St. John Bosco's Dog... or Angel?

Saint John Bosco was a heroic man who cared deeply about the young boys he cared for. Through his perseverance he began a school for wayward boy's, to help them return to the Faith and to become men of strength. Though John Bosco loved his boys and saw through their hard facades, not everyone held the same opinion, and many wished that he would remove his school from their area.

John Bosco was also a strong man of great Faith and he fought courageously against those espousing heretical views, this incurred the wrath of some who disputed with the Church's Teachings.

Some of the townspeople felt so strongly that they even plotted to take his life and thereby destroy his schools, but what people plot and what God plans are two different things!

John Bosco had weathered some attacks against his person when out and about performing his Priestly duties. One night as John Bosco was returning home he felt that he was being followed and growing wary of the constant harassment, this brave man hastened his steps. It was not long before the footsteps he could hear were gaining ground, when suddenly out of the cold mist John Bosco saw a very large dog come towards him. The dog soon fell into step beside him, and after reaching his goal John Bosco also discovered that the man following him had been frightened off by the huge dog.

Many nights when John Bosco traveled around the town and most especially in the more dangerous districts, often times the dog would miraculously show up just when John Bosco most needed him. The dog became such a friend on his dangerous missions that John Bosco named him, Grigio.

One night when Father John Bosco was returning home an assassin tried to shoot him dead and upon failing this the man rushed forward to beat this wonderful Priest to death! When suddenly John Bosco cried out for his dog 'Grigioooo' the dog immediately came to John Bosco's aid and bit the attacker with all his might. The attacker after a cry of pain ran from the scene, Grigio had saved John Bosco's life!

This scene was repeated when on another occasion two men set forth to murder this annoying Priest and so they lay in wait upon him in the shadows. Upon seeing John Bosco the two men rushed forward and covered his head with a sack, they then began to beat him but not for long, for once again Grigio seemed to spring from out of no-where and grabbed one of the assailants by the neck. It was John Bosco who then had to save the life of his attacker as he commanded Grigio to set his assailant free.

The dog soon became John Bosco's closest companion even to the extent of preventing Father John from leaving his home, perhaps Grigio knew when this brave Priest needed to be kept safe and the safest place was home!

One night when Father John Bosco was eating a convivial dinner with friends, the family decided to feed this great protector of their friend Father John. So the husband prepared to give scraps to Grigio only to find that this huge dog had vanished, but where and how? Because of the dangers that faced Father John the family had bolted all the doors and windows. Where had Grigio disappeared to and more importantly, how?

Who was this courageous and fierce protector of Father John Bosco, an ordinary dog or an Angel sent to protect him?

I would encourage all to read more about the life of this great Saint John Bosco.

Our Lady of Fatima-The Real Message

Catholic Apparitions

The visitation of Our Lady to three children in Fatima, Portugal is one of the most famous apparitions of our Lady in the world. It stands alongside Lourdes as one of the most revered and respected appearances of Our Lady. But unlike Lourdes, Fatima has also become a centre point for confusion amongst the faithful who misunderstand the important message given to the three young children of Fatima, Lucia dos Santos, Jacinta Marto and her brother Francisco Marto.

Many Catholics already know of the miracle of Fatima where the sun was seen to spin and also many of the messages given to the world by Our Lady as a warning, but what has caused dissension is the third secret of Fatima. Many people have chosen to believe that the Vatican has entered into a vast conspiracy to keep the secret from the world, this is not so!

As in all apparitions Our Lady can reveal nothing further than what has already been foretold in the Bible, so there is no 'new revelation' that needs to be known. What The Blessed Virgin Mary has done is merely illuminate and make present the Word of God through Scripture so that those who do not reflect on what God has revealed through the Bible will quickly remedy this by studying the Bible alongside our Catholic Traditions and Doctrine.

As the Word reveals in Mathew, "Jesus said to them in reply, "See that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many. You will hear of wars and reports of wars; see that you are not alarmed, for these things must happen, but it will not yet be the end. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be famines and earthquakes from place to place. All these are the beginning of the labor pains. Then they will hand you over to persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. And then many will be led into sin; they will betray and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and deceive many; and because of the increase of evildoing, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved....If anyone says to you then, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. False messiahs and false prophets will arise, and they will perform signs and wonders so great as to deceive, if that were possible, even the elect. So if they say to you, 'He is in the desert,' do not go out there; if they say, 'He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it." We see this piece of Scripture correspond within the Catholic Catechism, 672 Before his Ascension Christ affirmed that the hour had not yet come for the glorious establishment of the messianic kingdom awaited by Israel[561] which, according to the prophets, was to bring all men the definitive order of justice, love and peace.[562] According to the Lord, the present time is the time of the Spirit and of witness, but also a time still marked by "distress" and the trial of evil which does not spare the Church[563] and ushers in the struggles of the last days. It is a time of waiting and watching.[564]...674 The glorious Messiah's coming is suspended at every moment of history until his recognition by "all Israel", for "a hardening has come upon part of Israel" in their "unbelief" toward Jesus.[568] St. Peter says to the Jews of Jerusalem after Pentecost: "Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old."[569] St. Paul echoes him: "For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?"[570] The "full inclusion" of the Jews in the Messiah's salvation, in the wake of "the full number of the Gentiles",[571] will enable the People of God to achieve "the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ", in which "God may be all in all".[572] And once again we read in the Catechism these words of instruction for the Faithful, 675 Before Christ's second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers.[573] The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth[574] will unveil the "mystery of iniquity" in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh.[575]

