Tag: persecution

“How it tore me apart when I had to witness His persecution.”

AM+DG

Mother of God: my Son’s Body was torn to shreds

23 March 2013 @ 11:45pm; Message 0739

My child, many do not understand my role as Co-Redemptrix. Nor do they know why this is so.

When I accepted the call to become the Mother of God, I was bound to the Covenant of God’s Salvation for humanity.

When I bore my Son, I felt the same love, which any mother would have for their child. This pure, beautiful little boy was part of me, my own flesh and blood. Yet, I was also aware that He was not just any child. His Spirit entered my soul as soon as I set eyes on Him. He and I were entwined as one, where I felt every Emotion, Joy, Pain and the Love, which coursed through Him. I also knew that He was Divine and that I was, as such, merely His servant, although He never made me feel like so.

As a baby, he would lay His Divine Head close to my chest and murmur words of Love with such emotion that it would fill my Heart and I felt like it would burst with happiness. He, this little child of mine, became all that I lived for. Every touch filled me with such unbelievable tenderness and joy. All those who saw Him, even as a baby, would tell me how special He was. His piercing Eyes would stir their souls and many did not know why.

This special bond between me and my beloved Son could never be broken. I knew that I had been born only so that I could become His Mother. This role was the only reason for my being.

And so, to His every need I responded, and He, with such Love and Compassion, put all my needs before His. His desires were always met by me, His Mother, His humble servant.

When He was not believed to be the Son of man, when He proclaimed the Truth and did as His Father desired, I cried bitter tears. How it tore me apart when I had to witness His persecution.

I endured His pain, not just as any mother would – were they to see pain inflicted on their child – His pain became mine, and mine, His.

They forced Him to walk, hands bound in front with ropes around His Waist, which meant He could walk – only with a shuffle, and a little at a time. While the Cross was thrown upon His torn and shattered Body, my pain was so excruciating, that I fainted continuously.

7Sorrows BVMMy pain was not just physical; my sorrow pierced my Heart and tore it into two. To this day, my Heart is entwined with that of my Son, and so, during Holy Week, I relive the pain, torment and persecution with my Son all over again.

Children, to explain the savagery inflicted upon my Son would be impossible for you to fathom; so vicious was the scourging. My Son’s Body was torn to shreds.

Never forget that He was the Son of man, sent to redeem every soul on earth, including those alive in the world today. He died in terrible agony, in order to save each and every one of you today. His Suffering did not end on Calvary. It will still be endured, by Him, until the Great Day of His Second Coming.

Those who ignore these warnings from Heaven are free to do so. They will not be judged because of this rejection.  But, as they move further away from the Truth of these revelations from Heaven, they will be tempted into sin.  The sins which they will be tempted with, will be those which will be declared no longer to be sin by those enemies in my Son’s Church on earth.

Thank you, children, for opening your minds, your hearts and souls to this call from Heaven, sent to you because of the Love, which God holds for all of His children.

Your beloved Mother

Mother of Salvation

“Their goal is one of power and control over you, … Start preparing for your future survival now…”

AM+DG

Russia & China to cause disruption

01 May 2011 @ 9:00pm; Message 0077

My dearly beloved daughter, tell the world that preparations are now underway to prepare souls for the New Paradise on Earth, which I have promised.

The date for My Second Coming on Earth is not for your knowing. Be assured though that My promises will always be fulfilled. No one can stop My great Act of Mercy to redeem mankind. Satan does not have this power. He, the deceiver, is to be destroyed, My daughter, and cannot survive. His time is very short now. I warn those who follow him through sin, that they have few chances remaining to redeem themselves. They must turn away now from sin if they want to be saved. Those of you followers who may have a family member or special friend who are following a path of sin, then it is your duty to try and open their eyes to the Truth.

Prepare now to avoid taking the mark of the beast
Many events both on Earth and in the Heavens are now about to take place, which will turn the course of history. Prepare, all of you, during this time. I have told you before that money will be scarce so please try to prepare your families for survival, so you won’t have to accept the mark. Please do not ignore My pleas.

