[OPEN]Wherever Mary “is” there peace reigns

Agenzia Fides ^ | 7/16/2008 | Mgr. Luciano Alimandi

[markomalley]

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)

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

As if any saint who has died the first death is permitted to visit the Earth. Apostasy alert!

[markomalley]

As if any saint who has died the first death is permitted to visit the Earth. Apostasy alert!

Apostasy

The total rejection by a baptized person of the Christian faith he once professed.

Heresy

an opinion at variance with the authorized teachings of any church, notably the Christian, and especially when this promotes separation from the main body of faithful believers.

I think you mean to accuse me of heresy, not apostasy.

But, before doing that, I suggest you read Matthew 17 once again…if you actually do so, you will find that Mary was not the first one to do so. If that was heresy, I'll be more than happy to be a heretic in your eyes (better a heretic in your eyes than in a heretic God's eyes)

[tiki]

I guess that Peter, James and John must be apostates since the Transfiguration was witnessed by them? I guess they didn’t see Moses and Elias? And I suppose since St. Peter and St. John refered to it later they were REALLY apostate?

And Matthew, Mark and Luke also refer to it, I guess they were apostates too?

[Salvation]

What about Fatima?

Our Lady of Fatima, May 13

Litany of Our Lady of Fatima

Last Fatima child buried in final resting place (Sr. Maria's remains transferred to Fatima)

Sister Lucia, last remaining witness of Fatima apparitions, dies at 97

SISTER LUCIA RIP

LAST OF CHILDREN WHO CLAIMED TO SEE VIRGIN MARY DIES AT 97

Last child who claimed to see "Virgin Mary" dies

Virgin Mary Child Dies (Lucia of Fatima)

Mourning for Fatima seer (Portugal declares day of mourning)

Third Secret of Fatima is not fully revealed.

Sister Lucia, last remaining witness of Fatima apparitions, dies at 97

Sr. Lucia, Fatima, and Islam

Mystery Fatima: Death of Lucia Accents Famed Secrets & Area's Hidden History

"No More Secrets," Visionary Said in 2001 (Sr. Lucia Confirmed Russia Consecrated to Mary)

Papal praise at Sister Lucia's funeral

Our Lady of Fatima, ‘counterrevolutionary’ and ‘ecumenical’

Fatima Statue Due at Vatican to Mark a Fateful Day 25 Years After Attempt on John Paul II's Life

Sister Lucia's Unpublished Writings Released - Visionary Reflects on Marian Apparitions

Sister Lucia's Last Moments

Fatima: Case Closed

Rosary Rallies Planned for Fatima Anniversary [Catholic Caucus]

Giant new church at Fatima shrine

Sister Lucia's Beatification Process to Begin ( Pope Waves 5-Year Waiting Period)

The faithful remember miracle of Fatima, Thousands gather in Washington Twp. on 90th anniversary

[Salvation]

Or Guadalupe?

 

DEVOTIONAL PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

O Virgin Mother of Guadalupe, you wanted to show your compassion to all who solicit your help. Hear the petitions we present to you.

Patroness of the Philippines, we pray for peace, justice and prosperity for our country and for all the countries of the world. Mother of fair love, protect our families. Keep them united in love and watch over our children. Put an end to the sacrifice of innocent lives as you did in Mexico.

Mother of the Church, grant us abundant vocations of priests, religious and laity. We pray to you especially for our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, and all bishops. Grant us a great love for all the sacraments, the signs of God's great mercy.

Thus we will be able to bring all, true peace through Our Lord Jesus Christ, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reign forever and ever.

                                                            Amen.

The Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our Lady of Guadalupe called 'Mother Without Borders' in Los Angeles (Catholic Caucus)

Hernándo Cortés and Our Lady

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Church Militant (Catholic Caucus)

Scientists certify Our Lady of Guadalupe tilma

STRANGE LIGHT CLAIMED IN GUADALUPE IMAGE AFTER MEXICO CITY OKAYED ABORTION

STRANGE LIGHT CLAIMED IN GUADALUPE IMAGE AFTER MEXICO CITY OKAYED ABORTION -- posted on News Forum

The Story of Guadalupe: Hope for Our Violent World

Our Lady of Guadalupe: Protectress of the Unborn

Was Our Lady of Guadalupe Wrong?

