Our Lady of Walsingham

England in medieval days was a mixture of Normans, and, Anglo Saxons, which combined the nationalities of Germans, Danish, French and Dutch.

The Normans and the Britons lived side by side with a mutual agreement to close off the sea way to prevent further Viking intrusions, a move that benefited both countries. And it was in 1042 that Edward the Confessor took the Throne of England.

But conditions during this period were less than sanitary, as diseases such as cholera, dysentery and the common cold wiped out whole regions. Even child birth was considered a dangerous condition in that many mothers died whilst in labour.

It was also in 1044 that Aldred was made Bishop of Worcester, before being promoted to Archbishop of York in 1060. Upon receiving the pallium from Pope Nicholas II, after a misunderstanding, Aldred returned to England. He would at a later date support the move to have William the Conqueror as Monarch and it was Aldred who performed the ceremony and crowned William of Orange, King in 1066, after the battle of Hastings.

But it was in 1061 that a woman began to receive visions of Our Lady. Being of noble birth, Lady Richeldis de Faverches, was astonished at the beauty of our Lady and immediately crossed herself so as to be protected against unwanted visitations from the evil one, Lady Richeldis need not have feared, for it was indeed Mary who appeared before her.

Our Lady was to show Lady Richeldis the home she had lived in at Nazareth, the same house that the Archangel Gabriel appeared to her to inform Mary of the good news. Our Lady then said to Lady Richeldis, "Let all who are in any way distressed or in need seek me there in that small house that you maintain for me at Walsingham. To all that seek me there shall be given succour."

The house that our Lady requested was eventually built and many pilgrims were to visit this most Holy site including Kings and Queens. King Edward I attributed a miracle to our Lady when he was spared from an impending accident when he made a pilgrimage to Waslingham. Henry the VIII also visited Walsingham, but, unfortunately it was during his reign as King, that he ordered the destruction of Walsingham, seeing it as a threat to his own command as Head of the Church of England.

During and after the persecutions of Catholics in England, pilgrimages to Walsingham decreased as many embraced the new Church of England in defiance of Rome! But nothing that Our Lady wishes is ever destroyed, and so Walsingham too would rise again, despite anti-Catholic sentiments.

So it was that in the nineteenth century a woman known as Charlotte Boyd endeavoured to retore this most Holy of shrines back to its former glory in honour of our Lady. Charlotte Boyd upon completing the project then gave it to Downside Abbey. This project was to touch Charlotte, and during its restoration she converted to the Catholic Faith, yet another miracle of Walsingham.

So through war and peace, persecution and acceptance, the shrine at Walsingham was not totally destroyed and is one of the major tourist attractions in England.

For whatever our Lady requests, through love of her immaculate Heart it will conquer all who stand opposed to honouring our Holy Mother. Our Lady of Walsingham will stand as a cherished and beloved Gift to the peoples of England and the world.

I would encourage all to read further about our Lady of Walsingham.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2005 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Vision of Pope Leo Xlll

Vincenzo Pecci was born in an Era of political intrigues and upheavals, as Italy began the task of uniting their troubled country, which endured many wars.

As it was Italy struggled under the leaderships of the Hapsburgs, Napoleon and the Savoy's until 1860 when Victor Emmanuel ll became King of Italy. It was not until 1929 that the Italian government of the day recognised and gave independence to the Holy See, which then became Vatican City, a country within a country.

But it is Vincenzo Pecci who in the year 1878 became Pope Leo Xlll, who would impact many Catholics around the world, with his leadership through difficult times but also through a vision which was given to him from above.

This vision terrified the Holy Father and he trembled at the prospect of what he saw and for the future of the Church. It was as he finished Mass that the Pope fell as if he had fainted, many rushed to his aid, as the Holy Father lay there ashen faced.

When the attending Priests were able to rouse Pope Leo Xlll from his collapse there was great relief as many thought the Holy Father was having a heart attack. But it was not a heart attack but something entirely different which would haunt this Pope until his death.

