Author: Michelle Weiler

In early May 1917, the United States was preparing to enter the war that had been raging in Europe for nearly three years. Millions of lives had already been lost. Pope Benedict XV spent himself tirelessly in prayerful pleas and diplomatic efforts to restore global peace. It seemed as if no progress was being made.

In a decisive letter dated May 5, the Holy Father urged the world to turn with confidence to the Mother of God: “Let loving and devout appeal go up from every corner of the earth … that the peace we ask for be obtained …”

Just eight days later, an answer came from heaven. In a tiny village in Portugal, Our Lady appeared to three young peasant children. The miracle of Fatima had begun.
God chose “Mary’s month” to step into World War I. Perhaps it was a nod of divine approval to the Church’s centuries-long practice of honoring Mary in May.

I invite you to take part in the Association of the Miraculous Medal’s annual May Procession on Sunday, May 5. The May Procession will begin at 1:00 p.m., CT, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, Missouri.

Last year, hundreds came from near and far to honor the Mother of Mercy, “our life, our sweetness, and our hope.” Tens of thousands more participated by returning their silk rose petals, representing their prayers and petitions to be included in a beautiful wreath. This wreath will be presented to Our Blessed Mother during the May Procession.

I hope you will help us continue this tradition by sending your special intentions by April 8.

We will implore the Queen of Heaven to intercede for your needs before the throne of God. Your needs will also be remembered in the daily Mass and prayers here at the National Shrine throughout the month of May.

If you live closer to the West Coast, you are invited to attend the May Procession that will be held on May 5 at all of the Sunday Masses (8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m.(School Mass), 2:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m., at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish in Los Angeles. For more information on the May Processions being held in Los Angeles, please call (213) 749-8950.

You may wish to burn a Votive Light at the Shrine Chapel as a sign of your constant confidence in Christ Jesus and the merits of Our Blessed Mother.

AMM deeply appreciates any monetary offering you wish to include. Gifts enable Mary’s ministry to continue, drawing the faithful closer to God through Our Lady, especially by sharing the Miraculous Medal with others.

I pray you’ll do just as the Holy Father did in 1917 by offering up your loving, devout appeal to Our Lady.

No matter how small or great your need may be, Our Blessed Mother will not fail to intercede for you, to comfort you, and guide you.

Thank you once more for your caring support of the Association of the Miraculous Medal. We look forward to receiving your special intentions. And we hope to see you at the National Shrine on Sunday, May 5.

May God continue to bless your efforts to serve him, and may he draw all of us ever closer to himself. 

Sincerely in Jesus and Mary,

P.S.  Be sure to return your intentions by April 8 so they can be included in the 2024 May Procession.

“Doubting” Thomas had to see the risen Christ in order to believe.

Jesus calls us blessed who do not see, but still believe.

In her perfect discipleship, Mary believed with her whole heart, even without seeing proof, without knowing what the future held, without understanding the great suffering God permitted the Holy Family to endure.

Every time we recite the Apostles’ or Nicene Creed, we proclaim all that we believe — without seeing, knowing, or understanding it all.

Today, we look forward to the joyous mystery of the Resurrection. I invite you to walk the way of faith with Our Lady. Take her Immaculate Heart as your own, rejoicing as she surely did that first Easter morning.

Sharing the joy of your beliefs with those you love can be life-changing. Request your Easter cards to use this season. Each announces the gift of prayer. Send your special intentions and include the names of your recipients, they will be remembered in the Association of the Miraculous Medal’s octave of Masses beginning Easter Sunday and concluding on Divine Mercy Sunday. You may also request to burn a Votive Light in the names of your loved ones.

Recently a member wrote to AMM about her life-changing encounter with Our Blessed Mother — one that has led to a deep and abiding faith in Christ.

I wasn’t raised in a family that attended church. In the late 1990s at age 29, I wasn’t even sure I believed in God. But somehow, I had a powerful urge to learn about Mary. On the internet I only found a little information. It was about the Immaculate and Sacred Hearts. While passing an antique shop one day, I saw a framed picture of those two hearts. I knew instantly that I was supposed to buy it.

Hanging it above our front door, a prominent place in our house, I just KNEW I would receive some sort of signal from Mary that I was on the right track. My husband did not believe me, but he went along with it.

