Book Review: FATIMA--The Apparition That Changed The World by Jean Heimann

IT MAKES SENSE TO ME

By Larry Peterson

 There are hundreds of stories and books about Our Lady of Fatima that are available. Honestly, I have read only a few of the books and probably filled my need with scores of shorter stories and news events.  So when I was asked to review this book I never expected such a blessing to be coming my way. This book is absolutely sensational in its presentation,  stunning to look at and just plain, for lack of a better word, wonderful to read.

Author, Jean Heimann, has managed to somehow transport us into a centennial celebration of this remarkable story. I found myself having an actual uplifting experience as I mentally joined so many others who were at Fatima during the centennial celebration. I'm not kidding folks.

This book is a hardcover gem of 126 pages. It is only six inches wide by eight inches high and is perfect for a child's hands. This book drags you in and moves you along through stunning pictures (over 75 of them) and simple to read content. You do not even realize it but you go to Fatima.

When you flip open the book you are greeted by facing pages of the statue of the Pilgrim Virgin, standing on a mound of white roses with hundreds of lit candles spread in front of you, candles held aloft by thousands upon thousands of people. You are welcomed in for the journey.

The book begins with a timeline which takes us from 1916 (when the Angel of Peace visits the children)  across the century finishing on October 13, 2017, the 100th Anniversary of the final apparition and the Miracle of the Sun. Accessing this timeline as you go through the book is a wonderful and easy way to keep on top of significant reference points as you travel through the book and makes it much easier to explain to small children.

Short biographies and photos of the three seers take you with them into the Cova da Iria. We stand behind them during the apparitions brought into the scene by magnificent paintings and photographs. We suffer along with Francisco and Jacinta as influenza takes them to heaven while still children. We journey with Lucia as she enters the convent at the age of 18. In December,  Our Lady and the Child Jesus appeared to her. I will let you have the pleasure of reading what They said to her for yourself.

There is even a history of the Popes who were involved with Fatima starting with Pope Pius XI. It is interesting to note that Pius XI was not the pope at the time of the apparitions but the children knew of him. Pope Benedict XV was pope at the time. The children knew of Pius XI (who did not become pope until 1922) because our Lady had told them of him.

I am going to stop here. This book is too beautiful for me to keep giving away its context. But I will share one more tidbit that I personally fell in love with. On page 84 is a picture of Pope St. John Paul II. In the picture, he is standing in front of a statue of the Pilgrim Virgin. He is obviously praying. But he has his hand extended seemingly touching her on her right arm. His right hand is covering his heart. His head leans forward as if he is speaking to her. The statue's head is leaning forward as if Our Lady is intently listening to him. I love this picture. You might get a copy of the book just for that one page.

Well done Jean Heiman. You hit it "out of the park" with this. I'm sure Mother Mary is smiling at you from ear to ear.

Book: FATIMA: The Apparition That Changed The World
By Jean Heimann;    http://www.jeanmheimann.com              
Publisher: TAN Books   



                               copyright©Larry Peterson 2017

Halloween and the Legend of the Jack-O-Lantern (one version)*

IT MAKES SENSE TO ME

By Larry Peterson

The kids  (adults too) like this tale so I post this every year for Halloween. ENJOY
_________________________________

Long ago in Ireland, in the land of shamrocks, leprechauns, soft winds and smiles, there lived a man named Jack. Jack was quite lazy and did not like to work. But he had the gift of "blarney" and could talk the peat off the moss. 

He would tell wondrous tales about his adventures as a world traveler and the people in his village would be held spellbound by his golden tongue. Alas, Jack outsmarted himself when he stole money from the townsfolk. He thought that they were not very smart and would never find out. But they did find out and began chasing him down the streets of the village.

