A reader writes:.
I've read your article "A Reader Writes About Prophetic Tizzies", and it has been a source of fresh air for me lately. You see, for years (starting in high school and going on and off throughout college) I've had this tendency to obsessively research apparitions. I went to Catholic School for 13 years, and even if i heard things about prophecies I'd shake it off because we were never taught that kind of stuff. But peers started talking about the Malachy Prophecy when JPII passed away and I eventually found myself It started with the very very scary Divine Mercy messages, which eventually led me to Medjugorje/Garabandal (I know that those two aren't approved, so I would say they don't worry me anymore). I became so scared that I no longer went to Mass.
I'm 23 now, and starting this summer this all started up again (I think because I started working full-time and had a computer in front of me for 8 hours at a time). From the whole re-establishment of Israel/red heifer/third temple stuff to "bishop-approved" apparitions at Heede, Germany and Itapuranga, Brazil (via miraclehunter.com), which both have messages that also scare the crap out of me (though I read the bulk of Itapuranga messages at spiritdaily.com.... so I'm not sure how reliable anything involving that apparition even is). Your article says that when the apparitions are good, all they are really meant to do is guide us back to God, because people today truly need that, and I believe that Mary's ultimate goal of getting us back to God has worked for me. Three weeks ago, I finally started attending weekly Mass again and feel very comfortable and not scared at all while I'm at Church. But I still find myself very scared of apparitions and still sort of obsessed with looking them up and reading messages (how can Itapuranga be bishop-approved while the "seers" still receive what seems like 1000s of messages from Mary?). I almost can't even look at an image of Mary or of the Divine Mercy without freezing in my tracks and feeling scared. And that I know is the exact opposite of what should happen. Which is why I've come to you, since you seem to have a very good and healthy grasp on all this stuff. I've read the article many times imagining that you're speaking to me, but I think I have to start addressing this for real if I want to get better.
I've gone to confession twice to try and talk this over with my priests, but I've had to deal with language barriers and time constraints and therefore didn't have time to explain that I have become mentally and spiritually fragile (my priest told me what I've done is GOOD, but he didn't seem to understand how negatively this addiction has affected me).
IS something horrible going to happen like Mary says? Do you think the 3 days of darkness/illumination of conscience are real and would happen in our lifetime?
Trying not to be scared.
Our tradition speaks of two kinds of fear: Holy fear and servile fear. Holy fear is the healthy reverence for God that Jesus exemplified in his reverence for his Father. Servile fear—the paralyzing fear of a cringing slave before a brutal and capricious slave driver who might have him killed on a whim—is rejected by the Tradition. You are a beloved child of God, not a prisoner awaiting execution by a tyrant like Caligula. All that sort of fear is, as you understand, not from God but from hell. Basic rule of thumb: if it robs you of peace, distracts you from obedience, and pulls you from the sacraments, it’s best to walk away from it.
Sometimes it helps just to hear an outside voice remind us of that, which is why I’m doing it. You are absolutely right that this fear is not of God. This is not to render a judgment on particular private revelations themselves (which may or may not be supernatural in origin and which are not binding on us even if the Church approves them as worthy of belief). Rather, it is to say that, wherever they come from, they are manifestly not for you at this time and that something else—something that leads you to God and not to crippling fear—is. Leave even an approved private revelation behind if it is being used by the devil to inspire servile fear and drive you from God. If God wants you to pay attention to the private revelation, he will point you to it in time. But for now, the key is to keep in mind what all private revelation is really for—and that is to direct you to the public revelation and to ordinary daily obedience to Christ through things like the sacraments, love of God, love of neighbor, and the works of mercy.
