Saturday, December 31, 2011

Come Pray the Rosary

Begin the New Year with the prayer from Our Lady 

  
Image of Our Lady of All Nations 

                                 
                                                         
http://www.comepraytherosary.org/

Pray with the world or individually. You can also add your intentions.       

Have a Happy, Healthy and Blessed New Year !

        +  Peace +
          

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Monday, November 14, 2011

Update : Two Sister Cities!! Fatima, Portugal-Selcuk, Turkey

"More than half of the pilgrims are Muslims who feel that Mary’s House is the home to Meryem, the mother of Isa (Jesus) the great prophet of Islam."....." For this reason, Muslims from Turkey, Iran and other nations make pilgrimages to see the stone house."
" It seems that in Ephesus, at Mary’s House, the two religions find a common ground in the Blessed Virgin. It is a beautiful thing to witness.”
" only one week before our arrival in Selcuk, the mayor announced that he had finalized plans to become a Sister City to Fatima, Portugal. “The mayor and a small contingency is planning a trip to Fatima later this month to meet with their counterparts in Fatima,” the Bishop added."
You can get updates on this cause by going to http://www.sistermarie.com/

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Fatima Prayer Everywhere! 2017

                                      



Prepare for Fatima Prayer Everywhere! Our beautiful Mother, the Blessed Virgin and Mother of God promised the World that Her Immaculate Heart will Triumph, and with that an Era of Peace will be granted to the world.


"Although anxieties and sufferings have not been lacking, and there are still reasons for apprehension about the future of humanity, what the 'Lady in white' promised to the little shepherds is consoling: 'In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph,'" Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged.


On May 13, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI also stated, right after the Homily of the outdoor Mass in the Prayer Area, a very special wish for the Centennial: “May the seven years which separate us from the centenary of the apparitions hasten the fulfilment of the prophecy of the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to the glory of the Most Holy Trinity”.


On the 100th Anniversary of Fatima, in 2017, join us across the world offering to Our Mother the gift of Prayers and the Rosary. Let us celebrate her promise of the Triumph of Her Immaculate Heart and the Era of Peace to come!
Call or e-mail to get free prayer packets for the event  prayer@bluearmy.com
Call: 920-371-1931.
Click here to view video on what is Fatima Prayer Everywhere.

Monday, November 7, 2011

The New Roman Missal, First Sunday of Advent "Stir up Thy might, we beg Thee, and come."

A change throughout the whole world is taking place. We in these times are witnessing changes on every level of life. Not only do we see historic changes in weather, in economy, in the politics of many countries, especially in the Muslim Countries. Soon we will see a change within the Roman Catholic Church. Rumors of the world undergoing dramatic changes swirl in the air like leaves of Autumn following their course of Winter's wind. What we are witnessing seem to be summed up by these two poets.

"I like the feeling of danger in the cold Autumn air that carries a quiet warning that winter is on the way and that time is running short."
John J. Rowlands, Cache Lake Country


"Autumn is the time when seasons merge because of bare necessity."
Rod McKuen




Nature is speaking to us all. Our world is converging. We are seeing the growing pains and it is out of necessity. The Church too will take its place announcing the Lord and His wondrous purpose. We will all see His Majesty in great splendour. This New Missal will begin on the New Church Year Calendar, when Advent begins. The date will be November 27th, 2011.

Why is the Roman Missal changing? Well, only parts of the words are changing, and this is because the Church wants the words of the Mass to be a more true translation of the Latin. The music will also be changed to a more pure sound of Chant Song. Click the link below to hear what to expect for Christmas.


Nativity: The Christmas Proclamation


 "Come!" God is not deaf to His people's cry. "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight." Mark 1:1-8
This prophecy, spoken by Isaiah, is fulfilled by St. John the Baptizer, whose coming was foretold by the prophet Malachi: “Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.” St. John was sent by God to prepare His people for the coming of Christ. He was to bring them to an awareness of their sins.