METHODIST CHURCH DISPLAYS VIRGIN OF GUADALUPE

GUADALUPE DEVOTION IS CROSSING INTO PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS

 

A Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Relic From Guadalupe Tilma to Tour U.S.

The Amazing Truth of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our Lady Of Guadalupe

Celebrating 470 years of an ongoing miracle, the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe 1531

Science Stunned by Virgin of Guadalupe´s Eyes

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE [Read only]

[Salvation]

Or Lourdes?

Lourdes and Penance(Catholic Caucus)

Vatican marks 150th anniversary of Lourdes girl's visions of Mary

Pope OKs plenary indulgence for Lourdes' 150th anniversary [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus}

On Lent... and Lourdes (Benedict XVI's Angelus address)

The challenge of finding peace in Lourdes

Anglicans keep Lourdes anniversary (8 bishops plan unprecedented pilgrimage)

Lourdes

Trips to Lourdes to Cut Time Spent in Purgatory

A Different Take On Health Care: A Trip to Lourdes (Catholic Caucus)

Catholic Church officials call for more clergy to work at Marian shrine in Lourdes

150th Anniversary of Our Lady of Lourdes (Catholic Caucus)

Pope: From Lourdes to Seoul, I entrust the world’s sick and suffering to Mary [Catholic Caucus] (Locked)

fear and loathing at Lourdes (French bishops shudder 'avec peur')

Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes

Woman whose healing is 67th Lourdes miracle tells her story

Catholic Church vets 67th Lourdes 'miracle'

P>Our Lady of Lourdes – February 11 Our Lady of Lourdes

Paralyzed Woman Cured at Lourdes Shrine

OUR LADY OF LOURDES:[Saint Bernardette Soubirous]

Lourdes Has Its 66th Officially Recognized Miracle

[Salvation]

Do you want me to go on? I can if you wish.

[Salvation]

"Never apologize for the Blessed Virgin Mary!"

~~Mother Angelica

[tiki]

I read this in last month’s Magnificat today and it certainly reminded me of the enmity that many non-Catholics on FR bear toward Catholicism.

“One of the first facts we learn about Saul of Tarsus is that he concurred in the stoning to death of Stephen by a lynch mob. Shortly after, the Acts of the Apostles says: Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest” Every other time that that term “murder” is used in the NT, it refers to abominable vice and evil. What is more, in Acts, as he testifies before King Agrippa, Paul says, “I was so enraged against {the Christians} that I pursued them even to foreign cities.” That rage is not to be confused with the righteious fervor of religious zeal rather, the word indicates a fury that knows no bounds-a kind of madness in which one loses control over oneself...”

Pope Benedict XVI said, “In the light of the encounter with Christ, Paul understood that with this he had sought to build up himself and his own justice and that with all this justice he had lived for himself.”

In trying to attack the Catholic faith many of the non-Catholic posters remind me so much of Saul of Tarsus before his encounter with Jesus, they do it with such zeal and near fanaticism. Some certain posters are almost rabid in their criticism of the Catholic faith.

I do pray that they really do meet Jesus and through that encounter will embrace the faith of the Church that Jesus established.

[sandyeggo]

I guess that Peter, James and John must be apostates since the Transfiguration was witnessed by them? I guess they didn’t see Moses and Elias?

Excelllent.

[sandyeggo]

Wherever Mary is there peace reigns

Not surprising I should read this because I had that very thought earlier today.

I was sitting in the waiting room this morning while one of my boys was having his wisdom teeth pulled. As I prayed for him, asking the Good Lord to watch over him and guide the oral surgeon, my thoughts went to the Virgin Mary and I thought, "Dear Mother, you know what it's like to worry about your son. Take care of mine for me." And I had such a sense of peace, it was palpable.

[RJR_fan]

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 people thronging Todd Bentley's dog and pony show in Florida also report experiencing intense emotional rushes. Mormons report a "burning in the bosom" that confirms their testimony. Marian apparitions typically occur in backward peasant cultures, frequently those on the verge of war.

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

You can go on as long as you wish. Posting made up claims by the Rome mafia impresses me not in the least. Signs and wonders from Satan, masquerading so as to deceive many. Scripture twisted so it appeals to the pagans around the world, making it easy for the RCC to assimilate them.

Nobody brings eternal peace except for Jesus Christ. There are no Biblical accounts of saints who have dies the first death - which includes Mary, mother of Jesus - visiting Earth.

