Signs of the Times  

We will be offering in honor of this Year of the Priest a series on the different founders of the many religious orders throughout this year -- Pioneers of the Spirit -- Join us for this 1/2 hour presentation on St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), which eventually won papal approval and is still active in education and mission work all over the world...

         "....Here begins the prologue of the fifth book of heavenly revelations which is called the Book of Questions:

     ....Here begins the fifth book of Christ's heavenly revelations to blessed Birgitta of the kingdom of Sweden.  It is deservedly entitled the Book of Questions because it proceeds by means of questions to which Christ the Lord gives wonderful solutions....


     "...Again the religious appeared, standing on his rung of the ladder as before and saying:  "O Judge, I ask you: Why did you hide your nativity, except for a very few?

    ",,,,,As to why I did not show my nativity to mankind, I answer:  Although the devil lost the dignity of his previous rank, he did not lose his knowledge, which he possesses for the testing of the good and for his own confusion.  Therefore, in order that my human nature might grow and reach the predetermined time, the mystery of my pity had to be concealed from the devil because I willed to come in secrecy to make war on the devil and because I chose to be despised in order to subdue the arrogance of mankind....But if I had come with great power and honor, how then would the proud have been humbled?  Ot will the proud now enter heaven?  Not at all!  And so, I came humbly in order that man might learn humility and I hid myself from the proud because they wished to understand neither my divine justice nor themselves."


     "....Why does a wicked man die a good death like the just; and the just sometimes a bad death like the unjust?
     
      "....I answer:  The wicked sometimes have certain good traits and do certain works of justice for which they are to be repaid int he present.  Similarly too, the just sometimes do certain bad things for which they are to be scourged in the present, or they should be expected to be.  Therefore, because at present, all things are uncertain and all things are reserved for the future and because there is one entrance for all, therefore there must also be one exit for all; for it is not the exit but the life that makes a man blessed.  However, the fact that the wicked meedt with an exit like that of the just is a result of my divine providence, for they themselves desired that exit.  The devil, foreseeing the exits of his friends, sometimes foretells to them their time of death to cause in them presumption and vainglory and the deception--that after death they will be praised as if they were just.  On the other hand, the just sometimes meet with lamentable exit for their own greater merit, so that they who, in their lifetime, always were careful about the virtues, may through a contemptible death fly free to heaven--insofar as not even offscourings would be found in need of cleansing.....Therefore, let each one fear to examine my jusgments; for even as I am incomprehensible in virtue and power, so am I terrible in my plans and my judgments.  Indeed, some who wished to comprehend me in their wisdom have failed in their hope."

 

 

    "...Why do you allow yourself to be blasphemed and falsehood to prevail over truth?

 

    "...I answer:  It is written that when King David eluded his son's persecution, a certain man cursed him on the way; and when his servants wanted to kill that man, David prophibited them for a double reason:  first, because he had hope of returning; second, because he considered his own weakness and sin, the foolishness of the curser and God's patience and goodness towards himself.  Figuratively, I am David.  Man truly persecutes me with his evil deeds--as the servant persecuted his lord--casting me out of my kingdom, ie., out of his soul, which I created and which is my kingdom.  then he rebukes me for being unjust in judgment and even blasphemes me becauseI am patient.  Indeed, because I am meek, I suffer their foolishness; and because I am a judge, I await their conversion even to the very last moment.  Finally, because man believes falshood rather than truth--loving the world more than me, his God--it is therefore no wonder if the wicked man is tolerated in his wickedness, for he wills neither to seek the truth nor to recover from his evil...."

 

 

 

    The Son of God speaks:   "When there is a fire in the house, it is necessary to have a venthole through which the smoke can go out so that the inhabitant may enjoy the warmth.  Thus, for everyone who desires to keep my Spirit and my divine grace, frequent confession is useful so that through it, the smoke of sin may escape.  For although my divine Spirit is in itself unchangeable, nevertheless, it quickly withdraws from the heart that is not guarded by humble confession."

