Australian Marian Academy of the Immaculate Conception: June 2010

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

What is the Australian Marian Academy of the Immaculate Conception (AMAIC)?

The Australian Marian Academy [AMA], as it was initially known, was formed in the early 1980s largely by a group of academics and teachers devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, particularly under her title of Our Lady of the Rosary (at Fatima). In May of 1988 this was the description of the Australian Marian Academy written into our Constitution (p. 19):

"As a recognized “aggregate of persons” [CJC Can. 115] the Academy “is a private association of Christ’s faithful striving with common effort to foster a more perfect life … and to promote Christian teaching” [Can. 298]. Its Constitution has been reviewed by the competent authority [Can. 299 §3]. It chooses to exercise its juridical personhood through an Executive of 7 members. [ Can. 115, §2]. On this solid footing we wish to affiliate with the mother Academy in Rome : the “Pontificia Accademia dell’Immacolata Concezione”, at the request of its present head, the Vice-President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, Father Marino Maccarelli".

With reference to our Constitution, the Most Reverend John Jobst, Bishop of Broome ( Western Australia ), wrote:

“I welcome the establishment of the Australian Marian Academy which could be associated with the Marian Academy in Rome . One cannot but notice the role of the Mother of God in “crushing the serpent’s head” throughout the history of the Church …. [Pope John Paul II] has spoken out clearly and encouraged any efforts promoting the devotion to Mary the Mother of God. For these reasons the Marian Academy is very timely …. I can only say that the statements made in the Constitution are true and in keeping with the Church’s sound teaching …”.

And respected theologian and canon lawyer, Dr. Harry J. Jordan (MSC), of Sydney Australia, agreed with these “sentiments” expressed by Bishop Jobst:

“Yesterday’s postman brought me your ‘Reflections’ [first draft of the AMA Constitution] …. I do congratulate you and I concur with the sentiments of its worth from that valiant Bishop John Jobst”.

In 1990, in a meeting in the Vatican with Andrzej Maria Cardinal Deskur, a compatriot and very close friend of then Pope John Paul II - President of the Pontifical Academy of the Immaculate Conception (formerly President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications) - His Eminence insisted on our adding to the Academy’s title the phrase “of the Immaculate Conception”. Thus our Academy became:

The Australian Marian Academy of the Immaculate Conception

AMAIC’S FIRST ‘GOLDENSWORD’ AWARD

Congratulations to Bern Sadler!

Bern Sadler has become the first person to win the AMAIC’S ‘Goldensword’ award for his compelling identification of the structure of St. Matthew’s Gospel in his book, According to Matthew. The structure St. Matthew gave his gospel. Sydney, 2008. This book admirably qualifies for the AMAIC’S recently-established (May, 2008) ‘Goldensword’ award, described as follows in our Syllabus (see earlier post of 28th April 08 for a full description of this award):

The Goldensword Award

In the, presumably rare, case in which the Goldensword is awarded, the AMAIC will give a prize (according to means) to the successful candidate, as well as an attractive diploma. The successful submission will become a part of the AMAIC’S curriculum, and will be written up in our Newsletter, MATRIX, and advertised on the appropriate AMAIC Internet site.

Why The Goldensword?

It, combined with the constellation of the Southern Cross, is the AMAIC’s Emblem. (See post of 28th April 08 for a full description of this award):

Bern Sadler’s book According to Matthew. The structure St. Matthew gave his gospel, which has received an Imprimatur from the legitimate ecclesiastical authority, has already proved fruitful for our own research; it being that “recent study (to be discussed at a later time) of the structure of Matthew’s Gospel” referred to in our post:

Monday, 25 February 2008

The Toledoth in Matthew 1:1

at http://houseofgold.blog.com/generations/

It was thanks to Bern’s research that we were able to offer a plausible explanation for what had initially been quite a puzzle in relation to the only toledôt, apparently, that occurs in the New Testament.

Bern’s book is available upon request. Please write to:

Bern Sadler

7 Kambora Ave

Frenchs Forest, NSW 2086.

or e-mail Bern at: bsadler@bigpond.net.au

Twentieth Anniversary of AMAIC Constitution

This month of May 2008 is the 20th Anniversary of the Constitution of the Australian Marian Academy of the Immaculate Conception.

With reference to our Constitution, the Most Reverend John Jobst, Bishop of Broome ( Western Australia ), wrote:

"I welcome the establishment of the Australian Marian Academy which could be associated with the Marian Academy in Rome . One cannot but notice the role of the Mother of God in “crushing the serpent’s head” throughout the history of the Church …. [Pope John Paul II] has spoken out clearly and encouraged any efforts promoting the devotion to Mary the Mother of God. For these reasons the Marian Academy is very timely …. I can only say that the statements made in the Constitution are true and in keeping with the Church’s sound teaching …".

And respected theologian and canon lawyer, Dr. Harry J. Jordan (MSC), of Sydney Australia, agreed with these “sentiments” expressed by Bishop Jobst:

The Australian Marian Academy of the Immaculate Conception

The Manifesto and Syllabus, as set out in the accompanying posts, were written with our Anniversary in mind.

For our other posts and articles, see

A Description of our AMAIC Sites

here at:

http://amaic1.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/a-description-of-amaic-sites_1702.html

We hope to add several further sites to these in the near future.

AMAIC.

Monday, June 7, 2010

AMAIC Manifesto

The Australian Marian Academy of the Immaculate Conception [AMAIC]
Manifesto for an Australian Marian University

Contents:

