Monthly Messages from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: December 2019

Our Lady's Monthly Message to the World on December 25th (given through Marija):

   “Dear children! I am carrying my Son Jesus to you, for Him to bless you and reveal to you His love, which comes from Heaven. Your heart yearns for peace, of which there is less and less on earth. That is why people are far from God and souls are sick and heading towards spiritual death. I am with you, little children, to lead you on this way of salvation to which God calls you.  Thank you for having responded to my call.”

Our Lady's Special Message on December 25th (given during Jakov's annual Christmas Day apparition):

   “Dear children, today, on this day of grace, in a special way I am calling you to open your hearts and to implore Jesus to strengthen your faith. Children, through prayer with the heart, faith and works you will come to know what it means to live a sincere Christian life. Often times, children, darkness, pain and crosses overwhelm your hearts. Do not waver in faith and ask 'why' because you think that you are alone and abandoned. Instead, open your hearts, pray and believe firmly and then your heart will feel God's nearness and that God never abandons you – that He is beside you at every moment. Through prayer and faith, God will answer your every 'why' and transform your every pain, darkness and cross into light.  Thank you.” 

Our Lady's Special Message to Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo on December 2nd:

   “Dear children, as I am looking at you who love my Son, my heart is being filled with tenderness. I am blessing you with a motherly blessing. With a motherly blessing, I am also blessing your shepherds - you who speak the words of my Son, who bless with His hands and who love Him so much that you are ready to make every sacrifice for Him with joy. You are following Him, who was the first shepherd, the first missionary. My children, apostles of my love, to live and work for others, for all those whom you love through my Son, is the joy and comfort of earthly life. If through prayer, love and sacrifice the Kingdom of God is in your hearts, then your life is joyful and bright. Among those who love my Son and who love each other through Him, words are not necessary. A gaze is sufficient for the unspoken words and unexpressed feelings to be heard. There where love reigns, time no longer counts. We are with you. My Son knows you and loves you. Love is that which brings you to me, and through that love I will come to you and speak to you of the works of salvation. I desire for all of my children to have faith and to feel my motherly love which leads them to Jesus. Therefore, you, my children, wherever you go, illuminate with love and faith as apostles of love.  Thank you.”

Saint of the Month - December 2019: Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli

St. Virginia Centurione Bracelli

A Holy Woman of Action

Feast: December 15th

Our Saint this month - Virginia Centurione Bracelli - was a Genoese noblewoman born on April 2, 1587, to an elite and distinguished family. She had the good fortune of growing up in a faith-filled home so she was exposed to piety from early childhood; even confiding to her mother that she wanted to enter a monastery. But before she could realize her desire, Virginia’s mother died and her father arranged an advantageous marriage for her with the son of another prominent family in Genoa.

Another depiction of St. Virginia.

Gaspare Bracelli, the intended groom, was the heir to a large fortune, but his personality was a poor match for the devout Virginia – he was worldly and careless; given over to the pleasures of this world. Virginia wept when she learned what her father had done, but out of obedience to him, she reluctantly married Gaspare on January 7, 1602... and it was a rocky union from the start.

Two daughters were quickly born to the couple, which brought a measure of joy and consolation to Virginia… but within 5 years of being together, Gaspare’s wayward lifestyle reduced him to serious illness. Despite his failings as a husband, his loyal wife lovingly cared for him, which effected the man’s conversion before his untimely death on June 13, 1607. On the very same day she was widowed, the 20-year-old Virginia made a private vow of chastity and resisted any further efforts made by her father to remarry her. Instead, she focused all her energy in raising her young daughters and on living a life of active faith and charity "to serve God through the poor".

Virginia, at first, used the wealth at her disposal to assist the needy in Genoa by distributing food and clothing to the poor but, after her daughters were grown and married, her ministry of service went into overdrive - she founded schools; established care homes for abandoned children and the elderly; and lobbied for establishing public devotions to Our Lady and the 40 Hours Devotion to the Holy Eucharist.

In late 1624, the invasion of Western Liguria by the Duke of Savoy saw Genoa flooded by a large number of refugees, and Virginia rose to the challenge; adopting several young girls - victims of the war - and founding a pious association known as the Hundred Ladies of Mercy, Protectors of the Poor of Jesus Christ, comprised of other women who were inspired by the founder's charitable works... and, when the plague and a famine hit her city in 1630, Virginia turned a former convent into a hospital where she and her companions cared for over 300 patients!

