LIB'S LABYRINTH: Maze Q: House of Virgin Mary

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Maze Q: House of Virgin Mary

House of Mary in the mountain of Ephesus.

May is the Month of Mary: Happy Mother's Day!

The Virgin Mary and Saint Paul at Ephesus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em4OkUFEa4Q 00:58

Going to see the House of Mary

THE SHRINE
This place is considered to be the last home of the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of Jesus Christ.

THE FACTS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURE
St. John, in his Gospel, tells us that Jesus, before dying on the Cross, entrusted to him the care of His Mother when he said: - "Here is your Mother and from that hour St. John took her to his own. The "Acts of the Apostles" relate how, after the death of Christ, His followers were persecuted in Jerusalem. St. Stephen was stoned in 37 A.D. St. James was beheaded in 42 A.D. And they further relate how they divided the world between them for preaching the Gospel, and St. John was given Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). Now Mary had been given to his care and with the persecutions, probably brought with him to Asia Minor.

THE FACTS ARE CONFIRMED HISTORICALLY
There are 2 evidences: 1 - the presence of the tom of St. John in Ephesus, and 2 - the presence of the first Basilica of the world dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. In the early days of the church, places of worship were only dedicated to persons who had lived or died in the locality.
Also, the Ecumenical Council of 431 was held in Ephesus in the Basilica for the definition of the dogma of the Divine Motherhood of Mary. The Council Fathers write about Nestorius: "...after his arrival to Ephesus, where John the Theologian and the Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God..."
There is another confirmation in the oral tradition of the Villagers of Kirkindje. These people were the descendants of the christians of Ephesus. They had passed from generation to generation, the belief of the death of Mary in this place, so they called PANAGHIA KAPULU. They have kept this tradition alive through the annual pilgrimage of 15th August.

DISCOVERY OF THIS PLACE IN THE 19TH CENTURY
During the "19th Century book" Life of the Blessed Virgin was published in Germany. The material for this book come from the revelations of the stigmatyzed Nun, Anna Catherina Emmerich. She was an invalid and had never left Germany. In her visions she described with amazing accuracy the hills of Ephesus and the house where she saw the Blessed Virgin spending her last years.
Accordingly, 2 scientific expeditions were organized, and they found this place perfectly agreeingg with her description.

THE CHAPEL
The chapel was rebuilt upon the original foundations that have been determined to date as of the 1st and 4th centuries. Part of the building is of the 7th century and the last restoration took place in 1951.

MARY IN HER LATER YEARS LOOK BACK ON HER ROLE AS THE MOTHER OF JESUS. MARY SAYS:
"I tucked all these things away in my memory and I keep reflecting back on them whenever I pray which is almost always. I can see the older I get, how constant God's love has been for us. The same faithful God who walked with our ancestors has now shown utmost compassion to me in all that has happened since my son was born. I did not understand what God was doing, but I was given the grace to continue...
"I think I raised my son well. I tried to teach him to turn to God at every moment. I told him how I knew from the moment he was conceived that God's Spirit was with him in a special way and that God would never abandon him.
"I hope that you,too, have known God's strength and comfort in this way in your life. God continues to be born in every person's life."
[Excerpt from the book "A Retreat With Luke" by Sr. Barbara Reid, OP]