The Many Faces of Mary Immaculate

I have friends who love Our Lady of Lujan or Aparacida, others Our Lady of Guadalupe, some have a strong devotion to Our Lady of Fatima or Lourdes. What I find striking, however, is that these are all names that we have given her. They are precious indeed, coming from her children, but they are not properly speaking, her name. However, at times there is also confusion. Sadly, more than once (a lot more), I've heard "I prefer this Madonna over this one." A little more bittersweet is when someone exclaims, "Oh! Lourdes and Fatima are the same!?"

Different "nicknames" or "terms of endearment," which we bestow upon our beloved mother, as well as her own change in dress and language, adding to this the fact that she is outside of time and place, and we forget that we know her! We know her name, Mary, given to her by her parents. We also know who she is, "The Immaculate Conception." This essence is revealed at every apparition, and should eliminate any confusion we have about the multitude of "Marys."

In Guadalupe, Our Lady likely identified herself as "coatlaxopeuh" or "the snake crusher."

In Lujan and Aparacida, statues of the Immaculate Conception are enshrined. 

In Lourdes she most clearly identified herself as the Immaculate Conception. 

In Fatima she promised that her "Immaculate Heart" would triumph. 

Of course, it doesn't stop here... 

Consider how wonderful it is that the Immaculata comes to us in a way that we will best understand, and always bearing the same message of hope to all her children. She is the ultimate missionary! May she unite us all in her Immaculate Heart, and use us according to God's will to spread the Kingdom of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.