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THE HOLY ANGELS ANNOUNCE THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD, AND THE SHEPHERDS COME TO ADORE HIM. PRIVATE REVELATION TO VE. MARY OF AGREDA After the courtiers of heaven had thus celebrated the birth of God made man near the portals of Bethlehem, some of them were immediately dispatched to different places, in order to announce the happy news to those, who according to the divine will were properly disposed to hear it. The holy prince Michael betook himself to the holy Patriarchs in limbo and announced to them, how the Onlybegotten of the eternal Father was already born into the world and was resting, humble and meek, as they had prophesied, in a manger between two beasts. He addressed also in a special manner holy Joachim and Anne in the name of the blessed Mother, who had enjoined this upon him; he congratulated them, that their Daughter now held in her arms the Desired of nations and Him, who had been foretold by all the Patriarchs and Prophets (Is. 7, 14; 9, 7, etc.), It was the most consoling and joyful day, which this great gathering of the just and the saints had yet had during their long banishment. All of them acknowledged this new Godman as the true Author of eternal salvation, and they composed and sang new songs of adoration and worship in his praise. Saint Joachim and Anne enjoined the messenger of heaven, saint Michael, to ask Mary their Daughter to worship in their name the divine Child, the blessed Fruit of her womb; and this the great Queen of the world immediately did for them, listening with great jubilee to all that the holy prince reported concerning the Patriarchs of limbo. Another of the holy angels that attended and guarded the heavenly Mother was sent to saint Elisabeth and her son John. On hearing this news of the birth of the Redeemer, the prudent matron and her son, although he was yet of so tender an age, prostrated themselves upon the earth and adored their God made man in spirit and in truth (John 4, 23). The child which had been consecrated as his Precursor, was renewed interiorly with a spirit more inflamed than that of Elias, causing new admiration and jubilation in the angels themselves. Saint John and his mother requested our Queen through the angels, that She in the name of them both, adore her most holy Son and offer Him their services; all of which the heavenly Queen immediately fulfilled. Having thus been informed of what had happened, saint Elisabeth hastened to send one of her domestics to Bethlehem with presents for the blessed Mother and the infant God. They consisted in some money, some linen and other things for the comfort of the newly born and of his poor Mother and her spouse. The servant betook himself on the way with no other instruction than that he visit the blessed Virgin and saint Joseph and take notice of what comfort or want was theirs, so that he might bring back certain information of their circumstances and well-being. He had no other knowledge of the sacrament, except what he himself could perceive with his own eyes; but renewed and touched by an interior and divine force he came back and in wonderful jubilee described to saint Elisabeth the poverty and the charming grace of her Cousin, of the Child and of saint Joseph, and what feelings were excited in him on beholding them. Admirable were the sentiments roused in the godly matron by his ingenuous narration. If it had not been for the will of God, that the secret and privacy of this high sacrament should be preserved, she could not have restrained herself from visiting the Virgin Mother and the newborn God. Of the things sent by her, the Queen appropriated some for relieving their extreme poverty, while She distributed the rest of them to the poor; for She did not wish to be deprived of the company of the poor during the days in which She would have to remain in the portal or cave of the Nativity. Other angels were delegated to bring the news to Zachary, Simeon and Anne, the prophetess, and to some other just and holy people, who were worthy to be trusted with this new mystery of our Redemption; for as the Lord found them prepared to receive this news with gratitude and with benefit to themselves, He considered it a just due to their virtue not to hide from them the blessing conferred upon the human race. Although not all the just upon earth were informed at that time of this sacrament; yet in all of them were wrought certain divine effects in the hour in which the Savior of the world was born. For all the just felt in their hearts a new and supernatural joy, though they were ignorant of its cause. There were not only movements of joy in the angels and in the just, but also wonderful movements in the insensible creatures; for all the influences of the planets were renovated and enlivened. The sun much accelerated its course; the stars shone in greater brightness; and for the Magi kings was formed that wonderful star, which showed them the way to Bethlehem (Matth. 2,2). Many trees began to bloom and others to produce fruit. Some temples of the idols were overthrown; and in others the idols were hurled down and their demons put to flight. These wonders and other happenings in the world on that day men accounted for in different ways, but far from the truth. Only among the just there were many, who by divine impulse suspected or believed that God had come into the world; yet no one knew it with certainty, except those to whom it was revealed. Among these were the three Magi, to each of whom in their separate Oriental kingdoms angels of the Queen’s guard were sent

The Harpa Dei Choir is made up of four siblings, both in blood and in spirit: Nikolai, Lucia, Marie-Elisée and Mirjana Gerstner. Born in Germany, they grew up in Ecuador, in South America. All four have as their spiritual foundation the long formation they have received in a religious community of Catholics. Since 2011, as part of a peace initiative, the siblings have been called to evangelization through Sacred Music. In this sense, Harpa Dei tries to collect the most beautiful songs from different traditions, in order to glorify God, and, on the other hand, to transmit to people the beauty of the Lord, which shines so eminently in Sacred Music. Yes, St. Hildegard of Bingen’s music was inspired by angels. She was a 12th-century mystic and composer who claimed to receive divine visions and messages from angels. Hildegard believed that her music was a way to communicate with the divine and express the celestial harmonies she experienced in her visions. Her compositions often feature soaring melodies, ethereal harmonies, and mystical lyrics that reflect her spiritual encounters with angels. St. Hildegard’s music has had a lasting impact and continues to be celebrated today. Various artists and ensembles have recorded it, and her compositions are admired for their beauty and spiritual depth. Many people find her music to be transcendent and uplifting, evoking a sense of connection to the divine and the angelic realm. St. Hildegard of Bingen’s O Pastor St. Hildegard of Bingen’s O Pastor https://youtu.be/AooxQMaf1ckhttps://youtu.be/VdyoRlGaIaE?si=0_-Ietwof3eEY__M The Magnificat (Latin for “My soul magnifies the Lord”) is a canticle composed by Holy Mary, known as the Song of Mary, the Canticle of Mary and the Ode of the Theotokos

