From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   How we must rest in God alone above all things:  [VI]   
      
   What more can Thy servant say, Lord? He can only humble himself   
   entirely in Thy presence, ever mindful of his own wickedness and   
   unworthiness. For none can compare with Thee, (Ps. 86:8) among all the   
   wonders of heaven and earth. All Thy works are good, Thy judgements   
   are true, (Ps. 19:9) and by Thy providence are all things ruled.   
   Praise and glory to Thee, O Wisdom of the Father! Let my soul, my   
   lips, and all creation join in Thy blessing and Thy praise!   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3, Ch 21   
      
   ==============   
   January 17th - Our Lady of Hope of Pontmain   
      
   Today marks the 139th anniversary of the Blessed Mother’s appearance   
   at Pontmain, France. This apparition, under the invocation of Our Lady   
   of Pontmain, Mother of Hope, is unique in that the Blessed Mother   
   never spoke, but rather communicated with four young children via   
   writing.   
      
   In 1871, France was at war with German, and not faring well. Paris was   
   besieged, and most French villages, Pontmain among them, were   
   starving. It was winter, many of the village men had been called to   
   fight, and a typhoid epidemic had spread throughout the town. There   
   was little hope left in the villagers’ hearts, and despair had overrun   
   the small town of approximately 500.   
      
   It was at this time, when things were bleakest and most hopeless that   
   Our Blessed Mother appeared to four school children: Eugene and Joseph   
   Barbedette (12 and 10, respectively), Jeanne-Marie Lebossé (age 9) and   
   Françoise Richer (age 11).   
      
   On the evening of January 17, Eugene and Joseph were working with   
   their father in the family’s barn. Eugene went outside momentarily “to   
   see what the weather was like” and was the first to see The Beautiful   
   Lady. Joseph, a typical younger brother, followed Eugene, and   
   exclaimed moments after Eugene first spotted the apparition, “Oh, The   
   Beautiful Lady!” Mary was described as dressed in a blue robe with   
   golden stars covering it.   
      
   Eugene’s father could not see The Beautiful Lady his sons were talking   
   about—Rather, he saw bright twinkling stars in the sky. He pulled them   
   inside to finish their chores and the three returned home for dinner.   
   Following discussion at the dinner table, the children returned   
   outside where Our Blessed Mother still appeared. The children’s mother   
   traveled to the local convent, informing the Sisters. They, with some   
   children, traveled to the family’s home. It was then that Jeanne-Marie   
   and Françoise saw the apparition, describing Mary in an identical   
   fashion as the boys had. “She has a blue dress with golden stars,   
   gold-ribboned slippers, a golden crown widening towards the top with a   
   red band around it, and a black veil.” Another child named Eugene   
   Friteau (age 6), also reported seeing Mary, as did a neighbor’s   
   infant, Augustine (age 2), who reached out with towards the Apparition   
   and showed signs of joy.   
      
   During what is described as Phase 1, the local Priest and Sisters   
   immediately arranged a prayer service, during which the remaining four   
   of the five phases of apparition occurred.   
      
   During Phase 2, as a crowd gathered and began praying, a blue oval   
   with four unlit candles appeared surrounding the Blessed Virgin. A   
   small red cross appeared over her heart. Mary, however, as described   
   by the children, appeared sad. As the prayers of the crowd that was   
   gathering increased in strength, the vision slowly expanded in size,   
   with dazzling stars appearing. A banner unfurled between the edges of   
   the oval, with the following words appearing one by one:   
      
   “But pray, my children. God will answer you very soon. My Son lets His   
   Heart by touched.”   
      
   During the second phase, a man in the crowd announced that the German   
   troops were advancing toward the village, leading to further prayer   
   and hymns. The Blessed Mother, during Phase 3 raised her hands toward   
   the sky, fingers gently keeping time to the hymns being sung. She   
   appeared to speak, but was not heard. Her face, which had smiled   
   during the communication of her message, again appeared sad.   
      
   During Phase 4 of the apparition a red cross appeared in Mary’s hands,   
   bearing the words “Jesus Christ” written in white and a figure of   
   Christ in red. A star moved in the sky, lighting each of the four   
   candles, and then resting above the Blessed Virgin’s head. She sadly   
   tilted the cross toward the children.   
      
   In Phase 5, the red cross disappeared, and in it’s place, two white   
   crossed appeared on each of Our Holy Mother’s shoulders. A white veil   
   at her feet slowly rose, shrouding her from view, until only her   
   golden grown remained. And then, that too, disappeared. The vision had   
   lasted all evening, with the townsfolk praying in the cold until nine   
   o’clock in the morning. At that, all went home, their minds clear and   
   at peace.   
      
   The German troops, mere kilometers from the town ceased their forward   
   motion that evening at around 5:30, about the time when the Apparition   
   first appeared above Pontmain. The General leading the troops is   
   reported to have said the following morning: "We cannot go farther.   
   Yonder, in the direction of Brittany, there is an invisible 'Madonna’   
   barring the way." The armistice ending the war was signed only days   
   later.   
      
   Today, Pontmain remains a holy pilgrimage site, receiving thousands of   
   visitors each year. The barn and town chapel have been preserved, and   
   a basilica built for Our Lady of Hope.   
      
      
   Saint Quotes:   
   "Whoever sits in solitude and is quiet has escaped from three wars:   
   hearing, speaking, and seeing. Yet against one thing he must   
   constantly battle: his own heart."   
   --Saint Antony Abbot.   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   The following prayer might be said today, an invocation to Our Lady of Hope:   
      
   O Lady of Mental Peace, Mother of Tranquility and Mother of Hope, look   
   upon me in this time of my weakness and unrest. Teach my searching   
   heart to know that God’s Love for me is unchanging and unchangeable;   
   and, that true human love can only begin and grow by touching His   
   Love. Let your gentle peace which this world cannot give be always   
   with me. And, help me to bring this same Peace into the lives of   
   others. Our Lady of Mental Peace, Pray for us. Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)