Here are the results to questions asked to youth in a survey done by Father Johann Roten at the International Marian Research institute. The survey was answered by youth of many countries.

Survey on Mary and Youth: General Information Questions
Survey on Mary and Youth: Questions on Apparitions
Survey on Mary and Youth: Marian Prayers
Survey on Mary and Youth: Special Prayers and Dogma
Survey on Mary and Youth: Beliefs about Mary
Survey on Mary and Youth: Mary's Role in the Church
Survey on Mary and Youth: Perceptions of Mary
Survey on Mary and Youth: Views on Mary in Our Lives
Survey on Mary and Youth: A selection of replies
Survey on Mary and Youth: Replies about Personal Images of Mary

Return to the Apparitions Information Index

Austria	Canada	Ecuador	France	Ireland	Italy	Japan	Korea	Peru	Spain	Switzer- land	United States
No. of Replies
96	149	88	562	66	219	129	611	330	920	53	3631
If you were ever taught to pray the rosary, do you ever pray it?
I was taught the rosary, but never pray it.
28.7% 27	43.0% 64	22.7% 20	30.1% 167	59.7% 37	44.2% 96	36.9% 45	10.4% 59	39.0% 128	27.3% 251	43.4% 23	34.4% 1223
Are you a member of any Marian prayer or social organizations?
No
88.2% 82	98.7% 147	80.7% 71	95.5% 528	100.0% 61	94.9% 206	95.2% 120	94.5% 568	88.8% 293	83.3% 766	100.0% 53	96.9% 3467
Other than reading in church or required reading for school, do you ever read the Bible?
Yes
26.0% 25	23.5% 35	68.2% 60	35.4% 197	13.8% 9	26.4% 57	33.3% 43	58.9% 353	53.0% 175	46.0% 421	26.4% 14	41.5% 1493
The Roman Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception says essentially...
I do not know what the dogma says.
77.9% 74	32.0% 47	44.3% 39	41.2% 226	53.2% 33	24.7% 54	50.8% 64	35.5% 212	33.7% 110	32.8% 302	30.2% 16	47.9% 1610
Besides the Assumption and the Immaculate Conception, can you think of other Roman Catholic Marian dogmas?
No
94.7% 90	98.0% 146	86.9% 73	95.0% 516	100.0% 58	94.9% 204	98.4% 124	94.1% 546	84.7% 271	88.2% 811	98.1% 52	92.7% 2357

Austria	Canada	Ecuador	France	Ireland	Italy	Japan	Korea	Peru	Spain	Switzer- land	United States
No. of Replies
96	149	88	562	66	219	129	611	330	920	53	3631
The following are descriptions that are used to describe Mary. I strongly agree or agree that...
she is a caring mother of the Church and of humanity.
65.6% 61	76.2% 112	96.6% 85	73.7% 411	57.9% 33	80.8% 177	68.8% 88	42.1% 249	86.2% 282	84.6% 778	64.2% 34	83.3% 2953
she is the mother of God.
71.3% 67	77.6% 114	94.3% 82	70.7% 396	50.9% 29	81.3% 178	60.9% 78	31.4% 185	88.7% 290	84.0% 772	66.7% 34	79.8% 2851
she sympathizes with the poor.
75.5% 71	85.7% 126	60.9% 53	78.0% 437	43.9% 25	77.9% 169	74.2% 92	47.5% 281	54.0% 176	53.2% 485	76.9% 40	76.7% 2746
she is our sister in faith.
57.0% 53	78.2% 115	85.1% 74	59.3% 332	40.4% 23	70.3% 154	31.3% 40	47.3% 280	74.9% 245	70.1% 641	65.4% 34	70.2% 2496
she is the handmaid of God.
60.6% 57	49.7% 73	90.6% 77	63.0% 353	23.2% 13	58.9% 129	23.8% 30	30.0% 177	63.9% 209	51.6% 473	71.2% 37	50.0% 1767
she is the feminine dimension of God.
22.3% 21	53.1% 78	43.0% 37	33.9% 190	26.8% 15	23.4% 51	41.3% 52	20.3% 119	31.6% 103	24.2% 220	26.9% 14	41.6% 1482
she is the highest expression of human beauty.
21.5% 20	44.9% 66	72.1% 62	35.8% 200	23.6% 13	33.3% 73	50.4% 65	28.6% 169	46.8% 153	40.3% 368	15.4% 8	47.2% 1657
she is the Queen of Heaven.
37.2% 35	46.3% 68	80.5% 70	30.9% 173	43.9% 25	67.4% 147	23.4% 30	13.5% 80	64.2% 210	41.7% 382	21.2% 11	60.4% 2132
she is a powerful intercessor who presents our prayers to God.
51.1% 48	53.1% 78	81.4% 70	42.4% 237	14.3% 8	56.6% 124	60.6% 77	37.9% 223	76.1% 249	49.7% 454	30.8% 16	50.1% 1753
she is the co-redeemer of humanity with Jesus Christ.
35.1% 33	52.4% 77	78.8% 67	45.9% 257	17.9% 10	61.5% 134	65.6% 84	43.6% 258	60.1% 196	51.4% 466	34.6% 18	39.4% 1406
she is the ideal woman.
20.2% 19	39.5% 58	79.1% 68	35.5% 199	22.8% 13	30.3% 66	60.2% 77	39.9% 236	68.7% 224	67.3% 617	13.5% 7	52.0% 1823
she is a chaste virgin.
42.6% 40	37.0% 54	69.8% 60	40.1% 225	24.6% 14	55.5% 121	65.6% 84	59.0% 349	63.5% 207	50.4% 459	32.7% 17	58.6% 2094

