[MaryVitamin] The Visitation

Mary Vitamin 

 

Topic: The Visitation (May 31st)

 

Quote:

St. Francis de Sales

"Indeed, the whole house was overcome with joy; the infant leapt with joy, the father recovered his speech, the mother was filled with the Holy Sprit and received the gift of prophecy"

Sermon July 2, 1618

The Sermons of St. Francis de Sales on Our Lady, (Tan Books),58.

 

Meditation: 

St. Francis de Sales, founder of the Order of the Visitation

"St. Elizabeth was her relative, and that is why she went to seek her. But what can we do to become a relative of our amiable Sovereign? O God! There are a thousand ways of accomplishing this. Do you wish to be a relative of the Virgin? Communicate, for in receiving the Holy Sacrament, you receive the Flesh of her flesh and the Blood of her blood, since the precious Body of the Saviour, which is in the Divine Eucharist, was formed of her most pure blood by the operation of the Holy Spirit."

Sermon July 2, 1621

The Sermons of St. Francis de Sales on Our Lady, (Tan Books),168-9.

 

Resolution:

Today, I will pause in front of my statue of Our Lady and I will ask that she come to visit me and my family bringing the grace of Her Son. I will trust in her great charity and eagerness to share the Lord with those who call upon her.  I will make a Spiritual Communion with Our Lady and be confident that I will receive many graces.

 

Marian Vow:

St. Francis de Sales encourages the consecrated Religious who wear the habit of the order of Our Lady of the Visitation in the following excerpt. Do his words also speak to those consecrated to Our Lady with the Marian vow?

"O my dear Sisters, you who claim this Virgin for your Mother, daughters of the Visitation of Our Lady and of St. Elizabeth, what zeal you should have in imitating her, especially her charity and humility, which were the chief virtues which urged her to make this visitation. You should therefore be particularly distinguished in their practice which will move you to go with haste and joy to visit your sick sisters, cordially helping and serving one another in your infirmities, whether they be spiritual or corporal. And wherever there is an opportunity of practicing humility and charity you ought to do so with a special care and promptness; because, you see, to be a daughter of Our Lady it is not enough to rest content with living in a convent of the Visitation and wearing the religious veil. This would be wronging such a Mother; to be satisfied with this would be to degenerate. You must imitate her holiness and her virtues."

Sermon July2, 1618

The Sermons of St. Francis de Sales on Our Lady, (Tan Books),59.

 

I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Thanks be to God for graces received.

Related sites: Castle of the Immaculate & AirMaria

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Medjugorje Visionary Ivan says, “I am sure that if you all were able to see Our Lady just for one second, not more, I don’t know if you would find your life here on earth interesting any more.” Read the whole talk here: http://mej.com/

Updated Saturday	May 31, 2008

Ivan’s Prayer Group Apparition
On Apparition Hill, May 30, 2008

Several hours before Our Lady appeared to Ivan on top of Apparition Hill tonight, Friday, May 30, 2008, pilgrims gathered in prayer, waiting for the moment that they would be physically present before the Queen of Heaven to offer up all their needs and intentions.

Tonight villagers and pilgrims were invited to attend Ivan’s prayer group apparition. It was at the top of Apparition Hill. Several thousand people made the climb. The last few days in Medjugorje have been extremely hot, with temperatures in the 90’s. This evening, a cool breeze was present and the temperature dropped making the evening very pleasant on the mountain underneath a clear, starry sky. Following is a description of the apparition. Our Lady gave a message tonight.

Tonight, most important from the meeting with Our Lady was that Our Lady came joyful and happy. At the beginning, as always, She greeted us by saying “Praised be Jesus my dear children.” Our Lady then prayed for a long time with Her hands extended over us present. She then blessed us all with Her Motherly Blessing. She blessed all the religious articles brought for blessing. As always, so today, I recommended all of you, your needs, your intentions, your families and in a special way the sick to Our Lady. Then Our Lady prayed especially for all the sick present here tonight. Our Lady then said:

"Dear children, also today, the Mother calls you, pray for my children who have distanced themselves from my Son. Pray. Pray that they may return to my Son and find peace in Him. The Mother prays with you. Thank you for having responded to my call."

