Posted on 12/27/2011 8:24:19 PM PST by RnMomof7
Rome, Italy, Dec 8, 2011 / 04:28 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI reflected on the biblical description of a “woman clothed with the sun” in his remarks at Rome's Spanish Steps on the 2011 Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
“What is the meaning of this image? It represents the Church and Our Lady at the same time,” the Pope told the crowd assembled before the nearby statue commemorating the 1854 definition of Mary's Immaculate Conception. “Before all, the 'woman' of the apocalypse is Mary herself.”
The 12th chapter of the Biblical Apocalypse – also known as the Book of Revelation – describes the glorification and persecution of “a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”
Though not named, this woman is described as the mother of the Messiah. In poetic language akin to the Bible's other prophetic books, Saint John says she faced the threat of “a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,” and “fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God.”
Pope Benedict, offering white roses in his traditional yearly act of Marian veneration, gave listeners his insight into the connection between the Virgin Mary and the Church – portrayed in the Apocalypse through the single image of the sun-clad woman.
“She appears 'clothed in sunlight,' that is, clothed in God,” observed the Pope. “The Virgin Mary is in fact completely surrounded by the light of God and lives in God … The 'Immaculate One' reflects with all of her person the light of the 'sun' which is God.”
“Besides representing Our Lady, this sign personifies the Church, the Christian community of all times,” he continued.
The Church, he explained, is “pregnant, in the sense that she carries Christ” and “must give birth to him to the world.”
“This is the labor of the pilgrim Church on earth, that in the midst of the consolations of God and the persecutions of the world, she must bring Christ to men.”
Because the Church continues to bring Jesus into the world, Pope Benedict said, it “finds opposition in a ferocious adversary,” symbolized in scripture by the “dragon” that has “tried in vain to devour Jesus,” and now “directs his attacks against the woman – the Church – in the desert of the world.”
“But in every age the Church is supported by the light and the strength of God,” the Pope said. “She is nurtured in the desert with the bread of his word and the Holy Eucharist.”
“And in this way, in every tribulation, through all of the trials that she finds in the course of the ages and in the different parts of the world, the Church suffers persecution, but comes out the victor.”
Pope Benedict said the Church should not fear persecution, which is bound to arise, but will be defeated.
“The only pitfall of which the Church can and must be afraid is the sin of her members,” he warned, highlighting the key difference between the Church and the woman who is its prototype.
“While in fact Mary is immaculate – free from every stain of sin – the Church is holy, but at the same time marked by our sins.”
While sinless herself, Mary remains in solidarity with the Church struggling against sin.
“That is why the people of God, pilgrims in time, turn to their heavenly mother and ask for her help,” explained Pope Benedict.
He stressed the world's need for the hope brought by the “woman clothed with the sun” – “especially in this difficult moment for Italy, for Europe and for different parts of the world.”
“May Mary help us to see that there is a light beyond the veil of fog that appears to envelop reality,” he declared.
“For this also we, especially on this day, never cease to ask with filial trust for her help: 'O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.'”
Here is a funny one. Those that believe we will see the antichrist say we will loose our faith when we see him and not be raptured! LOL
I do not know but, Thank God, God knows. Watch out Lera, the fearful ones will pull out tin foil hat gifs and stuff. LOL
You’re speculating along the lines that I’ve long wondered about. What if the book of our life is written in our DNA? Married couples become one flesh. Does promiscuity do damage we’ve yet to understand? Does homosexual contact damage DNA with so much foreign matter that the immune system no longer recognizes itself and just shuts down? If indeed there is a record of “you” contained therein, wouldn’t it be corrupted beyond recognition, striking you from the book, so to speak?
I have no idea, but as I said have long wondered about this.
We may see part of it and be calm before the rapture. Maybe some will come to us and ask us why we are so calm and we can we'll them that Jesus is with us.
I don’t think these things actually change your DNA so to speak but I have read in the past that there are chemical changes in the brain in homosexuals (don’t know about the others) I think it’s pretty interesting since Romans chapter 1 tells us that he gives those who do not retain knowledge of him over to a reprobate mind.
I don’t think these things actually change your DNA so to speak but I have read in the past that there are chemical changes in the brain in homosexuals (don’t know about the others) I think it’s pretty interesting since Romans chapter 1 tells us that he gives those who do not retain knowledge of him over to a reprobate mind.
I was just going with Leviticus and attempting to relate it to the matter, what with the soul being in the blood, then you have the consequence of various sins being described as their blood being upon them, blood cries out, on to other books with marriage being one flesh, the condemnation of men lying with men who receive the just recompense of their error within their own bodies which is meet, it goes on.
There are literal, physical consequences of some sins, within the body, is what that tells me. Being forbidden to eat pork in the Old Testament, lo and behold, pigs are remarkably similar to humans in ways very important to modern medical science. Trichinosis, too, but the genetic closeness in certain aspects, I can’t help but wonder if that played a part.
The sin of that mark has a physical component. Turns you into something unrecognizeable and alien to Him, has to, all the above can be forgiven with repentance but this cannot be forgiven. It’s final.
Not exactly sure how that applies. Sin is a state we’re born into and have been since the fall of mankind. All are subject to sin and death. We have been given the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, who was crucified, died and rose again. He brought victory over sin and death.
There are, however, sins above and beyond that merit specific mention. Unforgivable sins? Disbelief, and taking the mark of the beast. Many of those sins meriting specific mention are described in such a way as to have physical consequence, not just spiritual. Some have dealt with this by saying such sins merit judgment in the here and now, and those physical consequences are that judgment.
Of course that's going to be scrubbed.
No point in showing your hand yet when there are still too many people who know what's going down around.
Think anyone on Quix's end times list may have seen that. I didn't since I go out of my way to avoid watching obama on TV. I can't stand him, like fingernails on a chalkboard to the millionth power.
It could be along the lines of what a virus does, infecting cells and changing DNA.
The mark could just be passed off as something harmless with people not being told of its real capability. I don't trust the government already. I'd have no problem thinking that they'd do something that nefarious.
These decisions go higher than the government.
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