Blogs
Mary in the News: Sept. 12, 2018
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
-
2019 Annual Conference of the MSA: Call for Papers
-
The Mariological Society of America, (MSA) invites proposals for its May 14-17, 2019 Annual Conference to be held at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, Massachusetts. on the theme: The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Call to Holiness.
Please send abstracts by October 15, 2018 to Father Frederick Miller (frederickmiller@shu.ecu) and Dr. Robert Fastiggi (fastiggi.fobert@shms.edu). The abstract should be about 350-500 words and should include sources and an explanation of how the proposal relates to the theme of the conference. - More Information
- TOP
Mary in Media: Books, Films, Music, etc.
Apparition Film Now in Theaters
-
The Apparition, a film by Xavier Giannoli about a reported apparition of the Virgin Mary, is showing in U.S. theaters after running earlier in Europe. Though the story is fictional, the film offers a gripping and sobering look at the Catholic Church's process of investigation and validation of an alleged supernatural occurrence and the emotions, complications and perils surrounding such an event. Watching the film could serve as a pretext to do some serious soul searching. The dialog is French, but there are English subtitles. Immediately below is a summary of the plot.
Jacques (Vincent Lindon) is a journalist at a large regional newspaper in France. His reputation as an impartial investigator attracts the attention of the Vatican, which recruits him to lead a committee to explore the legitimacy of a saintly apparition in a small French village--a true canonical investigation.
Upon his arrival, he meets the young novice, Anna, who claims to have personally witnessed an apparition of the Virgin Mary. She's garnered an impressive following in the village but is torn between her faith and the many solicitations she receives.
Confronted with opposing views from clergy members and skeptics, Jacques finds his belief system profoundly shaken as he works to uncover the hidden motivations and pressures at work.
- Trailer
- More Information
- TOP
From the Marian Treasure Chest
Brother John Samaha, S.M., sent us the text below with the following comments: "September 12 is the feast of the Holy Name of Mary."
The Holy Name of Mary by Brother John Samaha, S.M.
What's in a name?
Mary was a common name among the Hebrews because it recalled the memory of Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron. For this reason, some scholars think this name is related to an old Egyptian word meaning beloved. This understanding certainly fits Mary of Nazareth. She was so beloved by God that she was always in the right relationship with Him. Out of love, God chose her to be the mother of Jesus. Love is about the whole person, the entirety of her being, one whose very name is beautiful.
Every September 12 we honor the Holy Name of Mary in our liturgical calendar. St. Bonaventure prayed, "Your name, Mary, cannot be spoken devoutly without bringing with it some grace." We honor Mary's name because it is a sacrament of the person. To know Mary's name is to know her. To speak her name with reverence is to be familiar with her who was most familiar with God. In some Asian countries she is known by names that mean "one who hears our cries."
May we always honor the name of Jesus' mother and our spiritual mother. When in need, call on Mary.
Marian Events
Event: The Phenomenon of Apparitions
Theme: Between Faith, Theology, and Science
Location: Pontifical University Antonianum, via Merulana 124, Rome
Date: September 17-22, 2018
The Pontifical International Marian Academy (PAMI) will offer a course on The Phenomenon of Apparitions, organized, with the patronage of the pontifical councils of Culture and for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, the Diocese of Rome and the Embassy of Mexico to the Holy See, in collaboration with the faculties of Canon Law, Philosophy, Theology and the Franciscan Institute of Spirituality of the Pontifical University Antonianum as well as the Pontifical Theological Faculty Marianum.
The course, addressed to pastoral workers active in parishes and sanctuaries as well as spiritual directors and others, aims to provide useful tools for a correct discernment of apparitions, from the 'mariofanie' to other mystical-prophetic-charismatic phenomena. In order to give an account of the complexity of the phenomenon as widely as possible, an interdisciplinary approach will be adopted during the meetings, from canon law to liturgy, from psychology to pastoral and spiritual theology, etc.
At the end of the course on Saturday, September 22, 2018, a free conference will be held on The Man of the Shroud and The Woman of Guadalupe.
Registration for the course costs 150.00 euros and allows the achievement of 3 ECTS credits. For more information, please send an email to pami@pami.info.
Mary in the Catholic Press
Remembering the Feast of Virgin Mary's Nativity, Pope Francis Reminds: "God Is Faithful to His Promises." (Zenit) September 5, 2018
Pope Francis gave this comforting reminder at his weekly General Audience on September 5, 2018, in Saint Peter's Square, as he addressed the young, elderly and newlyweds.
"Next Saturday [September 8]," he reminded, "is the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary."
This date, the Holy Father added, "coincides with the end of summer and harvest, and reminds us that God is faithful to his promises."
"In Mary, God, has prepared a living temple where His Son, made flesh, wanted to live among us and give us salvation."
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.
Looking for Mary in Christmas Carols (First Things) June 18, 2008
... Who is Mary in our carols? Most folks don’t read a lot of theology in December, but we do a lot of singing. Who is Mary here?
A better question is “Where is Mary?” since, surprisingly, she's mostly absent. In looking at the texts of 381 English-language Christmas carols (here carol means a strophic religious hymn with a tradition of being sung by Christians in the Christmas season--so Jingle Bell Rock isn't in this group), Mary (or the "virgin," or "mother," or even "woman") appears in 27 percent of them.
She's slightly behind the angels and shepherds (who both appear in 28 percent of the songs), but significantly ahead of the wise men (who come in at 13 percent). But Mary's presence is even less than this low percentage at first suggests.
Shepherds, angels, and the wise men are frequently mentioned in multiple verses of a carol. Mary typically is mentioned only once, and sometimes that reference is itself oblique....