THE MIRACLE OF THE SUN: OCTOBER 13, 1917
The apparitions of the Blessed Mother in Fatima, Portugal, to three children, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta, were Gospel-like in their seriousness, simplicity and credibility. All events prophesized were fulfilled, and so was Our Lady’s promise of a sign at the sixth and last apparition. Adding to the believability of the miraculous event, the chosen seers were very young, simple and innocent, incapable of conjuring or embellishing. When Our Lady spoke, she spoke like a messenger, plainly and objectively, although touchingly attentive to the children, their questions and needs.
The theme of her message ran throughout the consecutive visits: sin must stop; prayer (especially the Rosary), penance and conversion of life must be adopted by humanity or there would be terrible consequences. And she promised a portentous sign “for all to believe” which set Portugal abuzz. It was a “bad” time for such an apparition and such a promise in Portugal.
The sign happened on October 13, about 70,000 spectators filled Cova da Iria, among them journalists, the curious and the incredulous. The day was rainy. The seers saw a bright light, after which Our Lady appeared atop the usual holm oak. Mary asked for a chapel to be built, and revealed that she was the “Lady of the Rosary”. She predicted that WWI would soon end, and that the soldiers would come home. Lucia asked for the cure of some sick persons to which Our Lady responded: “Some yes, some no. They must amend their lives and ask forgiveness for their sins.” Then she begged the world, “Let them offend Our Lord no more for He is already much offended.” On saying this, she opened her hands and projected the light coming from them onto the sun." Lucia cried, “Look at the sun!” The heavy clouds parted revealing a huge silver disk. Though it shone intensely, it did not blind. The sphere began to dance, then spin rapidly like a gigantic circle of fire. It stopped momentarily, then spun vertiginously again, its rim scarlet, scattering flames through the sky. The changing lights were reflected on the faces of the spectators, on the trees and on the ground in fantastic hues. After performing this bizarre pattern thrice, the fiery globe trembled, shook then plunged toward the earth in a zigzag. People screamed. All this only lasted a few minutes. The sun then zigzagged back to its place and re-assumed its normal appearance. People noticed that their rain-soaked clothes were dry. So were the pools of water that had formed in the field. Engineers later affirmed that an enormous amount of energy was necessary to dry those pools in only a few minutes. Numerous people also saw the miracle of the sun up to twenty-five miles away. To the chagrin of secularists and support of the faithful, newspaper men in the crowd reported the miracle throughout the world.
At the end of the spectacle, the seers saw an image of St. Joseph holding the Child Jesus and they saw the Blessed Father Joseph and the Child Jesus tracing their hands in the sign of the cross signifying the blessing extended to the people at the sight, the whole of Portugal which was spared of WWII, the whole world at large and the desire of God to restore and reveal the importance of fatherhood or leadership. Indeed, the miracle of the sun “sealed” the authenticity of the Fatima Message, a crucial message for our sinful, troubled times.
The theme of her message ran throughout the consecutive visits: sin must stop; prayer (especially the Rosary), penance and conversion of life must be adopted by humanity or there would be terrible consequences. And she promised a portentous sign “for all to believe” which set Portugal abuzz. It was a “bad” time for such an apparition and such a promise in Portugal.
The sign happened on October 13, about 70,000 spectators filled Cova da Iria, among them journalists, the curious and the incredulous. The day was rainy. The seers saw a bright light, after which Our Lady appeared atop the usual holm oak. Mary asked for a chapel to be built, and revealed that she was the “Lady of the Rosary”. She predicted that WWI would soon end, and that the soldiers would come home. Lucia asked for the cure of some sick persons to which Our Lady responded: “Some yes, some no. They must amend their lives and ask forgiveness for their sins.” Then she begged the world, “Let them offend Our Lord no more for He is already much offended.” On saying this, she opened her hands and projected the light coming from them onto the sun." Lucia cried, “Look at the sun!” The heavy clouds parted revealing a huge silver disk. Though it shone intensely, it did not blind. The sphere began to dance, then spin rapidly like a gigantic circle of fire. It stopped momentarily, then spun vertiginously again, its rim scarlet, scattering flames through the sky. The changing lights were reflected on the faces of the spectators, on the trees and on the ground in fantastic hues. After performing this bizarre pattern thrice, the fiery globe trembled, shook then plunged toward the earth in a zigzag. People screamed. All this only lasted a few minutes. The sun then zigzagged back to its place and re-assumed its normal appearance. People noticed that their rain-soaked clothes were dry. So were the pools of water that had formed in the field. Engineers later affirmed that an enormous amount of energy was necessary to dry those pools in only a few minutes. Numerous people also saw the miracle of the sun up to twenty-five miles away. To the chagrin of secularists and support of the faithful, newspaper men in the crowd reported the miracle throughout the world.
