Class 38: Mary in Modernity Dr. Ann T. Orlando 28 April 2017

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’ 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 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)

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.) Khibo, Rwanda (1981) 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 Normae Congregationis (1978) Confirmed by local bishop (1984) No official Vatican recognition Khibo, Rwanda (1981) Appearance to several girls Confirmed by local bishop 1988 Message of coming massacre in Rwanda during civil war in 1990s Khibo was the site of slaughter in the parish church in 1994

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