From the Outback to the Pope's Back: The Legend of "Marjorie's Bird" [Ecumenical]

WITL ^ | July 19, 2008 | Rocco Palmo

[NYer]

With WYD's grand finale shortly to come -- the climactic closing liturgy at Randwick (vidstreams and Missal) begins at 10am local (2300GMT, 7pm ET Saturday) -- in one of the week's many nods to Australia's indigenous community, topping the stage at the major events has been a popular Aboriginal rendering of the Holy Spirit known as "Marjorie's Bird."

Now, with the design about to take on an even bigger visibility as a key element of the specially-designed vestments for tomorrow's liturgy, Marjorie Liddy, the Tiwi islander behind the image (who never painted before seeing its outline in the sky in 2004) tells her story:

It is not quite Our Lady of Fatima, and Liddy is a long way from beatification, but the legend of Marjorie's Bird has swept the Catholic Church in Australia, which has adopted the symbol as the main image of World Youth Day.

Cardinals and bishops from around the world will wear Marjorie's Bird on the back of their earthy-red chasubles, the outer garment of their vestments, and the Pope will stand under the image on the sanctuary surrounding the altar at Randwick before hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.

Whether the vestments of the Pope will contain the image of Marjorie's Bird is the "million-dollar question", World Youth Day organisers say.

Liddy, who lives at Condor Point on Melville Island, three hours' drive through eucalypt and cyprus forest from the closest airstrip, is awestruck that the image of the bird with the golden aura that she saw above her island under a dry-season sky four years ago has attracted the attention of the Vatican....

"When I first heard that on the island, I just grabbed a handful of dirt, threw it all over myself," she said. "I felt unworthy."

The Tiwi woman says she was touched by God after a day out fishing in the Timor Sea with her son. Under a full moon, close to 9pm on August 30, 2004, Liddy caught her son staring at the sky.

"My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets," she said. "There was a big painting of a bird in the sky, all done in dots. He had a yellow halo across his head. His wings touched from one end of the horizon to the other, just covered the whole sky."

Filled with joy, Liddy began to dance and sing a Tiwi Catholic hymn.

"My son was staring at me, looking at me like I was going nuts," she said.

"I said: 'Son, can you see what I can see?' He told me: 'A bird, Mum.'

"I said: 'That's the Holy Spirit.' And when I said that, that halo burst. Sparkles of gold like I had never seen in my life were just falling on the earth."

The Australian Catholic Church's director of evangelisation, Steve Lawrence, said he had received a strong indication that "the papal household is very happy" that Marjorie's Bird will adorn senior church figures' vestments.

But Mr Lawrence said it did not indicate the Vatican officially endorsed Liddy's vision, describing it as a "private revelation". Mr Lawrence, who has met Liddy, said he believed she had seen the enormous bird in the sky. "She's the genuine article, in my opinion," he said.

Darwin's recently retired bishop, Ted Collins, has no doubt the quiet, gentle woman he has known for almost 40 years saw an indigenous image of the Holy Spirit. "Marjorie is a lady that has been very close to God, and I believed her," Mr Collins said.

Liddy is one of hundreds of Aborigines brought up in missions, which multiplied across the Northern Territory from the mid-1930s. Many former missions retain strong connections to the Catholic Church. The late pope John Paul II visited Aborigines in Alice Springs during his 1986 tour of Australia, saying the church would be incomplete without the involvement of indigenous people.

Of 450 pilgrims travelling to Sydney from the Territory, 183 are Aboriginal. Poor families have raised up to $3000 to send their children to World Youth Day - the first time many had saved such a large sum.

Older people from communities such as Wadeye and Daly River, and the Tiwi Islands elders, have blended their traditional spirituality and dreamtime stories with their Catholic faith.

"Most Aboriginals feel the spirit in the bush," Liddy said.

"The Holy Spirit, the spirit of the land, it is the same. It's in the land for everybody. It is not just for us."

As a specially-named WYD VIP, Marjorie was present as the Pope made his official arrival on Thursday, and seemingly won't be far off the dais when her Bird takes flight later today.

While the new image will take the back of the vestment, on its front will be the more traditional symbol of Australian faith, yet one likewise found in the stars: the Southern Cross.

PHOTO: Andrew Taylor/Sydney Morning Herald

[NYer]

The Holy Father will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to 27 youth at this final Mass and announce the venue for the next World Youth Day. Rumors have it that Spain has been chosen but we’ll have to patiently wait for final confirmation.

[trisham]

Wonderful!

[Frank Sheed]

I watched almost all of the Mass. The Holy Father must have brought his own vestments according to “Shouts in the Piazza.” He had no markings of any kind on his vestments unlike everyone else.

The music of the Mass was beautiful, by the way.

[Biggirl]

I had watched on EWTN one of the most holy, reverent, and beautiful holy mass I have seen in a very long time. Deeply spiritual and moving. Yes I have see those wonderful young people get confirmed. It was a blessing. I was thinking of the young man from my parish who has been in attendence at the WYD in Sydney. God Bless him.

The Pope has anounced the next WYD will take place in Madrid, Spain, in 2011. The Spanish youth cheered bigtime when they got the news.

[Biggirl]

I am not suprised Madrid, Spain was chosen, most likely because of the deep mystical connection to be found in its Catholic spiritual heritage.

[Salvation]

Plus — close to Africa.

[Biggirl]

Agreed, with the Church growing in Africa and the need to get the good news to all four corners of that continent.

[NYer]

I am not suprised Madrid, Spain was chosen, most likely because of the deep mystical connection to be found in its Catholic spiritual heritage.

Indeed, plus the opportunity to witness to Christ in a socialist nation.

Prior to the announcement, I pondered various potential locations and ruled out many for various reasons. Would it not be a blessing for the local Church to host this event somewhere in the Middle East - yes but it would put pilgrims at risk and a tremendous financial strain on that Church. What about Russia or Greece? Probably not as it would entail prior approval from the Orthodox Patriarchs. Africa? Again, tremendous growth accompanied by persecution and limited finances. The Orient? - too soon after Australia.

Question for both of you. Father Mark mentioned that this was the 23rd WYD! These were begun by JPII and are held every 3 years. Doing the math, how is that possible? And, where were the others held? I recall Denver (US), Vancouver (Canada), France, Germany ... and ????

[Biggirl]

...I have done the same and I have thought that WYD would either go back to America in gratitude for the warm welcome given to the Pope back in April during his visit, but then, what other location would hold WYD in America? Plus it could create resentment because Denver had the honor and it would look repititous. Latin America, another possible area, but with one or two certern active dictators who could create some possible mischief with it. So it is not suprising also with Spain because of the Spanish aspect.