Chapter 2 : "Calls" From the Message at Fatima by Sr. Lucia

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Sister Lucia of Fatima, writes about Angels in her second chapter, in response to questions. Surprisingly she does not repeat what she has written in other books about the apparitions but again as in Chapter 1 draws from the Scriptures. Sister helps readers ponder God’s works, and His sending angels all through the Bible. Concluding this chapter she wrote:

…All the passages of Scripture I have mentioned, and many others, prove to us that Angels really exist and also the purpose for which God created them, which is exactly the same as the purpose for which He created us: To serve Him, praise Him, adore Him and love Him.

With this conviction then, let us sing with the psalmist: "Because you have the LORD for your refuge
and have made the Most High your stronghold, No evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent. For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go. With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone. (Ps 91: 9-12)

Bearing these truths in mind, it will not seem so strange to us, that God should have once again chosen to make use of one of His Angels to address to us yet another call to obey His Law and remember the end for which we are created.

Since we are just 2 days away from Christmas, I cannot help but think of the Angels who appeared to the shepherds the night Jesus was born.

May we be open to His Holy Spirit at this particular time of our lives to welcome Jesus come to us through Mary.
Come Lord Jesus, through Mary by the Power of Your Holy Spirit, be born again in us, live in us, your Church.

 

[Googler]

Glo-o-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-o-O-ri-a in Ex-cel-sis De-o!

Angels We Have Heard on High · WLP Choir
youtube.com/watch?v=fn8wqSRIlA4

Within the Virgin’s womb there were celebrated spiritual nuptials, God was joined to the flesh, and the flesh clave unto God, coming forth from hence like a bridegroom from his chamber, at whose wedding all creation was stirred up and seemed to exult. For the choir of angels proclaim, as the result of these nuptials, peace to men of good will; for He that was the Son of God became the Son of Man.
~St. Augustine

 

[MariaChristi]

Glo-o-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-o-O-ri-a in Ex-cel-sis De-o!

Angels We Have Heard on High · WLP Choir
youtube.com/watch?v=fn8wqSRIlA4

Within the Virgin’s womb there were celebrated spiritual nuptials, God was joined to the flesh, and the flesh clave unto God, coming forth from hence like a bridegroom from his chamber, at whose wedding all creation was stirred up and seemed to exult. For the choir of angels proclaim, as the result of these nuptials, peace to men of good will; for He that was the Son of God became the Son of Man.
~St. Augustine

Dear Brother,

Always good to hear from you and today accompanied by the angelic choir! Thanks for the music. It is such a beautiful hymn and does make a fitting reply to Sister Lucia’s words on the Lord’s great gift of Angels as “messengers” to us, as well as Guardian Angels to guide us on our journey home.

If you have a chance to read her book (I’m re-reading it during this 100th Anniversary of the Apparitions of Mary at Fatima) you’ll be blessed by it. See HERE

Blessed Advent and Christmas to you! May our hearts sing with the angels as we adore the King enthroned within – now – and forever into eternity, with Mary and Joseph and all the saints.

 

[EIF5A]

I’ve always wondered if angels attend Mass with us. I’m constantly distracted and do not worship as I should, but I hope at least my guardian angel does.

 

[Wannabe_Monk_16]

I’ve always wondered if angels attend Mass with us. I’m constantly distracted and do not worship as I should, but I hope at least my guardian angel does.

I think the entire Church Triumphant is present at every Mass, with all of the angels assisting as they can!

 

[Googler]

Next to Mary, is not our Guardian Angel more dear to us than our brethren the Saints?
We should be more considerate of the light of our Guardian Angel.
Although assigned to us in their mission to guide us back to God, I can’t help but think we sometimes neglect their powerful protection or deprive them, as well as ourselves, whenever we encounter a dwindling of God’s grace, such as prolonging regular visits to the confessional resulting in a decline in the flow of grace and permiting the forces of evil to grow in power.

 

[Googler]

If you have a chance to read her book (I’m re-reading it during this 100th Anniversary of the Apparitions of Mary at Fatima) you’ll be blessed by it.