After the Priests revived the Pontiff, he was heard to say, "oh, what a horrible picture I was permitted to see!" The attending Priests were shocked and dismayed at what the Pope was to reveal to them all.

The Holy Father over many days revealed to all what he had seen and heard, for upon his completion of Mass, he heard two voices one of which was God and the other Satan. As Satan demanded that he be given one hundred years on earth to create havoc and to try and destroy the Church, Jesus then gave Satan permission. For Jesus knew that no force on earth nor hell would ever defeat the Catholic Church!

But what Pope Leo Xlll saw terrified him and filled him with deep anguish as he saw the depths to which many men and women would sink into depravity and debauchery and how much the Church would suffer. He saw in this vision the destruction of nearly all that was decent as immodesty and uncouthness thrived in a century of unparalleled war and evil.

So the Holy Father wrote out a prayer to protect the Catholic Church and its faithful from this evil onslaught, he composed the Prayer to St Michael, this is the shorter version;

"Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our defence against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen."

The Pope spent many years exhorting the faithful to remain strong and to pray much in order to overcome this evil as he also tackled the influence of 'Modernism/liberalism' within the Church.

Like Pope Leo Xlll let us continue to pray this awesome prayer to St. Michael for the protection of our Church and the faithful. Let this also be a warning for those who dissent from the Church's Teachings.

Peace of Christ to you ALL

Copyright © 2005 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Divine Mercy

Visionary St. Faustina

Poland, like France, was also a nation that would be torn apart by war and divisions, from within and outside its borders.

It is a nation that has suffered much persecution and destruction in its immense history, which has enfolded the world in the impact that Poland would have on many generations to come.

Poland became a unified country around, 1320 under the leadership of King Wladyslaw I. But it was in the 16th century that Poland truly came into its own and the country was proud of its democratic constitution, as it set the precedent for the rest of the world to follow.

But difficulties dogged its steps as wars with Russia, France, Austria and other intruders disturbed the peace which Poland had enjoyed. This path of destruction would follow for many centuries to come, in this troubled and tragic land.

But it was in 1905 that a child would be born to Poland who was named Helena Kowalska, this child would herald in one of the greatest Prophecies in the twentieth century, which would become known as 'Divine Mercy'.

Helena first received an inner calling in 1912, when she was just 7 years old, this would be followed by many more, once she came of age. And it was in 1924 that Helena could no longer ignore the promptings of Jesus to enter the Religious life, she joined the Sisters of Mercy in 1925 and received her habit in 1926, when she then took the name Sister Maria Faustina.

Our Lord deeply touched Sr. Faustina's heart on Good Friday 1928, where her spirit became inflamed by the suffering of Jesus, who suffered in our place. This was to have a lasting and profound affect on Sister Faustina, and the rest of the world.

It was in 1931 that Jesus appeared before Sr. Faustina and requested an image be painted which portrayed His ineffable love and mercy for His children. By showing equal streams of blood and water, as His Heart was pierced for the transgressions of all. The image was painted in 1934 by artist kazimirowski, though Sr. Faustina was unhappy with it, the image achieves what Jesus wished to portray, His Merciful love for all those who seek it.

Jesus' message illuminates in a more profound way that which is already revealed in the Gospels, that God loves all His children and wishes to have all men saved. This can only be accomplished by a filial love for God and obedience to His Commandments. But our Heavenly Father understands the human condition so it is Jesus who instructs all those who have willing hearts to return to the Sacrament of Penance and to restore what has been broken through sin.

Sister Faustina was to receive many dire warnings for mankind if it refused to follow the Commands of God, but also the revelation that no matter how dark a man's sin, God will forgive the penitent heart, through the Sacraments of the Church.

This is a revelation where God wishes to be seen as He truly is a Loving and Merciful Father who wishes to give all things to His beloved children, and that there is NO end to His Mercy if a soul is contrite. God does not wish to be portrayed as a fierce dictator, who harshly judges His children, but as a Loving Father who longs to have a relationship with His beloved children. This vision would help all peoples to see and to acknowledge that God is a tender Father, who longs for the well being of His people, most especially His lost children.