Austria	Canada	Ecuador	France	Ireland	Italy	Japan	Korea	Peru	Spain	Switzer- land	United States
No. of Replies
96	149	88	562	66	219	129	611	330	920	53	3631
Do you view Mary in other ways? [This continues last's week's questions.
No
3.9% 68	86.3% 126	28.6% 24	78.2% 431	88.3% 53	85.2% 184	92.0% 115	88.4% 497	56.7% 181	59.3% 546	80.8% 42	28.8% 1009
Does Mary have a place in your life?
Yes
33.3% 32	40.8% 60	86.2% 75	40.3% 226	23.4% 15	51.6% 113	10.2% 13	19.9% 118	74.8% 246	68.6% 628	43.4% 23	59.4% 2111
Is Mary important to the Roman Catholic Church?
Yes
66.0% 62	71.6% 106	94.3% 83	68.8% 381	61.9% 39	79.5% 174	71.8% 89	29.2% 170	94.8% 310	85.1% 777	62.3% 33	76.9% 2749
In your opinion, how important is knowledge about and devotion to Mary to faith in Jesus Christ?
Very Important or Important
36.3% 33	42.2% 62	78.4% 69	46.1% 256	12.5% 7	53.9% 118	47.2% 59	29.5% 174	60.7% 198	59.4% 542	34.0% 18	49.1% 1731
In your opinion, is Roman Catholic teaching about Mary an obstacle to Christian unity?
Yes
23.9% 22	4.1% 6	11.5% 10	19.1% 107	5.3% 3	4.6% 10	6.5% 8	9.5% 56	8.3% 27	12.2% 111	20.8% 11	10.8% 382
I would describe my relationship with the following as very close or somewhat close:
God
69.8% 67	64.6% 95	88.4% 76	63.2% 335	41.0% 25	80.4% 176	49.2% 61	75.5% 450	89.6% 294	85.0% 775	71.7% 38	87.0% 3010
Jesus
2.3% 68	64.6% 95	4.2% 81	61.3% 342	36.1% 22	81.7% 179	51.2% 64	75.0% 445	87.5% 287	86.6% 788	73.6% 39	83.7% 2885
Mary
2.6% 40	52.7% 77	8.9% 72	58.8% 329	29.5% 18	73.1% 160	48.4% 61	46.4% 273	85.4% 280	81.3% 734	64.2% 34	64.6% 2211
Saint
9.8% 28	38.8% 57	1.7% 50	42.2% 235	21.7% 13	34.2% 75	5.0% 42	32.5% 192	50.2% 164	41.2% 368	20.8% 11	39.6% 1345
Home parish
5.2% 53	54.8% 80	4.7% 55	50.5% 280	14.8% 9	9.7% 65	6.6% 69	36.1% 214	52.5% 171	60.9% 542	43.4% 23	57.9% 1985
Church groups
35.4% 34	35.9% 52	52.3% 45	41.1% 228	1.6% 1	16.0% 35	47.1% 57	50.6% 298	19.4% 63	49.5% 442	26.4% 14	35.4% 1209

