Marian Calendar August

1 - Our asks for Establishment of an for Redeeming Captives (1218) At that time in history, during the 13th Century, the powerful Islamic Taifa kingdoms in , as well as the Ottoman at the opposite end of the Mediterranean Sea, operated a slave trade the scope of which has not been seen anytime else in history. The Spanish, particularly, were subject to raids in which they would be captured and imprisoned, sold into slavery and often forced to renounce their Catholic faith or face discrimination, torture and death. Long before the First Crusade, organizations like the of St. John Hospitaller and the Templars were formed to protect Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land, while the Hospitallers also ran hospices along the route to the Holy Land and even a hospital in Jerusalem. There were also charitable institutions, usually run by the nobility, that would ransom Christian captives from imprisonment. In 1203, a layman, Peter Nolasco formed an organization that would ransom those who were not wealthy or prominent men, whom he called the “poor of Christ.” He worked diligently to rescue Christian captives, and other men soon joined him in this charitable work. Unfortunately, there were far more captives than he was able to help, so Peter turned to God and His Blessed Mother in prayer for help. It was then that the Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Ransom, appeared to him on August 1, 1218, turning his order into a religious organization with the assistance of Raimund, and the protection of King . Saint Peter Nolasco went to the court of King James I the following day, and as the king had also received a vision of the Blessed Virgin, he was extremely supportive of what Peter Nolasco intended to do. In fact, King James considered himself a founder of the order. On August 10th, the Celestial and Order of Our Lady of Mercy and the Redemption of the Captives were officially constituted at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in . One of the vows of its members is that they will take the place of captives, and even die for any Christian who was in danger of losing his Catholic faith. In 1235 Gregory IX formally recognized the Order inspired by Our Lady of Ransom, which at one point was renowned for having rescued 70,000 Christian souls. It is estimated that 2,700 were rescued during the lifetime of Saint Peter Nolasco, who died in the year 1258.

2 - Our Lady of Angels, Assisi, (13th century) The original chapel is thought to date from the 4th Century, and was built by holy hermits who had come from the Valley of Josaphat. It is said that they brought relics of the Blessed Virgin with them to the region when they constructed the chapel. When Saint Francis came upon the little, run down and abandoned chapel of Our Lady of Angels in 1208, it was almost completely hidden in shrubs and brush. Saint Francis entered the hidden , which measured only twenty-two feet by thirteen feet, and saw the ancient fresco that had been placed above the main altar. It was an image of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin surrounded by angels. Some say that this is why the chapel was named Our Lady of Angels, although there are also legends that angels could often be heard singing there. The place took its , the Little Portion, from the small section of fertile land that was gifted to the monks for them to work for their support. It is said that this was the place where Saint Francis first understood his vocation, received visions, and was also where the saint desired to live. The Benedictines had lived at that location for hundreds of years, but the Benedictine monks gave this chapel to Saint Francis upon his request. It was certainly here that the Franciscan Order was founded. At first Saint Francis wished the convent which he built there to be the principal one of his order. He assembled the first General Chapter there, where there were five thousand religious. It was also where he died on October 3, 1226, the twentieth year of his conversion, and at the age of forty five. The cell in which the poor man of Assisi died can still be seen where it rests against one of the columns of the cupola under the choir bay. 3 - Our Lady of Bows, London (1071) There is a church currently in London named Saint Mary-le-Bow that was constructed in about 1080 by the of Canterbury. It is a Norman church which may have replaced a previous structure of Saxon origin, and that building may have been destroyed in a storm in 1071. What is certain is that there was a terrible storm in the city of London in the month of October in 1091, based on a 12th century chronicle. There was a great wind and a tornado from the south that killed two men and lifted the roof and rafters of the church so high that when they fell the rafters were driven so far into the earth that only a seventh or eighth part of them remained visible. The rafters were nearly 30 feet long. It is also mentioned that the rafters could not be pulled back out of the ground, and so were sawed off at ground level and left. The church of Saint Mary-le-Bow takes its name from the unusual Norman arches, or bows, which were considered a novelty. The church is thought to be built above a crypt from a much earlier age. Christopher Wren, who rebuilt the church after it was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666, felt it was of Roman origin, and wanted it used as a burial chamber. At that time the only access to the crypt was by a trapdoor with a ladder, although later a staircase was constructed to assist access. Besides the tornado that struck the church in 1091, there was a fire in 1196. A tower of the church collapsed in 1271, and the church was completely destroyed by the German’s in World War II before being rebuilt in 1964. There is a saying that to be a true Londoner, a Cockney, one must be born within hearing distance of the bells of Saint Mary-Le-Bow. It is now an Anglican church.

4 - Our Lady of Dordrecht, Holland, built by St. Santera According to tradition, it was built by Saint Sauters, also known as Saint Sura or Saint Santera, in about the year 1300, on the spot designated by an angel, as it is said, who was sent by the Blessed Virgin. Saint Sauters is said to have planned on building the church when she only had three small coins in her purse, much as Saint Bosco later did in the 19th Century. The saint afterward received the crown of martyrdom in the same church where the shrine was erected, as Saint Sauters was said to have been murdered by the builders of the chapel out of greed because of her supposed wealth. There is a legend that Saint Sauters rose from the dead after her murder. To render her memory more celebrated, God caused a fountain to flow, after her death, which, through the intercession of the Saint and recourse to Mary, cured fevers. The healing water soothes troubled minds, brings relief to aching brows and strength to weakened limbs, as Mary’s sick children come for aid to her. Dordrecht is the oldest city in Holland, having been granted city rights by the of Holland, William I, in 1220. The church was built in the Gothic , and is the only one in Holland with stone vaulting. The tower is the still the tallest structure in the city. In 1568, the Dutch revolted against Spain and King Philip II, and nearly all of Holland met at Dordrecht for what was called the First Assembly of the Free States. The church was already the home of Michelangelo’s sculpture known as the and Child, which had been donated to the church in the year 1514. Thankfully, it somehow survived the ravages of the French Revolution, as was returned to the church after being stolen by Nazis in World War II.

