The Holy Father in Bangladesh

A Shrine dedicated to the Virgin of Pompeii at Raja Rampur, 

on the outskirts of Dinajpur, in Bangladesh, is a place of dialogue between religions.

The Holy Father dedicated his address to the prayers of the Most Holy Rosary.

In the church of the Holy Rosary, the Pope spoke to encourage the faith of the priests and religious of Bangladesh recommending devotion to the Holy Rosary.  It is a beautiful summons.

Christ’s compassion. The rosary draws us into a meditation on the passion and death of Jesus. By entering more deeply into these sorrowful mysteries, we come to know their saving power and are confirmed in our call to share it by our lives of com-passion and self-giving. Priesthood and religious life are not a career. They are not a vehicle for personal advancement. They are a service, a share in Christ’s own sacrificial love for his flock. By conforming ourselves daily to that we love, we come to appreciate that our lives are not our own. It is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us (cf. Gal 2:20). - RV

I read an article on the Pope's visit at Zenit, which highlighted the shrine seen in the photo at top.  Even Muslims venerate this image of Our Lady, as the article points out:

“The devotion of Bangladeshis, Catholics, and Muslims, for the Virgin Mary has increased over time, and I am sure that, little by little, we will be able to promote meetings, collaborations, dialogue initiatives. The Virgin Mary can smooth the difficulties and obstacles put by men,” continued the priest.

Raja Rampuris is a prized destination to entrust oneself to the “Mother of God,” whose image is displayed also in Muslims’ homes and before which women, kneeling on a mat, pray calling her “Maryam.” - Zenit

I'm so happy the Holy Father's Apostolic visit was so successful.  It is reassuring to have the Successor of Peter confirm the Church in faith.

Today we get so caught up and distracted by those who spread fear and mistrust, those alarmed by the corruption of politicians and media personalities, and most especially those who speculate and warn about the 'apostasy' and the end times, as well as a Muslim invasion.  Perhaps they read too many articles from The Remnant or 1P5 and their thinking may be muddled?  They seem to be like those who love luxury, money, power and prestige.  Yet we have a humble Pope who confirms the faith of the powerless and weakest, and shows us the way of holiness, the conduct necessary in the dark night of faith, encouraging the prayers of the Holy Rosary as a means "to be more attentive to the Lord in prayer, meditating on his word and seeking to discern his will."

"The rosary fills us with joy in Christ’s triumph over death, his ascension to the right hand of the Father and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our world. The whole of our ministry is directed to proclaiming the joy of the Gospel." - Pope Francis 

First Saturday

"I will never forsake you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge 

and the way that will lead you to God."

The Syrian War: 'Worse than ever.'

Courageous priests.

Fr. Ibrahim Alsabagh, O.F.M.

“Never, since the beginning of this terrible war, were things as bad as they are now. I have no words to describe all the suffering I see on a daily basis.”

He described seeing rockets and bombs falling on churches, mosques, schools and hospitals.

“So many houses have been partially or entirely destroyed, and so many people killed or severely injured.

“And when the bombs do stop falling, there is an eerie silence, like in a cemetery. The streets are as though everyone has died.” - Catholic Herald

“When will the world community finally wake up 

and put an end to this new Sarajevo?” - Fr. Ibrahim

I think this is why I can get so impatient with locutionist predictions and Catholic infighting over everything - not to mention the time and money wasted on politicians vying for power and control.

Nations are being annihilated - right now, before our eyes - and we still do nothing. 

The Angel of Fatima

In 1916 the Angel of Fatima appeared to the children 3 times, as if in preparation for the apparition of the Blessed Virgin on May 13, 1917.

Tradition holds that Our Lady experienced a sort of pre-Annunciation before the actual Incarnation ...

According to the apocryphal Protoevangelion of James, the Blessed Virgin first heard the greeting of the Angel while she was fetching water from the well, frightened, she returned home. The scene is often depicted in iconography depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin.

