The
Mariological Society of America
Newsletter
Spring 2003 Update
The 2003 meeting of the Mariological Society of America (May 21-24, 2003) will be held at St. Mary's College, Chalon campus, in Los Angeles, California. The campus is located very nearby the Getty Museum. It will be the third of three meetings in the Series entitled: "The Marian Dimension of the Christian Life: Historical Perspectives." The 2003 meeting will deal with 19th and 20th century developments, with special attention to Mary's role in evangelization.
President's Message
"The Rosary mystically transports us to Mary's side as she is busy watching over the human growth of Christ in the home of Nazareth. This enables her to
train us and to mold us with the same care, until Christ is "fully formed" in us (Gal
4:19) ... Never as in the Rosary do the life of Jesus and Mary appear
so deeply joined. Mary lives only in Christ and for Christ."
-Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, John Paul II
Mindful of Pope John Paul's designation of the year 2003 as "The Year of the Rosary," greetings and best wishes, and welcome to the Mariological Society of America Information Page. A brief explanation about the Society might be helpful. As stated in our Bylaws, the Society was founded in 1949 and is a theological association dedicated to studying and making known the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the mystery of Christ and the Church. Through our annual meeting and our yearly publication of Marian Studies, the Society seeks to promote original research in Marian doctrine and devotion. It might be of interest to you to know that at a meeting of the Board of Directors in May 2002, and after being requested that it do so by interested parties, it was decided that we would assist in the establishment of a Korean/Asiatic Mariological Society.
Last year's convocation was held in Riverdale, New York, at the Cardinal Spellman Retreat House from May 22-25th with one of the highest number of attendees in memory. The topic for the meeting was the second of a three-part program, namely, "The Marian Dimension of the Christian Life, The Middle Period." Some of the highlights of the meeting are as follows: Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York, gave a warm welcome to the Society with his offering Mass for us on the first full day of the meeting. Before ending Mass, the Cardinal gave the Society a brief history and an in-depth description of the Archdiocese. Avery Cardinal Dulles S.J. was our Keynote Speaker on the first night of the meeting with over 100 in attendance. His topic was: "Mary since Vatican II: Decline and Recovery." Mr. Tracey Early, who covered the talk for the Catholic News Service noted several of the points made by the Cardinal: Mary's role in Christian faith and life as "permanent and irreplaceable" and that while there was a decline in attention paid to Mariology following the Council, it appeared to be a temporary aberration not warranted by conciliar pronouncements. Indeed, the Cardinal believed that the council was a "watershed" because it "effectively linked the mystery of Mary with the theology of Christ and the Church." While many at the time of the Council thought the issue of Mary to be an "obstacle" to ecumenism, some Protestants have shown interest in seeing it revitalized and since the Council several ecumenical Mariological societies have formed.
Father Benedict Groeschel CFR, author and founder of the Franciscan Friars for the Renewal and Father Richard John Neuhaus, author and editor of First Things, offered Mass for the Society as well. A talk given by Sister Marie Azzarello of the Congregation of Notre Dame in Canada concerned "Marian Devotion in Religious Orders," and Sister Ann Marie Harrison, I.H.M., discussed the progress of inserting the title, "Mary, Beloved of the Trinity" into the Litany of Loretto. Finally, the Mariological Society visited The Cloisters in Manhattan, a museum collection of the Metropolitan Museum of New York. Our tour directors, much to our gratification, placed a special emphasis on various Marian works.
Our meeting for 2003, will be from Wednesday, May 21 to Saturday, May 24th, at Mount St. Mary's College, Chalon Campus in Los Angeles California. Our page will be updated periodically as more information becomes available about the meeting. Please read further down for more information. With best wishes, I am Yours...
In Jesus and Mary,
Father Myles P. Murphy S.T.L., President, Mariological Society of America
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