Cdl. Burke Questions Sebelius' Catholicism

Cdl. Burke Questions Sebelius' Catholicism

New Translation

Holy, Smart & Bold

John Smeaton, SPUC director: Pope says Catholic Church obliged to protect value...

John Smeaton, SPUC director: Pope says Catholic Church obliged to protect value...: Pope Benedict made many important pro-life statements yesterday in his address to the new German ambassador  - do read the whole address be...

Our Lady with us...

God Bless!
Steve and Ana Shawl
The Medjugorje Web
http://www.medjugorje.org
--------------------------------

October 02, 2011 Message to Mirjana

"Dear children; Also today my motherly heart calls you to prayer, to your personal relationship with God the Father, to the joy of prayer in Him. God the Father is not far away from you and He is not unknown to you. He revealed Himself to you through my Son and gave you Life that is my Son. Therefore, my children, do not give into temptations that want to separate you from God the Father. Pray! Do not attempt to have families and societies without Him. Pray! Pray that your hearts may be flooded with the goodness which comes only from my Son, Who is sincere goodness. Only hearts filled with goodness can comprehend and accept God the Father. I will continue to lead you. In a special way I implore you not to judge your shepherds. My children, are you forgetting that God the Father called them? Pray! Thank you."

Mirjana said: I have never said anything before, but are you aware, brothers and sisters, that the Mother of God was with us? Each of us should ask himself: "Are you worthy of this?" I am saying this because it is difficult for me to see Her (Our Lady) in pain, because each of us is seeking a miracle, but does not want to work a miracle in himself.

Christ of the Abyss, Christ of the Deep — Video « The Orate Fratres

Christ of the Abyss, Christ of the Deep — Video « The Orate Fratres

Even Demons Believe and Tremble – A Story about the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist | Archdiocese of Washington

Even Demons Believe and Tremble – A Story about the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist | Archdiocese of Washington

Holy Mary...Queen and Mother...

Come Holy Spirit...

May 13, 1994

"Come at the voice of your well-beloved Spouse who calls you. I am the heavenly Spouse of the Holy Spirit. As, through a singular design of the Father, I have become true Mother of the Son, so also have I become true Spouse of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has given Himself to my soul by an interior and true spousal union, and of this has been born the divine fruit of the virginal conception of the Word in my most pure womb.
The Spirit cannot resist the voice of the Spouse who calls to Him. And so unite yourselves, each and all, to me, my little children, in invoking today the gift of the Holy Spirit. Let your supplication become the prayer of these last times. Let your prayers be habitual, repeated frequently by you, because it has been taught to you and is being passionately demanded of you by your heavenly Mother: 'Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well-beloved Spouse.'"
--Anniversary of the 1st apparition at Fatima
To The Priests-Our Lady's Beloved Sons, MMP (2009);Locutions to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP [1973-97]: #521, pp.816-17

Prayer for Priests...

O Jesus, Eternal Priest, keep all Thy priests within the shelter of Thy Sacred Heart, where none may harm them. Keep unstained their anointed hands which daily touch Thy Sacred Body. Keep unsullied their lips
purpled with Thy Precious Blood. Keep pure and unearthly their hearts sealed with the sublime marks of Thy glorious priesthood. Let Thy holy love surround them and shield them from the world's contagion. Bless their labors with abundant fruit, and the souls to whom they have ministered here below their joy and consolation and in Heaven their beautiful and everlasting crown. Amen.
O Mary, Queen of the clergy, pray for us; obtain for us a number of holy priests.

Tongues of Fire...

June 4, 1995 Vacallo (Switzerland) "Tongues of fire will come down to enlighten and sanctify the Church,which is living through the dark hour of Calvary and being stricken in her pastors, wounded in the flock, abandoned and betrayed by her own, exposed to the impetuous wind of errors, pervaded with the loss of faith and with apostasy. The divine fire of the Holy Spirit will heal her of every malady, will purify her of every stain and every infidelity, will clothe her again in new beauty, will cover her with His splendor, in such a way that she may be able to find again all her unity and holiness, and will thus give to the world her full, universal and perfect witness to Jesus." "Tongues of fire will come down upon you all, my poor children, so ensnared and seduced by Satan and by all the evil spirits who, during these years, have attained their greatest triumph. And thus, you will be illuminated by this divine light, and you will see your own selves in the mirror of the truth and the holiness of God. It will be like a judgement in miniature, which will open the door of your heart to receive the great gift of Divine Mercy." "And then the Holy Spirit will work the new miracle of universal transformation in the heart and the life of all: sinners will be converted; the weak will find support; the sick will receive healing; those far away will return to the house of the Father; those separated and divided will attain full unity." "In this way the miracle of the second Pentecost will take place. It will come with the triumph of my Immaculate Heart in the world." "Only then will you see how the tongues of fire of the Spirit of Love will renew the whole world, which will become completely transformed by the greatest manifestation of Divine Mercy." --To The Priests-Our Lady's Beloved Sons, MMP (2009). Interior locutions to Fr. Stefano Gobbi [1972-97]; #546, p.860

Little Flower...

"I picture my soul as a patch of bare ground and I beg the Blessed Virgin to clear it from all rubbish (my imperfections) and then build there a vast pavilion fit for heaven and adorn it with her own jewels."
--St. Therese

The Most Blessed Sacrament...

“When God desired to give a food to our soul to sustain it in the pilgrimage of life, He looked upon creation and found nothing that was worthy of it. Then He turned again to Himself, and resolved to give Himself…O my soul, how great you are, since only God can satisfy you! The food of the soul is the body and blood of a God. O glorious food! The soul can feed only on God; only God can suffice it; only God can fill it; only God can satiate its hunger. Its God is absolutely necessary to “O my soul, bless this God, who is so great! Come often to this divine banquet to take your fill of justice and holiness. Those who refuse to sit at this banquet, or who partake of it only at long intervals, condemn themselves to certain death or to wasting away; for we cannot live without eating, nor enjoy vigorous health without eating frequently.”

“My God, how can it be that Christians actually remain so long without giving this food to their poor souls? They leave them to die of want.”

“They are close to this glorious Sacrament, like a person dying of thirst by the side of a river, when he has only to bend his head…like a person remaining in poverty with a treasury close beside his hand. “My God, what misery and blindness…when they have so many remedies for healing their souls, and such food for preserving their health!...Alas! let us sorrowfully admit that man begrudges nothing to a body which sooner or later will be destroyed and eaten by worms; while a soul created in the image of God, a soul which is immortal, is despised and treated with the utmost cruelty”…

“Tell me what it can profit you to leave your soul in so unhappy a state by depriving it of the food which alone can create strength and give it vigor. You are contented and at peace, you say…Is it because your soul in only awaiting the moment when death will strike it and drag it to hell? Is it because you are vegetating in mediocrity and tepidity?”


St. John Vianney

Cardinal Burke: suffering does not rid life of purpose :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Cardinal Burke: suffering does not rid life of purpose :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

I do not abandon you...

"I am always with you. I do not abandon you my children. My joy would be great, were I to know that all my children receive me in their hearts.
I await those who have not yet opened their eyes, those who leave the Mother of Christ's Love aside, without discovering that the Mother leads them toward Christ himself. Amen. Amen."--Our Lady at San Nicolas, Argentina [April 29, 1985];Messages of Our Lady at San Nicolas (1991), Faith Publishing Company, Milford, OH.
Imprimatur: Msgr. Domingo Salvador Castagna, Bishop of San Nicolas.

You are my God

Prayer from Fatima
My God, I believe, I adore, I hope in and I love You.
I ask You to pardon those who do not believe, adore, hope in and do not love you.

The Spiritual Testament of Fr. Stefano Gobbi — (March 22, 1930 – June 29, 2011) « The Orate Fratres

It is with sadness and Christian joy that I post this to all...especially to those who have been reading the excerpts from Fr. Gobi's book--To The Priests-Our Lady's Beloved Sons-- that I have posted on this blog site.
Faithful servant of Christ united to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, you have given us the messages of the Mother of God for the world with fidelity and trust.
Rest in peace, good and faithful servant!



