Thoughts for the 11th Day of Christmas: The Little Flower’s miracle

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11th Day:  Little Flower’s Miracle

A Christmas miracle of another sort happened to St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Her miracle taught her the valuable lesson of selflessness.

In her autobiography, Story of a Soul, Thérèse tells the story. “A miracle on a small scale was needed to give me strength of character all at once, and God worked this long-desired miracle on Christmas Day, 1886,” she revealed. “On that blessed night, the sweet Infant Jesus, scarce an hour old, filled the darkness of my soul with floods of light. By becoming weak and little, for love of me, he made me strong and brave; he put his own weapons into my hands, so that I went from victory to victory, beginning, if I may say so, ‘to run as a giant.’”

She received “this inestimable grace of complete conversion” when she was 14, leaving behind the “extreme sensitiveness” that had made her “almost unbearable.”

This all unfolded as she and her sister Celine were returning from midnight Mass. Most children had outgrown the old French custom of receiving shoe-filled presents on Christmas Eve by that age, but the Little Flower’s sisters enjoyed indulging the “baby” of the family. Her father liked to watch her enjoyment, too.

“But the time had come when Our Lord wished to free me from childhood’s failings, and even withdraw me from its innocent pleasures,” Thérèse recalled. “On this occasion, instead of indulging me as he generally did, Papa seemed vexed, and on my way upstairs, I heard him say: ‘Really, all this is too babyish for a big girl like Thérèse, and I hope it is the last year it will happen.His words cut me to the quick. Céline, knowing how sensitive I was, whispered: ‘Don’t go downstairs just yet — wait a little; you would cry too much if you looked at your presents before Papa.’” But Thérèse was no longer the same.

“Choking back my tears, I ran down to the dining room, and, though my heart beat fast, I picked up my shoes and gaily pulled out all the things, looking as happy as a queen,” she wrote. “Papa laughed and did not show any trace of displeasure. …

“In an instant, Our Lord, satisfied with my goodwill, accomplished the work I had not been able to do during all these years. … Love and a spirit of self-forgetfulness took possession of me, and from that time I was perfectly happy,” she explained. She became sensitive to others, rather than focusing on herself, after that Christmas experience, for “Jesus had changed her heart.”

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/the-saints-teach-us-about-christmas

 

Thoughts for the 10th Day of Christmas: St Nicholas – the Saint of Giving

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“St. Nicholas is the first of the saints you can consider a philanthropist,” explained Father Joseph Marquis, pastor of Sacred Heart Byzantine Catholic Church in Livonia, Michigan, and founder of the St. Nicholas Institute (StNicholasInstitute.org). …

“St. Nicholas is a person who focused on the needs of others without drawing attention to himself,” observed Father Marquis.  With his “self-effacing love,” St. Nicholas is “very much an icon of Jesus Christ,” added Father Marquis. St. Nicholas “lived the theological virtues to a very heroic degree in life. He embodied the Gospel. Like St. Francis, he took the Scriptures to heart, and he became a living image of Jesus Christ.”

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/the-saints-teach-us-about-christmas

Through the centuries many stories and legends have been told of St. Nicholas’ life and deeds. These accounts help us understand his extraordinary character and why he is so beloved and revered as protector and helper of those in need.

One story tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman’s father had to offer prospective husbands something of value—a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man’s daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home-providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. That is why three gold balls, sometimes represented as oranges, are one of the symbols for St. Nicholas. And so St. Nicholas is a gift-giver.

Other stories tell of Nicholas saving his people from famine, sparing the lives of those innocently accused, and much more. He did many kind and generous deeds in secret, expecting nothing in return. Within a century of his death he was celebrated as a saint. Today he is venerated in the East as wonder, or miracle worker and in the West as patron of a great variety of persons-children, mariners, bankers, pawn-brokers, scholars, orphans, laborers, travelers, merchants, judges, paupers, marriageable maidens, students, children, sailors, victims of judicial mistakes, captives, perfumers, even thieves and murderers! He is known as the friend and protector of all in trouble or need

Widely celebrated in Europe, St. Nicholas’ feast day, December 6th, kept alive the stories of his goodness and generosity. In Germany and Poland, boys dressed as bishops begged alms for the poor—and sometimes for themselves! In the Netherlands and Belgium, St. Nicholas arrived on a steamship from Spain to ride a white horse on his gift-giving rounds. December 6th is still the main day for gift giving and merrymaking in much of Europe. For example, in the Netherlands St. Nicholas is celebrated on the 5th, the eve of the day, by sharing candies (thrown in the door), chocolate initial letters, small gifts, and riddles. Dutch children leave carrots and hay in their shoes for the saint’s horse, hoping St. Nicholas will exchange them for small gifts. Simple gift-giving in early Advent helps preserve a Christmas Day focus on the Christ Child.

 

See more stories about this saint at:  https://www.stnicholascenter.org/who-is-st-nicholas

 

JtM Crusade Prayer Meeting Thurs. 2nd Jan 2020

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Prayer Theme:  Faith, Family, Nations (plus daily prayers)

Prayers are Groups A &F : (See https://remnantdisciplesjtm.com/crusade-prayer-group-format/ for details).

