Keep
your eyes open!...
July 30, 2018
(Joh 14:10-12) Do
you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words
that I speak to you, I speak not of myself. But the Father who abideth
in me, he doth the works. Believe you not that I am in the Father and
the Father in me? Otherwise believe for the very works' sake. Amen,
amen, I say to you, he that believeth in me, the works that I do, he
also shall do: and greater than these shall he do.
CATHOLICISM.ORG:
Miracles cannot be explained by natural laws or they would not be
miracles. Miracles defy the natural physical laws without presenting a
contradiction. Miracles are from God; they are the effect of His direct
interference for His own holy purposes with the physical law He
created. In giving some exceptionally holy men and women the power to
work miracles, He gives them a share in His Omnipotent Providence and
Goodness. In distinguishing between problems and miracles, Father
Feeney once quipped that problems are in need of solutions; miracles
are for contemplation.
ALETEIA: Five Saints who could bilocate
MIRACLES OF THE SAINTS: Bilocation in the lives of the Saints
SHIELD OF FAITH BLOG: "A Saint on My Back!"
After his near-death experience, Padre Pio bilocated to hear his
confession. Cecil Humphrey-Smith then became the saint's close friend.
MORE: The Labyrinth – a Baffling Encounter with Padre Pio Was it bilocation, or did he operate outside of time and space?
EWTN: Bilocation and Odor of Sanctity
The phenomenon of bilocation is one of the most remarkable gifts
attributed to Padre Pio. His appearances on various of the continents
are attested by numerous eye witnesses, who either saw him or smelled
the odors characteristically associated with his presence, described by
some as roses and by others as tobacco. The phenomenon of odor
(sometimes called the odor of sanctity) is itself well established in
Padre Pio's case. The odor was especially strong from the blood coming
from his wounds. Investigation showed that he used absolutely no
fragrances or anything that could produce these odors. The odors often
occurred when people called upon his intercession in prayer and
continue to this day.
Among the most remarkable of the documented cases of bilocation was the
Padre's appearance in the air over San Giovanni Rotondo during World
War II. While southern Italy remained in Nazi hands American bombers
were given the job of attacking the city of San Giovanni Rotondo.
However, when they appeared over the city and prepared to unload their
munitions a brown-robed friar appeared before their aircraft. All
attempts to release the bombs failed. In this way Padre Pio kept his
promise to the citizens that their town would be spared. Later on, when
an American airbase was established at Foggia a few miles away, one of
the pilots of this incident visited the friary and found to his
surprise the little friar he had seen in the air that day over San
Giovanni.
As to how Padre Pio with God's help accomplished such feats, the
closest he ever came to an explanation of bilocation was to say that it
occurred "by an extension of his personality."
ALETEIA: Another Miracle of Padre Pio: He Visited Cardinal Mindszenty in Prison
EXCERPT INFALLIBLE CATHOLIC: The first known bilocation of Padre Pio
Marchioness Giovanna Rizzani Boschi, one of the six witnesses who
testified at the Process of Beatification, reported coincidences that
do not have a rational explanation: She was born January 18, 1905. At
that time Padre Pio was 18, and studying philosophy in Sant'Elia a
Pianisi. Padre Pio noted on February 1905: "I found myself in Udine,
were a father was dying and a child was being born. And the Virgin Mary
said 'I'm entrusting this child to you.' "
Now Giovanna was living in Rome. In the summer of 1922, while in St.
Peter's basilica, she confessed to a capuchin friar. In 1923 she heard
about Padre Pio and went to see him. "Giovanna I have been waiting for
you. The Virgin Mary took me to Udine when you were born to be present
at your father's death. Also, last year in St. Peter's I was the
capuchin priest." And later: "One day you will be present at my death."
Later she described the vision she had of Padre Pio's cell the night he
died. She reported every detail of what happened, and described every
person that was in the room.
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 24- "On meekness, simplicity and guilelessness"
14. Simplicity is a constant habit of soul that
has become immune to crafty thinking.
July 27, 2018
(Psa 19:1-2)
The heavens shew forth the glory of God, and the firmament declareth
the work of his hands. Day to day uttereth speech, and night to
night sheweth knowledge.
CNET: How to watch the blood moon and Mars opposition online
A good chunk of the world will get a first-hand look at a beautiful
astronomical occurrence on July 27, when a "blood moon" and Mars appear
together in the night sky.
Those outside the viewing zone can catch the event online through the Virtual Telescope Project.
Friday's red moon comes as part of the longest total lunar eclipse of
the century. The sun, Earth and moon will line up and our planet will
cast a reddish shadow onto our lunar buddy. That's how it gets the
dramatic-sounding "blood moon" nickname.
Mars will also be part of the show because the Red Planet and sun will
be on opposite sides of Earth, a phenomenon know as Mars opposition.
Mars will be nearing its closest approach to Earth since 2003, making
it look very bright in the sky. Its appearance near the blood moon
after sunset will give viewers a double vision in red.
The eclipse will be visible in parts of Australia, Asia, Africa, South
America and Europe. Sorry, North America, you'll need to watch online
instead. The Virtual Telescope Project will set up shop at the Roman
Forum on the Palatine Hill in Rome with a livestream camera facing the
Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine. That should make for quite a
dramatic backdrop. The livestream starts on Friday at 11:30 a.m. PT.
TIMES OF ISRAEL: Century’s longest ‘blood moon’ stokes doomsday fears
A rare astronomical event set to take place this week could herald the
“end of days,” according to some who have been following the “blood
moon” phenomenon, with a number of Evangelical leaders even linking the
celestial event to the US embassy move to Jerusalem.