The wise thing at this point is, I reckon, to bring your fear to spiritual direction and confession, and possibly to some form of therapy. Don’t be afraid of psychological therapy any more than of physiological therapy. We can suffer from illnesses of the mind just as we suffer from illnesses of the body. Just as nobody says you are morally culpable for having a bad back, so likewise these sorts of psychic lesions can often be due to wounds incurred in childhood through no fault of our own. The sort of fear you are describing sounds like it might benefit from having a chance to talk through the deep terror you seem to feel concerning the trustworthiness of the love of God. And that may go back to some other issues. I’m not saying it has to be so. I am neither a mind-reader, soul-soothsayer, nor a psychologist. But just as I would refer somebody to a doctor if he were to come to me complaining of chronic chest pains, so your chronic emotional and psychic pain also suggests that another kind of therapy would be of some benefit. I say that as somebody who himself benefited greatly from the combination of spiritual direction, therapy, and the sacrament of reconciliation.
As to all the scary predictions, here is how I look at them: they are not for somebody like you, even if there is something to them (which we don’t know since we are not, ourselves, prophets and have no way of verifying them). What we do know is this: Jesus commands us “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Those words, from the lips of God Almighty himself, trump whatever the devil’s voice of servile fear wants to whisper to you. The voice of servile fear, like all the other little earworms of hell, is like that annoying Kit Kat Bar ditty. It just keeps playing over and over in your head and tries to dominate your thoughts. The trick to defeating it is not to shout it down or “try not to think about it.” That’s the sure-fire formula for making sure it just keeps playing. Instead, the trick is listen to different music and let it fill your soul.
So if I were you, I would start cultivating time with healthier spiritual sources when you feel tempted to go read something terrifying on the web or perseverate on some scary private revelation claim of Doom. You’ve already begun this process by returning to Mass, which means that you are already responding to the real voice of the Holy Spirit. Well done, good and faithful!
In addition, start filling your mind and heart with such things as Scripture, lives of the saints, daily prayer such as the Rosary or the Magnificat, and works of charity and mercy. By doing this, you fill with something good the vacuum where currently buzz the unanswerable questions about what the future might hold. Will something bad happen in the future? Well, I see no reason the future should be any different than any other time in history, so my answer is “Sure. Something bad will happen in the future”. Jesus promises us that we will have tribulation in this world. That’s not prophecy. That’s just common sense. The big thing is not that something bad will happen (after all, we’re all going to die sooner or later); it’s that Jesus has overcome the world and that, in fact, the worst thing that could ever happen has already happened. God has already been murdered. Nothing could possibly be more horrible. And yet from that horror the greatest thing that could ever happen has happened: Christ is risen. That’s why John Paul II kept saying, “Be not afraid.” So instead of fearing the future, contemplate the crucified and risen Christ. He, not some rumor of days of darkness or prophecy of doom, is the final word. That is where you need to fix your eyes.
So: a reading suggestion: Try the “read through the Catechism in a year" thing that folks are doing for the Year of Faith. Or try working your way through the New Testament, all while asking God for the graces of faith, hope and love. Learn some psalms, hymn, or spiritual songs that lift your mind to God, light, love, and hope. He intends good for you, not evil. So marinate your mind and heart in that love and seek from him the guidance to know what he would have you do. The good news about attacks like this from hell is that they often happen because the devil is himself deeply afraid—of you. Because if you get past this distraction that keeps you from obedience, he knows that you pose a huge threat to him and can become a very effective instrument by which many other people will be given grace and salvation from the Lord who works in and through you. So resist the devil and he will flee from you. You resist him by pressing on, listening to God speaking through Holy Church, and taking the next practical step of obedience in holy, not servile, fear as the beloved child of God you are. Treat every temptation to focus on these fears as a reminder to instead read the catechism or Scripture or say the rosary or go to Mass. That will make Satan nuts. More important, it will bring you more deeply into the heart of God. In his will, your peace.
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Thank you Mark for these wise, practical and compassionate insights.
Even I, found this helpful - despite my default position being that an alleged private revelation is probably untrue.
The warning bell for me is when someone claims to “surpass or correct” mainstream Catholic teaching by insisting on novel practices or condemning legitimate customs “because Our Lady does not like it”.
