* February 25 – Virgin Nicopeia (Venice, Italy) – 9th apparition of Lourdes (France, 1858)  * Her virginity enabled her spiritual maternity  --- An initiative of the Mary of Nazareth Association February 25 – Virgin Nicopeia (Venice, Italy) – 9th apparition of Lourdes (France, 1858)  Her virginity enabled her spiritual maternity  The Church professed from the beginning that Mary is "the Virgin of the Lord." All the icons of the Mother of God present her as "Ever Virgin” but the dogmatic affirmation of this total and perpetual virginity of the Mother of God before, during, and after the birth of her Son, was unanimously proclaimed only gradually by the Fathers of the Church, several councils and the Magisterium of the Church... Even though the subject seems to come up regularly as a "scoop" in the press, the Church Fathers already settled on the issue in the 5th century, giving this common sense argument—beside all well-founded reasons—that all the apostolic Churches of East and West have always proclaimed and recognized—Mary had no other children because she is "the Virgin of the Lord"—who is totally consecrated to him. Beyond the sign one must always look for the deeper meaning: Mary, Virgin and Mother, is the admirable model of the Church. Her perfect virginity is the sign of her faith and the sign of her full consecration to God, which is the basis of her unique mission as Mother of God and Mother of mankind. According to the flesh she had only one child, because according to the spirit, she is destined to become the mother of all. fr.aleteia.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.