Blogs
In the News: Posted March 19, 2015
By Michael Duricy
Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute Features
Reader Comments
We have received a number of emails from readers commending our institute and its website, The Mary Page. Thank you all for your encouragement and support. The following is a typical example.
Thank you for all the work you’ve done on these really wonderful Marian resources. My primary research interest is the art and material culture of pilgrimage, and I’ve found some of the articles most helpful. Kind regards,Kate
Updates
Mary in Books, Films, and Music
Progress report from the coordinator of the oratorio, Rosary for World Peace
We are working steadily on the Rosary for World Peace: An Oratorio in Four Acts. The current development goal is to premiere an Abbreviated-Version of the Rosary for Word Peace: Act I, The Joyful Mysteries, in New York City, in September, during the time of Pope Francis's visit, ideally at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Original sacred music works will include:
A professional narrator will speak the New Testament Scripture verses for each of the five decades/movements. Five representative world languages will be integrated in the Ave Maria prayers, throughout the work. Ideally, an interfaith delegation will attend.
To keep to the development schedule for the first phase of an original composition, orchestration, and associated contractual legal expenses for the seven, new sacred music works, we are in immediate need of about $75,000. Budgets are being prepared for the performance.
Ideally, a couple of strategic partners will work with us long-term to bring the entire work to fruition, both in live and recorded versions. Our next goal is to perform the full version of The Joyful Mysteries in Rome for the 100th Anniversary of Fatima, May 2017. The New York Foundation for the Arts will accept tax-deductible donations, through its Artspire program. Visit: www.therosaryforworldpeace.com
The website is continuing to attract a following worldwide, attracting over 150,000 visitors from over 120 countries. For example, last fall, we were contacted by Father Illyas, an Anglican-Catholic priest, from Pakistan who takes care of orphans and ministers to the Christians in the area. We sent about 600 rosaries and a beautiful statue of the Blessed Mother, all donated by prayer groups and individuals. Father Ilyas has now established a new rosary center and has requested more rosaries and a second-hand Mass kit for his ministry. We believe, eventually, we will be able to reach millions of people worldwide through this evangelical work.
From the Marian Treasure Chest
Are we overlooking St. Joseph? Is he being ignored? Neglected? So often he is relegated to the background – in Holy Scripture, in public and personal prayer, in preaching and teaching, in memory.
The reserved, quiet, removed husband of Mary and guardian of Jesus remained in the background as he faithfully and silently supported God’s plan for the Incarnation and Redemption. We have no paintings of Joseph’s annunciation or other prominent roles in Jesus’ growing years and upbringing.
Joseph is the forgotten player in the infancy narratives and early years. This neglect is somewhat understandable because the evangelists and other writers of the New Testament ignore him. Only Matthew takes notice of him. Luke mentions him in passing, and Mark not at all. John says, “Jesus of Nazareth, Son of Joseph” and that’s all. Joseph is given short shrift. He is virtually ignored. Is this the treatment we are giving to the person who played such a momentous role in salvation history? We’re dealing with the man who saved Jesus from Herod’s ghastly plot, who taught Jesus a trade, who formed Jesus in his Judaic heritage.
Meet St. Joseph the ignored. By and large history has ignored him. We’ve overlooked quite a person. But the guardian of Jesus and the devoted partner of Mary takes it all in stride relying on God’s grace to enact his role faithfully. Strong, silent, determined, dedicated, responsible. Puzzled and finding himself between a rock and hard place, in a situation he could not fathom, between dream and reality, between grace and law, between a promise made and the voice of God, between reputation and shame, Joseph stands firm. Enter the world of Joseph the fearful, Joseph the troubled, Joseph the puzzled. Appreciate Joseph the ignored.
