INTEGRATING RELIGION WITH ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE. SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION - A PARADIGM SHIFT

(PART 15)

NOT PRAYING TIHE ROSARY IS AN ACT OF OMISSION

In the Magnificat, Luke 1: 47-55, the Holy Bible says through Mother Mary;

“For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me bless”.

(Luke 1:48)

The above statement was made by the queen Virgin Mother when the Holy Bible said she was filled with the Holy Spirit that even her words sanctified and filled Elizabeth with the child in her womb with the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1: 41-44).

This confirms the Angelic Salutation to her;

“The Lord Is With Thee”

(Luke 1: 28)

Psalm 45 quoted below, also invites us to call on Mother Mary the Queen siting at the right hand of the Messiah the King;

“Your throne, Oh God, is forever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of your Kingdom.

All your garments are scented with Myrrh and aloes and cassia out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made you glad.

At your right hand stands the Queen in Gold from Ophir, The Royal daughter is all eldrious within the palace: her clothing is woven in gold.

Instead of your fathers they shall be your sons whom you shall make princes in all the earth.

I will make your name to be remembered in all generations;therefore the people will praise you forever and ever.

(Psalm 45)

To confirm that those who died in Godliness continue a new live, in eternity, is the transfiguration during which Elijah and Moses that died long before Christ was born, appeared to Him towards the approach of his passion. See Mat. 17: 3; Mark 9: 4; Luke 9: 30.

At death, Godly men simply change their state of being and enter a new abode which is (HEAVEN). To this Jesus Himself said;

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's House are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you"

(John 14:1-2)

This privilege is given to mankind if we accept Christ and become Sons of God and co-heirs with Christ' as the following Bible passages confirmed. See John 1: 12, Roman 8: 17; Gal. 3: 29.

MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD CANNOT BE AN EXCEPTION

If ordinary mortals can enjoy the privilege of immortality in heaven, with God after death, it is certain that Mary the mother of God herself whom the Bible tells us is the Queen of Heaven will enjoy the same privilege in more abundance. The whole of Revelation 12 confirms this.

ONE MUST ABIDE IN GOD WHO DESIRE THIS PRIVILEGE

The scripture tells us that by the new life of the spirit of Christ, we are co-heirs with Christ. Gals 8; Luke 12: 15 -20.

The ASCENSION of Lord Jesus Christ proves to us mortals that Heaven of which we are ‘co-heirs’ with Christ is real. God forbid that you NOR I should refuse God's invitation to love God & your fellowman.

This marks the final part of the 3rd Millennium Evangelization stand alone series: Integrating Religion with Elements of Science. Scientific Revolution - A Paradigm Shift. 

This will be followed up by a Prayer of St. Monica Mother of St. Augustine to end the series. 

The next series will be Stella Maris Series focusing on Divine Connection, (Power pass Power).

INTEGRATING RELIGION WITH ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE. SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION - A PARADIGM SHIFT

(PART 14)

A Proven Holy Communion Miracle

In the 8th Century, a miracle occurred in the city of Lanciano, Italy,  involving the  Holy Communion. This is called a Eucharistic Miracle because it is one of the miracle involving the Eucharist.

A monk who had doubted the presence of Christ in the Eucharist was celebrating Mass and when he said the words of consecration, he found that the bread and wine changed into flesh and blood. 

This miracle was investigated by the Catholic Church and officially claimed it as authentic.

(Image Source: Mbuwir Michael) 

(Image Source: YouTube)

Proof of the Holy Bible on the Holy Rosary

(A Catholic Chaplet)

Below are some Biblical References to confirm that all of the Rosary (Catholic Chaplet) is from the Holy Bible:-

1.    THE CREED OR CREDO

This is said on the Crucifix - (the Image of Crucified Jesus), It summarizes all that Christians believe, regarding their faith i.e. covering the entire Bible beginning from Gen. Chap. 1 to Revelation, which is the last book in the Bible.

2.    “The Our Father” (the Lord’s prayer) contained in Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4

3.    Next comes the Angelic Salutation or the Hail Mary

·       The 1^st part;

“Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee” Taken from Luke 1: 28.

