January 22, 2025

catholic news

This Is Why The Demons Asked Jesus For The Pigs

Mother & Refuge04 mins

Christ’s journey into “the country of the Gerasenes” (Mark 5:1) was somewhat unusual. The Gospels tell us that Jesus did most of His work among the Jewish people. Although He encountered and ministered to Gentiles such as the centurion who had a paralyzed servant (Matt. 8:5–13) and the Syrophoenician woman whose daughter was possessed (Mark 7:24–30), the Jews received the bulk of His attention, and He spent most of His time in the predominantly Jewish regions of Galilee and Judea. The Gerasenes, however, was located in the territory of the Decapolis, a group of ten cities with a majority population of Gentiles. Thus, we are not surprised that there was “a great herd of pigs” feeding near the tombs where the Gerasene demoniac was living (5:11). Pigs, of course, were unclean for the Jews (Lev. 11:7–8). No Jewish farmer would keep swine, and no Jewish region would tolerate the presence of pigs, let alone two thousand of them (Mark 5:13). In light of these facts, Jesus’ ministry in the Gerasenes reveals the Lord’s remarkable concern not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles. Christ’s primary focus was on “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 15:24), but He was concerned for all peoples. The story of the Gerasene demoniac thereby foreshadows the mission to the Gentiles that would begin in full force with the conversion of the Apostle Paul and Peter’s ministry to Cornelius (Acts 9–10). When Jesus healed the possessed man, He allowed Legion to possess the nearby herd of swine. The demons sent the pigs off the banks of the sea and into the water, where they drowned (Mark 5:12–13). From the start, the evil spirits wanted to bring death and destruction, and they finally got their chance. It seems Jesus allowed the demons to destroy the pigs so that the people could see just what demons are up to when they assault people. They are out to steal, kill, and destroy, so we dare not trifle with evil spirits. Jesus’ action also shows the importance of human beings relative to animals. Two thousand pigs dead for one person to live is not an even trade—and that is the point. Being made in God’s image, we are more important to the Lord than any animal. Dr. R.C. Sproul writes in his commentary Mark that the compassion of Jesus “drove Him to destroy the pigs for the sake of one human life. That is how valuable human life is.” For our Creator, one lost person saved is worth the death of many animals. Read more… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FOsUOrO41Y

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Virgin Mary Appears to a Man Who Wanted to Kill the Pope

Mother & Refuge11 mins

There were celebrations throughout the city of Rome for an anniversary dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. On this day in 1947, a Protestant who later said he planned to assassinate the Pope saw the Blessed Virgin several times in Rome. She called herself the Virgin of Revelation and her words caused him to convert to Catholicism. 9 years later, Pope Pius XII approved the construction of a chapel on the site sometimes called Tre Fontane, because it is near 3 fountains. Member of the Missionaries of Divine Revelation, Sister Emanuela Edwards, joins to tell us what the celebrations were like. Sr. Emanuela takes us back to the Virgin’s appearance on this date in 1947. She shares what more we know about the appearance and the man to whom she appeared. Sr. Emanuela discusses how this apparition is relevant for the faithful today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmiXlCQAOrI&t=131s

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The Mingling of Faith and Reason: Miracles and the Catholic Church 

Mother & Refuge01 mins

As a medical doctor and professor at Queen’s University, Dr. Jacalyn Duffin has an interesting CV. Her specialty? Miracles. In her career, Dr. Duffin has surveyed more than 1,400 miracles pertaining to 229 different canonizations and 145 beatifications from 1588 to 1999. In this edition of Catholic Focus, host Jenna Murphy will examine the place of miracles in the Church and their impact on the lives of those affected by them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N4vlZtMWW0

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Dedication of the Rural Family to the Divine Mercy