A 2nd Class Relic from St. Virginia’s clothing

in this ministry's custody.

The group started by Virginia eventually evolved into a formal congregation; two separate ones, actually, beginning in 1644: the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge on Mount Calvary and, later, the Daughters of Our Lady on Mount Calvary.  Both congregations carry on the Saint's work to this very day.

Given all the good works she accomplished, it's not surprising Virginia was highly regarded in her lifetime. People sought her counsel and she became Genoa's resident peacemaker, especially among the constantly feuding noble families. In addition, the Lord bestowed on his faithful servant extraordinary spiritual gifts, which included private revelations, ecstasies, and visions. The beloved foundress died at the age of 64 on December 15, 1651; her last recorded words were, "My heart is ready, Lord."

Virginia Centurione Bracelli was declared a Saint by Pope John Paul II in May 2003.  Her body, discovered completely incorrupt in 1801, is venerated in the chapel of the mother house of the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge in Mount Calvary in Genoa, Italy.

An A.I.-generated photo-like image of

the Saint, based on contemporary portraits.

Is this what she looked like in life? 

St. Virginia Centurione Bracelli,

pray for us!

Monthly Messages from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: November 2019

Our Lady's Monthly Message to the World on November 25th:

   “May this time be a time of prayer for you. Without God you do not have peace. Therefore, little children, pray for peace in your hearts and families, so that Jesus can be born in you and give you His love and blessing. The world is at war because hearts are full of hatred and jealousy. In the eyes, little children, peacelessness is seen because you have not permitted Jesus to be born in your lives. Seek Him, pray, and He will give Himself to you in the Child who is joy and peace. I am with you and I pray for you.  Thank you for having responded to my call.”

Our Lady's Special Message to Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo on November 2nd:

   “Dear children, my beloved Son always prayed and glorified the Heavenly Father. He always said everything to Him and trusted in His will. This is what you, my children, should also do, because the Heavenly Father always listens to His children. One heart in one heart - love, light and life. The Heavenly Father gave Himself through a human face, and this face is the face of my Son. You, apostles of my love, you should always carry the face of my Son in your hearts and your thoughts. You should always think of His love and His sacrifice. You should pray to always feel His presence, because, apostles of my love, that is the way for you to help all those who do not know my Son, who have not come to know His love. My children, read the book of the Gospel. It is always something new, it is what binds you to my Son who was born to bring the words of life to all of my children and to sacrifice Himself for all. Apostles of my love, carried by the love for my Son, bring love and peace to all of your brothers. Judge no one. Love everyone according to the love for my Son. In this way, you will also be caring for your soul, and it [your soul] is that what is most precious, which truly belongs to you.  Thank you.”

Saints & Relics Speaking Presentation, 11/24/2019: St. Anthony of Padua Church

My Kailua parish has a terrific R.C.I.A. program. It's lead by two good friends of mine - a couple who have a lot of zeal and love not only for Jesus, but for all that He holds dear, including His special friends - the Saints!  So, on occasion, they will invite this ministry to share about the Saints with those who are beginning their spiritual journey within the Catholic Church.  This morning was another such occasion.

I did my usual talk, summarizing the Church's teaching on Saints and explaining the Sainthood Process.  For the edification of my audience, I also highlighted three holy individuals who are currently going through the canonization process and someone who has already reached the end of it; emphasizing certain characteristics of God or holiness these people were particularly good at representing:

+  Servant of God, Matteo Farina (an Italian youth who died from cancer at only 18-years-old) - JOY; how the joy that results from being a follower of Christ infuses us despite life's many trials.

+  Venerable Matthew Talbot (a recovered alcoholic from Ireland) - the HEALING power of God; how God's love and power heals and transforms us into a new creation.

+  Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa (a mystic & stigmatic from Portugal) - EUCHARIST DEVOTION; truly, the Blessed Sacrament is Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, which nourishes us with life-giving grace!

+  Saint Marguerite D'Youville (the Canadian foundress of the Sisters of Charity of Montreal) - FAITH; how faith fortifies us against all adversities and inspires us to accomplish much good in our personal lives and the lives of others.

And, of course, several relics were a part of the presentation...

Relics on display (from Left to Right):

Bl. Alexandrina Maria da Costa, St.

Bernadette of Lourdes, a splinter from the

True Cross, & St. Marguerite D'Youville.

At the end of it all, I think the R.C.I.A. group got the gist of the message I was trying to convey: God's desire is for us to become holy; Saints confirm it's possible.