·       This is followed by:

“Blessed art thou amongst women and Blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Taken from Luke 1: 42.

4.    Mother of God

·       Mary is the Mother of God for Jesus, son of Mary is God. The second person in the Trinity.

·       The following Bible passages confirm that Jesus, the son of Mary is God.

·       “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the Government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called wonderful, counsellor, the might God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”

(Isiah 9:6)

·       “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”

(John 1:1)

·       Lord Jesus Himself tells us that He and the Father are one in John 17:21, John 10:38, John 14:8-11.

·       He has also confirmed that He has been existing with the Father before the world was made.

(John 17:5)

This leads us to the mystery of the Blessed Trinity; three Persons in one God. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God says;

·       “For there are three that bear witness in heaven;The Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit and these three are one.”

(1^st John 5:7)

From the Gideon’s International Holy Bible.

·       ‘Phillip said, “Lord, show us the Father and then we shall be satisfied”. Jesus said unto him, “Have I been with you all this time, Phillip, and you still do not know me?

Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father, so how can you say, “Show us the Father?

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

What I say to you, I do not speak of my own accord. It is the Father, living in me, who is doing his works.

You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me or at least believe it on the evidence of these works.”’

(John 14:8-11)

·       The Holy Bible passage below also tells us that Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit prophesied that the newly conceived child in the Queen Virgin Mother’s womb is God.

‘And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit.

Then, she spoke out with a loud voice and said; “Blessed are thou amongst women, and Blessed is fruit of your womb.

But why is this granted to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?

For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.”

Luke 1:41-44

The Baptism of Lord Jesus also confirms that He is God.

·       ‘Now it happened that when the people had been baptized and while Jesus after his baptism was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a physical form, like a Dove and a voice came from Heaven, “You are my son; Today have I fathered you”.’See Luke 3:21 -22, John 1: 32-34; Psalm 2:7

·       Lord Jesus said: “but even Moses showed in the Burning Bush Passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.”

(Luke 20:37)

5.    The Next part of the Holy Rosary is: “Pray for us”

MARY CAN PRAY FOR US

Jesus never refuses Mother Mary's request. It was at the instance of her request that His first miracle was performed, even though Jesus Himself explained to her that it was not yet time for Him to do so. See John 2: 1-11

·       Mary is still alive in heaven, for Jesus Himself tells us so in the Holy Bible, that those worthy of resurrection do not die

·       ‘Jesus said unto her, “I am the resurrection and the Life, He that believes in me, though He was dead, yet He shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die, believes thou this?”’

 (John 11: 25-26)

·       Our Lord also tells us that those worthy of resurrection become one with the Angels and so can no longer die. He pointed out to us that He is the God of the living and not of the dead, hence the scripture said God of Abraham, showing that Abraham though dead in the flesh is alive in the spirit

(Matt 22: 30 32)

·       The last part of the Rosary is ‘… sinners, now and at the hour of our death.’

·       All are sinners. The Bible confirms that we are all sinners in 1 John 1:8; Rom 3: 23; Rom 5:12 etc.

·       Lord Jesus also tells us that those in Heaven watch over and communicates with the living

“There shall be more joy in Heaven over one repentant sinner more than 99 that need no repentance.

·       Lord Jesus Himself said He came not for thyself righteous but the sinners.

·       Hence he established His Church to heal us of our sinful state. He says to the Apostles;

“Whose sins ye shall forgive they are forever, whose sins ye shall retain, they are retained.”

·       The Holy Bible says that our wars our spirit to weight down and advises and repent. See John 5.

·       Even in the Lord's Prayer taught us by Lord Jesus Himself, a section of it says;

“Forgive us our sins as we forgive others”.

PRAYER OF THE ROSARY, MEDITATIONS ON THE HOLY ROSARY and the incorruptibility of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes

PRAYER OF THE ROSARY

(Image Source: St. Paul Street Evangelization)

In the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Apostles Creed:I believe in God the father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord;

Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary,

Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, died and was buried.

He rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

From thence, He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Catholic Church;

The communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen

Our Father: Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen

Hail Mary: Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus Christ.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,pray for us, sinners now and the hour of our death. Amen

Glory Be To God: Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,

World without end. Amen

Fatima Prayer: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins,

Save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven;

Especially those most in need of thy mercy.