 As Jack ran down the road as fast as he could he rounded a bend and ran smack into the devil. The devil smiled at Jack and told him it was time for him to die and that he was there to take his soul. Jack quickly convinced the devil that if he would let him go and promise to never take his soul he would give him all the souls of the folks who were chasing him. "And how do you plan to do that, Jack?" the devil asked.

"Well now, all ye have ta do is turn ye-self into a pot of gold coins. Then I will give the coins to the people and you will be in all of their pockets. They will be yours."

Since many souls were better than only one, the devil readily agreed and turned himself into a pot of gold coins. Jack gave the coins to all the people and they went away smiling never realizing that they had given themselves to the devil in return for money.

So Jack lived on, grew old and, like all mortal men, finally died. His life had been so sinful on earth that he could not get into heaven and since the devil could not take his soul, he could not get into hell. He had nowhere to go. He asked the devil how he was supposed to see because he was in complete darkness. The devil laughed and tossed Jack a burning ember from the fires of hell, an ember that would never burn out.

Jack, using the ember to guide his way, found a pumpkin patch (some say it was turnips) and carved out a pumpkin. He put the ember inside and began carrying it around so he could see where he was going. To this day he wanders the earth seeking a resting place. And that is why he is known as "Jack-O'-Lantern" or "Jack of the Lantern".

"HAPPY HALLOWEEN"               photo courtesy of allgreatimages.org                                  

*Posted by Larry Peterson on Halloweens past

                                  Copyright 2015 Larry Peterson All Rights Reserved                                                 

Mary of Egypt: The Journey from a Life of Sin to Redemption to Sainthood

IT MAKES SENSE TO ME

By Larry Peterson

St. Mary of Egypt     en.wikipedia.org

In his "Essay on Man", Alexander Pope penned three words that became immortalized; "Hope springs eternal". Nowhere do these words fit better than into the Catholic Church. For the Church of Christ is the home of forgiveness, mercy and, of course, redemption. Meet, Mary of Egypt.

Mary was born somewhere in Egypt in 344 A.D., and, for unknown reasons, left home at the age of 12, settling in Alexandria. (Why she ran away from home is unknown.). She became a prostitute, not for the money, but because her carnal desires controlled her (today she might be diagnosed as a sex-addict and have treatment available).  She quickly became adept at using her body to get what she needed; food, clothing, a place to sleep. She never accepted money.

Mary lived this way for 17 years. One day she saw a large group of people and discovered that they were headed to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. She decided to join the pilgrimage with every intention of using her skills as a seducer to take care of her needs. Her "skills" even aided her in acquiring the required boat fare that was needed to complete the journey.

On the actual feast day, she joined the crowd as it paraded to the Church to honor the relic of the True Cross. As she attempted to follow the other people into the church, something strange and inexplicable happened. She could not enter. Something was holding her back. No matter how hard she tried she could not get past the entrance.  Mary walked to the side of the church, fell down on her knees and began to cry.

Mary looked to her side and saw a statue of the Blessed Virgin. As she looked at it the realization of her sinful life impacted her. Remorse overwhelmed her. She prayed to the Blessed Virgin to help her, pleading for forgiveness. When she tried to walk into the church again, she entered without a problem. She kissed the relic of the True Cross and begged the Virgin Mary to not forsake her.

As she left the church a stranger stopped her saying, "Please, take these." and handed Mary three coins. Mary purchased three loaves of bread and headed for the desert. She did this because the Virgin Mary had told her that was where she would find peace. Along the way, she stopped at a church alongside the Jordan River.

The church was actually the Monastery of St. John the Baptist. It was here she was baptized into the faith and received the sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist. She then moved into the desert and was not seen by anyone for forty-seven years. This is when a priest by the name of Father Zosimas came into her life.

Father Zosimas was out in the desert because it was the custom for him and his brethren to spend forty days of Lent fasting and praying, returning home on Palm Sunday. He was stunned when he came across this dirty, unkempt, raggedy woman. She was naked, deeply tanned and somewhat shriveled. Her hair was pure white, the years in the desert having taken their toll on her emaciated body. She begged him to give her a cloak to cover herself. Father Zosimas did as she asked and the woman hurriedly tired to garner some dignity.