Saint of the Month - November 2019: Blessed Elizabeth Achler

Bl. Elizabeth Achler

Woman of goodness

Memorial: November 25th

“Good Betha” was the popular nickname given to this month’s featured holy person by people who knew her, which says a lot about her character while she lived on earth.  For, indeed, she was a very holy woman – a soul who was charitable and kind; sacrificial; gifted with extraordinary charism such as Ecstasies, Visions, Prophecies, and Stigmata... yet, outside of her country of Germany,  she's barely known.

Her baptismal name was Elizabeth Achler and she was born in the German town of Waldsee on November 25, 1386. Her parents were poor weavers and, like most chosen souls, she was deemed pious from her early childhood.  If I recall correctly, one biography I read described her as becoming a Franciscan Tertiary at 14 and already practicing a high degree of virtue under the guidance of a spiritual director - an Augustinian priest named, Fr. Konrad Kugelin.  At the time she lived with another, older tertiary in a small house and, together, they supported themselves through weaving.

Bl. Elizabeth received the Stigmata.

At aged 17, Elizabeth along with four other tertiaries were selected to become the founding members of a monastery in Reute established by Fr. Konrad.  They lived under the Rule of the Third Order Franciscans.  Although details about her life in the English language are scarce, what little information I was able to gather about Elizabeth speaks volumes of her sanctity.

In the new monastery, the Beata was assigned to kitchen duties and also as the community's portress, where she soon endeared herself to the poor who came to the gate for alms. At about the same time, the mystical phenomena which was so abundant in her life, began with the onset of ecstasies that left her immobile followed by the appearance of bleeding wounds in her hands, feet, side, and around her head. The other nuns were initially split about their opinion of her with some believing in her sanctity, while others viewed her with suspicion.

As her spiritual gifts escalated, Elizabeth craved more and more solitude, preferring to withdraw herself from the others to the point where she seemed like a hermit rather than a member of a community.  The voluntary isolation provided the mystic with discretion in her practice of self-mortification and strict fasting... and to meditate more keenly on the Passion of Christ, her key devotion.  Sublime visions were also added to her list of charisma while the bleeding Stigmata continued intermittently on Fridays.

An A.I.-generated image, based on early

portraits.  Is this what she looked like?

Elizabeth's prolonged fasting eventually evolved into a complete and supernatural abstinence from food (Inedia) that's often mentioned in connection with her hagiography.  Her case of Inedia has the distinction of being one of the earliest examples in the history of the Church of someone who subsisted on just the Eucharist alone.  She did so for the last twelve years of her life.

It’s apparent Elizabeth's vocation was to be a full-fledged victim-soul, which also entailed another responsibility for her – assisting the Poor Souls in Purgatory.  Souls undergoing purification in the afterlife were allowed by the Lord to visit her - to ask her prayer on their behalf - to which she always acceded, making her a prolific advocate of the Holy Souls. 

Towards the end of her life, Bl. Elizabeth contracted a severe skin condition - some sources say it was leprosy - which she endured with peace and patience, as yet another cross to bear for the expiation of sin.  She died on her 34th birthday on November 25, 1420.

The tomb of Good Betha, enclosing her

bones in the parish church of Reute.

By the time she passed away, Elizabeth was already revered by her religious sisters, and by the people of Reute and the surrounding towns.  As a result, Good Betha's tomb became a popular place of pilgrimage where cures and other favors were reported.  The Church affirmed the deceased nun's cultus by beatifying Elizabeth Achler in 1766.  Today, her precious remains are still highly venerated in the parish church of Reute.

May the Lord be pleased to grant the Universal Church the speedy Canonization of his spouse, Bl. Elizabeth, known as "the Good"... for His greater glory and the edification of all souls.  Amen.

Sacred Places of Prayer & Wonder in the Philippines

I just returned from an extended vacation in the Philippines, where I not only had the pleasure of spending time with relatives I hadn't seen in decades, but I was also able to visit three special places of prayer. All three are in the province of Batangas and my experiences at each place will stick with me for the rest of my life!

+ LIPA:  Carmel Monastery & Church of Mary the Mediatrix of All Grace

       

The magnificent Carmel Church of Lipa

in Batangas.

Here, at this Carmelite monastery complex, the Blessed Virgin appeared at least 15 times in 1948 to a then-postulant named, Sr. Teresita Castillo - Mary called herself the Mediatrix of All Grace.

Me, in the side-chapel of the Mediatrix of All

Grace in the church.  The statue pictured was

seen to move during the time of these

visitations in 1948.

