Keep
your eyes open!...
August 28, 2013
(Mat 24:6-8) And
you shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that ye be not
troubled. For these things must come to pass: but the end is not yet.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And
there shall be pestilences and famines and earthquakes in places. Now
all these are the beginnings of sorrows.
AINA: Syrian Bishop Warns Intervention Could Spark 'World War'
A Syrian Chaldean Catholic bishop on Monday warned that an armed
intervention in Syria could unleash a "world war", while the Vatican's
official newspaper called for more "prudence" from Western powers.
"If there is an armed intervention, that would mean, I believe, a world
war. That risk has returned," Monsignor Antoine Audo of Aleppo told
Vatican radio.
"We hope that the pope's call for real dialogue between the warring
parties to find a solution can be a first step to stop the fighting,"
he said.
Audo is also the head of the Syrian arm of the international Catholic
charity Caritas and has repeatedly warned about the human cost of the
war.
The Vatican daily, L'Osservatore Romano, meanwhile criticised Western powers in an editorial.
"The drumbeat of an armed intervention by Western powers is becoming
ever more insistent and ever less restrained by prudence," it said.
"Several representatives of these countries say they are convinced that
the accusation that the Syrian army used chemical weapons is founded --
a question which the United Nations is investigating," he said.
Pope Francis on Sunday called for the international community to help find a solution to the civil war.
"I launch an appeal to the international community to be more sensitive
to this tragic situation and to commit itself to the maximum to help
the dear Syrian nation find a solution to a war which spreads
destruction and death," he said.
FIDES.ORG: Prayer and fasting for Fr. Dall'Oglio and for peace in Syria at the monastery of Deir Mar Musa
OP-ED: Second UN inspection in Syria delayed by security concerns
RELATED COMMENTARIES
Stratfor: Obama's Bluff
CSM: US strike on Syria would be illegal 'act of war'
Guardian: An attack on Syria will only spread the war and killing
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Various Subjects
17. In all your needs, trustfully have recourse
to the divine Heart, and I am confident that our Lord will provide for
your wants; but above all be very grateful for the many benefits He has
bestowed on you.
August 26, 2013
(Joh 14:27-29) Peace
I leave with you: my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do
I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled: nor let it be afraid.
You have heard that I said to you: I go away, and I come unto you. If
you loved me you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father: for
the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to
pass: that when it shall come to pass, you may believe.
VATICAN RADIO: Pope Francis renews call for peace in Syria
With great suffering and concern I continue to follow the situation in
Syria. The increase in violence in a war between brothers, with the
proliferation of massacres and atrocities, that we all have been able
to see in the terrible images of these days, leads me once again raise
my voice that the clatter of arms may cease. It is not confrontation
that offers hope to resolve problems, but rather the ability to meet
and dialogue.
From the bottom of my heart, I would like to express my closeness in
prayer and solidarity with all the victims of this conflict, with all
those who suffer, especially children, and I invite you to keep alive
the hope of peace. I appeal to the international community that itself
more sensible to this tragic situation and make every effort to help
the beloved Syrian nation find a solution to a war that sows
destruction and death.
All together let us pray. . . All together let us pray to Our Lady, Queen of Peace:
Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!
Everyone: Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!
ZENIT: Vatican's U.N. Observer: Do Not Jump to Conclusions Without Facts
In the wake of allegations that chemical weapons were used outside the
Syrian city of Damascus, the Vatican's permanent observer to the United
Nations offices in Geneva, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, cautioned against
rushing to judgment before all evidence has been gathered.
Speaking with Vatican Radio, Archbishop Tomasi said, "We must not rush
to judgment without having sufficient evidence," and that "the
international community, through the U.N. observers who are already
present in Syria, can shed light on this new tragedy."
The archbishop went on to speak on the importance of dialogue, rather than violence, is confronting the conflict.
"As the Holy Father already has underlined," he said, "violence will
not bring a solution and, therefore, a dialogue must begin so that we
can arrive at Geneva II (Middle East peace conference on Syria), where
representatives of all parts of Syrian society can be present, explain
their thinking and try to create some kind of transitional government."
