Approved Apparitions

Merry Christmas: A Gift to You from Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich ~ Canterbury Tales by Dr. Taylor Marshall

2011-12-25T13:15:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas: A Gift to You from Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich ~ Canterbury Tales by Dr. Taylor Marshall

JIMMY AKIN.ORG

2011-10-30T11:31:00.000-04:00

Listen to this excellent podcast by Jimmy Akin, as he gives an unbiased explanation as to how things stand with Medjugorje. Click the link below:

JIMMY AKIN.ORG

Hell Burns: BOOK YOUR OWN SCREENING OF NEW OUR LADY OF KIBEHO FILM!

2011-09-06T00:24:00.000-04:00

Hell Burns: BOOK YOUR OWN SCREENING OF NEW OUR LADY OF KIBEHO FILM!

The Prophecies of Anne Catherine Emmerich

2007-04-04T02:43:00.004-04:00

Anne Catherine Emmerich was born in humble conditions to a very devout couple so she learnt from an early age to love her Faith. But Anne's life was not like that of other children her age in that she was the recipient of visions and messengers of God from her youth.

God blessed Anne with many gifts including that of reading hearts, the hidden stigmata, and she survived only on the Eucharist for many years. This remarkable young girl would also converse with her guardian Angel and also come under attack by the demonic forces, none of which affected her Faith except for it to grow even more depthful than it already was.

Venerable Anne would also be visited by our Lord Jesus and our Lady where upon she received messages for the world, warning all people to once again embrace and live their Faith.

Some of these messages given to Anne were, 'that every parish and diocese, each city and country has its own particular and powerful guardian angel.' Anne Catherine was to see and be told many things including these messages from Heaven, She revealed that to gain an indulgence we must approach the Sacraments with true repentance and a firm purpose of amendment–or we do not gain it. She deposes that it is more holy to pray for the Poor Souls in Purgatory than for sinners who are still alive, for Anne had a particular love and devotion for the poor souls in Purgatory. She was also told that 'more Protestant souls stayed in Purgatory the longest not because they were worse than anyone else, but because so few people prayed for the repose of their souls or offered up Masses for their soul.'

Anne went on to describe what she has seen and 'describes the nature, extent and power of victim souls, and their role in the life of the Church. She describes the condition of St. Lydwine of Schiedam, a victim soul during the time of "three popes," and how her body came apart into three pieces, joined only by the slenderest of sinews. She saw only 6 victim souls in her time working like herself on behalf of the Universal Church, and about 100,000 Catholic people worldwide who were great in their faith.'

This great Saint went on to experience mystical visions and receive even more prophecies for our troubled world including these, 'She saw the strong link–even long after their deaths–between holy souls in Heaven and their descendants here on earth, lasting even centuries. And that Enoch and Elias are in Paradise where they await their return to the world to preach at the End of Time. Also this too, she revealed that Our Lord suffered from the wound in His shoulder more than from any other.'

And a warning for the world for those would listen to the signs of the times, she said that, "a false church, and wicked men scheming against the Catholic Church and doing much harm–both in her own time and in the future. And actually saw in a vision this, the enemies of the Church tearing it down and trying to build a new one on strictly human plans–but none of the saints would lend a hand. Later, this church of men is destroyed and the saints of God join in to rebuild the true Church of God, which becomes more glorious than ever before".

But once again our Lord leaves us with hope through this most pious of souls as Anne was told, that the there would be a revival in the Priesthood and the Religious order after a period of great decadence.

Anne also describes seeing this in her words, "All over the world I saw numberless infusions of the Spirit; sometimes, like a lightning-stroke, falling on a congregation in church, and I could tell who among them had received the grace; or again, I beheld individuals praying in their homes, suddenly endowed with light and strength. The sight awoke in me great joy and confidence that the Church, amid her ever-increasing tribulations, will not succumb; for in all parts of the world I saw defenders raised up to her by the Holy Ghost. Yes, I felt that the oppression of the powers of this world serves but to increase her strength."

Anne also went on to say what had been revealed to her, "what is most painful for me to repeat, that if only one priest offered the Unbloody Sacrifice as worthily and with the same sentiments as the Apostles, he could ward off all calamities from the Church." "Owing to the spirit of the world and tepidity, if the Savior returned to earth today to announce His doctrine in person, He would find as many opponents as He did among the Jews."

And though Anne Catherine suffered much not only physically but also from the disdain of her fellow Religious Sisters, still she lived a life of quiet humility and holiness.

I would encourage all to read more about this great Saint of the Church, Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich.

Catholic

Our Lady of Lourdes

2007-01-18T01:27:00.002-05:00

Visionary St. Bernadette Soubirous

Lourdes is probably one of the best known Apparitions of Our Lady, which also verified and made clear the Dogma/Doctrine of The Immaculate Conception, which was authorised by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854.

But let us take a closer look at this young girl and the message of Our Lady, which was entrusted to the young Bernadette Soubirous. She was born into a poor peasant family, in the year 1844, the first of six siblings. These were difficult years for her family and five of her brothers were to die at very young ages. Bernadette herself almost died of cholera, but, was able to survive this illness. As the family was destitute neither parent could afford medications.

Because of the poverty of her parents, Bernadette lived at different times with a foster mother at Bartres. Being that she was so poor, Bernadette was denied a decent education, and could neither read nor write. This was discovered as she began to receive instruction to prepare for her first Communion.

But it was in the year 1858 on February 11th, that Bernadette’s life would be changed forever. It was a cold day and Bernadette with two of her sisters were sent out to gather firewood for their cold and austere home. Being fragile in health, Bernadette did not cross the stream, but instead decided to wait for her sisters.

It was here that Bernadette thought she heard what sounded like a clap of thunder, as she pulled her shawl closer about her shoulders. It was as she was gazing at the sky to see if there were storm clouds, that Bernadette first saw a very beautiful woman looking at her from across the stream. The beautiful lady was dressed in what looked like a luminous white dress with a sash of blue around her waist and two golden roses on her feet. Bernadette was awestruck but also frightened as to what to do, she then saw the beautiful lady make the sign of the Cross before she disappeared, no words were spoken.

Bernadette was entranced by this beautiful lady, and thereby she returned to what is the grotto at Massabielle. It was on February 18th that Our Lady told Bernadette that she would not live a happy life on earth, but that her happiness was assured in Heaven. Our Lady gave several messages to Bernadette asking for Penance from the people and a greater devotion to our Lord and Savior.

It was here that Our Lady requested that Bernadette dig the ground so that a spring could burst forth. Bernadette immediately began digging the ground, taking no account of some of the derision from the crowds. Eventually a spring did burst forth which remains to this day.

But it was the message on March 2nd where Mary told Bernadette, "Tell the priests that people should come here in procession and that a chapel should be built on the site." Also on March 25th, the Blessed Virgin revealed to Bernadette, "I am the Immaculate Conception."

Our Lady was true to her word and Bernadette upon the completion of the messages from the Blessed Virgin Mary, decided after suffering ridicule and the curious crowds which followed her around, to enter the Religious life.

She eventually entered the Sisters of Notre Dame, but after a health scare she was given the last rites, the Church therefore gave approval for Bernadette to make her vows. Bernadette was able to recover and spent time working in the Sacristy as part of her duties.

Bernadette was a very humble soul and disliked the 'fame' that seemed to plague her. She always referred to herself when questioned by the curious as 'the broom placed behind the door once it has been used', she never sought nor received special treatment. If anything the opposite occurred, when some in her community became jealous of the favour that was shown to this young nun. She suffered in silence many cruel taunts and persecutions from within her religious community. After suffering much agony and in her death throes, she cried out "Blessed Mary, Mother of God, pray for me! A poor sinner, a poor sinner".

Bernadette died on April 16, 1879, at the age of 35.

She was canonized in 1933 by Pope Pius XI.

Upon exhuming the body of this Great Saint her body was found incorrupt and she lay in a glass reliquary, in the convent chapel.

I encourage all to read about this most momentous Vision, Our Lady of Lourdes.

Catholic

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Bl. Mariam Baouardy-'The Little Arab'-Mystic

2006-08-12T06:07:00.000-04:00

Palestine was a troubled State as different Muslim factions would argue over their religious differences. The land during the 1800's was mainly made up of Muslims and Christians with a very small percentage of Jewish people. It became a part of the Ottoman Empire in 1516 under the occupation of the Ottoman Turks.

Into this troubled land would be born a lily for Palestine, Mariam Baouardy. The birth of Mariam in 1846 came after many tears and much prayer by her parents Giries and Mariam Baouardy. Who had traveled to Bethlehem to pray for the birth of a healthy child after several of their children had died in infancy. The parents were overjoyed when their prayers were answered and Mariam was born to them, they then named her after the Virgin Mary in whom they had a great devotion. A few years later Mariam would be joined by a little brother named Boulos but this joy was to be short-lived as both of little Mariam's parents died.

Upon the tragic death of her parents the siblings found themselves separated as Mariam was adopted by an Uncle and went to live in Ibillin. Mariam grew strong under the care of her benevolent Uncle and though not spoiled she lacked for little. Her great joy as a child was to look after her pet birds which she kept in a cage. One day the little Mariam decided her little birdies needed a bath and through ignorance Mariam accidentally drowned them. The child was inconsolable at the terrible mishap, this little accident was to have a major impact on her life as little Mariam heard a voice within her say, "This is how everything passes. If you will give me your heart, I shall always remain with you." These words were to take root in the young heart of Mariam.

When Mariam was 8 years old her Uncle moved his family to Egypt and once again Mariam was saddened to leave her home which she had come to love. Mariam was quickly learning to understand the transient feeling that happiness was, as shadows seem to chase after her.

The event that would change Mariam's life forever was when she learnt she had been promised in marriage to a man she had never known. It was the custom in those days that the parents would arrange their childs nuptials in this case it was Mariam's uncle who had made the marital arrangement. This arrangement filled Mariams heart with dread as she knew that God did not wish for her to be married but for her to remain a virgin, her uncle did not see things this way and flew into a rage. Mariam spent the night before her wedding in prayer when once again she heard within her this voice, "Everything passes! If you wish to give me your heart, I will remain with you." Mariam was not surprised to hear this voice as she had heard it before once again this voice spoke to her, "Mariam, I am with you; follow the inspiration I shall give you. I will help you."

Upon the morning Mariam informed her Uncle that she would not marry, after trying to reason with her the uncle then beat Mariam and screamed his rage at her insubordination of his order. This did not change Mariams mind as she withstood the beatings and insults hurled at her by her uncle. Mariams heart was saddened that she had upset her uncle but her resolve stood firm for her love for God was greater than anything else. In order to further punish Mariam her uncle then forced her to work as a servant in his house, still Mariam remain unmoved with her decision.

Things became increasingly difficult for Mariam as she sunk into a deep loneliness under the threat of her uncles beatings and mistreatment. Through this ordeal Mariam tried to contact her brother Boulos by giving a letter to one of the Muslim hired help. This young Muslim upon learning of the mistreatment of Mariam at first was angered and then he tried to convert Mariam away from her Christian beliefs and to embrace Islam as her new faith. Once Mariam realized this young man's intentions she said fiercely, "Muslim, no, never! I am a daughter of the Catholic Apostolic Church, and I hope by the grace of God to persevere until death in my religion, which is the only true one."

Things were not easy between the Muslim and Christian Faiths and the words of Mariam incensed the young Muslim who then tried to murder Mariam by slashing her throat with his sword. He then left her body in an alley as he thought her dead.

Mariam upon recovering and determined not to go back to her uncles home began work as a domestic servant in an Arab Christian family. For a few years this made Mariam happy and content, but always there was a stirring in Mariams heart as she remembered what was shared within her heart from that inner voice.

Upon speaking to her Priest Mariam was directed to join the Sisters of St. Joseph. Mariam was happy there for a while until she began experiencing mystical events which upset and frightened the other Sisters. It soon became clear that Mariam was not welcomed in their convent. One of the Sisters took her to a Carmelite convent and upon telling their stories both the Sister, Veronica and Mariam were welcomed into the Convent.

Mariam upon taking her Vows in the year 1871 took the name Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified. A most timely name as Sister Mariam was gifted with the Stigmata during another Mystical event.

Throughout Mariams entire life, she would be touched by the Mystical when as only a child she heard that inner voice. Later she was treated upon have her throat slashed by a lady dressed in blue who helped her recover, she felt herself transported to Heaven where she glimpsed the throne of the Holy Trinity and grew close to the Virgin Mary whom she loved. Upon joining the Carmelites of Pau further Mystical gifts would be given to Sister Mariam as she was gifted with not only the Stigmata but also with the readings of hearts, the ability to levitate while in prayer, transverberations of the heart, prophecies and other Mystical phenomena.

These experiences did not puff up Sister Mariams pride but instead made her deeply aware of her own nothingness as she said many times to her fellow Sisters, "Everything passes here on earth. What are we? Nothing but dust, nothingness, and God is so great, so beautiful, so lovable and He is not loved."

Sister Mariam also had an intense devotion to the Holy Spirit and sent a prayer to Pope Pius IX as she tried to re-ignite a passionate devotion and love for the Holy Spirit. Her prayer was simple in its eloquence, "Holy Spirit, inspire me. Love of God consume me. Along the true road, lead me. Mary, my good mother, look down upon me. With Jesus, bless me. From all evil, all illusion, all danger, preserve me." Many people from all over the world continue to pray this simple prayer daily.

Sister Mariam would also spend some of her short life in India when a Carmelite Convent was founded in Mangalore. She would later return to Pau in order to help begin a new foundation of the Order of Carmel in Palestine. Wherever Sister Mariam traveled news of the her Mystical life preceded her and many curious people came to look at this young Mystic. Sister Mariam would often fall into trances and described it this way to a fellow Sister, "I feel as though my heart is open; as though there is a wound in it; and when I have certain ideas and impressions of God which move me, it feels like someone touched the wound in my heart, and I fall in weakness, I lose myself". Not everything that touched Sister Mariam though was from the Divine. Many times she was often tempted by the evil one to doubt God's Goodness and do disobey her Superiors, but Sister Mariam was always able to differentiate the voices that spoke within her.

Within the Convent walls Sister Mariam suffered an a terrible accident from which she did not recover she died in 1878 while heard whispering over and over, "My Jesus, mercy."

I would encourage all to read more about the life of this remarkable Saint, Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified, known as 'the little arab'.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Our Lady of America

2006-07-27T08:17:00.001-04:00

"It is the United States that is to lead the world to peace, the peace of Christ, the peace that He brought with Him from heaven."

These are the words of Our Lady to Sister Mary Ephrem who belongs to the Order of Precious Blood Sisters which is based in Indiana. During these visitations Our Lady emphasised to Sister Mary the need for America to return to the virtue of purity and to focus on the family as all important. A message that is greatly needed in this fast paced generation. As well as receiving messages from our Lady Sister Mary was also visited by our Savior, St. Joseph as well as the Arch Angels.

Sister Mary was a normal woman with no outstanding features so it came as a shock to this most humble Nun to be the recipient of Divine Messages for America and the world. At first Sister Mary took no note of the mystical events that were happening to her in that she thought all her fellow sisters were receiving the same Gift. This was not so and in confusion Sister Mary spoke to her Spiritual Director, Monsignor Paul Leibold who took this most humble sister under his wing. Monsignor Paul Leibold upon investigating these supernatural occurrences and in witnessing the humble disposition of Sister Mary Ephrem gave his approval thereby validating this humble Sister and the most important message of our Lord and Lady.

Let us now look at some of these Divine messages given to Sister Mary. Our Lord spoke to Sister Mary giving her these messages to the world;

"My little white dove, if the world is dying, it is because it will not let Me give it life."

" I am the resurrection and the life, and unless souls seek their life in Me, they will only find death and destruction."

"They fear man-made destroyers of life, yet destruction is in themselves. Man destroys himself through the evil that is in himself."

"Implements of war kill only that which is without. Man kills that within himself which none but he can kill."