Hail Holy Queen: Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy! Hail our life, our sweetness and our hope!

To you do we cry poor banished children of Eve;

To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears!

Turn then, most gracious advocate; your eyes of Mercy towards us.

And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus Christ.

O Clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God that we may remain worthy of the promises of Christ.

MEDITATIONS ON THE HOLY ROSARY

How to pray the rosary: The Rosary is made up of "decades".

A decade is one ‘Our Father’ followed by ten ‘Hail Mary's’ and a ‘Glory Be’.

Whilst it is usual to say five decades at a time, it is better to say one decade well, rather than five decades badly.

Begin with the sign of the cross. Pray the ‘Apostles Creed’, holding the crucifix and continue on the straight piece of the Rosary with one Our Father, three Hail Mary's and a Glory Be, as shown in the picture below.

Then, to start the first decade, pray one Our Father. Moving on to the circular piece of the Rosary, continue with ten Hail Mary's and finish the first decade with one Glory Be. By saying five decades of the Rosary, you will complete one full circuit of beads. To finish, after completing your chosen number of decades, pray the ‘Hail Holy Queen’. The prayer to “St. Michael the Archangel” is a very powerful extra prayer.

As you say each decade, think about a story in the life of Mary and Jesus. There are 15 stories to think about. Each story is called a ‘Mystery’.

On the next page you will be able to follow the five "Joyful", five “Luminous”, five"Sorrowful" and five "Glorious" mysteries.

(Image Source: Pinterest)

Next week, we will look at a proven Holy Communion Miracle and the Biblical References to confirm that all of the Rosary. That will be final part of this stand alone series.

INTEGRATING RELIGION WITH ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE. SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION - A PARADIGM SHIFT

(PART 13)

THE SHAPE OF THE EARTH AND THE POSITION OF THE EARTH IN THE UNIVERSE

For many years cosmological sciences erroneously thought that the earth is flat and suspended on pillars whereas Holy Bible prophesies had long recognised the mystery of the suspended earth and sang praises to God through the psalms for creating the world so wonderful and making the earth spherical like and suspended in space.

THE GREAT FLOOD AND NOAH'S ARK

Secondly, science has discovered that ages ago there was a great/sudden flood that covered the surface of the earth including the mountains and everything created. For some scientist who negate the story of Noah's ark in the Holy Bible how life continued on earth in spite of the great flood which expanded from North to South pole is still a puzzle, whereas the Holy Bible here once again comes to the rescue.

For while teaching about the great flood the Holy Bible makes it clear that God Himself, through the story of Noah's Ark, rescued the life of all those who agreed to come into the ark that is Noah's family, as well as the animals and birds that God instructed Noah to put in the ark.

Here again, the Bible has come to the rescue as the science world has confirmed the discovery of the Noah's Ark in which a 9,000 year old body laid uncorrupted was found on Mount Ararat.

It is pertinent to note that the science world acknowledges the great flood, but some of them cannot explain how life continued to exist on earth since fossil test reveal that all creatures died suddenly as a result of the flood, an obvious fact that man has no other possible story to tell on how life continued to exist on earth in spite of the great flood, besides the story of Noah's ARK in the Holy Bible.

FIRE UNDER THE EARTH

The Holy Bible has long prophesied about fire under the earth.

Now, the Science World has discovered through volcanic eruption that fire and heat erupt directly as an act of nature from under the earth.

In addition to the above, some decision makers in the science world are still facing numerous puzzles, some of which have been enumerated earlier in this discourse.

There is need therefore for such scientists to work in liaison with religious world for, as earlier stated in this discourse science is meant to complement and supplement religious prophesies, in fulfilment of command to man in ‘SUBDUE THE EARTH’

The realization of the fact that God made all men to fulfil his will on earth made Abraham Lincoln former president of United States in spite of his greatness to look upon himself humbly a ‘Instrument Of Providence ‘and to view all history as God's Enterprises.

It is pertinent here to note, as earlier discussed at pages 12 to 18 that SCIENCE UPHOLDS the fact that man is the "HIGHEST ANIMAL". For Science teaches that man is a complex being higher than all other animals, because according to Science, Man exhibits the dual nature of animal, and an additional "ABSTRACT" nature enabling him to relate with the absolute.

