South Africa Needs Our Lady

South Africa Needs Our Lady

Winning the heart and soul of South Africa for Mary by spreading the Fatima Message

Winning the heart and soul of South Africa for Mary by spreading the Fatima Message

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Our Blessed Lady

Our Lady of the Candles

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Feast Day: 17 September

 

When white men came to the Canary Islands for the first time, the natives presented them with a mystery that no one has ever solved, even to this day – the presence on the islands of a statue of Our Lady!

The natives had discovered the statue of Our Lady of the Candles in the year 1400, as it had been found in a cave by two shepherds who had entered the cave seeking refuge from a storm. Neither of them had ever seen a statue before and so thought it was a living being.

The sheep would not enter the cave, seemingly out of fear of the statue, so at first the two shepherds motioned for the stranger to go away. When the statue did not move or respond, one of the men picked up a rock to throw at it. Instantly his arms stiffened so that he could not move, and his arms began to throb in pain. The other shepherd moved in close to the statue, and although it seemed to watch him, yet still it neither moved nor spoke. Puzzled, he took out his knife and tried to cut its finger – but instead of marking the statue, his own finger received the wound he had attempted to inflict and then began to bleed profusely! Terrified, the two men fled the scene, leaving their sheep and everything else behind them.

The men reported what had happened to their chief, relating their belief that a great god lived in the cave. The chief commanded them to bring this being to him. Overcoming their fear, the two shepherds returned to the cave and found the statue had not moved. When the first of them reached out to take hold of it, as soon as he had touched the statue, he found his finger was instantly healed of the wound he had received.

The men reverently carried the statue to a house where their chief directed and tried to show it honour in the best way they knew how. A few nights later they were surprised to hear beautiful music, and to see strange beings, all glowing and alight, setting candles around the strange “god” and lighting them. The natives had never seen candles.

A special house was built for the statue, and for fifty years there was beautiful music, light, and a lovely fragrance surrounding the statue that no one could explain. The natives made offerings of fruit and flowers and noted that the light “beings” kept the candles burning around the crude altar.

In 1520 a native boy was captured and taken to Spain; he returned after a few years and told the natives about Christianity. When missionaries came, the people were prepared to receive them and the True Faith.

Christians who had recently arrived and lived on a nearby island, recognized whom the statue must represent. At first, they begged the natives of Tenerife to let them have it, though the pagan natives refused, claiming she had brought them good fortune. The Christians decided to steal the statue of Our Lady of the Candles, feeling it was only proper that it should be in Christian hands. They succeeded in their plan, and brought the statue to their church, setting it on the high altar and surrounding it with burning candles.

Returning in the morning, they found that the statue had turned its back to the congregation, and no amount of pulling could get it turned to the front again. A serious sickness then invaded the island, and, repentant and frightened, the Christians took the statue back. Surprisingly, the natives had not noticed that it had been taken. The incredible explanation was that another statue, and exact duplicate to Our Lady of the Candles, had stood in its place during the entire time the original had been away.

Not surprisingly, devotion to Our Lady of the Candles spread rapidly through Spanish countries to South America and the Philippines.

The original statue of Our Lady of the Candles was made of heavy reddish wood, which had never been identified. It is 3 ½ feet high. The eyes of the statue seem to follow the beholder, and the colour of the cheeks sometimes changes. The hair is uncovered, golden and worn in braids. The Babe has a golden bird in its hands. Our Lady holds a candle in her hand.

Since there are no bees on the island, the candles are also a mystery. A few days before the feast of Candlemass in the year 1497, great quantities of a particularly pure wax were found at various places on the island. Several times since, the same thing has happened. People gather the wax and save it for pious souvenirs. It is sometimes found in the shape of loaves, weighing ten or twelve pounds. Another mystery concerns the candle stumps which even today are found near the cave. Some are set up on the rocks of the beach. Wax and wicks are of strange materials, which the good people of the neighbourhood insist could only have come from heaven.

