The Blessed Virgin Mary

Mother of God
Feasts: January 1; June 20; August 15, 22; September 8; November 21; December 8, 12; optionally almost any Saturday

And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin's name was Mary.

And the angel being come in, said unto her: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." Who having heard, was troubled at his saying and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.

And the angel said to her: "Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end."

And Mary said:

My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name.

And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him. He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy. As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

[Luke 1:26–35; 39–55, DRB]

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

St. Joseph

Husband of Mary, Adoptive father of Jesus
Feast: March 19

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. [Matthew 1:18–20; 24–25, KJV]

St. Joseph, model for fathers, pray for us.

St. Gianna Molla

Unofficial patroness of the pro-life movement.
Feast: April 28

St. Gianna is the unofficial patron of the pro-life movement, having refused an abortion and a hysterectomy and ultimately giving her life to save the life of her daughter. The second official miracle attributed to her in her cause for canonization is amazing. Through the intercession of St. Gianna, a Brazilian woman gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby girl even though she lost all her amniotic fluid 16 weeks into the pregnancy.

On the web:

Lord, through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Jesus, and after the example of Gianna, inspire all mothers to welcome with love the sparkle of new life, through Christ our Lord.

St. Gianna, pray for us.

St. Dymphna

Patroness of the mentally ill.
Feast: May 15

What with our psychiatric disorders, many of us in my family could use a patron of the mentally ill (I am not being sardonic or sarcastic).

St. Dymphna, pray for us that we may know the peace which Christ promises to us.

Information on these saints and others can be found at the web site of St. Charles Borromeo Church.