Posted on 04/07/2008 3:06:20 PM PDT by annalex
Our Lady’s Gentle Call to Peace
By Joan Tussing
"Have you been caught in the traps of life’s difficulties? You must not look at your own situation or the trap that holds you. Look at the Lord. Let God act and take care of you. Cast your burdens on the Lord who will nourish you. With your mind at peace; await whatever happens. Let the Divine Will be enough for you since it is always very good. As God directed St. Catherine of Siena, ‘Think of me and I will think of you.’"
—Peace of Mind: Spiritual Counsel from St. Francis De Sales, audio cassette. 1
Last year, Francka Povsic, my special friend and co-leader of our prayer group gave me a copy of the above inspirational audio cassette. These words from St. Francis De Sales powerfully describe the Truth that I have learned about God’s infinite love for me. Our Lady gently called me to peace through reported messages of Mary and eventually to the Roman Catholic Church.
Using a Catholic phrase, I grew up as a "cradle Lutheran." My parents raised me in a loving Lutheran home. In quiet humility, my parents have always modeled devotion to family, daily prayers, church involvement and service to others. Up through my teenage years, I was much more spiritual than most of my peers. When I was confirmed in ninth grade, I wanted to become a missionary. I even chose to go to Capital University because it was a Lutheran college. But during college in the 1970s, I found myself pulled away into a secular college lifestyle. Friendships, parties and career became my attachments more so than God did.
Once married, my husband Doug and I became regularly attending members of the Lutheran church; however, I was attached to perfection, work and pleasing my family and everyone else. As our two children grew, we both became very active in our Lutheran parish. As I look back, I realize that church became another place for achievement at the expense of my own spiritual development and personal relationship with Jesus. I was so busy "doing" things for the church that there was no room for prayer and quiet time with God.
Five years ago at the age of 38, the years of attachment to the world had paid their toll. I was suffering from anxiety, depression and early menopause. Although I was not addicted to alcohol, I used alcohol to mask my pain. As a high school guidance counselor, I felt constantly bombarded by the evil effects of the world on our youth: materialism, drugs, teen pregnancy, abortion, suicide and spiritual starvation. Given the overwhelming nature of these problems, I felt helpless to make a difference.
From the depths of my agony, I cried out to Jesus for help. Much to my surprise, Jesus sent me his Blessed Mother. This was particularly surprising because as a Lutheran, I was taught to consider Mary only at Christmas. But when we truly relinquish our worldly attachments and open ourselves to God’s Will, He responds to us in ways far beyond our human expectations. He reached me through His Blessed Mother, and eventually gave me the gift of the Roman Catholic Church.
This all began when a close Catholic friend told me about her pilgrimage to Medjugorje.** It had helped her deal with her marriage to a severe alcoholic. While reading a great book about Marian Apparitions, my spiritual journey moved into high gear. I did not experience miracles in the dramatic sense; I had no visions, apparitions or obvious supernatural experiences. Instead I became profoundly aware of Jesus, Our Lady, the angels and saints who were my heavenly team helping me to search for peace and happiness. Focusing on Our Lady’s simple messages of peace, prayer, conversion, faith, fasting and penance, I now felt my prayers could make a difference to help the world.
As I began to live these message of Mary, the right people and situations be came available to me through Jesus and the intercession of the Blessed Mother. For example, I found a local Catholic book store that was a rich source of information about Mary and the Catholic Church. The owners, who have made many pilgrimages to apparition sites, certainly gave me more information and support than I could have ever dreamed!! They invited me to their prayer group and consequently, I became friends with many incredible people who were in love with Jesus, Our Lady and the Catholic Church. I continued to attend their prayer group, and learned about Theotokos, a Marian center in Toledo, attending many of its sponsored events.
Many converts speak of the Virgin Mary as the last hurdle to Catholicism. The opposite was true for me. Through these messages of Mary, I quickly grew to love the Blessed Mother and thirsted to find out more about her. After attending the Chicago Marian Conference in 1993, I immersed myself in books, tapes and conferences about the Blessed Mother. I began fasting once a week and praying the Rosary. I was drawn to share my love for Our Lady and my calling to live her messages by beginning a Rosary prayer group in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Our group began with eight Lutheran women who clumsily learned to pray the Rosary together. Heaven must have been chuckling over our awkward but sincere attempts! I believe Our Lady sent Francka Povsic into my life to help us. Francka had led a life of deep devotion to the Rosary and Our Lady since she was a little girl in her native land of Slovenia. She provided humble and profound spiritual guidance that touched our hearts and helped us persevere. Now in its fourth year, our prayer group is still ecumenical with Lutheran, Methodists and Catholic women praying together with Our Lady.