5 - Our Lady of the Snows, (352) A nobleman, John and his childless wife who lived in Rome, had been blessed with much of this world’s goods. They chose the Mother of God as the heir to their fortune, and at the suggestion of Pope Liberius, prayed that she might make known to them how to do this by a particular sign. In answer, the Virgin Mother during the night of August 5, appeared to John and his wife and also to the Holy Father, Pope Liberius, directing them to build a church in her honor on the crown of the Esquiline Hill. And what would be the sign that John and his wife had requested? “Snow will cover the crest of the hill.” Snow rarely falls in Rome, but the flakes fell silently during that night, blanketing the peak of the historic hill. In the morning the news quickly spread and crowds gathered to throng up the hill and behold the white splendor. The snow had fallen in a particular pattern, showing the outline of the future church. When it became known that the snow was a sign from Mary, the people spontaneously added another to her long list of , Our Lady of the Snows. The church built by John and his wife in honor of Our Lady of the Snows, restored and enlarged at various times was known by different : the Basilica of Liberius, Saint Mary of the Crib because it enshrines relics of Christ’s Crib; lastly, Saint Mary Major, to distinguish it from the many other Roman churches dedicated to the Mother of God; Major, means Greater. There is an image revered as Our Lady of the Snows, which is believed to have been produced by St. Luke the Apostle. Saint Mary Major is one of the four basilicas in which the pilgrims to Rome must pray in order to gain the indulgences of the Holy Year.

6 - Our Lady of Copacabana, Bolivia Copacabana, the name means “one who looks at the precious stone,” because in the distance, lovely to see, stretches the majestic, ice-capped necklace of the Cordillera of the Andes. In this spot in the days of the Inca Empire, lived good Indians whose sole duty was to prepare for journeys of worshippers to the Island of the Sun, some miles out on the lake. Copacabana, accordingly, became the center of much Incaion activity, for the Incas were fanatic in their visits to the island shrine. The missionaries who came with the Spanish conquerors naturally planted the cross in all large Incan centers, and a church was built in Copacabana. It was dedicated to St Ann. However, The Mother of the Blessed Virgin seemed to frown on this honor, for the town soon fell into disrepute and the harvests were poor. Many of the Indians moved away until only a few souls remained. Those who stayed believed that if the town were dedicated to some other saint, the town might prosper; but the agreement on the identity of the new patron could never be reached. In the year 1581, a young Indian lad, Francisco Yupanbi, desired earnestly that his town be dedicated to Our Lady. In secret he started to construct a statue of the Virgin and Child to be presented to the village. For more than a year he labored day and night. When he called in the townspeople to see the result, they laughed at him in scorn, for Francisco knew nothing of art, and his statue proved it. Undaunted, but burning with the desire to complete the task, the youth went off to visit all the great cities of Bolivia in order to study under the masters who were decorating churches and . Finally after months of disappointments and successes, he finished his labor of love, Our Lady of Copacabana – a Virgin with all of the features of his own race, in her arms an Infant no different than the thousands of Indian Babies Francisco had known so well. He called in his teachers and other artists, and they were astonished; he had created a veritable work of art; but for him it was a labor of love, representing his “Little Mother,” the Virgin who could save his native town of Copacabana. He hastened with his precious burden to his home; but as he arrived, he was met by a delegation of citizens, who had come to drive him and his silly lump of plaster away. But the Virgin, Our Lady of Copacabana, smiled on Francisco; when the box was opened the hostile attitude changed; when they saw the love that had been caught in the face of the Madonna, they welcomed Francisco and his dear burden to the town. There were soon many miracles attributed to devotion to the new statue of Our Lady of Copacabana. The warmth of love engulfed Copacabana, and soon a church was built for the Mother and her Child. Jewels from devout persons far and near poured into the shrine to adorn Our Lady of Copacabana; distant pilgrims came day after day. Francisco entered a where he died a happy, holy man. Many legends grew up around his statue; it is said that if you look at her and think her beautiful, that is a sign that you are in her favor; if not, your soul is ugly. Many cures and miracles have been attributed to this Virgin, the greatest, that of faith – she stands as a monument of the faith of Francisco Yupanbi and to the faith of the millions of Indians who came after him; of poor and rich, mighty and lowly, who have revered this simple piece of clay that reminds them of their “Mamita,” the little Mother of everyone. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the patron saint of Bolivia, and the shrine of Our Lady of Copacabana is one of the oldest in the Americas.

7 - Our Lady of Schiedam, Holland (15th century) It was at the shrine of Our Lady of Schiedam that the mystic, Saint Lidwina spent whole nights in prayer. Born at Schiedam on 18 April 1380, at an early age Lidwina was drawn toward the Mother of God and prayed a great deal before this miraculous image. The Mother of God revealed to her the extent of suffering Christ would ask her to endure, but likewise assured her that she, Mary, would sustain her through her grace and intercessory power. (Interestingly, the name Lidwina means “suffering.”) One winter day in 1395, when Lidwina was about 15 years old, she went out to skate with her friends. At one point she fell on the ice so hard that she broke a rib that would not heal. At first Ledwina began to have difficulty walking, and had severe headaches, nausea and thirsts. It was only the beginning, though, as the wound became gangrenous and the disease spread all over Lidwina’s body, without, however, killing her. For the rest of her life Lidwina was bedridden and lay in indescribable pain, and in the last seven years of her life was completely blind. It seemed impossible that she could remain alive in such condition, as even parts of her body fell off and blood would pour from her mouth, ears, and nose. The Blessed Virgin Mary was true to her word, though, as was Saint Lidwina in accepting the will of God in imitation to Our Lady’s Fiat. Saint Lidwina prayed much despite her suffering, and was particularly devoted to the Eucharist and willingly bore her anguish for the love of God. She was also a stigmatic, and her diet consisted for some time of nothing other than the Blessed Sacrament. Saint Lidwina received various visions, many of them of Heaven and Hell. On Easter Sunday in the year 1433 she had a final vision and received the Last Rites from Our Himself. After 38 years of suffering, Saint Lidwina died a holy death at the age of 53.

