THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL

And Muhammad, a false prophet. 

In the Old Testament, the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to the prophet Daniel to explain the prophet’s visions (Daniel 8:15-26; 9:20-27).

In the New Testament, the Archangel Gabriel was first sent by God to the priest Zechariah to announce the birth of his son, John the Baptist, prophet and forerunner of the Christ (Luke 1:8-20).

Then, the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to the Blessed Virgin Mary to announce that she would give birth to “the Son of the Most High” without knowing man, by the Power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:26-38).

THE ANNUNCIATION

600 years after The Annunciation, the Archangel Gabriel was allegedly sent by God to the prophet Muhammad (570 AD -- 632 AD) to dictate the Qur’an -- The Final Testament of Restored Truth. This alleged revelation of the One True God denies the Divinity of Jesus Christ -- the second Person of the Holy Trinity, sent into the world by the Father to become man and save us from our sins.

After appearing to the Blessed Virgin Mary to announce that she would give birth to the Son of God (Luke 1:26-38), could the Archangel Gabriel later appear to Muhammad and deny the Divinity of Jesus Christ? Of course not!

Muhammad, the founder of Islam, believed Jesus had come “only as a prophet,” to begin the work which he (Muhammad) was destined to complete -- that is, the restoration of the monotheistic faith of Abraham to its original purity, a design he believed to be corrupted by “People of the Book” (that is, Jews and Christians).

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach [to you] a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed! (Galatians 1:8-9)

Was it truly an angel from heaven that appeared to Muhammad? Or could this have been a demon pretending to be the Archangel Gabriel? Was Muhammad a narcissist, a liar? Was he mentally ill, hearing voices? Or could this have been a diabolical locution (a form of private revelation, similar to an apparition, that is received internally)?

One thing is true. Muhammad is a false prophet.

The defective revelation of the One True God as described in the Qu'ran gives one a partial and distorted understanding of Him. And the further away Muslims are from the fullness of the revelation of God found in the Catholic Church, the more defective their relationship with the One True God will be.

Father Zakaria Botros

 

From an interview with the Coptic Orthodox Priest with a 60-million-dollar bounty on his head from al Qaeda.

 

Question: "In your view, who was Muhammad?"

Fr. Botros: "Well, I have received the answer from Islam's own books. Ironically, Ibn Taymiyya, who happens to be the hero of the modern mujahid movement, explained the prerequisites of prophet-hood very well. One of the things he stressed is that, in order to know if a prophet is in fact from God, we must study his sira, or his biography, much like the Christ's statement that 'You shall know them from their fruits.' So, taking Ibn Taymiyya's advice, I recently devoted a number of (teachings) analyzing the biography of Muhammad, which unequivocally proves that he was not a prophet, that his only fruits were death, destruction, and lust. Indeed, he himself confessed and believed that he was being visited and tormented by a jinn, or basically a demon, until his wife Khadija convinced him that it was the angel Gabriel which, of course is ironic, since Muhammad himself later went on to say that the testimony of a woman is half that of a man. Maybe over time he realized she was wrong, and that his first assumption was right." _ Catholic Online

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TEMPTATIONS OF THE DEVIL

Dictated by St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) during a state of ecstasy while in dialog with God the Father.

 

Of the use of temptations, and how every soul in her (his) extremity sees her (his) final place either of pain or of glory, before she (he) is separated from the body.

 

“The Devil, dearest daughter, is the instrument of My Justice to torment the souls who have miserably offended Me. And I have set him in this life to tempt and molest My creatures, not for My creatures to be conquered, but that they may conquer, proving their virtue, and receive from Me the glory of victory. And no one should fear any battle or temptation of the Devil that may come to him, because I have made My creatures strong, and have given them strength of will, fortified in the Blood of My Son, which will, neither Devil nor creature can move, because it is yours, given by Me. You therefore, with free arbitration, can hold it or leave it, according as you please.

 

It is an arm, which, if you place it in the hands of the Devil, straightway becomes a knife, with which he strikes you and slays you. But if man do not give this knife of his will into the hands of the Devil, that is, if he do not consent to his temptations and molestations, he will never be injured by the guilt of sin in any temptation, but will even be fortified by it, when the eye of his intellect is opened to see My love which allowed him to be tempted, so as to arrive at virtue, by being proved. For one does not arrive at virtue except through knowledge of self, and knowledge of Me, which knowledge is more perfectly acquired in the time of temptation, because then man knows himself to be nothing, being unable to lift off himself the pains and vexations which he would flee; and he knows Me in his will, which is fortified by My goodness, so that it does not yield to these thoughts. And he has seen that My love permits these temptations, for the devil is weak, and by himself can do nothing, unless I allow him. And I let him tempt, through love, and not through hatred, that you may conquer, and not that you may be conquered, and that you may come to a perfect knowledge of yourself, and of Me, and that virtue may be proved, for it is not proved except by its contrary.