At the end of the spectacle, the seers saw an image of St. Joseph holding the Child Jesus and they saw the Blessed Father Joseph and the Child Jesus tracing their hands in the sign of the cross signifying the blessing extended to the people at the sight, the whole of Portugal which was spared of WWII, the whole world at large and the desire of God to restore and reveal the importance of fatherhood or leadership. Indeed, the miracle of the sun “sealed” the authenticity of the Fatima Message, a crucial message for our sinful, troubled times.
Message of the Biblical and Education Minister/Pilgrim:
We must heed the call of the Blessed Mother to realize that even up to now we are faced with troubling times. The lure of materialism which breaks families apart, indifference to God and neighbour, hedonism unprecedented in history and just outright rebellion to the prescribed message of the Gospel of the Cross and teachings of the Church are just some of the ills of humanity in this supposedly time of grace. The good news is that God is not giving up on us and through the Blessed Mother continues to call us to be like the prodigal son and realize our need for more of God’s grace, deeper conversion actually. Translating the message into practical devotions maybe we can respond by the following:
St. Joseph, the Protodulia and our Father, pray for us, the poor, the sick, the suffering and the dying of today. Amen.
Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia, pray for us, the poor, the sick, the suffering and the dying of today. Amen.
We must heed the call of the Blessed Mother to realize that even up to now we are faced with troubling times. The lure of materialism which breaks families apart, indifference to God and neighbour, hedonism unprecedented in history and just outright rebellion to the prescribed message of the Gospel of the Cross and teachings of the Church are just some of the ills of humanity in this supposedly time of grace. The good news is that God is not giving up on us and through the Blessed Mother continues to call us to be like the prodigal son and realize our need for more of God’s grace, deeper conversion actually. Translating the message into practical devotions maybe we can respond by the following:
- Monthly confession especially before 1st Saturday devotion and going to Mass at least on 1st Saturdays as well.
- Daily Recitation of the Holy Rosary because the Blessed Mother revealed herself as the Lady of the Holy Rosary.
- Offering our Eucharist for the conversion of sinners and also our deeper conversion. My prayer after receiving the Lord Jesus in the Eucharist is the Pardon Prayer taught to the seers, the children of Fatima: “My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You. I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You.”
- Offering our Corporeal and Spiritual Works of Mercy for the conversion of sinners, world peace, governments of the world and our deeper conversion these I do especially when I perform my Apostolate to the Sick and the Elderly.
St. Joseph, the Protodulia and our Father, pray for us, the poor, the sick, the suffering and the dying of today. Amen.
Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia, pray for us, the poor, the sick, the suffering and the dying of today. Amen.
THE ANGEL OF PORTUGAL:
THE ANGEL OF PEACE
Many Catholics already know that Mary appeared to three poor children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. But did you know about the angel that visited the children before Mary?
In 1916, the year before Mary appeared to them, the poor children Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco were leading their families’ flocks out to pasture when an angel appeared to them. “We began to see,” Lucia later wrote in her memoirs, “in the distance, above the trees that stretched to the east, a light whiter than snow in the form of a young man, quite transparent, and as brilliant as crystal in the rays of the sun.” The angel spoke to them: “Do not be afraid. I am the angel of peace. Pray with me.”He and the children knelt down, and they repeated after the angel this prayer:
“My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You.”
When they finished, the angel said this before vanishing:
“Pray in this way. The hearts of Jesus and Mary are ready to listen to you.”
Another day, the same angel appeared to them a second time. Again, he exhorted them to prayer: “What are you doing? You must pray! Pray! The hearts of Jesus and Mary have merciful designs for you. You must offer your prayers and sacrifices to God, the Most High.”
When the children asked what sacrifices they should make, the angel explained:
“In every way you can offer sacrifice to God in reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for sinners. In this way you will bring peace to our country, for I am its guardian angel, the Angel of Portugal. Above all, bear and accept with patience the sufferings God will send you.”
A third time, the angel appeared to them again – this time holding a bleeding Eucharistic host over a chalice. Leaving the host and chalice floating in the air, the angel knelt and led them in a new prayer:
“Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly, and I offer You the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. And by the infinite merits of His most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of poor sinners.”
The angel then offered the host and chalice to the children saying, “Eat and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ terribly outraged by the ingratitude of men. Offer reparation for their sakes and console God.”
