America Needs Fatima Public Square Rosary

America Needs Fatima / Church Bulletin ^ | 10-09-2013 | mlizzy

[mlizzy]

Got to remember that the last recorded words of Mary was at Cana, in which Jesus did His first miracle and goes by this: “do as He tells you.”

Mary spoke to St. Dominic about the Rosary; she spoke at Fatima in this regard too.

Exchange between Sister Lucia and Fr. H. Rafferty, August 15, 1950:

Fr.: Did Our Lady of Mount Carmel come at Fatima?
Lucia: Oh, yes Father, she did.
Fr.: Why did Our Lady come that way? … What did she mean?
Lucia: She meant that we should wear the scapular….
Fr.: Everyone in America believes there are four conditions of the Fatima message. First of all, we are to say the rosary every day. Secondly, we are to offer the sacrifices of our daily lives. Thirdly, we are to make communions of reparations on First Saturdays. Finally, we are to consecrate ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Lucia: Oh, there is one more condition–the wearing of the scapular–the symbol of our consecration….
Fr.: Which is more important: the saying of the daily rosary or the wearing of the scapular all of the time?
Lucia: Father, the rosary and the scapular are inseparable. You cannot have one without having the other.

[Biggirl]

I should have said, last words Mary said in the Bible. Early morning brain trying to wake up.

[mlizzy]

Early morning brain trying to wake up.

Been there myself; sometimes "all" day.. -lol-

Do you believe it's okay to pray the rosary, or do you think it is a form of worship towards her [and not Jesus]...

[Boogieman]

“So, you honor the Lord but have no love for Him?”

Did I say that? No. So why are you trying to play word games? As I said, they are two separate things, and the devotion is the issue, not love.

“Yes, there is. Do you love those people or not? Have any pictures of them around the house? Ever celebrate their birthdays, anniversaries, accomplishments, etc.?”

There’s no equivalency. I am not engaging in any acts of religious devotion, no dulia, hyperdulia, latria, or whatever else you want to call it.

“If you can do those things for your family AND LOVE THEM TOO OF COURSE and yet also love Jesus, then you have room for saints in your life too.”

Stop trying to confuse the issue. Love and religious devotion are two separate things. All religious devotion belongs to God, and Scripture states many times that He is a jealous God, and that ALL glory and praise belongs to Him, and Him alone. If you want to argue with that, take it up with God. Arguing with me won’t accomplish anything, because I didn’t make the rules.

[Boogieman]

Speaking of scapulars, let’s not forget this little nugget:

“On July 16, 1251, Mary appeared to him surrounded by angels and holding in her hands the brown scapular of the Carmelite habit. “This shall be a privilege for you and for all Carmelites: whoever dies clothed in this shall not suffer eternal fire, rather, he shall be saved,” she promised.”

http://www.carmelitedcj.org/saints/scapular.asp

So apparently, the rest of us are suckers for trying to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We could just wear a magic cloth totem and not have to worry! /s

[Biggirl]

It is using scripture in prayer.

[mlizzy]

I’m only human, and there are only so many hours in the day. Once I feel I have sufficiently honored the Lord with all the devotion he deserves, then maybe I will see if I have any left to spare for mere men. So far, I haven’t given Him his due yet.

There are few, if any, Christians who give Christ His "due" daily. One gets bored, or caught up with the many distractions of life. That's the beauty of the angels and saints, or as you call them, "mere men."

For instance, a practicing Catholic, who loves St. Therese of Lisieux...

As she was dying in the convent infirmary, Therese could look out and see the rose bushes blossoming. She loved roses. She had thrown rose petals as a Child before the Blessed Sacrament. As she reflected on her quiet, hidden, and gentle life ending, she believed in faith that God had great things in store for her. She believed that her mission was only beginning as she entered the fullness of life with God. She explained: "After my death, I will let fall a shower of roses. I will spend my heaven doing good upon earth. I will raise up a mighty host of little saints. My mission is to make God loved..." --Society of the Little Flower

might be going for a walk and spot roses growing beautifully in someone's lawn. Her reaction might well be a smile thinking of the "Little Flower," her suffering for Christ, her continual "little way" of loving her spouse. And in the blink of an eye, this woman going for a stroll, is then thinking of Jesus. When there are over 10,000 saints, can you see how one can better keep their mind on Christ all day long?