It was in 1935 that the Divine Mercy image was venerated and in 1937 that Holy cards were printed to hand out to all peoples so they too could know of God's infinite Mercy to all, irrespective of how far they had strayed from the Faith.

The Divine Mercy revelation is one of inestimable hope, but also of dire warnings for the world if it continued on a destructive path.

Some of our Lords revelations are, "I promise, that the soul that will venerate this picture will not perish. I further promise to that soul victory over its enemies already here on earth and especially in the hour of death. I, Myself, shall defend that soul as my own glory.....When punishments for sins shall come upon the earth, and your native land shall be in extreme abasement, the only salvation will be hope in Divine Mercy. I shall preserve the cities and homes which this picture shall be found; I shall protect likewise those persons who shall venerate and have confidence in My Mercy."

Also included, these words of infinite and Divine Love, "The greatest sinner has the greatest right to have hope in My Mercy. The soul which invokes My Mercy brings Me untold delight. I grant it graces beyond its expectations. I cannot punish a soul which has recourse to My pity and compassion even though it be the greatest sinner . . . In My unfathomable and inscrutable mercy, I seek to justify it."

But also this warning, "Write that before I come as the just one, I first open wide the gates of My Mercy. He who does not want to pass through the gates of mercy, will have to pass through the gates of justice." And Jesus continues to instruct and warn Sr. Faustina with these words, "I have eternity for the punishment of these. Now, I prolong the time of My Mercy. But, woe to him who does not recognize the time of My visitation.. Secretary of My Mercy, you are obliged not only to write and proclaim My Mercy, but also to implore graces for sinners, that they too may praise My Mercy."

Jesus also tells Sr. Faustina this dire warning for the world if it does not repent and turn to the Father of Mercy, “all light in the heavens will be extinguished, and there will be great darkness over the whole Earth. Then the Sign of the Cross will be seen in the sky, and from the openings where the Hands and the Feet of the Savior were nailed will come forth great lights which will light up the Earth for a period of time. This will take place shortly before the last day”.

Jesus continues to Sr. Faustina in this direction for souls, “lukewarm souls who have just enough warmth to keep them alive” ......“And who knows anything about this feast? No one! Even those who should be proclaiming My Mercy and teaching people about it often do not know about it themselves!”

Our Lady also warned Sr. Faustina with this, “I gave the Savoir to the world; as for you, you have to speak to the world about His great Mercy and prepare the world for the Second Coming of Him who will come, not as a merciful Savoir, but as a Just Judge! Oh, how terrible is that day! Determined is the Day of Justice, the day of divine wrath! The Angels tremble before it!”

But always Jesus emphasises His Mercy to all those who listen and another warning to any who would obstruct this message with these words, “place within their own hearts obstacles to My Mercy, which so greatly wants to act within them. … Let souls who are striving for perfection particularly adore My Mercy, because the abundance of graces which I grant them flows from My Mercy. I desire that these souls distinguish themselves by boundless trust in My Mercy. … The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive. Souls that trust boundlessly are a great comfort to Me, because I pour all the treasures of My graces into them. I rejoice that they ask for much, because it is My desire to give much, very much”.

And on a more individual basis the Lord gave this warning to Sr. Faustina to warn those who fall away from the Faith willingly, "There are souls with whom I can do nothing. They are souls that are continuously observing others, but know nothing of what is going on within their own selves. They talk about others continuously...Poor souls, they do not hear My words; their interior remains empty. They do not look for Me within their own hearts, but in idle talk, where I am never found. They sense their emptiness, but they do not recognise their own guilt....Instead of correcting themselves, their hearts swell with envy, and if they do not come to their senses, they plunge in even deeper. A heart, which thus far is envious, now begins to be filled with hate. And they are already at the edge of the precipice. They are jealous of my gifts in other souls, but they themselves are unable and unwilling to accept them.".

But always our Lord leaves us with words of hope, "Strive for a life of recollection so that you can hear My voice, which is so soft that only recollected souls can hear it."

