Our Lady of the Rosary

Even before his birth Dominic de Guzman was blessed, in that his mother experienced a 'dream' in which she saw the form of a dog with a burning torch in its mouth which signified the fire of God's Truth, this 'dog' then came from her womb. Later Joan conceived a son and named him Dominic upon his birth his devout mother noticed a sign of the moon or a star on his little forehead.

Dominic was blessed to have been born into a holy and devout family who lived to serve God and live their daily lives based on fulfilling God's Will. The family were blessed to have Priests, Religious and very holy familial connections to their beloved Church, many of whom would become Saints!

Dominic upon receiving good and solid catholic instructions then answered the call to become a Priest in 1195. And as Father Dominic attended to his flock he also spent many hours in prayer and practiced penances on behalf of sinners.

But it was a cold night in July 1206 in the town of Prouille that Dominic would be the recipient of a vision that would inspire the world and bring many Graces from God. It was here that Dominic saw what seemed to be a globe of light which came from the sky above, this happened for the next two consecutive nights. Dominic was amazed and awestruck at such a sight and also humbled when he recognised our Lady who upon hearing his prayer came to help him, for Dominic was in dismay at the heresies he had heard preached. But our Lady soothed Dominic with these words, 'Wonder not that you have obtained so little fruit by your labors, you have spent them on barren soil, not yet watered with the dew of Divine grace. When God willed to renew the face of the earth, He began by sending down on it the fertilizing rain of the Angelic Salutation. Therefore preach my Psalter composed of 150 Angelic Salutations and 15 Our Fathers, and you will obtain an abundant harvest.' Our Lady then gave to Dominic the Holy Rosary to be prayed for the salvation of sinners and the edification of the faithful as she told him, "One day through the Rosary and the Scapular I will save the world".

Dominic stared at our Lady in wonderment of her beauty and the peace which enveloped her and suffused within him a spirit of tranquility. The words of our Lady strengthened Dominic's resolve and he returned to confront the pervading heresies, which were running rampant at that time. Dominic preached about the Mysteries of God including the Incarnation, Redemption and Eternal life, Dominic spoke with such holy conviction that many listened to him as he taught a new way to pray. For Dominic had been instructed by our Lady to make clear to the faithful what is pleasing to God, and what brings the sinner closer to God is only achieved through prayer. Dominic continued instructing the people by dividing the mysteries into different formats and included praying ten Hail Mary's after each Mystery. This different way of prayer would become known as praying the Holy Rosary, this form of prayer was to bring all peoples back to God as the heresies were thrown away and burnt when people began embracing and praying the Rosary.

Upon the people accepting this new form of prayer, Dominic went on to found a new Order 'The Confraternity of the Rosary' which began approximately around the year 1216 or 1218. For Dominic remembered our Lady's words, "I have obtained from my Son that all the members of the Confraternity have in life and in death all the Blessed as their associates."

But Dominic was to be the recipient of other Divine visions when seeing Saint Peter and Saint Paul who upon giving him a Staff and a book said to him, "Go and preach, because you have been chosen by God for this work".

Dominic through his great love of the Church and of his obvious piety and holiness proved worthy of these visions as the Rosary is still prayed with great Reverence to this very day.

But let us be mindful of our Lady's words when praying the Rosary, that we also do not waste our time on barren soil but to pray the Rosary with our hearts and not merely 'say it'.

I would encourage all to read more on the Holy Rosary.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

The Prophecies of Anne Catherine Emmerich

Anne Catherine Emmerich was born in humble conditions to a very devout couple so she learnt from an early age to love her Faith. But Anne's life was not like that of other children her age in that she was the recipient of visions and messengers of God from her youth.

God blessed Anne with many gifts including that of reading hearts, the hidden stigmata, and she survived only on the Eucharist for many years. This remarkable young girl would also converse with her guardian Angel and also come under attack by the demonic forces, none of which affected her Faith except for it to grow even more depthful than it already was.

Venerable Anne would also be visited by our Lord Jesus and our Lady where upon she received messages for the world, warning all people to once again embrace and live their Faith.

