Anniversary of the Death of Bl. John Paul II--His Life and Death was A Cry for the Mercy of God!

Bl. John Paul's Witness

A Cry for the Mercy of God!

Nine years ago, on April 2, 2005, soon to be Saint John Paul II passed away. Millions of people mourned his death the world over, as  the bells of St. Peter's Square somberly tolled continuously  to mourn his passing.  If one listened one could here the voice of the4 late pontiff over the tolling bells  with his admonition to all of us: Be not Afriad!

                            

 
BE NOT AFRAID to

Open Wide Your Hearts

To the Love and Light that is Christ!

Beatification  of Bl. John Paul II

 A Joyful Event for the Church 

and All Who Loved Him!

Bl.  John Paul II  the Fatima Pope was Beatified on May 1, 2011 which was also the first Sunday after Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday.  Benedict XVI explained that the date was chosen for the beatification because it was on the eve of Mercy Sunday that his earthly life ended. "Those who knew him, those who esteemed and loved him, cannot but rejoice with the Church for this event."   

Pope Francis Announced Canonizations of 

Bls. John Paul II and John XXII

The Church eagerly awaited the canonization of Bl. John Paul II which  Pope Francis announced would also take place April 27 Divine Mercy Sunday, along with the canonization of Bl. John XXII.

Asked by reporters if retired Pope Benedict would participate in the canonization ceremony, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, told reporters it was possible, but given the retired pope's preference for staying out of the public eye, he could not say for sure. 

Pope Francis has emphasized God's mercy and readiness to forgive those who recognize their need for pardon Since the beginning of his pontificate. He told reporters on the flight from Brazil that Pope John Paul's promotion of Divine Mercy Sunday showed his intuition that a new "age of mercy" was needed in the church and the world.

Divine Mercy Sunday, a Feast Instituted Worldwide by Pope John Paul.

"Unceasingly the Church implores from God mercy for everyone. At no time and in no historical period -- especially at a moment as critical as our own -- can the Church forget the prayer that is a cry for the mercy of God amid the many forms of evil which weigh upon humanity and threaten it. "The more the human conscience succumbs to secularization, loses its sense of the very meaning of the word "mercy," moves away from God, and distances itself from the mystery of mercy, the more the Church has the right and the duty to appeal to the God of mercy with loud cries!  Bl. John Paul II June 7, 1977  Divine Mercy Shrine in Lagiewniki, Poland.(Dives in Misericordia, n. 15).

 

On the seventh anniversary of his death  a documentary from ROME REPORTS'  "John Paul The Great: A Pope Who Made History" 

Benedict XVI remembers  
World Youth Day & John Paul II

On April 2, 2012  the seventh anniversary of the death of Blessed John

World Youth Day Krakow July 2016

Paul II,  Benedict XVI paid homage to him at World Youth Day. While he Greeted an estimated 5,000 cheering young people from Spain on April 2, Pope Benedict said they were "the protagonists and principal recipients of this pastoral initiative promoted by my beloved predecessor, Blessed John Paul II, whose passage to heaven we remember today. "Each and every person has a vocation, a call from God that is the key to each person's holiness and happiness, as well as being a call to create a better world," the pope told the youth.  Read more.....

Bl. John Paul II We Love You!!
We Thank you for your life and Witness!
Read More

Bl. John Paul II 

Ora pro nobis! 

Pray for Us!

 Bl. John Paul II

You Live On, You Live On!

"ITE AD JOSEPH!" -"GO TO JOSEPH! "- St.Theresa of Avilia

         

 
Did You know that St. Joseph was also present at the last Apparition of Fatima in October during the Miracle of the Sun? The children saw him Blessing the world with the Child Jesus in his arms while the crowd beheld the sun spinning towards the earth.

Sr. Lucia describes what she beheld during the Miracle of the Sun:

 "Our Lady having disappeared in the immensity of the firmament, we saw, beside the sun, Saint Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady clothed in white with a blue mantle. Saint Joseph and the Child Jesus seemed to bless the world with gestures which they made with their hands in the form of a cross. 

Soon after, that apparition having ceased, I saw Our Lord and Our Lady, Who gave me the impression of being Our Lady of Sorrows. Our Lord seemed to bless the world in the same manner as Saint Joseph. That apparition disappeared and it seemed to me that I saw Our Lady again, this time as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. 

