Mary’s Promise, in the beginning

One hundred and six years and counting . . .

 “You are going to suffer a great deal, but the grace of God will be your comfort.”

Our Lady’s words to Lúcia, Francisco and Jacinta echo down the long years of this tragic century.  Although Francisco and Jacinta saw a quick end to their trials, Lúcia’s suffering was protracted and seems especially poignant to us today.  For Lúcia was to experience disobedience to the message of Our Lady and the tragic betrayal of the Church  by Popes and Bishops, the sly derision of theologians, the crass opportunism of some of the laity and the bovine indifference of most of the rest.  Thus, she accompanied Our Lord and His Blessed Mother in their suffering.

Lúcia, Francisco and Jacinta were declared saints by the Immaculate Mother of God from the very start of the Fatima message. Francisco and Jacinta exemplified in their brief lives truly heroic sanctity while Lúcia’s hidden life and silent suffering still has much to teach us in this dark time of the Passion of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ.

May 13, 1917, the day the world changed and no one noticed … An offer made, an offer ignored … such a small thing … as they say, “the devil’s in the details” …

Continue reading “Mary’s Promise, in the beginning”

Saint Francis: the Rejected Remedy

Back in 2015, I posted about the prophecy of Saint Francis of Assisi that seems to have been fulfilled in the current occupant of the See of Peter.

Today, we begin a series based on the essays by James Larson †, entitled, “Saint Francis of Assisi: They Pretended to Love You So That They Might Leave You”.  Larson strongly believed that the roots of the spiritual decay underlying this present wreckage of the faith arose nearly eight centuries ago in the twofold rejection of Franciscan Poverty and Thomistic Metaphysics. Larson dealt extensively with the latter on his site, “The War Against Being“and he had begun writing on Saint Francis and the importance of the betrayal of true Franciscan poverty before his untimely death.

Today, we discuss Part I of Saint Francis: They Pretended to Love You So That They Might Leave You.

“The Thirteenth century was poised on the cusp of the Renaissance, and the flood of pagan concupiscence and intellectual pride which was about to inundate Christendom.

Two Gifts

“In the heart of this threatened world, God planted the two gifts of Franciscan Poverty and Thomistic Realism as Icons of Love and Truth, the vision of which would infuse every aspect of human culture with all that was necessary to protect it from these evils.

“These Gifts were rejected, and this rejection initiated a fundamental posture of prostitution towards the world which, like a slow-moving cancer, has eaten away at the heart of the Church for centuries. Wrongly, therefore, do we now wail at the post-Vatican II ruin of our Catholic world as though it were a sudden calamity unjustly inflicted. As we shall see, ours is a chastisement long merited.”

Continue reading “Saint Francis: the Rejected Remedy”

Father Groenings on the Crucifixion

Today we offer our most loved Good Friday post from Father James Groenings, S. J.

THE CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH OF THE SAVIOR

Today, we examine three events which occurred at the time of Our Lord’s Crucifixion. The miraculous sign of the total eclipse, the rending of the Temple veil and the earthquake. These thoughts are largely drawn from the writings of Father Groenings, S. J.

The Total Eclipse of the Sun

This eclipse of the sun was not a natural one. It was miraculous in every respect and that for these reasons: First it occurred at the time of the full moon. For this Friday was the day when, according to the Law, the Pasch should be celebrated, and this feast always occurred at the time of the full moon. Now, naturally, an eclipse of the sun can occur only at the time of the new moon, when the latter is between the sun and the earth.

Then, it was miraculous because it was total from the very beginning.  Lastly, because it remained total for three hours. In an ordinary eclipse of the sun, the moon, in the beginning, covers only a part of the sun, then gradually more, until the darkness reaches its greatest height, whereupon it again gradually decreases.

This eclipse of the sun was, therefore, an extraordinary work of God, and the Holy Fathers freely apply to it the words of the prophet Amos, “And it shall come to pass in that day that the sun shall go down at mid-day, and I will make the earth dark in the day of light.” Continue reading “Father Groenings on the Crucifixion”

Hail, the King of the Jews!

