Wish you all Happy New Year 2014. #dailylivejesus

"But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:7-10) #dailylivejesus

(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) (1 Timothy 3:5) #dailylivejesus

"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12) #dailylivejesus

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So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed." (Isaiah 28:16) #dailylivejesus

And whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:26) #dailylivejesus

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) #dailylivejesus

Merry Christmas #dailylivejesus

Wish you all Merry Christmas #dailylivejesus

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"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:14) #dailylivejesus

Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour. (Matthew 8:13) #dailylivejesus

Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. (Jeremiah 17:14) #dailylivejesus

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Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35) #dailylivejesus (will post video animation of this pic tomorrow)

We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. (1 Thessalonians 4:14) #dailylivejesus

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10) #dailylivejesus

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Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24) #dailylivejesus

He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 25:8) #dailylivejesus

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. (Psalms 84:11) #dailylivejesus

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31) #dailylivejesus

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19) #dailylivejesus

divine mercy video animation screenframe. Will soon post video animation too..... #dailylivejesus #Prayerintentions Divine Mercy Jesus I Trust in You. Amen

But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. (Psalms 3:3) #dailylivejesus #prayerintentions

May the Holy Spirit bless u my friends. Art by #dailylivejesus #prayerintentions

#dailylivejesus #prayerintentions "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:23-24)

Have a blessed day my friends #dailylivejesus #prayerintentions #catholicprayer

#dailylivejesus #Prayerintentions #goodmorningjesus VIDEO COMING SOON

#dailylivejesus #goodmorningjesus

#goodmorningjesus #prayerintentions

#goodmorningjesus #prayerintentions

#prayerintentions #catholicprayer

#prayerintentions #catholicprayer

#prayerintentionsgraphics

#prayerintentionsgraphics

#goodmorningjesus #prayerintentions

#goodmorningjesus #prayerintentions

#prayerintentions #catholicprayer

#prayerintentions #catholicprayer

#goodmorningjesus #Prayerintentions

#goodmorningjesus #Prayerintentions

November 18: The Rosary Virgin of Chiquinquira, Columbia (1555) Our Lady of Chiquinquirá is the Queen and Patroness of Columbia. Chiquinquirá, which means "land of fog and swamps", is located in the Department of Boyacá, in the Andes, more than 2,000 meters above sea level.The history of the shrine is connected to a painting of the Virgin Mary and dates back to 1560. Before being sold to a private individual, the painting had been commissioned by the Spanish Dominicans, with the intention of encouraging the faith of the Native Americans and the colonists. It was displayed in a chapel, and with the passing of time, the painting deteriorated; in the end, only the frame with a very faded image of the Virgin Mary was left hanging on the wall.Several years later, the image of the Virgin Mary reappeared as if it had been restored, and thus began the series of miracles that followed, which were attributed to Mary. The miracle of "the recovered image" is the name given to the first miracle of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá.The Virgin is depicted on a linen canvas, a little more than 2 meters wide. The frame contains plaques that reproduce the national coat of arms, as well as those of the Columbian dioceses of the Dominican Fathers. The canvas was made by the Koka Native Americans.The eyes of the Virgin Mary are half-opened, and her face is turned toward her Son. The Child has in His right hand a thread, which is attached to a small bird's foot. Mary has on a white veil and is holding a coral rosary in her left hand. Two figures stand at her side: the Apostle St. Andrew and St. Anthony of Padua.The painting of the Virgin belongs to a type called "Odigitria", that is, where Mary is holding and pointing to the Child Jesus. It is one of Columbian art's oldest pieces from the colonial period, and inaugurated a new iconographic style of painting Our Lady of the Rosary.For more than 450 years, this linen canvas has survived much mishandling. It is believed that it was even used to dry wheat out in the sun. Our Lady of Chiquinquirá is also honored in Maracaibo, Venezuela, and in Guatemala.On some occasions, the painting of Mary was brought to the city of Bogotá, located 100 km to the south, to ask God for peace or to bring an end to an epidemic. The last time the painting was moved in this manner was in 1999.The Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá is entrusted to the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominican Order. Pope John Paul II visited this shrine in 1986.Prayer:Oh incomparable Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá, Mother of God, Queen of the Angels, advocate of sinners, refuge and consolation of the afflicted.Holy Mary, full of power and kindness, look benevolently upon us and assist us in all the difficult situations that we face