Education and Biblical Minister’s Message:
My reflection as I meditated on this particular apparition of the Angel of Peace to the 3 children are 3 points:
In 1916, the year before Mary appeared to them, the poor children Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco were leading their families’ flocks out to pasture when an angel appeared to them. “We began to see,” Lucia later wrote in her memoirs, “in the distance, above the trees that stretched to the east, a light whiter than snow in the form of a young man, quite transparent, and as brilliant as crystal in the rays of the sun.” The angel spoke to them: “Do not be afraid. I am the angel of peace. Pray with me.”He and the children knelt down, and they repeated after the angel this prayer:
“My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You.”
When they finished, the angel said this before vanishing:
“Pray in this way. The hearts of Jesus and Mary are ready to listen to you.”
Another day, the same angel appeared to them a second time. Again, he exhorted them to prayer: “What are you doing? You must pray! Pray! The hearts of Jesus and Mary have merciful designs for you. You must offer your prayers and sacrifices to God, the Most High.”
When the children asked what sacrifices they should make, the angel explained:
“In every way you can offer sacrifice to God in reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for sinners. In this way you will bring peace to our country, for I am its guardian angel, the Angel of Portugal. Above all, bear and accept with patience the sufferings God will send you.”
A third time, the angel appeared to them again – this time holding a bleeding Eucharistic host over a chalice. Leaving the host and chalice floating in the air, the angel knelt and led them in a new prayer:
“Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly, and I offer You the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. And by the infinite merits of His most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of poor sinners.”
The angel then offered the host and chalice to the children saying, “Eat and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ terribly outraged by the ingratitude of men. Offer reparation for their sakes and console God.”
Education and Biblical Minister’s Message:
My reflection as I meditated on this particular apparition of the Angel of Peace to the 3 children are 3 points:
- Importance of Prayer especially for the conversion of all sinners including us and especially those who for some reason do not realize that God is real and wants to be a father to us all. Sometimes I think of those who offer prayers for the conversion of sinners, do not realize that we are also one of those as well. Conversion is and will always be a journey that we all take, as the Apostle Paul says, “from one degree to another”.
- Offering Our Daily Eucharist for the same purpose especially for peace in the land, in this case Portugal. During WWII, this country was spared being part of the most destructive war in history. I think the Masses said for this purpose after the Apparition had something instrumental to do with it.
- Daily Rosary should be offered so we can be led by our Holy Mother to her son, Our Lord Jesus Christ and become His true disciples in thoughts, words and deeds. By reflecting and meditating on the Mysteries of our Salvation, we become more and more fervent and aware of the need of the times which is to pray for the whole world. As St. Padre Pio says “a time will come when the only weapon available and effective shall be the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary”. Be a daily Rosary prayer.
EUCHARISTIC MIRACLE AT
SANTAREM, PORTUGAL
Date of the miracle
Several historians form the XV century affirmed to have read the original document that disappeared relating the data on the miracle on February 16th 1247. Other documents related the miracle to the date of the year 1266, the registered date commissioned by King Alfonso IV is 1346. The difference in the dates could have been to the fact that the same host has been the cause of innumerable miracles in different years.
The first miracle
An unhappy woman lived in Santarem between the years of 1225 and 1247, because she was convinced that her husband was unfaithful. She tried all the possible means to bring back her husband with out any results. Desperate before her situation, she turned to sorcery visiting the soccer of the town. She promised her that her husband would again love her like before, but with the condition that she would pay her with a consecrated Host. This frightened very much the women, she knew this to be a sacrilege, but finally yield to it. After receiving communion in her parish church of Saint Stephen, she did not consume the host but left the church immediately took the host out of her mouth and placed it in her head scarf.
On her way to the sorceress house, the Holy Host started to bleed. The woman did not realized this was happening until the people passing by informed her, thinking that she was bleeding. The woman’s heart started to panic. She went home and placed the Host covered in the scarf at the bottom of a chest made of wood where she kept personal items in her room. She remained there with fear all day until night time. When her husband arrived late that evening, they went to sleep, with the possibility that she herself did not rest much. The guilt of her sin tormented her, and also the idea that perhaps the Host continued to bleed.
In the darkness of the room, a great miracle occurred. From the chest brilliant rays of light shined through, allowing the couple to awakened. They saw a spectacular vision of angles adoring the Holy Host bleeding. The woman no longer contained herself and confessed the great sin to her husband. Both repented and spent the rest of the night kneeling in adoration and reparation before the miraculous Host. The next morning they informed the parish priest. He went to the house and heard the story from the woman. The priest returned the Host to the Church of St. Stephen in a solemn procession, accompanied by many priest and lay people. The host continued to bleed for three days. Finally it was decided to place the holy host (still bleeding) in a reliquary made of beeswax. The holy host remained their until a second miracle occurred.
