From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   That we should never Despair  [II]    
      
   Banish discouragement from thy heart as best you can, and if trouble comes,   
   never let it depress or hinder you for long. At the least, bear it bravely if   
   you cannot bear it cheerfully. Even if you are reluctant to bear it, and feel   
   indignant, yet control    
   yourself, and let no rash words escape you that may harm Christ's little ones.   
   The violence of your feelings will soon subside, and grace return to heal your   
   inner pain. I live, ( Isa 49:18) says the Lord, `ready to help and comfort you   
   more than ever,    
   if you will trust Me and call on Me with devotion.'   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 3  Ch. 57   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   June 13th - Our Lady of Fatima: The 2nd Apparition   
      
   In May 1913, Our Blessed Mother began a series of visits with three   
   Portuguese shepherd children: Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta. During the   
   months that followed the initial visitation, the three visionaries   
   were graced with six messages from the Blessed Virgin, as well as   
   three apparitions of the “Angel of Portugal,” all of which culminated   
   in the spectacular “Miracle of the Sun,” witnessed by tens of   
   thousands of the faithful. Each month, on the 13th day, Our Lady of   
   Fatima delivered a message to the children--a message of the   
   importance of devotion to the Immaculate Heart and praying the   
   Rosary--through which the ruinous course of humanity could be   
   converted and redeemed.   
      
   Following the previous visits of the Angel of Portugal, who had taught   
   the children how to pray, and prepared them for the first apparition   
   of Our Blessed Mother, Mary had appeared in a wondrous light,   
   conversed with the children, and instructed them: “Say the Rosary   
   every day, to bring peace to the world and an end to the war.” She   
   promised to return the following month.   
      
   On June 13th, Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta returned to the pasture   
   where Our Blessed Mother had previously appeared to them. It was   
   approximately noon when they arrived, and they found a small crowd   
   gathered, waiting for them. The children began to pray the Rosary as   
   was their habit, and soon found themselves bathed in radiant light.   
   Those present witnessed the light on their faces, but could not see   
   the radiant image of Our Blessed Mother.   
      
   Lucia, in her memoirs, details their interaction. She inquired,   
   "Please tell me, Madam, what it is that you want of me?"   
      
   Our Blessed Mother replied, “I want you to come here on the thirteenth   
   of next month. I want you to continue saying the Rosary every day. And   
   after each one of the mysteries, my children, I want you to pray in   
   this way: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of   
   hell. Take all souls to heaven, especially those who are most in need.   
   I want you to learn to read and write, and later I will tell you what   
   else I want of you.”   
      
      
   Lucia, repeating her question from the previous visitation, asked,   
   "Will you take us to heaven?" She again received the reply, “Yes, I   
   shall take Jacinta and Francisco soon, but you will remain a little   
   longer, since Jesus wishes you to make me known and loved on earth. He   
   wishes also for you to establish devotion in the world to my   
   Immaculate Heart.”   
      
   "Must I remain in the world alone?"   
      
   “Not alone, my child,” Our Lady of Fatima replied kindly, “and you   
   must not be sad. I will be with you always, and my Immaculate Heart   
   will be your comfort and the way which will lead you to God.”   
      
   Lucia recounted that following this words, Our Blessed Mother opened   
   her hands and “transmitted to us, for the 2nd time, the reflection of   
   that intense light. In it we felt we were submerged in God. Jacinta   
   and Francisco seemed to be in that part of the light which was rising   
   to Heaven, and I in the part spreading over the earth. In front of the   
   palm of Our Lady's right hand was a heart encircled with thorns which   
   appeared to pierce it. We understood it was the Immaculate Heart of   
   Mary offended by the sins of mankind, craving reparation.”   
      
   As she had in the previous apparition, Our Lady of Fatima ascended   
   from them, disappearing into the “immensity of heaven.” Those who were   
   present began to believe, having witnessed a cloud, the dimming of the   
   sun, the light of heaven on the faces of the children. However, the   
   struggles for their families did not diminish, and the parish priest   
   warned that what the children were experiencing might be of demonic   
   origin. For the children, their days became sorrowful and filled with   
   controversy. Over the next several months, they would endure the   
   skepticism of family, Church, and government officials, never   
   recanting their stories, holding fast to their faith in Our Blessed   
   Mother.   
      
   As promised, Mary would return on July 16, offering the children a   
   glimpse of the suffering souls of hell, and encouraging them to   
   continue praying for sinners and praying the Rosary for peace in the   
   world.   
      
   Through prayers of adoration and reparation, we turn to Our Lady of   
   Fatima--to whom God has entrusted our redemption through her grace and   
   cooperation with her divine spouse--to rectify the state of the world,   
   reduce the influence of evil, save the sinful, and draw ourselves   
   closer to Our God through devotion to the Immaculate Heart.   
   by Jacob   
      
      
   Bible Quote:   
   And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven   
   suffereth violence, and the violent bear it away. (Matthew 11:12) DRB   
      
   Saint Quote:   
   When I attentively consider, O Lord, that Thou hast Thine eyes as   
   continually and as carefully fixed upon me as if neither in heaven nor   
   on earth Thou hadst any creature to govern besides myself; when I   
   think Thou beholdest all my actions, that Thou dost penetrate my most   
   hidden and secret thoughts, and that all my desires are in Thy sight,   
   I feel myself filled with confusion.   
   --St. Augustine   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Oh my Jesus, Forgive us our sins.   
   Save us from the fires of Hell.   
   Lead all souls to Heaven,   
   especially those most in need of Your Mercy. Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)