THE PORTIUNCULA INDULGENCE

Tribulation Times

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/july.asp?version=31

July 31, 2008  

SUNDAY SERMON: THE PORTIUNCULA INDULGENCE

VIA SPIRITDAILY: ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI AND GREAT PARDON KNOWN AS THE PORTIUNCULA INDULGENCE by Susan Tassone

The Portiuncula (small portion) refers to the land in Assisi, Italy, that belonged to the Benedictines.

On this land  was an old church dedicated to the Virgin Mother of God but abandoned.

The great St. Francis had great devotion to the queen of the world and when he saw that the church was deserted, he began to live there constantly and repair it.  He heard that the angels often visited it, so that it was called St. Mary of the Angels.

The Benedictines wanted to give Francis the church but in order to remain faithful to Lady Poverty, Francis rented it from them with the annual compensation of a basket of fish from the Tescio river.

Here is where Francis began his service to Christ and His Church. Here Francis founded his Order, received Clare as his spiritual daughter, and where he died commending this spot above all others to the friars.

 St. Francis had great love and compassion for everyone.

On a night of July, 1216, Francis was praying in the little church of the Portiuncula devoured by love for God and a thirst to save souls. He prayed for the forgiveness of sins of mankind.

Suddenly a brilliant light shone all around. In great splendor Jesus and Mary appeared in the midst of a dazzling cloud surrounded by a multitude of radiant angels.

Out of fear and reverence, St. Francis adored Our Lord prostrate upon the ground.

Then Jesus said to him: "Francis you are very zealous for the good of souls. Ask me what you want for their salvation." St. Francis was rapt in ecstasy before Jesus.

When he regained his courage he said:

"Lord, I a miserable sinner beg You to concede an indulgence to all those who enter this church, who are truly contrite and have confessed their sins. And I beg Blessed Mary, your Mother, intercessor of man, that she intercede on behalf of this grace."

Our Lady at once began to beseech her son on behalf of Francis. Jesus answered:

"It is a very great thing that which you ask Me; but you are worthy of even greater things, Friar Francis, and greater things you will have. So I accept your request, but I want you to go to my Vicar, to whom I have given the power to bind and loose in Heaven and on earth, to ask him on my behalf for this indulgence."

With one of his companions, Francis hastened to Pope Honorius III and prostrate implored him to proclaim that every one visiting the church and confessing their sins with a contrite heart would be as pure from all sin and punishments as he was immediately after baptism. The Pope granted this petition. This indulgence has been extended to all parish churches throughout the world.

The date was set from vespers of the first of August until sundown on the second of August, the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels. It is said that St. Francis was given this day by Our Lord because the Feast of the Chains of St. Peter celebrated on August first is the day Peter was released from prison and his chains removed. This is an extraordinary demonstration of God's mercy in removing the chains of sin from those who devoutly and faithfully seek to gain the indulgence by completing its requirements. 

The conditions to obtain the Plenary Indulgence of the Forgiveness of Assisi is (for oneself or for a departed soul) as follows:

--    Sacramental Confession to be in God's grace (during eight days before or after.)

--    Participation in the Holy Mass and Eucharist

--    Recitation of The Apostles Creed, Our Father and a prayer for the Pope's Intention.

 The Portiuncula Indulgence is a grace not to miss not only for yourself but for the many suffering souls in Purgatory.

Mark your calendar for the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels beginning on the First of August to August 2.

Tell everyone of the magnitude of this gift. Once again, we see the unfathomable Divine Mercy of God.

 In the words of St. Francis: O my Brothers and Sisters, I want you all to go to Heaven!

MORE: St. Francis and the Feast of Pardon

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 7- "On Joy-Making Mourning"

21. Let the remembrance of the eternal fire lie down with you every evening, and let it rise up with you too. Then sloth will never overwhelm you at the time of psalmody.   

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Prayer request?  Send an email to: PrayerRequest3@aol.com

This month's archive can be found at: http://www.catholicprophecy.info/news2.html.

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY # 297

Then Jesus said to them: "Amen, amen, I say unto you: except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me: and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me." (John 6:53-58)

THE NECESSITY OF COMMUNION [the fourth commandment of the Church. Our Lord makes the attainment of eternal life dependent on the receiving of His Body and Blood. "Except you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His Blood, you shall not have life in you." -- "He that eateth My Flesh etc., shall live forever." Since it is the duty of every man to try to save his soul, and Holy Communion is necessary, as of precept, it is the duty of every man to receive Holy Communion, as soon as he is capable of understanding this divine mystery, and as soon as his will is sufficiently formed and enlightened to decide whether or not he desires to partake of this heavenly Food. The Church, therefore, is fulfilling our Lord's command, and providing for the salvation of souls, when she commands all the faithful to receive Holy Communion.

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

FROM MARK MALLETT: - SPIRITUAL FOOD FOR THOUGHT -

Magnificat of the Woman

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Artist Unknown

 

WHEN the Seven Year Trial is over, a smaller but purified Church will emerge in a purified world. There will rise from her soul a song of praise… the song of the Woman.