As seen on: The Woman in Orbit & Marian Calendar, roman-catholic-saints.com

Our Lady of Angels

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Feast Day: 2 August 

 

Our Lady of Angels, or of the Portiuncula, is located six hundred yards from the city of Assissium, in Italy. It was a desolate locality, and apparently an unsettled one where robbers and the lawlessness flourished, for the Benedictines who had lived at the monastery felt it was too hazardous to remain there. They abandoned the monastery, relocating to Mount Subasio, which was a fortified monastery.

The original chapel is thought to date from the 4th Century and was built by holy hermits who had come from the Valley of Josaphat. It is said that they brought relics of the Blessed Virgin with them to the region when they constructed the chapel.

The history of the feast is inspiring. St. Francis of Assisi, in the early days of his conversion, while he was still uncertain as to what path to pursue, was praying earnestly for enlightenment before the crucifix at the Church of San Damiano, when he heard within him the command of the Crucified: “Build up my house, for it is nearly falling down.” Taking the words literally, Francis began to restore San Damiano and other dilapidated churches in and near Assisi. The most famous of these was the church of Our Lady of the Angels.

Some time after the restoration of this little chapel, an angel told St. Francis to come to the Church of Our Lady of Angels, or Portiuncula. There he found Our Lord, His Blessed Mother, and the Angels waiting for him. Our Lord commended Francis because of his zeal for the salvation of souls and promised to grant him whatever he should ask on behalf of sinners. St. Francis asked for this great favour: that all those who came to this church to pray and, truly sorry for their sins, confessed them, should “Obtain in perpetuity a plenary indulgence” so that they would have nothing to account for when God called them. This was the great favour he asked, but Our Lord granted it to him through Mary.

When Saint Francis came upon the little, run down and abandoned chapel of Our Lady of Angels, or Santa Maria degli Angelis, in the year 1208, it was almost completely hidden in shrubs and brush. Saint Francis entered the hidden church, which measured only twenty-two feet by thirteen feet, and saw the ancient fresco that had been placed above the main altar. It was an image of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin surrounded by angels. Some say that this is why the chapel was named Our Lady of Angels, although there are also legends that angels could often be heard singing there.

The place took its name, the Little Portion, or Portiuncula in the native Italian, from the small section of fertile land that was gifted to the monks for them to work for their support. It is said that this was the place where Saint Francis first understood his vocation, received visions, and was also where the saint desired to live. The Benedictines had lived at that location for hundreds of years, but the Benedictine monks gave this chapel to Saint Francis upon his request. It was certainly here that the Franciscan Order was founded.

At first Saint Francis wished the convent which he built there to be the principal one of his order. He assembled the first General Chapter there, where there were five thousand religious. It was also where he yielded up his spirit on October 3rd in the year 1226, the twentieth of his conversion, and the forty-fifth of his age. The cell in which the poor man of Assisi died can still be seen where it rests against one of the columns of the cupola under the choir bay.

Our Lady of Molanus

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Feast Day 15 July

 

In the year 1099, the Christian armies arrived at Jerusalem, overjoyed that they had survived to reach their objective. Their joy turned nearly to despair, however, as they ran short of food and suffered greatly with a plague during the siege of the city.

The leaders of the crusade concluded that they could not win without courting the Divine Assistance. It was agreed by all that they should march together barefoot around the city while singing litanies to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This they did, as the Jews had done centuries before at Jericho, while praying, fasting, and giving alms. Eight days later Godfrey of Bouillon was the first to breach the walls and set foot in Jerusalem, which was then swiftly taken.

The Turks were finally defeated after what had been a long and difficult siege, and the First Crusade ended with a Christian victory. Now that the city was in Christian hands, the Crusaders desired that they should have a king for the new Kingdom of Jerusalem. The nobleman Raymond of Saint Gilles was offered the crown, but he refused, as it did not seem proper to him to be named king in that holy place. Next, Robert Courte-Heuse also refused. Finally, Godfrey of Bouillon, who had so distinguished himself in the taking of Jerusalem, was asked to accept the crown.

Godfrey of Bouillon was a good man, the son of Blessed Ida of Bouillon, whose father was the Duke Godfrey of Lorraine, himself a descendent of Blessed Charles the Great. Although Godfrey agreed to be made king, still, as they were about to crown him King of Jerusalem, Godfrey pushed aside the crown, saying, “I cannot wear a diadem in the place where my Lord wore a crown of thorns.” Instead, as he had prayed at Our Lady at Boulogne-sur-mer before leaving on the Crusade, he credited the Blessed Virgin Mary with the victory and symbolically gave the crown to Our Lady of Molanus.

