worth noting . . .

NEWMAN’S DEVOTION TO MARY . . . As we all know, most Protestants have difficulties with devotion to Our Lady (and to the angels and saints also). John Henry Newman, as an Anglican, was no exception to this. By his intense study of the Fathers of the Church, however, and through the help of friends, he gradually came to see that the faith of the Fathers with regard to Mary was the same as the current Catholic faith, but devotion to her had increased. This month Fr. Thomas J. McGovern offers us a thoughtful essay on the deep devotion and veneration to Our Lady of the convert, John Henry Cardinal Newman (p. 8).

RU-486: CHEMICAL ABORTIFACIENT . . . Most of our readers, I am sure, have heard about the new chemical abortifacient which has the impersonal name of “RU-486” and which makes it sound like some additive to your gasoline. But it is a deadly killer of the baby in the womb. It may not be readily available yet, but it is coming. In this issue Dr. Mary A. Nicholas, who is both a medical doctor and a researcher on bio-ethical issues, alerts us to what it is and what it does to the human being in the womb. Priests especially should know about this. If you have any comments, letters will be welcome (p. 19).

MARY AND MERIT . . . For the month of May each year I try to offer you something solid on Mary. In this issue you will find an article entitled, “Did Mary Merit the Incarnation?” by Fr. Robert Auman. Some readers might be startled by the question, but it is one that has been asked by great saints and theologians for centuries. In order to understand the question, and to answer it correctly, it is necessary to know precisely what is meant by “merit” in Catholic theology. In general, “merit” means a right to a reward. So how could Mary, a mere human creature, have a “right” to be the Mother of God? If you read the article carefully, you will find the answer (p. 28).

ON DATING THE GOSPELS . . . The time in which the four Gospels were written is very important. If late, then there was time for “myths” about Jesus to develop. If shortly after his death, then many witnesses were still alive and the reports would be more accurate. In this issue Fr. George H. Duggan, S.M., a New Zealander, brings together in one article recent discoveries that point to an early composition of the Gospels, perhaps all four of them before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. The biblical establishment has a huge investment of reputation and money in a late date for the Gospels—after 70. Members of that elite group will not look kindly on this article (p. 45).

G.K.C. . . . The 16th Annual Midwest G. K. Chesterton Conference will be held June 26-28 at the Archbishop Cousins Meeting Center in Milwaukee, Wisc. For more information write or phone Ann Stull, 1419 East 53rd Street, Chicago, Ill. 60615; 773/324-3510.—K.B.

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