Some treat the Church approved apparitions at Fatima as mere optional belief.
Others treat them as a continuation of God’s promises.
I know that Maximilian Kolbe never wrote one word about the message of Fatima.
Sister, is there any links to any mention of Fatima from Frank Duff, having lived 1889 – 1980?

 

[Googler]

Next to Mary, is not our Guardian Angel more dear to us than our brethren the Saints?
We should be more considerate of the light of our Guardian Angel.
Although assigned to us in their mission to guide us back to God, I can’t help but think we sometimes neglect their powerful protection or deprive them, as well as ourselves, whenever we encounter a dwindling of God’s grace, such as prolonging regular visits to the confessional resulting in a decline in the flow of grace and permiting the forces of evil to grow in power.

• 

But no… Googler, you may neglect them but you cannot deprive them!!

Which is in Heaven: S. Gregory (2 Moral. c. 2.), and S. Bernard (Serm. 5, de dedicat. Eccles.) observe that the angels, even when they go forth from Heaven, always behold the face of God. For they are blessed wheresoever they are; therefore, wheresoever they are, they are said to be in Heaven. For where there is the vision and glory of God, there is Paradise and Heaven. Hence S. Gregory says, “They both stand before God, and are sent; because through this, that they have been circumscribed, they go forth; and through this, that they are also present within, they never go away. And therefore they always see the face of the Father, and yet come to us, because they go forth abroad to us in spiritual presence, and yet they keep themselves there by interior contemplation.” And a little before, “What can they be ignorant of in things that can be known, who know Him who knoweth all things?” They are not therefore called away from the guardianship of the humble through desire of returning to God, because they never depart from God, but wheresoever they are, they have Him present. They do all things, and guard the little ones in God, and for the sake of God.
~Cornelius À Lapide*

 

[MariaChristi]

I’ve always wondered if angels attend Mass with us. I’m constantly distracted and do not worship as I should, but I hope at least my guardian angel does.

Dear EIF5A,

Our Guardian Angels are surely at Mass with us, worshiping with us. We can often be tempted with many distractions but each time we make the effort to re-focus our prayer, God gives us more grace to remain attentive. If it would help you to use a Missal and follow the words and gestures of the Liturgy – by all means invest in one.

My early grade school training was a good one; even when Mass was in Latin we had prayers we recited in unison at Sundays’t “Children’s Mass” to keep us focused on the major parts of the Mass. By 6th grade I went to Mass daily and used a Missal. As an adult, I experienced the transition from Latin to English. I am still grateful to have been taught early to grow in understanding the Mass better. By God’s grace, we keep growing spiritually – if we ask, we receive, if we seek, we find, if we knock, He opens the door.

The Mass is so very important for us to “participate” in and not be mere spectators! It is the source and summit of the Christian life. We are called to worship God in Spirit and in Truth, so we all need to do whatever we can to learn how to participate with our angels in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass – listening to the Liturgy of the Word, offering ourselves with Christ, and receiving Him fervently in Eucharist. Thanks for your reply and question.

 

[MariaChristi]

Some treat the Church approved apparitions at Fatima as mere optional belief.
Others treat them as a continuation of God’s promises.
I know that Maximilian Kolbe never wrote one word about the message of Fatima.
Sister, is there any links to any mention of Fatima from Frank Duff, having lived 1889 – 1980?

Dear Brother,

The Apparitions of Fatima were not as well known to St. Maximillian Kolbe or to Servant of God Frank Duff as they are today. It takes the Church time to investigate any apparition, to discern by the power of the Holy Spirit what is true, and finally to approve it. Many apparitions are not approved or are still being studied.

In 1981 when JPII was shot on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, May 13, he attributed his life being saved to Mary. That may have led to increasing attention to Fatima. Any apparitions are “private revelations” and as such may be considered optional, but it is not prudent to ignore approved apparitions, since something is to be learned from those messages to help us live the Gospel. See Catechsim of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 66 and 67.

I hope to post soon on Chapter 3 of Sister Lucia’s book in which she admits how little she understood at first, but how God continued to teach her more about the message of Fatima. The Holy Spirit continues to work in the Church and especially through His Saints to build up the Body of Christ. I believe the Fatima Apparitions of our Lady are especially important for our times. Thanks for your reply and your questions.