Some of these messages given to Anne were, 'that every parish and diocese, each city and country has its own particular and powerful guardian angel.' Anne Catherine was to see and be told many things including these messages from Heaven, She revealed that to gain an indulgence we must approach the Sacraments with true repentance and a firm purpose of amendment–or we do not gain it. She deposes that it is more holy to pray for the Poor Souls in Purgatory than for sinners who are still alive, for Anne had a particular love and devotion for the poor souls in Purgatory. She was also told that 'more Protestant souls stayed in Purgatory the longest not because they were worse than anyone else, but because so few people prayed for the repose of their souls or offered up Masses for their soul.'

Anne went on to describe what she has seen and 'describes the nature, extent and power of victim souls, and their role in the life of the Church. She describes the condition of St. Lydwine of Schiedam, a victim soul during the time of "three popes," and how her body came apart into three pieces, joined only by the slenderest of sinews. She saw only 6 victim souls in her time working like herself on behalf of the Universal Church, and about 100,000 Catholic people worldwide who were great in their faith.'

This great Saint went on to experience mystical visions and receive even more prophecies for our troubled world including these, 'She saw the strong link–even long after their deaths–between holy souls in Heaven and their descendants here on earth, lasting even centuries. And that Enoch and Elias are in Paradise where they await their return to the world to preach at the End of Time. Also this too, she revealed that Our Lord suffered from the wound in His shoulder more than from any other.'

And a warning for the world for those would listen to the signs of the times, she said that, "a false church, and wicked men scheming against the Catholic Church and doing much harm–both in her own time and in the future. And actually saw in a vision this, the enemies of the Church tearing it down and trying to build a new one on strictly human plans–but none of the saints would lend a hand. Later, this church of men is destroyed and the saints of God join in to rebuild the true Church of God, which becomes more glorious than ever before".

But once again our Lord leaves us with hope through this most pious of souls as Anne was told, that the there would be a revival in the Priesthood and the Religious order after a period of great decadence.

Anne also describes seeing this in her words, "All over the world I saw numberless infusions of the Spirit; sometimes, like a lightning-stroke, falling on a congregation in church, and I could tell who among them had received the grace; or again, I beheld individuals praying in their homes, suddenly endowed with light and strength. The sight awoke in me great joy and confidence that the Church, amid her ever-increasing tribulations, will not succumb; for in all parts of the world I saw defenders raised up to her by the Holy Ghost. Yes, I felt that the oppression of the powers of this world serves but to increase her strength."

Anne also went on to say what had been revealed to her, "what is most painful for me to repeat, that if only one priest offered the Unbloody Sacrifice as worthily and with the same sentiments as the Apostles, he could ward off all calamities from the Church." "Owing to the spirit of the world and tepidity, if the Savior returned to earth today to announce His doctrine in person, He would find as many opponents as He did among the Jews."

And though Anne Catherine suffered much not only physically but also from the disdain of her fellow Religious Sisters, still she lived a life of quiet humility and holiness.

I would encourage all to read more about this great Saint of the Church, Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Our Lady of Ransom

In the thirteenth century, Spain was conquered by a Muslim group of fundamentalists known as the Almohads. This allowed the Berbers to extend their power base from North Africa to the portals of Spain, which would bring untold misery to many.

But things would take a turn for the worse, for the Islamic invaders when many Christian nations united to defeat this formidable foe. It was the decisive battle at Las Navas de Tolosa, which led to the defeat of Islamic rule in Europe.

But though the Spanish nation suffered much under the harsh rule of the Berber's still they prayed to God to save them from their enemies.

And it was in 1218, that our Lady appeared before Peter Nolasco, and his confessor Raymund of Pennafort and requested that a Religious Order be instituted for the release of Christians being held captive by the Berber invaders.

Our Lady requested that this Order would venerate her mercy towards all those who were in captivity. This would touch both Peter and Raymund deeply and they both undertook the duty of spreading this devotion to all the peoples.

These two holy men were also very willing to take the place of those who had been kidnapped in order for the release of the poor prisoners, who had been taken hostage by the Moor's.