A new hymn I will sing to my God. (Judith 16:13)

  

MAGNIFICAT OF THE WOMAN (Luke 1:46-55)

Read the rest here: http://www.markmallett.com/blog/?p=729

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY # 296

And Jesus said to them:
"I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the desert: and are dead.
This is the bread which cometh down from heaven: that if any man eat of it, he may not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world." (John 6:48-51)

COMMUNION UNDER ONE KIND: It is evident from our Lord's words: "He that eateth this Bread (My body under the form of bread) will live forever," that he who receives Holy Communion under one kind, does not receive less than he who receives under both kinds.

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

[MaryVitamin] Ecce Mater Tua

Mary Vitamin for July 29th   Topic: Here is your Mother   Quote: "Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son.' Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I thirst.' " John 19:25-28   Meditation: Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity "She is there at the foot of the Cross, standing, full strength and courage, and here my Master says to me: 'Ecce Mater tua.' He gives her to me for my Mother….And now that He has returned to the Father and has substituted me for Himself on the Cross so that 'I may suffer in my body what is lacking in His passion for the sake of His body, which is the Church,' the Blessed Virgin is again there to teach me to suffer as He did, to tell me, to make me hear those last songs of His soul which no one else but she, His Mother, could overhear." The Complete Works, Volume One "The Last Retreat" #40 (ICS Publications)   Resolution: Today, if I have to endure some trial, I will not try to endure it alone. I will make no other resolution than to promise to turn to Our Lady the moment I have to endure a trial. I will remember the words of Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity, the Blessed Virgin is again there to teach me to suffer as He did.   Marian Vow: Father Stefano Manelli, FI "The highly dramatic scene portrayed finds its meaning, as part of the last testament of Jesus, the supreme and final act of love that brings to fulfillment the salvific plan for all humanity. This sense of final accomplishment is also conveyed by the more immediate context of the verses. After the words spoken by Jesus to Mary and John, in fact, there follows immediately the pericope in which the Evangelist says that for Jesus 'all things were now accomplished'. Entrusting us to Mary and giving Mary to us, then, Jesus brings to fulfillment the salvific work of mankind." All Generations Shall Call me Blessed, (Academy of the Immaculate), 325.   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 # 295

And Jesus said to them: "I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me shall never thirst. But I said unto you that you also have seen me, and you believe not. All that the Father giveth to me shall come to me: and him that cometh to me, I will not cast out. Because I came down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me. Now this is the will of the Father who sent me: that of all that he hath given me, I should lose nothing; but should raise it up again in the last day. And this is the will of my Father that sent me: that every one who seeth the Son and believeth in him may have life everlasting. And I will raise him up in the last day.
"I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the desert: and are dead.
This is the bread which cometh down from heaven: that if any man eat of it, he may not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world."
Then Jesus said to them: "Amen, amen, I say unto you: except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me: and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna and are dead. He that eateth this bread shall live for ever." (John 6:35-40; 48-58)

OUR LORD IS ENTIRELY PRESENT in the most holy Sacrament, under the form of bread, for He says: 1. "I (Myself) am the living bread;" 2. "he that eateth Me," and therefore he who eats His Flesh eats Him; 3. "I abide in him (namely in him who eats My Flesh); 4. "the flesh profiteth nothing, it is the spirit that quickeneth." His Flesh, therefore, is penetrated by the Spirit, and united to His soul and divinity.

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

Tribulation Times

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/july.asp?version=31

July 28, 2008

(2Pe 3:11-12) Seeing then that all these things are to be dissolved, what manner of people ought you to be in holy conversation and godliness? Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of the Lord, by which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with the burning heat?

FROM THE MAILBAG VIA Kathy: Sermon by Fr. Louis Campbell- Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, July 20, 2008 The Great Tribulation

Someone asked me if, in my opinion, the Great Tribulation would be starting soon. The Great Tribulation is that time foretold by Our Lord when His followers would endure great trial and suffering:

"They will deliver you up to tribulation, and will put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away, and will betray one another, and will hate one another. And many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. And because iniquity will abound, the charity of many will grow cold. But whoever perseveres to the end, he shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world, for a witness to all nations; and the will come the end" (Mt.24:8b-14).

If we look around us it is hard not to be convinced that the Tribulation has already begun. A Great Apostasy, also prophesied in Sacred Scripture, has been under way for the past forty or fifty years, and the spiritual devastation in both Church and world is beyond belief.

We must understand that spiritual devastation is a far greater evil than any kind of natural disaster. The whole world was in a state of shock over the great earthquake and accompanying tsunami that occurred in the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004. The fires in California and the floods in the Midwest have left us all wondering what could happen next, and we fear even a financial tsunami. But even if the whole earth should quake and swallow up half of mankind, if most of the human race should die of famine or plague, or if a huge asteroid should strike the earth and leave the planet devoid of all life, it would not be as great a disaster as one mortal sin.

Yes, sin is the greatest evil. Our life on the earth is limited and must come to an end some day, but, hopefully, we will then enter into eternal joy in Heaven. Earthquakes, hurricanes and floods do not offend God. But mortal sin is an offense against the All Good and Holy God Who deserves only our love and gratitude. Mortal sin strikes against God in an attempt to kill Him. In fact, it did kill Him. Jesus Christ, the God-Man, surrendered His sacred humanity on the Cross as a Victim for the sins of the world.

