September 10, 2024

August 2024

Faith Beyond Facts: 5 Catholic Miracles That Science Can’t Explain

Mother & Refuge02 mins

1. The Miracle of the Sun at FatimaIn 1917, over 100,000 people witnessed the sun dancing in the sky of Fatima, Portugal. “The sun started spinning like a pinwheel, casting multi-colored lights all over the place.” Skeptics and faithful were left stunned, says Scheel. It is one of the most documented and extraordinary miracles in Church history. 2. Our Lady of LourdesLourdes, France, has been a site of healing since St. Bernadette’s vision of Our Lady in 1858. Scheel says “there’s been over 7,000 scientifically attested miraculous recoveries from her intercession.” These cures are each scrutinized and confirmed by the Lourdes Medical Bureau. 3. The Miracle of LancianoIn the 8th century, a doubting priest witnessed the Eucharist turn into actual flesh and blood. Scheel explains scientific investigation of “the flesh was found to be a human striated muscular tissue of the myocardium, the heart wall.” Even though it’s 1250 years old, this relic shows no signs of decay today! 4. The Blood of St. JanuariusA vial of St. Januarius’ dried blood in Naples, Italy, liquefies every year on his feast days. “This happens on TV, like you can see it,” says Scheel. This public miracle has been observed and recorded for centuries without any explanation. 5. The Universal Blood Type of Eucharistic MiraclesScheel explains that “all major blood miracles or Eucharistic miracles of our Lord have the same blood type, AB.” This incredibly rare type, the universal recipient, is a remarkable consistency with profound symbolism of Christ’s blood being able to save all.

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Angel of the Apocalypse | St. Vincent Ferrer Prophecies of EndTimes