Second Miracle (1340?)
The priest enclosed the holy host in the beeswax reliquary and placed it in the tabernacle. This is were the second miracle occurred. When the priest opened the tabernacle door, the beeswax reliquary disintegrated in small pieces. In its place was a recipient made of glass that contained the blood of the host together with the beeswax. We can contemplate it together with the main reliquary that dates from 1782. Since the XVIII century this reliquary remains in the Eucharistic throne on the major altar. Today it is known as the Sanctuary of the Holy
Miracle.
BIBLICAL AND EDUCATION MINISTER’S MESSAGE:
THIS ONE IN SANTAREM, THE EUCHARISTIC MIRACLE IS ADMITTEDLY NEW TO ME. LAST YEAR I WAS ABLE TO GO AT LANCIANO, ITALIA TO VIEW THE EUCHARISTIC MIRACLE THERE. I THINK THE MESSAGE FOR THOSE WHO HAD THE MIRACLE HAPPENED UNTO AND TO US ALL IS STILL THE SAME. THAT THE BREAD AND WINE AFTER BEING CONSECRATED BY THE RIGHT MINISTER AND DONE IN THE RIGHT FORM, TRANSFORMS INTO THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR OUR BENEFIT AND CONSUMPTION AS IT PROVIDES US WITH THE GRACES WE NEED TO CONTINUE WITH OUR JOURNEY. SAINT AUGUSTINE SAID, “THE ACCIDENTS (BREAD AND WINE) REMAIN BUT IT IS NOW BY FAITH THE BODY, BLOOD, SOUL AND DIVINITY OF THE SAVIOR, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST”. THE LORD IS SO GOOD THAT HE GIVES HIS VERY SELF FOR OUR CONSUMPTION SO HE CAN CONTINUE TO ACCOMPANY US AND LITERALLY BE WITH US.
THIS PARTICULAR ONE IN SANTAREM REMINDS ME AS WELL THAT MANY TIMES WE, THE FAITHFUL TAKE THIS TREMENDOUS GRACE FOR GRANTED. WE PASS BY THE TABERNACLE IN OUR CHURCHES LIKE IT WAS JUST NOTHING AND WE DO NOT REALIZE THE LORD IS ACTUALLY THERE. I THINK AT THE LEAST WE SHOULD BOW OR KNEEL DOWN (GENUFLECT) BECAUSE THERE IN THE TABERNACLE IS THE KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS. LIKEWISE WE CONSUME THE EUCHARIST SOMETIMES OUT OF A SENSE OF HABIT NOT REALIZING THAT WE SHOULD DO IT IN THE RIGHT DISPOSITION OF HEART TO ATTAIN ALL THAT THE LORD WANTS TO GIVE TO US. WE ENTER THE RIGHT DISPOSITION BY CONFESSION. GOD IS HOLY AND WE MUST RECEIVE HIM REVERENTLY AND GIVE HIM THE UTMOST RESPECT AND ADORATION DUE TO HIM FOR BEING GOD, LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.
SO NEXT TIME YOU GO TO CHURCH AND RECEIVE COMMUNION, REVERE, WORSHIP AND BE ON THE RIGHT DISPOSITION OF HEART AND SPIRITUALITY. DURING THE CONSECRATION LOOK AT THE MIRACLE HAPPENING, NOT ON ANYTHING ELSE (EVEN IF YOU ARE COLLECTING, SINGING OR PERFORMING SOMETHING THIS ALL BECOMES SECONDARY), BUT THE BREAD AND CHALICE IN THE HANDS OF THE PRIEST (HE IS RAISING IT SO WE CAN SEE IT) THAT IS BECOMING THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE, THE ONLY WORTHY BEING TO BREAK THE SEAL, THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD.
PRAYER OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS AFTER COMMUNION:
Lord, Father all-powerful and ever-living God, I thank You, for even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, not because of my worth but in the kindness of your mercy, You have fed me with the Precious Body and Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
I pray that this Holy Communion may not bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation. May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will. May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions. May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience, and growth in the power to do good. May it be my strong defense against all my enemies, visible and invisible, and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses, bodily and spiritual. May it unite me more closely to you, the One true God, and lead me safely through death to everlasting happiness with You. And I pray that You will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where you, with Your Son and holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect happiness to your saints. Grant this through Christ our Lord, AMEN.