The aspect of man is what science calls ‘the subconscious’ dimension of man. Details of this has been discussed where the dual nature of man has been equated to the dual nature of the Euglena. (Please for more details glance through pages 14 to 18.)

In conclusion, it is obvious that the most supportive case for this call on scientific evolution (Paradigm Shift), in respect of the error of evolution are the following facts.

First and foremost, the fact that Charles Darwin who originated evolution theory, later adopted the Christian faith which teaches creativity sciences that says that God created man directly as an erect unique being and descendant of Adam and Eve.

Furthermore, for over two thousand years the process of Man's Birth, Activity, Labour and Delivery of manes Homo-Erectus (Man of upright posture) has not changed. For (as illustrated in this discourse).

The twentieth Century Science observe and teach the same on Birth Activity, Labour and Delivery as thought by Aristotle who lived before Christ over two thousand years ago.

The fact that, Evolution which Charles Darwin propagated has never been found to repeat in another Ape-Man Episode: a pointer that the more startling scientific revelations (quoted BELOW as a continuation of the topic on evolution) from Catholic position paper series A NO. revealing that man has never been ape is an authentic fact.

From the mid 1920's until the early 1970's, scientists generally believed that man evolved gradually from small ape-like creature called Australopithecus.

As we mentioned earlier, this animal lived more than a million years ago and its fossils showed some human-like characteristics. It may have walked upright at least some of the time, and its teeth approximated those of man.

Moreover, often found were stone tools scattered among its fossils. The theory during these decades held that some form of Australopithecus, enjoying relatively free use of its hands, developed tool-making, and this skill gave rise to an ever-larger brain through the forces of natural selection.

Magazine and textbooks showed the furry of Australopithecus standing next to Homo erectus, his distant evolutionary offspring.

But in the early 1970's researchers were astonished to discover forms of Homo erectus from almost two million years ago, complete with tools.

In other words, man had lived a long side and even before some forms of Australopithecus.

Most likely, it was he who had fashioned the tools found among the ape-like fossils.

Our purpose here has been to demonstrate the dynamic nature of scientific inquiry.

Even these few brief sketches show how evolutionary thinking has under gone an evolution of its own and still does.

Science has many uncertainties and very few dogmas.

The scientific fossil anatomical research stance on the Neanderthal man – Ape-man proves that man was never ape; man has always been man.

Series A. No. 116

From Catholic Positions Papers

Topic: Evolution

From the normal procedure of science, it is clear that what has not been proved correct is not acceptable as a scientific fact and cannot be thought as such.

For this reason the teaching of Evolution, which has not been reduced to a hypothesis because it has not been proved scientifically, is a serious digression and error in the world of science.

It must be resisted and science should kindly correct this known Error.

God Bless.

The voice of truth makes this appeal to the world of science and seals it with the blood of Jesus. Amen

INTEGRATING RELIGION WITH ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE. SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION - A PARADIGM SHIFT

(PART 13)

OPINIONS OF GREAT SCIENTIST ON CREATION, THE NATURE OF MAN AND CONCLUSION

Below are the opinions of some great scientists on creation and the nature of man right through the ages.

ARISTOTLE (384-322BC): While aware that the science world might be alluding to cracks in the fields of mechanism and cosmological aspects of his words, it is also a fact that in the relevant fields to the subject under reference, that is in his Biological words, Aristotle is regarded as “The Master of those that know”(Encyclopaedia Britannica)

In respect of the nature of man, Aristotle says;

“See how the heaven's high architect hath framed man in this wise, to stand, to see, to look, erect, with body, face and eyes.

And Cicero says, like Moses, all creatures were made to rot on the earth, except man, to whom was given an upright frame to contemplate his maker, and to behold the mansion prepared for him above.”

From works of ARISTOTLE Camden Publishing Co Ltd. London

SIR ISAAC NEWTON (1642 1727): English Physical Scientist and Mathematician,described as‘scientific giant’ and one of the greatest figure in the History of Science, described as ‘a man of quite exceptional ability’ is said to have been ‘profoundly interested in religious matter.’(Encyclopaedia Britannica)

ALBERT EINSTEIN (1879-1955): One of the greatest figures in physics and as well as a large number of other scientists, are of the opinion that, the universe could not have been by chance.

