Send your petitions and burn Votive Lights at Our Lady’s National Shrine here in Perryville, Missouri, during the Association’s annual Mother of Divine Grace Novena. Your petitions will be remembered in our daily Mass and prayers throughout the nine days of the novena and on the feast of the Mother of Divine Grace, Wednesday, July 23. You are also invited to recite this prayer to Our Lady throughout the nine days of this novena, a beautiful appeal focusing our minds and hearts on the eternal joy that awaits us in her presence at her Son’s side in heaven.
Author: Michelle Weiler
Celebrate Our Lady’s Birthday
A mother loves her little children’s hand-made gifts. One scribbled “Happy Birthday” picture from a six-year-old might be displayed for months – not because it’s a work of great art, but because it’s a work of great love.
Our Blessed Mother is no different, and we are her little children. That is why every year on the feast of Mary’s Nativity, the Association of the Miraculous Medal celebrates by presenting Our Lady with a special gift of love.
Today, I’m inviting you –– and fellow devoted members of AMM’s spiritual family –– to take part in our September 8 Mass observing Mary’s birthday.
You may send any special prayer intentions and/or request a Votive Light to burn near Mary’s Altar at the Shrine. My fellow Vincentians and I will remember your needs in prayer.
Any offering you choose to add will help AMM continue its mission to draw souls closer to Christ through Our Lady. Gifts support ministries of our Vincentian priests and brothers and enable AMM to continue distributing free, blessed Miraculous Medals to faith-filled souls.
Any intentions received will be presented at the Mass planned for September 8. It is a wonderful way to add to the many ways you’ve shown your love for Mary and for the gift of the Miraculous Medal she shared with the world through Saint Catherine Labouré nearly 200 years ago.
Sincerely yours in Jesus and Mary,
Celebrate Our Lady’s Birthday
Each year, the Church celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8. AMM continues its tradition to honor Mary’s birth with an octave of prayer beginning September 8 and concluding on September 15, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. You are invited to entrust your intentions to the Mother of God. Mary welcomes your devotion, your prayers for a loved one, or a simple expression of your gratitude to the spiritual Mother who cares for you with constant, tender affection. Burning a Votive Light in Our Lady’s honor is an especially fitting gift to the Immaculate Mother of Our Lord. Read Fr. Clay’s letter to learn more about this year’s commemoration.
Safe Summer Travels
“The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The Lord will guard your coming and going both now and forever.” Psalm 121:5,8
Blessings on your summer travel.
We hope your plan includes visiting the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, Missouri, where you can personally place your prayer intentions. Remember, our church has been designated as a Jubilee Year sacred site, where the faithful may gain a plenary indulgence. To obtain an indulgence, a Catholic must meet the “usual conditions”: be truly repentant and free from any attachment to sin, go to the sacrament of confession (available at the Shrine Church on Mondays at 11:45 a.m.), receive Holy Communion, and pray for the intentions of the pope.
If a visit is not possible, you may include your intentions for remembrance in the daily Mass and prayers and burn a Votive Light for your needs from the comfort of your own home using this link.
Here is a special Prayer for Travelers
Here is a special blessing from Fr. Clay
Assumption Novena of Masses
Please share your prayer intentions for remembrance in our annual Assumption Novena of Masses beginning Wednesday, August 6. Throughout the nine days, we will call to mind the divine grace and privilege bestowed upon Mary from above –– her being taken up, “assumed” into heaven, body and soul. This long-held Christian belief was declared as official dogma of the Church by Pope Pius XII in 1950.
Saint Mary’s of the Barrens Church, home of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, was lovingly referred to as the “Church of the Assumption” by the original Catholic settlers in our area. Nearly two centuries after the Church’s construction, a majestic depiction of the 4th Glorious Mystery still graces the main altar. The painting remains an ever-present reminder of Our Lady’s unique role in the redemption of humanity –– Jesus’ own Holy Mother bridging heaven and earth.
Lift up your prayers to God during the Novena of Masses and Solemnity observance. You may also burn a Votive Light as a sign of your prayerful presence for this joyous feast.
Your intentions will be remembered from August 6-15 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. We will celebrate Mass on the Solemnity of the Assumption Friday, August 15 at 12:10 p.m., CT.
June Members’ Novena
A special Members’ Novena begins Wednesday, June 18.
This nine-day dedication of prayer falls over the June 22 Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (the Feast of Corpus Christi) and leads directly into two important Church feasts: the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (June 27 & 28).
You are invited to place your novena intentions for remembrance in prayer at Mary’s Altar inside the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. You may also burn a Votive Light as a sign of your spiritual presence with us throughout the novena and feast days.