8 - Our Lady of Kuehn, near Brussels, Belgium Our Lady of Kuehn, or Kuen, Belgium. The crops were poor; there was much sickness, but the Virgin would not let her people plead in vain. She knew what hunger, poverty and pain was. She would help. Fervently, confidently, lovingly, the people gathered at Mary’s little shrine and asked their Mother for aid. Suddenly the image of Mary smiled and a sweet voice begged them to erect a church in her honor and to build it on this spot. Our Lady promised that on the morrow she would show them where and how. The dimensions of the church are said to have been marked out with a line which is still visible.

9 - Our Lady of Oegnies, Brabant, Oegnies is a village located in the north of . It is thought to be the birthplace of Saint Mary of Oegnies, who visited the holy image of Our Lady of Oegnies once every year, even walking barefoot to the shrine during the severe rigors of winter. Saint Mary of Oegnies was beatified by the Church, and her feast day is June 23rd. It is said that the Virgin Mary once sheltered her from the rain with her mantle. Saint Mary of Oegnies was born at Nivelles in 1167, and died on June 23rd, 1213, of natural causes. Mary was born into a wealthy . Very early in life she felt the call to the consecrated life. According to tradition the beginning of her conversion came about due to her contemplation of the Cross and Passion of Christ. Many who observed her also felt moved to devotion, reading in her countenance as in a book the fervor of the Holy Ghost. Despite her wishes, Mary’s parents desired for her to marry and arranged a marriage for her at the age of 14. Mary was obedient, but convinced her husband, John, to live chastely with her as brother and sister. They gave what they had to the poor, and for many years she and her husband served lepers in a hospital at Willenbrouch near Nivelle. Mary was greatly devoted to Our Lady of Oegnies and Saint John the Evangelist. Mary and her husband felt it God’s will that they should separate to live contemplative lives. Mary retired to a hermitage of Saint Nicholas in Oignies, near Namur. There she prayed for the souls in Purgatory, and gave spiritual advise to the disciples who gathered around her. She practiced asceticism worthy of the Desert Fathers, and was privileged to have mystical ecstasies and visions, mainly of Saint John and her guardian angel. Mary also continued to care for lepers. Three days before she died, Mary began to sing in ecstatic strains in the Romance language concerning the Trinity, the Humanity of Christ, the Virgin and the . She sang as if the sentences with their rhythm were written before her. She said, greatly rejoicing at it, that the Holy Spirit would soon visit His Church, and send laborers more abundantly than usual into the harvest. There is the so-called Treasure of Oignies, which consists of thirty reliquaries, crosses, and other precious items dating from the 13th century, and together they are considered one of the Seven Wonders of Belgium. The Treasure of Oignies is the work of an exceptional jeweler, brother Hugo d’Oignies, and is one of the most important heritage treasures with which Belgium is enriched. Made in the priory of Oignies-sur-Sambre between the years 1228 and 1238, they escaped as by miracle from the French revolutionaries who destroyed the monastery in the year 1796.

10 - Our Lady asks for Establishment of an Order for Redeeming Captives (1218) Our Lady of Ransom appeared to Saint Raimund, of the order of Saint Dominic, on this day in the year 1218, and also to King James I of Aragon, and likewise to Saint Peter Nolasco in three separate apparitions, making known to all three that she desired each of them to contribute to establishing an order for redeeming captives. That Order they established is known as the Royal, Celestial and Military Order of Our Lady of Mercy and the Redemption of the Captives, is also known as The Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, the Order of Merced, the Order of Captives, or the Order of Our Lady of Ransom. On August 10th, the Celestial and Military Order of Our Lady of Mercy and the Redemption of the Captives was officially constituted at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Barcelona. One of the vows of its members is that they will take the place of captives, and even die for any Christian who was in danger of losing his Catholic faith. In 1235 Pope Gregory IX formally recognized the Order inspired by Our Lady of Ransom, which at one point was renowned for having rescued 70,000 Christian souls.

11 - Our Lady of the Way, St. Charles, Missouri In Saint Charles, Missouri, there is a roadside shrine, called Our Lady of the Way: it is believed to be the only one in the world dedicated to the Virgin Mary under this . It was built by twenty-five volunteers, all laymen, at the intersection of the two major highways, about eight miles west of Saint Charles, Missouri. The original idea was to build the shrine in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, but the who was asked about it, suggested that it be called Our Lady of the Way instead. Now it is fondly referred to as “Our Lady of Missouri.” The shrine faces Interstate 70, in the town of Saint Peters, in Saint Charles . The shrine consists of a statue of Mary with vases of flowers on either side, and an image of a book carved in stone at her feet. Engraved in the book is written: “Our Lady of the Way. Our Lady of the Way is the patroness of all who travel along the roads of the world and on the Seven Seas. O Lord Christ who art the way, the truth and the life, grant us in Thy mercy, that through the intercession of Blessed Mary, Thy Virgin Mother, we may run the way of Thy commandments and reach unto eternal life.” Our Lady of the Way, or Our Lady of the Road, or Madonna Della Strada, is patroness of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits. The original bearing this name resides in the Society’s church in Rome.