The Mockery of Christ the King

In His Passion, Our Lord’s crowning with thorns was a mockery of His Kingship,  done by those who did not know Him. Today, He is mocked by His own, who should know Him and should  love Him. This is the mockery of Christ the King in this Passion of the Church.
“Then the soldiers of the governor taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto Him the whole band; And stripping Him, they put a scarlet cloak about him. And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand. And bowing the knee before Him, they mocked Him, saying: Hail, king of the Jews.  And spitting upon Him, they took the reed, and struck His head.  And bowing their knees, they adored Him.”

Even the pagan soldiers knew that a King must be invested with the symbols of his royalty, that is, draped with a royal mantle, crowned, and finally, given a scepter as a sign of his power and rule. And so the soldiers obliged this strange King, who had said “but now My kingdom is not from hence”. And so, what royal insignia might they find fitting?

The soldiers soon found a discarded scarlet rag of large enough size and after first ripping off His outer garment, they draped His now freshly bleeding shoulders in this dirty mockery of a robe. As we think on the vivid symbolism in this scene compare it to our words and actions – what homage do we offer to the King of Kings? A royal robe?

Now, the Roman soldiers clearly understood the necessity of the Crowning, for their gods were always crowned, Apollo with laurel, Bacchus with grape vines, Jupiter with gold. And so a crown fit for this King must be found.

And the Jews too, understood that their high priest wore a tiara when he offered the sacrifice. And did not their bridegroom according to their custom, wear a diadem at his wedding?

And we who watch this scene, we also recall that in those days a conqueror was often crowned to celebrate his victory; how much more so then, this King who by His death and resurrection will conquer sin and death!

What crown for this Son of Man, who told Pilate, “Thou sayest that I am a King” ?
What crown for this Priest, who sacrifices His own Body and Blood for the salvation of those He loves?
What crown for this Divine Bridegroom, about to redeem His Bride with His own Blood, giving His life for her that she may live?

Father Groenings tells us that no other mantle was befitting for the Redeemer of the world. He was the picture of the world’s sins, which were red as scarlet, but through Him were to become white as snow. The mantle should be red as a sign that His kingdom, founded in blood, was to be spread by means of blood, that is, by the blood of the apostles and of the martyrs. It was ragged and torn in token that, in imitation of Christ, His ministers would redeem the souls of men and subject them to Christ, not by means of gold and silver, but through the hardships of poverty.

ROME’S MOCKERY

Ed. Note: Those who have seized control of the Church have given a new meaning to the foul and ragged mantle with which the pagan soldiers humiliated our Lord Jesus Christ. For they have befouled His Church, befouled their red garments and humiliated this lovely Bride of Christ as never before in history. See here for a Lifesite News article on one example of Pope Francis’s choice of prelates. There are many others. Thus, they make a mockery of the true King of Kings!

Father Groenings explains the meaning of the thorns with which the soldiers, serving satan, crowned Our Lord:

The Almighty in His anger had cursed the earth. “Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee.” To remove from the earth this curse, this king must carry on His head upon the cross the signs of this curse. The ram also, which was to be immolated instead of Isaac, stuck fast by the horns amongst thorns and briars. The soldiers then, from mighty thorns with strong and sharp points, platted a crown in the form of a wreath or of a helmet and put it upon the head of Christ in such a violent manner that the blood poured forth from the forehead, the eyes and the cheeks.

When the head suffers, necessarily all the members suffer, because they are joined to the head in the unity of the body. Whoever, therefore, does not or will not suffer, cannot possibly belong to a body whose head is pierced with thorns.

Finally, there was presented to Christ a reed, as a scepter, to remind Him of all the misery, emptiness and evanescence of His kingly sway.

Think now, the reed was no afterthought; it was satan’s most exquisite touch, the pluperfect symbol of the “uselessness” of Christ’s sacrifice for sinners. For satan hates mankind with an intensity that no mere human can ever hope to begin to grasp. The idea that God would sacrifice His only begotten Son to save such as these loathsome sinners tortures satan eternally. Thus, the reed represents the indifference of mankind to the Divine Love.

The worst feature of the homage was its last scene. They bent their knees and acted as if they worshipped Him as their god. This false worship is what is being offered Our Lord today. By their actions and their sly, misleading phrases, the apostate prelates offer mockery to our Savior instead of reverence. How long, do you think, will the justice of God delay? One small point worth noting: the longer God delays His justice, the more severe it will be when it does, in fact, arrive.