November 18: The Rosary Virgin of Chiquinquira, Columbia (1555) Our Lady of Chiquinquirá is the Queen and Patroness of Columbia. Chiquinquirá, which means "land of fog and swamps", is located in the Department of Boyacá, in the Andes, more than 2,000 meters above sea level.The history of the shrine is connected to a painting of the Virgin Mary and dates back to 1560. Before being sold to a private individual, the painting had been commissioned by the Spanish Dominicans, with the intention of encouraging the faith of the Native Americans and the colonists. It was displayed in a chapel, and with the passing of time, the painting deteriorated; in the end, only the frame with a very faded image of the Virgin Mary was left hanging on the wall.Several years later, the image of the Virgin Mary reappeared as if it had been restored, and thus began the series of miracles that followed, which were attributed to Mary. The miracle of "the recovered image" is the name given to the first miracle of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá.The Virgin is depicted on a linen canvas, a little more than 2 meters wide. The frame contains plaques that reproduce the national coat of arms, as well as those of the Columbian dioceses of the Dominican Fathers. The canvas was made by the Koka Native Americans.The eyes of the Virgin Mary are half-opened, and her face is turned toward her Son. The Child has in His right hand a thread, which is attached to a small bird's foot. Mary has on a white veil and is holding a coral rosary in her left hand. Two figures stand at her side: the Apostle St. Andrew and St. Anthony of Padua.The painting of the Virgin belongs to a type called "Odigitria", that is, where Mary is holding and pointing to the Child Jesus. It is one of Columbian art's oldest pieces from the colonial period, and inaugurated a new iconographic style of painting Our Lady of the Rosary.For more than 450 years, this linen canvas has survived much mishandling. It is believed that it was even used to dry wheat out in the sun. Our Lady of Chiquinquirá is also honored in Maracaibo, Venezuela, and in Guatemala.On some occasions, the painting of Mary was brought to the city of Bogotá, located 100 km to the south, to ask God for peace or to bring an end to an epidemic. The last time the painting was moved in this manner was in 1999.The Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá is entrusted to the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominican Order. Pope John Paul II visited this shrine in 1986.Prayer:Oh incomparable Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá, Mother of God, Queen of the Angels, advocate of sinners, refuge and consolation of the afflicted.Holy Mary, full of power and kindness, look benevolently upon us and assist us in all the difficult situations that we face

These three days dedicated to Our lady of Good News. Sept 16 Our Lady of Good News/Good Tidings. Orleans, France. Also, Sicily, Italy. (, ) ["built by King Robert, in the year 996, on the very spot where he learnt the good news that his father, Hugo, had escaped death. Nov. 19 Our Lady of Good News/Our Lady of Glad Tidings. Venice, Italy. [...in the Abbey of St. Victor, which was visited every Saturday, by Mary of the Medicis. The abbey was found in 1113 by Louis the Large. Dec. 12 Notre Dame de Bonne-Nouvelle (Our Lady of Good News/Good Tidings). Abbeville, France.

These three days dedicated to Our lady of Good News. Sept 16 Our Lady of Good News/Good Tidings. Orleans, France. Also, Sicily, Italy. (, ) ["built by King Robert, in the year 996, on the very spot where he learnt the good news that his father, Hugo, had escaped death. Nov. 19 Our Lady of Good News/Our Lady of Glad Tidings. Venice, Italy. [...in the Abbey of St. Victor, which was visited every Saturday, by Mary of the Medicis. The abbey was found in 1113 by Louis the Large. Dec. 12 Notre Dame de Bonne-Nouvelle (Our Lady of Good News/Good Tidings). Abbeville, France.

