Blessed Mother

ope Leo XIV drew attention to the messages for the world Mary shared with St. Bernadette over the course of 18 apparitions in 1858.

Our Lady’s hands are said to have once repelled pirates from the small, secluded island of Corvo in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Every year, on the Aug. 15 feast of the Assumption, the people of Corvo, the smallest of nine islands in the Azores, celebrate their patroness, Nossa Senhora dos Milagres (“Our Lady of Miracles” in Portuguese), with Mass, a procession and a daylong feast in the village.

After requesting items blessed by Pope Francis for Christmas, a fifth-grader has received seven religious gifts in all and has been sharing his joy over the items with family and classmates.

“This month, let us turn to Mary in a special way as a spiritual role model to emulate and as a loving mother who faithfully brings all of our cares and concerns to her Son, Jesus.”