Mary Page News

May 12, 2000

Mary Page News items give insight into our interest areas, our outreach, and the myriad ways people honor Our Lady. We welcome your input and your comments.

Features Britannica Mentions Mary Page Goldmine's Website of the Month May100 Years Ago Current Art Exhibit: Names of Mary Mary Places: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Beatification of Fatima Seers Divine Mercy Feast Mary in the Secular Press Calendar of Marian Events Prayer Corner Requests

Items Re-visited International Marian Research Institute Summer Courses Mary Page MAY Resources Mariological Society of America's 51st Annual Program Rev. Frederick M. Jelly, OP IMRI Professor Dies Mary and the Easter Season Archive: News 1995-96 Archive: News 1997 Archive: News 1998 This week's themes: The Person of Mary Cultural Background (Jewishness) William  Joseph Chaminade Vignette-24 / Cameo-24 A Summary View of Mary's Apostolic Mission

Features

Britannica Mentions Mary Page

The Encyclopedia Britannica has a religion page at http://www.britannica.com/religion/. On May 10, 2000, Mary Page was given as a reference for study of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Goldmine's Website of the Month

A site called The Catholic Goldmine chose the Mary Page as its site of the month. You'll find it at:

May 100 Years Ago

A century ago, a Marienkalender (Marian Almanac, Regensburg, Germany) was published. Over 200 pages were devoted to articles, pilgrimages, and things Marian in general.

Note the regally clothed and crowned Mary who holds her son who has just been taken from the cross. This is the image held in honor at the pilgrimage church depicted at the bottom of the image, Our Lady, Maria-Birnbaum (Mary of the Pear Tree) in Upper Bavaria. Note also the detailed drawings of symbols, doves and flowers in honor of Jesus and Mary.

Current Art Exhibit: Names of Mary

The current exhibit at The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute features the work of Sarah Hall, internationally known stained glass artist. Sarah Hall resides in Toronto, Canada. She personally delivered her designs to The Marian Library where her work will be featured until the end of May. You can take a virtual tour of the gallery at:

Mary Places: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana

On May 21, 1995 on the 70th Anniversary of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Providence, Queen of the Home, a self-guided tour book of their grounds was produced by the Sisters of Providence at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in Indiana. The grounds feature the following shrines:

• National Shrine of Our Lady of Providence (the major shrine located there)
• Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes
• Our Lady of Fatima Shrine
• Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto
• Pieta, Station XIII Way of the Cross
• Our Lady of Providence, Providence Park
• Our Lady of the Campus

The booklet features a map, an explanation of each grotto or shrine, and space for notes for personal reflection. The following is quoted from the booklet:

The prayer of the feet, the pilgrimage, is one of the most ancient and universal of prayers.

As a form of prayer, the pilgrimage is an incarnational prayer, a prayer of the body. A pilgrim is a person who prays with the feet. In our present time, when greater and greater attention is being focused upon experiencing the Divine, the pilgrimage offers a form of prayer that can truly be experience and lived. Christ Himself was often a pilgrim, traveling from His native Galilee to the Temple of Jerusalem of the ancient festivals."

Mary Page commends this little booklet and recommends that many follow suit. For more information, write to: National Shrine of Our Lady of Providence, Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876-1096.

Beatification of Fatima Seers

Pope John Paul II travels to Fatima this Saturday, May 13, to beatify the siblings, Jacinta (1910- 1920) and Francisco Marto (1908-1919). The two children will be the first children to be beatified who were not martyrs. Until now, the age allowed to begin such a process was seventeen.

The process began officially in 1979. On May 13, 1991, the tenth anniversary of the attack on Pope John Paul II in Rome, the Holy Father traveled to Fatima for the second time. At this time he proclaimed that the brother and sister had lived lives of heroic virtue. The required cure was the sudden healing of Mrs. Maria Emilia dos Santos of Leiria, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for twenty-two years. She had asked the children to intercede for her for seventeen years. In 1987 she held a novena in their honor. At the conclusion of the novena the paralysis was suddenly gone. She was examined by doctors in Portugal and in Rome. No natural explanation could be found.

The Vatican let it be known that it was not the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary that were decisive in the beatification process, but their exemplary behavior, graced beyond the usual decision-making of children, that is being recognized. Special note is made of their behavior when their lives were threatened. Alone, without their parents, they were ready to die rather deny the Blessed Mother. The children also endured their illnesses in a heroic way in order to do penance for the conversion of those who had closed God out of their lives. When Jacinta visited her dying brother she told him, "Greet our Lord and our dear Lady in my name, too, and tell them that I will gladly suffer still a long time, if they wish it, in order to convert sinners and to make reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

The pope's visit takes place eighty-three years to the day after the Virgin Mary's appearance and nineteen years after he survived an assassination attempt on St. Peter's Square. The pontiff has always said that the Virgin of Fatima intervened on that day to save his life.