(N.B. The prayer theme is chronological, and all the readings are chosen by volunteers and the books opened randomly after a prayer by the whole prayer group to the Holy Spirit (i.e. Crusade Prayer 51)

Readings

Bible: Wisdom of Ben Sirach                                           

Book of Truth: 22 April, 2012

Book of Truth: 15 Nov. 2010

Bible Reading

Wisdom of Ben Sirach 16: 1-23

God’s Punishment of Sinners

1 Do not yearn for worthless children or rejoice in wicked offspring.
2 Even if they be many, do not rejoice in them if they do not have fear of the LORD.
3 Do not count on long life for them,or have any hope for their future. For one can be better than a thousand; rather die childless than have impious children!
4 Through one wise person a city can be peopled; but through a clan of rebels, it becomes desolate.
5 Many such things my eye has seen and even more than these my ear has heard.
6 Against a sinful band, fire is kindled, upon a godless people, wrath blazes.
7 He did not forgive the princes of old who rebelled long ago in their might.
8 He did not spare the neighbors of Lot, abominable in their pride.
9 He did not spare the doomed people, dispossessed because of their sin;
10 Nor the six hundred thousand foot soldiers, sent to their graves for the arrogance of their hearts.
11 Had there been but one stiff-necked person, it would be a wonder had he gone unpunished. For mercy and anger alike are with him; he remits and forgives, but also pours out wrath.
12 Great as his mercy is his punishment; he judges people, each according to their deeds.
13 Criminals do not escape with their plunder; the hope of the righteous, God never leaves unfulfilled.
14 Whoever does good has a reward; each receives according to their deeds.
17 Do not say: “I am hidden from God; and on high who remembers me?
Among so many people I am unknown; what am I in the world of spirits?
18 Look, the heavens and the highest heavens,the abyss and the earth tremble at his visitation.
19 The roots of the mountains and the earth’s foundations— at his mere glance they quiver and quake.
20 Of me, therefore, he will take no notice;with my ways who will be concerned?
21 If I sin, no eye will see me; if all in secret I act deceitfully, who is to know?
22 Who tells him about just deeds? What can I expect for doing my duty?”
23 Such the thoughts of the senseless; only the foolish entertain them.

Comment: The bible reading today  gives us hope: it tells us that our good deeds do not go unnoticed and it also reassures us that the wicked will be punished. God’s  Mercy and punishment are equally great. This is very important for us in this (unbelieving) world of today. “Upon a godless people wrath blazes”- we must focus on God’s Mercy, not His anger. His anger and wrath are for the wicked, but His Mercy is for those who please Him. We must be faithful, and be strong, courageous and discerning-  in the face of the evil that is made to look like ‘good’.

Readings from the Book of Truth

Help Me prepare the world for My Second Coming

22 April 2012 @ 3:30pm

My dearly beloved daughter, humanity must know that the time for Me to present Myself to a disbelieving world is not far away. All of God’s children who are devout believers must now, out of their loyalty to Me, their beloved Jesus, help Me prepare the world for My Second Coming.

So much time has already been accorded to entice souls back into My Sacred Heart. This was important, for, without this time, very few souls would be able to enter My New Paradise.

I urge all those, in My Holy Name, to allow Me to guide you, to help you proclaim the Truth of My Teachings in every corner of the world.

Preach My simple Teachings first.

Love of one’s neighbour is expected of all those who say they are followers of Mine.

Speak only of My Second Coming.

Anyone who denounces you, remind them that, My Promise to come again in Glory to Judge the living and the dead, is to be fulfilled during the lifetime of this generation.

My Holy Spirit will flood the souls of those to whom you impart My Holy Word.

But first, you must ask Me for this special Grace. Before I sanction you to do this most Sacred Work, I call on you to ask Me for this Grace through the recital of Crusade Prayer (48)

Crusade Prayer (48) Prayer for the Grace to proclaim the Second Coming of Christ

O my Jesus, grant me the Grace to proclaim Your Holy Word to all of humanity so that souls can be saved. Pour Your Holy Spirit over me, your humble servant, so that Your Holy Word can be heard and accepted, especially by those souls who need Your Mercy the most. Help me to honour Your Holy Will at all times and never to insult or condemn those who refuse the Hand of Your Mercy. Amen

Go now, My Army, for you have been given the armour you need to convert mankind.

You will be ridiculed in your mission, insulted and challenged.

Know that when this happens, that you will truly be a child of God.

Fear not, for I will give you the strength to overcome such obstacles.

I will lead you the whole way. Go in peace and love.

Your beloved Jesus

Global Power, The Anti-Christ and Mark of the Beast

15 November 2010 @ 11:00am

You are now realizing the Truth and accepting My Message, for what it is. Write this, My daughter. The speed at which the prophesies are unfolding is becoming evident for all to see. Watch the changes that will become apparent with My Church as one of the first signs. This is when the deceiver will lead My disciples astray.

The second sign will be seen in the way many of you will no longer be in control of your own country. This includes all material control and the military. My children, their leaders and all those with responsibility for caring for their people, will lose all control. They will be like a boat with no rudder. This boat they steer will be aimless and they will be lost.

My children, you must pray hard now to loosen the grip these evil groups of people will exert over you. They are not of God’s Kingdom, and through the cunning deceit of their exterior, you will not realise that this is a powerful force that is careful not to reveal itself.

You, My children, will be none the wiser. You will think that you are living in tough times, but this façade is designed to make you think this. Rise up, My children, now.

Mark of the beast
Do not accept the mark. If more of you do not accept, then you are stronger in numbers. This mark – the mark of the beast will be your downfall. It is not what it seems. By agreeing, you will be removed further and further away.

Beware of the plan, driven by the deceiver, to remove all signs of My Eternal Father and the Teaching of Scriptures from your life. You will see this in schools, colleges, hospitals, and in the constitution of your countries. The biggest abomination, which causes Me deep pain, is the abolition of the Teachings of Scripture from those who practice their Adoration of Me, their Divine Saviour.

Very soon you will see that My Word, and the teaching of the Truth, will be abolished and punishable.

You, My dearly beloved children, will suffer greatly in My Name. These evil forces are responsible for this. They are led by Satan. You will find them everywhere and especially in those leaders in authority whom you depend upon to survive. Children, do not be frightened for yourselves, rather be frightened for those poor misguided souls. So infested are they with the deceiver, that they find it difficult to pull away, such is the grip he holds. These people are not to be trusted. Be careful how you communicate with them. They will hold you in such a vice-grip because they will control everything. You will find it difficult to fight them, as they will control even your bank, your property, your taxes and the food you need to survive.

But, this will not last long, for their days are numbered. Should they abide by their slavery to evil, they will plunge into an abyss of such terror, that to describe their fate would be too terrifying and so frightening that man would drop like a stone – dead – were he to glimpse just one minute of the torment they will endure.