 

You see, then, that he is my Minister to torture the damned in Hell, and in this life, to exercise and prove virtue in the soul. Not that it is the intention of the Devil to prove virtue in you (for he has not love), but rather to deprive you of it, and this he cannot do, if you do not wish it. Now you see, then, how great is the foolishness of men in making themselves feeble, when I have made them strong, and in putting themselves into the hands of the Devil. Wherefore, know, that at the moment of death, they, having passed their life under the lordship of the Devil (not that they were forced to do so, for as I told you they cannot be forced, but they voluntarily put themselves into his hands), and, arriving at the extremity of their death under this perverse lordship, they await no other judgment than that of their own conscience, and desperately, despairingly, come to eternal damnation. Wherefore Hell, through their hate, surges up to them in the extremity of death, and before they get there, they take hold of it, by means of their lord the Devil.

 

As the righteous, who have lived in charity and died in love, if they have lived perfectly in virtue, illuminated with the light of faith, with perfect hope in the Blood of the Lamb, when the extremity of death comes, see the good which I have prepared for them, and embrace it with the arms of love, holding fast with pressure of love to Me, the Supreme and Eternal Good. And so they taste eternal life before they have left the mortal body, that is, before the soul be separated from the body. Others who have passed their lives, and have arrived at the last extremity of death with an ordinary charity (not in that great perfection), embrace My mercy with the same light of faith and hope that had those perfect ones, but, in them, it is imperfect, for, because they were imperfect, they constrained My mercy, counting My mercy greater than their sins. The wicked sinners do the contrary, for, seeing, with desperation, their destination, they embrace it with hatred, as I told you. So that neither the one nor the other waits for judgment, but, in departing this life, they receive every one their place, as I have told you, and they taste it and possess it before they depart from the body, at the extremity of death -- the damned with hatred and with despair, and the perfect ones with love and the light of faith and with the hope of the Blood. And the imperfect arrive at the place of Purgatory, with mercy and the same faith.”

 

The Dialog of St. Catherine of Siena

A Treatise of Discretion (pp. 47-48)

 

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NOVENA OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL

 

“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.
V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
O God, Who did instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise, and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

O Mary, conceived without sin,

pray for us who have recourse to thee.

(3 times)

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who have vouchsafed to glorify by numberless miracles the Blessed Virgin Mary, immaculate from the first moment of her conception, grant that all who devoutly implore her protection on earth, may eternally enjoy Your presence in heaven, Who, with the Father and Holy Spirit, live and reign, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who for the accomplishment of Your greatest works, have chosen the weak things of the world, that no flesh may glory in Your sight; and Who for a better and more widely diffused belief in the Immaculate Conception of Your Mother, have wished that the Miraculous Medal be manifested to Saint Catherine Labouré, grant, we beseech You, that filled with like humility, we may glorify this mystery by word and work. Amen.

~ * * * ~

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence, we fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother; to thee do we come; before thee we stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer them. Amen.

~ * * * ~

Novena Prayer

O Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of Our Lord Jesus and our Mother, penetrated with the most lively confidence in thy all-powerful and never-failing intercession, manifested so often through the Miraculous Medal, we thy loving and trustful children implore thee to obtain for us the graces and favors we ask during this Novena, if they be beneficial to our immortal souls, and the souls for whom we pray.

“For all who have asked for my prayers,
for all of their needs…
and for the intentions in their hearts.”

(State your intention here.)

You know, O Mary, how often our souls have been the sanctuaries of your Son, Who hates iniquity. Obtain for us then, a deep hatred of sin and that purity of heart which will attach us to God alone, so that our every thought, word and deed may tend to His greater glory. Obtain for us also, a spirit of prayer and self-denial that we may recover by penance what we have lost by sin, and at length attain to that blessed abode where you are the Queen of angels and of men. Amen.

~ * * * ~

An Act of Consecration to

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

O Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate, we dedicate and consecrate ourselves to you under the title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. May this Medal be for each one of us a sure sign of your affection for us and a constant reminder of our duties toward you. Ever while wearing it, may we be blessed by your loving protection and preserved in the grace of your Son.
O most powerful Virgin, Mother of our Savior, keep us close to you every moment of our lives. Obtain for us, your children, the grace of a happy death; so that, in union with you, we may enjoy the bliss of heaven forever. Amen.

O Mary, conceived without sin,

pray for us who have recourse to thee.

(3 times)

“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Order your blessed Miraculous Medal

directly from the National Shrine
http://www.amm.org/store.aspx?categoryid=13&panel=1

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SPIRITUAL WARFARE

“For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.” (Ephesians 6:12)

 

“Know that you are now on a great stage where all heaven and earth are watching you. Fight like a knight, so that I can reward you. Do not be unduly fearful, because you are not alone.” _ Diary of St. Faustina (1760)  

The Rosary is our weapon against the world, the flesh, the Devil and his evil spirits. And living a Sacramental life [Daily Mass (when possible) and frequent Confession] is the best defense we have against the enemy.

