CITY OF GOD BY VENERABLE MARY AGREDA - POPULAR ABRIDGEMENT A REVIEW

Dear Friends in Jesus and Mary,

This is an excellent Catholic Classic in more ways than one. This is a Popular Abridgement of 4 Volumes which exists.

There are several books written on "Our Blessed Mother" - based on Scripture, Her Apparitions, Private Revelations by the Fathers of the Church, the Saints etc but none has been beautifully revealed as that by the Venerable Mary of Agreda titled : "CITY OF GOD".

Few have heard about her and still fewer know about this book :"CITY OF GOD". The Divine History and Life of the Virgin Mother of God.

It is only by a sheer miracle and grace of almighty God, that one comes upon such a fantastic documentation on the masterpiece of God's creation namely "MARY".

The four Volumes each containing some 600 pages touch upon the Conception, the Incarnation, the Transfixion, and the Coronation.

Manifested by the Queen of Heaven herself in the 16th Century to her handmaid, Sister Mary of Jesus, Superioress of the Convent of the Immaculate Conception of the town of Agreda of the Province of Burgos in Spain under obedience to the regular observance of the seraphic father Saint Francis, for new enlightenment of the World for rejoicing of the Catholic Church and encouragement of men, "This Piece of Work has been approved by several Popes and Cardinals.

As soon as the "City of God" appeared in print, it was welcomed and extolled as a most wonderful work. The different translations found no less enthusiastic welcome in nearly all the European Countries.

It secured the immediate approbation and encomium of the ordinaries, the Universities of the learned and Eminent Men of Christendom. There is probably no other book which was so closely scrutinized by those in authority, both civil and religious, and afterwards so signally approved as the "CITY OF GOD".

By Order of Pope Innocent the Eleventh, Pope Alexander the Eighth, Pope Clement the Ninth, Pope Benedict the Thirteenth, and Pope Benedict the 14th, it was repeatedly subjected to the closest scrutiny and declared authentic worthy of devout perusal and free from error.

The Title "Venerabilis" was conferred upon the Author. A Large sized Volume would be required to record the praises and commendations written in favour of the great "CITY OF GOD".

The popularity and excellence of the great history of the Mother of God is also evidenced by its widespread diffusion.

It has appeared in over 60 editions in Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, German, Latin, Arabic, Greek, and Polish.

It appears quite providential that the first English translation of this great work should have been reserved for our own times.

The Translator and Promoter of the "CITY OF GOD" Fiscar Marison began his work on the Feast of the Assumption 1902 and completed it on the Feast of the Anunciation, 1912.

Approbations :

1. Imprimatur to the English Version : H.J. Alerding, Bishop of Fort Wayne, August 24, 1912.

2. Edwin V. Byrne D.D. Archbishop of Santa Fe, February 9, 1949.

My Comments: This is an excellent Catholic Classic devoted to the Mother of God.

Credits: From the Extract "Mary Immaculate" God's Gift to Mankind by Mrs Leena Rego
Our Lady's Workers
Kalina, Mumbai, India
Pages 3-6

Our Lady of the Holy Eucharist

Introduction:

The Blessed Mother is both Eucharistic Lady and Queen of the Holy Rosary. The Angelic Salutation "Hail Mary" that recurs throughout the Rosary that ended up in Mary's acceptance of Jesus Christ physically in her womb bonds the Rosary with the Eucharist.

Linking Earth to Heaven :

As the bearer of both, she draws us closer to the latter through the former. Mary's Rosary is indeed a magnetic chain that pulls us towards the Eucharist -"The Centre of Catholic - Christian Life".

It is obvious that the Rosary is called "The Sacred Chain linking Earth to Heaven".

It has been said of Mother Mary that she conceived Jesus Christ in her heart before she conceived him in her womb. Mary's virginal womb was the first tabernacle that housed Jesus Christ.

Much more than just sheltering the Incarnate Word of God within her, Mary nurtured, loved, and adored him "Who" is her God in her own flesh and blood.

Mary's Life from the Anunciation to the Assumption was a constant contemplation of the Holy Face of Jesus Christ. While she lived the sacrificial aspect of the Holy Eucharist through the sorrowful mysteries of Jesus Christ, she sang the thanksgiving aspect of the Holy Eucharist through her "Magnificat".

The interior disposition of the humble Mother of Jesus Christ, who "Treasured" his every word in her heart and "Pondered" over every mystery associated with him, made her "The Lady of the Eucharist".

Mary's exhortation from the wedding feast in Cana "Do whatever he tells you", corroborates the command of Jesus Christ at the institution of the Holy Eucharist, "Do this in remembrance of me".

Mother Mary was the centre and cementing bond of the Early Christian Apostolic Community where she received her Eucharistic Son in the form of Bread and Wine with unspeakable joy.

Mother Mary moves among us armed with the "Holy Rosary" - Her Spiritual Weapon that defeats evil and wins us to God. As the Mother and Model of the Church, she stands besides every altar reinforcing our faith in "Him" who changes Bread and Wine into his "Body and Blood" as he changed water into wine at Cana.

Mother of Grace :

As the "Mother of Grace", Mary is the mediatrix of all graces. All grace won for us by Christ comes to us through Mother Mary.

Even though Mary is not omnipotent, she dispenses the infinite graces of God through her maternal intercession. If we contemplate the Holy Face of Jesus Christ with Mary our Heavenly Mother through the mysteries of the Holy Rosary, she is sure to draw us closer to Our Eucharistic Lord.

