Posted on 03/16/2015 1:40:04 PM PDT by NKP_Vet
I was recently given a fascinating little book called American History You Never Learned; it contains much information showing that the discovery of the New World, and the founding of our nation, occurred within a direct context of divine guidance and blessing. In particular, Our Lady (who, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, is still today our national patroness) played an important role in the establishment of the United States.
For instance: The earliest explorers of North Americasent by the Catholic king of Norway in the 14th centuryleft behind a carving in modern-day Minnesota in what became known as the Kensington Stone. Dated 1362, it read: Hail Virgin Mary; save us from evil (making it the oldest historical record found in the U. S.).
Christopher Columbus dedicated his voyage of discovery to Mary, changing the name of his flagship from Gallega to Santa Maria, and led the crews of all three vessels in hymns to Our Lady each evening. Upon discovering the island of San Salvador (named after the Savior), Columbus and his men went ashore and sang the Salve Regina in Our Ladys honor; they taught the natives there the Ave Maria (Hail Mary) and other Catholic prayers.
Columbus three ships were named the Santa Maria (Saint Mary), the Pinta (Paint), and Nina (Girl)which, put together in a sentence, reads Holy Mary paints girl. This refers to the miraculous event which occurred 49 years later, when Mary painted an image of herself as a young Indian maiden on St. Juan Diegos tilma, or cloaka scientifically-inexplicable image of Our Lady of Guadalupe which still exists in all its beauty today, and which prompted the conversion of nine million Mexican Indians to Catholicism in just one decades time.
The French explorer Fr. Jacques Marquette named the greatest river in North America the River of the Immaculate Conception (though its name was later changed to the Mississippi). The Spanish and French introduced Catholicism to many Native Americans, but the One True Faith wasnt welcome in the English colonies. Catholic settlers established themselves in Maryland (the first colony to allow freedom of religion); they were able to name their colony after Our Lady only because they claimed to be honoring the English Queen Henrietta Maria.
Its believed Our Ladys intervention may have saved the life of General George Washington on several occasions; its also recorded that she encouraged him at the most trying time of the American Revolution, appearing to him at his headquarters in Valley Forge during the terrible winter of 1777-78. He later described her as a woman of singular beauty, and related how she said, Son of the Republic, look and learn! In the vision of the future he was then given, Washington saw the colonies take root and thrive, only to be fiercely attacked and dreadfully scourged on three different occasionsthe Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and a future conflict (World War III?) still to take place.
Has the United States remained true to its founding ideals? In particular, are Jesus and His Mother afforded a place of honor in our nations culture, politics, and economy? The answer to these questions is obviously a negative oneand so you and I are called to pray, fast, and sacrifice for the moral and spiritual renewal of the United States, and for the mitigation or prevention of any future war involving our country (a very appropriate theme for the remainder of Lent). America is still very dear to Our Ladys Immaculate Heart; our Heavenly Mother will gladly obtain her Sons blessing and protection for our homeland, if only enough of us humbly beseech her for this grace.
Reverend Joseph M. Esper is a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit and pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in Anchorville, Michigan. He is the author of numerous books, including Saintly Solutions, More Saintly Solutions, After the Darkness, Lessons from the Lives of the Saints, and Why Is God Punishing Me? In addition to Amazon, many of his most recent books are available through Queenship Publishing. This article was first published on Catholic Journal.
Obama says Islam has been woven into American fabric since the beginning. Some crazy claims being made.
Goddess?
So do you agree with the respected Church Fathers and experts about Mary?
Or are you just interested in making PERSONAL attacks on other Free Republic members by making a list of those who post the Biblical Truth and who quote the highly esteemed Catholics Fathers/experts' controversial writings and utterances?
Why don't you gather together all of those on your list and ping the Religion Moderator?
Because the Bible said all DIE once. She died. She is in the grave. Her soul is in heaven. She is NOT sitting at the right hand of God, only Christ is. She ain’t appearing to people. That is demonic demons doing that. Not true Mary. Mary has nothing to do with salvation. The Bible MAKES IT CLEAR that ONLY through Jesus Christ do you get to heaven. Not through Mary.
Wow that is amazing!
And here I have been using non-toxic (to humans) “green” bug spray on my vegetables (aphids LOVE broccoli) but I can just put up a sign that says “Mary please keep the bugs off of my garden plants” and that will work?
The Gospel message is Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
Jesus is first spoken of in Genesis (the first book of the Old Testament) and He is The Word.
The Gospel message was understood quite completely by old Testament men and women of God and they were saved by their faith in the coming Messiah.
The true Gospel has been here since the beginning of time.
As one poster is fond of saying to non-Catholics posting truth about Jesus and quoting scriptures for edification, "Do you have a Bible?" in a very condescending way. (What more do "SEPERATED" brethren deserve? "Second tier" not-as-good-as-Catholics Christians?)
LOL everybody is Catholic, even Jesus!
One of the most prolific Catholic expert posters said so right here on FR.
Your girlfriend is ugly.
With thousands of dollars worth of jewelry?
That would help a lot of poor people if the jewelry was sold it would help The Kingdom of God.
Your girlfriend is ugly.
Wow, how funny and cleaver!
Wanna comment on some of the posts about the issues raised, or just keep up with the personal digs/comments?
Bonaventure: the gates of heaven will open to all who confide in the protection of Mary. Blessed are they who know thee, O Mother of God, for the knowledge of THEE is the high road to everlasting life, and the publication of thy virtues is the way of ETERNAL SALVATION . Give ear, O ye nations; and all you who desire heaven , serve, honor Mary, and certainly you will find ETERNAL LIFE.
Ephem: devotion to the divine Mother is the unlocking of the heavenly Jerusalem.
Blosius: To the, O Lady, are committed the KEYS and the treasures of the kingdom of Heaven.
Ambrose: constantly pray Open to us, O Mary, the gates of paradise, since thou hast its KEYS.
Fulgetius: by Mary God descended from Heaven into the world, that by HER man might ascend from earth to Heaven.
Athanasius: And, thou, O Lady, wast filled with grace, that thou mightiest be the way of our SALVATION and the means of ascent to the heavenly Kingdom.
Richard of Laurence: Mary, in fine, is the mistress of heaven; for there she commands as she wills, and ADMITS whom she wills.
Guerric: he who serves Mary and for whom she intercedes, is as CERTAIN of heaven as if he were already there and those who DO NOT serve Mary will NOT BE SAVED.
Anselm: It suffices, O Lady, that thou willest it, and our SALVATION is certain.
Antoninus: souls protected by Mary, and on which she casts her eyes, are NECESSARILY JUSTIFIED AND SAVED.
So is this posted to make the point that Mary is worshipped or to make the point that Mary should be venerated?
No.
Mormon Living Prophets® is what Benson is prattling about here; NOT biblical ones.
Surely you know that.
Well; she’s a guy. (Jake from State FArm)
Or maybe that ADORATION/Veneration has jumped the tracks a bit...
I report: you decide.
You may want to stay on the Caucus theads, they are much less likely to bring out ones bad side.
Sounds like Mormons are equally as gullible.
Pretty little girl you’re just having fun
You’re running all around and breaking lover’s hearts
Pretty little girl, I don’t stand a chance
Without any money there goes our romance
She always wears charms, diamonds, pearls galore
She buys them at the 5 and 10 cents store
She wants to be just like Zsa Zsa Gabor
Even though she’s the girl next door
What happened to the at least two deaths of Lazarus and all those who rose from their tombs during the crucifxion??
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