Blogs
In the News: Posted June 15, 2015
By Michael Duricy
Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute Features
Updates
Mary in Books, Films, and Music
For the past several decades, there has been a notable rise in claims of apparitions, visions and messages from heaven. This growth has often led to confusion and sensationalism among the Catholic faithful. Refractions of Light: 201 Answers on Apparitions, Visions and the Catholic Church seeks to address this situation using an easy-to-read Q&A format designed for a broad audience. It does not shy away from controversial topics, reaching into the relevant Church documents, which it includes in its appendices, to address them. Kevin Symonds' book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand how we come to know when heaven is reaching out to us.
The book is now available from Barnes and Noble. Click here to purchase copies.
From the Marian Treasure Chest
Brother Samaha sent us the article excerpted below, and informed us that is had been web-published by the Diocese of Honolulu Spiritual Moms Apostolate with the following comment: "Although this blog was created as a way of supporting our priests, we wanted to share the following article on what it means to be a religious brother."
The Vocation of a Brother by Brother John M. Samaha, S.M.
Marian Events
During a recent trip to France I was able to visit the Louvre in Paris. At the time, there were two exhibits of religious art, including many Marian works. Both exhibits will remain on display until June 29, 2015. Click here for information [in French] about Poussin et Dieu, and here for information [in French] about La Fabrique des Sainte Images. Since my visit, the Louvre has started another exhibition of religious art in collaboration with the Lens Museum. This exhibit also includes Marian works and will run through September 28, 2015. Click here for information [in French] about D'or et D'ivoire. The Musee de Cluny is also displaying an exhibit of religious sculptures from Souabia through July 27, 2015. Click here for in formation [in French] about Sculptures Souabes de la Fin du Moyen Age.Mary in the Catholic Press
Archbishop Martin in Lourdes: In Defending Marriage, We Are Not Trying to Hurt or Offend from Zenit (Lourdes, France) May 13, 2015
... My dear brothers and sisters, here we are, many miles from home, gathered in the foothills of the Pyrenees at the beautiful grotto in Lourdes. There is something very special about this place. No wonder millions of people have come here in procession, and hundreds of thousands have returned again and again. And yet, if it were not for Mary's appearances here 157 years ago, most of us wouldn't even have heard of Lourdes, never mind traveled here. And it is the same with the other places our Blessed Mother chose to visit--they were not the grand squares of the world's great cities, the splendor of royal palaces or the bustling centers of learning or civilization; they were often the remote and isolated places, like lonely Lourdes, forgotten Fatima or the windswept Irish hillside hamlet of Knock.
Neither did Mary choose to appear to great thinkers or theologians, powerful politicians or rich and influential business people. Her chosen ones were the little people of the world who knew the struggles of living with nothing except their trust in God and his providence--people like young and innocent Bernadette who couldn't read or write, or the down-to-earth parishioners at Knock, or the little shepherd children of Fatima: Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta. Today, on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima we are linked through prayer with the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who are gathering at Fatima to celebrate the feast.
Down the centuries Mary's chosen hosts must have wondered, like Elizabeth: How is it that we should have been honored by a visit from the mother of our Lord? But I like to think that, in appearing, Mary was fulfilling the dying wishes of Jesus, when he entrusted her to be the mother of all the living: "Woman, behold your Son." And at the same time, Mary's apparitions encourage us to remember that Jesus also said from the cross: "Son, behold your mother," and that our heavenly mother is there for us when we need her help....
Click here to see the complete article from Zenit.
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.
Minneapolis Institute of Arts' surprise 'Madonna' is an art-world rock star (Star Tribune) May 15, 2015
The identity of Minneapolis Institute of Arts' new mystery picture was such a closely guarded secret that even the director's husband was in the dark until Friday.
Raphael's Madonna of the Pinks, a $50 million painting on loan from the National Gallery in London, drew applause and gasps of appreciation from museum staff and board members when it was unveiled.
"It's small but mighty," said director Kaywin Feldman as the crowd surged in to see the 500-year-old painting--a mere 8 inches wide and 11 inches tall.
Installed in a special gallery near the museum's entrance at 2400 3rd Ave. S., the picture will be on display until Aug. 9. Admission to see it is free....
Click here to read the entire article.