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In the heart of Cologne, Germany, where the Rhine River whispers ancient secrets to the cobblestone streets, lies the sacred resting place of the Magi Kings. The three wise men from the East once embarked on an extraordinary journey guided by faith and celestial wonders. Their earthly journey long concluded, they now repose within the grand cathedral that bears their name, the Kölner Dom. The great edifice, with its towering spires piercing the heavens, stands as a testament to the awe and reverence inspired by these wise men of old. Here, beneath the watchful gaze of Gothic arches and stained glass, the Magi find eternal peace, their bones encased in a golden reliquary that gleams like a distant star in the dim light of the nave. In their time, the Magi lived in a world unburdened by the clamor of modern invention. No screens flickered with artificial light, no cacophony of digital voices clamored for their attention. The Internet, with its endless streams of information and distraction, was but a distant thing of a future they would never know. Nor were they swayed by the modern belief in ignorance, the widespread refusal to acknowledge what we do not know. Instead, their existence was one of quiet contemplation, their minds free to wander the vast expanse of the night sky without the tethers of technology. Their hearts were filled with awe and wonder as they pondered the mysteries of existence, sharing a deep sense of reverence for the universe they were privileged to behold. This sense of wonder and contemplation was not an intellectual pursuit but a spiritual journey that brought them closer to the divine. They were men of the stars, these Magi, and the night sky was their cathedral. With their own eyes, they gazed upon the celestial tapestry, each twinkling light a silent hymn to the majesty of creation. Their existence was a canvas of stars, vast and untainted, inviting contemplation and wonder. In the stillness of the desert, under the canopy of the heavens, they found a profound connection to the universe—a calm, eternal presence that spoke to the depths of their souls. To them, the stars were not mere points of light, but windows into the divine, each one a testament to the handiwork of a Creator whose power and love were boundless. During their lifetimes, the Magi’s sense of wonder was divinely rewarded. A miraculous sign appeared in the night sky—a star, unlike any they had seen before, sent by God to guide them. And so, it was with a sense of wonder that they beheld this sign, a star, radiant and resolute, blazing across the firmament like a beacon of truth. This celestial herald, sent by God Himself, beckoned them to embark on a journey of faith and revelation. This heavenly beacon led them on a sacred pilgrimage, spanning miles and crossing distant lands, directing them to the birthplace of Jesus Christ, the truth they sought. They followed its light across deserts and mountains, through the trials of the unknown, until at last it led them to a humble stable in Bethlehem. There, in the presence of a newborn child, they found the fulfillment of their quest: the truth incarnate, the divine made flesh in the form of Jesus Christ, born to bring salvation to the world. It was the proclamation that “God has entered history”, a pivotal moment where the divine intersects with the human experience, transforming the substance of history itself. Now, as they rest in peace within the Cologne Cathedral, their spirits seem to whisper stories of that long-ago journey, of the star that guided them, and of the child who changed the course of history. Their tombs, adorned with intricate carvings and precious relics, stand as a testament to the power of wonder. The Magi existed in a realm of pure, unfiltered perception, where the mysteries of the cosmos were unveiled before their very eyes, unmediated by the distractions of today. In this space of freedom and quiet contemplation, they gazed upon the heavens, their minds and hearts open to the profound stillness of the universe. The starry sky was not a distant spectacle to be captured through a lens, but a living, breathing presence that invited them into a sacred dialogue with the divine. Their lives were marked by a profound sense of wonder, a reverence for the unknown, and a deep trust in the guiding hand of the divine. Unlike the modern world, which often clings to ignorance as a shield against uncertainty, the Magi embraced their role as pilgrims in the vast expanse of existence. They did not seek to control or understand everything; instead, they allowed themselves to be led by the mysteries they encountered, finding solace in the humility of not knowing. The remains of the Magi, discovered in Persia, have an intriguing and storied journey. These relics are reported to have been carried back to Constantinople by Emperor Constantine’s mother, St. Helena, known for her fervent dedication to preserving Christian relics. From Constantinople, the remains were said to have been moved to Milan. In 1164, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa gifted them to the Archbishop of Cologne, where they were enshrined in the Cologne Cathedral. In the Mystical City of God, a book dictated to Venerable Mary of Agreda (1601-1664) by the Blessed Virgin Mary herself— describing her life and the divine plan for creation and salvation—the Blessed Virgin Mary revealed that the three Magi Kings, who came to find the divine Infant after his birth, were natives of Persia, Arabia and Sabba. They were, moreover, upright men, truthful and very just in the government of their countries. In her own words, the Blessed Virgin Mary added that Herod was the first one among men to seek the life of the Redeemer, ‘’The Magi and Herod pursued opposite courses: the Magi met the first inspirations and graces by the practice of the good works; thus they disposed themselves by many virtues for being called and

St. Seraphim of Sarov (1754-1833) is a Russian Orthodox saint, but his veneration has also extended to the Catholic Church.  Pope John Paul II referred to St. Seraphim as a saint in his book “Crossing the Threshold of Hope.” Catholics have also celebrated molebens (a form of prayer) before his relics, and some keep icons of him in their homes. The Russian Catholic icon of Sts. Seraphim and Francis of Assisi is a testament to the ecumenical spirit and mutual respect between the two traditions. His reputation on Earth and from heaven is similar to the Catholic saints John Vianney or Padre Pio. In November 1831, St. Seraphim engaged in a profound conversation with Nicholas Motovilov, a spiritual seeker, in a snowy field near his hermitage. This conversation, recorded by Motovilov himself, reveals the true aim of Christian life and the acquisition of the Holy Spirit. On a gloomy Thursday, with eight inches of snow covering the ground, St. Seraphim and Motovilov sat in a field adjoining the hermitage, opposite the River Sarovka. St. Seraphim squatted opposite Motovilov, who was seated on a stump of a tree felled by the elder. St. Seraphim began by revealing to Motovilov that he had known of his childhood desire to understand the purpose of Christian life and his subsequent inquiries to various spiritual leaders. Motovilov confessed that, despite seeking answers, he had not found satisfaction. In the conversation, St. Seraphim seems to anticipate and address Motovilov’s questions and concerns, demonstrating a remarkable ability to discern or read Motovilov’s mind,  For example, St. Seraphim responds to Motovilov’s inquiry about the aim of the Christian life, providing a detailed and personalized explanation that resonates with Motovilov’s own spiritual struggles. Patrick Barnes, creator of the website  Orthodox Christian Information Center, describes the Conversation With Nicholas Motovilov as A Wonderful Revelation to the World: ”This revelation is undoubtedly of world-wide significance. True, there is nothing essentially new in it, for the full revelation was given to the Apostles from the very day of Pentecost. But now that people have forgotten the fundamental truths of the Christian religion, and are immersed in the darkness of materialism or the exterior and routine performance of “ascetic labours,” Father Seraphim’s revelation is truly extraordinary, as indeed he himself regarded it. “It is not given to you alone to understand this,” said Father Seraphim at the end of the revelation, “but through you it is for the whole world!” Like a flash of lightning this wonderful conversation illumined the whole world which was already immersed in spiritual lethargy and death, less than a century before the struggle against Christianity in Russia and at a time when Christian faith was at a low ebb in the West. Here God’s Saint appears before us as in no way inferior to the great prophets through whom the Holy Spirit Himself spoke. We record everything word for word without any interpretations of our own. Conversation With Nicholas Motovilov It was Thursday. The day was gloomy. The snow lay eight inches deep on the ground; and dry, crisp snowflakes were falling thickly from the sky when Father Seraphim began his conversation with me in a field adjoining his near hermitage, opposite the River Sarovka, at the foot of the hill which slopes down to the river bank. He sat me on the stump of a tree which he had just felled, and he himself squatted opposite me. “The Lord has revealed to me,” said the great Elder, “that in your childhood you had a great desire to know the aim of our Christian life, and that you continually asked many great spiritual persons about it.” I must say here that from the age of twelve this thought had constantly troubled me. I had, in fact, approached many clergy about it; but their answers had not satisfied me. This was not known to the Elder. “But no one,” continued Father Seraphim, “has given you a precise answer. They have said to you: ‘Go to Church, pray to God, do the commandments of God, do good—that is the aim of the Christian life.’ Some were even indignant with you for being occupied with profane curiosity and said to you: ‘Do not seek things that are beyond you.’ But they did not speak as they should. And now poor Seraphim will explain to you in what this aim really consists. “Prayer, fasting, vigil and all other Christian activities, however good they may be in themselves, do not constitute the aim of our Christian life, although they serve as the indispensable means of reaching this end. The true aim of our Christian life consists in the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God. As for fasts, and vigils, and prayer, and almsgiving, and every good deed done for Christ’s sake, they are only means of acquiring the Holy Spirit of God. But mark, my son, only the good deed done for Christ’s sake brings us the fruits of the Holy Spirit. All that is not done for Christ’s sake, even though it be good, brings neither reward in the future life nor the grace of God in this. That is why our Lord Jesus Christ said: He who gathers not with Me scatters (Luke 11:23). Not that a good deed can be called anything but gathering, since even though it is not done for Christ’s sake, yet it is good. Scripture says: In every nation he who fears God and works righteousness is acceptable to Him (Acts 10:35). [1] “As we see from the sacred narrative, the man who works righteousness is so pleasing to God that the Angel of the Lord appeared at the hour of prayer to Cornelius, the God-fearing and righteous centurion, and said: ‘Send to Joppa to Simon the Tanner; there shalt thou find Peter and he will tell thee the words of eternal life, whereby thou shalt be saved and all thy house.’ Thus the Lord uses all His divine means to give such a