After the victory, clad in white garments, the crusaders expressed in solemn procession, hymns and prayers, their gratitude to the Mother of God for giving them this singular victory over the enemies of the Church. The annual celebration in remembrance of the victory occurred each July 15th with a Mass offered to Our Lady of Molanus. Formerly the feast of this event was celebrated with a double office and octave.

Godfrey of Bouillon

Our Lady of Coutances

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Feast Day 9 July

 

This feast day commemorates the dedication of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Coutances, by Bishop Geoffry de Mombray, in the year 1056.

Coutances, once known as Cosedia when it was the capital city of the powerful Unelles tribe, it was conquered by one of Julius Caesar’s generals in the year 58 BC. The city’s name was changed to Coutances in honour of the Roman Emperor Constantius Chlorus. Due to its strategic location, it quickly rose to a place of great significance in the Empire.

According to tradition, the knowledge of salvation came to Coutances in the 5th century through Saint Ereptiolous. It is known that he built a church on the site where there had once been a pagan temple.

After the destruction of the Western Roman Empire, Coutances suffered from invasions by the Scandinavians and Normans in the 9th century. The church was razed, the city abandoned, and the bishop forced to flee for safety to Rouen. They did not go back to Coutances until nearly one hundred and sixty years later, when they returned with the assistance of Duke Richard the Fearless.

In the year 1030, Bishop Robert began the construction of a new cathedral, Our Lady of Coutances, which was begun in the Romanesque style. He died shortly after the labour of love had begun, and it was left to Bishop Geoffry de Mombray, who had been appointed in 1048. He completed the cathedral in the year 1056.

Bishop Geoffry was a close companion to William, Duke of Normandy, and so invited him to attend the consecration of the cathedral that year. Ten years later, the bishop would accompany the Duke of Normandy to England, where William conquered the island and earned the title of William the Conqueror. A short time later he assisted Ealdred, the archbishop of York, at the coronation ceremony that took place in Westminster Abbey.

Bishop Geoffry came from a wealthy family, who generously gave to the prelate for the good of the Church, while also providing much of the funding for the cathedral. Before the bishop was finished with the construction, he had added two towers nearly 100 feet tall to the west end, and a central tower that was famed for its gilded rooster. Bishop Geoffry died of old age in the year 1093.

Our Lady of Kazan

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Feast Day 8 July

 

This miraculous icon, also known as the Theotokos of Kazan, is thought to have originated in Constantinople in the 13th century before it was taken to Russia. When the Turks took Kazan in 1438, the icon may have been hidden. Ivan the Terrible liberated Kazan in 1552, and the town was destroyed by fire in 1579.

The icon was eventually found in the ruins of a burnt-out house at Kazan on the River Volga on 8 July 1579. According to tradition, the location of the icon was revealed during a dream by the Blessed Virgin Mary to a ten-year-old girl named Matrona. Matrona told the local bishop of her dream, but he did not believe her. There were two more similar dreams, after which Matrona and her mother went to the place indicated by the Blessed Virgin and dug in the ruins what had been a house until the uncovered the icon. It appeared untouched by the flames, with the colours as vivid and brilliant as if it were new.

The bishop took the icon to the Church of Saint Nicholas, and immediately there was a miracle of a blind man’s sight being restored to him. A monastery was built over the place where the icon had been found.

Known as the Holy Protectress of Russia, the icon was stolen on 29 June 1904. The thieves were later caught and claimed that they had destroyed the icon after taking the gold frame and jewels attached to the image. In any event, the original has never been found, though there are many copies in existence, thanks to the popularity of the icon. Many of the copies are known to be miracle working.

The Russian peasantry attributes the rise of Communism in their country to the loss of the image of their heavenly protectress. There is a legend that a copy of the image of Our Lady of Kazan was taken in procession upon the fortifications of Leningrad to assist the defenders in defeating the Nazis during the Siege of Leningrad.