Mother & Refuge013 mins

When the Pope used the term ‘Angel of the Apocalypse’ in the Middle Ages, people knew he was talking about St. Vincent Ferrer St. Vincent Ferrer earned the title preaching the Gospel powerfully and persuasively, often on the Final Judgment and the coming of the Antichrist. Even Pius II’s Bull of Canonization called St. Vincent Ferrer “the Angel of the Apocalypse, flying through the heavens to announce the day of the Last Judgment, to evangelize the inhabitants of the earth.” This year marks the 600th anniversary of St. Vincent Ferrer’s death on April 5, 1419, yet his words remain as powerful and necessary as ever. Before looking at his preaching on the Last Judgment, the Antichrist and the End of the World, let’s understand how powerful a preacher he was all over Europe, beginning in his native Spain, by looking at a mere speck of who he reached and the miracles he performed. As a Dominican priest, Vincent Ferrer preached in his own native language or Latin, yet wherever he went, everyone miraculously understood his every word as if he were preaching in their language. Sinners by the thousands, even the most hardened, repented. When the curious Moorish king sent for him, after Vincent Ferrer gave just three sermons, 8,000 Moors converted and wanted to be baptized. Modest estimates put his conversion of Jews in city after city in Spain at 25,000. At one major church conference, Vincent’s preaching saw 14 of 16 rabbis converted on the spot. In Toledo as Jews became Christians they turned their synagogue into a church under the Blessed Mother. Like Jesus raising the widow of Naim’s son, thorough the power of Christ St. Vincent stopped a funeral procession and commanded the corpse to rise, restoring the dead man to life. In all, he restored 28 dead people back to life. Even after he died, two dead people placed on his tomb came back to life. He cured countless physical infirmities, working wonders through the name of Jesus and the Sign of the Cross. In one, he restored the use of the limbs of an incurably crippled boy who eventually became the Bishop of Barcelona. In confession, he could read souls. He shared heavenly previews of future events, such as telling a mother her little son would become pope and canonize him — which happened as the boy became Callixtus III. (At the canonization Vincent Ferrer’s body was found incorrupt.) Earlier, during a Barcelona famine, he announced two ships were coming loaded with corn. Nobody believed. That same day, as predicted, the ships arrived. Highly devoted to the Blessed Mother, he preached and demonstrated the power of the Rosary through immediate conversion obtained through praying it. Preaching the Last Judgement Jesus will come not like his first coming in humility and poverty, but “in such majesty and power that the whole world will tremble,” began Angel of the Apocalypse in a sermon. When he powerfully detailed the glory and the horror of separating the sheep and goats described in Matthew 25, record has it sinners were frightened and cried. He wanted them to do so because he himself was fearful of that day and fearful for all those he preached to. Vincent told the throngs:  People will say ‘to the mountains and the rocks: Fall upon us, and hide us from the face of him who sits upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb’ (Revelation 6:16). Yet Jesus said, ‘But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads,’ ‘because your redemption is at hand’ (Luke 21:28).The Blessed Mother shall sit with him. Jesus will separate the peoples of the nations as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. St. Vincent cautioned, “On that day it will be better to be a sheep of Jesus Christ that to have been a pope, or king, or emperor.” Vincent powerfully detailed five virtues revealed in Scripture that distinguishes the sheep: “simple innocence, ample mercy, steadfast patience, true obedience, and worthy penance.” First, simple innocence is when a person “lives simply, nor hurts anyone in his heart, by hating, nor by defaming in speech, nor striking with hands, nor by stealing. Such a life “is called simple innocence, which makes a man a sheep of Christ.” In each case, St. Vincent next colorfully details reasons why. A sheep doesn’t attack with horns like a bull…  …nor bite with its teeth like a wolf, nor strike with hooves like a horse… if you wish to be a sheep of Christ, you should strike no one with horns of knowledge or of power, for lawyers strike by the horns of knowledge, jurists, advocates, or men who have great knowledge. Merchants by deceiving others. Lords and bullies strike with the horns of power, plundering or injuring, and extorting, using calumnies and threats, and the like. Listen to what the Lord says by the mouth of David: ‘And I will break all the horns of sinners: but the horns of the just shall be exalted’ (Psalm 74:11). “Biting” is to defame your neighbor’s reputation, and devour by saying “nothing good praising someone, but only the bad,” so “defamers are not the sheep of Christ, but wolves of hell.” Kicking like horses means to despise. Therefore, he warns, “children, do not hate your parents; nor parents, children; nor young people, old folks; nor the healthy, the sick; nor rich, the poor; nor masters, their servants; nor prelates, their clergy; and vice versa. It is clear what is simple innocence.” Second, ample mercy means distributing your God-given temporal and spiritual gifts to the needy. “Because,” Vincent illustrates, “among all the animals a sheep is the most beneficial of animals.  For the sheep by growing wool, shows us mercy and benefits of mercy, because how many poor people does a sheep clothe?” Sheep give milk and food to eat to. We imitate and give love this way: our wool is “external and temporal goods, bread and wine, money and clothes…

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Miracle in America: Medical Report Confirms Another Nun’s Body Incorrupt

