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.
Thats from you reformed theology View Its not Ironclad! I notice you looked it up to make sure which is all reformed because they wrote it. Also don’t think A One word translation to Greek means one definition. The dictionary has words with several definitions all the time. I also watched two greek experts argue about the same word with its different meanings on TV. I’ll fight for you right for you view but I strongly disagree with mine. May God bless us and Guide us
re: your post when you die you will be “praising God.”
When each of us die the truth will be revealed. And before you tell us all we need to know is in the Bible, remember what Paul said about what we see and know now being somewhat unclear, like in a mirror. You know the verse.
None of us know God, but those of reading this thread know He exists. And some of us belong to the church that Jesus founded. The Bible doesn’t say you shouldn’t pray to Jesus’ mother. And yes, I know it doesn’t say you should. But in fact, we know the power of her intercession through the story of the wedding at Cana.
The more important question is: Why are you here? Read what the other posters are saying about the devil hating the Rosary. What exactly are you trying to prove? I say this not to insult you, but to encourage you to explore your motivations.
All the verses you quote only prove that you know the Bible.
We do, too. And we also know the power of the rosary.
Flee from idolatry.
God revealed the truth in the Bible, That is how we know God.
The Bible doesn’t say you shouldn’t pray to Jesus’ mother.
It also does not say that Jesus was a space alien or gay ..so maybe jesus was really a gay space alien .
That is why sound doctrine is never built on the silence of scripture.. We do know that Scripture never speaks of mary as a part of his earthly ministry once it was initiated . We do know he never sent anyone to his mother because they were sick or hurting ..
We do know the new church never once speaks of her after Pentecost where she , like all the others received the Holy Spirit. That is all God wants us to know of Mary
All the verses you quote only prove that you know the Bible. We do, too. And we also know the power of the rosary.
If one really knows the Bible, they know where to direct their prayer.
Mat 6: 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
7When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.
<< Luke 11 >>
1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
You may think anything you wish.Free country and all :)
I have presented the word of God to you in context. I have not presented any doctrine on it..just the plain word of God as revealed by the Holy Spirit to men.
If you take time and look it up there are several greek words that translate “witness”, God chose greek because it is a precise language.. if He meant an audience watching us a different greek word would have been used.
Also when reading scripture there are always 3 rules.. Context, Context , Context.
We can cherry pick a verse to support anything from murder to robbery if we take Gods word out of context,
Proof texting may help us support errant doctrine.. but it is a spiritual hazard .
In this case we see paul speaking of the faith fathers that have gone before us to model perseverance by faith.. so to read the verse on a “great cloud of witnesses” isolated from the context breeds poor doctrine.
BTW This is not a “reformed “standard, it can be found in any biblically based faith..
Are you a cessationist? Meaning all the charism and miracles have stopped since the apostles. If you are I don”t think the verses I bring up would matter but if your not I can fairly show you the belief of Why the rosary is biblical.
You have presented the WORD OF GOD IN CONTEXT? First of all the WORD OF GOD IS JESUS Period. You are reading from the ink on paper edition in english. Its really a written Map which needs a Proper Navigator to know were to brings us. Notice when the Bible reads Romans 10:17 So Faith comes by Hearing and Hearing the Word of God. Gee- He did not put by Reading and Reading by the Word of God. Welll hmmmm Why was that? Whenever the ink on paper New Testament reads “ it is written” its by Jesus or who Jesus appointed to write the New Testament { The Apostles or who the Apostles Appointed} Meaning they have to explain vocally to be heard{ Hearing and Hearing the Word} Holy Spirit inspiration or reading With Authority from God. Everthing was heard in the Church by the proper Elder from God. Meaning Thus its who is properly appointed from Apostolic succession from the Days of The Apostles. Your so called context reading does not mean you are appointed by God to fully explain everything. You can know Jesus maybe but not in his fullness. In other words you need someone to show you!
Praying to Mary is against the second commandment. No small error. Repent of it.
AMEN!
And the truth found in Scripture is available to all men with eyes to see and ears to hear.
You did not answer the original question?
There is the word of God and the Word of God..again 2 different greek words..
You and I only know who Jesus is because of the inspired word of God we call the scriptures..