Rome has a vain imagination. The reformation was for a reason - to re-form that which was into what it was. Before Rome perverted it.

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

Apostasy alert!

[Quix]

GOD HAVE MERCY.

So much for The Prince of Peace . . .

Just send in the white hanky brigade.

What blasphemy.

[Quix]

Certainly there’s likely great opportunity for deception.

However, The Scriptural response is to test the spirits.

On the Mount of Transfiguration . . . a couple of old foggies joined Christ.

And Scripture indicates that in the last days, the graves shall give up many dead who will evidently wander the earth giving testimony.

[markomalley]

What blasphemy.

Thank you for saying this. I really appreciate it.

[Quix]

Given the great likelihood that the whole Fatima thing is an engineered technological fallen angel/watcher/nephilium farce, deception . . .

I’m skeptical that the authentic Mary has ever visited our realm a single time anywhere for any reason.

Any Heavenly visitation I’ve ever read where an individual convincingly went to Heaven and happened to see the authentic Mary—she was doing teaching duties with children VERY MUCH AS AN AVERAGE MOTHERLY WOMAN OF HEAVEN WITH NOT A SINGLE SPECIAL HONOR OR ACCOUTRAMENT attached to her person or role.

I suspect that in eternity, Mary herself will judge the RC edifice most fiercely and harshly for what it has one to her name and image.

[Salvation]

May the Mother of God bless us all.

[Salvation]

These are NOT made up claims. You are believing the propaganda you have been fed. If you check out historical dates with these apparaitions, you just might be amazed.

[sandyeggo]

As if any saint who has died the first death is permitted to visit the Earth. Apostasy alert!

Matthew 27:52,53
And the graves were opened: and many bodies of the saints that had slept arose,
And coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, came into the holy city and appeared to many.

[Salvation]

BTW, it was revealed to Sister Lucia, one of the children at Fatima, when she was older, that prayers had brought about the conversion of Russia and saved the world from nuclear attack.

A good book of her memoirs is “In Her Own Words to the Nuclear Age.”

[Quix]

BALDERDASH.

[Quix]

Thanks for the ping. Hope your hazmat suit is on.

The Inquisitional Troops are out in full battle array.

[gost2]

Uh, Mary wife of Joseph and mother of Jesus of Nazareth died over 2000 years ago. You cannot pray to her. She IS a saint just like all other believers. She was not an Apostle. Not a leader in the early church. She was just a good Jewish girl of the proper line to provide a womb for the Son of God. Period. Your idolatry is sickening.

[Quix]

I’d post the entire Fatima evidence to the contrary but the RC edifice censors would have such a fit over the ‘list violations’ that I’d probably be thrown into the best outer darkness they could manage.

So I’ll just encourage folks to DOGPILE.COM for the alternative explanations.

Though there are these links and brief excerpts:

Additional excerpts from Vallee via:
http://www.ufoseek.org/fatimajv.htm

“…Fatima was a modern event, yet it is already clouded with the distortions of ‘belief’. The Photographs of the object had ‘disappeared.’ The key prophecy has been suppressed. Lucia shut herself away from the world. As the years passed, the object was turned into a ‘dancing sun,’ the angel hair became ‘rose petals,’ and the entire phenomena was removed from the field of science and entrusted to the religionists…

A purported 1917 pic of the Fatima sun doesn’t show a lot but here’s the link:

http://www.tarxienparish.org/FatimaSun_13Oct1917.jpg

(Other pics can be linked to from that location):

http://www.tarxienparish.org/FatimaSun_13Oct1917.jpg

What is crucial here was going back to the original testimonies and stories. Lucia, the primary “seer” (”experiencer”?), later entered a convent, and her story became progressively more and more attuned to the Catholic paradigm, her writings made subject to approval by Church authorities. The authors have put less emphasis on these later “official” versions, and relied more on the first reports. Lucia originally never said it was the Virgin Mary she saw, it was the adults around her that jumped to that conclusion. Based on the time and culture they lived in, how else could they have interpreted it?

Original drawing:

http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/hh128/easynow32778/?action=view¤t=halo-grey-alien.jpg

Even more startling, on the Lady’s right the girls could see ‘A SQUARE OF RED FIRE FRAMING A TRIANGLE WITH AN EYE AND SOME WRITING. THE LETTER WAS IN AN OLD ORIENTAL SCRIPT!’”

