We Lend Exhibits

On occasion, The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute will lend exhibit materials and complete exhibits. If you are interested in Marian materials, the following six framed images (23 1/4 by 28 1/4 inches) are available:

The Book of Revelation: Contemporary Religious Art by Anton Mutter

Six themes characterize the series by Anton Mutter on the Book of Revelation:

• The Lamb and the Book – From Alpha to Omega
• I Know You
• The Seals and the Trumpets
• The Master of History
• Christ's Second Coming
• The Crystal Cube

Anton Mutter (1932-1992), a Swiss painter and sculpture, was a graduate of the prestigious Kunstakademie in Zurich, and a longtime art teacher at the Cantonal Teacher's Training Academny in Sion, Switzerland, a college run by the Marianists until 1987.

Mutter's artistic vein draws its inspiration from two complementary sources. He is deeply steeped in the attachment to his native Wallis, the alpine region of Switzerland that lies at the foot of the world famous Matterhorn. On canvas and with watercolors he untiringly explores the pristine beauty of snow peaks, glaciers and mountain lakes. His paintings and etchings are full of the frugal charm and tranquil simplicity of sunburnt chalets, meadows, goats and sheep. Of similar importance to his art is the second source, Mutter's strong and earthbound faith in the spiritual values and traditions of his homeland. Over the years it has found a varied artistic expression in stained glass windows, sculptures, chapels and churches.

In Mutter's painting and sculptures, nature and religion blend into one, into a poem of colors and forms in celebration of life. His art reflects the dialectics of birth, growth, death and rebirth as suggested by nature on the one hand, but also the unceasing combat between good and evil and the contrasts between time and eternity, as they are expressed in the spiritual reading of reality.

Anton Mutter's vast fresco of the Apocalypse reminds us of this synthesis of nature and religion. The vivid coloring, the dramatic dynamism and sensuous quality of the artistic expression take after nature, whereas religion punctuates the confrontation between the different realms of reality (heaven, earth, underworld), and the various phases of salvation history.

Saint John's Book of Revelation packs the whole of salvation history – from incarnation to eschatology – in the short time span of a few visions, using thereby a perplexing abundance of symbols, protagonists and events. There is no easy way to understand the hermetic message of this visionary.

Mutter did his best to penetrate Saint John's mind and his sometimes bewildering imagery. Over a period of more than ten years he studied and meditated the text of the Apocalypse, and ever so often attempted to graphically express bits and pieces of his insights. During this time he would each year gratify his friends with a Christmas car reproducing elements of the Apocalypse, for example, one of the horsemen, the lamb, the horrors of the underworld. Only in 1982/83, after a long apprenticeship in reading and interiorizing, did Mutter set out to paint the whole of the Apocalypse in six tableaux. In fact, the six tableaux are interconnected graphically as well as from the point of view of content and constitute a whole, just as the various chapters of a book form a totality. The first (representing the Lamb and Book) and last tableaux (featuring the Crystal Cube) represent the front and back cover of the book; they point out the origin and the fulfillment of salvation history. Tableaux Two (From Alpha to Omega), Three (The Seals and the Trumpets), Four (The Master of History) and Five (Christ's Second Coming) constitute the chapters of the book, or, from the point of view of content, the succession of actual events in salvation history.

Night of Peace in Bethlehem

We received the following letter which we in turn make available to you:

Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus,

In order to mark the extraordinary anniversary of the 2000th Christmas, that most of the Churches will celebrate on 24th and 25th December 1999, the City of Bethlehem will welcome this year a great vigil of prayer and peace, in the great and magnificent place of the Shepherds' Field, at the very scene where the angels announced the coming of Christ.

Few days before the beginning of the year 2000, this "Night of Peace" will gather all Christians and all men of good will who would like to particularly pay homage to Christ and to renew their commitments of peace and fraternity before entering the III Millennium after Christ's birth.

We propose to all the Christian Churches to take an active part in this vigil of prayer and fraternity which would like to show to the world the universal and Christian dimension of this exceptional anniversary.

The civil authorities (Bethlehem 2000 project, the Town Council and the Governor of Bethlehem) told us their enthusiasm concerning this project which will witness delegations of all countries coming to bring before the crib, as the Magi did, the most beautiful presents and gifts produced in all the cultures and peoples in the world in order to celebrate the Holy Nativity of our Lord.

These offerings will then be placed in the Museum of Mary and in the Museum of the Nativity, that the towns of Nazareth and Bethlehem will create in their two cities, with the UNESCO, for the year 2000.

The "Night of Peace" will also be the occasion for the heads of state, the religious authorities and the civil personalities of all nations to address their wishes, on the spot or through the medium of TV, and to take commitments of peace for the III Millennium, which will alternate with songs, prayers and long moments of silence and adoration.

These testimonies, as well as the opening of the Holy Door by the Pope in Rome, the Midnight Mass in the Basilica of the Nativity and our entire vigil, will be shown on two giant screens in the Shepherds' field and should be broadcast worldwide on television in more than 40 countries.