"God is light, man is darkness, and unless he comes into the light, he will be forever in darkness."

"The Voice of My Heart is the Voice of Mercy. If man will not listen, there is no more I can do, for he ties My hands."

"My little white dove, do you know what I find most lacking in the world today? It is FAITH. There are so few souls that believe in Me and My love. They profess their beliefs and their love, but they do not live this belief. Their hearts are cold, for without faith there can be no love."

We must remember that these words were spoken to Sister Mary in the 1950's. Which leaves one to think what our Lord would say now for when Sister Mary received these messages Roe VS Wade had yet to reach the courts. How through our sins we wound our relationship with our most Loving and Merciful God. To continue with the messages give to Sister Mary Ephrem:

"My heart beats with compassion for the sorrows of man. Oh, how gladly would I help him bear the weight of his terrible cross, fashioned, for the most part, by his own guilt! But alas, he will have none of my help. So I am forced to stand by the side of the road and watch him struggle hopelessly in his agony."

"O man, what have I done to you that you should refuse My aid?"

As our world becomes more and more secularized and parents take on one job or two jobs each, families become fractured and dysfunctional. In the end though what are families working for? Or has the reason been lost in the fight to keep up with appearances. Surely it is time to consider a more simpler way of life where the spiritual welfare of your family come first, and though it is a parents responsibility to provide for their families who decides what is best? Advertisements which demand you must buy this item in order to be fulfilled and other sundry adverts which only emphasises the materialistic and not the spiritual. Here is our Lords words to Sister Mary concerning the family unit:

"My daughter, I am not loved in the homes of men. And because I am not loved, the Divine Trinity refuses to dwell therein."

"Children are not taught to love Me, because those who have charge over them have no time or patience to do so."

"My Heart grieves over My children in the world. Their hearts are being drawn farther and farther away from Me. They will not even listen to My Mother, because they have never been taught to listen."

"Woe to parents who set a bad example to their children! Terrible will be their judgment. I will demand a strict account of every soul entrusted to their care."

"Woe to children who disobey and show disrespect towards their parents!"

As we can see these are very cautionary words indeed when even parents allow alcohol to be served at parties so they can be seen as 'hip' and progressive. Still there is hope, a time where families can once again embrace a more simpler life without the needs of gadgets and gizmo's.

"Blessed are the homes that honor My Name and the Name of My Father."

"Blessed are the homes where I am loved, for there the Holy Trinity dwells."

"Blessed are the parents and children who have made a home for God in their hearts."

"Little secretary of My Heart, write these instructions for the sanctification of My people."

Once when Sister Mary was visiting a sister house she was in prayer when an Angel of light appeared to her. Sister Mary described him as having a sword in his left hand his robe was bright white as he was bathed in a glow of pure white. In his hand he held a green palm and offered this palm to Sister Mary as the Angel said, "receive the palm of Victory." This disturbed Sister Mary as she felt herself not worthy of such notice and also she was opposed to any form of flattery. Was this Angel from God or was it Satan trying to fool her? Sister Mary's suspicions were allayed when the Angel said to her, "You do not believe me. Will you accept the cross?" When Sister Mary heard these words her response was, ' Yes, I will accept the cross." The Angel then responded with these words, "Then you will accept the palm and the sword. With the sword and the saints conquered themselves, the world and the devil. I am the Angel of Peace. I come to those whose hearts are attuned to the Voice of God. To such as these I remain a perpetual light through blinding darkness. I was sent by Him Who said, "I am the Light of the world."

Upon hearing this Sister Mary was given to know that this was St. Michael the Arch Angel.
Not long after this message from St. Michael, Sister Mary would be visited by Our Lady who had this message to give to the world and most especially families:

"It is the wish of my Son that fathers and mothers strive to imitate me and my chaste spouse in our holy life at Nazareth. We practiced the simple virtues of family life, Jesus our Son being the center of all our love and activity. The Holy Trinity dwelt with us in a manner far surpassing anything that can ever be imagined. For ours was the earthly paradise where again God walked among men."

"As in our little home no sin was to be found, so it is the wish of the Heart of my Son and my Immaculate Heart that sin should, as far as possible, be unheard of in the homes of our children."

"The Divine Trinity will dwell in your midst only if you are faithful in practicing the virtues of our life at Nazareth. Then, you also, my children, you also will become another paradise. God will then walk among you and you will have peace."

" I need your help to bring peace into the world. Do not disappoint me."

We see once again the great emphasis placed on the importance of family life, Our Lady did not say to make sure you have the latest in DVD players or the latest CD's. We are urged instead to place the Trinity as first place in the family unit.

Our Lady also imparted these words to Sister Mary:

"I am pleased, my child, with the love and honor my children in America give to me, especially through my glorious and unique privilege of the Immaculate Conception. I promise to reward their love by working through the power of my Son's Heart and my Immaculate Heart miracles of grace among them. I do not promise miracles of the body, but of the soul."

" For it is mainly through these miracles of grace that the Holy Trinity is glorified among men and nations. Let America continue and grow in its love for me, and I in return, in union with the Heart of my Son, promise to work wonders in her. My child, I desire that this be known."

" I am Our Lady of America. I desire that my children honor me, especially by the purity of their lives."

As I mentioned earlier we must remember that these messages were given at a time of innocence in America this is why the very same messages need to be heard today as they are most needed. Let us reflect on the content of these revelations and ponder within our own hearts if our families reflect those of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

I would encourage all to read more about Our Lady of America.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Jesus Message To Sister Mary of the Trinity

2006-07-12T01:00:00.000-04:00

Louisa Jaques was born in the year 1901. Unlike many other ladies who were favoured with visits from our Lord, Louisa was not an overly devout young girl. Her parents were lax protestants who lived in South Africa, this was not a good example for Louisa to follow and helped bring Louisa to lose belief in God.

Though Louisa went through a period of doubting Gods existance, God had not given up on his beloved child. It was during this time that Louisa was given a vision of a nun who was praying to God, from this time on Louisa had a secret longing to become a nun.

Louisa began to secretly go to Catholic Churches and pray to this God who had so touched her heart, it was not long before Louisa felt a great longing to enter the Catholic Church. This began an internal struggle within her as she began to fight this calling that God had begun to whisper in her heart. One day Louisa fell ill and through prayer God cured her of her ailment from then on Louisa was determined to enter a Religious Order.

This brought even more problems for Louisa as many were suspicious of her Protestant background even though Louisa truly loved Jesus most especially in the Eucharist, still Louisa persevered. Finally Louisa upon journeying to the Holy Land went and prayed in a Catholic church belonging to the Poor Clares. It was here that Louisa great wish came true she joined the Poor Clares and took the name Sister Mary of the Trinity.

Around this time Sister Mary began to hear the voice of our Lord in the inner depths of her heart and soul. At first Sister Mary was concerned and so sort the advice of her Spiritual Director who ordered her to write down our Lords words spoken to her.

These are the messages that our Lord gave to this most holy and devout Nun, Sister Mary of the Trinity of the Poor Clares Jerusalem;

Jesus words to Sister Mary on Abandonment and trusting in God.

"Let me act; you are not competent to do anything; it is not your province."

"My little daughter, if you endeavor to speak to Me, your voice might drown Mine...It is better to keep a respectful silence that allows you to listen to Me."

"The most important work is not that which you do, it is that which you allow Me to do among you."

"The purpose of your life does not lie in the personal merit due to your generosity; your merit will lie in using all your generosity to allow Me to live in you."

Our Lords words to Sister Mary on Charity

"The communion of Saints, fellowship, brotherly mutual help are gifts of God. The human means given you, use them."

"No soul will enter My paradise without having forgiven at least once."

"Why are you not content with what the Church says? 'He who is not against Me is with Me.'

"There is not a single material advantage, however great it may be, that ought not to be sacrificed to charity, or that justifies actions against charity."

"It is I, your Jesus, whom you love in your neighbor; I, who am hidden in each soul, that I may grow there, I have such need to meet a heart that desires Me there and loves Me.."

"Be charitable, above all in your thoughts: the rest will follow spontaneously of itself."

Jesus to Sister Mary on Confidence

"When you have all that is necessary, you deprive Me of the joy of taking care of you."

"Let me have the pleasure of defending you at the right time."

"It is My joy to respond as God to humble confidence."

"You honour Me more by the confidence you show Me than by all that you could give Me."

Our Lords words to Sister Mary on Faith

" Pray that faith may spread. It transforms everything. Do you understand what is the greatest act of love that you can offer Me? It is when you make an act of pure faith. Faith places you in the light of that order in which you were created. You must follow that light."

"Faith is also a form of obedience: the submission of the mind."

"The greatest proof of love that you can give Me is to believe in Me."

Our Lords words to Sister Mary on Generosity

" The more you give Me, the more I will increase your capacity for giving."

"It is when a soul forgives and is silent that she most resembles My Mother."

"One must be blindly generous. Children must be taught generosity; it will turn their souls towards Me for the whole of their lives. Teach them to do rather more than not enough...to give always a little more than is actually asked of them. And in giving to hide their gifts."

Our Lords words to Sister Mary on Heaven

" The trials of your life on earth are such a small thing in comparison with that which they obtain for you for eternity."

"Rejoice, My beloved! Are you not in a hurry to join Me?...I long to keep you near Me; I long for you to finish your preparation."

"I wish for every soul to understand that I am awaiting her. That beyond this life a boundless love awaits her, and that she must hasten...must purify herself to meet Love, and let that be her one object."

"If you only knew how great a thing it is: to appear before God. If the soul is ready, why wish to detain her? Think more of her than of yourself."

Our Lords words to Sister Mary on Holiness

"The more you give Me, the more I will increase your capacity for giving."

"It is not sins that injure your purity, it is your pride, which, so often, does not wish to acknowledge them."

"Sanctity is to allow Me to live in you, and it is I who bring it to pass within you. It is to give Me your human nature so I may live on among you."

Our Lords words to Sister Mary on Humility

" It is with coal that I make diamonds. What would I not do with a soul, however black she might be, who would give herself to Me!"

"Do you understand that you are nothing? Apart from Me you are nothing but rebellion, refusal, negation."

"When you do not think of yourself, My grace visits you, and I provide what is necessary for you. When you try to do it yourself, I leave you to your own care."

Sister Mary of the Trinity died in 1942.

I would encourage all to read more about our Lords messages to this most Holy Sister.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Apparitions-Prisoners of War- a True Story of 'Our Lady'?

2006-06-27T02:49:00.000-04:00

At a prisoner of war camp, under the rule of the Japanese, the Australians and other soldiers were in desperate need of medical supplies.

One night two Australian soldiers were outside the barracks chatting, when they spotted a lovely lady standing by the wired fence. The soldiers approached her and asked if she could speak English, she just gently smiled, so the two soldiers took a chance and asked this lady if she could supply them with the required amount of quinine and other medications, she smiled, gently nodded her head and walked away.

The next night she returned with the exact amount asked for, nothing more nothing less, the soldiers thanked her profusely. Then a few weeks later when these medications were running low, the two same soldiers stood outside waiting to see if this lady would return. One night she did and once again the soldiers gave her a list of medications they needed. The next night she returned with the required amount, once again they thanked her and asked if it were possible to do this every two weeks? They didn't want to push their luck or endanger the life of this lady. And so it continued till the time when the camp was liberated.

Many years after the war, at a remembrance gathering, the soldiers spoke about this beautiful lady, and all agreed after hearing this story that these two Australian soldiers should return to that country and find that lady. They wanted to put into action someway of honouring her through a bravery award or medal. So the two retired soldiers returned to this country and searched the neighbouring villages, after giving descriptions of this beautiful lady not one village could recall her, and many said that NO such lady existed, as the description given did not fit anyone who had ever lived there.

Now the soldiers were stunned because this lady was not Asian in appearance, and the villagers said they would have remembered such a person but none of them did!

One of the Australian soldiers was catholic the other an atheist, the catholic soldier said with a shocked _expression, " it must have been "Our Lady", while the atheist believed that all the villagers simply had a "memory lapse".

Now what do you believe? Was it Our Lady or an unknown lady?

Peace of Christ to ALL

Our Lady of Tre Fontane

2006-06-15T07:35:00.001-04:00

Bruno Cornacchiola though raised a Catholic grew to not only detest everything Catholic but also nursed a deep hatred for the Catholic Church and vowed action in order to bring down the Church he so hated.

Bruno's hatred of the Catholic Church was not helped in that he grew up poor and so kept company with unruly boys of his own age. After only receiving a rudimentary education Bruno joined the military which seemed to suit his need for constant excitement and fed his need to hate someone or something.

One would think with such hatred eating at his very soul, that Bruno would be a lost cause, but God and our Lady thought differently. So even though Bruno went on his own evil path, soon God would intervene by sending the Mother of God to appeal to him directly.

Before this though, Bruno decided to go and fight in the Spanish civil war, though he had no particular ideology Bruno fought simply for the love of it. When he arrived in Spain Bruno met up with a Lutheran man who convinced Bruno that the Catholic Church was the cause of all the world evils and needed to be destroyed, most especially the Pontiff! These words fed Bruno's already active hatred of all things Catholic, and he vowed then to one day kill the Pope!

This was no empty threat for while in Spain Bruno bought a dagger in order to carry out this evil deed, his heart was indeed in the depths of darkness as his family also felt the wrath of this hate filled man. Bruno was not a good husband and constantly beat his wife, he also threw out any statues or other religious items from his home. The Cornacchiola household was certainly NOT a happy one, as his wife lived in fear everyday of her life and the children suffered as they themselves were beaten and witnessed their fathers violence towards their mother.

Due to his violent nature Bruno demanded that his wife leave the Catholic Church and join a protestant Church, under great duress Bruno's wife did just that but only after she had applied conditions that Bruno would make the Nine Fridays devotion. Bruno scoffed at this 'challenge' and so did as his wife suggested, it had little impact on this enraged man and so Iolanda left the Catholic Church and joined her husband in the new Protestant Church, though she was sorely grieved at taking this action.

Bruno eventually found a steady job as a tram conductor in Rome, but this brought no relief to the family as Bruno's violence intensified against Iolanda and his children who had to deal with his abuse and drunkenness. Iolanda though did not give up hope and constantly prayed for the salvation of her husband and the well being of their children.

This man's heart was so full of hate that he soon became an avowed communist much to his wife's distress. Bruno had also not forgotten his vow to kill the Pope and so he began to plan the ultimate crime, to assassinate the reigning Pontiff.

One day while he was preparing an anti-Church and anti-Mary speech, Bruno took his children to the park where he sat and wrote notes on his speech as his children played ball. As Bruno prepared his notes he could hear his children gleefully playing together, this did not deter Bruno from his course.

It was only when the children cried out that they had lost their ball that Bruno with great irritation left his notes and began to help his children look for the missing ball. While Bruno and his children were searching for the ball Bruno could hear his son Gianfranco say over and over 'oh beautiful lady, beautiful lady'. Very much in fear for his son Bruno searched for Gianfranco and found him kneeling transfixed before the small grotto, soon all three of Bruno's children knelt in awe at the sight of this most beautiful lady. Bruno immediately tried to get his children away from the Grotto but to no avail, he as strong as he was could not lift his own little one's. Finally Bruno yelled, 'God help us!'

Upon yelling this out, Bruno could finally see what his children were seeing, as two hands reached out and touched his eyes he gradually saw before him the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He also felt a swelling of great inner joy at the sight of his most gracious and lovely woman. Bruno like his children could not move or remove his eyes away from this glorious woman who was wearing a green mantle over a white dress with a rose sash tied at her waist. Her expression was one of deep sadness and Bruno felt immediate compunction over the sad look in her eyes, but still he could not tear his eyes away from such a sight as this most wondrous lady.

As Bruno took in this sight he also noticed that the beautiful and sad lady held a book in her hands which she cradled close to her heart and beneath her feet was a broken crucifix on top of a black cloth. Bruno could hardly believe what he was seeing but he could not move as he listened to our Lady speak to him.