November 21: Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (12 BC) The feast of the Presentation was instituted in the Greek church more than nine hundred years ago, since Saint Germanus, who held the see of Constantinople in the year 715, composed a sermon upon it. Mary’s Presentation, offering, in the Temple was the greatest a creature ever made to God; at the age of three, she offered Him not spices, nor animals, nor precious metals, but herself as a perpetual victim to His honor. She well understood the voice of God calling her to devote herself entirely to His love. God willed that from that time on she should forget all, and think only of loving and pleasing Him. Promptly and immediately, she obeyed the Divine Call. Mary’s offering at her presentation began really in her mother’s womb, her sanctification at the instant of her Immaculate Conception. At that moment she received the use of reason and began to merit – the general opinion of theologians. (The Angels and our first parents had this blessing also.) In the first moment of her existence she offered herself entirely to God, and devoted herself without reserve to His love and glory, subjecting her will thereto. The immaculate child understood that her holy parents, Joachim and Anne, had promised God by a vow to consecrate their child to Him for His service. Mary was reminded that it was the ancient Jewish custom to take daughters to the temple for education. So when Mary was three years old, Joachim and Anne set out with her from Nazareth, eighty miles from Jerusalem, accompanied by choirs of unseen angels. When they reached the temple, Mary fell upon her knees, kissing the hands of her parents, and imploring them for their blessing. Then she ascended the fifteen steps of the temple and presented herself to the priest, Saint Zachary, for the service of her Creator. Mary well knew that God does not accept a divided heart; so she vowed virginity, desiring to remain in the temple service her whole life. Our Lady revealed to Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, that she kept one special commandment before her eyes constantly: “Thou shalt love the Lord Thy God,” and she implored of God the grace to keep all the laws and to live to see the Mother of the Redeemer; and that even she had to pray for grace and virtue always. On learning from Scripture that God was to be born of a virgin, her soul was inflamed with such love, and she begged to be the servant of that happy virgin. Saint John Chrysostom tells us God found on earth no other virgin more holy and more perfect than Mary; nor a dwelling more worthy than her sacred womb, and so He chose her for His Mother – surpassing in perfection and virtue all other creatures. As Mary did, offer yourself promptly and completely to God through her, without delay, without reserve, entreat her to offer you to God. He will not reject a creature offerd to Him through His Mother, the living temple of the Holy Ghost, the delight of the Lord and the chosen Mother of the eternal Word.

November 21: Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (12 BC) The feast of the Presentation was instituted in the Greek church more than nine hundred years ago, since Saint Germanus, who held the see of Constantinople in the year 715, composed a sermon upon it. Mary’s Presentation, offering, in the Temple was the greatest a creature ever made to God; at the age of three, she offered Him not spices, nor animals, nor precious metals, but herself as a perpetual victim to His honor. She well understood the voice of God calling her to devote herself entirely to His love. God willed that from that time on she should forget all, and think only of loving and pleasing Him. Promptly and immediately, she obeyed the Divine Call. Mary’s offering at her presentation began really in her mother’s womb, her sanctification at the instant of her Immaculate Conception. At that moment she received the use of reason and began to merit – the general opinion of theologians. (The Angels and our first parents had this blessing also.) In the first moment of her existence she offered herself entirely to God, and devoted herself without reserve to His love and glory, subjecting her will thereto. The immaculate child understood that her holy parents, Joachim and Anne, had promised God by a vow to consecrate their child to Him for His service. Mary was reminded that it was the ancient Jewish custom to take daughters to the temple for education. So when Mary was three years old, Joachim and Anne set out with her from Nazareth, eighty miles from Jerusalem, accompanied by choirs of unseen angels. When they reached the temple, Mary fell upon her knees, kissing the hands of her parents, and imploring them for their blessing. Then she ascended the fifteen steps of the temple and presented herself to the priest, Saint Zachary, for the service of her Creator. Mary well knew that God does not accept a divided heart; so she vowed virginity, desiring to remain in the temple service her whole life. Our Lady revealed to Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, that she kept one special commandment before her eyes constantly: “Thou shalt love the Lord Thy God,” and she implored of God the grace to keep all the laws and to live to see the Mother of the Redeemer; and that even she had to pray for grace and virtue always. On learning from Scripture that God was to be born of a virgin, her soul was inflamed with such love, and she begged to be the servant of that happy virgin. Saint John Chrysostom tells us God found on earth no other virgin more holy and more perfect than Mary; nor a dwelling more worthy than her sacred womb, and so He chose her for His Mother – surpassing in perfection and virtue all other creatures. As Mary did, offer yourself promptly and completely to God through her, without delay, without reserve, entreat her to offer you to God. He will not reject a creature offerd to Him through His Mother, the living temple of the Holy Ghost, the delight of the Lord and the chosen Mother of the eternal Word.