At the Chicago Marian Conference in 1993, the speakers emphasized the importance of visiting Jesus in the adoration chapel. Visit Jesus—what were they talking about?! As a Lutheran, I knew that Jesus was always with us but these people talked about Jesus as if he was in the same room!
Once I learned the significance of Eucharistic adoration, I took the brave step of seeking out the adoration chapel at St. Aloysius Church in Bowling Green, Ohio. Through weekly visits with Jesus and simply resting in His presence, Jesus led me through the difficult steps of letting go of my need to control every situation and replaced them with His Divine Will and Guidance. In that quiet chapel, Jesus took me by the hand and led me to a profound healing of the mind and body, and a conversion of my heart. As I look back, I realize that it was in that adoration chapel that Jesus led me to the Catholic Church.
Only another convert can truly understand the terror I felt once I realized that Jesus was calling me into the Catholic Church! Mine was not the typical conversion of a wife following her husband who was already in the Church. Instead, I was embarking on a journey alone. My entire family including my husband, children and parents were strong Lutherans and planned to stay that way. They thought I had lost my senses with my constant talk about the Blessed Mother. When I finally got up the courage to tell them about my decision to become Catholic, I am sure that they felt betrayed and forsaken.
Although this was quite painful for all of us, the more I prayed about my decision, my sense of peace grew stronger that it was the right choice. I was blessed with a sign that confirmed my decision. I was rereading the book about Marian apparitions during the flight home from a visit with my friend who first introduced me to Mary. I read again about several of the author’s requests for roses from Our Lady and St. Therese of Lisieux as confirmation of decisions he was trying to make. I humbly prayed to Jesus and Our Lady that I would greatly appreciate a sign confirming that I should join the Catholic Church. I set my book down to stretch my legs. When I came back, a man behind me who had noticed my book tapped me on the shoulder and asked me about my interest in Marian apparitions. After a brief conversation, he handed me a holy card of St. Therese of Lisieux surrounded by roses! That day, I cried tears of joy and thanksgiving to my Lord who was affirming my decision through a special gift of confirmation.
Why did I decide to join the Catholic Church? I can state the reason in three words: The Holy Eucharist. I had always treasured Holy Communion which is considered the True Presence of Christ in the Lutheran Church; however unlike Catholics, Lutherans do not focus their worship and church life around the Eucharist. I was drawn to the Catholic Mass that culminates in the celebration of the Eucharist. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Transubstantiation, and an emphasis on the contemplation of our Lord’s passion made sense to me. In addition, I realized that I had been missing out on the support of the Church’s Saints throughout the ages. Most of all, I needed to belong to the Church that had introduced me to my heavenly Mother.
I joined the Roman Catholic Church on the Easter Vigil of 1995. My special friend, Francka Povsic served as my sponsor. Not surprisingly, I chose St. Therese of Lisieux as my patron saint. My husband Doug, my children, and family friends supported me by attending the Easter Vigil. Although my family found all of this very difficult to understand, they accepted my choice.
Since my confirmation day, I have never regretted my decision. Beyond my wildest dreams, the Lord has showered me with boundless graces, friendships, knowledge of the Truth, peace, consolation and spiritual growth. I am deeply grateful to the many pastors, priests, religious and lay people who have provided spiritual direction before and since my entry into the Church.Retreat houses including the Abbey of Gethsemane have provided ongoing places of prayer and solitude. Making my Consecration to Our Lord and Our Lady, according to the teaching of St. Louis DeMonfort, drew me into very special friendships with other women in my parish.
This past March 1997, I received the special grace to go on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, yet another example of God’s quiet but concrete miracles in my life. I did not experience supernatural signs or wonders, but rather a pilgrimage of fulfillment. I came home with an incredible sense of gratitude to God for all that He had given me. I now realize that the fruits of Mary’s messages are to be found in everyday life.