For inspirational song click here    "Prepare ye the Way", sung by Michael Smith

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

All Saints Day / Litaniae Sanctorum dei Santi


Litany of the Saints

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Saint Michael,
Saint Gabriel,
Saint Raphael,
All ye holy angels and archangels,
All ye holy orders of blessed spirits,
Saint John the Baptist,
Saint Joseph,
All ye holy patriarchs and prophets,
Saint Peter,
Saint Paul,
Saint Andrew,
Saint James,
Saint John,
Saint Thomas,
Saint James,
Saint Philip,
Saint Bartholomew,
Saint Matthew,
Saint Simon,
Saint Thaddeus,
Saint Matthias,
Saint Barnabas,
Saint Luke,
Saint Mark,
All ye holy apostles and evangelists,
All ye holy disciples of the Lord,
All ye holy innocents,
Saint Stephen,
Saint Lawrence,
Saint Vincent,
Saints Fabian and Sebastian,
Saints John and Paul,
Saints Cosmos and Damian,
Saints Gervase and Protase,
All ye holy martyrs,
Saint Sylvester,
Saint Gregory,
Saint Ambrose,
Saint Augustine,
Saint Jerome,
Saint Martin,
Saint Nicholas,
All ye holy bishops and confessors,
All ye holy doctors,
Saint Anthony,
Saint Benedict,
Saint Bernard,
Saint Dominic,
Saint Francis,
All ye holy priests and levites,
All ye holy monks and hermits,
Saint Mary Magdalene,
Saint Agatha,
Saint Lucy,
Saint Agnes,
Saint Cecilia,
Saint Catherine,
Saint Anastasia,
Saint Clare,
All ye holy virgins and widows, pray for us.
All ye holy men and women, saints of God, make intercession for us.
Be merciful, spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord.
From all evil, O Lord deliver us.
From all sin,
From Thy wrath,
From sudden and unprovided death,
From the snares of the devil,
From anger, and hatred, and all ill-will,
From the spirit of fornication,
From the scourge of earthquake,
From plague, famine, and war,
From lightning and tempest,
From everlasting death,
Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation,
Through Thy coming,
Through Thy birth,
Through Thy baptism and holy fasting,
Through the Institution of the Most Blessed Sacrament,
Through Thy cross and passion,
Through Thy death and burial,
Through Thy holy resurrection,
Through Thine admirable Ascension,
Through the coming of the Holy Ghost the Paraclete,
In the day of judgment, O Lord deliver us.
We sinners, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst spare us,
That Thou wouldst pardon us,
That Thou wouldst bring us to true penance,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to govern and preserve Thy holy Church,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic Prelate and all orders of the Church in holy religion,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to humble the enemies of holy Church,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to bring back to the unity of the Church all those who have strayed away, and lead to the light of the Gospel all unbelievers,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service,
That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires,
That Thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors,
That Thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relatives, and benefactors from eternal damnation,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously to hear us,
Son of God, we beseech Thee, hear us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Let us pray.
Almighty, everlasting God, who hast dominion over both the living and the dead and art merciful to all who, as Thou foreknowest, will be Thine by faith and works; we humbly beseech Thee that they for whom we intend to pour forth our prayers, whether this present world still doth detain them in the flesh or the world to come hath already received them stripped of their mortal bodies, may, by the grace of Thy fatherly love and through the intercession of all the saints, obtain the remission of all their sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth God, world without end. Amen.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Baha’is, Zoroastrians and Non-Believers Converging In Assisi: October 27th, 2011

"“to be a dream that continues, becoming more and more a reality. As everyone is with others, no one is against others. Marching from various points on earth, all nations come together as a one family.”

Benedict XVI

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Assisi-2011:-religions-to-renew-their-commitment-to-peace-and-justice-22944.html

Thursday, October 13, 2011

THE MIRACLE OF THE SUN

THE MIRACLE OF THE SUN


The miracle of the sun occured for what reason?

On October 13th, 1917 a miracle occured that was predicted by three little children no older than 10 years old. It is called the Miracle of the Sun. They predicted that a great miracle would occur on the 13th of October, 1917. They said that Our Lady said it would be a miracle so that all people would believe.  Events which took place between May 13th 1917 until October 13th, 1917prior to the Miracle, were true and real. The messages attached to these events were and still are urgent. The urgency was for mankind to listen to the requests made. The Miracle of the Sun occured with 70,000 people present. These events took place during World War I. A prediction was made that if the requests were not met, a war greater than the First War would come about. We know today that greater war was WWII.  What were the requests? Turn back to God. Amend your lives, pray the Rosary, and offer sacrifices.

Each time Our Lady appeared from May 13th until October 13th, there was a message of Truth. These events were punctuated in the end with the Miracle of the Sun. She wants us to listen. She loves us as any mother loves her children. She came to warn us.

