Cristy Li

Our Lady of Fatima
Image: Aquinas & More

(Franciscan Media) Between the 13 May and 13 October, 1917 the Mother of Jesus, appeared 6 times to three little shepherd  children (Jacinta Marto, Lucia de Jesus Santos and Francisco Marto) from Portugal Fatima, asked by Mary to pray the Rosary for the end of WW I, for Sinners and for the conversion of Russia.

On the 20 February, I wrote here on the Feast Day of Saint’s Jacinta and Francisco Marto, Visionaries of Fatima — At the time, Europe was involved in an extremely bloody war and Portugal was in political turmoil, having overthrown its monarchy in 1910 –the government had disbanded religious organizations soon thereafter.

Mary gave the children three secrets: Since both Francisco and Jacinta both contracted influenza in 1918 (later Jacinta also contracted tuberculosis) and these two children died, Lucia revealed two of the secrets that Mary gave to her: (1) the first concerning devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; (2) the second secret was a vision of Hell.

Throughout the Old Testament God, in His great mercy chose prophets to call His people back to Him. In recent times, Jesus has sent his Mother to forewarn humanity of the harm from famine and plagues mankind may inflict upon oneself as a result of ones sinful nature, wars–persecution of the Church and the loss of many souls to Hell.

God in His great mercy, desires to save mankind from these miseries through the Immaculate heart of Jesus’ Mother. Our Heavenly Mother revealed in Portugal Fatima, a plan of hope for this world, which continues to plunge headlong towards its own destruction.

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Related:  For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings, Visit: -USCCB

The True Story of ‘The Miracle of the Sun’ at Fatima

Sister Lucia: Final Confrontation Between The Lord & Satan Will Be Over Family & Marriage

Martyrdom of Saint George (Paolo Veronese 1564) Image: WikiArt

(EWTN) Born somewhere between 275 and 281 in Bithynia Nicomedia (modern day  NW Turkey) George is by far one of the most illustrious martyrs for Jesus Christ. The Greeks have long distinguished him by the title of ‘The Greek Martyr’ and keep his festival a holiday of obligation. To this day, St. George is honored as principle patron by several Eastern nations, particularly the Georgians. The intercession of St. George was implored especially in battles and by Soldiers in the ‘Byzantine Empire’ (330-1453) and its said that St. George himself was a mighty soldier.

There stood formally in Constantinople 5 or 6 Churches dedicated in his honor, Timothy II (1612-1620) rebuilt and enlarged ‘The Church of St. George’ in Istanbul and is open to the public to this date.

The extraordinary devotion to all Christendom to St. George, would seem to evidence how glorious St. George’s triumph and name have always been in the Church.

All of his acts, relate how St. George suffered under  the Emperor Diocletian — One account of his martyrdom comes from Ecclesiastical history which relates:

That Diocletian issued an Order to tear down all of the Churches to their foundations and destroy the Sacred Scriptures by fire…a certain man of no mean origin but highly esteemed by his temporal dignities, stimulated by a Divine zeal and excited by an ardent faith, took the Emperor’s Order as it was openly displayed for public inspection and tore it up into shreds. This act so enraged Diocletian, that he had the ‘certain man’ identified by more than one ancient source including Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea (263-339) as St. George though other historians have suggested that this isn’t likely.

St. George is usually depicted in Christian art as a Soldier on horseback killing a dragon with a lance. This image is representative of a popular legend of St. George which first appeared in 1275 in a romance entitled, ‘The Golden Legend’ (from 1470 to 1530 was the most often printed book in Europe) which George saved a town terrorized by a dragon with one blow of his lance. The image however is also and more significantly a powerful symbol of the victory of the Christian faith over evil (sometimes interpreted more contextually in the early Church as ‘Paganism’) personified by Satan who is symbolized by the dragon according to the imagery of the Book of Revelations.

The reason why St. George has been regarded as the Patron Saint of Soldiers is partly upon the score of his profession and partly upon the credit of a relation of his appearing to the Christian Army in the Holy War before the battle of Antioch. The success of this battle proving fortunate to the Christians under the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem by ‘Godfrey de Bouillion’ made the name of St. George more famous in Europe and disposed of Soldiers more particularly his intercession.

While some Christians dishonor the profession of Soldiers and weaponry, we find the names of more Soldiers recorded in Martyrologies  than almost any other profession. Every true disciple of Jesus Christ must be a Martyr in the disposition of ones heart and must be prepared to lose everything and to suffer anything rather than to offend Almighty God.

Every good Christian is also a Martyr by the patience and courage with
which one bears all trials. There is no virtue more necessary,
nor of which the exercise ought to be more frequent than patience–which I often fail, I digress.

In this mortal life we have continually something to suffer from, disappointments, from injustice, irritations, jealously, animosity of others, from ourselves in mental anguish, grief and physical pains. Even our own weaknesses and faults are to us subjects of patience. We likewise have many other burdens both of our own and to others to bear, it is only patience that we are to possess our souls.

By this, it affords us comfort in all of our distress/unhappiness and maintains our souls in unshaken tranquility and peace. This is true greatness of mind and the virtue of an heroic soul…What comfort should we find, what peace should we enjoy, what treasures of virtue should we amass, what a harvest of merits should we reap, if we had learned the true spirit of Christian patience. This is the martyrdom and the crown of every faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. 

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. George, Visit: -USCCB

Facing Our Battles With St. George and Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton -Seton Shrine

Saint Margaret of Scotland (1045-1093) Image: Catholic Online

Born in Hungary into Royalty, Margaret “was a truly liberated Woman in the sense, that she was free to be herself,” writes Franciscan Media “for her, that meant freedom to love God and serve others.”

Margaret’s father Edward ‘Outremere’ Atheling, heir to the English throne, her mother Princess Agatha of Hungary–While Margaret’s family returned to England when she was 10 yrs old, the Norman Conquest forced them into exile. By this time Margaret’s father had passed away and her mother fled with the children aboard a ship which crashed onto the coast of Scotland where they remained.

In 1070 at the age of 25 Margaret wed the King of Scotland Malcom III Canmore (1031-1093) — As Queen, Margaret’s Christian faith had a strong influence on her husband’s reign. Queen Margaret helped to soften his temper and led him to practice virtue, she dignified the Royal Court, providing an example of purity and reverence that others emulated. Queen Margaret and King Malcom III prayed together and fed the hungry, offering a powerful witness of faith to the people they served.

In addition to being wife and mother, Queen Margaret worked tirelessly to bring justice and relief to the poor of Scotland, she would also go on to build Churches and encouraged the practice of Christian devotion. In Queen Margaret’s private life, she exhibited a great prayerfulness and faith, her influence was seen not only in King Malcom’s life but throughout all of Scotland.

Queen Margaret passed away on this date in 1093 just 4 days after King Malcom III and one of her sons was killed in battle — In 1251 Queen Margaret was Canonized by Pope Innocent IV

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