With the visions of Fatima and the messages Our Lady is simply reminding us of what we should inherently know, to pray with our hearts, to study God's Word, to participate in the Sacraments of the Church, most especially the Sacrament of Penance, in order to receive the Eucharist in a state of Grace. To be obedient to the Churches Teaching and its Authority and the real meaning of Fatima is to practice acts of penance in reparation for the many sins committed against God.

As much as many people would like to think, there is NO smoking gun when it comes to the revelations of Fatima. The Catechism states quite clearly about private revelation, 67 Throughout the ages, there have been so-called "private" revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ's definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history. Guided by the Magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his saints to the Church."

It cannot be stated more clearly than this, that though Our Lady cannot reveal to us anything over and above what has been revealed through her Son our Lord Jesus Christ. The Blessed Virgin Mary does warn us to return to the fundamentals of our Faith by following the Word given to us at such a price and to the Authority of the Catholic Church and the Vicar of Christ.

This is the message given to the three Seers written down by Sister Lucia, regarding the 'third secret', "After the two parts which I have already explained, at the left of Our Lady and a little above, we saw an Angel with a flaming sword in his left hand; flashing, it gave out flames that looked as though they would set the world on fire; but they died out in contact with the splendor that Our Lady radiated towards him from her right hand: pointing to the earth with his right hand, the Angel cried out in a loud voice: 'Penance, Penance, Penance!'. And we saw in an immense light that is God: 'something similar to how people appear in a mirror when they pass in front of it' a Bishop dressed in White 'we had the impression that it was the Holy Father'. Other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious going up a steep mountain, at the top of which there was a big Cross of rough-hewn trunks as of a cork-tree with the bark; before reaching there the Holy Father passed through a big city half in ruins and half trembling with halting step, afflicted with pain and sorrow, he prayed for the souls of the corpses he met on his way; having reached the top of the mountain, on his knees at the foot of the big Cross he was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows at him, and in the same way there died one after another the other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious, and various lay people of different ranks and positions. Beneath the two arms of the Cross there were two Angels each with a crystal aspersorium in his hand, in which they gathered up the blood of the Martyrs and with it sprinkled the souls that were making their way to God." Though the language is symbolic it also correlates to Scripture and the Catechism, which warns of a falling away as souls grow cold, "And then many will be led into sin; they will betray and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and deceive many; and because of the increase of evildoing, the love of many will grow cold."

The most integral aspect of the message of Fatima is not one of scandal or a dramatic scene of 'signs and wonders' the REAL message of Fatima is that of 'Penance, Penance, Penance'. We know that sins abound everywhere and that we too are all sinners, therefore to appease the Divine Justice of God our Lady reminds us to offer Penance to God in reparation for the sins committed against His Divine Majesty. As the then Cardinal Ratzinger wrote, "key word" of the third secret of Fatima "is the triple cry, 'Penance, Penance, Penance!'' Once again it cannot be stated more clearly than what has been spoken by Bishops, Cardinals and Popes.

Those who seek the 'sensational' in the messages of Fatima, have missed the point entirely, Our Lady is beyond human hysterics, the Queen of Heaven always points the way to her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The Blessed Mother simply reminds her children to follow the Word of God which is Life and to be OBEDIENT to the Catholic Churches Teaching, irrespective of what society is teachings for God's Moral Law eclipses man made laws. Those who do prefer to believe the more 'sensational' aspects of Fatima do so out of ignorance in that the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is not to be mistaken for the time when our Lord returns to Judge the Living and the dead as is spoken in the Credo. It is Christ Himself which will herald in that peace which the Word Reveals in the book of Revelation, "Behold, I am coming soon. I bring with me the recompense I will give to each according to his deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end...The one who gives this testimony says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! "

What Our Lady of Fatima is asking of the Faithful is to offer up penances for the conversion of Russia and the world, in order to avoid and mitigate Gods Divine Wrath against a faithless people.

Through the valid Consecration of Russia made by Pope John Paul II united with the Bishops and for which Sister Lucia conveyed to the Pope our Lady's acceptance of this Consecration, the communistic hold over Russia has ceased. The Faithful must now continue to pray and offer penance to God for sins committed against Him and for the sins which cry out to Heaven for Divine Justice.