Those who are sucked into an unhealthy interest in private revelations usually have pious and faithful intentions - so this teaching from the Catechism might be helpful in steering these intentions away from danger.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 66-67 [my emphasis in last sentence] http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s1c2a1.htm
There will be no further Revelation
“The Christian economy, therefore, since it is the new and definitive Covenant, will never pass away; and no new public revelation is to be expected before the glorious manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Yet even if Revelation is already complete, it has not been made completely explicit; it remains for Christian faith gradually to grasp its full significance over the course of the centuries.
Throughout the ages, there have been so-called “private” revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ’s definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history. Guided by the Magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his saints to the Church.
Christian faith cannot accept “revelations” that claim to SURPASS or CORRECT the Revelation of which Christ is the fulfillment, as is the case in certain non-Christian religions and also in certain recent sects which base themselves on such “revelations”.
Thanks for your take on this subject as it interests me, too. PS Am glad someone else is annoyed by the Kit Kat commercial!
Anything that takes you away from a relationship with God—like something that makes you want to stay away from Mass—is the work of the Devil. But we have remarkable power—given to us by God—to resist that. The Devil is cunning and can take even a good private revalation, or even Scripture itself, and twist it to achieve a bad end. Therefore, examine the fruits. If it keeps you away from God and his Sacraments, it is of the Evil One and should be rejected. The good news is that we have no need of any private revalation. All of the information we need to know for salvation is contained in Scripture, interpreted by the authentic Tradition of the Catholic Church. Good private revelation only reinforces those principles. So do everything the Devil doesn’t want you to do, like going to Mass, receiving communion in a state of grace, and going to Confession.
To the one who wrote in, and to others, I also recommend “An Introduction to the Devout Life” by St. Francis De Sales. Reading just one chapter daily (about 2-3 pages) will help to guide you. And, he is so gentle with his teaching method.
You can even read it online. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/desales/devout_life.html
I’ll pray for the questioner and I hope other readers will too.
I’ve noticed that rad-trads seem to go in for what are no more than ghost stories of the “gobbluns’ll git us!” variety. They draw what they claim are dogmas from them, becoming what I call the “Magisterium of questionable visionaries and revelations.”
I never listen to this garbage, however, some things you have said have spoken to my present condition of radical changes in my life and a “new normal” developing. I won’t elaborate, but you said somethings that helped me.
thank you for the article Mark….being of the inquisitive mind for years I have read of the various messages said to come from either Jesus or Blessed Mary…be they either approved or not approved I would still read the messages, for even if they are not approved Satan will put some truth in them to deceive the people. The bottom line is that something terrible is going to befall humanity in the days to come. The Church can put its rose colored glasses on and say the priest sex-abuse scandal is behind us and lets move on, but don’t you think that punishment IS GOING to come on the Church for what these homosexuals priests have done..the Church lost its moral authority because of this abomination. The issue of Catholic women taking birth control pills for decades, supporting pro-choice politicians..likewise deserves the justice of Gods hand. The abomination of same-sex depravity being legalized throughout the world is the final nail in the coffin. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this act of depravity and the entire world now is being swept away by this filth. I don’t have to read the messages to put 2 and 2 together to see that something terrible that humanity has never seen, is coming down upon creation….after all doesn’t Gods Justice demand it?
\\after all doesn’t Gods Justice demand it?\\
God’s justice is seen in the Crucifixion and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! “Mercy triumphs over justice”, as the Bible says.
What you’re talking about is not justice but vendetta and getting even.
As far as terrible things happening to the world, this is already in the Bible, especially Revelation. But Jesus said, “Be of good cheer. I HAVE overcome the world.
Scary stuff is meant to be a wakeup call for the complacent and strong.
Comfort and solace is what Jesus offers those who are fragile. And a lot of us are fragile, even the complacent and strong ones underneath their strength.