POWER OF THE BLESSING

Evil spirits often speak, rant and rave through people. The good news is that we have the power to silence them. When these spiritual attacks occur, immediately respond with a blessing:

“Lord Jesus, please bless this person / 

these people.”

“Lord Jesus, please bless everyone

in this house.”

- etcetera -

The blessing will drive the evil spirits away, and the person will become quiet. (It may take a few moments for the person to calm down, but you will have defused the situation.) When we bless those who curse us, deliverance occurs.

When entering a building

(house, office, store, church…)

Or a car, bus, train, plane…

ALWAYS ASK JESUS TO BLESS EVERYONE.

“Lord Jesus, please bless everyone 

in this place.”

“Lord Jesus, please bless everyone 

I come in contact with.”

This will prevent the enemy from using others against you. Evil spirits cause people to behave badly. But you can protect yourself.

Before answering the phone

and before making a call,

ALWAYS ASK JESUS TO BLESS
THE PHONE CALL -- TO BLESS
THE PERSON ON THE OTHER END.

“Lord Jesus, please bless

this phone call.”

“Lord Jesus, please bless _____ 

(the person you are calling).”

This will prevent the enemy from interfering with your conversation. Evil spirits cause confusion, misunderstandings, arguments… But you can protect yourself.

http://catholicdeliverance.blogspot.com/2011/08/respond-with-blessing.html

 

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PLEADING THE BLOOD OF JESUS

(APPLYING THE BLOOD OF JESUS)

A Defensive Prayer for Protection

“I plead the Blood of Jesus on 

my spouse and children.” 

“I plead the Blood of Jesus on 

my family, home and property.” 

“I plead the Blood of Jesus on 

my church and on all church property.” 

- etcetera - 

Evil spirits, and people under their influence, will avoid everything covered with the Blood of Jesus.

An Offensive Spiritual Weapon for Deliverance

“I plead the Blood of Jesus on my mind. 

I plead the Blood of Jesus on 

every thought in my mind.” 

“I plead the Blood of Jesus on

my body.”

“I plead the Blood of Jesus on 

every evil spirit attacking my mind 

and body.” 

“I plead the Blood of Jesus on

the air and atmosphere in this place.”

Use this spiritual weapon when you are harassed by impure thoughts, attacked with strong temptation, tempted to commit sin… when thoughts distract you during Mass, interfere with your prayer life, torment you during the night, preventing a good sleep… when you are afflicted with depressive or obsessive-compulsive thoughts… when your thoughts falsely accuse you of wrongdoing… when your thoughts are overly critical of yourself… when your thoughts become confused or “out of control”… when your thoughts are not your own…

http://catholicdeliverance.blogspot.com/2011/08/our-secret-weapon.html

 

 

St. Faustina Kowalska

From the Diary of St. Faustina, “Divine Mercy in My Soul”: Conference on Spiritual Warfare, Cracow-Pradnik

June 2, 1938 _ “My daughter, I want to teach you about spiritual warfare. Never trust in yourself, but abandon yourself totally to My Will. In desolation, darkness and various doubts, have recourse to Me and to your spiritual director. He will always answer you in My Name. Do not bargain with any temptation; lock yourself immediately in My Heart and, at the first opportunity, reveal the temptation to the confessor. Put your self-love in the last place, so that it does not taint your deeds. Bear with yourself with great patience. Do not neglect interior mortifications. Always justify to yourself the opinions of your superiors and of your confessor. Shun murmurers like a plague. Let all act as they like; you are to act as I want you to.

Observe the rule as faithfully as you can. If someone causes you trouble, think what good you can do for the person who caused you to suffer. Do not pour out your feelings. Be silent when you are rebuked. Do not ask everyone’s opinion, but only the opinion of your confessor; be as frank and simple as a child with him. Do not become discouraged by ingratitude. Do not examine with curiosity the roads down which I lead you. When boredom and discouragement beat against your heart, run away from yourself and hide in My Heart. Do not fear struggle; courage itself often intimidates temptations, and they dare not attack us.

Always fight with the deep conviction that I am with you. Do not be guided by feeling, because it is not always under your control; but all merit lies in the will. Always depend upon your superiors, even in the smallest things. I will not delude you with prospects of peace and consolations; on the contrary, prepare for great battles. Know that you are now on a great stage where all heaven and earth are watching you. Fight like a knight, so that I can reward you. Do not be unduly fearful, because you are not alone.” (1760)

 

_______________

BEGINNING OF SORROWS

It is the end of an era,
and the beginning of sorrows.

