"...to possess Wisdom, we must pray." - Today - anniversary of 3rd Fatima Apparition of Mary

[MariaChristi]

1. Therefore to possess Wisdom we must pray. But how should we pray? First, we should pray for this gift with a strong and lively faith, not wavering, because he who wavers in his faith must not expect to receive any gift from the Lord. (Jas 1.6,7)
2. Secondly, we must pray for it with a pure faith, not counting on consolations, visions or special revelations. Although such things may be good and true, as they have been in some saints, it is always dangerous to rely on them. For the more our faith is dependent on these extraordinary graces and feelings, the less pure and meritorious it is. The Holy Spirit has revealed to us the grandeur and the beauty of Wisdom, and the desire of God to bestow this gift upon us, and our own need of it. Here we find motives strong enough to make us want it and pray God for it with unbounded faith and eagerness.

Today July 13, is the anniversary of Mary’s 3rd apparition to the three shepherd children at Fatima:

As the July date approached Lucia continued to be troubled by the words of her pastor that the devil might be behind the apparitions. Finally, she confided to Jacinta that she intended not to go. When the day finally dawned, however, her fears and anxieties disappeared, so that the noon hour found her in the Cova with Jacinta and Francisco, awaiting the arrival of the beautiful Lady.

The apparition of July 13th would prove to be in many ways the most controversial aspect of the message of Fátima, providing a secret in three parts which the children guarded zealously. The first two parts, the vision of hell and the prophecy of the future role of Russia and how to prevent it, would not be revealed until Sr. Lucia wrote them down in her third memoir, at the request of the bishop, in 1941. The third part, usually called the Third Secret, was only later communicated to the bishop, who sent it unread to Pope Pius XII… – To read more about this third apparition see: HERE

The full story at the link includes the vision of hell given to the children, and this can be of help to us – that God gave those little children the courage and the willingness to be faithful to Our Lady and thus faithful to God. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful; kindle in us the Fire of Your Love. Jesus, we trust in You! Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us , and all your children.

 

[Constancy]

Thank you so much for posting this!

 

[la_petit_fleur]

Their courage is inspiring. And even more inspiring to me are all the little sacrifices they made for sinners. Will everyone who reads this please say a prayer for my dad. I’m not sure if he made it to Purgatory, and I’m so worried about him.

 

[Finn]

Done, for you both.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Constancy, and la_ petit: fleur

Thank you for both for your replies. Please let us pray with our Blessed Mother today, especially, in light of this anniversary of her coming to Fatima, that she may help all of us to become as little children to listen to her and hear what God is saying to us through her. As Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI once wrote, Fatima is an ongoing prophecy (not sure if those are his exact words – hold on - let me check: ok here is the quote I was looking for:

… We would be mistaken to think that Fatima’s prophetic mission is complete. Here there takes on new life the plan of God which asks humanity from the beginning: “Where is your brother Abel […] Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground!” (Gen 4:9). Mankind has succeeded in unleashing a cycle of death and terror, but failed in bringing it to an end… In sacred Scripture we often find that God seeks righteous men and women in order to save the city of man and he does the same here, in Fatima, when Our Lady asks: “Do you want to offer yourselves to God, to endure all the sufferings which he will send you, in an act of reparation for the sins by which he is offended and of supplication for the conversion of sinners?” ( Memoirs of Sister Lúcia , I, 162).

At a time when the human family was ready to sacrifice all that was most sacred on the altar of the petty and selfish interests of nations, races, ideologies, groups and individuals, our Blessed Mother came from heaven, offering to implant in the hearts of all those who trust in her the Love of God burning in her own heart. At that time it was only to three children, yet the example of their lives spread and multiplied, especially as a result of the travels of the Pilgrim Virgin, in countless groups throughout the world dedicated to the cause of fraternal solidarity. May the seven years which separate us from the centenary of the apparitions hasten the fulfilment of the prophecy of the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to the glory of the Most Holy Trinity. (from homily of Pope Benedict XVI 13 May 2010)

The entire homily is well worth your time to read. See: HERE

PS La petit, just a note to add my husband and I pray for ALL the souls in Purgatore each morning as a petiton after praying the Liturgy of the Hours, “Morning Prayer”. We include our relatives firiends an all the souls, especialy any who have no one on earth to pray for them. Entrust the soul of your Dad to God’s Mercy, especially through the intercesion of Mary.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Greenfields,

Thanks so much for your “heart” once again letting us know you read and appreciated, St. Louis de Montfort’s words from his book “The Love of Eternal Wisdom” and today the added words in Pope Emeritus’ homily as Pope Benedict XVI at Fatima on May 13, 2010. Let us continue to pray as Jesus and Mary have shown us.

 

[adgloriam]

because he who wavers in his faith must not expect to receive any gift from the Lord. (Jas 1.6,7)

From the NAB bible:

James 1:6.But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind.

James 1:7.For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,

Dear @MariaChristi I consider the NAB versicles of the saint James epistle I include more correct than those transcribed in nº185.

Because in nº185 a dangerous nexus is almost made implying that he who wavers has no reason to expect, because he wavered. (As if wavering was punished by fatalism.)

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks, adgloriam, for your “heart” letting us know you read and appreciated the quotes. Thanks also for your reply . Translations do differ and I have no idea what French translation St. Louis was using in the 1700’s. However, it seems to me he is encouraging his readers to “examine their faith” to see whether or not they have a “strong and lively faith” or if they are “wavering”. Perhaps if St. Louis had gone on to verse 8 in James, it may have been a clearer picture of one who is “wavering or doubting” and not carry the danger of being “punished by fatalism”. The following translations for James 1:8 can be found at “Bible Gateway”:

NABRE translates verse 8: “since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways.”

NASB - translates verse 8: “being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

In reading several different translations, it seems to me the point St. Louis is making is to help us to possess Wisdom and to avoid being “double-minded”, “unstable in all our ways”. In paragraph # 186, St Louis continues to encourage his readers to have a pure faith, and reminds us:

The Holy Spirit has revealed to us the grandeur and the beauty of Wisdom, and the desire of God to bestow this gift upon us, and our own need of it. Here we find motives strong enough to make us want it and pray God for it with unbounded faith and eagerness.

It seems to me, St. Louis truly wrote to help us all to want that beautiful gift of Wisdom and pray God for it with unbounded faith and eagerness. God forgives as we know from Jesus’ words to the thief on the Cross. The other thief however did not ask in faith. Thanks again for your reply. Good to see you again.