Our Lady of Soufanieh

Today I wanted to write about Our Lady of Soufanieh, a Syrian Marian apparition. Our Lady of Soufanieh is a title given to an apparition of the Virgin Mary just outside of Damascus. The first sighting was in 1982 when pure olive oil sprouted from a Marian image, which held healing properties. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Soufanieh?wprov=sfla1

Madonna Della Strada

Today I wanted to write about the Madonna Della Strada (Mary of the Good Road) an Italian Marian title who is the patron of the Jesuit Order. Madonna Della Strada originated as a 13th century fresco who was said to protect soldiers during war. At least three churches in the United States alone are named

Our Lady of La Naval de Manila

Today I wanted to write about Our Lady of La Naval de Manila, a Filipino Marian title who is the patroness of Asia. Our Lady of La Naval de Manila started as a venerable image of Our Lady of the Rosary which was made of hardwood and Ivory. The image was installed in Santo Domingo

Our Lady of Peace

With today being The Solemnity of Mary I wanted to write about Our Lady of Peace, a Marian title used to refer to the Virgin Mary in her aspect of being a mother and the patron of peace, the SS.CC, El Salvador, Maine, and Hawai’i. Our Lady of Peace was first recognized in France through

Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn

Today I wanted to write about Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn (Aušros Vartų Dievo Motina), a Marian title originating from Lithuania. In 1702, Lithuania and Sweden were at war, during this time Sweden has captured Vilnius. One morning at the crack of dawn an apparition of the Virgin Mary appeared knocking over a

Our Lady of Piat

Today I wanted to write about Our Lady of Piat (Nuestra Señora de Visitacion de Piat) a Spanish-Filipino Catholic title of the Virgin Mary, as the patroness of Piat, Cagayan, and various Indigenous Micronesian peoples. The earliest veneration of Our Lady of Piat started in Macau, her image was eventually brought to Manila in 1604,

The Beast of Revelation

Today for Dragon month I wanted to write about The Beast of Revelation, specifically the third Beast, a draconic hell-hound mentioned in Revelation 17. There are three Beasts of Revelation, the Beast of the Sea (likely Leviathan), the Beast of the Earth (likely Behemoth), and the third Beast who is the mount of The Great

Our Lady of the Turning Eyes

Today I wanted to write about Our Lady of the Turning Eyes, a Marian apparition who appeared in Germany in 1643 and is associated with victory. During the 30 years war famine plagued central Germany leading groups of civilians to gather and pray the Rosary. On November 10th during one of these prayer circles a

Maximón

Today, for Indigenous Heritage Month, I wanted to write about Maximón/San Simón, a Guatemalan folk saint of health, agriculture, marriage, business, and death. Maximón was an elder who reincarnated to protect his people. During the Spanish Conquest, an elder named Ri Laj Mam, upset by the evils of the Spaniards, encouraged his people to start

Saint Joan of Arc

Today for Pride Month I wanted to write about Saint Joan of Arc, the patron Saint of France; and, within Folk Catholicism, trans people. Joan was born into a peasant family in northeastern France. After receiving visions from Archangel Michael, and various saints, she went into battle to protect France from England. She fought for

Madonna of Montvergine

Today for Pride Month I wanted to write about Madonna of Montvergine, a Marian figure who is the patron of LGBTQ+ people and enslaved people. The Madonna of Montvergine has one surviving recorded legend where in 1256, she rescued an Italian same-sex male couple from death after homophobic persecution, lead to them almost being frozen

Our Lady of Laus

Today I wanted to write about Our Lady of Laus, a French Marian apparition appearing in Saint-Étienne-le-Laus between 1664 and 1718. Benoîte Rencurel was a shepherdess born in 1647 who was first visited by an apparition of Saint Maurice telling her to move to a different area to avoid local guards taking her sheep. When

Our Lady of Akita

It’s been a while since I’ve written about any Marian figures so today I wanted to write about Our Lady of Akita, a Marian title relating to a Japanese apparition associated with healing people with hearing loss. Our Lady of Akita first appeared in Akita in 1972 when a statue of the Virgin Mary was

Saint Guinefort

For Lupercalia I wanted to write about three canine spirits starting with Saint Guinefort, a French folk saint with us the protector of children. Guinefort was the hound of a French knight who was assigned to watch the knights child. When the knight returned and found his child dead he blamed Guinefort and killed him,

Apsinthion

Today I wanted to write about Apsinthion, also called La’anah or Wormwood, a Christian Biblical angel associated with Revelation. When the third trumpet sounds Apsinthion will fall from the sky turning waters bitter resulting in many deaths. While many interpret Apsinthion as a servant to God (Yahweh) others have suggested that they’re a fallen angel

Saint Melangell

Happy Year of the Rabbit, to celebrate I wanted to write about Saint Melangell, the patron Saint of hares. Melangell was an Irish noble woman whose father haf arranged her to be wed to a wealthy man however she had taken a vow of chastity and refused to get married. She ran away to Wales

Christ Child

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, today I wanted to write about the Christ Child, an aspect of Jesus representing him from the ages of 0-12 who is mostly venerated around Christmas time. The stories of the Christ Child are told throughout the gospels starting with the immaculate conception, going into his birth at Christmas

Sinterklaas

Today I wanted to write about Sinterklaas, a Dutch folk saint version of Saint Nicholas who brings gifts in December. Sinterklaas visits children on December 6th to bring children presents with his helper Zwarte Piet. When Germanic Europe was being Christianised folklore around Odin and the wild hunt started to be shifted onto Saint Nicholas

Saint Martin of Tours

As the holiday season quickly approaches I wanted to write about Saint Martin of Tours, a patron Saint of wine, calvary, geese, horses, innkeepers, tailors, soldiers, France, and against poverty. Saint Martin of Tours was born in what is now Northern Italy into a Gaulish–Roman pagan family but converted to Christianity when he was around

Saint Cathrine of Aragon

Today I wanted to write about Saint Cathrine of Aragon, an English folk Catholic Saint most venerated at the Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Andrew; she’s occasionally a patron Saint of the Royal family and of Spain. She was born to Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile in

San La Muerte

Today for spooky season I wanted to write about San la Muerte, a South American Catholic folk saint of death, love, luck, gambling, and protection. Unlike many canonized saints San la Muerte doesn’t have accounts of being a person, rather the veneration of San la Muerte likely came from Indigenous practices of venerating the bones

Saint Peter

Continuing with spooky season I wanted to write about Saint Peter the Apostle, a Christian psychopomp and patron Saint of bakers, bridge builders, bakers, fishermen, harvesters, cobblers, horologists, locksmiths, and healer of foot pain and fevers. Saint Peter the Apostle was one of Jesus’s original twelve disciples; Peter, originally known as Simon, is well known