Anyway, we don’t know the day or the hour, so why worry overmuch? If God provides for the sparrows and the lilies of the field, and He says He’s got mansions for us, I think we don’t have to be too concerned about the end of the world.
To Robert Waligora:
Maybe God will punish the world in some way. I do not know. Mother Teresa told the United Nations that the consequence of abortion would be nuclear war. However much I share your evident passion about the depravities of our times, when I find myself almost hoping for God to rain hell-fire on the earth, I also realize that there are many, far more than our equally depraved media allow us to see, who detest the sins of modern society, and there are still many faithful. God could justly punish any age, but His mercy endures forever. Although it is difficult sometimes, we have to cling to the hope that God’s will eventually overcomes all evil. He does not have to resort to violence to conquer all.
Robert,
Thanks for your uplifting and encouraging comments. I’m sure they will really help the inquiring person that originally asked Mark the question.
Come on, guy. Think a little before you write stuff.
Would it help your readers to know that the Holy See intends to put out a document cautioning the faithful about the veracity of locutions and apparitions? I don’t believe it is publihed yet, but when it is, it goes on Amazon. I’ve seen some quotes from it already. Basically, it says between 1901 and 2000, there were hundreds of reported apparitions to the Vatican. In one thousand years, only 11 were approved. So this tells us that: 1.The majority are human hoaxes or preternatural activities from the devil and 2.We are not required to believe in them, even the ones that get approved. We are only required to follow the catechism. Don’t sweat the rest.
I have read somewhere that Our Lady said that everything can change in a moment through the force of reparative prayer.
Robert:
You write:
The bottom line is that something terrible is going to befall humanity in the days to come. The Church can put its rose colored glasses on and say the priest sex-abuse scandal is behind us and lets move on, but don’t you think that punishment IS GOING to come on the Church for what these homosexuals priests have done..the Church lost its moral authority because of this abomination. The issue of Catholic women taking birth control pills for decades, supporting pro-choice politicians..likewise deserves the justice of Gods hand. The abomination of same-sex depravity being legalized throughout the world is the final nail in the coffin. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this act of depravity and the entire world now is being swept away by this filth. I don’t have to read the messages to put 2 and 2 together to see that something terrible that humanity has never seen, is coming down upon creation….after all doesn’t Gods Justice demand it?
Three points:
First, listen to Matt. This is not the time or the place for somebody to come blundering in yelling about Doom.
Second, the Church “lost its moral authority” when Peter denied Christ and the apostles abandoned him and Judas betrayed him. The Church has never had any moral authority to lose since. All its moral authority comes from Christ, not from the sinners from which the Church is built.
Third, as I have already stated, there is no reason to think the future will be different than any other time in history. So yes, bad things will happen in consequence of sin, as Jesus warned and as has happened down through time. However, delectating over them, or terrifying fragile people about them, or setting yourself up as judge, jury, and executioner on just who is to blame for them—all while neglecting to blame yourself—is the least Christian way to think about them. God’s justice is for *your* sins and is seen in the cross and the resurrection. Look to that, not to fears about the future and self-excusing blame for other people.
And have some sense of consideration for the sort of fragile people this article was addressed to. The last thing they need is you yelling at them to be more terrified.
As a child, when I heard the expression “Fear of God”, things did scare me; until a Nun explained to us what it really meant and from then on, I was no longer afraid something would happen to me. She explained this way: “as a child your parents punished or reprimanded you for doing something naughty and you learned not to do the naughty thing again….because you did not want to be punished.” This is having RESPECT FOR YOUR PARENTS AND WHAT THEY TAUGHT. The same thing applies to Jesus and the Bible. God sent Jesus to us to teach us how to live and to have RESPECT FOR HIS TEACHINGS. [fear, obey, respect] No one ever has to be afraid or have fear of God, for He is an ever-loving God and a forgiving God. All one has to do is ask for His Forgiveness and TRY NEVER TO DO THE SIN AGAIN. Our folk group years ago used to sing the hymn “DO NOT BE AFRAID. I shall post it:
You shall cross the barren desert,
but you shall not die of thirst.
