Mark Mallett continues his prophetic writings:

The Seven Year Trial - Epilogue

Christ the Word of Life, by Michael D. O’Brien

I will choose the time; I will judge fairly. The earth and all its inhabitants will quake, but I have firmly set its pillars. (Psalm 75:3-4)

WE have followed the Passion of the Church, walking in the footsteps of our Lord from His triumphal entry into Jerusalem to His crucifixion, death, and resurrection. It is seven days from Passion Sunday to Easter Sunday. So too, the Church will experience Daniel’s "week," a seven year confrontation with the powers of darkness, and ultimately, a great triumph.

Whatever has been prophesied in Scripture is coming to pass, and as the end of the world approaches, it tests both men and the times. —St. Cyprian of Carthage

Below are some final thoughts regarding this series.

Continue reading here: http://www.markmallett.com/blog/?p=718

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #287

And Jesus going out saw a great multitude: and he had compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came to him, saying: "This is a desert place, and the hour is now past: Send them away, that going into the next villages and towns, they may buy themselves meat to eat." And he answering said to them: "Give you them to eat." And they said to him: "Let us go and buy bread for two hundred pence, and we will give them to eat." And he saith to them: "How many loaves have you? go and see." And when they knew, they say: "Five, and two fishes." And he commanded them that they should make them all sit down by companies upon the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties. And when he had taken the five loaves, and the two fishes: 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 6:34-42)

THE GOODNESS OF JESUS: He had compassion on the people, teaching them and healing their sick. He fed the multitude which followed Him with food both for their bodies and their souls; and because they were so eager to hear His word that they forgot to supply themselves with food, he supplied them with it by a wonderful miracle. "Seek first the kingdom of God and His justice, and all these things (which are necessary for the life of the body) shall be added unto you."

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

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

July 21, 2008  

(Mat 16:25-26) For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it. For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?

Build a new world, Pope tells pilgrims

Declaring the spirit of the church alive and well, the Pope told pilgrims from more than 170 countries he had shared an "unforgettable experience" in the great south land.

"Our eyes have been opened to see the world around us as it truly is, 'charged' as the poet says, 'with the grandeur of God', filled with the glory of His creative love," he said.

Pope Benedict said a new generation of Christians was being called to help build a world in which God's gift of life was welcomed and love was not greedy or self-seeking but pure, faithful and genuinely free.

He spoke of a "new age in which hope liberates us from the shallowness, apathy and self-absorption which deaden our souls and poison our relationships".

"The world needs this renewal," he said in a homily beamed to hundreds of millions of television viewers worldwide.

"In so many of our societies, side by side with material prosperity, a spiritual desert is spreading: an interior emptiness, an unnamed fear, a quiet sense of despair.

"How many of our contemporaries have built broken cisterns in desperate search for meaning - the ultimate meaning that only love can give?"

The church also needed this renewal, he said, adding: "She needs your faith, your idealism and your generosity so that she can always be young in the spirit."

"Do not be afraid to say yes to Jesus, to find your joy in doing his will, giving yourself completely to the pursuit of holiness, and using all your talents in the service of others."

The pontiff was speaking from a sanctuary 25m off the ground and painted deep red to reflect the Australian outback and the flames of the holy spirit.

His audience included 26 cardinals and 420 bishops at a grand mass featuring a 300-strong choir and an 80-piece orchestra.

The Pope had a bird's eye view of the faithful when he flew over Randwick in a helicopter on Sunday morning before doing a lap of the racecourse in his Popemobile.

At the mass he officiated over the sacrament of confirmation for 24 adults, including two from each Australian state.

Most pilgrims at the mass, an estimated 235,000, had camped out under the stars on Saturday night after making a nine kilometre pilgrimage across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and through city streets.

BREAKING: Pope Shares Private Mass with Abuse Victims

EDITORIAL: Decisive Benedict the Pope the world needs

MORE: 'A greater sense of the sacred'

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

14. He who sometimes mourns, and sometimes indulges in luxury and laughter, is like one who stones the dog of sensuality with bread. In appearance he is driving it away, but in fact he is encouraging it to be constantly with him.   

