Marian Apparitions, Feast Days, and Messages in March
March is a month of renewal, both in nature and in the liturgical calendar, as we prepare for Easter through Lent. It is also a month that holds significant Marian feast days and commemorations of important apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Below, we explore key Marian apparitions, feast days, and messages associated with this month.
Marian Apparitions in March
1. Our Lady of Akita (Japan) – March 3, 1973 (First Apparition)
- The apparitions of Our Lady in Akita, Japan, to Sister Agnes Sasagawa began in March 1973 and continued throughout that year.
- The Blessed Virgin delivered messages concerning prayer, suffering, and reparation for the sins of the world.
- She warned of a great chastisement if humanity did not repent, calling for fervent prayer, especially the Rosary.
- A miraculous weeping statue of the Virgin Mary accompanied these apparitions, which were approved as supernatural by Bishop John Shojiro Ito in 1984.
📖 Message of Our Lady of Akita:
“Many men in this world afflict the Lord… If sins increase in number and gravity, there will no longer be pardon for them.”
2. Our Lady of Lourdes (France) – Continuation of Apparitions (March 1858)
- While the first apparition of Our Lady to St. Bernadette Soubirous occurred on February 11, 1858, the Blessed Virgin appeared multiple times throughout March 1858 at the grotto of Massabielle.
- During this time, she revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception(March 25, 1858), affirming the dogma proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854.
- She urged people to pray, do penance, and convert their hearts.
📖 Message of Our Lady of Lourdes:
“Penance! Penance! Penance! Pray to God for sinners.”
Marian Feast Days in March
Feast of the Annunciation – March 25
- This feast commemorates the moment when the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary, announcing that she had been chosen to be the Mother of God (Luke 1:26-38).
- Mary’s fiat—”Let it be done unto me according to your word”—is a model of obedience and trust in God.
- The feast is one of the most significant Marian celebrations in the Church, as it marks the Incarnation of Christ.
💖 Reflection:
The Annunciation reminds us of Mary’s profound humility and faith. Just as she accepted God’s plan for her life, we, too, are called to surrender ourselves to God’s will with trust and love.
Messages of Our Lady for March: A Call to Prayer, Repentance, and Trust
Throughout various Marian apparitions in history, Our Lady has emphasized key messages that are especially relevant during the month of March:
- Prayer and the Rosary:
- In Akita, Our Lady urged the faithful to pray fervently for the world.
- In Lourdes, she encouraged praying the Rosary as a means of grace and healing.
- Penance and Reparation:
- Both in Lourdes and Akita, Our Lady asked for acts of penance to obtain the conversion of sinners.
- Trust in God’s Plan:
- The Annunciation teaches us that surrendering to God’s will leads to ultimate joy and fulfillment.
📖 A Prayer for March:
“O Blessed Virgin Mary, through your apparitions and messages, you call us to prayer, penance, and faith. Help us to follow your example of trust and obedience. Teach us to say ‘yes’ to God’s plan in our lives, just as you did at the Annunciation. Amen.”
March is a deeply Marian month, reminding us of Our Lady’s maternal presence in our lives. Whether through her apparitions at Lourdes and Akita or through the profound mystery of the Annunciation, she calls us to conversion, trust, and love. Let us respond to her messages with hearts open to grace.