Sin is the most horrible of all evils. And in these times sin is everywhere. It surrounds us, it threatens us, it haunts us, it attacks us. "The wages of sin is death," says St. Paul (Rom.6:23). Mortal sin has killed millions, even billions of human beings. If that is not a disaster, what is?

The Most Holy Virgin Mary, venerated in Ecuador as Our Lady of Good Success, appeared in the 1600's to Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres at the Conceptionist Convent in Quito, Ecuador, and told her that the twentieth century would be a time of great evil and persecution of the good. Millions of people would fall into Hell, including many bishops, priests, and nuns. Innocence in children and modesty in women would hardly be found anymore. Those who should speak out would remain silent, and the Church would lack the one leader who would be able to bring things to order once more. Knowledge of the apparitions would not be widespread until the time of these terrible disasters. Mother Mariana was asked to do penance for the people of our times, and she did.

Our Lady requested of Mother Mariana that a statue be made according to her likeness. Fearing that the bishop would not believe her, Mother Mariana delayed asking his permission. When she finally went to see the bishop he said to her: "What took you so long?" He had had a dream in which Our Lady told him to expect Mother Mariana's visit. He gave her the necessary permission to have the statue made. This apparition of Our Lady of Good Success has never been doubted or censured by the Church, and every bishop of that diocese since that time has approved and encouraged devotion to Our Lady of Good Success and her miraculous statue (a small replica of which we have in our sanctuary).

How is it possible that the world has fallen so deeply into the mire of serious sin? If we studied the secret societies (which Our Lady also spoke of at Quito) we would find that they have succeeded in seducing many into lives of sin. Priests and bishops have been their direct targets. And when the Church's leaders stray from the narrow way, the people soon follow them along the broad path that leads to destruction.

But we are responsible for our own sins. The world has no conscience anymore and has lost the sense of sin. We allow our consciences to be deadened by watching things on TV, DVD's and the internet that are filled with poisonous ideas and seductive images that destroy the soul. Why do we let them do this to us? Those who provide these things couldn't care less that they are sending us to Hell to cry and lament in horrible punishments for all eternity. They couldn't care less that they are robbing the young of their innocence and turning them into perverts and slaves of sin. Lets turn the tables on these agents of the devil and refuse to accept any more of their sickening garbage! We were made for better things. Lets choose only what is good and pleasing to God, and follow Christ alone from now on! Long live Christ the King!

The most encouraging thing is that Our Lady told Mother Mariana that these evil times would come to an end, and she would, by the power of God, overcome the devil and initiate a time of great triumph for the Holy Catholic Church. May that time come soon!

In the meantime, we must not fear the devil or sin itself. God's mercy is everlasting, and there is no sin which He is unable to forgive. Even when we are guilty of the gravest sins, there is joy among the angels of God when we repent. Think of this wonderful passage from St. Paul to the Romans:

"But where the offense has abounded, grace has abounded yet more; so that as sin has reigned unto death, so also grace may reign by justice unto life everlasting through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom.5:20b,21).

Our Lady of Good Success, pray for us!

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 7- "On Joy-Making Mourning"

18. Let your reclining in bed be for you an image of your declining into the grave, and you will sleep less. Let your refreshment at table be for you a reminder of the grim table of those worms, and you will be less indulgent. And in drinking water, do not forget the thirst in that flame, and you will certainly do violence to your nature.

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Prayer request? Send an email to: PrayerRequest3@aol.com

This month's archive can be found at: http://www.catholicprophecy.info/news2.html.

"Seeing as Jesus “sees”

VATICAN - AVE MARIA by Mgr. Luciano Alimandi -

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - How different is the Lord's way of looking at the earth and its inhabitants, compared with our way which rarely sees beyond appearances! Conversion of heart means learning from Jesus to see things His way which is totally different from the way of the world. To follow Him means to look where He looks, to focus on what comes from His love rather than what comes from our own self-love, which is 'short sighted' by nature. Learning day by day from the Gospel means looking further than our own selfish limits, looking in the same direction as Jesus with the aspirations for goodness, truth and beauty contained in his Word.
Commanding us to love one another as He has loved us (cfr. Jn 13, 34), he is also asking us to see one another in a new 'way' , in the way of love. This is the task for every Christian: to live His word-commandment, to live it with love, making it alive and new.

"I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you". I can only love others in His way if I 'see ' others as He sees them. If I judge them, condemn them, I am not looking as Christ does, I am blind, and see them as inferior to myself: "Why do you observe the splinter in your brother's eye and never notice the great log in your own?" (Lk 6, 41)
"Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God" (Mt 5, 8).

A pure heart, a heart which loves God and forgets self, looks in the same direction as Jesus and sees in others His own likeness, dignity and wonderful potential for doing good, even those somehow 'buried' under the dust of sin, which disfigures man but can never rob him of his dignity as a child of God.
In the parable of the prodigal son, better renamed of the "merciful father", the father and the other brother who remained at home with him, see the return of the 'lost' son weighed down with sin (cfr Lk 15, 18-19) in quite a different way and they reach quite different conclusions: the merciful father rejoices because " because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found" (Lk 15, 24), whereas the elder son has no compassion whatsoever, he is "angry" (Lk 15, 28); his was unable to "see" with the eyes of his father. He criticizes his father's joy which he cannot understand, convinced of his own point of view. Probably if he had seen his brother before his father did, he would have stopped him from entering; but this did not happen. In this beautiful parable Jesus makes it clear that the first to see the prodigal son was the father (cfr Lk 15, 20)!

