Society of Mary
AbbreviationSOM
Named afterMary Help of Christians
Formation1931
Merger ofThe Confraternity of Our Lady (formed in 1880) and the League of Our Lady (formed in 1902).
TypeMarian devotional society
HeadquartersUnited Kingdom
Region
Worldwide
ServicesGrants for pilgrimages(Marian shrines) and reparations of Marian images(UK).
Official language
English
Robert Ladds
Chaplain-General
Rev Graeme Rowlands, ssc
AffiliationsChurch of England, Anglican Communion
Staff
4-6
Websitesocietyofmary.net
RemarksThe Society is not entirely made of Anglican laity and has members of other Christian denominations.

The Society of Mary is an Anglican devotional society dedicated to and under the patronage of Mary, mother of Jesus. 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.

Objectives

The stated objectives of the society are:

Members of the society keep a rule of life that includes traditional Marian devotions (such as the Angelus and the Rosary), 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.

Our Lady of Walsingham.

In localities where there are a number of members they may come together to form local organisations called "wards" or "cells". These groups gather for prayer and fellowship.

The society's magazine, called AVE, is published twice per year.

History

The Society of Mary began in 1931 as the combination of two other societies: The Confraternity of Our Lady (formed in 1880) and the League of Our Lady (formed in 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 organisations are in England and the United States.

Major festivals of the society

Anglican devotional societies

See also

External links

Authority control databases
Categories