Blogs
Mary in the News: Sept. 18, 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
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2019 Annual Conference of the MSA: Call for Papers
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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
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Mary in Media: Books, Films, Music, etc.
Marian e-zine available online
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The Fall 2018 American Region Issue of Ave, the Magazine of the Society of Mary is now available in PDF format [requires Adobe Acrobat Reader] free to view online. This issue is dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a feast celebrated on September 8.
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From the Marian Treasure Chest
Brother John Samaha, S.M., sent us the text below with the following comments: "September 18 is the feast of three Spanish Marianist Martyrs."
Marianist Martyrs of Madrid by Brother John Samaha, S.M.
Seven Marianist martyrs who were victims of religious persecution in the Spanish Civil War in 1936 have been beatified. They were sought and martyred because of their faith and membership in a religious congregation, and for teaching in Marianist schools in Ciudad Real and in Madrid.
Three Marianist Brothers martyred at Ciudad Real were beatified in 1995 by Pope John Paul II. They are Blessed Carlos Erana, S.M., Blessed Jesus Hita, S.M., and Blessed Fidel Fuidio, S.M. These men were also exemplary Christian educators and apostles of Mary. September 18 is the day we honor them in the Church calendar.
Four Marianists gave their lives in Madrid for the same cause and were beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007: Blessed Miguel Leibar, S.M., Blessed Florencio Arnaiz, S.M., Brother Joaquin Ochoa, S.M., and Brother Sabino Ayastuy, S.M. Their feast day in the liturgical calendar is November 6.
Fifteen Marianists were martyred for their faith in 1936. Because of the anarchy of the times, it has been difficult to gather sufficiently detailed information to introduce the causes of the other eight Marianist martyrs.
None of these martyrs was involved in politics in any way, nor did they bear arms. These Marianists were simply religious educators standing staunchly for their Christian convictions.
A note on the severity and complexity of the Spanish Civil War may be helpful. Though civil war erupted in 1931, the worst upheaval in Spain lasted from July 17, 1936, to April 1, 1939, and was a brutal conflict in which the Nationalists overcame the Loyalists. The Church was a primary target of attack.
The death toll was high. Estimates of the number killed run as high as 500,000. Included in the many ruthless massacres were twelve bishops, 283 Sisters, 2,365 monks and Brothers, and 4,184 priests.
In the reconstruction following the bloody strife, Franco built a monumental basilica church hewn from a granite ridge in the Guadarama range as a huge cavern, and topped by the world’s tallest memorial cross. This memorial known as Valle de los Caidos, Valley of the Fallen, contains the remains of about 40,000 of both sides who died in the war. One of the Marianist martyrs of Ciudad Real, Brother Fidel Fuidio, is represented in the vast interior mosaic decorations.
Biographies of the Ciudad Real Marianist martyrs by Father Emilio Ortega, S.M., have been translated into English under a single cover. Father Jose Maria Salaverri, S.M., a former superior general of the S.M., has completed in Spanish a volume containing the biographies of the four Marianists martyred in Madrid. In the latter book, the introduction by Father Enrique Torres, S.M., former postulator general of the Marianist causes for sainthood, is an excellent theological reflection on the meaning of martyrdom. These books are available from the North American Center for Marianist Studies (NACMS) in Dayton, Ohio.
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
To Protect Against Dangers, Holy Name of Mary (Zenit) September 13, 2018
"May the Virgin Mary defend the faith and the Church in dangers."
Pope Francis prayed this on the occasion of the liturgical memorial of the Holy Name of Mary, this September 12, 2018, during his General Audience in St. Peter's Square, while at its conclusion greeting young people, the elderly, the sick and newlyweds.
"All of us Christians are invited to accept in the Name of Mary, the great plan that God had for this sublime creature and, at the same time, the response of love that, as Mother, she gave to her Son, Jesus, collaborating unstintingly in His work of 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.
U.S. bishop endorses 'Rosary Coast to Coast' as the 'medicine' the country needs (LifeSite News) June 26, 2018
A Wisconsin Catholic bishop has endorsed the American "Rosary Coast to Coast."
Bishop Robert C. Morlino, 71, of the Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin has appeared in a video advertising the nationwide October 7 prayer event. Invoking the successful mass rosaries held in Poland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom in past months, the bishop encouraged all to take part.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for us to thank God for all of His blessings," the bishop said, "for sustaining us in our country, in our culture, where we are taking fire from every direction...."