How comforting it is to know that the Father is on the look out, he sees us coming from afar! And He looks at us with unimaginable gentleness! This knowledge will give us the strength to see others and to treat others with 'loving mercy' and kindness.
Every day we should ask the Holy Spirit to give us the grace of the same sentiments as Christ: gentleness and patience, humility and kindness. Then we will be as St Paul asked: "make my joy complete by being of a single mind, one in love, one in heart and one in mind. Nothing is to be done out of jealousy or vanity; instead, out of humility of mind everyone should give preference to others, everyone pursuing not selfish interests but those of others. Make your own the mind of Christ Jesus" (Phil 2, 2-5), "since what we aim for is not visible but invisible. Visible things are transitory, but invisible things eternal" (2 Cor 4, 18).

The Holy Spirit is ready to give us this love, but we have to ask for it in prayer as the Pope told young people at the recent World Youth Day in Australia:

"Yet this power, the grace of the Spirit, is not something we can merit or achieve, but only receive as pure gift. God's love can only unleash its power when it is allowed to change us from within. We have to let it break through the hard crust of our indifference, our spiritual weariness, our blind conformity to the spirit of this age. Only then can we let it ignite our imagination and shape our deepest desires. That is why prayer is so important: daily prayer, private prayer in the quiet of our hearts and before the Blessed Sacrament, and liturgical prayer in the heart of the Church. Prayer is pure receptivity to God's grace, love in action, communion with the Spirit who dwells within us, leading us, through Jesus, in the Church, to our heavenly Father" (Benedict XVI, homily 20 July 2008, Sydney).

The Blessed Virgin Mary always looked at Jesus and so she always looked in the same direction as He did and noticed therefore when the wedding couple at Cana had run out of wine (cfr. Jn 2, 3). Her intercession was decisive for that miracle worked by the Lord, and it is decisive for all the miracles He works in our own lives. She is the Mediatrix of graces and our Advocate before God. To the Mother of divine Mercy we consecrate our life and we entrust ourselves to her with filial confidence. With Mary as our Mother we will always be safe, close to God!

(Agenzia Fides 23/7/2008)

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY # 294

And Jesus said to them: "I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me shall never thirst. But I said unto you that you also have seen me, and you believe not. All that the Father giveth to me shall come to me: and him that cometh to me, I will not cast out. Because I came down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me. Now this is the will of the Father who sent me: that of all that he hath given me, I should lose nothing; but should raise it up again in the last day. And this is the will of my Father that sent me: that every one who seeth the Son and believeth in him may have life everlasting. And I will raise him up in the last day.
"I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the desert: and are dead.
This is the bread which cometh down from heaven: that if any man eat of it, he may not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world."
Then Jesus said to them: "Amen, amen, I say unto you: except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me: and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna and are dead. He that eateth this bread shall live for ever." (John 6:35-40; 48-58)

THE PROMISES MADE BY OUR LORD IN THIS DISCOURSE: He promised to give us a food, the effects of which would not be passing, but would endure for ever. This Food is Himself: He is the living and life giving Food which came down from heaven. He promised to give His Flesh for the life of the world, and to offer this His Flesh to be our Food. When the Jews were scandalized at the idea of His giving His Flesh to be eaten, He did not say to them: "You have misunderstood me." On the contrary, He re-affirmed the very thing which had scandalized them, and asserted repeatedly that His Flesh was meat indeed and His Blood drink indeed, and that those only will have life who eat His Flesh and drink His Blood; though, at the same time, He signified that the Flesh that He would give to be our Food was His glorified Body. When many of His disciples were still offended at the idea of His giving His Flesh to eat, and refused to believe His words, our Lord preferred to let the go, rather than retract or explain away one syllable of the words He had spoken. It is therefore undeniably true that our Lord promised to give His Body, His Flesh and Blood, to be the Food of His servants. Our Lord gave this promise at the time of the third Pasch, kept during His public life, and He fulfilled it a year later when, at the Last Supper, He instituted the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

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

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY # 293

And Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." And he said, "Come." And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, "Lord, save me." And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matthew 14:28-31)

THE FAITH AND LOVE OF ST. PETER are remarkable, and show us why our Lord Jesus Christ chose this particular apostle to be the rock on which to build His Church. All the apostle's recognized our Lord's Voice, but only to St. Peter did it occur to hasten across the water to meet Him. St. Chrysostom says: "Behold how great were the faith and love of the apostle! His faith made him say: Jesus not only can walk on the water Himself, but He can make others walk with Him! He did not say: 'Lord, teach me to walk on the waves,' but: 'Lord, bid me come to Thee!' It was not for display, but for pure love of Jesus, that he demanded this great miracle."