Before the revolution, perhaps still, sometimes a Russian mother would give a copy of this picture to her daughter at her wedding, as a blessing on her and her new home.

There is a Russian feast of Mary under this title as a commemoration of its founding on July 8th. There are many replicas of this picture, of which the best known was in the church of Our Lady of Kazan at Moscow.

The Byzantine chapel of the Oriental Institute at Rome is dedicated in honour of Our Lady of Kazan.

 

As seen on: https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/our-lady-of-kazan.html

Our Lady of Cranganor

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Feast Day: June 10

 

In the East Indies stands the church and the shrine of Our Lady of Cranganor, which it is asserted, was built by one of the three Kings who visited the Divine Child and His Blessed Mother. India was one of the countries that had the privilege of receiving the light of Faith at the dawn of Christianity.

History relates that Saint Thomas the Apostle came to India at Cranganor in 52 AD. There the Christians are still known as Saint Thomas Faithful. Kerala, as the place is also known, is cut off by the mountain ranges from the rest of India, and has held firmly to the Faith, regardless of the gloom of the rest of the continent. The deep spirituality of the Catholics evidences their great love for the Mother of God, Our Lady of Cranganor. Nala-bat as the country is likewise called, may be translated as Mary’s country, Mary’s namesake. It is believed that when Saint Thomas came to Cranganor, he brought with him a picture of Our Lady, painted by Saint Luke; this was lost after Saint Thomas’ martyrdom, but later discovered in a cave at Little Mount, Madras, near the scene of his death.

In 1498 when the Portuguese arrived in Cranganor, they were surprised to find so many churches dedicated to Mary. Saint Francis Xavier found the people of Cranganor very strong in faith and devoted to Mary, Our Lady of Cranganor; he spared no pains to flame their devotion to the Mother of God.

One may wonder why devotion to Mary took root and blossomed so strongly in Kerala – almost as though it met some deep religious and psychological need. Perhaps the reason for such spontaneous devotion is to be found in the position of the mother in the Hindu family. For while love, obedience, devotion and dependence on one’s mother are natural to all peoples and nations, in Cranganor the exalted position of the mother assumes singular, if not unique, proportions. The mother is everything in the family; to depend on her is a deep-rooted tendency of all children in Kerala. Much more than the father, the mother is the breadwinner in the family. She owns, buys, and sells property and governs the house without any consultation with the father; he may frequently be away, but she always remains at home in the house. Her brothers have no right to property, only a living allowance and accommodations. Now this matriarchal system has been carefully guarded by the majority of Hindus. It lies at the very heart of the traditional way of life in Kerala; a time-honoured custom which has helped to give Marian devotion an easy welcome and speedy growth.

Saint Ignatius of Loyola always wore the rosary conspicuously over his cassock. To his great satisfaction, Our Lady’s “Madre de Dios” church was assigned to him on his arrival at Cochin, replacing Cranganor as the port of traffic with the western world. When Saint Francis arrived, he found a Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary already established and he fostered this zealously during his lifetime.

As seen on: https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/our-lady-of-cranganor.html

Our Lady of Ligny

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Feast Day: June 9

 

Our Lady of Ligny, near Bar le Duc, in Lorraine. This image is very famous for the frequent miracles which are wrought there. Ligny-en-Barrois is a French town with a population of about 5000 located in north-eastern France. Each year the town celebrates its patron saint, Our Lady of Virtues, on the 5th Sunday after Easter. The portrait of the Blessed Virgin has been at Ligny since 1459, and the year 2009 marked its 550th anniversary. The history of the painting of Our Lady of Virtues, or Our Lady of Ligny, and the town of Ligny-en-Barrois, are closely interlinked.

The portrait is a silk painting unlike any other portrait of the Blessed Virgin. It was originally known to be in the possession of Pope Urban IV, but after many wanderings, the pious image was given to the canons of the collegiate church of Ligny in the year 1459 by Antoine de la Salle, the tutor of the son of Count Louis I of Luxembourg.

