surprises us! The time of Advent is a time during which we are invited to contemplate Mary, a young girl among many others of Nazareth, a simple creature of humble condition. Mary could have directed her freedom [...] our part. In addition, Mary's response is not motivated by fear or apprehension in the face of possible punishment. ... Mary's ‘yes’ is truly an agreement with the Creator. It is a free, conscious and u [...] of our hearts to him. ... And yet Mary answered, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let everything be done for me according to your word" (Lk 1:38). Mary’s response is a free adherence to God’s will—to God’s

artificial grotto dedicated to "Our Lady of the Ravine," very quickly adorned with ex-votos. In 1857 there was a temporary shrine, with a beautiful Black Madonna, offered by the Ladies of the Sacred Heart from [...] invocation has never been erased. Both Muslims and Christians come here to pray to Mary and bring her flowers. We can also see a quote from Saint Augustine (who was an Algerian – d. 430), written in French, [...] "Brotherly love comes from God and is God himself." A very strong statement in this country where some kill in the name of Allah! In 1846, there was only a small Marian shrine in Algiers, which was an artificial

gives homage to Our Lady Every Christian land is a Marian land; there is not a nation redeemed in the blood of Christ that does not glory in proclaiming Mary its Mother and Patroness. This truth is brought [...] attracts a great number of pilgrims, including thousands of young people. The Middle Ages, which, especially through Saint Bernard, sang Mary's glory and celebrated her mysteries, witnessed a marvelous [...] bear witness above all to the faith of a people that outdid itself in a magnificent display of energy, leaving traces of permanent homage of their devotion to Mary far and wide. In the cities and the c

described her as a beautiful lady in a dark blue dress covered with stars. She wore a black veil with a golden crown on her head. Two little girls, Francoise Richer, age 11, and Jeanne Marie Le Bosse, age [...] TOUCHED! On January 17, 2021, the Shrine of Pontmain in northwest France and site of a famous apparition of the Virgin Mary, celebrated its 150th anniversary. Back in 1871, France was in war and most of France [...] in a typhoid epidemic and smallpox was spreading. It must have seemed to be the worst of times to those living here. On January 11, 1871, during the Battle of Le Mans, the Northern Lights put on a mysterious

said: “Mary, my mother! Mary, my mother!” Dr. Buzzonetti, a male nurse and Brother Camillus were with me in the ambulance. It drove very fast, without a police escort. The siren broke down after a few hundred [...] Holy Father had lunched with Professor Jerome Lejeune, his wife and another guest, then he peacefully made his way to Saint Peter’s Square for the General Audience. While he made a tour of the square and [...] believed that such a thing was possible. As I was so upset, I did not understand what was happening immediately. The noise had been deafening. All the pigeons flew away. Somebody had fired a shot. Who could

said: "Mary, my mother! Mary, my mother!" Dr. Buzzonetti, a male nurse and Brother Camillus were with me in the ambulance. It drove very fast, without a police escort. The siren broke down after a few hundred [...] Holy Father had lunched with Professor Jerome Lejeune, his wife and another guest, then he peacefully made his way to Saint Peter's Square for the General Audience. While he made a tour of the square and [...] believed that such a thing was possible. As I was so upset, I did not understand what was happening immediately. The noise had been deafening. All the pigeons flew away. Somebody had fired a shot. Who could

"Full of grace" is the name Mary possesses in the eyes of God. Indeed the angel, according to Saint Luke's account, uses this expression even before he speaks the name "Mary" and thus emphasizes the predominant [...] , which is a passive participle. Therefore to render more exactly the nuance of the Greek word one should not say merely "full of grace" but "made full of grace" or more aptly "filled with grace", which [...] which would clearly indicate that this was a gift given from God to the Blessed Virgin.

Christmas night? The door opened, thrust open, it was said, by a breath more than by a hand, and a woman appeared on the threshold, covered with rags, so old and so wrinkled that in her earth-colored face [...] face her mouth seemed to be just another wrinkle. When she saw her, Mary was frightened, as if the woman was a bad fairy barging in. Fortunately, Jesus was asleep! The donkey and the ox chewed their straw [...] the same and shone with the same hope. The old woman then leaned over the straw, while her hand went to seek in the jumble of her rags something she seemed to take centuries to find. Mary was still looking

Temple after a three-day search… this episode was a forerunner of the time of waiting that was to take place between Jesus’ death and Resurrection. For when the Virgin Mary, "seized with emotion," cried [...] service of the Lord. A man of prayer and faith, he reacted to the unexpected events of his mission by responding without delay to God's calls: when he had to journey on foot with Mary, who was expecting [...] stable where Mary gave birth; when he received the formidable mission of saving the Savior's life from Herod's murderous jealousy by fleeing to Egypt where he and his family lived as refugees in a foreign land;

place was a dream. Yet when I went to sleep I knew little about, and had no special sympathy for Christianity or any of its aspects; when I awoke I was hopelessly in love with the Blessed Virgin Mary and wanted [...] "dream," I was taken to a room and granted an audience with the most beautiful young woman I could have ever imagined; without it being spoken, I knew that it was the Blessed Virgin Mary. She agreed to answer [...] answer any questions I might ask her; I clearly remember standing there, weighing a number of possible questions in my mind, and asking her four or five of them. She answered them, then spoke to me for several