The Spiritual Testament of Fr. Stefano Gobbi — (March 22, 1930 – June 29, 2011) « The Orate Fratres

Defended by the Angels...

"Make yourself familiar with the angels, and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen, they are present with you." --St. Frances de Sales



"The angels, the archangels and all the heavenly cohorts are united with you in the terrible battle against the Dragon and his followers. They are defending you against the snares of Satan and the many demons who have now been unleashed with furious and destructive frenzy upon every part of the world.
This is why I call upon you to entrust yourselves more and more to the angels of the Lord. Have an affectionate intimacy with them, because they are closer to you than your friends and dear ones.
Walk in the light of their invisible, but certain and precious, presence. They pray for you, walk at your side, sustain you in your weariness, console you in your sorrow, keep guard over your repose, take you by the hand and lead you gently along the road I have pointed out for you.
Pray to your guardian angels, and live out with trust and serenity the painful hours of purification.
Indeed, in these moments, heaven and earth are united in an extraordinary communion of prayer, of love and of action, at the orders of your heavenly Leader."
--To The Priests-Our Lady's Beloved Sons (2009, MMP). Locutions to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP. [Montevideo, Uruguay; September 29, 1981, #232, p.304].

Courage by Faith...

"I exhort you to be courageous now and always,
without becoming bewildered by difficulties, and always trusting in Him
who is your friend and Redeemer,
and watching and praying to keep your faith sound
and your grace lively."
--Pope John Paul II

Coming Persecution

What Crisis?

YouTube - ‪RealCatholicTV's Channel‬‏#p/u/0/Di538dp9SQk#p/u/0/Di538dp9SQk

YouTube - ‪RealCatholicTV's Channel‬‏#p/u/0/Di538dp9SQk#p/u/0/Di538dp9SQk

John Smea Monsignor Reilly teaches us "Unborn children should not die alone"

Please take a minute to read this article...those praying outside of these 'clinics of genocide', ever faithful to the Gospel--are powerful witnesses and intercessors for the babies, the mothers, and the practitioners of this evil...truly heaven hears their cries!


John Smeaton, SPUC director: Monsignor Reilly teaches us "Unborn children should not die alone"

Gate of Heaven...

May: The Month of Mary | Articles

The Pope and Obama

Whether we like it or not, the 2012 presidential election is off and running...please watch this video, be informed according to Catholic teaching and share this-- and your voice-- with friends, those who are lost, and those who would oppose Christ and the teachings of His Holy Catholic Church. In particular, we have an obligation to inform our Catholic brothers and sisters who voted in 2008 for this man. God calls all of us to obedience to the truth. And we, the faithful remnant have a great responsibility!
Pace Christi

The Sacrament of Reconciliation...

The Diary
of the Servant of God
Sister M. Faustina Kowalska

Perpetually Professed member
of the
Congregation of Sisters of
Our Lady of Mercy

NOTEBOOK VI

J.M.J.
Praise, O my soul,
The incomprehensible mercy of God.
May all be for His glory.

Cracow, February 10, 1938.


Today, the Lord said to me, Daughter, when you go to confession, to this fountain of My mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flow down upon your soul and ennobles it. Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself entirely in My mercy, with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of My grace upon your soul. When you approach the confessional, know this, that I myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity. The torrents of grace inundate humble souls. The proud remain always in poverty and misery, because My grace turns away from them to humble souls.

Jesus, call those who have fallen away to return to you, O Fountain of Mercy! Amen.

Your Refuge...

San Leonardo (Sardinia, Italy); June 11, 1994

"I open the door of my motherly Heart in order to have enter there all my children, exposed to many dangers, stricken by many sorrows, wearied by many battles, wounded by many defeats. In these difficult and painful years, I open, especially to my young people, the refuge of my Immaculate Heart. My motherly Heart thus becomes for you your secure refuge.
---It is your refuge, in which you take shelter from the grave and threatening dangers which surround you. The pagan society in which you live--a society which has denied its God, in order to build the idols of pleasure and money, of pride and egoism, of amusement and impurity--constitutes for you a grave danger of betraying your baptism and of violating the obligations which you have assumed before God and the Church.
In my Immaculate Heart you will be formed to the perfect glory of the Lord, through your promise of a life offered to Him, in the fulfillment of the Divine Will and in the observance of His Law.

My Immaculate Heart is your refuge. It is given to you precisely for these times of yours. Enter in, my dearly beloved children, and thus you will journey along the road which brings you to the God of salvation and peace.
My Immaculate Heart is your refuge, in which I gather you together, as in a new spiritual cenacle, to obtain for you the gift of the Holy Spirit, who would transform you into apostles of the second evangelization.
I am with you and am lighting up for you the way along which you must go. Today I look upon you with motherly tenderness, and, with all those who are dear to you, I bless you and encourage you to walk along the way of holiness and love, of purity and joy,"--To The Priests-Our Lady's Beloved Sons, MMP [2009]; Interior locutions to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP [1973-97]. #522, pp.817-18.

Sub Tuum Praesidium [We Turn to you for Protection]
We turn to you for protection, holy Mother of God.
Listen to our prayers, and help us in our needs.
Save us from every danger, glorious and blessed Virgin Mary...Amen

On the Feast of Divine Mercy....

November 5, 1934. One morning, when it was my duty to open the gate to let out our people who delivered baked goods, I entered the little chapel to visit Jesus for a minute and to renew the intentions of the day. Today, Jesus I offer You all my sufferings, mortifications and prayers for the intention of the Holy Father, so that He may approve the Feast of Mercy. But Jesus, I have one more word to say to You; I am very surprised that You bid me to talk about this Feast of Mercy, for they tell me that there is already such a feast and so why should I talk about it?
And Jesus said to me, "And who knows anything about this feast? No one! Even those who should be proclaiming My mercy and teaching people about it often do not know about it themselves. That is why I want the image to be solemnly blessed on the First Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it.
"Make a novena for the Holy Father's intention. It should consist of thirty-three acts; that is, repetition that many times of the short prayer - which I have taught you -to the Divine Mercy." -From the diary of St. Faustina

The devotion to this request by Our Lord Jesus was first, and for many years, met with indifference or, total neglect. This is not the case today. Divine Mercy Sunday is observed on the first Sunday after Easter...if your parish does not have a copy of the Divine Mercy front and center, so to speak, this coming Sunday--ask your priest why? Jesus has asked for this special day where he offers an outpouring of His Divine Mercy and grace on souls so disposed to receive Him. Hopefully, your priest will express the depths of Christ's Mercy always...and in particular on this day!

St. Bellarmine; Everything Hinges on the Resurection

This is also a great Catholic blog.

St. Bellarmine – Everything Hinges on the Resurection

Holy Saturday Meditation...

The Sabbath Which Is About to End [Holy Saturday, April 2, 1994]

"Spend this day with me, my beloved children, and open your hearts to hope. My Son Jesus rests today in his new sepulchre.
It is the only day when I remained without my Son.
It is the first day of my new and universal motherhood.
It is the day which precedes the greatest feast: Easter!

On this day we commemorate the departure of the Chosen People from the long slavery spent in Egypt. It is the passage of the Angel of the Lord, who strikes the first-born of the Egyptians and spares the houses of the Hebrews, marked with the blood of the lamb.
The true Lamb of God has now been immolated on the Cross. His blood has descended upon the houses of all and has redeemed the entire human race. The Lamb immolated for you now lies in His new sepulchre.
The Mother keeps watch in sorrow and in tears, in faith and in prayer, in love and in hope. This day has been dedicated by the Church to a special veneration of your heavenly Mother, because on it the tomb is transformed into a crib, in which humanity is placed, redeemed and now born to a new divine life.
My Immaculate Heart is opened to receive here each of my new children. The tears unfold into a smile, the sorrow into joy, the hope into the greatest certitude.
Within a few hours my Son Jesus will come forth triumphant from the sepulchre, Victor over sin and death.
This is the Sabbath which prepares the radiant day of the resurrection.
This is the sorrow which leads to joy.
This is the death which opens upon life
This is the Sabbath which is about to end.