Some Christians believe the celestial event could mark the start of
disaster, based on a passage from the biblical Book of Joel, which
reads: “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood,
before the great and the terrible day of the Lord comes.” Friday’s
lunar eclipse has reignited Evangelical interest in a possible link
between the event, the Jewish state, and the apocalypse.
In an online sermon titled “Prophecy Alert: Blood Moon Is Rising,” the
popular US Evangelical Pastor Paul Begley said he believes the eclipse
is a sign of the “end of days,” specifically because it comes in the
same year that the US moved its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
“We are in the era of the apocalypse. And this blood moon, which will
be the longest blood moon of this century, is happening in the 70th
year of Israel being a nation,” he said. “It’s happening in the 70th
year that Jerusalem has been declared the eternal city of God.”
SPECULATIVE FULL LENGTH MOVIE: Four Blood Moons (Amazon Prime Video)
RABBI COMMENTS: Blood Moon: Total Lunar Eclipse in Israel, July 27-28, 2018
ISRAELI NEWS HEADLINES
Israel Attacked in the North and South
Jewish Nation-State Bill Becomes Law, Biggest Prophetic Development In 50 Years
Ancient boulder dislodges from Western Wall, crashes down near woman at prayer
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 24- "On meekness, simplicity and guilelessness"
13. An angry man and a sarcastic man met one another,
and it was impossible to find a true word in their conversation. Unveiling
the heart of the former, you will find frenzy; looking into the soul of
the other, you see knavery.
July 25, 2018
(Gal 1:8-9) But
though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that
which we have preached to you, let him be anathema. As we said before,
so now I say again: If any one preach to you a gospel, besides that
which you have received, let him be anathema.
CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT: Freemasons and their craft: What Catholics should know
BLOG: Fatima, the Sun, the Black Banner and a Friar’s Prophecy: "We can bring you down and we will."
BBC REPORT: Secret society and funny handshakes or brotherhood of man?
Q & A FATHER KENNETH DOYLE: Catholics and Freemasons
Freemasonry is a fraternal society that traces its origin to medieval
associations of stonemasons; in the U.S., there are grand lodges in
every state, with a total membership of about 1.2 million in the U.S.
Masons, too, involve themselves in a variety of charitable works, and
no doubt many Americans view Masonry primarily as a social and
philanthropic fraternity.
The reality, though, is that Masonry is at heart a naturalistic
religion whose basic tenets are incompatible with Catholic faith and
practice. (Pope Leo XIII said in 1884 that Masonry had as its
fundamental doctrine "that human nature and human reason ought in all
things be mistress and guide" and denied "that anything has been taught
by God.")
The Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith declared in 1983
that "the church's negative judgment in regard to Masonic associations
remain unchanged" and that "the faithful who enroll in Masonic
associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive holy
Communion."
(In 1985, a report by historian William J. Whalen of Purdue University
given to the U.S. bishops' Pastoral Research and Practice Committee
said that Masonry "honors Jesus Christ as it honors Socrates, Buddha
and Muhammed," and that Masonry "cannot acknowledge any special
spiritual claims by Jesus, since this would violate the basis of
Freemasonry," and that "Catholics in the United States and elsewhere
may not be Freemasons.")
EXCERPT VIA THE PHILIPPINES: The satanic rosaries, the Illuminati and Freemasonry
From 1885 to date, the secret political societies have been perfecting
their formation, and… have drawn closer together in mutual alliance and
cooperation. Those who believe in this ideology look forward to a new
world order that would emerge when the world’s urban working classes
would lead a revolution against property owners that would one day
create a stateless, classless society.
Allow me to sight the four basic premises that the new world order
wants to involve: (1) the elimination of private property, (2) the
elimination of national governments and national sovereignty, (3) the
elimination of traditional Judeo-Christian theism, and (4) a world
government controlled by an elite made up of those who are considered
to be superior, or in the occultic sense, “adepts” or “illuminated.”
Even Pope Pius XI declared in 1937 that communism is behind it, “There
are those occult forces which for a long time have been working to
overthrow the Christian Social Order.” The new order swept away
property, the government, and the outward worship of God.
PATHEOS: Catholic Refutations of Freemasonry (Collection of Links)
VIA CHURCHMILITANT.COM
Our Lady of Fatima and the Battle with Freemasonry, Part 1
Our Lady of Fatima and the Battle with Freemasonry, Part 2
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 24- "On meekness, simplicity and guilelessness"
12. The souls of the meek are filled with knowledge,
but an angry mind is a denizen of darkness and ignorance.
July 23, 2018
(1Th 4:3-6) For
this is the will of God, your sanctification: That you should abstain
from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his
vessel in sanctification and honour, Not in the passion of lust, like
the Gentiles that know not God: And that no man overreach nor
circumvent his brother in business: because the Lord is the avenger of
all these things, as we have told you before and have testified.
EXCERPT VATICAN APPROVED APPARITION: Our Lady of Good Success
Early in the morning of January 21,
1610, Mother Mariana was favored by an apparition of the Archangels St.
Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael. Then Our Lady appeared and
related many predictions:
"Thus I make it known to you that from
the end of the 19th century and shortly after the middle of the 20th
century, in what is today the Colony and will then be the Republic of
Ecuador, the passions will erupt and there will be a total corruption
of customs (morals), for Satan will reign almost completely by means of
the Masonic sects.
