforts at rejuvenation by Isydor Dolnytsky, the movement declined during the 19th century.

In 1920 Rev Yosafat Ivan Markevych launched a successful campaign to form Marian societies throughout Galicia. His efforts were aided by a vigorous publishing program that included journals for youths and children (Postup (Lviv) and Nash pryiatel’), a society bulletin (Vistnyk Mariis’koho tovarystva), series of popular books (Biblioteka Nashoho pryiatelia and Tsikavi opovidannia), calendars, and brochures. The number of societies reached 31 in 1926 and continued to grow steadily until 1939. The societies’ work was co-ordinated by an organizational center in Lviv that was headed first by Markevych and then by Rev Irynei Nazarko. The societies expanded from their initial target groups of secondary and primary school students to include children, the elderly, and even adults. Societal activity centered around semimonthly meetings, corporate participation in the Divine Liturgy at least once a month, the raising of religious consciousness, and various group programs.

The movement was outlawed with the Soviet occupation of Western Ukraine. Marian societies have been established in Ukrainian Catholic parishes in countries such as the United States of America, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina. Following the easing of religious persecution in Ukraine in the late 1980s, attempts have been made to revive Marian societies there.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Villaret, E. Abridged History of the Sodality of Our Lady, trans, W. Young (Saint Louis 1957)

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 3 (1993).]