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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 #286

And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying: "This is a desert place, and the hour is now passed: send away the multitudes, that going into the towns, they may buy themselves victuals." But Jesus said to them, "They have no need to go: give you them to eat." They answered him: "We have not here, but five loaves, and two fishes." Who said to them: "Bring them hither to me." And when he had commanded the multitude to sit down upon the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up what remained, twelve full baskets of fragments. (Matt. 14:15-20)

THE OBJECT OF THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES: Besides the common object of all our Lord's miracles, viz. the increase of men's faith in Him, this miracle had one special object, viz. to foreshadow, and to prepare men's hearts for the marvelous Food which He gives us in the most holy Sacrament of the altar--the gift which He promised on the following day. Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist feeds the souls of the faithful with the most precious bread from heaven, multiplying His own Body, and distributing It by the hands of His priests. And with this heavenly Food all are satisfied, for it appeases our spiritual hunger by uniting us to our Lord Jesus, the author of all grace.

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

Mark Mallett continues his excellent & powerful writings regarding the "Era of Peace"!

The Seven Year Trial - Part X

Jesus Taken Down From The Cross, by Michael D. O’Brien

Go into the ark, you and all your household… Seven days from now I will bring rain down on the earth for forty days and forty nights. (Gen 7:1, 4)

THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE

With the Seventh Bowl poured out, the judgment of God upon the Beast’s kingdom is reaching its climax.

Read the rest here: http://www.markmallett.com/blog/?p=728

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #285

And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying: "This is a desert place, and the hour is now passed: send away the multitudes, that going into the towns, they may buy themselves victuals." But Jesus said to them, "They have no need to go: give you them to eat." They answered him: "We have not here, but five loaves, and two fishes." Who said to them: "Bring them hither to me." And when he had commanded the multitude to sit down upon the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up what remained, twelve full baskets of fragments. (Matt. 14:15-20)

FIGURE OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST: The great miracle of the loaves and fishes is one of the most striking figures of the Blessed Eucharist, in which the Savior of the world nourishes the souls of countless millions of His faithful people.

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

MARK MALLETT CONTINUES HIS SERIES OF WRITINGS REGARDING THE ANTICHRIST

The Seven Year Trial - Part IX

Crucifixion, by Michael D. O’Brien

The Church will enter the glory of the kingdom only through this final Passover, when she will follow her Lord in his death and Resurrection. —Catechism of the Catholic Church, 677

AS we continue to follow the Passion of the Body in relation to the Book of Revelation, it is good to recall the words we read at that book’s beginning:

Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near. (Rev 1:3)

We read, then, not in a spirit of fear or terror, but in a spirit of hope and anticipation of the blessing which comes to those who "heed" Revelation’s central message: faith in Jesus Christ saves us from everlasting death and grants us a share in the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Continue reading here: http://www.markmallett.com/blog/?p=724

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #284

And Jesus going out saw a great multitude: and he had compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came to him, saying: "This is a desert place, and the hour is now past: Send them away, that going into the next villages and towns, they may buy themselves meat to eat." And he answering said to them: "Give you them to eat." And they said to him: "Let us go and buy bread for two hundred pence, and we will give them to eat." And he saith to them: "How many loaves have you? go and see." And when they knew, they say: "Five, and two fishes." And he commanded them that they should make them all sit down by companies upon the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties. And when he had taken the five loaves, and the two fishes: 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 6:34-42)

OUR LORD'S OMNIPOTENCE: St. Augustine writes thus about the miracle of the loaves and fishes: "Jesus multiplied the bread in His Hands by virtue of the same power wherewith God multiplies a few grains of corn into a waving cornfield. The five loaves were like unto those grains of corn which, when sown, do not lie unfruitful in the ground, but to which increase is immediately given by Him who is the Creator of the world." Thus the miraculous multiplication of the loaves showed forth the creative Omnipotence of Our Lord, proving Him to be the Almighty God who every year multiplies the grains of corn which are sown in the earth.

