I was thinking about Our Blessed Lady this morning. I notice recently how when things are going badly she gives encouragement and comfort, like. However when things are going well how she urges us onwards and upwards like a Drill Sergeant. In this she is the perfect Spiritual Director. She always has the perfect words. Seat of Wisdom , prayer for us. 'Christ is the wisdom seated on the throne.' St Louis Grignion De Montford.
Another though comes to me about Our Lady is that she is so totally present that she seems absent. My mother was like that. She had ten children and was very unwell from a young age. So she was pretty well always at home. Her family were her life. She became part of the furniture. So much so that it was only when she was absent , for instance when in hospital that I found I truly appreciated her her. For was always, always there. The same with Our Lady, always only the breath of a prayer away. ..and when she draws close she is totally there. We have all of her attention a total gaze of love. I notice this recently when I walk the dogs and call at a grotto in the grounds of a nearby Church. I just stop very briefly to say , 'Hi'. But her presence always seems overwhelming. She appreciates the visits and we both look forward to these little things so much. Small things given to Mary wind up great things.
Yes absence and presence. My wife's granny was a remarkable woman of great faith and charisma, she wrote poetry, went to mass early to pray the rosary a faith like rock. She was a great social person and had many visitors because she like to ceili. She died in 1990 aged 94. When we go home there is a chair in the corner still there that we call 'grannies chair'. Although absent she is still present.
I was walking along the most beautiful beach today, one I have never walked on before, far from home. Suddenly I thought of Our Blessed Lady and the moon. I believe God created the Moon as an Icon of Our Lady. Just as the moon shines because it reflects the Light of the Sun, so Mary perfectly reflects the Light of God through her humility. This is why Mary is very often pictured as standing on the Moon. Song of Solomon 6:10 Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession?
What wonderful insights on our Lady. Is there a better priest than Fr Ripperger anywhere? He has become my hero - Who else can give a half our talk on the Gregorian Chant and its spiritual impact without notes? I listened to this on the way to work this morning and it blew my mind.
Short video. I would love to know how to get to visit this healing surgery in Tralee, County Kerry, where the statue of Our Lady changes and healings are reported.
I love the down to earth almost flat statements he makes. Yes we are in a very bad way and yes we are going to get "slapped" and yes only God can fix this now. But He will. He is. And Our Lady is coming. Fr Ripperger has taught me the most beautiful insights into Our Lady. I could listen to him all day.
I wonder if anyone else is getting tried at the moment? I know I am. I'm not complaining about it, God's Holy Will be done. But it does feel like wrestling with Great Darkness.
Yes. I have had a pretty tough Lent thus far. As you say God's Holy Will be done. But yes it is like wrestling with a great darkness.
I was trying to sleep last night but was afflicted by very negative thoughts which I could not shake. Not temptations, but sad negative thoughts. The devil playing with me. A good thought came, to say the Rosary. Of course the joyful mysteries. As I started to do so , the darkness fled. It was as though they prowled around outside but could not get in. I have always thought that to say the Rosary is like entering a little Church. An immediate embrace of joy and light. A coming home. For the first time ever on praying the Annunciation, I did not consider myself as being inside the little house but stood outside as the angel came and asked the question of Mary. I thought to myself how silly to be standing outside I will see nothing. But at once a strong wind came and shook the trees outside. I knew at once that this was the moment when Mary had said her, 'Yes', the angel Gabriel and that the Wind was the coming down of the Holy Spirit at the Incarnation..and it was this that shook the trees outside with joy and expectation. Agni Parthene (Greek to English) O virgin pure, Immaculate lady Theotokus Agní Parthéne Déspina, Áhrante Theotóke, Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. O Virgin Mother, Queen of all/ and fleece which is all dewy Parthéne Mítir Ánassa, Panéndrose te póke. Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. More radiant than the rays of sun/ and higher than the heavens Ipsilotéra Uranón, aktínon lamprotéra, Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. Delight of virgin choruses/ superior to Angels. Hará parthenikón horón, angélon ipertéra, Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. Much brighter than the firmament/ and purer than the sun's light Eklamprotéra uranón fotós katharotéra, Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. More holy than the multitude/ of all the heav'nly armies. Ton Uraníon stratión pasón agiotéra. Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. O Ever Virgin Mary/ of all the world, the Lady María Aipárthene kósmu pantós Kiría, Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. O bride all pure, immaculate/ O Lady Panagia Áhrante Nímfi Pánagne, Déspina Panagía, Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. O Mary bride and Queen of all/ our cause of jubilation María Nímfi Ánassa, harás imón etía, Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. Majestic maiden, Queen of all/ O our most holy Mother Korí semní Vasílissa, Mítir iperagía, Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. More hon'rable than Cherubim/ beyond compare more glorious Timiotéra Heruvím, iperendoxotéra Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. than immaterial Seraphim/ and greater than angelic thrones. Ton asomáton Serafím, ton Thrónon ipertéra. Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. Rejoice, O song of Cherubim/ Rejoice, O hymn of angels Hére to ásma Heruvím, hére ímnos angélon, Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. Rejoice, O ode of Seraphim/ the joy of the archangels Hére odí ton Serafím, hará tón Arhangélon, Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. Rejoice, O peace and happiness/ the harbor of salvation Hére iríni ke hará, limín tis sotirías, Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. O sacred chamber of the Word/ flow'r of incorruption pastás tu Lógu ierá, ánthos tis aftharsías, Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. Rejoice, delightful paradise/ of blessed life eternal Hére Parádise trifís, zoís te eonías, Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. Rejoice, O wood and tree of life/ the fount of immortality. Hére to xílon tis zoís, pigí athanasías. Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. I supplicate you, Lady/ now do I call upon you Se iketévo Déspina, Se, nin, epikalúme, Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. And I beseech you, Queen of all/ I beg of you your favor Se disopó Pantánassa, Sin hárin exetúme. Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. Majestic maiden, spotless one/ O Lady Panagia Korí semní ke áspile, Déspina Panagía, Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. I call upon you fervently/ O sacred, hallowed temple Thermós epikalúme Se, Naé igiasméne, Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. Assist me and deliver me/ protect me from the enemy Antilavú mu, ríse me apó tu polemíu, Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte. And make me an inheritor/ of blessed life eternal. Ke klironómon díxon me zoís tis eoníu. Rejoice, O unwedded bride Hére Nímfi Anímfefte.
This card came in the mail the other day from The Association of the Miraculous Medal. I love this portrait.
Fr Ripperger had a conversation about Our Blessed Lady with Satan, through a Possessed Person and something Satan said has stuck with me the last few days over and over again. I believe it applies very much to Sorrowful Virgin. Satan said, concerning Our Lady that she also choose to accept and choose the most sacrificial way and that when asked by God to accept a hard choice they never hesitated for an instant. She always always choose the Way of the Cross. In the life of so many Saints they have a Most Singular Vision . Our Lady appears before them and holds out two Crowns. One Crown is a Crown of Thorns, covered in Blood. The other Crown if Gorgeous, studded with Jewels and glittering. The path of Suffering, of hanging with Jesus on the Cross. Or a path of ease and recognition, the easy way. The saints of course always choose the Crown of Thorns. For Mary the path was always, always the Way of the Cross. The Sacrificial way. It is writing of her that the thought of her Son's Passion was never out of her thoughts. So her wounded hearts is a compassionate one... and Immaculate.
According to Fr Ripperger it was Lucifer the light bearer whose mission was to enlighten the mind and soul of our Lady to be even more sacrificial but he was so stunned by her interior beauty that he knew he would always be second best. Hence he rejected his mission out of jealousy because he wanted to be like God and revealed that Mary's title Mirror of Justice is the most powerful because she is most like God of any creature in her interior life. Father also revealed that Lucifer was given the gift of revealing beauty particularly through music. Thus much modern music is corrupted by his influence since his inordinate desire as a demon is to corrupt souls through this medium.
When people ask Fr Ripperger what is is that you do - he says his job is to torture intelligent creatures for a living.
I cannot link the video as it has been disabled by the owner so that it cannot play on linked websites Type the following into Youtube Voices in Virtue Lectures: Fr. Chad Ripperger — Demonology Function & Psychology