Mother & Refuge17 mins

Following a months-long investigation, the bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, has concluded that the body of a Midwestern nun buried in 2019 appears to be “incorrupt.”   “Within the limits of what has been observed during this time, the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster does not appear to have experienced the decomposition that would have normally been expected under such previous burial conditions,” Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr., said in a statement August 22.    The community that Sister Wilhemina founded, the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, said in a statement provided to Aleteia: “We are very grateful for Bishop Johnston’s statement regarding our foundress, Sister Wilhelmina, and are thankful that His Excellency has shown such solicitude in providing a scientific investigation for the claim of the miracle of her incorruptibility. Many pilgrims continue to visit her, and we receive ongoing reports of favors and miracles, which are being attentively gathered. We rejoice that Sister Wilhelmina continues to be a bright light of faith for all Christians, confirming us all in the truth of the Resurrection and the life of the world to come.” Bishop Johnston pointed out that the Catholic Church does not have an official protocol for determining if a deceased person’s body is incorrupt, and incorruptibility is not considered to be an indication of sainthood. He said that there is no current plan to initiate a cause for sainthood for Sister Wilhelmina.   She died in 2019 Sister Wilhelmina died on May 29, 2019, at the age of 95. She was buried within days in a grave on the property of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles in Gower, Missouri. She was not embalmed, and her body was placed in a simple pine box, without a vault protecting her body from the elements. Following the exhumation of her body on April 28, 2023, for the purpose of moving it into the Abbey church for interment, it was discovered that her body did not exhibit signs of decomposition that would normally have occurred after nearly four years of burial under the conditions that existed in her grave. “On May 24, 2023, as the Bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, I commissioned a team of local medical experts to conduct an examination and evaluation of Sister Wilhelmina’s body,” Johnston stated. “The team was led by a Doctor of Pathology, who was assisted by two other medical doctors and a former Missouri county coroner. In addition to examining and evaluating the mortal remains of the deceased, the team inspected the casket, and interviews were conducted with eyewitnesses to events immediately preceding the burial in 2019 and the exhumation in April 2023.”   In the final report, the investigative team noted that the condition of Sister Wilhelmina’s body during the examination was notable for a lack of any detected features of decomposition, the bishop said. The lining of her casket had completely deteriorated, but her habit and clothing showed no features of breakdown. “The report also noted that the related history of Sister Wilhelmina’s death and interment does not describe conditions that would be expected to protect against decomposition,” he said He said that the investigative team was only able to conduct a limited examination but still concluded that “the condition of her body is highly atypical for the interval of nearly four years since her death, especially given the environmental conditions and the findings in associated objects.”   Along with the evaluation by medical experts, additional tests were soon conducted on the soil in which the burial took place. After analysis, no unusual elements were found which would have impacted the condition of Sister Wilhelmina’s body when it was exhumed. Founded community Sister Wilhelmina in 1995 founded the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, a contemplative community consecrated to prayer and sacrifice for priests through the Rule of St. Benedict. They celebrate the liturgy as it was before the Second Vatican Council-era reforms. The 50 or so nuns in the community today devote about five hours a day to the chanting of the Mass and Divine Office and private prayer. The sisters’ remaining time is spent doing manual labor, such as sewing vestments for priests, gardening, cooking, and farm work.  Read more…

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Australia Sends Its Next Sainthood Cause to the Vatican!

Mother & Refuge02 mins

According to The Catholic Weekly, Archbishop Anthony Fisher “officially signed off on the final decree for the acts of the cause at Cathedral House, alongside members of the Eileen O’Connor tribunal and the historical commission, who hope the Servant of God will become Australia’s second saint.” So far, Australia has one canonized saint, Mary MacKillop. The Vatican will now review the life of Eileen O’Connor to determine if she lived a life of “heroic virtue.” If the Vatican affirms that she did live heroically, she would be declared “venerable.” Who was Eileen O’Connor? Eileen Rosaline O’Connor was born in Richmond, Australia, on February 19, 1892. By the time she was 10, her family would move near Sydney and she would be as active as she could in her school and local parish. Eileen suffered from spinal tuberculosis, meaning she had severe curvature of the spine and only grew to 3ft 9in, but for much of her life, she could not stand. Despite being in constant pain, O’Connor was known for her joyful disposition. Later on she related a possible vision of the Virgin Mary who encouraged her to offer her pain for the salvation of others. Read more…

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St. Michael’s Lent: A Guide to Prayer and Devotion During St. Michael’s Lent

