Pope Leo XIV Was Providentially Elected on the Same Day as These 4 Liturgical Celebrations

Let us hope that Our Lady and St Michael the Archangel will pray that His Holiness develops into a holy Pope, devoted to Tradition and the confirming of his brethren in the Faith!

From ChurchPOP

By Harumi Suzuki

On May 8, as the world became acquainted with newly elected Pope Leo XIV, the liturgical calendar revealed a providential sign: four religious celebrations of great significance coincided with this historic day.

That day, the Sistine Chapel’s chimney emitted the long-awaited white smoke. At the same time, the Church celebrated four important feasts, including a Marian devotion deeply linked to the Order of Saint Augustine.

These are the liturgical feasts that coincided with Pope Leo XIV’s election:

1) Our Lady of Grace

This Marian devotion originates in the Archangel Gabriel's greeting to the Virgin Mary in Nazareth: "Hail Mary, full of grace."

"God's messenger presents to Mary, a young Nazarene, God's plans of motherhood and salvation for her. For Christians, this invocation underscores God's preference for Mary. Mother of the mediator Jesus, she is also the mother of the author of grace and dispenser of grace," the Augustinians note on their Peruvian website.

Our Lady of Grace holds a privileged place for the Order of Saint Augustine.

It is one of the oldest devotions within the Augustinian charism, so much so that several convents were founded under its auspices.
"In 1806, Pope Pius VII, at the request of the venerable José Bartolomé Menochio (1741-1823) –Pontifical Sacrist and confessor of the Pope– and the Vicar General, granted the Order of Saint Augustine the power to include in its liturgy the feast in honor of Our Lady of Grace."

Fun Fact: Pope Leo XIV is the first Augustinian Pontiff in the history of the Church.

2) Anniversary of the Apparition of Saint Michael the Archangel

Every May 8, the Church commemorates the apparitions of St. Michael the Archangel on Mount Gargano, Italy, a sanctuary considered one of the most important in the world dedicated to the prince of the heavenly armies.

Tradition tells of four apparitions of Saint Michael at this site, the most famous of which occurred in 492, when the city was miraculously saved from an attack following the intervention of the archangel, who promised his presence in the battle.

The cave where the manifestations occurred was consecrated, according to tradition, by Saint Michael himself, and has since been known as the "Celestial Basilica," as it was not dedicated by human hands.

Fun Fact: Pope Leo XIII was the author of the famous prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel.

3) Our Lady of Luján

Every May 8, the Church celebrates the Virgin of Luján, a Marian devotion and the patron saint of Argentina. The devotion dates back to 1630, when the Portuguese landowner Antonio Farías asked from Argentina for an image of the Immaculate Conception from Brazil for his chapel. His friend sent him two images: one of the Immaculate Conception and another of the Virgin with the Child Jesus.

During the journey, upon reaching the Luján River area, the oxen pulling the cart inexplicably stopped and refused to move any further. After several attempts, the drovers discovered that only by lowering one of the crates—the one containing the image of the Immaculate Conception—were the animals able to move. This event was interpreted as a miraculous sign: the Virgin Mary wanted to stay in that place.

The image was received with devotion by the townspeople, who began to visit her and ask for her intercession. Over time, a grotto and later, a sanctuary, were built for her veneration. Thus was born the devotion to Our Lady of Luján, which over the years became a symbol of faith for all Argentines.

Fun Fact: Pope Francis was deeply devoted to this Marian devotion, the patron saint of his home country. Furthermore, the image of Our Lady of Luján was canonically crowned by Leo XIII.

4) Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii

Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii is a Marian devotion originating in Italy. Every May 8th, the Marian Shrine at Pompeii celebrates Our Lady of the Rosary with a Supplication. This prayer unites thousands of faithful around the world.

Pope Leo XIII was one of its greatest proponents. In 1901, he elevated the shrine to the rank of a Pontifical Basilica and defined it as the "parish of the world" due to the massive attendance of pilgrims who came to implore its intercession.

Fun Fact: In his first public appearance in Saint Peter's Square, Pope Leo XIV referred to this Marian celebration:

“Today is the day of the Prayer of Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk at our side, to remain close to us, to help us with her intercession and her love. So I would like to pray together with you.”