* February 29 – Pope Saint Hilarius (Rome, d. 468) --- An initiative of the Mary of Nazareth Association February 29 – Pope Saint Hilarius (Rome, d. 468) A servant of Mary will not lose his soul Saint Anselm says, that just as he who is not devoted to Mary and protected by her cannot be saved, so it is impossible that he who recommends himself to the Virgin, and is regarded by her with affection, should be condemned... Saint Bonaventure, too wrote: He who neglects the service of Mary shall die in sin… And in the same sense the holy Church applies to Mary these words of Proverbs: All that hate me love death... On the other hand, Mary says: He that hearkeneth to me shall not be confounded. He who has recourse to me, and listens to what I say to him, shall not be lost. From which Saint Bonaventure said: Oh, Lady, those who are mindful to honor thee, shall be far from perdition. Even when, as Saint Hilary says, they have hitherto deeply offended God. Hence the devil strives so hard with sinners, in order that, having lost divine grace, they may also lose devotion to Mary.  Saint Alphonsus of Liguori, In The Glories of Mary, chap VIII 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.

 

* February 28 – Our Lady of Tears (Italy, 1522) – 11th apparition of Lourdes (France, 1858) --- An initiative of the Mary of Nazareth Association February 28 – Our Lady of Tears (Italy, 1522) – 11th apparition of Lourdes (France, 1858) Our Lady of Tears confirms the message of Fatima Syracuse is a city in southeastern Sicily. Its Catholic shrine of Our Lady of Tears is the most recent shrine in Sicily and one of the busiest with visitors from all over the world. It contains a bas-relief of painted plaster representing the Virgin Mary and her Immaculate heart crowned with thorns and inflamed (as in Fatima), which was originally in a modest home at the head of the bed of a couple named Lannuso. But from August 29th to September 1, 1953, the image of the Virgin wept human tears, which were scientifically analyzed. The episcopate of Sicily has recognized the supernatural origin of the occurrence and promoted the devotion. Our Lady of Tears took the world by surprise and obtained numerous miracles for the faithful. Shortly before the miracle, in May 1952, Our Lady appeared to Sister Lucia in Fatima, Portugal, confiding to her that she was still awaiting the consecration of Russia. During the summer of 1952, Sister Lucia wrote: "I am sorry that it has not been done as Our Lady requested." In this context, the tears of the Virgin of Syracuse in the summer of 1953 were interpreted as a confirmation of the request of Fatima. The Mary of Nazareth Team Adapted from Domenico MARCUZZI, Original article published in Santuari mariani d’Italia, edizioni Paoline, Roma 1982 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.

* February 27 – Our Lady of the Road (Italy, 1617) – Blessed Marie of Jesus (Marie Deluil-Martiny), foundress of the Congregation of the Daughters of the Heart of Jesus (d. 1884)  * The first Jesuits prayed in front of this fresco  --- An initiative of the Mary of Nazareth Association February 27 – Our Lady of the Road (Italy, 1617) – Blessed Marie of Jesus (Marie Deluil-Martiny), foundress of the Congregation of the Daughters of the Heart of Jesus (d. 1884)  The first Jesuits prayed in front of this fresco  Madonna Della Strada — the Italian for  “Our Lady of the Road” — is the name of an image of the  Madonna and Child enshrined at the Church of the Gesu, mother church of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in Rome. In all likelihood, the image of Our Lady of the Road dates from the middle of the 13th or the first half of the 14th century. The artist is unknown. It was originally located in a small chapel named "Our Lady of the Road" at the same location. This chapel was the first church entrusted to the Jesuits at the time of Saint Ignatius. The first Jesuits often prayed before this fresco of Our Lady. The Jesuits built their first house, where Ignatius and his companions lodged, next to the chapel of "Our Lady of the Road." Today, you can still visit the rooms inhabited by Saint Ignatius. This is where the saint wrote the Constitutions of the Society. www.jesuites.com Church of the Gesù Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù all'Argentina Giacomo della Porta's façade, a precursor of the Baroque www.mariedenazareth.com Ignatius Loyola (Photo credit: Wikipedia) 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.

* February 26 – Blessed Virgin Meschecia (Russia, 1492)  * The Mother of Mercy watches over each and every one of us --- An initiative of the Mary of Nazareth Association February 26 – Blessed Virgin Meschecia (Russia, 1492)  The Mother of Mercy watches over each and every one of us When Mary was standing near the cross of Jesus, she reached the full measure of her vocation as Mother of Mercy. On Golgotha, we discover her unique place in salvation history. We evoke this unique place she holds every time we say the Hail Mary, when we ask her to pray for us "now and at the hour of our death," in the same way that she was there at the time of the death of Jesus Whenever we utter these words, even if we do not think about them precisely, the Virgin Mary hears them. The Mother of Mercy watches over the destiny of each and every one of us and the only thing that is expected of us is to leave the door of our heart—the door of our "yes"—open. Marie Hélène Mathieu www.foietlumiere.org 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.