Our lady bent a little towards Bruno and said these words to him, "I am she who is related to the Divine Trinity. I am the Virgin of Revelation. You have persecuted me, now is the time to stop! Come and be part of the Holy Fold which is the Celestial Court on earth. God's promise is unchangeable and will remain so. The nine First Fridays in honor of the Sacred Heart, which your faithful wife persuaded you to observe before you walked down the road of lies, has saved you." Our Lady continued to instruct Bruno as she said, "Live the divine doctrine. Practise Christianity. Live the Faith....The Hail Marys that you pray with faith and love are like golden arrows that go straight to the heart of Jesus," and, "Pray much and recite the Rosary for the conversion of sinners, of unbelievers and of all Christians."

Bruno was stunned at her words and a transformation began to take place within the heart of this man who had been driven by hate but had now been touched by Divine Love through the help of our Lady. Bruno's heart began to beat with the chorus of love rather than the loud and raucous diatribe of hate, a miracle had happened within the soul of this one man which would affect his life forever more.

Our Lady also had more messages for this simple man who's life would never be the same again, as she continued to speak with him, "I promise this special favour: With this sinful soil (the soil of the grotto) I shall perform great miracles for the conversion of unbelievers and of sinners.....Science will deny God and will refuse His calls." Our lady then spoke of her Assumption into heaven, "My body could not and did not decay. I was assumed into Heaven by my Son and the angels." The Blessed Mother also instructed Bruno with a special message for the Holy Father himself, "You must go to the Holy Father, the Pope, the Supreme Pastor of Christianity, and personally tell him my message. Bring it to his attention. I shall tell you how to recognize the one who will accompany you to see the Pope."

After this message Our Lady disappeared leaving a pungent scent of roses, Bruno was almost in shock at what he had seen and heard, he would never be the same again. Upon returning home, Iolanda could smell the scent of roses and when she enquired the children blurted out that they had seen a most beautiful lady, Iolanda with tears in her eyes forgave her husband as Bruno begged her forgiveness for his vicious behaviour towards her and their children.

Bruno was indeed a changed man and he with his entire family re-converted back to the Catholic Faith which filled his wife's heart with great joy. Never again would Bruno raise his hand in violence against his family.

It would take two years before Bruno could fulfill Our Lady's request when he and a group were invited to pray the Rosary in private with Pope Pius XII. After completing this most holy prayer the Pope then asked if anyone wished to speak with him. Bruno immediately raised his hand and with great sorrow he knelt before the Pope and begged his forgiveness for his years of hatred and his intention to kill this holy man of God, the Pope unhesitatingly gave Bruno his forgiveness.

Even though over time many would try and use this simple man for their own purposes, Bruno has maintained what he saw and what our Lady revealed to him. He also continued to remain a devout Catholic with a sincere devotion to the Mother of God.

I would encourage all to read more about Our Lady of Tre Fontane, with due consideration that the Church is investigating this amazing vision of our Lady of Revelations.

Peace of Christ to ALL

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Visions of St. Rose of Lima

2006-05-30T04:53:00.000-04:00

Isabel De Flores Y Del Oliva was born in the year 1585 to very devout parents of Spanish-Indian heritage. Because of her rosy cheeks, little Isabel was quickly nicknamed Rose and it is as Rose that she is now remembered in the Catholic Church, as the first Saint of the America's.

From a very early age Rose would show an unusual love for Jesus and the suffering that our Lord undertook in our place. Even as a baby many people including her parents were amazed that this child would gaze adoringly at the Crucifix and nothing seemed to distract her from her contemplation of Jesus. Her understanding of Christ's suffering was almost an inherent condition within the soul of this devout child, even when she too was made to suffer through an operation she uttered no cries but withstood the pain in silence. Another time when Rose was suffering with severe earache once again she uttered no cries of pain nor were tears shed and when questioned about how she withstood such pain little Rose responded, "our Lord's crown of thorns must have hurt much more."

There was always something mysterious about the little Rose who seemed to grasp the most fundamental aspects of the Faith and most especially of prayer. When her Mother tried to teach her daughter to read and write, she gave up in exasperation, a little while later Rose came to her mother and gave her a page where she had written down some prayers. Rose's mother was most surprised and startled and upon asking her daughter how she had come to write such things, Rose surprised her mother even more when she replied very honestly, " I asked the baby Jesus to teach me, Mama, to save you the work; and He did."

When still quite young Rose's brother built her a little hermitage, and from this little building Rose would spend much of the day and night in prayer while practicing severe mortifications. Her diet consisted of stale bread crusts, bitter herbs and water, when Lent would begin, Rose also deprived herself of her bread crusts. All this seems astounding to those of us living in this modern world where going without one meal can leave our tummy's grumbling in discontent, but in Rose's era this was considered normal acts of penance.

One day Rose noted the worried look upon the face of her parents and though her father was loathe to tell her, he in end confided that he had overspent their family budget and that the creditors were now insisting he pay the money that was owed immediately upon saying this Rose's Papa exclaimed, "all is lost. It is the end." It was not the end as far as Rose was concerned and she immediately began praying that God would help her poor Papa. As Rose prepared to leave the Church with her brother, a man approached Rose and said to her, "I have this package of money, for the senorita. Give this to your father for his needs." Upon returning home her family was jubilant that their money worries were over but much more as the family now considered that Rose was indeed a special child of God.

Once when praying in Church Rose came under severe attack by the devil who sent her many temptations to try and lure her away from her first love which is Jesus. Upon finally overcoming this terrible attack, Rose questioned her Lord in these words, "Lord, if you had been here I would not have been exposed to such horrible temptations." Upon which her beloved Lord replied, "Rose, if I had not been there, do you think you would have conquered?"

One day when Rose was praying at Church with her brother, Fernando it came time for them to leave, whereupon Rose found she could not move. Growing exasperated with his errant sister, Fernando insisted that she get up immediately, usually very obedient to everyone's commands Rose found she could not move and when Fernando came to help her he also could not move his sister who seemed set in stone. Finally Rose prayed to our Lady and said, "Good Mother, if you deliver me, I promise you to go back to my mother and live at home with my parents as long as you order me to do so, instead of in the convent." After she had finished this prayer Rose was finally able to move and returned home with a puzzled and stunned Fernando.

Even though Rose had set her heart on entering a Religious Order it was not to be as her parents were opposed to it most especially her mother, this did not mean that God had rejected her and soon it became apparent to Rose that she should join the Dominican Third Order. It was also at this time while serving the sick and the needy that Rose met and became spiritual friends with her soul friend, Martin de Porres, who helped her with the sick and feeble.

Many times Rose's mother, Olivia would become frustrated at the piousness shown by her devout and very beautiful daughter, it was not that Olivia did not love her daughter indeed she did! It simply vexed her that Rose did not seem to be like other girls and long for marriage and babies. Therefore Olivia stood opposed to anything religious that her daughter wished to embrace. Then one day as Olivia lay down to rest, she saw a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary who said these words to Olivia, "This rose represents your daughter, my Son's cherished flower: I plucked her for Him from your garden and He will not let her go. Only see how grateful He is to you for having tended her for Him and for having given her to me!" Our Lady then showed the baby Jesus to Olivia as she lay there Olivia then saw a young woman in a Dominican habit kneel before Jesus and kiss His baby feet, Olivia knew this was her lovely daughter Rose, then Olivia heard a voice say, "Come, spouse of Christ, accept the crown the Lord has prepared for thee from eternity." After seeing this Olivia stopped all objections to her daughters need to live as Dominican Third Order.

Not all of Rose's experiences were grand there were times where she suffered the most severe spiritual aridity. During such a dark night of the soul Rose confided the depths of her anguish to her spiritual brother, Martin de Porres, as she fretted that perhaps she had offended her beloved Lord. Martin was able to comfort Rose with these wise words, "I am not at all surprised at this purification the Lord allows you to bear. I should be more surprised if you had not begun to suffer some such trial. It is the lot of those whom God wishes to raise to the highest sanctity to pass this way. You should find in the very violence of your trial a source of encouragement, since He purifies most, those for home He has destined the most perfect union with Himself!" This brought Rose great comfort as she suffered through this dark and lonely path towards her beloved Lord.

During her life there were meaning miracles attributed to Rose not only of visions but also of healings, this brought her to the attention of the Inquisition, in which through her evident piety and holiness the Inquisitors were appeased. Throughout the entire life of Rose was her utter obedience to those in authority, she never once contradicted or disobeyed an order from anyone in authority, this also impressed the Inquisition.

One of Roses last visions was of seeing herself in the middle of a beam of light which she knew extended from the source of all goodness which is God. Within the light was a beautiful rainbow of many beautiful colours also Rose saw a Cross covered in the precious blood of our Lord. Through this beautiful light Rose could also see our Lord resplendent and so bright that she could almost not bear to look upon Him, Rose was enraptured. Next to our Lord Rose also saw a set of scales and surrounding these scales were Angels and souls upon the scales the Angels placed great weights which Rose knew to be tribulations and sufferings, she also saw the weight of her own scales and knew she would suffer much. Once the sufferings had been completed the Angels then placed graces upon the scales the graces were equal to the sufferings Rose knew this meant that for every suffering there is the compensating grace which helps the soul endure suffering for the sake of love. Our Lord then spoke these words, "Affliction is always accompanied by Grace; Grace is proportionate to Suffering. The measure of My gifts is increased with the measure of trials. The Cross is the true and only road that leads souls to Heaven." Rose then felt her own soul fill with an abundance of Graces.

After this vision Rose was led the way of the Cross as she suffered immensely before she died, Rose's last words were, "Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!...Jesus be with me!"

Upon breathing her last, her body retained its suppleness and an odor of sanctity surrounded the body of this most beautiful Saint.

I would encourage all to read more about St. Rose of Lima.

Peace of Christ to ALL

St. John Bosco's Dog or Angel?

2006-05-22T02:26:00.000-04:00

Saint John Bosco was a heroic man who cared deeply about the young boys he cared for. Through his perseverance he began a school for wayward boy's, to help them return to the Faith and to become men of strength. Though John Bosco loved his boys and saw through their hard facades, not everyone held the same opinion, and many wished that he would remove his school from their area.

John Bosco was also a strong man of great Faith and he fought courageously against those espousing heretical views, this incurred the wrath of some who disputed with the Church's Teachings.

Some of the townspeople felt so strongly that they even plotted to take his life and thereby destroy his schools, but what people plot and what God plans are two different things!

John Bosco had weathered some attacks against his person when out and about performing his Priestly duties. One night as John Bosco was returning home he felt that he was being followed and growing wary of the constant harassment, this brave man hastened his steps. It was not long before the footsteps he could hear were gaining ground, when suddenly out of the cold mist John Bosco saw a very large dog come towards him. The dog soon fell into step beside him, and after reaching his goal John Bosco also discovered that the man following him had been frightened off by the huge dog.

Many nights when John Bosco traveled around the town and most especially in the more dangerous districts, often times the dog would miraculously show up just when John Bosco most needed him. The dog became such a friend on his dangerous missions that John Bosco named him, Grigio.

One night when Father John Bosco was returning home an assassin tried to shoot him dead and upon failing this the man rushed forward to beat this wonderful Priest to death! When suddenly John Bosco cried out for his dog 'Grigioooo' the dog immediately came to John Bosco's aid and bit the attacker with all his might. The attacker after a cry of pain ran from the scene, Grigio had saved John Bosco's life!

This scene was repeated when on another occasion two men set forth to murder this annoying Priest and so they lay in wait upon him in the shadows. Upon seeing John Bosco the two men rushed forward and covered his head with a sack, they then began to beat him but not for long, for once again Grigio seemed to spring from out of no-where and grabbed one of the assailants by the neck. It was John Bosco who then had to save the life of his attacker as he commanded Grigio to set his assailant free.

The dog soon became John Bosco's closest companion even to the extent of preventing Father John from leaving his home, perhaps Grigio knew when this brave Priest needed to be kept safe and the safest place was home!

One night when Father John Bosco was eating a convivial dinner with friends, the family decided to feed this great protector of their friend Father John. So the husband prepared to give scraps to Grigio only to find that this huge dog had vanished, but where and how? Because of the dangers that faced Father John the family had bolted all the doors and windows. Where had Grigio disappeared too and more importantly how?

Who was this courageous and fierce protector of Father John Bosco, an ordinary dog or an Angel sent to protect him?

I would encourage all to read more about the life of this great Saint John Bosco.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Our Lady of Fatima-The Real Message

2006-05-12T04:41:00.001-04:00

Catholic Apparitions

The visitation of Our Lady to three children in Fatima, Portugal is one of the most famous apparitions of our Lady in the world. It stands alongside Lourdes as one of the most revered and respected appearances of our Lady. But unlike Lourdes, Fatima has also become a centre point for confusion amongst the faithful who misunderstand the important message given to the three young children of Fatima, Lucia dos Santos, Jacinta Marto and her brother Francisco Marto.

Many Catholics already know of the miracle of Fatima where the sun was seen to spin and also many of the messages given to the world by our Lady as a warning, but what has caused dissension is the third secret of Fatima. Many people have chosen to believe that the Vatican has entered into a vast conspiracy to keep the secret from the world, this is not so!

As in all apparitions our Lady can reveal nothing further than what has already been foretold in the Bible, so there is no 'new revelation' that needs to be known. What The Blessed Virgin Mary has done is merely illuminate and make present the Word of God through Scripture so that those who do not reflect on what God has revealed through the Bible will quickly remedy this by studying the Bible alongside our Catholic Traditions and Doctrine.

As the Word reveals in Mathew, "Jesus said to them in reply, "See that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many. You will hear of wars and reports of wars; see that you are not alarmed, for these things must happen, but it will not yet be the end. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be famines and earthquakes from place to place. All these are the beginning of the labor pains. Then they will hand you over to persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. And then many will be led into sin; they will betray and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and deceive many; and because of the increase of evildoing, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved....If anyone says to you then, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. False messiahs and false prophets will arise, and they will perform signs and wonders so great as to deceive, if that were possible, even the elect. So if they say to you, 'He is in the desert,' do not go out there; if they say, 'He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it." We see this piece of Scripture correspond within the Catholic Catechism, 672 Before his Ascension Christ affirmed that the hour had not yet come for the glorious establishment of the messianic kingdom awaited by Israel[561] which, according to the prophets, was to bring all men the definitive order of justice, love and peace.[562] According to the Lord, the present time is the time of the Spirit and of witness, but also a time still marked by "distress" and the trial of evil which does not spare the Church[563] and ushers in the struggles of the last days. It is a time of waiting and watching.[564]...674 The glorious Messiah's coming is suspended at every moment of history until his recognition by "all Israel", for "a hardening has come upon part of Israel" in their "unbelief" toward Jesus.[568] St. Peter says to the Jews of Jerusalem after Pentecost: "Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old."[569] St. Paul echoes him: "For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?"[570] The "full inclusion" of the Jews in the Messiah's salvation, in the wake of "the full number of the Gentiles",[571] will enable the People of God to achieve "the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ", in which "God may be all in all".[572] And once again we read in the Catechism these words of instruction for the Faithful, 675 Before Christ's second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers.[573] The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth[574] will unveil the "mystery of iniquity" in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh.[575]

With the visions of Fatima and the messages our Lady is simply reminding us of what we should inherently know, to pray with our hearts, to study God's Word, to participate in the Sacraments of the Church, most especially the Sacrament of Penance, in order to receive the Eucharist in a state of Grace. To be obedient to the Churches Teaching and its Authority and the real meaning of Fatima is to practice acts of penance in reparation for the many sins committed against God.

As much as many people would like to think, there is NO smoking gun when it comes to the revelations of Fatima. The Catechism states quite clearly about private revelation, 67 Throughout the ages, there have been so-called "private" revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ's definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history. Guided by the Magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his saints to the Church."

It cannot be stated more clearly than this, that though our Lady cannot reveal to us anything over and above what has been revealed through her Son our Lord Jesus Christ. The Blessed Virgin Mary does warn us to return to the fundamentals of our Faith by following the Word given to us at such a price and to the Authority of the Catholic Church and the Vicar of Christ.