I struggle like most Catholics to find time to pray the Rosary and spend time with Jesus; however, I increasingly look to Jesus, Our Lady, the Holy Spirit, the angels and Saints for help and guidance. When I start getting too emotionally attached to this world, I consciously try to let go and give my cares to Jesus. I ask for discernment and seek His will instead.
I continue to attend both the Lutheran and Catholic services. My family and I attend the Lutheran Church together and I attend the Catholic Church alone. Doug has demonstrated incredible love for me in accepting my spiritual journey even though it must be frustrating and painful for him. I agonize about how to unify our family’s spiritual life, and I constantly pray for the Holy Spirit’s help and guidance.
In September 1997, my special friend, Francka passed on into Heaven. After suffering from leukemia for over six years, Francka is now in joyful union with Jesus and Our Lady. Just weeks before she died, Francka gave me a special message: "I know one thing—I trust in the Lord completely. We can adore and honor him in the best way possible. I am not doing too well physically, but it will be O.K., little by little." This statement captured her life of humble obedience to the Lord, and the qualities that drew me into the Catholic Church. This was Francka’s way. Like St. Therese of Lisieux, Francka lovingly did the ordinary things of life in an extraordinary way. It is not surprising that Francka died on September 8, the Feast of the Birth of our Lady.
Particularly when her suffering was severe, Francka would imagine herself at the foot of the cross, gazing into the eyes of Jesus. Francka has been a beautiful model to all of us who had the honor of knowing her.
As I looked out over those assembled in the funeral home to pray the Rosary with Francka’s family, I felt a special spiritual bond with my fellow prayer group members. I sensed that Francka, Jesus and Our Lady were smiling down from heaven on all present including our ecumenicalprayer group, made up of Lutheran, Methodist and Catholic women who have responded to our Lady’s call to pray for peace, conversion and love for each other.
Thank you, Jesus for hearing my cries for help and sending me your Mother!
That book isn’t in my Bible. Do I need a special Catholic-haters version? Can I borrow yours?
You are welcomed to share with us the Catholic reconciliation of those scripture verses in regards to position of veneration. Here is a bit of help from the Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary:
Here is what John Gill states about the same passage:
Now where did I lay my car keys......
Next step: stop making them.
It hasn't change yet. ;O)
Matthew 7:6
No, no one asked me anything.
He stated that no one was trying to stone me and I asked him what he was talking about.
There is nothing in Chapter 18 of either 1Sam. or 1Ki. about stoning, so he also got the chapter wrong as well as the Book!
The Bible calls those books [X ...] They used to be known as [Y]. I am sure this is inadvertent but still a perfect illustration of how Protestantism views the Holy Scripture.
No, because it is changed in the Roman Catholic bibles as well, such as the NAB.
So, what these posts reveal by the both of you is a pitiful lack knowledge of the Bible, even your own!
I know. I've seen this nonsense as well. What is striking is how none of the RC posters seem to be outraged by this.
Mary being blessed is no different than Daniel being blessed, or any of the other individuals God uses.
Dan. 10:10-11 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved,...
Luke 1:28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.
This unwarranted focus on Mary is a perfect example of how faithful Christians can be manipulated if they allow themselves to be controlled by a church hierarchy. All it takes is one guy at the top of the hierarchy to proclaim something and they all fall into line. The irony is something else. The Reformed are always accused of being robots, but in actual practice its the RC's.
ROTFLOL!
Begin here while I search Scripture for "Sola Scriptura". I am certain you will direct me to the "Bodily Assumption" Scriptural reference(s).
Isn’t Jesus enough?
= = =
God has never been sufficient to any STRUCTURED, ORGANIZED RELIGIOUS HIERARCHICAL MAGICSTERICAL. Wasn’t true 2,000 years ago. Isn’t true now.
I don’t know how much clearer God can be.
= = =
INDEED!
Oh, but HarleyD . . .
Our Rubber Bible says . . . and
Our Rubber histories say . . . and
Our Rubber dictionsaries say . . . and
Our Rubber logic texts say . . . . . and
Our Rubber mathematics say . . . . . . .
In terms of the relative
1. number of minutes
2. number of lines posted
3. number of articles posted
. . .
