papa Francis recommends another read, Dantes comedy in preparation for the year of Mercy... per Fr Pacwa. 7/15/15 The Divine Comedy describes Dante's journey through Hell (Inferno), Purgatory (Purgatorio), and Paradise (Paradiso) New readers often wonder how such a serious work may be called a "comedy". The word "comedy" in the classical sense refers to works which reflect belief in an ordered universe, in which events tended toward not only a happy or amusing ending but one influenced by a Providential will that orders all things to an ultimate good. By this meaning of the word, as Dante himself wrote in a letter to Cangrande I della Scala, the progression of the pilgrimage from Hell to Paradise is the paradigmatic expression of comedy (in the classical meaning of the word), since the work begins with the pilgrim's moral confusion and ends with the vision of God. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante_Alighieri
Im not sure Padraig. In the video the 2 scholars talk about a conference in New York at NYU next week on Dante. Its his 750th anniversary I believe so more could be coming
I am not sure, but at one time there was a strong movement in Italy to canonise Dant My favourite quote from Dante, on Our Lady; Our poor tainted nature's solitary boast.
I tremble with anticipation over the Holy Year, a Jubilee Year, an Extraordinary Jubilee Year. Not just on anything, but on Divine Mercy itself. To be living at this time in our history. I desire to bring people into mercy, knowing that my own heart has to become more and more purified. Simple. Little. Meek and humble, like the Christ we worship told us to be. When I first saw the logo I loved it. I saw the wounds. I saw the cross. I saw Christ mounted on the wood of our salvation, carrying mankind. Mankind is on the cross, too, but Christ carries us. Yet he doesn't just carry us, he is with us in the most intimate way possible. He sees through our eyes. "What you do to the least of my brothers, you do to me." He is with us on the cross. I saw all that, symbolically, through this symbolic image. Then I began reading the internet. Saw the attacks, saw the warnings about how this image is evil, ugly and so on. I began regretting going online to hear the stream of attacks against this image. My initial pure gaze on it was corrupted and forever lost. I can't regain what I first thought of it. I'm experiencing the same phenomenon over much of what is coming from the Vatican. The day when Laudato Si was released I printed it in its entirety. I began reading it, and felt a sense of elation that Papal speech was becoming unpackaged from carefully woven theological language, constructed with such precision so as to avoid ambiguity, but in the process, often losing a punch - an impact which our world needs to awaken it. Then I read some blogs speaking negatively about it and my eye turned far more critical. I began approaching my reading of the encyclical with a much more jaundiced eye - more circumspective than any with which I have approached past encyclicals. When I read positive articles online about Laudato Si, they read as though they were empty apologetics, as though the author would never criticize the Pope no matter what he said. I cannot now help but find the encyclical deeply flawed, and find myself arguing about it with friends. It has even become divisive. We blame the divisiveness on the encyclical, on the pope, on the media. Never on ourselves. It is becoming harder and harder to keep my own head and wits about me in the maelstrom of internet noise, the din of voices. This is the din of voices which Mary allegedly warned us about via The Marian Movement of Priests, in one of her alleged messages to Fr. Gobbi. It is swallowing up everyone and everything, and beginning with the faithful. Our persecutors will be members of the faithful who believe they are doing right, believe they are in the right, just as the religious class in the time of Christ were enshrined in their certitude and could not be budged, not even by our Lord. I'm very concerned about not falling for the demonic delusion of our age that my thoughts and opinions reign supreme, that it is the other fellow who is deluded. If we are being called into the ark, I'm not sure how much of this we can bring with us and still remain deep in the contemplative prayer which we need