During the war between Francis I and Charles V, the Count Antoine de Luxembourg was allied to the King of France. Ligny was besieged, stormed and destroyed on 29 June 1544. The Holy Image of Our Lady of Ligny was stolen by an Imperial trooper, (actually a German mercenary), but it was retrieved by a labourer and returned in grand procession in 1581. This procession was led by the Countess Margaret of Savoy, who built a new monastery for the Capuchins over the ruins of the previous site. She also began the devotion to the portrait known as Our Lady of Virtues.

During the French Revolution Church property was confiscated as at every other place. The church at Ligny was sold in 1791 and then destroyed. During the Terror, however, the painting was hidden by two councillors. The painting was restored to its proper place when the revolution died down. In 1814, during the “Campaign of France,” the town of Ligny was again besieged. A thousand young soldiers defended the town against odds of ten to one. Their bravery did not stop the town from being taken and eventually looted, but at least the homes were not destroyed despite the best efforts of the Prussian artillerymen. In a statement attributed to Canon Souhaut, it is recorded that: “The protection of the sky over the city seemed indisputable so that even the Prussians attributed the futility of their efforts to set artillery fire to the town to the miraculous image of Our Lady of Ligny.” This protection seemed to continue through World War I, as, according to some, Our Lady of Virtues protected the city through four separate bombings that caused no deaths.

As seen on https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/our-lady-of-ligny.html

Novena to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

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A novena to her Immaculate Heart is a powerful way to obtain graces for ourselves, our families, South Africa, and the triumph of her Heart in the world.

At Fatima Our Lady promised:

“In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.”

This Novena is traditionally prayed for 9 days before the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in June, which follows the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the Friday.

The Novena Prayers are the same for each day.

NOVENA PRAYERS 

 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Immaculate Virgin, by the holy will of your Son my Lord Jesus Christ, you are my Mother in Heaven. Your Immaculate Heart is full of love, mercy and compassion for sinners like me. I ask that you intercede for me today for… (mention your prayer intentions)

I trust in your intercession before the throne of God for my needs. Please pray also that if my requests are not in accordance with the will of God, that I may be, like you, conformed to His will and not my own.

Hail Mary…

Immaculate Heart of Mary. Pray for us!

Amen.

 

Act of Consecration

 – by Pope Pius XII

 

Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of men, to fulfil the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the request of the Vicar of Your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to You, all the people of our country and all the world.

Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as You wish to accomplish Your designs in the world.

O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and Queen of the World, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism; kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the Rosary more faithfully.

We come with confidence to You, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed Your own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes Your shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with your rule, triumph in every heart and home. Amen.

 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Lady of Almudena

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A Lesson in Confidence

 

The chronicles tell of an amazing miracle that took place in Madrid during the eleventh century. Tradition has it that when King Alphonse VI reconquered Madrid from the Moors, he immediately sought to purify the old church of Santa Maria, which they had desecrated (the Moors had probably turned it into a mosque).

The faithful were afflicted because they could not find the statue of the Virgin that had been there before the Moorish domination. It was a special statue that had been brought to Madrid by the Apostle Saint James. Thus, the people and clergy organized a procession around the city, in which they begged the Lord to find the statue.

The pious procession went around the city walls as people chanted and fervently recited prayers asking God in His Divine Mercy to show them where the statue was hidden. As the procession passed by a certain place, the desired miracle happened. Part of the wall collapsed, and they found the Virgin’s statue that had been hidden there for more than three hundred years. It was illuminated by the two lamps which past Christians had placed there before closing off the niche where it was hidden.

Hence the statue was given the name Our Lady of Almudena since almudena means market or barn. The miracle happened near the Moors’ market or grain silo.

The Virgin Mary is regarded as a patroness of Madrid, Spain, under this title. The Cathedral of Madrid is dedicated to the Virgin under this title, and the feast day, 9 November, is a major holiday in Madrid.

*   *   *

Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira makes the following commentary about this marvellous story:

The story is so clear and beautiful that it dispenses retelling. Our Lady wonderfully rewarded two things: first, the faith of those crusader warriors who found the statue. They made great efforts to find the statue by processing around the city. They confided in the value of prayer. Secondly, they understood the importance of returning the statue to her place to make proper reparation. The reason for the procession was to undo the Moors’ work, making reparation for the sin they had committed by their occupation.

