News Archives

We have received a number of emails from readers commending our institute and its website, The Mary Page. Thank you all for your encouragement and support.  The following is a typical example.

I have just discovered your beautiful home, The Mary Page.  It is a treasure!  God bless and keep you.

Magdalena

It is with great sadness that we inform you that Brother Francis Deibel, a Marianist who volunteered at The Marian Library for many years (photo at right) passed away on June 30, 2012.  The Provincial of the Marianist Province of the U.S., Martin Solma, S.M., sent us the following notice.

Blessed be our God:
Our Brother, Francis Deibel, has been called to an everlasting dwelling place with the saints, at the age of 103 with 85 years of religious profession.  He died on July 30, 2012 in Dayton, Ohio.  Let us thank God for the gift of his life.  Let us thank Mary, our Mother, for the gift of his perseverance.  Together, let us pray that he may rest in the peace of Christ.

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Updates

Sister Celia Chua, M.I.C., an IMRI graduate now on our Faculty, informed us about two newsworthy Marian events related to China.

1. August 4, 2012: to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the installation of the mosaic of Our Lady of China at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, there will be a day of pilgrimage at The Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C.  For further information please contact jmoy55@yahoo.com.

2. August 12-15, 2012: a symposium on the Marian Dogma, The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be held in Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China.  For further information please go to website of the Research Center for Liturgy, Faculty of Theology, Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taiwan.

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Mary in Books, Films, and Music

Marian References in Film and Literature

Jon Harvey, who has contributed several items to The Mary Page, recently emailed us the following information.

Catholicism plays a larger role in the novel Gone with the Wind than it does in the film adaptation. On page 88, Mitchell writes:

When Scarlett was a child, she had confused her mother with the Virgin Mary, and now that she was older she saw no reason for changing her opinion.  To her, Ellen represented the utter security that only Heaven or a mother can give.  She knew that her mother was the embodiment of justice, truth, loving tenderness and profound wisdom--a great lady.

Scarlett wanted very much to be like her mother.  The only difficulty was that by being just and truthful and tender and unselfish, one missed most of the joys of life, and certainly many beaux.  And life was too short to miss such pleasant things.  Some day when she was married to Ashley and old, some day when she had time for it, she intended to be like Ellen.  But, until then...

Author Robert Di Napoli interviewed on Kultur's DVD documentary about Tolkien states that Tolkien kept revising his conception of Galadriel to the point where she became increasingly like the Virgin Mary.

Tolkien conceives the Elves as being enchanters but not magicians in a distinction he draws in his essays On Fairy-Stories.  To enchant is to effect the way people see or enjoy something, but there is no focus on manipulating reality to achieve a specific result.  In contrast, magic involves an act of the will, and bending the world to one's will.  The Dark Lord, Sauron, is certainly a magician, while the Elves are primarily enchanters.

Source: Secrets of Middle-Earth: Inside Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring

Agnostic poet, May Sarton, wrote a small set of poems on the best elements of faith entitled A Grain of Mustard Seed.  One of the poems is entitled Annunciation.  In the first verse, she talks about her own lack of any sense of the presence of God, but in the second verse suggests that Mary must have experienced a sense of abandonment after the Annunciation during the Passion of Christ, and that this might be a necessary stage of spiritual maturity.  After concluding the first verse with the line "And we are here alone upon the earth," the second verse in part reads:

The angel comes and he is always grave.
Joy is announced as if it were despair.
Mary herself could do nothing to save,
Nothing at all but to believe and bear....

For there can never be annunciation
Without the human heart's descent to Hell.
And no ascension without the fearful fall.
The angel's wings foretold renunciation,
And left her there alone upon the earth.

In Richard Strauss' opera Der Rosenkavalier, the character of the Marshallin (a field Marshall's wife) is torn between her love for a young man, Octavian, with whom she is having an affair, and her Catholic faith.  In the Metropolitan Opera's 2010 production, the Marshallin is briefly seen holding a rosary.

Suggested A/V material

Telemaria, an Italian-language Catholic media site under the direction of Professor Giorgio Nicolini, is promoting the New Evangelization through daily internet broadcasts.  These include material for children and the elderly, the Mass and Rosary, and special features like Professor Nicolini's lecture on the Holy House of Loreto.

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Radio Maria from The Marian Library

Prayer composed by Blessed Pope John Paul II for Radio Maria

Mary, direct our choices in life, console us in the hour of trial, so that faithful to God and to us, we can face with humble boldness, the mysterious ways of the heavens to bring to the mind and heart of every person the joyful announcement of Christ, our Redeemer.  Mary, Star of Evangelization, walk with us, guide Radio Maria and be its protector.