This is the message given to the three Seers written down by Sister Lucia, regarding the 'third secret', "After the two parts which I have already explained, at the left of Our Lady and a little above, we saw an Angel with a flaming sword in his left hand; flashing, it gave out flames that looked as though they would set the world on fire; but they died out in contact with the splendor that Our Lady radiated towards him from her right hand: pointing to the earth with his right hand, the Angel cried out in a loud voice: 'Penance, Penance, Penance!'. And we saw in an immense light that is God: 'something similar to how people appear in a mirror when they pass in front of it' a Bishop dressed in White 'we had the impression that it was the Holy Father'. Other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious going up a steep mountain, at the top of which there was a big Cross of rough-hewn trunks as of a cork-tree with the bark; before reaching there the Holy Father passed through a big city half in ruins and half trembling with halting step, afflicted with pain and sorrow, he prayed for the souls of the corpses he met on his way; having reached the top of the mountain, on his knees at the foot of the big Cross he was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows at him, and in the same way there died one after another the other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious, and various lay people of different ranks and positions. Beneath the two arms of the Cross there were two Angels each with a crystal aspersorium in his hand, in which they gathered up the blood of the Martyrs and with it sprinkled the souls that were making their way to God." Though the language is symbolic it also correlates to Scripture and the Catechism, which warns of a falling away as souls grow cold, "And then many will be led into sin; they will betray and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and deceive many; and because of the increase of evildoing, the love of many will grow cold."

The most integral aspect of the message of Fatima is not one of scandal or a dramatic scene of 'signs and wonders' the REAL message of Fatima is that of 'Penance, Penance, Penance'. We know that sins abound everywhere and that we too are all sinners, therefore to appease the Divine Justice of God our Lady reminds us to offer Penance to God in reparation for the sins committed against His Divine Majesty. As the then Cardinal Ratzinger wrote, "key word" of the third secret of Fatima "is the triple cry, 'Penance, Penance, Penance!'' Once again it cannot be stated more clearly than what has been spoken by Bishops, Cardinals and Popes.

Those who seek the 'sensational' in the messages of Fatima, have missed the point entirely, our Lady is beyond human hysterics, the Queen of Heaven always points the way to her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The Blessed Mother simply reminds her children to follow the Word of God which is Life and to be OBEDIENT to the Catholic Churches Teaching, irrespective of what society is teachings for God's Moral Law eclipses man made laws. Those who do prefer to believe the more 'sensational' aspects of Fatima do so out of ignorance in that the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is not to be mistaken for the time when our Lord returns to Judge the Living and the dead as is spoken in the Credo. It is Christ Himself which will herald in that peace which the Word Reveals in the book of Revelation, "Behold, I am coming soon. I bring with me the recompense I will give to each according to his deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end...The one who gives this testimony says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! "

What our Lady of Fatima is asking of the Faithful is to offer up penances for the conversion of Russia and the world, in order to avoid and mitigate Gods Divine Wrath against a faithless people.

Through the valid Consecration of Russia made by Pope John Paul II united with the Bishops and for which Sister Lucia conveyed to the Pope our Lady's acceptance of this Consecration, the communistic hold over Russia has ceased. The Faithful must now continue to pray and offer penance to God for sins committed against Him and for the sins which cry out to Heaven for Divine Justice.

This is the essential message of Fatima as our own generation becomes more secularized and belief in Jesus Divinity is now questioned not only by non believers but also by those who 'profess to believe', yet they deny the fundamentals of our Catholic Faith.

Has our Faith reached a stage of 'coldness' that is a question each person must ask of themselves.

I would encourage all to read more about our Lady of Fatima and its message for the world.

Peace of Christ to ALL

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The Miraculous Medal and Alphonse Ratisbonne

2006-05-04T06:49:00.000-04:00

When Our Lady appeared to Saint Catherine Laboure in 1830 a Jewish family living in France would have no idea how much this would reverberate through their home.

The Ratisbonne family were wealthy Jewish bankers who numbered among their closest friends the Rothschilds as well as other distinguished families of the nobility and the wealthy classes. The family would be shaken to its core when its first born son Theodor embraced the Catholic Faith alongside some of his Jewish friends. Theodor's conversion would tear at the heart of the Ratisbonne family and most especially his younger brother Alphonse, who came to hate all things Catholic! Little did he know that Our Lady had plans for this young man.

Alphonse was born in the year 1814 in Strasbourg, France. All the Ratisbonne children were spoilt and over indulged which only increased the pain of the parents when their son Theodor turned his back on his parents religion and chose to convert to the Catholic Faith, but not only to convert but to become a Priest! This was too much for them and too much also for Alphonse who vowed to hate the Church as long as he lived.

Life was moving along relatively smoothly for Alphonse as he studied law with the promise of working within his families banking firm, he was also engaged to be married to his niece, Flore. It seemed Alphonse's life was mapped out for him or was it?

Before marrying Flore, Alphonse set off to travel and see as much of the world as he could, something many of the more wealthy families did at that time. Being a man of great sophistication Alphonse chose countries where he could let go of all propriety and give in to his hedonistic tendencies without incurring too much wrath. Towards the end of his foreign adventures Alphonse made the mistake of booking the wrong ticket and ended up in Rome of all places! That hated country which was full of so many loathsome Catholics! As Alphonse once said about these Catholics, "I cherished a hatred against priests, churches, and convents, and especially against the Jesuits, whose very name goaded me to frenzy."

Upon touring Rome's famous ruins Alphonse accidentally meets up with an old friend, Gustave de Bussieres and it was through Gustave that he met his brother Baron Theodor de Bussieres who had also converted to Catholicism. Alphonse was infuriated even more so when he discovered that the Baron knew and was friends with his own brother, Theodor the family outcast.

While out with Gustave one day he accompanied his friend into a Church, Alphonse was not too happy about it but Gustave needed to speak with the Priest so Alphonse waited rather uncomfortably in the Church. Suddenly Alphonse felt 'something' move deep within his spirit as he waited for his friend, a feeling of deep peace and a longing for what, exactly? Alphonse grew uncomfortable as he tried to ignore this 'feeling' and the beautiful music within the Church, he started to shift in his seat as he looked for his friend in order to make a hasty retreat.

Alphonse was relieved to leave that place, what was it that he had felt? A few days later he paid a courtesy visit to Baron Theodor de Bussieres and his family, it wasn't long as he listened to the Baron that Alphonse loses his temper and launches an attack against all things Catholic! The Baron was unfazed and then challenged Alphonse to a simple test. Alphonse felt laughter welling in his heart as he found that the 'test' was nothing more than superstitious nonsense to wear the Miraculous Medal, so Alphonse scoffingly accepted this challenge. The Baron though was not finished and he requested that Alphonse also recite the Memorare, this was too much for this hater of the Church!

Though Alphonse hated the Church and all things Catholic he did not wish to show disrespect in front of the family of whom he was a welcome visitor so he accepted the challenge of Baron Theodor as his daughter placed the Miraculous Medal around Alphonse neck. During his stay in Rome Alphonse would occasionally meet up with the Baron who continued to discuss religion with Alphonse, this began to irritate Alphonse immensely.

One day the Baron told Alphonse about a much respected fellow Frenchman, the Comte de la Ferronays who had also embraced Catholicism. The Comte was near death and as a special request he began to pray deeply for the conversion of Alphonse, though moved by the Comte's sentiments Alphonse didn't pay it much heed to what the Baron told him.

A few days later he once again meets Baron Theodor de Bussieres, who was taking Alphonse on his last tour of the city but upon being told of the death of Comte de la Ferronays the Baron needs to see the Priest in order to make some of the funeral arrangements. Feeling uncomfortable Alphonse agreed to go with the Baron rather than appear churlish at such a sorrowful time.

It would be this visit that would change Alphonse forever for as he waited upon his friend, he suddenly saw before him a gold light, Alphonse rubbed his eyes before looking again. There before him stood the most beautiful lady he had ever seen, her sweet and serene expression shames Alphonse who drops his gaze before one so Majestic as this beautiful lady. Alphonse tries to look at her again but he cannot bring himself to behold such purity and beauty so all he see's are her outstretched hands with rays of light emanating from them. Just like he had seen on the Medal, Alphonse quickly picks up the Miraculous Medal and there it is the very same rays of light.

Alphonse was stunned and a little terrified, but this soon disappeared as the beautiful Lady gestured for him to move closer to her, Alphonse did as requested and on his knees he moved closer to the beautiful lady who then said to him, "Enough--that's good!" It is as he is gazing at the rays which seem to pierce through the murky depths of Alphonse very heart and soul and he is moved to tears as through the Grace of God he is given the knowledge of how his sins have grieved the Triune Spirit. Through this experience an infused knowledge is given to Alphonse who quickly understands the Truth's of Catholicism and most especially the Blessed Sacrament, which contains the true Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Alphonse is shaken to his core at such spiritual illuminations.

When Baron Theodor returned he was amazed to see Alphonse kneeling with his head against the rail of the Chapel, he is even more surprised at the change in Alphonse who with tears streaming down his face he describes to the Baron what he has seen and been told. Through his heartrending sobs he cries out, "How happy I am! How good God is! How unbelievers are to be pitied!" Alphonse was no longer an unbeliever!

Baron Theodor is also overcome and encourages Alphonse to accompany him home but as they journeyed in the carriage together Alphonse exclaims to the Baron, "Take me to a confessor! When can I receive baptism, without which I can no longer live?" The Baron complies with Alphonse request and upon talking to a Priest, 11 days later Alphonse is baptized into the Catholic Church.

This was not to be the end as a few months later Alphonse enters the Jesuits where he lives in peace and harmony for 10 years in the bosom of the Church. He also helps his brother Father Theodor to begin a new Order that of the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion.

It seems there would be two miracles within the Ratisbonne family the brothers were once again reunited with their combined love for Holy Mother Church and our Lady.

I would encourage all to read more about this miraculous event and to wear this most beautiful medal, The Miraculous Medal as revealed to Saint Catherine Laboure.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Our Lady of Zeitoun

2006-04-25T05:51:00.001-04:00

Marian Apparitions

It was an ordinary evening in a small town called Zeitoun in Egypt, some of the towns people were outside their doors chatting as they waited for their husbands to come home. The day had started as any other day, women cooked the breakfasts for their husbands and children, completed the housework and other chores. Men went to work just like any other ordinary day, some feeling tired while others enjoyed their job. Children did their chores and played games, nothing was different, or was it?

In the year 1968 something very different took place in this nondescript little province of Egypt, for it was the evening of April 2nd that two men noticed a woman who seemed to be floating upon the roof of a Church, the men at first thought they were witnessing a woman in distress and so cried out to save her. Some of the women in neighbouring houses came out to see what the fuss was about and they too saw the woman floating above the Church which was named St Mary's which was of the Orthodox denomination.

Upon hearing of the woman the resident Priest came out to see for himself who was upon the roof of his Church! Even though the Priest mixed among the crowds he himself saw nothing, but one person after another with loud exclamations all saw this floating woman, till finally one of the women cried out, "It is our Holy Mother"!

The crowds stood stunned at such a sight, some were overcome with joy while others fretted that perhaps this was the beginning of the end! None though denied what they were seeing, for indeed it was a woman who seemed to glow as she looked at them from above the Church as she swayed and glided around the roof of the Church. Many people were amazed to see such a thing and right before their very eyes with many thousands of witnesses, some were deeply touched that Our Lady would deign to visit them, simple ordinary folk.

Our Lady rarely shows herself to the elite in society but prefers to reveal herself to little ones who are in need of her special Graces given to her from God. With her appearance at Zeitoun our Lady allowed all to see her even political leaders of the country and also the wealthy some of whom were self proclaimed atheists!

Thousands of people poured into this little town to see for themselves this awe inspiring spectacle of the appearance of Mary, but just like Knock our Lady was silent. Many speculated as to the reasons why? Some suggested that this was the very place that the Holy Family had made their home when they had to flee Israel. Others suggested that perhaps Our Lady was warning of future calamities, the answer is no-one knows.

What we do know is that in 1968 Our Lady at times surrounded by lights of angelic beings allowed herself to be seen by thousands of people of all persuasions whether they be atheist, Orthodox, Catholic or Muslim all know and testified to what they had seen with their own eyes and through some of their camera lens as many took photo's of our Lady.

Why did our Lady not speak? Perhaps her silence speaks louder than any words for in the Bible Our Lady spoke very little yet pondered much....maybe it is her example we should follow, to speak little and ponder much on the Mysteries of God as did this most Blessed Mother.

In this age of terror perhaps we need to absorb Our Lady's silent appearance and to contemplate the Will of God in our lives.

I would encourage all to read more about Our Lady of Zeitoun.

Peace of Christ to ALL

The Visions and Miracles of Saint Padre Pio

2006-04-18T02:02:00.000-04:00

Much has been written about that great man of the Church known as Padre Pio, let us examine some of the more extraordinary experiences that touched the life of Padre Pio, those who were close to him and for the world.

Francesco Forgione was born in the year 1887 to poor parents, Grazio and Maria who were farmers in the region of Pietrelcina, though a poor family the Forgione family were rich in love of God and the Church. From early youth the young Francisco had a horror and aversion towards sin to the extent that he would often refuse to play with his contemporaries as they often swore and behaved badly. So the young boy lived a life of deep prayer even in one so young, he felt the call to live as holy as possible in order to please God and God alone! He would often practice penances even to having a rock as his pillow and going without meals, in order to make reparation for his sins and the sins of others. Francisco at the young age of 16 entered the Order of the Capuchin Friars and in January 1903 he took the habit and the name Brother Pio. In 1907 Brother Pio took his final Vows, and was known as Padre Pio.

Though God would touch Padre Pio's life in extraordinary ways, within himself Padre Pio was known for his uncompromising nature, his compassion to all he met and his determination to remain faithful to the Teachings of the Church and his Order, and all in a spirit of humility. Even though he embraced and lived in a spirit of humility and meekness this did not mean that the devil left him alone in fact the opposite was the case, for the devil truly fears a humble and meek spirit that is devoted to God.

Even from a young age the devil would assault this most noble boy with horrible and terrifying dreams, but the young boy held fast to his Faith and trusted in God's Mercy and relied on Him for strength. Upon becoming a Priest the devil increased his attacks upon this holy soul, but now the devil became direct and took to physically attacking this holy Priest with his diabolical assaults upon his person. Padre Pio bore all the pain in a spirit of humbleness and intense prayer as he drew closer to his source of strength, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Through the intensity of his prayer life Padre Pio felt the comforting presence of the Blessed Mother and his Guardian Angel, which strengthened him as his spirit was illumined as to the intensity of the spiritual battle he would face with the enemy of God, Satan himself!

Padre Pio was shown a vision from his youth what this spiritual battle would entail, as he recounted later, "he saw himself in the middle of a large hall between two groups of people, one group had beautiful faces, the other hideous ones. Just then a huge monster came from the end of the hall toward him, but Jesus appeared, in order to give Francesco strength. Before the monster could reach Francesco it was struck by lightening and disappeared. The Lord said to him, "That is the fiend against whom you will have to fight." This vision would prove to be fortuitous, as many pilgrims sought this holy Priest in the Sacrament of Penance, and led Padre Pio into a deeper prayer life, for this holy Priest did not fear Satan but he did fear offending God, a fear shared by many Mystics within the Catholic Church.

Throughout his life Padre Pio had always practiced severe mortifications and austerities in order to overcome the temptation of the body and live for Christ alone. As Padre Pio exclaimed, " I am happier than ever when I am suffering, and if I would listen to the promptings of my heart, I would ask Jesus to give me all the sufferings of men." Though Padre Pio trusted God with absoluteness, he distrusted himself and at times doubts would impose themselves upon him as he confided to a friend, "How difficult, Father, is the way of Christian perfection for a soul so ill-disposed as mine. My badness makes me fearful at every step I take." As in the case of Padre Pio and many other Mystics at times our Lord will allow a soul to undergo extreme aridity of soul in order to strengthen that which is weakest in their nature, but God never abandons a soul even if that soul has lost all 'feelings' of God.

