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In the News: Posted June 24, 2015

By Michael Duricy


ML/IMRI Features

Marian Events

Mary in the Catholic Press

Mary in the Secular Press

Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute Features

Updates
We regret to inform you that Dr. Ronald William Novotny, IMRI graduate and MSA member, passed away on May 31, 2015. His life work and mission was as Founder and Director of Our Lady of Divine Providence School of Spirituality. His funeral Mass was celebrated at their House of Prayer on June 6, 2015. Please remember Ron and his family in your prayers. Click here to read his obituary.
Mary in Books, Films, and Music

IMRI graduate, Deacon Peter Gittens, recently published Mary More or Less: Anglican and Catholic Mariology of John Henry Newman and donated a copy to The Marian Library. We thank him for this contribution to our holdings.

The book is now available from Scholars' Press. Click here to purchase copies. His text, Magistra Apostolorum: Mary in the Mariology of Rupert of Deutz, is also available from this publisher.

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From the Marian Treasure Chest

Brother John M. Samaha, S.M. sent us the article excerpted below, posted June 19 under A Moment with Mary.

Only Mary Can Unite Us by Mathilde Rambaud


Sheikh Mohamad Nokkari, a Sunni Muslim who is very involved in interreligious dialogue in Lebanon, is also a judge and a law professor in Beirut, Dubai, and Strasbourg.... In 2000 and the following years, he actively participated in the establishment of the Solemnity of the Annunciation as a national Muslim and Christian holiday in Lebanon.

In an interview, Aleteia.org asked him: "In your opinion, is Mary the only one who can unite Christians and Muslims?" His response was: "At a conference in Jamhour (Lebanon), I met a Christian who asked me if we could pray together. I replied, "Yes, only Mary can unite us and enable us to do something together." Thus we created the committee "Together around Mary" with two co-chairs, myself and Nagy Khoury, president of the Federation of Alumni of Catholic Schools in Lebanon."

We must get the people involved, not only the institutions. It's what we do in Lebanon, precisely with the feast of the Annunciation.
Click here to read the complete article in the original French.

Marian Events

The Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary USA (ESBVM-USA) exists to advance the study of Mary, the Mother of Christ, in Christian biblical and spiritual perspectives, and in the light of such study, to promote ecumenical interchange and prayer. Its aim is to show that in Mary, Christians of many traditions may find a focus in their search for unity.

Their 2015 Weekend Conference theme is: The Virgin Mary in Christian Dialogue: Controversy, Convergence, and Vision. The mother of Jesus has stood at the heart of Christianity's most profound truths, passionate devotions, and fiery controversies. For centuries after the Protestant Reformation, the mere mention of Mary's name in certain contexts could ignite hot-tempered disagreements.

By the twentieth century, Christians began trying to repair divisions by coming together in formal dialogues. Marian topics were cautiously included in the later of these dialogues, and joint statements that described new appreciation for each other's Marian traditions--while still noting important areas of disagreement--were signed.

While great progress was made during these dialogues, very few people are aware of them and the way forward is not clear. The purpose of this conference is to continue the important work of Marian dialogues, assessing their relevance to contemporary religious thought and practice within the various Christian traditions and providing some discussion regarding future possibilities.

Join the ESBVM-USA for what promises to be a stimulating and enlightening weekend of conversation about the mother of our Lord!

The annual weekend conference of the ESBVM-USA will be held on the campus of Misericordia University in Dallas, PA, near Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. Click here for Directions to the campus from the university's website: www.misericordia.edu or here for more information about the conference.

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Mary in the Catholic Press

Pope on Papal Flight: We Are Nearing Making Decisions on Medjugorje from Zenit (Vatican City State) June 7, 2015

... Returning from his pastoral visit to Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital, the Holy Father was asked on the current position of the Church regarding the apparitions of Medjugorje.

"We are about to make decisions and then they will be communicated," the Pontiff replied.

In 1981, six children first reported visions of the Virgin Mary in the Bosnian town. Since then, it has been a major pilgrimage site. However, some believe the apparitions are a hoax.

The commission of inquiry on Medjugorje, presided over by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, did a good job, the Pope said. He added that Cardinal Gerard Müller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, held a special meeting on the theme of the Marian apparitions in the Bosnian town....

Click here to see the complete article from Zenit.

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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.

Transcript of Pope's Press Conference on Flight from Sarajevo to Rome (America Magazine) June 7, 2015

Pope Francis gave a seven-minute press conference on the ninety-minute flight back from Sarajevo on June 6, 2015. He was in amazingly good form, totally energized, in spite of a hectic eleven-hour, action-packed visit, and in the short time available he insisted on greeting individually each of the more than sixty reporters that accompanied him.

He then responded to questions:  He first addressed the question of Medjugorje, the shrine connected with alleged apparitions of Our Lady, and revealed that he will make a decision soon. Then he spoke about those who speak of peace but foment war by trafficking in arms. In answer to a third question, he talked about the risk of becoming slaves of the computer, and the need to exercise judgment about which television programs to watch. Pressed at the end by a French reporter, he confirmed he would go to France as he had promised the bishops there, but he did not say when....

Click here to read the entire article.

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Previous Post

Weekly Features: Week of June 22, 2015

This week we honor Mary's Divine Motherhood. Also see two pieces of art that focus on John the Baptist. Commemoration days for the month of June are included.
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Next Post

Weekly Features: Week of June 29, 2015

Are there Marian relics? Learn about Saint Peter and the Vatican. Commemoration days for the months of June and July are included.
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