Our Lady came as a woman of incomparable beauty; garbed in a simple white robe and veil; holding a golden rosary; emitting a floral fragrance and standing on a small pillow-like cloud. The bulk of the apparitions occurred near a vine in the monastery's garden where the main message of Lipa was received by Sr. Teresita on September 16th, 1948:

"Pray, my child.  The people do not heed

my words. Tell my daughters (the other nuns)

that there will be persecutions, unrest, and

bloodshed in your country.  The enemy of

the Church will try to destroy the faith which

Jesus established and died for.  The Church

will suffer much.

Pray for the conversion of sinners

throughout the world. Pray for those who

rejected me and those who do not believe

and trust me. Spread the meaning of the

Rosary, because this will be the instrument

for peace throughout the world. Tell the

people that the Rosary must be said with

devotion.

Propagate the devotion of my Immaculate

Heart. Do penance for priests and nuns.

But be not afraid, for the love of my Son will

soften the hardest of hearts and my

motherly love will be their strength to

crush the enemies of God.

What I ask here is the same I asked

at Fatima."

At the shrine complex, one is able to look

down from a 2nd floor chapel balcony into

the cloistered monastery's garden where

most of the apparitions took place.

At the time of the apparitions many signs were witnessed by the nuns and countless pilgrims to the monastery: the sun danced; the statue carved to represent the apparition came to life; cures occurred; and rose petals - many imprinted with holy images - materialized out of thin air to "rain" down upon the people.

Top:  Rose petals from Lipa, gifted to me by

an Aunt from the Philippines; she said they "fell

from the sky".  The larger petal still bears a 

faint image of Our Lady of Lourdes and

St. Bernadette kneeling.

Bottom-Left:  A closer view of the miraculous

statue in Lipa and a 28" replica of it I treated

myself to from the shrine gift shop. 

        

I left this sacred place imbued with its holiness and spiritual power; a major highlight of my vacation!

"Do not fear my daughter.  He who loves
above all things has sent me."

~ Words of Our Lady to Sr. Teresita, 1948

+ MONTE MARIA:  Shrine & Monument to Our Lady, the "Mother of All Asia" 

Our Lady's statue towers above Monte

Maria and the Church of the Santo Nino

on the same mountain.

Approximately an hour's drive away from Lipa is the Shrine of the Mother of All Asia, which features a 322 feet high statue of Our Lady. It's supposed to be the tallest statue of the Holy Mother, to-date, in the world... and it stands atop a mountain-side called Monte Maria ("Mary's Mountain"), facing a breathtaking view of Batangas Bay.

              

Scenes from Monte Maria and a great

panoramic view of Batangas Bay...

Although the exterior of the Marian tower appears completed, the interior is still under construction so I wasn't able to climb to the top of the monument. However, a finished chapel exists within the base of the statue where Mass is regularly offered (see below).

More information about this impressive shrine can be found here.

+ The "MOUNTAIN OF SALVATION":  Prayer Garden & Hermitage of the Mother of Love, Peace, & Joy

              

Scenes from the Shrine of the Mother of

Love, Peace, & Joy at Monte Maria.

On Monte Maria but a short walking distance away is another site of alleged heavenly visitations - a place of prayer connected to the purported Filipina visionary/stigmatic, Emma de Guzman, from New Jersey, USA. Emma co-founded the La Pieta International Prayer Group and has the tacit support of several bishops in the USA and Philippines. In fact, the hermitage complex was constructed under the approval and oversight of the local bishop of Lipa.

"I desire this place where I visit my

children to be a Garden of Prayer.  This

place will bring you peace in your heart,

because I am with you in prayer as well

as the saints and angels."

~ Words of Our Lady to Emma, 12/2018

Although Emma claimed experiencing mystical charism since 1991, she only first saw the Blessed Virgin on Monte Maria in December 2015. Our Lady supposedly appears to Emma under the title of Mother of Love, Peace, and Joy; dressed in a white gown with a gold-colored sash and veil.

From the prayer garden one can see the

Mother of All Asia statue in the distance,

higher up Monte Maria. 

More apparitions of Mary and various saints occurred on Monte Maria each time Emma visited the site on September 8th (Feast of Mary's Nativity) and December 8th (Feast of the Immaculate Conception) during subsequent years. As a result of these events, a pilgrimage developed at the site with the primary focus being a large Pieta monument and a fenced-in shrine marking the exact spot where the Virgin appears.

