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Class 38: Mary in Modernity

Explore the history and significance of major Marian apparitions in modern times, including Our Lady of Guadalupe, Lourdes, and Fatima. Learn about the process of local and Vatican recognition, the impact on believers, and the devotion inspired by these extraordinary events.

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Class 38: Mary in Modernity

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  1. Class 38: Mary in Modernity Dr. Ann T. Orlando 26 April 2019

  2. Introduction • Major Marian Apparitions in Modernity • Our Lady of Guadalupe • Doctrine of Immaculate Conception (and Assumption)

  3. Marian Apparitions Before Modern Era • St Gregory of Thaumaturgus (3rd C) • St. John of Damascus (8th C) • St Dominic (12th C)

  4. Local and Vatican Recognition • Marian Apparitions are to poor and uneducated • Often associated with miraculous healings • Often associated with a ‘secret’ or message given to visionary • Official recognition begins with an investigation by local bishop • Guided by Normae Congregationis (1978) for judging private revelations • Almost always skeptical • ‘Devil’s advocate’ • Three possible judgments: • Confirmed to be of supernatural origin • Not confirmed to be of supernatural origin • Confirmed to be on non-supernatural origin • Based upon this, further investigation may be carried out by Vatican • Final ‘approval’ is often stated in negative, as in it does no harm to believe in apparition • But recent papal visits by JPII and Benedict XVI has ‘blessed’ many Marian sites • Example of apparition not approved: Medjugorje (1981) • Although Pope Francis may be more inclined to do so

  5. Some Major Marian Apparitions • Aparecida, Brazil (1717) • Discovery of ‘Black Madonna’ found by fishermen • Associated with Immaculate Conception • More visitors to this Marian shrine than any other • Recognized by Pius X • La Vang, Vietnam (1802) • Apparition to villagers in hiding due to persecution • Mary appears with angels and the Child Jesus, promising support during persecutions • Recognized by John XXIII and John Paul II • Rue du Bac, France (1830) • Catherine Laboure, French peasant • Catherine becomes a sister of St. Vincent de Paul • Mary asks Catherine to strike a medal of the Immaculate Conception • ‘Secret’ asks for prayers for non-believers • Catherine declared a saint by Pius XII

  6. Apparitions (cont.) • La Salette, France (1846) • Two young girls, Melenie and Miximin, completely uneducated in the faith • Associated with our Lady of Sorrows • ‘Secret’ asks for prayers for priests • Recognized by Pius IX • Champion, Wisconsin, 1859 • Young Belgian immigrant worker, Adele Brise • Three apparitions, Our Lady of Good Hope • Recognized by Bishop David Rickin of Green Bay; not yet by Vatican • Knock, Ireland (1879) • Fifteen villagers, • Mary with St. Joseph and St. John Evangelist, an altar with a lamb • Vatican recognition in 1979

  7. Apparition (cont.) • Fatima, Portugal (1917) • Three children: Lucia, Jacinta, Francisco • Series of apparitions over two weeks, prophecies • Accepted by Pius XII • Akita, Japan (1973) • Sr. Agnes Sasagawa • Messages of concern for atheistic world • Lead to development of NormaeCongregationis (1978) • Confirmed by local bishop (1984) • No official Vatican recognition • Kibeho, Rwanda (1981) • Appearance to several girls • Confirmed by local bishop 1988 • Message of coming massacre in Rwanda during civil war in 1990s • Kibeho was the site of slaughter in the parish church in 1994 • No official Vatican recognition

  8. Apparition of Mary to St. Juan Diego at Guadalupe Mexico, 1531 • St. Juan Diego was an Indian, new convert • In a series of apparitions, Virgin Mother asks for a shrine • Our Lady of Guadalupe becomes known as the “first Mestiza” • Source of Mexican pride and unity • Shrine with the most pilgrims each year • Nearly continuous since 1532 • Currently about 20 million pilgrims come to Guadalupe each year

  9. History of Ecclesial Approval • 1754, Benedict XIV declares Our Lady of Guadalupe Patroness of New Spain • 1935, Pius XI declares Our Lady of Guadalupe patroness of Philippines • 1946, Pius XII, Our Lady of Guadeloupe declared Patroness of Americas • 2002, John Paul II, Juan Diego canonized

  10. Lourdes (1858) • Multiple apparitions to Bernadette Soubirous • Mary declares herself ‘Immaculate Conception’ • Spring of healing water • Conflicts over Lourdes explode in world-wide press • Bernadette declared a saint in 1933 by Pius XI

  11. Impact of Lourdes • Popular, grass roots devotion; Church hierarchy initially skeptical • Devotion grew rapidly; in 1908 (50th Anniversary) 400,000 people make pilgrimage to Lourdes • Railroads made this possible • What Did Lourdes Affirm for Pilgrims? • Personal faith • Faith over science • Stability and piety over radical politics and revolution • Infallibility of Papacy

  12. Official Declaration of Great Marian Feast: Immaculate Conception • Declared by Pius IX, • Ineffabilis Deus, 8 December 1854 • Patristics authors e.g., Irenaeus, developed early theology of Mary’s role in salvation history • Settled centuries of dispute, especially between Franciscans and Dominicans • Issue one of when, precisely, before during or immediatley after conception was Mary freed from original sin • Duns Scotus answers with what will be accepted as true: no sin at moment of conception

  13. Great Marian Feast: Assumption of Mary • Declared by Pius XII • Munificentissimus Deus, 1950 • Ancient feast, Dormition, in Greek Churches • Mary’s empty tomb in Ephesus • As early as 4th C record of celebration on 15 August • Celebrates Mary assumed body and soul to heaven • Mary remained sinless throughout her life • Most important Marian Feast Day, Holy Day of Obligation

  14. Assignment (extra) • Munificentissimus Deus http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-xii_apc_19501101_munificentissimus-deus_en.html

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