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

The Seven Year Trial - Part VIII

"Ecce Homo" 2, by Michael D. O’Brien

Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants, the prophets. (Amos 3:7)

PROPHETIC WARNING

The Lord sends the Two Witnesses into the world to call them to repentance. Through this act of mercy, we see again that God is love, slow to anger, and rich in mercy.

Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord God. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live? (Ezek 18:23)

Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the day of the LORD comes, the great and terrible day, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with doom. (Mal 3:24-25)

Elijah and Enoch will warn that terrible evil will be unleashed upon an unrepentant world: the Fifth Trumpet… for the wages of sin is death.

Continue reading Mark Mallett's article here: http://www.markmallett.com/blog/?p=720

Wherever Mary “is” there peace reigns

VATICAN - AVE MARIA by Mgr. Luciano Alimandi -

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - This year 2008, the Marian Shrine of Lourdes is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In these 150 years pilgrims have continued to flock to this place of grace, to honour the Mother of God. All the many places "visited" by Our Lady have a special mysterious touch of her presence in our midst. Our Lady seems to make a continual visitation to peoples and nations and now and then she stays a while, just as she went to her cousin Elisabeth and remained with her for three months (cfr. Lk 1, 56).

The places in which Our Lady "stays", are places of miracles: at Cana, Lourdes, Fatima… Mary tells her Son about our needs, her words have the power to obtain the impossible. "Nothing is impossible for God " (Lk 1, 37) the Archangel Gabriel told Our Lady on the day of the great Announcement, and the humble maiden of Nazareth never doubted.

Wherever Our Lady "stops", a presence of peace and serenity is felt and we are enveloped in a climate of eternity, as if time had stopped and everything gives way to this presence of Heaven, the presence of Our Lady. The "visit" of the Lord's grace is always new.

Our Lady has been given a unique task. No other saint visits peoples and nations and "stays" for a while in places where people are in special need. Mary's visit gives her Son a chance to work miracles: to heal body and soul, to convert and sanctify, to bless and forgive, to transform our misery and superficiality into the wine of his Divine mercy and patience. What a great privilege it is to visit Mary who has visited us and has come to stay for a while, whispering to every heart "you are my child"!

Mary's universal motherhood becomes "visible" in places such as Lourdes, where people from all over the world come seeking protection and help in Mary chosen by the Lord to be His Mother and our Mother. The grotto of Lourdes, where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette for the first time 11 February and for the last time on 16 July, 1858, draws an unceasing flow of pilgrims. The flow of people is similar to the nearby River Gave, flowing gently only a few metres away. At the grotto pilgrims seem to hear a call to let themselves be carried on the "current" of grace towards what gives the heart true happiness, the sweet peace of God's house.

Immaculate Mary of Lourdes tells us to make our life here on earth a continual welcoming of God into our heart, through a life of prayer, nourished by the sacraments, a life spent loving God and neighbour. If we listen to Her we will have no regrets. If we do "whatever He tells us" (cfr. Jn 2, 5), we will "see" the miracle of a change in our life. This is greatest miracle and God desires to work it, he never refuses especially when it is requested by His most Holy Mother. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!

(Agenzia Fides 16/7/2008)

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #283

"He that receiveth you, receiveth me: and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me." (Matt. 10:40)

THE HIGH DIGNITY OF THE APOSTLES, and their successors and assistants, consists in this, that they are the true representatives of Christ. He who receives them, receives our Lord; he who listens to them, listens to Him; he who ministers to them, ministers to Him.

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

Photo of John McCain praying at shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe provokes discord at La Raza convention in San Diego

"Take it down!"

Staffers for Sen. John McCain attending the annual convention for the Latino civil rights group La Raza received mostly positive feedback about a photo of the Arizona senator praying at Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Mexico City -- but one teenager disliked the picture enough to steal it.

On Saturday, July 12, the McCain booth at the National Council of La Raza convention was displaying a picture of Sen. McCain praying at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. The shrine is dedicated to the famous apparitions of the Virgin Mary to St. Juan Diego. The apparitions and the miraculous image of Mary that appeared on Juan Diego's cloak are credited with bringing about the conversion of most of Mexico to the Catholic faith.

