A Deed of Hope

Happy Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe!

This reflection talks about our Lady and how she brings people closer to her son. The part I liked the best out of this reflection was this quote:

"Mary proves time and time again her willingness to take on our many colors and languages:  to become Mother to the Body of Christ in history."

 I have had the privilege of making a pilgrimage to four Marian Apparition sites around the world. Three are approved by the church, one is not (only because in order to be approved, the apparitions need to cease, and this one has yet to cease.) The four I have visited thus far are:

Our Lady of Knock in Knock, County Mayo Ireland. 

 Our Lady of Fatima in Fatima, Portugal. 

 Our Lady of Peace in Medjugorje, Bosnia & Herzegovina. 

And most recently, Our Lady of Good Help in Champion, Wisconsin USA.  

Each of these woman are the same. Mary, the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of God. She has many different titles and each place she appears differently. If she is our mother, she has to look like us, and I think this shows the universality of the church. It relates to all and makes everyone feel accepted. The coolest thing about this is that Our Lady of Good Help appeared about 2 hours away from where I live, so I will probably be making a few pilgrimages out to Champion. I'm so blessed by that. I would love to go back to the other places, but we'll see where life takes me!