Prayer Groups are vital now to protect yourselves and save the world from the persecution of global – political, banking and so-called human rights’ organisations.Their goal is one of power and control over you, My children, although many of you cannot see this. You will though in time. And that time is close. Start preparing for your future survival now and keep in prayer, for I will offer My special graces for protection to all of you.Please do not be frightened for all that will really matter will be your allegiance to Me.

As the One World Order takes control of the Middle East, you will be astonished at how many countries will be under their control, how many innocent souls will believe that these new regimes will offer them freedom. But this will not be the case.

Russia & China to cause disruption
Watch now as Russia and China become the third entity to cause disruption. Very soon now, those of you who have given control of your countries to faceless groups who treat you like puppets,will soon see the sinister groups these political forces, not of God, try to dictate how you live.Defend yourselves through prayer. Every day and every hour I will ease your suffering. Receive Me in the Holy Eucharist and you will gain a strength that will sustain you to extraordinary levels during this persecution.

I, Jesus Christ, do not wish to cause panic in your lives. But I cannot stand to the side and not warn you of these events. Out of My Mercy, I Am giving you a chance to prepare; not just for your spiritual welfare, but for the livelihoods of your families. To avoid the mark, please prepare carefully.

The Warning, will without question, ease any such persecutions, because so many will be converted.Pray, pray now for all global conversion, and to dilute any torment that will evolve during the reign of the antichrist and the false prophet.

Your beloved Saviour
Jesus Christ

https://missionofsalvation.com/Message-0077/

“The time for the Truth to be seen for what it is, including the good and the bad, is close. And then nothing will hurt you again.”

AM+DG

JtM Crusade Prayer Meeting Mon. 12th Sept. 2022

Prayer Theme: Discipleship (Groups A and E)
Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 11
Book of Truth: 21st Feb. 2014

In the readings we opened up today, it seems that they both are about what it means to be a disciple, and the suffering which comes with it. The Bible Reading is from St Paul. Both readings  today (Bible and Book of Truth) focus on the virtue of love. The readings align directly with our theme today. Thank you Jesus for being with us and guiding us.

Reading from the Bible

2 Corinthians 11: 16-33

Paul’s Boast: His Labors.

16 I repeat, no one should consider me foolish;but if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
17 What I am saying I am not saying according to the Lord but as in foolishness, in this boastful state.
18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.
19 For you gladly put up with fools, since you are wise yourselves.
20 For you put up with it if someone enslaves you, or devours you, or gets the better of you, or puts on airs, or slaps you in the face.
21 To my shame I say that we were too weak!

But what anyone dares to boast of (I am speaking in foolishness) I also dare.

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I am talking like an insane person.) I am still more, with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, far worse beatings, and numerous brushes with death.
24 Five times at the hands of the Jews I received forty lashes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I passed a night and a day on the deep;
26 on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers;
27 in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights, through hunger and thirst, through frequent fastings, through cold and exposure.
28 And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led to sin, and I am not indignant?

Paul’s Boast: His Weakness.
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus knows, he who is blessed forever, that I do not lie.
32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus, in order to seize me,
33 but I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

Reading from the Book of Truth

When God permits the persecution of the Christians and the Jews, it is for good reason

21 February 2014 @ 6:00pm; Message 1054
My dearly beloved daughter, man is a vulnerable and weak creature, but he is a child of God. Because of a deep ingrained sense of preservation, man will do everything that he needs to do in order to survive. In times of great physical suffering the shards of strength within him will become more pronounced. Great strength will usually be seen in the weak, the hungry, the physically afflicted, the persecuted and those who suffer at the hands of bigots. It is the weakest amongst you, who will become the strongest and those who think they are the strongest will become the weakest.

I Am dividing the weak, the meek, the humble and the righteous, from those who exalt themselves and who pay lip service to My Teachings, but who curse others in their hearts. I Am now separating the wheat from the chaff and because of this, every man’s faith will be tested, until he or she is taken to the brink. I include all of those who do not believe in God, those who reject the True God and those who have given their hearts over to My enemy – the evil one. Every soul will be given equal status before Me and every Grace will be given to those who do not embrace Me at this time.