Several historians form the XV century affirmed to have read the original document that disappeared relating the data on the miracle on February 16th 1247. Other documents related the miracle to the date of the year 1266, the registered date commissioned by King Alfonso IV is 1346. The difference in the dates could have been to the fact that the same host has been the cause of innumerable miracles in different years.
The first miracle
An unhappy woman lived in Santarem between the years of 1225 and 1247, because she was convinced that her husband was unfaithful. She tried all the possible means to bring back her husband with out any results. Desperate before her situation, she turned to sorcery visiting the soccer of the town. She promised her that her husband would again love her like before, but with the condition that she would pay her with a consecrated Host. This frightened very much the women, she knew this to be a sacrilege, but finally yield to it. After receiving communion in her parish church of Saint Stephen, she did not consume the host but left the church immediately took the host out of her mouth and placed it in her head scarf.
On her way to the sorceress house, the Holy Host started to bleed. The woman did not realized this was happening until the people passing by informed her, thinking that she was bleeding. The woman’s heart started to panic. She went home and placed the Host covered in the scarf at the bottom of a chest made of wood where she kept personal items in her room. She remained there with fear all day until night time. When her husband arrived late that evening, they went to sleep, with the possibility that she herself did not rest much. The guilt of her sin tormented her, and also the idea that perhaps the Host continued to bleed.
In the darkness of the room, a great miracle occurred. From the chest brilliant rays of light shined through, allowing the couple to awakened. They saw a spectacular vision of angles adoring the Holy Host bleeding. The woman no longer contained herself and confessed the great sin to her husband. Both repented and spent the rest of the night kneeling in adoration and reparation before the miraculous Host. The next morning they informed the parish priest. He went to the house and heard the story from the woman. The priest returned the Host to the Church of St. Stephen in a solemn procession, accompanied by many priest and lay people. The host continued to bleed for three days. Finally it was decided to place the holy host (still bleeding) in a reliquary made of beeswax. The holy host remained their until a second miracle occurred.
Second Miracle (1340?)
The priest enclosed the holy host in the beeswax reliquary and placed it in the tabernacle. This is were the second miracle occurred. When the priest opened the tabernacle door, the beeswax reliquary disintegrated in small pieces. In its place was a recipient made of glass that contained the blood of the host together with the beeswax. We can contemplate it together with the main reliquary that dates from 1782. Since the XVIII century this reliquary remains in the Eucharistic throne on the major altar. Today it is known as the Sanctuary of the Holy
Miracle.
BIBLICAL AND EDUCATION MINISTER’S MESSAGE:
THIS ONE IN SANTAREM, THE EUCHARISTIC MIRACLE IS ADMITTEDLY NEW TO ME. LAST YEAR I WAS ABLE TO GO AT LANCIANO, ITALIA TO VIEW THE EUCHARISTIC MIRACLE THERE. I THINK THE MESSAGE FOR THOSE WHO HAD THE MIRACLE HAPPENED UNTO AND TO US ALL IS STILL THE SAME. THAT THE BREAD AND WINE AFTER BEING CONSECRATED BY THE RIGHT MINISTER AND DONE IN THE RIGHT FORM, TRANSFORMS INTO THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR OUR BENEFIT AND CONSUMPTION AS IT PROVIDES US WITH THE GRACES WE NEED TO CONTINUE WITH OUR JOURNEY. SAINT AUGUSTINE SAID, “THE ACCIDENTS (BREAD AND WINE) REMAIN BUT IT IS NOW BY FAITH THE BODY, BLOOD, SOUL AND DIVINITY OF THE SAVIOR, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST”. THE LORD IS SO GOOD THAT HE GIVES HIS VERY SELF FOR OUR CONSUMPTION SO HE CAN CONTINUE TO ACCOMPANY US AND LITERALLY BE WITH US.
THIS PARTICULAR ONE IN SANTAREM REMINDS ME AS WELL THAT MANY TIMES WE, THE FAITHFUL TAKE THIS TREMENDOUS GRACE FOR GRANTED. WE PASS BY THE TABERNACLE IN OUR CHURCHES LIKE IT WAS JUST NOTHING AND WE DO NOT REALIZE THE LORD IS ACTUALLY THERE. I THINK AT THE LEAST WE SHOULD BOW OR KNEEL DOWN (GENUFLECT) BECAUSE THERE IN THE TABERNACLE IS THE KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS. LIKEWISE WE CONSUME THE EUCHARIST SOMETIMES OUT OF A SENSE OF HABIT NOT REALIZING THAT WE SHOULD DO IT IN THE RIGHT DISPOSITION OF HEART TO ATTAIN ALL THAT THE LORD WANTS TO GIVE TO US. WE ENTER THE RIGHT DISPOSITION BY CONFESSION. GOD IS HOLY AND WE MUST RECEIVE HIM REVERENTLY AND GIVE HIM THE UTMOST RESPECT AND ADORATION DUE TO HIM FOR BEING GOD, LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.