It is our hope that whomever you are praying for –– yourself or someone else –– will enjoy God’s peace and the consolation of healing for any spiritual or temporal woundedness, as this mother received:
Dear Father, I had been in prayer for my daughter as she no longer wanted anything to do with church. Since her father belonged to a different religion, she had told me she didn’t believe in Mary. This year, I felt Our Mother was asking me to distribute rosaries. In obedience, I started handing out rosaries to those who would accept them. One day I asked my daughter in faith, “If I gift you this rosary, will you take it?” My daughter said, “Yes! It’s so beautiful. I’ll keep it in my car for protection.” Mind you, my daughter no longer wanted any religious articles. Thank you, Mother Mary. I wear a Miraculous Medal with faith. Amen.
We invite you to join us in praying the Miraculous Medal Novena Prayer, June 18-26.
Father’s Day … Sunday, June 15
Celebrate the loving fathers, grandfathers, foster fathers, and father figures in your life. Whether they are living or deceased, you can offer the loving gift of prayer by sending the names of your loved ones for remembrance at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
This year, Father’s Day coincides with Trinity Sunday. It is a beautiful opportunity to reflect upon the familial nature of God –– Father, Son, and Spirit. You are invited to join fellow AMM members in praying this Father’s Day prayer.
Read the Summer Bulletin – Hope… Trust… and Cars that Drive Themselves
This season’s Bulletin is overflowing with inspiring member stories, thoughtful reflections, helpful information, and more. Father Clay offers a deep dive into the virtue of hope and its many manifestations throughout the Old and New Testaments. It is a timely commentary in this Jubilee Year of Hope. Don’t miss Don’s “backseat brief” about trusting in what is eternal while living in a temporal world of constant – and sometimes terrifying – change. See page 3 for AMM’s latest Votive Light card available to you by phone or email. Let someone special know you’re thinking of them through this beautiful greeting and prayerful remembrance at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. You may also send your intentions and request Votive Lights.
Lord, Send Out Your Spirit, and Renew the Face of the Earth”
On Friday, May 30, AMM begins its annual Pentecost Novena of Masses here at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
Please join your AMM family in prayer, adding your intentions alongside theirs. The petitions you share will be entrusted to Our Lady and rest near the Shrine Altar throughout the novena, concluding with the Solemnity of Pentecost on Sunday, June 8.
You may also burn a Votive Light — a sign of the fire of your love in the Spirit.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus assures his disciples that he will obtain from the Father an Advocate “to be with you always [and] teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” This is quite a gift! Let us give thanks for the constant companionship and spiritual guidance of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Most Holy Trinity. May Our Lady obtain for you and your loved ones a generous share in the gifts of the Spirit to draw you ever closer to her Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
MARÍA, SALUD DE LOS ENFERMOS, RUEGA POR NOSOTROS.
Si en este momento usted, un ser querido o alguien conocido está pasando por alguna enfermedad o situación difícil, quiero que sepa que hay alguien que siempre le acompaña. María está a su lado en todo momento, y nosotros aquí en la Asociación de la Virgen oramos por usted todos los días.
La enfermedad es una de las pruebas más difíciles y duras de la vida, en ella podemos ver muy claramente nuestra fragilidad. Esta lucha puede hacernos dudar de la esperanza en el futuro.
El Papa Francisco nos dijo: “Dios no nos deja solos y, si nos abandonamos en él, precisamente allí donde nuestras fuerzas decaen, podemos experimentar el consuelo de su presencia”.
Si usted está pasando por un momento difícil, le animo a que siga confiando en el poder de la fe, en la fuerza de la oración y en la luz de la esperanza. La Virgen conoce nuestras penas, nuestras luchas, y camina de la mano con nosotros.
¿Tiene usted alguna petición especial para la Virgen hoy, especialmente si se trata de salud o sanación? ¿Hay alguien por quien desea que oremos? Con humildad recibiremos sus intenciones y nombres de seres queridos al devolvernos su forma de respuesta.
Usted, sus seres queridos, y las peticiones que nos envíe, permanecerán en oración ante la Virgen en el Santuario de la Medalla Milagrosa, y allí los recordaremos todos los días en nuestras misas y oraciones.
Para darle esperanza a alguien enfermo, deprimido o en recuperación, le invito a solicitar una tarjeta con oraciones de sanación. En los momentos de gran necesidad, esta puede ser el gesto que devuelva la esperanza, dé fortaleza y ayude a una persona a superar una prueba.
Cada oración escrita en esa tarjeta es una semilla de confianza. Al compartirla con alguien, usted está diciendo a esa persona: “Confío en que Dios puede sanar. María está contigo”. Esta es la certeza que queremos compartir, teniendo la seguridad de que la oración abre caminos donde parece que no los hay.