Now, do the messages still hold since 94 years has passed since the time of the Miracle of the Sun?
To help you discern the answer to this, here is a program lead by Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R. although he is absent from this particular program,  he over sees what is used as a substitute program.

Sunday Night Live - Our Lady of Fatima - Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR with Michael La Corte - 08-22-2010

For more information please go to this website for accurate information on the Message of Fatima.

http://www.wafusa.org/
God Bless You All   +

Friday, October 7, 2011

Are The Two Worlds Truely Colliding? Or is Mankind refusing to accept Peace?

We are all children issuing from the same source. We are all brothers and sisters.

I received two different e-mails recently which I believe prove the current condition of today's world. The first was from ACLJ (American Center for Law and Justice), headed by Jay Sekulow. Urgent was the e-mail. Petitions, prayers and calls were requested to save the life of a Christian Pastor convert living in Iran. This weekend  we are awaiting the final decision from the Muslim controlled Iranian government. Statements from the article reads "Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani faces imminent execution in Iran for his Christian faith.". The second e-mail I received had to do with Fatima and Selcuk Town, Ephesus in Turkey. 

Ephesus is the town where the home of Mary and Saint John the Evangelist stands. It is a place on earth where Muslims and Christians pray together. Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus, is one of the four cornerstones of the Muslim faith. So it is no wonder that muslims are seen pilgrimaging to the Ephesus House. According to the pilgrims, the home of Mary is a place of great peace. Recent news announcements claim that Selcuk and Fatima will soon become Sister cities. "Selçuk and Fatima will bring together the eastern and western Mediterranean,” Selçuk Mayor Vefa Ülgür said earlier this week, adding that he hoped to conclude the sister city agreement soon after meeting officials from the Portuguese city.

Fatima is the name of a town in Portugal. Interestingly, the founder of the Muslim religion, Mohammed, had a daughter named Fatima too.  Fatima, Portugal got its name when a local princess of Moorish descent converted to Catholicism and married the local aristocrat.  This took place around the eleventh or twelfth century.  In 1917, The Blessed Mother appeared to 70,000 witnesses. She later became known as Our Lady of Fatima. She requested that we turn our lives back to God, to do penance through fasting and praying of the Rosary.

13 July 1917: Words of Our Lady of Fatima
"I want you to come here on the 13th of next month, [August] to continue to pray the Rosary every day in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary, in order to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war, because only she can help you."
 She said:  "Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners; for many souls go to hell, because there are none to sacrifice themselves and pray for them."  

If we heed her call we will have peace. Questions like, why did she appear in Fatima, why in 1917?  The answer is,  because she saw the condition of our world. She saw how her children were living. She saw what would happen if we didn't change our ways. She pointed to todays world and knew there was only one solution. She presented the solution and then engraved its importance onto the minds and the hearts of witnesses by the greatest display and or miracle since the time of Christ. The miracle of the sun.

 Now the home of Mary and St John in Selcuk, soon to be a sister city to Fatima, seems to be a reminder of what Our Lady of Fatima once told us. This act of Fatima and Selcuk becoming sister cities, seems to re-affirm that Mary, loved by Christians and Muslims alike, will point the way to Peace.



Home of Mary and St John the Evangelist, Ephesus, Turkey


The Three Fatima Children:  Jacinta, Lucia, Fransisco, 1917
Basilica of Fatima where Our Lady of Fatima appeared to the three children 6 times.



There have been some discoveries concerning a French nun, Sister Marie de Mandat-Grancey. Through inspiration a cause in her name  has been started soon after the tragic events of 9/11. Sr Marie de Mandat-Grancey is a true story for our times. Through her story, through Our Lady of Fatima, perhaps the world will finally hear what is needed to obtain Peace in our world.

 Please consider praying the Rosary in Honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, for the release of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. Pastor Youcef is on death row in Iran because he converted to Christianity.

"If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen." 1 John 4:20 

 http://aclj.org/iran/pressure-iran-save-christian-pastor
http://www.sistermarie.com/

Words of Archbishop Fulton Sheen:  Mary and the Moslems
http://www.catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/islam/sheen.htm

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

A Special Mother is Born: The book cover is in!


Leticia Velasquez' new book will soon be available!
A Special Mother is Born: The book cover is in!: My daughters Gabbi and Bella agreed that this was the best photo for the cover. The rest of the design is courtesy of the talented designers...

Target: all peoples

Sponsored by: Citizens of the United States


"The Cross left behind at ground zero after the 9/11 attacks, is a sign that we will not abandon God as a Nation and we will not abandon each other."