Francesca Franchina, MS Ed., a long-time member of the Marianist Family, will be doing a series of Marian broadcasts through the local stations for Radio Maria WHJM (FM 88.7) in Anna, Ohio and WULM (AM 1600) in Springfield, Ohio.  Called "Francesca and Friends: Why Mary?," the program airs every Wednesday from 12:00 - 1:00 PM EST focusing on what is going on in the world about Mary, how to speak with others about Mary, and Mary in Scripture.  CALL IN TOLL-FREE.  PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM (during the live show) 1-866-333-6279.

On Wednesday, August 1, 2012, Francesca Franchina aired a previous program.

Francesca and Friends with Francesca Franchina, National OSIA Trustee, is now being broadcast throughout the New York City metropolitan area at 11 pm on Friday nights on WSNR 620 AM, as well as on other local  Radio Maria USA frequencies,  and streaming on radiomaria.us.  This is the replay of the program originating on the preceding Wednesday at noon EST.  Give a listen every Friday at 11 PM; Mondays at 8:30 PM and LIVE on Wednesdays at noon EST.

The broadcast may also be heard on-line at radiomaria.us  The website also provides access to some previous broadcasts.  We'll keep you informed about future programs.  An encore of each show is broadcast Monday night from 8:30-9:30 pm EST one week after the original.

Fran's series, Through the Tummy to the Heart, (T5H) airs every Tuesday from 5:00-5:45 PM on RADIO MARIA WHJM and also online. The series encores Saturdays from 3:00-3:45 pm.  Tune in 88.7 FM (WHJM) in the northern Archdiocese of Cincinnati and on line at radiomaria.us from anywhere in the world. Send email to Francesca with questions, comments, suggestions at fran@866333mary.com. Send email while the programs are going on if you cannot get through or if you are listening outside of the USA.  CALL IN TOLL-FREE.  PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM (during the live show) 1-866-333-6279.

On Tuesday, July 31, 2012, Francesca Franchina aired a previous program.

This week's program and all Francesca's programs are archived on-line.

Living with Mary Today! Live: Thursdays and Fridays 2:30-3:00 PM EST: From the Pontifical International Marian Research Institute (IMRI) at the University of Dayton Marian Library, internationally-known Mariologists Fathers Bertrand Buby, François Rossier, Johann Roten, and Thomas Thompson of the Society of Mary (Marianists), and other IMRI faculty; Michael Duricy, Jean Frisk, and others will discuss Marian themes such as The Blessed Mother and Ecumenism; Mary and The Family; Mary and Suffering, Marian Teachings and Writings of Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI; Mary and Scripture from the Founder of the Marianists, Blessed William Joseph Chaminade; Mary and Vatican II, Marian Apparitions, and others.  The Marian Library at the University of Dayton houses the largest collection of Marian books and artifacts in the world, and IMRI is one of the two sites of post-graduate studies in Mariology for the STL and STD.  Find out more by visiting marypage.org.  The University of Dayton; The Marian Library, and IMRI are collaborators with the International Satellite Radio Maria Network and Radio Maria Ohio.  Click here for the schedule of future programs planned to date.  Click here for the new audio archive!

This week's programs:

Michael Duricy, Thursday, August 2, 2:30 PM on Our Lady of the Snows

Father Johann G. Roten, S.M., Friday, August 3, 2:30 PM on Saint Mary Major

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From the Marian Treasure Chest

Marianist Honored as Pastoral Musician of the Year by Brother John M. Samaha, S.M.

The National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) will honor Brother Howard Hughes, S.M., as Pastoral Musician of the Year when it gathers for its national convention in Washington, DC, July 29 – August 2, 2012.

In his letter of invitation to Brother Howard Hughes, the President of NPM, J. Michael McMahon, declared, "Board Members agreed unanimously that you have created compositions for the liturgy that are beautiful, delightful, and spirited, and that have fostered strong participation by the worshiping assembly as they pray the texts you have set to music."

The Marianist composer's first published work was Mass for Peace which appeared in People's Mass Book, 1964 edition, released by World Library Publications.  As liturgical celebration developed in the English vernacular following the Second Vatican Council, Brother Howard produced a wide range of liturgical compositions published by WLP, GIA, ICEL, OCP, LTP, CFCW, FDLC, USCC, RP, NPM, Presbyterian Church USA, and in The United Methodist Hymnal Companion.  Along the way he earned a master's degree in liturgical music (MLM) in 1988 from the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at The Catholic University of America.  Now at the age of eighty-one, he is still composing and accepting commissions for special events.

In 1985 the University of Dayton bestowed on him its Distinguished Alumnus Award for his pioneering work in composing liturgical music for the vernacular after Vatican II.

A Marianist religious for sixty-four years, this distinguished liturgical musician and composer began as a high school teacher of French and director of high school choral groups.  In addition, Brother Howard also sang in symphonic choruses in New York and in Baltimore.  He commented that "conducting high school choral concerts and singing with adult symphonic choruses have been a great help in learning to write music."

