First Approved Marian Apparition in the United States

(cross-posted from Chez VH - the post is from December 8th)

Exciting news out today from our neighbors to the north! The apparition took place 150 years ago a few miles from Green Bay, Wisconsin. You can learn all about the shrine and apparition on the official website here: Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help.

Some friends of ours gave us a DVD about Our Lady of Good Help a few months ago (the one advertised on the website) and I'm afraid it has sat on the shelf un-watched until today. It's an amazing story (though a somewhat cheezy video production) that includes the miraculous safety of a number of people who fled to the chapel during the infamous Peshtigo Fire of 1871 (which took place the same day as the Great Chicago Fire and is lesser known, though it was far more destructive).

Related stuff around the web:

About Our Lady of Good Help (Relevant Radio)

America Gets Its 1st Approved Apparition (Jimmy Akin)

Most Highly Favored Lady (Whispers in the Loggia)

Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help (Diocese of Green Bay Website)

Advent Quote of the Day 4

Many women, if they were expecting a child, would refuse to hurry over the hills on a visit of pure kindness. They would say they had a duty to themselves and to their unborn child which came before anything or anyone else.

The Mother of God considered no such thing. Elizabeth was going to have a child, too, and although Mary's own child was God, she could not forget Elizabeth's need - almost incredible to us, but characteristic of her.

She greeted her cousin Elizabeth, and at the sound of her voice, John quickened in his mother's womb and leapt for joy.

"I am come," said Christ, "that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly." Even before He was born His presence gave life.

With what piercing shoots of joy does this story of Christ unfold! First, the conception of a child in a child's heart, and then this first salutation, an infant leaping for joy in his mother's womb, knowing the hidden Christ and leaping into life.

How did Elizabeth herself know what had happened to Our Lady? What made her realise that this little cousin who was so familiar to her was the mother of her God?

She knew it by the child within herself, by the quickening into life which was a leap of joy.

If we practice this contemplation taught and shown to us by Our Lady, we will find that our experience is like hers.

If Christ is growing in us, if we are at peace, recollected, because we know that however insignificant our life seems to be, from it He is forming Himself; if we go with eager wills, "in haste," to wherever our circumstances compel us, because we believe that He desires to be in that place, we shall find that we are driven more and more to act on the impulse of His love.

-Caryll Houselander, The Reed of God

May Feelings II

hat-tip Karen Edmisten

May Feelings I

Sunday Morning Music: Palestrina's Regina Caeli

Regina Caeli is one of the great Marian antiphons, sung and prayed during the Easter season in place of the Angelus. English translation can be found here.

Our Lady's Intercession Averts War in South America

This is a remarkable story to share with your families (and say a prayer of thanksgiving for!):

The crisis between Colombia and its southern (Ecuador) and northeastern (Venezuela) neighbors started On March 1, when Uribe ordered a military raid into Ecuador's territory against a rebel camp used by Marxist guerrillas to launch terrorist strikes. The raid targeted and killed the No. 2 FARC rebel leader, Raul Reyes.

In response, Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa cut all diplomatic relationships with Colombia. Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, Correa’s political ally, ordered a massive military surge to the Colombian border as well.

Quoting Fr. Julio Solórzano, Chaplain of Colombia’s Presidential Palace, El Tiempo revealed that on March 5, when the rhetoric and blames between the presidents was increasing tensions, President Uribe called for a Rosary to pray for the end of tensions.

The Rosary, prayed at the Presidential Palace’s chapel, was dedicated, upon Uribe’s request, to the Marian to Our Lady of Chiquinquira, Our Lady of Coromoto and Our Lady of Mercy, respectively the patronesses of Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador.

Uribe invited all officials at the Presidential palace to the Rosary, as well as the minister of Defense and the Interior.

“For believers –El Tiempo wrote- the prayer was more than effective, since only two days after the presidents of the three countries shook hands during the Group of Rio summit, and for many the crisis was over.”

Read the entire story here

hat-tip Clairity Daily