Posted on 10/13/2015 8:08:21 AM PDT by Salvation
This week on October 13 and 14th I am in Fatima. Such a profound apparition occurred there, and so accurately prophetic of our times!
Our Lady’s warnings of the consequences if we did not pray and convert have proven to be sadly accurate. She warned of another, more terrible war (World War II). She spoke of great lights in the sky that would serve as a final warning before the terrible war. (They appeared all over Europe just before Hitler invaded Poland, in the form of a stunning display of the Aurora Borealis.) She said that Russia would spread her errors, that the Church would have much to suffer, and she warned of a pope who would be struck down.
A final and belated prophecy from Fatima seems to have come in the form of a letter written by Sister Lucia to Cardinal Carlo Caffara. He had written to her asking for her prayers as he had been commissioned by Pope John Paul II to establish the Pontifical Institute for the Studies on Marriage and the Family. The year was 1981. According to Cardinal Caffara, she wrote back with the following:
[T]he final battle between the Lord and the reign of Satan will be about marriage and the family. Don’t be afraid, she added, because anyone who operates for the sanctity of marriage and the family will always be contended and opposed in every way, because this is the decisive issue. And then she concluded: however, Our Lady has already crushed its head. [*]
Thus, from Fatima comes one accurate prophecy after another. Here we are today, locked in a terrible battle over the most basic units of any civilization: families and the marriages that form them. Fatima, the great prophecy of our time and a summons to sobriety and prayer!
Something else that has always intrigued me about Fatima is the name of the town itself. Fatima is a town bearing the name of the daughter of Mohammed; this is so stunning! Why of all places would Mary appear there? Is it just coincidence? If you think so, you have not pondered that everything about the apparition of Fatima is prophetic.
The great Archbishop Fulton Sheen, in his book The World’s First Love, reflected on its significance and posed a few questions. Please note that the book was written in 1952 and therefore some of the spellings are not the modern ones. Here are some excerpts:
The Koran, which is the Bible of the Moslems, has many passages concerning the Blessed Virgin. First of all, the Koran believes in her Immaculate Conception, and also, in her Virgin Birth … The Koran also has verses on the Annunciation, Visitation, and Nativity. Angels are pictured as accompanying the Blessed Mother and saying, Oh Mary, God has chosen you and purified you, and elected you above all the women of the earth. In the 19th chapter of the Koran there are 41 verses on Jesus and Mary. There is such a strong defense of the virginity of Mary here that the Koran in the fourth book, attributes the condemnation of the Jews to their monstrous calumny against the Virgin Mary.
Mary, then, is for the Moslems the true Sayyida, or Lady. The only possible serious rival to her in their creed would be Fatima, the daughter of Mohammed himself. But after the death of Fatima, Mohammed wrote: Thou shalt be the most blessed of women in Paradise, after Mary. In a variant of the text Fatima is made to say; I surpass all the women, except Mary.
This brings us to our second point; namely, why the Blessed Mother, in this 20th Century should have revealed herself in the significant little village of Fatima, so that to all future generations she would be known as “Our Lady of Fatima.” Since nothing ever happens out of Heaven except with a finesse of all details, I believe that the Blessed Virgin chose to be known as “Our Lady of Fatima” as pledge and a sign of hope to the Moslem people, and as an assurance that they, who show her so much respect, will one day accept her divine Son too.
Evidence to support these views is found in the historical fact that the Moslems occupied Portugal for centuries. At the time when they were finally driven out, the last Moslem chief had a beautiful daughter by the name of Fatima. A Catholic boy fell in love with her, and for him she not only stayed behind when the Moslems left, but even embraced the Faith. The young husband was so much in love with her that he changed the name of the town where he lived to Fatima. Thus the very place where our Lady appeared in 1917 bears a historical connection to Fatima, the daughter of Mohammed.
Missionaries, in the future will, more and more, see that their apostolate among the Moslems will be successful in the measure that they preach Our Lady of Fatima. Mary is the advent of Christ, bringing Christ to the people before Christ himself is born. In any apologetic endeavor, it is always best to start with that which the people already accept. Because the Moslems have devotion to Mary, our missionaries should be satisfied merely to expand and develop that devotion, with the full realization that our Blessed Lady will carry the Moslems the rest of the way to her divine Son. She is forever a “traitor,” in the sense that she will not accept any devotion for herself, bit will always bring anyone who is devoted to her to her divine Son.
A beautiful reflection by Archbishop Sheen and one we can surely hope will come to pass! Relations are much tenser between Christians and Muslims today than in 1952. But Fatima is the apparition that just keeps prophesying.
