Blogs
Mary in the News: June 4, 2021
By Michael Duricy
Marian Library and International Marian Research Institute Features
Updates
A New Home for the Centre for Marian Studies in England
The Centre for Marian Studies (the CMS), a registered charity whose object is the advancement of the education of the public in all matters relating to the Virgin Mary, is delighted to have found a new (appropriately named) home at St Mary's University in Twickenham.
Since its foundation by Dr Sarah Jane Boss and others in 1995, the CMS has been building up a library, running educational courses, supporting research, providing lecturers for outside organisations, helping to supervise students, and giving information on Marian issues to the mass media and general public. Its book collection--which has been lovingly curated over the past twenty-six years--will now enhance the library at St Mary's and be of particular interest to students taking the university's postgraduate module in Mariology.
The CMS has no religious affiliation and is open to members of any religious tradition or none. Consequently, it is fitting that the first international event to be organized by the CMS and the Institute of Theology at St Mary's University should be entitled Bridges and Boundaries: the role of the Virgin Mary in faith and culture. This online conference, running from July 8-10, 2021, will focus on Mary's roles in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and a range of literary and artistic representations.
It was originally intended for the delegates to meet at St Mary's beautiful, leafy campus, with its eighteenth-century Marian "Chapel in the Wood" built for Horace Walpole, and the university chapel with its stained-glass windows, inspired by the mysteries of the Rosary, by Gabriel Loire. However, amidst the Covid-19 uncertainty (and given that many of the speakers are based overseas in the USA, Mexico, Ireland, Germany, and Taiwan) it is hoped that more people will join via Zoom than would have been able to attend in person.
For more information on the CMS or to register for free for the conference, please send an email to: info@marianstudies.ac.uk.
Mary in Media: Books, Films, Music, etc.
New Book on Mary: The Handmaid of the Lord: Mariology from its doctrinal and African perspectives
The author, Vincent Mrio, while delving into Mary in the Mystery of the Church, probes in a very comprehensive manner the four dogmas related to Mariology, namely: Mary as Mother of God, her Perpetual Virginity (before, during, and after the birth of Jesus), her Immaculate Conception, and her Assumption into heaven. This book is an excellent reference text for undergraduate students in seminaries and colleges.
Marian Events
Title: Annual Global Rosary Rally
Theme: Sanctification of Priests
Date: June 11, 2021
Location: Online
The Annual Global Rosary Relay for the Sanctification of Priests will take place on June 11, 2021, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This will be its twelfth year, involving more prayer locations than ever, having grown from 24 single prayer locations in June 2003 its first year to 2,600 in 2020.
Each of the participating prayer location countries prays a particular mystery of the Rosary at a specific allocated time on the day in thanksgiving to God for our priests and to implore the protection and loving care of Our Lady, Mother of all priests, for all her priestly sons. With the coming of midnight on June 11, 2021, the entire world will by then have been encircled yet again in prayer on this The Worldpriest Annual Rosary Relay Day.
It was the great Irish priest, Father Patrick Peyton, who never tired of saying that: "The Family that prays together stays together." As part of the family of the Church, you are invited to join your prayers to the prayers of millions throughout the world. It is an opportunity for us to raise our hearts to God for all priests in the exercise of their ministry; that they will be blessed, through our prayers, with God's grace for their priesthood; that in this worldwide community of prayer for them, they may experience our gratitude and support; and finally that they will persevere in unity with Christ and his Church and shepherd the Lord's flock to the safe pastures of his Kingdom.
Mary in the Catholic Press
Logo of World Youth Day Lisbon 2023 Unveiled (Zenit) October 16, 2020
The logo of World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon 2023 was unveiled on Friday, October 16, 2020.
The new WYD (JMJ) logo was inspired by the theme chosen by Pope Francis for the event, which will take place in Lisbon ("Mary arose and went with haste", LC1, 39), and by the Portuguese cultural and religious features. This will be the first WYD in Portugal.
The winning logo was chosen in an international contest that was promoted by the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), with the participation of hundreds of contestants from thirty countries across the five continents....
Mary in the Secular Press
Mary Garden Contest (Museum of Family Prayer) May 24, 2021
Holy Cross Family Ministries is pleased to announce that the second annual Mary Garden Contest from The Museum of Family Prayer is officially open for entries! You have until July 26, 2021 to enter your photo so there's plenty of time to get your garden looking its best. Awards will be announced on August 15, 2021.