Currently the awardee serves as organist and music director for the Marianist Center in Cupertino, CA.

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Current Exhibit

Seeing the Savior: Christians in the Visual Arts

The University of Dayton's Marian Library Gallery will feature a traveling art exhibit featuring works from a variety of artistic and ethnic backgrounds running Monday, June 25, through Friday, Aug. 31, in the gallery on the seventh floor of Roesch Library. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday and Sunday by appointment by calling 937-229-4214.  Click here for more information or here for a virtual exhibit.

We have a permanent crèche exhibit and a dedicated online giving page specifically for those who wish to support The Marian Library crèche collections.  There is also a general page to give to all areas of ML/IMRI and Roesch Library.

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Web Collaborators

Two important Catholic websites have added The Mary Page to their list of Media Partners.  CatholicWeb.com highlights items from The Mary Page in their section on Catholic News.  Catholic.net includes a Mariology section on their navbar with articles from The Mary Page.  Please visit these sites in return.  We expect continued collaboration with them in the future.

Radio Maria originated east of Milan, Italy in 1983, and is now heard in fifty-four countries.  The main USA station is in Alexandria, Louisiana with affiliate stations across the USA [including FM 88.7, WHJM,  in Anna, Ohio (north of Dayton) and AM 1600, WULM, in Springfield/Dayton, Ohio.  All USA Radio Maria stations regularly air live Marian talks from UD's Marian Library every Wednesday from 12:00-1:00 pm EST and on Thursday and Friday from 2:30-3:00 pm EST, as well as local programming originating from many other affiliated Radio Maria stations in the USA.

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International Marian Research Institute Course Schedule

IMRI courses for the Summer 2012 semester concluded on July 20, 2012.

The Pontifical Academic Program leading to STL and STD in theology with a specialization in Marian Studies offers courses in three year-round sessions.  See our course offerings for Fall 2012.

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In keeping with the season, we suggest Our Lady of the Snows and Salus Populi Romani.

Material on international stamps with images of Mary exists on The Mary Page (also available in French).  The latest updates were Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Lesotho.

We have revised and expanded our material in Chinese.  This is a work in progress, so expect more content soon.  Feel free to let us know what you think of this section.

We have posted a new article, Did Mary and Joseph Make a Vow of Virginity?, and have also revised Children's Resources and Mary in the Bible.

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Mass and Rosary with Bishop Binzer

Title: Fatima Event

Date: August 10, 2012

Spiritual Center of Maria Stein

This Fatima event will begin at 7:30 p.m. with Mass led by Bishop Joseph Binzer, from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.  After dark, a lighted Rosary will begin to take form on the grounds as each prayer is prayed over the intercom by young and old alike.  The program will conclude with a procession around the grounds.

Click here for more information.

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Father Manuel Cortes Speaks on Opening Vision to Global Challenges (Part 1)
Interview with Newly Re-Elected Superior General of the Marianists
Source: Zenit (Rome) July 30, 2012

The religious order of the Society of Mary is known as Marianists.  They are also known for their extensive work in the world that, under the charism of education, was founded in 1817 by the now Blessed William Joseph Chaminade of France.

During a break in his work in the Chapter Room, ZENIT talked with Chaminade's successor, Spanish Father, Manuel J. Cortes Soriano, S.M., recently re-elected superior general of the Congregation.

ZENIT: How do you interpret this ratification for a new period as superior general?

Father Cortes: Obviously we are [a] religious [order] and owe obedience to our superiors, and in this case the superior is the General Chapter, the highest authority of the Society of Mary.  My brothers have expressed their wish and I accept it, trusting in their support, and with the certainty that the Lord will supply what is lacking in me....

Click here to read the complete article.

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The director and editors of The 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.

A carving on a tree that resembles the Virgin Mary is luring hundreds of believers and onlookers, who are finding hope and faith in the image that was discovered on Tuesday by a woman who was passing by.

Police barricades sectioned off the tree, which was surrounded by bouquets of flowers and burning candles, while residents studied the intricate bark.

Local woman, Mary Alnodovar, insists that it's a miracle: "I've been here for many years.  I've never seen this before.  And I always pass through here.  Nothing happens like this.  That's why I got surprised and I tell my friend, 'You got to go.  You got to go and see.'  It's not a lie.  It's true what you see over there."

Click here to read the complete article which includes a video clip.

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Marian Commemoration Days

To celebrate the month of August with Mary:

• Living with Mary Through the Summer

The Mary Page offers a variety of resources inviting study, reflection and meditation.  We also list important Marian dates for each month of the year.  Please see Marian Commemoration Days for the month of August.

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You are invited to help us pray for our Prayer Corner intentions.  Please take a look!  This site has been updated and enhanced and now allows users to submit prayer requests directly or to volunteer as a prayer partner for these intentions!

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The Mary Page website is updated frequently. Please stop in again and see what's in the news.

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