Now is the time for us to console Him

Saint Francisco of Fatima often spent whole days in prayer, without food or drink, doing nothing but consoling his “hidden Jesus” in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.

“I’ll stay here in the church, close to the hidden Jesus. … I would rather console Our Lord. Didn’t you notice how sad Our Lady was that last month, when she said that people must not offend Our Lord anymore, for He is already much offended? I would like to console Our Lord, and after that, convert sinners so that they won’t offend Our Lord any more.” (Venerable Francisco Marto of Fatima by Father Cirrincione)

From the mouths of babes…. Saint Francisco Marto, pray for us that we learn to follow your example and comfort Our Lord in this, the Passion of His Church.

The Crowning with Thorns is the Third Sorrowful Mystery and it should arouse in us a profound sense of awe at the unfathomable love Our Lord Jesus Christ has for us who are so unworthy. Now, as satan does his utmost to eradicate the glory and triumph of our Savior and His beloved Bride, the Church, we must comfort Him, adore Him, and yes, rejoice with Him, for justice is not far away!

[Father James Groenings’ The Passion of Jesus and Its Hidden Meaning is a book by TAN and  is available in paperback or Kindle.](This article was first published here with peregrine’s assistance at ReturntoFatima.org in March, 2017. and has been updated several times since then)

Remember – Our Lady needs us to obey:  First Saturdays of Reparation, daily rosary, at least 5 mysteries, wear her brown scapular and live your Total Consecration to her Immaculate Heart, offering daily duties in reparation and for the conversion of poor sinners

Open your hearts to the Lord and serve Him only: and He will free you from the hands of your enemies. With all your heart return to Him, and take away from your midst any strange gods” (I Kings 7:3)

  Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of our hearts, Mother of the Church, do thou offer to the Eternal Father the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, for the conversion of poor sinners, especially our Pontiff.

  Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy kingdom come! Viva Cristo Rey!

†. St. Joseph, terror of demons, and strong protector of the Church, protect our priests!

  St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle!

 

~ by evensong for love of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, King!

Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O Sacred Virgin, give me strength against thine enemies!

A Prayer in Gethsemane

previously posted in March, 2020 by evensong

“My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” (Matt. 26, 39)

Today, we will look at Our Lord’s Prayer in the Garden of Olives on that sad and beautiful night which began His Passion and saving death for us. Our basis for this is Father Groenings’ classic, “The Passion of Jesus and Its Hidden Meaning”, from TAN Books. It is available in Kindle and paperback.

As He left the Upper Room, Jesus led His disciples in a Passover hymn, the only time the scriptures record that He sang. When they reached the Garden of Gethsemane, He cautioned the disciples to “Watch, lest ye enter into temptation”. Taking Peter, James and John, He went a bit further and told them, “My soul is sorrowful even unto death. Stay you here and watch.” Going forward, He fell on the ground and prayed, My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”

Twice, Jesus interrupted this prayer to return to His apostles, and after each disappointment, returned to this same prayer, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”  Luke then tells us, And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony, He prayed the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground.”

This passage of the Gospel is one of the richest troves of wisdom for meditation available to us, particularly for times of severest trial and at the hour of death. By working on this now, we prepare ourselves for these inevitable times to come. The first and most obvious thing we all notice is that Jesus is alone in His agony, His closest friends are sleeping, unaware of His great agony of spirit nor even noticing His precious blood being shed.

Think on this. Christ prayed while they slept, unaware of the danger. We too, arise at night and pray for our sleeping brethren, who close their eyes to the danger and sleep on, oblivious. But we who know, must arise and pray with Jesus, our Lord and God. Father Groenings tells us that, “in a family, a single member who knows how to pray well, is often the greatest blessing of the rest. But if those must pray who are among the sleeping, how much more those who are among the dead, i.e., among sinners.” Yes, exactly!

Finally, Christ prayed while His enemies were banding together to take Him prisoner and deliver Him to death on the Cross. In this instance, we are shown the wisdom of Christ, His lesson for us especially at this time. His enemies were uniting in one satanic focus, to destroy Him. His response was to pray! Thus, Our Lord Jesus Christ shows us by His eloquent example that prayer is the primary, the essential weapon when we are attacked or when the Church is attacked by the dark powers of this world. The attack came from within – Judas – and from without – the synagogue of satan. Just as today. Just as today. These things never change. And prayer is the weapon given to us by Our Savior Himself. Without prayer, our other actions cannot succeed.