Our Lady also marvellously rewarded the faith of those who had hidden her statue centuries before. They were Catholic Visigoths facing the approaching Moors. Realizing that escape with the statue was impossible, they walled her up. Then, the Moors at least could not defile the statue.

Notice how they put lighted lamps near the statue before walling her up. This gesture is very beautiful since it shows they did not want to wall up the statue without a tribute. Those lamps represented their hopes that the statue would be venerated once again. Thus, the walled-up place was like a little chapel.

A miracle confirmed their hopes. This most beautiful miracle of confidence consisted of the lamps that burned for 300 years. They continued to burn when the statue was found in the wall. It is a miracle as great as the multiplication of loaves in the Gospel. Its marvellous message is that one can expect such things from Our Lady. Although things may appear defeated and crushed, something irreversibly victorious remains in them.

These lamps represent confidence. Wherever confidence exists, expect the possibility of resurrection, restoration and new victories. Our Lady works miracles even in the most hostile circumstances. Nothing is impossible for those who confide in her.

This confidence is very important for the spiritual life. Those who confide against all hope can expect all things. There is reason to confide even when surrounded by the worst conditions that cause discouragement. Our Lady will reward this confidence. Ultimately, Our Lady never lets anyone down or breaks her word. She keeps the flames alive until it is time for her to give extraordinary graces.

This confidence must be maintained during all efforts for the cause of the Counter-Revolution. A phrase from Scripture says that “The remnant shall return.” It means that the remnant of faithful Catholics will return even after being utterly defeated and crushed. In trusting souls, two lamps must continuously burn next to this confidence. They are the lamps of the conviction of the irreversibility of the Immaculate Heart of Mary’s Reign.

As she promised at Fatima, “Finally, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.”

The preceding article is taken from an informal lecture Professor Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira gave on May 19, 1967. It has been translated and adapted for publication without his revision.

2026 Roses to Our Lady of Guadalupe

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Thousands of Roses Delivered to Our Lady

South Africa Needs Our Lady (SANOL) has sent hundreds of roses for the past three years to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico. This has kindly been facilitated by our sister organisation in America. Here below is some interesting feedback from our friends Lora and Megan about their experiences and those of visitors they met at the shrine during February this year.

South Africa Needs Our Lady banner and roses delivered to Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine in Mexico February 2026

 

 

For six years, America Needs Fatima (ANF) has faithfully delivered roses to Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Basilica in Mexico City, fostering devotion and offering supporters and donors the opportunity to express their love and reverence for the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title as Queen of the Americas and Patroness of the Unborn. In addition, we also delivered prayer intentions for all those who donated roses.

An Expression of Gratitude

Our Report would not be complete without expressing our gratitude to the florist, Dona Ara and her team. They work tirelessly for days before the presentation of roses, procuring roses, preparing the terra cotta pots and making the rose arrangements. On the day of the presentation of the roses, she and her team carried each arrangement from the florist shop to the Shrine (where we took pictures) and then from the Shrine into the Basilica presenting them to Our Lady. This was no small task and they did it with great love and devotion for the Blessed Virgin.

Making of the floral arrangements.

a

Visitors Unexpectedly Moved by Faith

We met three fellow Americans that had heard about the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and decided to visit to see what all the fuss was about. They kindly and enthusiastically shared their impressions with us:

Betsy M:

Entering the Basilica as a non-believer, I was struck by the profound sense of history, spirituality, and collective faith present throughout the Shrine. Seeing so many people united in shared devotion was both inspiring and extraordinary. Despite not being Catholic, I felt welcomed and included in that unity. Learning about the history of Our Lady of Guadalupe was fascinating and deeply moving. The roses added a vibrant energy and beauty to the entire experience, enhancing what was already a remarkable visit.

Petitions from South Africa Needs Our Lady supporters delivered
Roses and the Old Basilica
Prayer intentions from South Africa Needs Our Lady supporters with the lighted candles

Ray M:

As a non-Catholic with no prior education or preconceived notions about Catholicism, I was deeply impressed by the profound commitment and dedication of the countless individuals who travelled hundreds—if not thousands—of miles to visit Our Lady of Guadalupe. Witnessing this devotion gave me a renewed appreciation for the central role faith plays in so many lives. The roses made an immediate and powerful impact on me. Many visitors were visibly moved by the floral display, joyfully taking photographs of their children and families with the arrangements. The experience was both overwhelming and inspiring. It is something that can be described, but not truly understood, until experienced firsthand.