The priest asked her if she would tell him why she was in the desert and share what had happened to her. Slowly but surely, Mary began to open up and before long had told Father about her life as a "prostitute" and how hard life had been for her, alone in the desert. Father Zosimas cried. He realized that the woman, who told him her name was Mary, had achieved a level of holiness all the greater because of her previous sinful life.

Mary asked Father Zosimas if he would return the following Holy Thursday with Communion for her. He agreed and, one year later, came to meet her again. She asked him once more to come again the following year. He agreed.

A year later, when Zosimus returned again, he found Mary's body. Next to it was a note stating that she had died in 421 A.D., on the same night she had received Holy Communion. Father buried her incorrupt body where he had found it. That was her wish. Upon returning to the monastery he shared his story with his brethren who preserved it through oral tradition until St. Sophronius wrote it down.

St. Mary of Egypt is honored in the Roman Catholic Church (April 1), the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodoxy (April 5). She is the patroness of chastity, temptations of the flesh and skin diseases.

St. Mary of Egypt, pray for us all especially today as sins of the flesh are so prevalent.


                                                copyright©LarryPeterson 2017

Horizon Homeless: A Book Review by Jean Heimann of Catholic Fire

IT MAKES SENSE TO ME

By Larry Peterson

What follows is a review recently published by Jean Heimann who is a Catholic wife, author, freelance writer, blogger and speaker. Fourteen years ago she left her job as a psychologist and returned to her first love, writing. I am honored that she has taken the time to read and review my latest novel, Horizon Homeless. The link that follows will direct you to her site and the review I am quite proud of. Please click on the link, see her review, and learn a bit about Jean also.

A Mother's Prayers are answered giving us Two Great Saints and a new Marian Feast Day

Our Lady of Consolation---Grinsted, Gr Britain

By Larry Peterson

Most of us know the story of St. Augustine. He was born in North Africa in the year 354. His father, Patricius,  wasa pagan landowner and his mother, Monica, a Christian. Monica prayed fervently for her wayward boy to become a Christian too. Eventually, her prayers were answered and her boy did embrace Christianity becoming a great Doctor of the Church.

However, many of us do not know of the influence of the Blessed Virgin in this transformation. It is because of the conversion of St. Augustine that one of the many titles she is venerated under is Our Lady of Consolation, a title she is known by in many places around the world. And this never would have happened without his mom faithfully praying for her boy, a woman who would one day be known as St. Monica.

Monica is honored for her unyielding Christian virtues which included; dealing with the pain and suffering brought on by her husband's chronic acts of adultery and her own son's immoral ways. It was said she cried herself to sleep virtually every night. But she did not despair. Rather, she turned her heartache over to the Blessed Virgin asking for her help. And help she received. Our Lady appeared to Monica and gave her the sash she was wearing. The Virgin assured Monica that whoever wore the sash would receive her special consolation and protection.  It was given to her son and became part of the Augustinian habit.

Eventually, the Augustinian monks founded the Confraternity of the Holy Cincture (belt) of Our Lady of Consolation. The statues of Mary as Our Lady of Consolation depict her and the Christ child dressed in elaborate vestments. Mary's halo has twelve, small stars and her tunic is held in place by a black cincture.  The three patrons of the Augustinians are St. Augustine, St. Monica and Our Lady of Consolation. In addition, the devotion to Our Lady of Consolation inspired what is known as the "Augustinian Rosary" which is sometimes called the "Corona of Our Mother of Consolation."

During the early 1700s, the devotion to Our Lady of Consolation was introduced to Malta. It was here that people began asking for a special blessing invoking Our Lady of Consolation for the dying. It became such a popular custom that monks could leave the monastery without asking permission to confer this blessing.  Eventually, devotion to Our Lady of Consolation spread all over the world.