When Peter attempted violence, striking at Malchus’ ear, Our Lord reproved him, commanding him to sheath his sword. Thus armed with prayer, Our Lord went forth to complete the task given Him by His Father. Father Groenings reminds us, “We also, in these troublous times, should use trustingly the weapon of prayer and confidently hope that the liberation of Holy Mother Church may be brought about by Him (God).” Note that the foregoing was written at the end of the 19th century. Even then, Father could speak of liberating the Church. This was because of the bitter war waged against the Papacy by the Masonic powers of that time, which were even then determined in their resolve to destroy the Church.

Another lesson we see in this prayer in the Garden is that Christ prayed earnestly that this suffering be taken from Him. Thus, we see that it is permissible to ask for the relief of temporal suffering. And then, we see also, that  we always must accept God’s will for us, and trust in His providence. He who extends this chalice of suffering, offers us rich graces in unimaginable profusion, just for the asking – and the trusting!

For our prayers to be heard, they must be like to Christ’s, that is; they must be respectful. Christ knelt down and fell upon His face”. Father Groenings tells us, “If ever any man could deem Himself dispensed from external marks of reverence it was certainly the God-Man … if the Savior did not dare to raise His countenance toward Heaven, what awe should not appear in the sinner?” …

“Is it not remarkable that there should be Christian men who are ashamed to bend the knee to God Almighty…? But those who, in the house of God, give scandal to others by silly and impertinent behavior can only be people of thoughtless brains or of depraved morals. They are proud spirits, slaves of human respect.”  [Father Groenings  must have had prescient knowledge of our current Pontiff, who refuses to kneel for the Consecration at the Holy Sacrifice, yet kneels for heretics to “bless” him, and places beach balls and soccer jerseys on the altar, denigrating the Blessed Sacrament.]

As we consider Our Lord in His agony, we also note that He expresses His tender love for God His Father and His willingness to accept His Father’s will. We see then that the ultimate test for us is to turn with loving obedience to our heavenly Father in our times of greatest affliction. For it is precisely in these times that we earn the greatest merit, and many graces come to us from this. If we are truly Mary’s children, we must follow her Divine Son in His perfect resignation to His Father’s will,

“Nevertheless, not as I will but as Thou wilt.”

The Effects of Christ’s Prayer in the Garden

The first effect of Our Lord’s Prayer was, And there appeared to Him an Angel from Heaven strengthening Him.”  Think on this! The Second Person of the most Holy Trinity, King of Angels, Consoler of hearts, is here consoled by an Angel! We recall that after His severe fast of forty days, Our Lord was ministered to by Angels. Do you see the humility of Our Lord? To take from His creatures consolation? Now think of His apparitions to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, begging our love in return for His love! How can we be so indifferent!

This most tender scene should move our hearts towards love of Our Lord and Savior and also instill in us trust in our allies, the Angels given to us to guide and guard, to sustain us in our struggles. What an exquisite example the most Holy Trinity provides us to remind us of God’s loving providence in all our needs.

From Isaac to Christ

And now we come to a most important lesson. Earlier, God demanded of Abraham the sacrifice of his son, Isaac. At the last moment, God spared Isaac. But here, in the Passion, the Father does not spare His beloved Son. The chalice does not pass from Him.

In the Last Joyful Mystery, Our Lord tells His Mother that He must be about His Father’s business. And now, in this, the First Sorrowful Mystery, we see precisely what is meant by His Father’s business. This chalice will not be removed. It will be consumed down to the last of its bitter dregs. The bitterness consisted of the realization that this precious sacrifice would be rejected, even despised by so many, to their own eternal damnation. Among those many damned souls would be so many shepherds. And today, their loss is the source of His continued sorrow in this, the Passion of His Church.

The Angel’s consolation renewed His determination and now, totally immersed in the will of His Father, He rouses His disciples, “Rise up, let us go”. By this example, Christ, our Head, leads us, His mystical body, as we too, rise up to meet the challenges of our day, the persecutions which await us all.

