Class 38: Mary in Modernity

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Class 38: Mary in Modernity