In order to give a full meaning to this "Night of Peace", which will take place on the very scenes of Christ's birth, we wish representatives of all Christian Churches to be present. Because this very privileged moment and place are really the unique occasion to fraternally gather all the different Christian traditions in a common prayer.

There will be different parts in this vigil, so that the representatives of the Churches could address, one after the other, accompanied with faithful or choir, to all people gathered words of welcome and of peace, in order to pray and sing to the Lord according to the richness of their tradition, and to bring as offerings before the Crib, as the Magi did, documents or pieces of art which will represent the particular testimony of their church sensibility.

We are of course at your disposal to explain these projects further and to adjust all the details you will find necessary to guarantee the good progress of things, hoping to have the joy to see the involvement of your particular Church.

... We intensely pray to the Lord and his Mother so that they allow this fraternal meeting, "for the world to believe", and we assure you, dear brothers and sisters, of our very respectful sentiments and of our fervent prayers.

Signed: Edmond Fricoteaux and Olivier Bonnassies.at Notre-Dame de France
Email: olbns@easynet.fr
Internet: http://www.vierge-pelerine.org

Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe Articles on Mary

A general search of Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, a huge electronic database of popular news items, brings a host of news articles under the topic "Mary" and devotion to her. The articles range from scholarly notes on great art to the chitchat of local neighborhoods and hte pros and cons of personal Marian devotion. We attempted to make a summary of recent articles for you below. We invite you to try the site to refine your particular interests: http://web.lexis-nexis.com.

The summary of news items on the Blessed Virgin Mary range from interest in art recently, especially the controversial painting in New York in the exhibit, "Sensation: Young British Artists from the Saatchi Collection" currently at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, to the restoration of a 300 year old painting entitled, "The Immaculate Conception with Saints Francis of Assisi and Anthony of Padua" by Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione. This work of art is one of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts' greatest treasures, according to Mary Abbe in the Star Tribune, October 10, 1999.

Marian devotion is remembered in the news, particularly the rosary for the month of October. An article from the Associated Press Worldstream told of a rare marian icon put on display for earthquake victims in Greece. "Hundreds of people waited in line to get a glimpse of a 1,000- year-old religious icon that is revered as a miracle-giver and was brought to Athens on Friday (October 15, 1999) following last months' deadly earthquake. Believers say miracles have been granted after prayers to the Axion Esti, or "Worthy It Be," icon of the Virgin Mary. The icon has left the all-male Orthodix Christian sanctuary of Mount Athos in northern Greece only a few times this century."

Devotion to Mary took a form that concerned city officials in Hartford, Connecticut, and as a result the city ordered removal from Colt Park of a shack filled with candles, photos and statues of Mary. The shack was considered a hazard to public safety with its burning candles and other items. The private devotion of a man in Pepperell, Massachusetts who has a 30-foot-tall religious shrine of Mary in his front yard is involved in a dispute with a neighbor who says she cannot sell her colonial because of the shrine. The question involves the right of private property versus city ordinances.

A similar article from the Los Angeles Times (October 16, 1999) has a different vein. We quote:

Putting Faith Out Front

Socorro Galvan's most sacred space is on her front lawn.
There, a stone statue of the Virgin Mary stands 3 feet inside a brick enclosure that Galvan's husband built so that his wife could "shout" her faith to the world.

A Christmas gift from Galvan's daughter 10 years ago, the statue also is a centerpiece of the Santa Ana neighborhood: a place where parents cross themselves and pray while walking their children to school, and one passerby is given to throwing dollars at the holy image. It is also where Galvan prays her first Hail Mary each morning before heading to mass across the street.

"She is a comfort to me," Galvan said of the statue. "All of my problems, especially my worries over my children, I turn over to her. One day, a lady came by and told me I was brave because she had a statue she wanted to display but she was afraid it would create ill will in her neighborhood. Not me. I can shout to anyone that I'm Catholic."

Catholics traditionally have used shrines like Galvan's to honor holy figures, memorialize loved ones or as a form of art. In Orange County, personal shrines to the Virgin Mary, the Virgin of Guadalupe or Jesus Christ are commonly found in older neighborhoods where Mexicans have lived for generations.

"You see this in the Italian neighborhood back East and in the Mexican-American neighborhoods in California," said Sabina Magliocco, assistant professor of anthropology at Cal State Northridge. "It's an expression of faith and an expression of identity, a way to very openly declare their practices and identity as Catholics. It's a tradition that has been around a long time and is not disappearing." ...

The shrines are a passionate way of expressing faith, said the Rev. Alfredo de Dios of Our Lady of the Pillar Catholic Church in Santa Ana.

Food For The Poor

Food For The Poor, Inc. is an interdenominational Christian ministry created to help the poorest of the poor in the Caribbean and Latin America . The ministry also offers assistance to the poor of the United States.

The ornament to our right can be obtained by contributions to Food For The Poor. Write and inquire:
Food For The Poor, Inc.
550 SW 12th Avenue
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
or call: (954) 427-2222

The true colors of the ornament to the right are gold, dark blue and dark red.