These three visions taken separately in meditation have their own messages for us that will have to be taken up in some future post. All the visions taken together are connected to the dominant message of Fatima: the Holy Rosary and the brown Scapular.   Our Lady asked that the Rosary be prayed in all six of her apparitions at Fatima. Even saying that Francisco before he will be taken to Heaven that "he must first say many Rosaries."  The three visions during the miracle of the sun reflect the mysteries of the Holy Rosary at that time. The Luminous Mysteries were not yet given to the church. If we follow her request: Through the Rosary and the Scapular Our Lady will save the world!

In the visions of the Holy Family and St Joseph we find the Joyful mysteries; the Sorrowful mysteries are represented by the vision of Our Lord and Our Lady of Sorrows; and the Glorious mysteries are represented in the vision of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

When the visions had disappeared and the sun was again normal, Lucy was placed on the shoulder of a man in the crowd and carried safely through the masses to the road. As she was moving past the people, she cried out to them, pleading one of the important themes in the Fatima Message: to convert, return to God and to flee sin. Her exact words were: "Do penance! Do penance! Our Lady wants you to do penance!"

For more details on St Joseph and Fatima with Historical Timelines Linking St. Joseph and Fatima with May Day &Vatican II.  Also events leading to the end of Soviet Union.  
Follow the link below: St. Joseph Protector of Church Named Patron of Workers May Day 1955!

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Let us also pray to St. Joseph for

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI   
his baptismal name is Joseph Ratzinger!

             

 
Prayer to St. Joseph

Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so prompt, so strong, before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most Loving of Fathers. Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me and  Ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departed souls - pray for me that I may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

The above prayer was found in the fiftieth year of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1505 it was sent from the Pope to Emperor Charles, when he was going into battle. Whoever shall read this prayer or hear it, or keep it about themselves, shall never die a sudden death or be drowned, nor shall poison take effect on them; neither shall they fall into the hands of the enemy, or shall be burned in any fire or shall be overpowered in any battle. Say for nine mornings in a row for anything you may desire. It has never been known to fail. Back of prayer card Imprimatur: September 25, 1950 Hugh C. Boyle, Bishop of Pittsburgh.

  Efficacious Prayer to St. Joseph

Glorious St. Joseph, model of all who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work in the spirit of penance in expiation of my many sins; to work conscientiously by placing  duty above my inclinations; to gratefully and joyously deem it an honor to employ and to develop by my labor the gifts I have received from almighty God.  To work peacefully, and in moderation and patience, without ever shrinking through weariness or difficulty. To work above all, with purity of intention, having unceasingly before my eyes the hour of my death and the account I have to render to God of time lost, talents unused, of good not done, and my empty pride in success, so baneful to the work of God. All for Jesus, all for Mary, all to imitate thee, O patriarch St. Joseph! This shall be my motto for life and eternity." - Pope Pius IX

St. Teresa of Avila and her 
devotion to St. Joseph

"I took for my advocate and lord the glorious Saint Joseph and commended myself earnestly to him; and I found that this my father and lord delivered me both from this trouble and also from other and greater troubles concerning my honor and the loss of my soul, and that he gave me greater blessings than I could ask of him. I do not remember even now that I have ever asked anything of him which he has failed to grant. I am astonished at the great favors which God has bestowed on me through this blessed saint, and at the perils from which He has freed me, both in body and in soul. To other saints the Lord seems to have given grace to succor us in some of our necessities but of this glorious saint my experience is that he succors us in them all and that the Lord wishes to teach us that as He was Himself subject to him on earth (for, being His guardian and being called His father, he could command Him) just so in Heaven He still does all that he asks. This has also been the experience of other persons whom I have advised to commend themselves to him; and even to-day there are many who have great devotion to him through having experienced this truth."

From "The Autobiography of St. Teresa", chapter 6...