"They will focus principally on the
children in order to sustain this general corruption. Woe to the
children of these times! It will be difficult to receive the Sacrament
of Baptism, and also that of Confirmation... Often during this epoch
the enemies of Jesus Christ, instigated by the Devil, will steal
consecrated hosts from the churches, so that they might profane the
Eucharistic Species...
"As for the Sacrament of Matrimony...
it will be attacked and deeply profaned... The Catholic spirit will
rapidly decay; the precious light of the Faith will gradually be
extinguished... Added to this will be the effects of secular education,
which will be one reason for the dearth of priestly and religious
vocations.
"The Sacrament of Holy Orders will be
ridiculed, oppressed, and despised... The Devil will try to persecute
the ministers of the Lord in every possible way; he will labor with
cruel and subtle astuteness to deviate them from the spirit of their
vocation and will corrupt many of them. These depraved priests, who
will scandalize the Christian people, will make the hatred of bad
Catholics and the enemies of the Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church
fall upon all priests...
"Further, in these unhappy times,
there will be unbridled luxury, which will ensnare the rest into sin
and conquer innumerable frivolous souls, who will be lost. Innocence
will almost no longer be found in children, nor modesty in women. In
this supreme moment of need of the Church, the one who should speak
will fall silent."
CRISIS MAGAZINE: With Log In Eye
ALETEIA: Abuse accusation against retired DC cardinal found “credible”
EXCERPT NEWS REPORT: Could 'culture of cover-up' force Pope Francis to defrock McCarrick?
Revelations that one of the most respected U.S. cardinals allegedly
sexually abused both boys and adult seminarians have raised questions
about who in the Catholic Church hierarchy knew -- and what Pope
Francis is going to do about it.
If the accusations against Cardinal Theodore McCarrick bear out --
including a new case reported Friday involving an 11-year-old boy --
will Francis revoke his title as cardinal? Sanction him to a lifetime
of penance and prayer? Or even defrock him, the expected sanction if
McCarrick were a mere priest?
And will Francis, who has already denounced a "culture of cover-up" in
the church, take the investigation all the way to the top, where it
will inevitably lead? McCarrick's alleged sexual misdeeds with adults
were reportedly brought to the Vatican's attention years ago.
The matter is now on the desk of the pope, who has already spent the
better part of 2018 dealing with a spiraling child sex abuse, adult gay
priest sex and cover-up scandal in Chile that was so vast the entire
bishops' conference offered to resign in May.
And on Friday, Francis accepted the resignation of the Honduran deputy
to Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, who is one of Francis' top
advisers. Auxiliary Bishop Juan Jose Pineda Fasquelle, 57, was accused
of sexual misconduct with seminarians and lavish spending on his lovers
that was so obvious to Honduras' poverty-wracked faithful that
Maradiaga is now under pressure to reveal what he knew of Pineda's
misdeeds and why he tolerated a sexually active gay bishop in his ranks.
The McCarrick scandal poses the same questions. It was apparently an
open secret in some U.S. church circles that "Uncle Ted" invited
seminarians to his beach house, and into his bed.
While such an abuse of power may have been quietly tolerated for
decades, it doesn't fly in the #MeToo era. And there has been a
deafening silence from McCarrick's brother bishops about what they
might have known and when.
Fraternal solidarity is common among clerics, but some observers point
to it as possible evidence of the so-called "gay lobby" or "lavender
mafia" at work. These euphemisms -- frequently denounced as politically
incorrect displays of homophobia in the church -- are used by some to
describe a perceived protection and promotion network of gay Catholic
clergy.
"There is going to be so much clamor for the Holy Father to remove the
red hat, to formally un-cardinalize him," said the Rev. Thomas Berg,
vice rector and director of admissions at St. Joseph's Seminary in
Yonkers, the seminary of the archdiocese of New York.
Berg said the church needs to ensure that men with deep-seated same-sex
attraction simply don't enter seminaries -- a position recently
reinforced by the Vatican at large and by Francis in comments to
Chilean and Italian bishops.
Berg said the church also needs to take action when celibacy vows are violated.
"We can't effectively prevent the sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable
adults by clergy while habitual and widespread failures in celibacy are
quietly tolerated," he said.
McCarrick, the 88-year-old retired archbishop of Washington and
confidante to three popes, was ultimately undone when the U.S. church
announced June 20 that Francis had ordered him removed from public
ministry. The sanction was issued pending a full investigation into a
"credible" allegation that he fondled a teenager more than 40 years ago
in New York City.
The dioceses of Newark and Metuchen, New Jersey, simultaneously
revealed that they had received three complaints of misconduct by
McCarrick against adults and had settled two of them.
Another alleged victim, the son of a McCarrick family friend identified
as James, came forward in a report in The New York Times and
subsequently in an interview with The Associated Press. James said he
was 11 when McCarrick first exposed himself to him. From there,
McCarrick began a sexually abusive relationship that continued for
another two decades, James told AP.
"I was the first guy he baptized," James told AP. "I was his little boy. I was his special kid."
McCarrick has denied the initial allegation of abuse against a minor
and accepted the pope's decision to remove him from public ministry.
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 24- "On meekness, simplicity and guilelessness"
11. An upright soul is a fellow lodger with humility,
but an evil one is a daughter of pride.
July 20, 2018
(1Pe 4:12-14) Dearly
beloved, think not strange the burning heat which is to try you: as if
some new thing happened to you. But if you partake of the sufferings of
Christ, rejoice that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may also be
glad with exceeding joy. If you be reproached for the name of Christ,
you shall be blessed: for that which is of the honour, glory and power
of God, and that which is his Spirit resteth upon you.
