Mary Page News
October 13, 2000
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Features
20th International Mariological-Marian Congress
The Mystery of the Trinity and Mary
The shrine of Our Lady, Madonna of Divine Love, 12 k from Rome, was the gathering place of
over 300 theologians and onlookers for the 20th Mariological Marian International Congress.
The
congress sponsored by the Pontifical International Marian Academy (PAMI), and planned as part
of the Jubilee 2000 celebrations, took place from September 15-24th at the shrine and various
locations throughout Rome.
Theologians from every continent explored Mary's relationship to the mystery of the Trinity.
Eighteen noted Marian scholars presented papers at morning plenary sessions, which were
translated into five languages. Afternoon sessions were devoted to eleven language groups.
Papers devoted to Marian doctrine, scriptural and ecclesial themes, cultural expressions of
devotion, art, and spirituality were presented each afternoon. For the first time in the 100year
history of the congress, a section specifically for presenters from Asia was introduced.
An afternoon roundtable dealt with cultural questions and expressions from Brazil, the Congo,
the Philippines, Great Britain, and the USA. Here, the love for Mary of the poor and
marginalized touched the hearts of the listeners.
In addition to the intellectual exchange the participants were treated to evening concerts, each
unique and expressive of the beauty of the arts honoring Mary through the ages in contemporary
culture. A most outstanding performance entitled, Mary, mother of the world, and
directed by an American, Patricia Adkins Chiti, was held for the participants and the city of
Rome in the Paul VI auditorium on September 15th. Other performances included tenor,
Massimo
Puccini, a new film entitled Mary, Daughter of Her Son, and Marian songs of 13th c Italy
performed by a group from Assisi and directed by Pino Manzart. Contemporary composers and
Christian singers also presented their praises of Mary, the Mother of God. The congress began
and concluded within St. Mary Major, the primary Marian shrine of the world.
An evening was devoted to ecumenical prayer at the Anglican/Epicopal Church of St. Paul Inside
the Walls. Here, presiders from the Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican and Roman Catholic faith led
the participants in prayer, asking Mary to intercede and heal those divisions which devotion to
her often seems to bring about. The woman of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ whose Jubilee is
being commemorated was asked to be a model for all Christians in teaching all to love her
Divine Son.
Each evening one of the language groups was responsible for the pilgrims' prayer at St. Peter's
Square, and throughout Rome further concerts were planned in honor of the Blessed Virgin
Mary.
The highpoint at the end of the congress was the Pilgrimage of the Shrines held on September
24th. The eucharistic liturgy was held by Pope John Paul II at St. Peter's where thousands
gathered who represented Marian shrines from around the world. The participants of the
Mariological Marian International Congress were given privileged places near the altar for this
occasion.
Part of a hymn, written in Italian for the jubilee, summarizes the congress:
Dear holy Mother, for your strong faith
change heart and mind
Shine, holy Queen, show us the way.
God looks for a woman and He makes her Mother,
the whole mankind is conceived in Jesus.
You, Mother of the world, please give us your Son.
Pope John Paul II: Closing of the 20th International Mariological Marian
Congress
Sunday, 24 September 2000, was the closing of the 20th International
Mariological-Marian Congress at St. Peter's in Rome. The altar for the Holy Father's solemn
Mass was built up on the steps of St. Peter's in the manner that has been done for the major
jubilees throughout the Jubilee Year. The participants of the Mariological Marian Congress had
the privilege of being seated on the same level as the altar and to its left.
In his homily at the Eucharistic concelebration Pope John Paul II expressed his hope that
"among the fruits of this year of grace, as well as that of a stronger love for Christ, there should
also be that of a renewed Marian devotion." L'Osservatore Romano on September 27 published
the Pope's homily, in which he said, "Yes, Mary must be deeply loved and honoured, but with a
devotion, which to be authentic:
- must be firmly grounded in Scripture and tradition...;
- must be expressed in an effort to imitate the All Holy in a way of personal perfection;
- must be far from every from of superstition and vain credulousness....;
- must always be able to go back to the source of Mary's greatness, becoming a ceaseless
Magnificat of praise to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit."
Following Mass, which also celebrated the Jubilee of Marian Shrines, the Holy Father prayed
the Angelus, L'Osservatore Romano said. He introduced the Marian prayer with greetings to the
faithful, recalling some of the most famous Marian shrines in their countries and praying to the
Mother of the Incarnate Word to "help everyone collaborate generously in the work of the
Redemption."