Humanity, corrupted by sin, slave to Satan, wounded by evil, oppressed under the yoke of a great slavery, still lies in its sepulchre. The hour is drawing close when Jesus, who has risen and ascended to the right hand of the Father, will return to you on the clouds of heaven, in the splendor of His divine glory, thus bringing to perfect fulfillment the work of His redemption."

Our Holy Mother also communicated this message on Good Friday, April 1, 1994--

"The bright cross, which will extend from east to west and will appear in the heavens, will be the sign of the return of Jesus in glory.
The bright cross, will be transformed from a gibbet to a throne of His triumph, because Jesus will come upon it to establish His glorious reign in the world.
The bright cross, which will appear in the heavens at the end of the purification and the great tribulation, will be the door which opens the long and dark sepulchre in which humanity is lying, to lead it into the new reign of life which Jesus will bring with His glorious return."

Mary states, "the hour is drawing close...." Let us lift our eyes to heaven and pray for that bright cross "that will extend from east to west and will appear in the heavens...the sign of the return of Jesus in glory.
--Both messages are from--To The Priests- Our Lady's Beloved Sons, MMP (2009); Interior locutions to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP [1973-97]. #516, pp. 808-09; #515, p.807

Felix culpa...

"In Lent, the liturgy recalls the effect of Adam's sin in the life of man. Adam did not want to be a good son of God; he rebelled. But we also hear the echoing chant of that felix culpa: o happy fault, which the whole Church will joyfully intone at the Easter vigil.
Let us be happy. I am happy. I shouldn't be, looking at my life, making that personal examination of conscience which Lent requires. But I do feel happy, for I see that the Lord is seeking me again, that the Lord is still my Father. I know that you and I will surely see, with the light and help of grace, what things must be burned and we will burn them; what things must be uprooted and we will uproot them; what things have to be given up and we will give them up.
It's not easy. But we have a clear guide, which we should not and cannot do without. We are loved by God, and we will let the Holy Spirit act in us and purify us, so that we can embrace the Son of God on the cross, and rise with him, because the joy of the resurrection is rooted in the cross.
Mary, our Mother, "help of Christians, refuge of sinners": intercede with your Son to send us the Holy Spirit, to awaken in our hearts the decision to go ahead confidently, making us hear deep in our soul the call which filled with peace the martyrdom of one of the first Christians: "Come, return to your Father," he is awaiting you" [St. Ignatius of Antioch, Epistola ad Romanos, 7, 2 (pg. 5, 694):Veni ad Patrem.
--St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, Christ is Passing By, Homilies (1982), Four Courts Press Limited, Dublin, Ireland; The Conversion of the Children of God, [Homily given the first Sunday of Lent, March 2, 1952] pg. 94-95.

The Great Amen....

As we begin the Holy Week of Christ's Passion and death...let us hope in Him who is All in All....


YouTube - Jesus - Mary Did You Know Video - The Passion - Jesus video - Fanpop

Our Lady of La Salette

There is a seamless thread uniting the apparitions from La Salette, through those of more recent times--Fatima, Lourdes, Akita, Medjugorge, San Nicolas, Fr. Stefano Gobbi (MMP). All concern the need for repentance, fasting, daily prayer [in particular, the Holy Rosary], and each more urgent in content. During this season of Lent, I hope that a reading and meditation on this particular apparition may bring more to an understanding of what is needed for conversion. I would also add that it would be beneficial for those seeking daily conversion of heart and a deeper relationship with the Mother of Mercy to read and reflect on the subsequent apparitional messages. You will gain a keen awareness and understanding of the times in which we are now living--from heaven's perspective. And, she will bring you to an ever deeper love for her Divine Son--He Who is Mercy Itself,and His Church...God bless you!

Our Lady of La Salette

Hear My Call...a meditation

October 16, 1987


"My heart rejoices on seeing the children, who, after lying listlessly, awake to the voice of the Mother. Awaken my dears, because one day the Lord with His justice will arrive. Amen. Amen. Read: Is. 56:1."

*The Blessed Mother often asked in her messages for Gladys Quiroga de Motta to read and meditate on a particular part of Holy Scripture to encourage this humble, uneducated woman to knowledge of God and His Divine Revelation, so that she would have a clearer understanding of the messages.

--Messages of Our Lady at San Nicolas, Faith Publishing Company (1990).

Victory over Physical Death....

VATICAN CITY, April 10 (CNA/EWTN News) - The resurrection of Lazarus showed Christ’s victory over physical death, but Jesus' crucifixion defeated the “spiritual death” of sin, said Pope Benedict XVI at the Sunday Angelus.

Death, the Pope said, is like "a wall" that impedes man from seeing what lies beyond. "Our heart pushes out beyond this wall, and even if we cannot know what it hides, we still think about it, we imagine it, expressing ... our desire for eternity."

Christ, in his resurrection, destroyed this "wall of death," the Pope told those gathered in St. Peter’s Square. Sunday's Gospel reading from St. John recounted Jesus’ words to Martha in the moments before he raised her brother Lazarus from the dead.

Pope Benedict explained that Jesus proposed a complete "novelty" when he proclaimed himself "the resurrection and the life" and said "whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live."

This new conception of the resurrection "breaks down and goes beyond every barrier."

"Christ destroys the wall of death. In him dwells all the fullness of God, who is life, eternal life," the Pope said.

Christ had thus conquered physical death and Lazarus' resurrection was "a sign of his full dominion over (it)."

The "spiritual death" of sin, however, posed "the toughest fight" for Christ, who paid "the price of the cross" to defeat it.

"To conquer this death, Christ died, and his resurrection is not the return to the former life, but the opening to a new reality, a 'new earth,' finally joined together again with the heaven of God."

The Pope cited the words of St. Paul to the Romans, "If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit dwelling in you."

Each person, said the Pope, aspires to this "personal resurrection" made possible through Christ's death.

Although faith in the resurrection and eternal life may be accompanied by doubt and confusion, even from Christians, "it is always about a reality that goes beyond the limits of our reason, and requires an act of faith," he said.

Pope Benedict concluded his Angelus address with a call for everyone to turn to the Virgin Mary in prayer that she might assist them in discovering salvation in Christ.
*Bold italics added by blog author.

Into What an Abyss You have Fallen...

"I have ordained that it is to be, for you, a painful witness. The times of the purification and of the bloody trial are drawing close. This is necessary for the salvation of my children and to purify the Church from the wound of apostasy and infidelity. My motherly love constrains me to shorten the times. Within a short time, you will begin to understand all that I have been telling you for years..." -To The Priests--Our Lady's Beloved Sons, MMP (2009); Interior Locutions to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP (1973-97). #315, p.447 [November 12,1985].

You will show me the path to life...

"Keep me safe, O God;
I say to the Lord, you are my Lord,
you are my only good.
Worthless are all the false gods of the land.
Accursed are all who delight in them.
They multiply their sorrows
who court other gods.
Blood libations to them I will not pour out,
nor will I take their names upon my lips.
Lord, my allotted portion and my cup,
you have made my destiny secure.
Pleasant places were measured out for me,
fair to me indeed is my inheritance.

I bless the Lord who counsels me;
even at night my heart exhorts me.
I keep the Lord always before me;
with the Lord at my right, I shall never be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, my soul rejoices;
my body also dwells secure,
For you will not abandon me to Sheol,
nor let your faithful servant see the pit.
You will show me the path to life,
abounding joy in your presence,
the delight at your right hand forever" (Psalm 16).

The Gentle Mercy of Christ

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yolk upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

These Are the Times...

