Symposium honoring Fr. Peter Damian Fehlner, superb Marioligist, F.I. was held at Notre Dame on June 8-9, 2015.
There was be a momentous Marian Symposium titled “Sursum Actio” at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana, honoring the lifetime work of Fr. Peter Damian Fehlner, F.I., featuring talks by eminent Mariologists. We were so blessed to have been able to attend this wonderful event. - See more at: http://airmaria.com/category/speakers/fi-homilists/fr-peter-fehlner/#sthash.PIm3gKxW.dpuf
We were delighted to discover that Indiana is a beautiful farm country with miles and miles of crop lands. They experienced heavy rains this year for extended periods and many of the crops were adversely effected. Having a tour the Notre Dame Church (Sacred Heart Parish) was a special bonus -it is filled with such beautiful artwork and amazing relics. The current neo-gothic church was begun in 1870 and consecrated by Bishop Joseph Gregory Dwenger on August 15, 1888.
Fr. Peter's great Mariological teachings are expemplified in this interview, which he gave on Friday, November 19, 2010 to "Badger Catholic" after a retreat given by Fr. Peter at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Wisconsin:
Fr. Peter: "Mary's maternal mediation is part of the perfection of Christ's one mediation. We are saying in a general statement that Christ is the one Mediator, but that does not exclude cooperation. He can involve anyone He wants, anyway He wants. He still is the one Mediator, but His Mother is part of this in a very unique way as the only Mother of God. The statement I quoted in my talk is from Pope Benedict XVI three years ago in Brazil. He was reminding the Bishops that in practice our only contact with Christ, especially for the Blessings of redemption, is through Our Lady. He comes to us through her; His Blessings come to us through her. We can't begin to describe this wonder. We are simply stating a very simple fact: If you are alive, you are alive because your mother was generous enough to conceive you and give birth to you. Such generosity is stupendous, because this is the indispensable basis of all else in your life. In the same way, in a higher order of Grace, we are born again of water and the Holy Spirit precisely through the intervention of Our Lady, Spouse of the Holy Spirit."