doctor of the Church (d. 1109) Mary Immaculate and the cosmos Saint Anselm understood, through faith, that all creation, both on earth and among the angels, was restored in Mary Immaculate. This perspective [...] Lady, sky and stars, earth and rivers, day and night – everything that is subject to the power or use of man – rejoice that through you they are in some sense restored to their lost beauty and are endowed [...] to its true destiny, was corrupted and tainted by the acts of men who served idols. Now all creation has been restored to life and rejoices that it is controlled and given splendor by men who believe in
“The word of God is living and effective … penetrating even between soul and spirit … able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart” (4:12). Even when we are burdened and find prayer difficult, the [...] God and Mary hear the silent prayers we say in our heart? Q. I am an 88-year-old Korean War veteran with a question that is not earth-shattering but one that bothers me almost every day. I talk and pray [...] pray to God, to Jesus and to the Blessed Virgin Mary out loud — every morning and at night before I go to bed. (I live alone.) But there are also times when I pray silently — just in my head — especially
Mater Domini (Italy, 1650) Mary and Joseph: a married couple to imitate in difficult times Discovering the Holy Family, and especially getting to know and love the future mother and father of Jesus, is a precious [...] because Mary and Joseph have so much to tell us about how we can accept God's plan, with all the challenges this can entail in our daily lives. Sometimes we think that everything was easy for Mary and Joseph [...] the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary", Queen of Heaven and Earth, and that Saint Joseph is the patron saint of the Holy Family, of good death, of workers, and also the patron saint of the universal
Assisi The Franciscan Family and the Virgin Mary In a letter to the faithful, St. Francis of Assisi praised the way of humility that God chose for himself and for his mother, and said that he wanted to imitate [...] imitate it: "I, little brother Francis, wish to follow the life and poverty of our most high Lord Jesus Christ and of His most holy Mother and to persevere in it to the end." St. Clare of Assisi, a faithful [...] of humility, in imitation of the Virgin Mary. Within the vast Franciscan family, several branches have a Marian designation: the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM), the Franciscan Congregation of the
our rosaries and journey with Mary! In this Lenten season, a time of rest and spiritual renewal, every baptized person is invited to turn to the Virgin Mary, more than ever, to contemplate and imitate her [...] her. It was Mary who made herself available to the Father's voice and let him take flesh in her. Mary’s greatest desire is to inspire her children to become fruitful like her, and to become missionaries [...] . Yes, praying to Mary is particularly adapted to this time of silence, fasting and giving. During Lent we sometimes struggle to meet God and repent, so strong are the noises and distractions of the world
holy to the Lord'), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, 'a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons'" (Lk 2:22-24). With this act, Mary and Joseph show their intention [...] existing between Jesus, as "first-born" (Lk 2:7, 23) and God's holiness, as well as to indicate the spirit of humble offering which motivated Mary and Joseph (cf. Lk 2:24). In fact, the "two turtledoves [...] February 2 – Presentation of Jesus in the Temple At the Presentation, Mary and Joseph showed their intention of faithfully obeying God's will In the episode of the Presentation of Jesus in the temple,
the Work for the Propagation of the Faith and the Living Rosary Association (d. 1862; beatification set for May 22, 2022 in Lyon). Mary and Jesus’ Baptism Mary may not have been present at Jesus’ baptism [...] . But Mary had known this mystery since the time of the Annunciation. An announce of the Passion: Finally, what Jesus did through his Baptism announced his Passion on behalf of sinners, and Mary was with [...] heading God’s call, leaving Egypt, going to Mount Sinai, walking through the desert, and receiving the daily manna. Mary personally made this spiritual journey. She knew that she was loved by God, who looked
(cf. Jn 14:6), yet Mary is so closely united to him, and so close to us, that we can do no better than to put our hands in hers and to acknowledge her as “our life, our sweetness and our hope.” Pope Francis [...] Fatima (1944) Mary can relieve loneliness and breakdown of our social life In today’s fragmented world, where we risk losing our bearings, a Mother’s embrace is essential. How much dispersion and solitude there [...] Room… Mary is a cure for solitude and dispersion. She is the Mother of con-solation: she stands “with” those who are “alone”. She knows that words are not enough to console; presence is needed, and she is
Nativity of Our Lord Mary and Joseph's painful trial before their marriage (2/2) In Maria Valtorta's The Gospel as It Was Revealed to Me (1), the Blessed Virgin recalls how she and Joseph lived through [...] spirit lived in God. His charity was ardent and strong. And out of charity he saved your Savior for you, both when he refrained from accusing Me to the elders, and when he saved Jesus in Egypt, leaving everything [...] Vol. 1, 25 (1) Maria Valtorta was a 20th-century visionary and victim soul, a Franciscan tertiary and a lay member of the Servants of Mary who wrote thousands of handwritten pages, without modification
Our Lady of the Oak Mary and Joseph's painful trial before their marriage (1/2) In Maria Valtorta's The Gospel as It Was Revealed to Me (1), the Blessed Virgin recalls how she and Joseph lived through [...] Jerusalem when he noticed My condition. And it lasted several days, exactly as it had happened to Jesus and to Me. Neither was it less painful for his soul. And only because of the holiness of My just [...] Satan! I perceived doubt rising behind My back, and stretching its icy claws to imprison My soul and prevent it from praying. Doubt is so dangerous and lethal to the spirit. It is lethal because it is