(Note: this also seems to correspond with the ancient “Eye of Horus” of Egypt, which according to Illuminists represented Sirius and was a major emblem within the Babylonian Mystery Religion. There have been alleged photographs of obelisks on the Moon of the exact shape and description as those found in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, in Egypt, and originally in Babylon. These four-sided, pyramidal-capped obelisks traditionally were the “alters” around which the ancient worshippers of Baal practiced their occult arts and were a combination of phallic and Sun symbols. Could such obelisks be a connecting factor between the ancient Babylonian-Egyptian “Mystery” society and exterran societies of a similar nature, such as perhaps the one alleged to exist in the Sirius system? - Branton).

“The angels in all these cases sound suspiciously like our celebrated ‘little men’ .

“…The many messages conveyed by the Lady have conformed precisely to Catholic dogma, using phrases and references which are significant to trained theologists but would be meaningless to children. The message of October 18, 1961, as dictated by the children, read: ‘We must make many sacrifices, do much penance. We must visit the Blessed Sacrament frequently… unless we do this, a punishment will befall us.’

“…On Friday, June 18, 1965, Conchita entered a trance and was purportedly given the following statements by the Lady:

“’As my message of the eighteenth of October has not been complied with, and as it has not been made known to the world, I am telling you that this is the last one. Previously, the cup was filling; now it is brimming over… You are now given the last warnings.’ (Take note of the remarkable different between the humble, patient and longsuffering Christ of the New Testament, and this boasting, impatient and wrathful “Whore” of Babylon that has appeared to so many children the world over. This is certainly not like the “Mary” of the New Testament and, in fact, it is not! - Branton).

“There is a wealth of evidence and testimony which leaves little doubt that these children of Garabandal were being possessed by some outside influence and were undergoing a supernormal experience…

“THE NATION OF THE THIRD EYE - There is no reason to think that the four children of Garabandal,” Keel continues, “had ever seen, or even knew about, the eye symbol on the Great Seal of the United States (ie. the seal of the Illuminati -Branton). Nor is it remotely possible that the children, or any of the elders of Garabandal, could have known of the importance that this symbol plays in the silent contactee situation. In fact, very few ufologists are aware of it.

[markomalley]

Your idolatry is sickening.

Well, I certainly THANK YOU for your comment. It pleases me to no end to read it. And, no, I am NOT being sarcastic.

[Quix]

INDEED.

Though they CAN pray ‘to’ her all they wish . . .

so much for prayers that merely reach the ceiling and no further.

[Salvation]

** You cannot pray to her. **

We do not pray “to” her or worship her.

We ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, both Son of Man and Son of God, to intercede for us.

BTW, the first people that the Blessed Virgin Mary interceded for were ____________________??

And her final words in the Bible were __________________________________?

[Quix]

Getting the masses to

swallow all the bureaucratic hoopla surrounding the ‘witnesses’ and their experiences

has been one of the ungreat achievements of the !!!!TRADITIONS!!!! dogma department.

[Salvation]

And the point is that you and I must agree to disagree on this matter.

We shall know soon enough who was correct!

[Salvation]

I think the people of the Masses already believe it. Pun intended. hehehehe

You walked into it. LOL!

[andysandmikesmom]

Thank you for all the links that you have provided...I am just not as familiar with all of these occurrences, as other people are, so this will be a long, and no doubt, worthwhile read for me...thanks so much....

[andysandmikesmom]

:)...very clever...

[Quix]

I find the visistatioin reported here much more Biblical:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2043893/posts?page=94#94

When the Lord arrived, we could see the immense joy of our King. Even though we could not see His face, we could see His smile, it filled the entire place. When He arrived, all the children ran to Him! In the middle of all those children, we could see Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ on Earth. She was a beautiful woman. We did not see her on a throne and neither was anyone worshiping her. She was there as one of the other women in heaven, like all other people on Earth she had to win her salvation. She had a white robe and a golden belt around her waist, and her hair reached down to her waist.

On Earth, we have listened to many people as they worship Mary as the mother of Jesus, but I want to tell you that the Word of God says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6) The only entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven is Jesus of Nazareth.

[andysandmikesmom]

Personally, I would welcome even more links that you might have handy....

