February 20, 2015

Memorial of Sts. Jacinta & Francisco of Fatima February 20-The face that gazed on Our Lady is incorrupt!


The Heroic Virtues of
Sts. Jacinta and Francisco 

The beatification process for the Fátima seers Francisco and Jacinta Marto began in 1952 and was finished in 1979. On 15 February 1988 the final documentation was presented to John Paul II and to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. They were declared "venerable" on 13 May 1989 and Beatified by Pope John Paul on May 13, 2000. Their long awaited Canonization also took place at Fatima on  May 13, 2017 by Pope Francis.

Their memorial is on the day of Jacinta's death February 20. Most of this post after giving background information will detail the Heroic Virtues of the two  but especially Jacinta our little victim soul for poor sinners. What she suffered grown men would find difficult to endure. It is trough the Immaculate Heart of Mary that she completed the mission Our Lady gave to her at Fatima. This little soul sets an example for all of us in humble submission of sufferings and the trial of life.

Above photo taken after the children saw the vision of Hell in July

The Vision of Hell

This experience Our Lady gave them deeply impressed them and changed their lives. This vision became the motivation for Jacinta's Heroic Sacrifices for the conversion of poor sinners who may end up there. Jacinta often separated from the others and alone by herself would fall to her knees to pray for sinners. Then calling Lucia and Francisco she would ask: "Are you praying with me? It is necessary to pray much to save souls from hell!... How sorry I am for sinners! If I could only show them hell!" Even after she was taken sick, which eventually led to her death, she would get out of bed to bow her head to the floor, and pray as the Angel had taught for the glory of God, Jesus in the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference by which God is offended and to beg for the conversion of poor sinners. A priest finally had to tell her, as she would fall over at times doing this, that she should say the prayer in bed.

The Vision of the Holy Father

John Paul II after assassination attempt 



Jacinta's vision recorded by Sr. Lucia in her memoirs is connected to the third part of the secret revealed on May 13, 2000 by Pope John Paul II. Jacinta said "I cannot say how, but I saw the Holy Father in a very large house, kneeling beside a table with his hands on his face. He was crying. Many people were outside the house. Some were throwing stones at him; others were cursing him and saying foul words to him. Poor Holy Father, we have to pray much for him!"  







Benedict XVI @ Fatima May 2010
Some experts believed that Jacinta's mysterious visions applied to Pope Pius XII. But it is more probable that this prophetic vision also concerned future popes. Including Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI! No pope in the history of the Fatima Revelation has suffered such revilement by the press to the point of publishing articles that libel him and asking for his resignation also see the following link for the Fatima Messages embraces Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in prayer with a section concerning The Unprecedented Media Attacks On the Pope Fueled by the Devil? "Strike the shepherd the Sheep will Scatter" Zechariah 13:7

Another time in  August of 1917, while sitting on the boulders of the knoll of Cabeço, Jacinta suddenly began to say the prayer the angel had taught them and, after a deep silence, said to her cousin: "Do you not see so many thoroughfares, roads, and fields full of people weeping with hunger and having nothing to eat? And the Holy Father praying in a church before the Immaculate Heart of Mary? And many people praying with him?" Sister Lucia adds: "Some days later, she asked me: "'Can I say that I saw the Holy Father and all those people?'' Lucia answered her: "No. Don't you see that this is part of the secret?!  That would give it away!"  
                                                                                
Bl. Jacinta Marto Last Visions


At the end of October 1918, Francisco and Jacinta fell ill, almost at the same time. When Lucia visited them, she found Jacinta elated she said;"Our Lady came to see us and said that she is coming to take Francisco to heaven very soon. She asked me if I still wanted to convert more sinners. I told her I did. She told me I would be taken to a hospital and that I would suffer greatly there, but that I should suffer for the conversion of sinners, in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and for the love of Jesus. This is what hurts me most. She said to Lucia: "My mother will take me there, and after that I will remain there all alone!"