Marienfried, Germany May 13, 1988

"Beloved sons, live in my peace. Today you are calling to mind my first apparition which took place in the poor Cova da Iria in Fatima. I came down from heaven as your Mother and Queen. I manifested myself to you in the splendor of my immaculate light. I appeared as the Woman Clothed with the Sun, who has the task of forming for herself her cohort, for the decisive moments of battle.
These are times of my great light. These are the times of prayer and penance. I call upon you again today to pray especially for the conversion of poor sinners, of the atheists, and of those who are far away. Recite always the holy rosary. Offer prayers and sacrifices for the salvation of souls, because I repeat to you again today that many are going to hell because there is no one to pray and to sacrifice for them.
These are the times of conversion and return to the Lord. As Mother, I am taking you by the hand and leading you along the road of goodness, of love and of holiness. I am obtaining for you the grace of repentance, that you may be able to live far removed from sin, from evil and from egoism. Each day, let the number of my children, who are renouncing sin to walk along the path of the grace of God, grow greater. Let the Law of the Lord become more and more observed and practiced. And in this way many of your brothers will follow you along the road of return to the Lord and of salvation.
These are the times of my peace. To those children who listen to me and consecrate themselves to my Immaculate Heart I give the gift of my peace. I lead you to live in peace of heart and of soul. I cause you to remain in serenity, even in the midst of great turmoil. You experience my motherly presence, especially in times of danger and of trial. I mark you with my seal that you may spread everywhere the light of the faith, of holiness and of love in these days of dense darkness.
These are the times of the great mercy. The Heart of Jesus is about to pour out torrents of his divine and merciful love. The hour of the great mercy for the world has come. It will come down as dew upon every wound; it will open the hardest hearts; it will purify souls immersed in sin; it will lead sinners to conversion and will grant to everyone the grace of complete renewal.
In this day of the Marian Year, consecrated to me, I invite you to let yourselves--one and all--be penetrated by my immaculate light, that you yourselves may become my rays of light which brighten up the earth, immersed in the deepest darkness, with the sun of purity and of love."--To The Priests-Our Lady's Beloved Sons, MMP (2009);Interior locutions to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP [1973-97]. #382. pp.563-64.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, united to the Heart of Jesus...guide us, protect us and help us. O Most Holy Advocate be our refuge and our peace...Amen.

St Paul of the Cross: on sickness & suffering

Jesus, let us strive to endure for love of thee all that you send to us...Amen


St Paul of the Cross: St Paul of the Cross on sickness & suffering

On Fervor and Sanctity...

"It is strange how many enemies we have to fight as soon as we make the resolution to become a saint. It would seem that everything is let loose against us: the devil with his snares; the world and its attractions; nature with its resistance to all good desires; the praise of the good; the mockery of the wicked; the suggestions of the tepid. If God visits us, vanity is to be feared. If God withdraws himself, we fall into dejection. Despair may succeed the greatest fervor.
Our friends tempt us because we are accustomed to try and please them; the indifferent because we fear to displease them. Indiscretion is to be feared in fervor, sensuality in moderation, and self-love everywhere. What is to be done? We have no refuge but in thee, O God. "As we know not what to do, we can only turn our eyes to thee" (2 Chron. 20:12).
Above all, as sanctity does not consist in being faithful for a day or a year but in persevering until death, we must use God as a shield which covers us completely because we are attacked from all sides. "His truth shall compass thee as a shield" (Ps. 91:5).
God must do everything. All the better; there will be no fear of failure. As for ourselves, we have only to acknowledge our powerlessness and to be fervent and constant in asking for help through the intercession of Mary, to whom God refuses nothing; but even this we cannot do without a great grace, or rather without many graces.
--St. Claude de Colombiere, The Spiritual Direction of St. Claude de Colombiere, Retreat Notes, (1674). Translated and arranged by Mother M. Philip, I.B.V.M. (1934).
Reprinted, Ignatius Press (1998), p.60

Meditation: "For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.
Say these things. Exhort and correct with all authority. Let no one look down on you" (Titus, 2:11-15).

Prayer: "Beloved children, say:
Sacred Heart of Jesus, purify me. Holy Spirit live in me.
Holy Trinity, reach me.
Pray in this way and all evil will flee from you. Amen.
-Our Lady of San Nicolas, August 12, 1985; Messages of Our Lady of San Nicolas (Argentina)to Gladys Quiroga de Motta [1983-90]. #639, p.147

Behold, your spiritual mother… « The Orate Fratres

Behold, your spiritual mother… « The Orate Fratres

The Holy Spirit Will Come...

Heede, Germany, May 22, 1998

" The Holy Spirit will come, as a heavenly dew of grace and fire, which will renew all the world. Under His irresistible action of love, the Church will open itself to live the new era of its greatest holiness and will shine resplendently with so strong a light that it will attract to itself all the nations of the earth.

The Holy Spirit will come, that the Will of the Heavenly Father be accomplished and the created universe once again reflect His great glory.

The Holy Spirit will come, to establish the glorious reign of Christ, and it will be a reign of grace, of holiness, of love, of justice and of peace. With His divine love, He will open the doors of hearts and illuminate consciences. Every person will see himself in the burning fire of divine truth. It will be like a judgment in miniature. And then Christ will bring His glorious reign in the world.

The Holy Spirit will come, by means of the triumph of my Immaculate Heart. For this, I am calling upon you all today to enter into the cenacle of my Heart. Thus you will be prepared to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit which will transform you and make you the instruments with which Jesus will establish His reign."--To The Priests-Our Lady's Beloved Sons, (2009), MMP; Interior locutions to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP (1973-97). #383, p. 564-65

"Always keep lifting your foot to climb the ladder of holiness, and do not imagine

that you can mount even the first step. All God asks of you is good will."

--St. Therese of Lisieux

This faithless and sinful generation...

This video comes via catholicvote.org. It may be disturbing to some--and it should be. These are the faces of the 'culture of death' that we must confront...we cannot afford to be silent. After watching the video I encourage all to contemplate the Reflection and Prayer below...

"Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels" (Mark, 8:38).




March 16

"Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us" (Ephesians, 5:2).

Reflection: Jesus endured crucifixion out of love for us, giving Himself away that we might have life. Abortion, on the other hand, is the opposite of love because it takes life.
Love says, "I sacrifice myself for the good of the other person." Abortion says, "I sacrifice the other person for the good of myself."
Prayer: Father, fill me and all people with the same love by which Your Son gave Himself away on the Cross. Grant that we may sacrifice ourselves and never sacrifice others.
--Pro-Life Reflections for Every Day (2009); Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
www.priestsforlife.org

Wash Yourselves at the Fountain...

San Marco (Udine, Italy) February 11, 1995

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

"Wash yourselves at the fountain. Wash yourselves at the fountain of living water, gushing from the Heart of Jesus, pierced by the lance of the Roman soldier. For this, with the hands of little Bernadette, I caused a fountain of purest water to gush forth from the rock. And so, I have asked you to go and wash yourselves at the fountain.

Wash yourselves at the fountain. Immerse yourselves in the fountain of Divine Mercy. This fountain, which has gushed from the pierced Heart of Jesus, is given to you through the sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus has instituted it as a precious fruit of His redemption and in order to meet your extreme weakness. On the day of His resurrection, He said to the Apostles: 'Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven' [John, 20:22-23]. From that moment, there was given to you the possibility of washing yourselves, each and every time your souls become degraded by sin.
Wash yourselves at the fountain. During these years, the sacrament of Reconciliation has become more and more neglected; in fact, it is being attacked in a subtle and perverse way. Thus, there is spreading the wicked habit of committing sin with levity, of justifying it, of not regretting having committed it, and of no longer confessing it.
In many parts of the Church, sacramental confession has totally disappeared. Priests who are making themselves available for this indispensable sacrament are becoming more and more scarce. In this way, the Church is becoming utterly paralyzed in her apostolic action; she is wounded and covered with deep sores, like a leper.
Wash yourselves at the fountain. Today I am setting before you the ardent and impassioned request of your heavenly Mother that, in these last times of the great tribulation, the sacrament of Reconciliation be restored in all its splendor in my Church.
Because, it is only from this fountain that Divine Mercy can be poured out upon all humanity. It is in this sacrament that Jesus can form new hearts and a renewed life. It is only with this precious sacrament that the merciful love of Jesus can be communicated to the Church and to all humanity.
For this reason, I invite you today to let yourselves be immersed in the fountain of Divine Mercy and to look to me, your heavenly Mother, who has been conceived Immaculate for the very purpose of becoming for you Mother of Mercy." Interior locution to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP [1973-97]; To The Priests-Our Lady's Beloved Sons, MMP [2009]. #538, pp.846-47

The consequences of contraception...