God knows man's frailty and so illuminates the soul with the Spirit and comforts the afflicted soul with His own Presence and also the comforting presence of our Lady, which strengthens the soul to continue to fight the good fight. Padre Pio was also Graced with the Gift of bi-location, and also carried within him the odor of sanctity, where people could smell the scent of roses wherever Padre Pio happened to be. Another Gift given to Padre Pio was the Stigmata where a soul is marked with the sufferings of the Crucified Christ, upon their person, when this first occurred Padre Pio described these wounds as such to his Superior, "red patches, about the size of a cent, and accompanied by acute pain....the pain was much more acute in the left hand and it still persists. I also feel some pain in he soles of my feet." This Gift of the Stigmata would bring both joy and suffering to this holy Priest as he became the focus of much unwanted attention, this truly mortified this humble Priest, as he and his Superiors coped with the ever growing crowds of people who came to be near Padre Pio. Around this time Padre Pio also described another extraordinary occurrence to his Superior, "While I was hearing the confessions of our boys on the evening of 5th, I was suddenly filled with extreme terror at the sight of a celestial being whom I saw with my mind's eye. He held a kind of weapon in his hand, similar to a steel sword with a sharp, flaming point. At the very instant I saw all this, I saw the person hurl the weapon into my soul with all his might. It was all done in a split second. I was hardly able to cry out and felt as if I were dying. I cannot ell you how much I suffered during this period of anguish. Even my insides were torn and ruptured by that weapon, everything lashed by fire and steel. From that day on, I was wounded to death. In the depths of my soul, I feel an open wound with causes me to suffer continual agony." Only few Saints have been honoured to share the wounds of Christ, one of whom was St. Francis of Assisi.

Once people heard about this miraculous occurrence and the other Gifts given to Padre Pio they flocked to him in thousands, whereupon Padre Pio would often be in the Confessional for up to and over 18 hours a day. This remarkable Priest also had the Gift of reading souls, so those people who came to him through the Sacrament of Penance would often be reminded by him of their forgotten sins. These are the testimonies of several people who experienced Padre Pio's extraordinary Gifts. In one case a man felt he had sinned by gluttony and so he went to see Padre Pio as he explains in his own words, "Once I ate too many figs and I felt guilty about it. I thought I had committed a sin of gluttony. Since I would have confession with Padre Pio the next day I thought I would confess it then. The following day as I was walking slowly on the road to the convent, I made an examination of conscience. The sin of gluttony did not come to mind. Padre Pio heard my confession but before concluding and before the absolution I said to him, "I think I am guilty of yet another sin but I can’t remember it." "Don’t worry," he answered me smiling: "for two figs." This is another testimony by a man who went to Padre Pio in the Confessional, "I had decided to give up smoking and to offer this small sacrifice to Padre Pio. Since then, every evening, with the intact packet of cigarettes in my hand, I stayed in front of his image telling him, ‘Father...it is one...’ The second day, ‘Padre, it is two…’ Three months later, I went to San Giovanni Rotondo to see Padre Pio after doing the same thing every evening. ‘Padre,’ I told him as soon as I saw him, ‘I haven't been smoking for 81 days, 81 packets...’ Padre Pio said, ‘I know everything you know, you made me count the packets every evening." Though Padre Pio was a compassionate and kind Priest still he had no time for hypocrites as is seen by these two cases who also went to him for Confession, "A man of some distinction within his own community had the reputation of being a good Catholic, admired and esteemed by all who knew him. Actually he was living in sin. He had neglected his wife, and was now compensating for his loneliness by a relationship with another woman. On one occasion he went to confession to Padre Pio. In order to justify himself, he started talking about a "spiritual crisis." But he had not counted on facing an "extraordinary" confessor. Padre Pio stood up at once and shouted, "What spiritual crisis? You are a litterbug! And God is angry with you. Go away!" As is seen here Padre Pio had no time for those who were trying to use and abuse the Sacrament of Penance for their own purposes. Once again we have another case of a woman caught in serious sin when she went to Padre Pio, "A woman had come from England to see Padre Pio and for him to hear her confession. She went to his confessional but Padre Pio closed the window saying: "I am not available to you." The woman stayed for a few weeks and during this time, daily returned to his confessional and daily was turned away. Finally, Padre Pio consented to hear her confession. She asked the Padre why he made her wait so long to be heard. Padre Pio answered: "And You?" "How long have you made Our Lord wait?" You should wonder how Jesus could welcome you after you committed so many sacrileges. You have delayed your judgment for years, besides sinning against your husband and your mother you have received Holy Communion in mortal sin. The woman was stunned and reformed. She cried when she received absolution. She returned to England a few days later, very happy." It is here that we learn a valuable lesson in the seriousness of sin and to not take the Sacrament of Penance without complete remorse and sorrow for one's sins!

There were also many miraculous events which happened near or around Padre Pio, once during the years of the war food had got so low that many of his fellow Priests were in terrible need of bread. As the townsfolk were also suffering the Priests gave much of their food rations away till one day they were left with hardly no supplies for themselves, so they prayed that the Lord would provide them with some sustenance whereupon the Priests were amazed to see Padre Pio's arms full of bread. When his fellow Priests questioned as to how Padre Pio came upon such a treasure he replied that a pilgrim had knocked on the door and given the bread to him. Another miraculous event occurred when a mother and father who were at Mass came home to find that their young daughter had been accidentally burned in a hot tub of water. The parents immediately sent for a doctor who told them to take their daughter immediately to hospital as she could die at any moment. The parents were terrified and in deep anguish over their beloved child, when suddenly they heard their daughter cry out to them as she said, "Mommy, I don’t have a wound anymore!" "Who has taken your wound?" I asked her out of curiosity. She answered: "Father Pio has come. He took my wounds by putting his whole hand on my burn."

Even the Holy Souls in Purgatory would seek out the help of this holy Priest. One such case was when a soul from Purgatory appeared before Padre Pio, he then told Padre Pio that he had died in a fire and that God had granted him permission that he was able to visit Padre Pio and to request a Mass be offered for the repose of his soul. The next morning Padre Pio offered up the Mass and the soul was able to enter Paradise to spend eternity in Heaven. Another case was when a woman who had just lost her mother appealed to Padre Pio, whereupon after offering a Mass for the repose of her mothers soul, she too entered Eternal Glory into the Kingdom of Heaven.

These are only a few of the miraculous events which happened around Saint Padre Pio a most holy Son of the Church.

I would encourage all to read more about this most illustrious Saint, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Akita-A Warning To The World

2006-04-06T02:36:00.000-04:00

Signs Of The Times

There are many Priests and theologians who believe that the messages given at Akita to Sister Agnes Sasagawa is connected to the messages given to the three young seer's at Fatima Portugal. One of the reasons being that in 1969 while Agnes was recovering from an illness in hospital a Priest heard Agnes say the Fatima prayer at the end of each Decade. This confused the Priest for though he recognised the origins of the prayer it had not yet been released to the people in Japan, Agnes told him that her Guardian Angel had instructed her to pray that particular prayer.

As this particular apparition has been written previously in our archives, let us take a closer look at the actual messages given through Sister Agnes to spread throughout the world.

Here Sister Agnes describes what she saw as she prayed in the chapel on the Feast of the Sacred Heart. "Suddenly, I saw a blinding light shining from the tabernacle. I immediately prostrated myself in adoration and when I lifted my eyes, I saw a soft light which enveloped the altar like a mist or a dense smoke in which appeared a cohort of angels turned towards the Blessed Sacrament whose pure and clear voices proclaimed "Holy, Holy, Holy". On my right I could hear a voice praying alongside my own: " Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, present in the Holy Eucharist, I consecrate my body and soul to be entirely one with Your Heart, being sacrificed at every instant on all the altars of the world and giving praise to the Father, pleading for the coming of His Kingdom. Please receive this humble offering of myself. Use me as you will for the glory of the Father and the salvation of souls. Most Holy Mother of God, never let me be separated from Your Divine Son. Please defend and protect me as Your special child. Amen."

Sister Agnes belonged to the Servants of the Holy Eucharist and her life was mainly spent in contemplative prayer, she was no different from any other of her fellow Sisters but God would touch Sister Agnes in profound ways and also to warn the world of coming chastisements if people did not amend their ways. This devout Sister would also receive the Stigmata which are the wounds of Christ given to chosen souls, the Stigmata has only been given to the most holy Saints in the Church.

As Sister Agnes was having her bandage changed on her hand which had begun bleeding with no due cause she heard the voice of an Angel say to her: " Do not fear. Pray with fervor not only because of your sins, but in reparation for those of all men. The world today wounds the most Sacred Heart of Our Lord by its ingratitude's and injuries. The wounds of Mary are much deeper and more sorrowful than yours. Let us go to pray together in the chapel." When Agnes turned to look at her Angel who she had not seen before she was stunned to see that it looked like her sister who had died before she was able to be baptized. The Angel though smiled and replied gently to Agnes that it was not her sister saying simply, "I am the one who is with you and watches over you."

Though a little disappointed Sister Agnes accompanied her Angel to the Chapel when suddenly as she knelt in prayer the statue of the Virgin Mary seem to come to life and was bathed in a brilliant light, Sister Agnes then fell to the ground in adoration as our Lady spoke to her, "My daughter, my novice, you have obeyed me well in abandoning all to follow me. Is the infirmity of your ears painful? The wound will be healed, be sure. Be patient. It is the last trial. Does the wound cause you to suffer? Pray in reparation for the sins of men. Each person in tis community is my irreplaceable daughter. Do you say well the prayer of the Handsmaid of the Eucharist? Then, let us pray it together." As Agnes prayed she said "Jesus present in the Eucharist" when our Lady interrupted her and said very gently "Truly Present" and once again Our Lady instructed that this form should be said, "From now on, you will add TRULY." After Sister Agnes had completed her prayers as our Lady requested she heard a voice from Heaven say, "Pray very much for the Pope, bishops and priests. Since your Baptism you have always prayed faithfully for them. Pray very much....very much. Tell your superior all that passed today and obey him in everything that he will tell you."

After hearing Sister Agnes pained increased as she lay prostrate on the floor, she then heard the voice of an Angel say to her, " Your sufferings will end today. Carefully engrave in the depth of your heart the thought of the blood of Mary. The blood she shed by Mary has profound meaning. This precious blood is shed to ask your conversion, to ask for peace, in reparation for the ingratitude and the outrages towards the Lord. As with devotion to the Sacred Heart, apply yourself to devotion to the most Precious Blood. Pray in reparation for all men." Sister Agnes knew that the blood the Angel was referring to was from the statue of Mary which miraculously had blood seeping from it. Sister Agnes had also been suffering from severe deafness as well as the holy Stigmata, but in all humbleness she accepted all pain in quiet and with no resentment.

Our Lady also had warnings for the world which would be given to us through Sister Agnes, as the statue of Mary kept weeping blood from both the eyes and hands. Our Lady said to Sister Agnes these words, "Many men in the world, afflict the Lord. I desire souls to console Him, to soften the anger of the Heavenly Father. I wish, with my Son, for souls who will repair by their suffering and their poverty for the sinners and ungrateful ones." These words are important to reflect on as modernism and other old heresies enter through the back door of our Glorious Church. Our Lady continued on the same theme, "In order that the world might know His anger, the Heavenly father is preparing to inflict a great chastisement on all mankind. With my son, I have intervened so many times to appease the wrath of the Father. I have prevented the coming of calamities by offering the sufferings of the Son on the Cross. His Precious Blood, and beloved souls who console Him forming a cohort of victim souls. Prayer, penance, and courageous sacrifices can soften the Father's anger...Let each one endeavor, according to capacity to offer oneself entirely to the Lord."

On the anniversary of the completion of the apparitions at Fatima Our Lady once again spoke to Agnes with these prophetic words, "As I told you , if men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible chastisement on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge, such as one has never seen before. Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful. The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead. The only arms which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by my Son. Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary, with the rosary, Pray for the Pope, the bishops and the priests. The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against other bishops. The priests who venerate Me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres... churches and altars sacked: the Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord. The demon will be especially implacable against souls consecrated to God. The thought of the loss of so many souls is the cause of my sadness. If sins increase in number and gravity, there will no longer be pardon for them..."

When reading the above and contemplating its sincere and grave warning to the world one is also reminded of Scripture, "As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately and said, "Tell us, when will this happen, and what sign will there be of your coming, and of the end of the age?" Jesus said to them in reply, "See that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many. You will hear of wars and reports of wars; see that you are not alarmed, for these things must happen, but it will not yet be the end. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be famines and earthquakes from place to place. All these are the beginning of the labor pains. Then they will hand you over to persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. And then many will be led into sin; they will betray and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and deceive many; and because of the increase of evildoing, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come. "When you see the desolating abomination spoken of through Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, a person on the housetop must not go down to get things out of his house, a person in the field must not return to get his cloak. Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days....for at that time there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will be. And if those days had not been shortened, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect they will be shortened. If anyone says to you then, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is' do not believe it. False messiahs and false prophets will arise, and they will perform signs and wonders so great as to deceive, if that were possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told it to you beforehand..."Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory...Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. "But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."

As we watch in horror the terrible catastrophes which are inflicted upon the world let us not forget the true evil that is abortion which happens every second of every day somewhere in the world as more and more countries legalize this brutal evil upon the innocents, our unborn babies. When not even Mothers will protect their child, and may try and ignore its existence, God does NOT!

Let us also remain aware of the movement to legalize same sex marriages which is again legalizing SIN as if it were proper and normal behaviour this is NOT what the Church teaches us nor what Scripture instructs us!

Where men and women work hard to earn a decent living for their families in the most poverty stricken countries as the more wealthy corporations pay meager wages to what is becoming a slave trade. Where children as young as 5 are made to work at sewing machines so the more wealthy in society may wear designer labels at what cost to the worker?

Also within our Church which is being attacked outside and also within by the error of modernism and our world becomes more and more secularized, even to banning the reading of the Bible in some countries!

Like Sister Agnes let us also join in prayers of reparation for the sins of men who have little or no conscience for if the Christian refuses to pray and make reparation who will?

I encourage all to read and learn more about the meaning of Akita.

Peace of Christ to ALL

The Visions of St. Gertrude The Great

2006-03-30T01:52:00.000-05:00

Gertrude lived in a golden age that had some of the most inspiring Mystics and writers of great worth to the Catholic Church and the world, Mystics such as Francis of Assisi, Albert the Great and the writer Dante.

Gertrude herself was born in the year 1256 in what was Saxony(Germany), not much is known about her beginnings suffice to say she was placed into an orphanage at the young age of 5 years old. This is not unusual for this time period for many women often died while giving birth and the lack of hygiene also contributed to many deaths brought on by diseases.

Though still very young Gertrude found a home with the Benedictine Nuns in Helfta, being so young the Mother Abbess placed Gertrude into the care of Mechtilde of Hackeborn, who happened to be the sister of the Mother Abbess. In this holy though austere atmosphere, the young Gertrude thrived, it would be when she turned 26 years of age that God touched her soul in a direct manner.

One day as Gertrude made her way down the hall, she bowed as a Sister passed by, but it was when the 'Sister' stopped that Gertrude saw that it was our Lord who was appearing before her, Gertrude described Him in these words, " He is more beautiful than all the children of men". Gertrude was awestruck by seeing our Lord before her, especially as she had been suffering spiritual aridity for sometime, her heart filled with such joy it nearly burst. Our Lord spoke to her saying, "Your salvation is at hand; why are you consumed with grief? Have you no counselor, that you are so changed by sadness?" Gertrude upon hearing these words then found herself before a choir of nuns as she looked on and observed them singing praises to God, our Lord then said to Gertrude, " I will save you, I will deliver you; fear not." Jesus then placed His hand on Gertrude assuring her that He would keep His promise. This brought such joy to Gertrude's heart and soul as she had suffered great torments in her spiritual aridity. Our Lord then consoled Gertrude with these words, "You have licked the dust with My enemies, and you have suckered honey amidst thorns; but return now to Me-I will receive you, and inebriate you with the torrent of My celestial delights."