The First Saturdays Devotion, also called the Act of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Catholic devotion which was requested by the Virgin Mary in an apparition to Sister Lúcia of Fátima at Pontevedra, Spain, in December 1925. This devotion has been approved by the Roman Catholic Church. Devotees of Fátima believe that the First Saturdays help to console the sorrows of God, Jesus, and the Virgin Mary for the sins against her Immaculate Heart. Mary requested the institution of the Devotion of the Five First Saturdays in reparation to her Immaculate Heart: Look, my daughter, at my Heart encircled by these thorns with which men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, strive to console me, and so I announce: I promise to assist at the hour of death with the grace necessary for salvation all those who, with the intention of making reparation to me, will, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, go to confession, receive Holy Communion, say five decades of the beads, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVFLjccEs-c CHRIST OUR SAVIOR IS BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY IN BETHLEHEM, JUDA. PRIVATE REVELATION TO VEN. SISTER MARY OF AGREDA The palace which the supreme King of kings and the Lord of lords had chosen for entertaining his eternal and incarnate Son in this world was a most poor and insignificant hut or cave, to which most holy Mary and Joseph betook themselves after they had been denied all hospitality and the most ordinary kindness by their fellow-men, as I have described in the foregoing chapter. This place was held in such contempt that though the town of Bethlehem was full of strangers in want of night shelter, none would demean or degrade himself so far as to make use of it for a lodging; for there was none who deemed it suitable or desirable for such a purpose, except the Teachers of humility and poverty, Christ our Savior and his purest Mother. On this account the wisdom of the eternal Father had reserved it for Them, consecrating it in all its bareness, loneliness and poverty as the first temple of light (Malachy 4, 2, Ps. Ill, 4) and as the house of the true Sun of justice, which was to arise for the upright of heart from the resplendent Aurora Mary, turning the night of sin into the daylight of grace. Most holy Mary and saint Joseph entered the lodging thus provided for them and by the effulgence of the ten thousand angels of their guard they could easily ascertain its poverty and loneliness, which they esteemed as favors and welcomed with tears of consolation and joy. Without delay the two holy travelers fell on their knees and praised the Lord, giving Him thanks for his benefit, which they knew had been provided by his wisdom for his own hidden designs. Of this mystery the heavenly Princess Mary had a better insight; for as soon as She sanctified the interior of the cave by her sacred footsteps She felt a fullness of joy which entirely elevated and vivified Her. She besought the Lord to bless with a liberal hand all the inhabitants of the neighboring city, because by rejecting Her they had given occasion to the vast favors, which She awaited in this neglected cavern. It was formed entirely of the bare and coarse rocks, without any natural beauty or artificial adornment; a place intended merely for the shelter of animals; yet the eternal Father had selected it for the shelter and dwelling-place of his own Son. The angelic spirits, who like a celestial militia guarded their Queen and Mistress, formed themselves into cohorts in the manner of court guards in a royal palace. They showed themselves in their visible forms also to saint Joseph; for on this occasion it was befitting that he should enjoy such a favor, on the one hand in order to assuage his sorrow by allowing him to behold this poor lodging thus beautified and adorned by their celestial presence, and on the other, in order to enliven and encourage him for the events which the Lord intended to bring about during that night, and in this forsaken place. The great Queen and Empress, who was already informed of the mystery to be transacted here, set about cleaning with her own hands the cave, which was so soon to serve as a royal throne and sacred mercy seat; for neither did She want to miss this occasion for exercising her humility, nor would She deprive her Onlybegotten Son of the worship and reverence implied by this preparation and cleansing of his temple. Saint Joseph, mindful of the majesty of his heavenly Spouse (which, it seemed to him, She was forgetting in her ardent longing for humiliation), besought Her not to deprive Him of this work, which he considered as his alone; and he hastened to set about cleaning the floor and the corners of the cave, although the humble Queen continued to assist him therein. As the holy angels were then present in visible forms, they were (according to our mode of speaking) abashed at such eagerness for humiliation, and they speedily emulated with each other to join in this work; or rather, in order to say it more succinctly, in the shortest time possible they had cleansed and set in order that cave, filling it with holy fragrance. Saint Joseph started a fire with the material which he had brought for that purpose. As it was very cold, they sat at the fire in order to get warm. They partook of the food which they had brought, and they ate this, their frugal supper, with incomparable joy of their souls. The Queen of heaven was so absorbed and taken up with the thought of the impending mystery of her divine delivery, that She would not

Because we can’t perceive it with our senses, we may be tempted to regard the world of the angels as ethereal or not quite real. Yet not only are angels entirely as real as the world we see, but their presence and power also affect our lives on a daily basis. If we observe with attentive hearts and eyes of faith, we can recognize this angelic presence, and, better yet, form relationships with the messengers God sends into our midst. Edward Monti You can read his article about his encounters with his Guardian Angel – here ——————- Our recognition of moral truths and the nature of beauty arises from intuition, not deliberate reasoning. St. Thomas Aquinas argued that reasoning is  a deficiency of the intellect. If we had perfect intuition, like angels do, we would not need reasoning. This is also why angels are essential for the completeness of Creation; without them, Creation would be lacking and imperfect. He introduced the principle of “prior perfection,” which asserts that for any imperfect being (like man) to exist, a perfect being of the same kind is a necessity. In St. Thomas’ view, before human souls—which understand things through imperfect abstraction from sensory images—can exist, there must be Beings that comprehend things in their pure intelligibility, without abstraction. These Beings are the angels. He emphasized that human souls, belonging to the genus animal and species rational, do not possess perfection in the same manner as angels. Angels exist as distinct Beings, rather than as parts of a composite whole.Thus, Aquinas maintained that the creation of angels is necessary for the perfection and completeness of Creation because it satisfies the principle of prior perfection. Angels provide a necessary precedent for the creation of human souls, which understand imperfectly. This argument underscores the importance of angels in metaphysical and cosmological reality. Known as the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas discussed angels extensively in his “Summa Theologica”. He wrote that every human being is assigned a guardian angel from birth, stating, “From the very moment of his birth man has an angel guardian appointed to him.” Aquinas elaborated on the roles these angels play, from warding off physical dangers to inspiring good thoughts. The Virgin Mary, as the Mother of Jesus Christ and honored as the Theotokos (God-bearer) is intimately associated with the ministry of angels.  Angels worship God and execute His divine will. Throughout the Scriptures, angels appear at pivotal moments, acting as intermediaries between God and humanity. Jesus Himself acknowledged the presence and guardianship of angels. In the Gospel of Matthew, He teaches, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:10). This passage underscores the belief that each person is assigned a guardian angel, a protector who is constantly in the presence of God. This statement by Jesus not only affirms the existence of guardian angels but also emphasizes their close relationship with God, implying a continuous divine oversight through these beings. The Virgin Mary’s life is marked by significant angelic encounters, the most notable being the Annunciation. The Archangel Gabriel appears to Mary with the message that she will conceive and bear a son, Jesus. Gabriel greets her with profound respect, saying, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). This encounter highlights Mary’s favored status among all women and her unique role in salvation history. Mary is venerated as the Queen of Angels. Saint John of Damascus writes, “She who is more honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gave birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, you do we magnify.” This hymn praises Mary above the highest orders of angels, acknowledging her exalted status. Saint Thomas Aquinas, the eminent Catholic theologian, discusses the hierarchy of angels and their roles. He notes that higher angels enlighten the lower, and all serve God’s purposes. In this context, it is reasonable to infer that angels would be intimately involved in the life of Mary, assisting her in her divine mission. Moreover, the Church celebrates feasts that reflect the closeness between Mary and the angels. The Feast of the Assumption in the Catholic Church and the Dormition in the Orthodox Church commemorate Mary’s passing into eternal life. Tradition holds that angels bore her body and soul into heaven, a testament to their reverence and service to her. Saint Alphonsus Liguori, a Doctor of the Church, speaks of Mary’s queenly authority over angels: “The devout client of Mary will have the angels of heaven as his guardians.” Here, Liguori emphasizes that those devoted to Mary share in the protection afforded by the angels due to Mary’s intercessory power. Saint Gregory Palamas reflects on the mystery of the Incarnation and Mary’s role, stating, “The angelic hosts waited in awe as the Virgin consented to be the Mother of God; through her, salvation came to all, and the angels rejoiced.” This illustrates the profound connection between Mary and the angelic realm. St. Basil the Great wrote about angels in his works. He stated, “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.” This reflects the belief that angels are not only protectors but also guides towards spiritual growth and salvation. In the Orthodox Church, the belief in guardian angels is also reflected in liturgy. The Synaxarion for the Feast of the Holy Angels mentions, “These angels are the guardians of our souls and bodies, and they are sent forth to aid us in our struggle against the forces of darkness.” The ministry of guardian angels serves multiple purposes in Christian life: Protection: They shield the faithful from physical and spiritual harm. This protective role is often invoked in prayers for safety. Guidance: Angels guide individuals towards God, helping them to make moral choices and encouraging them in moments of doubt or despair. Intercession: They are believed to carry

