As I have posted before, back in the 1950's, I was not Catholic yet, and I remember a Protestant minister praying at a Sunday service for God to forgive us for our manifold sins and wickedness. When was the last time we heard a pastor pray that way? When was the last time you saw large congregations of folks attend services every Sunday? I see large congregations of folks buying coffee and donuts on Sunday and that is about it. Another pastor used to pray the Bible quote from somewhere in the New Testament: "If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father Who is Jesus Christ the Righteous" We knew to whom we were praying, and we knew why we needed to pray to Him, on Sunday, His Holy Day. I posted this again because I keep hearing it in my brain, it has become ingrained, in a good sense. Padraig, America used to be more Godly.
Yet, many of these same Protestant folks have no problem not attending Sunday worship every week (3rd commandment). If they preached on that, they would not have much of a congregation I'm afraid. Most preachers preach only what will not diminish their members.
I get a kick out of those that speaks as if they are experts in what happened 600,000 years ago. "near clock work", Are you kidding me!!
BINGO!!! This is what prophecy contends. Though we will be nuked on the west coast from China and on our east coast from Russia.
No need to even actually nuke our cities. Two missiles delivering an EMP burst would be all it would take. One over each coast would destroy most of the country's grid and paralyze it. Much nicer for the conqueror to have a land left worth conquering. Plus there would be plausible deniability if they launched them from nondescript merchant ships as opposed to a Russian submarine.
P President Putin is such a brilliant man he is quite scarey. What a wonderful chess player he must be, he totally outclasses any statesman in the world by a hundred ,miles. This reminds me of a famous painting called the , 'Checkmate'. Here is the story: 'We all know what the game of chess involves. Now there used to be a painting in the Louvre art museum called "Checkmate", painted by Friedrich Moritz August Retzsch. It is now in private hands after being sold at Christie’s in 1999. This painting depicts 2 chess players, one is satan whom appears arrogantly confident, and the other player is a man who looks forlorn. If satan wins, he gets the man's soul. According to legend, a chess champion visited the museum once and after studying the painting, noticed that the arrangement of the chess pieces were incorrect. According to him, the devil who thought he was winning, was in fact not winning. The man, who thought he was losing, was winning, because according to the pieces left on the chessboard, his king had one more move left, which would make him the winner of the game! He called the curator and they determined that the title didn’t fit the scene because the forlorn-looking player actually has the ability to defeat his opponent, though he obviously doesn’t realize it. The painting is a lie. His king can still make another move!' http://what-a-friend-an.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/checkmate.html View attachment 5497 ..and here is a modern rendering.
Catholic prophecy indicated the same kind of story. That Our Blessed Lady and Satan are in a kind of spiritual game of chess for the soul of man and at the moment it looks like we are totally defeated, but in fact with just one move, we are told Our Lady is going to win the game, though the devil is totally blind to this. Every night when I wake up for a while I like to meditate on the Passion. They say the passion was never out of Our Lady's thoughts and I beleive this to be true...for how could it not have been true? Night time is the very best time for meditaion, no disturbance a long , long period to get into things. My favourite Mystery of the Passion has always been the Garden of Gethsemane but recently I have moved onto the Crucifixation. I am particualry influenced in this by the writings of the great mystics but especially that of Blessed Catheirne Emmerich , the lady on who Mel Gibson based, 'The Passion of the Christ.' The reason for my being so influenced by Catherine is, frankly I think it is clsest to how things actually did happen.
