Category: What’s New?

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

A member of Our Lady’s Association, a mother and grandmother, holds an interesting opinion about finding the divine on earth.

 I believe we come close to seeing God in this life when we look upon the face of a newborn baby. For in that moment, are we not seeing someone as precious, pure, and untainted by the world, as one could possibly be?

Yes, we might even say heaven and earth meet in mothers. For among all God’s creatures, they alone are co-creators with him, carrying within them the miraculous fruit of his love. A mother’s role is a profound blessing, nurturing her children with love and guiding them to grow strong in character and faith in God, even amidst the challenges and shifting values of today’s culture.

Mother’s Day is coming soon. It is a big season for FTD and Godiva –– and for Mary’s Association, too. That’s because alongside chocolates and flowers, the gift of prayer is something every mother can appreciate.

Unlike any other present, the gift of prayer offers eternal value for the loving mothers and mother figures in your life, be they living or deceased.

Order Mother’s Day cards you can use to send the gift of prayer to ones you love (or their family members, if they are deceased). They offer a beautiful expression of your never-ending love and gratitude.

Each card offers your loved one a remembrance in the Mother’s Day Mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and throughout the remainder of May. Please send me their names to be remembered.

As an added gift, you may request to burn a Votive Light here at the National Shrine. 

With all confidence and trust, we will join you in prayer to lift your needs and those of your loved ones to God through Mary. I recall Venerable Fulton Sheen describing Our Blessed Mother as a magnifying glass, for “she intensifies our love of her Son and makes our prayers more bright and burning.”

AMM depends on members and friends to continue our spiritual ministry and freely share more than two million blessed Miraculous Medals each year. If you are able to include an offering with your intentions it will mean so very much.

May God bless you for your generous and loving support of Mary’s Association here in Perryville.

Together with Jesus and Mary,

 

P.S.     To order Mother’s Day cards, I invite you to call us at 1-800-264-MARY(6279). You may also request Father’s Day cards at the same time. To make your request online, visit www.amm.org/store.

The Association of the Miraculous Medal is pleased to continue its annual May Procession. I invite you to take part in this year’s celebration on Sunday, May 4.

The May Procession will begin at 1:00 p.m., CT, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, Missouri. Those in attendance will process from the Shrine Church along the Rosary Walk to our beautiful grotto while reciting the Rosary and singing Marian hymns. The procession events will include the crowning of Mary, a tribute to Our Lady, and the presentation of roses and petitions carried by the First Communicants and 8^th Grade Confirmands. As in past years, we hope to have nearly 1,000 people here praying with us on this special way.

We are delighted to announce that following the procession at 3:00 p.m., a Spanish Mass will be celebrated inside the Shrine Church. The Liturgy will include the Rite of Investiture in the Miraculous Medal and live music.

At Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Los Angeles, the crowning of Mary, Mother of God will take place at all the Sunday Masses on May 4 (8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m., PT.)

If you are unable to attend the procession in person, I invite you to be present with us in spirit by sending your intentions. By doing so, your prayers and petitions will be presented to Our Lady on May 4.

My fellow Vincentians and members of our AMM family, will continue to remember your intentions in the daily Mass offered here at the National Shrine throughout the month of May.

No matter how small or great your need may be, the Queen of the May will not fail to comfort you, to guide you, and intercede for you. Likewise, the Queen of the May delights in prayers of thanksgiving for heaven’s blessings already bestowed.

Including a charitable gift with your intentions is never required. But if you choose to add an offering, we will use it to draw more souls closer to God through the intercession of Our Lady, especially by sharing the Miraculous Medal with people the world.

 You may also request a Votive Light to burn at the Shrine. Doing so signifies your spiritual presence. Added to thousands already burning in the Votive Light Room, its soft glow will stand in silent witness to your devotion to Mary along your daily journey of faith.

We are humbled and honored by your love and care for Mary’s ministry, And we hope to greet you in person at the National Shrine or at Saint Vincent Parish in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 4!

May God continue to bless your efforts to serve him, and may he draw all of us ever closer to himself. 

Sincerely in Jesus and Mary,

                                                           

En estos tiempos de grandes desafíos, la Virgen María es siempre un refugio seguro para todos. Y hoy quiero compartir con usted este mensaje de esperanza.

La Medalla Milagrosa es un símbolo del amor maternal de la Virgen María. Espero que la reciba con devoción y esperanza en su corazón.

La misma Virgen María le dio a santa Catalina Labouré el diseño de la Medalla, cuando se le apareció en 1830. Al revelarle la medalla le dijo también estas palabras de esperanza: “Quienes la lleven puesta recibirán grandes gracias”.

Sé que la necesidad de esperanza es muy grande, y que muchas personas están pasando por situaciones difíciles. Quizás usted tenga un familiar muy enfermo o la situación económica de la familia sea muy difícil, o tal vez haya un miedo o problema legal o personal que le esté causando angustia.

