News in Mary

Catholics celebrate Mary with new feast day

Catholics celebrate Mary with new feast day

by: Carol Zimmermann, CNS - The Tablet in Mary,

The Catholic Church doesn't often add new celebrations to its pretty full liturgical calendar, but this year's new feast day, Mary, Mother of the Church on May 21, has Catholics gearing up to mark the day or at least think a little more about Mary.The new feast day, which will be celebrated annually the day after Pentecost. The decree said the Pope approved the celebration because he thought it might "encourage the growth of the maternal sense of the church in the pastors, religious and faithful, as well as a growth of genuine Marian piety".

Marian shrine serves as faith beacon for Muslims, Catholics

Marian shrine serves as faith beacon for Muslims, Catholics

by: Katharina R. Lestari,UcaNews in Mary,

 Interreligious peace and harmony reigns in Indonesian village. A Marian shrine in Central Java, Indonesia, has become a beacon of interreligious peace and understanding for visiting groups of Muslims and Catholics. Dozens of non-Catholics have been coming to the shrine in Kerep village every day for their own version of contemplative prayer. 

The Marian Church of Pope Francis

The Marian Church of Pope Francis

by: John Honner in Mary,

The Church lives on this authentic ‘Marian profile’, the ‘Marian dimension’…. The Marian dimension of the Church is antecedent to that of the Petrine…. Mary … precedes all others, including obviously Peter himself and the Apostles….

A Timeless Magnificat

A Timeless Magnificat

by: Fr. James Hanvey SJ in Mary,

The month of the Church’s traditional Marian devotions has to come to an end, but James Hanvey SJ suggests that our particular contemplation of the Mother of God should not be limited just to May. Through Mary we receive and understand the grace of God in a special way - ‘we see the truth of God’s promises fulfilled’.

The Assumption of Mary: An Icon of Faith

The Assumption of Mary: An Icon of Faith

by: Shared by Angela McGhin in Mary,

Mary does not ascend. She is assumed. She does not will or effect her ascension. She is the object of God`s grace and will. It is only through God`s grace that she was given the privilege. She "rises" because it is God`s will and pleasure.

Fatima, May 13th - all Catholic life is here!

Fatima, May 13th - all Catholic life is here!

by: Richard Collins in Mary,

 I do not know how many thousand or hundreds of thousands filled The Sanctuary at the site where the original holm oak grew that formed the platform for Our Lady to alight upon, but it was many. The came by road, sea and air and many walked from their villages in the North of Portugal.

Feast of the Annunciation - Mary across the ages

Feast of the Annunciation - Mary across the ages

by: Simon Scott Plummer - The Tablet in Mary,

Celebrations begin to mark the 950th anniversary of the founding of one of England’s greatest shrines devoted to the Blessed Virgin, which despite destruction during the Reformation has today re-emerged as one of the nation’s primary sites of pilgrimage.

Virgin Birth

Virgin Birth

by: Ron Rolheiser, OMI in Mary,

Christian tradition has always emphasized that Jesus was born of a virgin. The Messiah could only come forth from a virgin's womb. The main reason for this emphasis of course is to highlight that Jesus did not have a human father and that his conception was from the Holy Spirit