In the United States, the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation are located in Carey, Ohio. The church was first built in 1868 and named St. Edward. When Father Joseph Growden was given the responsibility of caring for the church he asked the faithful in Carey to pray to Mary, Our Lady of Consolation for her help in getting a new church built. He promised to name the church "Our Lady of Consolation".

On May 24, 1875, a statue of Our Lady of Consolation, having been procured by Father Joseph from the Cathedral of Luxembourg, was carried from St. Nicholas church to the new church in Carey. News reports tell of the tremendous rains that fell that day and, during the seven-mile procession, not a drop fell on the statue or the people bringing the statue to its new home. Upon arriving in the new church the rain fell once again---everywhere.

Today devotion to Our Lady of Consolation is of great importance in such places as Luxembourg, England, France, Japan, Manila, Turin, Malta, Australia, Venezuela and other places. Pope St. John Paul II visited the shrine in Germany. Our Lady of Consolation has certainly made herself available in many places so her children can quickly come to her if need be. You just have to love being Catholic.

St. Augustine, pray for us; St. Monica, pray for us; and
Our Lady of Consolation, please pray for us all.

Feast Days for Our Lady of Consolation are varied. The Augustinians celebrate it on September 4; the Benedictines on July 7. In the USA it is usually on October 22 or the last Sunday in October.

                        Copyright© Larry Peterson 2017

The First Apparition of the Blessed Mother took place while she was still Alive. The year was 40AD.

IT MAKES SENSE TO ME

Our Lady of Pillar---catholic.com

By Larry Peterson

 Only seven years after Jesus death and Resurrection,  on October 12, 40 A.D., an incredible event took place. That was the day the very first Marian apparition ever recorded took place. And yes, Our Lady was still alive at the time. This apparition occurred in Spain and it was Jesus' apostle, St. James the Great, brother of St. John, who the Blessed Virgin appeared to. This apparition is known as Our Lady of  Pillar.

During the very early days of Christianity, James had traveled to a pagan land called Zaragoza, in the Roman province of Hispania which today is better known as Spain or Espana. Zaragoza was a foreboding place and James was having a very difficult time evangelizing the people in the area. They just did not seem to care and they did not even like this strange man from a different country.

Legend has it that James, despondent and dejected had fallen into (what we call today), a terrible "funk". No matter how much he tried he could not seem to lift his own spirits. One night, James was praying by the banks of the Ebro river. Suddenly a great light engulfed him. James knelt, staring into the light,  and what he saw was beyond description. In the light was the Virgin Mary and she was surrounded by thousands of angels.

She told James that he should persevere because, ultimately, his work for Jesus would have great results and many would turn to the Faith. She asked that a church be built on the place where she appeared and left behind a pillar of "Jasper" to mark the spot where she had been.  The Virgin Mary also left a small statue of herself holding the infant Jesus in her arms. The statue was sitting atop the Jasper pillar. Since the Blessed Virgin was still alive and living in Jerusalem, her appearance is considered an act of bilocation.

James immediately gathered some of his new followers and began work on a chapel on the designated site. The chapel is the first church ever dedicated to Mary and today, after many renovations, is known as the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar. It is located in the exact place Our Lady appeared 2000 years ago.

James participated in the dedication of the small church and returned to Jerusalem. Ironically, he was the first apostle to die for the faith. In 44 A.D., Herod Agrippa, had James beheaded. The disciples of James took his body back to Spain for final burial. The statue and pillar were taken under the protection of the people of Zorogaza.

The many miracles surrounding the relic can attest to its heavenly origin. For example, in almost 2000 years the statue has never needed dusting. In 1936, the Catholic-hating "Reds" bombed the shrine but the bombs that hit the church never exploded. No one is allowed to touch the statue except for the four priests assigned to its care and newborn infants can be lifted up to touch the image of their heavenly Mom.

