The Virgin Mary and the Musician In 2017, an 82-year-old Estonian Orthodox composer was one of the three winners of the Ratzinger Prize, together with the German theologians Theodor Dieter and Karl-Heinz [...] studied Gregorian plain-chant, and left Lutheranism for the Orthodox Church. Pärt's music is entirely spiritual, as Bach's music was in his time, both his sacred music and his famous non-religious pieces [...] of the listener; an encounter between the infinitely great and our humanity marked by finitude. This presence, following the example of Mary at the Annunciation, fosters a sort of availability without

November 23 – Our Lady of the Assumption (Italy, 1624) Mary and the intellectualization of faith On September 14, 2017, Pope Francis received 114 bishops who were appointed during the past year. We spoke [...] bishop of the diocese of Gap and Embrun, France, on April 8th, who attended that special gathering. He remembers a particular thing that the pope said on the subject of "culture and religious expressions of [...] insists a lot on that. It is true that in France we have intellectualized the faith a bit too much, and treated gestures such as touching the wall of the grotto in Lourdes, or making the sign of the cross

Virgin Mary. Robert Schuman had a deep devotion to the Mother of God, about whom he said he had learned a great deal from Father Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort. Jeanne Tallier In the Legion of Mary’s magazine [...] September 4 – Our Lady of the Good Shepherd (Italy) Robert Schuman and the Virgin Mary Robert Schuman (1886-1963) was a French statesman who served as finance minister in 1946, during a difficult period [...] German Chancellor Adenauer said that "it is thanks to his wisdom and courage that the foundations of the reconciliation between our two peoples and the building of a united Europe have been laid." After his

the ringing of the Angelus (1456) Like Mary, the Church is wife and mother Without its feminine dimension, the Catholic Church risks to become an old boy’s club and incapable of love, Pope Francis said. [...] must “remain female” and “have this attitude of a wife and mother” who nurtures her children, the pope said in his homily May 21st during a morning Mass commemorating the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church [...] religious and faithful, as well as a growth of genuine Marian piety.” In his homily, the pope reflected on the need for the Church to maintain its feminine nature as wife and mother, like Mary. Without

Jesus in the district of Newtown (city of Kribi), has this mission: to live and encourage others to live Mary’s virtues, and to support the Church. This new team was installed by the pastor of this parish [...] this transfiguration and kill the old man within him, the Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church in Kribi ask the faithful to pray to God through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pierre Rostand Essomba [...] June 23 – Madonna delle Grazie di Ardesio (Italy, 1607) To live and encourage others to live Mary’s virtues In Kribi, a small town in southern Cameroon, during the Easter vigil at the parish of St Theresa

Madonna of Mende (France, 1857) Virgin Mary especially present during pope’s travels to Chile and Peru Pope Francis’ visit to Chile and Peru placed the Blessed Virgin Mary on center stage. During his visit [...] visit he crowned two statues of Mary, venerate a third, and took part in a Marian prayer service. In Chile, Pope Francis crowned a statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel — the patroness of Chile — during a Mass [...] Peru the pope’s first Mass in Trujillo was in honor of “Holy Mary, Door of Heaven.” While he did not crown any statues here, the opening and closing prayers were focused on Our Lady. Later that same day

1367) The house of Mary and Joseph, the school where everything began The simple life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph was so much like ours. Mary was a mother like our own mothers, attentive and vigilant, but above [...] to observe, to listen, to meditate, and to penetrate the profound and mysterious meaning of this manifestation of the Son of God, which is so simple, so humble and so beautiful." Monsignor Francesco Follo [...] above all, since she was immaculate and therefore given to God, she must have raised her son according to the true meaning of life, which was to fulfill the mission that the Father had given him in sending

Sundays and holy days in a special way. 3) Jesus and Mary will be my friends. 4) Death, but not sin." Don Bosco passed through the region in October 1854, and heard about Dominic. Then he met him, and was [...] friends will be Jesus and Mary! Dominic Savio (a young Italian saint) made his first Holy Communion at age 7, in 1849, and on that day wrote his resolutions: "1) I will go to Confession and Communion as often [...] made the consecration to the Blessed Virgin and renewed the promises of his first communion: "Mary, I give you my heart; let it be yours forever. Jesus and Mary, always be my friends, but I beg you to let

1855) – Birth of Saint Jacinta of Fatima Jesus, Mary and Joseph prayed as a family Jesus, Mary and Joseph prayed together, reading Torah passages and reciting the great ancient blessings. They said "shalom [...] love and forgiveness. He gave special attention to the humble, the weak, and the children, because these point to the Kingdom of God: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters [...] "peace," to each other upon rising, at bedtime, before meals and while doing their work. They meant it not only as a protection from war and the granting of a quiet life, but also to call upon special

so I bring them to Mary, to Jesus, and to the Holy Spirit, the three strongest presences in my life, who carry me and who help the people I entrust to them. I like to say a Hail Mary in any situation. It [...] between lines. My relationship with Mary is very interior, very private. In the evening before falling asleep, I place myself under her protection, and I feel her kindness and her love." Michael Lonsdale, French [...] French actor (b. 1931) In Belle et douce Marie, la Vierge des peintres (“Sweet and Beautiful Mary: The Virgin of Painters”) by Michael Lonsdale, released December 2017, Éditions Philippe Rey, a 125-page