From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   On the Excellence of a Free Mind  [I]   
      
   THE DISCIPLE:   
   Lord, one who desires perfection must make it his first task to keep   
   his mind at all times set on heavenly things. By so doing, he can pass   
   carefree through many troubles, not as one who has not the wit to   
   realize the dangers that beset him, but in the strength of a free   
   mind, unfettered by undue attachment to worldly things.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3  Ch 26   
      
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   July 18th - Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal: The First Apparition   
    by Jacob   
      
   Today, we commemorate the first apparition of Our Blessed Mother, Our   
   Lady of the Miraculous Medal, to Saint Catherine Labouré at the   
   convent at Rue du Bac in Paris. During a series of 3 apparitions, Our   
   Blessed Mother detailed to Saint Catherine the evils of the world,   
   encouraged her to pray for salvation, and provided a means in which   
   for the holy to consecrate themselves to her Sacred Heart, providing   
   protection and grace.   
      
   Catherine Labouré was born the 7th of 9 children to a poor farming   
   family in the small French village of Fain-les-Moutiers. From an early   
   age she wished to join religious life, her heart set upon the   
   Daughters of Charity, an order which her older sister had joined. Her   
   father, however, was opposed to another daughter joining the religious   
   life, instead wishing for Catherine to be married. Twice she refused   
   offers of marriage, instead praying for the grace to serve the Lord.   
   As a young woman, she dreamt a holy dream in which she was visited by   
   Saint Vincent de Paul (see here, Saint Louise de Marillac, for further   
   information), founder of the Daughters of Charity. In Catherine’s   
   words: “I was praying in the church. An old priest came to say Mass.   
   He looked at me and I felt like running away. Then he said ‘Someday,   
   you will meet me again. God has plans for you.’” Catherine did not   
   recognize the founder of The Daughters of Charity until her father   
   eventually allowed her to enter the order. It was there, upon her   
   first day at the convent that she observed a picture of the holy   
   saint, and realized her prophetic calling.   
      
   At age 24, in April of 1830, Catherine’s life was to change   
   dramatically. Over the months prior, she had witnessed apparitions of   
   Saint Vincent de Paul while at prayer in the chapel. On 3 successive   
   days, he appeared to Catherine, showing her his heart. Each day, his   
   holy heart appeared as a different color: white for peace, red for   
   fire, and then black--an indication of the misfortunes that would come   
   upon France. Saint Catherine also experienced mystical ecstasies in   
   which she say Christ physically present in the Sacred Eucharist, and   
   on the feast of the Holy Trinity, a vision of the crucified Christ as   
   King.   
   These miraculous visions set the stage for the events of July 18,   
   1830. Saint Catherine had spent the evening in the chapel, praying to   
   Saint Vincent de Paul, voicing her desire to see the Blessed Virgin.   
   Retiring to her room, she attempted to sleep, when a mysterious child   
   appeared at the foot of her bed. The child, in a pure, sweet voice,   
   encouraged her, saying, “Sister Catherine, Sister Catherine, get up   
   quickly. Come to the chapel. Our Lady is waiting for you.”   
      
   Catherine dressed quickly, following the child who radiated light   
   wherever he went. Arriving at the chapel, Catherine found it to be   
   illuminated by countless candles, similar (but in greater number) to   
   those found at Midnight Mass. There she prayed in uneasy silence for   
   approximately 30 minutes. At midnight, Saint Catherine hear a sound   
   which she would describe as “the swish of a silk dress.” A beautiful   
   and majestic Lady walked down the altar steps and seated herself in   
   the director's chair.   
   “Look,” said the child. “Here is the Blessed Virgin.”   
      
   Sister Labouré knelt at the foot of the chair and talked with the   
   Queen of Heaven. In her own words, she wrote, “I then bounded to the   
   steps of the altar, knelt, and let my hands rest on the knees of the   
   Blessed Virgin. There I spent the most pleasant time of my life. It   
   would be impossible for me to describe what I experienced. The Blessed   
   Virgin told me how I should conduct myself with regard to my confessor   
   and many other things.”   
      
   At first the conversation was personal, and then Our Lady delivered a   
   message for the world. With Catherine kneeling before her, Our Lady of   
   the Miraculous Medal declared:   
      
   "Great troubles are about to happen in France. The danger will be   
   great. But do not be afraid. The good God and Saint Vincent will take   
   care of the Sisters of Charity and the Priests of the Mission...”   
      
   She continued, forewarning of the continuing revolution and unrest in   
   France. During this portion of the conversation, Our Blessed Mother’s   
   face was etched with sadness:   
      
   "My child, the Cross of Jesus will be hated, many priests will be put   
   to death. The Archbishop will die. The streets will run with blood. My   
   child, the whole world will be filled with trouble and sorrow. The   
   days are evil. Terrible things are going to happen in France. The   
   King's throne will be overturned. The whole world will be filled with   
   trouble of every kind. But come to the foot of this Altar often. Here   
   many graces will be given to everyone who asks for them. They will be   
   given to the rich and to the poor, the great and the lowly.”   
      
   Lastly, Our Blessed Mother spoke to Saint Catherine about her mission:   
   “My child, the good God wishes to give you a mission. Later I shall   
   let you know what it is. You will have much to suffer.”She added: "Do   
   not be afraid of difficulties. Pray to Jesus present in the Blessed   
   Sacrament. But do not be afraid.”   
      
   With that, the Holy Virgin disappeared. Saint Catherine returned to   
   her room, surprised that nearly two hours had passed. Saint Catherine   
   would not see Our Blessed Mother again until November 27. During that   
   time, much of what she had predicted had come to pass. In her   
   subsequent visitations, Holy Mary provided Saint Catherine with a   
   remedy to the evils of the world, a method of devotion and   
   consecration, and the encouragement to pray for sinners and engage in   
   acts of penance. It was during the apparition of November 27 that Our   
   Blessed Mother provided Saint Catherine the instructions to create the   
   Miraculous Medal--a devotion which continues today.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Among the many means of performing our actions well, one is to do each   
   of them as if it were to be the last of our lives. At every action,   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)