Popes from the earliest times have attested to the authenticity of Our lady's appearance at the shrine. Pope Calixtus III issued a Papal bull in 1456 encouraging people to make pilgrimages to Our Lady of Pillar. The miracle of the shrine's foundation was even acknowledged.

The most prominent miracle occurred in the 17th century. A  beggar named Miguel Pellicer from the town of Calanda, could not work due to having an amputated leg. He was constantly praying at the shrine for the Blessed Mother's help. She answered his prayers for sure because his leg was restored. When word of this spread, pilgrimages greatly increased to the shrine and it has been so ever since.

Over the centuries many controversial stories arose concerning the authenticity of this shrine. Pope Innocent III, answering an appeal from Spain, had twelve cardinals investigate all the data available. On August 7, 1723, the Sacred Congregation of Rites, affirmed the original. In 1730, Pope Clement XII, allowed the feat of Our Lady of Pillar to be celebrated throughout the Spanish empire. Eventually she was declared Patroness of the Hispanic World. Our Lady of Pillar's feast day is October 12.

One final thought. As a young seminarian, St. Josemaria Escriva, made daily visits to the shrine of Our Lady of Pillar. He always prayed for guidance and eventually founded Opus Dei. The members honor her feast day each year.

Our Lady of Pillar, pray for us.

        copyright©Larry peterson 2017

* “A Different Love Story: Remembering “The Prison Angel”; Mother Antonia Brenner

Mother Antonia Brenner praying with  convict at La Mesa Prison     articles-latimes .com

IT MAKES SENSE TO ME

by Larry Peterson

**This article is an update of one published on the 2nd and 3rd anniversary of Mother Antonia's passing. 

This is a love story. No, it is not about romantic love. Rather, it is about the love of

Christ exploding in the soul of a woman who ran with her God-given gift and did her best to shower it upon some of the meanest and worst criminals in Mexico.

This is about Mother Antonia Brenner, who was born in Beverly Hills, CA, was married and divorced twice, had seven children and ultimately became known as the "Prison Angel" of La Mesa Prison, the worst and most dangerous prison in all of Mexico.  Mother Antonia died four years ago on October 17. On the anniversary of her passing, I just thought I would remember her with a few words.

 Mary Clarke was born in Beverly Hills, Calif.on December 1, 1926. Her dad, Joe Clarke, was a successful businessman and Mary and her two siblings grew up surrounded with affluence and the glitz of the movie world. One thing was certain about Papa Joe. No matter how good life was for his family he made sure his kids were always taught to help the less fortunate. The desire to help others would blossom in Mary and was one day destined to explode. However, before the "explosion" Mary embarked on a circuitous life journey.

Mary married at 18 and had three children. The first died shortly after birth. That marriage ended in divorce and then Mary married again. The wedding took place in Las Vegas and it was to a man named Carl Brenner. She and Carl had five children together but ultimately, that marriage also ended in divorce. Mary had somehow distanced herself from her strict Catholic upbringing. No matter, it seems that the Holy Spirit had his eye on Mary Clarke her entire life. It was time for Him to shower His grace on His daughter.

Mary became more and more involved in charity work and has her seven children got older she began to visit La Mesa Penitentiary to deliver donations such as food, medicine, and clothing to the prisoners. The plight of the prisoners at La Mesa began to impact her greatly and as time went by her growing compassion and love of neighbor would become focused on these people. They would become her specialty, her ministry, her purpose in life.

In 1977, after her kids were grown and her second divorce was final, Mary gave away her expensive belongings, moved out of her home in Ventura and headed to La Mesa. She had received permission to move there. Her new home was to be a 10' by 10' cell. She would live as any other inmate, sleeping in her concrete cell and having only cold water and prison food. The amenities in her room included a Crucifix on the wall, a Bible and Spanish dictionary nearby and a hard, prison bed. In the morning she lined up with the other prisoners for roll call. This was to be her home for the next thirty years.

