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Mary in the News: March 16, 2018

By Michael Duricy

Read recent items about Mary in both Catholic and secular news. Also, see International Marian Research Institute news and updates.

ML/IMRI Features

Marian Events

Mary in the Catholic Press

Mary in the Secular Press

Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute Features

Updates
  • Please join me in congratulating Brother Andrew Kosmowski, S.M., Librarian at The Marian Library. He is a recipient of the 2018 Continuing Education Grant from the Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO) and will be presenting a poster and on a panel at the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) Conference in Indianapolis in June.
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Mary in Media: Books, Films, Music, etc.

Marian Video from Ascension Press

  • Mary: A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother is a Catholic Bible study with Dr. Edward Sri that will bring you on an extraordinary pilgrimage, revealing Mary's unique role in God's Kingdom and in our lives.
  • More information.
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, Our Constant Companion by Brother John Samaha, S.M.

"... with blessed Joseph, her spouse...." Since Pope Francis added these words to all Eucharistic Prayers we now honor St. Joseph at each Mass and more frequently invoke the intercession of the Spouse of Mary and Guardian of the Redeemer. In this God-given role, the Head of the Holy Family is also Protector of the Universal Church and the constant companion of each of us, even though he is often overlooked. 

Like Joseph the patriarch in the Book of Genesis, St. Joseph--silent, wise, discerning--interpreted dreams and responded to God's revelation to execute an important role in our salvation history. When the hungry Egyptians begged Pharaoh for food in a time of famine, Pharaoh directed them to "go to Joseph; do what he tells you." (Genesis 41:55) That same admonition reminds us that in the same way we can turn to St. Joseph for the help we need.

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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.

See Event Details.

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Mary in the Catholic Press

The Betrothal of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Joseph is Tied to Protection of Unborn Children, Marriage and Family  (Zenit website) March 12, 2018

January 22 is the day the Catholic Church in America sets aside all else and joins in prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. Traditionally, in the pre-1955 Church calendar, this day was set aside to honor the Betrothal of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Joseph. Today, the Mass for this feast is still celebrated by some religious orders using the Latin rite.

This is such a beautiful thing for the Church to do. By simultaneously joining together the Day of Prayer for the Unborn with Roe v. Wade and the Betrothal of Our Lady, it heralds the beauty of motherhood, and it trumpets the profound, spiritual importance of marriage and family.

"When Mary was engaged to Joseph, before their marriage, she was discovered to be pregnant--by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly." (Matthew 1:18)

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel." (Matthew 1:23) ...

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.

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IMRI Weekly Features: March 12, 2018

This week's features include the fourth week of Lenten meditations, music for Lent, Mary and Catholic social teaching and more.
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Remembering Sally Cunneen

Cunneen contributed articles to Catholic and non-Catholic journals and magazines, and gave talks at many conferences and events, including several Women’s History Month events. Her collection of papers are housed in the Marian Library archives.
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