[The above information has been extracted from an article by Dr. Adolf Fugel, Switzerland. The article appeared in the May 2000 issue of Bote von Fatima.]

The three small plaques above were created in honor of the beatification of Jacinta and Francisco Marto. The plaques are 4.7 cm x 5 cm and can be obtained from the Ursula-Kunstwerkstätten E.G. Weinert GmbH, Marzellenstr. 42, D-50668 Kön, Germany.

Divine Mercy Feast

Be sure to note the many articles on the Internet concerning the canonization of Sr. Faustina, the Polish nun who fostered devotion to Divine Mercy.

Maria Faustina Kowalska, the mystic 20th century Polish Sister of the Virgin Mary of Mercy who died in 1938, leaving a diary in which she recorded visions of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, was canonized by Pope John Paul II on April 30. John Paul was archbishop of Krakow in the late 1960s when he began efforts for her beatification. Reported by Agence France Presse on April 30 and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on May 1. The Agence France Presse reported that 70,000 Polish pilgrims went to Rome for the canonization.

The CWNews.com reported: On Sunday, May 3, 2000,

-- Pope John Paul II has encouraged his fellow Poles to keep alive the country's Christian heritage, and to make sure that young people are acquainted with the saints who have played important roles in Polish history.

The Pope made his remarks on May 3, when Polish Catholic celebrates the feast of the Virgin, Queen of Poland. Pope John Paul recalled that the Polish constitution of 1791 was adopted on that national feast day, after King Jan Casimir placed the entire country "under the protection of the Mother of God" in 1656.

Later in his talk, the Holy Father refers to Sr. Fautina. You will find more if you search under Faustina at: Catholic World News

Mary in the Secular Press

Commentary on Mary in various news articles from April 30 - May 8, 2000.

The director and editors of Mary Page under the auspices of the International Marian Research Institute do not necessarily endorse or agree with the events and ideas expressed in this feature. Our sole purpose is to report on items about Mary gleaned from a myriad of papers representing the secular press.

• Canadian bishops must take action against a heretical Quebec group that the Catholic church fears might break away with up to 25,000 members around the world, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger said in a letter to the president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Montreal Gazette reported on May 5 that Ratzinger wrote that the Army of Mary lost its status as a Catholic association in 1987 because of "gravely erroneous" publications that suggested its founder, Marie-Paule Giguere, is a living reincarnation of the Virgin Mary. The organization has continued its activities despite orders from the Vatican and the Archbishop of Quebec. Ratzinger said it may be time for Canadian bishops to warn parishioners that the Army of Mary can no longer be called Catholic, and that activities undertaken by the dissolved movement are to be discouraged in ecclesiastical settings.

• A statuette of the Virgin Mary, rosary beads hanging from its neck, accompanies Andres Galarraga, Atlanta Braves first baseman known for his "smashing monstrous home runs," wherever he plays these days, the Baltimore Sun said on May 4. "He has faith that the Virgin saved him and took that cancer away from his back," catcher Eddie Perez said. Gallarraga said he started feeling better after a dream in which God was carrying him from his living room to his bedroom. Gallaraga has had a grotto built outside his family's home in West Palm Beach, Fla., and has another shrine inside a room he uses as an office.

• Portugal's Our Lady of Fatima shrine, preparing for a visit from Pope John Paul II, has admitted holding bars of National Socialist gold for a decade until 1986, the Toronto Star said on May 4. In a signed statement, sanctuary rector Luciano Guerra said that at the time it believed the gold had been bought and circulated by the Bank of Portugal. The gold bars, bearing the insignia of the Third Reich, were sold by Fatima between 1982 and 1986 to cover the costs of building projects in the sanctuary where the Virgin Mary visited three shepherd children in 1917.

• The Gift of Mary Children's Home, named for the Virgin Mary, will open in summer 2002 in Brooklyn Center, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported on May 3. The home will provide both short and long-term care for 256 children ages 4 to 11 from Minnesota and elsewhere, congresswoman Mary Jo Copeland said in announcing plans. The $24 million project will be funded by private donations, with Target Stores the lead corporate sponsor.