The photo of McCain praying at the shrine received a steady stream of supportive comments throughout the day, with some people even stopping to pose for pictures with the image and requesting copies. Occasionally a negative comment was heard from passersby about how they thought the photo was disrespectful, but nothing else was said or done.

However, on Saturday afternoon, the McCain booth was approached by a group of approximately 50 high school youths protesting and shouting, "take it down!" in reference to the photograph. There was no indication of who or what organization sparked the protest.

Staff at the booth refused to take the picture down and tried to talk to the protesters, but got nowhere. Eventually, one of the teenagers stole the photo and had to be apprehended by security. La Raza organizers apologized to the McCain staffers and promised to post more security around the booth.

Hessy Fernandez, a spokeswoman for the McCain campaign, told CNA that the incident was "nothing major" and that it was "just a couple of kids" trying to make trouble.

Explaining why Sen. McCain -- who is Baptist -- would pray at a Catholic shrine, Ms. Fernandez said that, since the senator has had several Catholics on his senate staff, he understood the significance of the shrine and went to pray there "as a sign of respect."

(Story courtesy of Catholic News Agency.)

[MaryVitamin] Our Lady of Mount Carmel & Recollection

Mary Vitamin for July 16th   Topic: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and Recollection   Quote: "Mary grew in grace every moment of her life because in the midst of her occupations she kept herself in the spirit of recollection by her purity of intention and because she offered each work for the love of God."  Father H. O'Laverty, B.A., The Mother of God and Her Glorious Feasts, (Tan Books), 144.   Meditation: St. Teresa of Avila writes about the spirit of recollection:  "You know that God is everywhere; and this is a great truth, for, of course, wherever the king is, or so they say, the court is too: that is to say, wherever God is, there is Heaven. …Avoid being bashful with God, as some people are, in the belief that they are being humble. It would not be humility on your part if the King were to do you a favour and you refused to accept it; but you would be showing humility by taking it, and being pleased with it, yet realizing how far you are from deserving it. A fine humility it would be if I had the Emperor of Heaven and Earth in my house, coming to it to do me a favour and to delight in my company, and I were so humble that I would not answer His questions, nor remain with Him, nor accept what He gave me, but left Him alone. ... Do not be foolish; ask Him to let you speak to Him, and, as He is your Spouse, to treat you as His brides. Remember how important it is for you to have understood this truth -- that the Lord is within us and that we should be there with Him. If one prays in this way, the prayer may be only vocal, but the mind will be recollected much sooner; and this is a prayer which brings with it many blessings. It is called recollection because the soul collects together all the faculties and enters within itself to be with its God." The Way of Perfection, Chapter 28   Resolution: I will try to offer up my simple actions of the day. I will try to do my work well and pray to live in the presence of God. At noon, I will ask myself if I remembered to speak to God during my busy day.    Marian Vow: "Before making the Consecration to the Immaculate, and then being registered in a M.I.M. Cenacle, a serious doctrinal and spiritual preparation is necessary, with some days of retreat for recollection and more intense and reflective prayer. Without this, one risks reducing the consecration to the Immaculate to a simple and passing act of Marian devotion. It is useless to content oneself with a rapid and superficial study of unlimited consecration to the Immaculate, without realizing that this involves a life commitment to become more Marian day by day." Marian Seraphic Pathways, Statutes #17   I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.   Thanks be to God for graces received.

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

July 16, 2008

Ingrid Betancourt: "I know I talk with God and God replies - people prefer to speak about the force of circumstances, rather than miracles, but I think miracles happen to everyone all the time."

IN THE NEWS: Rosary plays important role in hostage rescue in Colombia

THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL

It was to St. Simon Stock that Our Blessed Mother gave the Scapular promise in 1251, saying, "Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire."

One of the great mysteries of our time is that the majority of Catholics either ignore, or have entirely forgotten this Heavenly promise of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lady further says: "Wear the Scapular devoutly and perseveringly. It is My garment. To be clothed in it means you are continually thinking of Me, and I in turn, am always thinking of you and helping you to secure eternal life."

