St. Catherine Laboure and the Blessed Mother in Paris.

As a child, I received my love and support of the Blessed Mother from my parents who said the rosary every day. When I was younger, during May my parents would implement a “family rosary” to bring us together in our devotion during Mary’s special month… However, at that time, I often objected because it meant staying inside when I could be out playing with my friends.

Now my attitude is different. I say the rosary every day and feel completely at peace after I say it. Sometimes the day gets busy, and I forget to stop and pray but then I always get a nudge, a gentle reminder to take time out to honor Mary through the rosary.

I grew up in and lived in the city of Philadelphia. For many years, I went to the Miraculous Medal Shrine on Chelten Avenue on Mondays to say a novena with my mom and my daughter. It is beautiful and out of all the shrines I have visited, it remains my favorite. (If you are in the Philadelphia area, I recommend taking some time to stop in!) As my devotion to Mary has increased over the years, I have been able to honor Mary through my travels. Visiting Europe several times with my daughter, Patrice, I have seen different country's shrines to Our Blessed Lady and would like to share my experience with you.

Sue Ann lighting a candle at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima.

Last year, we visited Paris and went to the original shrine of the Miraculous Medal, where Our Blessed Lady explained the Miraculous Medal to St. Catherine Labouré. According to records, the Blessed Mother sat in the very chair located on the shrine’s altar. It was so moving to see the chair and think, Our Mother was right there! While at the shrine we were able to attend Mass and witness the strong devotion of the other travelers.

In Ireland, we visited the Shrine to Our Lady of Knock where she appeared to several people of the town on the gable wall of the parish church. Not only is this shrine beautiful and inspiring, I felt an extra closeness because the feast of the apparition falls on my birthday! Continuing our travels, we had the privilege of visiting Poland where we viewed the portrait of Our Lady of Czestochowa. The country of Poland has many churches and the people of Poland have so much devotion to our Blessed Lady; it is so gratifying!

Sue Ann and her daughter at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima.

In May of this year, my daughter and I traveled to Portugal to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. The shrine is impressively large and includes a basilica that is home to tombs of the three shepherd children, Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta who saw the Virgin Mary in 1917, and a small chapel next to the great oak tree that has stood there since the time of Mary’s appearance. Often, pilgrims approach the chapel shrine from the far end of the shrine on their knees as an act of penance. While there, we witnessed this act as a woman approached the shrine on her knees holding an infant, and her husband held an umbrella over her. What devotion to Our Blessed Lady!

These vacations centered around Mary have been very special to me. They have increased my faith through my own experiences as well as witnessing the devotion to Our Blessed Lady in other travelers. I pray that I have the opportunity to visit more Marian locations and for the continued increase in devotions to Our Blessed Mother.

Memorare (My go-to prayer and that of St. Francis de Sales as well!)

Remember, O most compassionate Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your assistance, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we fly unto you, O Virgin of Virgins, our Mother; to you we come; before you we kneel, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but, in your clemency, hear and answer them. Amen.

Visits to Our Mother

Sugar on Top

Turning to Mary