The replies to questions 35 to 38 (see Appendix I) which indicated that Mary was seen as a mother figure could be divided into two groups: those using implicit and those using explicit maternal references. Respondents using such imagery appeared to have a personal and affective relationship with Mary. When referring to Mary as mother, the respondents (as can be seen from the samples) spoke of an idealized mother. Implicit maternal language was present in a plurality of the total number of responses to the open-ended questions.

Obviously, such insights are open to subjective interpretation. It is well established, however, that those answering such optional questions tend to hold stronger and less typical views than those who do not answer them. Nevertheless, certain trends appeared.

Ideal Mother Image

Those using explicit maternal references often seemed to express a view of Mary similar to a maternal religious archetype. This was apparent in the replies to question 38. "Is Mary important to the Roman Catholic Church?" Here the replies were short answers, frequently consisting of phrases that seemed to have been memorized." Mother of Jesus Christ, our only Lord" - "She conceived the only son of God through the power of the Holy Spirit" - "She's the mother of God" - "Intercessive [sic] power, as of a mother" - "She's the mother of Jesus and our Spiritual mother" - "She is the mother of the world." Although this group of replies seemed to indicate a more cognitive perspective on Mary, the brevity and the predictable form of the answers might well indicate a shallow level of understanding.

The image most frequently cited in the responses to the open-ended questions described Mary in language which was personal and suggestive of an affective relationship. Examples will follow next week.

Explicit Maternal Image

"I view her as a mother who cares for her children" - "A friend, a mother, my own mother, and a caring person who is concerned about us and our future" - "I see Mary as the mother to all humanity" - "Mother of God" - "My second mother" - "As my mother (real)" - "To me, Mary represents my mother, the one who has done everything she can possibly do for me, that is why when I think of Mary I see my mother" - "Mary is my mother, who I come to [to] seek advice and be consoled" - "She is the mother of Jesus" - "She is the mother of mothers."

Implicit Maternal Image

"As a respected loving and caring woman" - "I see Mary as a gentle, loving person who cares for all" - "Mary is one we can talk to (pray to)" - "Whenever I need some help always ask Mary, and whenever I get scared I ask Mary to help me and protect me, and that never fails" - "Mary helps me in my life in many ways. She helps me to be thankful for everything I have especially my mother" - "Mary is a source of guidance to me and my family" - "But if I am in need I pray to her" - "Mary is someone I see with a heart immeasurably large. She gives special blessings to all and she is like God in that she will listen when you need her to."

Another commonly repeated theme, though less frequent than the ideal mother, was the exemplary or model human person. For our purposes, the term model refers to a person with traits which should and can be imitated. The emphasis is on similitude and affection. Responses in this category were divided between those using the language of human values and those emphasizing religious values. Some examples of Mary recognized as model will follow next week.

Some examples of Mary recognized as model follow:

"She was very young and brave" - "Handmaid, strong-willed, humble, average beauty, not ugly" - " A nice lady" - "Our great, bold, loving mother" - "I view her as a brave, dedicated and loving woman" - " I see her as a friend" - "She is just someone that I can talk to" - "She is what I try to model my life after her caring and compassionate ways" - "Being a female, I see Mary as a role model" - " Mary is someone for me to follow and shape my life after. A model, someone I can confide in" - " Human expectations, goals, possibilities, limitations."

Model (Religious Values)

"I see Mary as the woman without sin" - " Holy woman that would do anything for God" - " I believe Mary was a good woman and served God and he rewarded her, but she is not sinless" - " A model to follow the right way Jesus taught us" - " I feel Mary is a model of faith and discipleship" - " She is a symbol of faith and goodness, also she brings people closer to God."