Richard Z:

Today was a truly meaningful experience. The weather was beautiful, and the roses—arranged in a perfect circle—looked incredible. The flower arrangements were absolutely beautiful. Doña Ara and her entire family did a fantastic job organizing everything.

Seeing the Tilma up close and learning about its history was amazing. Seeing the crucifix that was bent by a bomb yet protected the miraculous Tilma was especially moving.

Walking through the Old Basilica and witnessing the history within its walls—including the visible sinking of the structure—was incredible. The artwork there was breathtaking, especially the painting honouring those who were killed in Mexico during the Cristero War; that art piece deeply affected me.

I had never lit a candle for a prayer intention before, and doing so at the Shrine was deeply spiritual. I’ve never considered myself particularly religious, though my parents were. They both passed away recently—and shortly before my father’s passing, on a trip together we shared a room, and every night before bed he would pray—for me, for my children, and for my siblings and their children. I always found those moments incredibly powerful. Lighting a candle today brought me right back to those quiet moments of prayer with my father. It was emotional and comforting at the same time, and it made this experience even more meaningful.

The walk up Tepeyac Hill was hot, but completely worth it. The gardens at the Shrine were stunning, and the statues and offerings to Our Lady were powerful and inspiring. I am so grateful I chose to make this trip. Experiencing everything in person was powerful beyond words.

The Tilma
The painting honouring those who were killed in Mexico during the Cristero War
Lighting a candle for prayer intentions at the shrine

Fellow Travelers – Jeff, Megan and Gianna Morris

Living in the United States, I sometimes take for granted the depth of devotion that exists elsewhere. Upon entering the gates of the Shrine, there is an unmistakable sense of pilgrimage and reverence that is difficult to replicate in the U.S. The devotion to Our Lady is visible and deeply woven into daily life here.

While the America Needs Fatima offering of roses was significant, it was equally moving to see small families presenting modest bouquets with immense love and reverence. The florist and her team worked tirelessly to create a beautiful and reverent display, and their dedication was evident in every detail.

Witnessing individuals—including women entering the Basilica on their knees—reinforced the certainty that we were all present for the same purpose: to venerate the miraculous tilma and to honour our Blessed Mother. As Catholics, we believe in uniting our suffering with Christ’s suffering, and seeing this lived expression of faith was profoundly moving.

Lighting a candle for every state on behalf of America Needs Fatima and praying for unborn children in danger of abortion was a powerful and deeply prayerful moment. I was also moved to pray for the parents of these unborn children, recognizing how vital our prayers are for them as well.

We (my wife, daughter, and I) made a second journey up Tepeyac Hill. Whether it was the physical exertion or something deeper, entering the chapel where Our Lady appeared to Saint Juan Diego was an overwhelming experience marked by a palpable sense of presence and grace.

This display of offerings to Our Lady from the Aztecs and Bishop is in the gardens at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Global Expression of Devotion

Marian devotees from Canada and South Africa also sent roses to join the thousands of roses sent by ANF supporters and friends.

It is only natural that such a meaningful endeavour would expand beyond national borders. This year, for the first time, nine other countries—including nations in Europe and Latin America (Austria, Germany, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Italy, France, Paraguay) —joined in this global expression of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, especially to protect the unborn in their countries.

Some of the global expressions of devotion.

A Special Thank You and Invitation for 2027

We would like to extended a heartfelt Thank You to all the South Africa Needs Our Lady family and friends who generously donated to make this offering to Our Lady of Guadalupe for the unborn. We humbly ask for your continued prayers for the worldwide growth of devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, that through her intercession, the tragedy of abortion may one day end in every place and at every time.

We invite you to participate in this incredibly moving presentation of roses to Our Lady of Guadalupe on behalf of the unborn and place your prayer intentions at the top of the list for 2027, click here now!

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Unborn, pray for us.