It is appropriate that on the first day of the year we honor the woman who brought the Alpha-Omega to us. It has ever been the glory of the Catholic Church that we venerate the Mother of God. From His Cross, Christ told the the Apostle John to look at Mary and behold his Mother, an indication that he was entrusting all of mankind into the maternal care of His mother. Throughout the ages Mary has ever been vigilant to continue to make visits to her children, visits that we celebrate at Tepeyac, Lourdes and Fatima, to name only a few of hundreds. God recognizes how precious to us are our Earthly mothers, and he deigns to share His mother with us. We see in God’s love for Mary a glorious reflection of the love He has for each of us.
In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may more surely obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for (your) guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; So long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal.
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
“Remember, O Most Gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, and sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly to you O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother. To you I come. Before you I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise my not petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.”
From Father Philip Neri Powell:
Saint Louis de Montfort wrote:
“If you say the Rosary faithfully until death, I do assure you that, in spite of the gravity of your sins ‘you shall receive a never-fading crown of glory.’ Even if you are on the brink of damnation, even if you have one foot in hell, even if you have sold your soul to the devil as sorcerers do who practice black magic, and even if you are a heretic as obstinate as a devil, sooner or later you will be converted and will amend your life and will save your soul, if– and mark well what I say– if you say the Holy Rosary devoutly every day until death for the purpose of knowing the truth and obtaining contrition and pardon for your sins.”
Our Blessed Mother deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to three shepherd children the treasures of grace hidden in the Holy Rosary. Her desire is to inspire in our hearts a sincere love for this devotion in order that by meditating on the mysteries of our redemption which are recalled in it, we may be enriched with its fruits, obtain peace for the world, the conversion of sinners and . . .
[…] Mother of God – Donald R. McClarey, The American Catholic […]
It took billions of dollars and millions of lives and six years of destructive war to defeat Hilter. Yet when Communism fell, it was without war or mass destruction, but by the Lady of Fatima responding to the prayers to her for the conversion of Russia, and working through a Polish labor union electrican. Pray the Rosary for peace,
Ty Don, for this and for all you do. 2024 will be ty our best year ever, end of the world, or both.
In the painting, and I have been unable to find the answer, the painter WABouguerau used the very distinct hands and fingers symbols, both Mary and Jesus, not an accident; but I cannot find what he meant with this symbology.
Happy 2024 and God bless us, everyone. Guy, Texas
Sadly this weekend I had gotten into another argument with a Protestant (who denies being a Protestant because his denomination is entitled “Church of Christ”) over this issue of Mary being the Mother of God. He asserted that Mary is Mother of only the Body of Christ and not of Christ true God and true man. This is a repeat of the Nestorian heresy in the early 5th century AD. This heresy was refuted by the Council of Ephesus in AD 431, as well as by some later Councils. This man rejected any reference to Council documents, insisting that everything be explicitly stated based on his literal, surface interpretation of Scripture. There was no convincing him. And except for Anglicans, some Lutherans, and a few others, most Protestants – particularly Evangelicals and Pentecostals – share his view. The simplest explanation, however, is best: Jesus is God, Mary is Mother of Jesus, Mary is the Mother of God. But on more reflection, I think that these literal interpreters of Scripture cannot understand the ramifications of God being outside space and time becoming incarnate at conception in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. Everything is sequenced in linear time to them, and they can’t grasp space-time is a created thing, and Mary being the Mother of God doesn’t mean that She created Him, but that She carried Him in Her womb from conception as indivisible God and man inasmuch as She was the Ark of the New Covenant. All parallels between the Ark of the Old Covenant and the New are lost on these Protestants (no matter how much I show them this from Scripture). And this man completely rejected the Hail Mary even though in Scripture Mary says that all nations shall call Her blessed, and major parts of the prayer were said by the Angel Gabriel and by Elizabeth. I asked this man to call Mary blessed consistent with the very Scripture he supposedly reveres and he refused. As far as I am concerned, Protestants like these are invincibly ignorant and their beliefs about Mary are heretical. And yes, I told him that, quoting the second and sixth anathemas of the 2nd Council of Constantinople in AD 553. Then I put him on the restricted list because further argument was fruitless.
LQC.
The women helpers of Israel in the OT didn’t help him see in them the for shadowing of Mary?
What about Revelation?
Revelation 12:17 in Other Translations
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
God be with you Guy, LQC and TAC.
Happy New Year.
The Muslims of Islam need to understand that the Virgin Immaculate is the only Virgin they need in heaven. The Virgin Mary is holding the Christ Child Who blesses us with His right hand, holding up three fingers for the Trinity, Who blesses us.
One nail was driven through Christ’s heels on the cross. Christ’s heels are crossed.
Christ’s left hand will give us whatever we ask for to get to heaven.