From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   On our last days  (V)   
      
   Do not rely on friends and neighbours, and do not delay the salvation   
   of your soul to some future date, for men will forget you sooner than   
   you think. It is better to make timely provision and to acquire merit   
   in this life, than to depend on the help of others. And if you have no   
   care for your own soul, who will have care for you in time to come?   
   The present time is most precious; now is the accepted time, now is   
   the day of salvation.(2Cor.6:2) It is sad that you do not employ your   
   time better, when you may win eternal life hereafter. The time will   
   come when you will long for one day or one hour in which to amend; and   
   who knows whether it will be granted?   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Ch 23   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   March 2: - Our Lady of Banneux: The Final Apparition   
      
   “The poor today – and there are many ways of being poor! – feel at   
   home in Banneux. They come here to find comfort, courage, hope, union   
   with God in their affliction. I encourage the pilgrims who come here   
   to pray to her, who, always and everywhere in the Church, reflects the   
   face of the Mercy of God.”   
      
   Pope John Paul II proclaimed these words during his visit to Banneux,   
   in reference to Our Blessed Mother, the Virgin of the Poor. Today,   
   March 2, marks the anniversary of the eighth and final apparition of   
   Mary at Banneux, Belgium, to 11 year old Mariette Beco in 1933. The   
   first 7 apparitions occurred on January 15, January 18, January 19,   
   January 20, February 11, February 15, and February 20. During these   
   encounters, Mariette saw a woman “made of light” smiling at her   
   through her kitchen window, eventually following the Blessed Virgin,   
   praying with her, and obeying her instructions to claim a small stream   
   of water for her. The Blessed Mother said to Mariette, “I am the   
   Virgin of the Poor” and leading her to a small stream, “This spring is   
   reserved for all nations- to relieve the sick.” The Virgin of the Poor   
   requested that a small chapel be built. She further told Mariette, “I   
   have come to relieve suffering.” Following Mariette’s request for a   
   sign as to who she was, Our Blessed Mother replied, “Believe in me-   
   and I will believe in you.” Finally, in the seventh visitation, the   
   Blessed Virgin implored Marriette to “Pray hard.”   
      
   Ten days after the seventh apparition, Mariette was visited by the   
   Virgin of the Poor for the last time. Despite pouring rain, Mariette   
   knelt to pray in her garden as dusk was falling. She was praying her   
   third Rosary when the rain stopped without warning. Mariette was   
   observed to remain silent, but stretched out her arms, stood up, took   
   a single step forward, and then knelt back down.   
      
   The Blessed Virgin spoke to her, saying, “I am the Mother of the   
   Savior, Mother of God. Pray much." Mariette said, “yes, yes,” and   
   bowed her head. The Virgin of the Poor laid her hands upon her head,   
   blessing her, and said, "Adieu" (Good bye). Mariette wept, knowing   
   this was her last visit, as on all previous occasions, Mary had ended   
   their time together by saying “Au revoir” (Until we meet again).   
      
   Our Lady of Banneux, the Virgin of the Poor, blessed the world by   
   appearing to a humble girl. Her message was simple, and of few words:   
   Pray diligently, have faith, and through her intercession, worldly   
   suffering would be relieved. We humbly implore the Blessed Virgin of   
   the Poor to watch over us, intercede for us with the Lord, and relieve   
   our suffering on earth.   
      
   The apparitions at Banneux were investigated by an Episcopal   
   delegation from 1935 to 1937, with their findings submitted to the   
   Vatican for approval. Preliminary approval of the veracity of the   
   apparitions was granted in 1947, with the visitation of Mary ruled as   
   definitive in 1949. By that time, Mariette Beco had married and had   
   several children. Despite being sought out by the thousands of   
   pilgrims visiting Banneux, she remained humble and quiet, content to   
   have the attention of visitors focused on the “Lady made of light,”   
   rather than herself.   
   by Jacob   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   "A soul truly resigned to God has no affection for any created thing,   
   for it sees clearly that all its possessions, except God, are vain and   
   nullity. So its single object and aim is to die to itself, and resign   
   itself actually and always in all things."   
   --Bl. Henry Suso   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Without wood the fire dies out;   
   without a talebearer strife subsides.   
   Charcoal for coals, wood for fire—   
   such are the quarrelsome, enkindling strife.  [Prv 26:20–21.]   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   James 3:14-15 what does James characterize as   
   human or "fleshly" wisdom?   
      
   St. James' list of fleshly wisdom:   
   1. Bitter jealousy   
   2. ambition   
   3. boastfulness   
   4. deceit   
      
   St. Paul's list of works of the flesh:   
   1. sexual immorality   
   2. impurity   
   3. sexuality (licentiousness/ immodesty)   
   4. idolatry   
   5. sorcery   
   6. hatreds   
   7. rivalry   
   8. jealousy   
   9. outbursts of anger   
   10. quarrels   
   11. disagreements/ acts of selfishness   
   12. factions   
   13. malice/envy   
   14. drunkenness   
   15. orgies   
   16. and the like   
   St. Paul concludes his list with the dire warning: "people who behave   
   in these ways will not inherit the kingdom of God   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)