Gertrude was stunned by the enormity of seeing her beloved Lord and tried to reach out to Him in her zealousness, but found instead that a barrier stood before her, which Gertrude recognised as her sins which was separating them. Before Gertrude fell into a deep sadness, our gracious Lord instead reached for her and Gertrude took hold of His Hand which then brought her to His side. Through this Gertrude was made to realise that it was the distractions of the world which had distanced her from experiencing the love of God, she was made to realise what God found pleasing and what He did not! Gertrude from then on decided to do away with the vanities of the world including reading fine books which had very little spiritual content and other vagaries of delight such as music which did not praise God.

Upon receiving the five wounds of our Lord within her heart, Gertrude exclaimed, "O my Savior, I wish to bring to you every soul, that You might take delight in each." Gertrude was to become the recipient of many Divine Messages for the world and to experience many more miracles.

One of these miracles was when she was visited by St. John the beloved Apostle with Jesus by his side, where upon a stunned Gertrude exclaimed, "my most amiable Lord, how can this be that You present Your most beloved disciple to me-me, an unworthy creature?" Whereupon our Lord responded with this, "I wish to establish between him and you an intimate friendship; he shall be the Apostle, to instruct and to correct you." Upon finishing this St. John then spoke to Gertrude, "Come, Spouse of my Master, together let us lay our heads on the most tender bosom of the Lord, in which all the treasures of Heaven and earth are enclosed." Upon hearing this Gertrude then placed her head upon the chest of Jesus with John by her side, as she listened to the beating of His Sacred Heart Gertrude exclaimed in exultation, "well beloved of the Lord, did these harmonious beatings, which rejoice my soul, also rejoice yours when you reposed during the Last Supper on the bosom of our Savior?"..How is it then that in your gospel you have spoken so little of the loving secrets of the Heart of Jesus Christ?" St. John the Apostle replied to Gertrude, "My ministry was confined to speaking of the Divine Word, the eternal Son of the Father, some words of deep meaning upon which human intelligence might meditate for ever without ever exhausting their richness; but to these latter times was reserved the grace of hearing the eloquent voice of the Heart of Jesus. At this voice the world will renew its youth, be roused from its lethargy and again be inflamed with the warmth of the Divine love." These words spoken by the beloved disciple gave Gertrude much to ponder on, as did the words of our Lord, this was just the beginning of the extraordinary experiences which would touch Gertrude's life henceforth.

Once upon delivering a lecture to her fellow Sisters at Lent her words so moved another of her Sisters that our Lord said to her concerning Gertrude, "I have borne her in My arms from her infancy. I have preserved her in her baptismal purity and innocence, until she, by her own free choice and will, has given herself to Me entirely and forever; and as a recompense for the perfection of her desires, I in return, have given Myself entirely to her. So pleasing is this soul to Me, that when I am offended by men, I often enter therein to repose, and I make her endure some pain of body or of mind, which I inflict on her for the sins of others; and as she accepts this suffering with the same thanksgiving, humility and patience as she receives all that comes from Me, and offers it to Me in union with My sufferings, she appeases my anger, and obliges My mercy to pardon, for her sake, an immense number of sinners." Though Gertrude was greatly favoured by God this did not make Gertrude prideful indeed it humbled her to realise that our Lord would come to one so little and so in need.

While in prayer Gertrude was again saw Jesus who was carrying a great building on His Shoulders as He said to her explaining its meaning, "Behold with what labor, care and vigilance I carry this beloved house, which is none other than that of Religion. It is everywhere threatened with ruin, because there are so few persons who are willing to do or to suffer anything for its support and increase. You, therefore, should suffer with Me in bearing it; for all those who endeavor, by their words or actions, to extend religion, and who try to establish it in its first fervor and purity, are so many strong pillars which sustain this holy house and comfort Me by sharing with Me the weight of this burden."

As the word spread of the great favour that had been bestowed on Gertrude, many visitors came to Gertrude seeking spiritual advice from her, but as always Gertrude being truly humble of heart was concerned that she would give the wrong advice, where upon our Lord reassured Gertrude with these words, "Does not the Universal Church allow that I formerly said to Peter alone,....'Whatever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed in heaven', and at the same time believe that the ministers of the Church exercise the same power now? Why, then, do you not believe that I can and will carry out whatever Divine love prompts Me to promise you?" Jesus then reached forward and touched Gertrude on her tongue before adding, "Behold I have given My words in thy mouth": "And I truly confirm whatever you may say to others at My suggestion and in my name: to whomsoever you shall promise anything through My goodness upon earth, I will make it sure and ratify it in Heaven." This gave great comfort to Gertrude who was still humbled that her beloved Lord would give her such Graces.

At times though Gertrude wondered if these visions would impact on man as she would wish for as she knew people were weak and prey to sin, but our Lord answered her misgivings with this response, "I have so planted my grace in you, that I expect it will bear Me immense fruit; therefore it is My desire that all those who receive similar favors, and who despise them by their negligence, shall learn from you on what conditions I have given them these gifts, in order that My grace may be increased in them in proportion as their gratitude increases. But should there be any sufficiently malicious to defame the sanctity of these works, the penalty of their sin shall fall on themselves, and you will not be accountable for it. For the Prophet Ezekiel has said from Me: 'I will lay a stumbling block before him; that is to say, I dispose, permit, and even command many things for the salvation of My elect, although they are a subject of scandal to the reprobate."

One day as Gertrude lay sick in bed our Lady visited her and comforted her with these words, "As you never remember to have endured more severe corporal sufferings than those caused by your illness, know also that you have never received from my Son more noble gifts than those which will now be given to you, and for which your sufferings have prepared you." Our Lord also encouraged Gertrude with these words to console her during her illness, "This sickness which you suffer will sanctify your soul, so that each time you go forth from Me, like the stream which I have shown you, for the good of your neighbor, either in thought, word, or act, even then, as the purity of the crystal renders the color of the gold and the rose more brilliant, so the cooperation of the precious gold of My Divinity, and the rose of the perfect patience of My Humanity, will render your works always agreeable to me by the purity of your intention." Gertrude thus understood that though the world may despise illness, God instead treasured each one's suffering as true gift to Him through the suffering of our Lord and Savior.

As Gertrude was about to receive Communion our Lord instructed Gertrude on receiving His Body and His Blood in this manner, "If you will not look with the eyes of your soul on the many mercies which I have bestowed on you, open at least the eyes of your body, and behold Me before you enclosed in a little pyx, and know assuredly that the rigor of My justice is even thus limited within the bounds of the mercy which I exercise toward men in the dispensation of this Sacrament. Consider in how small a space I give you My entire Divinity and My Humanity. Compare the size of this with the size of the human body, and judge then the greatness of My love. For as the human body surpasses my Body in size - that is to say, the quantity of the species of bread under which My Body is contained - so My mercy and charity in this Sacrament reduce Me to this state, that the soul which loves Me is in some sort above Me, as the human body is greater than My Body."

One day after she had received Communion Gertrude offered the Host for the souls in Purgatory, Our Lord then replied to her, "It is not easy for everyone to approach a king who remains always in his palace; but when his love for his queen induces him to go forth, then all may behold, through her kindness, his pomp and magnificence; thus, when, moved by My love, I visit one of the faithful (who is free from mortal sin) in the Sacrament of the Altar, all who are in Heaven, on earth, or in Purgatory, receives immense benefits thereby." Once again upon requesting that some souls maybe released from Purgatory Gertrude tried to divide the Host into small particles within her mouth to designate the number of souls thus released Our Lord then revealed to Gertrude His immense Mercy with these words, "In order that you may know that My mercy is above all My works, and that the abyss of My mercy cannot be exhausted, I am ready to grant you, through the merit of this life - giving Sacrament, more than you dare ask Me."

Gertrude was to receive many more visits from our Lord and Lady and upon Order she was to write all her revelations in a book so that all may learn the wonders of our Lord and His Sacred Heart.

I would encourage all to read more about the revelations given to St. Gertrude the Great.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Our Lady of Kibeho

2006-03-24T01:08:00.003-05:00

The visions which happened at Kibeho Rwanda are astounding in its implications, for this is a prophecy fulfilled in our time, and what our Lady warned of was soon to take place in that tragic land.

Our Lady began appearing to seven children in the year 1981 in Kibeho, Rwanda, they are Alphonse, Anathalie, Marie Claire, Agnes, Stephanie and Vestine. One of the astounding facts with one of the visionaries was Emanuel who was born with the name, ' Sagastasha' who was a poor boy with no Christian teaching at all, and spent most of his time as a farm labourer as he had no education. Yet 'Sagastasha' life would be changed when our Lord appeared to him and personally taught him the Lords prayer and also fundamental Teachings of the Catholic Church, of which he would have had no knowledge! This vision of Jesus deeply impacted on the young Sagastasha who then changed his name to Emmanuel, for like St. Paul, Sagastasha could no longer return to his former life and instead he was converted to Christianity.

Remember that Our Lords and our Lady's messages to these young children were before the terrible suffering that would be inflicted on the Rwandan people as the world looked on in almost total indifference as the Hutu tribe committed genocide against the Tutsi tribe. Let us examine some of these messages to the seers of Kibeho, Rwanda.

Alphonsine who happened to be at school on November 28 1981 was surprised to see a beautiful lady standing before him of incomparable beauty and when he queried who she was the Lady's reply was, "I am Mother of the Word. I have heard your prayers. I would like you and your companions to have more faith. Some do not believe enough." Our Lady also warned Alphonsine that our Lord wanted her to be recognised by all that she was indeed the Mother of God and that many need to prepare the world for the return of her son, Jesus. The beautiful Lady then said, "If I am now turning to the parish of Kibeho it does not mean I am concerned only for Kibeho or for the diocese of Butare or for Rwanda, or for the whole of Africa. I am concerned with and turning to the whole world."

In a message to Emmanuel Our Lady said to him, "There isn't much time left in preparing for the Last Judgment. We must change our lives, renounce sin. Pray and prepare for our own death and the end of the world. We must prepare while there is still time. Those who do well will go to Heaven. If they do evil, they will condemn themselves with no hope of appeal. Do not lose time in doing good and praying. There is not much time and Jesus will come." Emmanuel also saw Jesus who warned him with these words to the world, "too many people treat their neighbors dishonestly. The world is full of hatred. You will know my Second Coming is at hand when you see the outbreak religious wars. Then, know that I am on the way."

In a messages to Marie Claire, " We must meditate on the passion of Jesus and on the deep sorrow of his Mother. We must recite the Rosary and the beads of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady to obtain the grace of repentance." And again Marie Claire heard this, "The world has turned against God. We must repent and ask for pardon." Our Lady also warned that too many people were embracing worldly ways and beliefs and urged the children as a message to the world to once again return to the one true Faith through the Narrow door. Mary continued to tell Marie Claire as a message to the world, "Do repent! Do repent! Do repent..."When I tell you this, I do not speak to you alone, but I speak also to all the others. Men of our times have emptied each thing of its true meaning: he who commits a fault does not recognize that he did wrong." Again Our Lady reiterated to Marie Clare this message, "What I ask of you is repentance. If you recite this chaplet, while meditating on it, you will then have the strength to repent. Today, many people do not know any more how to ask forgiveness. They nail again the Son of God on the Cross. So I wanted to come and recall it to you, especially here in Rwanda, for here I have still found humble people, who are not attached to wealth nor money".

Our Lady warned Agnes with these words regarding loose morals, and that people needed to "make of their bodies an instrument destined to the glory of God and not an object of pleasure at the service of men." Mary warned the children that the wicked snares of the devil were bewitching people away from the Narrow road and that many people were walking on the wide path of perdition. Our Lady warned Vestine that many were taking the wide road because it was the easier option and that the world was not just indifferent to God but had indeed turned against God. This troubled Vestine greatly as our Lady also gave some hope when she told Vestine that through 'prayer from the heart" and meditation on the sufferings of our Lord and Lady, people will be led back to God. Vestine was then shown hell, purgatory and Heaven in a vision, from this Vestine was shown figures that seemed to be in a place of fire, where the pain was terrible not because of the flames but the knowledge of the total absence of God, the figures were terrifying. Vestine also saw a group of people who were singing yet they were also suffering from a temporary separation between themselves and God. Last of all Vestine was shown a place of radiant light and beauty, where people were in perfect happiness.

To Anathalie, Mary cautioned her and the world to, "Wake up, stand up, wash yourselves and look up attentively. We must dedicate ourselves to prayer, we must develop in us the virtues of charity, availability, and humility." Anathalie also said that our Lady comes to her children out of love, to bring warnings of catastrophes so that the world will once again embrace God and live faithfully to the Gospel message of her Son. Mary told Anathalie that the true road, the narrow road "is the one of suffering....Return to God, the Source of Living Water." Our Lady continued in the same vein when she said to Anathalie as an appeal to the world, "I speak to you, but you do not hear Me. I want to lift you, but you remain down. I call you, but you turn a deaf ear. When will you do what I ask of you? You remain indifferent to all My appeals. When will you understand? When will you take interest in what I want to say to you? I give you signs, but you remain incredulous. How long will you turn a dead ear to My appeals?"

More stunningly our Lady also gave this message of warning to Alphonse in 1989, "I speak to you who hold power, and! who represent the nation: save the people, instead of being their torturers. Don't rob the people; share with others. Be careful not to persecute, to muzzle those who want to denounce your errors. I say it to you, I repeat it, whatever you do, even though you try everything to harm somebody because he loves his fellow men, defends human rights, fights for the respect of the life of others, and for the truth and all that is good, and even because he fights so that God may be loved and respected, whatever you do, you can do nothing against him." The Virgin Mary also said to Alphonsine: "I love you very much. If I came, it is because you needed it."

The messages that Stephanie received were of the same vein as our Lady warned her and the world in these words, "We must be converted, we must pray and mortify ourselves. Satan tries to ruin us. God wants our prayers from the heart." Our Lady continued by instructing Stephanie that "they should turn to me in their hearts and I will listen to them....God loves you all, really. It is the devil who wants to ruin you. You must refuse all means that he is using to tempt you." Stephanie then instructed the crowds in her own words that our Lady wished for us to humble ourselves and to be available for God to acknowledge within ourselves we are nothing so to turn to prayer most especially to pray with our heart.

Our Lady then showed the children of Kibeho what would happen in their country if people refused to believe and live her messages. All of the children screamed in horror as they saw in a vision, trees in flames, a river of blood flowing with corpses which had been decapitated and floating limbs of people, as Mary warned the children and the world that we were on 'the edge of catastrophe'. As the children described this horrific scene in these words, "A river of blood, people were killing each other, abandoned corpses with no one to bury them. A tree all in flames, bodies without their heads. There was crying and screaming. At different times, all seven of the Kibeho visionaries experienced this horrifying vision. They saw a river of blood that formed because people were killing each other indiscriminately. "Corpses, some without heads, were strewn everywhere and were so numerous they could not be buried" This especially saddened Agnes who saw the death of her own parents. Our lady then warned the seers to leave Rwanda, unfortunately some didn't.

What is known is that two of these seer's lost their lives in the killing fields that became Rwanda, where approximately over 800,000 people were brutally murdered as the U.N and the world watched, some with indifference, others with horror!

Marie Claire who was killed in the town of Byumba in 1994.

Emmanuel died while trying to escape.

The whereabouts of Stephanie is unknown.

While Anathalie, Agnes, and Alphonsine all survived the genocide that struck Rwanda in 1994.

I would encourage all to read more about Our Lady of Kibeho.