Surgery Without General Anesthetic

Dr. Castro Freire who received Jacinta at the hospital diagnosed "purulent pleurisy of the large left cavity, with fistula; osteitis of the seventh and eighth ribs of the same side." On February 10, 1920 Jacinta was operated on. She had much to suffer, for they could not give her a general anesthetic, because of her extreme weakness, and they had to be content with a local anesthetic, a method which was still imperfect at the time.  She suffered greatly from it, and the pain was revived each time it was necessary to bandage the wound.  But the result was clinically rather good, with two ribs being extracted from her left side, leaving a wound into which a grown-ups hand could be comfortably inserted. Jacinta was an accommodating and stoic patient, and though the required daily dressings of the great wound in her side were a frightful agony, her only cries were repetitions of her beloved Lady's name. The doctor in Lisbon who operated on Jacinta considered her a saint Jacinta never complained even when the local anesthesia did not work. The doctor heard her say to Our Lord: "Now Jesus You can save many souls because I suffer very much."

Jacinta's Last Sacrifice

Her Request for Viaticum

On the evening of that 20th of February, at about 6 o'clock, Jacinta said that she felt worse and wished to receive the Sacraments. The parish priest was called and he heard her confession about 8 o'clock that night. Jacinta was convinced that she would die and asked for Viaticum, but the priest thought she looked fairly well, and so he promised to bring her Holy Communion in the morning. She died that night, all alone, as Our Lady had told her, and without having received Holy Communion. But she died in peace, in perfect conformity to the Divine Will. She has much to teach us on how to accept the misfortunes of our lives in the spirit of sacrifice. Bl. Jacinta Victim Soul for poor sinners, pray for us so that we may be made worth of the promises of Christ.

 Father John De Marchi,I.M.C. 

  On Jacinta's Last Comments 

Fr. DeMarchi is an author of numerous articles and books on Fatima, in particular Fatima Today, and Fatima the Full Story. He lived in Fatima from 1946 until his death in 2003. He Established a seminary for the Consolata Priests and a Convent for the sisters at Fatima. The museum of Fatima in 1990 and the Blessed Nuno Hotel for pilgrims.  He became close to Sr Lucia interviewing her many times on the events of Fatima as well as her family, friends and other witnesses. His books especially Fatima the Full Story are considered to be authentic historical documents.

I was blessed to know him and have him as a spiritual friend, father and "brother" as he appended his notes and cards to me. I made acquaintance with him over the years as He often visited my parish on his mission appeals for Ethiopia. Whenever I went to Fatima he would meet me there show me the sacred spots and take me to wherever he was offering Holy Mass often at the convent of the Alianca de Santa Maria. The last time I saw him was at the Beatification of Bl. Jacinta and Francesco in 2000. He was sick then but filled with great joy at seeing the fulfillment of his spiritual aspirations as the shepherd children were raised to the honors of the altar. I never wanted to leave Fatima. Each time I went I left a part of my heart behind. Fr. De Marchi told me: "You must return to America and bring the Fatima Message to your country."

Speramus-We Hope  

Fulfillment of Fr. De Marchi's Directives: 
"Go Bring the Fatima Message to America!"

Fr. De Marchi entered Eternal Life on January 1, 2003, after suffering a long illness in the spirit of Jacinta of Fatima. His spirit still lives on in the hearts of all who knew him and loved him. May he rest in peace and continue to pray for us in the Divine Liturgy of Heaven until we reach with him the heavenly home land with Our Lord, Our Lady and the Shepherds.  Requiescat in pace! (Note: I still pray for him and to him leaving the judgement to the church but I believe Father De Marchi is at home in Heaven!)
                                                                        
Jacinta's Last Words 

Compiled by Fr. John De Marchi, I.M.C.

