OUR LADY AND ISLAM: HEAVEN’S PEACE PLAN

OUR LADY AND ISLAM: HEAVEN’S PEACE PLAN
Fr Ladis J. Cizik, Blue Army National Executive Director

Islam Islam is an Arabic word that can be defined as "to make peace." Islam is the religion founded by Mohammed, which considers the Koran as its holy book. In addition, Islam accepts the New Testament of the Christians and the Old Testament of the Jews as Divinely inspired works. Followers of Islam are known as Muslims (also: Moors, Turks, and Moslems) and, just as Jews and Christians, believe in only one God. Yet, over the centuries, Muslims have engaged in tremendous wars with Christians and Jews. It would seem that there is little hope for peace. However, Heaven's Peace Plan, involving Our Lady, is evidenced at Fatima, Portugal as well as other places around the world.

The Moors once occupied Portugal. The village of Fatima was given the Islamic name of the well-loved Princess of the nearby Castle of Ourem. She died at an early age after marrying the Count of Ourem and converting to Catholicism. Baptized with the Christian name of Oureana, she was named at birth "Fatima," like many other Moslem girls, in honor of the daughter of Mohammed. Of his daughter, Fatima, the founder of Islam, Mohammed, said: "She has the highest place in heaven after the Virgin Mary."

It is a fact that Moslems from various nations, especially from the Middle East, make so many pilgrimages to Our Lady of Fatima's Shrine in Portugal that Portuguese officials have expressed concern. The combination of an Islamic name and Islamic devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is a great attraction to Moslems. God is writing straight with crooked lines, as we will see. Fatima is a part of Heaven's Peace Plan. It is hope for the world.

In the Koran, the holy name of the Blessed Virgin Mary is mentioned no less than thirty times. No other woman's name is even mentioned, not even that of Mohammed's daughter, Fatima. Among men, only Abraham, Moses, and Noah are mentioned more times than Our Lady. In the Koran, Our Blessed Mother is described as "Virgin, ever Virgin." The Islamic belief in the virginity of Mary puts to shame the heretical beliefs of those who call themselves Christian, while denying the perpetual virginity of Mary. Make no mistake about it, there is a very special relationship between the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Moslems!

The Holy Land has been a real battleground between the Islamic peoples and Christianity over the centuries. Evidence of this are the numerous churches and basilicas that have been built by the Church, destroyed by, the Moslems, rebuilt by Catholic Crusaders, leveled again by the followers of Islam, and so on over the course of history. However, there is one remarkable exception: the Basilica of Saint Anne in Jerusalem.

The Crusaders built this church and named it in honor of the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Crypt of St. Anne's Basilica, a statue of the Infant Mary is venerated on what is believed to be the exact spot where Our Lady was born. Their great reverence for Our Lady precluded the Moslems from destroying her birthplace. The foundation for Heaven's Peace Plan at Fatima, Portugal, can be found in the Land of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

As the Moslems swept through Spain in the 8th century, a great religious treasure was buried for safe-keeping in the earth, high in the Estremadura Mountains. It was a much venerated statue of Our Lady holding the Divine Child Jesus that was a gift of Pope Gregory the Great to Bishop Leander of Seville. After the overthrow of Moorish occupation, the image was uncovered in the year 1326, subsequent to a vision of Our Lady to a humble shepherd by the name of Gil. Our Lady's very special statue was enshrined in a nearby Franciscan Monastery next to the "Wolf River."

The Moslems, during their Spanish occupation, had actually named the river. The Islamic term for Wolf River is "Guadalupe" (Guada = River; Lupe = Wolf). Hence, the famous Catholic image in Spain has been known, since the 14th century, by the Islamic name of "Our Lady of Guadalupe."

In the fullness of time, we can be sure that Almighty God knew that the Islamic religion would pose a serious threat to Christianity. God also knew that the Spanish missionaries would face grave resistance in the "new world" from the mighty Aztec Indians. The Aztecs worshipped an evil stone "serpent god" that demanded human sacrifice. It was extremely difficult to win souls for Christ from these bloodthirsty savages. However, with God all things are possible. Our Lady appeared to a humble Aztec Indian convert by the name of Juan Diego in 1531. When asked her name by Juan Diego, at the request of the local bishop, Our Lady's response, in the Aztec language, included the words "te coatlaxopeuh" (pronounced: "te quatlasupe") and meant "one who crushes the head of the stone serpent."

To Juan Diego and his fellow Aztecs, this revelation had great meaning, coupled with the miraculous image of Our Lady standing on top of a "crescent," the symbol of this evil serpent god. A tidal wave of conversions to Catholicism ensued. However, Bishop Zumarraga, who was from Spain, made what was no doubt a "heavenly mistake" that one day may lead to the mass conversion of Moslems. To the Bishop's Spanish ears, Our Lady's Aztec name of "Te Quatlasupe" sounded just like the name of the revered Madonna from Spain with the Islamic name, "Guadalupe." Hence, the bishop named the Mexican Madonna "Our Lady of Guadalupe." It is interesting that the "crescent" is also the symbol for Islam and that America's Shrine to Our Lady has an Islamic name.