To read the entire homily, visit the Vatican's website at:
Homily of John Paul II at the Vatican
Website
Act of Entrustment to Mary - October 8, 2000
The editors of Mary Page repeat the text below that is initially published on the Vatican
website.
ACT OF ENTRUSTMENT TO MARY
Sunday 8 October 2000
1. "Woman, behold your Son!" (Jn 19:26).
As we near the end of this Jubilee Year,
when you, O Mother, have offered us Jesus anew,
the blessed fruit of your womb most pure,
the Word made flesh, the world's Redeemer,
we hear more clearly the sweet echo of his words
entrusting us to you, making you our Mother:
"Woman, behold your Son!"
When he entrusted to you the Apostle John,
and with him the children of the Church and all people,
Christ did not diminish but affirmed anew
the role which is his alone as the Saviour of the world.
You are the splendour which in no way dims the light of Christ,
for you exist in him and through him.
Everything in you is fiat: you are the Immaculate One,
through you there shines the fullness of grace.
Here, then, are your children, gathered before you
at the dawn of the new millennium.
The Church today, through the voice of the Successor of Peter,
in union with so many Pastors assembled here
from every corner of the world,
seeks refuge in your motherly protection
and trustingly begs your intercession
as she faces the challenges which lie hidden in the future.
2. In this year of grace, countless people have known
the overflowing joy of the mercy
which the Father has given us in Christ.
In the particular Churches throughout the world,
and still more in this centre of Christianity,
the widest array of people have accepted this gift.
Here the enthusiasm of the young rang out,
here the sick have lifted up their prayer.
Here have gathered priests and religious,
artists and journalists,
workers and people of learning,
children and adults,
and all have acknowledged in your beloved Son
the Word of God made flesh in your womb.
O Mother, intercede for us,
that the fruits of this Year will not be lost
and that the seeds of grace will grow
to the full measure of the holiness
to which we are all called.
3. Today we wish to entrust to you the future that awaits us,
and we ask you to be with us on our way.
We are the men and women of an extraordinary time,
exhilarating yet full of contradictions.
Humanity now has instruments of unprecedented power:
we can turn this world into a garden,
or reduce it to a pile of rubble.
We have devised the astounding capacity
to intervene in the very well-springs of life:
man can use this power for good, within the bounds of the moral law,
or he can succumb to the short-sighted pride
of a science which accepts no limits,
but tramples on the respect due to every human being.
Today as never before in the past,
humanity stands at a crossroads.
And once again, O Virgin Most Holy,
salvation lies fully and uniquely in Jesus, your Son.
4. Therefore, O Mother, like the Apostle John,
we wish to take you into our home (cf. Jn 19:27),
that we may learn from you to become like your Son.
"Woman, behold your son!"
Here we stand before you
to entrust to your maternal care
ourselves, the Church, the entire world.
Plead for us with your beloved Son
that he may give us in abundance the Holy Spirit,
the Spirit of truth which is the fountain of life.
Receive the Spirit for us and with us,
as happened in the first community gathered round you
in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (cf. Acts 1:14).
May the Spirit open our hearts to justice and love,
and guide people and nations to mutual understanding
and a firm desire for peace.
We entrust to you all people, beginning with the weakest:
the babies yet unborn,
and those born into poverty and suffering,
the young in search of meaning,
the unemployed,
and those suffering hunger and disease.
We entrust to you all troubled families,
the elderly with no one to help them,
and all who are alone and without hope.
5. O Mother, you know the sufferings
and hopes of the Church and the world:
come to the aid of your children in the daily trials
which life brings to each one,
and grant that, thanks to the efforts of all,
the darkness will not prevail over the light.
To you, Dawn of Salvation, we commit
our journey through the new Millennium,
so that with you as guide
all people may know Christ,
the light of the world and its only Saviour,
who reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit
for ever and ever. Amen.
The Holy Father in the News
The Holy Father entrusted the entire Italian nation to the Blessed Mother in a Message to
Cardinal Marco Ce for the centenary of the crowning of the image of Our Lady of Monte Berico,
Mother of Mercy, at the shrine of that name in the Triveneto region of Italy, L'Osservatore
Romano said on September 13. He called the Basilica of Monte Berico a "providential beacon of
Marian spirituality where countless people began or intensified the inner pilgrimage that
leads...to the spiritual peaks of holiness."