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

[MaryVitamin] St. Anne

The Immaculate Conception with Saint Joachim and Saint Anne by Francisco de Zubaran probably around 1638 - 1640 Mary Vitamin for July 25th   Topic: St. Anne and St. Joachim's Feast Day July 26   Quote: St. John Eudes "The womb of St. Anne was an ark of benediction, because it carried the star that brought forth the Sun of Justice, Jesus Christ, Our Savior and Our Lord, Who delivered us from the eternal curse and showered upon us every blessing." St. John Eudes, The Wondrous Childhood, (Preserving Christian Publications), 77.   Meditation: "It was an ark of sanctification, enclosing within itself her who is an abyss of grace and a prodigy of sanctity. It was an ark wherein lay hidden the fairest treasure of heaven and earth. […] O how near to this treasure was the heart of God! Upon this most amiable treasure rested with content the eyes of Him Who was one day to declare :"Where thy heart is, there is thy treasure also." St. John Eudes, The Wondrous Childhood, (Preserving Christian Publications), 77-78.   Resolution: When a great day approaches, a wedding, a graduation, the start of a new career, one keeps his eyes focused on this event. What could be a greater event than the Word was made flesh? Knowing that God's love burns like a furnace, weren't His eyes trained upon St. Anne and the prodigy of grace, the Blessed Virgin Mary awaiting the day He would take on human flesh? This will be my holy thought for today: I will remember the grandmother of the Lord.   Marian Vow: According to Venerable Mary of Agreda, St. Anne said upon the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary: "But how shall I behave properly towards her whom you've given me as my daughter, I who am not worthy to serve her?" St. Anne admirably expresses the concern of those who have taken the Marian vow of total consecration to the Immaculate.   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 #292

And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking upon the sea. And they seeing him walking upon the sea, were troubled, saying: "It is an apparition." And they cried out for fear. And immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying: "Be of good heart: it is I, fear ye not." And they that were in the boat came and adored him, saying: "Indeed thou art the Son of God." And having passed the water, they came into the country of Genesar. And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent into all that country, and brought to him all that were diseased. And they besought him that they might touch but the hem of his garment. And as many as touched, were made whole. (Matt. 14:25-27; 33-36)

THE OBJECT OF THESE MIRACLES: These four miracles, in common with the preceding miracle of the loaves, and the miracle which followed of healing the sick by the very touch of His garments, had the object of quickening and strengthening the apostles' faith and of preparing them for the revelation of the great mystery of faith, the Real Presence of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. The miracle of our Lord walking on the water was intended to explain to them the attributes of His glorified Body; and the healing of the sick by the touch of His garments foreshadowed the effects of receiving His Sacred Body, which our Lord described in the next chapter. If the very touch of His garments could heal the sick, surely it is not hard to believe that a soul can obtain everlasting life by receiving His Body and Blood.

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

NEW MEDJUGORJE MESSAGE

	Our Lady's Message of July 25, 2008
"Dear children! At this time when you are thinking of physical rest, I call you to conversion. Pray and work so that your heart yearns for God the Creator who is the true rest of your soul and your body. May He reveal His face to you and may He give you His peace. I am with you and intercede before God for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call."

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SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #291

And having dismissed the multitude, he went into a mountain alone to pray. And when it was evening, he was there alone. But the boat in the midst of the sea was tossed with the waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking upon the sea. And they seeing him walking upon the sea, were troubled, saying: "It is an apparition." And they cried out for fear. And immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying: "Be of good heart: it is I, fear ye not." And Peter making answer, said: "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee upon the waters." And he said: "Come." And Peter going down out of the boat walked upon the water to come to Jesus. But seeing the wind strong, he was afraid: and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying: "Lord, save me." And immediately Jesus stretching forth his hand took hold of him, and said to him: "O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt?" And when they were come up into the boat, the wind ceased. And they that were in the boat came and adored him, saying: "Indeed thou art the Son of God." And having passed the water, they came into the country of Genesar. (Matt. 14:23-34)

THE DIVINITY OF OUR LORD: Our Lord wrought four miracles in the early dawn after the miracle of the loaves--miracles of a new kind, which on that account made a great impression on the apostles, and so quickened their faith, that they cries out: "Thou art the Son of God!"
1. Jesus Himself walked on the sea, stepping as easily and firmly over the seething waves as He would have done on dry land. He did not work this miracle for any one else, but by it He manifested Himself as a supernatural Being transcending the ordinary laws of nature. As He trod the dark abyss of water, He stood forth as the Lord of creation, being subject to the otherwise inexorable laws of nature (such as gravitation) only in so far as He pleased.
2. At our Lord's bidding St. Peter walked on the water, and was kept up by an invisible power.
3. When our Lord entered the ship, the storm was immediately quieted, and
4. the ship instantly arrived at its destination.

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

Tribulation Times - http://www.tribtimes.com

Franco Messina's statue of Padre Pio, carrying his Cross.

Tribulation Times

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/july.asp?version=31

July 24, 2008  

(Heb 12:1-2) And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us: Looking on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who, having joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sitteth on the right hand of the throne of God.

THE TRIB TIMES WILL RETURN NEXT WEEK, GOD WILLING (James 4:15).