OPINION: For the Syrians’ sakes and for our own, we must not intervene
RELATED HEADLINES
Intervention in Syria would be 'tragic mistake', warns Russia
US rebuffs Syrian access to chemical site as “too late to be credible”
Navy ready to launch first strike on Syria
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Various Subjects
16. When you praise yourself, you become an object
of horror and contempt before God and His angels. When you wish to make
excuses, say to yourself: "Jesus Who was innocent kept silence when He
was accused, and shall I who am guilty justify myself?" Keep silence then,
and suffer out of love.
August 22, 2013
(Luk 21:17-19) And
you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake. But a hair of your
head shall not perish. In your patience you shall possess your souls.
HOGARDELAMADRE.ORG OVERVIEW: A Brief Look at Garabandal
(Reminder, status update re: Garabandal: RESPONSE FROM THE ARCHBISHOP OF OVIEDO, CARLOS OSORO SIERRA, CURRENT APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF THE DIOCESE OF SANTANDER)
ARCHBISHOP CHAPUT: Changing Our Culture With the Fire of Faith
MEDITATION: Thoughts
by St Theophan (1815-1894)
[Heb. 4:1-13; Luke 21:12-19]
And ye shall be hated of all men
for My name's sake. He who breathes even a little of the spirit of the
world into himself becomes cold to Christianity and its demands. This
indifference turns into dislike when one remains in it a long time
without coming to one's senses, and especially after picking up
somewhere a particle of some false teaching. The spirit of the world
with its false teachings is a spirit of disliking Christ: it is of the
antichrist. It is the spread of hostile attitudes toward the Christian
confession and Christian traditions.
Apparently something like this is happening around us. So far only
hollow roars are sounding everywhere; but it will not be surprising if
soon the Lord's prophesy will begin, that, they shall lay their hands
on you... and persecute you... ye shall be betrayed... and cause you to
be put to death. The spirit of antichrist is always the same; what was
in the beginning will be now, perhaps in another form, but with the
same meaning.
What should we do? In your patience possess ye your
souls. Be patient, with a firm word of confession of the truth in your
mouth and in your heart.
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Various Subjects
15. He loves you and would not have you attach
yourself to what is perishable, but to Himself Who alone can satisfy your
heart, and He will do so and fill it in the measure in which you empty
it of creatures.
August 20, 2013
(Joh 16:33) These
things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the
world you shall have distress. But have confidence. I have overcome the
world.
CRISIS MAGAZINE: Pope St. Pius X: The Great Reformer
VIA CHIESA: "The Action You Are About to Carry Out Within This Sistine Chapel..." by Cardinal Prosper Grech
Complete text of the meditation given by Maltese Cardinal Prosper
Grech, an Augustinian, dictated to the grand electors on March 12,
behind closed doors, immediately before the start of the voting.
[…] I have no intention of making the identity of the new pope, and
much less of presenting a plan of action for the future pontiff. This
very delicate task belongs to the Holy Spirit, who in recent decades
has gifted us with a series of excellent holy pontiffs. My intention is
that of drawing from Scripture some reflections to help us understand
what Christ wants from his Church. […]
GOSPEL WITHOUT COMPROMISE
After his resurrection Jesus sent the apostles into the whole world to
make disciples of all peoples and baptize them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Mt 29:19). The Church
does this by presenting the Gospel without compromise, without diluting
the word. […] When one descends to compromises with the Gospel one
empties it of its “dynamis,” as if one were to remove the explosive
from a hand grenade. Nor must one give in to temptation thinking that,
since Vatican Council II is believed to have leveled out salvation for
those who are outside of the Church as well, the need for baptism has
been relativized. Today is added the abuse of many indifferent
Catholics who neglect or refuse to baptize their children.
THE SCANDAL OF THE CROSS
The proclamation of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is made concrete
in the proclamation of “Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2).