• Jacqueline Bisset, who plays the Virgin Mary in the two-part mini-series, "Jesus," was among the cast and producers present when CBS Entertainment President Leslie Moonves presented Pope John Paul II with a videotape of the show during a private audience on Nov. 25. The pope blessed Jeremy Sisto, who plays Jesus, and the "Vatican's seal of approval" led to the highest ratings for an entertainment program when "Jesus" was shown in Italy a few weeks later, Copley News Service said on May 8. The series was to air on May 14 and 17 in the U.S.

• Church leaders in Paris have banned professional tour guides from working in Notre Dame Cathedral in an attempt to stem the flow of 12 million visitors a year, Deutsche Presse-Agentur said on May 2. They want to restore the building as place of composure and faith, a report in "Le Parisien" newspaper said. The bishopric is still granting special permission for group "pastoral visits" led by selected volunteers guides. Le Monde gave statistics of visitors: Notre Dame receives 12 million per year; the Eiffel tower, 6 million; The Louvre, 5.8 million; Versailles, 2.68 million, etc.

• The Black Madonna of Czestochowa, Poland's holiest shrine, is featured in a special stamp series celebrating the 80th birthday of Pope John Paul II, the Associated Press said on May 9. The series, which includes a stamp showing the pope in profile, is being issued jointly by the Vatican and Poland. The pope will celebrate his birthday on May 18 with a Mass on the steps of St. Peter's, inviting all priests who happen to be in Rome that day to assist.

• The old basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico was reopened to the public after being closed to the public for nearly 25 years. The newspaper, Reforma, reported that the restorations were nearly finished. The basilica was built between 1695 and 1706 nearly six kilometers north of Mexico City's center. Due to the soft ground of the area, the basilica had sunk deeply into the ground. It has now recieved a new foundation in hopes of preventing further sinking.

• May crownings, honoring Mary with flowers during the month dedicated to her, were reported at: St. Benedict Church in Auburndale (Memphis, TN Commercial Appeal, May 5); Our Lady of Lourdes school in Slidell (Times-Picayune, May 7); Holy Angels Church in Portsmouth (The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, VA, May 6). At Holy Angels, the church held its first Flores de Mayo ("Flowers of Mary") ceremony, traditional among Filipinos.

• A bronze reproduction of a medieval statue of the Virgin Mary wearing a Lady Godiva necklace will become a permanent feature in Coventry, the Coventry Evening Telegraph said on May 4. Our Lady of Coventry, based on sketches of a which existed before the Reformation, will stand in the ruins of the Benedictine Priory of St. Mary's Church in Priory Row after it completes a tour of Catholic churches in the city. Glass beads woven into Mary's collar represent jewels worn by Lady Godiva. The statue was funded by 15 Catholic churches in Coventry.

• The Prince of Wales, marooned by bad weather on Greece's Mount Athos, visited a 1,000 year-old icon of the Virgin Mary in Karies, the Birmingham Post said on May 5. The icon, known as the Axion Esti, is credited with performing miracles.

• Statues of the Virgin Mary were reported stolen from in front of private residences in Wheaton (Chicago Daily Herald, May 3) and Allentown (The Morning Call, May 7).

• A statue of the Virgin Mary appears in the center of a photo of the USS Nashville on its way to the US naval base on Vieques Island in Puerto Rico, The Boston Globe reported on May 2.
• The National Catholic register reviews a new book by Dr. Christine Jones, Prince of Eden. Jones quotes Msgr. José Luís Guerrero Rosado who claims that Juan Diego was an Aztec royal prince who gave up everything to become a Christian. Rosado is a member of the commission responsible to study Blessed Juan Diego's cause for canonization.

• Catholic News Service reports that Catholics in the Philippines have launched a website dedicated to Pope John Paul II at which visitors can "send greetings to, pledge prayers for and pray along with the Holy Father." the title of the website: The Marian Solidarity for Pope John Paul II Web Site. Through the site, 17 founding and 12 supporting organizations in the Philippines express their solidarity with the pope. The site was established in the wake of rumors that the pope had died on April 1.

Items Revisited

International Marian Research Institute Summer Courses

See the course offerings for the summer academic session of The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute at: Summer Schedule

Mary Page MAY Resources

• Marian Poetry of May

  See: May Poetry

• Coronation of Mary

  The Church has often asserted that it is lawful to venerate images of Christ, Mary and the saints. To crown a Marian image is an expression of this veneration.
  See: Coronation of Mary

• May Crowning

  May, Mary's Month, Marian Coronation: May is often called Mary's month in popular devotion. Mary Page offers two articles for contemplation.
  See: May Crowning

• Answers to Recent Questions:
  Why do we call Mary Queen?
  See: Why do we call Mary Queen?