You shall wander far in safety,
though you do not know the way.
You shall speak your words in foreign lands,
and all will understand,
You shall see the face of God and live.
Be not afraid,
I go before you always,
Come follow Me,
and I shall give you rest.
If you pass through raging waters
in the sea, you shall not drown.
If you walk amidst the burning flames,
you shall not be harmed.
If you stand before the pow’r of hell
and death is at your side,
know that I am with you, through it all
Be not afraid,
I go before you always,
Come follow Me,
and I shall give you rest.
Blessed are your poor,
for the Kingdom shall be theirs.
Blest are you that weep and mourn,
for one day you shall laugh.
And if wicked men insult and hate you, all because of Me,
blessed, blessed are you!
Be not afraid,
I go before you always,
Come follow Me,
and I shall give you rest.
People keep predicting “the end of the world”. No one knows when that will be ONLY GOD KNOWS….so I never pay attention to that kind of talk. God wants us to enjoy the time He gave us on earth and he taught us how to live through its adversities.
Great Article.
Great advice!
I will also benefit from it.
The books of Father Jacques Philippe (such as “Searching for and Maintaining Peace” and “Interior Freedom”) are very orthodox, and very good for everyone but especially people who suffer from worries and anxiety. He quotes often from Sacred Scripture and the saints. I highly recommend them; there will not be anything in them to either lead you astray or make you anxious. On the contrary, they will lead you to a greater love and closeness to God and His holy will.
Thank you, Mark, for all you have written here. I sometimes think that websites like spiritdaily.com do more harm than good.
You have helped me today.
I don’t know…my Faith was both strengthened and deepened by an apparition (not my own, of course). Through it, for the past 45 years, I have come to appreciate the Church more, Her teachings, Scripture, and the spiritual life, and this in spite of some terrifying prophecies made at the event. The prophecies, of course, are secondary to me. What is important is living a life of prayer and having the Lord help me in my own personal issues, and live the Gospel the best I can. There is no use in believing approved apparitions if one does not live the Messages they contain.
Thank you, Maggie D.! Having benefited very much from his work, I’m so glad you mentioned them. In fact, Fr. hands out so many copies of “Peace” in the confessional that we simply refer to it as “the pink book”.
Prayers for all who suffer from this.
A wonderful reply, Mr. Shea.
At Fatima Our Lady said, “In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph, and there will be a period of great peace on the earth.” She asked us to pray the rosary every day and make the First Saturdays. That’s all I need to know about private revelations. The Jesuits who survived the Hiroshima bombing unscathed were doing these things. When the Austrian bishops encouraged their faithful to follow these two things, the Russians left the country peacefully. If we want peace, I would suggest that we do these things and leave the rest up to God.
Let us listen to Our Blessed of Guadalupe, speaking to us and to poor worried Juan Diego:
“Know and understand well, you the most humble of my sons, that I am the ever Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the True God for Whom we live, of the Creator of all things, Lord of heaven and earth. I wish that a temple be erected here quickly, so I may therein exhibit and give all my love, compassion, help and protection, because I am your merciful mother…”
“Do not fear this nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I, your Mother, not here? Are you not under my protection?...
Concerning private revelations given to her, St. Teresa is quick to take note of the fact that she is a faulty pencil in God’s hand. The revelation that comes through the human instrument will always be affected by that human being’s humanity.
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Revelation such as the messages of Fatima can be very specific to a particular moment in history, even though we can extract good counsel for all the ages. Take the revelations of O.L. of Kibeho; it makes sense that Mary would come to comfort her children who are about to experience something hellish. With this comfort came the grace to bear the trial. I believe this is what her visits are about: comfort and grace. But visits by Our Lady are also notoriously “aped” by the Devil in some way, and this is well documented, so we must always proceed with discernment and caution.