St. Claude de la Colombiere, the renowned Jesuit and spiritual director of St. Margaret Mary, says "Because all the forms of our love for the Blessed Virgin and all its various modes of expression cannot be equally pleasing to Her, and therefore do not assist us in the same degree to reach Heaven, I say, without a moment's hesitation, that the BROWN SCAPULAR IS THE MOST FAVORED OF ALL!" He adds, "No devotion has been confirmed by more numerous authentic miracles than the Brown Scapular."

OUR LADY APPEARS TO ST SIMON STOCK

In the year 1241, the Baron de Grey of England was returning from the Crusades in Palestine: he brought back with him a group of religious from the holy mountain of Carmel. Upon arrival, the baron generously presented the monks with a manor house in the town of Aylesford. Ten years later, in the very place, there occurred the now famous apparition of Our Lady to St.
Simon Stock. As the Holy Virgin handed St. Simon the Brown Woolen Scapular she spoke these words: "This shall be the privilege for you and all Carmelites, that anyone dying in this habit shall not suffer eternal fire." In time, the Church extended this magnificent privilege to all the laity who are willing to be invested in the Brown Scapular of the Carmelites, and who perpetually wear it.

VIA THE CARMELITES: Carmelites see in the Virgin Mary, Mother of God and archetype of the Church, the perfect image of all that they want and hope to be. For this reason, Carmelites have always thought of Mary as the Patron of the Order, its Mother and Splendour; she is constantly before their eyes and in their hearts as "the Virgin Most Pure." Looking to her, and living in spiritual intimacy with her, we learn to stand before God, and with one another, as the Lord's brothers. Mary lives among us, as mother and sister, attentive to our needs; along with us she waits and hopes, suffers and rejoices. The scapular is a sign of Mary's permanent and constant motherly love for Carmelite brothers and sisters. By their devotion to the scapular, faithful to a tradition in the Order, especially since the 16th century, Carmelites express the loving closeness of Mary to the people of God; it is a sign of consecration to Mary, a means of uniting the faithful to the Order, and an effective and popular means of evangelisation.

LINK: Litanies of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

EWTN: Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

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

11. During prayer and supplication, stand with trembling like a convict standing before a judge, so that, both by your outward appearance as well as by your inner disposition, you may extinguish the wrath of the just Judge; for He will not despise a widow soul standing before Him burdened with sorrow and wearying the Unwearying One (cf. Luke 18:5).   

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

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #282

And he called the twelve; and began to send them two and two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. And he commanded them that they should take nothing for the way, but a staff only; no scrip, no bread, nor money in their purse, But to be shod with sandals, and that they should not put on two coats. And he said to them: "Wheresoever you shall enter into an house, there abide till you depart from that place. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you; going forth from thence, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony to them." And going forth they preached men should do penance: And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. (Mark 6:7-13)

THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK WITH OIL: We are told (Mark 6:13) that the apostles whom our Lord sent out "anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them." This was not the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, but it was a type of, and a preparation for it. The anointing here mentioned worked visibly and cured the body: Extreme Unction works invisibly, and primarily heals and strengthens the soul.

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

[MaryVitamin] the desert and Mt Carmel

Mary Vitamin for July 15th   Topic: The Desert & The Symbolism of Carmel (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel - July 16th)   Quote: "The CLOUD bringing lifegiving water to the parched land of Samaria [IKings 18:43-44] symbolizes Mary who bore in her womb the source of redemptive grace, the Word Incarnate, to restore life to the desert of this world." Father Stefano Manelli FI,  All Generations Shall Call Me Blessed, (Academy of the Immaculate), 63.   Meditation: The prophet Elijah is considered by the Carmelites their spiritual father. It was on the Mount Carmel that Elijah, completely trusting in God's strength, battled and won against the 450 prophets of Baal. It is from this mountain that the first sign of hope arrived after 3 ½ years of drought:   "Climb up and look out to sea," [Elijah] directed his servant, who went up and looked, but reported, "There is nothing." Seven times he said, "Go look again!" And the seventh time the youth reported, "There is a cloud as small as a man's hand rising from the sea." I Kings 18: 43-44   Resolution: To keep my mind on the Blessed Virgin Mary and her Son today, I will ask for the rain that Our Lady brings to keep my soul from turning into a parched and dry wasteland.  I will think of Her as the little cloud that comes with refreshment for a dry soul.   Marian Vow: Learning from the Carmelites on living the Marian Vow: "At Carmel, God is the object but the soul becomes more and more Mary." CARMELITE SPIRITUALITY by PAUL MARIE DE LA CROIX of the Order of Discalced Carmelites   I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.   Thanks be to God for graces received.   Related sites: Castle of the Immaculate & AirMaria A blog post related to this MV: Castle of the Immaculate