After we prayed with Our Lady an Our Father and a Glory Be and then Our Lady left in an illuminated Sign of the Cross saying, “Go in peace my dear children.”

Those who came early to prepare for the coming of Our Lady to Ivan during his prayer group, witnessed the beauty and grace of God as they watched this beautiful sunset atop Apparition Hill.

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #236

But the Pharisees hearing it, said: "This man casteth not out devils but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils." And Jesus knowing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself shall be made desolate: and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself: how then shall his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I by the Spirit of God cast out devils, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. Or how can any one enter into the house of the strong, and rifle his goods, unless he first bind the strong? and then he will rifle his house. He that is not with me, is against me: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth. Therefore I say to you: Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but the blasphemy of the Spirit shall not be forgiven." (Matt. 12:24-31)

THE SIN AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST was committed by the Pharisees in this manner, that against the dictates of reason they ascribed our Lord's miracles to the power of the devil. They calumniated Him, saying that He was in league with the devil; whereas it was they who, by their persecution of Jesus, were serving the ends of Satan. Being full of the spirit of pride and envy, they refused to believe in our Lord's divine power. They willfully and obstinately resisted their reason, which, outwardly convinced by His stupendous miracles, and inwardly illuminated by the grace of the Holy Ghost, urged them to such a belief. Rather than recognize the truth that God was with our Lord, they had recourse to the most foolish evasions and lies. This willful resistance to God's grace hardened the Pharisees in obstinacy and impenitence, till finally it drove them to decide. They sinned against the Holy Ghost in a fourfold manner: they envied Jesus on account of His superior wisdom and power of working miracles; they resisted that which they knew to be true; they were obstinate in their opposition to our Lord; and they were hardened into a state of final impenitence.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

M A R K M A L L E T T

–––S P I R I T U A L F O O D F O R T H O U G H T–––

Made In China?

ON THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST SACRED HEART

[China] is on the road to fascism, or maybe is heading towards a dictatorial regime with strong nationalist tendencies. —Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong, Catholic News Agency, May 28, 2008

AN American Veteran said to a friend, "China will invade America, and they will do it without firing a single bullet."

That may or may not be true. But as we look at our store shelves, there is something strange in that nearly everything we buy, even some food and pharmaceuticals, is being "Made in China" (one could say that North Americans have already given away "industrial sovereignty.") These goods are becoming increasingly cheaper to buy, fueling more consumerism.

Read more… »

All Mark's writings can be found at: Spiritual Food For Thought

Listen to Mark's music on his official website: www.markmallett.com

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The Rosary of the Youth

For the youth, the prayer of the Rosary is also an essential part of the devotion to Mary in this month of May.

For the youth, the prayer of the Rosary is also an essential part of the devotion to Mary in this month of May. Meters away from the tomb of Saint Peter, at the San Lorenzo International Youth Centre, young people from different nationalities explain the meaning of this devotion in their lives.

"To come closer to her especially in this month of May, it is only one way to be closer to Christ because she always brings us closer to Him."

"To me it is a daily contact, that is, a time when I disconnect from everything, no cell phone, nothing. Only the direct contact with her, when I can give everything, my entire day, my preoccupations, all that I have."

"For me to pray the Rosary, in May especially, is the devotion to Mary because she is the mother of God-- she carried Jesus for 9 months-- and I can devout at least one month to pray this rosary."

"It is a moment to be with the Lord and to tell him everything, to pray repeatedly, alone in peace, to pray and to be with him."

"It is a way of bringing the world into prayer and also of remembering God's mysteries in the world, and the mysteries of Jesus' life."