BISHOP WILLIAM AVENYA OF GBOKO:
"Please don’t make the same mistake as was made with the genocide in
Rwanda. It happened beneath our noses, but no one stopped it. And we
know well how that ended. We are convinced that what is happening is an
ethnic cleansing of Christians."
CRISIS MAGAZINE: Sharia or Sahara: What’s Behind the Genocide in Nigeria?
ALETEIA: After defeat in Iraq and Syria, ISIS is out to conquer Africa
VATICAN NEWS: Nigerian Card. Onaiyekan decries his government's lack of action
On 24 April last, 2 Catholic priests and 17 parishioners were brutally
murdered in the village of Mbalom in Nigeria's Benue State by rampaging
gunmen. The massacre was the latest in a series of violent attacks on
Christians in the West African nation.
Following that attack the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria
released a statement in which they invited the President “to choose the
path of honour and consider stepping aside to save the nation from
complete collapse”.
They expressed their grief for the innocent victims of “a wicked and
inhuman gang of rampaging and murderous terrorists who have turned the
vast lands of the Middle Belt and other parts of Nigeria into a massive
graveyard” and accused the federal government and its security agencies
of being responsible for insecurity.
“Along with millions of Nigerians we have expressed our lack of
confidence in the security agencies which the President deliberately
placed in the hands of the adherents of only one religion" the
statement said.
In an interview with Vatican News’ Helene Destombes, the Cardinal of
Abuja, John Onaiyekan, said since the bishops launched their cry of
anguish a month and declared they had lost confidence in the
government, nothing has been done.
“My reply is simple: between last month and today, nothing much has
changed” he said. "Killings, he added, are still going on and
there is no sign the government is taking effective measures to change
the situation".
The Cardinal said that the bishops had hoped that "after we had cried
and had buried the 2 priests and 17 people killed at Mass, that
government would now think seriously the way that they are doing
things; that we would see government arrest some of the murderers and
bring them to account; and that the architecture of security in Nigeria
– the people in charge of the army, the security agencies – something
would be done to change them so that other people would be able to do
the work. But nothing has changed".
“Therefore, we are left with the only option to believe that the government is either incapable or unwilling” he said.
In both cases, Cardinal Onaiyekan said, it is not good news at all for
Nigeria: "So we pray, and as we pray to God we also have the need to
alert our people to stay alert, to try and avoid violence, and to seek
redress in a civilized fashion. And the election should be a sign of
hope".
“We really hope the election will be allowed to be free and fair” he said.
RELATED: Nigerian priest recounts religious violence
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 24- "On meekness, simplicity and guilelessness"
10. A gentle soul retains words of wisdom, for
the Lord will guide the meek in judgment (Ps. 24:9), or rather, in discretion.
July 18, 2018
(Php 4:8-9) For
the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest,
whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good
fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline: think on
these things. The things which you have both learned and received and
heard and seen in me, these do ye: and the God of peace shall be with
you.
CATHOLIC.ORG: The Outstanding Purity of Our Blessed Mother
SIGN.ORG: The Soul-Cleansing Power of Purity of Heart
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)
“We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
The Catholic spiritual practice of Purity of Heart is one of the most
important spiritual disciplines we can and should make use of. The
Catholic cognitive discipline of purity of heart monitors and detects
disordered and evil thoughts, capturing them and deleting them as
hostile to growth in holiness.
By the practice of purity of heart we keep a very careful watch over
all the thoughts being presented to our mind and over all the
affections and passions being presented to our heart. By this careful
watch, we almost immediately intercept and delete the thoughts and
affections which violate purity of heart. Thus, as a very simple
example, should I suddenly feel the desire to gossip about someone, I
check out this movement of my heart, examine it, and ultimately
suppress or delete it since it violates purity of heart. Or, as another
example, should I suddenly feel swelling up in my heart ill-will
towards a certain person, the practice of purity of heart obligates me
to take a close look at this movement of my heart, and to mortify it,
and to replace it with Christian charity and forgiveness. Gradually, by
steadfastly and diligently practicing purity of heart, our heart
becomes cleaner and cleaner. What do we want more in our lives than
purity of heart?
Purity of heart is a mechanism of introspection whereby we carefully
look at our thoughts and affections, even moment by moment, to place
them under Christ’s law of charity. As soon as we observe that our mind
or affections are tending in a sinful direction, we immediately mortify
such thoughts or affections, giving them no chance of growth within our
souls. Its sort of like we’ve installed security software in our brain
that immediately detects and deletes bad stuff (God’s given us the
software and all we have to do is learn how to use it!!).
Father Jacques Philippe, the well known spiritual writer, recommends
the practice of purity of heart in his very worthwhile book, In the
School of the Holy Spirit (see Appendix II beginning on page 70, and
pages 40-42 ). But the two giants of our Catholic spiritual heritage
who speak so highly of practicing purity of heart are Father Lallemant
(in his classic The Spiritual Doctrine), and Father Grou (in Manual for
Interior Souls). Both Fathers Lallemant and Grou were French and Jesuit.
Father Lallemant recommends the practice of purity of heart in conjunction with regular, sacramental confession. He states:
“For the oftener we confess, the more we purify ourselves, the grace
proper to this sacrament being purity of conscience. Thus, every
confession, besides the increase of habitual grace and of the gifts,
imparts also a fresh sacramental grace, that is to say, a new title to
receive from God both actual graces and the aids necessary for
emancipating ourselves more and more from sin.” (Father Lallemant, The
Spiritual Doctrine, II, Chapter 6, as cited in The Mystical Evolution,
pages 99-100).
