Our prayers are offered specially for Br Benedict Manning, Cong. Orat., to be ordained priest of the Oxford Oratory today by Bishop Robert Byrne, Cong. Orat., Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle. We pray that Our Lady will be with him in his life and priestly ministry.

For the Holy Name of Mary, here are the well-known words of St Bernard: ‘Keep her in your mouth, keep her in your heart. Follow the example of her life, and you will obtain the favour of her prayer. Following her, you will never go astray. Asking her help, you will never despair. Keeping her in your thoughts, you will never wander away. With your hand in hers, you will never stumble. With her protecting you, you will not be afraid. With her leading you, you will never tire. Her kindness will see you through to the end. Then you will know by your own experience how true it is that the Virgin’s name was Mary’.

May Our Lady be very close to us all, and may God bless you this day.