12 - Our Lady of Rouen, France The Cathedral of Rouen is a Gothic cathedral in France. The first church at the location, which was later destroyed during an invasion, was believed to have been built in the year 396. This original church was visited by Charlemagne in the year 769. The current Cathedral of Rouen that can be seen was not begun until late in the 12th century. At the time of the Black Plague, Rouen was delivered by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, and placed itself under her protection by a special vow. It is estimated that between 30 and 60% of ’s population died from the plague between the years 1347 and 1350. For their deliverance from the plague the people built a beautiful edifice known as Our Lady of the Vow in the chapel of the cathedral to commemorate the event. Throughout Rouen, squares, fountains, and public monuments all bore Mary’s image as a token of gratitude. The magistrates suspended a massive golden lamp over the white marble Madonna on the altar which burned without interruption until it was extinguished by the Protestants in the sixteenth century. In the 16th century the cathedral suffered heavy destruction at the hands of pious Calvanists, who destroyed statues, tombs, furnishings, and even the priceless stained glass windows. Later, in the 20th century, the church was intentionally bombed in April of 1944, which did extensive damage but did not level the church, and was bombed again in June of the same year, which resulted in the loss of the North Tower.

13 - Dormition of Our Lady (58) Death of Our Lady in the presence of the apostles, except Saint Thomas. Like her divine Son, she rose again and ascended to heaven on the third day after her death. The Dormition of Our Lady.

14 - Vigil of the Assumption of Our Lady Vigils were kept on the evening before each feast day from the earliest days of the Church. On that evening all of the faithful would gather together to prepare themselves and their dispositions for the feast they were about to celebrate. This might also include listening to readings from the Bible, or a sermon on the topic by a priest. Mass would then be celebrated on the feast day, and the fast would be broken. It is said that both Saint Augustine and Saint Jerome practiced and fully supported the idea of the vigil. The Vigil of the Assumption would have been one of the Church's most important vigils.

15 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven (Feast instituted by Pope Leo IV 847) At last, borne by angels, the lovely Lady arrives. It is the first Assumpton Day, the . The heavenly throng gasps with admiration. The celestial singers burst into song. The angels hurry to and fro to catch a glimpse of her and to tell their companions of her beauty. Jesus waits at the open entrance, throws His arms about His Mother, leads her triumphantly and happily to the very throne of the heavenly Father, who leans forward and places solemnly and smilingly upon her beauteous head the crown, as the Holy Spirit, heavenly Spouse of the Virgin Mother casts warmth and light upon the welcome newcomer. Mary’s death was caused by love that consumed her heart; her death was not meant for punishment nor expiation, hence there was no violence nor was it painful, since she was preserved from the dominion given to death by sin. According to an opinion accepted since the Middle Ages, Mary’s death resembled Christ’s, because she accepted it voluntarily out of humble and loving obedience; so, she died of love in the strict sense of the word. Death came to her in the form of the weakening of the body caused by the supernatural might of Dying Love. Her natural vitality was exhausted by love-longing, by the strength of an ecstasy of love and her great love moved God to cease keeping her alive. Mary’s death was a holocaust of love where the sacrifice offered long before at the foot of the Cross in poignant and spiritual anguish was at last completed. This feast, the Assumption of Mary, was instituted, according to Saint Bernard, in the very time of the apostles.

16 - Our Lady of Trapani, Sicily There are several stories about the origin of the title of Our Lady of Trapani. According to one, the origin of the image dates back to the year 733, and it was the work of a sculpture on the island of Cyprus. He placed it in a church of Fagamusta, where it remained a center of devotion to the Virgin for 400 years. Then in 1113, during the reign of Baldwin, King of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem there was established in Jerusalem, the Order of Templars. Around 1130, a group of crusaders, knights and nobles on Cyprus, decided they would join the Order of Templars and took ship to Jerusalem, and with them they took the image of the Virgin and Child. The image seems to have remained in Jerusalem for almost 150 years. Then, after the failure of the 7th Crusade, one of the Knights Templar sailed for Italy taking the image with him, possibly to save it from profanation by the Turks. During the course of the voyage, the ship ran into a terrific storm and soon it appeared that the ship and all on board were doomed. But the did not despair – he prayed fervently to the Blessed Mother and solemnly promised her, if they weathered the storm he would enshrine her image on the first land they would touch. The storm died down and eventually the ship landed at Trapani, Sicily. The story of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Trapani quickly spread among the people of Trapani and they decided to erect a church in Mary’s honor. Work soon began and the church was completed around 1332. It was rebuilt in 1760.

17 - Victory of the King of France (Philip the Fair), imploring the help of Our Lady of Chartres (1304) The eldest son of King Philip and Isabella of Aragon, Philip was nicknamed Philip the Fair while yet a of his handsome features. He became king of France at only 17 years of age, and married Joan of Navarre in 1284, which enlarged his kingdom. In1302, Philip sent an inadequate into Flanders to suppress the Flemish. His army was soundly defeated at the Battle of the Golden Spurs. Philip responded by winning a naval victory over the Flemish at Zierichzee, and then met the Flemish army at the Battle of Mons-en-Pevele, also known as Mons-en-Puelle, on August 17, 1304. The all-day battle was furious. Eventually the majority of the French army fled the field, leaving Philip alone with only ten knights fighting desperately to save themselves and their king. Philip’s horse collapsed, having been killed under him, and his life was in great danger of being lost. At that moment, while facing death and certain defeat in battle, Philip turned to the , Our Lady of Chartres, begging her assistance to save the day and his life. Suddenly the French knights who had been fleeing the field turned and saw the king’s royal standard still stood, and that he himself fought like a knight of great renown amidst a sea of raging enemies. Racing to the scene with their swords and lances, they turned the Flemish and drove them from the field in what became a resounding victory of the king of France. In gratitude for this victory and favor of Our Lady of Chartres, King Philip went at once to do homage to the Virgin Mary at her cathedral. He took off his own armor that he had worn in battle and gave it over to the church at the altar. He also gave to it in perpetuity the land and lordship of Barrus, founded a daily Mass for ever, and left to this church all of the other accoutrements which he had worn on that day of victory. This feast is kept in the Church of Notre , at Paris, on August 18th.

