August 7 The Relic of Our Lady (Chartres, France)

Our Lady, Protector of the Faith

Mary Garden, statue

Basilica of the National Shrine, Wash., DC

Relic of Our Lady's veil

Chartres Cathedral, France

The "Voile de la Vierge" (Veil of the Blessed Virgin) is said to be the veil which would have wrapped Jesus at his birth. It was given to Charlemagne by Constantine Porphyrogenitus and Irene andtransferred about 876 by Charles the Bald from Aachen to Chartres and has remained at the Cathedral ever since. Many pilgrims have come to Chartres to pray to Jesus and Mary.

Beautiful video of Chartres - listen to the bells

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcQFx0_IU78

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBCqC_lUN-E&NR=1&feature=fvwp

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Flower of the Day

Rosemary

Rosmarinus officianalis

Symbolizes Our Lady's Veil color

Rosemary is a fragrant herb which looks beautiful along the borders of a Mary Garden. Legend says the blue flowers took their colour from Mary's veil when she spread it over a rosemary bush to dry in the sun.

The Veil

The Veil takes its name from the Veil of the Temple which was torn in two at the moment of Christ's death upon the cross. (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45) The rending of the veil therefore speaks of the end of a formal separation between creature and Creator, a separation signified by the veil (or vail) of the temple, which stood before the Holy of Holies, the place of the Divine Indwelling (shekinah). Now not just the High Priest but the whole of humanity is called into this indwelling, "to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh" (Hebrews 10:19-20).

Read some interesting articles on the veil and it's tradition: http://www.fisheaters.com/theveil.html (veiling) http://www.traditioninaction.org/religious/d005rpVeil_1_Goodman.htm http://catholicknight.blogspot.com/2007/12/chapel-veil-campaign.html

Ave Maria!