[…] It is precisely this scandal of the cross that humbles the “hybris"
of the human mind and elevates it to accept a wisdom that comes from
above. In this case as well, to relativize the person of Christ by
placing him alongside other “saviors” means emptying Christianity
itself of its substance. It is precisely the preaching of the absurdity
of the cross that in less than three hundred years reduced to the
minimum the religions of the Roman empire and opened the minds of men
to a new view of hope and resurrection. It is for the same hope that
the modern world is thirsting, suffering from an existential depression.
CHURCH OF MARTYRS
Christ crucified is intimately connected to the Church crucified. It is
the Church of the martyrs, from those of the first centuries to the
many faithful who, in certain countries, are exposing themselves to
death simply by going to Sunday Mass. […] Jesus predicts: “if they have
persecuted me, they will persecute you" (Jn 15:20). Therefore,
persecution is a "quid constitutivum" of the Church, […] it is a cross
that it must embrace. But persecution is not always physical, there is
also the persecution of falsehood: “Blessed are you when they insult
you and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely
for my sake" (Mt 5:11). You have recently experienced this through some
media outlets that do not love the Church. When the accusations are
false one must not pay attention to them, even if they cause immense
pain.
WHEN THE ACCUSATIONS TELL THE TRUTH
It is another thing when what is said about us is the truth, as has
happened in many of the accusations of pedophilia. Then we must humble
ourselves before God and men, and seek to uproot the evil at all costs,
as did, to his great regret, Benedict XVI. And only in this way can we
regain credibility before the world and give an example of sincerity.
Today many people do not arrive at believing in Christ because his face
is obscured or hidden behind an institution that lacks transparency.
But if recently we have wept over many unpleasant events that have
befallen clergy and laity, even in the pontifical household, we must
consider that these evils, as great as they may be, if compared with
certain evils in the history of the Church are nothing but a cold. And
just as these have been overcome with God's help, so also the present
crisis will be overcome. Even a cold needs to be taken care of well to
keep it from turning into pneumonia.
SMOKE OF SATAN IN THE CHURCH
The evil spirit of the world, the “mysterium iniquitatis" (2 Thes 2:7),
constantly strives to infiltrate the Church. Moreover, let us not
forget the warning of the prophets of ancient Israel not to seek
alliances with Babylon or with Egypt, but to follow a pure policy "ex
fide" trusting solely in God (cf. Is 30:1; 31:1-3; Hos 12:2) and in his
covenant. Courage! Christ relieves our minds when he exclaims: "Have
trust, I have overcome the world" (Jn 16:33). […]
LURKING SCHISMS
No less easy for the future pontiff will be the task of keeping unity
in the Catholic Church itself. Between ultratraditionalist extremists
and ultraprogressive extremists, between priests who rebel against
obedience and those who do not recognize the signs of the times, there
will always be the danger of minor schisms that not only damage the
Church but also go against the will of God: unity at all costs. Butt
unity does not mean uniformity. It is evident that this does not close
the doors to the intra-ecclesial discussion present in the whole
history of the Church. All are free to express their thoughts on the
task of the Church, but they should be proposals in line with that
"depositum fidei" which the pontiff together with all of the bishops
has the task of guarding. […]
SEXUAL FREEDOM AND PROGRESS
Unfortunately today theology suffers from the feeble thought that
dominates the philosophical environment, and we need a good
philosophical foundation in order to be able to develop dogma with a
valid hermeneutic that speaks a language intelligible to the
contemporary world. It often happens, however, that the proposals of
many faithful for the progress of the Church are based on the level of
freedom that is granted in the area of sexuality. Certainly laws and
traditions that are purely ecclesiastical can be changed, but not every
change means progress, it must be discerned whether such changes act to
increase the holiness of the Church or to obscure it. […]
THAT LITTLE REMNANT WHICH DOES NOT BEND THE KNEE TO BAAL
In the West, at least in Europe, Christianity itself is in crisis. […]
There reigns an ignorance and disregard not only of Catholic doctrine,
but even of the ABC's of Christianity. The urgency is thus felt of a
