outbreak a “global pandemic” and as Italy was preparing for a full lockdown, Pope Francis offered a prayer to the Virgin Mary , entrusting the whole world to the protection of Mary. I remember thinking, “that [...] found it immensely consoling. Not only was the pope asking Mary to pray for the world, but he was inviting the world to consider Mary as he and the people of Rome do. Pope Francis makes two easy-to-miss [...] to Rome’s special relationship with the Virgin Mary. In the English translation, he refers to Mary with the titles “Salvation of the Roman People” and “Mother of Divine Love.” The first title is a reference
the French Alps, Mary is believed to have come to Maximin Giraud (age 11) and Melanie Calvat (age 14) while they tended sheep. Her appearance in sorrow and tears called for conversion and penance for sins [...] called for penance and prayer for the conversion of sinners. 1871, Pontmain, France - Mary appeared on a farm to Eugene (age 10), Joseph Barbadette (age 12), Francoise Richer and Jeanne-Marie Lebosse, students [...] appeared four times to a recent convert to Christianity, Juan Diego. Mary proclaimed herself "the Mother of the true God who gives life" and left her image permanently imprinted upon Diego's tilma or cloak
the same day at 5:00 p.m., she said: "Sing the ‘Hail Mary,’ the canticle I love so well." "Tell the crowd to come forward and recite 10 Hail Marys." At the end of the Rosary the Lady herself repeated three [...] 8th to 14th (1947), the Virgin Mary appeared nine times in Ile-Bouchard, a small town in central France, to four children aged 7 to 12, called Jacqueline, Nicole, Laura and Jeannette. The first apparition [...] Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Mary was similar in appearance to the Virgin of Lourdes (1858). She said to the children: "I am your heavenly mother" and "Give me your hand to kiss," as if she wanted
the Messenger of God. And God would certainly have respected this freedom, for God created us to be totally free, and He wants us to be free so much so that we can even say ‘no’ and shut the door of our [...] 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 [...] 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 unconditional
February 9-11, a large number of Christians and Hindus went to St Mary’s Gunadala Matha Shrine, in the heart of southern India, to attend the first Mass of the Mary Matha festival held in Our Lady’s honor [...] only 60% of the participants were Christians. For the Hindus, the Virgin Mary is a manifestation of Mahadevi, "the great goddess," and they are comfortable with the expressions of the faith of Indian Christians [...] of the Virgin Mary to Bernadette Soubirous, February 11, 1858, is celebrated in great pomp in Gunadala. A strong tradition, although not confirmed by the Church, asserts that the Virgin Mary appeared on
fragility and defensiveness. Growing up in a devout Catholic family, one would believe that I knew what it meant to embrace Mary’s love. I didn’t. We faithfully attended Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of [...] of Obligation, prayed before meals, and my parents would bless my younger brother and me every night before bed. I owned a rosary but seldom prayed it. Mary was a distant heroine to me, a woman whose mystery [...] the image of the Immaculate Conception and beg her, “Mary, please help me be more like you.” A relationship with her seemed impossible, because she was perfect, and I knew I was not. After I became a mom
her sisters. She opened many rural schools and led missions and spiritual retreats. When she died at 69, Marie Rivier had founded 141 schools in 14 dioceses and more than 350 sisters had joined her to continue [...] 21, 1796, she founded the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, dedicated to the education of children and young people, especially the poorest and most neglected. "The good seed that you sow in their hearts [...] a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Marie Rivier (1768-1838), founder of the Community of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary (1794). John Paul II beatified her on May 23, 1982. This
century, and the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary given in the 20 th century in Fatima, are both meant to be offered in atonement for our sins... The love between Jesus and Mary, and for each one [...] Jesus and Mary redeemed us at great price, how can we not repent of our sins and make reparation for so many offenses? That is why the devotion to the Sacred Heart, as Christ asked Saint Margaret Mary in [...] so that our hearts become theirs, burning with love for God and our brethren. We can only love Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Michèle Reboul Excerpt from de L’Immaculée Conception, clé de
word!” Because of Mary’s single-hearted openness to God’s plan, she conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and brought forth the world’s Savior, Jesus the Christ. In the rough and tumble of daily life [...] prayer away, really. She urges us to surrender all bitterness and self-absorption, and instead entrust ourselves to God’s providential love. Mary did not understand all that the Incarnation would demand of [...] ” When the Angel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary that God had chosen her to be the Mother of his Son, the Messiah, her “yes” to God was total and ongoing. Her response to the Angel stands forever
returned from Medjugorje (Bosnia-Herzegovina) and was praying 10 Hail Marys every day for the intentions of the Virgin Mary. Again, I found this very good and wise, and this time I tried to stick to prayer. Then [...] praying a dozen Hail Marys every day at home. I realized that I had already been doing this for almost a year and that I owed it to the Virgin Mary in gratitude for my healing! And I have been happy to [...] health problems, which led me to return to prayer by calling on the Virgin Mary for help. But once the danger had passed and my prayers were heard, I stopped praying... One day on television, they were