"Come closer to Jesus Christ through his mother. That now God came to the world she is a portal of our grace, so just to come closer to her in a prayer that meditates on her life with Jesus on earth."

"I am rediscovering the passages of the Gospel and these mysteries with Mary. As a woman I think that in life you can always discover more about the Virgin Mary."

View short video here: http://www.h2onews.org/_page_videoview.php?id_news=745&lang=en#

Mary unites East and West

Mary is a "treasure" and a "gift" through whom we know Christ; she is "the mother of all men" who unites the East and the West. These are the beliefs of participants of the book presentation about the Immaculate Virgin in Rome.

Mary is a "treasure" and a "gift" through whom we know Christ; she is "the mother of all men" who unites the East and the West. These are the beliefs of participants of the book presentation about the Immaculate Virgin in Rome.

"She is the person who may help us discover the Lord himself because she is the one who best knew Christ."
"Since she is a gift for everyone, all of us disciples of Christ can truly unite and live an authentic ecumenism."

The book, presented at the "Russia Ecumenica" Centre, is titled "She is the Immaculate. And she is your Mother", and was published by the Franciscan Charismatic Editorial of Italy.

"We have about 30 years of existence and since then we have promoted the dialogue of the East and the West, a more Catholic West and a more Orthodox East."

"Because Mary is the only Mother of the Western Church, Mary is a treasure."

"I believe that the devotion to the Mother of God is in reality one of the least debated issues in both Catholicism and the Orthodox Church."

The representative of the Orthodox Russian Church, present at the event, explains the importance of Mary for the Orthodox people:

"Certainly the prayer addressed to the mother of God unites us; because in the West and the East there is a great tradition of the devotion to Mary; the feasts to the Mother of God are very dear to the Orthodox people."


View short video here: http://www.h2onews.org/_page_videoview.php?id_news=749#

May 30: World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests

VATICAN –

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – This year, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated on May 30, which has been declared the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. In the Letter sent on this occasion to all priests, from the Prefect and Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy, Cardinal Claudio Hummes and Archbishop Mauro Piacenza respectively, the priority of prayer over action is made explicit, "since it is on prayer that the effectiveness of action depends. The Church's mission largely depends on each person's personal relationship with the Lord Jesus and must therefore be nourished by prayer." Below we offer several excerpts from the Letter.

"In the second place, with an unquenchable thirst and longing for Christ, the most authentic dimension of our Priesthood is mendicancy, simple and continuous prayer that is learned in silent orison. It has always characterized the life of Saints and should be asked for insistently. This awareness of our relationship with him is subjected to the purification of daily testing. Every day we realize again and again that not even we Ministers who act "in Persona Christi Capitis" are spared this drama."

"The one adequate measure, with regard to our Holy Vocation, is radicalism. This total dedication with awareness of our infidelity can only be brought into being as a renewed and prayerful decision which Christ subsequently implements, day after day. The actual gift of priestly celibacy must be accepted and lived in this dimension of radicalism and full configuration to Christ. Any other approach to the reality of the relationship with him risks becoming ideological. Even the great mass of work that the contemporary conditions of the ministry sometimes impose on us, far from discouraging us must spur us to care with even greater attention for our priestly identity which has an incontrovertibly divine root."

"Let us be faithful, dear confrères, to the daily Celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist, not solely in order to fulfill a pastoral commitment or a requirement of the community entrusted to us but because of the absolute personal need we have of it, as of breathing, as of light for our life, as the one satisfactory reason for a complete priestly existence."