A large number of responses from young women showed that they saw Mary as a feminine role model (a division of the category of human or secular model):

"I view her as a friend I can ask help from. I can pray to her about 'girl problems' like a big sister" - " I view Mary as a role model for Christian girls" - " She is a feminine model for women" - " Gentle, understanding of our wants and feeling because she was a teenage girl too" - " Example to all women" - " First, Mary is also female and human. She offers me a role model as to what God asks of each one of us" - " I pray to Mary, when sometimes I want to talk to a girl. I believe she hears my prayers and asks the Lord Jesus to help me and who I pray for."

Along similar lines, many responses showed a view of Mary as an ideal, admirable but inimitable. These occured often, though less frequently than responses portraying Mary as a model for attainable goals. As with the image of model, the replies stressing dissimilitude were divided into those based on human (more frequent) and religious values (less frequent). Examples follow next week.

"I view her as the most sinless woman who that [sic] will ever live" - "I see Mary as the protector of the weak, and the downfall of the strong that persecute the weak" - " She is a model of truth, justice and fairness. She treats all people equally" - "They [Catholics] use Mary as a model for women and virginity. We are to be pure like Mary, devoted like Mary, virgins like Mary!!"

Ideal (Religious Values)

"She is the 'Highest' to me, no one could ever be like her, I RESPECT her" - "I see Mary as a link between God and humans" - "Mary is sort of my idol. The way she has no sin. I wish I had no sin" - "Mary is the mother of God, and should be respected and honored for giving birth to the Lord, and her total devotion" - "I CAN PRAY TO HER LIKE GOD" - "Mary is like God to me. She is very powerful and I pray to her and God equally the same" - "Mary has a place in my life as the ideal woman. I would like to be pure, trustworthy, beautiful, without sin, faithful, etc....I also pray to her because I know she hears my prayers, and helps them become true" - "Mary is one I pray to other than God for help in my daily life" - "I try to be sinless like Mary but I know I can't be" - "An idol or hero that says we might be human but we can use our gifts to be great and make us worthy to be in heaven with God" - "Mary is very powerful and all Catholics should be close to her" - "Mary symbolizes as the true Mother of God and Queen of Heaven."

Related to the notion of Mary as unapproachable religious ideal was the notion that Mary manifests God's presence in her womanhood. Though this received little support when offered as a choice (e.g., no. 34.f."I see Mary as the feminine dimension of God"), a number of 'write-in' replies indicated this perspective.

"As truly God and also knows human emotions" - "I pray to Mary often when I feel comfortable speaking to a female" - "I pray to Mary because I feel that she is close to God and will take my prayers to Jesus Christ. She is a woman and I feel more comfortable talking to her" - "Mary is a special symbol of a person who personifies God" - "It helps me related the beauty of a woman with God. And her compassion helps me to love and pray" - "Mary is a symbol of God" - "She is the embodiment of a human being given divine powers" - "Mary is like Jesus Christ; she conceived him through the power of God & the Holy Spirit" - "Mary is someone that I pray to while in Church. To me, she's a picture of a female god-like creature. She was pure and innocent" - "To me, Mary, along with Jesus is my friend. I feel it would be easier to talk to Mary about something. She's also a female, I'll pray to her. She is also Queen of Peace, so during this [Gulf] war, I pray to her" - "She shows that all women are divine and that not all of our leaders are keen and that she is someone who I can look up to" - "Mary is my mother, the link to my father, God" - "I like to pray to Mary because I think she understands my problems because I am a girl and it is easier to pray to someone who can understand you" - "She represents womanhood in the divine scheme of things" -"She is a divine being who answered her call to God and should be an example to all."

These replies called to mind Leonardo Boff's suggestion that rank-and-file Catholics see Mary essentially as an object of worship (latria). However, there were equally numerous replies which revealed Mary as seen at a lower level than God-either as merely human (e.g., "She is the one who was chosen to bear Jesus and she is a perfect human" - "Personal praying friend" - "Mary was a person as we are. She bore the savior and is a good model of faith") or as one uniquely mediating between lowly humanity and a distant God (e.g., "Mary helps my prayers go to God when I need them most" - "Mary has a place in my life because I think it's easier for me to pray to her. God always seems as a great and wonderful person, but Mary seems a normal human being who makes mistakes" - "She helps me get through to God" - "A mediator of prayers to God. An example of a human being like Jesus"). Such variety of expression eludes reduction to a single mariological principle, but each response contains a grain of revealed truth.

View the Survey

View the Survey Questionaire

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