The story of how this twice divorced woman and mother of seven kids from two marriages was accepted by the Catholic Church as a Sister and founder of a new order can be found at the links provided. Suffice it to say that as time went by Sister Antonia became "La Mama" (Mother Antonia) aka The Prison Angel,  

Mother Antonia Brenner praying with prisoners.. courtesy eudistssisters.org

She walked freely among the drug traffickers, thieves, murderers, rapists, and others touching cheeks and offering prayers. Many of these people were among the most violent and desperate of men. Yet she happily walked with them and comforted and consoled them and held their heads between her hands as they were dying. 

Mother Antonia Brenner truly saw the face of Christ in each and every prisoner she came in contact with. She loved them all. Why else would hardened criminals, some who had never loved or been loved,  call the diminutive woman who hailed from Beverly Hills, "La Mama"? They loved her in return.

I believe that one day Mother Antonia Brenner will be canonized a saint and inducted into the "Catholic Hall of Fame". She was an example for each and every one of us showing us how to selflessly "love our neighbor" no matter who they might be. 

N.B. Mother Antonia founded the order known as The Eudist Servants of the 11th Hour. The word, Eudist, is taken from St. John Eudes, a 17th-century priest, and founder of the Eudists Order and the Order of Our Lady of Charity. The 11th Hour indicates that the Eudists sisters accept women in life having a second calling. They must be at least 45 years-old to enter the order.

• 
  

Our Lady of Good Remedy---Her Intercession saved Countless Christian Slaves

IT MAKES SENSE TO ME

By Larry Peterson

wikimedia.commons

Matthew 25: 37-40

"Then the Righteous will answer Him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?

And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me."

Those gospel passages from Matthew's gospel give us Jesus' teachings on what is commonly known as the Corporal Works of Mercy.  Who could have ever thought  at the time of Christ that 1200 years later these simple directives from our Lord would not only lead to the founding of two religious orders, the Trinitarians and the Mercedarians, but also to a special devotion to the Blessed Mother where she is known as Our Lady of Good Remedy.

 The Christian societies of southern Europe and the Muslim tribes of North Africa waged war with each other intermittently from the eighth through the fifteenth centuries. During these times Muslim bandits continually raided Sicily, Southern France and parts of Spain, kidnapping Christians and dragging them into slavery and/or holding them for ransom. The time had come for a man by the name of John of Matha to appear on the scene. He was destined to save and rescue the kidnapped and imprisoned and they numbered in the thousands.

John was born in southern France in 1169. Born to noble parents of high standing, John, had the best education available at the time but never became self-indulged. On the contrary, John always had an affinity for the downtrodden and always saw fit to give most of the monies his parents sent him to the sick and the poor. In fact, it is known that John visited the hospital every Friday to assist in taking care of the sick.

Acknowledging his calling to the priesthood, John of Matha, was enrolled at the University of Paris, learned theology and was ordained a priest in 1193. As he celebrated his first Mass he saw a vision of Christ holding two chained captives by their hands. One was a Moor (Muslim) and the other a Christian. The Christian held a staff emblazoned with a red and blue cross. It was this moment in time when John decided his mission in life was to rescue Christians from the Moors.

Realizing he needed time to plan, reflect and pray about his new calling, John sought out the hermit known as, Felix of Valois, for his guidance and mentoring. Felix, already 70-years-old, readily agreed and joined forces with John. Together they headed to Rome to ask Pope Innocent III, for permission to start a new order dedicated in honor of the Blessed Trinity. On December 17, 1198, this permission was granted and so was born the Order of the Most Holy Trinity aka Trinitarians.

When Father John began his ministry of rescuing and ransoming, he had no idea that those captured and imprisoned numbered in the thousands. John needed money...lots of money...to begin "buying" enslaved Christians back from the Moors. He knew in his heart there would be only one way he might have success. He turned his money quest over to the Blessed Virgin.

