Pilgrim Statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, brought by the Heralds of the Gospel

On Saturday, June 13^th the Pilgrim Statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary will honour us with her presence at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, New York. Please join us for this special time of prayer with our heavenly Queen.

This Statue which belongs to the Heralds of the Gospel was blessed and crowned by the Servant of God, Pope John Paul II, on the 21^st of February, 2001, on the occasion of the Pontifical approval of this association.

The Heralds of the Gospel is an International Association of Pontifical Right, the first established by the Holy See in the Third Millennium.

Comprised mainly of young people, its members practice celibacy, and are entirely dedicated to apostolate, living in separate houses designated for young men and young women. Their life of recollection, study and prayer alternates with evangelizing activities in dioceses and parishes, with special emphasis placed on the formation of youth.

Virgo Flos Carmeli and Regina Virginum, are the most recent societies of apostolic life approved by the Vatican. The confirmation was made known early in May, following a decree issued by Cardinal Franc Rodé, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Before that, however, Pope Benedict XVI   had already on the 4^th of April given pontifical approval to both societies during a special audience with Cardinal Rodé. 

Originating in the Heralds of the Gospel and sharing the same values, the two new societies of apostolic life have, however, different characters. While Virgo Flos Carmeli—Virgin Flower of Carmel—in English, is a clerical society, that is, made up mainly of priests, the society of apostolic life Regina Virginum—Queen of Virgins—is a feminine society.

According to the Vatican decree, Virgo Flos Carmeli “is born in the midst of a loving and pertinacious catechetical action regarding the Church and the Roman Pontiff, and one also concerning the importance of the sacralizing of the values of temporal life to the greatest possible extent”. Also as stated in the decree, the society is characterized by the defense of orthodoxy, of the purity of customs and of the hierarchical spirit, “as well as by the effort to reawaken in all men the distinction between good and evil (…).” 

Virgo Flos Carmeli was founded by Monsignor João Scognamiglio Clá Dias, EP, founder and president of the Heralds of the Gospel, and was erected by the then diocesan bishop of Avezzano, Italy, Dom Lucio Angelo Maria Renna, on the 15^th of June, 2006. The growth of the Heralds of the Gospel, at present active in around 70 countries, led to the formation of the priestly branch and ultimately to the constitution of the Clerical Society. 
Later on, Dom José Maria Pinheiro, diocesan bishop of Braganca Paulista in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, where the General House of the Society is located at present, requested the Pope to grant pontifical approval toVirgo Flos Carmeli. 

For more information please contact the Heralds of the Gospel at:

Phone: (281) 597-8178

Fax: (281) 597-8190

P.O. Box 421128

Houston, TX 77242-1128

www.heralds.us

Full Schedule for New York:

June 12 Friday                  Our Lady of Sorrow 7:00 pm.          Coney Island.

June 13 Saturday                St. Patrick Cathedral 12:00 Noon.  Manhattan