Blogs
Mary in the News: Jan. 4, 2019
By Michael Duricy
Read recent items about Mary in both Catholic and secular news. Also, see International Marian Research Institute news and updates.
Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute Features
Updates
This year's exhibit of Nativity Scenes from the Marian Library collection will conclude on January 18, 2019. You are encouraged to visit the Marian Library and Fitz Hall before it closes.
Mary in Media: Books, Films, Music, etc.
Mary in the Biblical Archaeology Review
The Biblical Archaeology Society published two articles on the Virgin Mary in their magazine, Biblical Archaeology Review: "Earliest Depictions of the Virgin Mary" by Mary Joan Winn Leith in the March/April 2017 issue [volume 43, issue 2]; and "Can Scholars take the Virgin Birth Seriously?" by J. Edward Barrett in the October 1988 issue [volume 4, issue 5].
Those with a subscription to the magazine may access these articles online at the hyperlinks above.
From the Marian Treasure Chest
Brother John Samaha, S.M., sent us the text below with the following comment: "Celebrate Chaminade Day!"
Let's Hear it for Our Founder by Brother John Samaha, S.M.
From time to time we Marianists need a reminder and additional encouragement to extend interest in our Founder.
How much do we personally know about Blessed William Joseph Chaminade? How familiar are we individually with his history and legacy? Are we continuing to learn about him and his spirit? Do we welcome opportunities to talk about him and to explain him to others?
Generally, most people know quite a bit about the members of their natural, biological families, and are proud of their forebears. Many are well-informed about sports figures and political figures, and know quite a bit about them and their achievements. Do we feel this way about our Founder and about our Marianist 'saints'? How do we appreciate them?
People tend to talk about subjects they like. Do we feel this way about Father Chaminade, the heritage he left us, and his cause for canonization? Can we explain the status and progress of his cause? What is the level of our Marianist family pride? What are we doing about it? What can we do better?
In life, we generally get what we deserve. Progress simply doesn’t happen without effort. If Chaminade and his cause are not well-known, we are responsible. We need to work with Jesus and Mary and with each other to produce results.
What are our family responsibilities? What can we do? We are challenged to cultivate interest in our Founder and his cause by explaining him and his charism to others; by welcoming opportunities to respond to questions about him. We are asked to be creative in arranging such opportunities.
Seldom have I encountered a Salesian who did not find a way to bring up St. John Bosco in the course of a conversation or meeting. The same is true of my experience with Franciscans, Dominicans, Jesuits, Montfortians, and other religious.
Now is the time for us to rise to the occasion to promote knowledge of, and interest in, Blessed William Joseph Chaminade. Let us learn more about him and appreciate him more deeply so that we may share our Marianist enthusiasm with others.
Climb on to the bandwagon to beat the drum for our Founder. We are called to be cheerleaders and billboards for Chaminade. Chaminade is our patriarch, our exemplary model. We are his lengthened shadow.
Celebrate January 22 in a big way.
Marian Events
2019 Annual Conference of the ESBVM-USA: Call for Papers (Press Release) September 9, 2018
The Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary, USA (ESBVM-USA) was formed by Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Orthodox, and Presbyterian Scholars and is open to all Christians. The Society exists to advance the study of Mary, the Mother of Christ. Our immediate goal is inter-ecclesial scholarship that focuses on Mary in light of Christian theological, biblical, and spiritual principles. Furthermore, by means of shared study and prayer, we provide an opportunity for Christians of various denominational backgrounds to explore how Marian studies might contribute to the search for unity.
PROPOSAL DUE DATE: January 15, 2019
Conference Theme: Mary, Disciple of the Lord--Motherhood
Conference Dates: July 25-27, 2019
Conference Location: Misericordia University in Dallas, PA (just outside Wilkes-Barre)
Submission Guidelines and Requirements: The paper proposal should be in DOC or DOCX and must include:
Presentation title; your name, professional affiliation (e.g., university or church name), and status (undergrad, grad. student, Ph.D. candidate, faculty, pastor, etc.); contact information (e-mail address and daytime telephone); abstract (350-500 words); and equipment needs.
The general theme for the 2019 ESBVM-USA Conference is: Mary, Disciple of the Lord: Motherhood. This theme may be pondered using a variety of methods appropriate to your field of study, personal interests, and particular Christian tradition. The following are some suggested topics to use for inspiration:
* Explorations of Mary’s motherhood as gleaned from particular Scripture passages (Old Testament typologies and prophecies as well as New Testament texts);
* A study of Mary’s motherhood as explored in the work of particular theologians and churchmen including the Early Church Fathers, Medieval Scholars, Protestant Reformers, and contemporary theologians;
* Mary’s motherhood as it relates to and illuminates cultural and social justice issues; anthropological issues; sacramental theology; Christian anthropology; and/or soteriology;
* Conclusions drawn from or about ecumenical dialogues on the subject of Mary’s motherhood;
* Historical, systematic, scriptural, or ecumenical explorations of Mary’s motherhood as revealed by Marian titles such as Theotókos, Maria Lactans, or Mother of the Church and/or aspects of Mary’s motherhood enshrined in Marian dogmas;
* Eastern and/or Western artistic depictions of Mary as mother of Christ, Christians, or the Church in the visual, literary and performing arts;
* Liturgical texts, prayers and feast days in honor of Mary’s motherhood;
* The role that Mary’s motherhood has played in Marian apparitions;
Please address your proposal for committee review to: Christopher M. Carr, Ph.D., ESBVM-USA, President at: ccarr@misericordia.edu.
Mary in the Catholic Press
‘Epiphany: A Child Entrusted to Our Love by His Mother,’ by Archbishop Follo (Zenit) December 30, 2018
With Christmas, Advent became an adventure. Through His incarnation, the Word of God has dwelled among us and we, like Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the Magi, have started the Christian adventure that is the mission to announce what has happened and what we have encountered: the Word of life, of peace, and of joy.
To communicate what has happened is to make communion our presence and the presences we encounter, to renew the miracle of His Presence, to renew His coming, and to renew with others the event He has realized with us, with others, with things, and with all: peace. God is peace and He is the one who brings peace....
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.
Mary of the Americas (udayton.edu website) December 10, 2018
In October, the Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera, published an article about the new smartphone app "Follow JC Go," a clever play on the "Pokemon Go" app, that encourages users to learn about Catholic saints instead of colorful monsters. However, the University of Dayton was ahead of the curve on this trend! U.D. undergraduates developed the "Mary of the Americas" app in spring 2018, making use of content and images from the Marian Library collections to teach the community about different devotions to Our Lady. The project showcases much of what is great about U.D.: creative students from across the disciplines (religious studies and engineering, in this case); innovative teaching faculty willing to take a risk on something new; distinctive collections on the history of Marian devotion; and librarians who are passionate about connecting researchers with resources....
Complete Article [see page 3]