Mother & Refuge09 mins

Introduction St. Michael’s Lent is a lesser-known but deeply spiritual tradition within the Catholic Church, observed from August 15th (the Feast of the Assumption) to September 29th (the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel). This 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and penance is modeled after the more widely known Lenten season leading up to Easter. It provides an opportunity for Catholics to deepen their spiritual lives, seek the intercession of St. Michael the Archangel, and prepare themselves for the spiritual battles they may face. Origins of St. Michael’s Lent St. Michael’s Lent is believed to have originated with St. Francis of Assisi, who had a profound devotion to St. Michael the Archangel. St. Francis would retreat to Mount La Verna during this time, fasting and praying in solitude. He sought to imitate Christ and prepare himself for greater spiritual challenges. This tradition gradually spread and became a way for the faithful to honor St. Michael and seek his protection. How to Participate in St. Michael’s Lent Participating in St. Michael’s Lent is a powerful way to grow in faith, resist temptation, and draw closer to God. Here’s how you can observe this holy season: 1. Prayer Prayer is the cornerstone of St. Michael’s Lent. Begin each day with a prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, asking for his protection and guidance. You can use the traditional prayer or one of the following: Traditional Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. Morning Offering for St. Michael’s Lent Heavenly Father, as I begin this day of St. Michael’s Lent, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings. I ask for the intercession of St. Michael the Archangel, that he may protect me from all evil and guide me on the path of righteousness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer of Protection St. Michael, mighty warrior of God, protect me this day. Shield me from the temptations of the enemy, and strengthen my resolve to follow Christ faithfully. In your powerful name, I pray. Amen. 2. Fasting and Abstinence Like the Lenten season before Easter, St. Michael’s Lent encourages fasting and abstinence as a means of penance and spiritual discipline. You may choose to fast from certain foods, such as meat or sweets, or abstain from particular activities that distract you from your spiritual goals. The key is to make a sacrifice that is meaningful and challenging for you. Example of a Fasting Resolution “During St. Michael’s Lent, I will fast from [specific food or activity] on Wednesdays and Fridays, offering my sacrifice for the purification of my soul and the protection of the Church.” 3. Penance and Almsgiving Use this period to perform acts of penance and charity. Confession is an important part of this, allowing you to cleanse your soul and receive God’s grace. Additionally, consider giving to the poor or supporting a charity that aligns with your faith. Prayer Before Confession Lord, grant me the grace to see my sins clearly and the courage to confess them sincerely. Through the intercession of St. Michael, may I be cleansed of all unrighteousness and made worthy to stand in Your presence. Amen. 4. Spiritual Reading and Reflection Enhance your spiritual life by reading the Scriptures, the lives of the saints, or other Catholic spiritual works. Reflect on the themes of spiritual warfare, the power of angels, and the role of St. Michael in defending the Church. Suggested Reading: “The Life of St. Michael the Archangel” by Anne Catherine Emmerich “The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis (focuses on spiritual warfare) Daily Bible reading, especially passages related to angels and spiritual battle 5. Daily Examination of Conscience Each evening, take a few moments to reflect on your day. Consider your thoughts, words, and actions. Have you been faithful to your Lenten commitments? Where have you succeeded, and where have you fallen short? End with an Act of Contrition. Act of Contrition O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You. I detest all my sins because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen. 6. Attend Mass Regularly If possible, attend daily Mass during St. Michael’s Lent. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith, and receiving Christ’s Body and Blood strengthens us in our spiritual battles. Conclusion St. Michael’s Lent is a beautiful opportunity to renew your commitment to God, strengthen your spiritual life, and seek the powerful intercession of St. Michael the Archangel. By dedicating yourself to prayer, fasting, penance, and spiritual reflection, you can prepare your soul for the challenges ahead and grow in holiness. May St. Michael defend you in battle and lead you ever closer to Christ. Amen.

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Is the ‘Hail Mary’ in the Bible? A Deep Dive into Scripture