SO NEXT TIME YOU GO TO CHURCH AND RECEIVE COMMUNION, REVERE, WORSHIP AND BE ON THE RIGHT DISPOSITION OF HEART AND SPIRITUALITY. DURING THE CONSECRATION LOOK AT THE MIRACLE HAPPENING, NOT ON ANYTHING ELSE (EVEN IF YOU ARE COLLECTING, SINGING OR PERFORMING SOMETHING THIS ALL BECOMES SECONDARY), BUT THE BREAD AND CHALICE IN THE HANDS OF THE PRIEST (HE IS RAISING IT SO WE CAN SEE IT) THAT IS BECOMING THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE, THE ONLY WORTHY BEING TO BREAK THE SEAL, THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD.
PRAYER OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS AFTER COMMUNION:
Lord, Father all-powerful and ever-living God, I thank You, for even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, not because of my worth but in the kindness of your mercy, You have fed me with the Precious Body and Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
I pray that this Holy Communion may not bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation. May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will. May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions. May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience, and growth in the power to do good. May it be my strong defense against all my enemies, visible and invisible, and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses, bodily and spiritual. May it unite me more closely to you, the One true God, and lead me safely through death to everlasting happiness with You. And I pray that You will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where you, with Your Son and holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect happiness to your saints. Grant this through Christ our Lord, AMEN.
FATIMA, PORTUGAL
Last March in our Novena Masses in preparation for the Solemnity of St. Joseph, we had for our guest the Parish Priest of San Jose de Trozo, Fr. Tony Oleguer. He was most definitely a devotee of the Universal Patron of the Catholic Church St. Joseph. It was in this Mass that he spoke to our people about the apparition of St. Joseph with the Baby Jesus at his arms during the last of the Apparitions at Fatima, Portugal which was October 13, 1917. He spoke to us about the reason why this is an important one and its significance. He spoke to us and told us that since the Fall of our first parents, fatherhood has been compromised and the image of the father figure is tainted. He told us further that the appearance of St. Joseph brings into light the desire of God to put the dignity back to fatherhood. When Joseph together with the Jesus traced their hands in the sign of the cross, they consecrated the whole world to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is just a little off because Joseph is not a priest but a layman. Then he pointed out that in the beginning the design of God for Adam is to be the priest. Priesthood and fatherhood are two sides of the same coin. As a father Adam disobeyed God, Joseph as the legal father of Jesus, obeyed the words and guidance of the angel who actually spoke the will of God. As the legal father of Jesus who acted as His guardian and protector as well as that of the Theotokos, our Mother Mary, Joseph is restoring and correcting our image of God as our Father, loving and caring, who is always looking out for each and everyone of us because He loves us.
After the Mass, I spoke to Ruby my wife and said, "now you know why I have a heart to go to Fatima this year, it was because my Father Patron St. Joseph made an appearance there as well". And so it was to St. Joseph that I prayed for that this pilgrimage be given and just as the pictures above, God willed it and we were blessed through the intercession of the Holy Spouses, Mary and Joseph. For me the apparition at Fatima is the apparition of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Holy Family.
During the procession which we participated in, the overwhelming presence of the the Holy Family is what I felt. I prayed and offered them for our Holy Father Pope Francis and His Eminence Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop of Manila. I offered it as well for the leaders of our country, the President and the entire government. I offered it for world peace and our conversion and those who are like enemies of the Church. Then I offered it for those who have been instrumental in bringing us here, our benefactress and benefactor. Our family and extended family near and far. The parish of St. Joseph, the Vicariate of St. Joseph, the Archdiocese of Manila, San Carlos Seminary, all of our priest friends, the Ministries and Apostolates that I, despite lowly stature am a part of and lastly for those who have asked for our prayers. At the end of the procession I stood by an image of Christ the King in the middle of the plaza, knelt down and with tears falling down in my eyes just said "thank you Lord" and said this prayer 3 times.
"Mary full of grace and Joseph son of David, honor to you Mother of God and to you Guardian of the Redeemer, eternal praise to the child with whom you formed a family Jesus. Holy Spouse, pray for us, our families and communities, now and at the hour of our death. Amen."
Glory to God the Father, glory to Jesus our brother and Lord and glory to the Holy Spirit, our helper!
All for Jesus through Mary and Joseph!