For although it appears that we are alone, among the sleeping and the dead, His Angels accompany us, and the Chalice of our bitter suffering, engraved with “Not my will but Thy will be done” comes to us from those loving, wounded hands.

Thank you for reading. I pray for you always!

Remember – Our Lady needs us to obey:  First Saturdays of Reparation, daily rosary, at least 5 mysteries, wear her brown scapular and live your Total Consecration to her Immaculate Heart, offering daily duties in reparation and for the conversion of poor sinners.

 Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, obtain for us by your loving intercession the grace and courage to persevere in these  trials of faith.

 Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of our hearts, Mother of the Church, do thou offer to the Eternal Father the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, for the conversion of poor sinners, especially our Pontiff and spiritual leaders.

 Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy kingdom come! Viva Cristo Rey!

 St. Joseph, terror of demons, protect our priests!

 St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle!

~ by evensong  for love of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary and the most Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, King

Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O Sacred Virgin, give me strength against thine enemies.

Passion Sunday, 2023

previously posted on : March 21, 2021  by : evensong

Today, Passion Sunday, a few notes towards the Crucifixion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Passion of His  Mystical Body,  the Holy Catholic Church.

We note that, as Father Groenings reminds us, Christ had to die outside the gate of the city, just as the scapegoat laden with the sins of the people, had to be led outside the camp. St. Leo explains the significance of Christ’s sacrifice being offered outside the temple, even, indeed, outside the gates,

“Christ was slain as our paschal lamb. But because He offered Himself to the Father as the new and real sacrifice of propitiation, He was to be crucified, not in the temple whose privilege of sacredness was at an end, nor inside the walls of the city which was awaiting its destruction on account of its crime, but ‘outside the camp,’ in order that, after the mysteries of the ancient sacrifice had ceased, the new sacrifice might be offered on a new altar, and that the cross of Christ be an altar not for the temple, but for the entire world.”

Continue reading “Passion Sunday, 2023”

May 13, 1917, Mary’s Promise

Posted on May 13, 2019

One hundred and two years and counting . . .

 “You are going to suffer a great deal, but the grace of God will be your comfort.”

Our Lady’s words to Lúcia, Francisco and Jacinta echo down the long years of this tragic century.  Although Francisco and Jacinta saw a quick end to their trials, Lúcia’s suffering was protracted and seems especially poignant to us today.  For Lúcia was to experience disobedience to the message of Our Lady and the tragic betrayal of the Church  by Popes and Bishops, the sly derision of theologians, the crass opportunism of some of the laity and the bovine indifference of most of the rest.  Thus, she accompanied Our Lord and His Blessed Mother in their suffering.

Lúcia, Francisco and Jacinta were declared saints by the Immaculate Mother of God from the very start of the Fatima message. Francisco and Jacinta exemplified in their brief lives truly heroic sanctity while Lúcia’s hidden life and silent suffering still has much to teach us in this dark time of the Passion of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ.                                                                                                                                                                                                    .

May 13, 1917, the day the world changed and no one noticed … An offer made, an offer ignored … such a small thing … as they say, “the devil’s in the details” …

 

May 13, 1917 was a bright sunshiny Sunday and the rocky hillsides were sprinkled with wildflowers when  Lúcia , Francisco and Jacinta saw the Mother of God, “more brilliant than the sun”, in Lúcia’s words. From Frère Michel de la Sainte Trinité:

“There before us on a small holm oak, we beheld a Lady all dressed in white. She was more brilliant than the sun, and radiated a light more clear and intense than a crystal glass filled with sparkling water, when the rays of the burning sun shine through it. We stopped, astounded, before the apparition. We were so close, just a few feet from Her, that we were bathed in the light that surrounded Her, or rather, which radiated from Her. Then Our Lady spoke to us: – ‘Do not be afraid. I will do you no harm.’

To Lúcia’s questions, the Lady answered, “I am of Heaven”.

To Lúcia’s question, “What does your Grace want of me?”, the Lady replied,
“I have come to ask you to come here for six months in succession, on the 13th day at this same hour. Later on,  I will tell you who I am and what I want. Afterwards, I will return here yet a seventh time.”