new evangelization that begins from pure kerygma and plain proclamation
to nonbelievers, followed by a continual catechesis nourished by
prayer. But the Lord is never defeated by human negligence and it seems
that, while they are closing the doors to him in Europe, he is opening
them elsewhere, especially in Asia. And even in the West God will not
fail to keep for himself a remnant of Israel that does not bend the
knee before Baal, a remnant that we find mainly in the many lay
movements endowed with different charisms that are making a strong
contribution to the new evangelization. […] Care must be taken,
however, that particular movements should not believe that the Church
is exhausted in them. In short, God cannot be defeated by our
indifference. The Church is his, the gates of hell can wound its heel
but can never suffocate it. […]
THE FAITH OF THE SIMPLE
There is another factor of hope in the Church that we must not
overlook, the “sensus fidelium.” Augustine calls it "the inner teacher"
in each believer. […] This creates in the depths of the heart that
criterion of discernment of true and false, it makes us distinguish
instinctively that which is "secundum Deum" from that which comes from
the world and from the evil one (1 Jn 4:1-6). […] The coals of devout
faith are kept alive by millions of simple faithful who are far from
being called theologians but who in the intimacy of their prayers,
reflections, and devotions can give profound advice to their pastors.
It is these who "will destroy the wisdom of the wise and nullify the
intelligence of the intelligent" (1 Cor 1:19). This means that when the
world, with all of its knowledge and intelligence, abandons the logos
of human reason, the Logos of God shines in simple hearts, which form
the marrow from which the backbone of the Church is nourished. […]
UNDER THE HAND OF CHRIST THE JUDGE
While professing that the Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church, we do
not always take him into consideration in our plans for the Church. He
transcends all sociological analysis and historical prediction. He
surpasses the scandals, the internal politics, the ambition, and the
social problems, which in their complexity obscure the face of Christ
that must shine even through dense clouds. Let's listen to Augustine:
"The apostles saw Christ and believed in the Church that they did not
see; we see the Church and must believe in Christ whom we do not see.
By holding fast to what we see, we will arrive at seeing the one whom
now we do not see" (Sermo 328, 3). […] In 1961 John XXIII received in
audience in this Sistine Chapel the diplomatic corps accredited to the
Holy See. He indicated the dominant figure of Christ the judge in the
fresco of Michelangelo, and told them that Christ will also judge the
actions of the individual nations in history. You find yourselves in
this same Chapel, beneath the figure of that Christ with his hand
raised not to crush but to illuminate your voting, that it may be
"secundum Spiritum," not "secundum carnem." […] It is in this way that
the elected will be not yours, but essentially His. […]
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Various Subjects
11. Above all, I beg of you to be always gay, joyful
and happy, for this is the true mark of the Spirit of God, Who wishes that
we should serve Him in peace and contentment; do not be uneasy or anxious,
but do all things with liberty of mind and in the presence of God.
August 16, 2013
(Mat 5:11-12) Blessed
are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all
that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice for
your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the
prophets that were before you.
POPE FRANCIS:
"Unfortunately, painful news has come from Egypt. I wish to ensure my
prayers for all the victims and their families, the injured and all
those who are suffering. Let us pray together for peace, dialogue and
reconciliation in that dear nation and throughout the world. Mary,
Queen of Peace, pray for us. Let's all say it, Mary, Queen of Peace,
pray for us."
ACN: EGYPT - Bishop of Assiut: "The Islamists are taking revenge on us Christians"
REVIEW: Pope Francis I and Egypt’s Tawadros II: A Tale of Two Popes and Preserving Mideast Christianity
CBN NEWS: Massive Church Destruction in Egypt
What do Muslim Brotherhood members do when Egyptian Security Forces
launch a forewarned operation to clear them from Cairo tent cities?
Attack Christians. That's right.
Morsi supporters responded with a monumental attack--unprecedented in
modern times--on churches throughout Egypt. The torching and
destruction of churches occured within six hours of the start of the
military crackdown.