In Lisbon Jacinta was also attended by Mother Maria da Purificaçao Godinho, who wrote down her last words - though not always verbatim. Many, imbued with a prophetic tone and full of unction. During her short stay in the hospital, Jacinta was favored with new visits of Our Lady, who told her the day and hour she would die. Her conversations with Mother Godiñho were filled with instructions on the spiritual life, as well as with prophecies which are still being fulfilled.

On Priests and Rulers

+   "My godmother, pray much for sinners! Pray much for priests! Pray much for religious! Priests should only occupy themselves with the affairs of the Church. Priests should be pure, very pure. The disobedience of priests and religious to their superiors and to the Holy Father greatly offends Our Lord.
+   "My godmother, pray much for those who govern! Woe to those who persecute the religion of Our Lord! If the government left the Church in peace and gave freedom to the holy Faith, it would be blessed by God."

  On Sin

+ "The sins of the world are very great."
+ "Many marriages are not good; they do not please Our Lord, and they are not of God."
+ "If men knew what eternity is, they would do everything to change their  lives."
+ "The sins that lead more souls to hell are the sins of the flesh."
+ "Fashions that will greatly offend Our Lord will appear. People who serve God should not follow fashions. The Church has no fashions. Our Lord is always the same."
+ "Men are lost because they do not think of the death of Our Lord and do not do penance.

On Christian Virtue

+   Talking in Church: Noticing that many visitors chatted and laughed in the chapel of the orphanage, Jacinta asked Mother Godinho to warn them of the lack of respect for the Real Presence this represented. When this measure did not bring about satisfactory results, she asked that the cardinal be advise that "Our Lady does not want people to talk in church."
+  "My  godmother, do not walk in the midst of luxury. Flee from riches. Be very fond of holy poverty and silence."
+   "Have much charity even for those who are bad. Speak ill of no one and flee from those who do so. Be very patient, for patience leads us to heaven. Mortification and sacrifices greatly please Our Lord."
+   "Confession is a sacrament of mercy. Therefore, one must
approach the confessional with confidence and joy. Without confession there is no salvation."
+   "The Mother of God wants more virgin souls who bind themselves to her by the vow of chastity."
+    "To be a woman religious, it is necessary to be very pure in soul and body."
+    "Do you know what it means to be pure?" asked Mother Godinho. "I do. I do. To be pure in body is to keep chastity. To be pure in soul is not to commit sins, not to look at what one should not see, not to steal, never to lie, always to tell the truth however hard it may be."
+    "Those who do not keep the promises they make to Our Lady will never succeed in their affairs."
+    "Doctors do not have light to cure the sick properly because they do not have love of God."
+    "Who taught you all these things?" asked Mother Godinho. "It was Our Lady, but some I think of myself. I very much like to think."


 On War

+   "Our Lady said that there is much war and dissension in the world."
+   "Wars are nothing but punishments for the sins of the world."
+   "Our Lady can no longer hold back the arm of her beloved Son from the world. It is necessary to do penance. If people change their ways, Our Lord will still spare the world; but if they do not, the chastisement will come."
+   "Our Lord is profoundly indignant at the sins and crimes committed in Portugal. For this reason,  a terrible social cataclysm threatens our country, particularly the city of Lisbon. It seems that a civil war of anarchic or communist character will break out, accompanied by sackings, assassinations, fires, and devastation of all kinds. The capital will be changed into a veritable image of hell. When Divine Justice, outraged, inflicts so frightful a punishment, all who can should flee from this city. This punishment now predicted should be announced gradually and with due discretion."
+   "If men do not change their ways, Our Lady will send the world a punishment the like of which has never been seen. It will fall first, …upon Spain." 
+ Jacinta also spoke of "great world events that would take place around 1940.


