Blogs
Mary in the News: Dec. 21, 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
Again this year, The Christian Century has published one of Carl Winderl's Marian poems to help celebrate Christmas: The Birth of the Christ Child. It appeared in their hard copy December 19, 2018 publication and on December 13, 2018 at their website.
Mary in Media: Books, Films, Music, etc.
Lights, Camera, Action!
The Marian Library served as a movie set recently, when it welcomed a crew to film the Reading Room, photograph some artifacts, and speak with researchers about how they use the collection. The key takeaway is how welcome researchers from all walks of life are to use this collection. Undergraduate graphic design major? Advanced scholar in theology? Member of the public with an interest in Our Lady? We have resources for all of these people. The four-minute video may be accessed from the article linked below.
From the Marian Treasure Chest
Brother John Samaha, S.M., sent us the text below with the following comment: "Christmas Blessings!"
Posada by Brother John Samaha, S.M.
Like its German counterpart, Herbergsuchen, (Search for an Inn), the Spanish word, Posada, (Inn) is an Advent play dramatizing the Holy Family's disappointing efforts to find shelter in Bethlehem. In this custom, the people of Mexico and Hispanics everywhere give the holy couple the warm reception not found in Bethlehem.
After dark on the evenings between December 16 and 24, the faithful, singing hymns of the season and bearing the figures of Mary and Joseph, make a candlelight procession through the streets to the home selected to host the Holy Family for the night. In reparation for the old refusal, the receiving family welcomes the pilgrims with the prayer, "Come into my humble home, and welcome! May the Lord give shelter to my soul when I leave this world."
Marian Events
2019 Annual Conference of the ESBVM-USA: Call for Papers (Press Release) September 9, 2018
The Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary, USA (ESBVM-USA) was formed by Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Orthodox, and Presbyterian Scholars and is open to all Christians. The Society exists to advance the study of Mary, the Mother of Christ. Our immediate goal is inter-ecclesial scholarship that focuses on Mary in light of Christian theological, biblical, and spiritual principles. Furthermore, by means of shared study and prayer, we provide an opportunity for Christians of various denominational backgrounds to explore how Marian studies might contribute to the search for unity.
PROPOSAL DUE DATE: January 15, 2019
Conference Theme: Mary, Disciple of the Lord--Motherhood
Conference Dates: July 25-27, 2019
Conference Location: Misericordia University in Dallas, PA (just outside Wilkes-Barre)
Submission Guidelines and Requirements: The paper proposal should be in DOC or DOCX and must include:
Presentation title; your name, professional affiliation (e.g., university or church name), and status (undergrad, grad. student, Ph.D. candidate, faculty, pastor, etc.); contact information (e-mail address and daytime telephone); abstract (350-500 words); and equipment needs.
The general theme for the 2019 ESBVM-USA Conference is: Mary, Disciple of the Lord: Motherhood. This theme may be pondered using a variety of methods appropriate to your field of study, personal interests, and particular Christian tradition. The following are some suggested topics to use for inspiration:
* Explorations of Mary’s motherhood as gleaned from particular Scripture passages (Old Testament typologies and prophecies as well as New Testament texts);
* A study of Mary’s motherhood as explored in the work of particular theologians and churchmen including the Early Church Fathers, Medieval Scholars, Protestant Reformers, and contemporary theologians;
* Mary’s motherhood as it relates to and illuminates cultural and social justice issues; anthropological issues; sacramental theology; Christian anthropology; and/or soteriology;
* Conclusions drawn from or about ecumenical dialogues on the subject of Mary’s motherhood;
* Historical, systematic, scriptural, or ecumenical explorations of Mary’s motherhood as revealed by Marian titles such as Theotókos, Maria Lactans, or Mother of the Church and/or aspects of Mary’s motherhood enshrined in Marian dogmas;
* Eastern and/or Western artistic depictions of Mary as mother of Christ, Christians, or the Church in the visual, literary and performing arts;
* Liturgical texts, prayers and feast days in honor of Mary’s motherhood;
* The role that Mary’s motherhood has played in Marian apparitions;
Please address your proposal for committee review to: Christopher M. Carr, Ph.D., ESBVM-USA, President at: ccarr@misericordia.edu.
Mary in the Catholic Press
Holy Father's Homily at Mass for Liturgical Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe (Zenit) December 12, 2018
"Mary teaches us that, in the art of the mission and of hope, many words and programs aren't necessary," according to Pope Francis. "Her method is very simple: she walked and sang."
His remarks came on December 12, 2018, as he presided over the Eucharistic Celebration in the Vatican Basilica, on the occasion of the Liturgical Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe....
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.
First Public APPearance (udayton.edu website) December 10, 2018
The Mary of the Americas/Mary APParitions Project received its first public appearance at the Chicago Colloquium on Digital Humanities and Computer Science 2018 (DHCS 2018). This conference took place from November 9–11, 2018, at the Water Tower campus of Loyola University Chicago. Attending DHCS 2018 and presenting the Marian project, with aid of a poster, were Neomi De Anda, Ph.D., Corinne Woodruff (Religious Studies and English Major, with minors in Human Rights, Women, and Gender Studies and Anthropology), and Mark Zeitzmann (MA theology student). While at DHCS 2018, Dr. De Anda, Corinne, and Mark were able to engage other scholars, share about the Mary of the Americas/Mary APParitions Project, and receive feedback....