WHERE ARE YOU ON OUR LADY'S MAP OF HOPE?

Mike, Mary and Joanna

Allow me a brag; two friends of mine, Joanna and Mike, and their friend, Joe, were inspired by the Holy Spirit with a genius idea that is transforming the face of the earth.  In this time of covid-19, so many of us are poring over maps that track the spread of the virus and this often gives rise to despair.  Joanna, Mike and Joe brainstormed as to what they could do that would give people hope. Instead of a map that showed the hot-spots of the outbreak, they envisioned a map of the world that would light up with Marian blue bulbs to show where people were praying the Rosary, a meeting place where people could share their prayer intentions and pray for one and other.

They got to work and Map of Hope was born. Please nip across cyberspace and visit there, where you may add where you live and promptly see the map light up as it records your home, you may add your prayer intention and see it go live, and enjoy the privilege of having many souls pray for your needs in their Rosary. Of your generosity, you may also pray for the many people whose prayer intentions are up. There is also a great two minute video on the site that explains the Rosary in a succinct way that swiftly informs those who have never offered a Rosary, nor bores people who could say a Rosary in their sleep. You may like to share Map of Hope with your friends who yearn to pray but don't know how - so they might see the video - and learn how to offer the Most Holy Rosary and bring Our Lady of Hope into their lives.

The site motivates the spiritual will. There is a fine display of select miracles awarded people who prayed to Our Lady in times of crisis. The miracle that speaks most to us concerns the people of Vicenza, North Italy.  During the 15th century, the people of this verdant, green little city were ravaged by a deadly plague. Their economy was in tatters and the usually intrepid Italians were listless and had long despaired of a medical cure. One woman did not stint from asking Our Lady's help and Our Lady chose her as her messenger. The woman was a simple peasant and very elderly, she was called, Vincenza Pasini (she had the same name as her native city). One day she was walking on Mount Berico, a lush hill top, when Our Lady appeared to her and gave her a request and a promise; if the people of Vincenza were to build a church on top of the hill, then Our Lady would intercede for them to be cured miraculously of the plague that had caused the deaths of so many for so long. At first, people were reluctant to heed Vincenza's message, they could scarcely believe such a humble, weather-beaten old lady was a seer.

But in time, after they were further weakened and much humbled themselves, they were meek enough to listen to the pious old, farm-laborer and they mustered the strength to build the church and in just 3 months the church which Our Lady had desired was a reality.  Our Lady did not keep her loyal subjects waiting, and a miraculous cure was given those sick, and the plague disappeared and became the stuff of memory.  Our Lady may deign to intercede for us as she did for the people of Vincenza. We need only ask through the offering of the Most Holy Rosary.