Posted on 04/11/2010 6:09:57 PM PDT by stfassisi
The first “Hail Mary” was brought from Heaven by Gabriel the Archangel, the messenger of Holy Trinity
The following text of Father Gabriel Amorth, chief exorcist of the Vatican, is taken from the March-April, 2003 issue of “Echo of Mary, Queen of Peace”:
The recent Apostolic Letter of John Paul II, "Rosarium Virginis Mariae" (released last October 16) encourages all Christians to turn back to the prayer strongly recommended both by the latest Pontiffs and recent Marian apparitions. Paul VI called the Rosary a compendium of the Gospel. To make it more complete, John Paul II added the 'mysteries of light' to cover Jesus' public life. Padre Pio called the Rosary beads a weapon of extraordinary power against Satan.
One day a colleague of mine heard the devil say during an exorcism: "Every Hail Mary is like a blow on my head. If Christians knew how powerful the Rosary was, it would be my end." The secret that makes this prayer so effective is that the Rosary is both prayer and meditation. It is addressed to the Father, to the Blessed Virgin, and to the Holy Trinity, and is a meditation centred on Christ.
Today more than ever, the world is in need of prayer and meditation. It is in need of prayer because people have forgotten God, and without God the world has put itself on the edge of a precipice. This is why in Her messages, Our Lady insists so much on prayer. Without God's help, Satan wins. The world is also in need of meditation because if the great Christian truths are forgotten, souls become void. This void is grabbed up by the enemy, and he fills it with his lies. And today we see the results with widespread belief in superstition and occultism.
The most obvious danger for our society today is the downfall of the family. The rhythm of today's world has broken the family unity. Little time is spent together, and even when the family is together, its members don't speak because the television speaks. Where are the families which recite the Rosary together in the evenings? Pope Pius XII insisted in his own time: “If you pray the Rosary together, you will experience peace in your families; you will get on together.” “The family that prays together, stays together,” would say Father Peyton, the untiring apostle of the family Rosary. “Satan wants war,” Mary said one day in Medjugorje. Well, the Rosary is the weapon which is able to guarantee peace for the world, because it is a prayer and a form of meditation able to transform hearts and defeat the enemy.
Protected by the Rosary
The following inspiring episode from World War II, written by Sr. Mary Sheila O'Neil and reported in the October-December, 1979 issue of Garabandal Magazine (P.O. Box 606 Lindenhurst, New York 11757 USA) also illustrates the power of the Rosary:
It was a busy day in March. As a teacher-principal in the 1950's, I had to make sure that each day provided the time for the two separate roles. On that March fourth, an incident between a teacher and a parent had kept me out of my class for almost an hour that morning, so for the rest of the day, I was desperately trying to make up class time. Hence, the knock on my door at 2:00 p.m. was not welcome.
With relief, I found it was only a salesman who needed my signature and even produced his pen. As he did so, his Rosary had caught onto the pen's clip and came out as well. I signed as I said indifferently, "So, you are a Catholic." "Oh no," he said, "but a lot of us owe our lives to Our Lady, and I promised Her I would always keep my Rosary with me and say it every day."
Twenty minutes later, I was still at the door listening, fascinated, to the account of one of the wonderful experiences a group of airmen had had with Our Lady. My visitor hesitated to start, for he had noticed my "non welcome" opening of the door. But eager now to hear his story, I assured him that the class was doing an exercise, and I begged him to proceed. He continued:
It was May, 1940, and we had joined the Air Force in late September. At Halifax, we were given an intensive training course, because they needed us overseas, and to us young lads, the whole program was exciting.
We were grouped into squadrons, each of which consisted of six to ten planes, and each was trained to maneuver as a unit. Therefore about thirty to fifty men made up a squadron, along with the squadron leader who gave all the orders and kept the group functioning in unity.
In May, our squadron was told we were going overseas and would be in action at once. We would work on nightly missions over enemy territory until the war was over. We were waiting for our new squadron leader, due to arrive in two days on a 9:00 p.m. air-force flight. Being an officer, he would, we thought, go at once to the officers' quarters.
We watched the plane, glimpsed him from the distance, and resigned ourselves to waiting until the next day to "size him up." A couple of hours later, this squadron leader, Stan Fulton, in full uniform, entered our bunk house.