Cualquiera que sea la situación, la Virgen María escucha sus plegarias y puede ser el bálsamo que necesita para superar las pruebas. Así nos lo ha prometido por medio de su bendita Medalla.

Reciba la Medalla Milagrosa como un símbolo de oración y esperanza para usted y su familia. Si ya tiene una, por favor comparta esta con un ser querido o conocido que necesite la intercesión y esperanza que brinda la Virgen María.

Si conoce usted a personas que necesiten esperanza en su vida debido a situaciones por las que estén pasando, envíeme sus nombres para rezar por ellos y por sus necesidades.

Si lo desea, también puede encender una veladora por sus intenciones en nuestro Santuario.

Como miembro de la Familia de la Medalla Milagrosa, sepa que siempre habrá alguien orando por usted y su familia. Y la Virgen María siempre cumple su promesa de interceder por todos aquellos que se acercan a ella con confianza.

Antes de despedirme, quiero compartirle este testimonio de un miembro a la Virgen de la Medalla Milagrosa:

Mi hermano llegó al hospital con un cuadro de cirrosis y fue puesto en protocolo de trasplante de hígado. Ahí adquirió una bacteria en sus pulmones y entró en un cuadro crítico de salud. Tuvo que ser entubado. Rogamos a la Virgen de la Medalla Milagrosa por su sanación y después de un mes, poco a poco se fue recuperando. Hoy día ya no necesita el trasplante y cada día está mejor. Gracias a Dios y a nuestra Virgencita de la Medalla Milagrosa que nunca nos deja solos.

Ruego a Dios que los bendiga a usted y a su familia, y que Nuestra Señora de la Medalla Milagrosa permita que Dios derrame bendiciones sobre ustedes por medio de su Milagrosa Medalla.

Siempre con la Virgen María,

Rev. Prudencio Rodríguez de Yurre, C.M.
Director Espiritual

P.D. Recuerde enviarme sus intenciones de oración para recordarlas en nuestras misas y oraciones. También puede solicitar más medallas milagrosas para compartir. La Asociación de la Medalla Milagrosa agradece cualquier ofrenda que le sea posible compartir.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Regarding Christ’s Resurrection, Saint Paul told the people of Corinth:

“And if Christ has not been raised, then empty [too] is our preaching; empty, too, your faith.” (1 Corinthians 15:14)

Yes. Without Jesus’ victory over the tomb, our belief is in vain. Yet, more than 2,000 years later, billions of Christians rejoice in the confident hope that Christ indeed arose. The Jubilee Year of Hope announced by the Holy Father calls to us to lean even more deeply into the mystery of the Resurrection, a mystery on which our entire spiritual identity rests.

You can help Mary’s Association share the Christian message of hope with your loved ones this Easter. You may request Easter cards for this very purpose. Each card calls to mind that Jesus’ victory over death is our reason for hope.

Please send the names of your Easter card recipients to me for remembrance in an octave of Masses which begins on Easter Sunday and concludes on Divine Mercy Sunday here at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. You may also request a Votive Light to burn in the names of your loved ones.                                                  

Every year, hundreds of AMM members tell us how such expressions of faith have brought powerful favors into their lives.

     I sent my son a Miraculous Medal. He put it on his dog tag chain. He returned seven times from deployment, including Iraq, unharmed. I prayed the Rosary, made Stations of the Cross, and spent hours in Adoration. I will be forever grateful to Mary for watching over him. His wife and daughters still have their husband and father. I still have my son.

     I was a hopeless alcoholic, trapped in my addiction –– in despair and not living a full life. I so wanted to quit drinking, but I could not. I turned to Our Lady for help and she interceded for me. I entered a rehab center and am now sober and living life again. Thank you so much for helping me to get my life back, Blessed Mother!

     Thank you, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, for being able to obtain the hope of overcoming cancer of the esophagus. A year ago, I was diagnosed and given five years to live. I keep praying that God will give me time to see my grandkids and daughters get older. I received the most beautiful miracle. They were able to remove 99% of the cancer, and I don’t need chemo or radiation. Thanks to the Virgin Mary and her Son, Jesus, full of mercy.

The glory of the risen Lord shines through grateful souls like these.

I hope that you will allow Mary’s Association to join you in praying for your loved ones this Easter. May they experience in a special way the joy of hope that arises from our faith. If you would like us to mail you Easter cards, simply request them before March 26 by using the enclosed reply form, by calling us at 1-800-264-MARY (6279) on weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., CT., or by visiting our website, www.amm.org, or

We are an Easter people. Our hope is not in vain! Please help Our Lady’s Association share the joy of this most holy season with those you love. May God bless your every effort to serve him, and may he draw you ever closer to himself.

Yours in Jesus and Mary,

P.S.  Any offering you choose to include will allow AMM to continue its work of bringing Jesus Christ to the world by inspiring  devotion to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. We are deeply grateful for your generosity.

… Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone
who asks you for a reason for your hope,
1 Peter 3:15