What an amazing purifying tool at your immediate disposal for growth in
holiness: the practice of purity of heart! Its like an ongoing,
perpetual examination of conscience that keeps all the junk out out of
our hearts and mind. And when the junk is gone, we become, as Father
Lallemant insists, more docile to the whispers of the Holy Spirit,
which we previously could not hear. This is why Father Lallemant says
that “purity of heart accomplishes so much” in the spiritual life.
Dear friend, take captive every thought in obedience to the Gospel (see
2 Corinthians 10:5). “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see
God” (Matthew 5:8).
MEDITATION: Thoughts
by St Theophan (1815-1894)
[I Cor. 7:35-8:7; Matt. 15:29-31]
Without attentiveness in
everyday affairs you cannot do anything properly; but in
spiritual matters — it comes first. It notices what is bad and
brings it before the inner judge; sets the guard of the inner
chamber, where the best course of action is discussed, and then
protects the one who carries out the decisions. This is not
surprising, because the spiritual life in its fullness is
called a sober life, and in patristic writings we meet mostly
words about soberness or attentiveness, for they are one and the
same.
Therefore, how important it is
to make a habit of attentiveness! The initial labor of those who
have begun to be concerned about their souls is usually directed
toward this. And their work only begins to resemble work from the
point where attentiveness begins to be gathered within
themselves; usually the attentiveness is all external, and not
internal. From this moment the inner life is conceived and with
this attentiveness it ripens and strengthens. What does this mean?
It means standing with the mind in the heart before the Lord and
consciously discussing all, and undertaking all before His
face. This job, obviously, is complicated. It becomes
successful with prayer, and is as much strengthened by it, as it
strengthens prayer itself.
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 24- "On meekness, simplicity and guilelessness"
9. A meek soul is a throne of simplicity, but an
angry mind is a creator of evil.
July 16, 2018
(1Ki 18:36-39) And
when it was now time to offer the holocaust, Elias, the prophet, came
near and said: O Lord God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Israel, shew this
day that thou art the God of Israel, and I thy servant, and that
according to thy commandment I have done all these things. Dear me, O
Lord, hear me: that this people may learn that thou art the Lord God,
and that thou hast turned their heart again. Then the fire of the Lord
fell, and consumed the holocaust, and the wood, and the stones, and the
dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the
people saw this, they fell on their faces, and they said: The Lord, he
is God; the Lord, he is God.
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW: Our Lady of Mount Carmel: History, the Scapular, and Marian Mediation
SHRINES OF MARY: Mount Carmel
FRANCISCAN MEDIA: Our Lady of Mount Carmel
YOUTUBE: The Stella Maris Monastery or Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Haifa
GARABANDAL: Why did Mary Appear as Our Lady of Mount Carmel?
EXCERPT: Do Catholics Worship Mary?
Question: Do Catholics worship Mary?
Answer: Definitely not.
OK. Let’s all go home.
Well, we can’t because a little more needs to be said. When I was a
young priest (eternities ago), I served for almost ten years in an
urban parish. It was not unusual to see parishioners (without being
sexist – most elderly women), go from statue to statue, (mostly statues
of Mary), in prayer, often accompanied by touching the statue or, with
arms outstretched, leaning on it. If a visitor would come, they might
certainly think that these people were “worshipping” Mary and those
outside our faith family often came to the same conclusion.
At the Second Vatican Council, a number of the bishops who attended
wanted a whole document on the Blessed Mother and her role in
salvation. The Council Fathers decided against a separate document.
Instead, they opted to present Mary as the closing chapter of the
Dogmatic Constitution on the Church. At the very beginning of this
document, it is explained that what follows is not intended to be an
exhaustive explanation of Mary and her role in salvation and there
still on-going theological discussions on those implications. But, what
is presented in the document, the Council fathers intend “to describe
with diligence the role of the Blessed Mother in the mystery of the
Incarnate Word and the Mystical Body. It (the Council) also wishes to
describe the duties of redeemed mankind toward the Mother of God, who
is mother of Christ and mother of men, particularly of the faithful.”
(Lumen Gentium, #263)
Mary is identified as the promised victor over the serpent in the Book
of Genesis and the Virgin who brings forth Emmanuel in the prophecy of
Isaiah. She is the one who’s consent at the Annunciation, then, does,
in fact, bring Emmanuel into the world. In her own pilgrimage of faith,
she loyally persevered in her union with her Son, from that birth to
the cross. As the Mother of God, the God-bearer, the first Christian,
the image of what the Church will be, and the mother of all Christians,
Mary, the Council Fathers decreed, should be honored by the whole
Church with special reverence.
This cult (as in its original meaning – a system of religious
observance) of veneration of Mary has been part of the Church in a
major way since the fourth century. Notice I said (and the Council
uses) veneration, not the worship that is due to God alone. The Church
venerates Mary in a special way, above all holy men and women, but it
does not worship her as it does God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. “As
it has always existed in the Church, this cult (of Mary) is altogether
special. Still, it differs essentially from the cult of adoration which
is offered to the Incarnate Word, as well as to the Father and to the
Holy Spirit.” (Lumen Gentium, #66). It then goes on to encourage such
practices of devotion that give honor to Mary and bring those who
practice them to a closer union with Christ, through His Mother.