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The Seven Year Trial - Part VII

The Crowning With Thorns, by Michael D. O’Brien

Blow the trumpet in Zion, sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. (Joel 2:1)

THE Illumination will usher in a period of evangelization that will come like a flood, a Great Flood of Mercy. Yes, Jesus, come! Come in power, light, love, and mercy!

But lest we forget, the Illumination is also a warning that the path the world and many in the Church itself have chosen will bring terrible and painful consequences upon the earth. The Illumination will be followed by further merciful warnings that begin to unfold in the cosmos itself…

Continue reading this article here: http://www.markmallett.com/blog/?p=727

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #281

"And whosoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, amen I say to you he shall not lose his reward." (Matt. 10:42)

NECESSITY AND MERIT OF GOOD WORKS: St. Chrysostom writes thus: "So that none might plead poverty as an excuse for not ministering to Christ in the person of His disciples, Jesus cites a cup of cold water as a gift which, though it costs nothing, is a proof of love."

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

Children of Medjugorje July Newsletter

© Children of Medjugorje 2008

Permission is given to spread the text of these reports under two conditions: 1) no words are changed,
2) "Children of Medjugorje" is cited along with our website   www.childrenofmedjugorje.com
Or email address pray@childrenofmedjugorje.com

                                                                                                                                                     

July 15, 2008

Dear Children of Medjugorje,
Praised be Jesus and Mary!                                                                                                                                                         

1 - On July 2nd, Mirjana shared the following message after her monthly apparition: "Dear children, with motherly love I desire to encourage you to love your neighbor. May my Son be the source of that love. He, who could have done everything by force, chose love and gave an example to you. Also today, through me, God expresses immeasurable goodness to you and you, children, are obliged to respond to it. With equal goodness and generosity behave towards the souls whom you meet.May your love convert them. In that way my Son and His love will resurrect in you. Thank you."

Our Lady added: « Your pastors must be in your hearts and your prayers. » 
 

2 -  Laura on Mount Krizevac

In the first week of August, thousands of young people will flock to Medjugorje for the Youth Festival.  One of them, Laura, from Italy, has a beautiful story from a previous Festival.  She shares:

"My conversion took place in 1999.  At that time, I started a deep spiritual journey involving all my sincere determination. However I remained a slave to a certain sin that I previously committed often, even though I couldn't stand it. The situation frustrated me immensely because the sin had entered my psyche and I couldn't stop myself from committing it even though, out of my love for Christ, I desperately wanted to stop.  A priest had counseled me that I had to face this reality: a healing wouldn't happen since this kind of thing was too deeply nested in my intimate wounds and I would have to courageously endure that weakness my whole life. Today, I would still be committing that sin if the Lord had not intervened with a special grace of inner healing.   

"The miracle happened the following year, during the Youth Festival of 2000.  Above all, my main goal in going to Medjugorje was to make a "general confession", in other words, a confession covering my whole life, and to place that troubling sin in God's hands and in the hands of Our Lady. After lining up for quite a long time before the confessionals, I finally made it in and I came out of it at 6:40 PM, the exact time of Our Lady's apparition. I felt so happy at seeing this, and I immediately thanked her and asked her to free me from that sin. 
 