November 22: Our Lady of Lavang, Viet Nam (1798) The fact that the Blessed Virgin visited a small group of Catholics in the little jungle village of Lavang, in Viet Nam, in 1798, is not surprising to anyone who knows the ways of the Mother of God. She has always been faithful to her children by grace. It was as a result of one period of persecution that a number of Vietnamese Catholics found refuge about 1785 in a jungle that hardy foresters would hesitate to penetrate. Here they stayed hidden, suffering privations, dangers and illnesses, in order to practice their religion. One of the few comforts they had was reciting the rosary every day at dusk. On one such evening, they were first frightened and then enchanted to behold a Woman and Child standing nearby in a mysterious glow of light. Simple as these people were, some among them recognized the Virgin Mother and Her Child. All listened entranced while Mary told them softly that she was fully aware of their hardships and of their chronic sickness due to contaminated water. She told them to gather certain leaves that grew near and make a strong tea of them; this would keep them healthy. Solemnly she added, “From this day on, prayers said on this spot will be heard – and answered.” The year was 1798. Not long after the Virgin’s visit, the people heard that the persecution they escaped had ended. Most went back to their original homes; they could talk about little but the apparition they had seen, and word of this miracle spread. By 1820 even the Buddhists believed in Our Lady’s promise and built the first little shrine, a pagoda, on the spot where Mary had been seen. Within a short time these Buddhists become Christians; and their small shrine became the first Church of Our Lady of Lavang. The faithful found solace and courage in this devotion in times of oppression and general misery that have come again and again to the Vietnamese. In 1885 during a period of rabid anti-Christianity, the Lavang chapel was burned; a priest, Father Philip Minh, now Blessed Philip, was beheaded. There was another lull between attacks and work was begun on a building to replace the burnt chapel. There were great difficulties in transporting supplies plus lack of adequate funds, but the great church of Our Lady of Lavang somehow evolved and was dedicated in 1901 in the name of the Protecting Mother of the faithful. A congress of all dioceses of Viet Nam was called and Lavang became a place of pilgrimage for countless devout people of Southeast Asia. During the Marian Congress of 1961 a new basilica of Our Lady of Lavang was dedicated by Archbishop Peter Ngo-Dinh Thue of Hue. At that time he told Catholics of South Viet Nam that he received messages still from Catholics in North Communist Viet Nam who say they never fail to believe that the Holy Virgin of Lavang will one day deliver their country from Communist oppressors. Viet Nam is a land of many martyrs. Across the centuries, devoted religious, scholars, leaders and the poor have paid homage to Mary. —

November 22: Our Lady of Lavang, Viet Nam (1798) The fact that the Blessed Virgin visited a small group of Catholics in the little jungle village of Lavang, in Viet Nam, in 1798, is not surprising to anyone who knows the ways of the Mother of God. She has always been faithful to her children by grace. It was as a result of one period of persecution that a number of Vietnamese Catholics found refuge about 1785 in a jungle that hardy foresters would hesitate to penetrate. Here they stayed hidden, suffering privations, dangers and illnesses, in order to practice their religion. One of the few comforts they had was reciting the rosary every day at dusk. On one such evening, they were first frightened and then enchanted to behold a Woman and Child standing nearby in a mysterious glow of light. Simple as these people were, some among them recognized the Virgin Mother and Her Child. All listened entranced while Mary told them softly that she was fully aware of their hardships and of their chronic sickness due to contaminated water. She told them to gather certain leaves that grew near and make a strong tea of them; this would keep them healthy. Solemnly she added, “From this day on, prayers said on this spot will be heard – and answered.” The year was 1798. Not long after the Virgin’s visit, the people heard that the persecution they escaped had ended. Most went back to their original homes; they could talk about little but the apparition they had seen, and word of this miracle spread. By 1820 even the Buddhists believed in Our Lady’s promise and built the first little shrine, a pagoda, on the spot where Mary had been seen. Within a short time these Buddhists become Christians; and their small shrine became the first Church of Our Lady of Lavang. The faithful found solace and courage in this devotion in times of oppression and general misery that have come again and again to the Vietnamese. In 1885 during a period of rabid anti-Christianity, the Lavang chapel was burned; a priest, Father Philip Minh, now Blessed Philip, was beheaded. There was another lull between attacks and work was begun on a building to replace the burnt chapel. There were great difficulties in transporting supplies plus lack of adequate funds, but the great church of Our Lady of Lavang somehow evolved and was dedicated in 1901 in the name of the Protecting Mother of the faithful. A congress of all dioceses of Viet Nam was called and Lavang became a place of pilgrimage for countless devout people of Southeast Asia. During the Marian Congress of 1961 a new basilica of Our Lady of Lavang was dedicated by Archbishop Peter Ngo-Dinh Thue of Hue. At that time he told Catholics of South Viet Nam that he received messages still from Catholics in North Communist Viet Nam who say they never fail to believe that the Holy Virgin of Lavang will one day deliver their country from Communist oppressors. Viet Nam is a land of many martyrs. Across the centuries, devoted religious, scholars, leaders and the poor have paid homage to Mary. —

