Mary Vitamin
Topic: Our Lady of Pontmain, Our Lady of Hope
January 17th Feast Day
Quote:
"On the same evening, however, the Prussian troops in sight of Laval stopped at half-past five o'clock, about the time when the apparition first appeared above Pontmain, a few miles off. General Schmidt is reported to have said on the morning of [January] the 18th: "We can not go farther. Yonder, in the direction of Brittany, there is an invisible Madonna barring the way."
The Glories and Triumphs of the Catholic Church, (Benzinger Brothers, 1907.
Meditation:
In 1871, Our Lady appeared to 6 children in the town of Pontmain, France. The French nation was on the verge of losing the Franco-Prussian war. The French people prayed to God for His Divine intervention. On the night of January 17, Our Lady appeared in the sky, without speaking, to bring hope to people who had no hope. Our Lady's message was written on a luminous white scroll in gold lettering:
"But pray, my children;
God will soon answer your prayers.
My Son allows Himself to be moved.”**
On January 18th the Prussian army began to withdraw from France. An armistice was signed on January 28, 1871.
It was Our Lady's presence which turned the Prussian army away from Pontmain and the rest of France. Her presence was enough. In this apparition, there were no striking miracles, no lengthy messages, and no secrets. The message was delivered on the scroll and on the face of Our Lady. She showed deep sorrow when looking at the red Crucifix. She demonstrated sadness at the people's lack of reverence. She showed joy when hearing the people sing a hymn to Our Lady of Hope.
Resolution:
Tonight when I say Evening Prayer from the breviary (and my Rosary), I will think of the adults in Pontmain who did not see Our Lady. However, they said their Evening Prayer reverently because they believed Her to be in front of them. I will try to say my prayers thinking of Our Lady of Pontmain in front of me.
Marian Vow:
Pope Benedict XVI
"Life is like a voyage on the sea of history, often dark and stormy, a voyage in which we watch for the stars that indicate the route. The true stars of our life are the people who have lived good lives. They are lights of hope. Certainly, Jesus Christ is the true light, the sun that has risen above all the shadows of history. But to reach him we also need lights close by a people who shine with his light and so guide us along our way. Who more than Mary could be a star of hope for us? With her 'yes' she opened the door of our world to God himself; she became the living Ark of the Covenant, in whom God took flesh, became one of us, and pitched his tent among us (cf. Jn 1:14)."
Spe Salvi, paragraph #49
November 30, 2007
I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Thanks be to God for graces received.
Related sites: Castle of the Immaculate & AirMaria
**"Mais priez mes enfants Dieu vous exaucera en peu de temps. Mon Fils se laisse toucher."
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