The world will be tested by the state of the love each person has for others, which is a true reflection and measurement of their love for God. Your time is limited and to enable you to endure this journey of penance, you must accept that God’s prophets simply declare His Will, only so that you will become His in flesh and in spirit. Do not resist the Hand of God. Rejoice, because the trials, which are being permitted by My Father, will bring about a great unification of His Two Witnesses on Earth – the Christians and the Jews – and from these two will yield a great conversion. When God permits the persecution of the Christians and the Jews, it is for good reason. Because of what they will have to endure, where no confusion will mar their joy, when they finally recognize the Truth. 

The time for the Truth to be seen for what it is, including the good and the bad, is close. And then nothing will hurt you again. There will be no more separation from God. Love will finally conquer all. Love is God and His Reign is for eternity. There will be no more hatred, for it will be dead.

Your Jesus

https://missionofsalvation.com/Message-1054/

 

 

 

“I now prepare to gather all of My children … away from the terrible abyss of suffering they have had to endure..” “

AM+DG

God the Father: As the Father of all humanity I Am ready to send My Son to reclaim His Rightful Throne

28 April 2012 @ 3:40pm; Message 0408

My daughter, these months have been a difficult time, not only for you, but for all of My beloved children.

I Am the Father of Creation and Love, with a deep passion for each child of Mine, no matter how they offend Me.

There is so much preparation required to help prepare souls for the Coming of My beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Much of humanity is suffering at this time because of persecution. This persecution not only consists of poverty and lack of money, but hunger of spirit.

As the Father of all humanity, I Am ready to send My Son back to reclaim His Rightful Throne.

Only I know of this time. Not even My Son is aware of the date.

I can tell you it will be soon and that most of this generation, alive in the world today, will live for the Day of My Son’s Return in Great Glory.

I now prepare to gather all of My children as I take them away from the terrible abyss of suffering they have had to endure in the wilderness.

This wilderness was created by the hand of Lucifer and all his fallen angels who have roamed the Earth since the fall of Adam and Eve.

Today, many of My children find it impossible to believe in Me, God their Creator and Father.

I have blessed My children with intelligence and an independent free will where they can choose whatever way they decide to live their lives.

To guide them towards My Kingdom I gave them the Ten Commandments, which are cast in stone.

They have never changed, yet My children feel they were smarter than they are and created new meanings, which are unacceptable to Me.

This time for the end of the reign of all of the demons cast out and who flood the Earth, is almost at an end.

I call out to all My children to listen. Your time on Earth, as you know it, is drawing to an end.

Yet there is a new Earth, a New Paradise waiting for you.

It will surpass anything you could ever imagine and it has been prepared for some time, with love for every single man, woman and child.

At last I will unite all of My precious family and we will all live in harmony, peace, love and joy for eternity.

For those who refuse to enter the New Paradise I will do everything in My Power to stop you from turning your back on the inheritance, which is rightfully yours.

Because of the Gift of your free will, which I will never take away from you, the choice is yours.

All it takes is a turn of your head and the opening of your heart.

Then you must run into My Arms, so I can take you home.

This is My dearest and most treasured wish, to take all of My cherished children home to the rightful place to which they belong.

Your Loving Father

God the Most High

Of Jesus’ Final Mission to save souls, of Persecution and Suffering.

AM+DG

Persecution and Suffering are part of this Mission. Prophets who are tolerated do not seem to suffer persecution. It especially is difficult when it comes from God’s Sacred Servants who simply want to protect their flock. The evil one uses those who are close to God to unwittingly attack the Mission and His prophet.

It is the same as in the secular world. The truth is hidden, and denied, and we are attacked – our health, our livelihoods, and our freedoms. And it is done through those we chose to govern us, and our doctors and nurses,who have taken on board the lies fed to them and dressed up as truth.

Please pray first and foremost for our priests, for we need them to give us the Sacraments – to sustain our souls. We need them to lead us through these end times; not to lead us astray, by denying the people whom God has sent to proclaim His Love and Protection and has lovingly sent to warn us of what lies ahead.

Please pray that our priests are humble, and are given the grace of discernment, and that Satan’s cohort does not succeed in manipulating them to persecute God’s children.

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God the Father: Fear you, those who stand up and curse My Son

25 August 2013 @ 6:00pm; Message 0888

… . Those who love Me will endure, with patience, the persecution they face and will continue to endure, because this is My Desire.