1. What is the Australian Marian Academy of the Immaculate Conception (AMAIC)?2. How did the AMAIC come about?3. What are the Purpose and Function of the AMAIC?4. What is Distinctive about the AMAIC?5. What Subjects may be offered by the AMAIC?6. What are the Resources and Tools of the AMAIC?7. What are the Short-Term and Long-Term Goals of the AMAIC?
1.What is the Australian Marian Academy of the Immaculate Conception (AMAIC)?
The Australian Marian Academy [AMA], as it was initially known, was formed in the early 1980s largely by a group of academics and teachers devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, particularly under her title of Our Lady of the Rosary (at Fatima). In May of 1988 this was the description of the Australian Marian Academy written into our Constitution (p. 19):As a recognized “aggregate of persons” [CJC Can. 115] the Academy “is a private association of Christ’s faithful striving with common effort to foster a more perfect life … and to promote Christian teaching” [Can. 298]. Its Constitution has been reviewed by the competent authority [Can. 299 §3]. It chooses to exercise its juridical personhood through an Executive of 7 members. [ Can. 115, §2]. On this solid footing we wish to affiliate with the mother Academy in Rome : the “Pontificia Accademia dell’Immacolata Concezione”, at the request of its present head, the Vice-President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, Father Marino Maccarelli.With reference to our Constitution, the Most Reverend John Jobst, Bishop of Broome ( Western Australia ), wrote:“I welcome the establishment of the Australian Marian Academy which could be associated with the Marian Academy in Rome . One cannot but notice the role of the Mother of God in “crushing the serpent’s head” throughout the history of the Church …. [Pope John Paul II] has spoken out clearly and encouraged any efforts promoting the devotion to Mary the Mother of God. For these reasons the Marian Academy is very timely …. I can only say that the statements made in the Constitution are true and in keeping with the Church’s sound teaching …”.And respected theologian and canon lawyer, Dr. Harry J. Jordan (MSC), of Sydney Australia, agreed with these “sentiments” expressed by Bishop Jobst:“Yesterday’s postman brought me your ‘Reflections’ [first draft of the AMA Constitution] …. I do congratulate you and I concur with the sentiments of its worth from that valiant Bishop John Jobst”.
In 1990, in a meeting in the Vatican with Andrzej Maria Cardinal Deskur, a compatriot and very close friend of then Pope John Paul II - President of the Pontifical Academy of the Immaculate Conception (formerly President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications) - His Eminence insisted on our adding to the Academy’s title the phrase “of the Immaculate Conception”. Thus our Academy became:
The Australian Marian Academyof the Immaculate Conception2. How did the AMAIC come about?The seeds of the AMAIC were sown in the 1970s from the determination of a group of Australian Catholics to counteract widespread doctrinal and moral error and to uphold the light of truth. The notion of Academy was already in the minds of members due to their associations with schools, colleges, seminaries, and other academic institutions, also through philosophy (e.g. Plato’s Academy), and the Thomistic influence of the famous Aquinas Academy of Dr. Austin Woodbury (S.M.), in Sydney.The cherished phrase, Marian Academy , to which we added our national designation, Australian, was inspired by St. Maximilian Kolbe, who had said:“If the Immaculata wants it, we shall found a Marian Academy to study, teach and publish for the entire world what the Immaculata is – an Academy even with a doctorate in Mariology”.We owed this last piece of information to Kolbe Missionary and former Legionary of Mary, Josephine Mary Nethery, of Sydney Australia, who had provided us with E. Piacentini ’s “Panorama of the Marian Doctrine of Bl. [now Saint] Maximilian Kolbe”.
Finally, as already noted, His Eminence Cardinal Deskur invested our Academy with the concluding phrase of our title, of the Immaculate Conception.
19881988, the year the Academy’s Constitution was published, was a most significant year, being a Marian Year, and, for Australia , the Bi-Centenary Year. The Constitution was “our contribution to the Marian Year, and to the Australian Bi-Centenary Year” (Constitution, p. 37).
3. What are the Purpose and Function of the AMAIC?
This is outlined largely in Chapter Four of the Constitution. Basically (pp. 28-30):According to the tenets of the ‘Perennial Philosophy’ of St. Thomas Aquinas, the way a being acts is determined by its nature. This is the well-known ‘Natural Law’: “Anything that acts must act according to its given nature, leading to the perfection of that nature”. If it is the nature of the Marian Academy to be an instrument of salvation for souls in accordance with the latest teachings of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, then it is to be expected that the Academy will strive to be engaged in the most appropriate activities in order to be such an instrument. This leads to the twofold function of the Australian Marian Academy
(i) to discern how and where the Holy Spirit is truly at work in the Church,
and(ii) to cooperate as fully as possible with this Divine impetus.If the Australian Marian Academy is serious about being attuned to the work of the Holy Spirit amidst the poor and the weak …, i.e., “amongst all those who toil and suffer” [St. Pius X in “OUR APOSTOLIC MANDATE”, 1910], then the plight of the poor and the weak must be found as a preferential love at the heart of the Academy. Our Holy Father Pope John Paul II not only anticipated what we see as the function of the Australian Marian Academy, but in … [a] passage of “REDEMPTORIS MATER” in which the Pontiff formulates the ideal which the A.M.A. takes as its own, he also describes the conditions under which we may expect to operate “at the close of the Second Christian Millennium”:“The Church which even ‘amidst trials and tribulations’ does not cease repeating with Mary the words of the Magnificat is sustained by the power of God’s Truth, proclaimed on that occasion with such extraordinary simplicity. At the same time by means of this Truth about God, the Church desires to shed light upon the difficult and sometimes tangled paths of man’s earthly existence”.Ours is therefore to be essentially a work of “intellectual charity”, to adopt a phrase favoured by John Paul II and used more recently by Pope Benedict XVI (e.g. 11th March 2008 address to students). Along such lines, the Congregation for Catholic Education has decreed a characteristic preferential option for the weak and the poor – whether victims of old or new forms of poverty: e.g., marginalisation, unemployment and the masses seeking for truth (“Consecrated Persons and their Mission in Schools”, e.g. §6). Such sentiments in turn echo the earlier view of Pope Pius XI who, in a comparison of St. Thomas Aquinas with the patriarch Joseph, had written (Encyclical, Studiorum Ducem, 1923, §28):Accordingly, just as it was said to the Egyptians of old in time of famine: "Go to Joseph," so that they should receive a supply of corn from him to nourish their bodies, so We now say to all such as are desirous of the truth: "Go to Thomas," and ask him to give you from his ample store the food of substantial doctrine wherewith to nourish your souls unto eternal life.And all of this accords well, too, with this next section from the AMAIC’s Constitution (p. 30):The Church’s journey therefore near the end of the 2nd Christian Millennium involves a renewed commitment to Her mission. Following Him who said of Himself “God has anointed Me to preach the Good News to the poor” [Lk. 4:18], the Church has sought from generation to generation, and still seeks today, to accomplish that same mission. The Church’s love and preference for the poor is wonderfully inscribed in Mary’s Magnificat” [37].…. And pp. 31, 32:Following the Holy Father, we turn to the Gospel [Lk. 4:18] where we hear Our Blessed Lord spell out ‘His own function’ with the famous quote from Isaiah:“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for He has anointed Me. He has sent Me to bring the Good News to the poor, to heal the contrite of heart, to proclaim liberty to captives, and new sight to the blind. To set the downtrodden free. To proclaim the Lord’s Year of Favour”.…. It is the task of the Marian Academy not only to articulate this program amidst trials and tribulations but, on the express command of the Supreme Pontiff, to link it with the terms of the “Magnificat”, thereby giving it a distinctive “Marian Dimension”. [R.M., 45].But there is more. In his Encyclical the Holy Father has indicated to us a definite way in which he wants this dimension expressed, by holding up to the whole world the Marian spirituality of St. Louis de Montfort. [48]. Before this authentic Marian Spirit can be grasped correctly and before Truth can be built up, error must be torn down. St. Louis de Montfort [using the language of the time] admirably explains this in his “True Devotion”:“…. With one hand they shall fight, overthrow and crush the heretics with their heresies, the schismatics with their schisms, the idolaters with their idolatries and the sinners with their impieties. With the other hand they shall build the temple of the true Solomon and the mystical city of God; that is to say the most Holy Virgin, called by the Fathers the Temple of Solomon and the City of God. By their words and their example they shall draw the whole world to true devotion to Mary”.In more recent times, Our Lady at Fatima would warn of the universal “spread of error”. So, in a Third Millennium context, our Academy’s precise task would be to strive to push back this tide of error so as, in the spirit of St. John the Baptist, to ‘prepare straight paths’ (e.g. Mark 1:3), now for the promised Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, leading to the Triumph of the Divine Mercy and the New Springtime of the Holy Spirit for the Church.4. What is Distinctive about the AMAIC?It is an Academy of the Cross, its members being dependent on Christ’s Cross for spiritual development and progress and for the attainment of true wisdom and knowledge. Thus pp. 41-42 of the Constitution:…. Our chief Teacher is Our Blessed Lord Himself teaching us from His Cross the most unloved truth and the most rejected wisdom of all: the Wisdom of the Cross. Next to Him and inseparably connected to Him “as the Body is to the Head”, or as the “New Eve is united to the New Adam”, stands His Holy Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. With Christ She is our chief teacher for of Her it is written: “Next to the Cross of Jesus stood His Mother Mary”. We accept the holy Catholic Church as our teacher for of Her it is written that “She is the ground and pillar of Truth” [1 Tim. 3:15]. In Her dwells the Spirit of which the Son of God has said: “When the Spirit of Truth comes He will lead you to all the Truth”. [Jo. 16:13].Similarly, Chapter One of