The battle is about to begin and unfold, as the Hand of My Eternal Father will fall swiftly in punishment for their sins, which is about to be witnessed on this Earth, the sins which I died for. No man is a child of God who bears witness to, or colludes in this sinister, but orderly, army of destruction. This evil army, filled with the demons from the pits of Hell, performs acts of such evil magnitude that innocent people could not possibly fathom.

I have no wish to frighten My children, but the truth will be exposed for what it is, in time. Rise up now, My children. Fight the forces of evil before they destroy you. Be wary of global rule in any shape, size, form or code. Look at your leaders carefully and those who control your daily access to money, which will feed you and keep you alive. You need to stock pile food now.

You have not received this Message in a way that reflects My Teachings, but hear Me now. These prophecies have been foretold. My children, must listen carefully. The spirit of darkness is growing and you, My followers, must stay strong. Keep your belief in Me alive through prayer. All of My followers must say the prayer, The Divine Mercy, each day. It will strengthen souls and will help them find favour at the moment of death.

My children, please do not let My Message frighten you. My followers have a duty to Me now. Let Me say this. Remember, you will be filled with the Holy Spirit as soon as you accept My Word. Do not fear, because you have been chosen. You, My army of followers, will lead to the defeat of the evil one. To do this you must pray.

I come with a Message of Pure Love. Do you not realise that you will experience Paradise when Heaven and Earth join as one? There is nothing to fear, for you, My followers, will be lifted body, soul and mind into the realms of the Divine Hierarchy. You will see your loved ones. Those loved ones who have found favour with My Eternal Father.

Do as I say. Pray, talk to Me, love Me, trust in Me. In return I will give you strength. Pray for protection through the recital of the Most Holy Rosary, given to you with blessings from My beloved Mother. This prayer must be said to help protect you from the evil one, on the one hand. On the other hand, you must ask for protection for those people with whom you come into contact, so that they cannot contaminate you or diffuse the faith you hold in your heart for Me.

Pray for My visionaries and prophets, so that they are protected. Pray for My beloved sacred servants, those holy devout servants sent by Me to guide you. They, just like My followers, suffer torment by the evil one. He will never stop trying to blind you from the Truth and will use every devious tactic to convince you that your faith is false. Hear Me. He, the deceiver, will use logic and reasoning, couched in a soft gentle manner, to convince you he brings hope into your lives. He will, through the antichrist, strive to make you believe he is the chosen one.

The antichrist
Many of My followers will fall prey to this despicable deceit. Be on your guard. He will be seen as the messenger of love, peace and harmony in the world. People will fall to their knees and adore him. He will show you his power and you will believe it is of a Divine source. But it’s not. He will instruct you in a manner that will seem odd at times. True believers will know he is not of the Light. His boastful, pompous demeanour will be hidden behind pure evil. He will strut and show what will appear to be true compassion and love for all. Behind this façade he is full of hatred for you, My beloved children. He laughs behind closed doors.

My children, he will confuse you terribly. He will appear powerful, confident, humorous, caring, loving and will be seen as a saviour. His handsome face will appeal to all, but he will soon change. He will wreak havoc in the world and will murder many. His acts of terror will be clear for all to see. He will destroy your independence and he will be instrumental in bringing about the mark – the mark of the beast. You, My children, will have to be strong. Do not accept the mark because if you do you will come under his evil hypnotic influence.

Many will die for their faith in Me. No, do not fear, because if you suffer for Me, in Me, with Me, you are chosen. Pray, pray not to submit to his reign of terror. Stand up, fight for Me.

Do not let the antichrist, for all his convincing charm, win over your souls. Let Me hold you in My Arms; cradle you with My Divine grace, now, to give you the strength to fight for the Truth. My Love for you will never die. You should never choose this route, or you too will be lost to Me. It will be hard, but help will be given to My children in many, many ways, to ease your suffering.

Go now and pray My Divine Mercy and prepare for the final battle.

Jesus Christ, King of My People
Saviour and Just Judge

Comment: This last message was a very long one – but very comprehensive in its content. As it came very early in the revelation of these messages (message no. 10), it seem to prepare us for what was to come – like an introduction to us. In the last 9 years, we have seen so many of the things told to us fulfilled. To read about some of these, see the menu item “Prophecies Fulfilled” on our Home Page.

 

Thoughts for the Ninth Day of Christmas: St Joseph

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The Saints Teach Us About Christmas: St Joseph

St. Joseph has a pivotal place at Jesus’ birth.

“Christmas is a great reminder of St. Joseph and what he was doing before the birth of Christ,” said Rick Sarkisian, author of Not Your Average Joe and producer of Joseph: The Man Closest to Christ (Ignatius, DVD).He was essentially knocking on doors trying to find a place for the Christ Child. That’s something he’s still doing today — knocking on the doors of our hearts. He’s seeking out a place for his son to dwell within us.”

St. Joseph’s role at Christmas and throughout his life with the Holy Family is certainly one of protection. “He was the protector of Mary, who was about to give birth to the Savior, and he continued to protect them, as a husband and father. He’s a real reminder of our role as a protector of those we know and live with, and those we don’t know very well, protecting [them] not just from physical harm, but the impurities that cascade down on us like heavy rain from the culture, Sarkisian said.

One way to honor St. Joseph is to help someone in need. Since St. Joseph is also a patron saint of housing, Sarkisian suggests offering a nine-day novena to St. Joseph for those in need of shelter, entrusting them to him.

 http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/the-saints-teach-us-about-christmas

 

Thoughts for the 8th Day of Christmas: St Francis’ apparition of Baby Jesus at the First Nativity Scene

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FRANCIS’ VISION OF THE CHILD JESUS

The first nativity scene is also associated with an apparition of the Baby Jesus to those gathered with St. Francis on that day. This must have been Jesus’ way of giving his praise and blessing to the nativity scene, which was a novelty in its time and had never been done before.