Mother & Refuge06 mins

The “Hail Mary” is one of the most cherished prayers in the Catholic tradition, often recited during the Rosary and in times of personal devotion. But have you ever wondered about its origins? Is the “Hail Mary” actually found in the Bible? Let’s dive into Scripture to explore the biblical roots of this beautiful prayer. The First Part: “Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee” The opening line of the “Hail Mary” prayer is directly drawn from the Gospel of Luke. In Luke 1:28, the angel Gabriel greets Mary with these words: “And he came to her and said, ‘Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!’”— Luke 1:28 (RSVCE) In this verse, the angel’s greeting “Hail” (or “Rejoice” in some translations) reflects a deep honor and reverence towards Mary. The phrase “full of grace” signifies that Mary is uniquely graced by God, chosen to be the mother of the Savior. This is not just a simple greeting but a divine affirmation of Mary’s special role in salvation history. The Second Part: “Blessed Art Thou Among Women, and Blessed is the Fruit of Thy Womb, Jesus” The second part of the “Hail Mary” is also found in Luke’s Gospel, specifically during the Visitation, when Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth. Upon seeing Mary, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, exclaims: “And she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’”— Luke 1:42 (RSVCE) Elizabeth’s words acknowledge the blessedness of Mary as the mother of the Messiah. Her greeting, inspired by the Holy Spirit, further confirms Mary’s unique role in God’s plan. The “fruit of thy womb” explicitly refers to Jesus, highlighting the significance of His Incarnation. The Third Part: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for Us Sinners, Now and at the Hour of Our Death” This final part of the prayer, while not a direct biblical quote, is a natural extension of the Scriptural references to Mary. The title “Mother of God” is rooted in the understanding of Mary as the Theotokos, a Greek term meaning “God-bearer.” This title was formally affirmed at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, based on the truth that Jesus is both fully God and fully man. The request for Mary’s intercession, “Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death,” reflects the Catholic belief in the Communion of Saints. As Christians, we believe that those who are in heaven, particularly Mary, can intercede for us before God. This concept is supported by Scripture in passages such as: “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”— James 5:16 (NIV) Since Mary is the most exalted of all saints, Catholics seek her intercession, especially at the critical moments of life and death. Conclusion: A Prayer Rooted in Scripture and Tradition While the “Hail Mary” prayer as we know it today is not found verbatim in the Bible, its components are deeply rooted in Scripture. The first two parts are direct quotations from the Gospel of Luke, while the third part reflects the early Church’s understanding of Mary’s unique role and the power of intercessory prayer. The “Hail Mary” serves as a reminder of God’s grace, the mystery of the Incarnation, and the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a prayer that has echoed through the centuries, drawing believers closer to Jesus through His Mother, who is indeed “full of grace.”

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Miraculous Infant of Prague Prayer

Mother & Refuge01 mins

Jesus unto Thee I flee,Through Thy Mother praying Thee,In my need to succor me.Truly, I believe of TheeGod Thou art with strength to shield me;Full of trust, I hope of TheeThou Thy grace wilt give to me.All my heart I give to Thee,Therefore, do my sins repent me;From them breaking, I beseech Thee,Jesus, from their bonds to free me.Firm my purpose is to mend me;Never more will I offend Thee.Wholly unto Thee I give me,Patiently to suffer for Thee,Thee to serve eternally.And my neighbor like to meI will love for love of Thee.Little Jesus, I beseech Thee,In my need to succor me,That with Joseph and with MaryAnd the angels, I may TheeOnce enjoy eternally. Amen

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How did St. Joseph die?