BOOK REVIEW: Padre Pio's Letters Reveal His Dark Night of Soul

PADRE PIO WARTIME ANECDOTE: A Veteran's Story: Typing skills put St. Peter's grad in future saint's path

MORE: The Holy Man on the Mountain: Padre Pio and the Americans who Discovered Him

Padre Pio's Secret: His Shoulder Wound 
by Frank M.  Rega 

Published in "The Voice of Padre Pio," March-April 2008, pp.  23-23.

Shortly after World War II was over, a young Polish priest who was studying in Rome, Fr.  Karol Wojtyla, visited Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo.  This encounter took place around 1947 or 1948.  At that time in post-war Italy, it was possible to have access to Padre Pio, since travel was difficult and great crowds were not besieging the Friary.  The young priest spent almost a week in San Giovanni Rotondo during his visit, and was able to attend Padre Pio's Mass and make his confession to the saint.  Apparently, this was not just a casual encounter, and the two spoke together at length during Fr.  Wojtyla's stay.  Their conversations gave rise to rumors in later years, after the Polish prelate had been elevated to the Papacy, that Padre Pio had told him he would become Pope.  The story persists to the present day, even though on two or three occasions "Papa Wojtyla" denied it.

Recently, new information about this visit has come to light, according to a new book in Italian published by Padre Pio's Friary, Il Papa e Il Frate, written by Stefano Campanella (1).  As reported in this book, the future Pope and future Saint had a very interesting conversation.  During this exchange, Fr.  Wojtyla asked Padre Pio which of his wounds caused the greatest suffering.  From this kind of personal question, we can see that they must have already talked together for some time and had become at ease with each other.  The priest expected Padre Pio to say it was his chest wound, but instead the Padre replied, "It is my shoulder wound, which no one knows about and has never been cured or treated." This is extremely significant, not only because it reveals that Padre Pio bore this wound, but because, as far as is known, the future pope is the only one to whom Padre Pio ever revealed existence of this secret wound.

Centuries earlier, Our Lord himself had revealed to St.  Bernard of Clairvaux in a vision, that his shoulder wound from carrying the heavy wooden cross caused him his greatest suffering, and that the cross tore into his flesh right up to the shoulder bone.

At one time, Padre had confided to his paisano from Pietrelcina, Brother Modestino Fucci, that his greatest pains occurred when he changed his undershirt.  (Brother Modestino is currently the doorkeeper at Padre Pio's friary in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.) Modestino, like Fr.  Wojtyla, thought Padre Pio was referring to pains from the chest wound.  Then, on February 4, 1971 Modestino was assigned the task of taking an inventory of all the items in the deceased Padre's cell in the friary, and also his belongings in the archives.  That day he discovered that one of Padre Pio's undershirts bore a circle of bloodstains in the area of the right shoulder.

This reminded Brother Modestino that he had once read about a devotion to the shoulder wound of Jesus, caused by his bearing of the heavy cross beam, the patibulum, to Calvary.  The beam could weigh up to 100 pounds.  Part of this devotion to the shoulder wound of Christ is to pray daily three Our Father's, Hail Mary's and Glory Be's, to honor the severe pains and lacerations Our Lord suffered from the weight of the patibulum.

On that very evening of February 4, 1971, Brother Modestino asked Padre Pio in prayer to enlighten him about the meaning of the bloodstained undershirt.  He asked Padre to give him a sign if he truly bore Christ's shoulder wound.  Then he went to sleep, awakening at 1:00 AM with a terrible, excruciating pain in his shoulder, as if he had been sliced with a knife up to the shoulder bone.  He felt that he would die from the pain if it continued, but it lasted only a short time.  Then the room became filled with the aroma of a heavenly perfume of flowers – the sign of Padre Pio's spiritual presence – and he heard a voice saying "Cosi ho sofferto io!" – "This is what I had to suffer!" Modestino remarked that he had a strange sensation after the pain subsided: that being deprived of this pain was also a suffering.  His body had suffered from it, but his soul had desired it.  He said, "It was painful and sweet at the same time."

What is the mystical and spiritual significance of the shoulder wound of St.  Padre Pio?  The book by journalist Saverio Gaeta, Sulla Soglia del Paradiso (2), reports that Padre Pio said this of his spiritual children: "When the Lord entrusts a soul to me, I place it on my shoulder and never let it go." From this statement, it can reasonably be inferred that the saint offered up the suffering and the extreme pain of his shoulder wound for his spiritual children.

Cleonice Morcaldi once said in the presence of Gaeta, "On the shoulders of Padre Pio rests the whole world and the Church." This expression seemed an exaggeration to the writer.  But on the very same day that Gaeta had heard this, he later joined Padre Pio and some others in conversation.  Padre Pio was telling the story of St.  Christopher, and how he had carried the child Jesus on his shoulders across a river.  Then, turning his gaze to look directly at Saverio Gaeta, Padre Pio pointedly said to the writer, "On my shoulders is the whole world."

References:

1.  Campanella, Stefano, Il Papa e Il Frate, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, Edizioni Padre Pio da Pietrelcina, 2005.

2.  Gaeta, Saverio, Sulla Soglia del Paradiso, Edizione speciale per Famiglia Christiana, San Paolo Edizioni, 2002.

Based on the author's earlier article in the December 2007 Newsletter of the Padre Pio Foundation, Cromwell, CT., USA www.padrepio.com

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 7- "On Joy-Making Mourning"

17. When they weep, some force themselves unseasonably to think of nothing at all during this blessed time, not realizing that tears without thought are proper only to an irrational nature and not to a rational one. Tears are a product of thought, and the father of thought is a rational mind.   