A couple days later, he and I were returning home. As we walked in under the image, the immediate, powerful scent of roses stopped us in our tracks. “It’s Mary’s signal of grace!” I cried. We were both in awe. The scent filled the area directly under the picture. Once you stepped away, it disappeared. This lasted around 30 seconds. There were no flowers, air sprays, or scented candles in or near the house. It was Mary’s signal of grace. I am now a practicing Catholic. I would die for the faith if necessary. I have enthroned the picture in my home. Praise be to Jesus Christ and his Blessed Mother, now and forever!

We may not all smell roses, but we can all be certain that through Mary, Our Lord pours out limitless mercy and blessings to draw us nearer to him in heaven.

Let us rejoice as Mary, God’s perfect disciple, leads each of us to the fullness of new life in her Son this Easter season.

Yours in Jesus and Mary,

P.S.  You may request Easter cards to use this season or call us at 1-800-264-6279 weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., CT, before March 11. Adding an offering of any amount will help AMM inspire greater faith and reach more souls with Mary’s powerful Miraculous Medal. We are grateful for your generosity.

“For I do not seek understanding in order to believe … I believe in order to understand.”
Saint Anselm of Canterbury

Every year, the Association of the Miraculous Medal offers beautiful Easter cards you can send to loved ones. Each greeting shares the gift of prayer, offering your recipients a special remembrance in the Easter Octave of Masses March 31 – April 7) held at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, Missouri.

Don’t miss Father Clay’s Easter reflection, which reminds us of Mary’s whole-hearted belief in God’s plan for her life, without seeing proof; without knowing what the future held; without understanding the suffering she was asked to endure.

The Special intentions you share today will rest near Mary’s Altar at the National Shrine to be remembered throughout the Lenten and Easter seasons. You may also request a Votive Light to burn — a sign of your faith in lifting up your needs to Our Lord through Our Blessed Mother.

“Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining. Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning! Amen. Alleluia.” — conclusion, Sequence

This past year, a couple visited us here at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. They had just returned from Lourdes, France. He, a church organist, said he had a brain tumor and doctors had given him no hope.

Parishioners had taken up a collection to pay for their trip. While there, he said Our Lady directed him to drink the Lourdes water and put some on his head. Back home, he asked the doctor to do another brain scan. The tumor had shrunk so much that the doctors were astounded!

Later, he had a vision of Jesus telling him that healing was underway. He said he felt called to visit Our Lady’s Shrine here in Perryville.

Before leaving, the couple stopped in the Gift Shop on the Shrine campus. There, on display, was a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. It had sat for over a year, awaiting a heaven-sent owner. You can guess who took the statue home that day. 

Do you remember the story of Lourdes?

In 1858, Our Lady appeared to a French peasant teen with messages about prayer, penance, and healing. Bernadette Soubirous endured opposition as she frequented the grotto near her home to visit the lady who called herself “the Immaculate Conception” and revealed a spring of water which has become a source of healing and hope for millions of people visiting Lourdes each year.

From February 11-18, the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal will celebrate its annual octave of Masses to petition Our Lady of Lourdes for the needs of our members. I urge you to turn to Mary now, with all confidence that she will intercede for the healing of body, mind, or spirit that you and your loved ones need.

Send your special intentions. We’ll place them near Mary’s Shrine Altar. You may also request to burn a Votive Light for your needs.

“Why must we suffer?” Bernadette asks the question that burns within all hearts. “Because here below pure Love cannot exist without suffering. O Jesus, Jesus, I no longer feel my cross when I think of yours … [In heaven] I shall find my Mother in all the splendour of her glory. I shall delight with her in the joy of Jesus himself in perfect safety.”

Participating in AMM’s octave of Masses offers you the opportunity to do the same — to unite yourself spiritually with Mary and Jesus in joy and perfect safety.

Any offering you choose to include with your petitions, will be appreciated. Such gifts make it possible for AMM to continue Our Lady’s mission of drawing souls closer to her Son.

This includes Mary’s prayer ministry here at the Shrine — daily Mass and prayers along with AMM’s many novenas, octaves, and devotions. Your contribution also enables us to distribute free Miraculous Medals on an explanation card to anyone who asks. (Weekly, we send out an average of 19,000!)

I look forward to including your special intentions in the February 11-18 octave of Masses appealing to Our Lady of Lourdes. May God continue to bless your efforts to serve him, and may he draw all of us ever closer to himself.

Sincerely yours in Jesus and Mary,