Who is Our Lady of the Southern Cross?

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On this day, the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, a brief tribute to Our Lady, Patroness of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross.

 The following excerpt is from the website of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross.


In the Southern heavens is found a constellation call Crux.

Every Australian who has gazed upon the night sky has seen the Southern Cross and knows it well. As well as adorning the Australian National Flag, the Southern Cross is an important symbolic and spiritual symbol for all Australians. The tradition of Our Lady of the Southern Cross finds an inspiration in this cross of stars.

Pope John Paul II, in address to the Aboriginal people of Australia in 1986, said… “It is a great joy for me to be here today in Alice Springs and to meet so many of you, the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders of Australia. I want to tell you right away how much the Church esteems and loves you, and how much she wishes to assist you in your spiritual and material needs.

[...]

In 2010, Australian artist Paul Newton was commissioned by His Eminence George Cardinal Pell to paint 32 works for the chapel of Domus Australia, the new Australian pilgrim centre in Rome, which was opened by Benedict XVI in 2011.

Pride of place in the chapel is given to a picture of Our Lady of the Southern Cross. This picture is similar to a picture that Mr. Newton painted for World Youth Day, 2008 which now hangs in Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney.

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