I am re-posting this piece from Human Life International because it speaks to the cascade away from what is intrinsically 'good,' toward what is intrinsically 'evil.' A moral conscience must be able to make this determination. As Catholics, it is necessary that we apprehend this moral teaching, and where it is ignored or ridiculed, I think we have a duty to correct with charity.

Pro life - Human Life International

Angels and Demons...

I am reprinting this brief from Fr. John Corapi as I believe that many dismiss the power--not only of St. Michael, and our guardian angels--but those fallen angels who seek the death of our immortal souls. Invoke your guardian angel often--as well, St.Michael the Archangel for we are truly in a battle!



July 19th, 2008

Ten years ago I preached a spiritual conference entitled "Angels and Demons." It is rare today that you will find any teaching or preaching on this subject in the Catholic Church. This is strange because it is in fact the teaching of the Catholic Church and always has been.

One cannot understand reality if one brackets out a large portion of reality -- the preternatural order (angels and demons). If you try to arrive at valid conclusions concerning reality, but have left out a good part of that reality you are engaged in an exercise in futility. So many things today can only be understood in the light of this spiritual reality. Have you ever wondered why so many apparently educated and intelligent people just don't get it, especially with respect to such life and death matters as abortion?

There is a battle that goes on in the spiritual order between the forces of God and the forces of Satan, "the adversary." This battle between cosmic good and evil, between angels and demons, has man caught in the crosshairs. Man is an active player in his own salvation. We need the help of our allies the angels. To fail to enlist their help is reckless. To fail to realize the reality of the enemy forces, the demonic legions, can be ultimately and eternally fatal.

We are at war and our battle is not against flesh and blood, as St. Paul warns us in Ephesians 6. The battle between good and evil, truth and lies, life and death involves these angelic legions - good and evil. We are soldiers in God's army, like it or not, believe it or not. We must be aware of these fundamental teachings, learn them, and live in accordance with them.

God bless you,

Fr. John Corapi
*www.fathercorapi.org

Pro-Life Wisdom...

"Abortionists appear unimpressed by the argument that, since human life must surely begin somewhere between conception and birth, he who would snuff it out must bear the burden of proof. Are their rationalizations and evasions no more than evidence of the compounded philosophical confusion of an affluent society enslaved by hedonism? Or does the truth go deeper and blacker than that? Perhaps what they are afraid to face is not the humanity of the unborn child but their own willingness to become utilitarian killers of their own kind."--Fr. Paul Marx,Apostle of Life, The Death Peddlers, pp. 155-56

Prayer: Lord, give wisdom to your people, that they may properly exercise their responsibility to defend life in every circumstance.
--Pro-Life Reflections for Every Day, [2009], p.34; Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life www.priestsforlife.org

Lenten spiritual bouquets for life...

Today, Ash Wednesday begins the Church's Lenten Season. For 40 days we enter the desert--many of us give up things we like to do, to eat, etc.--as a form of penance and mortification.
Today, we also begin the 40 Days for Life Campaign, a time when we try to bring the light of Christ into a world darkened by the genocide of the most innocent among us.
We accomplish this by quiet prayer and witness in front of abortion mills and family planning centers across this nation.
Many individuals who support the sanctity of life are unable to attend these public prayers. Thus, I am suggesting that we can individually, as part of our Lenten 'desert,' commit to saying at least one rosary [5 decades] per week in reparation for the abomination of abortion in this country and across the globe. We can also pray for the conversion of abortionists and all who work in promotion of the 'culture of death.' We have seen miracles happen and there will be more!
Lent is not always about what we deny ourselves--but how we can reform our old selves. It is pro-active. It is a commitment to give more of ourselves for the kingdom of God.
To suffer perhaps by doing something we have never done before--like committing to one rosary per week for the salvation of souls, and reparation for abortion a heinous act that kills one child every 96 seconds in this country alone.
Thus, we offer a spiritual bouquet to heaven--to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary--so wounded and sorrowful.
If we believe what we want to believe and not everything that the Church teaches, perhaps we offer a spiritual bouquet of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and begin a new life in obedience.
There is much we can do for the salvation of our own poor souls, and those of the world--beginning with prayer and ending with prayer in our daily lives.
Much is required of us--but the Way of Life is easy.
Pray...pray...pray...for charity in families, for infants in the womb threatened by abortion...the elderly...the poor...the lonely...the marginalized...and the forgotten--Christ is there.
And pray for your priests and the bishops in union with our holy Pope Benedict XVI.
Pray for the coming reign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary!
Pray always without ceasing!

O! Mary, bright dawn of the new world,
Mother of the living, to you do we
entrust the cause of life.
Grant that all who believe in your Son
may proclaim the Gospel of Life with honesty and love.
Amen.

My Signs...

Zompita (Udine, Italy) January 24, 1984

"Beloved children, I welcome this rosary you are reciting together with such great love and fervor.
As Mother I want to tell you that I am here with you, represented by the statue you have here. Each of my statues is a sign of a presence of mine and reminds you of your heavenly Mother. Therefore it must be honored and put in places of greater veneration.
Just as you look with love at a photograph of a cherished person because it transmits to you a reminder and a likeness, so too you should look with love at every image of your heavenly Mother, because it transmits to you a reminder of her, and still more, it becomes a particular sign of her presence among you.
How deeply saddened I am by the fact that I am, so frequently today, ousted from the churches. Sometimes I am place outside, in a corridor, like some trinket; sometimes I am put in the back of the church, so that none of my children can venerate me.
As a sign of how much I am pleased with the fitting veneration given to my images, is also what I am doing through this little statue. It is a triple sign I give you: that of my eyes, which suddenly come alive; that of the color of my countenance, which changes its hue; and that of my Heart, which exudes a fragrance , now a delicate one, now one of greater strength.
By the sign I give you in the eyes, I want to show you that your heavenly Mother, never so much as in these times, is watching you with her merciful eyes. She is not far from you; she takes cognizance of you in all the difficulties in which you find yourselves, in the difficult moments you are living through, with all the sufferings which are awaiting you, with the great cross you must carry.
And with these eyes I look at all, at those far away, at the atheists, at the drug addicts, at my poor sinful children, to know them just as they are, to help them, to guide them along the path of goodness, of a return to God, of conversion, prayer, fasting and penance.
In a particular way I look at you, my beloved, objects of my maternal complacency. Especially you, beloved of my sacerdotal Movement, who form for me an object of great gratification.
I look at you, and I illumine you with my own beauty. In you I reflect the candor of heaven that is mine. You should be lilies in your purity, roses in your fragrance, cyclamens in your littleness. In this way you compose this beautiful crown of love that makes the thorny crown of my sorrow break into blossom.
By the sign I give you in the color of my visage, I want to show you that I am Mother for all, and today I share in all your needs, and I rejoice in your joys. But I also suffer in all your numerous sufferings.
When a mother is happy and jumps for joy, you see the color of her face become rosy; when she is worried about the fate of her children, you see her face turn completely pale. If this happens to an earthly mother, it also happens to me, and the sign I give you, so human and maternal, is to tell you that as Mother I truly share in all the moments of your life.
When you suffer, I suffer. When you rejoice, I rejoice. When you are good, I jump for joy. When you love me, my face is all aflame because of the joy you give me.
By the sign I give you with the fragrance I exude, sometimes of lesser, sometimes of greater strength, I wish to show you that I am always among you, but especially when you are more in need of me.
If you do not recognize the perfume, or you notice it in a very faint way, it is not because I do not love you, or because you are wicked. The Mother loves with merciful predilection even those who have the greatest need for her!
Understand then why my maternal compassion goes out to sinners, all, but especially those who are furthest away, those most in need of divine mercy. Appearing at Fatima, I taught you to pray to Jesus in this way:'Bring all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy.'
I love all, beginning with the furthest away, those of my children who are sinners, for whom I am a secure and maternal refuge.
Look at my merciful eyes which shed tears of sorrow and compassion. In so many parts of the world I give this sign, causing copious tears to stream from my eyes, even tears of blood.
To give a sign of my presence and to accord to your lives a secure support, and amid the tribulations you are living, to call you to joy and to trust, in so many parts of the world, I am still giving my maternal messages. They announce to you the certitude that I am following you and I am with you; I lead you by the hand along the difficult road of this time of purification.
A fragrant sign of my maternal presence is to be found in the apparitions I am still making in many regions of the world. Yes, in these times I am appearing in Europe, in Asia, in Africa, in America, and in distant Oceania. The whole world is wrapped in my mantle.
In the struggle, now conclusive, between me and my Adversary, my extraordinary presence tells you that my victory has already begun. My beloved children, how much I love you!
From you, to whom I have given so much, this I ask: that you increase your love for me!..."--To The Priests-Our Lady's Beloved Sons, MMP (2009). Interior locutions to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP [1973-97]; #283, pp. 383-85
*Italics and bold print are emphasis of the blog author.