Again, St. Bonaventure continues the story,

“A certain valiant and veracious soldier, Master John of Grecio, who, for the love of Christ, had left the warfare of this world, and become a dear friend of this holy man, affirmed that he beheld an Infant marvellously beautiful, sleeping in the manger, Whom the blessed Father Francis embraced with both his arms, as if he would awake Him from sleep.

This vision of the devout soldier is credible, not only by reason of the sanctity of him that saw it, but by reason of the miracles which afterwards confirmed its truth.

For example of Francis, if it be considered by the world, is doubtless sufficient to excite all hearts which are negligent in the faith of Christ; and the hay of that manger, being preserved by the people, miraculously cured all diseases of cattle, and many other pestilences; God thus in all things glorifying his servant, and witnessing to the great efficacy of his holy prayers by manifest prodigies and miracles.”

THE SPREAD OF THE DEVOTION

St. Francis’ recreation of that first Christmas night was so popular that soon every church in Italy had its own nativity scene. The devotion also spread to private homes, and in modern times even to secular institutions, so much so that it’s now impossible to imagine Christmas without a nativity scene to behold.

Hopefully this story of the first nativity scene will inspire you to see your nativity set as much more than just as a pretty Christmas decoration. It is a historic Catholic tradition and a tool for meditation on the humility, simplicity, and poverty of Christ that he took on, from the moment of his Incarnation, out of his boundless love for his lost sheep.

https://www.getfed.com/story-francis-assisi-first-navity-scene-5955.

 

The False Prophet and his treatment of Our Lady.

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This man (the FP) has a history of blasphemies and mockery against the Mother of God. Examples are:

  • To celebrate the Feast of the immaculate Conception on Dec 8th 2015, a pagan light show was displayed on the Vatican
  • Our Lady was deceived. DECEMBER 20, 2013 – VATICAN RADIO)  
  • In Nov. 2017 Mary at the foot of the Cross was replaced by Luther on a postage stamp.  
  • Pagan blood runs in Mary’s and Jesus’ veins
  • Dec 2017 – Evil Vatican Nativity scene
  • Jesus had to ask forgiveness of his Mother
  • Co-redemptrix is “foolishness”
  • Our Lady is Mestiza
  • 2019 Xmas concert at Vatican
  • A new ‘egalitarian’ Mariology

As with all that true Catholics hold dear, Our Lady is also a target of this “uncanonically elected” pope. Heresy, blasphemy and mockery spew from his mouth. There is no love for the True Faith. His record in terms of Our Lady, has been a bit slower, but be prepared – I am sure that the avalanche is still to come.

  • Our Lady was deceived

Pope Francis said about Our Lady: She was silent, but in her heart, how many things she told the Lord! ‘You, that day, this and the other that we read, you had told me that he would be great, you had told me that you would have given him the throne of David, his forefather, that he would have reigned forever and now I see him there!’ Our Lady was human! And perhaps she even had the desire to say: ‘Lies! I was deceived! (Vatican Radio. 20th Dec.2013)

 

  • Pagan Light show on Feast of Immaculate Conception

On December 8, 2015, the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, there was a light show displayed on the façade of the Vatican buildings. The display showed pictures of pagan gods and goddesses, as well as elephants and tigers. This was to showcase his new encyclical at the time – “Laudato Si”. Not many questioned the pagan elements shown. This “encyclical” was all about the environment, but there was hardly any mention of God in it. There were strange things uttered by the FP such as “sins against creation”. We now know that this was the forerunner of the recent Amazonian synod, where the Pachamama idol was venerated and promoted by the FP. Some even suggested that these idols represented the Virgin Mary. So this light show was supposed to honour Our Lady on this special feastday? Instead, it desecrated the sacred walls and space of the Vatican itself.

This event is described by The Wild Voice: “…the dark eclipsing of the Immaculate Conception was unveiled through a direful succession of images projected unto a now-dark Saint Peter’s Basilica and depicting a wide variety of animals, insects, and pagan tribes. This most dreadful light show, which was sponsored by none other than the tentacular financial creature known by many as the World Bank, reverses the order of things established by God: it is no longer the Catholic Church that is to cast God’s Light upon a dark world, but it is the false light of the world that is being cast upon an obscured Temple.

Filled with occult symbolism and accompanied by the dreadful sounds of this earth’s beasts, the show unfolded in such unexpected frightful fashion, it seemed to cast an infernal spell upon the confused faces of those spectators who, trapped by the giant pincers of columns framing St. Peter’s Square, started to resemble some lost lambs destined to be slaughtered.
In this light show of most abyssal darkness, the title “FIAT LUX” is not meant to be interpreted as the widely known phrase “Let There Be Light” found in the Book of Genesis, but rather as the masonic expression indicating the false light.  Indeed, the word lux as it is misunderstood in freemasonry, refers to Freemasonry itself as the light which takes the initiated out of the darkness of ignorance.  Since Freemasonry is the religion of Lucifer, those who follow the path of the 33 degrees come to the erroneous idea of becoming the “morning stars”, the light bearers, the Lucifers, in this realm. Through knowledge imparted according to a hierarchy which comes not from God, they are told that Lucifer is the true God all must serve.  …

“…FIAT LUX is the light of the morning star Venus attributed to Lucifer over the Catholic Morning Light whom is Our Blessed Mother, Mary Most Holy. This is the motive behind the choice of releasing such demonic event on December 8, the very day in which we celebrate the Immaculate Conception. It is not mere coincidence that the same event took place at night so that the artificial light produced by men could cast into darkness the statues of Jesus Christ and of His Twelve Apostles while projecting the images of mortal men, of reptiles and of other earthly beasts…”

  • Mary replaced by Luther on postage stamp

In Nov. 2017, the Vatican issued a postage stamp in honour of Luther. The stamp shows Luther and his co-conspirator at the foot of the Crossreplacing Our Lady and St John. We know that the evil one, twists and turns everything that is Holy upside down and back to front. St Pio said of Luther: “Martin Luther is in Hell and Christians who follow him will meet the same end.” He also said:
“Those who do not submit themselves to the pope and the teachings of the Catholic Church are also going to Hell” The FP/PF has praised and lifted to great heights one of the greatest enemies of the Church and its teachings.

