MAY THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST, BE ALWAYS IN OUR HEART TO KEEP US HUMBLE, GRATEFUL, MERCIFUL, FORGIVING --- O GOD, BLESS ALL THAT IS COMING FROM YOU AND BREAK ALL THAT IS NOT COMING FROM YOU, AMEN --- This site is just a drop from the immeasurable ocean in JESUS, THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, HOLY TRINITY ONE GOD - HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE - TEACHER, HEALER, REDEEMER --- The main purpose of this site is to make an easier access to Catholic Religion-related links.
The Pope at Rio - Visit and Holy Mass at the Aparecida
The city of Aparecida do Norte in São Paulo, Brazil, is known for having the most important Marian shrine in the country, where pilgrims from every nation come to visit. In this city, one can find the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, which is the second biggest basilica in the world and which contains an image of Our Lady of Aparecida, the patroness of Brazil. The story behind Our Lady of Aparecida relates that, in 1717, fishermen discovered a headless statue in the Paraiba River. They threw the net into the sea again and this time they brought out the head. This is said to be the statue of the Black Virgin, which is made of terracotta, a type of clay that is baked in a particular kind of oven after being molded. The distinctive characteristic of this style is the form of her smile and the structure of her chin and dimples. She also has flowers in her hair, a hair piece with three pearls, and her head is titled backwards. The statue was believed to have been made by a 17th century Benedictine monk named Frei Agostinho of Jesus. The statue was later restored by experts. She is the patroness of pregnant women and newborn babies, and is also called Our Lady of the Rivers and Seas. The shrine to Our Lady of Aparecida is also a pilgrimage place for workers on the national holiday, which takes place annually on September 7th. "Our Lady of Aparecida, Dearest Mother,You who love us and guide us every day,You who are the most beautiful of all mothers,Whom I love with all of my heart,I ask you once again to help me attain the grace that I seek.I know that you will help me And that you will always be with me until the hour of my death." http://www.mariedenazareth.com/
NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL November 18 is the first day of the Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Here's the incredible story behind this beloved devotion.
"O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." This invocation, included in many prayers, was revealed to Catherine Laboure during an apparition of Our Lady on November 27, 1830 in Paris. During vespers in the chapel of the convent of the Sisters of Charity, located on Rue du Bac, France, the young novice saw the Blessed Mother for the second time. The first appearance dates back to the previous July, when the Virgin had confided that she had a difficult mission to accomplish. Above the altar, two pictures represent two sides of a medal. Catherine Laboure, who was then 24 years, heard the voice of Mary, who told her: "Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces". It was a request reiterated by Our Lady, who would appear again to the sister in December of the same year, again in the chapel of the Rue du Bac. In 1832, with the permission of the Bishop of Paris, Msgr. de Quellen, the first medals were cast. Some years later, in Rome, the great graces coming from the devotion were recognized, from those who adhered to the faith of the Church and wore this medal. Known worldwide as the Miraculous Medal, it is a reminder that above all, the love God has for mankind is truly miraculous. The image of Mary represented on the medal, with 12 stars around her head, would later inspire the European flag, as its creator, Arsène Heitz once explained. At the time of the three apparitions to Catherine Laboure, Mary spoke of the graces and gifts that God wanted to spread upon the Earth, but mankind no longer asks for through prayer. These are the words of Mary:"Come to the foot of this altar and here graces will be bestowed upon all,who ask with confidence and fervour." "The rays are the symbol of the graces which I scatter on those who ask me". "This small globe represents the entire world, particularly France and every single person." "Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces."The medal is the extension of this faith in God, is a faith that Catherine Labourée lived in such silence that no one - except her spiritual director Fr. Aladel- knew that she had received apparitions, until her death. In Rome during 1917, St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish Franciscan friar who was later killed in the Auschwitz concentration camp taking the place of a father of a family, used this medal as the distinctive symbol for the Pious Union of the Militia of the Immaculata, which he founded. On July 27, 1947, Pope Pius XII canonized Sister Catherine Labourée, just 70 years after her death. Since then the body of the saint has been buried in the Chapel of the Rue du Bac in Paris, at the foot of the very altar where she saw the Madonna.
(Prayer of (Saint) John Paul II, May 31, 1980, Rue du Bac): You are blessed among all women! Blessed are you, for you have believed! The Almighty did wonders for you! The wonder of the divine motherhood! And now, the glory of your Son. You never cease to intercede for us poor sinners. You watch over the Church for you are its Mother. You watch over each of your Children. From God, you obtain for us, all graces that are symbolized by the rays of light which radiate from your open hands, and the only condition that you demand of us is that we approach with the confidence, the hardiness, and the simplicity of a child. And it is thus that you bring us before your Divine Son. Amen
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Il-Midalja Mirakoluża
Id-devozzjoni lejn il-Midalja, li biż-żmien bidet tissejjaħ “Mirakoluża” għandha rabta ma’ Santa Katarina Laboure, soru tal-karita Franċiża.Hi kellha xi dehriet mill-Madonna f’Pariġi.
Il-mod kif dehritilha l-Madonna kien il-bidu tal-midalja ovali tal-Verġni Mbierka, bir-raġġI ħerġin minn idejha.
San Ġorġ Preca emmen ħafna fil-qawwa tal-midalja mirakoluża.Lil ħafna li marru għandu bi problemi, hu kien iqiegħdhom taħt il-ħarsien ta’ Marija billi jagħtihom midalja mirakoluża ħalli jbusuha.L-għaxqa tiegħu kienet, li f’xi Sajda Museumina, wara li hu stess kien jitkellem dwar il-Midalja, jikteb fiha lill-folla preżenti, biex b’hekk il-Maltin kollha jkunu miktubin fid-Domna.
“Ilbes id-domna u ssib xortik ma’ Alla u mal-bnedmin”, kien iħobb jgħid.San Ġorġ kien jara għajnuna kbira fil-midalja mirakoluża biex bniedem jaqla l-grazzja li jagħmel qrara tajba.
The Chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal at Blata l-Bajda in Malta
