President's Desk
September 2009

TITLES OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER

As I was reflecting on what the President’s page would be this month of her birthday, we were discussing all the titles of Our Lady and what it means to me and this ministry. St. Louis Marie De Montfort says “There is not a church without an altar in her honor, not a country nor a canton where there are not some miraculous images where all sorts of evils are cured and all sorts of good gifts obtained.”

The first title for me is Our Lady of Consolation. She has so many miracles attributed to her they could not be listed. She is in Carey, Ohio and it was at the Shrine that I attended my very first Catholic Mass. She is the patroness of this ministry.

Next would be Rosa Mystica. As I prayed my first Novena to her I realized she is the patroness of Priests and the early roots of this ministry. Under this title she changed my life, my outlook, my spirituality, the way I think, act, dress etc. I sometimes kid in the ministry that I don’t pray the Novena as often because she will make sure I keep on the straight road in her plan for me. Of course, she does wonderful things for me as well like arranging for me to get the truck I needed so badly. She will at times confirm that by having the number 101 come up (that is the 101 tears she shed for our Priest’s and the offenses against her son). Our Logo and Shield for the ministry are of her and her requests (prayer, penance and sacrifice). I have had the opportunity to lead two pilgrimages to her Shrine in Italy.

Early on in the ministry which includes the place where I received the direction that this ministry would take is  Our Lady of Coromoto (the patroness of Venezuela) and Our Lady of Betania where I led so many pilgrimages beginning in 1994 and 1995 through 1999. Under that title she has always been a source of stability in the ministry.

Our Lady of Good Remedy is always there when the financial help is so desperately needed, like right now when we have found out that we may not be able to get the refund back from the President of the Cruise line. He is literally stealing the money from this ministry so for the first time ever we have had to send out letters to some of our benefactors asking for help to get through this trial. We are very confident she will take care of us, She always has.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help has always been a favorite to invoke in special circumstances. I learned more about her from Father George as She was his patroness.

Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady of Lourdes are always here to intercede for healings, both physical and spiritual. With the pilgrimages I have been able to lead there we always have the healing water to give to the people.

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Our Lady of Grace) is always invoked for the special needs and promoted here in the ministry. We lose track of the medals I have been able to bring back when I have visited the Rue de Bac in Paris, France. There are more miracles attributed to that medal than any other. The Brown Scapular has the most but that medal is close 2nd.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is always here for us. We have a 7’ statue of here with the most beautiful face here in the store. She welcomes everyone, touches their hearts, leads them on their way and intercedes for all who come to the ministry for prayers. That statue is very unique as she was blessed by a Priest with the Eucharist. People really take notice of her when entering the store.

Our Mother of Sorrows! As I am writing this on her Feast Day I remember when Father Fernando brought me the images of her from Ecuador. It is definitely one of my favorite images. She is always there to remind us of the suffering She endured in her life and as She STOOD at the foot of the Cross. We were reminded this morning that Jesus, in His humanity asked His Father for help and as He looked down He saw His Mother STANDING tall and that became His strength. I believe that we all receive strength from her and as long as we stand with her we will not slip or fall we will stand firm to carry out God’s will for us in our life.  Sometimes when we feel that inner strength come in times of trials that are allowed to happen to us we can be assured that it is her that is dispensing those special graces to help us through.

There are several others that stand on their own name i.e. Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Our Lady of Charity, and Our Lady of Good Counsel and many more that have touched so many of us.

I had the choice to list my patroness and my vocation first or bring this article to a close with her, I chose the latter. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is the most venerated under all of her titles. Not only those of us who have made promises and vows in her order but all that wear the brown scapular with devotion knowing they will not see the pains of hell if they die wearing it. We know that she has appeared numerous times under this title and is the best known of all. This ministry relies on her protection in a very special way.

Under all titles she is the one that will crush the head of Satin so we all definitely need to be very aware of her presence every moment of our life. She will always lead you to her Son Jesus. I hope this helps us reflect on the ONE MOTHER OF GOD but under the different titles can be so close to us in our spiritual walk.

St. Alphonsus de Liguori says “The divine Mother has shown by prodigies how pleasing to her are the visits paid to her images. But if we are unable to visit her miraculous images which are far from home we can visit her by going before her image, or praying to her in churches dedicated to her honor”  (until we can make such visits in person at Our Lady’s shrines around the world.)

May God Bless All of You

GAYLE