 

  • Genealogy of Jesus: pagan blood

SEPTEMBER 8, 2017Pope Francis, in commenting on the Gospel, said: ‘In the Gospel, we have heard the genealogy of Jesus, which is not a “simple list of names”, but rather a “living history”, the history of the people that God journeyed with; by making himself one of us, God wanted to announce that the history of the just and of sinners runs through his blood, ... The mention of women –… allows us a particular rapprochement: it is they, in the genealogy, who tell us that pagan blood runs through the veins of Jesus, and who recall the stories of scorn and subjugation.‘ – VATICAN RADIO

 

  • Jesus in the temple needed to beg forgiveness

27 Dec. 2015, the FP commented on a Gospel Reading about the fInding of the child Jesus in the temple:  

“...At the end of that pilgrimage, Jesus returned to Nazareth and was obedient to his parents (cf. Lk 2:51). This image also contains a beautiful teaching about our families. A pilgrimage does not end when we arrive at our destination, but when we return home and resume our everyday lives, putting into practice the spiritual fruits of our experience. We know what Jesus did on that occasion. Instead of returning home with his family, he stayed in Jerusalem, in the Temple, causing great distress to Mary and Joseph who were unable to find him. For this little “escapade”, Jesus probably had to beg forgiveness of his parents. The Gospel doesn’t say this, but I believe that we can presume it. Mary’s question, moreover, contains a certain reproach, revealing the concern and anguish which she and Joseph felt. Returning home, Jesus surely remained close to them, as a sign of his complete affection and obedience. Moments like these become part of the pilgrimage of each family; the Lord transforms the moments into opportunities to grow, to ask for and to receive forgiveness, to show love and obedience. (From HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS, Vatican Basilica
Sunday, 27 December 2015 Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
) See: http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2015/documents/papa-francesco_20151227_omelia-santa-famiglia.html

 

  • Evil Nativity Scene – Dec. 2017

https://remnantdisciplesjtm.com/2017/12/17/the-nativity-scene-of-the-anti-church/

The Great Nativity Scene Deception

Above, you see the official Nativity Scene erected outside the Vatican.

You might think that it is all about the Corporal works of Mercy. Corporal Works of Mercy are very Christian- they are all about doing good to our neighbour, being merciful, being humble, giving of ourselves…. Wouldn’t Jesus be proud of us?

But when you look at the scene, there is a mess of figures and buildings – all of which distract from what the scene is meant to be. There are “close to 20 life-size images, making it very difficult to find Jesus, Mary and Joseph”.

The next thing I noticed is that all the figures are ugly or angry. Mary is displayed in a not too lady-like manner. Close-ups make her look like a transvestite.

There are figures of a person being visited in prison, burying the dead, clothing the naked. The latter depicts a man who is naked. This is what attracts your attention! It is designed to take the focus away from Jesus, Mary and Joseph. They are completely crowded out.

On the left of the picture is a wall with a picture of Mary on it. The wall is cracked, and the crack goes right through Mary’s image.

It seems to be trying to remove Christ from Christmas – to remove Christ from our consciousness completely. It is a great betrayal  by the man who sits in the chair of Peter, to further remove any thought of Christ. He is paving the way to remove Christ completely – paving the way for the new One World Religion.

Notice, for your discernment:

1) the destroyed copula, with the real cupola of St Peter’s in the background, represents the destruction of the Catholic Church,

combined with

2) the Star of Bethlehem which looks more like a falling nuclear missile/meteorite

So the distorted copola/star combination of this “nativity scene” is a message about the upcoming one world religion.”

The whole scene is a gross insult, mockery and even blasphemy of Mary and our great Saviour’s birth.

See: https://remnantdisciplesjtm.com/2017/12/17/the-nativity-scene-of-the-anti-church/

           

  • Mary is mestizo

On Dec 23, 2019 Antonio Socci’s article entitled “A Christmas Marked by Desecration, with Bergoglio as Chief Desecrator” named some horrible desecrations, some of which involved our blessed Mother, and others about Jesus – posters, mo9vies, etc. I will not detail them here, because they are too horrible, and you have probably heard of them (It can be found here: https://onepeterfive.com/christmas-bergoglio-desecration/ )

On the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Thursday 12th 2019,  in his homily, the FP/PF said that Our Lady wanted to be seen as a “mestiza”, “not only with Juan Diego. She became a mestizo to show that she is everyone’s mother.” Mary speaks to us just as she spoke with Juan Diego, tenderly, maternally. The Pope concluded his homily noting that Mary appears as a person of mixed race in order to communicate that her Son too is a “mestizo: that is, He is God, and He is man. (https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-12/pope-guadalupe-mass.html )

De Mattei tells us:

 “Whether Pope Francis is aware of it or not, the origin of  this “mestizo” vision  regarding the Mystery of the Incarnation is in the heresy of Eutyches (378-454,  Archimandrite, of a monastery in Constantinople,); according to Eutyches,  after the hypostatic union, the humanity and Divinity of Christ, was fused to form a tertium quid, a hybrid coalescence that would actually be neither God nor man. ‘Eutycheanism’ is a rough form of Monophysitism because it admits in the Son of God Incarnate, one single nature, resulting from this confused union of divinity with humanity.

De Mattei concludes his article with

 “ Pope Francis’ theology is “mestizo” because he mixes truth and errors, forming a muddled amalgamation in which nothing is clear, determined and distinct. Everything escapes definition and contradiction seems to be the soul of the thought and language. Francis, along with Our Lady, would like to make the Church mestizo so that it steps out of itself to mix with the world, immerging itself in the world and being absorbed by it.

But the Church is Holy and Immaculate, as Mary is Holy and Immaculate, Mother and model of the Mystical Body.