the Constitution (pp. 10-11):At the root of all true perfection, sanctity and knowledge, lies the knowledge of the Cross by which we are led to ALL Truth: Supernatural Truth as well as natural truth. The Wisdom of the Cross is called “the super-eminent Science” by St. Louis de Montfort, for it is precisely in this remarkable fact: that through the Cross we not only attain to true holiness and perfection, but that ALL knowledge and understanding are acquired as well, that the Mystery of the Cross lies revealed. The Cross of Our Lord is the purifying instrument, the scalpel, that changes the soul, cutting away all attachments to the world, the devil and the flesh. This truth is so alien to fallen human nature that all the great Saints and Mystics, in imitation of St. Paul , have named this Wisdom ‘folly’: The Folly of the Wisdom of the Cross.P. 16:…. “Until we all attain to the unity of Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature and fullness of Christ”. [Eph. 4:13].These words of St. Paul go a long way towards explaining why the Cross, though a ‘scalpel’ and a ‘purifying instrument’, nevertheless is embraced, and why the knowledge it provides is sought after so diligently by all the “shrewd merchants”. By it we attain to the full measure and stature of Our Lord Himself, even here on earth.The other way in which the AMAIC is distinctive is that it is an entirely Australian enterprise. Though many cultural and intellectual influences of non-Australian origin must have been at work in shaping its members and their ideas, the AMAIC has not consciously based itself on any overseas model, as is what Australian colleges usually tend to do. With the incorporation of a model comes the incorporation of certain erroneous ideas and preconceived notions as well. For instance the model, though it may be largely a good one, may bear some pronounced socio-cultural influences that impede access to a religion and Scripture that have ‘Semitic’ origins (Pope Pius XI, Vatican Public Address, 1938); or it may have some underlying evolutionary tendencies; or it might have absorbed certain unwarranted demythologizing aspects from a non-Catholic approach to biblical study and form criticism.Nor are the AMAIC’s writers to be slavishly dependent upon borrowed writings, for the same sorts of reasons.The AMAIC and its writings, which aspire to be Wisdom-based, are largely home grown and original.That there is meant to be a distinctiveness about the Academy was acknowledged in the Constitution (p. 41):At first sight, the Constitution of the AUSTRALIAN MARIAN ACADEMY appears to be unusual. We could say it differs from any other Constitution inasmuch as the A.M.A. differs from any other ordinary Academy. Ours is not an Academy in the ordinary sense of the word. Or else, maybe it is one on which any other Academy could be modelled. For in the A.M.A. all are students intent on learning the most important science.That is not to say that the AMAIC is not open to non-Australian members. Far from it! Our emphasis on Australian is meant purely to underline our Academy’s originality and does not stem from any exclusive nationalism. In fact this element in our title, Australian, was recommended by a founder-member who was not even born in the southern hemisphere. No nationality, age group, or class, is to be excepted (Acts 2:7-11). This universalism (Catholicism) becomes quite apparent as we read our way through Constitution Chapter Two (pp. 20-21):The Australian Marian Academy has its Catholic roots firmly embedded in that part of the Mystery of the Church which [John Paul II] considers of great importance:“Drawing from Mary’s heart, from the depths of Her Faith expressed in the words of the Magnificat, the Church renews ever more effectively in Herself the awareness that the Truth about God who saves, the Truth about God who is the Source of every gift, cannot be separated from the manifestations of His Love and preference for the poor and humble …. The Church is thus aware … not only that these two elements of the Magnificat cannot be separated but also that there is a duty to safeguard carefully the importance of the poor and of the option in favour of the poor in the word of the Living God”. [‘REDEMPTORIS MATER’, §37].“Drawing from Mary’s heart ….”The most important point about any member of a truly Marian Academy therefore is that he or she learns, and learns from Mary’s own Immaculate Heart “the truth about God who saves”. We know this as “the Wisdom of the Cross”. And here the importance of the poor and the humble … then becomes manifest. They are our teachers. For a Marian Academy, first and foremost, is an Academy of children … of the poor and the sick; of the pure and humble; a college of prayer and penance; of suffering and of victimhood! It is a School in which one learns from children how to be childlike; from the poor and the sick how to be patient and dependent on God; from the pure and the innocent how “to keep ourselves spotless and uncorrupted from this world” [Ja. 1:27]. It is to be a School in which one learns from the great and universal suffering “how to be obedient” [Phil. 2:8; Hebr. 5:8]; how to “come to the rescue” [1 Sa. 17:35 and 36]; how to be “our brother’s keeper” [Gen. 4:9] and even how to stand in for him when he is in trouble as St. Maximilian Kolbe did unto his death.Then, having done our best to learn all these things with Mary at the foot of the Cross, and endeavouring to put them into practice, we may find ourselves to be well on the road to discerning from the teachings of Popes and Doctors of the holy Church how to become proficient in that other aspect of an Academy: how to teach and instruct so as to pass on the Catholic Faith, to the next generation.5. What Subjects may be offered by the AMAIC?Over the years the AMAIC has written on a vast array of subjects in books, articles, newsletters and correspondence. Broadly speaking, the subject classifications would be: Spirituality; Philosophy; Catholic Education; and Biblical Studies. We have now in fact four inter-linked web sites corresponding to each one of these areas, respectively:Spirituality (“ Australian Marian Academy of the Immaculate Conception”)http://australianmarianacademy.blog.com/Philosophy (“AMAIC Philosophy”)http://brightmorningstar.blog.com/Catholic Education (“AMAIC Education”)http://amaiceducation.blog.com/Biblical Studies (“House of Gold”)http://houseofgold.blog.com/These four broad categories, for potential Faculties/ Departments (also Internet Libraries), will be fully fleshed out in the ‘Interim Syllabus’ accompanying this Manifesto.AMAIC members have taken degrees (including post-graduate degrees) and diplomas, in these subject areas. The AMAIC has a team of teachers/academics.Courses in the perennial philosophy (metaphysics) have been taught by AMAIC members in the past, with some of this written down as well in book form.It is our hope that these studies will deepen any prospective student’s appreciation of the richness of his/her Catholic faith, and offer the intellectual tools needed for that student to be an effective apostle in the third millennium towards the founding of a new “civilisation of love”. To sum up: The AMAIC members seek Wisdom-based knowledge, rather than knowledge for the sake of one’s being knowledgeable.
6. What are the Resources and Tools of the AMAIC?
Firstly, the members who have supported our efforts through their prayers and sufferings, even when unable to contribute academically. The AMAIC has many spiritual benefactors, religious and lay, living and dead, including those many whose names were written into the Constitution. “The true stars of our life are the people who have lived good lives”, according to Pope Benedict XVI recently, on the importance of good friends (“Spe Salvi”, §49):“… Human life is a journey. Towards what destination? How do we find the way? Life is like a voyage on the sea of history, often dark and stormy, a voyage in which we watch for the stars that indicate the route. The true stars of our life are the people who have lived good lives. They are lights of hope. Certainly, Jesus Christ is the true light, the sun that has risen above all the shadows of history. But to reach him we also need lights close by—people who shine with his light and so guide us along our way. Who more than Mary could be a star of hope for us? With her “yes” she opened the door of our world to God himself; she became the living Ark of the Covenant, in whom God took flesh, became one of us, and pitched his tent among us (cf. Jn 1:14)”.AMAIC members have produced books and many articles.For over two decades now the AMAIC has been issuing a Newsletter, MATRIX (‘Mater et Mediatrix’).The AMAIC also has two web sites:http://users.pipeline.com.au/~rossj/index.htm(and the AMAIC Bookroom):http://members.iinet.net.au/~raphael/index.htmlIn addition to these, we now have those four subject relevant blog sites referred to above (§ 5), plus this one one for administrative purposes.Further blog sites are listed in the Syllabus Bibliography. The AMAIC also has some large articles, mainly of a biblical-historical nature, hosted on other Internet sites.Following the example of St. Maximilian Kolbe, the AMAIC, in order to spread its important Marian message, seeks - within its means - to make use of the latest and most sophisticated technology, such as the far-reaching Internet, a medium that St. Maximilian himself would surely have welcomed with open arms in order to facilitate his dream of ‘teaching and publishing for the entire world what the Immaculata is’.Finally, we have at our disposal all of the vast spiritual, intellectual and socio-cultural resources that are provided by Catholicism and illuminated by Catholic Faith.7. What are the Short-Term and Long-Term Goals of the AMAIC?Careful, like St. Maximilian, to preface any anticipated goals with,“If the Immaculata wants it …”,we are currently, in 2008 (the 20th anniversary of our Constitution), looking to give more apparent form, structure and organization to the teaching aspect of the AMAIC in order to be able the more effectively to impart knowledge.The AMAIC is further committed to the pursuit of fully-accredited degree-granting status, whenever and however that may come about, with the hope of the AMAIC’s eventually becoming a recognized Catholic University , thereby being empowered to grant meaningful degrees. Thus it could fulfil St. Maximilian’s dream of providing ‘even a doctorate in Mariology’ for the purpose of ‘teaching and publishing for the entire world what the Immaculata is’.The AMAIC will also aim to pursue relationships with schools, colleges and academies of like-minded purpose.Whilst working towards these ends, we intend to offer for the time being non-accredited courses and diplomas, open to all age groups, in the subject areas mentioned in § 5. above.In the ‘Interim Syllabus’ we shall provide a detailed AMAIC curriculum. For any further information, please write to our e-mail address provided at the top of this Manifesto.Yours in Jesus and MaryThe Executive of the AMAIC.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

