Dear Friend,

Greetings from the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal! I pray that you and yours are enjoying a beautiful summer.

Your spiritual family here at Mary’s Association continues to remember your needs in the daily Mass and prayers here at the Shrine.

Lifting each other up in prayer is a tradition dating back to AMM’s earliest days. In God’s love for Our Lady, he lifted her up, too — in the beautiful mystery we celebrate every August 15, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

On Sunday, August 6, at 11:00 a.m., CT, we will honor Our Blessed Mother as we begin the Shrine’s annual Assumption Novena of Masses.

I hope you will add your personal intentions.  Your petitions will be placed at Our Lady’s Shrine Altar for remembrance throughout the novena and during the Solemnity Mass on Tuesday, August 15.

You may also request a Votive Light that will burn as a symbol of your confident trust in Mary’s intercession. Any gift you add will help AMM draw others closer to Jesus through Mary, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, support Vincentian ministries, and form tomorrow’s priests and brothers who will shepherd God’s people.

Mary’s Assumption reminds us of God’s reward for those who live in faith-filled trust and obedience. Despite all the sorrow her Immaculate Heart endured, Our Lady always trusted God. She is our model for never giving in to discouragement or bitterness. Best of all, she is here to help us along every step of our journey to heaven.

I will watch for your intentions. May Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal keep you close to her heart and to the heart of her Son.

In the love of Mary,

Fr. Kevin McCracken, C.M.
Spiritual Director

P.S. This year’s Solemnity of the Assumption Mass on Tuesday, August 15, will be live streamed on our Facebook page beginning at 12:10 p.m., CT. You are invited to join us in this joyous Liturgy!

P.P.S. AMM members often share stories of how they’ve grown in faith through the Blessed Virgin. I hope they inspire you today …

Dear Father,
I decided to attach a Miraculous Medal to my bicycle, which I ride about six miles each day. I thought by doing so, Mary would intercede for my protection from any accidents. I was correct. Yesterday, a stone wall blocked both my view and that of an oncoming motorist … We nearly collided, but I was unharmed. Thank you, Mary!  Renee B.

Dear Father,
Last year, my daughter was gravely ill for six months. I began praying the Rosary daily and, after a blessing with Lourdes Water, during her third month in the hospital, she started to recover! I am so grateful … My daughter is now walking, talking, and has returned to work. Betty C.

Dear Father,
When I lost our child to SIDS at 2 months of age, I was devastated. I’d had a devotion to Our Blessed Mother since I was a child and — from one mother to another who had lost her child — I asked for strength to work through my grief. Many fruits came from this, including my husband’s conversion to the Catholic faith 20 years later. Lorraine H.