This is my first newsletter as the new President of our Lady’s Association.  I am delighted to serve you as the new leader of the Association of the Miraculous Medal.

I’ll write a bit more about myself in future newsletters, but I do want to share a small secret with you right now.  In my homilies and letters, I believe less is more, so my future articles and correspondence will be a bit shorter than those you may have received in the past.  I hope this is something you will come to enjoy and appreciate.

Member Highlight

From time to time, we do a short profile of one of the Association’s special friends.  One of our members, Audrey Roberts, shares her thoughts about our Lady and what the Association means to her.  She shares her experiences as a way of thanking the Blessed Mother for her many graces.

Audrey hopes her story will inspire those who read it to help the Association spread devotion to the Blessed Mother under her title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.

The Legacy of Doctor Christopher Canino

I often say that the greatest physical resource we have in the world is people.  Dr. Christopher Canino was a long time member of our Lady’s Association who died in 2007 and remembered the Association generously in his will.  I invite you to read about his final gift to the Association through his estate.

Solemnity of the Assumption

Every August 15 we celebrate this feast day, Mary’s heavenly birthday.  We know from our faith tradition that Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven after her life on earth was completed.

What does the Assumption mean for us?  Because she was to carry the Lord in her womb, Mary was given the privilege of being conceived without original sin.  Even though God gave Mary a special grace as she entered our world, she still was a person of flesh and blood with the many challenges that face all of us.

Throughout her life, she listened so well to what God asked of her that her life becomes a sign of what we are called to do.  Because of this, she received the special gift of the Assumption.

The Assumption reminds us of what happens to a person who listens attentively to the Lord:  one’s whole life is directed to God and God wants that person to be with him forever in heaven.  We celebrate this feast day with great hope that we too will be with God forever in heaven and with Mary, our queen.

You still have time to send your petitions and burn Votive Lights at our Lady’s Shrine for the feast of our Lady’s Assumption, August 15.

The Rosary

Pope Benedict XVI is devoted to Mary and the rosary. He shared some of his thoughts on the rosary in his Angelus Message on October 19, 2008 while at the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii. I invite you to read a short summary of his remarks.

If you’re traveling through the Perryville area, drop by for a visit to our Lady’s Shrine. Besides seeing our beautiful grounds and historic Shrine Church, you will be able to visit the Heritage and Visitor Center.

Vincentian Family—an Anniversary Celebration

Father Gregory Gay recently shared a letter with the worldwide Vincentian Family in which he announces the celebration of the 350th anniversary of the deaths of Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac.

I have included some excerpts from his letter.  As the year moves ahead, I will be writing more about this special year.

Online Gift Shop

I have a lovely gift to offer you. A very affordable Aqua Rosary from the Czech Republic. We have many more resources at our online Gift Shop.

Monthly Giving Program

Please consider making a monthly gift to our Lady’s Association to help keep the Association’s administrative costs to a minimum. Our Monthly Giving Program makes it possible for you to add an automatic charge to your credit card, or a debit to your bank account on the 10th of each month. This allows more of your donation to go directly to the works of our Lady’s Association.