“Well men, we're going to spend some dangerous hours together, but let's hope we all meet back here when it's over. Ah, there's a free bunk and I am tired! I'll meet each of you tomorrow.”
With that, he threw his bag on an upper bunk. Our squadron leader, an officer, sleeping here with us! We liked him at once and our liking and our admiration grew each day.
That first night he knelt on the floor and prayed his Rosary in silence. Astounded, we were struck dumb. When he finished, he looked at us with his friendly smile and said, “I hope you guys don't mind a fellow saying some prayers because where we're going, we're going to need them.”
The next day our maneuver practice, under his command, assured us that Fulton was not just our military leader, but our friend. He was one of us; he never tried to intimidate us with his rank.
That night, he repeated his prayer session. Although our group had trained together for six months at least, I had never seen anyone kneel in prayer, and had no idea that any of our group was Catholic; but the third night three of our companions joined Fulton in saying the Rosary. The rest of us did not understand but we kept a respectful silence.
A few nights later — we were quick learners — we all answered the Hail Marys and Our Fathers. Fulton looked pleased, and thus we ended each day in prayer.
On June 1, 1940, we were to leave Halifax to begin a series of night raids from England over Germany. The evening before, Fulton gave each of us a Rosary.
“We shall be in some tight situations, but then, if you agree, we'll say the Rosary. If you will promise to keep the Rosary with you always throughout your life and to say it, I can promise you that Our Lady will bring you all back safe to Canada.”
We answered, “Sure thing.” Little did we dream we would be in action for four years, many times in dreadful danger with fire all around us. At such times, Fulton's voice would ring through each plane, “Hail Mary...” How reverently and sincerely did we respond! How many hundreds of Rosaries we must have said.
After two years, it was noted that ours was the only squadron that had not lost a plane nor a single life. We said nothing, but we knew.
Finally, the terrible war was over. During those years, we lost all sense of excitement and adventure. All that concerned us was survival! We did survive, too. All returned to Canada in 1945, fully convinced that Our Lady had taken care of us.
So I never forget to keep my Rosary with me and say it every day although I am not a Catholic. When I change my trousers, the first thing I transfer, even before my wallet, is my rosary.
=================================
Acts 7:59-60
59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
==============
κοιμάω: 1) to cause to sleep, put to sleep 2) metaph. a) to still, calm, quiet b) to fall asleep, to sleep c) to die ======================================= So Wag, do you wake Stephen up before you unbiblically communicate with him?
I never thought I would see the day when someone who professes to be a Christian would dismiss what He said as “not much”.
----------------------------------
"Saint Stephen (the FIRST Christian martyr) "
=================================
Acts 7:59-60
59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
==============
κοιμάω: 1) to cause to sleep, put to sleep 2) metaph. a) to still, calm, quiet b) to fall asleep, to sleep c) to die
=======================================
So Wag, do you wake Stephen up before you unbiblically communicate with him?
Here is what the actual Bible says:
59 And falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his death.
Is this really the best you can come up with in your quest to prove that sainthood doesn't exist in Heaven? Is our Lord alive in your estimation?
Do you even believe that Saint Stephen was a Christian? Based on some of the heresy on this thread, it appears that not everyone does.
Too many in the so-called reformed (revisionist) Christian cults are actually Pauline in their theology. There is too little Christ in their Chrstianity.
You are absolutely right.
I see the finger frothers are at it again!
Congrats on your testimony in behalf of the Biblical Gospel.
Thank you, FRiend. Ever since reading about Fatima, I’ve been curious.
Would be those who believe that saints in Heaven are alive?
or
Those who believe that Saint Stephen and Saint James were actually Christians?
or
Those who believe that there actually is much to the Gospels of our Lord?
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
[Follow the miracles.]
Well it's far bigger than just Paul...Luke's account in Acts must be just as illegitimate as Paul's epistles...
Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Apparently then, Luke lied...
Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Mat 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Well pity for you...Salvation wasn't offered to you...It was only offered to Jews...Your church is illegitimate as well...
Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
What's really funny is that you don't know for sure whether Jesus said any of that stuff that is printed in red ink...All you know for sure is that the authors of those books make the claim that Jesus said those things...
Luke writes what he says Jesus said, before the resurrection...Paul writes what he claims Jesus said, after the resurrection...Don't you guys ever think these things thru, or you just blindly accept what your religion tells you???
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
THX THX.
You wrote:
“Without the authority of Paul’s epistles, you don’t have a religion...Well you do, but it’s not Christian...”