Our dearest Mother Mary apparently heard John's call for help and she answered him without hesitation. In fact, over the following centuries, thousands upon thousands of Christians were saved and returned home. John of Matha, in thanksgiving and in appreciation of our Lady's intercession bestowed on her the title of "Our Lady of Good Remedy".

Devotion to Mary under this title is well known throughout Europe and Latin America. Her feast day is October 8 and she is depicted as the Blessed Virgin handing a bag of money to John of Matha. We should all remember that whenever we are having a difficult time obtaining help with something, no matter how complicated it may seem, we can invoke Our Lady of Good Remedy. She is simply waiting to hear from you.

John of Matha was canonized a saint by Pope Alexander VII in 1666. His feast day is December 17. His partner, Felix of Valois, was canonized a saint by Pope Urban IV in 1262. His feast day is November 4.

We ask both St. John of Matha and St. Felix of Valois to pray for us all. 

And last but not least, we ask Our Lady of Good Remedy to PLEASE pray for us. 

                             

        copyright©LarryPeterson 2017

The Magnificent Dogma of the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary- ---

IT MAKES SENSE TO ME

By Larry Peterson

Divine Maternity (Russian)    catholocism.org

The Third Ecumenical Council held by the Catholic Church took place in Ephesus in 431. The Council was called to refute the teaching being put forth by the Patriarch of Constantinople, Nestorius. He held that the Virgin Mary may only be called the Christotokos (Birth Giver of Christ) and not Theotokos (Mother of God).

This teaching was condemned and the Council confirmed that indeed, since it was God who was the Father, Mary was truly the Mother of God. This settled for all time the central mystery of the Catholic faith which is the Incarnation; Jesus Christ is one person with two natures; one divine and one human. This is a mystery we embrace and believe but will never fully understand.  

Pope Pius XI, who had a profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin, honored her by creating a new feast day in her honor. In 1931, 1500 years after the Council of Ephesus had proclaimed that Our Blessed Lady was truly the Mother of God, Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast Day of the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This action not only reaffirmed the Council's dogmatic proclamation that Mary is Theotokos, it also set October 11 into the Roman calendar as the day the feast was to be celebrated.

Since Vatican II's changes were put in place the Feast Day of Divine Maternity has become somewhat overshadowed by the dogma of Mary's "Perpetual Virginity". But make no mistake, these two dogmatic pronouncements are eternally joined together and they are inseparable. October 11 is still an active feast in the 1962 Roman Missal which is used during the extraordinary celebration of the Mass.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church 495: Mary's Divine Motherhood;

Called in the Gospels, 'the mother of Jesus,' Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Spirit and even before the birth of her son, "as the mother of my Lord." In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father's eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly the 'Mother of God' (Theotokos).

From the Catechism 496: Mary's Virginity:

From the first formulations of her faith, the Church has confessed that Jesus was conceived solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, affirming also the corporeal aspect of this event: Jesus was conceived "by the Holy Spirit without human seed". The Fathers see in the virginal conception the sign that it truly was the Son of God who came in a humanity like our own...

Our Blessed Mother was a young, innocent woman of about 14 years of age when the Angel Gabriel came to her and announced to her what God wanted from her. What could have gone through her young mind as this was asked of her? She must have been so afraid. How could she have had any possible idea that she would be the New Eve who would give birth to the New Adam who, in turn, would save us all?

This mystery of faith is so profound. This young woman, in effect, was chosen by God Himself to be his spouse. Their child would be both God and Man. He would change the world forever. 

 Mary's virginal motherhood sealed in perpetuity the truth of the Incarnation. She gave Christ the body He possessed. She gave Him the humanity that was part of Him. And all the time he was  God...and she was His Mom. WOW!

copyright©Larry Peterson 2017

The Pope that Saved the Church and Christendom..The story of St. Pius V

IT MAKES SENSE TO ME

Battle of Lepanto --wikimedia common

By Larry Peterson

October is the month of the Holy Rosary. During the month we might also acknowledge the person known as the  Pope of the Rosary,  Pope St. Pius V.