But at the core and centre of these Divine Prophecies for the world delivered to us by the Saintly Sister Faustina are words of Divine hope and joy in knowing of God's tremendous Love for His wayward children. These words though strong are also a sign to each of us to once again embrace the love of God and of our fellow man as we enter the new millennium.

For to each of us a measure has been given, do you wish to drink from the cup of God's Divine Mercy or the Cup of His Divine Justice, the choice is yours..

I would encourage all to read the book of Divine Mercy written by Saint Faustina.

Peace of Christ to you ALL

Copyright © 2005 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Our Lady of Syracuse

Our Lady of Tears

Syracuse is a Provence of Italy, and it was in the year 734 BC that a group of Greek citizens settled there to raise their families and make a living. But as always the unexpected can happen, and Syracuse was no exception, for it was overtaken by a group of corrupt tyrants who tried to rule the people there in 211 BC with an iron fist.

Syracuse was to face war with the Greeks, Carthage and many other foes including a Muslim invasion which lasted several centuries.

But let us turn our attention to the year 1953 when a miraculous event happened to the Jannuso family, when upon marrying both Antonina and Angelo were given an image of our Lady as part of their wedding gifts.

This image was to prove integral to the health of Antonina when she discovered she was pregnant, both Antnonina and Angelo were ecstatic to become parents and longed for their much loved baby with all their hearts.

But Antonina Jannuso was to have a problematic pregnancy which brought both wife and husband closer as they struggled to maintain her health so as to save their beloved baby within the mother’s womb.

For Antonina was diagnosed with Toxaemia, which can imperil the health of both mother and baby, so Angelo was extremely worried and very anxious for his lovely wife and baby.

The couple as Antonina's condition worsened turned to prayer to console and strengthen them but also to heal Antonina from this critical condition and spare both Mother and child.

It was during prayer that much to Antonina's amazement, she looked at the image of our Lady upon her bedroom wall and noticed that it seemed to be shedding tears, Antonina leaned forward to see if her eyes could be playing tricks but to her astonishment it did indeed look as if the image was weeping profusely! Antonina called out to her relative to come and see this miraculous sign, when her sister in law arrived she found Antnonina trembling at such a sight of the weeping picture of our Lady.

Her sister in law could barely contain her shock and called out to her Mother to also come and witness this miraculous occurance. Antoninia started to fret thinking that maybe this event was to warn her of her babies health, both her relatives were also a little frightened at such a sight and took the plaster image of our Lady out to their neighbours who also confirmed that they too could see it.

The whole Jannuso family was in shock and disarray wondering what this meant and for the future of both Antonina and her baby, the whole family took to praying with great fervour for the protection of Antonina, Angelo and their beloved baby.

It was prayer that brought tranquillity back to Antonina and she took pity upon this blessed image and tried to soak up the tears with her kerchief and also some cotton wool. For Antonina did not like to see our Lady so upset and wished to comfort her.

This image of our Lady would weep continuously for a 4 day period, and during these four days many Priests also visited the family to witness this miraculous occurrence. These Priests also alerted Church authorities who took samples of these tears for scientific study. The Jannuso family needed no proof for they knew that these tears truly came from a Mothers heart and the Blessed Mother at that! They were in awe at such a wonder and perturbed to see our Lady weep so much, their hearts were wrung as they too wept alongside this image.

After examining the tears the scientists concluded that the tears were indeed of human origin. But the family and many of the Priests had never doubted that these tears shed were those of our Holy Mother, who wept for her children.

It was also through this miraculous event that Antonina found herself healed from her critical condition and she praised our Lady and Lord for healing her of this illness and keeping her baby safe within her womb.

The tears that were gathered up by many of the visiting Priests were also sent to other countries where miraculous healings would take place.

This miraculous occurrence led to both Antonina and Angelo embracing their Faith with greater fervour and also the conversion of many neighbours and relatives who had strayed from the Faith.

Upon reporting this even to Pope Pius Xll, the Bishops of the area made a statement approving this miraculous event as valid.

I would encourage you all to read more about the miracle of our Lady of Syracuse.

Peace of Christ to you ALL

Copyright © 2005 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.