It is nothing less than astonishing that Mary should appear in a town with the name of Fatima. Surely this is no mere coincidence. As Sheen points out, Heaven does nothing without purpose. It is very clear to me that we are not to pass over this detail. “Our Lady of Fatima” has a different ring to it when we consider that Fatima is more than a place; Fatima is the daughter of Muhammad and the greatest woman in Islam. “Our Lady of Fatima” sounds and feels so different when it is heard in this context of person rather than place. It is hugely significant.
It seems clear that Mary will play an important role in the years ahead as the Muslim/Christian conflict likely grows sharper. Perhaps, as Sheen notes, she will be the bridge that connects two vastly different cultures; the common mother who keeps her children talking. Right now this connection seems little pursued, even (as far as I can tell) by the Vatican.
The Guadalupe connection – I wonder, too, if the history of Our Lady of Guadalupe presents some historical parallels to our current struggle with the Muslim world. In the early 16th Century in Mexico, missionaries had made only meager progress in bringing the Aztec people to Christ. This was a combination of the sometimes rude and cruel treatment of the indigenous people by the Spanish soldiers, and also of the fearful superstition surrounding the Aztec gods. The people were locked in with the fear that unless they fed these gods with horrific human sacrifices, their greatest god, the sun, would no longer shine.
Into this fearful and suspicious setting entered Mother Mary. The miraculous image she left in 1531 was richly symbolic. Her face is that of a mother: gentle and compassionate, unlike the appearance of the frightening Aztec gods, who wore fierce masks. Her features seem to be both Aztec and European, two cultures combined in kindness and peace. Her attitude is one of humble prayer, so she is clearly not a god(dess). She is a merciful mother who consoles and prays for us. She is to be honored but not adored. The black band around her waist means that she is with child and offers Jesus to the people. Her message is about Him. The sun was the greatest of the Aztec gods, so by standing in front of it, Mary shows that she is greater than even their greatest god. To the Aztecs, the moon represented the god of darkness and death. That Mary is standing on the moon is a sign that these powers, too, are defeated by the Son she bears.
Mary brought the breakthrough. Within ten years, over twelve million Mexicans came to Christ and entered the Catholic Church.
This history is paralleled in many ways today in the current tensions with the Muslim World. In many Muslim lands today, conversions are few. Part of the reason for this is a strong aversion to the Western culture from which Catholicism comes. Many Muslims also hold grievances due to alleged American and Western “mistreatment.” Finally, a large factor is fear. In many parts of the Muslim world, leaving the Muslim faith is likely to get one killed. So, it is a combination of a wide cultural gulf, grievances, and fear that keep conversions low. All of this is not unlike the situation in 16th century Mexico.
Is Mary key to this? It took Mary to bridge all these similar gaps between the Aztecs and the Christian missionaries. Might Mary also be that bridge today when similar gaps divide people? Time will tell, but one of her greatest modern titles is “Our Lady of Fatima.” And then there is the crescent moon, upon which Mary stands in the image of Guadalupe. In modern times the crescent moon is the symbol of Islam. By God’s grace, and with love and humility, Mother Mary of Guadalupe was victorious in overcoming the false religion of the Aztecs.
Might this crescent moon on which Our Lady of Guadalupe stands also point to our times and the crescent moon of Islam? Might it indicate that her victories, by God’s grace, are not at an end? Perhaps we can hope that what our Lady of Guadalupe was to the Aztec people of Mexico, Our Lady of Fatima will be to the Muslim people of the world.
As always, I invite your comments and answers to my questions.
Here is “Immaculate Mary,” sung in Arabic:
They are not on the Catechism 841 list since that list refers to nonChristians and does not include Protestants (separated brethren who are Christians) or those Protestant devolved denominations, sects, cults., some of whom are incompatible with the historic Christian faith. They do profess to worship and adore the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
I understand what the word Allah means, God. The Muzzies, along with others, engage in "cult speak." We have to almost define every word and every term we use. When I say "God," it brings up the Trinity, the loving Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with the Son being the one who died for me. When a Muzzie says "God," it conjures up a whole different concept in his mind, one of a difficult to approach, tyrant type of God, with no son and no Holy Spirit. The Muzzies worship a God that does not exist, and if they worship any God, it is the god of this world, Satan. They do surely engage in cult speak.
You brought mormons up, I was merely asking if you intended to include them as you did. They profess to worship a “god” who lives on the planet kolob with his wife. The CDF has ruled their baptisms invalid... do you realize how far out there a group has to be for their baptisms to be invalid?! An atheist can validly baptise but a mormon can not... think that through for a bit.
Mormons believe in a different god than we do, and so do the muzzies. Cardinal Schönborn snuck that past JPII too.