November 23: Our Lady of the Vault, Italy The Abbot Orsini wrote: “Our Lady of the Vault, near the town of Saint Anastasia, in the environs of Florence.” There is no town named Saint Anastasia or Santa Anastasia near Florence, Italy, and I can find no reference to a church known as Our Lady of the Vault. There is a church in Florence that this feast might be referring to – The Duomo, Florence’s Cathedral of Saint Mary, or Santa Maria del Fiore. The dome is said to be the largest free-standing dome since ancient times, and is 348 feet high. It provides for a wonderful view of the city of Florence, and is a true triumph of 15th century engineering. The problem was that the dome was also expected to be 150 feet wide, and even those building the cathedral had no idea how they would go about spanning the space when they got to it, for it was far larger than any attempted since the days of antiquity with the great Roman engineers. The problem was put off for a later generation. It’s hard to believe that such a design problem was left to the last minute, but fortunately, there was one man capable of the job. His name was Filippo Brunelleschi, and his work became the future emblem of the city of Florence. Consider that the builders did not even have the money to afford the massive supports and scaffolding that was thought to be necessary to even begin work on the dome. One suggested solution was a proposal to fill in the space with dirt, and then pile it up in the shape of a dome which they could build around. To save the expense of removing the dirt after the dome was built, coins could be placed here and there in the dirt pile, and the poor invited in to look for the money, if they were also willing to take out the dirt they had dug through. But Brunelleschi understood the secret of Rome’s Pantheon. He began by building the outer ribs to support and distribute the weight, and instead of heavy stone, used interlocking bricks, which were lighter and more solid. No scaffolding was required, as the builders used chains attached to the dome they were building to suspend themselves in place to work. Even so, it took sixteen years to complete, but it was a huge advance in engineering for that time. The city of Florence recognized the genius of Brunelleschi, for after his death he was buried directly beneath the dome he had created. He remains the only person ever buried in the vaulted cathedral dome.

November 23: Our Lady of the Vault, Italy The Abbot Orsini wrote: “Our Lady of the Vault, near the town of Saint Anastasia, in the environs of Florence.” There is no town named Saint Anastasia or Santa Anastasia near Florence, Italy, and I can find no reference to a church known as Our Lady of the Vault. There is a church in Florence that this feast might be referring to – The Duomo, Florence’s Cathedral of Saint Mary, or Santa Maria del Fiore. The dome is said to be the largest free-standing dome since ancient times, and is 348 feet high. It provides for a wonderful view of the city of Florence, and is a true triumph of 15th century engineering. The problem was that the dome was also expected to be 150 feet wide, and even those building the cathedral had no idea how they would go about spanning the space when they got to it, for it was far larger than any attempted since the days of antiquity with the great Roman engineers. The problem was put off for a later generation. It’s hard to believe that such a design problem was left to the last minute, but fortunately, there was one man capable of the job. His name was Filippo Brunelleschi, and his work became the future emblem of the city of Florence. Consider that the builders did not even have the money to afford the massive supports and scaffolding that was thought to be necessary to even begin work on the dome. One suggested solution was a proposal to fill in the space with dirt, and then pile it up in the shape of a dome which they could build around. To save the expense of removing the dirt after the dome was built, coins could be placed here and there in the dirt pile, and the poor invited in to look for the money, if they were also willing to take out the dirt they had dug through. But Brunelleschi understood the secret of Rome’s Pantheon. He began by building the outer ribs to support and distribute the weight, and instead of heavy stone, used interlocking bricks, which were lighter and more solid. No scaffolding was required, as the builders used chains attached to the dome they were building to suspend themselves in place to work. Even so, it took sixteen years to complete, but it was a huge advance in engineering for that time. The city of Florence recognized the genius of Brunelleschi, for after his death he was buried directly beneath the dome he had created. He remains the only person ever buried in the vaulted cathedral dome.