"Then on August 5, along with my pilgrims group, I climbed Mount Krizevac to make the Way of the Cross. Since it was Our Lady's Birthday (as she said to the visionaries), I wanted to give her a present, so I climbed up and down the mountain bare foot while praying for her intentions.  As usual, our Heavenly Mother showed her boundless generosity.  In response to my tiny gift, she gave me a priceless gift, infinitely greater than my little offering!  On that day, I was healed from that troublesome sin!  Several years now and I haven't committed that particular sin; I am free! Our Lady healed me for good!" 

3 -  "If only my people would listen!" (Psalm 81:14)

Today more than ever, this cry of God in the Psalms is echoing in our world.  On June 25^th, Our Lady used a word that comes right from the Bible and that we have to fully understand. She said, "Listen to my messages!" (See PS). In the mouth of a Jewish woman formed by the Scriptures, to 'listen' is not to hear one more information on the Radio nor to relax with a CD on the ears. In order to better seize this request from Our Mother, let me express one aspect of the Hebrew word for 'listen'. 

When a scribe asked Jesus about the greatest of all the commandments, the first word that flows from Jesus mouth was, "Listen, O Israel!" (Mark 12:29). Without this listening, the other commandments cannot be lived.  In fact, in the spirit of the Bible and in Jesus' context, several realities are indissociable and the following verbs always go together: To LISTEN (Shama) – To KEEP (shamar) or To Remember (zakhar) – To DO, or to put into practice (assah), and we could add : To LIVE (hayah). 

For example : "May you hear, Israel, keep and put into practice what will make you happy and will multiply yourself, as Adonai told you, the Lord of your fathers, giving you an earth streaming with milk and honey" (Deuteronomy 6:3). Also Moses told the people: "Hear, O Israel, the statutes and decrees which I proclaim in your hearing this day, that you may learn and take care to observe them" (Dt. 5:1). Also, "Adonai will bless you… only if you pay careful attention to the voice of Adonai your God, keeping and observing all these commandments that I enjoin to you today" (Dt. 15:5). Also Dt. 28:13. In the Gospel, he who has heard the Word and does nothing is like the man who built his house on the soil without a foundation (Luke 6:49).  He just harvests catastrophy! 

In the Hebrew way of thinking, one may say that the verb "listen" (shama) almost means "obey". For example it is said, "shama be-qol Adonai" (listen to Adonai's voice) in order to say « obey Adonai »! 

It is obvious that the Mother of God knows the power of a true listening. Therefore, in the midst of our world, bombarded by 1000 infos but so poor in wisdom, in the midst of a generation disoriented and tormented, she beseeches us to take her messages with seriousness and to live them.  It's the cry of a mother who sees her child deaf, distracted, he is going to cross the avenue, there is much traffic and the cars are going fast, he has not seen the lights and he ignores the elimentary rules of security.  Then she shouts with all her motherly soul to the child in order to alert him and allow him to walk in safety! In order to do so, she has prescribed for us a daily dose of an excellent medicine, saying, "Dear Children read each day one of my messages and live it during the day."  One message a day to listen and to put into practice, this is indeed the true remedy against most of our maladies!  I have often witnessed this.   

To listen, it is first of all to be quiet.  When God says "Listen O Israel!" it is also a nice way to tell them, "Shut up I have to talk to you!" To listen is to find the inner silence and dwell in ones own heart.  This may talk hours!  But to repair the damages when we have not listened takes a lot more time, it can take even years!   

To listen, it is to seize the murmurs of Jesus's voice who wants to talk to each soul, and to let him guide us on the way that leads to Heaven.  It is to hold His hand and never be alone anymore.   

To listen, it is to allow the Creator to remake our inner unity and heal us from that dislocation which promotes in us a subtle anguish.  We have to be violent with ourselves when our ears hear one thing and our hands do a different thing!  In the Talmud, a rabbi challenges his colleagues saying, "Have your ears heard the word that comes from your own mouth?" 

To listen, it is to do what we hear.  Doing so, we are then capable to understand why we were right to do so.  Judaism insists on this aspect:  one has to listen and do in order to understand.  We have to enter the intelligence of the Scriptures.  To hear is the right order which gives true peace:  1) to listen, 2) to put into practice, 3) to be able to understand.  Then we give thanks to God! 

