December 24 - Our Lady of Bethlehem Son of Mary and Son of the Most High "The time came for Mary to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid [...] would renew all things. We can imagine the kind of interior preparation, the kind of love with which Mary approached that hour. The brief phrase "she wrapped him in swaddling clothes" allows us to glimpse
December 19 - Our Lady of Toledo (Spain, 657) What Did Joseph and Mary Do Near the Manger They looked at, contemplated and admired the Christ Child. That is all they did near the manger. They were deep [...] Son out of his love for us. Nobody will ever be able to understand or explain what went on inside Mary at that time.
15 - Our Lady of the Armed Forces (USA) The Virgin Mary of Nazareth To transform the world, God chose a humble young girl from a village in Galilee, Mary of Nazareth, and challenged her with this greeting: [...] authentic Christmas. God repeats them to the Church, to each one of us: Rejoice, the Lord is close! With Mary's help, let us offer ourselves with humility and courage so that the world may accept Christ, who
Saul is Confounded by the Greatness of Mary (1) Barnabas said, "As Elias was carried to Heaven in the fiery chariot and Our Lord ascended before our eyes, so Mary was also lifted when she died in the house [...] had millions of women before her. (Saul pondered upon this revelation silently.) It was true that Mary had been chosen among all women to bear the Messiah, and had clothed Him with her flesh and had given
- Notre Dame of Victories (Paris, 1836) Consecrate Your Parish to the Holy and Immaculate Heart of Mary (II) After giving thanks, I examined the way in which I had offered the Holy Sacrifice. Only then [...] I heard these words distinctly again, "Consecrate your parish to the Holy and Immaculate Heart of Mary." I fell down on my knees again, and my first reaction was of utter amazement. I had heard the same
Heart of Mary (III) I decided not to pay attention to what had just happened to me. I tried hard to forget. But these words, "Consecrate your parish to the Holy and Immaculate Heart of Mary," kept coming
December 1st - Our Lady of Ratisbon (Bavaria, 1842) - Blessed Charles de Foucauld First through Mary, then through Joseph You have decided that the providential channels of your graces would be your saintly [...] saintly parents; that your benefits would habitually reach us, in the supernatural order, first through Mary, then through Joseph. And so, Lord, you gave us your own parents as our parents. You make us receive
all others, that the faithful and the Church address Mary. It truly is part of the genuine substance of devotion to Mary, finding its justification in the very dignity of the Mother of the Word Incarnate [...] between Mary and the Church, since she is the mother of him who, right from the time of his Incarnation in her virginal bosom, joined to himself as head of his Mystical Body which is the Church. Mary, then [...] entered the Council hall, along with "Mary, the Mother of Jesus," so at the close of the third session We leave this Temple with the most holy and sweet name of Mary, Mother of the Church.
(Italy, 1624) Mary, "Mother of the Church" (III) Indelibly printed in my memory is the moment when, hearing his words: "Mariam Sanctissimam declaramus Matrem Ecclesiae" - "We declare Mary the Most Holy
November 26 - Our Lady of the Remedies (Philippines) The Church Comes from Mary The mystery of the Virgin is the first after-effect of the Incarnation. The mystery of the Virgin is like the ripple effect [...] thrown in the water: the first wave causes all the others. This first concentric circle is the Virgin Mary in relation to the Incarnation. The waves will continue until the end of times, and they are the Church