Conclusion :

The Maxim "To Jesus Through Mary" in its practical application goes "Through Rosary to the Eucharist".

Credits:

The Examiner, Mumbai
November 3, 2007
Vol 158, No 44
"The Queen and the Holy Eucharist"
 By Sister Tisy Jose, UMI
Pages 10-11 
   

Feast of the Immaculate Conception December 8, 2014

I couldn't  resist the urge to post an article on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

The Dogma of the "Immaculate Conception" was defined by Pope Pius, the Ninth in 1854.

The Dogma says that the "Blessed Mother" from the first moment of her conception was free of Original Sin. Not even for a fraction of a second was she under the domination of evil.

And she was the only one ever thus to be conceived. As soon as she began to live that soul was without stain, spotless, pure, and immaculate.

That is what the words "Immaculate Conception" mean.

That is the Dogma. Our Lady was born immaculate and remained immaculate.

There are references to the celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception as early as the 8th Century.

The Day selected was 8th of December.

In Ireland, the feast was celebrated on the 3rd of May and in England it was celebrated on the 8th of May.

During the 12th Century the feast was observed in all Benedictine Monasteries and Franciscan Friaries in England. In the 15th Century, a Franciscan Pope erected a Chapel within the Sistine Chapel in honor of the Immaculate Conception.

CREDITS :

1) Most Beautiful Blue Eyes by Father Harold Rahm S.J.

2) What do we mean without Sin ?? By Father Sidney Roemer  Pages 23-25.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2014 AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015

Greetings Everybody. Wishing all of you a Blessed and Holy Christmas 2014. Also, wishing you a Blessed and Holy New Year 2015.

Please Pray for Me and Please pray for Blessings for my "Catholic Blog".

I will resume posting on my blog in January 2015.

A Reflection on the Solemnity of Christmas

Here are my thoughts for Christmas Day :

The Son who is born of Mary is also our God. Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father; He is the Word through whom all things have been created.

He is light from light, God from God, consubstantial with the Father.

Jesus Christ is outside of time; he is eternal. As God, he carries within himself the synthesis of all the perfections. By means of Mary, this God makes himself "True Man".

In Mary's virginal womb, there came about his human conception. On Christmas Day, he is born of Mary in a poor and unadorned cave; He is placed in a cold manger; He is adored by his Mother Mary and by his Legal Father Saint Joseph; He is surrounded by the humble presence of shepherds; He is glorified by the heavenly cohort of the angels who sing the hymn of glory to God and of peace to men who have been loved and saved by him.

Let us bow down and adore the Infant Jesus who is born. He is Emmanuel, "He is God with us".

"He is God with us", who makes himself man for our salvation. On Christmas Day, the Savior and the Redeemer is born for all.

The fragility of this "Divine Infant" becomes remedy for all human fragility: his cry is alleviation for all sorrow; his poverty is wealth for all misery; his pain is comfort for all the afflicted; his gentleness is hope for all sinners; his goodness becomes salvation for all who are lost.

"He is God with us" who makes himself redemption and refuge for all humanity. Enter with Mary into the bright cave of his divine love. Allow yourselves to be placed by Mary in the gentle and sweet cradle of his heart which has just begun to beat.

Finally, "He is God with us" because even in his human fragility - Jesus Christ is truly God. Jesus Christ is God, outside of changes of time and history: He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Credits and References:

To the Priests, Our Lady's Beloved Sons
1996 Supplement
"God with Us"
Pages 53-54

Feast of Christ the King - 23rd November 2014

When Pope Pius, the 11th instituted the Feast of Christ the King in 1925 it was to remind us of the tragic illusion of trying to build a new world without Christ.

There was no intention to dictate a particular social system as alone compatible with the Law of Christ. Triumphalism or the pathetic attempts thereat are completely at odds in the celebration of this feast.

Declaration of Faith in Christ and loyalty to his Kingship is never arrogant. That Christ is King by natural right has its source in the doctrine of the Incarnation and the ineffable hypostatic union.

In his encyclical letter Pope Pius, the 11th enumerated the blessings he hoped would accrue to the Church and all human society as a result of the public observation of the feast.

The acknowledgment by the State of  Christ's Kingly rights would be the supreme guarantee for its own authority and for the human rights of its members. The Annual Celebration would remind the nations that not only individuals but rulers and princes are bound to give public honour and obedience to Christ.

It would remind Men of the last judgement when all will be called to render an account.

The Feast of Christ the King this year is a time for thinking about how the common good can be promoted, about securing the rights of men and about limiting or ending injustice to our fellowmen.

Credits :

Don Bosco's Madonna Mumbai
November 1986
Feast of Christ the King
Page 25

THE ABIDING PRESENCE

Father Bernard Vaughan S.J. in one of his retreats told of the advice once given to him by his doctor when he was feeling tired and rundown : "Sit in the Sun. Wrap yourself up well, and just sit in the sun. Nothing will do you more good".

He applied this to the spiritual life by saying : " So I ask you to spend much time basking in the sunshine of the BLESSED SACRAMENT .... This sun bath is a great cure. Rest in the Sun and you will be enriched with his blessings".

This recalls the analogy with the electric powerhouse, suggested by another famous retreat master Father Walter Drum S.J. - he compared the Tabernacle with the electric power house. Over the door, of each might be placed the sign : "Power, Light, and Heat supplied here.

All that we need do is to turn on the switch- just kneel in prayer before the Tabernacle !! ".

Credits: Don Bosco's Madonna, Mumbai
             November 1986
             "The Abiding Presence"
               Page 24