May Mary, Seat of Wisdom, guide you on your way to knowledge of the full truth in Christ,
her Son, the Pope prayed as university teachers concluded their jubilee celebration on September
10, L'Osservatore Romano reported on September 13.
"The beautification during the Jubilee Year of William Joseph Chaminade, founder of the
Marianists, reminds the faithful that it is their task to find ever new ways of bearing witness to
the faith," the Holy Father said during his homily at the Mass September 3 during which he
beatified Father Chaminade and four other men, L'Osservatore Romano said on September 6.
Father Chaminade's "filial attachment to Mary maintained his inner peace on all occasions,
helping him to do Christ's will," the Pope said..
Kevin Hanna
Four years of preparation culminated in a picture perfect fall day at the University of Dayton in
Dayton, Ohio, for Kevin Hanna, creator of Mirror of Hope a sculpture unique in its
class. Hanna worked to the last minute with touches here and there to enhance the beauty of the
200 plus figures adorning the landscape of creation and salvation history. Invited guests were
given the first opportunity to view the completed work first hand.
The program included a welcome by Bro. Raymond L. Fitz, SM, President of the University of
Dayton, a presentation entitled "The Art of Salvation History," by Rev. Johann G. Roten, SM,
Director of The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute; and an explanation of
the sculupte, "A Labor of Love" by Kevin Hanna. The Marian String Quartet of the University of
Dayton enhanced the presentations with timeless Marian classics. A reception followed for the
two hundred guests in attendance.
To read more about the sculpture's significance please read:
'Mirror of Hope' Sculpture,
Commemorating History of Christianity, Unveiled Oct. 12 at The University of Dayton
Mary in the Secular Press
Commentary on Mary in various news articles from September 5 - October 11, 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.
-
"Praying the rosary attracts Catholics of all walks of life," reads a headline in the Houston
Chronicle on September 23. The religion editor writes about the weekly praying of the rosary by
a singles group at St. Anne's church and the prayers that have been answered. A new job, a cure,
family peace. And when there is no answer, hope and peace. The article traces the history of the
rosary, the change in popularity after the second Vatican Council and a new wave of devotion to
the rosary following the apparitions of Mary at Medjugorge. It describes the rosary, the decades
and the mysteries, and tells how homemakers and office workers find saying the rosary an
opportunity to pray for others and bring a calming, soothing effect to their lives.
- A wooden statue of the Virgin Mary and other pieces of religious art from the 16th, 17th and
18th centuries, on exhibit for years at Mission San Luis Rey, will be studied by two researchers
from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. By studying every detail of the statues,
they hope to glean information about the history of colonization of the southwest, the San Diego
Union-Tribune said on September 21. The researchers hope to visit all the missions of the
southwest to study artwork "With these sculptures, we can know our history," researcher Karla
Munoz Alcocer said.
- A new rose, "Our Lady of Guadalupe," was blessed by Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop
of the Los Angeles diocese, and Arturo Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers of
America (UFW), at Our Lady Queen of Angels church in mid-September. The silver-pink
floribunda hybrid, named after an apparition of the Virgin Mary in Mexico in 1531, is "an
uncommon manifestation of Mexico's patron saint and the single most potent icon for Latino
immigrants in the US," the London Financial Times said on Sept 26. Jackson and Perkins,
developer of the rose, has more than 30,000 plants ready for the first season and expects to "mine
a rich seam of sentiment" among UFW workers, Latino gardeners and landscapers. The
Washington, DC, Hispanic College Fund will receive 10 percent of each sale.
- The Archdiocese of Baltimore has banned weekly prayer meetings that attracted thousands
eager to hear a local doctor describe messages she said she received from the Virgin Mary, the
Associated Press said on September 13. For the past seven years, people have flocked to the
Thursday services at St. Joseph's Church in Emmitsburg to hear Dr. Gianna Talone-Sullivan
describe her encounters with the Virgin Mary. Church officials said that "Following a careful
examination of recently available information relative to the alleged apparitions, the Archdiocese
of Baltimore finds no basis for them." Articles in the Baltimore Sun on September 15 and 16
elaborated on the church's statement and told about the reaction of Dr. Talone-Sullivan, her
husband and those who had come to hear her.