Mother & Refuge03 mins

Almighty and merciful Father,whom Your only-begotten Son,our Lord, Jesus Christ,has named the Husbandman, or Farmer,graciously accept our praise and adoration.All things were made by Youand all that we have is Yours. Our lives and our talents,our home and furnishings,the soil and its fruits,the animals and their abode,sunshine and rain,fruit and harvest are all from You.By their use we are to come more securely to You.For all Your gifts, O God,we offer You our thanks. You have made us branches of Your Son,the true Vine,members of Your kingdom,and sheep of Him who is our Good Shepherd.In gratitude and lovewe promise to remain ever closeto the Divine Heart of Him who is the Way,the Truth, and the Life. We humbly beseech You to look with favor upon this Your familyand to sanctify its members.Bless also our home,our flocks and herds,our fields and labors.Keep from us all attacks of Satanand preserve us from all evil,through Your beloved Son in the charity of the Holy Spirit. With filial affection and reverencewe humbly dedicate ourselves to the Blessed Trinity,the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.Keep us ever in Your love,faithful and true unto death. We place this our dedicationin the pure hands of the Immaculate Mother of God,the patroness of our beloved country.May the Most Holy Virgin Marycarry this offering of ourselvesand all that is ours to the throne of Your Divine majesty.Grant us through her intercession,we beseech You,the grace to pass through things temporalthat we may not lose those which are eternal.Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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These People Receive Wounds Of The Stigmata

Mother & Refuge01 mins

Meet the extraordinary people who claim to receive open wounds of the stigmata from Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. A fascinating documentary examining evidence from people claiming to receive the open wounds of the stigmata – the wounds of Christ’s Crucifixion which appear physically on the hands, feet and side of a rare and, some would say, chosen few. The programme features stigmatics from around the world, including the three from the UK, and throughout history – from St Francis to Padre Pio. It covers the various theories that have been put forward to explain this mysterious phenomenon: multiple personality disorder, self-infliction of wounds, and the possible psychosomatic reproduction of traumatic injuries years after the event. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wViL_uSdrCk

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O Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Heaven

Mother & Refuge02 mins

hymn from the Roman Brieviary, 5th century O Christ, whose glory fills the heaven, our only hope, in mercy given; Child of a Virgin meek and pure; Son of the Highest evermore: Grant us Thine aid Thy praise to sing, as opening days new duties bring; that with the light our life may be renewed and sanctified by Thee. The morning star fades from the sky, the sun breaks forth; night’s shadows fly: O Thou, true Light, upon us shine: our darkness turn to light divine. Within us grant Thy light to dwell: and from our souls dark sins expel; Cleanse Thou our minds from stain of ill, and with Thy peace our bosoms fill. To us strong faith forever give, with joyous hope, in Thee to live; That life’s rough way may ever be made strong and pure by charity. All laud to God the Father be; All praise, Eternal Son, to Thee; All glory, as is ever meet, to God the Holy Paraclete. Aeterna caeli gloria, beata spes mortalium, celsi Parentis Unice, castaeque proles Virginis: Da dexteram surgentibus, exsurgat et mens sobria. flagrans et in laudem Dei grates rependat debitas. Ortus refulget lucifer, ipsamque lucem nuntiat, cadit caligo noctium, lux sancta nos illuminet. Manensque ostris sensibus noctem repellat saeculi omnique fine temporis purgata servet pectora. Quaesita iam primum fides radicet altis sensibus, secunda spes congaudeat, tunc4 maior exstat caritas. Sit, Christe, rex piissime, tibi Patrique gloria, cum Spiritu Paraclito, in sempiterna saecula. Amen.

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The Greatest Moment in History: Revealed by an Exorcist – Our Lady’s Most Glorious Act

