I just like to take this as a providential opportunity to portray the loveliness of she who gave flesh to the Lord of Love, the Lamb of God. He has done great things for his handmaid.
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.'”
Sure you do.
Prayer of Pope Pius XII
Enraptured by the splendor of your heavenly beauty, and impelled by the anxieties of the world, we cast ourselves into your arms, O Immaculate Mother of Jesus and our Mother, Mary, confident of finding in your most loving heart appeasement of our ardent desires, and a safe harbor from the tempests which beset us on every side.
Though degraded by our faults and overwhelmed by infinite misery, we admire and praise the peerless richness of sublime gifts with which God has filled you, above every other mere creature, from the first moment of your conception until the day on which, after your assumption into heaven, He crowned you Queen of the Universe.
O crystal fountain of faith, bathe our minds with the eternal truths! O fragrant Lily of all holiness, captivate our hearts with your heavenly perfume! O Conqueress of evil and death, inspire in us a deep horror of sin, which makes the soul detestable to God and a slave of hell!
O well-beloved of God, hear the ardent cry which rises up from every heart. Bend tenderly over our aching wounds. Convert the wicked, dry the tears of the afflicted and oppressed, comfort the poor and humble, quench hatreds, sweeten harshness, safeguard the flower of purity in youth, protect the holy Church, make all men feel the attraction of Christian goodness. In your name, resounding harmoniously in heaven, may they recognize that they are brothers, and that the nations are members of one family, upon which may there shine forth the sun of a universal and sincere peace.
Receive, O most sweet Mother, our humble supplications, and above all obtain for us that, one day, happy with you, we may repeat before your throne that hymn which today is sung on earth around your altars: You are all-beautiful, O Mary! You are the glory, you are the joy, you are the honor of our people! Amen.
Replacing Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Father are praying too Mary. When are you going to stop trying to deceive those who know the truth?
I just like to take this as a providential opportunity to portray the loveliness of she who gave flesh to the Lord of Love, the Lamb of God. He has done great things for his handmaid.
We ask her to pray for us.
That’s it.
What does YHvH tell us about Necromancy ? Is it witchcraft ? Seek YHvH in His WORD. Mary is dead !
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
How many times do we have to show that you are either in the dark or telling tales?
Just ONE example:
READ THE TITLE
http://www.catholic.org/clife/mary/praymary.php
Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women and
Blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.
Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death.
Read Luke and believe.
(I don’t go on catholic.org — it leaves too much junk on my computer.
How predictable - quoting ‘man’ in lights.
How about quoting TRUTH - unless man in Catholicism knows more than JESUS. Let’s see what Jesus says - a novelty in the secular world of catholicism.
Was Jesus apologizing or instructing who his mother is? And Jesus addresses her virginity as He has brothers and sisters.
Is it the catholic belief they know more than Jesus about His Kingdom? Seems they are speaking about their own worldly kingdom because it’s vastly different than HIS.
Matthew 12:48 He replied to him, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?”
Matthew 12:49 Pointing to His disciples, he said, “Here are My mother and My brothers.
Matthew 12:50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 3:33 Answering them, He said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”
Mark 3:34 Looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers!
Mark 3:35 “For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
Luke 8:20 Someone told Him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You.”
Luke 8:21 He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s Word and put it into practice.”
Luke 11:27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave You birth and nursed you.”
Luke 11:28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey it.”
Oh, I do. It’s interesting the things we find there. Why, in the very first chapter we find that Catholics have lied about Mary. Let’s take a look.
Luke 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. Now, if Mary had been sinless her whole life one would think that not only she but those around her would have known. Yet she was “troubled” by what the angel told her. Surely if she had been sinless since birth she would have had no problem with what the angel said.
Then in chapter 2 we find that Joseph and Mary had to travel and that there where Shepherds out with their sheep.
Luke 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Now, anyone with any sense knows that the weather in that part of the world is not the time for travel or that Shepherds take their flocks out into the fields at that time of year. Bethlehem and Jerusalem are up in the Judean hills where it snows. The shepherds have taken their flocks out of the hills and fields by that time and the near freezing temperatures would not be the time that people would have been asked to travel to Bethlehem. Makes one wonder why the RCC set December 25th, the purported birth day of Attis, the son of the virgin Nana doesn’t it. Another RCC incorporation of pagan dogma and practices.
You are right. There is much we can learn from reading Luke.
LOL ! The Leader of the Roman "church" Flee ! Seek YHvH in His WORD ! This is the book venerated by your Leader
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
when he kissed it !
venerating the words of Evil One
Off track and round the delusional, linguistic bend.
______
Finally! You’ve found the perfect title for your autobiography.
1John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
The "queen of heaven" won't do you and your fellow RC's much good when you come before the Great White Throne Judgment.
People who can not focus on one topic are adhd.
This is what comes from proof reading scripture .... lousy theology
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.