Blogs
In the News: Jan. 17, 2017
By Michael Duricy
Read recent items about Mary in both Catholic and secular news. Also see International Marian Research Institute news and updates.
Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute Features
Updates
ESBVM-USA July 2017 Conference Call for Papers Has Extended The Due Date!
Good news! For those who are interested in presenting at the ESBVM USA July 2017 conference, but have not had the time to put a proposal together, the submission deadline has been extended. As of January 10, they still needed four speakers to complete their program!
The Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary USA (ESBVM USA) exists to advance the study of Mary, the Mother of Christ, in Christian biblical and spiritual perspectives, and in the light of such study, to promote ecumenical interchange and prayer. Its aim is to show that in Mary, Christians of many traditions may find a focus in their search for unity. The ESBVM was formed by Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Orthodox, and Presbyterian Scholars and is open to all Christians.
PROPOSAL DUE DATE: January 31, 2017
Conference Theme: Mary, Disciple of the Lord: Prayer and Holiness
Conference Dates: July 12–15, 2017 (Wed. evening through Sat. morning).
Conference Location: Misericordia University in Dallas, PA (near Scranton)
Submission Guidelines and Requirements:
The paper proposal should be in .DOC or .DOCX format and must include:
1. Presentation Title
2. Presenter's name, professional affiliation (e.g., university or church name), and status (undergrad, grad. student, Ph.D. candidate, faculty, pastor, etc.)
3. Contact information (e-mail address, daytime telephone)
4. Abstract (350-500 words)
5. Equipment needs
The overall theme for the conference is "Mary, Disciple of the Lord: Prayer and Holiness." This theme may be approached through a variety of avenues appropriate to your field of study, interests, and particular Christian tradition. The following are some suggestions for different scriptural, systematic, anthropological, liturgical, artistic or historical approaches to help get you started. This is not an exhaustive list, so please feel free to add to it.
- Scriptural study of Mary's "pondering" in Luke 2:19 or the Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55.
- Historical or systematic study of writings by the Early Church Fathers on Mary and prayer, holiness, and the interior life.
- Historical study of Mary as a model of prayer and holiness in a particular tradition, such as Anglicanism.
- The thoughts of Protestant reformers on Mary as a holy example.
- Contemporary developments in Protestant thought and practice regarding Mary as an example of holiness for Christians, new Lutheran Marian feast days, or ecumenical Marian celebrations such as those at the shrine in Walsingham, England on the Feast of the Assumption.
- Commentary on a particular contemporary theologian or author who wrote about Marian prayer and/or Mary as an example of holiness.
- The theology of particular Marian prayers.
- Marian references in the liturgy.
- Mary as teacher of prayer and advancement in the interior life for contemporary society.
- Mary's holiness as portrayed in the visual, performing, or literary arts
Please submit proposals to the review committee at Maura.hearden@desales.edu.
TOPMary in Media: Books, Films, Music, etc.
New Marian Books Now Available
From the Marian Treasure Chest
Brother John Samaha sent us the text below.
Let's Hear It For Our Founder by Brother John Samaha, S.M.
From time to time we Marianists need a reminder and additional encouragement to extend interest in our Founder.
How much do we personally know about Blessed William Joseph Chaminade? How familiar are we individually with his history and legacy? Are we continuing to learn about him and his spirit? Do we welcome opportunities to talk about him and to explain him to others?
Generally most people know quite a bit about the members of their natural, biological families, and are proud of their forebears. Many are well-informed about sports figures and political figures, and know quite a bit about them and their achievements. Do we feel this way about our Founder and about our Marianist "saints?" How do we appreciate them?
People tend to talk about subjects they like. Do we feel this way about Father Chaminade, the heritage he left us, and his cause for canonization? Can we explain the status and progress of his cause? What is the level of our Marianist family pride? What are we doing about it? What can we do better?
In life we generally get what we deserve. Progress simply doesn't happen without effort. If Chaminade and his cause are not well known, we are responsible. We need to work with Jesus and Mary and with each other to produce results.
What are our family responsibilities? What can we do? We are challenged to cultivate interest in our Founder and his cause by explaining him and his charism to others; by welcoming opportunities to respond to questions about him. We are asked to be creative in arranging such opportunities.
Seldom have I encountered a Salesian who did not find a way to bring up St. John Bosco in the course of a conversation or meeting. The same is my experience with Franciscans, Dominicans, Jesuits, Montfortians, and other religious.
Now is the time for us to rise to the occasion to promote knowledge of, and interest in, Blessed William Joseph Chaminade. Let us learn more about him and appreciate him more deeply so that we may share our Marianist enthusiasm with others.
Climb on to the bandwagon to beat the drum for our Founder. We are called to be cheerleaders and billboards for Chaminade. Chaminade is our patriarch, our exemplary model. We are his lengthened shadow.
Celebrate January 22 in a big way.
Marian Events
Event: Holy Fools and Wonderworkers: Saints of the Orthodox Faith
Date: November 19, 2016 - February 26, 2017
Place: Museum of Russian Icons, 203 Union Street, Clinton, Massachusetts 01510
Visit the largest collection of Russian icons in North America. Please be aware that this museum has many Marian icons.
Mary in the Catholic Press
Angelus of Pope Francis: On Mary, Mother of God (Zenit) January 1, 2017
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
In recent days, we laid our adoring gaze on the Son of God, born in Bethlehem; Today, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, let us turn our eyes to the Mother, but taking both of them in their close bond. This bond does not end with the fact of having generated or having been generated; Jesus was "born of woman" (Gal 4,4) for a mission of salvation, and His mother is not excluded from this mission. Indeed, it is intimately associated. Mary is aware of this, so [she] does not cease to consider her motherly relationship with Jesus, but remains open and interested in all the events that happen around Him: she preserves and meditates, scrutinizes and deepens, as the Gospel reminds us today (cf. Lk 2:19). She said "yes" and gave her willingness to be involved in the implementation of God's plan of salvation, namely that "He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty." (Lk 1.51 to 53). Now, silent and attentive, she tries to comprehend what God wants from her day-by-day....
Click here to read the complete article.
Mary in the Secular Press
The director and editors of All About Mary 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.
Diocese of Youngstown Opens Sainthood Case for Ohio Woman (Catholic Telegraph e-pistle) January 4, 2017
In the fall when the Diocese of Youngstown formally opened the sainthood cause for an Ohio women known for her life of prayer and spiritual gifts, more than 1,000 people filled St. Peter Church in Canton. It was standing-room-only at the Mass to officially open the cause for Canton's Rhoda Wise, known for her healing gifts and the stigmata, wounds that resemble those of Christ on the Cross. Though raised a Protestant, Wise (1888-1948) later embraced Catholicism and was devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Rosary, and St. Therese of Lisieux, known as the "Little Flower." People of all ages, most from Stark County, but many from out-of-state, came to Wise's home parish church for the first step in her journey to possible official recognition as a saint. Msgr. Robert Siffrin, diocesan Vicar General and moderator of the curia was the main celebrant.
The number of people at Mass "shows how many people she touched while she was alive or after (her death)," said Father Edward Beneleit, pastor of Saint Peter, told The Catholic Exponent, Youngstown's diocesan newsletter. "It shows the devotion to her. This is the crowd that is really faithful." Information about the life of Wise and her sainthood cause can be found online at http://rhodawise.com.
Among those who claimed miraculous healing from Wise was Mother Angelica, founder of the Eternal Word Television Network., who said she was cured of a painful stomach ailment after praying with Wise, who led her in a novena to St. Therese of Lisieux.