From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   On Self-Denial, and Renunciation of all Cupidity  [II]   
      
   THE DISCIPLE.   
    Lord, this is not the work of a single day, and no easy matter. These   
   few words contain the whole way of spiritual perfection.   
   CHRIST.   
   My son, do not be discouraged or diverted from your purpose at hearing   
   of this way of perfection. Rather let it spur you to higher things and   
   at least, to set your heart on them. If only you would do this, and   
   attain that state where you cease to be a lover of self and stand   
   ready to do My will and His whom I have appointed as your Father, you   
   would greatly please Me and your whole life would be filled with joy   
   and peace. You have still many things to renounce, and unless you   
   surrender them to Me without reserve, you cannot obtain what you ask   
   of Me. I counsel you to buy from Me gold, refined in the fire, that   
   you may be rich (Rev.3:18) in that heavenly wisdom that rejects all   
   worthless things. Despise the wisdom of the world and every temptation   
   to please others or yourself.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3, Ch 32   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   September 13th - Our Lady of Fatima: The Fifth Apparition   
      
   In May 1917, 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.   
      
   During her last apparition, Our Lady had told the children: “Pray,   
   pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners, for many souls go to   
   Hell because they have no one to make sacrifices and pray for them.”   
   They had taken her message to heart, and renewed both their prayers   
   and their acts of penance. However, they were mistreated by both their   
   friends and neighbors, as well as the government and the press. This   
   did not diminish the faith of the visionaries, nor the steady stream   
   of pilgrims already coming to Fatima.   
      
   Despite the ridicule and jokes of the secular, atheistic press, more   
   than 30,000 people gathered in the Cova on September 13, 1917. Whether   
   drawn by devotion or curiosity, they prayed the Rosary while awaiting   
   the arrival of the visionaries and Our Blessed Mother. Lucia wrote in   
   her journal: “…with difficulty we were able to go through. The path   
   was crowded with people, everyone wanted to see and touch us. Many   
   people of the village came to ask us to present their needs and   
   intentions to Our Lady. Others not able to come near us cried out from   
   far away. We heard . . . ask Our Lady to heal my invalid son . . . my   
   blind son . . . my deaf daughter . . . to bring back my husband from   
   the war . . . for conversion of a sinner . . . for me sick of   
   tuberculosis . . . etc. All human miseries became evident and some   
   cried out from the trees.”   
   Once Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta began to pray their Rosary, the   
   characteristic flash of light (what Lucia referred to as “a reflection   
   of light”) occurred, and Lucia said, "What do you want of me?"   
      
   Our Blessed Mother had appeared on the holm oak. She replied,   
   “Continue the Rosary, my children. Say it every day that the war may   
   end. In October Our Lord will come, as well as Our Lady of Sorrows and   
   Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Saint Joseph will appear with the Child Jesus   
   to bless the world.”   
      
   Mary, Mother of God, then cautioned the children that their penances   
   were becoming too severe. She said, “God is pleased with your   
   sacrifices, but He does not want you to wear the cords to bed. Keep   
   them on during the day.”   
      
   "I have the petitions of many for your help,” Lucia bravely inquired.   
   “Will you assist a little girl who is deaf and dumb?"   
      
   Mary smiled and replied, “She will improve within the year.”   
      
   "And the conversions that some have asked to have brought about? The   
   cures of the sick ones?"   
      
   "Some I will cure, and some I will not.” And then Our Lady of Fatima   
   again promised the Miracle of the Sun: “In October I will perform a   
   miracle so that all may believe.”   
      
   With these last words, the Lady rose and disappeared in the heavens,   
   as Lucia called to the crowd, "If you wish to see her--look! Look!" Of   
   course, the onlookers could not see Our Blessed Mother, but did   
   observe a small white cloud ascending into the sky.   
      
   Our Lady of Fatima would return on the 13th day of October, as   
   promised, continuing her message of penance and reparation, sacrifice,   
   and conversion of sinners. On that day, the great Miracle of the Sun   
   would occur. In being invited to witness that miracle, we are also   
   being invited (along with the children) to put our trust in Our   
   Lady--to preserve confidence in the as yet unseen. We are asked to   
   exercise faith, but a faith which shall be rewarded in a mystical way   
   with a powerful motive of credibility--a reason for believing and   
   trusting in her and in her intercession--a miracle!   
      
   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   
      
      
   Saint Quotes:   
   “Prayer is the place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for   
   cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against   
   sadness.”   
   --St. John Chrysostom   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   But I am poor and needy;   
       hasten to me, O God!   
   Thou art my help and my deliverer;   
       O Lord, do not tarry!  [Psalm 70:5]  RSVCE   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   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)