* January 20 – Apparition of the Miraculous Medal to Ratisbonne (Rome, Italy, 1842) – Fourth apparition of Mary in Banneux (Belgium)   * We will win the war only under Mary’s flag  --- An initiative of the Mary of Nazareth Association January 20 – Apparition of the Miraculous Medal to Ratisbonne (Rome, Italy, 1842) – Fourth apparition of Mary in Banneux (Belgium)   We will win the war only under Mary’s flag  Statue of the Blessed Virgin in Strasbourg Cathedral (1859) (Images from Wikipedia) In 1955, a competition was held to select the flag of the European Union. The chosen project belonged to a French artist, a certain Arsène Heitz. It features a circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background. When it was discovered that it was a symbol of Our Lady, it was too late to change it. Somehow, the secular flag of Europe is a clear reference to the Marian passage of the Apocalypse: "A great sign appeared in heaven: a Woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars." The 12 stars represent at the same time the crown of Our Lady, the 12 apostles, the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 months of the year. Made by a French Catholic, they are a powerful Jewish and Christian symbol at the same time. Secular and agnostic Europe has proven unable to contain the spread of evil personified by the Islamic State. The tragedy on November 13, 2015, in Paris is a sign that Christian Europe must join forces—with the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as she herself requested in 1917—to avoid falling into the abyss. We will win the war only under the flag of Mary. She alone can help us. fr.aleteia.org Blessing Madonna, the stained glass window donated by the Council of Europe to Strasbourg Cathedral in 1956. (Wikipedia) www.mariedenazareth.com Let’s pray together  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.