May 24 – Mary Help of Christians (1815) The message of Fatima: a message of hope Cardinal Manuel Gonçalves Cerejeira, the late Patriarch of Lisbon, Portugal, said: "It was not the Church who imposed Fatima [...] into the world that all may have life and have it in abundance "(Jn 10:10). Similarly, an article by a bishop of Leiria-Fatima (Portugal), Monsignor Antonio Dos Santos Marto, published in Italy by "Vita [...] apparition of the Virgin at Lucia, in Tuy (Portugal), summarize the message of Fatima and the revelation of a God full of compassion ... who sees all human suffering ". On March 15, 2017, Cardinal Angelo Sodano
Consecration of Germany to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (1954) A strong devotion to the Virgin Mary is stamped on each Maronite soul Fr Godard SJ, a nineteenth century missionary to Lebanon, wrote, “Lebanon [...] Rafqa. Losing her mother at a young age, Our Lady became Rafqa’s mother and guide in all things. She imitated Mary’s obedience and sacrifice in her life. Like Mary, she was a handmaid of the Lord, dedicated [...] saints, Mary was at the centre of their spirituality. St Charbel, the angelic hermit and priest, loved Our Lady deeply. As a child, he would go missing for hours, being found deep in prayer in a nearby
It is renowned throughout French-speaking Africa. It was a stigmatist nun, Mother Mary of the Cross, foundress of the Little Sisters of Mary Mother of the Redeemer, of Saint Aignan on Roë in France who [...] opportunity for the future.” When Father Tardif (a Canadian) came to Issia, he also made a prophecy in 1987 and spoke in the name of the Lord: "I want to dig a spring of living water here, where my people [...] conceive return the following year with a baby! On February 22, 2010, the Virgin appeared to hundreds of children who had spent the night in prayer! Paul Pageaud SMA Missionary on a retreat at the Priory of La
January 16 – Immaculate Heart of Mary, Refuge of Sinners (Paris, France) A Marian apparition during Mary's lifetime! The first Marian apparition took place in 40 A.D., only a few years after the death and [...] experienced a period of great discouragement. One night, while praying on the banks of the Ebro river, he was suddenly enveloped in a great light and had a vision: he saw the Virgin Mary, standing on a column [...] him that his apostolate would bear fruit. She asked for a church to be built in the place where she had appeared, and left the jasper column with a statue of herself holding the Infant Jesus in her arms
July 19 - First apparition of the Virgin Mary to Saint Catherine Labouré (July 19 or 20, 1830 - Paris, France) A Worldwide Rosary for the conversion of the world Men from more than 40 countries joined [...] Brazil, Honduras, Ukraine, Italy, Croatia, Australia, Indonesia — a majority-Muslim country — and the Philippines, the country with the most Catholics in Asia, as well as others. [...] On its website [...] joined together May 6 for the worldwide Men’s Rosary, praying on their knees before the Virgin Mary so that men would once again be valued in society and for the conversion of the entire world. The general
of the Virtues and Grandeurs of Mary (La Flèche, France) Mary's virtues: a model for the Church The Second Vatican Council already drew a parallel between the Virgin Mary and the Church from the perspective [...] and completed this parallel from the standpoint of Mary's holiness, a reflection of the Church's holiness. Because of this, Marian devotion constitutes a path to holiness for the faithful. The dogmatic [...] water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” (Eph 5: 25 - 27) Finally, Mary is described
intercession, was left unaided.” Mary would always be there. Mary always was there. Growing up in a home without a father, I think Mary’s maternal love connected with my own mother’s love. No doubt I projected [...] July 17 - Feast of Mary’s humility A reflection on Mary’s unconditional love Over the years, I’ve often written about how I’ve felt comfort in the Blessed Virgin Mary. While Jesus is indeed love itself [...] left the family, maybe even God the Father would abandon me. So Mary has always been a safe person, a safe place for me. I once wrote a meditation in which I picture Jesus speaking to us right after the
October 8 - Mary Mother of Hungary Lepanto, a major victory of Our Lady of the Rosary (II) Pope Pius V, a member of the Dominican order, was a fervent defender of the Rosary. He also received a private revelation [...] Madonna del Rosario ci ha aiutato a vincere": "It was not the power nor the weapons nor the leaders, but Our Lady of the Rosary who helped us to win." Pius V decided to institute a feast on October 7, to celebrate [...] the Rosary is listed as a memorial on October 7. This solemn feast, decreed by Pius V and continued by Popes Gregory XIII and Pius X, officially credited the Dominican Order with the propagation and or
Nativity of the Virgin Mary – Our Lady of the Kneeling Woman (France, 1550) "Today, from the earthly nature, a Heaven has been formed on earth" The gospel writers do not tell us where Mary was born. We only [...] was in Jerusalem a house called "the House of Anne" near the pool of Bethsaida. A church was later built near this house and dedicated on September 8: the Basilica of the Nativity of Mary, renamed the Church [...] Nativity of Mary that St. John Damascene, Father and Doctor of the Church (d. 749) proclaimed: "Come, all of you: with joy let us celebrate the joy of the whole world! Today, from the earthly nature, a Heaven
(France, 1858) A very concrete way to seek Mary’s intercession At a recent retreat I led for a group of women outside of Tucson, Arizona, the women arrived, one by one, weary, worn out, spent with good works [...] the impossible. They brought with them an unusual heaviness; their burdens were exceptional. One woman was a victim’s advocate — the horror stories collected in her like a terrible, dark library; her dreams [...] ” Another worked with delinquent teenage girls — the concern she carried for them was palpable, like a heavy, wet cloak she could never take off. She knew the dangers they faced on a daily basis were nothing