Statue of Mary Survives Hurricane Sandy

At Fatima (1917) and at La Salette (1840s), the Blessed Virgin Mary was sent by God to warn that all humanity will suffer an increase in natural and man-made disasters, a Great Apostasy, God’s Justice and Divine Wrath, due to the increase of sin in the world. Our Lady comes to urgently call us to repentance, conversion, prayer and penance, that some of God’s Justice may be averted. But time is running out.

Cova da Iria, Fatima (July 13, 1917) _ Three shepherd children “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!’…” 

_ From the third part of the “secret” of Fatima, committed to paper by Sister Lucia (January 3, 1944)

Question: Is it within God’s permissive will to allow the use of weapons of mass destruction (“man’s inhumanity to man”) to punish mankind?

Answer: “The angel with the flaming sword represents the threat of judgment which looms over the world. Today the prospect that the world might be reduced to ashes by a sea of fire no longer seems pure fantasy: man himself, with his inventions, has forged the flaming sword.” _ Pope Benedict XVI

“And let us not say that it is God Who is punishing us in this way; on the contrary it is people themselves who are preparing their own punishment. In His kindness God warns us and calls us to the right path, while respecting the freedom He has given us; hence people are responsible.” _ Sister Lucia, Fatima visionary, in a letter to Pope John Paul II (May 12, 1982)

This threat of judgment loomed over the world in 1917. We have been given almost one hundred years -- a century of Divine Mercy. But we now live in the darkest of days. We now live in a world begging for purification…

“I (Jesus) do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart. I use punishment when they themselves force Me to do so; My hand is reluctant to take hold of the sword of justice. Before the Day of Justice I am sending the Day of Mercy.” (1588) “He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice…” (1146) _ From the Diary of St. Faustina, “Divine Mercy in My Soul”

“And so the Church has a profound need 
to re-learn penance,
to accept purification, 
to learn on the one hand forgiveness
but also the necessity of justice.
And forgiveness does not substitute justice.”
Pope Benedict XVI, During his flight to Fatima (May 11, 2010)

Today, the earth groans under the weight of man’s sins and cries out in a loud voice: “Purification, Purification, Purification!” It is now midnight; it is the end of an age, when man begins to reap the full harvest of what he has sown. The Purification has come, and there is terrible Chastisement on the horizon.

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that the Antichrist was coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. Thus we know this is the last hour. (1 John 2:18)

The current “global climate of fear” is understandable. For those who do not have faith in Jesus Christ, there is only fear. Fear is all they know. 

 

It is the beginning of sorrows... as global and regional chastisements befall us: “Prepare, Prepare, Prepare!” 

• We need to be in a “state of grace” and “Sacramentally” fortified. (We need to be free of mortal sin through frequent Confession and, when possible, daily Mass.)
• We need to live according to God’s will. (We need to obey the Ten Commandments, submit to rightful spiritual authority, and follow all the teachings of the Catholic Church.)
• We need to pray more, and fast. (Prayer changes things, and the Rosary is a Powerful weapon against the enemy.)
• We need to forgive -- everyone. (Un-forgiveness is a block to receiving God’s grace.)

“An age is coming to an end, not just the end of a remarkable century but the end of seventeen hundred years of Christendom. The greatest apostasy since the birth of the Church is clearly far advanced all around us.” _ Dr. Ralph Martin, Consultor to the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization

Let no one deceive you in any way… the apostasy comes first and (then) the lawless one is revealed… (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

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DELIVERANCE AND INNER HEALING

 

Many Protestant deliverance ministers behave as though freedom from the demonic is the ultimate objective. One of these once told me, “I’ll have you know that I am ‘triple-mantled’ for deliverance.” I don’t even know what that means.

Deliverance is part of God’s healing ministry. And deliverance -- apart from inner healing -- is abuse. The ultimate objective should be “inner healing and wholeness.”

“Nature abhors a vacuum.” The same is true in the spiritual realm. Deliverance from evil spirits creates a “spiritual vacuum.” Therefore, the immediate need (for one who is already baptized) is for the “infilling of the Holy Spirit” and prayer for “inner healing.” Then, through Daily Eucharist and frequent Confession, one will continue to be healed and become more whole. Sanctifying Grace received in the Sacraments fills the “spiritual vacuum.”

~ * * * ~

Some time ago, I came to realize that many of the healings I witness are, in fact, deliverances. A woman once exclaimed, “When you prayed for me, I felt something lift!” It was an oppressing spirit that left her -- because of the anointing (that is, the charism of healing).

For some cases, all that is required is a touch and a prayer; other cases require some spiritual warfare. And all that is required of me are simple commands “in the Name of Jesus,” as inspired by the Holy Spirit. [I do not perform exorcisms. Only a priest may perform an exorcism -- and only with the permission of his Bishop.] It is this charism that causes demons to manifest, and ultimately leave.

