Tribulation Times
October 19, 2022
(Rev 11:19) And the temple of God was opened in heaven: and the ark of his testament was seen in his temple. And there were lightnings and voices and an earthquake and great hail.
(Rev 12:1) And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
DAILY COMPASS: The power of the Hail Mary explained by the saints
FR. JERRY POKORSKY: How Mary crushes the head of Satan
FATHER JEFFREY F. KIRBY: Scapular is singular among the church’s spiritual gifts
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Traditionally, the Brown Scapular has been seen as a sign of our baptismal consecration. It represents the garment we received at baptism, which itself symbolized our new life in Jesus Christ.
When worn attentively, therefore, the scapular has the ability of reminding believers of their belief in Jesus Christ, their dedication to him, and their decision to follow his way of life. When the struggles of faith, or the demands of discipleship, appear overwhelming, the scapular can be a small help in knowing of God’s presence, providence, and power among us. In a secular culture, such reminders are rare or obscured, and so any help along the way – even two small pieces of cloth – can be a consolation and encouragement to believers today.
The name of the scapular comes from the mountain range in the northern part of the Holy Land. The series of small mountains was known for its biblical prominence, especially in the infamous battle between the Prophet Elijah and the priests of Baal. In the encounter, God worked a strong miracle manifesting his majesty and strength.
Due to this biblical association, early Christian hermits were attracted to Mount Carmel to pray and seek the voice of God. In time, the eremitical group came to be called Carmelites. Eventually, they gave the Blessed Virgin Mary the title of the mount because of their prayers to her and her spiritual solidarity with them.
In time, the needs of the Church led the hermits to become mendicant friars, along with the Franciscans and Dominicans. With this expansion, the Brown Scapular grew in popularity, especially in its modified smaller form for believers who were not friars. In the course of time, the simple pieces of cloth came to be revered as one of the Church’s favored devotional practices.
When the scapular is worn with faith, it is meant to express and serve the interior faith of believers and their commitment to Jesus Christ. It is not jewelry or a good luck charm. It is not merely an heirloom of previous times.
The scapular is a symbol of faith, and no scapular, or medal or other devotional item, however blessed and favored by the Church, can make up for a lack of faith. The religious object itself has no power, other than what our faith and the working of God’s grace gives to it. But there must be faith and an openness to God’s work among us.
A MOMENT WITH MARY: “No prayer is more pleasing to God”
By the Rosary, you can obtain everything. To use a graceful comparison, it is like a long chain linking Heaven to the earth. One of the ends is in our hands, the other is in the hands of the Blessed Virgin. As long as people pray the Rosary, God cannot abandon the world, because this prayer moves his heart powerfully. It is like yeast that can regenerate the earth. The sweet Queen of Heaven cannot forget her children who constantly sing her praises. No prayer is more pleasing to God than the Rosary. So the Church invites us to go and recite it every evening, in this month of October, before Jesus, really present and exposed on the altar.
“The month of October has come; with it the Church calls her children to recite the beautiful prayers of the Rosary with others. Who could tire of repeating how charming this month is for every Christian soul? At this time when tired nature is about to fall asleep, hearts seem to take on a new energy to celebrate the praises of the Queen of Heaven.”
St. Therese of Lisieux – 1887
CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT: Weaving Rose Garlands for Mary: The mystery and history of the Rosary
The Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Quiet8. Evagarius said, ‘Cut the desire for many things out of your heart and so prevent your mind being dispersed and your stillness lost.’
Prayer request? Send an email to: PrayerRequest3@aol.com
“Have ANY Catholic Question? Just ask Ron Smith at: hfministry@roadrunner.com
This month’s archive can be found at: http://www.catholicprophecy.info/news2.html.
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