On October 7, 1571, a great victory over the mighty Turkish fleet was won by Catholic naval forces primarily from Spain, Venice, and Genoa under the command of Don Juan of Austria. It was the last battle at sea between "oared" ships, which featured the most powerful navy in the world, a Moslem force with between 12,000 to 15,000 Christian slaves as rowers. The patchwork team of Catholic ships was powered by the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Knowing that the Christian forces were at a distinct material disadvantage, the holy pontiff, St. Pope Pius V called for all of Europe to pray the Rosary for victory.

We know today that the victory was decisive, prevented the Islamic invasion of Europe, and evidenced the Hand of God working through Our Lady. At the hour of victory, St. Pope Pius V, who was hundreds of miles away at the Vatican, is said to have gotten up from a meeting, went over to a window, and exclaimed with supernatural radiance: "The Christian fleet is victorious!" and shed tears of thanksgiving to God.

What you may not know is that one of three admirals commanding the Catholic forces at Lepanto was Andrea Doria. He carried a small copy of Mexico's Our Lady of Guadalupe into battle. This image is now enshrined in the Church of San Stefano in Aveto, Italy. Not many know that at the Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Spain, one can view a huge warship lantern that was captured from the Moslems in the Battle of Lepanto. In Rome, look up to the ceiling of S. Maria in Aracoeli and behold decorations in gold taken from the Turkish galleys. In the Doges' Palace in Venice, Italy, one can witness a giant Islamic flag that is now a trophy from a vanquished Turkish ship from the Victory. At Saint Mary Major Basilica in Rome, close to the tomb of the great St. Pope Pius V, one was once able to view yet another Islamic flag from the Battle, until 1965, when it was returned to Istanbul in an intended friendly token of concord.

At Lepanto, the Victory over the Moslems was won by the faithful praying the Rosary. Even though they had superior numbers, the Turks really were overmatched. Blessed Padre Pio, the Spiritual Father of the Blue Army, said: "The Rosary is the weapon," and how right he was!

The Battle of Lepanto was at first celebrated liturgically as "Our Lady of Victory." Later, the feast of October 7th was renamed "Our Lady of the Rosary" and extended throughout the Universal Church by Pope Clement XI in 1716 (who canonized Pope Pius V in 1712).

And with that we are back to Fatima, Portugal where Our Lady, when asked her name, said: "I am the Lady of the Rosary." At Fatima, Our Lady taught us to pray the Rosary every day. Heaven presented its peace plan at Fatima and truly gave us hope for the world. Conversions were promised at Fatima: the conversion of sinners; the conversion of Russia; and what also appears to be the conversion of Islam. Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!

Taken from:
Soul Magazine
© 2001 The Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima, U.S.A., Inc.
September - October 2001, page 6
For subscription information:
The Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima, U.S.A., Inc.
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or Phone Toll Free: 866-513-1917

Knowing that the Christian forces were at a distinct material disadvantage, the holy pontiff, St. Pope Pius V called for all of Europe to pray the Rosary for victory.

Not a particularly accurate description of the Battle of Lepanto. The two sides were pretty equal in numbers, but the Christians had greatly superior firepower. They used the newfangled firearms to a much greater extent, while the Turks depended on the old-fashioned composite bow.

But I am sure that even you were Baptised by a third person, and go to Church services preached by a third person. While it is certainly that true Christ is the only way to the Father, it is false in the sense that you use it. If it were true in your sense of the words, why would you or anyone else need a Pastor, or even the bible for that matter.

What is the role of the "third person" in salvation and Spiritual Baptism?

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,...

"In the Koran, the holy name of the Blessed Virgin Mary is mentioned no less than thirty times. No other woman's name is even mentioned, not even that of Mohammed's daughter, Fatima. Among men, only Abraham, Moses, and Noah are mentioned more times than Our Lady. In the Koran, Our Blessed Mother is described as "Virgin, ever Virgin." The Islamic belief in the virginity of Mary puts to shame the heretical beliefs of those who call themselves Christian, while denying the perpetual virginity of Mary. Make no mistake about it, there is a very special relationship between the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Moslems!"

Good grief! So Catholics are all excited about the imaginary ramblings of Mohammed's daughter - Fatima? Geesh. Seem like Catholics have more in common with Muslims that Christians. Especially when you compare how intolerant Catholics were to Christians during the Crusades and the Inquisition.

The Bible makes NO claim that Mary was a "perpetual" virgin. Zilcho. This is another man made claim. Mary was blessed AMONGST many women. She was strictly a vessel for the birth of Jesus. Nothing more. Catholicism is not Christian so the beliefs etc. will not reflect the teachings of God and later Jesus.