The charism that heals also delivers!

San Francisco, CA (September 1990)

_ I attended a Mario Murillo Crusade where I (a Catholic layman) was welcomed to pray for people in the ministry tent. One night I was led to three women. As I approached, one of them became silent and lowered her head. When I looked into her face, I saw her eyes “roll backward” into her skull. Only the white of her eyes could be seen.

The woman was possessed -- but the demons did not begin to manifest until I approached her. It was the presence of the anointing (the charism) that caused these demons to manifest.

This was my “introduction” to the deliverance side of God’s healing ministry. [God is in control, and I do my part.] I followed the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, and the woman was set free.

Days later, I was informed that this woman was one of two lesbians who had made a “suicide pact” with the Devil. That night, she had planned to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge -- but God intervened, and led her to the Crusade (below the bridge) where He had placed me.

Diocese of Arlington, VA (October 2010)

_ After a healing service in Northern Virginia, a psychotherapist asked me to pray with her patients. Then she took me to see one of her patients believed to be a “locutionist.” [A locution is a form of private revelation, similar to an apparition, but rather than being seen a locution is heard or received internally.]

The locutions were convincing -- but diabolical. The woman’s psychotherapist suspected demonic possession, and an exorcism had been approved and scheduled. I had been invited to participate in this exorcism, but the invitation was withdrawn because of liability concerns. Later, I was told the exorcism had been cancelled.

As we approached a large house in the suburbs, a woman yelled from the front door, “They know you’re coming!” The woman invited us into her home and proudly showed us her “shrine” -- a beautiful display of holy icons and statues… She was a nice lady, and it was obvious that she was a devout Catholic. But when she began to speak about Jesus, I heard the mocking voice of a demon!

I interrupted with the command, “In the Name of Jesus, evil spirit shut up!” And immediately, the woman became silent. I remember the surprised look on the doctor’s face.

I asked the woman to sit down, and we began to pray. I asked the doctor to pray the Rosary while I prayed for deliverance and inner-healing. [Once delivered, a man once said that he could feel the Power of the Rosary -- during the war for his soul!]

After two 3-hour sessions, the woman was free. And when the doctor asked me about the diabolical locutions, I told her to burn them.

~ * * * ~

Once delivered from evil spirits, there is no going back to the former (sinful) way of life. One is now called to “a life of holiness” -- a life centered on the Holy Eucharist. This is now very important -- because the evil spirits will return!

“When an unclean (evil) spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that person is worse than the first.” (Luke 11:24-26)

[“When the assault of demons (evil spirits) is repulsed, the devil is not rendered incapable of further attack. But it seems that he cannot return immediately to the assault, but only after the lapse of a definite time.” _ St. Thomas Aquinas, The Summa Theologica]

When evil spirits return and find their (former) home Spirit-filled and Sacramentally fortified, they cannot “move in and dwell there.” All doors are closed; all permission (consent) is revoked.

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ORIGINAL PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

VISION OF POPE LEO XIII

One day, after celebrating Mass, the aged Pope Leo XIII was in conference with the Cardinals when suddenly he sank to the floor in a deep swoon. Physicians who hastened to his side could find no trace of his pulse and feared that he had expired. However, after a short interval the Holy Father regained consciousness and exclaimed with great emotion: “Oh, what a horrible picture I have been permitted to see!”

He had been shown a vision of evil spirits who had been released from Hell and their efforts to destroy the Church. But in the midst of the horror the Archangel St. Michael appeared and cast Satan and his legions into the abyss of hell. Soon afterwards Pope Leo XIII composed the following prayer to Saint Michael.

PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

(The Original Version)

“O Glorious Prince of the heavenly host, St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle and in the terrible warfare that we are waging against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the evil spirits. Come to the aid of man, whom Almighty God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of Satan.

Fight this day the battle of the Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist thee, nor was there place for them any longer in Heaven. That cruel, ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels. Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of His Christ, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. This wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity.

These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the spouse of the immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on her most sacred possessions. In the Holy Place itself, where the See of Holy Peter and the Chair of Truth has been set up as the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety, with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck, the sheep may be.

Arise then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and give them the victory. They venerate thee as their protector and patron; in thee holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious power of hell; to thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude. Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly find mercy in the sight of the Lord; and vanquishing the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, do thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen.

V. Behold the Cross of the Lord; be scattered ye hostile powers.

R. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered the root of David.

V. Let Thy mercies be upon us, O Lord.

R. As we have hoped in Thee.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray.

O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy Name, and as supplicants, we implore Thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin Immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious St. Michael the Archangel, Thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all the other unclean spirits who wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls. Amen.”

