Children of Mary

Feast of Our Lady of Itati

(Argentina) 1615

Our Lady of Grace

St. Mary's Mountain

Emmitsburg, Maryland

I am visiting the beautiful St.Mary's Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The gardens at the National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes are lovely. The shrine is on a mountain and is one of the oldest replicas of the Lourdes shrine in France where Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858. This shrine was built only 21 years later. Below is the valley called "St. Joseph's Valley." St. Elizabeth Ann Seton came to St. Mary's Mountain in 1809 and lived here until she died in 1821. She was the first U.S. woman to be canonized a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. She recalled: “If you could breathe our mountain air and taste the repose of the deep woods and streams…we are half in the sky; the height of our situation is almost incredible.” There is also a clear mountain spring with fresh water and many graces and special favors reported by pilgrims using this water. Rosary Lane has the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary in mosaics which were imported from Italy in 1966.

Flower of the Day

Rose of Sharon Hibiscus syriacus A Title of Our Lady

A Chinese plant, The Rose of Sharon is a title given to Our Lady in the Song of Songs. It grows 8-10 feet tall and they still grow in the Holy Land as much as they did 2000 years ago.

I am the Rose of Sharon, The lily of the valleys. Song of Songs (2:1)

“My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour!” Luke 1:46 "How praiseworthy are the works of the Lord!" Canticle III – Sirach 39:13-16a "Thanks be to God who through us is spreading the knowledge of himself like a pleasant fragrance." 2 Corinthians 2:14

Ave Maria!