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The
mystery of God’s plan in bringing His Son’s Blessed Mother to
the fore in recent times (Pope Paul VI said that the Marian
Era began with Her apparitions to St. Catherine Laboure in 1830,
click here
to learn more), probably cannot be fully penetrated.
A few reflections on it may, however, be safely stated.
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The
Woman Clothed with the Sun (Rev. 12:1)
St. Joseph's Cathedral, Buffalo NY
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In
the deep wisdom of God’s plan of salvation, as Adam and Eve
collaborated in the Fall of Man, so a woman’s collaboration
with His Son shall restore the world to grace. Mary’s
virginal, stainless Heart, especially created for this unique
role, triumphed first at Nazareth. There, vanquishing
fear and doubt and with total faith, Mary immediately accepted
the Angel Gabriel’s perplexing message. Replacing Eve’s
disobedience with her complete submission to the will of God,
Mary thus allowed Christ to enter the world as its Savior.
Her Immaculate Heart triumphed next at Calvary where, again
with perfect faith and, like Abraham the “man of faith,” overcoming
the strongest natural impulses, Mary offered her divine Son
to God.
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The coming Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary will therefore
either coincide with, or perhaps in some manner presage, the
Triumph of the Sacred Heart of Jesus her Son, and of His Holy
Cross, beneath which Mary stood sorrowing as only a mother
can. Mary joined in Christ’s own self-offering as none
else could, for she understood His mission as none else did.
United with Him in His final agony as no other was (as foretold
by the prophet Simeon at the Presentation, who predicted,
“A sword shall pierce through thy heart also, that the thoughts
of many hearts may be revealed” Lk 2:35), Mary will likewise
share especially in the Triumph of His Cross for undeniably,
it is her Triumph as well.
The
Holy Innocents Shrine will center on a tall, pure white marble
column supporting Mary, who holds aloft the Infant Jesus as
the coming Prince of Peace. Mary ever presents her Son to
the world, imploring that it heed her direction to the wine
servers of the Wedding at Cana: “Do whatsoever He shall tell
you.” The site will include also a large statuary grouping
of the Holy Family engaged upon the Flight Into Egypt, emphasizing
St. Joseph’s role as Guardian of the Redeemer, and Protector
of the Holy Family.
Approximately
40% of visitors to conventional Catholic shrines are non-Catholic.
However, the sheer appeal of The Arch of Triumph, not
only for its enormous spiritual significance and its great
aesthetic merits, but as a marvelous tourist attraction suitable
for the entire family, will draw millions of visitors annually,
of all faiths, and of no church affiliation at all, making
possible an extraordinary societal effectiveness for its profound
spiritual message.
Moreover,
The Arch of Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
will rank among the man-made Wonders of the World. It is
destined quickly to become an international icon, boldly though
silently proclaiming the dignity and sanctity of human life,
born and unborn, while also uniquely extolling the near-forgotten
virtues of purity and holiness.
This
awe-inspiring and exciting Project, therefore, will sound
a global signal call to repentance and conversion, to a
renewal of faith, and to ever-deepening respect for unborn
human lives, and a concomitant rejection of impurity, immorality
and abortion. Mary’s golden Arch of Triumph, truly stunning
in its beauty, majesty and splendor, will quietly call hearts
to again admire and long for fellowship with our awesome Maker;
it will “cultivate … a sense of God’s beauty revealed
in Mary,” a requisite for Marian shrines stated in a Vatican
instruction letter for the 1988 Marian Year.
The Arch of Triumph of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary and International Shrine
of the Holy Innocents will likely cost in the range
of 40 - 75 million dollars US. However, in the United States
and Canada alone, there are certainly at least a million faithful
people, who long for a renewal of respect for the sanctity
of human life, and for society’s return to sound morality.
We firmly believe that these faith-filled people will gladly
each sacrifice $100, a smallish sum today, and some even much
more as God calls and enables them, to help realize these
goals, and to demonstrate their deep love and devotion for
Jesus and Mary.
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