The First Saturdays Devotion, also called the Act of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Catholic devotion (rosary and 15 minutes meditation upon the mysteries of the Rosary) which was requested by the Virgin Mary in an apparition to Sister Lúcia of Fátima at Pontevedra, Spain, in December 1925. This devotion has been approved by the Roman Catholic Church. Devotees of Fátima believe that the First Saturdays help to console the sorrows of God, Jesus, and the Virgin Mary for the sins against her Immaculate Heart. Mary requested the institution of the Devotion of the Five First Saturdays in reparation to her Immaculate Heart: Look, my daughter, at my Heart encircled by these thorns with which men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, strive to console me, and so I announce: I promise to assist at the hour of death with the grace necessary for salvation all those who, with the intention of making reparation to me, will, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, go to confession, receive Holy Communion, say five decades of the beads, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. In Fatima, the Blesssed Mother also requested the consacretion of Russia. See 3 articles 1;   2;    3 Sanctification Continues Into Eternity The present state of our souls foreshadows the future. The future will be a continuation of the present inward condition, only in a modified form as to its degree. – Saint John of Kronstadt Nevertheless, let one remove every rational account with respect to that which concerns the Theotokos (Mother of God), who alone is the most supernatural marvel among supernaturals realized from eternity, who is also higher than all rational discourse; for in a a true way God wished His own omnipotence to be manifested in this woman. – St. Mark of Ephesus ca. 1392-1444 Prophecies of Our Lady of Good Success for Today On Feb 2, 1594, the Virgin Mary appeared to Spanish-born Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres at her Conceptionist Royal Convent in Quito, Ecuador, as “Our Lady of the Good Event”. Our Lady of Good Event apparitions refers to a series of supernatural apparitions of the Virgin Mary between 1594 and 1634. The phrase “Good Event” is often mistranslated as “Good Success,” but it actually refers to the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Jesus, highlighting the significance of these biblical events, where Simeon prophesied, saying to Mary, This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed, so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too. The prophecies and warnings received by Mother Mariana stand out for their remarkable specificity and accuracy. These revelations were documented in the writings of Archbishop Luis Lopez de Solis, who served as Bishop of Quito from 1592 to 1606, and later published in a manuscript by Fr. Manuel Sousa Pereira in 1790. To verify the manuscript’s content authenticity during the beatification process of Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres, an ecclesiastical committee conducted a thorough examination. In 1980, Msgr. Dr. Luis E. Cadena y Almeida, the postulator for the cause, confirmed that the document was accepted as credible testimony. Source –  Dr. Marian Therese Horvat, The manuscript of Fr. Manuel Sousa Pereira , Tradition in Action, December 11, 2012, Very early on the morning of February 2, 1594, Mother Mariana was praying in the upper choir of the Convent, fervently beseeching Jesus and Mary for relief from the many severe trials the Convent was undergoing, and that many sins would be prevented. During her long prayer, she heard a sweet voice call her name. Rising quickly, she saw the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus in Her left arm. Being asked who She was, Our Lady replied: “I am Mary of Good Success, the Queen of Heaven and Earth… As His Mother, I carry (the Child Jesus) here, in My left arm, so that together we might restrain the hand of Divine Justice, which is always so ready to chastise this unfortunate and criminal world.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwKBy-P1wu8 “In My right hand, I carry the crosier that you see, for I desire to govern this Convent as Abbess and Mother… Satan will begin to try to destroy this work of God… But he will not succeed, because I am the Queen of Victories and the Mother of Good Success, and it is under this invocation I desire to be known throughout all time…” One prophecy predicted that a Pope will  be imprisoned in the Vatican. The prophecy states that this Pope will be the one who declares the dogma of infallibility and will also proclaim the mystery of the Immaculate Conception. This Pope Pius IX, known hundres of years later, was effectively confined to the Vatican City after the capture of Rome by the Kingdom of Italy in 1870. Warnings About the 20th Century Our Lady of the Good Event predicted a “spiritual catastrophe” in the Catholic Church and society. The dark vision presented to Sister Marianna ended with an unexpected note of joy, as Mary announced that the impending evil would be a sign of her imminent intervention. Our Lady’s warning of moral decay and the departure of people from God may be understood as a call to a return to faith. “This will mark the arrival of my hour, when I, in a marvelous way, will dethrone the proud and cursed Satan, trampling him under my feet.” Our Lady did not prophesy the end of the world, but a marvelous restoration of what has been lost in the Church and the world. In 1917, she said in Fatima that the triumph of her Immaculate Heart willl happen after the Consecration of Russia, which was done on March 25, 2022. See article here. NOTE – In

The Basilica of the Annunciation is a Catholic church located in Nazareth, built over a grotto believed to be the site of the Annunciation, where the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary. The grotto beneath the basilica is considered sacred, as it is believed to be the remains of the original childhood home of Mary. This site has been revered by Christians for centuries, with early sources referring to it as “The House of the Virgin Mary.” Inscriptions on the walls, left by pilgrims and visitors in early Christianity, further support this claim. beneath and around the grotto in Nazareth, there exist the remains of four additional churches. But, where are the walls of the House? Based on historical and architectural analyses, as well as Catholic tradition, it is believed that the walls of the Holy House of Loreto originated from the grotto of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. Angels miraculously carried the Holy House of Nazareth to Loreto, Italy in 1294. In 1667, Pope Clement IX included the story of the House’s translation in the Roman Martyrology, and Pope Benedict XIV later established its identity with the original House of Nazareth, overcoming detractors.  According to various  studies, the walls of the Holy House of Loreto are believed to be from the grotto of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. This claim is supported by several factors: Stonecutting techniques: The stones used in the construction of the Holy House of Loreto do not conform to local Italian methods, suggesting they originated from elsewhere, specifically Nazareth. Graffiti similarities: The numerous graffiti found on the walls of the Holy House of Loreto resemble those discovered in early Judeo-Christian churches in Palestine before the 5th century, which strengthens the connection to Nazareth. Comparative studies: Investigations have revealed the coexistence and contiguity of the two structures, the grotto in Nazareth and the Holy House of Loreto, supporting the notion that the walls were transported from the former to the latter. Catholic tradition holds that the Holy House of Loreto was transported by angels from Nazareth to Loreto, Italy, during the Muslim conquest of the Holy Land. It is reflected in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Holy House of Loreto, where the original nucleus of the Holy House consists of three walls only, with the fourth wall being the side opened towards the entrance of the grotto, as seen in the feature image abobeé The Holy House of Loreto is considered a revered shrine, with a commission of doctors regularly investigating reports of miraculous healings. See article: God protects the Holy House of Mary   The First Saturdays Devotion The First Saturdays Devotion, also called the Act of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Catholic devotion (rosary and 15 minutes meditation upon the mysteries of the Rosary) which was requested by the Virgin Mary in an apparition to Sister Lúcia of Fátima at Pontevedra, Spain, in December 1925. This devotion has been approved by the Roman Catholic Church. Devotees of Fátima believe that the First Saturdays help to console the sorrows of God, Jesus, and the Virgin Mary for the sins against her Immaculate Heart. Mary requested the institution of the Devotion of the Five First Saturdays in reparation to her Immaculate Heart: Look, my daughter, at my Heart encircled by these thorns with which men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, strive to console me, and so I announce: I promise to assist at the hour of death with the grace necessary for salvation all those who, with the intention of making reparation to me, will, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, go to confession, receive Holy Communion, say five decades of the beads, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. In Fatima, the Blesssed Mother also requested the consacretion of Russia. See 3 articles 1;   2;    3 Sanctification Continues Into Eternity The present state of our souls foreshadows the future. The future will be a continuation of the present inward condition, only in a modified form as to its degree. – Saint John of Kronstadt Nevertheless, let one remove every rational account with respect to that which concerns the Theotokos (Mother of God), who alone is the most supernatural marvel among supernaturals realized from eternity, who is also higher than all rational discourse; for in a a true way God wished His own omnipotence to be manifested in this woman. – St. Mark of Ephesus ca. 1392-1444 Private Revelation to Venerable Mary of Agreda THE BLESSED TRINITY SENDS THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL AS A MESSENGER TO ANNOUNCE TO MOST HOLY MARY THAT SHE IS CHOSEN AS THE MOTHER OF GOD. For infinite ages had been appointed the convenient hour and time, in which the great mystery of piety (I Tim. 3, 16), which was approved by the Spirit, prophesied to men, foretold to the angels, and expected in the world, was to be drawn from the hidden recesses of the divine wisdom in order to be appropriately manifested in the flesh. The plenitude of time (Gal. 4, 4) had arrived, that time which until then, although filled with prophecies and promises, was nevertheless void and empty. For it wanted the fullness of the most holy Mary, by whose will and consent all the ages were to receive their complement, namely the eternal Word made flesh, capable of suffering and redeeming man. Before all ages this mystery was prearranged in such a way, that it should be fulfilled through the mediation of this heavenly Maiden. Since now She existed in the world the Redemption of man and the coming of the Onlybegotten of the Father was not longer to be delayed. For now He would not need to come and live as if by sufferance merely in tents (II Kings 7, 6) or in a strange house; but He could enjoy a free

