Virgin Mary's blessings in all her sanctuaries around Asia. A characteristic feature of popular devotion to the Virgin Mary in Asia is that it tends to transcend religious affiliations and cultures and she [...] July 26 - Saints Anne and Joachim, parents of the Virgin Mary In Asia, the Virgin Mary transcends religious boundaries Though it is generally believed that the Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive [...] brought with them many images and statues of the Virgin Mary. They promoted devotion to Our Lady as they were all fervent devotees of different Marian cults: the Franciscans and Jesuits of the Immaculate

under an oak tree and playing his flute, when suddenly he heard the painful bleating of one of his kids. He ran over and saw that a kid had fallen into a well. He cleared the area and discovered a narrow [...] (Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ) - Saint Barnabas, apostle - Leo XIII consecrates the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, "one" with the Heart of Mary (1899) - Our Lady of Mantara (Lebanon) [...] of Saida and Deir-Al-Kamar in Lebanon, is attracting ever increasing crowds! "Mantara" comes from the root of the Arabic verb "natara" which means to wait. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary was "waiting"

families and friends in Hungary, love and support the Marian Sisters. For us the existence of the Marian Sisters is a blessing from God and a great source of grace. My husband and I are Hungarian and used [...] Sisters. And we were blessed that one of our daughters was admitted into this community! The spirituality of the community is one of simplicity, obedience to the Church and charity in the image of Mary. We [...] Little Sisters. When Mother Myriam and her sisters were persecuted in Hungary in 1998, we were overwhelmed by their unshakeable fidelity to Christ Crucified and to Mary at the foot of the Cross! May God

man, bent with age and limping, makes his way leaning on a stick. He must be very old, I would say over eighty. He goes near Mary and asks Her to give him the Child for one moment. Mary satisfies him, smiling [...] He is Jesus, but still a child, and whatever moves in front of Him, draws His attention so that He wants to get hold of it to see what it is. Mary and Joseph smile and so do all the others who praise the [...] February 2 - Purification of Mary and The Presentation of Our Lord Mary's emotion at hearing Simeon's prediction In this excerpt from Maria Valtorta's The Gospel as Revealed to Me (1) vol.1, the author

Pope and Doctor of the Church (d. 604) – Consecration of Germany to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (1954) What is the consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary? Germany was consecrated to Mary in Fulda [...] through Mary. This personal consecration was extended to cities in the Middle Ages. For example King Louis XIII consecrated France to Mary in 1638, a move which has since been emulated by bishops and popes [...] popes for specific countries and places, and even for the whole world. The Immaculate Heart of Mary is a specific Catholic devotion focused on one aspect of the holiness of the Mother of God: her total purity

there is another and still more wonderful world. There is a power which avails to alter and subdue this visible world, and to suspend and counteract its laws; that is, the world of Angels and Saints, of Holy [...] of man. Moses prayed, and ten grievous plagues fell upon the land of Egypt. Josue prayed, and the sun stood still. Samuel prayed, and thunder and rain came down. Elias prayed, and brought down fire from [...] Consecration to Mary composed by St. Peter Damien and approved by the Archbishop of Cambrai (France, 1626) Mary is the “Virgo Potens,” the Powerful Virgin This great universe, which we see by day and by night

July 26 – Saints Anne and Joachim, parents of the Virgin Mary The great fruits of our consecration to Mary Whoever has consecrated himself to Mary belongs to her in a special way. He has become like a [...] longer have any complacency for evil: on the contrary, he is proud to belong to Jesus and Mary, and he knows that Mary urges him to do everything that Jesus commands or desires. Radio message of Pope Pius [...] image of Mary helps him to energetically reject all evil thoughts. The love of Mary gives him the courage to undertake great things, to overcome human respect, to shake off selfishness, to serve and obey patiently

July 15 - Saint Bonaventure, Doctor of the Church (d. 1274) - Maronite and Syriac Catholics: Feast of Mary Mediatrix You have to ask Mary! “This tender Mother is animated by such a desire to help everyone [...] some, especially among gamblers, who are perverse souls who blaspheme in the excess of their anger and insult this sweet Sovereign - but also by those who do not ask her for any graces. Not only those who [...] who ask you nothing, sin against you.” Saint Bonaventure (1221-1274), Mirror of the Blessed Virgin Mary See also: Marian Encyclopedia

France the "Kingdom of Mary" (1922) Fourteen of the 18 Lourdes apparitions took place during Lent Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season, a time of conversion and a journey towards Easter [...] took place during Lent of 1858. The other four act as “bookends” of the series: two before and two after. Mary first spoke to Bernadette during the apparition that followed Ash Wednesday. She asked her: [...] It is during this set of thirteen apparitions, inaugurating Lent, that Mary asked to pray for sinners, for their conversion, and insisted on penance. F. Breynaert Library of Marian Writings

Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna and martyr (d. 155) – Apparition of Mary Immaculate Mother of Victory to Cäcilia Geyer (Wangen/Wigratzbad, Germany, 1938), approved devotion Mary never thought of herself (I) [...] had never paid too much attention to herself. When the appearance of the angel burst forth and the first Hail Mary resounded, she was confused: what was the meaning of his message? If he was telling the truth [...] (I) Before the Annunciation, Mary already belonged to God. She was offered, she was given, she was poor, she was waiting. But she was still unaware of how the words of the Song of Songs were to be fulfilled