Mother & Refuge04 mins

Little is known factually concerning the life of St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus. He is mentioned only a few times in the Gospels, and never says a word. However, most biblical scholars believe Joseph died prior to Jesus’ crucifixion. This is mainly due to the fact that Joseph was not present at the crucifixion and in the Gospel of John, Jesus entrusts his mother to someone outside the family (cf. John 19:27). Keeping in mind this historical scenario, many traditions hold that Joseph died in the arms or presence of Jesus and Mary. It’s a beautiful image, one that has led the Church to proclaim Joseph the patron saint of a “happy death.” There are numerous accounts of this moment, but one that is particularly touching is from the writings of Venerable Mother Mary of Jesus of Agreda (aka the bi-locating nun). She wrote about the episode in “Mystical City of God,” and it is recorded as a private revelation. Then this man of God, turning toward Christ, our Lord, in profoundest reverence, wished to kneel before Him. But the sweetest Jesus, coming near, received him in his arms, where, reclining his head upon them, Joseph said: “My highest Lord and God, Son of the eternal Father, Creator and Redeemer of the World, give thy blessing to thy servant and the works of thy hand; pardon, O most merciful King, the faults which I have committed in thy service and intercourse. I extol and magnify Thee and render eternal and heartfelt thanks to Thee for having, in thy ineffable condescension, chosen me to be the spouse of thy true Mother; let thy greatness and glory be my thanksgiving for all eternity.” The Redeemer of the world gave him his benediction, saying: “My father, rest in peace and in the grace of my eternal Father and mine; and to the Prophets and Saints, who await thee in limbo, bring the joyful news of the approach of their redemption.”‘ At these words of Jesus, and reclining in his arms, the most fortunate Saint Joseph expired and the Lord himself closed his eyes.   Whatever did happen, Joseph must have died a “happy death” surrounded by the most loving wife and son in the whole universe. Here is a short prayer to St. Joseph, asking him to intercede for us that our death may be “happy” as well. Read more… 

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The Georgia church where Flannery O’Connor heard God

Mother & Refuge011 mins

Sacred Heart in Milledgeville owes its existence to author’s forebears and will continue because of her. Sixty years after the death of Flannery O’Connor (August 3, 1964), the small Georgia church where she was a daily Communicant continues to focus on that which was perhaps most important to her: the Eucharist.   Sacred Heart Church in Milledgeville, about a 10-minute drive from Andalusia, where O’Connor wrote most of her novels and short stories, is the spiritual home for some 340 Catholic families today. In some ways, the parish still faces the kind of challenge it did in O’Connor’s day: to strengthen the faith of its members in the face of a predominantly “Bible Belt” culture. Faithful Catholics are not wholeheartedly embraced in many Evangelical, Protestant, and fundamentalist circles, and those who are not well-formed in their faith are seen as easy prey. But even before the Ethan Hawke film Wildcat brought renewed attention to Flannery O’Connor – without downplaying her strong Catholic faith – and before “The Chosen” star Jonathan Roumie appeared on stage at the National Eucharistic Congress sporting a t-shirt with a famous Eucharistic quote from “F. O’Connor,” Sacred Heart was intent on strengthening its parishioners’ relationship with the Source and Summit of Christian Life. “For Flannery O’Connor, the Eucharist was the center of her life,” said Fr. Bryan Kuhr, Sacred Heart’s 43-year-old pastor. “She was a daily Mass-goer, and that source of grace helped her carry that cross” of living with the disease that ultimately killed her at 39 – lupus.  