This is the essential message of Fatima as our own generation becomes more secularized and belief in Jesus Divinity is now questioned not only by non believers but also by those who 'profess to believe', yet they deny the fundamentals of our Catholic Faith.

Has our Faith reached a stage of 'coldness' that is a question each person must ask of themselves.

I would encourage all to read more about our Lady of Fatima and its message for the world.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

The Miraculous Medal and Alphonse Ratisbonne

When Our Lady appeared to Saint Catherine Laboure in 1830 a Jewish family living in France would have no idea how much this would reverberate through their home.

The Ratisbonne family were wealthy Jewish bankers who numbered among their closest friends the Rothschilds as well as other distinguished families of the nobility and the wealthy classes. The family would be shaken to its core when its first born son Theodor embraced the Catholic Faith alongside some of his Jewish friends. Theodor's conversion would tear at the heart of the Ratisbonne family and most especially his younger brother Alphonse, who came to hate all things Catholic! Little did he know that Our Lady had plans for this young man.

Alphonse was born in the year 1814 in Strasbourg, France. All the Ratisbonne children were spoilt and over indulged which only increased the pain of the parents when their son Theodor turned his back on his parents religion and chose to convert to the Catholic Faith, but not only to convert but to become a Priest! This was too much for them and too much also for Alphonse who vowed to hate the Church as long as he lived.

Life was moving along relatively smoothly for Alphonse as he studied law with the promise of working within his families banking firm, he was also engaged to be married to his niece, Flore. It seemed Alphonse's life was mapped out for him or was it?

Before marrying Flore, Alphonse set off to travel and see as much of the world as he could, something many of the more wealthy families did at that time. Being a man of great sophistication Alphonse chose countries where he could let go of all propriety and give in to his hedonistic tendencies without incurring too much wrath. Towards the end of his foreign adventures Alphonse made the mistake of booking the wrong ticket and ended up in Rome of all places! That hated country which was full of so many loathsome Catholics! As Alphonse once said about these Catholics, "I cherished a hatred against priests, churches, and convents, and especially against the Jesuits, whose very name goaded me to frenzy."

Upon touring Rome's famous ruins Alphonse accidentally meets up with an old friend, Gustave de Bussieres and it was through Gustave that he met his brother Baron Theodor de Bussieres who had also converted to Catholicism. Alphonse was infuriated even more so when he discovered that the Baron knew and was friends with his own brother, Theodor the family outcast.

While out with Gustave one day he accompanied his friend into a Church, Alphonse was not too happy about it but Gustave needed to speak with the Priest so Alphonse waited rather uncomfortably in the Church. Suddenly Alphonse felt 'something' move deep within his spirit as he waited for his friend, a feeling of deep peace and a longing for what, exactly? Alphonse grew uncomfortable as he tried to ignore this 'feeling' and the beautiful music within the Church, he started to shift in his seat as he looked for his friend in order to make a hasty retreat.

Alphonse was relieved to leave that place, what was it that he had felt? A few days later he paid a courtesy visit to Baron Theodor de Bussieres and his family, it wasn't long as he listened to the Baron that Alphonse loses his temper and launches an attack against all things Catholic! The Baron was unfazed and then challenged Alphonse to a simple test. Alphonse felt laughter welling in his heart as he found that the 'test' was nothing more than superstitious nonsense to wear the Miraculous Medal, so Alphonse scoffingly accepted this challenge. The Baron though was not finished and he requested that Alphonse also recite the Memorare, this was too much for this hater of the Church!

Though Alphonse hated the Church and all things Catholic he did not wish to show disrespect in front of the family of whom he was a welcome visitor so he accepted the challenge of Baron Theodor as his daughter placed the Miraculous Medal around Alphonse neck. During his stay in Rome Alphonse would occasionally meet up with the Baron who continued to discuss religion with Alphonse, this began to irritate Alphonse immensely.

One day the Baron told Alphonse about a much respected fellow Frenchman, the Comte de la Ferronays who had also embraced Catholicism. The Comte was near death and as a special request he began to pray deeply for the conversion of Alphonse, though moved by the Comte's sentiments Alphonse didn't pay it much heed to what the Baron told him.

A few days later he once again meets Baron Theodor de Bussieres, who was taking Alphonse on his last tour of the city but upon being told of the death of Comte de la Ferronays the Baron needs to see the Priest in order to make some of the funeral arrangements. Feeling uncomfortable Alphonse agreed to go with the Baron rather than appear churlish at such a sorrowful time.