Image credit – vaticannews.va The First Saturdays Devotion, also called the Act of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Catholic devotion (rosary and 15 minutes meditation upon the mysteries of the Rosary) which was requested by the Virgin Mary in an apparition to Sister Lúcia of Fátima at Pontevedra, Spain, in December 1925. This devotion has been approved by the Roman Catholic Church. Devotees of Fátima believe that the First Saturdays help to console the sorrows of God, Jesus, and the Virgin Mary for the sins against her Immaculate Heart. Mary requested the institution of the Devotion of the Five First Saturdays in reparation to her Immaculate Heart: Look, my daughter, at my Heart encircled by these thorns with which men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, strive to console me, and so I announce: I promise to assist at the hour of death with the grace necessary for salvation all those who, with the intention of making reparation to me, will, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, go to confession, receive Holy Communion, say five decades of the beads, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. In Fatima, the Blesssed Mother also requested the consacretion of Russia. See 3 articles 1;   2;    3 Sanctification Continues Into Eternity The present state of our souls foreshadows the future. The future will be a continuation of the present inward condition, only in a modified form as to its degree. – Saint John of Kronstadt Nevertheless, let one remove every rational account with respect to that which concerns the Theotokos (Mother of God), who alone is the most supernatural marvel among supernaturals realized from eternity, who is also higher than all rational discourse; for in a a true way God wished His own omnipotence to be manifested in this woman. – St. Mark of Ephesus ca. 1392-1444 Thomas the Apostle, was not present at the death of Mary but his late arrival precipitates a reopening of Mary’s tomb. St. Juvenal, Bishop of Jerusalem, at the Council of Chalcedon (451), made known to the Emperor Marcian and Pulcheria, who wished to possess the body of the Mother of God, that Mary died in the presence of all the Apostles, but that her tomb, when opened upon the request of St. Thomas, was found empty; wherefrom the Apostles concluded that the body was taken up to heaven. The Dormition of the Mother of God is a Great Feast of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches (except the East Syriac churches). It celebrates the “falling asleep” (death) of Mary the Theotokos (“Mother of God”, literally translated as God-bearer), and her being taken up into heaven. The Feast of the Dormition is observed on August 15, which for the churches using the Julian calendar corresponds to August 28 on the Gregorian calendar.  In Western Churches the corresponding feast is known as the Assumption of Mary. Source – Wikipaedia Private Revelation to Venerable Mary of Agreda The last of the four Evangelists who wrote the Gospels, was the apostle saint John in the year fifty-eight of the Lord. He wrote his in the Greek language, during his stay in Asia Minor after the glorious transition and assumption of the most blessed Mary. His Gospel was directed against the heresies and errors, which, (as indicated above), the devil immediately after the transition of the Virgin Mother began to sow for undermining the faith in the Incarnation of the divine Word. For as Lucifer had been humiliated and vanquished by this mystery, he at once directed the onslaught of heresy against it. For this reason the evangelist saint John writes so sublimely and adduces so many arguments for the true and undoubted Divinity of Christ our Savior, far surpassing the other Evangelists in this regard. Although when the Evangelist was about to begin his Gospel the most blessed Mary was already in heaven, She descended in person, resplendent with ineffable glory and majesty and surrounded by thousands of angels of all choirs and hierarchies. Appearing to saint John She said: “John, my son and servant of the Most High, now is the proper time for writing the life and mysteries of my divine Son, so that all mortals may know Him as the Son of the eternal Father, as true God and at the same time as true man. But it is not yet the opportune time for recording the mysteries and secrets which thou knowest of me; nor shall they as yet be manifested to a world so accustomed to idolatry, lest Lucifer abuse them for disturbing those who are to receive the faith in their Redeemer and in the blessed Trinity. The Holy Ghost will assist thee and I desire thee to begin writing in my presence.” Assisted by the kind Mother, he immediately set about writing his Gospel. Before She departed to the right hand of her divine Son, She gave him her benediction and promised him her protection for all the rest of his life. Such were the beginnings of the sacred Gospels, all of them having been commenced with the assistance and by the intervention of the most blessed Mary, giving the Church to understand, that all these benefits have been vouchsafed at her hands. After having thus anticipated the history of the Evangelists, in order to account for the beginnings of the Gospels, we shall now return to our narrative. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnBoJavA-4o THE BURIAL OF THE SACRED BODY OF THE MOST BLESSED MARY, AND WHAT HAPPENED THEREAT In order that the Apostles, the disciples, and many others of the faithful might not be too deeply oppressed by sorrow, and in order that some of them might not die of grief caused by the passing away of the most blessed Mary, it was necessary that the divine power, by an especial providence, furnish them with consolation and

Image credit: Christian Publishing House Here is a text of well-known early Christian writer Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (c. 155 – c. 220 AD). He teaches that philosophy or science blinds the soul. The system of Newtonian Materialism that replaced the early christian and Medieval organistic view of the universe lasted from about the years 1600 to 1900. Today, in the fields of quantum physics, there are indications that a force beyond space-time influences the behaviour of objects. For instance, numerous experiments have shown particles can materialize (exist) in multiple locations at once. This discovery challenges physical laws but is nothing new to Christianity. Several Christian saints have experienced bilocation, including Holy Mary, Catherine de’ Ricci, Saint Drogo, Anthony of Padua, Francis of Paola, Francis Xavier, Martin de Porres, María of Ágreda, María de León Bello y Delgado, Alphonsus Liguori, Gerard Majella, and, in the 20th century, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina and Maria Teresa Carloni. Numerous eyewitnesses of bilocation claimed to have experienced the distinct “odor of sanctity,” often described as the scent of roses. Science must also revisit the Book of Job, where he remarks, “He hangs the earth upon nothing” (Job 26:7) Since 1933, astronomers have noted that if what we see is all there is, the orbital motion of galaxies would collapse and the Earth’s surface would disintegrate. As Fritz Zwicky pointed out, “Galaxies are moving so quickly they should have been flung away into space, yet they remained gravitationally bound to the cluster” (Nasa, Zwicky). This observation is further supported by the fact that as a galaxy spins, it should be torn apart, but this does not occur, indicating the presence of “an invisible entity” holding the galaxy together. In short, quantum physics, at its core, contradict the very notions of materialism. Max Plank, father of quantum physics and one of the most significant physicists of all time, said that the laws of nature ascended to a Mind beyond material reality. In 1944, he explains: “As a man who has devoted his whole life to the most clear-headed science, to the study of matter, I can tell you as a result of my research about atoms this much: There is no matter as such. All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the atom together. We must assume behind this force is the existence of a conscious and intelligent Mind.” As science abandons its philosophical thesis of a “mechanistic” world, it returns to medieval “organistic” physics,  where the universe was explained as a kind of artistic creation. To avoid false ideas about reality, St. Padre Pio, in a quote attributed to him, said that we must return to the fathers of the Church. So, here is a text of christian writer Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (c. 155 – c. 220 AD). He teaches that philosophy or science blinds the soul. Tertullian believes that the soul possesses a natural intelligence endowed by God, which allows it to discern truth and understand the existence of God. However, he argues that philosophy has taken hold of this intelligence and distorted it for its own purposes. Philosophy’s focus on persuasive speech and the building up and tearing down of ideas, according to Tertullian, hinders true teaching and understanding. In his work, On the testimony of the soul, Tertullianus brings forward a witness, familiar to all. It is man’s soul. He dismisses the vain disputes about its nature and summons the pure soul : not fashioned in the schools, trained in libraries, or belching wisdom from the Athenian Academy and Stoa, but plain and unadorned, uncorrupted by learning. It is the soul of the common people whom one finds in the street or in workshops. He wrote: Even the unbeliever, by his swear-words and his ordinary modes of speech, gives expression to a natural knowledge of God, to belief in His existence and unity, the reality of malevolent spirits, and a life beyond the grave. All this corresponds admirably with the teachings of the Christians, rather than the teachings the unbeliever says that he lives by. So didn’t you ought to stop fooling yourself? The testimony of the soul is true, simple, popular, universal, natural and therefore divine. The majesty of nature precludes its being frivolous or absurd. The soul is a primordial and primeval witness : it is universal and must be believed. By whom has truth ever been discovered without God? By whom has God ever been found without Christ? By whom has Christ ever been explored without the Holy Spirit? By whom has the Holy Spirit ever been attained without the mysterious gift of faith? Socrates, as none can doubt, was actuated by a different spirit. For they say that a demon clave to him from his boyhood — the very worst teacher certainly, notwithstanding the high place assigned to it by poets and philosophers — even next to, (nay, along with) the gods themselves. The teachings of the power of Christ had not yet been given — (that power) which alone can confute this most pernicious influence of evil that has nothing good in it, but is rather the author of all error, and the seducer from all truth. Now if Socrates was pronounced the wisest of men by the oracle of the Pythian demon, which, you may be sure, neatly managed the business for his friend, of how much greater dignity and constancy is the assertion of the Christian wisdom, before the very breath of which the whole host of demons is scattered! This wisdom of the school of heaven frankly and without reserve denies the gods of this world, and shows no such inconsistency as to order a “cock to be sacrificed to Æsculapius:” no new gods and demons does it introduce, but expels the old ones; it corrupts not youth, but instructs them in all goodness and moderation; and so it bears the

