My Queen, My Mother: A Living Novena

by Marge Steinhage Fenelon

Winner of a 2020 Catholic Press Association book award (second place, pilgrimages-Catholic travel). In My Queen, My A Living Novena, award-winning author Marge Steinhage Fenelon brings you along on a pilgrimage to nine Marian shrines across the United States. Each day of this spiritual journey helps you encounter God and a deeper relationship with the Blessed Mother.

“My Queen, My Mother, I give myself entirely to you.”

The opening line to the Little Consecration sets the framework of this unique, nine-day pilgrimage, which culminates in a consecration to Mary.

This living novena is similar in style and structure to the pilgrimage Fenelon developed in the bestselling and award-winning Our Lady, Undoer of Knots. The key difference, however, is that the first living novena was framed by Pope Francis’s visit to the Holy Land. For My Queen, My Mother, Fenelon chose sacred destinations that reflect the Catholic heritage of the United States.

The nine Marian sites Fenelon visits

Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, St. Augustine, Florida;National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, New Orleans, Louisiana;St. Mary’s Mission and Museum, Stevensville, Montana;Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, Starkenburg, Missouri;Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, Carey, Ohio;The National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, Champion, Wisconsin;Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs, Auriesville, New York;House of Mary Shrine, Yankton, South Dakota; andOur Lady of Peace Shrine, Santa Clara, California.Even if you can’t make a physical pilgrimage as Fenelon did, you can still make a spiritual one through her extended guided meditation. Each day you’ll learn about a different shrine to its history, charism, and graces. Fenelon will also guide you to visit a new “place” in your heart, to understand more about yourself and how to open your heart more fully to Mary.

You are not tied to a pilgrimage of nine consecutive You can complete the spiritual journey in nine weeks or even nine months. There are reflection questions at the end of each chapter.

161 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2019

Reviews

[Susan Peek · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I saw this book reviewed on the blog "An Open Book" (CarolynAstfalk.com), I knew I wanted to buy it. I was looking for something to read about Our Lady for her month of May, and this sounded so unique that I couldn't pass it up. I ordered it and then, with the busyness of life, instantly forgot about it. But the Blessed Virgin didn't forget about my purchase. She knew all along that the very morning the postman was going to deliver my copy into our mailbox, a stressful family situation was going to arise, throwing me into near panic and desperation. When I discovered the book sitting in my mailbox a few hours later, I knew Our Lady wanted me to start using it RIGHT NOW. So that's what I did: I grabbed the book, not knowing anything about it except from that one review I'd read on "An Open Book" blog, and headed straight to the church. And guess what? The next nine days were incredible!

The author designed the book to be a "living novena", compiling it in such a way that the reader reads one chapter each day and thereby spiritually "visits" a new Marian shrine, for nine days in all, each time soaking in the history, flavor, and graces of that particular shrine. She kicks off with a beautiful and very old shrine on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, then travels with her reader across both time and the American continent, winding up nine days later at an equally beautiful but very new shrine on the opposite coast, by the Pacific Ocean. And my goodness, what a magnificent and consoling journey in between! I found myself eagerly looking forward every evening to the next day's "trip" and actually prepared for it each night before bed by visiting the website of the upcoming shrine so that I could see photos of where I'd "visit" on the morrow. When the morning dawned, I'd try to spiritually place myself at that shrine for the entire day, holding onto the images of the chapel/statues/surrounding scenery/etc in my mind and "breathing in the air" of that particular spot graced by Mary. And what amazed me more than anything was that each day Our Lady's title and message turned out to be EXACTLY related to what I was struggling with on that day, and all of it related back to our stressful family situation! It was as if the book had been written just for my soul, offering me the words and meditations and consolations that I needed for that day. And by the time I finished the novena, Our Lady had fixed so many things in the situation I was praying for. I felt a great peace and knew She had everything under control.

I ended this novena with very bittersweet feelings. I honestly didn't want the book and the "visits" to Our Lady's shrines to end! I came away feeling closer to Our Blessed Mother and eager to keep researching places devoted to her. I even realized, to my dismay, that I've been within only a couple of miles of four of the nine shrines in the last two years, yet I had no idea they were even there! Now I want to go back and visit them!

I hope so much that the author writes another book featuring more shrines. I also hope that maybe someday a new edition of this book can be published which would include photos of the chapels, statues, people and landscapes mentioned in the stories. But of course the reader can do what I did and simply look online for photos.

I've already ordered the author's other "living novena" book about Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, and can't wait to read that as well! Thank you, Mrs. Fenelon, for such a beautiful, inspiring, and magnificent book!

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the premise of this book - a virtual pilgrimage to Marian shrines across the US. I loved the history that the author included for each shrine, and her detailed description of each local area home to the shrine. I also really like the idea of praying part of a novena through each of these places, so that by the end of the book you have completed a novena of consecration for our country. I must admit I got a little bogged down in the author's personal reflections of each place - for whatever reason it didn't appeal to me personally. I would have preferred learning about a few more shrines instead, but I know that this is my own opinion. Additionally, I felt that the writing style was perfect for one who has maybe been away from the church a while, or who is looking to be introduced to Mary for the first time as a powerful intercessor.

***I wrote this review in exchange for a review copy from NetGalley and was not influenced in any way. This opinion is solely my own.***

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great advice on Marian sites

I struggled from the start with much that was stated in this book. I am a right leaning patriotic American, yet some of the stories of how Mary wanted us to conquer a nation was off putting. I don't believe God, Mary or Jesus stand with any country in particular and i cannot imagine Jesus being happy about our treatment of the native Americans. Too many wars have used Jesus as their reason for fighting when it always boils down to greed and owning more land. I love this country and i would love to visit many of these sites, i have been to one included in this book. I don't believe however that God, Mary wanted us to overrun a land which we took away from those who lived here and forced a way of life onto those who were here first.

[Maurisa Mayerle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable and quick read. Great for a book club.

[Anna-Therese · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERY INFORMATIVE about America's shrines. A must read!