AMAIC Syllabus

Interim Syllabus and Curriculum for
The Australian Marian Academyof the Immaculate Conception

Introduction

In the following pages we shall provide, for those interested - in relation to those broad areas of subject classification listed in §5 of the AMAIC’s Manifesto (viz., Spirituality; Philosophy; Catholic Education; and Biblical Studies) - a curriculum and study guide, complete with a bibliography, in whatever aspects of these particular subject areas AMAIC members have found, over the years, to be particularly important, helpful and interesting.

Various essay topics will be suggested for each of the separate subject areas.

We encourage anyone who feels capable of doing so to participate. A mark will be accorded to any serious attempt based on standard ratings (Fail, Pass, Credit, Distinction). Any outstanding efforts will be favourably noted in our Newsletter, MATRIX (‘Mater et Mediatrix’), and also quoted from and advertised on the relevant AMAIC Internet site.

Should there be a singularly brilliant effort, one that contributes significantly towards an important advancement in learning and knowledge - originality being a sine qua non - then it will be awarded the AMAIC’s Goldensword. (See section. "The Goldensword Award").

Quest For The Goldensword

In this way we hope to build up a body of Wisdom-based ideas and writings that will be used to shape future courses. We do not intend though at this stage to duplicate courses and degrees that are already being taught in pontifical and other Catholic universities. Whilst we do encourage members to take any such courses that are sound, according to circumstances, our Syllabus will be supplementary to these. That will serve greatly to streamline our efforts.

At this interim stage, in fact, we are not so much interested in offering courses, but, rather, suggesting stimulating projects, or, for mature contributors, manageable theses.

Syllabus and Curriculum

Pre-requisites. The AMAIC greatly encourages, as desirable prerequisites - and of course according to a candidate’s opportunities and circumstances - a familiarity with:

(i) the Old and New Testaments, as in the spirit of Vatican II;(ii) The Catechism of the Catholic Church; (iii) St. Louis de Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary/Secret of Mary & Love of Eternal Wisdom/Friends of the Cross;(iv) the Fatima series of apparitions;(v) the VATICAN, AMAIC, ZENIT & EWTN Internet sites (and the ability to use the Internet in general);(vi) some knowledge of ancient Hebrew, esp. in relation to (i).

There now follow the AMAIC’s currently envisaged essay or thesis projects for each of the four main subject divisions:

1. Spirituality {Jesus Christ as Saviour}

This is a broad term, covering e.g. Theology, Christology, Mariology (Fatima), devotion and piety, Church and papal documents, Vatican II, apologetics, etc. The AMAIC would also be interested in suggestions regarding a sublime art, music and poetry for the future Marian age.

For an idea of the range of topics, please consult:http://users.pipeline.com.au/~rossj/index.htm http://members.iinet.net.au/~raphael/index.html http://australianmarianacademy.blog.com/

AMAIC explanation: Candidates’ contributions will need to conform to the spirit of the AMAIC, which is Church-based. So contributions contrary to this basis, no matter how ingeniously argued, will be rejected. That rejection includes favourable discussions of apparitions and private revelations that are not approved (or, worse, are condemned) by the Church. Before embarking upon any substantial project, please consult the AMAIC for guidelines.

There is no specified limit to the word-length of any essay or thesis. Though examiners will not persevere with irrelevant and boring efforts.

Areas of Special Interest (Essay or Thesis Topics)and Suggested Bibliography· Knowing Christ. Who is Jesus Christ? The Consciousness of Christ.The Holy Bible’s New Testament.Catechism of the Catholic Church, e.g. Pt. One, Section Two, Ch. 2.John Paul II, Encyclical Redemptor Hominis (1979).Benedict XVI, Encyclical Spe Salvi (2007).St. Bonaventure, De Scientia Christi (“On the Knowledge of Christ”).Neubert, Fr. E, My Ideal. Jesus Son of Mary, Maryhurst Press, 1963.Most, Fr. W, The Consciousness of Christ, Christendom, 1980.Wenham, J, Christ and the Bible, Inter-Varsity Press, 1984.