In the Protoevangelion of James, there is first a “pre-annunciation” scene, in which Mary goes to the well to fetch water. There she hears a voice saying: “Greetings, favoured one. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.” Mary looks around but does not see anyone. Frightened, she goes back inside and, “taking up the purple, she sat down in her house and began to spin.”

The angel then appears visually to her, telling her initially not to be afraid: “You have found favour in the sight of the Lord of all.”

The Annunciation story then continues along the same narrative outline found in the Gospels according to Saint Matthew and Saint Luke until the author returns to the story of Mary’s role in weaving the temple veil: “And she finished the purple and the scarlet and took them up to the high priest.” - continue reading here.

It seems to me the pre-apparitions of the Angel at Fatima elevate the apparitions of Fatima to a unique status as it were.  That in addition to the fact the Holy See has recognized and approved the apparitions and messages.

This First Saturday in May is a good time to begin preparation for the First Centenary  of the Fatima Apparitions.

First Apparition of the Angel, Spring 1916

In the spring of 1916, Francisco and Jacinta were allowed to go out with their cousin Lucia as she looked after the sheep. They were in an area known as the Loca do Cabeço one morning when they were surprised by a strong wind shaking the trees. Then they saw “a light whiter than snow, in the form of a young man, transparent, and brighter than crystal pierced by the rays of the sun,” coming nearer, until they could see his features and he spoke to them: 

“Do not be afraid, I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me.”

He then knelt and touched the ground with his forehead, the children following his example, before continuing: 

“My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You! I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You!”

He repeated this prayer three times before rising and saying: “Pray thus. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to your supplications.” Then he gradually faded away in the sunlight, to leave the children repeating the prayer for hours, until towards evening they returned home, keeping silent about this encounter. - Source

The Two Candlesticks: LUMEN FIDEI

Consecration of the Vatican to St. Michael the Archangel

and St. Joseph.

 

These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks, that stand before the Lord of the earth.~Apocalypse 11:4

 But at that time shall Michael rise up, the great prince, who standeth for the children of thy people: and a time shall come such as never was from the time that nations began even until that time. ~Daniel 12:1

 Here we witness the two popes together, like Saints Peter and Paul or like Moses and Elias. - Fountain of Elias blog.

Let us turn in prayer to Mary, Mother of the Church and Mother of our faith.
Mother, help our faith!
Open our ears to hear God’s word and to recognize his voice and call.
Awaken in us a desire to follow in his footsteps, to go forth from our own land and to receive his promise.
Help us to be touched by his love, that we may touch him in faith.
Help us to entrust ourselves fully to him and to believe in his love, especially at times of trial, beneath the shadow of the cross, when our faith is called to mature.
Sow in our faith the joy of the Risen One.
Remind us that those who believe are never alone.
Teach us to see all things with the eyes of Jesus, that he may be light for our path. And may this light of faith always increase in us, until the dawn of that undying day which is Christ himself, your Son, our Lord! - Lumen Fidei

Statue of St. Michael the Archangel,

blessed by Pope Francis and Benedict XVI.

 

What did Our Lady really say?

 I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. - Ps. 69:20

What did Our Lady mean at Fatima when she requested that we pray for 'poor sinners'?   In her charity, did she mean that she approves of sinful behavior by calling them 'poor sinners'?  Or in her compassion, did she want us to believe she objects to the just punishment due to sin if sinners do not repent?  Of course not - everyone understood exactly what she meant - even the little children to whom she conveyed her very disturbing message.


Today is First Saturday, Our Lady asked us to "pray for poor sinners who have no one to pray for them."  When she made that request, I wonder if she was thinking of criminals and ...

me?


Please pray for me and for those most in need of God's mercy.  Thank you.

“You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart..."

 

Devotion to the Holy Face

I'm not sure we know, or rather, understand, how great the need for reparation is.

Art: Source

Corrected image here.