Our Prayer Corner

Are there times when you don't know where to turn to find someone to help you pray for your intentions? We invite you to write to the Carmelite Monastery of Terre Haute, Indiana.

On November 4, 1999, the Carmelites of Terre Haute will welcome the relics of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. There will be a Holy Mass with Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein, OSB at 11 am, a Children's Event at 1:30 pm, another Mass at 3 pm, a Solemn Vespers with focus on the family, followed by faith sharing on family prayer, a Night Vigil of prayer.

Contact the sisters for prayer by writing to them:
Carmelite Monastery
59 Allendale
Terre Haute, IN 47802

Simultaneous Rosary

This message unfortunately arrived very late to Mary Page:

Message from Rosario Simultaneo on Fri, 3 Sep 1999
Subject: International Day of the Rosary 99

INVITATION TO ALL RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR MOVEMENTS OF THE CATHOLIC WORLD TO JOIN AND PARTICIPATE IN THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE ROSARY TO BE CELEBRATED ON OCTOBER 30, 1999

The objective for the year 2000:
To have a worldwide Rosary presided by His Holiness the Pope. Each Mystery televised live from Fátima, Lourdes, Czestochowa, Guadalupe and the Vatican.

In 1997, more than 40 countries participated in the International Journey of the Rosary celebrated on October 25 and 26. Massive prayers were organized in churches, sport-stadiums, schools, prisons and hospitals; many of the events were televised and radioed through local stations. In Mexico alone, 4,000 simultaneous Rosaries were prayed at different locations, the main event was presided by the Archbishop of Mexico at the Plaza Mexico with a live audience of more than 43,000 people. The celebration was broadcasted live to North, Central and South America, Europe, the Philippines and New Zealand; it is estimated that over 20 million people all over the world participated actively in this event.

Last year more than 100 countries participated in the International Journey of the Rosary celebrated on October 31. 8,000 massive simultaneous Rosaries were prayed at different places in Mexico, with the main event presided again by the Archbishop of Mexico, this time at a Soccer Stadium full to capacity. We are informed by many sources around the globe that the local media played a stupendous supporting role. We estimate an active participation of more than 40 million people around the world.

As the celebration of the 2000 jubilee approaches, we invite you to institute in your countries and communities a permanent International Day of the Rosary on the first Saturday of October of every year.

This year, the International Day of the Rosary, shall start at 7:00 p.m. (Mexico / Central Time), on October 30, 1999.

To learn more about this worldwide initiative to prayer the rosary together on October 30, 1999, see: http://www.churchforum.org.mx/rosario
e-mail: rosario@churchforum.org.mx

Fifteenth International Mariological Congress – 2000

The International Pontifical Marian Academy (PAMI) announces that the Fifteenth International Mariological Congress will be held in Rome, September 15-24, 2000. The theme of the meeting is "The Mystery of the Trinity and Mary." For more information on PAMI and the Mariological congress, see The Marianum Pontifical Faculty of Theology.

Academic papers (abstracts) can be submitted for presentation at the congress through the President of the Mariological Society of America, Bertrand Buby, SM. Contact Fr. Buby at 937- 229-3286 for further information.

The conference's central location will be at the Italian Marian shrine, Santuario della Madonna del Divino Amore outside of Rome. To learn more about the shrine, see Divino Amore

Crèches International 2000 and Christmas Cards

The Crèches International 2000 Committee of The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute has preparations well underway for the annual exhibit of crèches from around the world. This year's exhibit will feature over a dozen items from the southwestern part of the United States.

This undertaking provides a special form of apostolic outreach by calling to mind the reason for the study of Mary, that is, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. It is also a source of fund raising for The Marian Library/ International Marian Research Institute.

To celebrate the millennium, the institute is offering for the first time a selection of 7 Christmas note cards of nativity sets in settings from its Marian Library collection. The photographs were taken by Marian Library Assistant, Marjorie Yefchaf. See the collection at:

Exhibit: A. Joe Barrish, SM – A Bouquet for Mary

See the current exhibit at The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute. Mary Page gives you a slide show and virtual tour of the exhibit at:

Call for Papers: Mary and Pilgrimage

The Mariological Society of America will hold its annual meeting in Belleville, IL, at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, May 24-26, 2000. The theme of the meeting will be related to Mary and pilgrimage. The Society is issuing a "call for papers" on topics related to the meeting's theme: Mary's pilgrimage of faith, the Christian's pilgrimage of faith relating to Mary, the role of Marian shrines, the Marian "geography of faith." Those wishing to present a paper at the meeting (for publication in Marian Studies), should submit a precis by January 15, 2000, to the MSA Secretariat (at the Marian Library).

Return to The Mary Page

Mary Page, maintained by The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute, Dayton, Ohio 45469-1390, was modified by M. J. Frisk, July 3, 2000. Please send any comments to Johann.Roten@udayton.edu.

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