Those who persecute you, My dear little one, because you continue to proclaim the Holy Word of My Son, must know this. If you demonise My Son, I will punish you. If you demonise His Most Holy Word and then say that you are a child of God, I will cast you into the wilderness. Nothing will prevent My prophet from completing this Mission. Nothing. Try as you will, you will fail, for you will be fighting a war which you will never win. My Almighty Power cannot be touched, tampered with or challenged. Challenge My Divine Intervention to save the world and you will feel My Wrath. You will be destroyed. Fear you, those who stand up and curse My Son. Your pride and your disobedience will be your downfall. I have warned, through the prophets of old, the consequences of ignoring My Voice.

I now move forward to finalise the beginning of the final onslaught upon humanity. I have permitted the final battle to take place. I have given the evil one the last chance to infest those who are drawn to him. I do this so that by the Mercy of My Son, souls will defy the beast. They will do this because of their loyalty to My Son. Those, who do not know Me or My Son, will be given great Graces so that they will accept salvation. All salvation is by the Power of My Mercy. Only those stubborn hardened hearts will remain loyal to the beast. I will pull all the others towards Me. I will ensure that every chance will be given to every soul, so that they can redeem themselves, before My Son, before the final day.

This Final Mission has been created in Heaven since the beginning. All the angels and saints work in union to bring all of My children back to e, their beloved Father. The final journey is now. All who walk with My Son, stay close to Him at this time. You will not be able to endure this painful journey unless you listen to what He tells you. Do not be swayed by those who will work day and night to force you to turn your back. If you allow this to happen you will find it very difficult to pick yourself up again.

You are nothing without My Son. You are nothing without Me. Until you surrender all and follow the Truth, you will never find it.

Attempt to prevent the Truth from being given to the world by Me, your Creator and I will strike you down and your weeping will be of no consolation. I will cast the proud and arrogant, who believe that they know more than Me, into the wilderness. You will not succeed when you defy My Word and deny My Presence when I try to save you.

Ungrateful man, you have little time left. By listening to Me, you can come to Me, but you can only do this when you crawl on your face and fall in humility before My Son. My Mission has reached a very dangerous phase as every effort will be made by those who are My enemies to tear it apart. This may seem to happen, but know that those enemies of Mine have very little time and soon, when My Patience has been expended, they will be no more, for they will never see My Face.

Your Father

God the Most High

https://missionofsalvation.com/message-0888/

P.S. Please pray for us also that we have the courage we need in difficult times.

“I Am Present in every single soul who has to endure pain and anguish.”

AM+DG

Pain, persecution, suffering, ridicule and mockery will always be the lot of those chosen souls of God

29 November 2013 @ 4:45pm; Message 0978

My dearly beloved daughter, when you question why I, Jesus Christ, would allow suffering in the world, then you should understand the Will of God. Many people suffer in the world and always have done so. Suffering is caused because of the fact that sin creates division amongst men. Sin separates man from God and as such, man will sin against man. I allow suffering because it brings souls closer to Me, through the purification which such souls endure. I do not delight in suffering. Instead, I Am Present in every single soul who has to endure pain and anguish. It is the Will of God that certain souls suffer more than others, because it will be through such victims that other souls, who are less deserving of My Mercy, can be saved.

I suffered willingly, during My Passion but My Pain and Humility defeated much of the power of Satan. Satan can never humble himself, because this is impossible. And so it is through humility, which ensues from the pain of suffering, that souls can dilute his power over others. Pain, persecution, suffering, ridicule and mockery will always be the lot of those chosen souls of God. Such souls are closest to Me and I will use this sacrifice of theirs to draw those other souls, who are most in need of My Mercy, into the refuge of salvation.

This lesson is very difficult for all of you who love Me and it may seem unfair. But know that suffering brings you even closer to Me and that it will yield for you Eternal Life with Me in Paradise. Never blame God for the suffering in the world, for it was caused, in the first instance, by the downfall of the human race, when God’s children succumbed to the sin of pride. 

Pride is the root of all sin and it is the cause of much of the suffering in the world. Pride leads to every other sin and this then creates division in the world and a lack of justice. Be assured that very soon the world will finally understand the true meaning of the Will of God. By then, the will of man will bow in deference to the Holy Will of My Father. Until that day comes, when man rids himself of pride and humbles himself before the Lord God, the Most High, there can be no end to suffering.