In 1517, Martin Luther, a Catholic priest, posted his 95 Theses on the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany. Within the Catholic world, a great theological revolt ensued. This revolt spread throughout Europe and it was focused on many of the practices taking place within the church at the time, such as the selling of indulgences, papal authority, and Transubstantiation. This "revolt" is more commonly known as the Protestant Reformation.

The Catholic Church did not begin to confront the Reformation seriously until Pope Paul III convened the Council of Trent in the year 1545.   This was to be a mammoth undertaking as virtually all church doctrines had been challenged by the Reformation including the Real Presence and the validity of the sacraments.

The Council did not adjourn until 1563, eighteen years after its inception. A period of 46 years had elapsed since the 95-Theses were first posted. But the final pronouncements of the Council had yet to be enacted and sealed as doctrinal law. Three years after the Council adjourned Michael Cardinal Ghislieri was elected to the papacy. He took the name of Pope Pius V.

Pope Pius V was a devout priest who found his strength in Christ crucified. He also held a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. His first acts as pontiff were to give approval to the changes instituted by the Council of Trent and immediately implement the reforms set forth.

Pope Pius V codified the Tridentine Mass (Latin Mass) as the primary Mass for the Roman Church, He authorized a revised breviary and a new Roman Catechism and Missal. He approved the Council's teachings that Christ is present in both the consecrated bread and the consecrated wine. The Mass was defined as a TRUE sacrifice and he approved doctrinal statements on the sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony. He also affirmed church teachings on Purgatory and indulgences. He would quickly have much more to do. The Turks of the Ottoman Empire were determined to conquer Europe and Rome.

Deeply devoted to our Lady,  Pope Pius V, issued a document in 1569 called a Papal Bull . This document was called, Consueverunt Romani Pontifices (On the Rosary) and it set in place the permanent format for the Rosary, the same which is used today. This is the same Rosary that our Lady presented to St. Dominic in 1214.

The greatest challenge at the time to the papacy of Pius V and to the Catholic Church was the Ottoman Empire. Pius V understood the intense desire of the Muslim Turks to conquer the entire Mediterranean area. Just as it is today, jihad, had been declared by the Muslim imams and Pope Pius V knew full well this was spiritual war about to be waged.

Pope Pius called together the Christian nations of Europe and formed them into what became known as the Holy League. Both Protestants and Catholics from different nations came together under the guidance of Pope Pius V to fight back against the Ottoman Turks. Pope Pius asked all Catholics to pray the Rosary asking for our Lady's intercession when the battle ensued.

And so it was that on October 7, 1571, the Battle of Lepanto, took place.  As the Pope and thousands of his followers prayed the Rosary the Battle of Lepanto began. Under the military leadership of Don Juan of Austria, the Christian fleet won a resounding victory over the more powerful Ottoman Turks. This battle literally saved Christendom and western civilization. Pope Pius V declared that from that day on, the day would be called The Feast Day of Our Lady of Victory. Today it is called The Feast Day of Our Lady of the Rosary.

The papacy of Pope Pius V lasted a mere six years. During his reign, he led the forces of "good against the forces of "evil" literally saving Christianity throughout Europe. He gave all credit to our Blessed  Mother and today she bears the title of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Pope Pius V also set in place the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass which was unchanged for over 400 years (until Vatican II). established the doctrines of Transubstantiation and the Real Presence, restored discipline in seminaries, republished the Roman Breviary and the Roman Missal. He was canonized a saint on May 22, 1712 by Pope Clement XI.  How honored he must be to be called the Pope of the Holy Rosary.

Pope St. Pius V please pray for us.

                                        Copyright©Larry Peterson