Christianity comes from Christ, not Paul. St. Paul merely taught what Christ taught the Apostles. In some cases he taught his opinions, but he makes that clear.
Papists blindly accepting INSTITUTIONAL hogwash from the pit?
What a surprise!
/sar
My journey to Catholicism was circular. I was born into a devout Catholic family, but as a teen in the 1960’s developed a doubt, bordering on contempt for all authority, school, parents, government and church. For a significant period of time I was an agnostic and believed that I was a Catholic and Christian only by accident of birth. In this time I looked at virtually every religion. I studied the Buddha, I read many of the Upanishads and the Ramayana. I read the Koran, the Book of Mormon, the Book of Moroni and A Perl of Great Price. I read the works of Calvin, Luther, and the writings of Aquinas and Augustine among many, many other works in my search for the truth.
What I concluded was that there were far too many instances in the history of religion in which an individual or class would establish themselves as the intermediary between man and God and required that all communication in both directions went through them. Only they could speak to God and God only spoke to them and in exchange for this there was a price to be paid by man. Often this was in the form of wealth, power, influence, access to women, cattle, the proceeds of sacrifice, palaces, etc. Whether the Buddha, Moses, Mohammed, or Calvin there was little difference in the shake down.
I found the one exception to be Christianity. Jesus preached that no one was denied a personal relationship with God. He preached that all could communicate with God and that no one was excluded except by their own deeds and lack of faith. He asked nothing in return except the two greatest commandments and offered himself up to a horrific death, not for his exhalation and enrichment, but for us.
Jesus also differed in that he did not author an Opus that generations of theological lawyers and priests could manipulate and reinterpret for their own benefit. He gave us a very simple message perfectly summarized in the Beatitudes. He also relied on eye witnesses to spread this to all mankind.
This is why I believe that all that is needed for Christianity and Salvation is completely contained within the Synoptic Gospels. Everything that preceded them was in preparation for Christ and everything that followed them had a single purpose; that was to help to explain them. It was not to add to, extend, modify, reform or revise the Synoptic Gospels. Those who rely on single versus or Paul’s letters to establish or rationalize a position that is not found within the Synoptic Gospels are simply, ignorantly, or intentionally wrong.
What's really funny is that you don't know for sure whether Jesus said any of that stuff that is printed in red ink...All you know for sure is that the authors of those books make the claim that Jesus said those things...
Luke writes what he says Jesus said, before the resurrection...Paul writes what he claims Jesus said, after the resurrection...Don't you guys ever think these things thru, or you just blindly accept what your religion tells you???
So, now you are saying that the Gospels are lies?
You don't know for sure if Paul wrote what it attributed to him.
Fortunately, WE have the authority of the Church and its tradition. You have, at best, the theories of a 16th century cleric.
Paul merely taught what Jesus taught the other apostles??? Not even close...Paul taught what the resurrected Jesus taught Paul...
Now I understand why the Protestants misinterpret the term "alter Christus". You really believe that there was another Christ named Paul.
Exactly...That's what I and the scriptures are telling you...
Before the resurrection, salvation was to Jews only...Jesus told the apostles to avoid all Gentiles...After the resurrection, Jesus says to preach salvation to all nations and people...
You know it, you admit it but yet you can' figure it out...Things changed after the resurrection...And NO, the 2nd command does not make the first one moot...
Under the first command, the Gospel was directed at Jews...The Jews for the most part rejected the Messiah...Jesus then blinded the minds of those Jews and sent the apostles into all the world to preach to the Gentiles and offer than what was only intended for the Jews...
There is a time coming again, when the times of the Gentiles gets fufilled; when God will lift the blinders from the minds of the Jews and he will deal with THEM again...
It's probably not fair to put all of them in the same bucket. That would be like putting all Catholics in the same bucket as "Catholic Worker" types or "Liberation theology" types, etc.
It might also do you some good to look up a fellow by the names of John Nelson Darby and Ethelbert William Bullinger. Understanding what he taught would help explain much of what is passed here as orthodox protestant belief. (From what I understand, there are as many protestants that categorically reject doctrines promulgated by those two as accept them). When you start hearing the elevation of Pauline epistles over the gospels, you should always think about those two names.
One question that is worthy of asking is if the posters in question have a particular affinity for the Gospel of Luke, as well.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.