"What great advantages come from commending yourself to this glorious patriarch and having devotion to him. Those who practice prayer should have a special affection for him always. Anyone who cannot find a director to teach prayer should take this glorious saint for his master, and he will not go astray"   The Autobiography of St. Teresa

"I wish I could persuade everyone to be devoted to this glorious saint, for I have great experience of the blessings which he can obtain from God. I have never known anyone to be truly devoted to him and render him particular services who did not notably advance in virtue, for he gives very real help to souls who commend themselves to him. For some years now, I think, I have made some request of him every year on his festival and I have always had it granted. If my petition is in any way ill directed, he directs it aright for my greater good." The Autobiography of St. Teresa

Following the directives of  St. Theresa of Avilia as a Marian Catechist and secular Carmelite living in the world I have turned to St. Joseph in all my needs. He has answered many prayers in desperate moments that have arisen over the years and I wish to thank him today on his Feast for the many graces and blessings he has obtained for me spiritual and temporal. I am grateful to him and await the delayed mercies I have placed in his fatherly care!

Persevere with the above prayers or any prayer to this saint so close to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary for yourselves your families and the needs of the universal church in this battle we are presently engaged against the powers of darkness. St Joseph Ora pro Nobis

       ITE AD JOSEPH! --GO TO JOSEPH!



Message of Pope John Paul II for the Sick at Fatima May 13, 2000. Video Night Vigil

Pope John Paul II Arrives
at Fatima Sanctuary
To Beatify Jacinta and Francesco

I was going to do a similiar post back in May but the joy of the First visit to Fatima as pope of Benedict XVI the post on May 13 covered this historic event! I remember with joy the excitement in the sanctuary as the pope arrived seeing his helicopter fly over the sanctuary and knowing he was blessing all those present. I thank God for the grace he gave me to be present for this great moment in the church the long awaited beatifications of the shepherd children.  This event taking place so soon after the Canonization of Sr. Mary Faustina Kowalska on Mercy Sunday April 30. God had given me the joy to also be present at this momentous occasion in the history of the church. I had a seat near her community on the balcony with the pope. Not because I was worthy or had done anything to merit it. No! On the contrary it was a gift of his great mercy to me, a soul who He has been truly merciful to and wanted to teach me the ways of Providence and Mercy!  I am still learning! So many were so caught up in the News that the Pope was going to reveal the 3rd Secret with the members of the press that  in some cases the Beatifications were overshadowed by some as an after thought.

The Crowds at the Night Vigil on May 12, 2000

Pope John Paul II sick himself gave a heartfelt message to the sick at Fatima during the Beatification Ceremonies I wish to share it once more  for those who never read it!

           Pope John Paul's  

        Greeting to the Sick

                             May 13, 2000

Dear Pilgrims to Fátima!

I would now like to offer a special greeting to the sick, who are present here in large numbers, but I also extend it to all who, at home or in hospital, have joined us in spirit. The Pope greets you with great affection, dear sick people, and assures you and those who are close to you of a special remembrance in prayer. I place the longings of each of you on the altar where Jesus continuously intercedes and sacrifices himself for humanity. I have come among you today as a witness to the risen Jesus. He knows what it is to suffer; he experienced the anguish of death, but by his death he destroyed death itself and is absolutely the first human being to have freed himself from its chains once and for all. He traveled man's whole journey to the heavenly homeland, where he has prepared a throne of glory for each of us.


Dear sick brother or sister!
If someone or something makes you think that you have reached the end of the line, do not believe it! If you know the eternal Love who created you, you also know that there is an immortal soul within you. There are various seasons in life; if by chance you feel winter approaching, I want you to know that it is not the last season, because the last one will be spring: the springtime of the Resurrection. Your whole life extends infinitely beyond its earthly limits: heaven awaits you.

Dear sick people!

I know that "the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Rom 8: 18). Take courage! In this Holy Year an abundance of the Father's grace is poured out on those who know how to receive it with the simple, trusting heart of a child. Jesus reminded us of this in the Gospel passage proclaimed earlier. Seek also to be numbered among these "little ones", dear sick people, so that Jesus will delight in you. In a little while he will draw near you to bless you personally in the Blessed Sacrament. He comes to you with the promise: "Behold, I make all things new" (Rv 21: 5). Have trust! Abandon yourselves to his provident hands, as did the little shepherds Francisco and Jacinta. They are telling you that you are not alone. The heavenly Father loves you.
 

Night Vigil Rosary Procession at Fatima

12th of each Month May-October

                
     

              God Willing another post tomorrow on the 13th!