Wright, J, Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament,Monarch Books, 1992. Foster, C, The Jesus Inquest, Monarch Books, Grand Rapids, 2006.Ward, Bro. J, “Did Christ Have Faith?” See: http://australianmarianacademy.blog.com/ (post for February 09, 2008)· The Science of the Wisdom of the Holy Cross.De Montfort, St. Louis, The Wisdom of the Cross; and The Love of Eternal Wisdom.St. Teresa Benedicta (Edith Stein), The Science of the Cross.AMAIC’s “Reflections on the Constitution”. These can be found at:http://australianmarianacademy.blog.com/ (posts for January 29; February 18, 2008)· The Divine MercyPius XII, Encyclical Haurietais Aquas (“On Devotion to the Sacred Heart”) (1956).John Paul II, Encyclical Dives in Misericordia (1980).Benedict XVI, Encyclical Deus Caritas Est (2005).Kowalska, St. F, The Divine Mercy in My Soul: Diary; Sr. Faustina’s Novena to the Divine Mercy.Miravalle, M, ed., Contemporary Insights on a Fifth Marian Dogma (Vox Populi Mariae Mediatrici), Queenship Publishing, 2000.· Jesus Christ as Head of the Mystical Body. Mary at the Foot of the Cross, ‘Standing In’ for Sinners.Pius XII, Encyclical Mystici Corporis Christi (1943).Pius XII, Encyclical Munificentissimus Deus (1950).John Paul II, Encyclical Redemptor Hominis (1979).John Paul II, Encyclical, Redemptoris Mater (1987).Albers, F, Bound to the Virgin, Neptune Press, 1982.AMAIC’S Marian Doctrine: This can be found at:http://australianmarianacademy.blog.com/ (posts for January 29; February 18, 2008)· Knowledge of Mary. Her Relationship to the Most Holy Trinity & Church. The Immaculate Conception and her other Privileges and Prerogatives. (Defence of Mary’s Privileges).Leo XIII, Aeterni Patris (1879).Vatican II’s Document on the Church, Lumen Gentium.John Paul II, Encyclical, Redemptoris Mater (1987).Maritain, J, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sheed & Ward, London, 1948. See pp. 91-92, n. 1.De Montfort, St. Louis, The Secret of Mary; True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.Duff, F, The Woman of Genesis, Praedicanda Press, Dublin, 1976.“St. Kolbe’s Trinitarian Mariology” (Taken from Fr. L. Faccenda’s Saint Maximilian’s Contribution to the Intellectual Ministry of the [OFM] Order, Roma 2005). See http://australianmarianacademy.blog.com/ (post for 10 March 2008)Calkins, Fr. A, “Our Lady’s Vow of Virginity”, AMI Press, 1993.See also: http://www.airmaria.com/?p=18· The Secret of Mary and the Holy Rosary/Scapular.Pope Paul VI, Exhortation Marialis Cultus (1974).John Paul II, Encyclical Redemptoris Mater (1987).John Paul II, Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae (2002).De Montfort, St. Louis, The Secret of the Rosary.Liguori, St. Alphonsus, The Glories of Mary, Liguori Publications.Neubert, Fr. E, Life of Union with Mary, The Bruce Publishing Co., 1962. Ward, Bro J, (Rosary Poems): “The Seven Sorrows of Our Lady”, “The Rosary in Poetry & Art” (2005).See also http://australianmarianacademy.blog.com/ (posts for Thursday March 06 [one to follow] 2008)Hahn, S, Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God, 2006.Papali, C, Mother of God: Mary in Scripture and tradition, Augustine, 1987.

· The Biblical Basis of Approved Marian Apparitions/Sacramentals. Refutation of False Apparitions.Pius XII, Encyclical, Our Lady of Lourdes (“Le Pèlerinage de Lourdes”) (1957).Vatican Crackdown on Divine Innocence Community.Albers, F, Medjugorje and the Flow of Grace; also Calneggia, F, Medjugorje: Separating Fact From Fiction. At, respectively:http://members.iinet.net.au/~raphael/medjflow.html http://users.pipeline.com.au/~rossj/CFM_Publications.htmBartholomew, Prof. C, “The Ultimate Message of Fatima”, Immaculate Heart Messenger (Oct-Dec, 2007), pp. 11-14. (also the World Apostolate of Fatima’s comparisons between Esther & Fatima).Mackey, D, The Five First Saturdays, Call for Mary, Sydney 1994. (This book can now be read at: http://amaic2.blog.com/ ).· Explaining the Fulfilment of Biblical and Marian Prophecy (Revelation; Don Bosco; 3rd Secret of Fatima).Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “The Message of Fatima” (Explanation of the 3rd Fatima Secret), May 2000:http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000626_message-fatima_en.html message-fatima_en.htmlHahn, S. The Lamb’s Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth, Doubleday, 1999.Hahn, S. The End: The Book of Revelation, Parousia Press.Hahn, S, “The Fourth Cup”. See e.g:http://webpages.marshall.edu/~trimbol3/4thcup4.htm· Vatican II and the ‘Novus Ordo Missae’. The Significance of the Second Vatican Council for our Era. Its Marian-Ness.Vatican II’s The Church in the Modern World.John Paul II, Letter, Tertio Millennio Adveniente (1994).Most, Fr. W, Vatican II, Marian Council.Albers, F. In Defence of the Novus Ordo Missae; also Vatican II, 2000: http://members.iinet.net.au/~raphael/vatican2.pdf.Hahn, S, The Four Marks of the Church, 4 CD Set, Parousia Press.Harrison, Fr. B, “Vatican II and Religious Liberty: Contradiction or Continuity?” See:http://www.catholic.net/rcc/Periodicals/Dossier/00MarApr/continuity.htmlHarrison, Fr. B, “The Center is Holding” See:http://www.rtforum.org/lt/lt44.html· The Significance of the Structure (chiastic or otherwise) of the Bible’s Books. (Also relevant to Biblical section).Ellis, P, The Genius of John, Collegeville, 1984.Albers, F, The Marian Dimension in the Gospel of St. John. See:http://users.pipeline.com.au/~rossj/Book_List.htmMackey, D, Tracing the Hand of Moses in Genesis, see “AMAIC Historical-Biblical Articles”: http://houseofgold.blog.com/ (post for March 03, 2008), section 4.AMAIC’s “The Toledoth in Matthew 1:1” (also relevant for BIBLICAL section), see http://houseofgold.blog.com/ (post for February 25, 2008).Hahn, S, The Gospel of Mark, 5 CD Set, Parousia Press.Sadler, B, According to Matthew. The Structure Saint Matthew Gave His Gospel, Sydney, 2008.· Art, Music, Liturgy.Vatican II’s Sacrosanctum Concilium (1963). Sacramentum Caritatis.Examples of a potential Goldensword:

- showing, in an original fashion, the biblical foundation of a particular (Approved) marian apparition or revelation. e.g. it is claimed that our lady of fatima’s star relates to esther (meaning ‘star’). [is this accurate? or does the star have a different meaning (e.g. our lady’s coming from the east)? professor a. yahuda has claimed, for instance, that “esther” is just the persian version of “hadassah”, the heroine’s jewish name, meaning ‘myrtle’ (not ‘star’)].

- the singular importance of vatican council ii for the modern era. what the future may hold.

- a convincing piece of apologetics or defence of the catholic faith, e.g. re the knowledge of christ. ‘contending against error’ (pope leo xiii).

- a compelling account of the significance for our time of e.g. don bosco’s dream, or the 3rd secret of fatima.

- revealing the true structure of a new testament book.- a sublime piece of religious poetry, or art.Examples of past efforts that would have qualified for a Goldensword:

- john paul ii’s introduction of the five illuminative mysteries of the most holy rosary. also mary as mediatrix at the wedding feast of cana, in redemptoris mater.

- the vox populi movement’s identification of the likely spiritual catalyst for the coming triumph of the immaculate heart of mary and the divine mercy.

- Scott hahn’s important explanation of the ‘fourth Cup’. See: http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1991/9109fea12. Philosophy {Jesus Christ as Truth}

Of special interest will be the relationship between Faith and Reason; and also the study of the Philosophy of Science. Whilst the AMAIC leaves it to other academic institutions to teach the various scientific disciplines, it is interested in key scientific issues that affect Faith and reason - as well as Cosmology - such as Evolution(ism) [v Creationism], Heliocentrism [v Geocentrism].