When the world finally accepts the Truth and the Promise made by Me to come again, I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. I will raise the living and the dead in glory and they will reign in great splendour in the New Heaven and the New Earth, when the two will become one in Me. When you endure suffering, be at peace, as it will end soon.

Your Jesusersecution

https://missionofsalvation.com/Message-0978/

“My Heart heaves at this time, for there is great hatred being shown to those who are practicing Christians.”

AM+DG

Jesus to Mankind Crusade Prayer Meeting on Wed. 1st March 2022

Prayer Theme: Protection    (Groups A&C)

Bible: Wisdom of Ben Sirach 22: 11-28

Book of Truth: 2 Nov. 2013

Reading from the Bible

The Wise and Foolish: A Contrast

11 Those who keep the Law control their thoughts;

perfect fear of the Lord is wisdom.

12 One who is not clever can never be taught,

but there is a cleverness filled with bitterness.

13 The knowledge of the wise wells up like a flood,

and their counsel like a living spring.

14 A fool’s mind is like a broken jar:

it cannot hold any knowledge at all.

15 When the intelligent hear a wise saying,

they praise it and add to it.

The wanton hear it with distaste

and cast it behind their back.

16 A fool’s chatter is like a load on a journey,

but delight is to be found on the lips of the intelligent.

17 The views of the prudent are sought in an assembly,

and their words are taken to heart.

18 Like a house in ruins is wisdom to a fool;

to the stupid, knowledge is incomprehensible chatter.

19 To the senseless, education is fetters on the feet,

like manacles on the right hand.

20 Fools raise their voice in laughter,

but the prudent at most smile quietly.

21 Like a gold ornament is education to the wise,

like a bracelet on the right arm.

22 A fool steps boldly into a house,

while the well-bred are slow to make an entrance.

23 A boor peeps through the doorway of a house,

but the educated stay outside.

24 It is rude for one to listen at a door;

the discreet person would be overwhelmed by the disgrace.

25 The lips of the arrogant talk of what is not their concern,

but the discreet carefully weigh their words.

26 The mind of fools is in their mouths,

but the mouth of the wise is in their mind.

27 When the godless curse their adversary,

they really curse themselves.

28 Slanderers sully themselves,

and are hated by their neighbors.

Reading from the Book of Truth

The greatest persecution will be inflicted by Christians upon Christians

2 November 2013 @ 8:30pm; Message 0956
My dearly beloved daughter, I must urge all of God’s children to join in union and pray for My Church on Earth.

My Heart heaves at this time, for there is great hatred being shown to those who are practicing Christians. The persecution of Christians will continue in all countries and this includes all those who have, at this time, the freedom to practice their homage to Me. The greatest persecution will be inflicted by Christians upon Christians. The scourging of My Body on Earth will be at its worst from within, as brother will turn against brother and sister against sister. You will soon see the declaration of the new prayers, which will be introduced by the new liturgy.

The main changes will refer to the Holy Communion, where it will be presented as something, which bears little resemblance to My death on the Cross, when I gave up My Body for all sinners. By declaring that Holy Communion means the joining together of all of humanity, as one before God, you will insult Me, because this would be contrary to the Truth. The Truth no longer means the Truth, because so many spread lies, exaggerate and do not understand how easily the Truth can be tampered with. When twisted, in a subtle way, many will not notice the changes, when the Truth is not adhered to. Lies will take the place of the Truth, divide the human race and create the separation from God, which will lead to destruction.

Always cherish the Truth, because without it the sun will darken, the moon will no longer present light when night falls and the stars will no longer shine in those days which will signal the final darkness, before I come to reclaim My Kingdom.

By then, only the Truth will save you.

Your Jesus

A Mother’s Love to comfort and guide us.

AM+DG

Mother of Salvation: The Crusade Prayer Groups will save billions of souls

10 March 2013 @ 6:00pm; Message 0726

My dear child, at this time you will feel even more alone and isolated as the Holy Word of God roars aloud to warn humanity of the need to prepare their souls.

