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Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Blessed Virgin Mary | Catholic Faith | praying the Rosary
Saint Louis de Montfort highlights ten imitation-worthy virtues of Our Blessed Mother in his writing True Devotion to Mary. Some of these virtues we may recognize in ourselves; others offer us an opportunity to grow in awareness and holiness. Let us examine each virtue and contemplate how to integrate these vital principles into our lives.
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Blessed Virgin Mary | Catholic Motherhood | everyday miracles | rosary
Some people believe the scent of roses when no flowers are present is thought to be a sign that God’s presence is with us or that a blessing from God is imminent. This same occurrence with the smell of roses has often been associated with miracles and encounters with Marian apparitions. Mary is sometimes referred to as “Our Lady of the Roses,” perhaps because the name Rosary means “a garland of roses,” or perhaps she is pictured surrounded by these beautiful flowers. St. Juan Diego, in the 1530s, was asked by Mary to gather roses to prove her presence to the bishop since it was in the middle of winter when no roses would be in bloom. He climbed a hilltop and found them blooming abundantly and when opening his coat to show the roses to the bishop, the picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe was present.
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Blessed Virgin Mary | Celebrating Marian feasts | New Year | pray the rosary
Today, on the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, let us honor the Blessed Mother by attending Mass and offering a Rosary, especially as a family. Mary's fiat, her "yes" to God’s plan to bear and give birth to our Savior, Jesus, inspires us to embrace faith and trust in God as we begin the new year. The Glorious Mysteries, which include Mary's Assumption and Coronation, are recited on Wednesdays. All the more reason to set aside time to celebrate this special day with the Rosary, even if it’s just two decades. Swipe through the images to learn more about Mary, Mother of God. Then, click the button below the carousel to pray and meditate on the Glorious Mysteries along with inspiring and stunning classical art.
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Blessed Virgin Mary | Celebrating Marian feasts | Nativity of Mary
Mary’s birth is not recorded in the Bible. What we celebrate on September 8th each year is not Mary’s birthday in the traditional sense, but we honor the blessing of her being born. The word nativity refers to the circumstance or occasion of one being born. We honor the Nativity of Jesus, celebrated on December 25th, the date nine months after the celebration of the visit of the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation. In a similar way, we remember Mary´s nativity, coming exactly nine months following the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the December 8th Solemnity, when we commemorate Mary’s gift of prevenient grace, allowing her to be born without Original Sin.
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Assumption | Blessed Virgin Mary | Catholic Faith | family life
On August 15 each year, we celebrate the glorious Feast of the Assumption of Mary, our Holy Mother, into heaven. This solemnity reminds us of Mary’s unique role in salvation history and her deep relationship with God. As we reflect on her life and her Assumption, I would like to focus on three qualities of Mary that we can all strive to embody in our own lives: humble, hungry, and smart.
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Blessed Virgin Mary | Family Rosary | praying the Rosary
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. (Romans 8:18) I’d prayed the Rosary for two and a half years before I finally confessed to my friend, Father Joe, “Father, I don’t think it’s working. I feel more miserable than when I started.” Fr. Joe smiled at me and simply replied, “That’s a good thing … because it means you’re being purified.”
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