 

                                             (Excerpts from "Birgitta of Sweden-Life and Revelations")

DUE TO TECH. DIFFICULTIES, A REPLAY OF 7/19'S SHOW AS WELL AS A MORE INFO DUE TO THE EXPANDED TIME FRAME--Join us for this interesting retreat which took place a few months ago with this prolific writer and spiritual journalist. He is the author of many books on Marian apparitions, chastisements, end times, spiritual warfare and the afterlife and we are sharing his series of talks during this recent retreat on the afterlife, spiritual warfare, prophetic times we live in and a special Q&A session...also you can go to his website with much spiritual news from around the world--www.spiritdaily.com

   "And Satan trembles when he sees,
       the weakest saint upon his knees."      John Newton

   "Saints are persons who make it easier for others to believe in God."
                                                                                                                 Nathan Soderblom

   "A saint is a sinner who keeps on trying."                     The Upper Room

    "The only difference between a saint and a sinner is that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future."                                                       Oscar Wilde

     "The way of this world is to praise dead saints and to persecute living ones."
                                                                                 Nathaniel Howe
    "Those Saints which God loves best,
      The Devil tempts not least."                        Robert Herrick

          

        FEASTDAY:  July 22     St. Mary Magdalene

   Mary Magdalene is the most enigmatic figure in the story of Jesus.  Controversy still rages around her true identity, character and role.  She was a contemporary of Jesus who came from a town called Magdala near the Sea of Galilee.  The Gospel according to St. Luke portrays Mary as a woman afflicted by seven devils, who was cured and afterwards accompanied Jesus on his missionary travels.
     Mary Magdalene was one of several women who were not only followers of Jesus but supported him from their own financial resources.  The Gospel according to St. John tells us that when Jesus was crucified, she stood at the foot of the Cross with Mary, Jesus' mother, Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and another woman named Salome.  Mark and Matthew mention her as one of a group of women watching from further away.  There were evidently different views about the importance of these female disciples.
     It is generally believed that Mary was the unnamed woman, described as a "Sinner," who in an exttraordinary gesture of love wept at Jesus' feet, anointed them with expensive oils and wiped them with her hair.  It is also traditional belief she was also the same Mary who was the sister of Lazarus and Martha. 
     Mary Magdalene was present whent he body of Jesus was laid in the tomb.  She was, most importantly of all, the one who came early on Easter morning to anoint the body and found the tomb empty.  She collapsed in tears, then saw someone in the garden nearby.  At first she thought it was the gardener, but then realized that it was Jesus himself, risen from the dead.  She ran to tell the other disciples who went to see the empty tomb themselves...

    REFLECTION:   "Compunction of heart," says St. Bernard, "is a treasure infinitely to be desired, and an unspeakable gladness in the heart.  It is healing to the soul; it is remission of sins; it brings back again the Holy Spirit into the loving and humble heart."



      FEASTDAY:  July 25    St. Christopher

     St. Christopher was martyred aroud the year AD 250 during a persecution of Christians under the Emperor, Decius.  Nothing else is known about him for certainm his reputation and popularity rest upon legend.
      According to one ancient legend, he was the son of a heathen king who gave him the name, Offerus.  Acquiring in time gigantic stature and great strength, Offerus resolved to  serve only the strongest and bravest.  He bound himself successively to a mighty king and to Satan, but he found both lacking in courage, the former dreading even the name of the devil, and the latter frightened at the sight of a cross by the roadside.  For a time, his search for a new master was in vain but at last he found a hermit who told him to offer his allegiance to Christ, instructed him in the faith, and baptized him.
      Christopher, as he was now called, would not promise to do any fasting or praying, but willingly accepted the task of carrying people, for God's sake, across a raging stream.  One day, he was carrying a child who continually grew heavier, so that it seemed to him as if he had the whole world on his shoulders.  The Child, upon inquiry, made himself known as the Creator and Redeemer of the world.  To prove his statement, the Child ordered Christopher to fix his staff in the ground.  The next morning it had grown into a palm tree bearing fruit.
     Thereafter he promised to serve the Lord faithfully and became a zealous preacher for the Faith.  On his missionary journeys he came to Lycia, where, after his first sermon, 18,000 heathens requested baptism.  This excited the rage of Emperor Decius who had him cast into prison, and after many cruel torments, beheaded.

   REFLECTION:   The virtue of the Saints was true and heroic and proof against all trials.  Persevere in your good resolutions; it is not enough to begin well; you must so continue to the end.

 

Join us for this interesting retreat which took place a few months ago with this prolific writer and spiritual journalist. He is the author of many books on Marian apparitions, chastisements, end times, spiritual warfare and the afterlife and we are sharing his series of talks during this recent retreat on the afterlife, spiritual warfare, prophetic times we live in and a special Q&A session...also you can go to his website with much spiritual news from around the world--www.spiritdaily.com

Join us for this interesting retreat which took place a few months ago with this prolific writer and spiritual journalist. He is the author of many books on Marian apparitions, chastisements, end times, spiritual warfare and the afterlife and we are sharing his series of talks during this recent retreat on the afterlife, spiritual warfare, prophetic times we live in and a special Q&A session...also you can go to his website with much spiritual news from around the world--www.spiritdaily.com