It would be Pope Gregory IX who would approve this Order which would become known as Our Lady of Mercy, and it was then that Peter Nolasco, took his Vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

Raymund also spoke with great love and devotion to all who would listen to him of our Lady's appearance to him, and of our Lady offering two bags of coins to pay the ransom for the imprisoned people. He spoke so eloquently and with such conviction that it moved the crowds to tears and also touched the hearts of Kings.

But it was Fr. Peter Nolasco who would be chosen as the Commander General of this Divine Mission to save those who were imprisoned by the cruel Moors, and who were suffering under terrible conditions.

And as the Muslim invaders were pushed further and further back, this meant more young men joining this Order from which they would be known as 'Mercedarians'. And it was these brave Priests who would engage the Moor's to pay ransoms for the freedom of their brothers held in captivity.

Unfortunately the founder of this Order Fr. Peter died in 1256, but his Mission lived on through the Grace of God and the guidance of our Lady.

The Mercedarians would reach countries such as, France, Germany, America, Mexico and many other nations.

Our Lady of Ransom teaches us all to be merciful to those kept in captivity and exhorts all to help and aid those who are wrongfully imprisoned.

I would encourage all to read more about Our Lady of Ransom, also known as Our Lady of Mercy.

Peace of Christ to you ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

The Prophecies of Venerable Bartholomew Holzhauser

Bartholomew Holzhauser was born in the year 1613 in the region of Bavaria Germany. He belonged to a poor but devout family, his father, Leonard was a shoe maker and his mother, Catherine was a home maker in charge of raising her large brood of 11 children.

So from the beginning there was nothing auspicious about Bartholomew that would bring him to the notice of anyone. But even at an early age he desired to enter the Priesthood, something his parents encouraged. He went to school for a time till ill health intervened and upon recovering the Jesuits allowed Bartholomew to continue his studies with them.

Even though there was nothing grand about Bartholomew, he took the notice of many by his truly humble and meek manner, his courtesy to everyone he met and obvious piety as he continued his studies. So it was that in 1636 Bartholomew earned his degree in Philosophy and theology this was followed by acceptance to the Priesthood and he was ordained in 1639.

And as Fr Bartholomew continued his Priestly duties few were aware of this heroic soul being the recipient of Divine revelations, for Father Bartholomew never drew attention to himself but rather continued to serve others for the love of God.

During these visions Father Bartholomew was told, "The fifth period of the Church, which began circa 1520, will end with the arrival of the holy Pope and of the powerful Monarch who is called 'Help From God' because he will restore everything. The fifth period is one of affliction, desolation, humiliation, and poverty for the Church. Jesus Christ will purify His people through cruel wars, famines, plagues, epidemics, and other horrible calamities. He will also afflict and weaken the Latin Church with many heresies. It is a period of defections, calamities and exterminations. Those Christians who survive the sword, plague and famines, will be few on earth."

These visions troubled the young Priest as he continued to receive them as it continues, "During this period, many men will abuse of the freedom of conscience conceded to them. It is of such men that Jude the Apostle spoke when he said: 'These men blaspheme whatever they do not understand; and they corrupt whatever they know naturally as irrational animals do... They will ridicule Christian simplicity; they will call it folly and nonsense, but they will have the highest regard for advanced knowledge, and for the skill by which the axioms of law, the precepts of morality, the Holy Canons and religious dogmas are clouded by senseless questions and elaborate arguments."

This message to the world finally ended with this warning if man did not amend his ways, "These are the evil times, a century full of dangers and calamities. Heresy is everywhere, and the followers of heresy are in power almost everywhere...But God will permit a great evil against His Church: Heretics and tyrants will come suddenly and unexpectedly; they will break into the Church...They will enter Italy and lay Rome waste; they will burn down churches and destroy everything."

Though Father Bartholomew was upset at what had been revealed to him, this did not affect his Faith, if anything it strengthened his great love for God and Church. This devout son of the Church went on to found an Order known then as the 'Bartholomistes', and though he founded it Bartholomew did not live to see it gain recognition by Pope Innocent XI.

Venerable Bartholomew Holzhauser died in 1658.

But in all things let us look to the Traditions of our Church and its Teachings and the study of Scripture.

I encourage all to read further on the life and prophecies of Venerable Bartholomew Holzhauser.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.