[mlizzy]

So apparently, the rest of us are suckers for trying to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

The scapular would seem odd to anyone not of the Catholic faith, I would imagine. I know I thought it was when I was first dating my boyfriend [now my husband] in 1984. I've never known him to "not" wear a scapular, though. It's very important to him. I wear one too, but not with the same resolve as my husband, however, I'm always working to correct that slight. :) Another wonderful sacramental to wear [or have on hand] is the Miraculous Medal. These are helpers, aids if you will, added insurance, to "fear and trembling." Can anyone ever have too big of a policy?

[smvoice]

Good news, mlizzy! I’ve decided NOT to “sully” your post with the obvious. Carry on being laden down with medals of distinction if they make you seem more “insured”. Yours is not a disgrace. Yet.:)

[Boogieman]

Sure, I can think of examples of various people and have them lead me to think of God, but that doesn’t justify me giving those people any religious devotion. Anything good they may have done wasn’t of their own merit anyway, so they don’t deserve any praise or honor for it.

[mlizzy]

Good news, mlizzy! I’ve decided NOT to “sully” your post with the obvious. Carry on...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79M0P74d6ZA

[Boogieman]

“These are helpers, aids if you will, added insurance, to “fear and trembling.” Can anyone ever have too big of a policy?”

Christ doesn’t need any helpers. He can save me perfectly well all by Himself.

[Salvation]

Prayers for The Religion Forum (Ecumenical)

[mlizzy]

Sure, I can think of examples of various people and have them lead me to think of God, but that doesn’t justify me giving those people any religious devotion. Anything good they may have done wasn’t of their own merit anyway, so they don’t deserve any praise or honor for it.

No saint has ever told anyone to praise him/her, and not Him. That's almost silly, actually, because they lived their lives for God entirely, and they went through all their sufferings (all saints suffered) for Him, to help bring people to His Cross whereby they could then heal.

The Church makes a big deal out of the saints, because Christ poured His everything into their beings. So to deny them, then, is in a way, to deny Christ.

[Iscool]

You didn’t want to get into that conversation, eh???

[mlizzy]

Christ doesn’t need any helpers. He can save me perfectly well all by Himself.

Jesus needs ALL the help He can get! :)

[Boogieman]

“No saint has ever told anyone to praise him/her, and not Him. That’s almost silly, actually, because they lived their lives for God entirely, and they went through all their sufferings (all saints suffered) for Him, to help bring people to His Cross whereby they could then heal.”

I agree it is silly. They wouldn’t want anyone to praise them. The writings of the apostles are self-deprecating to a fault.

“The Church makes a big deal out of the saints, because Christ poured His everything into their beings. So to deny them, then, is in a way, to deny Christ.”

Now, this is just nonsense. What am I denying these men, that they deserve? They do not deserve honor or praise, since they did nothing, of themselves, to merit it. So it cannot be that. So what is that I am improperly denying them?

[mlizzy]

What am I denying these men, that they deserve?

The suffering Christ within them.

You have heard of the stigmata, correct? Do you think it happens because the men and women who bore it, are stabbing themselves in the morning for effect? While this might be true for a very small percentage of those claiming the gift [i.e., they are not mentally competent], one would need to look at the whole of the person. See if he/she is working entirely for Christ. Some have said the stigmata represents an hysterical response. I'm not sure how that would work; it makes no sense to me, but that's what has been said.

A couple of saints who had received the stigmata:

Padre Pio
St. Gemma Galgani

[Boogieman]

“The suffering Christ within them.”

Hmm? This isn’t a sensible answer to me. I asked what I am denying that they deserve to be given. Christ is not something I have the power to give anyone, so I can’t be accuse of denying it to them.

“You have heard of the stigmata, correct? Do you think it happens because the men and women who bore it, are stabbing themselves in the morning for effect?”

Maybe. I don’t know the explanation, and I don’t really care. Seeking after signs and wonders is not what God told us to do. It’s inherently a risky proposition, since Satan and his demons have the power to counterfeit miracles as well.

[Boogieman]

No, Jesus is God, and God doesn’t have need of any help. That’s inherent in the definition of God. If God needed help, He wouldn’t be perfect, and so He wouldn’t be God.