Adoration in a culture that doesn’t recognize Eucharist Fr. Kuhr encourages parishioners to spend more time in Eucharistic adoration. When he was appointed to Sacred Heart in 2023, he expanded adoration to all day on Fridays and restored the practice of a Corpus Christi Eucharistic procession in town. “People, when they’re not devoted [to the Eucharist], don’t realize the gift that we’ve been given,” he told Aleteia on a recent visit to the church. “I think there’s a lot of pressure, especially in a small town like this, to come to the Baptist church or the feel-good megachurch. And we have a lot of fallen-away Catholics.” Victoria Basilio, who wrote a history of the parish for its 150th anniversary this year, said plainly,   “We have to fight for our children to remain Catholic. It is a constant battle because they usually find themselves the only Catholic in their grade. There’s very strong peer pressure on them to not be Catholic.”   Basilio and her husband, Deacon Cesar Basilio, were youth ministers at Sacred Heart for many years. “The way we countered [the lure of non-Catholic congregations in town] was we built a youth group that was not only strong in the faith but welcoming of their friends who were not Catholic, so that their friends came here rather than them going to their friends’ [churches]. And it worked. We kept our children Catholic.” As someone who has researched Sacred Heart’s history, Basilio knows that the struggle is nothing new. She has found that “there were priests who were always exhorting the parishioners to remember that they are Catholic.” Flannery’s pew By all accounts, that was never a danger for Flannery O’Connor.    “She was a daily parishioner, and she was known to sit with her mother [Regina Cline O’Connor] in the front pew,” Victoria Basilio told Aleteia. “It was part of her daily routine. Every morning, she would come, start her day that way, and then after that return to Andalusia, where she would write. I understand that she was a very disciplined writer; she always made sure she would spend an hour or two writing something every day.” The pew where Flannery and Regina sat and the Communion rail where they knelt are still in place in the smallish brick church. So is Flannery O’Connor Hall, next door. It was built in the mid-1950s, when the parish ended up in the territory of the new Diocese of Atlanta, which was carved out of the Diocese of Savannah; the social hall was renamed for the author in 1985. In some respects, the entire parish could be named for O’Connor and her family, as so much of its history depended on them. “For us at Sacred Heart, I guess her most felt influence is the fact that we have a church,” Basilio said. “It was through the generosity of her family that we have a church.” Deep Georgia roots The family tree goes back to the time of the first Catholic settlement in Georgia, in a small town called Locust Grove, about an hour to the northeast of Milledgeville. Georgia was the first state to enact religious freedom, so Catholics flocked to the area.  “Some of her ancestors were part of that community,” Fr. Kuhr said. “As the capital was being moved West, Catholics also started to move out.” Milledgeville was Georgia’s capital from 1807 to 1868. The first Catholic resident of Milledgeville was Hugh Donnelly Treanor, Flannery O’Connor’s great-grandfather. It was in his room in the Newell Hotel that the first Catholic Mass on record was celebrated in April 1845. When the state legislature voted to move the capital to Atlanta in 1868, local businesses in Milledgeville suffered. A March 25, 1871, editorial in a local newspaper, The Union Recorder, encouraged the building of a Catholic church to encourage “desirable immigrants” to settle here. “Many of the best mechanics and most useful citizens from abroad are Catholic,” the newspaper said. Coincidentally, the date of the editorial, the feast of the Annunciation, would turn out to be the birthday – in 1925 – of Flannery O’Connor. On March 30, 1873, a meeting of Milledgeville Catholics and other interested citizens was called with Flannery’s grandfather, Peter James Cline, presiding. The construction of a church was discussed and approved. The following month, according to The Union Recorder, advertisements for bids were issued, and a firm from Augusta was awarded the contract. Flannery’s great-grandmother, Mrs. Hugh Donnelly Treanor, paid for the land.  On February 8, 1875, the first…