to have. St. Peter told his flock 2,000 years ago: "Discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers." (1 Peter 4.7) I find the online storm raging. I peer outside the windows of the ark and the lightning and thunder unnerve me, and I can't pray. Then I feel the gentle voice of my guardian angel draw me back into the depths of the ark, deeper inside, to a place of prayer and adoration for my brothers and sisters who aren't even able to see they are in the midst of this epic storm. If we do not suffer, sacrifice, pray and fast for them, what will become of them? I am beginning to believe that a terrifying day will come which will shatter people's spirits who are not anchored in Christ. Our hearts have to be prepared to receive them. So when they come to us in the midst of despair of a life lived in denial of God and the celebration of sin, there is not the slightest ounce of condemnation or judgment from our lips. That we turn to them, with the light of Christ shining through us, and we say with joy, "Come to Christ! Come back to your Father who is ever ready to receive you with love. He loves you so much!" Only if we have pure hearts can we say this with conviction, can we get out of our own way so others can see Christ in us and truly believe the power of our words. The war rages inside my own heart, I don't need to go looking for one anywhere else. I am convinced I am doing God's will by staying inside my own heart. Mysteriously, because we are in the heart of Christ, the gains I make in the battle for my own soul are gains made for the coming of the Kingdom of God itself. your brother who is fighting the slumber of the virgins, Mark
Don't know why but this reminded me of a favourite quote from The Simpsons. Bart, bitterly regreting that he has sold his soul to the devil and reaping the harsh repercussions, is on his knees in his bedroom begging God to restore it. Lisa his sister passes the bedroom door, sees her brother on his knees and comments "Ah, prayer, the last refuge of the scoundrel." Bart got his soul back. Actually he had never lost it. The devil just made it look like he had. Sounds familiar.
I think you are totally on the right track Mark. A regular poster here, Kathy K, wrote recently about how she was going to be taking more time away from the internet etc. to just "nestle with Jesus", or something to that effect. I think we would all be wise to do the same. What you say in your second last paragraph I fully agree with and I recommend, if you can get your hands on it, a talk on CD by the Irish biblical scholar Frances Hogan called 'Arise! Shine out for your Light has Come'; it is a preparation for just such a time as you describe.
A beautiful reflection on our reality, AM, and a very honest one. The spirit of wild criticism of our times is engrained in each one of us. Thus SILENCE is more than ever, I think, the path to safety and to holiness. Silence of words, of judgments, of heart ... Silence that allows us to gaze upon the invisible in deep peace. We don't need to know. We only need to trust, and to act on that trust. And this beautiful quote from the last translation of Itapiranga by our own expert theologian, Peter, the words of Our Blessed Mother recommendation: Prayer transforms your hearts, heals the wounds of your souls and grants you the strength and grace to overcome all evil and sin.Isn't that beautiful!!! You speak of a loss of innocence that happens so easily to each one of us as soon as we look out. But God has a remedy for that too. Several times during Lent and around the Liturgical Year we hear an amazing little prayer at the beginning of the Mass that starts with these words: "O God who loves innocence and gives it back to those who have lost it. ...." This is our Good God. And Mary is His maternal face. Even safe into the Ark we still feel the ups and downs of the storm but we are just getting used to them. We don't need to fear. We need only to trust. If we didn't feel the fear we could not trust. We really trust when we don't feel like it. Blessings on the journey, fellow traveler ) Let's keep up the good fight!
I want you to know that I love you Woman Clothed With The Sun, and I wanted to tell you that. God Bless You ALWAYS.
Where there is love, there is God! This speaks very loudly about you, beautiful Lily May God reward you as only He knows.
