Saturday, February 1, 2014

Our Lady

We are told that pregnant Muslim women from the village of Tibhirine in Algeria would often come to the monastery, from which our monks were abducted in 1996, to pray before the statue of Our Lady in the garden for safe deliveries. Muslims honor Mary as mother of Jesus the Prophet. We pray to her for an end to all terrorism, for peace, understanding and mutual respect between all Christians and Muslims. 

Raphael, Madonna of the Pomegranate, c. 1504, Black-gray chalk, Albertina, Vienna.