 
 
This petition was formed when a group called American Atheists filed a lawsuit when the 9/11 Cross was placed in the 9/11 Museum located at Ground Zero, New York City. The 9/11 Cross, its picture is shown in the "Petition" above, was discovered by our rescue men, firemen and policemen alike, who were on the rescue mission. This 9/11 Cross has great meaning and provided great comfort to those left behind, dealing with the devastating effects of the attack on innocent lives in the New York Twin Towers. Although the 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 Memorial has passed, the fight continues to protect the 9/11 Cross in the place where it was found. Please consider signing the petition of "Protect the 9/11 Cross @ Ground Zero".

Here is an article explaining what American Center for Law and Justice, headed by Jay Sekulow, is doing to continue to protect the 9/11 Cross at Ground Zero.
http://aclj.org/american-heritage/jay-sekulow-new-effort-protect-ground-zero-cross

Jay Sekulow is Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), one of the most prestigious law firms in the country. He is an accomplished Supreme Court advocate, renowned expert on religious liberty, and a respected broadcaster. Jay Sekulow is an attorney with a passion for protecting religious liberty - freedom - democracy.

Thank You, and God Bless You All.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows


Marie Claire Mukangango presents the Rosary of Seven Sorrows. She was killed during the Rwandan war in 1994.



"One knows that the present situation in schools worldwide is awful, because God has been chased out, because His law is no longer taught. It is even forbidden to pray to Him in schools! Every morning, when we go to Mass, our heart breaks when we see school buses arriving to school, loaded with children. Poor little ones, who are taught that God does not exist! Mary came to Kibeho in a school, to set the example to the whole world, and to show how students can be transformed when God's law is taught in schools." 

On August 19, 1982, the seers saw “a river of blood, people who were killing each other, abandoned corpses with no one to bury them, a tree all in flames, bodies without their heads.” This prophecy seemed at first incredible, but about a decade later, in the spring of 1994, a horrifying civil war erupted in Rwanda, and, in just three months, an estimated 500,000 to one million were killed, many beheaded by machetes and dumped into the Kagea River (“river of blood”).


The Blessed Virgin had warned us at Kibeho that sexual promiscuity would lead to disaster. That was before the world knew about AIDS, but by 1994, Africa has seventy percent of the world's AIDS cases – and entire villages were turned into ghost towns! So far, 25 million Africans have contracted AIDS.
But the warnings of the Blessed Virgin Mary were not just for Africa. "When I tell you this, I am not addressing myself strictly to you, child, but I am making this appeal to the world," the Virgin told the seer Marie-Clare Mukangango – who was later killed in the war. She said the Virgin described the world as in revolt against God, the world “is on the edge of catastrophe.”
To avoid war and chastisements, the Mother of the Word invited the young seers and the whole world to pray, to fast, and to make penance. "
BY Thérèse Tardif

Today is, September 15th, the Feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows. Immaculee, through Our Lady of Kibeho, has reintroduced the Seven Sorrows Rosary. Our Lady of Kibeho had asked for this devotion to be prayed especially on Tuesdays and Fridays.  She also asked for all to pray.

September 2001, Apparitions receive approval from the Vatican. Immaculee Ilibagiza writes her story in Our Lady of Kibeho




"If Only We Had Listened"   Movie Trailer about Our Lady of Kibeho, came out in May 31, 2011
is found below.


Wednesday, December 8, 2010

HISTORIC NEWS: APPROVAL OF WISCONSIN APPARITION GETS BISHOP'S APPROVAL

December 8th Feast of the Immaculate Conception
This morning the Marian Apparition of Our Lady of Good Help receives the First ever sanctioned approval in the United States, from the 12th Bishop of Green Bay Wisconsin, Bishop David Ricken.

After the 10am Mass for the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, Bishop David Ricken announced his decision of the Approval to those awaiting with bated breath. Just a few weeks ago I learned of a woman who brought her 3 year old grandson, who was diagonsed with Leukemia, to Our Lady of Good Help Shrine. The following day he was scheduled for testing to find a bone marrow donor. The following morning, the family received astonishing news that the boy was leukemia free. Word like this from doctors are very rare and can only be treated as a miracle. Could the boy have been confused for another patient. No, because when diagnosis of this sort is made, it is only after multiple blood tests, to watch the the direction of the number of red blood cells. This peaked my interest having gone through the process of being a donor for my sister who had Leukemia, 10 years ago. She is Leukemia free today, but only after a grueling transplant.

