FATIMA APPARATION MIRCLE
OF THE SUN 100TH
Psalm 119, Verse 74
Those who fear you rejoice to see
me, because I hope in your word.
How cheering is the sight of a man of God! How refreshing
his converse! How satisfactory and enlivening is the exhibition of his faith!
The goodness of God to one becomes thus the joy and comfort of all. What an
excitement is this to close communion with our God that the light which we thus
receive will shine on those around us! What a comfort will it be even in our
own hour of temptation, that the hope, which we may then be enabled to maintain
in the word of God, shall prove the stay, not only of our own souls, but of the
Lord's people! Many a desponding Christian, oppressed with such fears as this —
"I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul"—when he hears of one and
another exercised in the same trials, and who have hoped in God's word, and have
not been disappointed, will be glad when he sees them. Thus David recorded his conflicts
that we may not despair of our own; and his triumphs, that "in the name of
our God we might set up our banners." "I had fainted, unless I had
believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the
Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on
the Lord." Thus also, under affliction, he was comforted with the thought
of comforting others with the history of his own experience —"My Soul shall
make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O
praise the Lord with me, and let us magnify his name together. He hath put a
new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God. Many shall see it, and fear,
and shall trust in the Lord. Bring my soul out of prison, which I may praise
thy name; the righteous shall compass me about, for thou shalt deal bountifully
with me." In this view, the believer, who has been "sifted in the sieve"
of temptation, without the least "grain" of faith or hope
"falling upon the earth", stands forth as a monument of the Lord's
faithfulness, to strengthen the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees, and to
say to them that are of fearful heart, Be strong, fear not." Those that
are "fearful, and of little faith," are glad when they see him. They
"thank God" for him, and "take courage" for themselves.
What a motive is this to keep us from despondency; that, instead of destroying
by our unbelief, those who are already "cast down," we may enjoy the
privilege of upholding their confidence, and ministering to their comfort! And
how should the weak and distressed seek for and prize the society of those, who
have been instructed by the discipline of the Lord's school! Believer! What
have you to tell to your discouraged brethren of the faithfulness of your God?
Cannot you put courage into their hearts, by declaring that you have never been
"ashamed of your hope?" Cannot you tell them from your own
experience, that Jesus "is for a foundation-stone, a tried stone, a sure
foundation?" Cannot you show them, that, because he has borne the burden
of their sins, he is able to "bear their griefs, and to carry their
sorrows"? That you have tried him, and that you have found him so? Oh! Be
animated to know more of Christ yourself let your hope in him be strengthened,
that you may cause gladness in the hearts of those that, see you; so that,
"whether you be afflicted, or whether you be comforted, it may be for
their consolation and salvation." But, O my God! How much cause have I for
shame, that I impart so little of thy glorious light to those around me!
Perhaps some poor trembling sinner has been glad when he saw me, hoping to hear
something of the Savior from my lips, and has found me straitened, and cold,
and dumb. Oh! that I may be so "filled with the Spirit," so experienced
in thy heavenly ways, that I may invite "all that fear thee to come to me,"
that I may "declare what thou hast done for my soul" so that,
"when men are cast down, they may say, There is lifting up."[1]
"Do not fear: I am with you;
do not be anxious: I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."
– Isaiah 41:10
Today we ask for the intercession of Almighty God as wildfires rage in Northern California. Already, these blazes have killed over 20 people, destroyed hundreds of houses and other buildings, and forced thousands of individuals to leave their homes and livelihoods behind in uncertainty. High winds and dry conditions have greatly increased the danger for the people in this region. As brave men and women respond to these disasters, battling the fires and helping people to safety, we call upon God for improved weather, for the blessing of rain and favorable winds, to assist them. We pray that those who are missing or are still in harm's way will be found and protected. May God grant eternal rest to those who have died, and bring them into glory with him forever. We pray, too, for generosity, care, and concern from neighbors and surrounding communities for those who are grieving and displaced. Though we may be weary from all that has taken place around the country in recent days, we know that God cannot be outdone in generosity and charity. May he provide us with new wellsprings of love to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters who are hurting so deeply today.