A Sign from Heaven
The Face that Gazed on
Our Lady is Incorrupt

The Little Miracles 
Father Ludwig Fischer who was present at the The first exhumation of Jacinta’s body, on September 12, 1935 Fr. Fischer wrote: "The expression on Jacinta's face was that of great peace, and all who saw her could not help feeling that they were greatly privileged to have been granted such a favor." This was all the more extraordinary because lye was poured into the tomb to hasten disintegration of the body of Francisco who was "buried in 1919. Jacinta was buried in the family plot on top of her brother. Her Nurse Nadeja Silvestre said: In her extreme suffering before she died, Jacinta's face had looked worn and emaciated. But in death, her cheeks had filled out and had taken on a healthy color. "She did not look the same child; she had become radiant and beautiful." When Mother Godinho held vigil beside the coffin, she glanced at the little lamp nearby. She was astonished to see that the lamp contained no oil but still burned brightly. Her body which at times before death did not exude a pleasant odor, because of infection and open sores, and the extreme sufferings which afflicted her, after death exuded the scent of sweet perfume. When her body was carried into the Lisbon Church, the church bells rang while no one was at the ropes, and the tower door was locked. It was thought they were rung by angels. Jacinta once said she had heard the angels sing but "angels do not sing as men sing."
 
Francisco Contemplative
Consoler of the Hidden Jesus

  Bl. Francisco Marto was born on 11 June 1908 in Aljustrel. He died a holy death on 4 April 1919 at his family home. Deeply sensitive and contemplative, he offered all his spiritual life and penance to "console the Lord".  Knowing he was going to die soon he felt it useless to go to school. He would pass the church on the way to school and tell Lucia you and Jacinta go ahead I am going to stay her to console Our Lord!" His mortal remains were buried in the parish cemetery until 13 March 1952, when they were taken to the basilica at the Cova da Iria and placed in the chapel to the right of the main altar.


What Francisco wanted most was to console our Lord offended by the sins of men. For this reason, on the eve of his death, he said to Lucy: "Look! I am very sick; in a little while I will go to heaven. "Then, when you are there, make sure not to forget to pray for sinners, for the Holy Father, for me and Jacinta. said Lucia.  "Yes, I will. replied Francisco but look, you had better ask Jacinta to do these things, because I fear I will forget when I see Our Lord!  I want to console Him first."On April 4, 1919, Francisco exclaimed at a certain moment: 'Oh my mother, what a beautiful light, over there, next to our window!' And a while later in sweet perplexity: 'I can see no longer'  his face became illuminated with an angelic smile. Around 10 o'clock in the morning, without any agony, or groan, he died." Francesco is in  Heaven Loving the Lord. Nothing else matters. 

Bl. Francisco of Fatima: Ora pro Nobis Teach us also how to Love and Console Our Lord





February 7, 2015

I have given My heart as a sensible object of My great love for man, I give My Face as a sensible object of My sorrow for the sins of man.




Jesus, covered in blood and much sadness, said to Mother Pierina:
"See how much I suffer. I am understood by so few. 


What ingratitude on the part of those who say that they love Me! 

I have given My heart as a sensible object of My great love for man, and I give My Face as a sensible object of My sorrow for the sins of man. I desire that it be honored by a special feast on Shrove Tuesday. The feast will be preceded by a novena, during which the faithful make reparation with Me, uniting themselves with My sorrow."

This year, the feast of the Holy Face falls on February 28, 2017 Shrove Tuesday.  

Will You join me in daily prayer for nine days to atone for our sins? Let us ask Our Lord to  help  us to make a good Lent. We do not know if this will be our last lent and the last opportunity for us to do penance before we cross over to behold his face in the light of eternity.

 Our Lord wanted the novena 9 days before Shrove Tuesday but the novena said any time there is a great need for reparation. Our Lord asked for the nine days before Lent begins but one could also pray the novena anytime during Lent. Maybe nine days before Good Friday. During the novena we will walk with our Lord and compassionate our Lord in his sufferings. “I looked for one to comfort me but I found none.” Psalm 69:20


Hear my voice when I call, LORD;  be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper.
   
Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.  Psalm 27
 Psalm 27...
4
One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
 6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his
sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.