The First Saturdays Devotion, also called the Act of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Catholic devotion (rosary and 15 minutes meditation upon the mysteries of the Rosary) which was requested by the Virgin Mary in an apparition to Sister Lúcia of Fátima at Pontevedra, Spain, in December 1925. This devotion has been approved by the Roman Catholic Church. Devotees of Fátima believe that the First Saturdays help to console the sorrows of God, Jesus, and the Virgin Mary for the sins against her Immaculate Heart. Mary requested the institution of the Devotion of the Five First Saturdays in reparation to her Immaculate Heart: Look, my daughter, at my Heart encircled by these thorns with which men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, strive to console me, and so I announce: I promise to assist at the hour of death with the grace necessary for salvation all those who, with the intention of making reparation to me, will, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, go to confession, receive Holy Communion, say five decades of the beads, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. In Fatima, the Blesssed Mother also requested the consacretion of Russia. See 3 articles 1;   2;    3 Sanctification Continues Into Eternity The present state of our souls foreshadows the future. The future will be a continuation of the present inward condition, only in a modified form as to its degree. – Saint John of Kronstadt Nevertheless, let one remove every rational account with respect to that which concerns the Theotokos (Mother of God), who alone is the most supernatural marvel among supernaturals realized from eternity, who is also higher than all rational discourse; for in a a true way God wished His own omnipotence to be manifested in this woman. – St. Mark of Ephesus ca. 1392-1444 Private Revelation to Venerable Mary of Agreda AT TWELVE YEARS OF AGE THE CHILD JESUS GOES WITH HIS PARENTS TO JERUSALEM AND HE CONCEALS HIMSELF FROM THEM IN THE TEMPLE As I have said, Mary and Joseph repeated their visit to the temple at the feast of the unleavened Bread every year. Also when the divine Child was twelve years old and when it was time to allow the splendors of his inaccessible and divine light to shine forth, They went to the temple for this feast (Luke 2, 42). This festival of the unleavened Bread lasted seven days, according to the command of the divine law; and the more solemn days were the first and the last. On this account our heavenly Pilgrims remained in Jerusalem during the whole week, spending their time in acts of worship and devotion as the rest of the Jews, although on account of the sacraments connected with each of Them their worship and devotion was entirely different and greatly exalted above that of the others. The blessed Mother and holy Joseph received during these days favors and blessings beyond the conception of the human mind. Having thus spent all the seven days of the feast They betook themselves on their way home to Nazareth. When his parents departed from Jerusalem and were pursuing their way homeward, the Child Jesus withdrew from them without their knowledge. For this purpose the Lord availed Himself of the separation of the men and women, which had become customary among the pilgrims for reasons of decency as well as for greater recollection during their return homeward. The children which accompanied their parents were taken in charge promiscuously either by the men or the women, since their company with either was a matter of indifference.  Thus it happened that saint Joseph could easily suppose that the Child Jesus had remained with his most holy Mother; with whom He generally remained. The thought that She would go without Him was far from his mind, since the heavenly Queen loved and delighted in Him more than any other creature human or angelic. The great Lady did not have so many reasons for supposing that her most holy Son was in the company of saint Joseph: but the Lord himself so diverted her thoughts by holy and divine contemplations, that She did not notice his absence at first. When afterwards She became aware of her not being accompanied by her sweetest and beloved Son, She supposed that the blessed Joseph had taken Him along and that the Lord accompanied his foster father for his consolation.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVFLjccEs-c Thus assured, holy Mary and Joseph pursued their home journey for an entire day, as saint Luke tells us. As the pilgrims proceeded onwards they gradually thinned out, each taking his own direction and joining again with his wife or family. The most holy Mary and saint Joseph found themselves at length in the place where they had agreed to meet on the first evening after leaving Jerusalem.  When the great Lady saw that the Child was not with saint Joseph and when the holy Patriarch found that He was not with his Mother, the two were struck dumb with amazement and surprise for quite a while. Both, governed in their judgment by their most profound humility, felt overwhelmed with self reproach at their remissness in watching over their most holy Son and thus blamed themselves for his absence; for neither of them had any suspicion of the mysterious manner in which He had been able to elude their vigilance. After a time they recovered somewhat from their astonishment and with deepest sorrow took counsel with each other as to what was to be done (Luke 2, 45).  The loving Mother said to saint Joseph: “My spouse and my master, my heart cannot rest, unless we return with all haste to Jerusalem in order to seek my most holy Son.” This they proceeded to do, beginning their search among their relations and friends, of whom, however, none could give