This is where the Madonna allegedly

appears to Emma. The Saints who often

accompany her are represented by statues:

the Little Flower, St. Teresa of Avila, St. 

Maddalena dei Pazzi, St. John the Apostle,

St. Peregrine Laziosi, & St. Faustina.

My overall personal impression of the Mountain of Salvation shrine was positive - I felt deep peace while praying there, and because of the local church's support for Emma, I left the site with an attitude of cautious openness to the events allegedly taking place there.

“You are my garden, dear children.

I want you all to make my garden

beautiful. Pray and have peace in your

hearts. Chaos is everywhere. The Church

is being attacked and priests are being

persecuted; some because of their own

mistakes.  Please pray for them.”

~ Words of Our Lady to Emma, 12/2018

For those interested in learning more about Emma de Guzman, the La Pieta Prayer Group, and this beautiful place of pilgrimage, click here.

A prayer composed by the seer, Emma.

If you ever find yourself in the Philippines, I highly recommend visits to these special places of prayer and devotion in Batangas.  From Manila to Lipa, it's only about a 2-hour drive but it'll be well-worth your time.  You will be blessed.

A Soul Rises Up!

I recently had another curious experience that I need to write about because it has to do with the Holy Souls; I couldn't pass up another opportunity to encourage devotion to them.

So, as most of us cradle-Catholics know, November is the month when we pay extra-special attention to the deceased. On the first day of this month we honored all the inhabitants of Heaven on All Saints Day... and, on the day after, we celebrated All Souls Day praying for the dead in the hope that, any who are saved but undergoing painful purgatory, will be relieved by our prayer (especially loved ones). Still, there are devout people out there who continue this beautiful spiritual discipline all throughout November as a special devotion.

I highly recommend having devotion to the Poor Souls to all who will read this post because praying for them benefits us, as well... and not just in a manner that's spiritually meritorious in the Lord's eyes.  Allow me to elaborate...

For me, I pray for the Souls in Purgatory, daily, by offering at least one Divine Mercy Chaplet on their behalf and my Holy Communions. In particular, I pray for the souls of my ancestors and present-time relatives who've passed on. I sense that as the piles of "residue" of my ancestors' sins are "burned" away, there's a measure of healing that's also entering into the lives of their descendants... who would be us. It's all part of the interesting concept of "generational healing" of family sins and curses that's coming into the limelight within the Church.

Pleading the Precious Blood of Christ upon

the Poor Souls is particularly effective.

Anyhow, I've been seriously fascinated with the idea of healing my family tree for a few years now and it has added a whole other dimension to my own devotion to the Poor Souls. I not only just pray for them but I now also pray to the Lord to extend their purification to myself and my living relatives... and I've noticed positive differences in my own life and the lives of my siblings.  It's true.

Now going back to the original topic of praying for the deceased during November, something strange happened that prompted the title of today's blog. I'm currently on a trip taking lots of photos and, while reviewing pics on my cellphone, I came across a single image I don't recall taking... and I'm puzzled as to how it got in my phone. It's quite striking, actually, because there appears to be a ghostly figure in it.  See for yourself in the photo below.

After praying to discern the meaning behind the photo, the strong impression that came to me was that it was an extraordinary confirmation - a little sign from God - of a soul of one of my ancestors rising out of his/her purgation. The soul is clearly discernible as a human form, floating upwards towards a brilliant light, which happens to be at the very center of a large white cross.  The imagery is highly appropriate, wouldn't you agree?

Whatever the case, the photo gave me much joy after initial goosebumps. I was happy a soul is now free of its purification and on its way to be in the loving presence of God.  Thank you, Lord!

So please pray for the Holy Souls, too, and not just during November... and try asking for extended purification upon yourself and your living family members.  You'll start to see positive results happening in your own lives.

Grant unto them,
O Lord, eternal rest and let

perpetual light shine upon

them.  May they rest in

peace.  Amen.

When a Rosary turns gold, it's time to take the prayer more SERIOUSLY!

See the "finger Rosary" pictured above?  It used to be a silver-gray color for the 3+ years I've had it.  I'm sure many of you understand what I'm describing because these types of small metal rosaries are common.  The fact is - at about 2:30AM this morning it was silver-ish with green patina due to long-time exposure to Hawaii's salty air.  Then, after using it again to pray at about 7:30AM, I was surprised to find it mysteriously changed to a golden color between my fingers, in the brief span of about 15 minutes!  That was more than 10 hours ago ...  and I'm still in awe.