Fatima[3]
During the night of 12-13 October it had rained throughout, soaking the ground and the pilgrims who make their way to Fátima from all directions by the thousands. By foot, by cart and even by car they came, entering the bowl of the Cova from the Fátima-Leiria road, which today still passes in front of the large square of the Basilica. From there they made their way down the gently slope to the place where a trestle had been erected over the little holm oak of the apparitions. Today on the site is the modern glass and steel Capelhina (little chapel), enclosing the first chapel built there and the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima where the holm oak had stood. As for the children, they made their way to the Cova amid the adulation and skepticism which had followed them since May. When they arrived they found critics who questioned their veracity and the punctuality of the Lady, who had promised to arrive at noon. It was well passed noon by the official time of the country. However, when the sun arrived at its zenith the Lady appeared as she had said she would.
"What do you want of me?"
I want a chapel built here in my honor. I want you to continue saying the Rosary every day. The war will end soon, and the soldiers will return to their homes.
"Yes. Yes."
"Will you tell me your name?"
I am the Lady of the Rosary.
"I have many petitions from many people. Will you grant them?"
Some I shall grant, and others I must deny. People must amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins. They must not offend our Lord any more, for He is already too much offended!
"And is that all you have to ask?"
There is nothing more.
As the Lady of the Rosary rises toward the east she turns the palms of her hands toward the dark sky. While the rain had stopped, dark clouds continued to obscure the sun, which suddenly bursts through them and is seen to be a soft spinning disk of silver.
"Look at the sun!"
From this point two distinct apparitions were seen, that of the phenomenon of the sun seen by the 70,000 or so spectators and that beheld by the children alone. Lucia describes the latter in her memoirs. After our Lady had disappeared into the immense distance of the firmament, we beheld St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed in white with a blue mantle, beside the sun. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus seemed to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands. When, a little later, this apparition disappeared, I saw Our Lord and Our lady; it seemed to me to that it was Our Lady of Sorrows (Dolors). Our Lord appeared to bless the world in the same manner as St. Joseph had done. This apparition also vanished, and I saw Our Lady once more, this time resembling Our Lady of Carmel. [Only Lucia would see the later, presaging her entrance into Carmel some years later.] This would be the last of the apparitions of Fátima for Jacinta and Francisco. However, for Lucia Our Lady would return a seventh time, in 1920, as she had promised the previous May. At that time Lucia would be praying in the Cova before leaving Fátima for a girls boarding school. The Lady would come to urge her to dedicate herself wholly to God. As the children viewed the various apparitions of Jesus, Mary and Joseph the crowd witnessed a different prodigy, the now famous miracle of the sun.
Fitness Friday[4]
Recognizing that God the
Father created man on Friday the 6th day I propose in this blog to
have an entry that shares on how to recreate and renew yourself in strength;
mind, soul and heart.
Be smart when sunbathing[5]
Everyone knows that a nice tan gives a healthy glow, so as soon as summer
comes we rush to enjoy sunbathing. However, the researches show that excessive
and irresposible sunbathing can cause skin problems including skin cancer.
Despite all potential threats to enjoy the sun, sunbathing can be healthy if
you take all measures to protect your skin from harmful sun rays. Here are some
tips for you when and how to enjoy the sun in order to get a healthy tan
without any trouble.
·
Everytime when you face the sun use a sunscreen
with SPF protection. Apply a sunscreen all over your body and face at least 30
minutes before sunbathing so that your skin could absorb the cream. When you
are in the sun reapply sunscreen every 30 minutes. Also don’t forget a
sunscreen to your lips as the yare very sensitive to the sun.
·
First time you shouldn’t stay in the sun for
more than 15 minutes. Let your skin to get used to the sun. Then you can
gradually increase the time you spend in the sun for 5-10 minutes every time.
·
Stay in the sun before the noon or just after 3
p.m. Time from 12 a.m. to 3 p.m. is the most dangerous because the sun causes
the most damage at this time.
·
Don’t forget to drink lots of water to avoid
dehydration. Make sure to wear sunglasses as the sun can violate your retina.
·
Moisturize your skin after sunbathing. The best
moisturizers contain aloe vera which has soothing properties and helps to
restore moisture balance of skin cells.
Daily Devotions/Prayers
Today is a Jewish feast day to celebrate the Torah (Bible): One wonders if Jesus and Mary danced on this feast day.
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