A slab of stone in the Chapel contains one of Jesus footprints CHRIST OUR REDEEMER ASCENDS INTO HEAVEN FOLLOWED BY ALL THE SAINTS IN HIS COMPANY; HE ASSUMES WITH HIM HIS MOST HOLY MOTHER AND PUTS HER IN POSSESSION OF GLORY PRIVATE REVELATION TO VEN. SISTER MARY OF AGREDA To know who is Mary of Agreda –  see article here The most auspicious hour, in which the Onlybegotten of the eternal Father, after descending from heaven in order to assume human flesh, was to ascend by his own power and in a most wonderful manner to the right hand of God, the Inheritor of his eternities, one and equal with Him in nature and infinite glory. He was to ascend, also, because He had previously descended to the lowest regions of the earth, as the Apostle says (Ephes. 4, 9), having fulfilled all that had been written and prophesied concerning his coming into the world, his Life, Death and the Redemption of man, and having penetrated, as the Lord of all, to the very centre of the earth. By this Ascension he sealed all the mysteries and hastened the fulfillment of his promise, according to which He was, with the Father, to send the Paraclete upon his Church after He himself should have ascended into heaven (John 16, 7). In order to celebrate this festive and mysterious day, Christ our Lord selected as witnesses the hundred and twenty persons, to whom, as related in the foregoing chapter, He had spoken in the Cenacle. They were the most holy Mary, the eleven Apostles, the seventy-two disciples, Mary Magdalen, Lazarus their brother, the other Marys and the faithful men and women making up the abovementioned number of one hundred and twenty. With this little flock our divine Shepherd Jesus left the Cenacle, and, with his most blessed Mother at his side, He conducted them all through the streets of Jerusalem. The Apostles and all the rest in their order, proceeded in the direction of Bethany, which was less than half a league over the brow of mount Olivet. The company of angels and saints from limbo and purgatory followed the Victor with new songs of praise, although Mary alone was privileged to see them. The Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth was already divulged throughout Jerusalem and Palestine. Although the perfidious and malicious princes and priests had spread about the false testimony of his being stolen by the disciples, yet many would not accept their testimony, nor give it any credit. It was divinely provided, that none of the inhabitants of the city, and none of the unbelievers or doubters, should pay any attention to this holy procession, or hinder it on its way from the Cenacle. All, except the one hundred and twenty just, who were chosen by the Lord to witness his Ascension into heaven, were justly punished by being prevented from noticing this wonderful mystery, and the Chieftain and Head of this procession remained invisible to them. The Lord having thus secured them this privacy, they all ascended mount Olivet to its highest point. There they formed three choirs, one of the angels, another of the saints, and a third of the Apostles and faithful, which again divided into two bands, while Christ the Savior presided. Then the most prudent Mother prostrated Herself : at the feet of her Son and, worshipping Him with admirable humility, She adored Him as the true God and as the Redeemer of the world, asking his last blessing. All the faithful there present imitated Her and did the same. Weeping and sighing, they asked the Lord, whether He was now to restore the kingdom of Israel (Acts 1, 6). The Lord answered, that this was a secret of the eternal Father and not to be made known to them; but, for the present, it was necessary and befitting, that they receive the Holy Ghost and preach, in Jerusalem, in Samaria and in all the world, the mysteries of the Redemption of the world. Jesus, having taken leave of this holy and fortunate gathering of the faithful, his countenance beaming forth peace and majesty, joined his hands and, by his own power, began to raise Himself from the earth, leaving thereon the impression of his sacred feet. In gentlest motion He was wafted toward the aerial regions, drawing after Him the eyes and the hearts of those firstborn children, who amid sighs and tears vented their affection. And as, at the moving of the first Cause of all motion, it is proper that also the nether spheres should be set in motion, so the Savior Jesus drew after Him also the celestial choirs of the angels, the holy Patriarchs and the rest of the glorified saints, some of them with body and soul, others only as to their soul. All of them in heavenly order were raised up together from the earth, accompanying and following their King, their Chief and Head. The new and mysterious sacrament, which the right hand of the Most High wrought on this occasion for his most holy Mother, was that He raised Her up with Him in order to put Her in possession of the glory, which He had assigned to Her as his true Mother and which She had by her merits prepared and earned for Herself. Of this favor the great Queen was capable even before it happened; for her divine Son had offered it to Her during the forty days which He spent in her company after his Resurrection. In order that this sacrament might be kept secret from all other living creatures at that time, and in order that the heavenly Mistress might be present in the gathering of the Apostles and the faithful in their prayerful waiting upon the coming of the Holy Ghost (Acts 1, 14), the divine power enabled the blessed Mother miraculously to be in two places at once; remaining with the children of the Church for their comfort during their

SOME HIDDEN AND DIVINE MYSTERIES IN THE LIFE OF MARY DURING THE DAYS AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD; SHE RECEIVES THE TITLE OF MOTHER AND QUEEN OF THE CHURCH; THE APPARITION OF CHRIST BEFORE AND IN PREPARATION FOR THE ASCENSION PRIVATE REVELATION TO VEN. SISTER MARY OF AGREDA To know who is Mary of Agreda –  see article here During the whole course of this history the abundance and vastness of its mysteries have made me feel destitute of proper words. Vast is that which is offered to the understanding in the divine light, and insignificant what can be expressed in language. On account of this inequality and defect arising from the fecundity of the intellect and the sterility of words, my faculties have suffered a great strain; for the want of correspondence between the results of the spoken word and the conception of the mind continually causes a mistrust and dissatisfaction with the words, as falling short of the meaning and as making me hopelessly incapable of correcting the deficiency or of filling up the discrepancy between the things said and those perceived. I find myself in this state just now, when I am to describe what has been made known to me concerning the hidden mysteries and exalted sacraments of the life of Mary during the forty days after the Resurrection of her Son and our Redeemer until the time He ascended into heaven. The state in which the divine power placed Her after the Passion and Resurrection was new and more exalted: her operations were more mysterious, the favors conferred upon Her were proportionate to her eminent holiness and to the will of Him who wrought them; for according to this rule He proceeded. If I were obliged to describe all that has been manifested to me, it would be necessary to extend this history into many large volumes. From what I shall say something can be gathered concerning these most divine mysteries for the glory of that great Queen and Lady. It has already been said at the beginning of the last chapter, that during the forty days after the Resurrection the Lord remained in the Cenacle and in the company of his most holy Mother whenever He was not absent in appearing to some of his chosen friends. All the rest of the time He spent in her presence. Anyone can prudently conjecture, that all this time, in which these two Sovereigns of the world were together, They spent in works altogether divine and above all the conceptions of the human mind. What has been made known to me of these works is ineffable; for often They would engage in sweetest colloquy of inscrutable wisdom and this conversation was for the loving Mother a joy, which though inferior to the beatific vision, was consoling and delightful beyond all that is imaginable. At other times the great Queen, the Patriarchs and Saints, who there assisted in their glorified state, occupied themselves in the praise and exaltation of the Most High. Mary had a deep knowledge of all the works and merits of the saints; of the blessings, favors and gifts each one had received from the Omnipotent; of the mysteries, figures and prophecies which had gone before in the ancient Patriarchs. All this She was Mistress of, and it was present to her mind in contemplation more completely, than the Hail Mary is known to us for recitation. The exalted Lady considered all the great motives of these saints for praising and blessing the Author of all good. Though they, enjoying the beatific vision, fulfilled and are fulfilling this duty without cessation, yet in their conversations and intercourse with the heavenly Princess, they were constantly urged by Her to magnify and praise the divine Majesty for all these blessings and operations so evident to the eyes of her soul. All this sacred choir of the saints joined with their Queen and began to engage in these divine exercises according to a stated order; so that all of them formed a choir, in which each one of the blessed recited a verse, while the Mother of wisdom answered with another. In their frequent exercise of these sweet alternating songs, the great Lady by Herself produced as many hymns and canticles of praise, as all the saints and angels together; for also the angels entered into this competition of new songs, admirable to them and to all the blessed. For the wise worship of God practiced by the heavenly Princess in this life exceeded that of all other creatures, including those who already enjoyed the beatific vision. All that the blessed Mary did during these days is beyond the capacity and estimation of men. But her exalted thoughts and motives were prudently measured by her most faithful love; for, knowing that her divine Son tarried in this world principally in order to assist and console Her, She resolved to compensate Him as far as it was possible. Therefore She did all in her power to provide for the Lord the same praises and honors as the saints furnish Him in heaven. By concurring in these praises Herself She at once raised them to the highest worth and changed the house of the Cenacle into a heaven. In such exercises She consumed the greater part of the forty days and during that time were composed more canticles and hymns than all the saints and Prophets have left for our use. Sometimes this heavenly gathering made use of the psalms of David or the prophecies of the Scripture, commenting, as it were, or expatiating on these so divine and profound mysteries; and the holy fathers, who had been the authors of the prophecies, when they recognized the gifts and favors of the right hand of God and the revelations of such numerous and great sacraments, referred them especially to our Queen. Admirable was also the delight She drew from her conversation with her holy mother, her father Joachim,

