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Saint Mary, Blessed
Virgin —
Patron Saint of Motherhood, Nuns, Enlightenment, Peace,
All Nations
"Mary, The
Mother of God , wife of St.
Joseph, and the greatest of all Christian saints.
The Virgin Mother "was, after her Son, exalted
by divine grace above all angels and men". Traditionally,
she was declared the daughter of Sts. Joachim
and Anne.
Born in Jerusalem, living in Nazareth, Mary was visited
by the archangel Gabriel, who announced to her that
she would become the Mother of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit.
She became betrothed to St. Joseph and went to visit
her cousin Elizabeth, who was bearing St.
John the Baptist.
When Emperor Augustus
declared a census throughout the vast Roman Empire,
Mary and St. Joseph went to Bethlehem, his city of lineage,
as he belonged to the House of David. There Mary gave
birth to Jesus and was visited by the Three Kings. Mary
and Joseph presented Jesus in the Temple. Warned to
flee, St. Joseph and Mary went to Egypt to escape the
wrath of King Herod. They remained in Egypt until King
Herod died and then returned to Nazareth.
The first recorded miracle
of Jesus was performed at a wedding in Cana, and Mary
was instrumental in calling Christ's attention to the
need. Mary was present at the Crucifixion in Jerusalem,
and there she was given into John's care. She was also
with the disciples in the days before the Pentecost,
and it is believed that she was present at the resurrection
and Ascension. No scriptural reference concerns Mary's
last years on earth. According to tradition, she went
to Ephesus. Another tradition states that she remained
in Jerusalem.
The belief that Mary's
body was assumed into heaven is one of the oldest traditions
of the Catholic Church. Pope Pius XII declared this
belief Catholic dogma in 1950. The dogma of the Immaculate
Conception - that Mary, as the Mother of the Jesus,
was free of original sin at the moment of her conception
- was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854.
The Church has long
taught that Mary is truly the Mother of God. St.
Paul observed that "God sent His Son, born
of a woman," expressing the union of the human
and the divine in Christ. She is also our Mother, not
in the physical sense, but as a spiritual mother. She
conceives, gives birth, and nurtures the spiritual lives
of grace for each person."
Consecration to Mary
"My Queen and my Mother, I give myself entirely
to you; and to show my devotion to you, I consecrate
to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart,
my whole being without reserve. Wherefore, good Mother,
as I am your own, keep me, guard me, as your property
and possession. Amen."
Prayer for the
Immaculate
Queen of Peace
"Most holy and immaculate
Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our loving Mother, being
his Mother, you shared in his universal kingship. The
prophets and angels proclaimed him King of peace. With
loving fervor in our hearts we salute and honor you
as Queen of peace. We pray that your intercession may
protect us and all people from hated and discord, and
direct our hearts into the ways of peace and justice
which your Son taught and exemplified. We ask your maternal
care for our Holy Father who works to reconcile the
nations in peace. We seek your guidance for our President
and other leaders as they strive for world peace. Glorious
Queen of peace, grant us peace in our hearts, harmony
in our families and concord throughout the world. Immaculate
Mother, as patroness of our beloved country, watch over
us and protect us with your motherly love. Amen."
Prayer of Our
Lady of all Nations
"Lord Jesus Christ Son of the Father, send now
your Spirit over the earth. Let the Holy Spirit live
in the hearts of all nations, that they may be preserved
from degeneration, disaster and war. May the Lady of
all Nations, who once was Mary be our advocate. Amen."
Prayer to Our Lady,
Mother of Mercy
"Blessed Virgin Mary, who can worthily repay you
with praise and thanks for having rescued a fallen world
by your generous consent! Receive our gratitude, and
by your prayers obtain the pardon of our sins. Take
our prayers into the sanctuary of heaven and enable
them to make our peace with God. Holy Mary, help the
miserable, strengthen the discouraged, comfort the sorrowful,
pray for your people, plead for the clergy, intercede
for all women consecrated to God. May all who venerate
you feel now your help and protection. Be ready to help
us when we pray, and bring back to us the answers to
our prayers. Make it your continual concern to pray
for the people of God, foryou were blessed by God and
were made worthy to bear the Redeemer of the world,
who lives and reigns forever. Amen." Saint
Augustine of Hippo
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