After the Mass, I spoke to Ruby my wife and said, "now you know why I have a heart to go to Fatima this year, it was because my Father Patron St. Joseph made an appearance there as well". And so it was to St. Joseph that I prayed for that this pilgrimage be given and just as the pictures above, God willed it and we were blessed through the intercession of the Holy Spouses, Mary and Joseph. For me the apparition at Fatima is the apparition of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Holy Family.
During the procession which we participated in, the overwhelming presence of the the Holy Family is what I felt. I prayed and offered them for our Holy Father Pope Francis and His Eminence Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop of Manila. I offered it as well for the leaders of our country, the President and the entire government. I offered it for world peace and our conversion and those who are like enemies of the Church. Then I offered it for those who have been instrumental in bringing us here, our benefactress and benefactor. Our family and extended family near and far. The parish of St. Joseph, the Vicariate of St. Joseph, the Archdiocese of Manila, San Carlos Seminary, all of our priest friends, the Ministries and Apostolates that I, despite lowly stature am a part of and lastly for those who have asked for our prayers. At the end of the procession I stood by an image of Christ the King in the middle of the plaza, knelt down and with tears falling down in my eyes just said "thank you Lord" and said this prayer 3 times.
"Mary full of grace and Joseph son of David, honor to you Mother of God and to you Guardian of the Redeemer, eternal praise to the child with whom you formed a family Jesus. Holy Spouse, pray for us, our families and communities, now and at the hour of our death. Amen."
Glory to God the Father, glory to Jesus our brother and Lord and glory to the Holy Spirit, our helper!
All for Jesus through Mary and Joseph!
MARIAN PILGRIMAGE 2017 DIARY
From the 22nd of September through October 6, 2017, we were on a Marian Pilgrimage on this, the centenary of the Marian Apparition at Fatima, Portugal. Since the beginning of the year this has been in my heart and by August I have sort of surrendered to the idea that maybe it was not the will of God for me.
However this blessing was given to us by Providence Himself through the GPV Foundation and we thank them to the heavens for being the vehicle to which my heart's desire materialized.
Thanks be to our Providential God who gave this to us, unworthy servant and handmaid as we are. The pilgrimage even more increased our faith, hope and love for God and His people. May this tremendous blessing make us more of the servant and handmaid of the Lord giving Him praises by our thoughts, words and deeds and edify His people, the Church.
I will be posting some of the things we saw and the lessons we have learned from them.
AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM!
ALL FOR JESUS THROUGH MARY AND JOSEPH!
However this blessing was given to us by Providence Himself through the GPV Foundation and we thank them to the heavens for being the vehicle to which my heart's desire materialized.
Thanks be to our Providential God who gave this to us, unworthy servant and handmaid as we are. The pilgrimage even more increased our faith, hope and love for God and His people. May this tremendous blessing make us more of the servant and handmaid of the Lord giving Him praises by our thoughts, words and deeds and edify His people, the Church.
I will be posting some of the things we saw and the lessons we have learned from them.
AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM!
ALL FOR JESUS THROUGH MARY AND JOSEPH!
MONASTERIO SAO JERONIMOS, LISBON (PORTUGAL)
Last month, I together with my wife Ruby were so blessed that we were able to join a Marian pilgrimage with Dr. Love in this the centenary of the apparition of Our Mother Mary at Fatima, Portugal. It was so underserved and should be spoken of as such and to be recognized only as an act by Providence Himself, our Lord and God who for some reason decided to bless us with this. Our entry point in Portugal is via Lisbon or Lisboa as the locals there would call it. During our first day, we visited the Monastery of St. Jerome in Belem (Bethlehem) and it was such a delight to see this beautiful structure and reminded me of one of four great Latin Doctors, St. Jerome, priest, Doctor of the Church and translator of the Latin Vulgate.
St. Jerome was born into a Christian family, most likely in 342. At a young age, he was sent to Rome for his education and studied the classical authors, from which he developed a love for literature; at about the age of thirty, he spent five years as a monk in the desert of Calcis. He was ordained a priest in the East by Bishop Paulinus, and became the secretary of Pope Damasus. St. Jerome did not actively exercise his priestly office, however, instead preferring to remain a monk and scholar. As the Holy Spirit led him into deeper love for Christ, he directed his love for literature toward an intense study of Scripture. It was his intense love for the Inspired Word and his knowledge of its origin that led him to utter these famous words: "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."