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Prayer request?  Send an email to: PrayerRequest3@aol.com

This month's archive can be found at: http://www.catholicprophecy.info/news2.html.

Saint Augustine

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #290

And Jesus took the loaves: and when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down. In like manner also of the fishes, as much as they would. And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: "Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost." They gathered up therefore and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which remained over and above to them that had eaten. Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said: "This is of a truth the prophet that is to come into the world."
(John 6:11-14)

THE ANNUAL MULTIPLICATION OF FOOD: The wonderful miracle of the loaves ought to remind us how every year God gives increase to the seed which we sow. For example, ten grains of wheat sown in the ground produce three or four hundred grains: one small potato produces from ten to twenty potatoes, and so forth with everything. Now, who has given to the seed its power of germinating in the ground, of growing up, and of bearing fruit? Who sends the sunshine, dew and rain, without which no seed can thrive? It is God. The annual increase of food is the work of God's Omnipotence. We do not call it a miracle, for it all happens in what we call the course of nature, and we are so accustomed to it that it makes no impression on us.
"The wonderful way in which God governs the world and provides for all His creatures makes no impression on us. His marvels are so constantly occurring that we scarcely observe His wonderful action in every little grain of corn, etc. It is on this account that sometimes, in His mercy, God performs wonders out of the course of nature, so that men may realize the marvel (not because it is greater than what is constantly occurring, but only more unusual), since the every-day wonders make no impression on us. The government of creation is really a greater marvel than the feeding of the five thousand with five loaves, but whereas no one marvels at the one, all men were astounded at the other, not because it was greater, but because it was more unusual." (St. Augustine).

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

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #289

And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: "Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost." They gathered up therefore and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which remained over and above to them that had eaten. (John 6:12-13)

WASTE: The words of our Lord bid us also to beware of wastefulness: "Gather up the fragments, lest they be lost." It is wrong to allow the gifts of God to be wasted. What is left over from our food should, if possible, be given to the poor, and, if not, to animals.

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

Marija’s Last Apparitions with the Caritas Community

Sunday, July 20, 2008, Marija Lunetti, on the last evening of her visit in the United States. The apparition was at 10:00 p.m. and lasted over four minutes. Marija asked Our Lady to bless all those in the Field as well as the Bedroom as she has always done during the apparitions in the Bedroom. Our Lady established this connection to the Bedroom and Field in 1988, in which during a visit by Marija, Our Lady appeared for three months in the Bedroom with the exception of one day when She appeared in the Field. She then began to bless everyone in the Field as though they were present in the Bedroom.

For the past four days, since we announced Marija’s return to the Bedroom for the apparitions, Caritas was flooded each day with petitions to be placed before Our Lady. This picture, taken the morning of July 21, 2008, shows more than 2500 petitions that were sent the last day to us through mej.com and placed on the Bed for the final apparition before Marija left to return to Medjugorje.

Sunday, July 20, was the last public apparition of Marija’s visit to the United States for the July 1-5, 2008 consecrations. The apparitions, over the past several days have been longer, lasting more than four minutes, which gave the opportunity for everyone present to speak the intentions of their hearts, and then have time to contemplate the wonder of Our Lady’s presence in their midst. By Sunday evening, the flowers filling the Bedroom were in full bloom and continued to move the hearts of everyone who entered the room. There were several thousand petitions sent through mej.com over the past four days. Many were from other parts of the world including England, Ireland, India, Australia, Nigeria, Malaysia, Germany, Canada, and Singapore to name a few. Many hours were spent each day printing out every petition so that they could be included in the apparition each evening. Not only these petitions, but all the petitions from July 1-5 or sent in the mail were remembered in the apparitions. So with the large number of candles and roses that represented individual hearts that were present, as well as the giant stacks of petitions present each day, there was much love that filled the Bedroom to greet Our Lady these past evenings. So much love for this one Woman who has done so much to lead us back to the salvation God has offered man through His and Her Son, Jesus. It was a privilege for the Caritas Community to have had the opportunity to bring these hearts before Our Lady in these last days of Her visit with us. We will continue to keep all of these intentions in our prayers on these holy sites Our Lady has blessed here, in the Bedroom and the Field.

Marija’s description of the apparition on July 20, 2008, which lasted over 4 minutes:

“In the moment of the apparition when Our Lady came, I recommended all your intentions and Our Lady prayed over us and blessed us. She prayed over us a long time with Her hands extended. She also blessed the people in the Field.”