18 - The Coronation of Our Lady The idea of the coronation of Mary in Heaven after her Assumption took its rise in an accommodation of the words in the Song of Songs 4:8, “Come, my bride, from Lebanon..thou shalt be crowned..,” and was chiefly developed and popularized by iconography. The earliest existing example is probably the in Santa Maria in Trastevere at Rome, where Our Lady is depicted already crowned, sitting at the right hand of her Son; this dates from about 1140. A century later there appeared what became the usual design, Christ putting a crown upon His Mother’s head. The theme of the coronation of Mary was popular in English medieval carving, and it was everywhere highly embroidered and developed at the Renaissance. Among more recent artists the subject has aroused little interest, and Catholics today are familiar with it chiefly from the last glorious mystery of the rosary. Its meaning suggests the final “moment” of the Assumption and the reference in the Apocalypse to “a crown of twelve stars.” It seems to be a second feast of the Assumption, emphasizing the bodily aspect of the mystery.

19 - Our Lady of the Don, (1380) A feast of Our Lady of the Don was observed on August 19, 1380, in thanksgiving for the incredible victory of the Russians over the Golden Horde of the Tartars at Kulikovo Pole, and the capture from them of Kazan in the year 1552. The Battle of Kulikovo Pole was fought on the river Don. Dmitry (called Dmitry of the Don) Donskoy commanded the Russian forces in the battle, which one chronicle states numbered 400,000 men. The Russians had never won a battle against the Mongols, and the army they faced was a horde that numbered at least as many men. A chronicle, the Zadonscina, captured the patriotic feeling: “ horses neigh in , horns sound in Kolomna, drums are beaten…glory resounds through the whole Russian land.” The battle began with a fight to the death between the two great champions from each army. The Russian champion was a monk named Alexander Peresvet, who had been sent to the combat by Saint Sergius. Alexander and the Mongol champion made an initial run at each other, and both received mortal wounds. The Mongol fell from the saddle, however, while Alexander kept his mount. Dmitry strongly suspected that his army would disband if he were killed in battle, so he came up with an interesting ruse. He had a young man named Mikhail Brenok exchange armor with him and pretend to lead the army. Once the battle commenced, the Mongols drove through the ranks to kill the Russian commander. Mikhail was slain, but Dmitry continued to fight. Dmitry was severely wounded as the battle seemed to turn against them, though he remained on the field and in command until victory was secured and he fell over from exhaustion and loss of blood. He won due to the cavalry charge of Prince Vladimir of Serpukov, who had been held in reserve by Dmitri until that moment. It has been estimated that 200,000 men were lost on both sides during the battle, and a Russian chronicle relates that, “…the river Don flowed in blood for three days.” Czar Ivan the Terrible kept the icon with him in 1552 when he went on his Kazan expedition and it was he who, after his victory, gave the image to the Cathedral of the in Moscow. In 1591, Czar Fedor Ioannovich prayed before the image when besieged by the Kazi Ghirei and received from heaven a miraculous deliverance. The image of Our Lady of the Don is now found in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

20 - Our Lady of St. Bernard’s “Ave,” Brabant, Netherlands Saint Bernard, the first of Clarvaux, had a great devotion to Mary as his characteristic virtue. Bernard put himself under her protection from childhood, and the Mother of Mercy showed him on many occasions how acceptable to her was his devotion. When young, he had a vision of the Queen of Heaven, by which he learned much on the Incarnation. This vision enkindled in his heart the strongest love for Jesus and Mary. Among other favors he received from Mary was the instantaneous restoration of his health when he lay dangerously ill and physicians had given up all hope of recovery. Bernard endeavored to inflame all hearts with devotion to Mary. To excite confidence in her intercession, he would say: “She does not want power to help us, for she is the Mother of God; nor yet good will, for she is the Mother of Mercy, and our Mother also. She is not a Mother merely of the just but of sinners.” His writings would alone suffice to proclaim her praise to the end of the world, and to enkindle the love of her in all hearts. It was Bernard’s custom whenever he passed an image of Mary to bow his head and salute her with the words, “Ave Maria!” He did this without fail, and Our Lady to show him how much this pleased her, one day bowed low from her image and smilingly and sweetly answered him with the words, “Ave Bernard!” “Mary,” says Saint Bernard “is the bright Star of Jacob, whose rays enlighten the whole world, whose splendor shines conspicuous in Heaven, and penetrates hell. It pervades the earth and warms not the body, but the soul, banishing vice, and maturing virtue. For she is that bright and splendid star, elevated above this vast and spacious sea, who glitters by her merits, and enlightens by her example. If you find yourself tossed about by the storms and tempests in the current of this world, turn not your eyes away from the brightness of this star, unless you wish to be overwhelmed by its waves. If the winds of temptation arise – if you strike on the rock of tribulation – look up to this star; call on Mary! If you are tossed about by the swellings of pride or ambition, of envy or detraction – look up to the star, call on Mary! If anger or avarice, or concupiscence, agitate the bark of your mind – turn to Mary! When affrighted at the enormity of your crimes and sins, or affrighted at the defilement of your conscience, or terrified with the dread of the future judgment, you feel yourself about to be involved in the whirlpool of despondency, or engulfed in the abyss of despair – think of Mary! In dangers, in difficulties and doubts; think on Mary and invoke her! Let her name never depart from your mouth or heart; and that you may obtain the benefit of her intercession, forget not to imitate the example of her life. In following her, you cannot go astray; in appealing to her, you cannot despair; and in thinking of her, you cannot wander. While she supports you, you cannot fall; while she protects you, you cannot fear; while she guides you, you cannot feel fatigue; and if SHE be propitious, you will arrive in safety.”

