I came across an old and encouraging Zenit article from 2007 that helps me to remember that God rules in Europe and Mary continues to call the children of Europe to her Son. "COINCIDENCES" OF THE EUROPEAN FLAG Designer Inspired by Virgin's Image in Paris' Rue du Bac ROME, DEC 7 (ZENIT) - December 8 is a very special day for Europe: in 1955, on that day, the European Ministers' delegates officially adopted the European flag designed by Arsene Heitz, who today is an octogenarian artist in Strasbourg. The decision was taken following the 1950 European Council's (one of the predecessors of today's European Union) convocation of a competition to design the flag of the newborn European Community. Among many other artists, Heitz presented several designs, and one was chosen: 12 stars on a blue background. Recently Heitz revealed to a French magazine the reason for his inspiration. At that time he was reading the history of the Blessed Virgin's apparitions in Paris' Rue du Bac, known today as the Virgin of the Miraculous Medal. According to the artist, he thought of the 12 stars in a circle on a blue background, exactly the way it is represented in traditional iconography of this image of the Immaculate Conception. In the beginning, Heitz saw it as a flight of fancy, among the many that run through an artist's imagination; but the idea caught his attention, to the point that it became the subject of his meditation. According to Javier Paredes, Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Alcala in Spain, in statements sent to ZENIT, "Heitz listens to God in his interior; in other words, he prays with his heart and his head. He says he is profoundly religious and devoted to the Virgin, to whom he never misses praying a daily Rosary, together with his wife. Because of this, he believes the inspiration not only from his artistic talents, but from the silent voices that Heaven always speaks to men of good will, among whom Heitz can undoubtedly be numbered. He is an artist who, virtually at the end of his life and at the zenith of his career, can proclaim with the guarantee of authenticity that he recalls that moment, that he is interested in very few but very important things, that he regards himself as a man who loves the whole world, but especially the Blessed Virgin, who is our Mother."Professor Paredes admits that "neither the stars nor the blue of the flag are particularly religious symbols, thus respecting the conscience of all Europeans, regardless of their beliefs." Indeed, he recalls that "when Paul M.G. Levy, first director of the Press and Information Service of the European Council had to explain to the Members of the Economic Community the meaning of the design, he interpreted the number of 12 stars as a 'figure of plentitude,' given that in the 50s there were not 12 members in that Council, nor in the European Community.""However, in Heitz's soul the words of the Apocalypse were very present: 'A great sign appeared in the Heavens: a Woman clothed with the sun and with the moon at her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.' And, perhaps without realizing it, the delegates of the European Ministers officially adopted the design proposed by Heitz on the feast of Our Lady: December 8, 1955," explained Prof. Paredes. "That's a lot of coincidences, so henceforth it should not be difficult for us to discover in the folds of the Europeans' flag the smile and affection of Our Mother, the Queen of Europe, ready to lend a hand in that great challenge that St. Peter's successor has proposed to us: to re-Christianize the Old Continent with the example of our lives and the testimony of our words." (ZE99120707)
I also think ,Terry that the Red Star Communists use is emblematic of Satan. For instance did you know that the Kremlin in Moscow is actually a former monastery dedicated to Our Blessed Lady. The first thing the Reds did when they hi jacked the monastery was to put a Red Star on the Spire!1 Also if you look at your own flag the stars also stand on a blue background. I don't believe this is an accident either!!
Thought it worth bringing this thread back from six years ago. http://allthingscatholic.tumblr.com/post/36694398500/mary-the-eu-flag-our-ladys-crown
Look at this stone. It has been lying in this water for a very long time, but the water has not penetrated it.… The same thing has happened to men in Europe. For centuries they have been surrounded by Christianity, but Christ has not penetrated, Christ does not live within them. —Cardinal Lamberto, The Godfather III Saint Pope John Paul 2 was always very pro European Union. I suppose given the experience of Poland in wars down the centuries and its geographical position this was scarcely surprising. Because of his support I tried not to think badly of European Federal Government. Thinking the Holy Father and the Church generally had a better understanding than myself. But as the years rolled on and Federal Government turned more and more secular and anti Christian I think really we are making the ax that will chop all our Christan heads off. The bigger this thing becomes the more unstopable it will be when it turns against us Christians . All the devil has to do is take over the gentlemen in places like Brussels , Washington and Moscow and our collective Christian goose is cooked. All the signs are that he is doing so. How Satan must be laughing at us for creating the monster who is about to eat us. http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=4719
Padraig, I hate to tell you this, but your future tense is wrong, at least on this side of the Atlantic. Your sentence should start as follows: The devil has taken over... Let us appropriately remember, it is God who laughs at satan and his stooges: Ps 2:2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed , saying, 3 "Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!"4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Also, concerning time, it is now! I would recommend reading all of Robert George's speech. http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/robert-george-the-persecution-has-come-will-you-now-abandon-the-gospel?utm_source=LifeSiteNews.com Daily Newsletter&utm_campaign=7eeb0b0aa0-LifeSiteNews_com_Intl_Headlines_06_19_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0caba610ac- Safe in the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart!
It occurs to me , Terry that we are doing in exact reverse order what the Christians did in Ancient Rome. Theirs was the morning light that brought light to the world. They very much expected their pagan sisters and brothers to behave in the way they did. They were very conscious that they were set apart by following Christ. We on the other hand are the exact reverse. We expect these new pagans to behave like Christians and to treat us as their sisters and brothers when we most certainly are not. The Early Christians expected persecution and even welcomed it. We on the other hand do not expect or welcome it. They were the people of the morning light. We are the people of the even tide. Our role is incalcuably harder just as the persecution we are about to endure will be radically worse. However in the fundamental bottom line we are the same. We know that the Crowns go to us, the ultimate Victory, which is assured, goes to Christ and His bride, the Church.
I was mainly trying to shed some more light for myself on how her heel will crush the serpents head and what the heel refers to. Surely some great Catholic leaders will be elevated to help with this, like Francis is doing as Pope. I'm sure we all feel this head crushing whatever it entails is something that will happen in our lifetimes so what is the heel and what is the head? Surely its something on the international stage rather than something private in each or our lives or maybe its both? Also Europe may be rotting and stink in places but its not dead, somewhere that has produced so many saints and had so many apparitions will come good again, it has to.
Kathy K, yes and this is consistent with with St. Louis de Montfort writes. So according to this our humility which I assume will lead to more conversions or even to Gods intervention will crush the serpents head.
Thanks, Indy! I'd forgotten that. I need to re-read St. Louis de Montfort - he speaks to our times, doesn't he?
Lovely article, very like what we are discussing here. http://www.pattimaguirearmstrong.com/2014/05/the-devils-surprise-marys-feet.html View attachment 1983
Paidraig said of the early Christians: They were the people of the morning light. We are the people of the even tide. Very appropriate! Safe in the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart!
