With only a few days left before Pope Benedict XVI begins his trip to Mexico, Catholics are looking forward to this visit which is taking place as the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between modern Mexico and the Vatican is marked. During his trip, the Pope will visit iconic sites of the Blessed Virgin Mary in both countries - the Virgin of Charity of Cobre in Cuba, and Our Lady of Guanajuato in Mexico. Visit this article to read more.

Five years ago a group of Spanish youth released a video during the month of May to promote praying the rosary. The videos were popular around the world, and the group has since published a new video every May. Here is a trailer for the release of the 2012 May Feelings video, which will be available on 1 May 2012.

Saint Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary were certainly sacramentally married. To say that Christ was born of an "unwed mother" is incorrect. Christ was born into holy wedlock - the most holy marriage in the history of humanity.

During the Pope's Catechesis on Wednesday 14 March, the Holy Father said the prayer of early Christians made it possible for the rapid spread of the Gospel. They learned from the Virgin Mary the importance of prayer and recollection: "Let us entrust to her every moment of our own lives, and let her teach us the need for prayer, so that in loving union with her Son we may implore the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the spread of the Gospel to all the ends of the earth."

There are many shrines around the world that honor the Virgin Mary, but the biggest is in Brazil. Every year millions of people travel there to honor Our Lady of Aparecida, the Patron of Brazil. The shrine is in the city of Aparecida, which is located between Sao Paulo and Rio. Last year, it had more than 10 million visitors!

Mary is the English translation of the Hebrew name Miriam. There are different opinions on what it means; some sources say that it means “bitter,” or “beautiful one,” while others say that it derives from the Egyptian word that means “beloved.”

Previously we examined the tradition and biblical foundation for the Catholic teaching that Mary was consecrated as a Temple virgin at the age of three and lived in the temple precincts till the age of fourteen when she was married to Saint Joseph and there after virginally conceived the Son of God.*

In his final Sunday Angelus address before Christmas, Pope Benedict XVI said that the virginity of Mary guarantees Jesus’ divinity because it proves the Incarnation is solely the work of God: “The human being that begins to live in her womb takes the flesh from Mary, but his existence is derived entirely from God.”

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Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness of the Americas. As we celebrate her feast day on 12 December, let us reflect on the pro-life message that she brought to the world.

When it comes to religious celebrations, the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe ranks high in Latin America, especially in Mexico. Over the years she's been given many endearing titles like “La Morenita,” the “Patroness of the Americas,” and the “Queen of Mexico.” Her feast day is December 12, a day when millions come together to honor Our Lady.