I totally understand what you are saying. I read Galations 1:8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! And it seems there is a new 'gospel' not only coming from our immoral secular society but even from within the Church. We hear about the temperature of the air and how we need to kneel to the poor and be all open and welcoming and while there is some truth to these things, who is concerned with the salvation of souls? Why do so many call the Church a "FrancisChurch" or a bishop a "Francisbishop? The Church is Christ's mystical body and does not belong to any human being and no prelate has the authority to change doctrine or dogma. So while the official 'change' may not be in place, many sinful things are being winked at and doctrine ignored. It seems we are again on shifting sand. The 'discussions' alone on how to embrace sinful things are enough to lead many more souls astray. So, yes, we need to hunker down and keep some blinders on in a way, We cannot trust in man but look to Our Lord and Our Lady. We must live an ever more intense Sacramental life while we have the chance. We pray our rosary daily, remain in a state of grace, and come to holy Mass and adoration to console the Heart of Jesus. The open persecution of Christians, especially Catholics is escalating. We also must be prepared to pay the price. Faithful souls will not be able to hold public office when they cannot accept the immoral 'laws' of the land. Faithful people are being fined now if they do not dance to the immoral tune. We will have much to offer up to the Lord. And so we prepare.
Here's Pope Francis' schedule for the Jubilee of Mercy By Andrea Gagliarducci Vatican City, Jul 22, 2015 / 01:04 am (EWTN News/CNA) Twelve prominent events, each with the participation of Pope Francis, have been scheduled in Rome for the upcoming Jubilee of Mercy, and EWTN News was able to glance at details of their programs. The twelve big events of the Jubilee of Mercy will be: 24 hours for the Lord, a day-long period of Eucharistic adoration; To Dry the Tears, a prayer vigil; and jubilees centered on pilgrimage workers; the sick and disabled; catechists; deacons; teenagers; priests; volunteers of mercy; the Curia; Mary; and Divine Mercy spirituality. In addition to these events, a “Jubilee for Padre Pio’s prayer group” will take place Feb. 13, 2016, as the body of the Capuchin saint who bore stigmata for much of his life will be exposed in Saint Peter’s Basilica Feb. 8-14, at Pope Francis’ request. “The Holy Father expressed the wish that Padre Pio’s corpse be exposed in St. Peter’s Basilica on Ash Wednesday of the upcoming Extraordinary Holy Year, that is, the day when the Pope will send the missionaries of Mercy, giving them a special mandate to preach and hear confessions, so that they be a lively sign of how the Father welcomes those who seeks his pardon,” Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, wrote to Archbishop Michele Castoro of the Archdiocese of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo. Here is a description of the full schedule of the meetings. The jubilee for pilgrimage workers will take place Jan. 19-21, 2016. It will start with an international gathering of pilgrimage workers together with priests, rectors, and staff of shrines. A Mass will be said Jan. 19 at the Basilica of St. John Lateran. The group will have a conference and catechesis the following day, with Eucharistic adoration and Confession, and a pilgrimage to the Holy Door. They will meet with Pope Francis Jan. 21 in Paul VI Hall. On the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Feb. 22, the Pope will also celebrate a special jubilee for the Roman Curia, the Vatican Governatorate, and the institutions linked to the Holy See. On Apr. 1-3 2016, during the Easter Octave, the jubilee of Divine Mercy spirituality will be celebrated. On April 1, some Roman parishes will celebrate a penitential rite, and the following day Pope Francis will lead a prayer vigil in St. Peter's Square. He will say Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday on April 3. The teenagers' jubilee will begin with an April 23 evening festival at Rome's Olympic Stadium, followed by a Mass said by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square the following day. The jubilee of deacons will take placy May 27-29, with conferences on their role as icons of mercy for the new evangelization in their families, parishes, and jobs. They will gather in Rome's seven parishes named for St. Lawrence, and on May 28 will have Adoration, Confession, and pilgrimage to the Holy Door, then attend a Mass said by Pope Francis May 29. Priests will celebrate their jubilee June 1-3. The first day will be dedicated to Eucharistic Adoration, lectio divina, and confessions. The Holy Father will preach their spiritual retreat June 2, and June 3 will say Mass with them. The jubilee of the sick and disabled will occur June 10-12. The participants will gather in the jubilee churches, and from there they will go to the Holy Door. A celebration will be held in the gardens of Castel Sant’Angelo June 11, and a Mass in St. Peter's Square with the Holy Father June 12. From Sept. 2-4 the volunteers of mercy will gather in Rome for catechesis and a Mass with Pope Francis. Catechists' jubilee is scheduled Sept. 23-25. The first day, they will have the option of either visiting San Luigi dei Francesi to contemplate Caravaggio's paintings of St. Matthew's calling, inspiration, and martyrdom; or the Sistine Chapel to view salvation history through the ceiling painted by Michelangelo. The following day will see a catechesis on mercy in the jubilee churches and a prayer vigil at St. John Lateran, and Pope Francis will say Mass Sept. 25 in St. Peter's Square. A Marian jubilee will be celebrated Oct. 7-9, which will gather delegates from Marian shrines across the world. Pope Francis will be present at the Oct. 8 prayer vigil, and say Mass Oct. 9. Added to these particular jubilees are two additional events: the 24 hours for the Lord, culminating March 4 with a penitential rite, and the “Vigil to Dry Tears,” scheduled May 5 and described as a vigil for all those who need consolation. Pope Francis will preside over both the vigils. The jubilee was announced by Pope Francis during a March 13 penitential service, the second anniversary of his election as Bishop of Rome. It will open Dec. 8 – the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – and will close Nov. 20, 2016, the Solemnity of Christ the King.