I will call upon my priests...

"I call upon my priests to give witness to their faith, even to the point of heroism. By their example they will help the souls of many of my poor wandering children to return to the path of fidelity." Interior locution to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP (2009); #127, p.160

Obedience and Rebellion by Father James Farfaglia

I think this is a good reminder to those who remain faithful--but also a tool for teaching our brothers and sisters who have fallen away because of disobedience to the truths that the Catholic Church teaches 'in season and out of season.'


Obedience and Rebellion by Father James Farfaglia

Seek the Truth...

It becomes more and more apparent to me that the disinformation regarding Catholic teaching on faith and morals is unprecedented in our time. We must seek the truth and that involves the pursuit of source material, having an awareness of the Pope's current letters, exhortations, etc., to the faithful. And, to listen to the voices of those Bishops who are in union with the him. There are many false witnesses-even within the Church. To be a faithful witness in these times we must be obedient to the truths intrinsic to our Catholic faith...anything else is rebellion. As our Blessed Mother has stated, "the smoke of Satan has entered the Church"--it is our responsibility to unmask and expose the disinformation that continues to roll in like waves on shore, dispersing the sand in many directions--leaving many souls adrift or, in obstinacy regarding faithfulness...

Jesus and Mary I love you....

"If you are in Me and we are one then you will bring forth much fruit and will become strong, for you will disappear like a drop of water in the ocean; My silence will pass into you, and My humility, My purity, My charity, My gentleness, My patience, My thirst for suffering, and My zeal for souls whom I wish to save at all costs!"

"You must think only of loving Me! I will think of everything else, even to the smallest details!"

“ ‘Jesus, Mary, I love You. Save souls’ encompasses everything, the souls in Purgatory and the souls in the Militant Church; the innocent soul and the guilty soul; the dying, the atheist, etc… Do not lose time; remember that every act of love is a soul. Of all the gifts, the best gift you can offer me is a day full of love. I desire an uninterrupted Jesus, Mary I love You, save souls! from when you get up in the morning till when you go to bed at night.”

An Act of Faith...

O my God, I firmly believe that Thou art one God in three Divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; I believe that Thy Divine Son became man, and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou hast revealed them, Who canst neither deceive nor be deceived.

Prayer: We implore Thee, O Lord, to keep Thy family, the Church, in religious perseverance, so that through Thy protection it may be free from all misfortune and devoted in good works for the glory of Thy Name. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever...Amen.

Families Consecrated to Me....

Pordenone, Italy [July 23, 1987]

"I look with love on families consecrated to me. In these times I am gathering the families and leading them into the depths of my Immaculate Heart, that they may be able to find refuge and security, comfort and defense. Just as I love to be invoked as Mother and Queen of my priests, so also I love to be invoked as Mother and Queen of the families consecrated to me.
I want to enter families to make you saints, to bring you to the perfection of love, to stay with you, to make your family unity more fruitful and strong.
The most precious good of a family is its children. The children are a sign of a particular predilection on the part of Jesus and of me. The children must be wanted, welcome and cultivated like the most precious gems of a family estate. When I enter into a family, I immediately look after the children; they become also mine. I take them by the hand; I lead them to walk along the road of the realization of a plan of God, which has from all eternity already been clearly traced out for each one of them. I love them. I never abandon them. They become a precious part of my maternal estate.
Do not be afraid; there where I enter in, security enters in with me. Nothing will ever be lacking to you. I make your activity more perfect; I purify your very work.
I share also in all your preoccupations. I know that the preoccupations of a family today are many. They are yours, and they become mine. I share with your sufferings. That is why, in such difficult times as those of the present purification, I am present in families consecrated to me, as a concerned and suffering Mother, who really takes part in all your suffering. Be therefore consoled.
These are my times, 'These,' that is to say the days in which you are living, are 'mine,' because they are times marked by my great and strong presence. These times will become even more mine, the more my victory will broaden out and become stronger, surpassing the victory which at present is that of my Adversary. This presence of mine will become very strong and extraordinary, above all in the families consecrated to my Immaculate Heart. It will become apparent to all and will become for you a source of a special consolation.
So then go forward in confidence, in hope, in silence, in your daily work, in prayer and in humility.
If you all walk along the road which I have traced out for you, if you listen to and put into practice what I have said to you today, your families will be the first buds of my triumph: small, hidden, quiet buds, which are already sprouting in every part of the earth, as though to anticipate the new era and the new times which are even now at your doors.
I encourage you all, and I bless you."--To The Priests-Our Lady's Beloved Sons, MMP (2009); Interior locutions to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP [1973-97}, #358, pp.520-524

Truth Seekers vs. Open-Minded Cowards

Truth Seekers vs. Open-Minded Cowards

Love and Faith...

"I know well, joy is not in the things which surround us; it dwells in the innermost soul." St. Therese of Lisieux

The Quality of Mercy...

"Should you not have dealt mercifully with your fellow servant, as I dealt with you?"
Matthew, 18:33

Jesus desires mercy more than sacrifice (Mt. 12:7). He declared the merciful "blessed"--for they shall obtain mercy (Mt. 5:7). Because Jesus has fulfilled the demands of justice through His death, mercy is available to all who accept it. Because we live in the season of mercy, we pray:"Lord, have mercy."
The Lord raises up people to share in His ministry of mercy. Mercy means refusing to hold other peoples' sins against them, not giving them what they deserve but forgiving, forgetting, and giving offenders better than they deserve. Mercy is hating the sin but loving the sinner. It is forgiving as the Lord has forgiven us, not just in word but in action. We tend to shun mercy because it is so costly. Look at the price of mercy on Calvary. Even our little share in Christ's suffering (Col. 1:24) seems overwhelmingly expensive.
Our works of mercy are a sign that our faith in Jesus is real (see Jas. 2:24). We all are called to do works of mercy (Rm. 12:8), to reach out to the marginalized, forgotten and rejected. But some are called to manifest the mercy of God in a special way. Let His stream of mercy flow through you.

Prayer: Lord, have mercy through me on my most bitter enemy.
Promise: "Merciless is the judgment on the man who has not shown mercy; but mercy
triumphs over judgment" (Jas. 2:13).
Meditation: Mother Theresa performed works of mercy with supernatural power.
--Seek the Gifts of the Spirit (2001); Presentation Ministries, Cincinnati, OH. 45211
Nihil obstat: July 13, 2001
Imprimatur: July 17, 2001
www.presentationministries.com

The Errant Priest...

"One of the key pastoral problems facing us is the widespread misunderstanding of the role of conscience, whereby individual conscience and experience are exalted above or against Church teaching. The young women and men of America, and indeed of the whole Western world, who are often victims of educational theories which propose that they 'create' their own values and that 'feeling good about themselves' is a primary guiding moral principle, are asking to be led out of this moral confusion."--Pope John Paul II, Ad Limina Address to Bishops from New England, September 21, 1993;The Wisdom of John Paul II [1995], p. 44.

When the Son of Man Returns...