"Since the missionary spirit is intrinsic in the very nature of the Church, our mission is likewise innate in the priestly identity, which is why missionary urgency is a matter of self-awareness. Our priestly identity is edified and renewed day after day in "conversation" with Our Lord. An immediate consequence of our relationship with him, ever nourished in constant prayer, is the need to share it with all those around us. The holiness we ask for daily, in fact, cannot be conceived according to a sterile and abstract individual acceptance but is necessarily Christ's holiness, which is contagious for everyone: 'Being in communion with Jesus Christ draws us into his 'being for all'; it makes it our own way of being' (Benedict XVI, "Spe Salvi," No. 28). Christ's 'being for all' is realized for us in the Tria Munera by which we are clothed in the very nature of the Priesthood. These Munera which constitute the entirety of our Ministry, are not the place for alienation or, even worse, a mere functionalist reductionism of ourselves but rather are the truest expression of our belonging to Christ."

"Lastly, the Holy Mother of God remains an indispensable foundation of the whole of priestly life. The relationship with her cannot be resolved in pious devotional practice but is nourished by ceaseless entrustment to the arms of the ever Virgin of the whole of our life, of our ministry in its entirety."

"Dear confreres, the urgent need for a movement of prayer, placing 24-hour continuous Eucharistic adoration at the center so that a prayer of adoration, thanksgiving, praise, petition and reparation will be raised to God, incessantly and from every corner of the earth, with the primary intention of awakening a sufficient number of holy vocations to the priestly state and, at the same time, spiritually uniting with a certain spiritual maternity -- at the level of the Mystical Body -- all those who have already been called to the ministerial priesthood and are ontologically conformed to the one High and Eternal Priest."

(S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 29/5/2008)

Links:
Complete text of the Letter and Prayer for the Day, in various languages
http://www.fides.org/ita/vita_chiesa/2008/cclero_290508.html

[MaryVitamin] Sacred Heart

Mary Vitamin for May 30^th

 

Topic: The Sacred Heart of Jesus

 

Quote:

Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

"Behold this Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify its love."

 

Meditation:

What offering can a person dedicated to the Immaculate make to the Sacred Heart of Jesus? St. John Eudes has a suggestion:

 

O Jesus, only Son of God, only Son of Mary,

I offer Thee the most loving Heart of Thy divine Mother

which is more precious and pleasing to Thee than all hearts.

 

O Mary, Mother of Jesus,

I offer Thee the most adorable Heart of Thy well-beloved Son,

who is the life and love and joy of Thy Heart.

 

Blessed be the Most Loving Heart

and Sweet Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ

and the most glorious

Virgin Mary, His Mother,

in eternity and forever.

Amen.

 

St. John Eudes

 

Resolution:

In honor of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, I will say the prayer composed by St. John Eudes. If during the day I can't remember the words,  I will simply offer the Immaculate Heart of Mary to the Lord and offer the Sacred Heart to my Mother Mary.

 

Marian Vow:

"[The Franciscan Tertiaries of the Immaculate] should also cultivate the practice of the first nine Fridays of the month to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the first five Saturdays to the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

Marian Seraphic Pathways, Constitutions, #31

 

I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

Thanks be to God for graces received.

 

Related sites: Castle of the Immaculate & AirMaria

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SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #235

And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: "Blessed is the womb that bore thee and the paps that gave thee suck." But he said: "Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it." (Luke 11:27-28)

PRAISE OF THE MOTHER OF GOD: The pious woman who praised the Mother of Jesus is a figure of the Catholic Church, whose children love, honor and bless the Mother of God. Now, our Lord, in answering this holy person, said that all those are blessed who hear the word of God and keep it. But no one, either among angels or men, ever had a faith so great, or virtues so many, as the Mother of the Redeemer. Hence her throne in heaven is above the thrones of the angels and Saints, and next to that of her Divine Son. By the woman's praise, Mary's own prophetical words, as uttered in the Magnificat, were partially fulfilled: "Behold, all generations shall call me blessed."

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

China Rising

M A R K  M A L L E T T

–––S P I R I T U A L  F O O D  F O R  T H O U G H T–––

China Rising

 

ONCE again, I hear a warning in my heart regarding China and the West. I have felt compelled to watch this nation carefully for two years now. We have seen it plagued with one natural disaster after another and one man-made disaster after the next (while its army continues to build.) The result has been the displacement of tens of millions of people—and that was before this month's earthquake.