November 26: Our Lady of the Mountains, Italy (1500) Also known as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Polsi, or Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Polsi, Our Lady of the Mountain, it is located near San Luca in Calabria in Southern Italy. Until recently the sanctuary could only be reached on foot because of the rugged terrain and its location at the bottom of a gorge. It is known that the site has been inhabited since pre-Roman times, as there were Hellenic settlers there who worshipped Persephone. Basilian monks had founded a hermitage there in the 7th century honoring the Blessed Mother, which was replaced by a Roman Catholic presence about the year 1500. During the period from spring to October the area around the sacred shrine comes alive with a considerable number of pilgrims from all over the provinces of Calabria and neighboring provinces. Once near the sanctuary, however, you might still find shepherds grazing their flocks. There is more than one legend about the founding of Our Lady of the Mountains. One of them is that in the ninth century there were Byzantine monks fleeing from the Saracen invasion. They made their way into the heart of the mountains where they founded a small colony and a church. Possibly due to the extreme distance to the nearest villages, the site was later abandoned. Another, more widespread legend, tells that in the eleventh century a shepherd boy, a native from a nearby town, was intent on finding a lost bull. When he found it, he watched as the animal dug up an iron cross. Then he experienced a vision of the Blessed Virgin with the Christ Child, who said: “I want you to build a church to spread devotion to me. I will grant graces, above all, to the devotees who will come here to visit me.” Still within the sanctuary are kept the statue of Our Lady of the Mountains, a sculpture of great beauty, and the Holy Cross. The statue of the Blessed Virgin was carved in limestone, and is said to have eyes that follow the beholder. She and her Divine Son wear golden crowns that date from 1860, when the father superior of the Basilian convent, Domenico Fera, crowned the statues.

November 26: Our Lady of the Mountains, Italy (1500) Also known as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Polsi, or Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Polsi, Our Lady of the Mountain, it is located near San Luca in Calabria in Southern Italy. Until recently the sanctuary could only be reached on foot because of the rugged terrain and its location at the bottom of a gorge. It is known that the site has been inhabited since pre-Roman times, as there were Hellenic settlers there who worshipped Persephone. Basilian monks had founded a hermitage there in the 7th century honoring the Blessed Mother, which was replaced by a Roman Catholic presence about the year 1500. During the period from spring to October the area around the sacred shrine comes alive with a considerable number of pilgrims from all over the provinces of Calabria and neighboring provinces. Once near the sanctuary, however, you might still find shepherds grazing their flocks. There is more than one legend about the founding of Our Lady of the Mountains. One of them is that in the ninth century there were Byzantine monks fleeing from the Saracen invasion. They made their way into the heart of the mountains where they founded a small colony and a church. Possibly due to the extreme distance to the nearest villages, the site was later abandoned. Another, more widespread legend, tells that in the eleventh century a shepherd boy, a native from a nearby town, was intent on finding a lost bull. When he found it, he watched as the animal dug up an iron cross. Then he experienced a vision of the Blessed Virgin with the Christ Child, who said: “I want you to build a church to spread devotion to me. I will grant graces, above all, to the devotees who will come here to visit me.” Still within the sanctuary are kept the statue of Our Lady of the Mountains, a sculpture of great beauty, and the Holy Cross. The statue of the Blessed Virgin was carved in limestone, and is said to have eyes that follow the beholder. She and her Divine Son wear golden crowns that date from 1860, when the father superior of the Basilian convent, Domenico Fera, crowned the statues.