be raised with Jesus Christ on Easter morning. Because of this, Lent is also a special time of Christian repentance: the admission of one's own sins through the sacrament of confession is not a time to sink [...] Lady of Graces (Padua, Italy, 1630) May Mary accompany us on this penitential journey What does the Church mean in this holy season of Lent, teaching us to fast with our eyes, ears, and tongue? This isn’t [...] XVI said that this time of Lent is "a time of fasting, penance, and vigilance over ourselves, convinced that the struggle against sin never ends, for temptation is a reality that we face every day, and
(Mk 3:21). Through this suffering borne with great dignity and discretion, Mary shared her Son’s journey to Jerusalem (Lk 9:51) and, more and more closely united with him in faith, hope and love, she co-operates [...] Lord – Our Lady of Fatima crowned Queen of Korea (1953) Mary fully shared her Son’s journey to Jerusalem Following the events in her Son’s life, Mary shared in his drama of experiencing rejection from some [...] becomes a model for those who accept Christ’s words. Believing in the divine message since the Annunciation and fully supporting the Person of the Son, she teaches us to listen to the Savior with trust,
isolates, and causes one to be alone with oneself. Here I am is the key phrase for life. It marks the passage from a horizontal life, centered on oneself and one’s own needs, to a vertical life, ascending towards [...] (Germany, Wangen/Wigratzbad, 1938, approved) Mary’s words “Here I am,” the key phrase for life Mankind, at the origin, says no to God, and in the Gospel there is Mary who, at the Annunciation, says yes to God [...] This is why saying here I am to him is the highest praise we can offer him. Why not begin our days with a ‘here I am, Lord’? It would be beautiful to say each morning: “ Here I am, Lord, today let your will
Ave Maria. Instead of a politician or city official, they were led by ‘Broken Mary,’ a statue of the Virgin Mary rescued from a dumpster, who still bears the scars of her past—a crack in the middle where [...] organize a Chicago procession with ‘Broken Mary’ in February. But planning a large procession through the busy streets of Chicago is no small task, and shutting down four lanes of traffic on a busy street [...] through ‘Broken Mary.’ “It’s just a concrete statue, but where that statue is, Mary is, and where Mary is there’s Christ, and where there’s Christ, there’s God,” Matthews said, “and I’ve seen a lot of people
and lived as a clandestine priest during the persecution. With him the evangelization of Fianarantsoa had begun. Father Finaz succeeded in thwarting the hostility of Protestants and rented a modest cabin [...] cabin, where he set up an oratory with an altar surmounted by a statue of the Blessed Virgin. At the first prayer gathering, he began teaching hymns to the children and showed them how to pray the Rosary. [...] year later. Earlier on, in 1867, another missionary, Fr. Castets, had composed a hymnal introduced by these words: "O Mary, Mother without blemish, we, the Madagascan people, choose you as our Patroness
our life goal. We felt His presence every time unity prevailed." The group decided to live as a community with a “family fireside” ( focolare in Italian), in order to spread love to others. As Italy was then [...] might be communists or members of a Protestant sect. The bishop was alerted, but after talking with them, he actually gave them his blessing and full support! In 1948, when a young electrician came to make [...] he asked to become a "focolarino" himself. Two other men joined him. The first male residence was built in a former chicken coop! Chiara Lubich’s Focolare Movement quickly became a meeting place for religious
We have set up a small makeshift prayer corner in our garage and we have families over once a month for a time of prayer for the parents while the children play. Afterwards, we all share a meal. Between [...] children do with their parents. And we try to live our faith in today's world, with its challenges and unique characteristics. Thank you to Mary Undoer of Knots for granting us such graces! Testimonial sent [...] of Graces (Cuneo, Italy, 1537) Mary Undoer of Knots helps resolve family issues My husband and I have been married for 13 years and are the happy parents of 5 children. As a mixed atheist and catholic couple
times on different occasions (with small groups, struggling people, youth pilgrimages, bishops’ conferences, etc.). But I must say that this new mission made me enter in a deeper way into the life of the [...] the shrine. It changed my relationship with the Virgin Mary, who spoke to Bernadette, asked her to go there in procession, and revealed her name: "I am the Immaculate Conception." Through the pilgrims we [...] God's forgiveness, I realize how Mary opens her arms to all sufferings, physical and emotional pains, all sorrows and fears, but also to personal plans and hopes. Mary welcomes everyone, whatever their
Pius XII (1947) "Do not be afraid, I am Anne, Mary’s mother" (II) Historical records say that Yves Nicolazic fell asleep without worrying about his mission. A year later, the first Mass in honor of Saint [...] the night of March 7, 1625, Saint Anne appeared to Yves again. She asked him to take his neighbors with him and follow the torch: "You will find the image (the statue) and this will give proof of your claims [...] continues to this day. The first official Mass was celebrated, by decree of the bishop, on July 26, 1625, with 100,000 people in attendance. Yves Nicolazic oversaw the construction of the new church—he directed
- The Adoration of the Kings — Feast of the Epiphany What Mary prophesied in her Magnificat "Entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary his mother, and, falling on their knees, prostrated themselves [...] authorities of Jerusalem. Joseph, a just and upright man, recognized the work of divine wisdom – the poor and humble have to appear before those who are satisfied with themselves. Both the shepherds and [...] lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty." Adapted from: The Mystery of Joseph (Editions Saint-Paul, Paris, 1997) by Fr. Marie-Dominique Philippe, founder of
