The theme of this year’s pilgrimage to Our Lady of Dasse-Zoumé was: "Mary, model of all missionary commitment." Delegations from the Catholic Church of France, Togo, Ivory Coast and Nigeria were invited [...] to the grotto of Our Lady of Arigbo, in Dassa-Zoumé, in the south of the country. This religious gathering is the most important in Benin, a country with 23% Catholics from a population of 8.5 million. [...] this Marian pilgrimage. The Marian grotto of Arigbo is located in a rocky hill, not far from the Basilica of Our Lady of Arigbo in Dassa-Zoumé. This high place of Christianity in Benin was blessed on February
October 17 – Dedication of Saint Mary Basilica (Chartres, France) The Virgin’s tunic is in the Cathedral of Chartres For several centuries, the Marian shrine of Chartres was one of the most visited in the [...] officially dedicated in the presence of Saint Louis, King of France. The Gothic period is truly the age of Our Lady. Its noblest inspirations pointed to the devotion of the Queen of the Heavens and the Chartres [...] the Virgin Mary wore at the birth of Christ. It was also believed that Divine Providence had chosen Chartres as the first church in Gaul to gain access to the knowledge of the mysteries of the Incarnation
8 – Nativity of the Virgin Mary The daughter of infertile parents, she became the fertile virgin Today, as every year on September 8 th , we celebrate the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast starts [...] starts the liturgical cycle of saints feast days and is a great day of rejoicing for all of us. Mary’s birth was a miracle: her parents Joachim and Anne were already advanced in age, but they hadn’t given [...] child. However, God had different plans, and he announced them to Mary’s parents. Thus Mary was conceived with the view of being the Mother of God’s Son who was to redeem the world. Her birth brought consolation
mother taught us the Hail Mary—the simplest of prayers, made up of two salutations to Mary: the first from the Archangel Gabriel and the second from Mary’s cousin Elizabeth, when she was pregnant with the baby [...] August 23 – Proclamations of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Miracles (Soissons, France) The Rosary, true source of comfort and joy when grieving A woman I know who became a member of the Catholic Church is puzzled [...] towards Mary, the Mother of Jesus. She notices, for instance, how easily Hail Mary’s trip off our tongues, and how we, who have been brought up Catholic, often spontaneously turn to the Mother of Jesus when
Orthodox feast of the Placing of the Honorable Sash of the Most Holy Theotokos in Constantinople – Feast of Mary Mediatrix (Belgium) The hearts of Jesus and Mary cannot be dissociated The two hearts of Jesus and [...] relating to the devotions and obtained the approbation of the Church, shortly before to the visions of Saint Marguerite Marie Alacoque in Paray-le-Monial. On September 22, 1891, Pope Leo XIII, in the Encyclical [...] equal truth may it be also affirmed that, by the will of God, Mary is the intermediary through whom is distributed unto us this immense treasure of mercies gathered by God, for mercy and truth were created
Our Lady of Dordrecht (The Netherlands) - Saint John Mary Vianney, Holy Curé of Ars Our Lady of Altagracia: A Basilica for the New World The Dominican Republic is a Catholic island in the heart of the Caribbean [...] first shrine, and made of concrete. Boldly designed and a bit futuristic, the Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia stands in a forest of palm trees. Only 25 miles from the beaches of Punta Cana, the contrast [...] Caribbean. It is the home of the first cathedral in the New World, built in the early 16th century, and today it also has a most unique basilica: Our Lady of Altagracia (Our Lady of High Grace), built by two
July 22 – Our Lady of Hermits (Switzerland) – Saint Mary Magdalena Fruits of grace in Medjugorje Pope Francis has decided to authorize pilgrimages to Medjugorje, which can now be officially organized by [...] as an authentication of known events, which still require examination by the Church. … "Considering the considerable flow of people who go to Medjugorje and the abundant fruits of grace that have sprung [...] n for millions of pilgrims, by the Apostolic Nuncio Luigi Pezzuto in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Archbishop Henryk Hoser, the Holy See's Special Apostolic Visitor. The ad interim director of the Holy See Press
heart of stone hardened by sin that prevents the flow of grace, source of life. Saint Joseph was the protector of Jesus and Mary, and he is now the protector of the Church and of all families. Mary and Joseph [...] June 29 – Saints Peter and Paul – Our Lady of Laghet (France) – Immaculate Heart of Mary 2019: A jubilee year for the Shrine of Cotignac Our Lady of Graces Shrine in Cotignac (southern France) is celebrating [...] anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in this blessed place. And from Saturday, August 10th, to Friday, August 16, 2019, there will be a Jubilee Festival to commemorate the apparitions of the Virgin
June 9 – Pentecost – Mary Mother of Grace (France) - St Ephrem the Syrian, deacon and doctor of the Church (d. 373) Pentecost is also a fruit of the Blessed Virgin’s incessant prayer During that prayer [...] that the first outpouring of the Spirit upon her, which had happened in view of her divine motherhood, should be repeated and reinforced. Indeed, at the foot of the Cross Mary was entrusted with a new [...] the sake of the Church, whose image, model and mother Mary is called to be. In the Church and for the Church, mindful of Jesus’ promise, she waits for Pentecost and implores a multiplicity of gifts for
10 – Mary Mother of the Church – Our Lady of Saint Luke (Italy, 1857) - Saint Landry, Bishop of Paris Church history is undeniably linked to the history of Mary Since the Lord Jesus, in the person of the [...] has venerated Mary as her Mother—as Mother of the Church. This official title attributed to Mary is quite recent. It appeared in the fall of 1964 at the conclusion of the Third Session of the Second Vatican [...] gives birth to life in God. Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski of Krakow In his homily of May 6, 2018, during the renewal Mass of Mary as patroness of Luxembourg. La Croix