[ChurtleDawg]

Ok, even if we use your flawed logic about no saint returning, although the Bible records Moses and Elijah visiting Jesus, what do you expect when most of the Bible was written during the lifetimes of the first saints? For example, Peter or John or Paul couldn’t have made recorded appearances to themselves, because they were alive when most of the Bible was written.

[Salvation]

Not approved by the church. Anything that is still going on, such as Medjugorje cannot be approved by the Catholic Church until a span of time AFTER the last apparition.

[ChurtleDawg]

Oh snap! Checkmate. I was just about to post this....

[Quix]

I don’t place any edifice above Holy Spirit’s confirmations/disconfirmations within me.

That would be blasphemy, to me.

[Salvation]

OUR LADY OF LA SALETTE [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]

Official Feast of the Lady of LaSalette Sept. 19( along with St. Januarius)

[Salvation]

The Brown Scapular (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel)

Our Lady Of Mount Carmel & "The Carmelites:An Historical Sketch"

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Homilies preached by Father Altier on the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Novena To Our Lady of Mount Carmel

[Salvation]

HOW TO PRAY THE ROSARY

 

Petition to Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii

Remember Lepanto!

Rosary

John Paul II Makes a Rosary Appeal [Our Lady of the Rosary]

October: Month of the Holy Rosary

Archbishop Sheen Today! -- Praying the Rosary

THE ORIGIN OF THE ROSARY _______________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tradition has long connected Saint Dominic and his Order with the preaching of the Rosary. Dominic’s followers have been called the “Friars of Mary.” The fifteen-decade Rosary adorns their habit with the frequent reminder that they are united to the Son of God in the living presence of our Blessed Mother.

 

Pray the Rosary. 

Pray without ceasing.

[andysandmikesmom]

Thank you very much...lots fpr me to read...I do so appreciate your time and effort...

[Alamo-Girl]

Actually, putting any thing or any one, including self - above God would be idolatry to me.

Loving God with all our hearts, minds and souls is the one and only Great Commandment. Matt 22

[ChurtleDawg]

and you believed the story of Jesse DuPlantis, a “prosperity Gospel” preacher who said he was taken to Heaven in a cable car

[andysandmikesmom]

I really appreciate these links concerning the Rosary, about which I know almost nothing...

As an aaide, I have a rosary, that was blessed by Pope John Paul, either in 1984, or 1985...whatever year he came to Western Canada...one of my best friends, took her girls and went up to Canada when he was there, and were able to get this rosary for my older boy, ill with leukemia...

My friend knew we were not Catholic, but that my ill son, was now considering becoming a Catholic...he came to this conclusion on his own, while contemplating his fate, as a teen-ager facing death....so he was thrilled that rosary....I have kept it with all of his other things, that I put away, after he died...

Now, I suppose I shall go and get it out, to understand more fully about it...

Anyway many thanks, in anticipating that I might like to have this information about the rosary...

[Judith Anne]

I found this further discussion at the first link you excerpted:

William Cooper continues with his report by stating:

"...A symposium was held in 1957 which was attended by some of the great scientific minds then living. They reached the conclusion that by, or shortly after, the year 2000 the planet WOULD self-destruct due to increased population and man's exploitation of the environment WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM GOD OR THE ALIENS.

"By secret Executive order of President Eisenhower, the JASON Scholars were ordered to study this scenario and make recommendations from their findings. The JASON Society CONFIRMED the findings of the scientists and made three recommendations called ALTERNATIVES 1, 2, AND 3.

"Alternative 1 was to use nuclear devices to blast holes in the stratosphere from which the heat and pollution could escape into space. They would then change the human cultures from that of exploitation into cultures of environmental protection. Of the three this was decided to be the least likely to succeed due to the inherent nature of man...

The comments about Fatima that were cherry-picked out of this really bizarre little essay on UFOs are strange, but not the strangest comments in the article.

Your comment here leaves me puzzled: "I’d post the entire Fatima evidence to the contrary but the RC edifice censors would have such a fit over the ‘list violations’ that I’d probably be thrown into the best outer darkness they could manage." Far from censoring anything, let's bring it out into the light and examine it. Then everyone can decide what to think about the "entire Fatima evidence."

[Quix]

Actually, putting any thing or any one, including self - above God would be idolatry to me.

Loving God with all our hearts, minds and souls is the one and only Great Commandment. Matt 22

======

INDEED.

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

THANKS MUCH.