THE “GOLDEN ARROW” PRAYER
Dictated by Our Lord to Sister Mary of St. Peter

 …One may also make a NOVENA OF REPARATION TO OBTAIN A FAVOR by saying the “Golden Arrow” prayer and “The Litany of the Holy Face” below  on nine consecutive days, preferably before the Blessed Sacrament or the picture of the Holy Face, and by going to Confession and Holy Communion!   Click For History of the  Devotion to the Holy Face


















May the most holy incomprehensible and unutterable Name of God be always praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth, by all the creatures of God, and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.

After receiving this prayer, Sister Mary of St. Peter was given a vision in which she saw the Sacred Heart of Jesus delightfully wounded by this “Golden Arrow”, as torrents of graces streamed from It for the conversion of sinners.

LITANY OF THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS

I salute Thee, I adore Thee and I love Thee, O adorable Face of Jesus, my Beloved, noble Seal of the Divinity! outraged anew by blasphemers. I offer Thee, through the heart of Thy blessed Mother, the worship of all the Angels and Saints, most humbly beseeching Thee to repair and renew in me and in all men Thine Image disfigured by sin.

Veronica's veil, by Claude Mellan (c. 1649).

O adorable Face which was adored, with profound respect, by Mary and Joseph when they saw Thee for the first time, have mercy on us.
O adorable Face which ravished with joy, in the stable of Bethlehem, the Angels, the shepherds and the magi, have mercy…
O adorable Face which transpierced with a dart of love in the Temple, the saintly old man Simeon and the prophetess Anna, have mercy…
O adorable Face which filled with admiration the Doctors of the Law when Thou appeared in the Temple at the age of twelve years, have mercy…
O adorable Face which possesses beauty always ancient and always new, have mercy…
O adorable Face which is the masterpiece of the Holy Ghost, in which the Eternal Father is well pleased, have mercy…
O adorable Face which is the ineffable mirror of the divine perfections, have mercy…
Adorable Face of Jesus which was so mercifully bowed down on the Cross, on the day of Thy Passion, for the salvation of the world! Once more today in pity bend down towards us poor sinners. Cast upon us a glance of compassion and give us Thy peace.   

Reliquary (volto santo di manoppello)


O adorable Face which became brilliant like the sun and radiant with glory, on the Mountain of Thabor, have mercy…
O adorable Face which wept and was troubled at the tomb of Lazarus, have mercy…
O adorable Face which was rendered sad at the sight of Jerusalem, and shed tears on that ungrateful city, have mercy…
O adorable Face which was bowed down to the ground in the Garden of Olives, and covered with confusion for our sins, have mercy…
O adorable Face which was covered with the sweat of blood, have mercy…
O adorable Face which was struck by a vile servant, covered with a veil of shame, and profaned by the sacrilegious hands of Thine enemies, have mercy…
O adorable Face which by Its divine glance, wounded the heart of St. Peter with a dart of sorrow and love, have mercy…

Be merciful to us, O my God! Do not reject our prayers, when in the midst of our afflictions, we call upon Thy Holy Name and seek with love and confidence Thine adorable Face.

Detail  (volto santo di manoppello)
     O adorable Face which was washed and anointed by Mary and the holy women and covered with a shroud, have mercy
O adorable Face which was all resplendent with glory and beauty on the day of the Resurrection, have mercy…
O adorable Face which is hidden in the Eucharist, have mercy…
O adorable Face which will appear at the end of time in the clouds with great power and great majesty, have mercy…
O adorable Face which will make sinners tremble, have mercy…
O adorable Face which will fill the just with joy for all eternity,  have mercy…
O adorable Face which merits all our reverence, our homage and our adoration, have mercy…
O Lord, show us Thy Face, and we shall be saved!
O Lord, show us Thy Face, and we shall be saved!
O Lord, show us Thy Face, and we shall be saved!
PRAYER TO OFFER THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS
TO GOD THE FATHER TO APPEASE HIS JUSTICE
AND DRAW DOWN GOD'S MERCY UPON US
Almighty and Eternal Father, since it has pleased Our Divine Savior to reveal to mankind in modern times the power residing in His Holy Face, we now avail ourselves of this Treasure in our great need. Since Our Savior Himself promised that by offering to Thee His Holy Face disfigured in the Passion we can procure the settlement of all the affairs of our household, and that nothing will be refused to us, we now come before Thy throne.