Today it is genuine Christians and Jews that will continue to be hated for His names sake.

#3, indeed the Bible does say alot about the queen of heaven and none of it is good.

Jer.7;18

[18] The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.
Jer.44:17-25

[17] But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.

[18] But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.

[19] And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?

[25] Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.

Read on for the ful extent of the Judeo-Christian God and His anger at this idoltry. Marianoloy, worshipping Mary, praying to ber ... all for naught. God views it as a distraction and another idol. It pisses Him off. Yet, Catholics will continue to disobey Him. What the Bible says doesn't matter to them. It is that of another Gospel that they follow and certainly NOT Christian.

Catholicism is not Christian so the beliefs etc. will not reflect the teachings of God and later Jesus.

What gives you the right to say what is Chistian, ypur whose teachingsr are contrary to the opinion of the great majority of Christians throughout the centuries. Claims that you and you alone rightly read the Scriptures is merely that, a claim. To put it simply: Fellow, that's YOUR opinion! I see it differently.

The Moslems took The Law of YHWY and totally perverted it! How clever of Satan, he knows what buttons to push!

I think it's great if anything can get them to convert and give up their hate and ignorance. As it is now, I don't think they believe in the God of Abraham who led the Jews into Israel and gave them that homeland. Only God's opposite would insist the Jews be driven out of Israel. Same with the Jews being the Chosen people, the Muslims have made them the Targeted people.

But a countless number of mediators between Jesus and us, including my mother and father, or so I believe.

Well, your personal beliefs are irrelavent! The verse which I quote clearly contradicts what you personally believe: there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. My Lord Jesus is God and the only mediator.

From Websters: Mediator - One who serves to reconcile.

For your beliefs to be correct, it must be assumed that your parents for instance have the power to present you to Christ for salvation. They do not and scripture is against you:

No man can come to Me unless the Father who hath sent Me draw him; and I will raise him up at the Last Day.

So, what is it that you think your parents can do for you for either your salvation or sanctification?

I think it's great if anything can get them to convert and give up their hate and ignorance.

Ahhh, but scripture teaches that there is only One way that they will convert:

No man can come to Me unless the Father who hath sent Me draw him; and I will raise him up at the Last Day.
All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me, and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.
And this is the Father's will who hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the Last Day.

So, telling heretical stories about Our Lady and Islam is nothing more than man made distortion of the Gospel. The Good News is that God has it under control and that He is pleased to save all His children and only His children.

Today it is genuine Christians and Jews that will continue to be hated for His names sake.

I assume you mean Jews converted by God to faith in Jesus Christ as [Thomas put it] "my Lord and my God".

It is not as though the Word of God hath taken no effect. For they are not all Israel, who are of Israel; neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all children; but, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called." That is, they who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; rather, the children of the promise are counted as the seed.

"Islam" is the imperative (that is, the form for telling someone to do something) form of the verb "aslama", which means "submit" in English.

I am getting really tired of self important bleeding hearts who have never studied one foreign language, much less Arabic, getting this wrong. If a genuine Muslim with any knowledge of Arabic (a requirement by the way for any serious believer as the Quran is supposed to be read and understood in the original) says this THEY ARE LYING !

Why am I not surprised.

The verse which I quote clearly contradicts what you personally believe: there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. My Lord Jesus is God and the only mediator.

Why don't you try reading the whole chapter, instead of constructing a false theology on one verse ripped out of context?

The whole of 2 Tm is a plea for, get this, intercessory prayer by all Christians on behalf of the whole world! Wait, uh, why do Christians need to pray for anyone -- especially other Christians -- if Jesus is the "only mediator"?

Better question: why does Paul himself ask for intercessory prayer on his behalf in a number of places in the Scripture?

A clue is that the word translated "one" is not the Greek monos, meaning "one and only one," but heis, meaning "one, unique, or primary". In other words, in claiming that nobody mediates except Jesus, you are making an assertion that is not supported by the actual Greek text, and which contradicts both the context of that verse and many other Scripture passages.

That having been said, it is true that Jesus is our only mediator with the Father. The task of Christians is to mediate or intercede for others with Jesus. That is precisely what Christians do for one another when they pray for each other, and it is precisely what the saints in heaven, including Mary, do for the saints on earth.

Our position is Scriptural. Yours is not.

Goodness! Your anti-Catholic bigotry and your hostile tone are perplexing. What makes you so angry? By the way, all of your biblical references to the "queen of heaven" are from the Old Testament; Mary wasn't even born yet. To clear up your misconception, Catholics do not "worship" Mary, they do not view her on equal footing with Jesus, and they do not see her as the WAY to God, since Jesus Christ is the Truth, the Light, and the Way. Mary is revered as Jesus's mother, she is honored, but she is not worshiped. Your bitterness must be tough to live with. CT too

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