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If you wished to erect a glorious tribute to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and also to publicly invoke her protection for the unborn, what would you envision? The grand dream that inspires Buffalo, New York, attorney Laurence D. Behr is a towering arch to honor Mary's Immaculate Heart, a 700-foot Arch of Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, overshadowing an International Shrine of the Holy Innocents. Seven hundred feet? Mary represents the perfection of humanity, and seven is the mystical number of perfection. Ahuge dream? Most definitely-about $100 million worth-the tallest monument in the world, and certainly an immense undertaking. This great plan indeed echoes with the memorable advice of that great and venerable apostle of Mary, the late Fr. Alfred Boeddeker, O.F.M., of San Francisco: "When acting for Mary, think BIG." Mr. Behr believes that the ascendable Arch of Triumph will "rank among the man-made wonders of the world," exceeding in height St. Louis' 630-foot Gateway Arch, presently the world's tallest monument. De Maria numquam satis, nothing is too good for Mary. Purpose and Scope of Arch To this end lay leader Larry Behr (he also serves as president of Western New York Lawyers for Life) and his collaborators have formed the Association for the Arch of Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and International Shrine of the Holy Innocents, a New York non-profit corporation. Fund raising has commenced for this bold and unprecedented initiative to advance the Culture of Life and Civilization of Love, and to overcome the Culture of Death, via the Internet and by tollfree telephone. [See end of this article.] The resplendent, golden arch is meant to hail and commemorate the much-anticipated Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, foretold by herself at Fatima in 1917. Standing above a shrine dedicated to the Holy Innocents, such a "world-class" shrine will encourage devotion to Mary's Immaculate Heart in the whole world, while also directing, in a powerful new way, the world's attention to the plight of the innocent unborn. "It will," declares Mr. Behr, "serve as a global signal call to conversion and a return to God, to an ever greater love of purity and rejection of abortion and immorality." He expects the shrine's spiritual efficacy to flow from its being "a marvelous tourist attraction," with the potential to draw "millions of visitors annually of all faiths, and of no church affiliation." The importance and urgency of this dramatic, new focus for the pro-life movement is expressed well by Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, who stated, "We need to stir the attention of the public to prolife issues whether they want to hear about them or not. A sign as public and visible as the proposed arch and shrine will certainly serve this purpose." Indeed, virtually the entire Catholic leadership of the pro-life movement has saluted and endorsed this project, many having also joined its National Advisory Board. Shrines are Spiritual Clinics Behr has perceived a singular opportunity for prolife, pro-Mary Catholics to present to America and the world a stunningly beautiful, architecturally prominent Marian and pro-life shrine, that would summon modern civilization back from the brink of that dark abyss, which Pope John Paul II first called the Culture of Death. Having investigated the practical aspects as much as possible, he shared his ideas with others who shared his enthusiasm, and together they formed a non-profit association in January 2000 for the purpose of bringing the vision to reality. The association's founding directors are Catholic members of his pro-life attorneys' group, the Jesuit pastor of St. Michael's Church in Buffalo, a deacon of the Buffalo diocese, and several lay Catholic leaders. Pope Paul VI has described shrines as "spiritual clinics" and "centers of spiritual refreshment." Today more than ever, the world is in need of such a great and attractive center for spiritual renewal and outstanding addition to its spiritual geography as The Arch of Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Holy Innocents Shrine. The arch is projected to include three chapels, one in each base (Chapels of the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart) and one in its peak (Chapel of the Triumph), above a sightseeing area to accommodate several hundred visitors (the St. Louis Gateway Arch holds 200). Spiritual music and art will heighten the awesome experience of viewing Lake Erie, the Niagara River and the mist rising from the Niagara Falls 20 miles to the north, downtown Buffalo, southern Ontario, and the distant rolling hills of New York's Southern Tier, from the arch's great height. As remarked by Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, "Big things do not get done by people thinking little. And we do not know the extent of the devotion of God's people until it is challenged. I have no doubt that the arch would be a powerful witness, and surely this could, with the aid of Our Lady, be an instrument in turning many away from the culture of death." Connecting the 21st Century to History The past is prologue. The Arch of Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary will be a new millennium link to previous Marian events, notably, the appearances of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico in 1531, of course, 1917 Fatima messages, including Mary's July 13, 1917, prediction that, after the turmoil of wars and apostasy, her Immaculate Heart will triumph and "a certain period of peace will be granted to the world," and the littleknown, but great pro-life and Marian achievements of Buffalo native, Servant of God, Fr. Baker in the early years of the last century. The supporters of this great shrine project draw direct inspiration from the story of Fr. Baker, who began a lifelong devotion to Our Lady of Victory when he assisted at Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Victory in Paris, in 1874. Declared a Servant of God in 1987 and now felt to be a strong candidate for canonization, Fr. Baker so far is little known outside the Western New York area. He was, however, a pioneer to pro-life of the past century, having zealously dedicated his life to the protection of orphans and abandoned children at a diocesan home in the Buffalo suburb, Lackawanna. Fr. Baker kept the vestibule of Our Lady of Victory Orphanage always open overnight, and an empty bassinet in the vestibule, to allow mothers safely to leave their unwanted babies, no questions asked. Fr. Baker's deep devotion to Our Lady of Victory culminated in erecting Our Lady of Victory Basilica, declared by L'Osservatore Romano on its completion in 1926 to be "one of the most superb shrines the Catholic Church possesses in the United States." Our Lady of Victory is Our Lady of the Rosary It
bears recalling also that Mary's title, Our Lady of Victory, dates
from the victory on October 7, 1571, of the Christian fleet over the
Moslem armada in the famous Battle of Lepanto. Pope St. Pius V attributed
that victory to Mary's intercession, prompting him to establish the
feast day of Our Lady of Victory on October 7, since renamed as the
feast of Our Lady of the Rosary-the title by which Mary identified
herself at Fatima. [St. Pius Vhad called the Catholic world to pray
the Rosary before the battle.] Less known is that one of the three
Catholic admirals in that battle, Andrea Doria, carried on his person
a small copy of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe of Mexico, invoking
Mary's assistance under that title. Our Lady of Guadalupe is recognized
as the patroness of the pro-life movement, and was implored for victory
by Pope John Paul II in 1999, "May the Continent of Hope also be the Continent of Life! This is our cry: Life with dignity for all! The time has come to banish once and for all from the Continent every attack against life. Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of Peace, save the nations and people of this Continent!" The originator of this boldly and clearly conceived project has done his homework carefully. He is articulate and waxes eloquent when presenting the dream of the Arch of Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the International Shrine of the Holy Innocents. He convincingly translated this dream into concrete terms. His motivation is solid. A distinguished team of directors, advisors, supporters-individuals and groups-have joined ranks with him. All pieces seem to fit well in a sharply distinct and integrated plan. Behr says: "We are poised to carry forward this vision into realization. Our need for your prayers and your financial support, as we launch our national and international campaign, is great. Please consider prayerfully what God might wish you to do for this great endeavor." * The Immaculate Heart Messenger is
published by the Fatima Family Apostolate, and edited by Fr. Robert
J. Fox, a pre-eminent authority on the apparitions of Our Lady of
Fatima. To subscribe call 1-800-721-MARY. |
