Category Archives: Feast Days Honoring Mary

The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord: March 25

Imagine. If you are woman, just imagine. An angel of the Lord appears before you to tell you that you have been chosen by the Almighty God to be the mother of Jesus, the man who will become the savior of the world. Sit quietly with that for a moment. Imagine. And if you’re aContinue reading “The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord: March 25”

‘…the sixth month…’

The Solemnity of the Annunciation, just two days away on March 25, is a celebration of what was the beginning of God’s plan for our salvation, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a celebration of God’s invitation to Mary, delivered by the archangel Gabriel, to become the mother of God. And uponContinue reading “‘…the sixth month…’”

The Purification of Mary & The Presentation of Jesus

If you’re a woman, and if you’ve given birth, you know the weeks following the delivery of your baby are a time when your body is shedding what is no longer needed once the baby has arrived. In ancient times, body fluids such as those present during pregnancy were thought to make a new motherContinue reading “The Purification of Mary & The Presentation of Jesus”

The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

Eight days after Christmas Day, on the first day of January and at the close of the Christmas octave, the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. This is the day we celebrate Mary’s divine maternity. I continue to wonder how, as just a young girl, Mary’s faith allowed her toContinue reading “The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God”

The tilma: Tangible proof of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast day we celebrate today, Dec. 12, is among the most well-known of the apparitions of the Blessed Mother. The story of her relationship with now-St. Juan Diego in 1531 is remarkable. You can read it here. What is more remarkable to me is the tangible evidence of her encounterContinue reading “The tilma: Tangible proof of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe”

The Immaculate Conception … explained

I think if you surveyed 1,000 people, asking them what the Immaculate Conception is, 900 people would answer that it is when the Holy Spirit came over Mary and she conceived Jesus, while remaining a virgin. They would be wrong. The Immaculate Conception is, in fact, the conception of Mary in the womb of herContinue reading “The Immaculate Conception … explained”

Miracle of the Sun witnessed by some 70,000 people

I’ve always thought that all God has to do to get the whole world to believe is to make something miraculous happen. Well, he did just that on Oct. 13, 1917. Our Lady made her final appearance to three children to whom she had appeared monthly since May of the same year. She fulfilled herContinue reading “Miracle of the Sun witnessed by some 70,000 people”

Happy Birthday, Mother Mary

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (her birthday) is celebrated on Sept. 8 each year, nine months after we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the day Mary herself was conceived. (The Immaculate Conception is often confused with the Annunciation – the occasion on which Mary was visited by the Angel Gabriel andContinue reading “Happy Birthday, Mother Mary”