Now, dozens of China's dams are on the verge of bursting. The warning I hear is this:

Your land will be given to another's if there is not repentance for the sin of abortion.  

Read more… »

All Mark's writings can be found at:  Spiritual Food For Thought

Listen to Mark's music on his official website:  www.markmallett.com

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Prayer Request

Dear Co-Worker in the Holy Family, We need your prayers and mortifications for a very special meeting taking place this Friday, May 30th, which is the movable Feast Day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and which is also the 33rd Anniversary of the founding of the Apostolate for Family Consecration. When you look at the news and see the clouds that are gathering, we are convinced more than ever that our family consecration to the Holy Family of Fatima in the spirit of Pope John Paul II (Totus Tuus), along with our family catechism as taught by Francis Cardinal Arinze and that is now available for free over the Internet (www.familyland.org), can truly change the course of history!  This is no exaggeration. Please offer a Rosary today for this intention, and think of some mortification you can offer so that the decision made at the meeting will be in accordance with God's Will. You are in our prayers. All for the Sacred and Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, all through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, all in union with St. Joseph. Jerome F. Coniker President/Co-Founder with Gwen
	PS   Here is a video of our vision and mission that was presented last month at the Institute on Religious Life conference.
Home  |  Events  | Store  |  Ways to help
Apostolate for Family Consecration® Home of Familyland Television Network 3375 CR 36, Bloomingdale, OH 43910 740-765-5500 www.familyland.org

to AirMaria

Our Lady's Role in Salvation and its Effects for Today

"How it impacts the world right now not just theoretically but practically"

LIVE

* Live Streamed Conference In Amsterdam

On the Internet at AirMaria.com on:

Saturday, May 31

7:30am - 12noon EDT

All talks will be in English

A major Marian conference discussing the impact which the proclamation of the Coredemption Dogma would have on the Church for the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the context of approved Marian Apparitions. This conference is being held on the anniversary of the last apparition of Our Lady of All Nations on May 31, 1959, the feast of the Visitation in Amsterdam, Netherlands where the apparitions took place. It will be in the historic Victoria Hotel in Park Plaza along side one of the famous Dutch canals at the heart of the city in the presence of 100 select guests and it will be broadcast with live video on the internet at Airmaria.com.

Marycast Specials #6 ( 3min) Play - Watch the Promo Video

Schedule:

7:30 a.m. - Opening Comments
7:45-8:30 a.m. - Fr. Peter Damien Fehlner
9:00-9:45 a.m. - Msgr. Arthur Calkins
9:45-10:00 a.m. - Dr. Judith Gentle
10:15-11:00 a.m. - Dr. Mark Miravalle
11:00-11:30 a.m. - Panel Discussion
11:30-11:40 a.m. - Fr. Brauer, Former Spiritual Director of Ida Peerdeman
11:45 a.m. - Closing Comments and Blessing

Above times are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

S P E A K E R S (include):

Fr. Peter Damian Fehlner, F.I.
Marian Theologian (bio)
"Mariae Advocatae Causa: The Marian Issue in the Church Today"

Dr. Mark Miravalle, S.T.D.
Profs. of Mariology, Steubenville Univ.
President of Vox Populi (bio)
Relevance of Marian Coredemption Doctrine for Today

Msgr. Arthur Burton Calkins
Marian Theologian
Official of Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (bio)
"Our Lady of All Nations, the Woman of Genesis and the Apocalypse".

Come join us!

And, please, tell a friend by forwarding this to your contacts and mentioning it on you blog or website.

Ave Maria!

