for the exegetes of Israel, took on new significance at the time of the Blessed Virgin, after Herod 1st had been made King of Judea, bringing to an end the Jewish Hasmonean dynasty. From then on, the Jews [...] of Rome and remained so until the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. When Octavius confirmed Herod 1st as the King of Judea, Samaria, Idumea and Galilee, also offering him the Golan plateau and the cities [...] Cleopatra, an earthquake struck Jerusalem and claimed 10,000 victims. With the accession of Herod 1st, authority passed to the Romans and the sign presaging the coming of the Messiah was fulfilled because

training of future disciples. We are those disciples. Why are we twice told that Mary, whom St. Luke and later St. John consistently present as a model disciple, “kept all these things, reflecting on them [...] grandmothers when we want to know our past. They have stories, even about us, that we cannot recall. St. Luke’s infancy narrative twice mentions Mary’s memory. When the shepherds withdraw from the manger [...] may be why early church tradition presumed a living link between the Virgin and the Evangelist. Did St. Luke gain access to a mother’s personal memories? That question cannot be answered, but we do know

Gabriel, Byzantine On Mary’s Virginity and Giving Birth People are sometimes troubled by the silence of St Mark's Gospel and the New Testament Epistles about Jesus' virginal conception. Some might wonder if [...] mysteries with one another” in the totality of Christ's mysteries, from His Incarnation to His Passover. St Ignatius of Antioch already bears witness to this connection: “Mary's virginity and giving birth, and

Gabriel, Byzantine On Mary’s Virginity and Giving Birth People are sometimes troubled by the silence of St Mark's Gospel and the New Testament Epistles about Jesus' virginal conception. Some might wonder if [...] mysteries with one another" in the totality of Christ's mysteries, from His Incarnation to His Passover. St Ignatius of Antioch already bears witness to this connection: "Mary's virginity and giving birth, and

and help. Our Lady manifested the medal to St Catherine Labouré on November 27, 1830, in the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul and St Louise de Marillac, in Paris. Catherine saw

so completely that her very presence and voice filled with the same spirit St Zachary, St Elizabeth and her unborn child, St John the Baptist. Saint John Eudes, The Admirable Heart of Mary , 1681, #277

1623, at the end of a work day, a young Breton of St Anne d’Auray (Brittany, France) called Yves Nicolazic was at home thinking about his "good patroness" St Anne. His room was flooded with light and a hand [...] his regular occupations. He just prayed more fervently. On July 25, 1624, the vigil of the feast of St Anne, the same lady appeared again at night on the road. She spoke to him reassuringly and led him

Adoration of the Magi, Recovery in the Temple, Resurrection, Ascension) Devotion to the Seven Joys of Mary St. Francis of Assisi was a saint overflowing with Christian joy, who enjoyed transmitting it. And it [...] propagator of the feast of the Visitation, a joyful feast if ever there was one. The Franciscans, sons of St. Francis, were also the first to contemplate, meditate and spread the earthly joys of Mary, which they [...] recommended it because of the fruits of holiness that its practice produced in the good people of God. St. Bernardine of Siena said of it: "It is by means of the crown of the seven joys that I have obtained

tradition, the very first one was made by St. Luke himself in the Holy Land and was later brought to Blachernitissa, in Constantinople. It is probably because St. Luke understood Mary so well that he is [...] painted Mary’s portrait, and that the first Hodegetria icon was attributed to him. There is no proof that St. Luke knew how to paint, but he did know the Virgin Mary best: out of 152 verses of the New Testament

consecrated in St. Peter's Basilica. An imposing fleet was gathered and entrusted to Don Juan of Austria, brother of Philip II of Spain. In order to implore heavenly protection for the fleet, St. Pius V ordered [...] in 1883. The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which prompted this dedication, was instituted by Pope St. Pius V (1504-1572) to commemorate the victory of Lepanto on October 7, 1571. This victory was attributed