I always feel so guilty when I go to a scene of the Passion because my heart feel so cold and made of stone. Do any of you ever feel like this? As though I am an outsider and should not even be there. But prayer is not measuered by emotions. No more are marriages. Real love is measured by giving and oftne that just means being with people. I notice this particualry at funerals. I feel so helpless and follish. Going to the house of the dead to meet and greet the relatives , especially in very tragic circumstances, were the dead have been murdered or commited suicide or were the dead is a child..what to say, what to do? I feel like this when I medidate on the passion... http://www.jesus-passion.com/THE_PASSION3.htm#CHAPTER XXV CHAPTER XXV Description of the Personal Appearance of the Blessed Virgin WHILE these sad events were taking place I was in Jerusalem, sometimes in one locality and sometimes in another; I was quite overcome, my sufferings were intense, and I felt as if about to expire. During the time of the scourging of my adorable Spouse, I sat in the vicinity, in a part which no Jew dared approach, for fear of defiling himself; but I did not fear defilement, I was only anxious for a drop of our Lord’s blood to fall upon me, to purify me. I felt so completely heartbroken that I thought I must die as I could not relieve Jesus, and each blow which he received drew from me such sobs and moans that I felt quite astonished at not being driven away. When the executioners took Jesus into the guardhouse, to crown him with thorns, I longed to follow that I might again contemplate him in his sufferings. Then it was that the Mother of Jesus, accompanied by the holy women, approached the pillar and wiped up the blood with which it and the ground around were saturated. The door of the guard-house was open, and I heard the brutal laughter of the heartless men who were busily employed in finishing off the crown of thorns which they had prepared for our Lord. I was too much affected to weep, but I endeavoured to drag myself near to the place where our Lord was to be crowned with thorns. 219 I once more saw the Blessed Virgin; her countenance was wan and pale, her eyes red with weeping, but the simple dignity of her demeanour cannot be described. Notwithstanding her grief and anguish, notwithstanding the fatigue which she had endured (for she had been wandering ever since the previous evening through the streets of Jerusalem, and across the Valley of Josaphat), her appearance was placid and modest, and not a fold of her dress out of place. She looked majestically around, and her veil fell gracefully over her shoulders. She moved quietly, and although her heart was a prey to the most bitter grief, her countenance was calm and resigned. Her dress was moistened by the dew which had fallen upon it during the night, and by the tears which she had shed in such abundance; otherwise it was totally unsoiled. Her beauty was great, but indescribable, for it was superhuman—a mixture of majesty, sanctity, simplicity, and purity. The appearance of Mary Magdalen was totally different; she was taller and more robust, the expression of her countenance showed greater determination, but its beauty was almost destroyed by the strong passions which she had so long indulged, and by the violent repentance and grief she had since felt. It was painful to look upon her; she was the very picture of despair, her long dishevelled hair was partly covered by her torn and wet veil, and her appearance was that of one completely absorbed by woe, and almost beside herself from sorrow. Many of the inhabitants of Magdalum were standing near, gazing at her with surprise and curiosity, for they had known her in former days, first in prosperity and afterwards in degradation and consequent misery. They pointed, they even cast mud upon her, but she saw nothing, knew nothing, and felt nothing, save her agonising grief.
One time , several years ago I visited my own mother as she lay on her deathbed, a very painful death from cancer. My mother was quie far gong by then and di not move so much. Anyway I had fallen and dislovated my shoulder and my arm was in a sling. This had just happened a short while before and my mother had not known. But when I entered the room she rose right up in the bed, seeing me injured with an expresion of great concern in her face startling us all at her being able to move. My sister and I began to cry at this, that she who was in such huge pain herself, dying shoudl ahve been able to arise thorugh compssion to comfrot me. She was not able to speak but her eyes said it all. Mary I think is like this but a million times more for her heart has been made so great by being ploughed by suffering. One time I saw her in prayer stnading as the Mother of Perpetual Succour; she who is also the Sorrowful Virgin. She looed, as ever ravishing but her grave demeanor even the colour of her robes the deepst blue speckled with gold stars, was so impressive. The PAssion Burned on heart in letters of gorgoeous god.
But I was trying to sat something about the war through all this, believe it or not. Last night when I went to Calvery things were different. It was dark 'A great darkness fell across the face of the Earth' and although I triued to concentrate on the Cricified Christ my eyes were drawn to the Blessed Mother standing there like a frozen statue white as marble in her face beneath the Cross. A sword of sorrow had indeeeed pierced her heart. Flashed of light illumionated the scene as lightening forked the sky and I saw her face quite clearly even in the utter dark. I felt myself rising up above the scene and as I looked down I saw the devil like some great lion prowling round the death scene. The n suddenly I understodd. The devil still did not nderstand that he was just about to be utterly defeated. Also I understood what is happening in the world now. The devil thinks he has won game set and amtch. but yet agian he is to be utterly defeated, this time by the sorrowful virgin herself.
So how would they blind our communications? Easy, we, including the military are overly dependent upon internet and satellite communications. We wouldn't know what to do if comms are cut, and all they'd need are a few minutes. A test this morning? Remember, these high level internet sites they took down this morning have multiple backups in place to prevent this: http://mashable.com/2016/10/21/sites-across-internet-struggle-after-cyberattack/#rg..wip88Oqt
For a long long time I could never understand how the devil could possibly think he can win. After all he can probably quote the Bible chapter and verse. All of the true prophecy that has been delivered upon the Earth is at his disposal. Then it struck me one day. He has a pride untempered by any grace from God. Even the most proud human being still is living in a world where they can receive actual graces from God. Some of theses graces, I would think, are we they are not totally overcome by our own lower natures. The devil doesn't have access to this grace. He actually thinks he can win. His pride is in a way "perfect". It knows no bounds. I don't think it is even conceivable to him that he could lose. I think that is one of the worst torments of hell. We will have nothing to rein in the negative aspects of our personalities. We will only desire to do all the negative things we have ever thought of. There will be no little voice in our head urging us to do the right thing. These are of course only my thoughts I may well be wrong.