Our Lady is not mestizo, in the sense Francis gives to Her, as nothing, hybrid, obscure or confused exists in Her. Mary is not mestizo as She is light with no shadow, beauty with no imperfections, truth uncorrupted, forever whole and without stain.          

Let us ask help from the Most Blessed Virgin Mary to ensure that our faith is not mestizo, but that it remain always pure and uncontaminated, resplendent before God and men, as the Word Incarnate was resplendent on Christmas night when He manifested  Himself to the world.”

Read his complete article here:  https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2019/12/de-mattei-mestizo-theology-of-pope.html

 

  • Mary as Co-Redemptrix is “foolishness”

Abp. Carlo Vigano Champions Virgin Mary After Pope Francis Smear .

 “Speaking of Mary Most Holy, Pope Francis criticized the titles that the Magisterium of the Church and the devotion of the faithful have lovingly bestowed on the Mother of God, saying they do not reflect the essence of Our Lady’s role, which he minimized to “mother” and “disciple.” In short, “Mary woman, Mary mother, with no other essential title.”   

Abp. Carlo Vigano blasted Pope Francis after the pontiff scorned the concept of Mary as co-redemptrix as “foolishness.”  He said “On the liturgical memorial of the Virgin of Guadalupe,” Francis “gave vent once again to his evident Marian intolerance,” 

To attack Mary is to pounce against Christ Himself.

Those who profane Mary “show that they are on the side of the Enemy,” he warned. “To attack Mary is to pounce against Christ Himself; attacking the Mother is rising up against the Son and rebelling against the very mystery of the Holy Trinity.” 

“The tactic of affirming what one wants to destroy, using vague and imprecise terms, promoting error without ever clearly formulating it, is also typically modernist,” Viganò said, pointing to Pope Francis’ frequent ambiguity.

“The result of this abuse is now before our eyes,” he reflected. “A Catholic Church that is no longer Catholic; a container emptied of its authentic content … .” 

Peering beyond the crisis, Viganò continued: “The triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary — Co-redemptrix and Mediatrix of all graces” will come through the prayers and penances of those “little” and “fragile” faithful Catholics consecrated to her. 

The consecrated will serve as Mary’s heel, he said, and “together with her,” they “will crush the head of the infernal monster.”

Read the whole article and his condemnation of this papacy at: 

https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/abp-vigano-champions-virgin-mary

To read what the church truly teaches about this title see:

https://www.tfp.org/having-worshipped-pachamama-pope-francis-now-disparages-marys-co-redeeming-role/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Pope+Francis+criticized+traditional+devotion+to+Mary&utm_campaign=TFP191227m+-+Pope+Francis+criticized+traditional+devotion+to+Mary

 

  • Christmas Concert (2019) at the Vatican

On Dec. 27th 2019, ChurchMilitant.com described a concert sponsored by the Holy See’s Congregation for Catholic Education. In it the “Mother Earth goddess, worshipped by the indigenous people of the Amazon, was invoked by a Latin American woman before an audience of 5,000, while two million watched on television in Italy and around the world on Christmas Eve and the afternoon of Christmas day.

The Mother Earth goddess, worshipped by the indigenous people of the Amazon, was invoked by a Latin American woman before an audience of 5,000, while two million watched on television in Italy and around the world on Christmas Eve and the afternoon of Christmas day.

At the live Dec. 14 charity performance titled “Let’s network for the Amazon,” an indigenous woman dressed in native garb asked the audience to cross their arms over their chest and to feel a strong vibration, explaining that this is “your heart” but also “the heart of Mother Earth.”   …

Cardinals and bishops seated in the front row, followed by the entire audience, responded enthusiastically by crossing their arms and listening reverently to the spiel on Pachamama.  

“On the other side, where there is silence, is the Spirit,” the indigenous woman explained. “The Spirit who allows you to feel the message of the Mother.” She continued:

For us indigenous peoples, Mother Earth, the Hicha Gueia, is everything. It is the Mother who gives us food, sacred water, medicinal plants; and what we offer to the earth is to pay homage to her, the placenta and the first hair we cut. For us, Mother Earth is fundamental, our connection with her is constant, how the pulse feels, how the heart feels….”

So here we have paganism being promoted by the Vatican, with clerics joining in – it was meant to be a “Christmas” concert – but once again, Our Lady and her Son were mocked and the historical event of Our Saviour’s birth deliberately ignored and replaced with evil (for paganism is evil).

 

  • A new egalitarian Mariology

The TFP, in an article states that

 “Pope Francis has once again confused, scandalized and disoriented the flock he is called to teach, guide and sanctify.

This time he has done it with the shocking statement—contrary to the Gospels, the Tradition of the Church and the common feeling of the faithful—that Mary Most Holy was a common, “normal girl” just like any young woman of today.” He says the Blessed Virgin Mary was “a normal girl, a girl of today …. normal, normally educated, open to marrying, to having a family. …. Then, after conceiving Jesus, [she was] still a normal woman. …. Nothing was exceptional in her life, [she was] a normal mother…”

The key to understanding this minimization of the Mother of God and ours is found in Liberation Theology’s Marxist-inspired egalitarianism.  The article explains what Francis meant by the “sin of the elite” and how this pertains to our Blessed Mother

The article explains in detail what this all means in terms of our Blessed Mother. 

For Pope Francis, nothing special happened in the life of the Blessed Mother: “Then, after conceiving Jesus, [she was] still a normal woman. …. Nothing was exceptional in her life.”

Nothing exceptional! Really? For Mary Most Holy to continue life as the Most Beloved Daughter of God the Father, Most Admirable Mother of God the Son, and Most Faithful Spouse of God the Holy Ghost—the titles Saint Louis de Montfort lists in True Devotion to Mary—is not something exceptional? Is being part of the Holy Family with her Divine Son and Saint Joseph, following Jesus’s preaching and interceding with Him to obtain the miracle at the wedding at Cana, to participate in His Passion and Death at the feet of the Cross as our co-redemptrix, to be the Immaculate Conception, the Mediatrix of All Graces, our Advocate, Mother of the Church, and Queen of Angels and Saints, is there nothing exceptional in all this? All of it is just being a “normal woman”?