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I have had to go through some horrible things in my life, but I was startled by how enfolded in God’s arms I felt—to the point where I had to comfort others who were suffering for me vicariously! God keeps his promises if we trust that we are in the palm of his hand. The dread of pain is actually much worse than the pain itself, infused with profound grace. This is why some saints weird us out a little in reaction to descriptions of their trials. They are high on God, and we just stare at what they went through, and are appalled.
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I like what a very practical priest once wrote concerning fear over the end of the world coming:
“The end of the world will happen—when you die!”
If this person is so afraid of prophecies, (many of which I Ignore, especially when they give us dates), what will this person do when they read in Holy Scripture of the punishments that God will bring down to us, not only here in America, but throughout the whole world? How many people really mean it when they say “JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU” or when they recite the Apostles or Nicene Creed? To say I believe with our lips, but not with our entire being is just smoke blowing wherever. Our Lady keeps on telling us not fear, nor be afraid, but to OBEY HER SON. +JMJ+
Wow. I can’t even….. just…..wow. This reader needs professional counselling, not more religious superstition.
Not helping, JMJ.
What *is* it with some people that, when they see a fragile, struggling human being, they feel some weird need to stomp them into the ground with with more fear and condemnation. It is of such people that Jesus spoke when he said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, for you tie up heavy burdens for men’s backs, but do not lift a finger to help them.” Look to your own Judgment Day, JMJ, and stop terrorizing Christ’s little ones with your power and guilt trips. How *dare* you suggest that this person believes only with their lips. I daresay you are far more in need of her prayers than she is in need of yours.
Zeke:
Butt out.
I just read today where one of the Medjugorje visionaries has written a ‘dictated’ manuscript by the Blessed Mother about Her life and times. The drawback is, it’s in a symbolic language that will only be revealed and understood when the Virgin gives ‘permission’ to have it published. I’m thinking to myself, “What the….??” That is just bizarre, no matter how one looks at it.
Divine punishment 101, as I see it: If a sufferer suffers a natural result of his own sin (suppose I’m suffering a hangover from my own irresponsible drinking last night), the suffering stands as a divine punishment. But if I sinfully hurt another person, his suffering is not a divine punishment, because it does not naturally result from any sin of his own (altho he’s free to “offer it up” in Christ by way of reparation for the sins of the world). So, were Haitians divinely punished by the earthquake they suffered a while back for the voodoo that some of them practiced? Well, was that earthquake a natural result of that voodoo? No, it was a natural result of a subterranean “fault”. Then, No, the earthquake was not a divine punishment for the voodoo.
On the other hand, aren’t there revelations that aren’t scary? The one in Wisconsin (approved) was something along the lines of “teach the children their catechism” and Our Lady of Knock didn’t say anything at all. If your correspndent needs a “fix” or would like to wean off gradually, maybe he should focus on the positive messages.
Wow. Some comments here have all the tact of that one fool who, at a family gathering talks about someone who died a horrific death from disease “X” in front of someone reveals he has it.
I have always enjoyed my visits to apparition places e.g. Lourdes, Banneau, Medjugore and felt no fear only comfort. However,away from the sites I do agree there can be too much access on premonitions of disasters
Just to say thanks for this great response to a fear I really understand. I second everything you say about filling our minds with all that is central to our rich faith and I think that singing in particular whether it is chant, hymns or spiritual songs has a very special way of training our minds and hearts on God when the temptation to fear or despair comes. Even if you don’t like the sound of your own voice. It is a great way of remembering scripture which you can take with you anywhere. Singing engages the body the mind and the soul all at once and leaves them unavailable for other less edifying pursuits! Best wishes to you and your reader from a sister in Christ.
I would like to ask “That Hat Lady” to explain, please, her comment about a new document from the Holy See on apparitions. She claims to have seen quotes from the document.
Thank you very much.