So, officially, the Church does not worship Mary. It venerates her as
model, image and, most of all Mother, not only of Christ but of every
Christian. In the normal human heart, a special place is reserved for
our mothers, with all that mothering implies. So too, in the heart of
the Christian, a special place should be reserved for she who mothered
the Christ, our Lord and brother. Sometimes people may take this to
excess (and that happens in everything) but the Church’s answer to the
question is clear: Do we worship Mary, no we do not.
PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Be our constant hope.
Mary, perfect disciple of the Lord – Make us also faithful to him.
Mary, Flower of Carmel – Fill us with your joy.
Virgin Mary, Beauty of Carmel – Smile upon your family Sweet Mother of Carmel.
Holy Mother beyond compare – Remember your children forever.
Holy Virgin, Star of the Sea – Be our beacon of Light.
Protecting Veil – Shelter us in the mantle of your love.
AMEN.
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 24- "On meekness, simplicity and guilelessness"
8. The meek shall inherit the earth (Matt 5:5),
or rather shall exercise dominion over it, but bad-tempered men will be
harried out of their land.
July 13, 2018
(Eph 3:8-12) To
me, the least of all the saints, is given this grace, to preach among
the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ: And to enlighten all
men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which
hath been hidden from eternity in God who created all things: That the
manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the principalities and
powers in heavenly places through the church, According to the eternal
purpose which he made in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have
boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
VIDEO: Rosary: A Spiritual Weapon ~ Fr Ripperger
FATHER BLOOM BLOG: Know, Love, and Trust Mary Through the Saints
FROM THE MAILBAG
VIA Frank Rega: Check out this comment on the post about the Anglican Minister and Padre Pio.
http://divinefiat.blogspot.com/2018/06/padre-pio-and-anglican-minister.html?showComment=1531260864347#c5553088769403097532
UNIVERSALIS: From a homily by Blessed Pope Paul VI We proclaim Christ to the whole world
Not to preach the Gospel would be my undoing, for Christ himself sent
me as his apostle and witness. The more remote, the more difficult the
assignment, the more my love of God spurs me on. I am bound to proclaim
that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the living God. Because of him we come
to know the God we cannot see. He is the firstborn of all creation; in
him all things find their being. Man’s teacher and redeemer, he was
born for us, died for us, and for us he rose from the dead.
All things, all history converges in Christ. A man of sorrow and hope,
he knows us and loves us. As our friend he stays by us throughout our
lives; at the end of time he will come to be our judge; but we also
know that he will be the complete fulfilment of our lives and our great
happiness for all eternity.
I can never cease to speak of Christ for he is our truth and our light;
he is the way, the truth and the life. He is our bread, our source of
living water who allays our hunger and satisfies our thirst. He is our
shepherd, our leader, our ideal, our comforter and our brother.
He is like us but more perfectly human, simple, poor, humble, and yet,
while burdened with work, he is more patient. He spoke on our behalf;
he worked miracles; and he founded a new kingdom: in it the poor are
happy; peace is the foundation of a life in common; where the pure of
heart and those who mourn are uplifted and comforted; the hungry find
justice; sinners are forgiven; and all discover that they are brothers.
The image I present to you is the image of Jesus Christ. As Christians
you share his name; he has already made most of you his own. So once
again I repeat his name to you Christians and I proclaim to all men:
Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega,
Lord of the new universe, the great hidden key to human history and the
part we play in it. He is the mediator – the bridge, if you will –
between heaven and earth. Above all he is the Son of man, more perfect
than any man, being also the Son of God, eternal and infinite. He is
the son of Mary his mother on earth, more blessed than any woman. She
is also our mother in the spiritual communion of the mystical body.
Remember: it is Jesus Christ I preach day in and day out. His name I
would see echo and re-echo for all time even to the ends of the earth.
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 24- "On meekness, simplicity and guilelessness"
7. In the heart of the meek the Lord finds rest,
but a turbulent soul is a seat of the devil.
July 11, 2018
(Heb 3:12-14) Take
heed, brethren, lest perhaps there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, to depart from the living God. But exhort one another every
day, whilst it is called to day, that none of you be hardened through
the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ: yet so,
if we hold the beginning of his substance firm unto the end.
REVIEW: The Infidelity of the Future: The Great Apostasy by Michael D. O’Brien
NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER: Are Pope Francis’ Warnings About Apostasy Coming True in Ireland?
LIFESITENEWS: Former Vatican Bank chief: Authors of New World Order demographic collapse influencing the Vatican
CATHNEWS: ‘Nones’ becoming religion’s new normal
According to the 2016 Census, those declaring that they have “no religion” increased to just over 30 per cent.
The “nones” (as they are sometimes called) are the most numerous
response category – more numerous than Catholics, in every generation
until those over 70.
Jews, Lutherans and Baptists have distributions similar to Anglicans.
Hindus and Sikhs – who are now more numerous than Jews – have profiles
more like Muslims mostly due to recent patterns of migration.
The numbers and percentage declaring that they have “no religion” are
most likely to continue to increase. Research into the
intergenerational transfer of religion indicates that parents who have
no religion are almost certain to have children who have no religion,
whereas the children of religious parents have a less than equal chance
of being religious themselves.
These factors account for the rise of “nones” and point to a future where being “none” is even more prevalent.
Quite simply, having “no religion” is becoming the new “normal” in
Australia. This has profound effects in ways that are only just
becoming apparent.
One implication of these changes is the fact that increasingly those
who do have a religion are the ones who stand out – the ones who now
are “not normal” – and need to explain themselves. The “need to
explain” shoe, is now on the other foot. This is not a comfortable
change for many. The fact that having a religion is slipping from
normalcy feeds the sense of being under attack by those who are
religious.