Originally published in the Roman Raccolta of July 23, 1898

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THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

“Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” (Mark 3:28-30)

This sin (blasphemy against the Holy Spirit) is called an everlasting sin because it attributes to Satan, who is the power of evil, what is actually the work of the Holy Spirit, namely, victory over the demons. (NAB)

“Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:31-32)

“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” (Luke 12:10)

 

Saint Augustine explains the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit to be “final impenitence” -- that is, dying in a state of un-repentance. The refusal to repent of mortal sin, even at the moment of one’s death, is absolutely opposed to the remission of sins. (Until death, it is possible to repent of any sin, renounce evil, and embrace the One True Faith.)

Refusal to accept the salvation 

which God offers to man.

(Pope) Saint John Paul II

Dominum et Vivificantem

On the Holy Spirit in the Life of the Church
and the World

#6 -- The Sin Against the Holy Spirit 
46) …(W)hoever rejects (the “convincing concerning sin” which comes from) the Spirit and the (redemptive power of Christ’s) Blood remains in “dead works,” in sin. And the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit consists precisely in the radical refusal to accept this forgiveness… If Jesus says that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven either in this life or in the next, it is because this “non-forgiveness” is linked, as to its cause, to “non-repentance,” in other words to the radical refusal to be converted… Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, then, is the sin committed by the person who claims to have a “right” to persist in evil -- in any sin at all -- and who thus rejects Redemption. One closes oneself up in sin, thus making impossible one’s conversion, and consequently the remission of sins, which one considers not essential or not important for one’s life. This is a state of spiritual ruin, because blasphemy against the Holy Spirit does not allow one to escape from one’s self-imposed imprisonment and open oneself to the divine sources of the purification of consciences and of the remission of sins.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_18051986_dominum-et-vivificantem_en.html

~ * * * ~

“Be not afraid of your Savior, O sinful soul. I make the first move to come to you, for I know that by yourself you are unable to lift yourself to Me. Child, do not run away from your Father; be willing to talk openly with your God of mercy Who wants to speak words of pardon and lavish His graces on you. How dear your soul is to Me! I have inscribed your name upon My hand; you are engraved as a deep wound in My Heart.”

…“My mercy is greater than your sins and those of the entire world. Who can measure the extent of My goodness? For you I descended from heaven to earth; for you I allowed Myself to be nailed to the Cross; for you I let My Sacred Heart be pierced with a lance, thus opening wide the Source of mercy for you. Come, then, with trust to draw graces from this fountain. I never reject a contrite heart. Your misery has disappeared in the depths of My mercy. Do not argue with Me about your wretchedness. You will give Me pleasure if you hand over to Me all your troubles and grief. I shall heap upon you the treasures of My grace...” 

Jesus -to- Saint Faustina, “Divine Mercy in My Soul” (1485)

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HELL EXISTS!

“For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?” (Mark 8:36)

Souls of the Damned in Hell being Tormented by Demons

I remember thinking:

“A fire that consumes without destroying.”

And then the Holy Spirit responded,

“Like the burning bush.”

Moses and the Burning Bush

Jesus often speaks of “Gehenna” of “the unquenchable fire” reserved for those who to the end of their lives refuse to believe and be converted, where both soul and body can be lost. (Matthew 5:22,29;10:28;13:42,50 / Mark 9:43-48) Jesus solemnly proclaims that He “will send His angels, and they will gather… all evil doers, and throw them into the furnace of fire,” (Matthew 13:41-42) and that He will pronounce the condemnation: “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire!” (Matthew 25:41)

The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of Hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, “eternal fire.” The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in Whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.

… Since we know neither the day nor the hour, we should follow the advice of the Lord and watch constantly so that, when the single course of our earthly life is completed, we may merit to enter with Him into the marriage feast and be numbered among the blessed, and not, like the wicked and slothful servants, be ordered to depart into the eternal fire, into the outer darkness where “men will weep and gnash their teeth.” (Matthew 22:13; 25:13,26,30,31-46 / Hebrews 9:27)

[Catechism of the Catholic Church: 1034 - 1036]

THE “LAKE OF FIRE” IN REVELATION

IS “SYMBOLIC” OF GOD’S PUNISHMENT

And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire; and if any one’s name was not found written in the book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:14-15)

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)

ONE TORTURE IN HELL IS

A PURELY “SPIRITUAL” FIRE

THAT CONSUMES WITHOUT DESTROYING

St. John Paul II - Divine Mercy image - St. Faustina

Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska
“Divine Mercy in My Soul”
(Notebook 2, Paragraph 741)