HH, I think you are referring to 1John 1: 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
It shard to know. But the devil thinks from a view point of pride. I thnk in a bog way that this totally blind sides him. He coudl enver understandthe Cross and I think he big time cannot understand Our Blessed Lady. Humility is beyond him. This is his big weakness. Have you ever noticed this yourself with proud ,vain people? How totally lost they are when dealing with a perosn of Faith? It is as if they don't exist. Humilty , humble people they don't just see them. It is quite amazing. O the toehr hand a humble person wil lsee other humble people and the proud too. But the proud will only really see the proud. It is the devils big weakness. If you look at Donal Trump and Hilary CLinton, they are two very,very proud people and can see each other crystal clear because they are so alike they understand each other perfectly well. Which is why it makes it such a great cat fight .As to Our Lady, the devil in a real sense simply cannot see her. He is blinded by pride.
The enemy is able to sow the seeds of confusion because man has divorced himself from the natural law. Imagine that there are some (a lot?) of people who actually think that a male can 'marry' a male and a female a female. How 'stupid' does one have to be to believe that monstrous lie?
Boy, that's going to gravely hurt his pride when the Blessed Mother with her meekness crushes his evil ugly head! All heaven and remnant on earth will sing with joy at that moment. I can hardly wait.
It is wonderful reading in the case of exorcisms the effect that invoking the anme of Mary has on demons. It appears to be rather like a nuclear bomb. I read a few reports form mystics of conversations between the devil and Our LAdy and there is no doubt that Our Lady seems to bale to swipe Satan like a fly. The exprcists alo note that the devils are limited in how they can insult Our Lady. They seem unable to mention Our Lady by name and refer to her as, 'That woman', or , 'The woman in white' and so on. I think it is inevitable that a soul who has a Devotion ot Our Lady should go toe to toe with hte devil in some way, often very ,very directly. I don;t think this is any bad thing really. One of the devils big tricks is to convince us he does not exist and seeing him rihgt head on wakes us up form our sleep. So Devotion to Our Lady is a real eye opener in this regard. Als of course True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin means that we imitate her and if we imitate her humility this too gives us great power over demons. I don;t know if anyone else has noticed this , but I have noticed in my own life that if I meet someone who is inhabited by demons or strongly nde rthe influence they tend to act like scalded cats around me. So interesting, I am fascinated by this. Its like the curtain between this world and the next comes down. Which is why we call Mary, 'Mystical Rose'. THis lifting of the curtains between thsi world and the next so strenghtens our Faith. Mystical Rose pray for us.
A personal question to you: Sometimes I can have dreams and they are so visible and clear that I wonder "are my eyes really closed, am I really sleeping ?" but I know I sleep and that my eyes are closed. Everything is so clear in front of me, as if I am awake. How does this come ? I read once that these are the eyes of the soul. Well I can confirm that those eyes of the soul are as clear as our material eyes. Do you feel/see the same thing when seeing these dreams at such point that you wonder if your eyes are really closed ?
1John2:1 is the quote about If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Who is Jesus Christ the righteous, Carol55, you were in the ballpark
Padraig, I can confirm your statement about those who have devotion to Our Lady having to go toe-to-toe with the Devil. I love your expression: "they tend to act like scalded cats around me." I have neighbors who fit into this category, plus I have run into this in commercial settings. The other day I was preparing to go outside to take care of some yard chores, and the strong suggestion came to me to bless myself with some Blessed Mother holy oil which I had obtained from the Association of the Miraculous Medal. I did so, and was out in the alley sweeping debris and cutting back some plant growth so as to make more room for cars to pass. It angered my neighbor but she would not come within 30-40 feet of me while she was having a tirade. I KNEW I was protected. She had her video camera on. LOL At the end of her tirade I said, God bless you. Yes, we shall have these encounters with evil but we must always know that we are protected by Our Lady. Correct. And I have learned that I must not step out of that circle of protection and try to do it on my own. Because this is very heavy spiritual warfare, and we are dependent on God and Our Lady. But we do have a mission, even if we do not realize it. You are correct, so much of it is still a mystery. The thing about Satan being ignorant to the fact that he is ignorant rings true, but also he is very busy trying to take souls to Hell with him. He has that objective, so he still works on that. Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