For an idea of the range of topics, please consult previously mentioned sites, plus:http://brightmorningstar.blog.com/

AMAIC explanation: Whilst the basis for AMAIC Philosophy is the perennial philosophy of ‘being’, especially as elaborated by the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas, candidates are encouraged to explore other original contributions to philosophy, aspects of which recent popes, for instance, have shown to be tremendously useful and relevant for our era. For example, phenomenology as explained by John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla) and the Lublin School of Thomism, and its relationship to ethics and the dignity of the human person. Also, the wide-ranging philosophical contribution of Fr. Antonio Rosmini, beatified in November 2007. The AMAIC has also gained great benefit from the writings on the philosophy of modern science, and opposing scientism, by Gavin Ardley and Wolfgang Smith, philosopher-scientists.

Areas of Special Interest (essay or thesis topics)and Suggested Bibliography

The relationship between Faith and Reason.

St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles; Summa Theologiae.Olgiati, F, The Soul of Thomism (trans. J. Zybura), Aquinas Academy, Sydney.John Paul II, Encyclical Fides et Ratio (1998).John Paul II, Apostolic Letter, Master in the Faith (St. John of the Cross) (1990).McCarthy, Mons J, The Science of Historical Theology, The Forum Library, Roma, 1976.

The Perennial Philosophy.

Leo XIII, Encyclical Aeterni Patris (1879).John Paul II, Encyclical Fides et Ratio (1998).St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles; Summa Theologiae.Rosmini, A, The Five Wounds of the Church (“Le cinque piaghe …, 1883).Maritain, J, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sheed & Ward, London, 1948.Albers, F, The Foundations of Our Catholic Faith, Neptune, 1981.

The Philosophy of Science.

Ardley, G, Aquinas and Kant, Longmans, Green & Co, London, 1950; also Berkeley’s Renovation of Philosophy, Martinus Nijhoff, 1968; also “Philosophy of Science: Dualist or Integral?”; also “Philosophies of Appearance and Reality”.Smith, W, Cosmos and Transcendence, 1984; The Quantum Enigma, 2005.Eddington, A, The Nature of the Physical World, Macmillian, 1935.Albers, F, “… Pope Pius XII and Science”, Towards a Catholic Science Course.AMAIC Philosophy of Science textbook (currently being written).

Refutation of Philosophically-based Systems Inimical to Thomism: e.g., Evolutionism, Teilhardism, Scientism.

Leo XIII, Aeterni Patris (1879).Pius X, St, Encyclical Pascendi Dominici Gregis (1907). Pius XII, Encyclical, Humani Generis (1950). Ward, J, 3-part series, “Can We Trust These Men?” on Carl Jung; Teilhard de Chardin and Karl Rahner. See http://brightmorningstar.blog.com/ (post 22 January 2008). Ward, Bro J, “Did Darwin Bequeathe Evolution's Epitath?” See http://brightmorningstar.blog.com/ (post 09 February, 2008). Smith, W, Teilhardism and the New Religion, 1988.Professor M. Giertych series of letters against Evolution, see:http://brightmorningstar.blog.com/ (post 22 January 2008).

Jesus Christ as the Metaphysican ‘Par Excellence’. A Challenge to the Traditional Greco-Roman-Based View of the Evolution of Philosophy.

John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Orientale Lumen (“The Light of the East” (1995).St. Bonaventure, De Scientia Christi (“On the Knowledge of Christ”).Maritain, J, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sheed & Ward, 1948, Ch. II, “The Wise Architect”.Mackey, D, The Lost Cultural Foundations of Western [and of Eastern] Civilisation, see:“AMAIC Historical-Biblical Articles”: http://houseofgold.blog.com/ (post for March 03, 2008), section 5.

Lublin Thomism. Phenomenonology. Dignity of the Human Person.

John Paul II, The Acting Person, Reidel, 1979.John Paul II, Apostolic Letter, Mulieris Dignitatem (“On the Dignity of Women”) (1988).John Paul II, Encyclical, Evangelium Vitae (“The Gospel of Life”) (1995).Krapiek, M, Understanding Philosophy, 2007. See:www.hyoomik.com/lublin/lublinism.htmlhttp://www.hyoomik.com/lublin/understanding_philosophy.htmlKrapiek, M, The Person and Society, Pont. Uni. San Tomasso, Roma.

Evolutionism v Creationism; Heliocentric v Geocentric Cosmology.

John Paul II’s “Message to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences: on Evolution”, Oct 1996.Smith, W, The Wisdom of Ancient Cosmology: Contemporary Science in Light of Tradition. See e.g:http://tcrnews.blogspot.com/2007/12/wisdom-of-ancient-cosmology.htmlSmith, W, “The Status of Geocentrism”. A chapter in The Wisdom of Ancient Cosmology.Smith, W, Demythologizing Modern Science. See:http://www.amazon.com/The-Wisdom-of-Ancient-Cosmology/dp/0962998478Albers, F, Critique of Ardley’s Local Motion, see http://brightmorningstar.blog.com/ (post 22 January 2008). Haigh, P, Proofs for the Existence of God and Creation: A Catholic View. See:http://www.creationism.org/csshs/v12n4p10.htmWood, F & K, Homer’s Secret Iliad: The Epic of the Night Skies Decoded, 1999.

Towards a Balanced Examination of the Galileo Case and its Significance.

John Paul II, “Lessons of the Galileo Case,” Address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, October 31, 1992.John Paul II, Encyclical Fides et Ratio (1998), esp. §34, n. 29.Albers, F. Galileo Galilei, Neptune, 1982.Koestler, A, The Sleepwalkers:A History of Man’s Changing Vision of the Universe, Arkana, 1959.Ardley, G, “The Cartesian Projection”.Haigh, P, Galileo’s Empiricism -- and Beyond, 1992. See:http://www.ldolphin.org/geocentricity/Haigh.pdfSmith, W, Smith, W, The Wisdom of Ancient Cosmology: Contemporary Science in Light of Tradition, Chapter X: “Esoterism and Cosmology”. Carroll, A, Galileo, Catholic Education Resource Center. See://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/history/world/wh0006.htmlSungenis, R, Galileo Was Wrong. The Church Was Right, 2006. See:http://www.galileowaswrong.com/

The Challenge Offered to Conventional Science by the Shroud of Turin and the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupé (and certified miracles in general).

Carroll, W, Our Lady of Guadalupé and the Conquest of Darkness, Christendom Educational Corporation, 1983. Wilson, I, The Blood and the Shroud, Wiedenfeld Nicolson, 1998.Jackson, J, “Is the image of the Shroud due to a process heretofore unknown to modern science”?, Shroud Spectrum International, No. 34, March, 1990, pp. 3-29.Piczek, I, “Shroud of Turin Shows Future of Science”. See:http://www.the-tidings.com/2005/0923/shroud.htmSee also Shroud of Turin websites for scientific updates:http://www.shroud.com/menu.htmwww.shroud.com.auRogers, R, “New chemical testing points to ancient origin for burial Shroud of Jesus”, AMSTAR Press Release, 19 January, 2005.Whiting, B, The Shroud Story, Harbour Publishing, 2006.Sungenis, R, New Discoveries of the Constellations on the Tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Catholic Apologetics International, 2007. See:http://www.catholicintl.com/catholicissues/New_Discoveries_on_the_Tilma.pdf

Examples of a Goldensword:

- showing how a modern, genuine contribution to philosophy, e.g. the philosophy of science, can be incorporated into the “philosophia perennis”.

- the writings of gavin ardley and wolfgang smith are excellent examples of fine scholars attempting to come to grips with modern science, its strong points and defects. critique (compare and contrast) these.