Sanar no siempre significa la ausencia del dolor físico. A veces, Dios actúa de maneras más sutiles o profundas: a través de la oración, de un abrazo, de una palabra de fe, de una tarjeta.
Y María… María nunca nos abandona. Ella acompañó a Jesús en su Calvario, y hoy está junto a cada enfermo, cada cuidador, y cada familia afectada por el dolor o la prueba. Es la Madre que consuela, que fortalece, que sostiene. Ella nos da su Medalla como signo de protección y esperanza.
Espero que pueda usar esta bella tarjeta con oraciones de sanación. Por favor envíeme el nombre de la persona que la recibe y sus intenciones para orar por ellas. Y si es su voluntad también incluir una ofrenda, por pequeña que sea, le estaré muy agradecido.
El apoyo que usted nos brinda es la vida de nuestros ministerios de fe y consuelo entre quienes más necesitan esperanza en su vida. Por todo su apoyo, ¡GRACIAS!
Ruego a la Virgen de la Medalla Milagrosa que le acompañe siempre y llene su corazón de paz.
Siempre con la Virgen María,
Rev. Prudencio Rodríguez de Yurre, C.M.
Director Espiritual
P.D. Si usted o un ser querido necesitan oración de sanación, por favor envíeme sus intenciones o encienda una veladora por ellos. Con devoción las presentaremos a la Virgen María en nuestras Misas y momentos de oración. ¡Ella cuida de todos sus hijos!
Your Prayerful Petition for Healing
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Seventeen days after he went into the hospital in February, Pope Francis issued a special message to the thousands of well-wishers around the world. “At this particular time,” he said, “I feel as if I am ‘carried’ and supported by all God’s people.”
What a beautiful image! As a family of faith, united in Jesus’ name, we lift up those who’ve lost the strength to carry on alone.
Do you know someone in need of healing of body, mind, or spirit? I invite you to “carry” that person to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal by way of sending a Healing Remembrance Card.
This inspiring spiritual greeting will announce your
prayerful appeal for the healing of your loved one.
The image of the Miraculous Medal calls to mind Mary’s promise that all who turn to her in confidence will be showered with heavenly favors and graces. Sending a healing card is a sign of your faith in Our Blessed Mother’s message.
Like the Holy Father, many of us can remember another’s kindness reaching us when we were too weak to carry on alone. Your prayers can mean the world to someone close to you who is in need of healing and offer them renewed strength and hope.
A member wrote us recently to share this happy ending …
| Dear Father, I recently sent one of AMM’s Healing Remembrance Cards to a friend. He was dealing with shingles on his face and was at risk of losing his eyesight. He and his family were so thankful for the prayers. They even used the healing card as the topper on their Christmas tree! My friend has made a full recovery. |
If you don’t have a recipient in mind right now, you can order the card for later. How often I find a need arises out of the blue, when I’m eager to respond right away but don’t have the right sentiment on hand.
When you do send the Healing Remembrance Card, please send us the name of your loved one. We will remember your recipient in the daily Mass and prayers here at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
Requesting a Votive Light to burn at the Shrine can be an additional way to “carry” your loved one to Jesus through Mary.
Any offering you include will help us spread devotion to Our Lady. It will also support the formation and ministries of Vincentian priests and brothers –– members of the Congregation of the Mission founded by Saint Vincent de Paul.
Thank you for allowing the Association of the Miraculous Medal to join you in praying for your loved one in need of healing. May God bless all your efforts to serve him and draw you ever closer to himself.
Faithfully yours in Jesus and Mary,
P.S. You may also request free, blessed Miraculous Medals to share with others. Request them through our website or by calling us at 1-800-264-MARY (6279) weekdays, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., CT.
Request this Healing Remembrance Card: Send the Gift of Prayer to Someone You Love
Is a dear friend or relative in need of healing from illness of body, mind, or spirit? Entrust your loved one into the hands of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
Request Healing Remembrance Card(s) to let your recipient(s) know you’re thinking of them. You may also request cards to keep on hand for future use.
Each card announces the consoling gift of spiritual remembrance in prayer at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Freewill offerings you make as you use each card help AMM spread devotion to Our Lady to help draw the world closer to Jesus. You may also request Votive Lights to burn for your recipient(s).
Read Fr. Clay’s letter for an inspiring story of
hope and healing connected with these cards.
Finally, if you send AMM the name of your recipient, your loved one will be remembered in the daily Mass and prayers here at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, Missouri, for as long as there is a need for healing.
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