points to the fact that Jesus was Mary's only child (Jn 19: 25-27). Mary is alone with her Son at the foot of the Cross and Jesus entrusts her to the apostle John. If Mary had had other children, wouldn't [...] to designate "brother" (adelphos) and "cousin" (aneptios), Aramean and Hebrew use just one word. These languages designate close family ties by the words "brothers" and "sisters." Moreover, John's Gospel [...] Macrina the Younger Mary's Virginity (II) From the first centuries, the Church's tradition has upheld the virginal conception, as St Ignatius of Antioch testifies. Concerning Mary's perpetual virginity
December 24 - Vigil of the Nativity of the Lord Mary talks about Jesus’ birth (I) In the following excerpt from Luisa Picarreta's book (1), the Virgin Mary recalls the moment of Jesus’ birth: “You must know [...] give its first kisses of light to little Baby Jesus, and to warm Him with its heat; the ruling wind purified the air of the stable with its waves, and with its sweet moaning said to Him: "I love You"; the [...] foundations; the earth exulted and trembled down to the abyss; the sea roared with its gigantic waves. In sum, all created things recognized that their Creator was now in their midst, and they all competed in singing
thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee-Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary. And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light and kings in the splendor of thy rising, and the glory of the [...] January 6 - Epiphany of Our Lord Thy Light is Come from the Virgin Mary O God, who by the guidance of a star didst on this day manifest Thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we
the School of Mary's Silence (III) In the privileges of her motherhood, as much as in the sufferings that it occasioned, Mary was so often presented with the « inner side » of things...and she never ceased [...] reach the divine message and the deeper meaning of God. She lived this to such an extent that she was found worthy, at the foot of the Cross, to become their depository custodian and dispenser. There is no [...] no doubt that John profited from this treasure and that he was the first to have this privilege.
in their prayers,” and asked for the miracle of her intercession. “And lo and behold, around March 25, 1941, the snow melted, and a lake formed, and in that lake, fish appeared! And thanks to those fish [...] e it—not Mary giving them the fish herself, but it’s the Child Jesus in her arms who gives the fish to his Mother, and the Mother throws the fish into the nets—that represent our prayers, and those nets [...] June 3 – Our Lady of the Letter (Messina, Italy) Mary Queen of Peace, Patroness of Kazakhstan (I) Bishop José Luis Mumbiela Sierra, of the diocese of Holy Trinity in Almaty, Kazakhstan, was visiting Rome
Hail Marys When I was in my thirties, a colleague invited me and some people from the office to a party at her house. Although she was very nice, this person was interested in occult practices, and that [...] to pray to the Virgin Mary in my heart. No sooner had I finished the third Hail Mary than something happened: the young man stopped reading his cards. He said that he was blocked and that a force was preventing [...] from continuing. He looked around at the participants and then at me. "It's you," he said matter-of-factly. "Well, we're just going to stop." And just like that, we switched to normal games. I was really
(Manila, Philippines) Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit In the painting of Mary Undoer of Knots, a dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, hovers above the head of the Virgin Mary, and illuminates the top of [...] 4:18). It is the same Spirit who formed Jesus in Mary, who brought him out of her womb and who brought him out of the tomb alive and victorious over death. And as the Spirit raised Jesus, so he will raise [...] the members of his Church, because through Mary he has obtained power and jurisdiction over the whole body of Christ which is the Church. Isabelle Rolland. Marie qui défait les nœuds. D’un “miracle conjugal”
in the biblical and Christian tradition. The modern popes have given a renewed consideration to the condition and vocation of women. Aubrée David-Chapy Associate History Professor and Lecturer in Modern [...] freedom they did not have before, and which they lost to a certain extent later on. The medieval Church sought in many ways to protect them, especially by promoting monogamous and indissoluble marriage. During [...] April 5 – Our Lady of Graces (Italy, 1897) Mary, the ideal woman Fully aware of the intrinsic dignity of women, whom she recognizes as equal to men in the eyes of God, the Church has given rights to women
Piety Mary, Dawn of the Redemption On September 8th, we celebrated Mary's Nativity, and soon, on December 8th, we will celebrate her Immaculate Conception. The Gospels do not tell us where Mary was born [...] fifth century, and to Rome and the West in the 7th century. Logically, the feast of her conception was celebrated nine months earlier, hence the date of December 8th. The Nativity of Mary was an important [...] 42). The Polish pontiff also drew a parallel between the cradle of the child Mary and the duty of every person to "protect and defend the fragile creatures" that are children. Adapted from Vatican News
Scriptures and in hearing it preached. Mary's greatness lies in her faith. Mary is the model of faith, yet she did not understand everything. Saint Luke comments on Jesus’ words after Mary and Joseph found [...] dialogue of love that makes our faith grow. Mary found her happiness precisely in listening to the Word and using it in prayer, with the Law, the Psalms and the Prophets. Faith does not consist in thinking [...] June 24 – Nativity of Saint John the Baptist Mary didn't understand everything, but she trusted God Saint Ambrose of Milan (d. 397) spoke from experience and shared something that most faithful can relate
