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Mary in the News: Aug. 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
  • Marian Library Anniversary Exhibits
  • #MarianLibrary75, the Marian Library's anniversary exhibit, opens August 13, 2018 and will feature displays of the history of the Marian Library and highlights of Marian Library collections.  Visitors will see how the Library was founded and evolved over 75 years and view highlights from many Marian Library collections including art, rare books, travel and tourism ephemera, statues and more.
  • August 13 - October 5, 2018
  • History of the Marian Library--First-floor gallery
  • Highlights of Marian Library Collections--Marian Library Gallery
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Mary in Media: Books, Films, Music, etc.

Rosary Video now available on DVD and Blu-ray

  • With the completion of the initial premiere season, Power In My Hands is now available for individual purchase!
  • Buy a copy for yourself or a family member or friend and witness the impact of this transformational film.
    Thousands of people have been inspired by this timeless message of the beauty and power of the holy rosary.  Find out why Power In My Hands has been making such an impact on communities around the world when you order your DVD or Blu-ray today!
  • Order Copies
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From the Marian Treasure Chest

Brother John Samaha, S.M., sent us the text below.

The Assumption of Mary by Brother John Samaha, S.M.

The Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary is a feast that traces its origin to the earliest ages of the Church.  Tied to this feast are themes of Mary as Mother of the Church and model for the Church.  In her, the Church witnesses the fullness of the effects of the saving death and resurrection of Christ for humanity.  The Preface for the feast's Eucharistic Liturgy attests to this: Today the Virgin Mother of God was taken up into heaven to be the beginning and the pattern of the Church in its perfection, and a sign of hope and comfort for your people on their pilgrim way.

The themes of the Mass prayers and readings, and those of the Liturgy of the Hours, reflect the basis of the Church's teaching about Mary and the many titles accorded her in popular Christian devotion.

The feast of Mary's Assumption honors her Dormition, as the feast is called in the East, her falling asleep in the Lord and being taken body and soul to heaven when her earthly life was completed.  Mary's Assumption is analogous to Jesus' Ascension.

The similarity between the privileges of Christ and those of His Mother is in no way identity.  Christ has His prerogatives by His very nature as God Incarnate.  Mary receives hers by a free gift from God.  "He who is mighty has done great things for me."

We understand that Mary is a creature only, dependent on Christ for everything.  She is a woman and a mother, and her grace is adapted to her own nature and to her own special function.  Christ exists for God.  Mary exists for Christ.  God made Christ our unique Redeemer.  Mary exercises her role as Co-redemptrix only through union with Christ, and she herself had to be redeemed by Him.  Christ is our necessary advocate with the Father.

Mary is our advocate with Christ and through Christ.  So it is with all the privileges of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This analogy is the work of the filial piety of the Son of God for His Mother.  This was understood by the faithful from earliest times, even though it was not formulated until later.  In the eighth century, St. John of Damascus explained in regard to the Assumption: "It was necessary that the Mother should have entered into the possession of all the goods of her Son, and that she should have been venerated by all creation as the Mother and Handmaid of God.  It is a customary practice that the wealth of the parents pass to their children.  But here … the springs of the sacred waters flow toward the height.  The Son has submitted the entire creation to the dominion of His mother."

Centuries later, St. Louis de Montfort wrote: "All that is proper to God Incarnate by nature is proper to Mary by grace."

Around 1930, the renowned Marianist Mariologist and author, Father Emile Neubert, S.M., expressed this principle of analogy with theological exactness: "To the various privileges of the humanity of Jesus there correspond analogous privileges in Mary, in the manner and in the degree required by the difference between her condition and that of her Son."

Finally, Pope Pius XII solemnly defined Mary's Assumption as a dogma and an article of faith in Munificentissimus Deus more than six decades ago on November 1, 1950.

In many countries, this feast is a holyday of obligation.  In Lebanon, August 15 is also a national holiday observed by peoples of all faiths.

What meaning and message does Mary's Assumption have for us today?  This doctrine and feast remind us of our eternal destiny, that we are made for everlasting life with God.  This feast honoring Mary points us to our future and reminds us to live accordingly so as to achieve our goal.  The Assumption of Mary also teaches us respect for life and for the sacredness of the human body.

Queen assumed into heaven, pray for us!

Marian Events

Event: Day of Recollection

Theme: Mary, Unique and Like Us

Location: Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Retreat Center, 5440 Moeller Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio

Date: Saturday, August 25, 2018

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

  • You are invited to join us for talks to be given by Father Jim, Costigan, C.P.M., at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Mass, Rosary, Morning Prayer, and opportunity for Confession.  A simple lunch for those registered by 8/20/2018.  The event is free; but free will offerings would be accepted.
  • More Information

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Mary in the Catholic Press

Angelus: On the Feast of the Assumption (Zenit) August 15, 2018

Below is a translation of Pope Francis' address before and after the recitation of the Angelus prayer today at noon to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Feast of the of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

* * *

Before the Angelus:

Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning!

In today's Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the holy faithful people of God express with joy their veneration of the Virgin Mother.  They do so in the common liturgy and also in a thousand different ways of piety; and thus, the prophecy of Mary herself comes true: "All generations will call me blessed." (Luke 1:48), because the Lord has regarded His humble handmaid.

The Assumption into Heaven, in soul and body, is a divine privilege accorded to the Holy Mother of God because of her particular union with Jesus.  It's a corporal and spiritual union, which began with the Annunciation and matured throughout Mary's life, through her singular participation in her Son's mystery.  Mary always went with her Son: she went behind Jesus, and so we say she was His first disciple....

Complete article

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.

A Virgin Mary statue has been 'weeping' olive oil. Church leaders can't explain it. (Washington Post) July 18, 2018

Inside a Catholic church in New Mexico, a seven-foot-tall bronze statue of the Virgin Mary appears to be "weeping," according to church leaders.

The sculpture, known locally as Our Lady of Guadalupe, is not crying human tears; an investigator with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces said her "tears" have the same chemical makeup as olive oil treated with perfume--a substance that, when blessed, would be chrism, a sacred oil used in the Catholic Church to anoint parishioners.  But, church leaders say, the rare occurrence has prompted people from all over to come for conversions, confessions, and to watch the statue of the mother of God cry.

The question, one expert says, is not merely how it's happening (or whether it's happening naturally) but how people are responding to the phenomenon and why they may want to believe in it....

Complete Article

Previous Post

Weekly Marian Features: Aug. 13, 2018

The features this week highlight Assumption resources that can be found All About Mary.
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Next Post

The Marian Library’s 75th Anniversary Celebration Continues

The Marian Library opened its 75th anniversary exhibit, #MarianLibrary75.
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