- Coptic Christians waiting for the Virgin Mary to appear saw a burst of light over the church
tower in Assiut, south of Cairo, early on September 12, the London Independent reported that
day. The crowds, including priests, were convinced it was a sign of the Virgin Mary's presence.
Fr. Zaka Labib, from a nearby monastery, said, "This light is different from all other lights. If
you look for the source, you can't find it. This is light from heaven." The Calgary Herald and
Deutsche Presse-Agentur also reported on the apparition, one of several since August 17.
Egyptian Copts believe the Holy Family stopped in Assiut during travels in Egypt to escape the
persecution of Herod.
- Hundreds of people , who say they see the image of the Virgin Mary in an upstairs window
of Romona Collado's home, have been gathering outside his building to pray to her, the Bergen
County, NJ Record said on September 26. Collado said the image is a message from the Virgin
Mary to repent and pray. Fr. Michael Scott of St. Mary's Church said, "I don't know if it's the
virgin or not, but it helps the faith. It gives inspiration."
- "She's so beautiful" was repeated over and over by people looking at the 33-foot tall
stainless steel statue of the Virgin Mary, making a four day stop at Holy Family Church in
Inverness, the Chicago Daily Herald reported on September 14. The four ton statue, formally
named Our Lady of the New Millennium, has been blessed by both Pope John Paul II and
Cardinal Francis George. It has stopped at Catholic churches across the Chicago area during the
past 18 months. {A note from Mary Page publishers: During the visit of the statue an art
exhibition was held with a large number of pieces borrowed by the parish from The Marian
Library/International Marian Research Institute. Through the kindness of the parish and Colin
Collette, special packing cases were donated to transport the art.]
- A weekend flower festival at St. Mary's Church in Broughton Astley was based on the
theme of Women of the Bible, including the Virgin Mary and the woman at the well, the
Leicester Mercury wrote on September 11. Proceeds were to go for restoration of the church.
- Nuestra Senora dela Caridad (Our Lady of Charity) del Cobre, patroness of Cuba, has
become for Cuban-Americans Our Lady of Exile, joining the exiles in their hope for a liberated
Cuba, the San Antonio Express-News wrote on September 8, the Virgin's feast day. A replica of
the original image, smuggled into Miami on September 8, 1961, is the source of a newfound
attachment to Our Lady of Exile by Cuban-Americans. The forced exile created by the Cuban
Revolution and the regrouping of Cuban-Americans is the subject of "Our Lady of Exile," by
Thomas A. Tweed, published 1997 by Oxford University Press.
- Roman Catholics heard an edict from the Vatican dismissing claims that the Virgin Mary
appeared to three children in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico, a ruling unlikely to be heeded by
thousands of devotes who visit the rural shrine marking the apparitions, the Associated Press said
on September 21. The letter from the Vatican's secretary for the Doctrine of Faith, endorses
the1989 conclusions of an investigation by local church authorities who said there was no
evidence of a miracle. Pilgrims continue to visit the shrine even though Mass there has been
banned and the devotees' association was ordered to disband in 1997.
- Middlesex County's (New Jersey) trouble-prone property record system, which once
inexplicably listed the Virgin Mary as a property owner, still faces problems, the Associated
Press wrote on September 17. Improvements have been made since the January discovery of the
divine property holder, but software upgrades have not been completed..
- National Public Radio commentator Kim Lane of Austin, Texas, reported on a vision of the
Virgin Mary in her coffee cup on All Things Considered September 25. She hooped news of her
apparition would not start a reaction similar to sightings in other places, and asked "Why don't
apparitions appear and leave instructions or Post-it notes around their image? 'Dear Kim, the
mole on your left cheek needs to be looked at. Love, Mary." So much easier, she concluded.
- An Irish student who lost her wallet and pounds 800 in holiday cash in New York got it back
because there was a picture of the Virgin Mary inside, the Scottish Daily Record said on
September 8. The man who found Kathryn Costello's wallet knew he had to "do the right thing"
and return it after seeing the Virgin's picture.
- A man who beheaded statues of the Virgin Mary and St. Patrick in a disused Dungannon
school has been jailed for nine months, the Belfast News Letter reported on September 7. The
defence solicitor said Desmond Campbell suffered from a personality disorder.
