Year of Mary

December Immaculate Mary

Help us to be aware of the fears, sorrow, difficulties and uncertainty all refugees and migrants suffer.

Help us to remember that we all belong to the same human family and give us compassion and courage to help them in any way we can.

Amen

'So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.'
Luke 2 
November - Queen of Heaven

During November we pray for all those who have died, especially members of our own families and friends.

We pray for all those who are sad because they have lost someone.

We ask you to console them and to be with them.

Amen

'There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance…'

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4
October - Our Lady of The Rosary
And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth.' Genesis 9
SEPTEMBER - Queen of Peace
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
John 2:1-5 
JULY - Star of the Sea

Mary, Star of the Sea, light of every ocean, guide seafarers across all dark and stormy seas that they may reach the haven of peace and light, prepared in Him who calmed the sea.

As we set forth upon the oceans of the world and cross the deserts of our time, show us,

O Mary, the fruit of your womb, for without your Son we are lost.

Our Lady, Star of the Sea, pray for seafarers, pray for us.

Jesus calms the storm (Mark 4:35-41) 
JUNE - Immaculate Heart of Mary
For those who are persecuted
O Most Blessed Mother, heart of love, heart of mercy, always listening, caring and loving, hear my prayer.
As your child, I ask you to remember me to my brother, Jesus. 
Listen to the prayer I place before you today.  
I especially remember those who are persecuted because of who they are, what they believe or where they live.
I know your heart is ever open to those who ask for your prayers. I trust to your gentle care and generous heart, those whom I love, those who are sick or lonely or hurting.
Help all of us, Holy Mother, to recognise injustice and to work and pray for a fairer world.
Amen.
 
Saul was a Roman citizen who persecuted the followers of Jesus, then one day...
 
'But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you.' Matthew 5:44
MAY - Handmaid of the Lord
St Joseph was a humble carpenter who knew what it was to work hard, often for meagre pay, in order to support his wife, Mary, and foster child, Jesus.

Matthew 2:19-21 

'But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.'

APRIL - Blessed Virgin Mary
The Annunciation
Gabriel visits Mary

Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. 

MARCH - Our Lady of Sorrows

Our Lady of Sorrows, you suffered such sadness and grief as you stood at the foot of the cross and watched your son die.

We praise you for your faith, which accepted the life God planned for you.

We praise you for your hope, which trusted in God.

We praise you for your love in bearing with Jesus the sorrows of His passion.
Holy Mary, we ask you to look with pity on all those in need of help.

We remember especially those who will go hungry today.

During this season of Lent may we follow your example of faith and hope and love, and remember our brothers and sisters in need, through our prayers, through our self-sacrifice and through our giving to charity.

Amen.

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” 
John 19:25-27
FEBRUARY - Our Lady of Lourdes

In Lourdes, France, on a cold day in February 1858, Bernadette was collecting fire wood when she noticed a cave suddenly filled with golden light.  Lifting up her eyes, she saw a lady of great beauty dressed in a pure white robe with a blue sash, a veil over her head, a rosary clasped in her hands and yellow roses at her feet.  Bernadette rubbed her eyes. The beautiful lady smiled at Bernadette and asked her to say her rosary.  Bernadette said her prayers and when she was finished she looked up. The lady had vanished.

Bernadette felt drawn to the grotto and returned there on the next Sunday.  Again, Bernadette saw the beautiful lady.  The third time Bernadette went to the grotto the lady spoke to her.  The beautiful lady asked Bernadette to come every day for fifteen days.  She said that she wanted Bernadette to tell the priests to build a chapel there and instructed her to drink water from the stream: the healing water of Lourdes. 

"But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Mark 2 10-11
JANUARY - Mother of God

We pray for our families

Mary, mother of God and our holy mother,

We bring our families to you in prayer.

Hold and protect them in your loving arms

as you held your precious son, Jesus.

May we always turn to you, Mary our mother, as our guide in following Jesus.

Amen
It's natural for a mother to worry about their child and Luke's Gospel tells us how Mary was very anxious when 12 year old Jesus went missing. When he was found safe in the temple, Jesus explained to his parents that God's house, the temple, was his home.