Over the past several days, the community took the opportunity to have many religious objects blessed from our own homes and work places. This statue is found in our school, Our Lady of Victory’s School House. She was placed just outside the Bedroom the evening of July 20, and received Our Lady’s blessing that night in the apparition. Here she holds the words from one of the monthly messages given by Our Lady of Medjugorje. “…I pray and intercede before my Son, Jesus, so that the dream that your fathers had may be fulfilled…” August 25, 1994

We all, laughingly, wanted to know if Our Lady had said, “Same time, same place” in the apparition this evening, all of us hoping She would, but knowing that Marija would be leaving in the morning, that it was not likely. Marija smiled, said “no,” Our Lady did not, but then remained silent. It was a great joy when the community was told by our founder before everyone left for their own homes that Our Lady had chosen the time for tomorrow’s apparition, Monday, July 21, and that it would be in the morning before Marija’s departure. It would be a private apparition for the community in the Bedroom and the time Our Lady chose was 9:00 a.m. The next day, we began to gather in the home before the 8:00 a.m. prayer time and upon entering the house, everyone began writing petitions to Our Lady, primarily to express our gratitude and love to Her for so many graces that were given to so many people over the course of these past 24 days. One by one the petitions were placed on the Bed as the community members entered the Bedroom for our last Rosary before Our Lady’s last apparition. Finally, our founder and his wife entered and the Rosary began. It was a solemn Rosary, one filled with memories and reflections of all that had transpired over the past month, the smiles of Our Lady, the words She spoke, the joy of being with Marija and Her family. It was also a Rosary of tears, tears of gratitude, of sadness in saying goodbye, of love for our Mother. Following is Marija’s description of the apparition of July 21, 2008, which also lasted over four minutes:

“In the moment of the apparition, when Our Lady came, She immediately began to pray and She prayed a long time over us with Her hands extended. She prayed the whole time [of the apparition] and in the end, I just have time to recommend all your petitions and She gave blessing and left.”

Marija explained this with joy and said, “Our Lady does this, but not often.” Her words before the Father in this last apparition cannot be more than what is best, so we were left with this joy and contentment. For the community, it was a sign to continue to move forward, “avanti”, that it wasn’t an ending, but another step forward as we continue to work for the fulfillment of Our Lady’s plans for ourselves, our families, our nation, and the world’s return to God.

To Submit Your Testimony About July 1-5 Click Here

There will be a Special Broadcast Tomorrow, Wednesday July 23 here on Radio WAVE about Our Lady and Apparitions of July 1-5. You do not want to miss the very special show. Tell all your family and friends to join in listening. 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 - Wednesday (July 23)
Central Time	7:00 PM - Wednesday
Mountain Time	6:00 PM - Wednesday
Pacific Time	5:00 PM - Wednesday
Hawaii Time	3:00 PM - Wednesday
Brazil Time	10:00 PM - Wednesday
Sydney, Australia	12:00 PM - Thursday (July 24)
Seoul	9:00 AM - Thursday
Beijing, Singapore	8:00 AM - Thursday
Calcutta	7:30 AM - Thursday
Baghdad, Moscow	4:00 AM - Thursday
Jerusalem, Athens, Cairo	3:00 AM - Thursday
Warsaw, Paris, Prague, Rome, Berlin, Medjugorje	2:00 AM - Thursday
London, Dublin	1:00 AM - Thursday

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Encourage all you know to sign up for MejList FREE in order to be kept updated on the latest and crucial information on Medjugorje.

©SJP Lic. mej.com/Caritas • This may be reproduced and redistributed provided that the content is copied in its entirety, including graphics, pictures, captions, etc. and credit given to mej.com and Caritas of Birmingham. Also, permission is granted to quote from blogs, news sources, or other websites as long as it is referenced to mej.com/Caritas of Birmingham.

[MaryVitamin] courtesy and St. Mary Magdalen

This painting by early Renaissance painter Giotto depicts the scene where Jesus appears before Mary Magdalene. Mary Vitamin for July 22nd Feast of St. Mary Magdalen   Topic: Gaining the affection of Mary by practicing courtesy   Quote: "Saint Gregory Nazianzen assures us that 'there is nothing by which we can with greater certainty gain the affection of Mary then by charity towards our neighbor." St. Alphonsus di Liguori, The Glories of Mary, (Tan Books), 479.   Meditation: The charity and courtesy of St. Mary Magdalen   Why was St. Mary Magdalene unable to recognize the risen Christ? Why did she not recognize the Messiah after the Resurrection if she was one of the few that recognized the Messiah when "there was no beauty"? Was the Lord testing St. Mary Magdalene's charity? Did He want to leave a testimony of her great love? She treated  someone to whom she thought stole the body of her Lord with great respect. After she spoke, Jesus revealed His identity to her.   But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" She thought it was the gardener and said to him, "Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni," which means Teacher. John 20:11-17   Resolution: Today, I will work to win the affection of the Blessed Virgin Mary by speaking with courtesy.      Marian Vow: St. Claude de la Colombiere "We have no reason to despise anyone. A humble man sees only his own faults. It is a sign of little virtue to notice the imperfections of others. A person may be imperfect today who in a little while, recognizing this, may rise to great sanctity." Mother M. Philip, I.B.V.M., arr. & ed. The Spiritual Direction of Saint Claude de la Colombiere,(Ignatius Press), 79.   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 #288

Looking up to heaven, he blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave to his disciples to set before them: and the two fishes he divided among them all. And they all did eat, and had their fill. (Mark 6:42)

GRACE AT MEALS: Before multiplying and distributing the bread, Jesus raised His eyes to heaven and prayed. Thus we, before and after our meals, ought to raise our hearts to God, from whom all good things come.

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