Read all the details at: https://www.tfp.org/pope-franciss-sin-of-the-elite-and-new-egalitarian-mariology/

What Abp. Vigano thinks of the FP’s antics:

“On the occasion of the Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Pope Bergoglio (sic) once again gave vent to his evident impatience with Mary, which evokes the impatience of the Serpent in the story of the Fall(!),in that Proto-Gospel that prophesies the radical enmity established by God between the Woman and the Serpent, and the declared hostility of the latter who, until the consummation of the world, will try to undermine the heel of the Woman and to triumph over her and her posterity. What the pontiff said is a manifest aggression toward the sublime prerogatives and attributes that make the Immaculate Ever-Virgin Mother of God the feminine complement to the mystery of the incarnate Word, intimately associated with Him in the Economy of Redemption.”

Viganò continued: “With a couple of jokes, he [Pope Francis] struck at the heart of the Marian dogmas, and of the Christological dogmas connected to it.”

And he added: “The Marian dogmas are the seal affixed to the Catholic truths of our faith, defined in the Councils of Nicaea, Ephesus and Chalcedon; they are the unbreakable bulwark against the Christological heresies and against the furious unleashing of the Gates of Hell. Those who ‘hybridize’ and profane them [that is, these Marian dogmas] show that they are on the side of the Enemy. Attacking Mary is attacking Christ himself. Attacking the Mother is rising up against the Son and rebelling against the very mystery of the Holy Trinity. The Immaculate Theotokos, ‘terrible as hosts and unfolded banners’ — acies ordinata (‘terrible as an army drawn up in battle array,’ Song of Songs 6:9) — will give battle to save the Church and will destroy the army of the Enemy who, released from the chains that held him, has declared war on her, and with his defeat, all the demonic pachamamas will return definitively to hell.”

Read it all here https://insidethevatican.com/news/newsflash/letter-65-2019-vigano-on-francis-and-mary/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoLaf7NXf5gIVgZWPCh1fiA3vEAAYASAAEgLwsfD_BwE

All this makes true Catholics very sad. It is almost too painful to bear.

Would you be surprised to hear that this is only the beginning? That the Hail Mary prayer will no longer be heard in Churches? References to her will be frowned upon? That Our Lady will be forgotten about and despised? Well it seems that the False prophet (pope) already despises her as is evident by the some of the claims listed above; and how he manages to do something awful on her feastdays, how he calls people who pray the rosary Rosary counters”. He is already displacing our dearest Mother with “Mother Earth/Pachamama”. He installed these pagan idols in a church dedicated to Our Lady and daily prayers were being offered to them (before they were taken and thrown into the River Tiber). Marian places and shrines are already disapproved of – e.g. Garabandal, Medjugorje, Fatima is ignored by most bishops and priests.

Message from the Book of Truth, dated 12 February 2014 @ 10:45pm

Mother of Salvation: Soon, the “Hail Mary” prayer will not be heard inside or outside of my Son’s Church

“My child, just as my Son’s Image, His Word and His Promise to come again will be ignored and then eradicated, so also will every reference to me, your beloved Mother be. 

Soon, the “Hail Mary” prayer will not be heard inside or outside of my Son’s Church. Much disapproval will be shown to those who visit my holy Shrines and Marian groups will be criticised for many reasons, all without cause. Any admission regarding the authenticity of apparitions involving me, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, will not be heard. All references to me will soon be frowned upon by a newly revamped shell of my Son’s Church on Earth. Devotions to me will be stopped in many churches, under the newly appointed regime to be introduced in the future. I will be forgotten about and then despised, by those who will claim to represent a new modern, all-inclusive church, which will bear little resemblance to the Church created upon the Rock, by my Son’s beloved apostle Peter. 

When you see all devotions to me, the Holy Mother of God, dealt with in this way please be aware that these new rules will be at the behest of the evil one. The evil one despises me, just as much as he is frightened by me. He knows that devotion to me, by souls, keeps his evil ways at bay and that the recital of my Most Holy Rosary scourges him and renders him powerless. Those days ahead will have to be faced by those who love me and there will come a time when the Church’s association with my Shrines will be cut off. When that happens, you will know that this will be to separate God’s children from my influence, which in those times will be necessary, if I am to help you draw towards my Son.

My role is to prepare you for the Great Day of my Son’s Second Coming. I intend to continue to call out to my children, until that Day arrives. I only desire to bring souls before my Son, so that He can give them Eternal Salvation. It is all about the salvation of souls, but every effort will be made by the evil one to prevent this from happening.

Your beloved Mother

Mother of Salvation”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thoughts for the 7th Day of Christmas: St Francis’ devotion to Baby Jesus

AM+DG

St. Francis of Assisi had a special devotion to the Child Jesus, and he is credited with creating the first nativity scene on Christmas Eve of the year 1223.

THE FIRST NATIVITY SCENE

St. Francis recreated the scene of Christ’s birth in a special ritual and Mass he held inside of a cave in Greccio, Italy, inviting both his fellow friars and the townspeople to join in the celebration.

Later he told a friend why he desired to create the first nativity scene in his town:

“I want to do something that will recall the memory of that Child who was born in Bethlehem, to see with bodily eyes the inconveniences of his infancy, how he lay in the manger, and how the ox and ass stood by.”

He set up an empty manger (the feeding trough of farm animals which served as Jesus’ crib) inside a cave, and even included a live ox and donkey beside the manger just as it was believed to have happened on that first Christmas night. Through these visual aids he wanted everyone to impress more deeply into their understanding how Christ came into the world in such poverty and simplicity. 

It is also said that St. Francis—who was radically devoted to the virtue of evangelical poverty—was inspired to recreate the original nativity scene to overcome the rampant greed and materialism prevalent at that time in Italy.