- the importance of phenomenology in regard to the active (or ‘do’) side of a person. the whole question of ethics. in defence of the dignity of the human person.

- arguing against, indeed rectifying, the entrenched view that, whilst ‘faith is from the jews’, philosophy arose from the greeks. propose a revised history of philosophy (ancient, mediaeval & modern). gavin ardley is most useful here. also maritain’s view that ‘the west’ [hence ‘the east’ too] actually begins at calvary. (in St. Thomas Aquinas, Ch. II).

Examples of past efforts that would have qualified for a Goldensword:

- gavin ardley’s acute perception amidst all the dross in immanuel kant’s philosophy regarding the nature of modern science. also ardley’s thesis that philosopher george berkeley does not rightly belong as a triumvir with locke and hume, but is more in the mould of a socrates and plato. berkeley’s contribution to the philosophy of modern science.

- florence and kenneth wood’s cracking of the iliad’s code (a cosmological study appropriate to this section, but also to the biblical-historical section, as archaeo-astronomy).

- wolfgang smith’s arguments for the traditional weltanschauung: geocentrism.

3. Catholic Education {Jesus Christ as Teacher}

This will explore the nature of a neo-orthodox Catholic Education. Of interest, in this regard, will be the relationship of Philosophy to Catholic Education and the importance of Home Schooling, Distance Education & Catechetics. Candidates could contrast unsound systems of education (e.g. Dewey’s, Kohlberg’s) with genuine Catholic education.

For an idea of the range of topics, consult previous mentioned sites, plus:http://amaiceducation.blog.com/

AMAIC explanation: The comments made in regard to Philosophy also apply here, as a sound perennial philosophy must be the basis for any system of Catholic Education. Once again, candidates’ contributions will need to conform to the spirit of the AMAIC, which is Church-based.

[this section needs more thought & development yet …]Areas of Special Interest (essay or thesis topics)and Suggested Bibliography

The Relationship between Faith and Reason; Synthesis of Culture and Faith.

John XXIII, Encyclical, Pacem in Terris (1963), e.g. § 153.Congregation for Catholic Education.[See also Bibliography in Philosophy section]

The History & Development of Western Educational Thought & Practice in Connection with Philosophy.

Ardley, G, Aquinas and Kant, Longmans, Green & Co, London, 1950; also “What Kind of Education?”.John Paul II, Apostolic Constitution, Sapientia Christiana (On Ecclesiastical Universities and Faculties) (1979).John Paul II, Encyclical Fides et Ratio (1998).Maritain, J, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sheed & Ward, 1948, Ch. II, “The Wise Architect”.Chesterton, G, The Collected Works of G.K. Chesterton, Ignatius. See:http://www.chesterton.org/acs/collectedworks.htm

Transforming Culture in Light of the Gospel. Essential ‘Marks’ of Catholic Education.

Vatican II, Gravissimum Educationis.John Paul II, Encyclical, Veritatis Splendor (1993).Congregation for Catholic Education, “Educating Together in Catholic Schools” (2007). See e.g. http://amaiceducation.blog.com/ (post 02 April, 2008).Hahn, S, The Four Marks of the Church, 4 CD Set, Parousia Press.

Catechetics in State Schools. Education as “Intellectual Charity”.

Vatican II, Gravissimum Educationis.John Paul II, Exhortation, Catechesi Tradendae (1979).Tierney, Fr. J, (Various) Catechisms, including his recent, “The Singing Catechism”, Cardinal Newman Catechist Centre. See: http://www.cardinal%20newman.com.au/

The Failure of the Catholic Education System in Modern Times.

Seton Newsletter. “Home Schooling Based on Catholic Church Teaching”.Pell, Cardinal G, The Spirit of Generation Y.

Catholic Home Education: its Nature; Justifications for it; its Boundaries.

John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation, The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World (1981). Apostolic Exhortation, On Catechesis in Our Time (1979).Holy See, The Charter of the Rights of the Family (1983).Relevant sections of The Code of Canon Law.

Parents as the Primary Educators.

Vatican II’s Document on Education, Declaration on Christian Education.Pontifical Council for the Family’s Guidelines for Education Within the Family, 1995.

René Descartes the Highly Successful Pedagogue. His ‘Bifurcation’ and Undoing of the Largely Unified Scholastic Worldview.

Vatican II’s Document on Education, Declaration on Christian Education.Pontifical Council for the Family’s Guidelines for Education Within the Family, 1995. Ardley, G, “The Cartesian Projection”. Smith, W, Cosmos and Transcendence, 1984.[this section needs more thought & development yet …]Examples of a Goldensword:

- explaining the principles of a truly catholic educational system.

- arguing the merits of distance education and/or home schooling.

- a demonstrably quick and effective pedagogy that is new.

- model schools and academies for the third millennium.

Examples of past efforts that would have qualified for a Goldensword:

- fr. [blessed] antonio rosmini’s harmonising of the epistemology of aristotle and plato (also a subject for philosophy).

[this section needs more thought & development yet …]4. Biblical Studies {Jesus Christ as Logos}

This includes Old and New Testament history and archaeology, chronologies, and Semitic and Near Eastern studies, and even some palaeontology. A familiarity with ancient Hebrew will be greatly appreciated and encouraged.

For an idea of the range of topics, consult previous mentioned sites, plus:http://houseofgold.blog.com/

AMAIC explanation: The AMAIC has done substantial work (e.g. two post-graduate theses) towards establishing an archaeologically-based chronology of antiquity harmonious with the Bible’s history. While this system is not infallible, candidates will be expected to be well familiar with it, whilst being encouraged to suggest what they consider as its weaknesses requiring correction/modification. A system that departs radically from the AMAIC model will, if well conceived, be critically considered.

Areas of Special Interest (essay or thesis topics)and Suggested Bibliography

The Church and the Bible.

Leo XIII, Encyclical Providentissimus Deus (1893).Pius XII, Encyclical Divino Afflante Spiritu (1943).Vatican II, Document on the Scriptures, Dei Verbum.Rome and the Study of Scripture, Abbey Press, 1964.Pontifical Biblical Commission, Interpretation of the Bible in the Church, 1984.Harrison, Fr. B, The Teaching of Pope Paul VI on Sacred Scripture. Rome: Pontificium Athenaeum Sanctae Crucis, 1997.

The Sothic Theory of Egyptian Chronology.

Velikovsky, I. Ages in Chaos, Sidgwick & Jackson, 1952.Courville, D. The Exodus Problem and its Ramifications, Loma Linda, CA, 1971.Mackey, D. The Sothic Star Theory of the Egyptian Calendar, Uni of Sydney MA thesis, 1993.See: “AMAIC Historical-Biblical Articles”: http://houseofgold.blog.com/ (post for March 03, 2008), section 5. See also:http://kinghezekiahofjudah.blogspot.com/James, P. et al, Centuries of Darkness, Rutgers UP, 1993.Rohl, D. The Lost Testament, Century, 2002.

A New Biblically-Based Chronology. Jesus Christ as Lord of History: the Alpha and the Omega. The Chronological Importance of the Shroud of Turin. Jerusalem as the ‘True Pole’ of the Earth.

Anstey, M, The Romance of Bible Chronology, Marshall Bros, 1913.Mauro, P, The Seventy Weeks and the Great Tribulation, 1921.Mauro, P, The Wonders of Bible Chronology, Reiner, 1965.Mackey, D. A Revised History of the Era of King Hezekiah of Judah and its Background, Uni of Sydney PhD, 2008; and Twenty Pillars for a Revised Biblical History: Babel to Babylon: http://houseofgold.blog.com/2277980/ ; and Alpha and Omega:http://houseofgold.blog.com/2277980/Wilson, I, The Blood and the Shroud, Wiedenfeld Nicolson, 1998.