Lúcia then, “Shall I go to heaven too?” “Yes, you will.”
“And Jacinta?” “She will go also.”
“And Francisco?” “He will go there too, but he must say many rosaries.”

Lúcia:
“Then I remembered to ask about two girls who had died recently. They were friends of mine and used to come to my home to learn weaving with my eldest sister. –
“Is Maria das Neves in Heaven?” – ‘Yes, she is.’ (I think she was about 16 years old.) –
“And Amelia?” – ‘She will be in Purgatory until the end of the world.’ (It seems to me that she was between 18 and 20 years of age.)

And then, the Virgin Mary made them an offer no true Catholic could refuse:

“Are you willing to offer yourselves to God and bear all the sufferings He wills to send you, as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and of supplication for the conversion of sinners?”

Lúcia promptly answered for the three of them, “Yes! We want to!”
“Then you are going to suffer a great deal, but the grace of God will be your comfort.”

The concept of reparative suffering is as old as Catholicism itself. It is at the heart of true Christianity, “take up thy cross and come, follow Me.” Contrast the children’s prompt acceptance with our modern reluctance to budge from our comfort zone and you will see why so few today are open to the message of Fatima.

Returning to Lúcia’s narrative:  “As she spoke, the Lady spread her hands, shedding intense rays of light.” … “this light penetrated us to the heart and allowed us to see ourselves in God, who was the light”. Lúcia related that they then fell to their knees as if moved by an interior impulse and began praying, “O Most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee; my God, my God, I love Thee in the Most Blessed Sacrament.”

After a few moments, Our Lady spoke again:

‘Pray the Rosary every day, in order to obtain peace for the world, and the end of the war.’ 

“Can you tell me if the war will go on a long time, or will it end soon?” –

‘I cannot tell you that yet, because I have not yet said what I want.’

The beautiful Lady then told them,

Say the Rosary every day in order to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war.’  Lúcia then described the Lady gradually ascending into Heaven towards the east, “surrounded by a most brilliant light”.

From Frère Michel de la Sainte Trinité, Vol 1:

Our Lady appeared on the little holm oak for about ten minutes: ‘I do not believe that She ever remained long enough to recite a Rosary’, said Lúcia. What is astonishing, but quite well at attested,  is that Francisco saw the Blessed Virgin perfectly, but did not hear Her words. He only understood the questions of Lúcia. As for Jacinta, who saw and heard everything, she never brought herself to speak to the apparition. Thus Lúcia was the only one to have the privilege of speaking with Her.” … “Young and quite small, the Queen of Heaven also came very close to (the) three children. For a pedestal She had chosen a little holm oak, about a metre high.  ‘We were so close’, writes Lúcia , ‘that we found ourselves in the light surrounding Her, or rather emanating from Her, about a metre and a half away, more or less.’

The Lady was ‘All of Light’

Later, on October 11, when Canon Formigao asked about the appearance of the Lady from Heaven, Lúcia  and Francisco explained,

Lúcia:  “The light that surrounds Her is more beautiful than the light of the sun, and more brilliant.”   “What was brighter, the sun or the countenance of Our Lady?” the Canon asked.  And Francisco answered:  “The countenance of Our Lady was brighter, and Our Lady was all white.”  To the Canon’s  question,  “Why do you often lower your eyes and stop looking at Our Lady?”  Lúcia responded,  “Because sometimes She blinds me.”

When describing the phenomenon to Father McGlynn, who was entrusted with sculpting the statue of Our Lady destined for the facade of the basilica at Fatima, Lúcia explained further,

She described Our Lady as being “all of light”. The dress and the mantle could be distinguished from each other like two “undulations of light”, one over the other.  Lúcia  was so insistent that the poor sculptor had to make folds which had nothing “realistic” about them; they were to give the idea of light in vibration…  “Thus the gold bordering the mantle was simply a line of more intense light; thus also the chain suspended from the neck and held together by a “ball of light”.

Father McGlynn asked if the Lady’s hands were the color of  flesh,  and she answered: “a flesh-colored light (carnea luz).” … “She was all light, this light had different tones, yellow, white and other nuances. By these different tones and intensities, one could distinguish the hands from the dress.”