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #234

And there was a certain man there that had been eight and thirty years under his infirmity. Him when Jesus had seen lying, and knew that he had been now a long time, he saith to him: "Wilt thou be made whole?" The infirm man answered him: "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pond. For whilst I am coming, another goeth down before me." Jesus saith to him: "Arise, take up thy bed and walk." And immediately the man was made whole: and he took up his bed and walked. (John 5:5-9)

THE MISERY OF UNREDEEMED MANKIND: The condition of the sick man, for so many years miserable and abandoned by all who might have helped him, is, according to St. Augustine, Venerable Bede and others, a striking picture of the misery of unredeemed mankind. Man had turned away from God, and remained sunk in vice and sin for four thousand years; and there was no one to help him. Then the Son of God had mercy on him and became Man Himself in order to redeem him. He, the Incarnate Son of God, is our helper and comforter!

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

The Seven Year Trial - Part I

M A R K  M A L L E T T

–––S P I R I T U A L  F O O D  F O R  T H O U G H T–––

The Seven Year Trial - Part I

 

TRUMPETS of Warning-Part V laid the groundwork for what I believe is now rapidly approaching this generation. The picture is becoming clearer, the signs speaking louder, the winds of change blowing harder. And so, our Holy Father looks tenderly at us once again and says, "Hope" …for the coming darkness will not triumph.

This writing addresses the Seven Year Trial which is approaching.

Read more… »

All Mark's writings can be found at:  Spiritual Food For Thought

Listen to Mark's music on his official website:  www.markmallett.com

FROM MEJ.COM:

Apparition At Blue Cross—May 26, 2008

As two young pilgrims prepared themselves in solitude, this evening on May 26, 2008, for the coming of the Queen of Peace, the bronze plaque in the background depicting the 5th Glorious Mystery of the Rosary, the Crowing of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven, is striking.

It is always a great joy when Ivan returns to Medjugorje and through his prayer group, opens the apparitions of Our Lady to all pilgrims to attend on Apparition Hill on Monday and Friday nights. Tonight the space surrounding the Blue Cross, where the apparition took place, slowly filled up with a steady stream of pilgrims who began arriving in the early evening, and continued coming even just moments before Our Lady appeared to Ivan around 10:00 p.m. The whole world was represented on this hillside, the Rosary being heard prayed in many languages. Tonight the mood was solemn and quiet as everyone gathered prepared their hearts to encounter the Queen of Peace. As always, the crowd was made up of many who have been coming to Medjugorje for years, standing with those who were here on their first pilgrimage; the very young and the very old; the strong amidst the weak; those looking for a sign to strengthen their faith and the blessed ones who believe without seeing. Finally, Ivan’s voice could be heard quietly asking for the cameras and flashlights to be put away—that this was the time for prayer. The Rosary began, each decade prayed by a member of Ivan’s prayer group, who have been meeting ever since they first came together in 1984, almost 25 years ago. And in the silence that followed the Rosary, Our Lady appeared.

Description of Ivan’s Apparition at the Blue Cross On May 26, 2008

Though only the visionary Ivan can see Our Lady when She appears during the prayer group meetings on Apparition Hill in Medjugorje, many pilgrims long to get as close as they can to Our Lady. These pilgrims arrived early this evening on May 26, capturing the coveted seats next to the Blue Cross where Our Lady would be appearing.

Tonight when Our Lady came She was very, very happy. She greeted us by saying “Praised be Jesus my dear children.” Our Lady then prayed for a long time with Her hands extended over us present. She then blessed us all with Her Motherly Blessing. She blessed all the religious articles brought for blessing. Ivan recommended all of our needs, our families and especially all of the sick. Tonight Our Lady prayed especially for vocations in the Church. After we prayed with Our Lady an Our Father and a Glory Be and then Our Lady left in an illuminated Sign of the Cross saying, “Go in peace my dear children.”

Ivan then made a reference to the message Our Lady gave yesterday through visionary Marija Lunetti, saying this was the message to the world, the latest message given by Our Lady for us to live.