"Let no one deceive you in any way. For unless the apostasy comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one doomed to perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god and object of worship, so as to seat himself in the temple of God, claiming that he is god--do you not recall that while I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. But the one who restrains is to do so only for the present, until he is removed from the scene. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord [Jesus] will kill with the breath of His mouth and render powerless by the manifestation of His coming, "the one whose coming springs from the power of Satan in every mighty deed and in signs and wonders that lie, and in every wicked deceit for those who are perishing because they have not accepted the love of truth so that they may be saved.
Therefore, God is sending them a deceiving power so that they may believe the lie, that all who have not believed the truth but have approved wrongdoing may be condemned...therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours."
--2 Thessalonians, 2:3-11, 15.




Sao Paulo, Brazil [March 13, 1990]

"You read in the Gospel: 'When the Son of Man returns, will He still find faith on earth?' (cf. LK.18:8).
Today I want to invite you to meditate on these words, uttered by my Son Jesus. They are grave words, which cause one to reflect and which succeed in making you understand the times through which you are living. First of all, you can ask why Jesus has uttered them: to prepare you for His second coming and to describe for you a circumstance which will be indicative of the proximity of His glorious return.
This circumstance is the loss of faith.
Also, in another part of Holy Scripture, in the letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians, it is clearly announced that, before the glorious return of Christ, a great apostasy must take place. The loss of faith is a true apostasy. The spread of the apostasy is therefore the sign which indicates that the second coming of Christ is, as of now, close at hand.
At Fatima, I have foretold to you that a time would come when the true faith would be lost. These are the times. Your days are marked by this painful and significant situation, which was foretold to you in Holy Scripture: the true faith is in the process of disappearing in an ever increasingly greater number of my children.
The causes of the loss of faith are: (1)the spread of errors which are being propagated and are often taught by professors of theology in seminaries and in Catholic schools and which thus acquire a certain character of credibility and legitimacy; (2) the open and public rebellion against the authentic Magisterium of the Church , especially against that of the Pope, who has from Christ the duty of preserving the whole Church in the truth of the Catholic faith; (3) the bad example given by those pastors, who have allowed themselves to be completely possessed by the spirit of the world and who become propagators of political and sociological ideologies, rather than messengers of Christ and His Gospel, thus forgetting the mandate received from Him: 'Go into the world and preach the Gospel to every creature' (Mk. 16:15).
Thus, in these days of yours, apostasy on the part of many of my poor children is inundating you more and more.
'When the Son of Man returns...'
If indeed His return is close at hand, then my motherly action becomes more concerned and vigorous, in order to assist all my children to remain ever in the truth of the faith. This is why I have asked you to consecrate yourselves to my Immaculate Heart. This is why, in these times of yours, I have spread everywhere my Marian Movement of Priests: to form the little flock, reunited in the prayer of the cenacles and watchful in expectation--the flock gathered together and formed by me to ever preserve the true faith.
Thus, when the Son of Man returns, He will still find the faith on earth in all those who will have consecrated themselves to me, allowing themselves to be gathered together in the heavenly garden of my Immaculate Heart."-To The Priests-Our Lady's Beloved Sons, MMP (2009); Interior locutions to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP [1973-97]. #420, pp. 636-38

Meditation: Do we accept Church teaching--Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium [teaching]of the Church? Or do we consider truth only what we choose to see as truth? The whole Truth is contained in Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium led by the Holy Spirit--
"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of Truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you"
--John 14:16-17.
Prayer: Pray for us Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ...Amen.

Warning against false teachers...

"I say this so that no one may deceive you by specious arguments. For even if I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing as I observe your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. So, as you receive Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted in Him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one captivates you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to human tradition, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ" Colossians, 2:4-8.

Prayer: Guard thy Church, we implore Thee, O Lord, with Thy perpetual mercy and, since without Thee our human weakness is ever ready to fall, by Thy help always keep it from all things harmful and lead it to all things helpful to our salvation-through our Lord, Jesus Christ...Amen.

Fr. Pavone: Redefining the abortion debate | LifeSiteNews.com

The spring '40 Days for Life Campaign' begins in a couple of weeks. This genocide has to stop!

Fr. Pavone: Redefining the abortion debate | LifeSiteNews.com

Litany of the Holy Angels: Remember your spiritual mother and guardian angel on this day of love… « The Orate Fratres

A beautiful prayer to our angelic helpers...


Litany of the Holy Angels: Remember your spiritual mother and guardian angel on this day of love… « The Orate Fratres

In You I Manifest Myself...

Spiritual exercises in the form of a cenacle (prayers) with the priests of the Marian Movement of Priests from America and Europe.


Valdragone (San Marino,Italy) June 26, 1991

"Beloved sons, again this year I have called you up here on this mountain, to spend a week of continuous cenacle together with me. And you have responded in so generous a way. You have come from every part of Europe and from many countries of America, offering me the discomfort of long and tiring journeys.
I am with you always. I unite myself to your prayer; I am building up among you a more perfect brotherhood. I help you to know one another, to understand one another, to love one another, and to go forward together on the painful road of these last times.
Why have I again wanted you here? Because the times have arrived in which I wish to manifest myself through you to the Church and to the whole of humanity.
In you I manifest myself as Leader of my cohort, formed by me in every part of the world, to fight against the great army of the enemies of God under the orders of him who opposes himself to Christ, that is, of the Antichrist. My cohort is made up of the little ones, of the poor, of the humble servants of the Lord whom I call to enter into the cenacle of my Immaculate Heart, so that they may receive in fullness the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is in the hearts and the souls of the littlest ones that I am working my greatest prodigies in these years. For this reason I have wanted you here again: to form you all to littleness, to spiritual childhood, to poverty, to humility, because it is with the weakness of the little ones that I will conquer the proud power of the great.
In you I manifest myself as Queen, because it is by means of you that each day I am bringing about the triumph of my Immaculate Heart in the world. Open the doors of your lives, so that I can reign in you and prepare the way for the glorious reign of Christ.
I am the dawn that announces the arrival of the great day of the Lord.
In you I manifest myself as Prophetess of these last times. This is why I speak to you. Because I know that I am listened to, obeyed and followed by you, my sons. So, I still continue to manifest myself through the messages I am giving to the heart of this, my littlest son. Believe in my word. Receive with docility these messages of mine because, in them, everything has already been said to you about that which awaits you.
In you I manifest myself as a tender and merciful Mother, in these painful hours of the purification and of the great tribulation. You are called to be the instruments of my motherly tenderness. Love everyone with my motherly Heart. For this, I want to manifest myself in you more and more. Because, in you, I want to console those who suffer, to support those who are weak, to lift up those who have fallen, to lead back to the Lord those who have strayed, to convert sinners, to heal the sick, and to give hope to all who have lost their confidence. Be my sweet balm which comes down to soothe the great sufferings of so many of my children.
Walk along the road which I have traced out for you in these years. Show yourselves to everyone as my children, as those who are consecrated to me, because I am always with you. Live in contempt for the world and for yourselves. Let the faith be the only light which enlightens you in these times of great darkness. Let zeal for the glory of God be the only thing which consumes you, in these days of such widespread aridity. You are called to be the new heart of the new Church which Jesus is forming, in a wholly mysterious way, in the heavenly garden of my Immaculate Heart.
I thank you for the comfort which you give, in these days, to the great sorrow of my Immaculate Heart. With those dear to you, and with the souls who are entrusted to you, I bless you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."--To The Priests-Our Lady's Beloved Sons, MMP (2009); Interior locutions to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP [1973-97]. #452, pp. 689-90. *Bold italics by blog author.

Meditation: The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be serious and sober for prayers. Above all, let your love for one another be intense , because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace. Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
-1 Peter 4:7-11.
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Holy Mother...consoler of the afflicted...

