St. Matrona of Moscow, 1885-1952
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"She was blind from birth, but from a very young age Blessed Matrona was filled with the gift of the Holy Spirit to be able to clearly see the sins and passions and even the thoughts of people who came to her. Born totally without eyes she was blessed with the ability to foretell future events. This simple, illiterate woman, born in a remote Russian village in a poor peasant family is now known and honored throughout Russia as a powerful intercessor before the Lord and a worker of miracles but is less well known here in America.
Before her death on May 2, 1952 she instructed those around her:
"Everyone, everyone who will come to me: tell me, as if I were alive, of your sorrows, and I will see you, and hear you, and help you. After my death few people will visit my grave, only close friends, and when they die my grave will be abandoned. But after many years people will hear about me and come in crowds for help in their sorrows and with requests for prayer for them to the Lord God, and I will help everyone and listen to everyone."
Blessed Matrona was glorified as a saint of the Orthodox Church on May 2, 1999. Her relics are enshrined in the Protection Monastery in Moscow where every day hundreds of people stand in long lines to bring her their problems, illnesses, and needs as they ask for her prayers before the throne of the Lord.
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The life of St. Matrona reminds us that all of us are called to a life of holiness and that this is possible for all of us. She was not a nun, never attended a seminary, in fact was an illiterate, peasant woman yet was so filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit that she was able to see people's needs and sins, predict the future, and perform countless miracles even after her death. The Bible teaches that when a person is cleansed of their sinful passions and is filled with the Holy Spirit the presence of the Spirit produces certain "gifts" or "fruit". These include the ability to read the hearts of people, perform miracles, predict future events... (see 1 Corinthians 12:4-11) as well as characteristics of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness... (see Galatians 5:22)
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Why is it that we do not have people like her among us in America today? Where are these people who can predict the future and perform miracles? St. Matrona was immersed, she was "marinated" in the divine services of the Church, spending countless hours in her village church along with hours daily of her own private prayer. What are we in America immersed or marinated in? To what do we devote our time? Television, internet, Facebook, movies, magazines, shopping.... The Bible also describes the "fruit" of this type of immersion: adultery, fornication, hatred, jealousy, selfish ambition, dissension... (see Galatians 5:19) Which do you prefer in your life, the fruit which St. Matrona had or the fruit of this world?
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Tropar of St. Matrona of Moscow
Chosen by the Holy Spirit from your swaddling clothes, O blessed eldress Matrona, you received bodily weakness and blindness from God for spiritual cleansing. You were enriched with the gift of foresight and wonderworking and have been adorned with an incorruptible crown from the Lord . Therefore we offer you crowns of praise in gratitude crying out to you: "Rejoice O righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor before God for us!
Begging the intercession of St. Matrona. I have a medical emergency today due to vision impairment in one eye. Please pray that God's holy will may be accomplished in and through whatever befalls me. Thank you.
"Begging the intercession of St. Matrona. I have a medical emergency today due to vision impairment in one eye. Please pray that God's holy will may be accomplished in and through whatever befalls me. Thank you."
ReplyDeleteTerry? What? Praying hard!!!
prayers offered, T
ReplyDeleteI will pray now Terry.
ReplyDeleteMay God's light flood your eyes & bring deepest healing & peace. Bless you, Terry.
ReplyDeleteFr Patrick of San Carlos Cathedral, Monterey, CA
Prayers said.
ReplyDeleteUpdate when you can, please.
prayers offered thru the intercession of st. matrona.
ReplyDeletebe well, buddy.
Prayers said for you!!
ReplyDeleteI remember you in my prayers also, hope all goes well.
ReplyDeleteI whispered a prayer for you, Terry.
ReplyDeleteSts. Lucy and Odilia too, Terry: Two saints for sore eyes
ReplyDeletePrayers offered for you, Terry.
ReplyDeletePrayers from here, also.
ReplyDeleteStream of prayers from these parts, Terry! You're vision is always like crystal.
ReplyDeleteVisiting St Rita's in a short bit and will offer my novena to her on your behalf.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
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Thanks for your prayers everyone. I have another series of tests next Thursday to confirm glaucoma - after which I must schedule cataract surgery. Today's tests ruled out retinal damage, such as detachment - which is good news, I think I was more concerned about that. I may post about one's need to consult an opthamologist instead of just an optometrist for eye problems. My last appointment with the optometrist should have revealed the cataract problem.
ReplyDeleteGod's will be done.
Prayers here, Terry. I have macular degeneration, and am terribly near sighted w/ astigmatism. Hence, I did not see this very small print until now. Just de-coded it, lol. Cataracts are easliy remedied. Gluacoma is an altogether different story. I am so sorry....
ReplyDeletePrayers your way my dear!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely TERRIFIED me first time I saw "floaters" in my left eye..I thought my recent lasik surgery (at the time) was failing...
Yep--cataract surgery now is a piece of cake...one of my coworkers had it done and was back to work in two days!! and 20/20 vision!! Amazing!!
Be sure to get anoiting of the sick before your surgery..
Sara
Praying for you, pal.
ReplyDeletePraying..
ReplyDeletePrayers.
ReplyDeleteOffering prayers for you, Terri
ReplyDeleteTerry, you were in my prayers today.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the result is that your eyes will become super-powered - like allowing you to see UV or infrared or something. Then you can be a sort of super artist.
Of course, and God forbid, if you go blind you could be an abstract impressionist :)
Be sure to take bilberry, Terry. Praying to St. Lucy for you.
ReplyDeleteRussia was the first country to legalize abortion in 1920.
ReplyDeleteRussia is now moving to make it illegal...
I can imagine the Saints and Martyrs of Russia are rejoicing at the return of Traditional Catholicism.
Mr. Nelson,
Sometimes God allows us physical suffering and the need for medical treatment as a means to keep us humble.
You are going through a period of grace.
Deo gracias.
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Pablo, not to burst your bubble, but they are returning to traditional Russian Orthodoxy, which has always been their tradition (they've never been Latin Catholic in large numbers).
ReplyDeleteIn any event, it's a welcome change. Russia still has more abortions every year than everyone else, even us. Contraception has also depleted the number of ethnic Russians as bad as Western Europeans.
And by the way, wouldn't it be nice if American pro-life politicians started to get serious and speak of a constitutional amendment protecting the rights of the unborn? That's the only way we could legally ban legalised abortion form the country (unless we want to do it the cheap way, through the judiciary, like Roe v. Wade did).
ReplyDeleteTerry,
ReplyDeletePrayers continue for you today.
Jo Anne
Interesting that one post you speak of being out of commission due to having the windows of your house replaced, the eyes of your home,and then in the following post you mention needing work on your eyes done,the windows to your soul. Seems our homes really are extensions of ourselves.
ReplyDeleteExcuse me, I have some cleaning to do.