Below is the Text for Bishop Ricken's decision and approval made after a year long investigation into the Apparition. The televised news prior to this announcement is provided as the second link.
Thank You Jesus!

http://www.gbdioc.org/newsevents/news/857-worthy-of-belief.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGtyzzXxtH0

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Our Lady and the World Today

Our Lady of Fatima vs Communism

The very first attack by a Communist movement is God, then the family unit, beauty in all of its forms. They know very well that to control a population ideology must be taken away. If the family is separated, the children are easily controlled. They also know when immorality is pushed, it weakens the human strength, and man is no longer wanting to fight for what is right. man actually forgets what is right. So why do I write about this in a blog which concerns itself with the Catholic Church? It is because, the very attack of Communism is taken against everything the Catholic Church exists for. Communism opposes God, opposes family, opposes morals, opposes inalienable rights of humans such as freedom.

Communism first showed up in Russia in 1883 as the Emancipation of Labor Group, which later turned into the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party. This group was based on the theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. While WWI was raging on, in February 1917, Kerensky, a Russian who had joined the Socialist Revolution Party, called for the removal from power Nicholas II. Nicholas II was making errors in his governing decisions and in this weakness, the Communist Party pushed themselves into governing Russia. In April of 1917 the Soviets held a conference a worked out plans for the take over of Russia. By October 25, 1917 the Soviets declared control of the Russian Government. Nicholas II, his wife and five children were murdered by a Bolshevik firing squad in July 16-17 1918. November 6,1991 is the actual date of the end of the Communist Party in Russia. In the year 2000, Nicholas' wife, Alexandra Fyodorovna, was canonized and called a Saint in the Russian Orthodox Church. In 2003, a church was consecrated on the spot of the shooting of Nicholas II and his family.

It is very interesting to note, that Our Lady shows up, in Portugal, around the time of the Communist Party plotting and planning the take-over in Russia. It was around the year 1916, when first an angel appears to three illiterate children, ages 5,6 and 9 years of age. These children cognitively cannot comprehend the theories of grown men like Marx and Engels, and government take over. They live a very simple life of sheep herding far removed from Russia. Though between the months of May 1917 to October 1917 , the exact months communism grabs hold of power in Russia, these children now 6,7 and 10 years of age begin to speak about the errors of Russia and Communism. How could children possibly understand the errors of Communism? How is it possible that they kept to their story even when they were place in such great peril of losing their lives had they not change their story of seeing a beautiful woman, a woman who told them Communism has errors that were about to spread around the world if we do not do what she asked. The eldest of the children was beaten by her mother because the family lost their crops to people trampling just to catch a glimpse of this beautiful lady. Any child would surely give up a foolish idea after the first story came out from them, but they prophesied and kept up with their story for 6 months plus. The two youngest children died two years after the events of visions, just as they had prophesied. The oldest was told she would live a while longer, again a prophesy. She did live longer, 87 years longer.

I am about to tell you a remarkable story about Fatima. A singular event that took place in 1917, an event whose purpose and mission is meant to help the world achieve Peace. It took place during the middle of WWI, before WWII, Korean War (for Americans), Vietnam War, Kosovo War, Gulf War, the attack on the World Trade Towers followed by the Iraq War and now the Afgan War. Fatima took place before all these wars. Is anyone listening now?

Sunday, August 15, 2010

The Most Beautiful Woman in the World



Imagine the most beautiful woman, if that is possible. What would she look like: The color and length or style of her hair, the shape or color of her eyes, the structure of her face, the length of her neck, her stature and height, and what type of clothing would be associated with her? God did make a most unique woman out of all the others. He had to, because it was to hold and contain His most special Son.

If one thinks about the great care and detailed instructions given to Moses to make the ark of the Covenant, which was to contain the Laws of God written with His own finger, what greater care and exactitude was made the mother, who was to carry God's own Son?

When reading about all that went into the Ark of the Covenant, much pre-figurement of the Blessed Mother of Jesus can be found. First of all the type of wood used, was a type that had the greatest protection against aging, deterioration, mold, bugs. It was untouchable, because even by accidental touching would cause death. It was placed in the Holy of Holies because it was so Holy in itself, from God.