The Structure and Language of the Biblical Books.

Wiseman, P, Ancient Records and the Structure of Genesis, Thomas Nelson, 1985.Yahuda, A, The Language of the Pentateuch in its Relation to Egyptian, Oxford, 1933. Carmignac, J, The Birth of the Synoptic Gospels, Franciscan Herald Press, 1984.Tresmontant, C, The Hebrew Christ, Franciscan Herald Press, 1989. Kikawada, I & Quinn, A, Before Abraham Was, Ignatius Press, 1985.Minge, B, Jesus Spoke Hebrew, Shepherd Publications, 1984.Mackey, D, Calneggia, F & Money, P, “A Critical Re-Appraisal of the Book of Genesis”, I & II, SIS Chronology & Catastrophism Workshop, 1987, #’s 1 & 2.Mackey, D, Tracing the Hand of Moses in Genesis, see “AMAIC Historical-Biblical Articles”: http://houseofgold.blog.com/ (post for March 03, 2008), section 4.

The Genesis Flood. In Search of a True Model.

Mackey, D, Paradise Found! Evidence for the Geographical Location of Eden. http://www.catholicintl.com/noncatholicissues/paradise.htmand Just How ‘Global’ was the Great Flood (Genesis 6-9)?. See:http://genesisflood.blog.com/ also: http://genesis1.blog.com/also: http://houseofgold.blog.com/2277980/ (post for January 20, 2008),also: http://www.evcforum.net/cgi-bin/dm.cgi?action=msg&f=25&t=3084&m=3Pearce, E, Who was Adam? The Paternoster Press, 1976.Johnson, W, Evolution? Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, 1986.Ryan, W & Pitman, W, Noah’s Flood, A Touchstone Book, 1998.

Biblical Characters in History.

AMAIC, Twenty Pillars for a Revised Biblical History: Babel to Babylon: http://houseofgold.blog.com/2277980/ (post for November 09, 2007).Metzler, Dr. E. Conflict of Laws in the Israelite Dynasty of Egypt. See:http://moziani.tripod.com/dynasty/ammm_2_1.htmMackey, D, Articles (Judith; Job; Queen of Sheba/Solomon; Nefertiti, etc.), see “AMAIC’s Historical-Biblical Articles”. See: “AMAIC Historical-Biblical Articles”: http://houseofgold.blog.com/ (post for March 03, 2008), section 5.also: http://bookofjonah.blog.com/ also: http://bookofdaniel.blog.com/also: http://bookofesther.blog.com/Examples of a Goldensword:

- showing the inadequacy of the conventional, sothic-based system of chronology.

- any effort to supplement the amaic’s revision of history. identifying biblical characters, events, in history.

- any work that helps to solidify the biblical chronology.

- a more reasonable model for the genesis flood, including a better model for the geological/stone & archaeological ages.

Examples of past efforts that would have qualified for a Goldensword:

- i. velikovsky’s realisation that egypt’s new kingdom history was dated 500 years too early, with all its ramifications for old testament history.

- dr. e. metzler’s revision, modifying and supplementing velikovsky, on the ‘queen of sheba’, and david and solomon, in Conflict of Laws in the Israelite Dynasty of Egypt. d. rohl’s historical identification of ‘nimrod the hunter’ in the lost testament, ch. 4: “nimrod and the tower of babel”.

- john osgood’s better model for the stone ages.- p. wiseman’s discovery of the basic structure of the book of genesis.

- jean carmignac’s argument for semitic originals, and hence earlier datings, for the gospels (and n.t. in general).

For the availability of any articles, or for publication details, please e-mail the AMAIC.

(LibrariesAustralia.Net is a also useful search device.

The Goldensword Award

In the, presumably rare, case in which the Goldensword is awarded, the AMAIC will give a prize (according to means) to the successful candidate, as well as an attractive diploma. The successful submission will become a part of the AMAIC’S curriculum, and will be written up in our Newsletter, MATRIX, and advertised on the appropriate AMAIC Internet site.

Why The Goldensword?

It, combined with the constellation of the Southern Cross, is the AMAIC’s Emblem.

Well, what does it all signify?This is explained in our Constitution (pp. 91-95):

“Judas Maccabeus, having armed each one of them not so much with the safety provided by shield and lance as with that confidence that springs from noble language, he encouraged them all by describing to them a convincing dream - a vision as it were.

What he had seen was this:

"Onias, the former high priest, that paragon of men, modest of bearing and gentle of manners, suitably eloquent and trained from boyhood in the practice of every virtue - Onias was stretching out his hands in prayer for the whole nation of the Jews. Next there appeared a man equally remarkable for his great age and dignity and invested with a marvellous and impressive air of majesty. Onias began to speak:-

‘This is a man’, he said, ‘who loves his brothers and prays much for the people and the Holy City: Jeremiah, the prophet of God’.

Whereupon Jeremiah stretched out his right hand and presented Judas with a golden sword, saying as he gave it:-

‘Take this golden sword as a gift from God; with it you shall overthrow the adversaries of my people Israel’”.

[2 Macc. 15:11-16].

It is this golden sword, a truly mystical weapon, which features on the cover of [the Academy’s ] Constitution. It represents for us the heavenly weapon of the First Fridays and First Saturdays, that two-edged sword of prayer and fasting, rendering its possessor invincible against the powers of darkness. It is slanted, as held in the right hand and in use: ours is a fighting Academy according to the words of this ardent yet little-known prayer by St. Louis de Montfort:-

“… Lord Jesus, remember to give to Thy Mother a new company who, through Her, will renew all things and thus, through Mary, will complete the years of grace as through Her Thou didst begin them ….

What am I asking of Thee?....

True servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary who, like other St. Dominics (lit. Domini Canes: ‘dogs of the Lord’) would go everywhere with the brightly burning torch of the Gospel in their mouths and the holy Rosary in their hands, barking like faithful watchdogs at the wolves who would gladly tear to pieces the flock of Jesus Christ; burning like fires, lighting up the darkness of the world like suns. Men who would, by means of a true devotion to Mary, … crush, wherever they go, the head of the old serpent, in order that the curse Thou gavest him might be entirely accomplished:

‘I will put enmities between thee and the Woman, and thy seed and Her Seed: She shall crush thy head’.

[Gen 3:15].

As for the Southern Cross by which the golden sword is enshrined, we were once again reminded of its significance by the following words of … John Paul II, when he visited the ‘land of the Southern Cross’ in 1986. With reference to the earlier explorers [he] said:-

“… some of them called this unknown land ‘the South Land of the Holy Spirit’. The early navigators plotted the course of their southern voyages by the brilliant stars. They rejoiced to see in the night sky a constellation with five points of light in the shape of a cross. The Southern Cross not only shines above you in the sky: it stands as your national symbol, everywhere visible on your flag.

It is a constant reminder to people of faith that the Cross of Christ is at the heart of our earthly existence and guarantees our heavenly destiny.

The Holy Spirit and the Cross both recall that the saving death of Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit are present in the very heart of our human history, and consequently in the history of Australia. Dear people of Australia, I have come here to your land to bear witness also TO THE GREATNESS OF YOUR MISSION and to your immense capacity for good. In this sense too, with generous and uplifted hearts:-

‘Advance Australia Fair!’”