SOME APPARITIONS OF CHRIST OUR SAVIOR TO THE MARYS AND TO THE APOSTLES; THE PRUDENCE OF THE QUEEN IN LISTENING TO THEIR REPORTS CONCERNING THESE APPARITIONS OF THE LORD PRIVATE REVELATION TO VEN. SISTER MARY OF AGREDA To know who is Mary of Agreda –  see article here After Jesus our Savior, arisen and glorified, had visited and filled with glory his most blessed Mother, He resolved, as the loving Father and Pastor, to gather the sheep of his flock, which the scandal of his sufferings had disturbed and scattered. The holy Patriarchs and all whom He had rescued from limbo continually remained in his company, although they did not manifest themselves and remained invisible during his apparitions; only our great Queen was privileged to see them, know them and speak to them all during the time intervening between the Resurrection and the Ascension of her divine Son. Whenever the Lord did not appear to others, He remained with his beloved Mother in the Cenacle; nor did She ever leave this place during all the forty days. There She enjoyed the presence of the Redeemer of the world and of the choir of Prophets and Saints, by whom the King and Queen were attended. For the purpose of making his Resurrection known to his Apostles, He began by showing Himself to the women, not on account of their weakness, but because they were stronger in their belief and in their hope of the Resurrection; for this is the reason why they merited the privilege of being the first to see Him arisen. The Evangelist Mark (Mark 15, 47) mentions the special notice, which Mary Magdalen and Mary Joseph took of the place where they had seen the body of Jesus deposited. Accordingly they, with other holy women, went forth on the evening of the Sabbath from the Cenacle to the city and bought additional ointments and spices in order to return, early the following morning, to the sepulchre, and show their veneration by visiting and anointing the holy body once more. On the Sunday, entirely ignorant of the grave’s having been sealed and placed under guard by order of Pilate (Matth. 27, 65), they arose before dawn in order to execute their pious design. On their way they thought only of the difficulty of removing the large stone, which they now remembered had been rolled before the opening of the sepulchre; but their love made light of this hindrance, though they did not know how to remove it. When they came forth from the house of the Cenacle, it was yet dark, but before they arrived at the sepulchre the sun had already dawned and risen; for on that day the three hours of darkness which had intervened at the Death of the Savior, were compensated by an earlier sunrise. This miracle will harmonize the statements of saint Mark and of saint John, of whom the one says, that the Marys came after sunrise, and the other that it was yet dark (Mark 16, 2; John 20, 1); for both speak truly: That they went forth very early and before dawn, and that the sun, by its more sudden and accelerated flight, had already risen at their arrival at the grave, though they tarried not on the short way. The sepulchre was in an arched vault, as in a cave, the entrance to which was covered by a large stone slab. Within, somewhat to one side and raised from the ground, was the hollow slab wherein the body of the Savior rested. A little before the Marys thought and spoke of the difficulty of removing the stone, a violent and wonderful quaking or trembling of the earth took place; at the same time an angel of the Lord opened the sepulchre and cast aside the stone that covered and obstructed the entrance (Matth. 28, 2). At this noise and the earthquake the guards of the sepulchre fell prostrate to the earth, struck motionless with fear and consternation, although they did not see the Lord. For the body of the Lord was no more in the grave; He had already arisen and issued from the monument before the angel cast aside the stone. The Marys, though in some fear, took heart and were encouraged by God to approach and enter the vault. Near the entrance they saw the angel who had thrown aside the stone, seated upon it, refulgent in countenance and in snowwhite garments (Mark 16, 5). He spoke to them saying: “Be not affrighted; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: He is risen, He is not here; behold the place where they laid Him.” The holy women entered, and seeing the sepulchre vacant they were filled with grief; for as yet they were more deeply affected at seeing the Lord absent, than by the words of the angel. Then they saw two other angels seated at each end of the slab, who said to them: “Why seek you the Living with the dead? Remember how He spoke unto you, when he was yet in Galilee (Luke 26, 45), that He was to rise on the third day. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, that He goeth before you into Galilee, there shall you see Him” (Mark 16, 7). Being thus reminded by the angels the Marys remembered what their divine Master had said. Assured of his Resurrection they hastened away from the sepulchre and gave an account to the eleven Apostles and other followers of the Lord. But many of these were so shaken in their faith and so forgetful of the words of their Master and Redeemer, that they thought this story of the holy women a mere hallucination (Luke 24, 11). While the holy women, full of trembling and joy, related to the Apostles what they had seen, the sentinels at the grave awoke from their stupor and regained the use of their senses. As they saw the sepulchre open and emptied of

The Gospel and Pilate’s report to Roman Emperor Tiberius mentions that there was an earthquake at the time of Jesus Christ’s death at the age of 33 on the cross at 3 p.m. The International Geology Review delved into an earthquake purported to have taken place on the same date as Jesus’ crucifixion. Combining biblical citations with geological research, it is suggested that the date of the earthquake may have been Friday, April 3, 33 A.D. The investigation into the date of Jesus’s crucifixion and its potential connection to an earthquake has garnered significant attention. Researchers have tied earthquake data with the Gospels to propose that Jesus died on (Good Friday), Friday, April 3, 33 AD, matching this date to seismic activity around the Dead Sea, approximately 13 miles from Jerusalem. This conclusion is based on a combination of geological records, textual accounts, and astronomical data, as well as the Jewish calendar, indicating that this date is the best possible match for the crucifixion. The geological evidence suggests that there were at least two major earthquakes in the region, one in 31 B.C. and another between the years 26 and 36 A.D., with the latter being of particular interest in relation to the crucifixion of Jesus. Matthew is a witness of this event and in verse 27, he states: “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open: and many bodies of the saints that had slept arose. And coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, came into the holy city, and appeared to many.” Geologist Jefferson Williams of Supersonic Geophysical conducted an analysis of earthquake activity in the region by studying three cores from the Ein Gedi Spa beach adjacent to the Dead Sea. This research aimed to investigate seismic events in the area and their potential correlation with historical events, particularly the crucifixion of Jesus. The muds of the Dead Sea have the capacity to record earthquakes. Typically, sediments accumulate in the Dead Sea layer by layer, resulting in a steadily growing thickness of Dead Sea mud. However, during earthquakes, the top layer deforms, leaving behind what is known as a seismite. Jefferson Williams wrote, approximately 36 hours after the first earthquake, Matthew reports another earthquake; what today might be called an aftershock. The quote from Matthew mentions a Rolling Stone being jarred open and revealing an empty tomb. And in the end of the sabbath, when it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalen and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre. And behold there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and coming, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. – Matthew 28:1-8 New Testament Scholarship aligns on several crucial points regarding the date of the crucifixion: Timeframe: The crucifixion is believed to have occurred between 26 and 36 A.D.. Season and Timing: It is widely accepted that the crucifixion took place during spring, around the time of Passover, specifically on Good Friday, which corresponds to the 14th or 15th Nisan in the Jewish Calendar . Likely Years: While the exact year remains unknown, two years, 30 and 33 A.D., are most commonly cited as the most likely years of the crucifixion. The darkness reported in three of the four canonical gospels, lasting from noon to 3 pm, is a significant event surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus. This darkness is described in Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33, and Luke 23:44, with each gospel noting the darkness from the 6th to the 9th hour of daylight. This event is widely regarded as a supernatural occurrence and is not attributed to a solar eclipse. The timing of the crucifixion, around the time of Passover, aligns with the full moon, making a solar eclipse an impossibility, as it can only occur during a new moon. The term “the ninth hour,” as mentioned in the biblical accounts, corresponds to what we would now refer to as 3:00 p.m. The darkness described in the gospels is a profound and symbolic element of the crucifixion narrative, signifying the gravity of the event and its significance in Christian theology. This supernatural darkness is a powerful and evocative symbol, representing the profound spiritual and cosmic implications of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. In AD 41, King Agrippa made plans to repair the temple, probably owing partly to the damage to the temple by the crucifixion earthquake among other local earth tremors, but these plans remained unrealized at his death in AD 44. According to geologist Jefferson Williams, our Lord Jesus Christ died on the Cross: at the age of 33, at 3:00 pm, on April 3, obviously in the BC calendar year 33 AD. The BC calendar began based on the birth of Christ. Years before the birth of Jesus are designated as BC, while those following his birth are designated AD. AD represents the Latin words “Anno Domini,” meaning “year of the Lord” or more properly “Anno Domini Nostri Jesu Christi,” referring to the birth of Jesus Christ. This system is important to Christians as it marks the years based on the life of Jesus, with everything before His coming in the world designated as BC.

very many whom I also saw appearing in the body;