Category Archives: Blessed Virgin Mary

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today’s readings In every age of the world, people have needed hope.  Because in every age of the world, there has been unbelievable hardship.  There has always been war, and disease, and poverty, and oppression, and alienation, and all the … Continue reading

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The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Today’s readings My mother has a lot of stories about me when I was growing up, as you might well guess.  Some of them are nice, some of them embarrassing, and since she’s here a lot, none of you are … Continue reading

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The Annunciation of the Lord

Today’s Readings Fear keeps us from doing all sorts of things the Lord wants for us. If we would truly let go of our fear and cling to our God, just imagine what he could do in us and through … Continue reading

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Mary, the Mother of God

Today’s readings My mother has a lot of stories about me as I was growing up.  Some of them are funny or interesting, others are just a little painful or embarrassing.  I suspect your mother has or had stories like … Continue reading

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The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today’s readings Blessed Pope Pius IX instituted the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 8, 1854, when he proclaimed as truth the dogma that our Lady was conceived free from the stain of original … Continue reading

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The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today’s readings: Zechariah 2:14-17, Luke 1:46-55, Matthew 12:46-50 This particular Gospel reading is sometimes difficult to proclaim, because I think it’s out of context enough that we could get the wrong idea about the relationship between Jesus and Mary.  It … Continue reading

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Our Lady of Sorrows

Today’s readings: Hebrews 5:7-9; Psalm 31; John 19:25-27 Stabat Mater (Sequence) When I was growing up, I saw statues and pictures of Mary in our house and in the houses of my grandparents.  It was hard to relate to her, … Continue reading

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The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary [2]

Today’s readings [Mass for the school children] In a town called Nazareth in Galilee, a long time ago, Mary lived with her parents, Joachim and Ann. Mary was only a young girl, maybe 14 years old. She came from a … Continue reading

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The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today’s readings The birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been celebrated since at least the sixth century. This is not a historical feast, of course, and the date was chosen to correspond to the beginning of the Church year … Continue reading

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The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today’s readings The tradition of the Assumption of Mary dates back to the very earliest days of the Church, all the way back to the days of the apostles. It was known that Mary had “fallen asleep” and that there … Continue reading

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