June 24 – Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (1st century) With Mary, enemies become brothers On June 24, 1187, when the Duchy of Aquitaine in southwestern France was being disputed between France and

June 17 - Message of the Sacred Heart to St Margaret Mary Alacoque (1689) A Lourdes Grotto in Morocco At the time of WWI, Morocco was under French protectorate, and the French population was in majority [...] foreigners began to leave Morocco. The Franciscan presence gradually diminished, until the early 21 st century with the arrival of the first African priest to serve an influx of sub-Saharan students attending

June 6 - St Marcellin Champagnat, founder of the Marist Brothers I see the Blessed Virgin coming to get me with the angels! In the 1950s, a devout Catholic couple, who were major Parisian publishers, had

April 16 – Our Lady of Vines (Genoa, Italy, 1816) – Death of St Bernadette Soubirous in Nevers, France (d. 1879, incorrupt body) Embrun, France: Our Lady of the Magi Until the French Revolution, Embrun [...] i.e. “Royal” in old French). At the latest, Marian devotion there started in the 4 th century when St Marcellinus built a church dedicated to Our Lady of the Nativity. That first church soon became known

April 21 – Our Lady of the Slap (Italy, 1200) – Feast of St Anselm One day, Saint Anselm was rapt in ecstasy In the book “Preparation for Total Consecration According to Saint Louis de Montfort” (1), who

March 23 – Mater Domini (Italy, 1650) - St Rafqa (Lebanon) With Mary, getting out of our comfort zone! When Mary said yes to becoming the mother of God, she embarked on a great adventure. Adventures are

December 31 – Saint Mary Odigitria (Italy) – Death of St Catherine Labouré (1876) Entering the new year with Our Lady (I) "Tomorrow, January 1st, the Church celebrates the solemnity of Mary, Mother of

December 3 – 1st Sunday of Advent – Our Lady of Victories (Paris, France, 1836) Bring Mary to Adoration with you "Do not be afraid to come and worship the Lord, the Almighty, who, in his great mercy, wished

December 27 – Mary Mother of Saint John – The first apparition to St Margaret Mary in Paray-le-Monial With Mary, confronting political violence While Togo has just faced a tense political situation and

September 22 - St Thomas of Villanova (d. 1555) A minibus with nine people in a ravine ... The family was returning from a pilgrimage to Lourdes (France). The way that their trip ended is nothing short