Now according to Christian Tradition, the whole human race receives a stain on their soul as a result of Adam and Eve falling into sin. It was the result of a woman who, being tempted by the Father of Lies, Satan, listened to him instead of God. Eve, mother of the whole human race, was first to turn her head away from God. Because Adam had human respect for his wife, Eve, he also turned his head from God and disobeyed God by complying with Eve's request. This act brought Sin into the world, Sin and Death hold hands. They are always together, only God who is the Giver of Life can overcome Death. It was at this time, in the Bible, when God announced that through a woman that the head of the Father of Lies, Satan, would be crushed.
This woman is Jesus' Mother. She was the new ark of the covenant, who carried the Laws of God within her. She had to be made pure, where decay could never reach her. Because of this great purity, in soul as well as body, she is the most beautiful woman ever formed. She is like a beautifully made lute, where no errors are found in its instrument nor in the sound it produces. Death could never touch her, except through God's Will.

Now here is some writing about the Ark, which I copied, edited and printed here, for quickness of this article. "The Ark of the Covenant is described in the Bible as a sacred container, wherein rested the Tablets of stone containing the Ten Commandments. According to the Biblical account, the Ark was built at the command of God, in accord with Moses' prophetic vision on Mount Sinai (Exodus 25:10-16). God communicated with Moses "from between the two cherubim" on the Ark's cover (Exodus 25:22). The Ark and its sanctuary were "the beauty of Israel" (Lamentations 2:1).

The Biblical account relates that during the exodus of the Israelites, the Ark was carried by the priests ~2,000 cubits (Numbers 35:5; Joshua 4:5) in advance of the people and their army or host (Num. 4:5-6; 10:33-36; Psalms 68:1; 132:8). When the Ark was borne by priests into the bed of the Jordan, the river was separated, opening a pathway for the whole of the host to pass over (Josh. 3:15-16; 4:7-18). The Ark was borne in a seven-day procession around the wall of Jericho by seven priests sounding seven trumpets of rams' horns, the city taken with a shout (Josh. 6:4-20). When carried, the Ark was always wrapped in a veil, and a blue cloth, and was carefully concealed, even from the eyes of the Levites who carried it."

The Mother of Jesus was a very humble woman, and because of this she retained her purity, she during her life on Earth, never sinned. Everyone has heard of Lourdes Water. Lourdes water came from the ground in Lourdes France, and is associated with the Apparition in Lourdes France to Bernadette Soubirou on March 25th, 1858, where in Our Lady finally told Bernadette who she was. (The local priest wanted to know the name of the Lady in the visions). Bernadette asked in her dialect French, "Would you be so kind as to tell me who you are?" Our Lady answered, "I am the Immaculate Conception". Volumes could be spoken on that phrase alone which I will leave for my next article, but I want to focus on the purity of Our Lady and the purpose of today's Feast Day. It is because Our Lady was made so pure, and the fact that she herself did not sin, her soul was so pure that Death could not reach her. Now there are two thoughts on whether or not Death touched Our Lady. One thought is that she was taken body and soul to Heaven without tasting Death, and the other is she tasted death and was taken to Heaven Body and Soul. No one knows for sure. But it is for certain that she rose Body and Soul to Heaven, by Jesus her Son.
Blessed Catherine Anne Emmerich, a Mystic, wrote in a book, that when it was time for Our Lady to go to Heaven, Jesus came for her. He gave her the choice to taste death or to go to Heaven without tasting death. Because she was so humble,she said that if her own Son, who was God, had to taste Death on the cross, who is she not to taste death? And so after tasting death, (by God's will) she was taken to Heaven, body and soul, by Jesus where she lives now, always with her son.

And so we have the great Feast Day of the Catholic Church, the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, Jesus' Mother, celebrated today , August 15th,and every year on this same date.

Thank you Jesus for the gift of your beautiful mother, the new Eve, the Mother and Queen of the whole Universe. Thank you Dear Lady and Mother of all humanity, for the Love you have for all the creatures of the Earth, pray for us.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