Children, it is now that you need to ask My beloved Son to sustain your courage during the dark days, months and years, which lie ahead of you. You must rejoice because so many souls, inspired by the Holy Spirit, have responded to the call of My Son, Jesus Christ. He loves you all so much that it brings tears of joy to me, His beloved Mother. How He will spread His Mercy is beyond your understanding and He will draw, even those who despise Him, close to His Heart.

Not long now will it be before His great Second Coming, so you must give Glory to God. To prepare you must receive Reconciliation as often as possible and continue to pray for souls.

While God is Almighty and His Glory will now be fully understood, when you bear witness to His Second Coming, you, His Remnant Army, must help Him in His plan to save humanity.

Crusade Prayer Group

The Crusade Prayer Groups will save billions of souls and, therefore, you must spread and multiply. God’s Graces are being poured out over all of His Children who participate in these prayer groups. They will be the armour, which will shield mankind from the persecution planned by the antichrist.

Never give up, children. Remain in a state of Grace at all times and continue to follow my Son’s instructions. He will never forsake you, so great is His Love for you.

Your beloved Mother

God the Father:”I now prepare to gather all of My children as I take them away from the terrible abyss of suffering …. This wilderness was created by the hand of Lucifer…”

AM+DG

God the Father: As the Father of all humanity I Am ready to send My Son to reclaim His Rightful Throne

28 April 2012 @ 3:40pm; Message 0408

My daughter, these months have been a difficult time, not only for you, but for all of My beloved children.

I Am the Father of Creation and Love, with a deep passion for each child of Mine, no matter how they offend Me.

There is so much preparation required to help prepare souls for the Coming of My beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Much of humanity is suffering at this time because of persecution. This persecution not only consists of poverty and lack of money, but hunger of spirit.

As the Father of all humanity, I Am ready to send My Son back to reclaim His Rightful Throne. Only I know of this time. Not even My Son is aware of the date.

I can tell you it will be soon and that most of this generation, alive in the world today, will live for the Day of My Son’s Return in Great Glory.

I now prepare to gather all of My children as I take them away from the terrible abyss of suffering they have had to endure in the wilderness.

This wilderness was created by the hand of Lucifer and all his fallen angels who have roamed the Earth since the fall of Adam and Eve.

Today, many of My children find it impossible to believe in Me, God their Creator and Father.

I have blessed My children with intelligence and an independent free will where they can choose whatever way they decide to live their lives.

To guide them towards My Kingdom I gave them the Ten Commandments, which are cast in stone.

They have never changed, yet My children feel they were smarter than they are and created new meanings, which are unacceptable to Me.

This time for the end of the reign of all of the demons cast out and who flood the Earth, is almost at an end.

I call out to all My children to listen. Your time on Earth, as you know it, is drawing to an end.

Yet there is a new Earth, a New Paradise waiting for you.

It will surpass anything you could ever imagine and it has been prepared for some time, with love for every single man, woman and child.

At last I will unite all of My precious family and we will all live in harmony, peace, love and joy for eternity.

For those who refuse to enter the New Paradise I will do everything in My Power to stop you from turning your back on the inheritance, which is rightfully yours.

Because of the Gift of your free will, which I will never take away from you, the choice is yours.

All it takes is a turn of your head and the opening of your heart.

Then you must run into My Arms, so I can take you home.

This is My dearest and most treasured wish, to take all of My cherished children home to the rightful place to which they belong.

Your Loving Father

God the Most High

https://missionofsalvation.com/Message-0408/

A Saint for our time: St Oliver Plunkett

AM+DG

St Oliver Plunkett

July 11th is the feastday of this great saint. it is not in the Traditional Mass hand Missal, but you will find it in the Supplement for Australia and New Zealand. This year the date was on Sunday – 7th Sunday after Pentecost. The priest’s homily really hit home . You will understand after reading his life story. (Irish Saints are often celebrated in Australia, I guess because the Faith in Australia was handed down to us by convict priests, who endured much hardship in doing so. The Catholic Faith was forbidden.)

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Basically, St Oliver Plunkett was born in Ireland in 1625. At the time, Ireland was under intense persecution. There had been no bishop for decades; priests were generally uneducated and had to say Mass in houses and wherever they could. He always wanted to be a priest, but at the time, it was too dangerous to travel. Up to 12,000 people had been killed in the uprisings and atrocities  in Ulster at this time.