- Pre-Raphaelite artist Rossetti depicted his auburn-haired sister, Christina, as the Virgin
Mary, the London Times said October 11 in an article titled "Scarlet ladies' historic roots." The
brief article traced henna red-heads from ancient Egyptian and Assyrian times to the mid-20th
century's best-loved red-haired heroines and more recent ginger-haired "Annie" and Autralian
actress Nicole Kidman
- An image in a Perth Amboy, NJ window that some say resembles the Virgin Mary is simply
a colorful splotch, not a likeness of the Madonna, Monsignor Michael J. Alliegro wrote in the
diocesan newspaper on October 5, the Asbury Park Press (Neptune, NJ) reported on October 6.
Thousands of believers and curiosity seekers had nearly overwhelmed the small working-class
neighborhood as word of the vision spread, the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote on September
29. Subsequent articles in the New York Times(October 1), New York Daily News (October 6),
the Village Voice and Associated Press wire service (October 10) discussed the image, which
first appeared September 19 and disappeared after the window was cleaned. "Cleaning the
window didn't remove her. She left when she was ready to leave,: Ramon Collado, whose family
owns the home where the image had appeared, told the East Brunswick Home News Tribune, the
AP said. The Village Voice had asked seven persons aged 20 to34 whether they believed the
image was in the window. A 34-year-old tractor trailer driver said, "My girlfriend has been there.
Reporters are seeing it, and their job is to report facts."
- Religious products using our Blessed Mother is a Virgin Mary surfboard sofa table, which is
among the surfboard-themed furniture offered by Surf's Up, Eames office gallery and store in
Santa Monica, the Los Angeles Times reported on September 24. Artist Jeff Valenson, co-
founder of Surf's Up, was inspired by his Catholic upbringing to create the sofa table.
Items Revisited
Life of Mary: Annunciation
Life of Mary:
Annunciation
Prayer Corner Requests
You are invited to help us pray for our prayer corner intentions.
Prayer Corner
The intentions of the Holy Father for October 2000:
- General Intentions:That young married couples may be sustained by the
example and assistance of their parents and other families.
- Mission Intentions:That a revived awareness of the universal
corresponsibility of Bishops may multiply initiatives of missionary cooperation among the local
Churches.
For more information on these intentions, see:
Apostleship of Prayer October
2000
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URL for this page is http://campus.udayton.edu |
The shrine of Our Lady, Madonna of Divine Love, 12 k from Rome, was the gathering place of
over 300 theologians and onlookers for the 20th Mariological Marian International Congress.
The
congress sponsored by the Pontifical International Marian Academy (PAMI), and planned as part
of the Jubilee 2000 celebrations, took place from September 15-24th at the shrine and various
locations throughout Rome.
Theologians from every continent explored Mary's relationship to the mystery of the Trinity.
Eighteen noted Marian scholars presented papers at morning plenary sessions, which were
translated into five languages. Afternoon sessions were devoted to eleven language groups.
Papers devoted to Marian doctrine, scriptural and ecclesial themes, cultural expressions of
devotion, art, and spirituality were presented each afternoon. For the first time in the 100year
history of the congress, a section specifically for presenters from Asia was introduced.
In addition to the intellectual exchange the participants were treated to evening concerts, each
unique and expressive of the beauty of the arts honoring Mary through the ages in contemporary
culture. A most outstanding performance entitled, Mary, mother of the world, and
directed by an American, Patricia Adkins Chiti, was held for the participants and the city of
Rome in the Paul VI auditorium on September 15th. Other performances included tenor,
Massimo
Puccini, a new film entitled Mary, Daughter of Her Son, and Marian songs of 13th c Italy
performed by a group from Assisi and directed by Pino Manzart. Contemporary composers and
Christian singers also presented their praises of Mary, the Mother of God. The congress began
and concluded within St. Mary Major, the primary Marian shrine of the world.
Dear holy Mother, for your strong faith
Sunday, 24 September 2000, was the closing of the 20th International
Mariological-Marian Congress at St. Peter's in Rome. The altar for the Holy Father's solemn
Mass was built up on the steps of St. Peter's in the manner that has been done for the major
jubilees throughout the Jubilee Year. The participants of the Mariological Marian Congress had
the privilege of being seated on the same level as the altar and to its left.