Thus, we note that this first vision of Our Lady of Fatima, “All of Light” reveals a fundamental truth, essential to the understanding of  the Fatima Message.  It was Her risen body in all the splendour of its glory in which She manifested Herself at the Cova da Iria. Once again, there is perfect agreement between the testimony of the three shepherds and that of Holy Scripture. The evangelist writes of the transfigured Jesus:  “His face shone like the sun, and His garments became white as light.” (Mt. 17: 2) In the great vision of the glorious Christ which opens the Apocalypse, Jesus appears to the Disciple “as a Son of man», whose face was ‘like the sun shining at full strength”. (Apoc. 1: 16) When He throws Saul down to the ground on the road to Damascus, it is once again in the same light. “At midday”, the Apostle  relates, “I saw on my way a light from Heaven, brighter than the sun, shining round me and those who journeyed with me.” (Acts 26: 13) The light was so bright that he lost his sight:  “And when I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.” (Acts 22: 11)

The sun is only the image of the divine light with which the risen Bodies of Jesus and Mary shine. It was thus that the Virgin appeared at Fatima, like the Spouse in the Canticle of Canticles,  “fair as the moon, bright as the sun” (Cant. 6: 10), and also like the Woman of the Apocalypse,  “a woman clothed with the sun”. (Apoc. 12: 1) By Her apparitions at the Cova da Iria, the Blessed Virgin confirms for us, that as Mother of the “Sun of Justice”,  She has been clothed with the divine Light since Her Assumption. While remaining a creature and fully human, She has penetrated, so to speak, into the sphere of the divinity. (Frère Michel de la Sainte Trinité, Vol 1)

Clothed with the Robe of Justice

Although “all shining with light”,  the Apparition nevertheless seemed to be, in the eyes of the seer, a real human person, of ineffable beauty: “The face, with infinitely pure and delicate lines, shines in an aureole of the sun… The eyes are black. The hands are joined on top of the breast. From the right hand there hangs a beautiful Rosary with white beads, brilliant as pearls, ending in a little cross of silver, which also sparkles.”

Frère Michel  remarking on the vision notes,

Does not this description remind us of the beautiful verses of Isaiah which the liturgy, with lyrical joy, attributes to the Blessed Virgin on the morning of Her Immaculate Conception?  “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,” She chants,  “and My soul shall be joyful in My God: for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, and with the robe of justice  He has covered Me, as a bride adorned with her jewels.”  Is it not in this way that She appeared at the Cova da Iria? Clothed with a robe of light,  “induit me vestimentis salutis”, a symbol of the singular privilege by which She would benefit more than any other from the grace of salvation, since in view of the future merits of Her Son She was preserved from every stain of sin. Draped in a sparkling white mantle, resplendent in the golden flashes of light, She is the image of original justice rediscovered and restored in greater splendor:  “He has covered Me with the robe of justice…”

Such is indeed the spirit of the liturgy of December 8, as it pursues its joyful chant… “As a bride adorned with her jewels …”  These last words attributed by the Church to the Immaculate One, do they not also apply to the Virgin of Fatima, who appeared all clothed in light and adorned with ornaments even more sparkling? For the Rosary  “with beads as brilliant as pearls”,  and the border of golden light on the great veil She wore, as a virgin consecrated to God, were not Her only ornaments.  “At the neck she had a necklace with a ball that went down to her waist.” This ball suspended from the necklace was even more brilliant than the rest of her body, notes Frère Michel, concluding that it recalls the Canticle of Isaiah, “Sicut sponsam ornatam monilibus suis – As a bride adorned with her jewels”, This identification of the Blessed Virgin with the Spouse in the Canticle of Canticles is one of the most constantly recurring themes in the liturgy.

Thus, we note of this initial vision of Our Lady:  She presents herself to us in the splendor of her risen body, more brilliant than the Sun, adorned with ornaments, among them, a globe of light  even more brilliant than she is. Indeed, in Canticles, 1,10, we read, “We will make thee chains of gold, inlaid with silver.”  This verse alludes both to the love of God for His beautiful Bride  the Church, and to the love of the Most Holy Trinity for the Blessed Virgin.

This duality is intended to point us to the Virgin of the Apocalypse as we shall see in the coming months. The Holy Roman Catholic Church rightfully asserts the duality of meaning in the vision of the Woman Clothed with the Sun of Chapter 12 in the Apocalypse.