Finally, he and a group of future seminarians, set off for Rome in 1647. To do this, he had to go to England, where Catholics were also hunted. It,  it was strictly forbidden for young men to travel to the continent to enter seminaries.(At the moment, we are in another lock-down, much worse than ever before – Churches are closed – there is only on-line streaming. Some of us are aware of at least 3 parishes which are ignoring the rules and Mass is continuing. Police are everywhere checking, and we are forbidden to go beyond out local area and less than 10 km from home. The Saint is an example to us.))

The perilous journey included being followed by 2 warships. After praying for deliverance, a storm came and fixed that problem. After that they were abducted by robbers and left penniless. Eventually he got to Rome, but he was a pauper student. The Irish College in Rome could not accept him straight away. He was a gifted student and eventually became Professor of Theology and later Professor of Apologetics or Controversies. After many years, when the problems in Ireland had eased a bit after Cromwell’s death, Rome appointed new bishops. He was chosen to be the Bishop of Armagh. Pope Clement IX stated that Oliver was the ideal candidate and he so declared his appointment.

His journey entailed going to London, where he passed himself off as a tourist. He also stayed for some time incognito in the Royal Palace under the protection of the confessor to Queen Catherine, who was a Catholic.But this was also dangerous, because there were agents looking for him. He remained there, unnoticed right under their noses.

He ended up staying for the entire winter because of the harsh weather conditions. During this time he met a priest who was previously an army officer. Oliver, subsequently adopted the disguise as Captain Browne, with wig, sword and pistols.

He finally arrived in Ireland in 1670. The viceroy was on the lookout for him, so he continued in disguise. The laws on the statute books were strongly anti-Catholic and it very often depended on the Viceroy or a local official or dignitary as to how strictly they were enforced. However, when a new Viceroy was installed, things became a little easier. In time, he became well liked and respected even by Protestant clergy. He managed to build Catholic schools,  and travelled around doing Confirmations (as there had not been a bishop for over 40 years).

St. Oliver was a diplomat, who astutely steered clear of politics, but he kept on good terms with many leading citizens, including the President of Ulster, who allowed him the use of his courtyard in Armagh for confirmation ceremonies and another who allowed him a public church with bells on estates, which were exempt from the jurisdiction of the royal ministers.

He worked hard in transforming the bad habits of many of the clergy, who were mostly uneducated, and had not had any authority in place to guide them. He ordained 100 priests, who knew how perilous it was to be a priest at the time.

In the end, it was rogue clergy who betrayed him. He was sent to England for trial (as in Ireland, the courts held him in good standing and many times allowed him to get off). In England, he was denied a defence counsel, but he disputed the right of the court to try him in England and he also drew attention to the criminal past of the witnesses.

He pleaded not guilty;  he asked for more time to produce his defence witnesses, but this was denied him. He was sentenced to hang, and to be drawn and quartered.

His reply to the sentence was ‘Deo Gratias”

Oliver’s trial, conviction and martyrdom in July 1681, was such an outrageous episode that it greatly discredited those who brought it about and the credibility of the plot and of its advocates collapsed completely thereafter. Lord Shaftesbury the principal promoter of the plot was arrested and imprisoned on the following day and another conpirator was arrested soon afterwards on a charge of perjury.

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There is much in St Oliver Plunkett’e life that we should take note of. The persecution of all  Catholics; the law which was anti-Catholic; priests who said Masses everywhere except in a church; the faithful who supported him; his disguises enabling him to do God’s work without being noticed; his hard work ethic; his dedication to study, Charity and  Good Works; his many sufferings and his joy. Despite all, there were many blessings from God and he was grateful to God. The people and priests who were able to visit him, hear his confession, and the way in which he received the things he needed to say Mass whilst locked away for months before his trial; his acceptance of the verdict; his forgiveness of his enemies…. He is indeed a saint for our times.

“Deo Gratias”

St Oliver Plunkett, pray for us and
pray for our priests and clergy.

 

Read more about his life adventures and sufferings at:

http://www.saintoliverplunkett.com/literature.html