21 - Our Lady of Knock, (1879) The apparition in County Mayo in Ireland of Our Lady of Knock is reported to have occurred on the evening of August 21, 1879, the vigil of the octave of the feast of the Assumption. Those who witnessed the miracle ranged in age from five years old to seventy-five. The apparition was described as follows: “Our Lady was wearing a large, brilliant crown and clothed in white garments. On her right was , his head inclined toward her and on her left Saint John the Evangelist. To the left of Saint John was an altar on which stood a cross and a lamb.” Standing only a few feet off the ground, the Blessed Virgin wore a white cloak and was described by witnesses as being incredibly beautiful. She wore a bright golden crown, and appeared to be praying with her eyes looking toward heaven with her arms bent in front of her with her palms facing inward. Fifteen parishioners stood to witness the apparition for two hours as they recited the rosary. Although it was daylight when the apparition began, the weather turned for the worse and it began to rain heavily. The area around the apparition appeared unaffected, however, as the ground remained dry as long as the vision lasted. She did not speak, but the gable of the church where the manifestation was made was covered with a cloud of light. Saint Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus, also wore white robes and stood on the Virgin’s right. He inclined his head respectfully toward the Blessed Virgin. Saint John the Evangelist wore a mitre, and appeared to be preaching as he held a book in his left hand.

22 - Feast of the Since Our Lady’s whole life was a life of her Heart, the Immaculate Heart represents her life, her love, herself. From the moment of Conception, Mary offered acts of faith, hope, love, praise, adoration, thanksgiving to the God who created her. Her one ambition was union with God, her desire to do His will; the light of grace found no obstacle in her pure soul. Her immaculate Heart was the throne of all virtue. Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is the complement of devotion to the Sacred Heart; in the one we honor Christ, the Redeemer; in the other, Mary, co-redemptrix. Thus we honor Christ's mother with the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. God was so pleased with His Masterpiece of creation, Mary, that He willed to be born of her pure flesh and blood. By giving her consent, Mary became the channel through which Christ came to men; and this channel is the surest way to lead us back to God. It was Mary’s love for man, joined with and flowing from her love of God, that made her utter her “Fiat” – that Fiat meant consent to the Incarnation and to the Redemption. So also the Salvation of the world depends on Mary. Among Our Lady’s urgent requests at Fatima was the plea for devotion and consecration to her Immaculate Heart .

23 - Our Lady of Victory of Valois, France (1328) The feast of Our Lady of Victory of Valois has to do with Our Lady’s intercession in the Battle of Cassel, which was fought between the French, under Philip of Valois, and the Flemish near Mount Cassel on August 23 in the year 1328. Philip of Valois, or King Philip VI, “Philip the Fortunate,” was the King of France beginning that year until his death in 1350. Philip was nearly forced to lead his army against the band of Flemish rebels under Nicolas Zannekin, who were seeking independence from French rule. Having refused to pay what they considered to be excessive taxes to the Count of Flanders, they eventually imprisoned the king’s representative and captured several French towns. The Pope asked Philip to do what he could with the rebels, but after having restored the Flemish aristocracy, the Flemish rebels had turned on them, killing many of them. Philip was certain of victory, taking 2,500 knights and 12,000 infantry and archers with him into battle. Not knowing where he would attack, the Flemish rebels would have to divide their forces to protect their territory. Even so, the Flemish under Zannekin brought 15,000 soldiers into the field at Cassel. For three days the two did nothing but taunt each other, though the Flemish commenced a direct attack on the French on the third day. Apparently the French were caught off guard, for many of them had taken off their armor because of the extreme heat that day. Fleeing in panic, the knights left the field while much of the French nobility who stood their ground were wounded. The of Lorraine was slain, and the situation appeared desperate. It is recorded that Philip of Valois, being surrounded by Flemish soldiers as the flower of his nobility fell, had recourse to the Blessed Virgin, who immediately delivered him from that danger. The Dauphin of Vienne, Guigues VIII de la Tour-du-Pin, had been given the command of Philip’s 7th Corps. He led a counter attack which shattered the Flemish assault, while the knights regrouped and attacked the Flemish from the rear. The Flemish were defeated and victory assured by Our Lady of Victory Valois. Our of gratitude for this favor when he made his entry into Paris, Philip went straight to Notre Dame Cathedral. Going into the church on horseback he proceeded the whole length of the nave to the crucifix, and there laid down his arms.

24 - Our Lady of Benoite-Vaux, France The original statue of the Blessed Virgin at Benoite-Vaux in the of Verdun, was said to have been found by foresters working in a wood after they heard angels singing the Ave Maria. They found the statue standing at the foot of an oak tree near a river. This chapel preserved the image of the Blessed Virgin, rendered famous by miracles. In the 12th century there had been a priory at the location, and Our Lady of Benoite-Vaux had been a center of pilgrimage for centuries. In this place there was also once a miraculous fountain, the water of which cured several maladies. The Stations of the Cross have been carved in stone near the fountain. It is known that there were organized pilgrimages during the time of the Thirty Year’s War when people desired to moderate Heaven’s displeasure which seemed to have struck them. In the year 1638, as the Thirty Years War was raging, the statue was taken to the castle of Neuvill-en-Verdunois for safekeeping. The shrine was eventually destroyed. It was rebuilt in 1698. In 1793, during the French Revolution, the shrine was once again destroyed, but this time the miraculous statue was also destroyed. According to the Marian Dictionary, the statue had depicted the Blessed Virgin holding the Infant Jesus in one arm and an apple in the other hand. The image was also called “Comforter of the Afflicted” and the “Queen of Peace.” The shrine was restored in 1830. The successor statue of Our Lady of Benoite-Vaux that is currently venerated there is also very old, and is said to resemble the original, and was crowned in 1875. The shrine is still the center of a pilgrimage, usually during the first week of September every year. There is another shrine of the same name in the diocese of Lyons. In 1849 the Marists who had been miraculously preserved from a flood, founded a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Benoite-Vaux. The shrine is now also the location of a Norbertine retirement home.