4 -   The Priests Retreat was very blessed and at the end some powerful testimonies were shared.  I will mention the exhortation of Father Bennet Tierney, (Legionary of Christ), one of the priests present: 

"There were five men who arrived very late for their flight at a German airport and were about to miss it.  They ran like the wind through the airport and one of them accidently knocked over a basket of apples that a woman was selling.  All apples poured out and scattered on the floor, but these men were so late that they did not stop.  They shouted, "We will make sure it's taken care of!" and then disappeared.  Once they arrived at the check-in desk, the man who knocked over the basket was seized by guilt and told his friends to go on without him.  He would catch the next flight.  First, he had to pick up the apples and compensate the woman.   

He found her doubled over as she silently tried to gather her scattered fruit, some of which were damaged.  The man did not look at her while he busily tried to pick up as many apples as possible and to express how sorry he was.  He simply noticed that she had an awkward way to handle the apples.  After he successfully gathered the last of the apples into the basket, he stood up and handed a 20 euro note to her as a compensation for the damaged fruit.  Only then, he looked at her eyes and was amazed by what he saw.  Her eyes were glazed with a grey color - the woman was blind!  Our friend remained puzzled for a minute while looking at her.  She thanked him with a big smile.  He apologized again and as he started to leave the woman called him back, saying, "I have something to ask you, sir!"  Then she calmly asked him, "Are you Jesus?" 

Thus, the International Retreat ended with Father Bennet challenging the 200 attending priests, "We priests, are we Jesus?"

Dearest Gospa, Mother of priests, Mother of the High Priest, pray for us!

Sister Emmanuel +

(Translated from French) 

_____________________  
PS 1 – "Dear children! Also today, with great joy in my heart, I call you to follow me and to listen to my messages. Be joyful carriers of peace and love in this peaceless world. I am with you and I bless you all with my Son Jesus, the King of Peace. Thank you for having responded to my call." (Message of June 25, 2008) 

PS 2 – Can you please help us spread Sister Emmanuel's new book, The Hidden Child of Medjugorje? Read it and offer it, you won't regret it! In the US go to our COM store: www.childrenofmedjugorje.com then click "Shop COM".  $19 + postage. In Medjugorje at "Devotions", 9€. Tel. +387 36 651 497, or "Catholic bookstore", Tel. +387 36 650 917.  In UK, 7£, Tel +44 2920 460 189. In Ireland, Veritas, Dublin, Tel: 01 878 8177 - sales@veritas.ie In South Africa, Tel: +27 393 172 825

Other languages: French, 17, 50€ www.editions-beatitudes.fr  Spanish, 7€, "Hijos de Medjugorje", Barcelona, Spain - +34 629 79 28 49 - gsba15@yahoo.es  The Portuguese version obtained the Imprimatur! At Diel, Lisboa, www.dielnet.com. German, 22€, Parvis Verlag, Swizerland. Tel: +41 269 159 399 - www.parvis.ch  Polish, 7€, Wyd. Marianow, Warsaw - Tel: +48 22 642-5082 - www.wydawnictwo.pl  Italian, Editrice Shalom, Ancona, 9€ - Tel: +39 071 745 0440 - www.editriceshalom.it Dutch, 15€, n.imkamp@tele2.nl or veys.stefaan@skynet.be - Tel: +32 56 777373.

Bookstores may contact us at pray@childrenofmedjugorje.com

PS 3 - In order to receive this monthly report from Sr. Emmanuel in English, please go to our website: www.childrenofmedjugorje.com 
 
in English:               pray@childrenofmedjugorje.com  
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The website http://www.childrenofmedjugorje.com offers these reports in other languages.

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The Seven Year Trial - Part VI

The Flagellation, by Michael D. O’Brien

For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. (Exodus 12:15)

WE continue to follow Christ’s Passion—a pattern for the Church’s own present and coming trials. This writing looks in greater detail at how a Judas—the Antichrist—will rise to power.

Continue reading this article here: http://www.markmallett.com/blog/?p=717