Today, I was led by an Angel to the chasms of Hell. It is a place of great torture; how awesomely large and extensive it is! The kinds of tortures I saw: the first torture that constitutes hell is the loss of God; the second is perpetual remorse of conscience; the third is that one’s condition will never change; the fourth (torture) is the fire that will penetrate the soul without destroying it -- a terrible suffering, since it is a purely spiritual fire, lit by God’s anger; the fifth torture is continual darkness and a terrible suffocating smell, and, despite the darkness, the devils and the souls of the damned see each other and all the evil, both of others and their own; the sixth torture is the constant company of Satan; the seventh torture is horrible despair, hatred of God, vile words, curses and blasphemies. These are the tortures suffered by all the damned together, but that is not the end of the sufferings. There are special tortures destined for particular souls. These are the torments of the senses. Each soul undergoes terrible and indescribable sufferings, related to the manner in which it has sinned. There are caverns and pits of torture where one form of agony differs from another. I would have died at the very sight of these tortures if the omnipotence of God had not supported me. Let the sinner know that he will be tortured throughout all eternity, in those senses which he made use of to sin. I am writing this at the command of God, so that no soul may find an excuse by saying there is no hell, or that nobody has ever been there, and so no one can say what it is like.

I, Sister Faustina, by the order of God, have visited the abysses of hell so that I might tell souls about it and testify to its existence. I cannot speak about it now; but I have received a command from God to leave it in writing. The devils were full of hatred for me, but they had to obey me at the command of God. What I have written is but a pale shadow of the things I saw. But I noticed one thing: that most of the souls there are those who disbelieved that there is a hell. When I came to, I could hardly recover from the fright. How terribly souls suffer there! Consequently, I pray even more fervently for the conversion of sinners. I incessantly plead God's mercy upon them. O my Jesus, I would rather be in agony until the end of the world, amidst the greatest sufferings, than offend You by the least sin.

“O my Jesus, forgive us our sins,

save us from the fires of Hell,

lead all souls to Heaven,

especially those who are in most need of 
Thy mercy.”

Prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima

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FOUR PRINCIPAL TORMENTS IN HELL

 

Dictated by St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) during a state of ecstasy while in dialog with God the Father.

 

Of the four principal torments of the damned, from which follow all the others; and particularly of the foulness of the Devil.

“My daughter, the tongue is not sufficient to narrate the pain of these poor souls. As there are three principal vices, namely: self-love, whence proceeds the second, that is love of reputation, whence proceeds the third, that is pride, with injustice and cruelty, and with other filthiness and iniquitous sins, that follow upon these. So I say to you, that in Hell, the souls have four principal torments, out of which proceed all the other torments. The first is, that they see themselves deprived of the vision of Me, which is such pain to them, that, were it possible, they would rather choose the fire, and the tortures and torments, and to see Me, than to be without the torments and not to see Me.

This first pain revives in them, then, the second, the worm of Conscience, which gnaws unceasingly, seeing that the soul is deprived of Me, and of the conversation of the angels, through her (his) sin, made worthy of the conversation and sight of the devils, which vision of the Devil is the third pain and redoubles to them their every toil. As the saints exult in the sight of Me, refreshing themselves with joyousness in the fruit of their toils borne for Me with such abundance of love, and displeasure of themselves, so does the sight of the Devil revive these wretched ones to torments, because in seeing him they know themselves more, that is to say, they know that, by their own sin, they have made themselves worthy of him. And so the worm of Conscience gnaws more and more, and the fire of this Conscience never ceases to burn. And the sight is more painful to them, because they see him in his own form, which is so horrible that the heart of man could not imagine it. And if you remember well, you know that I showed him to you in his own form for a little space of time, hardly a moment, and you chose (after you had returned to yourself) rather to walk on a road of fire, even until the Day of Judgment, than to see him again. With all this that you have seen, even you do not know well how horrible he is, because, by Divine justice, he appears more horrible to the soul that is deprived of Me, and more or less according to the gravity of her (his) sin. The fourth torment that they have is the fire. This fire burns and does not consume, for the being of the soul cannot be consumed, because it is not a material thing that fire can consume. But I, by Divine justice, have permitted the fire to burn them with torments, so that it torments them, without consuming them, with the greatest pains in diverse ways according to the diversity of their sins, to some more, and to some less, according to the gravity of their fault. Out of these four torments issue all others, such as cold and heat and gnashing of the teeth and many others. Now because they did not amend themselves after the first reproof that they had of injustice and false judgment, neither in the second, which was that, in death, they would not hope in Me, nor grieve for the offense done to Me, but only for their own pain, have they thus so miserably received Eternal Punishment.”

The Dialog of Saint Catherine of Siena

A Treatise of Discretion (pp. 42-43)

 

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CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE OF END-TIMES PROPHECY

 

The Catholic Church Uniquely Has Divine Insight into Apocalyptic Events; Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Prophecy That Apocalyptic Events Are Imminent; And That There Will Soon Be a Great Renewal of the World.