Eternal Father, turn away Thine angry gaze from our guilty people whose face has become unsightly in Thine eyes. Look instead upon the Face of Thy Beloved Son; for this is the Face of Him in whom Thou art well pleased. We now offer Thee His Holy Face covered with blood, sweat, dust, spittle and shame, in reparation for the worst crimes of our age, which are atheism, blasphemy, and the desecration of Thy holy days. We thus hope to appease Thine anger justly provoked against us. The All-Merciful Advocate opens His mouth to plead our cause; listen to His cries, behold His tears, O God, and through the merits of His Holy Face hearken to Him when He intercedes for us poor miserable sinners.

The Holy Face of Manoppello

                             
I have given My heart as a sensible object of My great love for man, I give My Face as a sensible object of My sorrow for the sins of man. 

Let us compassionate our Lord in prayer!

February 1, 2015

Our Lady of Lourdes Strengthen Us to Wait for Jesus at the foot of the Cross!

                   Que soy era               Immaculada Councepciou -am the Immaculate Conception

        

Novena Prayer Our Lady of Lourdes
Oh ever immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comforter of the Afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Look upon me with mercy. When you appeared in the grotto of Lourdes, you made it a privileged sanctuary where you dispense your favors, and where many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal. I come, therefore, with unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. My loving Mother, obtain my request. I will try to imitate your virtues so that I may one day share your company and bless you in eternity. Amen


Photo © Speramus-We Hope 

Click to Place Your Petitions  at the Grotto of Lourdes

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Encyclical Pope Pius XII on Lourdes
 "LePelerinage de Lourdes"
 
Le Pelerinage de Lourdes is the only encyclical of Pope Pius XII issued in French and the only encyclical written on Lourdes. The pope recalled pleasant memories of his pilgrimage to Lourdes which he undertook as Papal delegate at the Eucharistic and Marian Celebrations in 1937. 

He  reminded the faithful of France, "that every Christian land is a Marian land and that there is not one nation redeemed in the blood of Christ which does not glory in proclaiming Mary its Mother and Patroness”  He then recalls the history of Marian veneration, the history of Lourdes and the contributions of the Popes to her veneration at Lourdes.


This encyclical was issued on the centenary of the apparitions of Lourdes from St. Peter's Basilica, on the feast of the Visitation of the Most Holy Virgin, July 2, 1957, the nineteenth year of his Pontificate. The encyclical represents one of the strongest pronouncements of the papal magisterium on Marian apparitions in the history of the Catholic Church. The Pope presents Mary as the model of Christian Life. The school of Mary teaches everybody selflessness and charity.   


 

"In the school of Mary one can learn to live, not only to give Christ to the world, but also to await with faith the hour of Jesus, and to remain with Mary at the foot of the cross"



Wherever providence has placed a person, there is always more to be done for God's cause. 

"Priests should with supernatural confidence, show the narrow road which leads to life. Consecrated and Religious fight under Mary's banner against inordinate lust for freedom, riches, and pleasures. In response to the Immaculate, they will fight with the weapons of prayer and penance and by triumphs of charity. Go to her, you who are crushed by material misery, defenseless against the hardships of life and the indifference of men. Go to her, you who are assailed by sorrows and moral trials. Go to her, beloved invalids and infirm, you who are sincerely welcomed and honored at Lourdes as the suffering members of our Lord. Go to her and receive peace of heart, strength for your daily duties, joy for the sacrifice you offer."





O my Mother in your Heart I place all the anguish of my heart and it is there that I gain strength and courage." 
Sainte Berrnadette Personal Notebook p.28