July 28

Victory over the Turks by the Knights of Rhodes in 1480 through Our Lady’s intercession Our Lady of Faith (at Gravelines, NW of France) The Virgin of Smolensk Hodegetria

Our Lady of Smolensk

Hodegetria, literally means: "She who shows the way." The Virgin of Smolensk is the patroness of icon-painters; liturgically she is commemorated in Russia on July 28. The title distinguishes a large class of icons of Mary the Mother of God holding the Child Jesus at her side while she points to him as the source of salvation for mankind. An icon of this type (perhaps by Saint Luke) is said to have been sent from Jerusalem to Constantinople in the 11th century, where it was enshrined and became a palladium of the city and was associated with many events in its history. After the fall of Constantinople, many Russians believe that the icon surfaced in Russia, where it was placed in the Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk. One such relic of 'Our Lady of Smolensk' was carried with the Russian Army at the Battle of Borodino in 1812. This miraculous icon was destroyed by fire during the German occupation of Smolensk in 1941. St Alphonse de Liguori Les Gloires de Marie - St Paul 1997

Flower of the Day

Chamomile

Anthemis cotula

Symbolizes- Maiden Weed

Chamomile is the National Flower of Russia and is an herb that has healing qualities that is often used in Mary Gardens. It is a wild flower and is used at the Mary Garden at Our Lady of Knock Shrine in Ireland. We use it for tea too!

Prayer for Healing

Mary, you have given yourself to us as Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. You have asked us to pray with confidence, and that will receive great graces. We know your compassion because you saw your Son suffer and die for us. In your union with his suffering you became the mother of us all. Mary, my mother, teach me to understand my suffering as you do and to endure it in union with the suffering of Jesus. In your motherly love, calm my fears and increase my trust in God's loving care. According to God's plan, obtain for me the healing I need. Intercede with your Son that I may have the strength I need to work for God's glory and the salvation of the world. Amen. Mary, Health of the Sick, pray for us.

See this beautiful video of Our Lady of Lourdes with Pope Benedict XVI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng4TTl-RRtc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rToOqV3zUM

Ave Maria!