Posted on 09/08/2003 5:48:23 AM PDT by Cap'n Crunch
'Listen and let it penetrate your heart, my dear little son. Do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need'?-Words of Our Lady to St. Juan Diago-Guadalupe 1531
Aquero came, and Bernadette saw her approaching this time from the recesses of the grotto. Her heart was beating wildly, but she was determined that the woman in white would identify herself this time. On the fourth attempt, the vision stopped smiling and joined her hands in prayer, raising her eyes to heaven. "I am the Immaculate Conception," the woman told her.-Words of Our Lady to Bernadette Soubirous 1858
'I am the Lady of the Rosary', 'Pray the rosary, to obtain peace for the world.'-Our Lady at Fatima 1917
The first is obvious: Jesus Christ! Actually, March 25th, the Feast of the Annunciation, is the Feast of the Incarnation. It was then that the Son of God first became Man. In the early Centuries, especially in the East, this day was celebrated with more "feasting" than Christmas - which is exactly nine months later. Of course, this Person IS heaven in all eternity, absolutely united to His Father in the Love of the Holy Spirit.
Because of the Immaculate Conception, the singular Grace of Mary the Mother of God whereby Christ saves His own Mother at the first moment of her existence, celebrated Dec. 8th, Mary's birthday is celebrated today - exactly nine months after the feast of her conception.
Finally, it is generally conceded throughout the history of the Church, that the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets, St. John the Baptist, the "voice crying out in the desert" to prepare the way of the Lord, was cleansed of all original sin at the Visitation of Mary to her cousin St. Elizabeth recorded in St. Luke's Gospel. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit when the pre-born Christ was brought to her by and through Mary. St. John "leaped in her womb" at this event, which would have been about "the sixth month" of Elizabeth's pregnancy. (I would guess that it references the lunar calender, not solar, that Jews used at the time. Therefore pregnancy would be 10 months, not nine.) This feast day is celebrated May 31st. His birthday is celebrated June 24th, essentially the longest day-light day of the year, whereby, after which the days are shorter until approximately Christmas (the shortest day), at which point the days get longer. Perhaps poetic placement of the Church recalling the Baptist's words to the effect that Christ must increase while he, the Baptist, must decrease.
You just missed the feast of St. John's beheading. It was Aug 29th. Now that's a day to "celebrate"!
After which you sit to watch the dance!
The birth and early life of the Virgin Mary is not recorded in the Gospels or other books of the New Testament, however this information can be found in a work dating from the second century known as the Book of James or Protevangelion
I found this at Greek Orthodox site
From what I have read about the Protevangelion, the early church fathers believed that it was authored by Jesus' cousin James. Why would I not believe it to be genuine?
Okay then ... look them up in the phone book, call Mother Superior, introduce yourself, tell her of your idea to share an 'ecumenical meal' of ice cream with caramel sauce, set a date, pick up the ice cream and caramel and drive on up for a delightful interlude of "prayer and share".
BTTT on 09-08-04, Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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