One thing I’ve learned in my experience as a Catholic psychotherapist is that feelings aren’t morally right or wrong, and they’re not expressions of our character. Feelings just ARE. They give us information about what might be going on under the surface, but trying to conquer the feelings themselves can be a waste of effort and energy.
If you, dear letter-writer, are struggling with anxiety, fear or dread, it’s okay to accept the fact that, for now, you are experiencing those things. Entrusting them to God and asking him to help change them is something you can do; actually changing them is God’s job, not yours. You can relax about that. I concur with Mark that counseling might be a good resource. It’s not a substitute for a spiritual perspective, but if your inner workings, for lack of a better term, have a tough time being resilient in the face of fear, counseling can really help develop your inner resources. I’ve experienced that, and I see it happen in my clients.
Of course, it’s wise that you abstain from things that feed the fear (e.g. online discussion of apparitions) and lean into the things that you know are channels of grace for you (Mass, the sacraments, literature that helps you trust in God’s love and mercy, finding someone who can help you discern things day to day). But the fear isn’t you—it’s happening to you. There’s a big difference.
I echo the recommendation of Jacques Phillippe’s books. “Interior Freedom” is always in my purse so I can whip it out whenever I go to the Adoration chapel. And his “Time for God” is the best thing on prayer I’ve ever seen. The books are small but powerful.
God bless you from my heart.
Reader, I think Mark hit the nail on the head when he gave you the quote about “enough for each day is its worries.” Too often we look too far ahead and can’t imagine a good outcome, like “How can I possibly get ready for two tests, write a term paper, and do my ten hour a week job?” The answer is one step at a time, one minute at a time. If you look at what has to get done in a week you can say “no way”. But if you just start doing, somehow (God’s grace and your good will), it all gets done. This is the same idea. Some day you WILL face God. He is all Powerful and all Holy. Who can measure up to that? NO ONE. Pretty scary if Jesus didn’t call Himself “our advocate” and tell us He was sending us “another advocate”, the Holy Spirit. Advocates are on YOUR side. So,first, answer a question. Why are you here on this earth? Answer my generation was raised with: To know, love and serve God in this world and to be with Him in the next. So that’s how you prioritize. When you are sitting at your computer and have a few spare minutes and you think about researching an apparition is it because you want to know, love and serve God? What if you bring a coworker a cup of coffee or email a friend to cheer them up or start a poem or love letter to God? That would be more serving God than feeding a curiosity that harms you. Any thing like this is part grace and part will. We have to want to do the best thing and ask God for the grace. He may want to see your sincere effort before He gives the grace, like he did for Theresa of the Child Jesus. She struggled on her own to overcome her sensitive temperment and finally, in one moment of grace He healed her. There is NOTHING he can not overcome so have faith. We were made by Him for Him. He is not the enemy. He cares more about you than anyone ever will or could. Run to Him every time you feel nervous and He will not disappoint you. So remembering, as Mark said that one way or another we will be before God, if you are doing something that makes you fear that, bring it to Him NOW. Tell Him you know He doesn’t like it but you are very attached. He will bring people or the right words or events into your life to help you get closer to Him. As one of my favorites, Mother Teresa would say, “YOU ARE PRECIOUS TO HIM.”
Maybe having a picture of Jesus, the Good Shepherd at your workstation can remind you of that! (Jesus carrying the lamb (you) on His shoulders back to the flock!) God bless you.
How can a post be flagged as “spam” to a regular blog? Thought they weren’t moderated.
Excellent post.
How saddened Mary must be when her own children can’t run to her for comfort…
anna lisa: I once had a dream that the world was ending, and much to my surprise, it was profoundly beautiful. Everything was swirling round and I saw the other planets as close as the moon. I would hardly say there was anything divinely inspired about it, but it gave me a new perspective.
enness, what you describe sounds divine. God permeates the mundane, and sometimes whispers of what is to come.
