 Hail, Queen of Peace (from St. Mary Major in Rome) (c)Mary TV 2012 |
July 9, 2012 St. Augustine Zhao Rong and his companions
Dear Family of Mary!
I am finally home! Thank you for allowing me a week off from these reflections, in order to spend some time with my daughter, Mary. It was wonderful to be with her for an extended time in Rome, where she lives and works.
St. Peter's Basilica (c)Mary TV 2012
I experienced in a new way the reality of the Church during this visit. Of course it was amazing to visit the many ancient churches, venerate the remains of so many saints, and marvel at the artworks of Michaelangelo and Bernini.
Bernini's Baldacchino over the main altar (c)Mary TV 2012
But for me, it was the encounters with living members of the Church who are working so tirelessly to encourage, teach, correct, and build up the Body of Christ that gave me the greatest sense of awe. Our Catholic Church is alive in the Holy Spirit! God has not forgotten us in this age of atheism and materialism. He has given us many strong witnesses to the faith who are even now sharing their charisms with us for the building up of the Body.
Anyway, I'm back, and I want to again introduce the message we received through Mirjana on July 2, 2012:
"My children; Again, in a motherly way, I implore you to stop for a moment and to reflect on yourselves and on the transience of this your earthly life. Then reflect on eternity and the eternal beatitude. What do you want? Which way do you want to set out on? The Father`s love sends me to be a mediatrix for you, to show you with motherly love the way which leads to the purity of soul; a soul unburdened by sin; a soul that will come to know eternity. I am praying that the light of the love of my Son may illuminate you, so that you may triumph over weaknesses and come out of misery. You are my children and I desire for all of you to be on the way of salvation. Therefore, my children, gather around me that I may have you come to know the love of my Son and thus open the door of eternal beatitude. Pray as I do for your shepherds. Again I caution you: do not judge them, because my Son chose them. Thank you." (July 2, 2012)
This is a powerful message from Our Lady. She is speaking with such authority. She speaks in a way that commands our attention, as the Queen that she truly is. Clearly, for Our Lady, there is only one reality and that is eternity. She sees everything in terms of that reality. Our lives are defined by that reality. We are going to live forever. God has given us immortal souls, souls that will never die. Our future is certain in that respect. And Our Lady wants us to understand that reality. We are meant for heaven. But it is by choice that we will find our way there.
Seeing Rome, in its vast history, made me think about the reality of heaven. Even the ruins of Rome cannot rival the eternity of heaven. They are old, but they are passing. Heaven is forever. May we seek the eternal beatitude by the living of our lives for God. May we know the love of Jesus and open the door of eternal beatitude!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2012 |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please no anonymous comments. I require at least some way for people to address each other personally and courteously. Having some name or handle helps.
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.