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Mormons are a restorationist movement that devolved from Protestantism. They profess to worship and adore the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They are in serious error, and it is a historic tragedy as they, as a group, are more traditionally family and Bible oriented than many of their erstwhile Protestant cousins. They rejected Catholic/Orthodox Christianity and fell into heresy, writing new texts they claim are from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In this they are similar to the Moslems and other Protestant devolved cults.
In Galatians 3 Paul did call them foolish. The Greek has a different meaning than how we apply the word but the point is that Paul did/would rebuke people as warranted.
Did you read the text and realize those Galatians that the Apostle called foolish were professing Christians and not unbelievers ? Do you realize he wrote to them as their spiritual father ?
Thank you for the lecture on a subject I am already familiar with. When you’re ready to actually engage the subject I addressed please let me know.
I don't know dude, maybe you should ask Legstus. Look at his last sentence in post 343. I agree with him. They have a different God. They can claim all day and all night, that they worship the God of Abraham. They don't. They are not just in error as you say. They are totally DEAD WRONG. Listen to Legatus. He is right. They do NOT worship the same God we do. I suppose it is better that people laugh at some, than to have God at them. Prov 1:26, Ps 2:4 and Ps 59:8.
LOL. Hang in there bro. 😂
We know catholics worship/adore Mary to be sure. Reading CCC841 I'm not sure of the rest.
I don't know if all catholics worship/adore Mary. I went to catholic schools all the way through high school. All I know for sure, is that when I was a Catholic, sometime back in the last century, 😂 I did. I can't speak for all of them. This is what the priests and nuns taught us to do. Maybe other priests and other nuns taught different things, but the ones I went to school under, taught us that. BTW, the public school used to beat us in hockey, by double digits. I never forgave them for beating us Catholics the way they did. I still cheer for anyone who beats them. 😂😀😃 I took my hockey seriously. Go Blackhawks.
Please do not take my comment out of context. My point is that the three major Abrahamic religions; Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, all trace their origin to the same God. However, it is only through Christianity that God has fully revealed Who He is through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The other two religions are in error.
It doesn’t matter how other religions define God. He is Who He is as He doesn’t change.
This is exactly my point! Regardless of how other religions define God, He does not change. It is a historical fact that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all trace their origin to the same God of Abraham. But it is only through Christianity that God has fully revealed who He is through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. The other two religions are in error.
But you are wrong. Islam does not trace its origins to The God Who IS. Christianity and Judaism are the work of I AM. Islam is the work of satan, not the God of Judaism and Christianity. From the very start of Islam, mo ham head denied the God of Judaism, changing the nature of I AM to be a murderous enforcer of dictatorial rule.
If I've got the time period right, it was amended in the 1960s through Nostra Aetate (1965) and Lumen Gentium (1964) If that is incorrect, someone please provide the correct dates.
Nostra Aetate seems to take further what is in the catechism.
The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all- powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth,(5) who has spoken to men;
STOP!! WHAT?????
There can be no doubt here Catholicism is equating muslims and catholics worshipping the SAME God.
Who else are they referring to in this section??
The false god of Islam is not, never has been, and never will be God as revealed in the Word.
they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham,
WHAT???
with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet. They also honor Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead.
Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.
Are they saying catholics and muslims worship the same God??
Since in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems, this sacred synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom. http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651028_nostra-aetate_en.html
On religions:
Religions, however, that are bound up with an advanced culture have struggled to answer the same questions by means of more refined concepts and a more developed language. Thus in Hinduism, men contemplate the divine mystery and express it through an inexhaustible abundance of myths and through searching philosophical inquiry. They seek freedom from the anguish of our human condition either through ascetical practices or profound meditation or a flight to God with love and trust. Again, Buddhism, in its various forms, realizes the radical insufficiency of this changeable world; it teaches a way by which men, in a devout and confident spirit, may be able either to acquire the state of perfect liberation, or attain, by their own efforts or through higher help, supreme illumination. Likewise, other religions found everywhere try to counter the restlessness of the human heart, each in its own manner, by proposing "ways," comprising teachings, rules of life, and sacred rites. The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions.
However, if these are correct, they certainly (?) knew the difference between who Islam worships and catholics worship.
So why put it in there?
yep.
Islam is a mixture of Christian heresy and paganism. I think that our non-Catholic brethren here are firmly convinced that there's too much paganism in the heresy for their god to be God. I agree with them.
I realize I'm going out on a limb in disagreeing with the CCC but our differences with islam go beyond whether mohammed was a prophet (we all agree he wasn't). Islam and Christendom disagree on the very nature of God Himself.
I think the argument that tries to include islam in the family of Abrahamic religion misses the point that the Hebrew religion is not a man-made religion, it is founded by God. Islam was not. That alone should have been the red flag that Cardinal Schönborn apparently missed when he was compiling and editing the CCC for pope St. JPII.
Affirmative sir.
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