April 3 – Holy Saturday – Our Lady of the Cross (Italy, 1490) Mary watches over her children in Iraq Six years ago a long ordeal for the Christians of Iraq began with the arrival of the Islamic State in the [...] also signs of hope, thanks to the efforts of several charitable and humanitarian organizations and diplomatic efforts, the ongoing reconstruction of certain cities like Qaraqosh, and the return of refugees [...] used it as a combat training center from 2014 to 2016. As work continues, a statue of the Madonna and Child has been installed on top of the cathedral to watch over the city. Translated and adapted from:
January 11 – Our Lady of Bessières (France) “France, My daughter, why do you persecute me?” What shall I say to you now, dear sons and daughters of France, who groan beneath the weight of persecution? [...] and the pact of our alliance and go, eldest daughter of the Church, predestined nation, vessel of election, go, as in the past, and carry my name before all peoples and before the kings of the earth.” Pope [...] with God at the baptismal font of Rheims will repent and return to its first vocation. Her faults will not remain unpunished, but she will never perish, the daughter of so many merits, so many sighs, and
events, Our Lady of Czestochowa became the symbol of Polish national unity and was crowned Queen of Poland. The King of Poland placed the country under the protection of the Blessed Mother. A more recent legend [...] monks of the monastery managed to successfully defend the painting against a forty-day siege and eventually they were able to drive out the invaders of all of Poland. After this remarkable turn of events [...] the painting. The soot is the result of centuries of votive lights and candles burning in front of the painting. With the decline of communism in Poland, pilgrimages to the Black Madonna have increased d
him to bring the Family Rosary Crusade on the road, and he created an international stadium tour that attracted millions of people across the world. His efforts eventually came to the attention of the [...] conscious of the political nature of his crusade. In 1959, the CIA started to secretly fund Fr Peyton’s Crusade, paying for advertising, promotion and events, with Brazil a particular focus of the strategy [...] June 8 – Our Lady of Wisdom (France) The Rosary is an offensive weapon Father Patrick Peyton, who was born in Attymass near Ballina (County Mayo, Ireland), built a huge media presence in the US during
March 12 – Our Lady of Guadalupe (Spain) “What, my most precious little one, saddens your heart?” As we visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the same things that happened to Juan Diego can also happen [...] made himself our brother and companion along the journey; he carries our crosses with us so as not to leave us overwhelmed by our sufferings. Pope Francis Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, homily [...] happen to us. Let’s look at the Blessed Mother from within our own sufferings, our own fear, hopelessness, sadness, and say to her, “What can I offer since I am not learned?” We should look at our Mother
elements pointing to the idea of Christian virginity were appearing. For instance, great importance was given to the virginity of the betrothed; we see this notion as well in the context of God's promises [...] only woman of the New Testament to receive the title of virgin (Lk 1: 27; Mt 1: 23). We need to examine two facts which are interdependent but nonetheless distinct: the virginal conception of Jesus (Lk [...] July 18 - Our Lady of Victory at Toledo (Spain, 1202) Mary's Virginity (I) Virginity is hardly in fashion these days. It is undervalued and some go as far as to challenge Mary's virginity. Before Mary's
events, Our Lady of Czestochowa became the symbol of Polish national unity and was crowned Queen of Poland. The King of Poland placed the country under the protection of the Blessed Mother. A more recent legend [...] monks of the monastery managed to successfully defend the painting against a forty-day siege and eventually they were able to drive out the invaders of all of Poland. After this remarkable turn of events [...] the painting. The soot is the result of centuries of votive lights and candles burning in front of the painting. With the decline of communism in Poland, pilgrimages to the Black Madonna have increased d
monument of faith and love for the Mother of God spans more than 16 centuries of history. Every year, on the last Sunday of January, the Basilica hosts the celebration of the feast of the Translation of the [...] January 28 - Our Lady of the People (Italy, 1771) - Saint Thomas Aquinas The most beloved and venerated Marian icon The Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome is the oldest church dedicated to the Virgin [...] present what it represents. We can therefore speak of a special mysticism of icons, which allows us to live a true encounter with God, with Our Lady and with the saints. Adapted from: Zenit.fr
October 3 – Our Lady of Graces (Italy, 1697) Medjugorje: "Extraordinary Fruits!" After a year of mission at the shrine of Medjugorje (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Archbishop Henryk Hoser, Archbishop Emeritus of Warsaw-Prague [...] intense year, under the sign of Our Lady…" Medjugorje is a small town in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where, since June 1981, six young people (now adults) claim to have seen and to continue to see the Virgin Mary and [...] and "special apostolic visitor" to the parish of Medjugorje sent by Pope Francis in May 2018 for an indefinite period of time, reports: "Medjugorje is an important place of worship where we can see extraordinary
journey in which visions of these three places provoke happiness, fear or terror. One of the "strong points" of Our Lady's teachings is that she reminds us of what the Church no longer emphasizes: Yes, the [...] now finishes what needs to be done." Far less well known than Lourdes or Lisieux, the shrine of Our Lady of Montligeon, in La Chapelle-Montligeon, France (Orne department, diocese of Séez) bills itself as [...] November 13 - Our Lady of Nanteuil (France) Mary and Purgatory In several apparitions, Mary alludes to heaven, purgatory and hell. On several occasions, she even takes seers with her on a mystical journey