Peace of Christ to ALL

The Visions of Saint Catherine of Bologna

2006-03-20T03:19:00.000-05:00

Catherine de'Vigri was born into a prominent family, but also a very devout family who instructed her in the fundamentals of the Catholic Faith. At only 11 years of age Catherine became lady in waiting to Margherita d'Este at the court of Nicholas III d'Este at Ferrara.

Even though Catherine was born into privilege this did not spoil her pleasing personality and her compassion for those less well of than herself. Catherine learnt from watching her beloved mother to spend hours in prayer but also to put that prayer into practice when providing for the poor in her region. When those who were on the receiving end of her largesse Catherine insisted that they must thank the Good Lord for all had come from Him and not herself.

At the court of Nicholas III Catherine proved herself a worthy companion to Margherita and many would seek out the company of Catherine because of her vivacious and gentle personality and her uncommon wisdom in one so young. Catherine's piety was obvious to all who met her, this was not a young girl who paid only lip service to her Lord, no! Catherine lived her faith fully and put it into practice through unceasing prayer and alms giving.

Catherine was gifted in many areas of her life including the artistic field where she displayed her talent by drawing paintings of her beloved Lord and our Blessed Mother as well as self portraits which did not hide her homely appearance. This young girl was also an accomplished musician who could play the violin as if it were speaking the melodies. Though highly gifted with these talents Catherine did not boast but instead proclaimed the greatness of God who was simply working through her.

Upon the death of her father and the remarriage of her mother, Catherine decided to follow her heart and enter the Religious life of the Order of St. Augustine, which at that time was relatively new. During these new beginnings Catherine wrote, "During my tender years, enlightened by Divine Grace, I entered God's service in this Monastery with good intentions and much fervor. My life was filled with prayer, day and night. Any virtue I admired or heard of in others, I tried to imitate in my own life. I did so not out of envy, but to please God in Whom I had put all my love."

As in all cases the devil would also enter the picture to try and confuse Catherine in the hope that she would become prideful in her gifts and talents. During this time Catherine went through interior darkness but though young Catherine could also discern the voice of the wicked one and would openly rebuke his evil insinuations with these words, "Be sure, evil spirit, you will not tempt me so openly nor so stealthily without my knowing it." Catherine endured these demonic with her usual spiritual maturity and though she felt no consolations she simply trusted in God and knew that God alone sufficed for her. Even when the evil one would try and disguise himself as our Lord and accuse Catherine of sundry offenses rather than argue with her beloved Catherine instead would agree as to her unworthiness, this would then have the devil fleeing her presense as he cannot stand to be in the presence of true sanctity.

Though Catherine suffered much during this demonic manifestations her love for God did not dwindle nor her obedience to the Church. Through all this Catherine's Faith and her reception of the Sacraments strengthened her. It was during Mass as she received Jesus in the Eucharist that Catherine explained what happened in her Treatise, "she felt and tasted the sweetest, purest Flesh of the Immaculate Lamb, Christ Jesus." Catherine also went on to explain this to her fellow Sisters, " Sometimes the devil inspires souls with an inordinate zeal for a certain virtue or some special pious exercise, so that they will be motivated by their passion to practice it more and more. This temptation is more to pride rather than virtue....Sometimes, on the other hand, the devil coaches souls to do less than they can really do. This temptation is more to false humility...In both cases, the devil's goal is to make the soul discouraged when the virtue is found to be unattainable; and to be wearied and disgusted if his efforts are below his abilities. The soul ends up neglecting everything. It is necessary to overcome the one snare as the other."

The Lord would often show Catherine through visions the enormity of what sin can do to a persons soul, if they die unrepentant, her glimpse of the Final Judgment so horrified and terrified Catherine that she cried out in horror at such a shocking sight. Catherine went on to warn others of this terrible plight and how to avoid it in her writings, "Whoever wishes to carry the cross for his sake must take up the proper weapons for the contest, especially those mentioned here. First, diligence; second, distrust of self ; third, confidence in God; fourth, remembrance of Passion; fifth, mindfulness of one's own death; sixth, remembrance of God's glory; seventh, the injunctions of Sacred Scripture following the example of Jesus Christ in the desert."

Catherine excelled at obedience which pleased God greatly and so came about the miracle of the bread. As Catherine was preparing and baking the bread, she placed several loaves in the oven when she suddenly heard the bells peel for prayers, Catherine didnt hesitate and hurried to her prayers, before hastily leaving she made the sign of the cross over the loaves still baking and rushed out. When she was able to return several hours later she found to her amazement that the bread had not burnt indeed it was the most delicious bread she had ever baked.

Though Catherine experienced miraculous signs and visions from God and also endured those by the evil one, her humility and obedience never wavered, indeed it would be her obedience that often saved her from the wicked snares of the evil one, as he tempted her to distrust God's love for her.

One particular vision would touch Catherine deeply as she was given a vision of Christ Crucified as He explained to her what truly brought him the most suffering and anguish which was the knowledge of those who would prove to be faithless when serving Him. He wept at the lack of faith shown by many of his beloved children and the many souls who were lukewarm, this brought intolerable pain to our Lord and Saviour. Jesus also shared with Catherine His pain at watching the sorrow and agony etched on the face of His beloved Mother as she stood by the Cross with her own spirit pierced to the core. Upon seeing and hearing this Catherine spent many days in tears at the thankless displayed by souls who's faith had grown tepid.

It was also at Christmas that Catherine driven by her zealous love for Jesus and our Blessed Mother that Catherine requested to pray 1,000 Hail Mary's in front of the Tabernacle. As Catherine prayed her Hail Mary's she found she was in the presence of her loved Holy Mother, who smiled gently at her as she handed her baby Son Jesus to the humbled Catherine, who was stunned at such a gift that she leaned forward to kiss her beloved child Jesus. Catherine wrote of this experience, "The perfume that emanated from His Pure Flesh was so sweet that there is neither tongue that can express, nor such a keen mind imagine, the very beautiful and delicate Face of the Son of God, when one could say all that was to be said, it would be nothing." Catherine was not alone in experiencing this most wondrous event as her fellow Sisters smelt the holy Presence of the baby Jesus and our Lady as a heavenly fragrance filled the room.

On the move to Bologna Catherine became Mother Abbess, during her time there vocations grew as Catherine holiness was evident to all. It was not long though before a health crisis would have all her community praying as Catherine became seriously ill, but due to a fellow Sisters pleading prayers to keep a little longer their beloved Mother Abbess. Upon recovering Catherine asked for her violin to be brought to her when her Sisters complied with this strange request, Mother Abbess Catherine then played a tune to honour God whilst proclaiming to her startled Sisters, "May the Lord forgive her who through her prayers has still kept me in this world."

Though Catherine would survive this health scare, and indeed become even more busy on her recovery, still her time was limited.

So it was that Catherine called her community together as she told them that she would soon be going on her final journey to our Lord and Saviour and to spend the rest of her eternal life in the Heavenly realm. Catherine had a peaceful and holy death.

Saint Catherine's body upon exhumation was found to be incorrupt.

I would encourage all to read more about Saint Catherine of Bologna.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Roman Catholic

The Spiral Staircase of Santa Fe-A Miracle?

2006-03-15T00:43:00.000-05:00

In the 17th century when America was still in its infancy, the Catholic Church sent numerous missionaries into that vast and at times inhospitable landscape.

It was in 1848 when New Mexico became a part of the United States and Santa Fe was it's capital city that the Catholic missionaries began to make real inroads into the culture of New Mexico. This movement would prove to be one of the great successes of the mission fields as many embraced the Catholic Faith to this present day.

Around this time a group of Religious Nuns were sent to mission in Santa Fe, which at times could be not only inhospitable but also dangerous with many outlaws still roaming the untamed country. This did not faze these brave Nuns who were made of stern stuff and did not brook much interference with the way ! they wished their Order to proceed. The Sisters of Loreto were used to rough living but even so the move to Santa Fe certainly tested their courage to the extreme. This was soon to be proved correct as the Sisters became ill with cholera one of whom eventually died, and another had to return to the Mother house in Kentucky when she became to ill to continue the journey to Santa Fe.

Upon arrival in the city the Sisters of Loreto were required by the Archbishop Jean Lamy to begin constructing a school in which to teach the poor most of whom were still illiterate. So in 1873 the school and the chapel began to take shape under the design of P. Mouly an architect of French origins, who wished to emulate the designs found in his own home city. Finally after 5 years of hard work the buildings were completed with great admiration with its stained glass windows and magnificent gothic overtones. Unfortunately though as the Sisters moved in they noted that the staircase needed ! to access the choir loft had not been completed. This was unfortunate as the architect responsible for the magnificent building had been shot dead due to a misunderstanding.

Though saddened with the loss of their prized architect, the Sisters improvised and used a wooden ladder in order to reach the choir loft. This brought difficulties when the Sisters tried to climb the ladder in their long Habits, they also did not wish to lack in decorum by having to lift their skirts to enable them to climb the steps, it was a delicate situation.

The Sisters began a search to find an architect that could finish the job begun by Monsieur Mouly, this would prove to be most difficult. So architects, engineers and builders came accessed the difficulties and then left unable to figure out how to build a staircase in such an unusual position. This left the Sisters feeling frustrated, and so they began a Novena to St. Joseph to help them in ! their awkward predicament. Every day the Sisters prayed to St. Joseph for help and at the end of each day brought disappointment as no-one showed up. Finally on the last day of the Novena an elderly man showed up at their little chapel.

The man was a bit of a curiosity in that he was elderly he had no name and was rather non descript in appearance but the Sisters nevertheless thanked St. Joseph for coming to their aid. As the elderly man with no name agreed to build the staircase, where other more learned men were unable to overcome the apparent obstacles, the elderly man seemed not to be daunted even though he possessed only one hammer, one saw, and one T-square. The Sisters were intrigued as to how he was going to accomplish building this staircase where learned professionals had given up.

As the elderly man began building the staircase he had only one request of the Sisters and that was to bring him tubs of fresh water daily, the Sisters though puzzled agreed to this request. Every now and again the Sisters would try and peek to see what was happening in their little chapel, the only thing they were able to see was that the gentleman would soak the wood in the water which the Sisters had provided.

Finally came the day to unveil the staircase as the elderly man approached the Sisters and told them that their rather awkward choir loft could now be climbed via his self made spiral staircase. Upon viewing it the Sisters were overwhelmed at the architectural and engineering masterpiece, which was before their stunned eyes. The Sisters, some of whom had doubted he would have the capabilities to overcome such drawbacks were amazed at its intricate beauty, and its delicacy.

This most beautiful masterpiece was the work of a master craftsman as the Sisters stood in awe of such a fine piece of carpentry. It is indeed an incredible stairway with two complete 360 degree turns with neither nails or screws to keep it from falling down. It stands simply within its own geometric balance with nothing to support it, these thirty three steps, truly was a miraculous undertaking and the workmanship unparalleled.

The Sisters were ecstatic to have such a thing of beauty within their own Convent and wished to pay this most kind man as much as they could afford, but upon being thanked the elderly man disappeared as if into thin air. The Sisters were distraught as they searched everywhere for him and tried in all ways to try and find this wonder worker. The Sisters for whom the staircase had been built were to be disappointed as they never found the 'miracle worker'.

Many decades were to pass before a man came forward who upon hearing of the legend of the thirty three step spiral staircase, made the claim that it was his grandfather who had built it many years earlier. The Sisters who were then in residence were highly sceptical of this young man, Oscar Hadweiber and his claim. Oscar said that within his own family history his own grandfather, Johan Hadweiber had indeed built that miracle spiral staircase with exactly thirty three steps.

During the years when the spiral staircase had been built Johann Hadweiber was indeed in the area and he was also a master craftsman at carpentry when he had lived in Europe that had been his career. The residing Sisters though needed more proof than what Oscar had been able to show them, this led Oscar on a ten year mission to prove that the staircase was indeed the work of his Grandfather.

Oscar himself built ten identical staircases but still this was not proof enough, until in 1970 Oscar found in his sisters attic his grandfathers tool kit, which held one hammer, one saw, and one T-square and also a plan of a spiral staircase which had the exact number! of thirty three steps.

Unfortunately for Oscar his find was never properly authenticated and upon his own death in 1980, the tool box and the plan have also disappeared.

Perhaps angels come with tool cases, of one hammer, one saw and one T-square.

The spiral staircase with exactly thirty three steps still stands to this very day.

Actual photo of the miraculous spiral staircase

Peace of Christ to you ALL

Roman Catholic

The Visions of Saint Catherine of Genoa

2006-03-07T02:33:00.000-05:00

Catherine was born in the year 1447 to noble parents, Giacopo and Francesca Fieschi in Italy. But even though her parents were wealthy Catherine took no note of the luxurious lifestyle that could have been hers, and instead from a very early age she embraced a life of penance and austerities.

From a very young age Catherine loved to pray and contemplate the sufferings endured on our Lords behalf for the Salvation of man, this deeply touched the heart of the young Catherine and led her to long for the life of a Religious. Following this movement of her soul, Catherine at the young age of 13 years spoke to her Spiritual Director and enquired to join a Religious Order, but even though the Priest was amazed at the wisdom of such a young soul, still prudence prevailed and Catherine was advised that she was too young to endure such an austere life. Being obedient in heart and soul, though disappointed Catherine accepted the decision with a spirit of equanimity. Catherine eventually married a young Genoese man of noble birth, Giuiliano Adorno, but this would not lead to happiness for Catherine as in her effort to please her husband she tried to embrace the vanities of the world, which led to a deep seated loathing of such useless activities, which prevailed in the society of her time.

This led Catherine on an inner journey to reach out desperately to God that He not forsake her, and so Catherine prayed to St. Benedict for help in these words, "Pray to God for me, Oh, St Benedict, that for three months he may keep me sick in bed." This was a time of great confusion for Catherine as she was unable to combine the worldly life with the deep inner calling to live a holy and humble life. Upon talking to her sister who had entered the Religious life, Catherine went to see her Confessor and upon opening her heart to this holy Priest, God touched the soul of Catherine with such force that she was overcome with the sense of her own misery and with anguish of heart she collapsed at the revelation of gazing upon God's Goodness.

Through this experience Catherine was cured of her mental confusion and anguish of heart as God infused into her soul the terrible stain that sin had upon the soul and it's relationship with the Divine Creator. And while immersed in prayer Catherine said upon reflecting on this experience as if God were speaking through her, "oh Love! can it be that you have called me with so much love, and revealed to me at one view, what no tongue can describe?" And it was here that our Lord would appear to her in a vision which showed her how sin truly had made our Lord suffer for she saw the Man of Sorrows laid low and bloodied with the Cross upon His shoulder as He took upon Himself her own iniquities. Through this vision Catherine detested sin in all its forms and was heard to exclaim, "Oh Love, no more sin, no more sin! Oh Love, if it be necessary I am prepared to make a public confession of my sins." Through this one vision and interior Light within her soul Catherine understood the price that our Lord paid for each sinner, this moved her deeply and made her resolute not to sin and offend our Lord anymore. And while gazing upon the Crucified Lord and upon His Most Sacred Heart, Catherine pronounced, "I have no longer either soul or heart; but my soul and my heart are those of my Beloved;" for Catherine through the Grace of God was being transformed so that no longer did she live but that Christ liveth within her soul.

Catherine also felt compelled to receive our Lord in the Eucharist everyday, till finally one day a Priest spoke these words to her, "You receive communion every day, how are you now satisfied?" For there were some who did not understand the movement of God within Catherine's soul, but upon becoming gravely ill Catherine requested the Eucharist be given to her as she said to her Confessor, "If you would give me my Lord three times only, I should be cured." Upon this happening Catherine was miraculously and immediately healed of her illness.