It would be this visit that would change Alphonse forever for as he waited upon his friend, he suddenly saw before him a gold light, Alphonse rubbed his eyes before looking again. There before him stood the most beautiful lady he had ever seen, her sweet and serene expression shames Alphonse who drops his gaze before one so Majestic as this beautiful lady. Alphonse tries to look at her again but he cannot bring himself to behold such purity and beauty so all he see's are her outstretched hands with rays of light emanating from them. Just like he had seen on the Medal, Alphonse quickly picks up the Miraculous Medal and there it is the very same rays of light.

Alphonse was stunned and a little terrified, but this soon disappeared as the beautiful Lady gestured for him to move closer to her, Alphonse did as requested and on his knees he moved closer to the beautiful lady who then said to him, "Enough--that's good!" It is as he is gazing at the rays which seem to pierce through the murky depths of Alphonse very heart and soul and he is moved to tears as through the Grace of God he is given the knowledge of how his sins have grieved the Triune Spirit. Through this experience an infused knowledge is given to Alphonse who quickly understands the Truth's of Catholicism and most especially the Blessed Sacrament, which contains the true Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Alphonse is shaken to his core at such spiritual illuminations.

When Baron Theodor returned he was amazed to see Alphonse kneeling with his head against the rail of the Chapel, he is even more surprised at the change in Alphonse who with tears streaming down his face he describes to the Baron what he has seen and been told. Through his heartrending sobs he cries out, "How happy I am! How good God is! How unbelievers are to be pitied!" Alphonse was no longer an unbeliever!

Baron Theodor is also overcome and encourages Alphonse to accompany him home but as they journeyed in the carriage together Alphonse exclaims to the Baron, "Take me to a confessor! When can I receive baptism, without which I can no longer live?" The Baron complies with Alphonse request and upon talking to a Priest, 11 days later Alphonse is baptized into the Catholic Church.

This was not to be the end as a few months later Alphonse enters the Jesuits where he lives in peace and harmony for 10 years in the bosom of the Church. He also helps his brother Father Theodor to begin a new Order that of the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion.

It seems there would be two miracles within the Ratisbonne family the brothers were once again reunited with their combined love for Holy Mother Church and our Lady.

I would encourage all to read more about this miraculous event and to wear this most beautiful medal, The Miraculous Medal as revealed to Saint Catherine Laboure.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Our Lady of Zeitun

Marian Apparitions

It was an ordinary evening in a small town called Zeitun in Egypt, some of the towns people were outside their doors chatting as they waited for their husbands to come home. The day had started as any other day, women cooked the breakfasts for their husbands and children, completed the housework and other chores. Men went to work just like any other ordinary day, some feeling tired while others enjoyed their job. Children did their chores and played games, nothing was different, or was it?

In the year 1968 something very different took place in this nondescript little province of Egypt, for it was the evening of April 2nd that two men noticed a woman who seemed to be floating upon the roof of a Church, the men at first thought they were witnessing a woman in distress and so cried out to save her. Some of the women in neighbouring houses came out to see what the fuss was about and they too saw the woman floating above the Church which was named St Mary's which was of the Orthodox denomination.

Upon hearing of the woman the resident Priest came out to see for himself who was upon the roof of his Church! Even though the Priest mixed among the crowds he himself saw nothing, but one person after another with loud exclamations all saw this floating woman, till finally one of the women cried out, "It is our Holy Mother"!

The crowds stood stunned at such a sight, some were overcome with joy while others fretted that perhaps this was the beginning of the end! None though denied what they were seeing, for indeed it was a woman who seemed to glow as she looked at them from above the Church as she swayed and glided around the roof of the Church. Many people were amazed to see such a thing and right before their very eyes with many thousands of witnesses, some were deeply touched that Our Lady would deign to visit them, simple ordinary folk.

Our Lady rarely shows herself to the elite in society but prefers to reveal herself to little ones who are in need of her special Graces given to her from God. With her appearance at Zeitun our Lady allowed all to see her even political leaders of the country and also the wealthy some of whom were self proclaimed atheists!

Thousands of people poured into this little town to see for themselves this awe inspiring spectacle of the appearance of Mary, but just like Knock our Lady was silent. Many speculated as to the reasons why? Some suggested that this was the very place that the Holy Family had made their home when they had to flee Israel. Others suggested that perhaps Our Lady was warning of future calamities, the answer is no-one knows.

What we do know is that in 1968 Our Lady at times surrounded by lights of angelic beings allowed herself to be seen by thousands of people of all persuasions whether they be atheist, Orthodox, Catholic or Muslim all know and testified to what they had seen with their own eyes and through some of their camera lens as many took photo's of our Lady.

Why did our Lady not speak? Perhaps her silence speaks louder than any words for in the Bible Our Lady spoke very little yet pondered much....maybe it is her example we should follow, to speak little and ponder much on the Mysteries of God as did this most Blessed Mother.

In this age of terror perhaps we need to absorb Our Lady's silent appearance and to contemplate the Will of God in our lives.

I would encourage all to read more about Our Lady of Zeitun.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.