Many Muslims opposed the violent response against Christians. Some
Salafists urged the Brotherhood to halt the attacks, and even some
Muslims in Upper Egypt reportedly helped Christians defend churches.
One destroyed church in Upper Egypt was built in the fourth century.
Here's the list of burned churches and buildings:
- Church of the Virgin Mary and Anba Abram of the Copts Orthodox.
the village of Daljah, the district of Deir Mawas, Minya province.
Burning and demolishing the church.
- The Church of St. Mina of the Coptic Orthodox. The neighborhood of Abu Hilal Kebly Minya province. Burning the church.
- St. George Church. Coptic Orthodox archbishopric land, Sohag province. Burning the church.
- Baptist Church. Status of Bani Mazar, Minya province. Burning the church
- Church of the Virgin Lady of the Copts Orthodox, Nazlah village,
Yusuf the righteous district, Fayoum province. Burning the church…
- Monastery of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd School. Suez. Burning.
- Church of Franciscan fathers. Street 23. Suez. Burning.
- Bible society friends, fayoum. Burning.
- Church of Saint Maximus. 45th Street. Alexandria. Harassment.
- Church of Prince Taodharos Elchatbi. Fayoum. Burning.
- Church of the virgin Lady of the Coptic Orthodox. butchers street. Abu Hilal District. Minia province. Burning.
- Church of Saint Mark. Catholic Copts. Abu Hilal District, Minya province. Burning.
- Church of the Jesuit Fathers. Abu Hilal District, Minya province. Burning.
- Church of the Virgin and Anba Abram. Sohag. Burning.
- Church of Saint Mark, and the building of services. electricity Street. Sohag. Burning.
- The house of Father Onjelios king. Pastor of the Church of the
Virgin and Anba Abram in Daljah. Deir Mawas district. Minya province.
Burning the house completely.
- Burning the Greek Church in Suez.
Pray for peace and reconciliation
in Egypt and pray for God's divine protection on our Christian brothers
and sisters. Pray their faith will be strengthened during this time of
tribulation!
MORE: ICEJ: Christians Attacked Across Egypt Amidst Turmoil
Despite the widespread violence, very few major media outlets or
Christian human rights organizations have been reporting on the
situation. “Progressive Christianity does not want to confront Islamic
violence,” Dexter Van Zile of CAMERA told the Jerusalem Post.
Andrew C. McCarthy, a leading US expert on radical Islam, agreed in a
blog post for National Review, saying Western media is ignoring and
distorting the “Islamic supremacist aggression against Egypt’s
Christians – which was a prominent feature of Muslim Brotherhood
governance. The Brotherhood is not ‘retaliating’ against Christians.
Islamic supremacists are persecuting Christians... which is what they
do in Muslim-majority countries.”
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Various Subjects
10. Provided He is pleased we ought to be satisfied,
and ought not to be troubled about our feelings of dissatisfaction or annoyance;
these arise within us only because we are not sufficiently mortified and
simple-hearted to cut off the windings and reflections of self-love.
August 15, 2013
(Luk 1:46-49) And
Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced
in God my Saviour. Because he hath regarded the humility of his
handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me
blessed. Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and
holy is his name.
VATICAN.VA: APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION OF POPE PIUS XII MUNIFICENTISSIMUS DEUS DEFINING THE DOGMA OF THE ASSUMPTION (November 1, 1950)
MARIAN SHRINE LIVE STREAMING LINKS
EXCERPT: The Queen of Heaven in the Kingdom of the Divine Will
Transit from Earth to Heaven. Happy Entrance.
Heaven and Earth celebrate the New Comer.
The soul to her Glorious Queen:
My dear Celestial Mama, I am back again in your maternal arms, and in
looking at You, I see that a sweet smile arises on your most pure
lips. Today your attitude is all festive; it seems to me that You
want to narrate to me and confide to your child something that will
surprise me even more. Holy Mama, O please! I pray You, with your
maternal hands, touch my mind, empty my heart, that I may comprehend
your holy teachings and put them into practice.