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Letter of Bishop Regarding Seer Pedro Regis (English Translation)

Mother & Refuge817 mins

Download as PDF below Powered By EmbedPress Archdiocese of Feira de Santana Pastoral Letter to the Catholic faithful about the presumed apparitions of Our Lady in Anhanguera Bahia/BR. Ladies and Gentlemen, Grace and peace in Christ Our Risen Lord!“Devotion to the Virgin Mary originates, reflects and finds complete expression in the cult of Christ and, through him, in the Holy Spirit, leads to the Father, thus becoming a qualifying element of the genuine piety of the Church” (Marialis Cultus, Introduction). Dear believers, faced with the phenomena of Marian apparitions, we must take a stance that overcomes the extremism of an exaggerated appreciation of the messages of the “seers” as if it were the best and the only way to update divine Revelation, losing focus on the centrality of Christ and, on the one hand, to avoid another extreme, which is tounderstand these phenomena only from the perspective of human sciences.“Visions” or “appearances” are considered by the Catholic Church to be “private revelations” or “particulars” that are subordinate to the biblical Revelation of God, in Jesus Christ. Revelation also known as Christian, historical and public, and which reached its fullness in the person of the incarnate Word of God, Jesus Christ, which is condensed in theSacred Scriptures and the Sacred Apostolic Tradition. This public Revelation has already ended with the death of the last apostle of Christ, Saint John the Evangelist. But, from the point of view of interpretation and its transmission, the understanding of the historical Revelation of God to Humanity, which was fully given by Jesus Christ, is progressingTherefore, it is the Holy Spirit who leads us to the full truth until the end of time. After a long process of discernment, the Church can recognize and approve the content of the messages, the result of the phenomenon of visions/appearances, according to the mystical experience of some visionaries. And, in this sense, what does this recognition and approval consist of? It consists of: a) not stating that Mary of Nazareth,the mother of Jesus, appeared in a specific place, nor forcing the faithful to follow the messages of the “seers”, as this is a “private revelation”; b) proclaim that the phenomenon is “worthy of human faith”; c) the Blessed Virgin Mary can be venerated with a certain title. For example: Queen of Peace; d) authorize the construction of a sanctuary in honor of Our Ladyon the site) allow this devotion to spread throughout the world. (CF. Doctrinal Subsidies, n.01, Apparitions and Private Revelations of the CNBB). In recent years, the number of people in different parts of the world has increased, claiming to be “seers” of Our Lady, as well as other Saints of the Catholic tradition. As a result, the phenomenon of “apparitions” and “private revelations”, mainly related to the Blessed Virgin Mary, have multiplied significantly in Brazil and elsewhere. In this way, manypeople in a sincere search for God have followed these “seers” as if they were the only reference of Catholic faith and, even, the only authorities, with regard to Catholic doctrine and as if they were a qualified witness of the Church’s own faith tradition. In this sense, many people follow them without the necessary discernment, such as theological-doctrinaltraining, accurate catechesis, critical sense and prudent ecclesiastical attention. It is also, in this context, that the phenomenon of the well-known “appearances” of Our Lady, in the Municipality of Anguera, in the Archdiocese of Feira de Santana/BA, is growing. The archdiocese has cautiously monitored the phenomenon of “apparitions” in Anguera and, above all, through a theological-pastoral Commission constituted by the Metropolitan Archbishop, with the purpose of observing and discerning about this phenomenon, from an theological-doctrinal point of view, ecclesiological-pastoral andpsychic-spiritual. That is, analyzing it in the light of the entire Tradition of the Church, in its biblical, patristic, liturgical and theological expression. Tradition that is transmitted, taught and updated, uninterruptedly, by its living Magisterium.The Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on the norms for proceeding in the discernment of presumed apparitions and revelations of 1978, number 3, indicates criteria for discernment on the phenomena of particular apparitions and revelations, which are under the competent ecclesiastical authority of the local Bishop . Dear Catholic faithful, for these reasons, we address you with the desire to guide you, so that you are not, as Paul teaches, Apostle of Christ, “dragged by any wind of doctrine, deceived by these presumed seers and by them, with cunning, led into error. You are no longer children, allowing yourselves to be carried from here to there like toys, left to the wind and the waves (cf. Eph 4:14). It is with this pastoral sensitivity and ecclesialresponsibility that we would like to offer you elements and criteria for discernment for such phenomena.According to the discernment of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, regarding these phenomena, an essential element, for their possible acceptance, in view of the spiritual pastoral good of the people of God, is that they are in communion with the entire Tradition of the Catholic faith (cf. Rules for proceeding in the discernment of presumed apparitions and revelations – Criteria for judging, at least with a certain probability, thecharacter of presumed appearances or revelations, Part I). How to welcome and understand these messages? The most important thing is to follow Jesus Christ, our only Lord and Savior, listen to his calls, discern his will through faith, hope, charity and solidarity. God speaks to us in many ways: He speaks to us in the prayerful reading of Sacred Scripture, in biblical circles, in the appeal of a social orecological reality, in spiritual retreats, in personal prayer, in liturgical celebrations, in ecclesiastical meetings, in the practice of charity , human solidarity and, also, through extraordinary manifestations, such as visions, apparitions, interior and exterior locutions, intuitions and dreams.From a spiritual point of view, they all have value, as they are in tune with the divine Project for us and the world. All must be discerned and monitored by the Church; They are opportunities…

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