Articles on Mary

Mary has always played an important role in the life of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. Don Beniamino Conti has already explained the place of Our Lady of the Precious Blood—or the Madonna of the Chalice, as she is also known—in the mission preaching of St. Gaspar and the early Missionaries. In the course of the Congregation’s history, Mary has been honored under a variety of titles. We know, for

May is Mary's month. Three feasts during this month are set aside for Mary: May 12, Mother of Mercy; May 24, Help of Christians; and May 31, the Visitation. Mary claims this month by the church from our European pagan ancestors, celebrating spring, fertility, and the earth mother with such things as flowers, dances, planting feasts, and maypoles. May 24 in particular commemorates the return of Pious VII to Rome in 1814 from his Napoleonic exile.