Lesson of the Queen of Heaven:
Dearest child, today your Mama is in feast, because I want to speak to
you of my departure from earth to Heaven, on the day in which I
completed fulfilling the Divine Will on earth. In fact, there was
not one breath, or heartbeat, or step in Me, in which the Divine Fiat
did not have Its complete act; and this embellished Me, enriched Me,
sanctified Me so much, that even the Angels remained enraptured.
Now, you must know that before departing for the Celestial Fatherland,
I returned again to Jerusalem with my beloved John. It was the
last time that I went past the earth in mortal flesh, and the whole
Creation, as though realizing it, prostrated Itself around Me.
Even the fish of the sea that I crossed, unto the tiniest little bird,
wanted to be blessed by their Queen; and I blessed them all, and gave
them my last good-bye. So I arrived in Jerusalem, and withdrawing
into an apartment where John brought Me, I enclosed Myself in it never
to go out again.
Now, blessed child, you must know that I began to feel within Me such a
martyrdom of love, united to ardent yearnings to reach my Son in
Heaven, as to feel consumed - to the point of feeling infirm with love;
and I had intense deliriums and swoonings, all of love. In fact,
I did not know illness or any slight indisposition; in my nature,
conceived without sin and lived completely of Divine Will, the seed of
natural evils was missing. If pains courted Me so much, they were
all in the supernatural order, and these pains were triumphs and honors
for your Celestial Mama, and gave Me the field so that my Maternity
would not be sterile, but conqueror of many children. Do you see
then, dear child, what it means to live of Divine Will? It means
to lose the seed of natural evils, which produce, not honors and
triumphs, but weaknesses, miseries and defeats.
Therefore, dearest child, listen to the last word of your Mama who is
about to leave for Heaven. I would not depart content if I did
not leave my child safe. Before departing, I want to make my
testament to you, leaving you as dowry that same Divine Will which your
Mama possesses, and which engraced Me so much, to the point of making
of Me the Mother of the Word, Lady and Queen of the Heart of Jesus, and
Mother and Queen of all.
Listen, dear child, this is the last day of the month consecrated to
Me. I have spoken to you with great love of that which the Divine
Will operated in Me, of the great good It can do, and of what it means
to let oneself be dominated by It. I have also spoken to you of
the grave evils of the human will. But do you think that it was
only to make you a simple narration? No, no; when your Mama
speaks, She wants to give. In the ardor of my love, in each word
I spoke to you, I bound your soul to the Divine Fiat, and I prepared
for you the dowry in which you might live rich, happy, and endowed with
divine strength.
Now that I am about to leave, accept my testament; may your soul be the
paper on which I write the attestation of the dowry that I give to you,
with the gold pen of the Divine Will, and with the ink of the ardent
love that consumes Me. Blessed child, assure Me that you will not
do your will, ever again. Place your hand on my maternal Heart,
and promise Me that you will enclose your will in my Heart, so that,
not feeling it, you will not have any occasion to do it, and I will
bring it with Me to Heaven, as triumph and victory of my child.
O please! dear child, listen to the last word of your Mama, dying of
pure love; receive my last blessing as seal of the life of the Divine
Will that I leave in you, which will form your heaven, your sun, your
sea of love and of grace. In these last moments, your Celestial
Mama wants to drown you with love, and pour Her own self out into you,
provided that I obtain my intent of hearing your last word – that you
will content yourself with dying, and will make any sacrifice, rather
than give one act of life to your will. Say it to me, my child -
say it to me.
The soul:
Holy Mama, in the ardor of my sorrow, I say it to You crying: if
You see that I am about to do one act alone of my will, make me die;
come Yourself to take my soul into your arms, and take me up there; and
from the heart, I promise, I swear, never - never to do my will.
The Queen of Love:
Blessed child, how content I am. I could not decide to narrate to
you my departure for Heaven if I did not leave my child safe on earth,
endowed with Divine Will. But know that from Heaven I will not
leave you - I will not leave you orphan; I will guide you in
everything, and from your smallest need, up to the greatest – call Me,
and immediately I will come to you to act as your Mama.