25 - Our Lady of Rossano, Calabria, Italy It is said that the Saracens had come ashore with a raiding party near the Italian town of Rossano, probably in the year 981. Seeking to surprise the slumbering inhabitants of the town, they snuck up to the walls and silently placed their ladders against them and began to climb. When the first of them reached the top, they were met and repulsed by Our Lady, who appeared attired in purple, while holding in her hand a lighted torch. The sight of the glory of the heavenly Queen so terrified the invaders that they advanced no further and took to flight. Thus, the Muslims were driven from the walls by Our Lady of Rossano, who appeared to save the people of this town located in southern Italy in the province of Calabria.

26 - Our Lady de la Treille, Douay, France (1543) There was a church known as Saint Peter’s at Douai, France, which was dedicated in 1066 by Baldwin V, Count of Flanders. It was a very important religious center even in that century, as the collegiate church had forty canons and a prosperous school attached to it as well. A statue of the Virgin Mary that later became known as Our Lady de la Treille, was venerated there. This church of Saint Peter was known to have been visited by Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, and Pope Innocent III. On 14 June 1254, fifty-three cripples who had come to the church to pray for a miraculous cure were suddenly healed at the same instant. There were other extraordinary miracles involving the image of Our Lady de la Treille that occurred between the years 1519 to 1527, as well as from 1634 to 1638. It was also at this church where, in 1481, the Duke of Burgundy, Philip the Good, held the first chapter of the Order of the Golden Fleece, which he had founded for the defense of against the threat of Turkish aggression. It is related that when some children were playing disrespectfully before the image of Our Lady de la Treille, the image of the Blessed Virgin made a sign of disapproval with her hand. This miracle induced the inhabitants of Douay to build a chapel for it in 1543. This chapel was built at Lille, France, and was known as Our Lady de la Treille. The statue is also known as Our Lady of Arbor. The church of Our Lady of Treille was destroyed during the French Revolution, and the whereabouts of the statue became unknown. It was not until 1802, when Napoleon I permitted the practice of the Catholic Faith again that the statue resurfaced. It was purchased by a chaplain and given to the church of Saint Catherine in 1801. It was not until 1842 that the of Saint Catherine restored the devotion to Our Lady of Treille which once again thrived. A short time later plans were made to erect a magnificent Gothic style church to house the statue, and it was constructed in the heart of Old Lille upon the site where there had once been a castle. The construction of the choir began in 1856, and the miraculous statue was installed in 1872, even though construction did not end until 1999.

27 - Our Lady of Moustier, France Eight or ten leagues from Sisteron, in the direction of Marseilles, France, is the shrine of Our Lady of Moustier, known in the native French as Notre Dame de Beauvoir at Moustiers. The chapel is some 800 meters above the town nestled in the rocky peaks, and there are 262 steps carved in rock that make a wide path that leads up to the shrine from the beautiful little village below. Along the way one will pass the Stations of the Cross that have been used by pilgrims since the 5th century. It is said that in 470 AD there already was a small shrine occupying the location in honor of the Blessed Virgin, possibly having been founded by a group of monks from the of Lerins who had taken up residency in the caves located among the rocky peaks. The first actual chapel, Notre-Dame de Beauvoir, was built upon the ruins of the earlier shrine, and dates back to the eighth century and the time of Charlemagne. It was restored in the 12th century in the Romanesque style, and again in the 16th century in a more Gothic style. An ancient tradition records that a lord of the country, the Duke de Blacas, who was also a Knight of Saint John of the Hospital, had been captured by the Turks during a Crusade. While in captivity he made a vow to the Blessed Virgin that he would build a chapel in her honor, Our Lady of Moustiers, if she were pleased to deliver him. The Blessed Virgin heard his prayer; and an angel appeared to him and took him on his wings, carrying him back to his country. The Duke de Blacas immediately set to work making good on his promise, erecting a magnificent chapel to the Blessed Virgin where numerous miracles have been wrought. The town of Moustiers is also often called “the village under the star,” because, in addition to building the chapel, the knight suspended a gold star from a chain that he hung high above the village by fastening the chain into the solid stone atop two rocky peaks. The original star had sixteen rays, which was the emblem of his family, and was poised directly over the chapel. The present star that can now be seen is a replica dating back to 1882, having only five rays. The church of Notre Dame de Beauvoir was last restored in the year 1928, and is now a national historical monument, as well as a popular place of pilgrimage.

28 - Our Lady of Kiev, Russia (1240) Around 862, a band of Norsemen settled in Novgorod and organized the of that region into an independent state – the nucleus of the future Russia. Kiev, about 20 years later became the capital. By the end of the ninth century, missionaries from had converted many of the inhabitants to . During the three succeeding centuries, Kiev become the intellectual and religious center of the country, and numerous convents and monasteries arose in Kiev and the surrounding territory. One of these was staffed by the Dominicans. To it there came in the early years of the thirteenth century a Dominican Father by the name of Hyacinth – Saint Hyacinth, the Apostle of the North; also Apostle of Poland and Russia. Hyacinth had a burning ambition to convert the pagans and infidels of , Mongolia and outer Russia (the Tartans), to the Christian faith. In this dedicated task he made numerous journeys, mostly by foot, into the far countries lying beyond Kiev. Between these travels he rested and recuperated at the Dominican House at Kiev. During one of these rest periods (1240) word came to the monastery that the Mongols had invaded the country. They had marched across the Caucasus, swept over central and southern Russia and now Kiev itself was in imminent danger of attack by the pagan hordes. Hyacinth, on hearing the tragic news, rushed to the nearby church to save the Blessed Sacrament from capture and desecration. He had removed the Sacred Host from the Tabernacle and was hurrying down the aisle when he heard a voice call out, “Hyacinth, are you going to leave me here at the mercy of the Tartans?” The voice seemed to be coming from the statue of the Blessed Virgin on one of the side altars. Hyacinth stopped and turned his gaze toward the statue which was of alabaster, fairly large in size, and obviously much too heavy for one man to carry. What should he do? Then the voice spoke again: “Take me with you, Hyacinth, I will make the burden light.” So, holding the Blessed Sacrament in one hand, he picked up the statue with the other, and, to his surprise, found he could easily carry it. Leaving the church, he fled from the city, and saved the Blessed Sacrament and the statue of Our Lady from harm. Eighty years later after the Mongols had been driven away, the statue was returned to Kiev. That city became the center of great devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and it was natural that people soon gave the statue the name of Our Lady of Kiev. The statue was later taken to a Dominican convent in Lwow in Poland. What has happened to it since the Communists took over Poland is unknown. But surely, Our Lady still pleads to each of us, “Take me with you; I will make the burden light.” She will always make all our burdens light and bearable, as long as we keep her with us always and everywhere.