A second major implication of these changes is that the “plausibility
structure” of religious belief is further weakened. Or, as Charles
Taylor would put it, the contemporary “social imaginary” supports
non-association with organised religion.
In this changed context, for those who continue to take their religions
seriously, whichever it is – and there is an appreciable minority of
those who do, somewhere around 15 per cent of Australians –
accommodating their voices alongside those of others who have no
religion is a major challenge.
MORE: Being Christian in Western Europe
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 24- "On meekness, simplicity and guilelessness"
6. Meekness is the fellow-worker of obedience,
the guide of the brotherhood, a bridle for the enraged, a check to the
irritable, a minister of joy, the imitation of Christ, something proper
to angels, shackles for demons, a shield against bitterness.
July 9, 2018
(Mat 5:9) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
POPE FRANCIS:
“I give thanks to God for this meeting, which was an eloquent sign of
Christian unity, and saw the enthusiastic participation of God's
people.”
VIDEO: Pope prays before St. Nicholas' relics in Bari
VATICAN NEWS: Pope Francis in Bari: ‘May the Middle East be an ark of peace, not war!’
Pope Francis addressed the faithful gathered in the square outside of
the Basilica of St Nicholas, in the Italian city of Bari, on Saturday
after meeting with Catholic and Orthodox leaders. He reflected on the
Middle Eastern origins of the Christian tradition, and of the
commitment undertaken by the religious leaders to walk, pray, and work
together “in the hope that the art of encounter will prevail over
strategies of conflict”.
The Pope began by recalling the middle-eastern origins of Jesus and
Christianity. Instead of using weapons, Jesus asked his disciples to
put them away, he said. A renewed conversion to the Gospel is the only
means by which to confront the agony that the Middle East lives daily.
In imitation of Jesus, our response cannot be “flight or the sword that
will lead to the radiant dawn of Easter.” Like Jesus, our response must
be the gift of self, the Pope said.
Gospel conversion “invites us to find our safety and consolation in
[Jesus] alone, and to make him known”, the Pope continued. Rooted in
the Middle East, the font of faith provides us with water to drink to
be purified with.
It is peace that needs to be “cultivated in the parched soil of
conflict and discord”. There is no alternative, Pope Francis said.
Listening and dialogue, not “truces maintained by walls” lead to peace.
Pope Francis said he hopes that “signs of power will yield to the power
of signs – as men and women of different beliefs open themselves to
dialogue, and the ideas of others.
Pope Francis called an end to the exploitation of the Middle East:
Let there be an
end to the few profiting from the sufferings of many! No more occupying
territories and thus tearing people apart! … Let there be an end to
using the Middle East for gains that have nothing to do with the Middle
East! …Enough of the thirst for profit that surreptitiously exploits
oil and gas fields without regard for our common home, with no scruples
about the fact that the energy market now dictates the law of
coexistence among peoples!
Pope Francis concluded his words evoking the sign of the doves that
would be released by children. For the sake of the children, “who have
spent most of their lives looking at rubble instead of schools, hearing
the deafening explosion of bombs rather than the happy din of
playgrounds, …may the longing for peace rise higher than any dark
cloud”, in the expectation of receiving the olive branch. May the
Middle East be an ark of peace, not an ark of war, he prayed.
Beloved Middle
East, may you see dispelled the darkness of war, power, violence,
fanaticism, unfair gains, exploitation, poverty, inequality and lack of
respect for rights. ‘May peace be upon you” (Ps 122:8), may justice
dwell within your borders, and may God’s blessing come to rest upon
you’.
NEWS REPORT: Russian Orthodox Church, Vatican team up to rebuild Christian sites in Syria
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 24- "On meekness, simplicity and guilelessness"
5. Meekness is the buttress of patience, the door,
or rather, the mother of love, and the foundation of discernment, for it
is said: The Lord will teach the meek His ways (Ps. 29:9). It prepares
us for the forgiveness of sins; it is boldness in prayer; an abode of the
Holy Spirit. But to whom shall I look? Even to him that is meek and quiet
(Isa. 66:2).
July 6, 2018
(Eph
4:1-6) I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk
worthy of the vocation in which you are called: With all humility and
mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity. Careful to
keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. One body and one
Spirit: as you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one
faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and
through all, and in us all.
POPE FRANCIS:
"We will spend a day of prayer and reflection on the ever dramatic
situation of that region, where so many of our brothers and sisters in
the faith continue to suffer, and we will implore with one voice: 'may
peace be upon you.'"
CNA: Bari archbishop says papal visit will focus on ecumenism
VATICAN NEWS: Pope’s ecumenical and peace initiative in Bari on Middle East Christians
Pope
Francis is travelling on Saturday to the southern Italian Adriatic port
city of Bari for an important ecumenical reflection and prayer with the
heads and representatives of Christian Churches and Communities on the
situation of Christians in Middle East. “We will live a day of prayer
and reflect on the increasingly dramatic situation of that region,
where so many of our brothers and sisters in faith continue to suffer,”
was how the Holy Father described his upcoming trip, speaking after his
midday ‘Angelus” prayer on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
“With one voice will implore “Peace upon you!” he said, urging all to pray for this pilgrimage of peace and unity.
