these things: joy at the birth of Jesus and sadness for the lack of hospitality shown in Bethlehem; the love of Joseph and the amazement of the shepherds; the promise and the uncertainty of the future. She [...] failings, hope amid difficulty. They see God in all persons and things. In drawing close to Mary, the Church discovers herself, she finds her centre and her unity. The enemy of our human nature, the devil, seeks [...] a mother’s heart. And we, as her sons and daughters, invoke today the Mother of God, who gathers us together as a people of believers. Pope Francis, homily for the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

Damascus - Saint Francis de Sales. Prayer to Mary Most Holy Mary Virgin Mother of God, I am unworthy to be your servant. Yet moved by your motherly care for me and longing to serve you, I choose you this day [...] Help me in my actions and beg for me the grace never by thought, word, or deed to be displeasing in your sight and that of your most holy Son. Remember me, dearest Mother, and do not abandon me at the [...] day to be my Queen, my Advocate, and my Mother. I firmly resolve ever to be devoted to you and to do what I can to encourage others to be devoted to you. My loving Mother, through the Precious Blood of

reverse when combined with virtue, and can become highly ennobled" (Leo XIII, "Quamquam pluries" 1889). "Jesus, the Son of God and God Himself", wanted to be seen and thought of as a craftsman, more than [...] May 1st - Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker Mary’s Husband, the Carpenter Leo XIII wrote, "Joseph, of royal descent, united in marriage with the most sublime and saintly of women, the putative father of the [...] the Son of God, nevertheless spent his whole life working, and, by his industry and skill, provided everything that was needed to sustain his family. [...] The work of the laborer, far from being demeaning

reverse when combined with virtue, and can become highly ennobled" (Leo XIII, "Quamquam pluries" 1889). "Jesus, the Son of God and God Himself", wanted to be seen and thought of as a craftsman, more than [...] May 1st - Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker Mary’s Husband, the Carpenter Leo XIII wrote, "Joseph, of royal descent, united in marriage with the most sublime and saintly of women, the putative father of the [...] the Son of God, nevertheless spent his whole life working, and, by his industry and skill, provided everything that was needed to sustain his family. [...] The work of the laborer, far from being demeaning

now, meant the most direct and wholehearted surrender to God's will, however it revealed itself. This noble and exalted frame of mind was the basis of Mary's spiritual life and reveals itself perfectly in [...] First Church of Our Lady by Saint Peter (Tortosa, Italy) Mary Did Her Part (I) The holiness of the Old Testament saints, and indeed that of St Joseph and the Blessed Virgin, came through their absolute obedience [...] obedience to God's will. (...) This was the hidden motive behind Mary's behavior. She was the simplest of humans and the one who made the most complete surrender of herself to God. Her laconic reply to the

whole generation of priests coming, and they're just like me… We've been formed by the Blessed Virgin Mary and her apparitions.” Our Lady of Peace, pray for priests and priestly vocations. Adapted from [...] even heard about. He read the caption and it said they were looking at the Virgin Mary. He was so poorly versed in religion that he didn't know who the Virgin Mary was. "I thought Jesus was like Santa Claus [...] anything and he couldn't move. The only person he knew to cry out to was Mary… All of a sudden he was pushed back into his body with the force of a universe coming crashing down upon him and he heard the

pre-eminent and singular member of the Church, and as its type and excellent exemplar in faith and charity. The Catholic Church, taught by the Holy Spirit, honors her with filial affection and piety as a [...] 7 – Blessed Pius IX, Pope of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception (d. 1878) Mary, a most beloved mother The Virgin Mary is "the mother of the members of Christ . . . having cooperated by charity that

vence, France) When the Church imitates Mary’s life The Marian Church follows Mary on the mountain and goes with her to meet life. She visits women and men and, beyond their apparent sterility, she is [...] the festive ring on his finger and organizing the family reunion feast himself ... When she flips through the family album, she sees Zacchaeus on his sycamore, Matthew and the publicans, an adulterous woman [...] of mercy. The Marian Church lets in the breeze of Pentecost, the wind that pushes one out and loosens tongues. And she speaks in the public square. Not to assert a doctrine, not to swell her ranks: but to

opportunity and booked myself a seat. I packed my bag and was ready to go! Thank you Mary! Before the pilgrimage, I decided to let go of the heavy burdens from my past that I was still carrying with me and that [...] pilgrimage to Medjugorje (a Marian shrine and site of apparitions in Bosnia and Herzegovina) and were telling us about it. A few months later, they chartered a bus for 50 people to go there. That was the trigger [...] living in the present and from being happy. At the top of Podbordo, Apparition Hill, I met the Virgin Mary. Kneeling at her feet, I felt an incredible warmth of maternal love: Mary was taking me in her

(Lille, France) This priest handed an image of Mary to Muslims on a beach "Hey, I'm 50 years old, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen this!” Marie Joëlle has a hard time hiding her surprise when [...] so interesting! And we all showed each other mutual respect.” At the end of their exchange, Father Vincent gives the Moroccans an image of the Virgin Mary. The words of the "Hail Mary" were printed on [...] reach locals and vacationers where they are. They are responding to Pope Francis’ call, who, at the World Youth Day in Krakow in 2016, asked young people to "get up from their couches" and put on their