• A Bouquet for Mary
  Note Marian legends associated with flowers named after Mary. Click on flower.
  See: A Bouquet for Mary

• Art for the Heart
  Many Epinal Marian images are decorated with exquisite drawings of flowers. Note that these images are available on loan from the Marian Library.
  See: Epinal Images: Art for the Heart

The Mariological Society of America's 51st Annual Program

May 24-26, 2000
Belleville, Illinois

Wednesday, May 24, 2000

Marian Pilgrimage: Devotion, Renewal, Tourism?

Fr. Eamon R. Carroll, O.Carm., Chicago, IL Dooley Center, 1:15 p.m.

---

In Memoriam: Rev. Frederick M. Jelly, OP, Professor at the International Marian Research Institute

Fr. Fred Jelly, long a professor during the summer program of the International Marian Research Institute, passed away on Friday, April 14, 2000. Fr. Jelly had suffered a collapse in May 1999 from which he recuperated and was able to return to his position and teaching and priestly formation during the second semester of the academic year at Mt. St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He had even made plans to travel to Dayton during the Easter break to discuss future projects.

Fr. Jelly was internationally known for his writings, ecumenical involvement, audio recordings, teaching, and speaking engagements in marian theological studies. In 1998, he received an honor dating back to the early days of the Dominican Order. The honor is entitled, Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.), and is awarded to those Dominicans who have rendered special service to the Church by their scholarly defense and promoting of our Catholic faith. Fr. Jelly was awarded the honor mainly for his work in mariology.

---

Mary and the Easter Season

Mary Page Meditation: Mary's Resurrection Experience
This meditation contemplates Mary, the Incarnation, and the Resurrection.
See: Mary's Resurrection Experience

Easter Poetry
The pictures which accompany the Mary Page collection of Easter poetry each commemorate the Seven Joys of the Virgin Mary. Find them at: Easter Poetry

Marian Prayers of Consecration for the Easter Season
See: Prayers

Marian Antiphon for the Easter Season
The Regina Coeli is one of the four seasonal antiphons of the Blessed Virgin Mary prescribed to be sung or recited in the Easter Season. See: Regina Coeli

Music for the Easter Season
See: Music

Mary and Jesus Christ: First/Fully Redeemed of Her Son
The Church sees projected, and anticipated in her most noble member, the saving grace of Easter. See a study on post-Vatican II magisterial documents on this theme at: Magisterial Documents

Masses in Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-- The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Resurrection of the Lord
-- Holy Mary, Fountain of Light and Life
-- Our Lady of the Cenacle
-- The Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Apostles
See description at: Masses

---

The Person of Mary – Cultural Background (Jewishness) symbol)

The Mary Page theme for this news brief about the Blessed Mother is culled from magisterial documents since Vatican II. The theme will covers various aspects of Mary's personhood. Mary is a real, historical person who lived in Nazareth 2000.

An example from magisterial writings below is derived from the document, Orientale Lumen, The Light of the East, Pope John Paul II, 2 May 1995:

My gaze turns to the Orientale Lumen which shines from Jerusalem (cf. Is 60:1; Rv 21:10), the city where the Word of God, made man for our salvation, a Jew "descended from David according to the flesh" (Rom 1:3; 2 Tm 2:8), died and rose again. In that holy city, when the day of Pentecost had come and "they were all together in one place: (Acts 2:1), the Paraclete was sent upon Mary and the disciples. From there the good news spread throughout the world because, filled with the Holy Spirit, "they spoke the word of God with boldness: (Acts 4:31). From there, from the mother of all the churches, the Gospel was preached to all nations OL 2

The Person of Mary: Cultural Background (Jewishness)

Prayer Corner Requests

You are invited to help us pray for our prayer corner intentions.

Prayer Corner

The intentions of the Holy Father for May 2000:

• General Intentions:That Mary, Mother of the Lord, may be the model of faithfulness and generosity in following Christ
  
• Mission Intentions: That the Jubilee remembrance of the new martyrs may bring about a renewed missionary spring

For more information on these intentions, see: Apostleship of Prayer

---

Return to April 30, 2000

Return to April 14, 2000

Return to The Mary Page

Mary Page, maintained by The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute, Dayton, Ohio 45469-1390, was last modified Monday, 25-Sep-2000 14:55:20 EDT by J. M. Frisk. Please send any comments to Johann.Roten@udayton.edu.

You are visitor #
URL for this page is http://www.udayton.edu/mary/news00/20000512.html

Search / Academic Program / Library / Gallery / Outreach and Development
Books / Research and Publications / Resources / News / Marian Movements
Meditations / Prayer / Documents / Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) / Home