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Mary of the Americas: Our Lady of Guadalupe - A Review
By
Jude Wudarczyk - posted December 5, 2009
Mary of the Americas: Our Lady of Guadalupe is a wonderfully written account of the visitation of the Blessed Virgin in Mexico. It is written by Lawrenceville author Christopher Rengers, OFM Cap. Father Rengers takes us to 16th Century Mexico City where the visitation is said to have taken place.
He explains in great detail the events leading up to the apparitions, the actual event, and the aftermath. While some may call the event a folk tale, Father Christopher goes on to tell us about the scientific studies done to Juan Diego’s cloak where there miraculously appeared an image of the Blessed Mother. Especially illuminating is the information about the details of the image’s eyes and analysis of the cloak.
The book ends with chapters dedicated to the National Center for the Mother of the Americas, the Queen of the Americas Guild, the Basilica of Guadalupe, the canonization of Juan Diego, four appendices, and an impressive bibliography.
Whether one is interested in miracles, is a skeptic, or an outright non-believer, this book is for you. It would make great reading for any book discussion club or individual reflection.
The book is published by St. Paul/Alba House and sells for $12.95. Be sure to purchase the Revised and Updated edition of 2007. Five stars for Father Christopher Rengers.
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Stephen
Collins Foster (1826-1864)
Born on July 4, 1826, while the country celebrated its 50th anniversary of independence, Stephen Foster has become Lawrenceville’s most famous native son. He was the son of William Barclay Foster, founder of Lawrenceville and Eliza Tomlinson. Foster’s parents moved to Allegheny City (now Pittsburgh’s North Side) when Stephen was very small.
He developed a love for music at a very tender age of about three or four, and from that point forward there was no stopping him. Foster is considered by many to be the world’s foremost composer, and is the only person to have written two state songs – “My Old Kentucky Home” (Kentucky) and “Swannee River” (Florida). A third song “Oh! Susanna” was considered by the state of California as being their state song, but it was rejected.
Today he is considered the founder of “Pop Music” and his works are played throughout the world. There are many books written on Stephen Foster and the University of Pittsburgh maintains the Stephen Foster Memorial Center in his honor. It is located in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh close to the Cathedral of Learning. |
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