Now, dear child, listen to Me. I was already infirm with
love. The Divine Fiat, in order to console the Apostles, and also
Myself, allowed almost in a prodigious way that all the Apostles,
except one, would surround Me like a crown at the moment I was about to
depart for Heaven. All felt a blow to their hearts, and cried
bitterly. I consoled them all; I entrusted to them, in a special
way, the nascent Holy Church, and I imparted my maternal blessing to
all, leaving in their hearts, by virtue of it, the paternity of love
toward souls. My dear Son did nothing but come and go from
Heaven; He could no longer be without His Mama. And as I gave my
last breath of pure love in the endlessness of the Divine Will, my Son
received Me in His arms and took Me to Heaven, in the midst of the
angelic choirs that sang praise to their Queen. I can say that
Heaven emptied Itself to come to meet Me. All celebrated for Me,
and in looking at Me, remained enraptured and said in chorus:
“Who is She, who comes from the exile, all cleaving to Her Lord - all
beautiful, all holy, with the scepter of Queen? Her greatness is
such that the Heavens have lowered themselves to receive Her. No
other creature has entered these celestial regions so adorned and
striking - so powerful as to hold supremacy over everything.”
Now, my child, do you want to know who She is - for whom the whole of
Heaven sings praise and remains enraptured? I am She who never
did Her own will. The Divine Will abounded so much with Me as to
extend heavens more beautiful, suns more refulgent, seas of beauty, of
love, of sanctity, such that I could give light to all, love and
sanctity to all, and enclose everything and everyone within my
heaven. It was the work of the Divine Will operating in Me that
had accomplished such a great prodigy; I was the only creature entering
Heaven, who had done the Divine Will on earth as It is done in Heaven,
and who had formed Its Kingdom in my soul. Now, in looking at Me,
the whole Celestial Court was amazed, because as they looked at Me,
they found me heaven; and returning to look at Me, they found me sun;
and unable to remove their gaze from Me, looking at Me more deeply,
they saw Me sea, and found in Me also the most clear earth of my
humanity, with the most beautiful flowerings. And, enraptured,
they exclaimed: “How beautiful She is! She has everything
centralized within Herself - She lacks nothing. Among all the
works of Her Creator, She is the only complete work of the whole
Creation.”
Now, blessed child, you must know that this was the first feast made in
Heaven for the Divine Will, which had worked so many prodigies in Its
creature. So, at my entrance into Heaven, the whole Celestial
Court celebrated that which, beautiful and great, the Divine Fiat can
operate in the creature. Since then, these feasts have never been
repeated, and this is why your Mama loves so much that the Divine Will
reign in souls in an absolute way: to give It the field in order
to let It repeat Its great prodigies and Its marvelous feasts.
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Various Subjects
9. Let us take refuge in the Wound of the Sacred
Side like a poor traveller, who seeks a safe harbor in which to shelter
from the rocks and tempests of the stormy sea of this life, for here below
we are continually exposed to shipwreck, unless we have the help of our
all-wise Pilot.
August 14, 2013
(Rom 1:20-21) For
the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly
seen, being understood by the things that are made. His eternal power
also and divinity: so that they are inexcusable. Because that, when
they knew God, they have not glorified him as God or given thanks: but
became vain in their thoughts. And their foolish heart was darkened.
CRISIS MAGAZINE: Let Us Not Forget the Wonder of Creation by Regis Martin
BLOG EXCERPT: How To Convert The Entire World To Christianity
Beauty finds its source in God. And thus any display of beauty focuses
the heart towards Him, whether the heart would have it or no. There can
be a rejection of Christ. Rarely is there a rejection of beauty. Beauty
is the crutch it’s OK to lean on, the opiate no one will get mad at you
for being addicted to. But, why, the question hangs, does beauty
immediately lead even the atheist to thoughts of God?Why does he
immediately and vaguely defend his atheism? After all, it seems that if
beauty were just a natural, great thing that this world had to offer,
he would have no more need to defend his beliefs against the attack of
beauty than he would the attack of ugliness. I have a rudimentary
answer to all this. Perfect beauty doesn’t simply lead our minds to
God; perfect beauty is God. And the atheist, at some level, knows this.
