The power of the sun is extraordinary. And after some days of clouds, sunshine always seems to cheer us up.

Before I moved back here to Perryville, I was stationed in Salida, Colorado. The Salida area (in south central Colorado) has over 325 days of sunshine a year. If we had more than three days in a row of cloudy weather, the parishioners in Salida began to get depressed.

The winter days here in Missouri are quite different from those in Salida. Perryville winters often have many days of overcast skies. But the people here don’t seem to be as bothered by the clouds as the folks in Salida. Even though the people here cope with the gray skies, they are noticeably more cheerful when the sun does manage to peak through and illuminate the earth below.

And these rays of sunlight remind me of the rays of graces flowing from our Lady’s hands on the image of the Miraculous Medal. The rays from the sun brighten our days just as rays of grace from Mary’s hands bring light to our lives. These rays of grace light our path to God, who loves us so much.

God’s love is like the sun. When you pray, and God answers your prayers, isn’t it like the sun coming out from behind the clouds? I know I feel that way when someone tells me that God has answered a prayer.

When you learn that someone has prayed for you, doesn’t your day seem brighter? It’s nice to know that you are special enough to them that they will pray for you and your intentions. And this is why I encourage you to pray for someone at our Lady’s Shrine.

At this time of the year, deep in winter, whether it’s cloudy or sunny—your own thoughtfulness can brighten the day of someone dear. You can burn a Votive Light for them. You can bring joy to a friend or a parent who might be lonely, letting them know they’re “not really alone,” but that you’re thinking of them and praying for them.

Your prayers and the Votive Light can be a “spiritual bouquet” for that person. When you light a Votive Light, you express your desire for Jesus to be a little more of a light in your life and the lives of those you love. And he can shine his light more brightly and in more places through you. Your Votive Light expresses your desire for Jesus’ mercy, love, and grace not only for yourself but also for others.

When you give a spiritual bouquet to light up someone’s day, that person will share in the prayers and works of the Vincentian community. And the card you send will be a reminder of Mary’s motherly concern and God’s fatherly care.

Your offering for Votive Lights will help the Association to achieve its goals of spreading devotion to our Lady and assisting the Vincentian community in its ministry of bringing the gospel to the poor. Your good thoughts will be expressed in action where it is most needed.

The needs and intentions of the person to whom you send a spiritual bouquet will be remembered each day here at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. And may our Blessed Mother obtain for you from her Son the choicest of God’s blessing.

Sincerely yours in Mary,

Send your petitions and light a Votive Light. Make a contribution to the Association.