With that agenda, it would seem the Pope does not expect the tribulation to hit his area. Or like the rest of us, you plan and be ready to shift gears as the wind blows. At any rate, it looks to be a very prayerful Mercy Year journey.
But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only. Brother al
Beautiful Hymn for the Year of Mercy: http://www.splendorofthechurch.com.ph/2015/08/06/the-official-hymn-of-the-jubilee-year-of-mercy/ first an introduction from Rome Reports: And now the whole thing sung by the Sixtine Chapel Choir If you prefer, this is the MP3 link: http://www.iubilaeummisericordiae.v...icordes sicut Pater!-Inno Anno Santo 2015.mp3 And the English text and Music sheet stmichaelcp.org/documents/2015/8/Hymn%20for%20the%20Holy%20Year%20of%20Mercy-3.pdf
That's very beautiful, thank you for posting that. The final line: "The heavens and the earth will be renewed." Our candles are lit, our hearts burn within us as we await the Bride, watching at sunrise, in the Word, at Holy Eucharist, at the eventide of our lives. And lo, if he should deign to intervene in any other extraordinary, prophetic way while we yet live, then far be it from us to not await that with trembling eagerness! It's going to be good. I often dream of what being at Our Lady's Coronation will be like (in hope). I imagine it will occur not long after the final judgment, when time has ended and all of heaven and earth are together, and a vast and mighty cheer arises, a near-infinite throng of angels and saints sending up a roar of praise for our Victor, Jesus Christ, and his conquering Mother, Queen of Angels and Saints. And then - her Coronation, a festal gathering with beauty beyond imagining. And each of us get to thank her profusely for gathering us into her cohort, to labor and battle in these decisive times. I dream of putting gems into her crown of souls whose conversion we gained through prayer and fasting. And perhaps we get to see the gem in her crown which represents us, our own unique color. Praise be to God, Mark
The Holy Year of Mercy is almost upon us. Beginning officially on December 8th of next week. I just wanted to share something that I have been "getting" in prayer a lot lately. First I want to stress that I could be mistaken. I am newly back to the faith and I am not very far along my path to holiness, but I have felt Our Lady working strongly in my life the past year and have had many small "miracles" in my ongoing conversion from my old life, so I give this some credence. Now I didn't hear a voice or see vision or anything, but I have been feeling very strongly that God will be pouring out graces on us specifically this year to move us speedily on our own personal journeys to holiness as well as general graces for the world during this year. In other words I have the sense that if we decide to take advantage of it we can advance much more rapidly than might normally be the case. Perhaps others have felt this as well. I do not want to put words in God's mouth, so perhaps I am wrong in this, but I feel it very strongly, so take it for whatever it may be worth. I wish the best to all and may peace be with everyone here on the forum during this Holy Year.