29 - Our Lady of Clermont, Poland (1380) Our Lady of Clermont was located about 30 miles from Krakow, Poland. At some point in the Middle Ages there was a picture of the Blessed Virgin believed to have been painted by Saint Luke that was displayed there and annually taken on procession. According to this account, the picture was originally sent to the Empress Saint , a , who placed it in the Church of Our Lady of the Guides, at Constantinople. From there it was taken by Leo, Duke of Russia. The Duke of Opolia wanted to remove it to his in 1380, but when he got to the mountain of Clermont, it became so heavy that it was impossible to carry it farther; and seeing by this miracle that the Blessed Virgin had chosen that mountain for her abode, they built a church there. Empress Saint Pulcheria lived her Catholic faith, as she built many churches, hospitals and public houses for the destitute. There is also a letter addressed to the saint by Pope Leo I in which the pontiff states in part, “…you clearly show how much you love the Catholic faith and how much you despise the errors of heretics.” Pulcheria is responsible for at least three churches in Constantinople that were dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. The current location of the original icon of Our Lady of Clermont is now unknown. There are many copies that have been made from the original, and many of these are miraculous, but none of them are thought to be the original.

30 - Our Lady of Carquere, According to tradition, Our Lady of Carquere, on the river Douro in Portugal, is associated with the miraculous healing of Prince Afonso Henriques, who was to become the first King of Portugal. Prince Afonso Henriques had been born a cripple, paralyzed from the knees down. The knight Egas de Monis was chosen to be the of Prince Afonso, as at that time children of nobility were given personal tutors to educate and accompany the child throughout their lives. Monis, himself from one of the most prominent of the region, was also a man of faith, and had a great deal of pity for the young prince. He prayed fervently for his charge, seeking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin that the boy’s legs might be straightened through her intercession. His prayers were answered, and his holy intention perfectly fulfilled. One night in about the year 1113, when the prince was four years old, Egas de Monis put him to bed and fell asleep himself. Our Lady appeared and wakened the governor, asking: “Are you asleep?” The governor replied: “Lady, who are you?” “I am the Virgin Mary,” she replied, and commanded the governor to go to a particular place in the hills above the Douro River that she indicated to him. “There dig, and you will find a church that, in another time, was started in my name, and you will also find an image of me. Thou shalt place the child overnight on the altar, and he will be cured and made well, because my son wants him to destroy many enemies of the faith.” The Governor, comforted and joyful after the apparition, was a man who truly loved his lord. Trusting in God, whom he knew could give the boy strength and vigor, the knight sought out the ruined chapel and found it and the small stone image just as the Blessed Virgin had said. Later, when everything was ready, accompanied by the Queen and her entourage, he carried the young prince to the ancient chapel, intending to place him on the altar to spend the night with him in vigil. Instead, after entering the chapel, the entire entourage fell into a mysterious sleep, except the prince, who remained wide awake. The boy sat for a time and watched the candles on the altar burning, and at one point observed that one of them was leaning dangerously. Finally, it fell over and started a fire. Prince Afonso was unable to awaken his mother or his governor, and so climbed up to the altar and put out the fire himself. It was then that he realized he had been cured, and began jumping for sheer joy when he awakened the whole entourage, who gave thanks to Our Lady for the miracle she had granted. Now, the knight Egas Monis gave praises to God and His Blessed Mother, for he would be able to train the prince to ride and in the use of arms so that he might become a great warrior, as God desired. He had a new church built there which became famous as the location of the “Miracle of Carquere.” The miraculous statue of Our Lady of Carquere is carved in ivory and is only 29 millimeters tall, and is assumed to date from the time of the Visigoths. The sculpture depicts the Blessed Mother with the Divine Child sitting on her knee.

31 - Our Lady of the Founders, Constantinople The Empress Saint Pulcheria lived in Constantinople in the 5th century, and she built many churches, hospitals and public houses for the destitute. She is responsible for at least three churches in Constantinople that were dedicated to the Blessed Virgin – the Blachemae, the Chalkoprateia, and the Hodegetria. The Church of the Virgin of Blachernae, now known as the Church of of Blachernae, is located in Istanbul. In 911 AD it was reported that there was a at this church. The city was under siege by a large Muslim army, so the citizens of Constantinople had recourse to Mary, praying for relief at the Blachernae church. Very early one morning the Blessed Virgin, preceded by a host of angels, was seen to enter through the church doors, escorted by Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Theologian. She advanced to the center of the church and knelt there to pray fervently with tears in her eyes. After a time she moved to the altar and continued praying before she removed her veil and held it out over the faithful as she ascended back into heaven. This was seen as a sign that she was taking the city under her protection, and so it happened that the Christian’s won a striking victory over their enemies, who were driven off.