While he is most frequently remembered for his Vulgate, St. Jerome was a prolific writer, and wrote many commentaries on Scripture. His whole life became focused on the Word, seeking truth, and defending that truth. Through his life of prayer, St. Jerome grew wise and insightful, gifts which he shared in his writings. Further, St. Jerome was an ardent defender of the Church and her teaching.
In his search for the truth as revealed to us in the Scriptures and his desire to translate the same to Latin, official language of the Church, he travelled to the Holy Land and settled in Bethlehem wherein he learned the Hebrew language so he can more faithfully translate the Old Testament as we know it. The result is the Vulgata which was in use by the Church for a thousand years before the advent of the printing press where we now were able to produce and paved the way for translations into many languages. Besides his scholarly work, this wonderful was known as well to have founded many monasteries. Likewise he was passionate in the search for truth and for him the truth is not limited in the Scriptures alone (Sola Scriptura), but is complimentary with Sacred Traditions and the Magisterium (teaching authority of the Church). In the book “Church Fathers” by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, he together with St. Augustine took up the most pages as it seems the wonderful theologian has so many things to say about them. St. Jerome is also one of the most quoted persons by my personal scholastic patron, St. Thomas Aquinas in his Scriptural Commentary, “Catena Aurea” testifying to the wisdom God has bestowed on St. Jerome.
Lessons we can learn from St. Jerome:
St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church, pray for us, the poor, the sick, the suffering and the dying of today. Amen.
St. Jerome was born into a Christian family, most likely in 342. At a young age, he was sent to Rome for his education and studied the classical authors, from which he developed a love for literature; at about the age of thirty, he spent five years as a monk in the desert of Calcis. He was ordained a priest in the East by Bishop Paulinus, and became the secretary of Pope Damasus. St. Jerome did not actively exercise his priestly office, however, instead preferring to remain a monk and scholar. As the Holy Spirit led him into deeper love for Christ, he directed his love for literature toward an intense study of Scripture. It was his intense love for the Inspired Word and his knowledge of its origin that led him to utter these famous words: "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."
While he is most frequently remembered for his Vulgate, St. Jerome was a prolific writer, and wrote many commentaries on Scripture. His whole life became focused on the Word, seeking truth, and defending that truth. Through his life of prayer, St. Jerome grew wise and insightful, gifts which he shared in his writings. Further, St. Jerome was an ardent defender of the Church and her teaching.
In his search for the truth as revealed to us in the Scriptures and his desire to translate the same to Latin, official language of the Church, he travelled to the Holy Land and settled in Bethlehem wherein he learned the Hebrew language so he can more faithfully translate the Old Testament as we know it. The result is the Vulgata which was in use by the Church for a thousand years before the advent of the printing press where we now were able to produce and paved the way for translations into many languages. Besides his scholarly work, this wonderful was known as well to have founded many monasteries. Likewise he was passionate in the search for truth and for him the truth is not limited in the Scriptures alone (Sola Scriptura), but is complimentary with Sacred Traditions and the Magisterium (teaching authority of the Church). In the book “Church Fathers” by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, he together with St. Augustine took up the most pages as it seems the wonderful theologian has so many things to say about them. St. Jerome is also one of the most quoted persons by my personal scholastic patron, St. Thomas Aquinas in his Scriptural Commentary, “Catena Aurea” testifying to the wisdom God has bestowed on St. Jerome.
Lessons we can learn from St. Jerome:
- Passion for the truth. In his desire to come up with the best translation and preserving the words therein, he was not hesitant to sit under the feet of a Rabbi in order to learn the language.
- Obedience to the Magisterium, the Pope in particular. This very learned man would consult with the Pope on many issues affecting his communities or the known world at the time. He would stress that his obedience is 1st to Christ and next to the fisherman another way of saying to the Pope and the Magisterium.
- Prayer and meditation on the Scriptures. He was able to write so many commentaries about the books of the Bible and this is the staple of meditations in the monasteries he founded. In some way, lectio divina could be likened to it.
- Love for the Blessed Mother is likewise a lesson we can learn from him as he was an astute defender especially of the perpetual virginity of Our Mother Mary, the Hyperdulia.
- Total Catholic Christianity as he will always be aware 0f developments in the world realizing that God is supposed to encompass all things in our life, even presently. He would refute errors like Arianism and if need be condemn emperors and secular leaders if they are contradictory to the words and teachings of Jesus and the Church.
- Lastly true humility where by being probably one of the most learned man particularly with Scriptures during his time, he would never presume having a know it all kind of mentality. Knowledge or techniques does not make us better persons, it is the living out of the virtues that will make us one. Clearly this is the heart of this great Saint and Doctor.
St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church, pray for us, the poor, the sick, the suffering and the dying of today. Amen.