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SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #233

Now there is at Jerusalem a pond, called Probatica, which in Hebrew is named Bethsaida, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick, of blind, of lame, of withered: waiting for the moving of the water. And an angel of the Lord descended at certain times into the pond and the water was moved. And he that went down first into the pond after the motion of the water was made whole of whatsoever infirmity he lay under. (John 5:2-4)

A TYPE OF BAPTISM: The Pool of Bethsaida was a type of that spring of grace, holy Baptism. As in the one all possible diseases of the body were cured, so in Baptism all possible sins are remitted.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #232

They asked him therefore: "Who is that man who said to thee: Take up thy bed and walk?" But he who was healed knew not who it was: for Jesus went aside from the multitude standing in the place. Afterwards, Jesus findeth him in the temple and saith to him: "Behold thou art made whole: sin no more, lest some worse thing happen to thee." (John 5:12-14)

RELAPSE INTO SIN: Our Lord warned the cured man not to fall back into sin, because a relapse leads easily to impenitence, and thereby to everlasting damnation.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

MEMORIAL DAY

Amidst the cookouts and fun, let's not forget all those who've given their lives to keep us free.

Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace. Amen.

Once again my friend Mark 'hits the nail on the head' with this important post regarding future events. Thank You Mark Mallett!

M A R K M A L L E T T

–S P I R I T U A L F O O D F O R T H O U G H T–

The Coming Counterfeit

The Mask, by Michael D. O’Brien

Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. (Matt 10:16)

SOMEONE wrote recently: "Your prayerful reflections are inspiring, although unsettling." The intended fruit is indeed to shake us from our complacency and routine mode of living and pay attention to the times we live in and to events which appear imminent. But, I pray above all, that you will read this writing in the broader context of God’s providence and care for us; that He loves us so much, He is preparing us, and granting us the means to draw into the refuge and safety of His Sacred Heart.

This writing is an important warning and forewarning, and should be read prayerfully, invoking the Holy Spirit and God’s protection.

Read more… »

All Mark's writings can be found at: Spiritual Food For Thought

Listen to Mark's music on his official website: www.markmallett.com

[MaryVitamin] St. Philip Neri Feast Day

Mary Vitamin for May 24th

Topic: St. Philip Neri, Mirth and the Strong Woman of Proverbs

Feast day of St. Philip: May 26th

 

Quote:

"Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day."

Proverbs 31:25

 

Meditation:

St. Philip Neri, known as the Apostle of Rome and the Humorous Saint, experienced an extraordinary phenomenon.

 

"He was twenty-nine years old at the time, and as the feast of Pentecost was approaching, Philip who had always had a special devotion to the Holy Spirit, was praying with extreme earnestness for his gifts and graces, when he seemed to see a globe of fire which entered his mouth and sank down into his heart. At the same time he was pervaded by a fire of love which seemed to be a positive physical heat, so that he had to throw himself on the ground and bare his breast to cool it. When he rose he was seized with a violent trembling, accompanied by an extraordinary sense of joy, and putting his hand to his heart, he felt there a swelling as big as a man's fist. After his death it was discovered that the first two of the false ribs were broken, and the broken ends thrust outwards, never having rejoined or return to the normal position during the fifty remaining years of Philip's life."

Fr. V.J. Matthews, Saint Philip Neri (Tan Books: 1984), 9.

Why does the Lord work such marvelous spectacles in the lives of some saints? Should we think this is just an impressive miracle or accidental gift with no further meaning? It is more in keeping with the greatness of the Divine Mind and Plan that extraordinary miracles point to a deeper meaning.  As we've seen with St. Clare, (previous MV) we learn more about the Incarnation and the Blessed Virgin Mary by delving into these mysteries.

 

Our Lady's monumental experiences with the Holy Spirit resulted in her Immaculate Conception and later the Incarnation – what happened to Our Lady at Pentecost? Does the life of St. Philip Neri help us to understand?

