If you’re tired and anxious about the state of the world, spend some time in the secure arms of your merciful Mother!

Join Johnnette Benkovic at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Florida on August 5-7, for a weekend of discovery and personal encounter with the merciful and Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The theme, “Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy: Our Refuge on the Battlefield of Life” will introduce participants to the great gift of mystical union with Our Blessed Mother and the interior facility to “take on” her attributes, virtues, and divine pleasures. They will come to know Our Lady more deeply, realize the depth of mercy in her Immaculate Heart and how sure a refuge she is on the battlefield of life.

In addition to Johnnette, EWTN’s Father John Paul Mary Zeller, MFVA, a member of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word and frequent guest on EWTN’s At Home With Jim and Joy, will be speaking and offering mass, confession and Eucharistic Adoration.

Thomas K. Sullivan, author of Called to Knighthood: The Sacrament of Confirmation in the Kingdom Family of God, will also speak at the retreat and will explain the “Big Picture” of why the Church teaches that the Christian life on earth is a warfare and how it is that the Blessed Virgin Mary’s role as Queen Mother, is present in the beginning, the middle and the end of Salvation history.

Susan Brinkmann, OCDS, co-author of the new Young Women of Grace: Embrace Your Femininity Study Program, will speak about what Our Lady revealed to us at Fatima about her Immaculate Heart and offer practical tips on how to live in close union with the Mother of God in everyday life. Susan will also speak about the new Young Women of Grace Study, what inspired this program and how it is being received by the young women in her “pioneer” group.

The retreat will be preceded by the Benedicta Leadership Enrichment Seminar at Ave Maria on August 4-5. The theme for the seminars is “The Feminine Charisms for 21st Century Women” which will be led by Johnnette with guest appearances by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS, with reflections on St. Therese and feminine leadership as well as Fr. John Paul Mary Zeller, MFVA, who will offer reflections on Mother Angelica as a leader for women in our day and time as well as her principles and leadership style.

“I am confident that the women who attend will walk away consoled by the Heart of our Lady, encouraged by her attributes, enlightened through her grace and invigorated to live the fullness of who they are in Christ Jesus,” Johnnette said.

“This will bring healing, hope, and new life not only to them, but to their family members and all others with whom they associate. They will see themselves for who they truly are – women called by God for such a time as this to transform the world. May not one spiritual blessing in the heavens be left behind!”

Call 800-558-5452 or visit events.womenofgrace.com to register!

To view our entire photo album from the Women of Grace Retreat at Malvern Retreat House, click here.