“In this we can see a delicate sign of the care of the Mother of God, wishing to signify to Her children that She is indeed the “Catholic” Virgin, of whom they sing with love when they offer praises in Her honour: She is the Immaculate Conception, the Holy Spouse of the Word of God, the living Sanctuary of the Spirit of Love and of Light. She is the perfect figure and personification of the Church, the Virgin who has risen up to Heaven in glory, in body and soul. She is the Queen of Heaven and earth, who has already been introduced into the great Light of God.” (Frère Michel, op. cit.)

Conclusion

In our review of this first vision of Our Lady of Fatima, we take care to note how the Blessed Virgin prepares  us to receive Heaven’s Message. Let us consider:

†  The very first message, which prepares for all the others is that she is, “All of Light.”  Thus we see her splendor, adorned with with the tokens of the fullness of Divine Love and Justice, because as we see, she is the Woman, “Conceived Without Sin”.  She is truly “All of Light” and thus, represents she who is, “fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array”, which is to say that she represents the justice of God confronting and casting out the enemy within the Church, which will be seen more fully in the conclusion of the series of apparitions, October 13.

†  The Blessed Virgin states that she is “Of heaven” – again, because there is no stain of sin in her, thus affirming the she is the Immaculate Conception, echoing Lourdes.

†  The Blessed Virgin promises the children Heaven once their sufferings are over. This message clearly is for all of us, her children and we must hold fast to this promise in the coming trials.

†  By her assertion that Francisco will go to heaven but  “must say many Rosaries”,  we are made to understand this essential aspect of God’s justice, the need for Rosaries of reparation.

†  This message of justice is further revealed in the Blessed Virgin’s response to Lúcia’s question about Amelia: She will be in Purgatory until the end of the world.”  Thus, Our Lady teaches us the reality of Purgatory and the need for reparation, anticipating the conciliar church’s implicit denial of the  existence of purgatory or the need for reparation.

†  The next essential point made by the Blessed Virgin is contained in her question: “Are you willing to offer yourselves to God and bear all the sufferings He wills to send you, as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and of supplication for the conversion of sinners?”

Thus,  from the very outset we see the urgent need for offering our sufferings in reparation for sins and for the conversion of sinners. Of course, this  presupposes the concepts of sin, eternal damnation and reparation, all of which concepts are minimized or denied by the conciliar church.

†  The next affirmation is Our Lady of Fatima’s offering of the grace of God as our comfort. This, too, is an essential point, one we must hold fast to in our times of trial. We shall have more on this in a subsequent post.

†  And then,  Our Lady spread her hands, allowing intense rays of light to penetrate the children. Lúcia remarked that the Light was God, a point which is too little noted.  This Light caused them to immediately prostrate themselves and pray,  “O Most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee; my God, my God, I love Thee in the Most Blessed Sacrament.”

Thus, we note that the Immaculata demonstrates that she is Mediatrix of Grace, and affirms the importance of Eucharistic Adoration. This deserves a post of its own, but for now, we simply assert that those who deceive the faithful by rushing around making a luxurious living off of proclaiming the need for a “Fifth Marian Dogma” are betraying Our Lady who never asked for such a thing, but only for Devotion to her Immaculate Heart, and for us to pray  her Rosary. She called herself “Our Lady of the Rosary”, thus expressing her desire that we pray her prayers, i.e., Hail Marys, on the Rosary, and not other prayers. She did not ask for other things. The people who hawk these unasked for devotions serve her ancient enemy and betray her yet again.  Please, do not betray her any more!

†  The final point, “Pray the Rosary every day in order to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war”, is one that the world still has not learned. And there is no peace. Nor will there be, without reparation, without justice.

Think on these things.

Ed. Note: For a very informative article on Fatima, you may want to check out “Fatima: The Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary“.

  Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of our hearts, Mother of the Church, do thou offer to the Eternal Father the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, for the conversion of poor sinners, especially our Pontiff.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy Kingdom come, Viva Cristo Rey!

†  St. Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family, protect our families, protect our priests!

†  St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.

~ by evensong for love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, King.
Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O Sacred Virgin! Give me strength against thine enemies!