Blogs
Mary in the News: March 9, 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
- The International Catholic Film and Multimedia Festival in Poland is awaiting your new films and programs: feature films, documentaries, television programs, radio and multimedia programs and video clips. The final deadline to send in the DVD/CD or to download links (vimeo, wetransfer or Google-disk) is March 11, 2018.
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Mary in Media: Books, Films, Music, etc.
Publications by a Staff Member
- Brother Andrew Kosmowski, S.M., Librarian at The Marian Library, has recently had two articles, "Marian Library Celebrates 75 Years" and "The Gifts of Membership," published in Catholic Library World.
From the Marian Treasure Chest
Brother John Samaha, S.M., sent us the text below with the following comments: "St. Joseph is our father in faith and head of the Holy Family. Honor this father."
Saint Joseph in Perspective by Brother John Samaha, S.M.
To appreciate Saint Joseph properly we need a clear perspective--more than historical facts from Holy Scripture and Tradition. In fact, we know very little historically about the man who raised Jesus.
The three critical instances recorded about Joseph's life are his betrothal to Mary, learning that Mary is with child, and the revelation in a dream about Mary's condition. This ordinary worker and righteous Jew was a carpenter building useful things for others and to honor God. These special moments teach us about the transition from the Old Law to the New Law and the hope it brings. They indicate the shift that must take place in our own lives when God asks us to do the extraordinary and unimaginable.
Fascinating insights into the character of Joseph come to us when we observe him through various lenses as spouse of Mary, father of Jesus, man of obedience, man of faith, man of hope, man of charity, man of courage, man of poverty, man of purity, man of prayer, man of patience, man of labor, man of virtue, man of the church, shepherd, protector, and guardian. Then we understand better why God chose Joseph to help raise Jesus with Mary. Jesus needed an earthly father who was mature in age and wisdom, and who would have the attributes needed to cope with the challenges of parenting the Son of God.
Joseph was head of a household that sheltered the most extraordinary persons. His overarching intention was to care for Jesus and Mary because in doing so he was serving God. Every service for them was an expression of love and thanksgiving. God entrusted Joseph with the greatest and most unimaginable gift. And Joseph, through his dedicated care, returned the gift perfectly. He was the man closest to Christ.
For us to observe Joseph as he raised Jesus is a lesson about the basic elements of our Catholic faith and presents a model of Christ-like living. This is Joseph in proper perspective.
The Church honors Saint Joseph twice in its liturgical calendar: the Solemnity of Saint Joseph on March 19, and the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker on May 1.
Marian Events
Event: Parish Mission
Theme: The Triumph
Location: Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 4423 Pearl Road, Cleveland, OH 44109
Date: March 18-21, 2018
More than ever in the history of the world, we are in need of our Heavenly Mother. Many popes have consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and now is the time for us to consecrate ourselves to her Immaculate Heart. Come hear Father David Gunter, MIC, give the testimony of his experiencing the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Learn why the Church venerates her, and understand the "Triumph" of the Immaculate Heart.
Mary in the Catholic Press
Mary, Mother of the Church, Gets a Date on the Roman Calendar (Zenit website) March 3, 2018
Pope Francis has added the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church, to the Roman Calendar on the Monday following Pentecost Sunday.
The announcement came in a decree issued March 3, 2018, by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. It was signed by Cardinal Robert Sarah, its Prefect,
"The joyous veneration given to the Mother of God by the contemporary Church, in light of reflection on the mystery of Christ and on His nature, cannot ignore the figure of a woman (cf. Gal 4:4), the Virgin Mary, who is both the Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church.," according to the decree. "This celebration will help us to remember that growth in the Christian life must be anchored to the Mystery of the Cross, to the oblation of Christ in the Eucharistic Banquet and to the Mother of the Redeemer and Mother of the Redeemed, the Virgin who makes her offering to God...."
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.
Rosary for Life and Faith (Press Release) March 8, 2018
The Supreme Court's decision that the unborn baby is not a child in constitutional law and that the only right he or she has in Ireland is the right to life in the 8th Amendment is incorrect at every level. It is an urgent call for heroic sacrifice and prayer both private and public.
See the Prayer Sheet for the Rosary at the Mass Rocks for Life and Faith
The following is a note about the importance of coming together at the places where our ancestors ... saints and holy souls prayed and sacrificed to pass on the faith to future generations.
In Ireland, North and South we are in a life and death struggle to protect life and preserve faith. Although this struggle has obvious political, social, and, especially, philosophical dimensions, it is first and foremost a spiritual battle. "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places." (Ephesians 6:12)
Bearing this in mind, a lot of preparation has gone into the prayer sheet for the day. We invoke the assistance of St. Patrick and all the Irish saints and Holy Souls. In Sacred Scripture we see the importance of placing our holy ancestors in faith before God, when asking for a great and undeserved Grace from Him.
Exodus 32:1-20 While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the 10 Commandments, the Israelites turned to idolatry. "Then the Lord spoke to Moses, ‘Go down now, because your people whom you brought out of Egypt have apostatized. They have been quick to leave the way I marked out for them; they have made themselves a calf of molten metal and have worshipped it and offered it sacrifice. "Here is your God, Israel," they have cried "who brought you up from the land of Egypt!'" the Lord said to Moses, 'I can see how headstrong these people are! Leave me, now, my wrath shall blaze out against them and devour them; of you, however, I will make a great nation.'
But Moses pleaded with the Lord his God. 'Lord,' he said 'why should your wrath blaze out against this people of yours whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with arm outstretched and mighty hand? Why let the Egyptians say, "Ah, it was in treachery that he brought them out, to do them to death in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth”? Leave your burning wrath; relent and do not bring this disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, your servants to whom by your own self you swore and made this promise: I will make your offspring as many as the stars of heaven, and all this land which I promised I will give to your descendants, and it shall be their heritage for ever.' So the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened." Another example is Daniel 3:25, 34-43.
Another aspect of the prayer program is the renewal of Ireland's consecration to the Sacred Heart. March 18, Passion Sunday is the 145th anniversary of Ireland's solemn consecration.
The program includes an acceptance of Jesus as King of Ireland. For this, we use the formula given to Rozalia Celak in an apparition approved by the Polish bishops. Rozalia will be beatified this year. Our Lord promised to spare Poland from the devastation of WWII if the consecration was made. It was not. However on the Feast of Christ the King in 2016 the bishops of Poland with the country's president made the solemn consecration declaring "Jesus King of Poland."
Please come to one of the many prayer locations and pray with us at 2:30 pm, on Sunday March 18. If you cannot get to a location, please join us wherever you are.
In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity, through the intercession of Ireland's saints, holy souls, the angels, Our Lady, and St. Joseph, Jesus King of Ireland will grant the great miracle of Life and Faith.
See more information.