Dr. Kelly Bowring, Catholic theologian

Many Catholics believe that the world is about to experience the real events of the fulfillment of Apocalyptic prophesies. The Catholic Church has regarded end-times prophecies as authentic and many Catholics acknowledge that we are likely now living in the times of their fulfillment. But, the Catholic perspective of the fulfillment of Apocalyptic events is not one that thinks the world will soon end, but one that promises a Great New Beginning and an Era of Peace, which will occur through a Global Purification and Great Apocalyptic Battle of Good Versus Evil.

The Catholic Church bases its Apocalyptic prophesies on claims from a Heavenly source: the Blessed Virgin Mary. In Our Lady’s messages given to visionaries at Fatima (1917), La Salette (1840s) and reportedly today at Medjugorje, Catholics believe Mary has come to warn her children that humanity is about to suffer an increase in natural and man-made disasters, a Great Apostasy, and God’s Justice and Divine Wrath, due to the increase of sin in the world today.

Catholics see the “Woman” of the Book of Revelation (chapter 12) as referring to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. John the Apostle as indicating that she would have a significant role in the Great Battle against the Dragon of the Apocalypse as humanity approaches the Time of the Apocalypse.

And now in our times, Mary is coming from Heaven as the Prophetess of Revelation to warn humanity of the Great Cosmic Battle and Divine Purification to come. Mary is coming to call her spiritual children to change their lives (Repentance), return to God (Conversion), and offer prayers and sacrifices so that some of God’s Justice may be averted while there is still time.

In a Church-approved Apparition to a Catholic nun at Akita, Japan (1970s), the Blessed Virgin Mary said:

“As I told you, if men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge (Noah’s Flood), such as one will never have seen before. Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful. The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead.”

God is about to fulfill this prophecy. “The cup is now flowing over.”

Catholics understand that the Blessed Virgin Mary has been sent by God to warn all humanity and to offer us hope. In reported Marian Apparitions from Garabandal, Spain (1960s), the Blessed Mother said that before the Time of the Divine Chastisement, God will first send Two Great Signs of His Mercy to warn humanity. The first will be a World-Wide Warning. Every person on earth will find themselves all alone in the world no matter where they are at the time, alone with their conscience right before God. They will then see all their sins and what their sins have caused. The purpose of the Warning will be to wake us up and call us to repent of our sins. Second, and within a year of the Warning, God will send a Great Miracle that will include a Permanent Sign of His Presence and Mercy. The purpose of the Miracle is to show us the love God has for us and to convert the whole world. Then the Apocalyptic events will soon follow, according to Catholic prophecy.

[The Catholic perspective is that these Apocalyptic events will occur in this generation, and soon.]

From Heaven, God has sent the Blessed Virgin Mary to warn all who will listen, the Times of the Apocalypse are upon us, and they will lead us to the Great Era of Peace as promised at Fatima.

__ “The Secrets, Chastisement, and Triumph of the Two Hearts of Jesus & Mary,” Imprimatur: Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, Archbishop of the Philippines

 

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MEDAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

A.K.A., THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL

The Blessed Virgin herself designed the Miraculous Medal -- the Medal of the Immaculate Conception. And extraordinary graces are received by those who wear it around the neck and pray for Mary’s intercession and help.

“O Mary conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee.”

 

The Meaning of the Front Side of 

the Miraculous Medal

 

Mary is standing upon a globe, crushing the head of a serpent beneath her feet. She stands upon the globe, as Queen of Heaven and Earth. Her feet crush the serpent to proclaim that Satan and all his followers are helpless before her (Genesis 3:15). The year of 1830 on the Miraculous Medal is the year the Blessed Mother gave the design of the Miraculous Medal to Saint Catherine Labouré. The reference to Mary “conceived without sin” supports the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary -- not to be confused with the virgin birth of Jesus, and referring to Mary’s sinlessness, “full of grace” and “blessed among women” (Luke 1:28) -- that was proclaimed 24 years later in 1854.

The Meaning of the Back Side of 
the Miraculous Medal

The twelve stars can refer to the Apostles, who represent the entire Church as it surrounds Mary. They also recall the vision of Saint John in which “a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars” (Revelation 12:1). The cross can symbolize Christ and our redemption, with the bar under the cross symbolizing the earth. The “M” stands for Mary, and the interleaving of her initial and the cross shows Mary’s close involvement with Jesus and our world. In this, we see Mary’s part in our salvation and her role as Mother of the Church. The Two Hearts represent the love of Jesus and Mary for us. (See also Luke 2:35.)

With approval of the Church, the first Medals were made in 1832 and were distributed in Paris. Almost immediately the blessings that Mary had promised began to shower down on those who wore her Medal: marvels of grace and health, peace and prosperity.

There is no superstition, nothing of magic, connected with the Miraculous Medal. Rather, it is a great testimony to faith and the power of trusting prayer. Its greatest miracles are those of patience, forgiveness, repentance, and faith.

To enroll someone in the Association of

The Miraculous Medal

http://www.amm.org/MemberServices/index.aspx

 

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