Describing the Middle East as one of the regions of the world where the
situation of Christians is “most precarious”, Cardinal Koch said wars
and persecution have forced families to abandon their homelands in
search of security and better life. The Swiss cardinal expressed alarm
that the percentage of Christians in the region has “diminished
drastically” in the span of just a century. Where it was 20% of the
population before World War I, today, he said, it is just 4%”. He
pointed out that Ecumenical relations, especially between the Catholic
and Orthodox Churches have been very “strong and promising” since the
meeting between Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch
Athenagoras in January 1964.
Cardinal Koch spoke about three types of ecumenism, namely ecumenism of
holiness, ecumenism of life and ecumenism of blood. Citing Vatican
Council II, he said that holiness of life is the “best guarantee for
Christian unity”, because the more Christians come closer to God the
more they come closer to one another. “When difficulties become
suffering, this ecumenism of holiness becomes an ecumenism of blood,”
he said.
Citing Pope Francis the cardinal said that when they kill Christians,
they don’t ask if they are Catholics, Orthodox or others. They are
killed only because they are Christians. The situation in the Middle
East, the cardinal said, is an “incentive for ecumenism” not only for
Christians there, but also for the whole world.
With regard to the Middle East, Cardinal Koch spoke about 3 principles
or convictions. Firstly, peace and security are needed if Christians
are to remain in the Middle East. Secondly, it is “impossible to
imagine the Middle East without Christians”, not just for religious
motives, but also political and social. Christians, he said, are an
“essential element” for the equilibrium of the region, as Pope Benedict
XVI said, “A Middle East without or few Christians is no longer Middle
East.” Thirdly, the rights of every person and minority regardless of
religion, ethnicity or origin need to be guaranteed in the region.
Cardinal Koch added another conviction – the urgent need to pursue
inter-religious dialogue. He recalled Pope Francis who said the more
difficult the situation, the more necessary its inter-religious
dialogue. There is no way out.
Cardinal Sandri explained that Pope Francis chose Bari for this
ecumenical prayer and reflection, because the Adriatic port city is
described as a "window to the East" where relics of St. Nicholas,
venerated by both Catholics and Orthodox, are preserved. Some 19 heads
of Churches or their representatives have adhered to the call of Pope
Francis in Bari on Saturday. Among the denominations are the Orthodox
Churches, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Orthodox Church,
the Catholic Churches. The Lutheran Church and the Middle East Council
of Churches. Among the prominent leaders are Ecumenical Orthodox
Patriarch Bartholomew, Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II of Egypt and
Chaldean Catholic Patriarch, Cardinal Louis Raphael of Iraq.
THE TABLET: Christian leaders meet in Bari to pray for Middle East
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 24- "On meekness, simplicity and guilelessness"
4. Meekness is a rock overlooking the sea of anger,
which breaks all the waves that dash against it, yet remains completely
unmoved.
July 2, 2018
(Mar 5:36) But Jesus having heard the word that was spoken, saith to the ruler of the synagogue: Fear not, only believe.
POPE FRANCIS: "To have access
to His heart, to the heart of Jesus, there is only this required: to
feel in need of healing and to entrust himself to Him. I ask you: does
each one of you feel in need of healing? Of something, some sin, some
problem? And, if you hear this, do you have faith in Jesus? These are
the two requirements to be healed, to have access to His heart: to feel
oneself in need of healing and to entrust oneself to Him".
THE SHIELD OF FAITH: Padre Pio and the Anglican Minister - Partners in Healing
CATHOLIC EXCHANGE: The Saints Teach Us How to Trust God
MEDITATION: Only Christ can heal
EXCERPT VATICAN NEWS: Reflections for the XIII Sunday of the year
Life messages:
#1: We need to accept God’s call to health, wholeness and holiness.
Jesus accepts us as we are. Hence, let us bring before him our bodily
illnesses and spiritual wounds and ask for his healing touch. We should
pray for healing which will give us health in every aspect of our lives
– not just in our bodies – so that we may function in perfect harmony
with people around us and with the environment. As Christians, we
believe that Jesus continues to heal us through his instruments in the
medical profession, like doctors, nurses and medical technicians.
Hence, when we go to a doctor, we need to offer a prayer to Christ, the
Divine Healer, that we may choose the right doctor, and that s/he may
make the correct diagnosis, prescribe the correct treatment and give us
the right medicine. Let us not forget the truth that, over, above and
beyond the ability and skill of the greatest human healer, Christ still
works wonders of healing. Let us also thank God for the great gift of
health and use it for helping those who are sick.
#2: We need to continue the healing mission of the Church: As members
of the Church, we are not excused from our vocation to be healers. When
a friend of ours is terminally ill, the skill of the doctors and their
advanced medical tools often become powerless. What the patient needs
in such a situation is our care, concern and prayerful presence,
enabling them to experience through us the love, compassion and mercy
of Jesus. We do our share of Christ’s healing mission by visiting the
sick, by praying for their healing and by boosting their morale through
our loving presence, encouragement and inspiration.
#3: We need to have trusting Faith in the mercy and Divine power of
Jesus: The primary condition for the effectiveness of our prayer is our
Faith in the goodness and mercy of God. Such a Faith is possible only
if we remain related to God through prayer, the Sacraments, and a
meditative study of the Bible. Every day we should say a fervent prayer
of thanksgiving to God for the gift of active Faith. Let us keep in
mind this wise piece of advice given by St. Ignatius of Loyola: “We
must work as if everything depends on us, but we must pray as if
everything depends on God.”
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 24- "On meekness, simplicity and guilelessness"
3. Meekness consists in praying calmly and sincerely
for a neighbour when he causes many turmoils.
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