St Joseph, The Father of All Fathers



Joseph, the appointed father of Jesus.  Appointed by God Himself, is the Model of Fatherhood. I am currently reading The Life and Glories of St Joseph, by Edward Healy Thompson,MA. In this interesting book, it starts off with the importance of St Joseph. Even though St Joseph was the true King of the Jews, prior to Jesus(by proof of his geneology), he lived a most humble life. St Thomas' Summa Theologica made reference to hierarchies of grace. Just as there are orders of grace in Heaven, each excelling the other in proportion to their approximation to God, so too are there orders of grace on earth. The highest of all these orders is the Hypostatic Union. The Hypostatic Union is Jesus Christ, God and Man. "By the Hypostatic Union is meant that the Eternal Son of God, in His Incarnation, assumed human nature, and united it to Himself in Personal unity; in other words, that in the one Divine Person of Jesus Christ, the two Natures, the Divine Nature and the Human Nature, ever distinct in themselves, became inseparably and eternally united."
Among the orders of grace is the order of the Patriarchs. They preceded the Highest order of the Hypostatic Union. Some of these are Abraham and to David, it was expressly revealed to these men that the Savior of men should come from their blood and be born to the world. Now the highest order, Hypostatic Union where Jesus the Christ is head, has place St Joseph in a sovereign order. Three make up that order, Jesus, Mary and Joseph

I can not go into more detail of St Joseph's importance for then I would be rewriting this book here, but what I can say is if you thirst to understand this more so, The Life and Glories of St Joseph is a beautiful book on this topic. Here is my last quote from the book, beautifully written and pointing to St Joseph, who is model of all Fathers and Patron of the Church.
"It is an exceeding Honor to Joseph to be comprised in the same order wherein are Jesus Himself, the Son of God, the King of Kings, and Mary Mother of God and Queen of the Universe, to be united with them in the closest relations, and enjoy their most entire confidence. The nobles of the earth deem themselves to be highly honored in being brought into near association with monarchs of renown, holding the foremost places in their courts, and being the most trusted in their councils. What, then, shall we say of Joseph, who, placed in the order of the Hypostatic Union, was destined by God, not only to be the first in His court and the closest in His confidence, but even to be the reputed father of the King of kings; to be, not only the confidential friend, but the very spouse of the most exalted of all the empresses in the universe? Next to the Divine Maternity, no honor in the world is comparable with this.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Fatherhood: Free Will, The Call

Free Will
God's great love for man was shown first when out of all the creatures formed by God in this world, man was created with a free will. Being created with a free will is the highest gift God could have given because without it, we could not freely choose to live with God at the end of our earthly life. We could not achieve varying levels of grace according to our actions, nor could we ever gain a greater understanding of God which could only result in a greater capacity to love God and man around us. When man has a greater capacity to love, he has a greater understanding of God.

The Call
Since we are called back to God, as our ultimate end, we each receive a special and unique invitation in this world by God. Each one of us, no matter who we are, receive a calling, which is most unique to anyone elses. No matter where any human finds himself, that invitation is always present by a great loving God. Fatherhood is a calling too, an invitation from God, a great opportunity to live with God, to see God revealed, a great gift, to live one's life in a particular capacity of love, within marriage.

Again, I am quoting The Sisters of Life Magazine on Fatherhood, maybe its because I find the words there to be on the cutting edge of today's world's need. They, the Sisters, serve the needs of single mothers supporting the sacredness of every human life. "The strength of a man lies in his willingness to give of himself totally to his wife and children."
I think this statement carries with it the window through which God is revealed. Has anyone ever heard that a person's image of God is developed through his own father? If this is true, wow, what a role of importance a father has.

We know that nobody is perfect, which brings up the thought, if an earthly father is broken or weak but still loves his family, may we not think how much more God loves us, accepts us and treasures us, He who is infinitely perfect?

So the role of Fatherhood is so important and if that invitation or call is accepted, then the love of God is able to be revealed through the father, to the child with a greater degree. The world overall benefits with this revealed love.


Quo Vadis Days

http://sistersoflife.org/

Father's Day

On this day, first day following the Year of the Priest, how appropriate that the day should be Father's Day. Fathers, do you know how awesome your calling is?
Quoting the Sisters of Life Magazine:

"When the Lord bestows on man the gift of fatherhood He entrusts to him an irreplaceable mission.

As protector, guardian and transmittor of the Father's love, man reaches the heights to which he has been called by grace."

Happy Fathers Day to all Fathers.

Fatherhood

 During the Year of the Priest, which just ended, the focus was on the role of the priesthood, the title associated with the priesthood is Father. Saint John Vianney, also known as the Cure of Ars, and the Patron of Priests, had a great love for the human soul, and tended to souls as a most loving father. As my last post mentioned, The Year of the Priest ended and Fathers'Day started, and so I feel compelled to write about Fathers. Since it is late into the night, and the net has been dropped, silence is now needed.