Below are more views on evolution and the mysteries of creation from scientist and philosophers.

“No line of scientific thought has so rapidly seized so many minds as that associated with Charles Darwin (1809).

Now however, the thunders of the evolutionary conflict rumble only from further frontiers of philosophical discussions.

But in considering this and other great scientific ideals, it must always be borne in mind that science never considers and cannot consider the world as a whole.

Gross errors have been made even by scientific men through this transference of scientific terms from their original field of reference.

This may be seen from, for example, the mass of fruitless disputation that has arisen around such words as ‘evolution’, ‘instinct’, ‘heredity’, ‘nationality’,‘value’to give a scientific appearance to no scientific judgement; or organ endless confusion between the scientific, the philosophic and the theological usage of such terms as ‘substance’,‘theory’, ‘idea’, ‘cause’, ‘purpose’, ‘function’.

There is therefore absolute need for decision makers within the Science world to note the above comments bearing in mind the following.

The fact that many Great Scientists from the past and present as pointed out in this discourse acknowledge the existence of a Deity to whom is attributed all creation and the orderliness in nature.

Hence, one of the greatest modern scientists Albert Einstein is called 2nd Isaiah because all his tested theories have been scientifically found to be correct, reminiscent of the prophesies of Isaiah in the Holy Bible which science has discovered to be true, confirming that scientists recognises Holy Bible messages to be authentic.

INTEGRATING RELIGION WITH ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE. SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION - A PARADIGM SHIFT

(PART 12)

Below is a story of a HOLY COMMUNION MIRACLE.

The vision of Fatima bring to mind, one of the mystical experience of a dying Nigerian stated below at pages show that Lord Jesus is present in Holy Communion.In respect of the role of the Queen Virgin Mother of God in rescuing souls at judgement, during the hour of death. In this case again repentance was also reflected.

For the Nigerian had just received the sacrament of the sick,which comprises the sacrament of reconciliation, Holy Communion and anointing of the sick.

MYSTICISM AND RELIGION

We have spoken of mystical experiences of people outside Nigeria, in respect of apparitions of Queen Virgin Mother Mary at Fatima in Portugal.

Below is a true life experience of a certain dying Nigerian woman narrated when she was granted the grace of Restoration of life in respect of the Virgin Mother Mary role during judgement at the hour of death.

STAGE ONE EXPERIENCE

She states;

Before receiving the Last Sacrament, I was afraid of dying and leaving behind those I loved. My state was so serious that the Rev. Father had to force my lips open to massage the Holy communion on my tongue, softening it with drops of Holy Water, because I was no longer in a position to swallow anything not even water.

Immediately after receiving the sacrament I began to fill like a balloon filled with air. I felt so light as if I was floating and my entire being was porous so that air could pass through me making me fill as part and parcel of the entire cosmos.

But a feeling of discomfort filled my entire being gradually draining towards my chest, making me feel as if I needed to cough. Surprisingly instead of coughing words, (confessing the sin I had not known was guilt and so had never on my own confessed them at the sacrament of reconciliation), were forced out of my mouth and below are the words;

(see James Chapter 5 verses 14 to 18)

“OH LORD I HAVE FORGIVEN... 1ST PERSON'S NAME”

“OH LORD I HAVE FORGIVEN 2ND PERSON'S NAME”

The surprising thing was that my lips had sealed up but through the mystical experience it was able to pronounce the above word.

At this stage the Rev. Father intervened, saying;

“Call your God by name for some people regard & worship other things as their god but you served the true God; call Him by name, so that He, and He alone will come around to receive you”

Then I began to shout out, with an increase feeling of aesthetes is the following

Words;

"My Jesus, I Love You'"

"Mary My Mother, I Love You"

All these earlier experiences occurred at the sacristy of the Church.