An image from the internet showing

what my finger Rosary originally looked

like when I first got it (compare the

color with the above photo).

I decided to post about it because I know there's an important, underlying message behind it - not just for me, but for everyone else out there.   And the message is simple - this was Our Lady's way of reaffirming the IMMENSE VALUE OF THE ROSARY DEVOTION - PRECIOUS, AS SYMBOLIZED BY GOLD.  IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY AND PRAYED WITH FREQUENCY, NOW, IN THESE PRESENT TIMES.

If one researches approved modern Marian apparitions, the Rosary has figured prominently in most of Our Lady's appearances and/or her messages:

+ Lourdes, France (1858)

Our Lady appeared as the "Immaculate Conception", dressed in a dazzling white gown with a blue sash; a Rosary hanging from her wrist.  She often signaled to St. Bernadette to begin the prayer by taking the little crucifix and making the Sign of the Cross, which Bernadette then repeated.

+ Fatima, Portugal (1917)

The Holy Virgin appeared as the "Lady of the Rosary", while also carrying a Rosary from her wrist.  Among other things, she once said to the three shepherd children of Fatima:

 "Pray the Rosary every day to

obtain peace for the world and the

end of the war (WWI)."

+ Banneux, Belgium (1933)

Mary appeared to young Mariette Beco dressed almost identical to her apparitions in Lourdes, including carrying her trademark Rosary with her.

+ Heede, Germany (1937 - 1940)

Our Lady appeared as the "Queen of the Universe" and the "Queen of the Poor Souls" to four young seers.  She once said at the site of Heede:

"Be good and resigned to the will of God.

Pray often, especially the Rosary."

+ Akita, Japan (1973 - 1981)

The Blessed Mother spoke grave words of warning to the seer - Sr. Agnes Sasagawa - a humble Stigmatic nun and, among other things, she said:

"The only arms which will remain for

you will be the Rosary and the sign left by

My Son. Each day recite the prayers of the

Rosary.  With the Rosary, pray for the

Pope, the bishops, and priests."

+ Cuapa, Nicaragua (1980)

Our Lady appeared on 6 occasions to a middle-aged sacristan - Bernardo Martinez - and once said the following words to him about the Rosary, among other things:

"Pray, pray, my son, the Rosary

for all the world.  Tell believers and non-

believers that the world is threatened by

grave dangers.  I ask the Lord to appease

His justice, but, if you don't change, you

will hasten the arrival of the Third

World War."

+  San Nicolas, Argentina (1983 to 1990)

Our Heavenly Mother again appeared on earth as Our Lady of the Rosary to a local housewife and mother named Gladys Quiroga de Motta.  She spoke many, many messages and, among them, she once said in a straight forward manner:

"The weapon that has the greatest

influence on evil is to say the Rosary."

Taking these 150+ years of apparitions as a whole, it's obvious the Blessed Virgin has been emphasizing the Rosary during her visits to earth.  At some of these holy sites, too, many others have experienced their Rosaries changing to a gold color.  It's also clear Our Lady is warning us about the troubled times we're now living in ... and the worse that's still to come (e.g. World War III, per Cuapa?).  The devil is certainly on the prowl, spreading his darkness and seeking to destroy whoever he can.

Our Lady of the Rosary of

San Nicolas, pray for us.

So I tell people all the time the Rosary is an important devotion because it's a Christ-centered prayer that binds us closer to Jesus; through the 20 Rosary Meditations, Jesus shares the story of His life with us in order to help us deepen our personal relationship with Him and with His beloved Mother, too.  In this way, our spiritual/mental/emotional union with Christ is cultivated and grows; thus, His Light brightens in our souls, repelling the darkness of the devil that's pervading today's society ... and even within the Church, itself.  If we don't want to be devoured by the encroaching evil, we have to stay as close as possible to Jesus - there's no other solution than HIM.

So let's take up our Rosaries and pray them frequently, if not daily, as Our Lady requested; for the various intentions she spoke of ... and for the sake of deeper union with Jesus.  If we only recognized the full value of the Rosary we'd be beyond amazed and more grateful to Our Lady for this precious devotion.  As I can personally testify today - the Rosary Prayer is GOLDEN!

The Rosary Confraternity

If one is already a Rosary Devotee, consider joining the Rosary Confraternity. The spiritual benefits of becoming a member are listed below. Click here to enroll - it's free and easy!

+ To learn about Our Lady's 15 Promises to those devoted to the Rosary, click here. +