Scripture was written so even a child can understand who Christ is and how to be saved.. God did not keep Himself or Christ a secret, He did not keep the way to be saved a secret..we are not gnostics that think there is some secret hidden knowledge available to only certain people..God reveals Himself through His word
1Cr 2:14 — But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
Jhn 15:22 — If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
O people of Christ, let us acclaim her to-day in sacred song, acknowledge our own good fortune and proclaim it. Let us honour her in nocturnal vigil; let us delight in her purity of soul and body, for she next to God surpasses all in purity. It is natural for similar things to glory in each other. Let us show our love for her by compassion and kindness towards the poor. For if mercy is the best worship of God, who will refuse to show His Mother devotion in the same way? She opened to us the unspeakable abyss of God's love for us. Through her the old enmity against the Creator is destroyed. Through her our reconciliation with Him is strengthened, peace and grace are given to us, men are the companions of angels, and we, who were in dishonour, are made the children of God. From her we have plucked the fruit of 1ife. From her we have received the seed of immortality. She is the channel of all our goods. In her God was man and man was God. What more marvellous or more blessed? I approach the subject in fear and trembling. With Mary, the prophetess, O youthful souls, let us sound our musical instruments, mortifying our members on earth, for this is spiritual music. Let our souls rejoice in the Ark of God, and the walls of Jericho will yield, I mean the fortresses of the enemy. Let us dance in spirit with David; to-day the Ark of God is at rest. With Gabriel, the great archangel, let us exclaim, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Hail, inexhaustible ocean of grace. Hail, sole refuge in grief. Hail, cure of hearts. Hail, through whom death is expelled and life is installed."
And you I will speak to as if living, most sacred of tombs, after the life-giving tomb of our Lord which is the source of the resurrection. Where is the pure gold which apostolic hands confided to you? Where is the inexhaustible treasure ? Where the precious receptacle of God? Where is the living table? Where the new book in which the incomprehensible Word of God is written without hands? Where is the abyss of grace and the ocean of healing? Where is the life-giving fountain? Where is the sweet and loved body of God's Mother?
Why do you seek in the tomb one who has been assumed to the heavenly courts? Why do you make me responsible for not keeping her? I was powerless to go against the divine commands. That sacred and holy body, leaving the winding-sheet behind, filled me full of sweet fragrance, sanctified me by its contact, and fulfilled the divine scheme, and was then assumed, angels and archangels and all the heavenly powers escorting it. Now angels surround me, and divine grace abounds in me. I am the physician of the sick. I am a perpetual source of health, and the terror of demons. I am a city of refuge for fugitives. Approach with faith and you will receive a sea of graces. Come, you of weak faith. All you that thirst, come to the waters in obedience to Isaias' commands, and you who have no money, come and buy for nothing. I call upon all with the Gospel invitation. Let him who longs for bodily or spiritual cure, forgiveness of sins, deliverance from misfortune, the possession of heaven, approach me with faith, and draw hence a strong and rich stream of grace. Just as the action of one and the same water acts differently on the earth, air, and sun, according to the nature of each, producing wine in the vine and oil in the olive-tree, so does one and the same grace profit each person according to his needs. I do not possess grace on my own account. A tomb given up to corruption, an object of sorrow and dejection, I receive a precious ointment, and am impregnated with it, and this sweet fragrance alters my condition whilst it lasts. Truly, divine graces flow where they will. I have sheltered the source of joy, and I have become rich in its perennial fountain.
What shall we answer the tomb? You have indeed rich and abiding grace, but divine power is not restricted by place, neither is the Mother of God's working. If it were confined to the tomb alone, few would be the richer. Now it is freely distributed in all parts of the world. Let us then make our memory serve as a storehouse of God's Mother. How shall this be? She is a virgin and a lover of virginity. She is pure and a lover of purity. If we purify our mind with the body, we shall possess her grace. She shuns all impurity and impure passions. She has a horror of intemperance, and a special hatred for fornication. She turns from its allurements as from the progeny of serpents . . . She looks upon all sin as death-inflicting rejoicing in all good. Contraries are cured by contraries. She delights in fasting and continence and spiritual canticles, in purity, virginity, and wisdom. With these she is ever at peace, and takes them to her heart. She embraces peace and a meek spirit, and love, mercy, and humility as her children. In a word, she grieves over every sin, and is glad at all goodness as if it were her own. If we turn away from our former sins in all earnestness and love goodness with all our hearts, and make it our constant companion, she will frequently visit her servants, bringing all blessings with her, Christ her Son, the King and Lord who reigns in our hearts. To Him be glory, praise, honour, power, and magnificence, with the eternal Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
Where’s the end to that Rosary? ;-)
Is this an infallible teaching?
Most that I make are simple wood beads and hard copper wire.
>>I would never dream of going onto a protestant thread and throwing bible verses at people I disagree with. It’s so disrespectful.<<
That’s what makes them, them and us, us.
Which part? The Dormition and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary are dogmatic teachings. The author, St. John Damscene, is the last of the “Greek” Fathers of the Church (St. John was actually an Arab Christian from Damascus, hence the name), recognized by both the Eastern Orthodox and the Catholic Church as an authoritative writer on the faith.
I plan to make each of my daughters a silver and birthstone rosary for confirmation. I better get started on the first one. She’ll need it next year.
Have you ever gone here?
If you go to the bar on the top and click “Rosary Parts and tools” then “Complete kit” then “Design my own kit” they have a really fantastic interactive tool that shows your beads, centers and crucifix, all in a decade.
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