Votive candles burning before an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Brompton Oratory, London.
A detail of the pulpit next to the papal altar in St Peter’s basilica, Vatican City, depicting the Annunciation.
The feast of the Annunciation is celebrated today. Usually the date is March 25, but as this fell on the Monday of Holy Week the solemnity was postponed to today.
The feast commemorates the announcement by the archangel Gabriel to Mary that she was to become the mother of Jesus. It is often considered as the beginning of the Incarnation story.
Matka Boża Kalwaryjska
The miraculous image of Our Lady of Tears in the basilica of Our Lady of the Angels in Kalwaria, Poland.
It is said that in 1641 a local man witnessed the imagine shedding tears of blood.
Sweetness
May that bright and gentle Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, overcome you with her sweetness.
- Bl John Henry Newman
Maria Einsiedeln
A devotional image from the Benedictine abbey of Einsiedeln, a famous Swiss Marian shrine.
Pilgrims lighting candles in the basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida, Brazil.
(Source: Flickr / carolinatorres)
Madre Pietà del Popolo
The image of the Sorrowful Mother of the People leaves her shrine during a Holy Week procession in Trapani, Sicily.
(Source: Flickr / i_scream)
Maria SS. di Custonaci
The miraculous image of the Madonna of Custonaci in Sicily. It is a depicting of Mary suckling Jesus.
The devotion of Our Lady of Custonaci dates back to end of the sixteenth century. It is said that one night a ship bearing the painting got caught in a terrible storm. After calling on the Madonna the storm miraculously stopped. When the ship safely reached the shore the sailors decided to build a shrine for Mary out of gratitude.
The miraculous event is commemorated at the end of August every year, when a procession of boats takes places. The following day the Madonna is carried through the city, of which she is the patroness.
B.V. del Monticino
The miraculous image of the Madonna of Monticino in Brisighella, Italy.
deusestsummonbonum asked: what is your favourite picture of the BVM?
In my collection I have a small print of Mary based on the miraculous image of Maria Hilf, originally painted by Lucas Cranach the Elder, that has since long been a favourite.
Notwithstanding, there are many other images I find very beautiful. To name a few: Our Lady of Good Counsel, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the Mater Dolorosa, and Our Lady of Kevelaer. This is however a far from complete list!
Madre del Buon Consiglio
The image of Our Lady of Good Counsel venerated in the church of the Most Holy Sacrament in Naples, Italy.
The joyful Marian antiphon Regina Coeli, composed by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. It is sung in Catholic churches during Eastertide.
