Glossary

Christianity is a religion. This religion is monotheistic, it means, there is only one (Greek: mono) God (Greek: theos).

There are three Abrahamic religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

Christians, the adherents of Christianity, believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and savior of all people, whose coming as the Messiah was prophesied in the Old Testament and chronicled in the New Testament.

Christianity is a trinitarian religion. The Trinity is the belief that God is one God in three persons, it means that the one God comprises three distinct, eternally co-existing persons: the Father (God the Father), the Son (God the Son, incarnate in Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit (God the Holy Spirit).

From Latin "cultura" as an opposite term to "natura" (English: nature). Only human beings can develop culture.

The modern term "culture" is based on a term used by the Ancient Roman orator Cicero in his Tusculanae Disputationes, where he wrote of a cultivation of the soul or "cultura animi," using an agricultural metaphor for the development of a philosophical soul, understood teleologically as the highest possible ideal for human development.

Europe is a continent. Europe, in particular, ancient Greece and ancient Rome, was the birthplace of Western culture or civilization.

In classical Greek mythology, Europa (Ancient Greek: Εὐρώπη, Eurṓpē) was a Phoenician princess. The word Europe is derived from her name. The name contains the elements εὐρύς (eurús), "wide, broad" and ὤψ (ōps, gen. ὠπός, ōpós) "eye, face, countenance", hence their composite Eurṓpē would mean "wide-gazing" or "broad of aspect".

Today, it exists "europology" as a science about Europe.

Our Lady of Europe is one of the titles of Mary, mother of Jesus.

"Devotion to Our Lady of Europe started over 700 years ago (1309), when ... the Castillian King Ferdinand IV, in thanksgiving, dedicated the Continent of Europe to the care and protection of our Blessed Lady and gave her the title OUR LADY OF EUROPE. The small mosque at Gibraltar was converted into a Christian Chapel which houses the statue of Our Lady of Europe. History tells us that the feast of Our Lady of Europe in Gibraltar was celebrated on 15th August from time immemorial. In 1979 European countries were exerting serious efforts to create greater unity in all spheres of life,so much so, that 5th May was celebrated as Europe Day. Bishop Rapallo petitioned Rome for the transfer of the feast day of Our Lady of Europe to coincide with "Europe Day". Rome replied in the affirmative and since then the Feast of Our Lady of Europe has been solemnised on May 5th. (Added to the Marian Shrines list 9-27-2011)"

Pope John Paul II:

"The reason why successive Popes have always approved and as far as possible have promoted devotion to the Most Blessed Virgin, our Mother, is clear to anyone who seriously considers he greatness before God, whose Mother she is; her greatness before men, whose Patroness she has become; her sublime holiness, which is an example and an encouragement to us her children; and the power of her intercession with her adorable Son, the ruler of all.

That is why, on being asked by our reverend Brother, Edward Rapallo, Bishop of Gibraltar, officially to approve Our Blessed Lady as the Principal Patroness of the Diocese of Gibraltar, under the title of Our Lady of Europe, which is the name by which the clergy and faithful invoke her there with his approval, I most gladly accede to this request, for I myself am very keen to promote our heavenly Mother’s honour.

I therefore approve what the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelisation of People had decided in this connection, and I declare that the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of Christ, be held to be the Principal Patroness of the Diocese of Gibraltar and be invoked with the title ‘Our Lady of Europe’, towards whom the faithful are drawn with very special devotion.

Her patronage under this title will enjoy all the rights and privileges envisaged by liturgical law, all things to the contrary notwithstanding.  I avail myself to this opportunity to invoke the Divine Mother and ask her kindly to protect the people whose welfare is her very special concern.

Given at Rome, at St. Peter’s, under the Ring of the Fisherman, on the 31^st May in the year 1979, the first year of my Pontificate.’

Authenticated and signed by Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, Prefect of the Council For Public Affairs of The Church."

(http://www.ourladyofeurope.net/History/history_contents.htm)