Like St. John the Baptizer, cousin of his foster Son, the little we know about St. Joseph speaks volumes of gospel truth without uttering a word. At Gabriel’s invitation from God, Mary responded “Let it be done to me according to your word.” Joseph simply and unhesitatingly acts on the revelation he receives in a dream and does what God requests. Joseph takes Mary and the Child growing in her as God gives her to him. In doing so St. Joseph models for us how to listen for God in the ambiguities and struggles of life. Joseph’s overlooked faith hangs-in and hangs-on to the dream and to God’s promise instead of trying like a handyman to fix matters by himself. It was his choice to step up and stand by Mary and Jesus.
The gospel prayer and hymn, Ave Maria, is one of Christianity’s most popular tributes. “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.” We should also honor Joseph in a similar way with an Ave Joseph. Hail Joseph, full of faith. The Lord is with you too. You lovingly fulfilled God’s will for Mary and Jesus and for our redemption. Amen.
St. Joseph deserves better press. After all, he is the man closest to Christ.
Marian Events
Picturing Mary: Woman, Mother, Idea Graduate Conference, co-hosted by the Catholic University of America (CUA) and the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA). The conference is March 20-21, and features a keynote address by Dr. Miri Rubin (Queen Mary University of London), “The Virgin Mary: Emotion and legacy in medieval Europe and Beyond.” The conference begins Friday March 20, 2015 at 3 PM at the NMWA, with Dr. Rubin’s lecture commencing at 5 PM. The conference will move to CUA for the second day on Saturday March 21 in the Pryzbyla Center. Receptions will follow on both days. Click here for more information or here to register.
Mary in the Catholic Press
St. Joseph, Model of a Man of Faith from Zenit (Rome) March 19, 2015
The present challenges to fatherhood and masculinity cannot be understood in isolation from the culture in which we live. A recent study has found that over four in ten babies are born to unwed mothers--a sad new record for our day. How many of these children will grow up without a loving father in their life? If there was ever a time when we needed a strong, saintly, fatherly role model, it is now.
St. Joseph is not the biological father of Jesus, whose Father is God alone, and yet he lives his fatherhood fully and completely. He is often overshadowed by the glory of Christ and the purity of Mary. But he, too, waited for God to speak to him and then responded with obedience. Luke and Matthew both mark Joseph’s descent from David, the greatest king of Israel. Scripture has left us with the most important knowledge about him: he was “a righteous man” a “just man” (Matthew 1:18).
Joseph was a compassionate, caring man. Learning that Mary, to whom he was betrothed, was pregnant, and knowing that the child was not his, he planned to divorce her according to the law. As yet he was unaware that she was carrying the Son of God. Joseph, a man of deep kindness, and concerned for her suffering and safety, wanted to keep the divorce as quiet as possible.
Joseph was also a man of faith, obedient to whatever God asked of him regardless of the outcome. When the angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him the truth about the Child that Mary was carrying, Joseph instantly and without question--and without concern for gossip--took her as his wife. Later, when the angel came again to tell him that his family was in danger, he immediately left everything--family, friends, possessions--and fled to a strange country with his wife and the Child. He waited in Egypt until the angel told him it was safe to go back....
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Mary in the Secular Press
The director and editors of The Mary Page 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.
UD’s expansive Catholic library displayed in exhibit Flyer News (University of Dayton) March 17, 2015
“Charism, Character and Calling” is a religious exhibit on display through March 31 in the Roesch Library. It includes three library collections dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus; the University of Dayton’s Marianist background and extensively detail the history of the Catholic Church.
Nichole Rustad, digital projects and graphic design manager for University Libraries, played a crucial role in the development process. In regards to the reason why this exhibit was chosen,
“Pope Francis decreed 2015 the year of consecrated life, which is a celebration of vowed religious men and women.” Colleen Hoelscher, librarian and archivist, and I decided to create an exhibit from University Libraries’ three special collections,” Rustad said.
The collections are named U.S. Catholic Special Collection, the Marian Library and University Archives and Special Collections.
The Marian Library and International Marian Research is globally recognized for the Virgin Mary. It holds the largest collection of printed materials and artifacts on her and includes more than 10,000 books and pamphlets....
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