Denver, Colorado May 23, 1987

The Deep Wounds

"I am your Immaculate Mother. I am the consoler of the afflicted. How many sufferings you find, O son, along this route of yours. While you receive from all sides such a generous response to my call, on the part of my priests and above all on the part of so many of my faithful, you see everywhere the deep wounds and the great sufferings, which are the signs of the wicked times in which you are living.
They are suffering, those who reject God and are walking along the road of an empty and hopeless life.
They are suffering, the little ones who are opening up to life upon a world which has become an immense desert, for lack of love.
They are suffering, the youth to whom are proposed all the experiences of evil and who are being betrayed by such a vast diffusion of impurity and of drugs.
They are suffering, the adults, because of the division which has entered into families and because of the tremendous wound of divorce.
They are suffering, the old people who have been abandoned to themselves and who are looked upon as an insupportable burden.
Your days of chastisement through which you are living are marked by profound sufferings.
Do not be discouraged. Enter into the refuge of my Immaculate Heart. Allow yourselves to be led by my light, which will shine out more and more, because these are my times. I am the dew upon all of your wounds; I am the consolation for all your sufferings.
I am your tender Mother, who is at your side to conduct you to the Lord of salvation and of joy."--To The Priests-Our Lady's Beloved Sons, MMP (2009); Interior locutions to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP [1973-97]. #353, pp. 512-13

Prayer:
Glorious Queen of the most Holy Rosary, refuge of the human race, we humbly
kneel before Your Heavenly Throne, fully confident that it is in Your power
to save us and all mankind in the present calamity.
Animate the faithful with a genuine love for their God and neighbor; stem the
overwhelming flood of modern paganism;
Fill all hearts with a dread of sin, the first and foremost cause of war.
Enkindle in them the real meaning of sacrifice, the practice of Christian life,
a deep love for prayer, and an apostolic zeal, that men everywhere my soon
return to their senses and to their God.
In accordance with Your ardent wish, we consecrate to Your Immaculate Heart
our entire selves, all that we have, all that we love, all that we are.
To You we give our bodies and our souls, our minds and our hearts;
To You we consecrate our families, our homes, our country, and the whole
human race.
May the golden chain of today's Rosary bind our hearts, those of our loved ones,
and all hearts the world over to Your Immaculate Heart,
where alone they can find the true blessings of peace...Amen

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james mary evans « The Orate Fratres

Apostles of the Last Times...

Fr. Stefano Gobbi


Dongo (Como, Italy) June 8, 1991

"Today you are celebrating the liturgical memorial of my Immaculate Heart. This is your feast, my beloved ones and children consecrated to me.
You have been chosen by me and called to form part of my victorious cohort. You form part of my estate. I have a great design upon you. This design of mine has been revealed to you in every detail. It must now appear to the Church and to humanity in all its splendor, because these are the times of your maturity and of your public witness.
Show yourselves to all as my consecrated ones, as the apostles of these last times.
As apostles of the last times, you must announce with courage all the truths of the Catholic faith; proclaim the Gospel with force; and resolutely unmask the dangerous heresies which disguise themselves with truth in order to better deceive minds and thus lead astray from the true faith a great number of my children.
As apostles of the last times, you must withstand with the strength of little ones the proud force of the great and the learned, who, seduced by a false science and by vainglory, have torn to pieces the Gospel of Jesus, by propounding an interpretation of it which is rationalistic, humanistic, and entirely erroneous. The times foretold by St. Paul have come, times when many announce false and strange doctrines, and thus they go running after these fables and stray away from the truth of the Gospel.
As apostles of the last times, you must follow Jesus along the road of disdain for the world and for yourselves, of humility, of prayer, of poverty, of silence, of mortification, of charity and of a more profound union with God. You are unknown and despised by the world and by those who surround you; you are often obstructed, marginalized and persecuted, because this suffering is necessary for the fecundity of your mission.
As apostles of the last times, you must now illumine the earth with the light of Christ. Show yourselves to all my children, because I am always with you. Let the faith be the light which illuminates you in these days of apostasy and of great darkness, and, in these times of such a vast infidelity, let it be zeal alone for the glory of my Son Jesus which consumes you.
As apostles of the last times, there befalls you the duty of carrying out the second evangelization, so much asked for by my Pope, John Paul II. Evangelize the Church, which has strayed from the spirit of Christ and has allowed itself to be seduced by the spirit of the world, which has penetrated it deeply and has pervaded it entirely. Evangelize humanity, which has again become pagan after almost two thousand years since the first announcement of the Gospel. Evangelize all men, who have become victims of errors, of evil, and of sin and who let themselves be swept away by the impetuous wind of all the false ideologies. Evangelize the peoples and the nations of the earth, immersed in the darkness of the practical denial of God, as they prostrate themselves in the worship of pleasure, of money, of power, of pride and of impurity.
Your times have come, and I have formed you during these years, so that you may be able to give now your strong witness as faithful disciples of Jesus, even to the shedding of your very own blood.
When, from every part of the earth, all of you, my little children, will give this witness as apostles of the last times, then my Immaculate Heart will have its greatest triumph."
-To The Priests-Our Lady's Beloved Sons, MMP (2009); Interior locutions to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP [1973-97]. #451, pp.687-89. Bold print is the emphasis of the blog author.
Prayer:
Renewal of Baptismal Vows...
I renew my baptismal vows, I renounce Satan and all his works
and all his pomps, I take Jesus Christ for my Model and my Guide
and I promise to be faithful to Him unto the end of my life...Amen.
*Prayer is taken from My Sunday Missal [Latin/English, 1944], Rev. Joseph F. Stedman,
Confraternity of the Precious Blood, Brooklyn, NY.

The Understanding of the Whole and Entire Truth...

May 19, 1991 [Berlin, Germany] Solemnity of Pentecost...

"Today you are here to observe the liturgical solemnity of Pentecost, in a continual cenacle of brotherhood and of prayer, carried out with me and by means of me. Thus there is renewed the very same reality which took place in the Cenacle of Jerusalem when, under the form of tongues of fire, the Holy Spirit came down upon the Apostles, gathered in prayer with your heavenly Mother. That was the first Pentecost. That was the beginning of the earthly journey of the Church in the history of humanity.
With the extraordinary abundance of his charisms, the Spirit of the Lord has completely transformed the Apostles, from being timid and fearful to being courageous witnesses of Jesus and of His Gospel. With the powerful force of His divine action, He has brought them to the understanding of the whole and entire truth, and He has made them into perfect witnesses of Jesus, even to the shedding of blood.
You have now entered into the times of the second Pentecost. For this reason, it is necessary that these cenacles be multiplied in every part of the world. I ask that all the Church be gathered together in the spiritual cenacle of my Immaculate Heart. Then the Holy Spirit will bring you to the understanding of the whole and entire truth.
He will bring into the secret of the word of God and will give you the light of wisdom to understand all the Gospel and whatever is described in it concerning the times through which you are living. The Holy Spirit will make you understand the signs of your time. They are the times foretold by Holy Scripture as those of the great apostasy and of the coming of the Antichrist. They are times of great tribulation and innumerable sufferings for all, which will bring you to live through these final events in preparation for the second coming of Jesus in glory.
The Holy Spirit gives His perfect witness to Jesus and proclaims Him as the only-begotten Son, coeternal and consubstantial with the Father, He through whom all things have been made, the Incarnate Word, the King of all the universe, who must come again in glory to restore His reign in the world.
The Holy Spirit prepares hearts and souls for the second coming of Jesus. For this reason, He is today pouring out His charisms in a manner which is even stronger and more extraordinary than at the time of the beginning of the Church, because you have now entered into the last times, which will lead you to the new era.
The task of the Spirit is to prepare humanity for its complete change, to renew the face of creation, to form the new heavens and the new earth. For this reason, I ask you to persevere with fidelity in the cenacles which I have requested of you, and allow the Holy Spirit to mold you with His sweet and powerful action of love. Only thus can you be ready for the great plan which awaits you."
--To The Priests-Our Lady's Beloved Sons, MMP (2009);Interior locutions to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, MMP (1973-97). #450, pp.686-87

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth!
Come, Holy Fire, and burn within us,
Come, Holy Wind, and cleanse us,
Come, Holy Truth, and teach us,
Come, Holy Power, and strengthen us,
Come, abundant life, and fill us! Fill us, convert us, consecrate us
until we are entirely yours.

Send forth your Spirit , O Lord, and they shall be created. And You
shall renew the face of the earth.
You, O Lord, will open my lips.
And my tongue shall announce Your praise.

Incline unto my aid, O God.
O Lord, make haste to help me....Amen.