Mother & Refuge08 mins

As the Church teaches, the Blessed Virgin Mary is the greatest of all God’s creatures. She is the one who was chosen by God to bring His only Son into the world, and her role in salvation history is unparalleled. But what is Our Lady’s greatest glory?   In the history of humanity, there have been many moments of triumph and honour. But according to an exorcist, Father Chad Ripperger, one moment stands above all others.   During an exorcism, Fr Ripperger encountered a demon who admitted that he had been the angel created by God to head the hierarchy of angels meant to serve Our Lady as Queen of Heaven.   This demon had been reduced to tears when Father pointed out that his name would never be written in Heaven next to Our Lady’s.   It was the Feast of the Assumption, and upon the demon denying Father’s assertion that the Assumption is Our Lady’s greatest glory, Father Ripperger commanded him to reveal the truth: What is Our Lady’s greatest glory?   Why isn’t it her Assumption into Heaven, free from the stain of sin?   The demon explained that our Lady’s Assumption into Heaven is her greatest triumph. She was taken from this life into the next, having completed her life absolutely sinless.    She entered Heaven as the Queen of Angels, perfectly pure and holy. Assumed body and soul into Heaven, she now reigns with her Son as Queen of Heaven and Earth.   To get back to our question… Could it be her Crowning as Queen of Heaven and Earth perhaps? No.   According to the demon, Our Lady’s Coronation is the moment of her greatest honour. It is the recognition of her excellence by which God drew attention to her perfections.   The crowning also has a very specific meaning in spiritual warfare. “It means that she rules, and whenever she asks for something, she gets it because she never offended God and always did everything to please Him. As a result of that, He will never deny her anything.”   “We’ve all offended (God) to some degree or another,” says Fr. Ripperger, “and as a result of that, His level of trust in us is only proportionate to how much He knows He can trust us.” But Our Lady never hurt Him. Everything she did was purely for Him.   The demon revealed that never once did she count the personal cost of any of her sacrifices, and that was because, as Spouse of the Holy Ghost, her pure love for Him consumed her. This relationship with God is unique to Our Lady and gives her a powerful intercessory role as a warrior for God.   But there’s more. Mary’s crowning also makes her powerful against demons. In spiritual warfare, demons are terrified of her, for they know that she is their greatest adversary. She is the one who was chosen to crush the head of the serpent, and she has been given the power to defeat him and all his minions.   Indeed, the demon was forced to reveal that Our Lady’s most glorious moment was something else entirely…   The most glorious moment, in all of history in fact, aside from Christ’s Passion is when Our Lady stood in perfect virtue at the foot of the Cross.   It was there that she participated in her Son’s redemption of mankind.   It was there that she united her sufferings to His, and it was there that she became our Mother.   She intercedes for us and protects us from the devil. Her standing at the Cross shows us the depth of her love for us and her willingness to suffer for our salvation. This moment has been etched in the hearts of believers for centuries, and it continues to inspire us to this day.   “What do we mean by glorious?” Father explains. “Saint Thomas defines glory as the manifestation of excellence. And just by looking at Our Lady at Calvary, we see the manifestation of the greatest excellence in all of creation, aside from Christ.”   Our Lady’s standing at the foot of the Cross is powerful and profound as she models for us what it means to love God with every fibre of our being… what it means to be a true disciple of Christ.   Our Lady’s Assumption, crowning, and standing at the foot of the Cross are all important aspects of her glory. Each reveals a different facet of her perfection and her love for God and for us. Let us turn to her in times of need and ask for her intercession.   She is Our Lady, Our Mother, and Our Queen.   Let us remember this moment of glory.   Let us remember the sacrifice that Our Lady made for us.   Let us honour her as Queen of Heaven and Earth and let us strive to follow her example of perfect virtue and pure love for God.   Join us in praying to Our Lady and experiencing her powerful intercession against the forces of evil.   Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylHbccuHkTo

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Prayer to Our Lady of Pity

Mother & Refuge03 mins

favored by Pope Pius IX Kneeling at thy holy feet, O gracious Queen of Heaven, we offer thee our deepest reverence. Thou art the daughter of the eternal Father, the mother of the Divine Word, and the spouse of the Holy Ghost. Full of grace, of virtue, and of heavenly gifts thou art the chaste temple of God’s mercies. Thy loving heart is filled with charity, sweetness, and tender compassion for poor sinners, and we call thee Mother of Holy Pity. With the utmost trust I come to thee in my sorrow and distress. Give me confidence in thy love, and grant me what I ask if it be God’s will, and for the welfare of my soul. Cast thine eyes of pity upon me and upon all with whom I am in any way connected. Shield me from the attacks of the world, the flesh and the devil. Remember, O fondest of mothers, that I am thy child, purchased with the precious blood of thy Divine Son. Pray without ceasing that the adorable Trinity may give me the grace ever to triumph over the devil, the world and my passions. I ask this, O most pure Virgin, through the infinite bounty of the Most High, through the merits of thy Divine Son, by the care with which thou didst nourish Him, by the devotion with which thou didst serve Him, by the love with which thou didst cherish Him, by thy tears and anguish in the days of thy pilgrimage. Obtain that the whole world may be made one people and one Church, which shall give thanks, praise and glory to the most Holy Trinity, and to thee who art its mediator. May the power of the Father, the wisdom of the Son and the virtue of the Holy Ghost grant us this blessing. Amen

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