 

St. Philip Neri was marked by prudential, meek and zealous seeking of souls. He exhibited such a high degree of purity that his countenance seemed as white as alabaster and "his eyes sparkled as no painter could paint". He is greatly known for his humor and it seems his humility knew no limits. All of these traits reflect the virtues of Our Lady. He was also known as the "Humorous Saint" and "[i]n his own lifetime his room came to be known as 'the School of Christian Mirth" 79

 

Some of St. Philip's most memorable sayings are:

"I will have no melancholy, no low spirits in my house."

"My Son, persevere in this cheerfulness, for this is the true way to make progress in virtue."

 

Resolution:

Today, reflecting on the Strong Woman of the proverbs and the life of St. Philip Neri, I will practice one act of cheerfulness to grow in virtue and to imitate the joy of Our Lady.

 

Marian Vow:

"It is of primary importance that the love of Christ be always animating us--'The charity of Christ urges us on' (II Cor 5:14) -to live in a perfect sharing of prayer, action, sorrow and joy."

Father Stefano Manelli, Traccia Mariana

 I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 Thanks be to God for graces received.

Related site: Castle of the Immaculate & AirMaria

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SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #231

Afterwards, Jesus findeth him in the temple and saith to him: "Behold thou art made whole: sin no more, lest some worse thing happen to thee." The man went his way and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole. (John 5:14-15)

ETERNAL AND TEMPORAL PUNISHMENT: Grave sin brings on both eternal and temporal punishment. Our Lord's words: "Sin no more, lest some worse thing happen to thee," are a proof of this.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

Our Lady's Message of May 25, 2008

Our Lady Queen of Peace of Medjugorje’s May 25, 2008 Monthly Message

“Dear children! In this time of grace, when God has permitted me to be with you, little children, I call you anew to conversion. Work on the salvation of the world in a special way while I am with you. God is merciful and gives special graces, therefore, seek them through prayer. I am with you and do not leave you alone. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

There will be a broadcast tomorrow, Monday May 26th here on Radio WAVE regarding Marija’s apparition and message. See chart below for your local times, and Click Here to Open the Radio WAVE Player

Your Time Zone	Online Air Time
Eastern Time	8:00 PM - Monday (May 26)
Central Time	7:00 PM - Monday
Mountain Time	6:00 PM - Monday
Pacific Time	5:00 PM - Monday
Hawaii Time	3:00 PM - Monday
Brazil Time	10:00 PM - Monday
Sydney, Australia	12:00 PM - Tuesday (May 27)
Seoul	9:00 AM - Tuesday
Beijing, Singapore	8:00 AM - Tuesday
Calcutta	7:30 AM - Tuesday
Baghdad, Moscow	4:00 AM - Tuesday
Jerusalem, Athens, Cairo	3:00 AM - Tuesday
Warsaw, Paris, Prague, Rome, Berlin, Medjugorje	2:00 AM - Tuesday
London, Dublin	1:00 AM - Tuesday

To Make Your Comment Click Here

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Banneux and the Precept of Charity





On May 31 2008 the Church in Belgium will mark the 75^th anniversary of the apparitions of the “Virgin of the Poor” at the Marian Shrine in Banneux.

Today the Vatican released Pope Benedict XVI’s message appointing Cardinal Godfried Daneels, Archbishop of Malines-Brussels, as his special representative at the celebrations.

In his letter, the pope emphasized that the Chair of Peter always rejoices in promoting proper devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary among the faithful.

The pope wrote that the anniversary of the apparitions gives the Church in Belgium the chance to ponder anew the teaching of the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church which speaks of the of Mary as “she who stands out among the poor and humble of the Lord, who confidently hope for and receive salvation from Him.”

The pope remarked that the happy coincidence of the anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin of the Poor with the annual Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an opportunity to help the faithful with the example and prayers of Our Lady to continue on the path of spiritual renewal and to appreciate that the “precept of charity” spurs us on in a diligent service to others in daily life.

Pope Benedict XVI concluded the letter by entrusting Cardinal Daneels with the charge to impart his apostolic blessing upon the faithful who gather at the shrine for the celebrations.