This remarkable woman like many other Saints would feel a deep wound in her heart, and was once heard saying, "My heart is not like that of others, for it only rejoices in its Lord; and therefore give him to me." When once in prayer she was overhead praying, "Oh, Lord, I do not desire to follow thee for these consolations, but only for pure love." Catherine had a Divine Light shining within her soul and intellect so she was able to convey what a deep mystery was revealed to a soul upon receiving the Eucharist and how God was incorporated into their very essence through the Eucharist, for as she was heard to exclaim when gazing at the Priest during Consecration: "Take it, take it quickly, to your heart, for it is the Lord of the heart." Through Divine guidance Catherine was shown how integral to the soul was the importance of daily Communion, and to also make sure that the soul was not in a state of sin whether it be venial or mortal. And once upon receiving Communion Catherine gazed towards her Lord and said, "O Lord perhaps thou wouldst draw me to thee by this fragrance? I do not desire it; I desire nothing but thee, and thee wholly; thou knowest, that from the beginning I have asked of thee the grace that I might never see visions, nor receive external consolations, for so clearly do I perceive thy goodness, that I do not seem to walk by faith but by a true and heartfelt experience."

Also on the Annunciation of our Lady the Lord spoke to Catherine interiorly and requested that she go without food, as did He when our Lord was in the desert, upon hearing this Divine message, Catherine was unable to eat any food and so fasted through the Season of Lent. Catherine would follow this for the rest of her life and also during Advent. When questioned Catherine said, "If we regarded the operations of God, we should look at the interior more than the exterior. Living without food is purely an operation of God, without my will; but it is nothing to boast of, or to cause surprise, for to him it is as nothing. The pure light shows us, that we should not regard the manifestations that God makes of himself for our necessities and his own glory, but only the pure love with which his divine majesty performs his work in our behalf, and the soul becoming these pure operations of a love which looks for no good that we can do, must needs love him purely, without regard to any particular grace which she receives from him, but looking to him alone, for himself alone, who is worthy of being loved without measure, and with no reference either to soul or body."

Catherine lived in holy obedience to God as He guided her to do His Will as He spoke to her interior, "My daughter, observe these three rules, namely: never say I will or I will not. Never say mine, but always ours. Never excuse yourself, but always accuse yourself. When you repeat the `Our Father' take always for your maxim, Fiat voluntas tua, that is, may his will be done in everything that may happen to you, whether good or ill; from the `Hail Mary' take the word Jesus, and may it be implanted in your heart, and it will be a sweet guide and shield to you in all the necessities of life. And from the rest of Scripture take always for your support this word, Love, with which you will go on your way, direct, pure, light, watchful, quick, enlightened, without erring, yet without a guide or help from any creature; for love needs no support, being sufficient to do all things without fear; neither does love ever become weary, for even martyrdom is sweet to it. And, finally, this love will consume all the inclinations of the soul, and the desires of the body, for the things of this life."

Though Catherine lived a life of austere penance she did so for she understood how deadly is sin to the soul as a child of God can quickly turn to become a child of the Devil, if they choose to willfully disobey God through their actions. As Catherine explained, "If it were possible for me to suffer as much as all the martyrs have suffered, and even hell itself, for the love of God, and in order to make satisfaction to him, it would be after all only a sort of injury to God, in comparison with the love and goodness with which he has created, and redeemed, and, in a special manner, called me. For man, unassisted by God's grace, is even worse than the devil, because the devil is a spirit without a body, while man, without the grace of God, is a devil incarnate. Man has a free will, which, according to the ordination of God, is in nowise bound, so that he can do all the evil that he wills; to the devil, this is impossible, since he can act only by the divine permission; and when man surrenders to him his evil will, the devil employs it, as the instrument of his temptation." And to stress her point that it is the soul who chooses to do evil for Satan cannot infringe on man's free will, Catherine went on to explain this in her words, "I see that whatever is good in myself, in any other creature, or in the saints, is truly from God; if, on the other hand, I do any thing evil, it is I alone who do it, nor can I charge the blame of it upon the devil or upon any other creature; it is purely the work of my own will, inclination, pride, selfishness, sensuality, and other evil dispositions, without the help of God I should never do any good thing. So sure am I of this, that if all the angels of heaven were to tell me I have something good in me, I should not believe them. So long as any one can speak of divine things, enjoy and understand them, remember and desire them, he has not yet arrived in port; yet there are ways and means to guide him thither. But the creature can know nothing but what God gives him to know from day to day, nor can he comprehend beyond this, and at each instant remains satisfied with what he receives. If the creature knew the height to which God is prepared to raise him in this life, he would never rest, but on the contrary would feel a certain craving, a vehement desire to reach quickly that ultimate perfection, and would think himself in hell until he had obtained it."

But it is the explanation upon seeing the Holy Souls in Purgatory that this great Saint is well known for in her own words she describes the state of Purgatory as such, "The souls in Purgatory see all things, not in themselves, nor by themselves, but as they are in God, on whom they are more intent than on their own sufferings. . . . For the least vision they have of God overbalances all woes and all joys that can be conceived. Yet their joy in God does by no means abate their pain. . . . This process of purification to which I see the souls in Purgatory, subjected, I feel within myself."

Through the words of this great Saint and the Gift that God had Graced her, we have gained a better understanding of the graphic damage that sin can do to a soul and also how the soul can be restored back to God's Loving embrace through participation of the Sacraments. We also understand how God can transform a soul to be a divine reflection of Himself when the soul surrenders itself to the Triune Spirit. And through the works of Saint Catherine we also understand Purgatory and the Holy Souls who wait to be released into Heaven by our prayers and penances and when we offer up a Mass for the repose of their soul as these Holy souls endure the purgation of Purgatory, as they thirst to be re-united with God in Heaven.

May we reflect deeply on the messages of Saint Catherine of Genoa and how God illuminated her soul so as to instruct the faithful.

I encourage all to read more of this remarkable Saint and her extraordinary visions and illuminations.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Catholic
Roman Catholic

Our Lady Of The Rosary Saves Lepanto

2006-02-27T01:13:00.001-05:00

The feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary became official by Pope Pius V in remembrance of the battle of Lepanto. It is here where a vicious battle was fought and won by the Christians against the invading forces of the Islamic empire!

During the sixteenth centuries the Turks had made great inroads into European territory when they won battle after battle almost to the door of Rome itself! But under the guidance of Pope Pius V their victory would now be short-lived. This particular Pope was of the Dominican Order so he had gained a great love for the Rosary and it is the Rosary that this devout Pope turned to in order to turn back the Muslim invaders!

Pope Pius V was also able to join forces with the Spanish, Venetian and Genoese fleet under the leadership of Don John of Austria to overcome the Turks who also had amassed a huge fleet in which they hoped to gain control of the whole of 'Christiandom'.

The battle took place in the year 1571, and it was the Muslims who seemed to have the greater ability when in times of war and also a superior fleet. But things did not turn out well for the Muslim marauders, as the battle commenced and the Muslims lost 15 ships while 177 taken by the victorious Armada and hundreds of thousands of Muslim soldiers lay dying or wounded. Even though the Christian fleet lost more ships the victory of the Christians over the Muslim invaders has been attributed to the intervention of our Lady of the Rosary. It was as the battle raged that Pope Pius V and several other devout souls prayed the Rosary for the embattled soldiers to win the victory for all of Europe. And it was upon praying the Rosary that this devout Pope looked up and exclaimed to the Cardinals present, "Our great task at present is to thank God for the victory which He has just given the Catholic army." This was said before anyone knew of the victorious battle and many were stunned to learn later that the battle was won at that precise moment.

Through the intervention of our Lady of the Rosary victory won the day at the battle of Lepanto! This would be one of many defeats suffered by the Muslim invaders before they finally were driven back to their own lands.

How very powerful is Our Lady of the Rosary.

Peace of Christ to you ALL

Roman Catholic

The Visions of Saint Gemma Galgani

2006-02-16T00:16:00.000-05:00

Gemma Galgani was born in the year 1878 in the village Camigliano, Italy. Unlike many other Saints Gemma was born into a prestigious family, but when God touches the heart of His beloved children, wealth matters not.

From an early age the young Gemma was able to see and converse with her guardian Angel who was not adverse in correcting her when she decided to wear some jewelry which had been given to her as a gift, Gemma's Guardian Angel appeared before her and said, "Remember, the spouse of the Crucified King should wear no ornaments but thorns and crosses". Upon hearing this Gemma vowed never to wear such vanities again! Her Guardian Angel often stressed deeply the need for continual obedience and would repeat this often to her, "Obedience! You must obey! You must be like a dead body; whatever is asked of you, you must obey quickly and joyfully!" He would also warn her with these words, for Gemma was a very strong minded young lady, "If you do not obey, I will not show myself to you, again." Gemma though loved God above all and listened to her beloved Guardian Angel, even though she was going through a dark night of the soul.

As Gemma's diary reveals, " I do not know what will happen to me this year. I abandon myself to You, my God; all my hopes and affections shall be for You. I am weak, oh Jesus, but I trust in Your help and I resolve to live differently, namely, closer to You." Gemma was to suffer both spiritually and physically as her health worsened, she developed meningitis a very dangerous at times fatal illness, and also large abscesses were found covering her head, she soon also became paralyzed, as she waited for death to take her.

During this time Gemma began to pray to the then Venerable Gabriel Possenti as she lay awake at nights and read his biography. It was as her family was preparing themselves for Gemma's death that one night Gabriel Possenti appeared before Gemma and asked her, "Do you wish to recover? Pray with faith every evening to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I will come to you until the Novena is ended, and will pray together to this Most Sacred Heart." It was not long before Gemma was cured she attributed her cure to the Venerable Gabriel Possenti.

Before Mass began on Holy Thursday Gemma decided to go to Confession and as she was praying, she came to understand how sin can grievously harm the soul, and cried out in remorse for her own sins. During this time Jesus appeared before Gemma and said to her, "Look at my wounds and learn how to love. Look at this Cross, these Wounds, these nails, these bruises and lacerations, and this Blood. See to what extent I have loved you, do you want to love Me? First, learn to suffer; suffering teaches how to love."

For a while Gemma entertained thoughts of becoming a Religious, something she longed for with all her heart and soul but due to her poor health this was not to be. It was after she had attended Mass and received our Lord in Communion that our Lady appeared to Gemma that evening and said to her, "My son Jesus loves thee beyond measure and wishes to give thee a grace. I will be a mother to thee. Wilt thou be a true child?" When Gemma consented our Lady then placed her Mantle around this young girl.

Gemma herself reveals in her diary what happened next, "At that moment Jesus appeared with all his wounds open, but from these wounds there no longer came forth blood, but flames of fire. In an instant these flames came to touch my hands, my feet and my heart. I felt as if I were dying, and should have fallen to the ground had not my mother held me up, while all the time I remained beneath her mantle. I had to remain several hours in that position. Finally she kissed my forehead, all vanished, and I found myself kneeling. But I still felt great pain in my hands, feet and heart. I rose to go to bed, and became aware that blood was flowing from those parts where I felt pain. I covered them as well as I could, and then helped by my Angel, I was able to go to bed …" Many people over the following years would witness this miracle of the stigmata.

It would be soon that Jesus would request of Gemma to be a victim soul for the sins of the world, which was crying out for the Just Judgment of God, Gemma immediately acquiesced to Jesus request. So it was that in 1902 Gemma became seriously ill and began to vomit blood. It was also here that once again, desolation of soul would grip Gemma's heart and also here that the Devil tried to attack this saintly woman in whatever way he could. As a friend of Gemma's describes, "That abominable beast will be the end of our dear Gemma- deafening blows, forms of ferocious animals, etc.- I came away from her with tears because the demon is wearing her out." We also have the account of Gemma's Spiritual Director, Fr. Germano where he states, "The poor sufferer passed days, weeks and months in this way, giving us an example of heroic patience and motives for salutary fear of what may happen to us, who have not Gemma’s merits at the terrible hour of death."

Even though Gemma was in terrible suffering her Faith never wavered as she underwent her own Calvary for the salvation of sinners. Her heart was full of love for Jesus, Mary as she willingly suffered for love of God and man.

This devout soul who showed herself a true soldier of God suffered till the end and in her last words, she uttered this, "I seek for nothing more; I have made the sacrifice of everything and of everyone to God... Now it is indeed true that nothing more remains to me, Jesus. I recommend my poor soul to Thee … Jesus!"

Saint Gemma Galgani died an heroic death as was recorded by her Spiritual Director, Venerable Fr. Germanus C.P.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Roman Catholic

Our Lady of Pompei

2006-02-02T03:03:00.001-05:00

The origins of Our Lady of Pompeii begin at the sight of the great destruction of that area by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79AD.

Approximately around the fourth century people once again began to inhabit the area including Christians, some centuries later a Church would be built to Worship our Lord, in which the Benedictine Order took charge. Eventually this Church too would be destroyed and after many trials and tribulations the people themselves took control of trying to restore the Church to its previous condition. But once again this endeavour nearly failed when thieves intruded to steal what they could, until a man and his wife took charge of the project. It is surprising in that the man who alongside his wife would restore the Church and also promulgate a devotion and veneration of Our Lady and the Holy Rosary, had once been involved in a 'satanic sect' and had even become a 'priest' for Satan!

But God can touch even the most hardest of hearts and he did so with Bartolo Longo when he met a very holy and devout Priest, Father Alberto Radente, who explained the Faith to Bartolo so gently that Bartolo could no longer live to hate but longed to live for love sake! He, through the example of this holy Priest embraced the Catholic Faith, and left the evil sect forever for Bartolo's heart now belonged to God and God alone!

Upon becoming Baptized Bartolo chose Maria as his 'baptismal name' for just as he had sinned against God grievously, he ran to Mary his forgiving Holy Mother and sought her protection as the 'refuge of sinners'. So began Bartolo's devotion and love for Our Lady as he worked to restore the former Church back to its former glory. Bartolo also published a small pamphlet entitled, "The Rosary of New Pompeii" as his love for our Lady grew stronger in his heart everyday, for he had attributed his conversion solely to our Blessed Mother and would forever love her dearly.

But Bartolo was still wracked with guilt over his former life and when he began to question his worthiness he had a miraculous sign as a voice said to him, "If you seek salvation, promulgate the Rosary. This is Mary's own promise." These words illumined my soul. I went on my knees: "If it is true .... I will not leave this valley until I have propagated your Rosary." Satan was not too willing to let go of Bartolo but through his conversion and our Lady's involvement Bartolo's faith was strengthened as he promised to spread this devotion to Our Lady of Pompeii.

At first it was very hard going as Bartolo began his work and even went from door to door within the village without much success, still he persevered. After many years of what seemed fruitlessness Bartolo finally succeeded and invited the Redemptorist Fathers to hold a mission festival at the Church he had restored. Upon gaining the blessing of the Bishop, who said that he could see that this would day become a place of pilgrimage.

This heartened Bartolo as he went searching for a large picture of Our Lady of the Rosary, he would be disappointed when the only one he could find was dilapidated and moth eaten. Still he bought it and tried to restore it back to its original condition. On one side of the picture was St. Dominic and on the other was St. Catherine of Sienna who were both kneeling before our Lady who held the child Jesus. Upon doing his best Bartolo then set out to take it to the Vatican for a blessing from the Pope!

This image was then placed in the restored Church but 300 people of the area pledged some money towards building a more respectable Church in honour of Our Lady. Upon laying the cornerstone miraculous miracles started to occur, four people were healed of their illnesses at the beginning, and still later there would be hundreds who claimed the image of our Lady had healed them of their various diseases and disabilities.

So it was that in 1894 both Bartolo and his wife, Marianna donated the shrine and the Church into the safe hands of the Vatican. Many cures since have been recorded after the faithful had prayed before this image of Our Lady.

But it was in 1965 that the image would be thoroughly restored by the Vatican and Pope Paul VI went on to say, "Just as the image of the Virgin has been repaired and decorated ..., so may the image of Mary that all Christians must have within themselves be restored, renovated, and enriched."

What a miracle that a man who had embraced the evil way of Satan had been restored by the love of our Blessed Mother to embrace God in his heart and live as a faithful son of the Church. Both Bartolo and his wife did corporal works of mercy including establishing orphanages for girls and boys, hospitals and visiting the imprisoned.

Let us also venerate this image which Bartolo and his wife established, Our Lady of Pompeii.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Roman Catholic