Let’s review: Beauty is made up of three principle parts: integritas,
consonantia, and claritas (Aquinas). These three things must exist
within any work of art for it to be beautiful. Well, check this out:
Integritas means completion of form. Perfection. Wholeness. All the
parts of a thing must serve the purpose of the whole. There is only one
being of infinite integritas, and that is the Holy Trinity. Why?
Because each part – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – serves the
purpose of the whole – God – to an infinite degree, and thus each part
is the whole. Three persons, one God. Integritas. Any lesser attempt at
integritas admits that there exists an Ultimate Integritas, which all
art inherently strives for, but never reaches. Pretty sweet, right?
Consonantia means due proportion or harmony. The Trinity is perfect
harmony. The love between the Father and the Son – the harmony between
them – is an infinite love. Love that necessarily creates a person, a
person that is still one in being with the rest of the Trinity. (That’s
a statement that requires another a post.) All harmony in art strives
to attain the harmony of the Trinity. A perfect harmony of notes would
be so infinitely ‘together’ that they would become one thing, not a
group of things. The Trinity is one thing. Thus any experience of
consonantia admits the existence of an Ultimate Consonantia.
And, last but not least, claritas means radiance. Is the beauty clear?
Does it convey? Or is it gorgeous meaninglessness? The Word of the
Father is his conveyance. He speaks. He has a message. Is his message
clear? Actually, his message is infinitely clear. He speaks Himself.
And because it is infinite, the Word – or rather, the image of Himself
– must actually be Himself.
Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of claritas – the message is the
messenger, the Word is the Word-giver. Ultimate clarity is not simply
the expression of a thing, but the thing itself. So any attempt at
claritas admits an Ultimate Claritas.
We cannot strive for perfection without admitting perfection. And
perfection can only exist in the infinite. And to admit infinite beauty
is to admit God. And that, my friends, is how we will convert the
entire world. By being beautiful.
Speak on Christ, by all means, but speak beautifully. Paint
beautifully. Sing beautifully. In a thing as small as a blog post or as
groundbreaking as the next Great American Novel, strive to write
beautifully. Are you aware that, by creating beauty, you are an
ambassador for the infinite? Why is Flannery O’Connor read on secular
campuses around the world? Why do public high-school choirs sing Mass
Parts? Why do atheists and Catholics flock to Mumford and Sons’
concerts? Why is Gregorian Chant praised by atheistic liberals? Because
beauty pierces through all the layers of crap we build up around us,
and demands that we recognize that greater than ourself.
The closer beauty comes to its perfection – that is to say, God – the
greater the recognition of God. So instead of bemoaning the lack of
conversion, let us create beauty. Instead of freaking out over the
empty pews at our church, let’s get rid of the modern cubist depictions
of Christ and make our churches beautiful. Instead of getting grumpy
that no one reads your story where “you find out at the end that the
old man is actually Jesus, OMG,” write something as beautiful as The
Moviegoer by Walker Percy. Instead of being bitter
and disappointed that no one seems to be praising God when we bust
out “Give Us Clean Hands” at Mass, let’s play truly beautiful music.
(Gorgeous music like “What Wond’rous Love Is This?”) In our writing,
drawing, filming, building, organizing, singing, playing, dancing,
acting, speaking, expressing, and in our very act of living each day,
let us be beautiful. Then truly, every knee would bow and every tongue
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, if only to join in the song.
RECENT POPES "ON BEAUTY"
Thoughts
and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary: Various Subjects
8. Strive ever to have a loving and filial fear,
which will lead you to do good and avoid evil, rejecting all other fears,
for they only come from the spirit of darkness.
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