The Sodality of Our Lady, also known as the Solidarity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Roman Catholic Marian Society founded Jean Leunis, a Belgian Jesuit, in 1563. The Ignatian lay group, Christian Life Community, came out of the first Sodality. Originally, the organization was established for young school boys at the Collegio Romano of the Society of Jesus, but Sodalities for adults were authorized under the authority of the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, first as aggregates of the Sodality at Collegio Romano, but later Sodalities were established for other groups in society, such as priests, noblemen and women, merchants, laborers, clerks, the married, the unmarried, soldiers, and so on. Each of these groups would be affiliated with the Prima-Primaria Sodality of the Roman College, and met at the Oratory of San Francisco Saverio del Caravita. Because of the large number of members, the sodality at Collegio Romano were split in 1569, as pupils over the age of eighteen formed a sodality for themselves. Wherever the Society of Jesus established a college or mission, a sodality of the Blessed Virgin was soon started, and the larger cities had several. In 1587, Pope Sixtus V allowed for the creation of sodalities even among people who were not enrolled in a Jesuit school or university. When the Jesuits were suppressed, the Sodality congregations became independent of the Society of Jesus, although several of them were again affiliated with the Jesuits later. The Sodality is a religious body that aims to foster, in its members, the ardent devotion, reverence and love of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to defend the Church against the attacks of the wicked. Until 1967, the Sodality of Our Lady was an Ignatian lay organization. In 1967, the Christian Life Community incorporated many of the sodality organizations, although some chose not to join the CLC. Sodality has no central organization, with each Sodality acting as an autonomous organization.
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Recommended Resources
Our Lady of the Assumption Sodality
The Our Lady of the Assumption Sodality of Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish in Phoenix, Arizona began in 1951, and has been an active part of the church’s ministry since, serving the parish, the church school, and the surrounding community. A history of the Sodality movement is put forth, along with information on becoming a member, a schedule of events, contacts, and a member login.
https://www.stasodality.org/
The Sodality of Our Lady within Saint Gabriel’s Catholic Church in the District of Columbia is within the Archdiocese of Washington. A description of what it means to be a Sodalist is set forth in its site, along with a variety of Sodalist prayers, reflections on the Rosary, and a report from the Prefect of Saint Gabriel’s Sodality of Our Lady. Suggestions of ways in which Catholics may serve the Church are included.
http://www.stgabrielsodality.com/
The Sodality of Our Lady is an association formed by the Society of Jesus in 1563 and approved by the Holy See. Its history, ideals and rules are outlined, and its spirituality, return to its origins, and its adherence to the spirituality of Saint Ignatius and Mary’s role in the Sodality are discussed, along with a gallery of photographs, and biographies of notable Sodalists throughout history.
http://www.sodality.ie/
Sodality Union Archdiocese of Washington
Organized in 1918, the Archdiocese of Washington Sodality Union is made up of more than sixty affiliate parish Sodalities. When the Christian Life Communities were established, the Washington Archdiocese joined but voted to drop out of CLC in 1983, remaining Sodality. Although each Sodality is autonomous, affiliated parishes come together for celebrations, sharing ideas, and information.
http://www.sodalityunionadw.org/
The Spiritual Motherhood Sodality focuses on educating women on the importance of Spiritual Maternity and its connection with the Holy Eucharist and the Priesthood. The meanings of Spiritual Motherhood and Sodality are defined here, and an overview of the Catholic organization is discussed. Other topics include Cenacles, Eucharist, Priesthood, and Mary, the Mother of Jesus. A calendar of events and a blog are included.
http://www.spiritualmaternity.org/
