Mary
Mary was a Jewish woman living in first-century Nazareth. The Catholic Church looks to her as a model of perfect discipleship, and so we venerate her in order to further our relationship with God. She was the wife of Joseph and mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico, 1531
Feast Day: December 12
A recent convert to Catholicism, St. Juan Diego, a 57-year-old widower, lived in a small village near Mexico City. The Blessed Mother appeared to him four times, asking for a church to be built in her honor. The last time she appeared to him, December 12th, he brought roses she had arranged in his tilma to the bishop, and miraculously the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was present on the tilma.
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, France, 1830
Feast Day: December 27
St. Catherine Laboure, while doing her evening meditation, had the Most Blessed Virgin appear to her, with her hands pointing to the ground and surrounded by an oval frame. A voice told her to "Have a medal struck according to this model; all those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around their necks. I shall bestow many graces on those who put their trust in me."
Our Lady of La Salette, France, 1846
Feast Day: September 19
The Blessed Mother appeared to two shepherd children of La Salette in the French Alps, a hamlet where Mass attendance was dwindling amongst the pressures of the reign of Napoleon and increasing secularization of social thought. The children saw a brilliant light, and saw a lady seated on a rock crying, her face in her hands. She warned the children of impending disaster in France if they did not repent and turn back to God, speaking of the importance of prayer and penance.
Latin Titles of Mary
Gratia Plena (Full of Grace)
Beatae Virginis (Blessed Virgin)
Sancta Maria (Holy Mary)
Stella Maris (Star of the Sea)
Regina Caeli (Queen of Heaven)
Immaculata (Immaculate)