I find the assertion I’m replying to thoroughly and utterly false.
Yet again.
Demonstrably false.
Fundamentalists are sometimes horrified when the Virgin Mary is referred to as the Mother of God. However, their reaction often rests upon a misapprehension of not only what this particular title of Mary signifies but also who Jesus was, and what their own theological forebears, the Protestant Reformers, had to say regarding this doctrine.
A woman is a man’s mother either if she carried him in her womb or if she was the woman contributing half of his genetic matter or both. Mary was the mother of Jesus in both of these senses; because she not only carried Jesus in her womb but also supplied all of the genetic matter for his human body, since it was through her—not Joseph—that Jesus "was descended from David according to the flesh" (Rom. 1:3).
Since Mary is Jesus’ mother, it must be concluded that she is also the Mother of God: If Mary is the mother of Jesus, and if Jesus is God, then Mary is the Mother of God. There is no way out of this logical syllogism, the valid form of which has been recognized by classical logicians since before the time of Christ.
Although Mary is the Mother of God, she is not his mother in the sense that she is older than God or the source of her Son’s divinity, for she is neither. Rather, we say that she is the Mother of God in the sense that she carried in her womb a divine person—Jesus Christ, God "in the flesh" (2 John 7, cf. John 1:14)—and in the sense that she contributed the genetic matter to the human form God took in Jesus Christ.
To avoid this conclusion, Fundamentalists often assert that Mary did not carry God in her womb, but only carried Christ’s human nature. This assertion reinvents a heresy from the fifth century known as Nestorianism, which runs aground on the fact that a mother does not merely carry the human nature of her child in her womb. Rather, she carries the person of her child. Women do not give birth to human natures; they give birth to persons. Mary thus carried and gave birth to the person of Jesus Christ, and the person she gave birth to was God.
The Nestorian claim that Mary did not give birth to the unified person of Jesus Christ attempts to separate Christ’s human nature from his divine nature, creating two separate and distinct persons—one divine and one human—united in a loose affiliation. It is therefore a Christological heresy, which even the Protestant Reformers recognized. Both Martin Luther and John Calvin insisted on Mary’s divine maternity. In fact, it even appears that Nestorius himself may not have believed the heresy named after him. Further, the "Nestorian" church has now signed a joint declaration on Christology with the Catholic Church and recognizes Mary’s divine maternity, just as other Christians do.
The Church would like to link Protestant thought to the Nestorian error when in actually they credit Mary with doing everything herself, which is far from true. There is no evidence that Mary supplied anything-even an egg. The only thing we know about the holy birth is that Mary carried our Lord Jesus. The divine nature and human perfection that comprised our Lord Jesus came from the Holy Spirit.
Catholics are fond of comparing Mary to the Ark. Keep in mind that everything inside the Ark was supplied by God.
As they should be. It's clear from seeing all the "venerating" of Mary that RC's do, they think of her as more than the God Bearer. It's claimed that it isn't worship, but it sure looks like it.
Fundamentalists often assert that Mary did not carry God in her womb, but only carried Christ’s human nature.
Well I guess the RCC isn't opposed to misrepresenting others beliefs.
In this case I would argue that the material came from God's Holy Spirit; not Mary. God creates things-not humans.
I would agree. I think the most appropriate way to view Mary is she was blessed to be the God Bearer.
I wouldn’t even mind if he beat me.
BTW, God bless you.
Another fine example of "The Game:"
Catholic: "I believe this."
Catholic-hater: "No you don't believe that, you believe what I say you believe, and if you differ with me it's just spin."
Catholic: "But that's NOT what I believe..."
Catholic-hater: "Yes it is, reprobate!"
Mary is not God, and Christ is certainly king. I don't think I understand what you mean by that, but neither, in all likelihood, do you.
Mary is the mother of God, and given that Christ is king, she is queen mother, per the Jewish tradition.
She is, scripturally, the spouse of the Holy Ghost.
The Church named these books to begin with, so she, — not your lying proddie pastor — is at liberty to rename them. Next time you have a difficulty because you and your conversation partner don’t seem to be referring to the same book of Kings, or the same psalm, or the same verse number in some gospel chapters, don’t clown around and ask for a clairification, just like Pet did.
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