Moderator, A post I tried to make last night is still not up. There has never been anything unorthodox in my posts so would like to know why they are being flagged. Please post. Thank you.
Also Moderator, I would request that when you post the comment it not be posted back in Saturday, lost in the pack, but at the end of comments when you finally get around to posting. Alot of games being played it seems.
Leo: I have extensively studied Marian apparitions and private revelation for st last 50 years, and have never found an approved one that confronted the Deposit of Faith in any way or one that was not in full accord with teaching of The First Vatican Council concerning revelation. Some changes in the Second Vatican Council are the only thing I have seem to belie VCI. I have never experienced fear with private revelation.
Mark, what exactly does this mean???
- the Church “lost its moral authority” when Peter denied Christ and the apostles abandoned him and Judas betrayed him. The Church has never had any moral authority to lose since. All its moral authority comes from Christ, not from the sinners from which the Church is built.
Pam: I don’t know why this system flag certain posts. Weird.
Greg: It means that the holiness of the Church is due to the Holy Spirit, not to the losers, oddballs, sinners, factory rejects, and moral failures who comprise the membership of the Church from Pope to dog catcher.. That would be all of us. There’s a reason Peter said, “Go away from me, for I am a sinful man.” The virtues of the saints do not give the Church “moral authority” and the sins of the saints do not not remove “moral authority” from the Church. It is Christ, not us dumbbell disciples who give the Church the only moral authority she possesses.
Mark, your explanation about the holiness of the Church is touching and comforting ... and right. I will re-read when needed.
Mark - I just wanted to tell you how beautifully I think you handled this…compassionate, gentle, and encouraging.
Were it not for private revelations I would have never begun to practice my faith. No one has any obligation to believe in private revelations, and as well when a private revelation is approved by the Church, no one has the right to speak against it. When I read about Fatima it was a life changer. Being a victim of modern catachesis I did not know that sin offended God and had major consequences. Our Lady showed hell to 3 children, warned that war is a punishment from God for sin. These certainly frightened me, but that must have been God’s intention. If it was, it worked with me. God’s threats of Temporal punishment and eternal punishment in private revelations serves the purpose of scaring the gehenna out of us. Private Revelation has served me well, Deo ratias!
A couple of general comments, folks.
I believe one reason the software sees “spam” is due to the length of some posts. A reasonable rule, I think.
As to ‘prophecies fulfilled’, remember Katrina. Many holyghost types said it was God’s vengeance on a ‘Sinful City, Lawd, Lawd!’
But Bourbon Street was untouched. :-)
\\Many holyghost types said it was God’s vengeance on a ‘Sinful City, Lawd, Lawd!’\\
And if their OWN houses had been destroyed, would it have been God’s judgement against them—or the wicked plans of Satan having their way?
Jesus talked about this very issue in Luke 13:1-5.
Dixibehr, The Church has always taught that God punishes sin. St. John the Evangelist says, “We all know this, God rewards every good and punishes every sin”, this is the official teaching of the Church. After Vatican Council ll, liberals began to declare that God does not punish sin. This error spread through the Church like wildfire. They are in error, God is a God of Justice and he promises to meet it out, Deo Gratias that Our Lord is also the God of Mercy. Remember Ninevah! God sent the prophet to tell them they would be destroyed in 40 days for they’re offences against him. When they amended their lives and did pennance, God forgave them and instead of punishment he granted them Blessings. God has not changed. In an approved more recent apparition, which no one has to accept but neither can they dissaprove of what the Church has approved. Our Lady said that God is preparing a horrible punishment for the world. The good will die with the bad. Fire will fall from the sky. Millions will die from one moment to the next. Our Lady gave this message with the hope that we would do like the inhabitants of Ninevah, amend our lives and do Pennance. May God the Holy Ghost grant us the Grace of true repentance of our crimes against Him.
no other comment other than the one i left,goodby.
I’m not the ‘Greg’ from 2/11. This gets quite confusing…
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