St. BONAVENTURE TELLS THE STORY

St. Bonaventure (1221 – 1274), a follower and contemporary of St. Francis, has given us a complete account of the night of the first live nativity scene:

“It happened in the third year before his death, that in order to excite the inhabitants of Grecio to commemorate the nativity of the Infant Jesus with great devotion, [St. Francis] determined to keep it with all possible solemnity; and lest he should be accused of lightness or novelty, he asked and obtained the permission of the sovereign Pontiff. Then he prepared a manger, and brought hay, and an ox and an ass to the place appointed.

The brethren were summoned, the people ran together, the forest resounded with their voices, and that venerable night was made glorious by many and brilliant lights and sonorous psalms of praise.”

St. Bonaventure goes on to talk about St. Francis of Assisi’s personal devotion to the Baby Jesus that sparked this event:

“The man of God [St. Francis] stood before the manger, full of devotion and piety, bathed in tears and radiant with joy; the Holy Gospel was chanted by Francis, the Levite of Christ. Then he preached to the people around the nativity of the poor King; and being unable to utter His name for the tenderness of His love, He called Him the Babe of Bethlehem.”

https://www.getfed.com/story-francis-assisi-first-navity-scene-5955/

 

 

 

Thoughts for the Sixth Day of Christmas: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen on the Meaning of Christmas

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Born to die: An excerpt from Abp. Fulton J. Sheen’s “Life of Christ.”

[E]very other person who ever came into this world came into it to live. He came into it to die. Death was a stumbling block to Socrates — it interrupted his teaching. But to Christ, death was the goal and fulfillment of His life, the gold that He was seeking. Few of His words or actions are intelligible without reference to His Cross. He presented Himself as a Savior rather than merely as a Teacher. It meant nothing to teach men to be good unless He also gave them the power to be good, after rescuing them from the frustration of guilt.

The story of every human life begins with birth and ends with death. In the Person of Christ, however, it was His death that was first and His life that was last. …

The manger and the Cross thus stand at the two extremities of the Savior’s life! He accepted the manger because there was no room in the inn; He accepted the Cross because men said, “We will not have this man for our king.” Disowned upon entering, rejected upon leaving, He was laid in a stranger’s stable at the beginning, and a stranger’s grave at the end. An ox and an ass surrounded His crib at Bethlehem; two thieves were to flank His Cross on Calvary. He was wrapped in swaddling bands in His birthplace, He was again laid in swaddling clothes in His tomb — clothes symbolic of the limitations imposed on His Divinity when He took a human form. …

He was already bearing His Cross — the only cross a Babe could bear, a cross of poverty, exile and limitation. His sacrificial intent already shone forth in the message the angels sang to the hills of Bethlehem:

     This day, in the city of David
        A Savior has been born for you,
     The Lord Christ Himself. (Luke 2:11)

http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/12/21/born-to-die-archbishop-fulton-j-sheen-on-the-meaning-of-christmas/

Thoughts for the Fifth Day of Christmas: St John Henry Newman and the Lesson of Joy

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(continued from yesterday’s post: Thoughts for the Fourth Day of Christmas)

The second lesson is that of joy, as Newman relates.

“Fear not,” said the Angel, “for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” And then, when he had finished his announcement, suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.”

Such were the words which the blessed Spirits who minister to Christ and His Saints, spoke on that gracious night to the shepherds, to rouse them out of their cold and famished mood into great joy; to teach them that they were objects of God’s love as much as the greatest of men on earth; nay more so, for to them first He had imparted the news of what that night was happening. His Son was then born into the world. Such events are told to friends and intimates, to those whom we love, to those who will sympathize with us, not to strangers.

How could Almighty God be more gracious, and show His favor more impressively to the lowly and the friendless, than by hastening (if I may use the term) to confide the great, the joyful secret to the shepherds keeping watch over their sheep by night?

Christmas is a day of great joy, one in which the poor and lowly of the world are lifted up and become heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven. No matter our social status in the world, God loves us and calls us back to himself.

This is the great joy of Christmas, which all the world can partake in.

https://aleteia.org/2018/12/11/2-powerful-lessons-we-can-learn-from-christmas-according-to-blessed-john-henry-newman/

Thoughts for the Fourth Day of Christmas: St John Henry Newman and the Lesson of Lowliness

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St. John Henry Newman wrote in a sermon:

There are two principal lessons which we are taught on the great Festival which we this day celebrate, lowliness and joy … So that we have on the Feast of the Nativity these two lessons—instead of anxiety within and despondence without, instead of a weary search after great things—to be cheerful and joyful; and, again, to be so in the midst of those obscure and ordinary circumstances of life which the world passes over and thinks scorn of.”

Newman explained these two lessons in light of a passage from Luke where the angels bring “good tidings of great joy” to the lowly shepherds.

“Why should the heavenly hosts appear to these shepherds? What was it in them which attracted the attention of the Angels and the Lord of Angels? Were these shepherds learned, distinguished, or powerful? Were they especially known for piety and gifts?

Nothing is said to make us think so. Faith, we may safely say, they had, or some of them, for to him that hath more shall be given; but there is nothing to show that they were holier and more enlightened than other good men of the time, who waited for the consolation of Israel.

Nay, there is no reason to suppose that they were better than the common run of men in their circumstances, simple, and fearing God, but without any great advances in piety, or any very formed habits of religion.

Why then were they chosen? For their poverty’s sake and obscurity. Almighty God looks with a sort of especial love, or (as we may term it) affection, upon the lowly … To men so circumstanced the Angel appeared, to open their minds, and to teach them not to be downcast and in bondage because they were low in the world. He appeared as if to show them that God had chosen the poor in this world to be heirs of His kingdom, and so to do honor to their lot.”

“Fear not,” he said, “for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

This lesson of lowliness works in tandem with the words of Jesus, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

God chose not to come as a rich king, riding triumphantly into Jerusalem, but as a poor man, born in an obscure place with no pomp and circumstance to accompany him.

He is a God of the poor and lowly, choosing to raise up those who have fallen.

 

Source:

2 Powerful lessons we can learn from Christmas, according to Blessed John Henry Newman