STAGE THREE EXPERIENCE

At home at the passing away hour, my ears were the last to fail me and I could hear those around me crying that I was dead and they began to send away pregnant women from the room where I was laid. I could hear them say;

“SHE IS COMPLETELY DEAD HER BODY IS ALREADY COLD ALL OVER”

Then they left a youth to sleep in the room while others went off to their apartments.All these happened after eight years of protracted ill health: She experienced a number of things but for the purpose of this discourse I shall narrate only the followings:

“When I finally passed away, I saw a Hydra Headed Monstrous

Creature so large that one cannot escape its grip, trying to grab me. I then, saw someone by a Scale, a man whose face portrayed Justice that is neither having a smiling nor angry look, standing by the scale. The scale was made of glass through which uncountable quantity of very fine sand was filtering through to the other end. No human can be counted guiltiness, through such a process. Through all these experiences, I was no longer in a position to act for myself or even pray.

STAGE FOUR EXPERIENCE

Suddenly prayers began to be echoed, one from within me saying;

“Jesus, Mary, Joseph I give you my Heart and my Soul. Jesus, Mary, Joseph assist me in my last agony. Jesus, Mary, Joseph may I bring forth my Soul in peace with you”

And this prayer continued to be repeated

The second prayer was the Canticle of Mary in Luke Chapter One verses 46 to 55 which is enclosed at page 28 of this discourse. As soon as Mary’s Canticle began to be recited, the prayer itself became fire that surrounded me as well as supplied life to me. My experience at this time was exactly like that of a premature baby in an incubator. In other words I was living inside Fire which was also my Source of Life and this fire was the prayer of the Queen Virgin Mother Mary Canticle: A prayer she

Recited in the Holy Bible when she visited Saint Elizabeth and her words said the unborn baby, St John the Baptist in his Mother’s womb as confirmed in Luke Chapter 1 verse 41.

The moment the prayer of the Canticle of Mary began to be recited, the scale and the man beside the scale disappeared from the scene. The most comforting scene was that the hydra headed monstrous creature could not get at me for the Fire of the Prayer which surrounded me and supplied Life to me, continued to burn any part of it that it reached out in attempt to grab me.”

Very many more scenes were shown to her during the vision but this is the relevant one to this discourse.

God bless us all. Amen

When she finally came to, that is back to life, her neighbours began to jokingly call her ‘A Magician’, for they could not understand the episode that is how she came back to life. The next day, she narrated her experience to the Rev. Father who administered the Sacrament of the Sick to her, explaining to him that there were no members of the Roman Catholic faith in her neighbourhood and expressed surprise at the prayer of Mary's Canticle.

It was then that the Rev. Father explained to her that it was the Heavenly army of the Legion of Mary that has Lord Jesus as the head of the army, St Michael the Archangel and all the Angels and Saints in Heaven that did the battle.

This Nigerian woman’s mystical experience is in line with the Holy Bible. For in Genesis 3:15 God declared Mary the Enemy of Satan and her son Lord Jesus, the conqueror of Satan who crushed the serpent head. Hence, once the Queen Virgin Mother appears in battle to contend with Satan,the Head of the army, Lord Jesus Himself crushes the serpents head on His Mother's behalf.

Again, these the Queen Virgin Mother's ensured victory over the evil one (Satan) is revealed in Revelation Chapter 12 which shows us the battle, the support and protection of Mother Mary whom Satan cannot get to her domain and also revealing Satan's fruitless attempt to attack her and all those who do the will of god and profess Lord Jesus Christ.

“And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the remnant of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ”

(Rev.12:17).

The remnant of her seed here means all genuine believers (i.e. the body of Christ).

Please read revelation chapter 12 from verses one to the end that is verse 17.

Her mystical experience is also in line with the Holy Scriptures in respect of the Sacrament of the Sick as directed in the passage below taken from James Chapter 5 verses 14 to 18.

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the Church,and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.”

And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land or three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain,and the earth produced its fruit”.

(James 5: 14-18)

Her experience of a glimpse of the reality and the gift of Eternal Life is also in keeping with the Holy Scriptures for Lord Jesus Himself has said;

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven.If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world”

(John 6:51).

Her mystical experience also confirm the reality of hell fire and the evil one who tries to claim souls at the hour of death as he thought he could claim that of Moses for the Holy Bible passage below confirms this;

‘Yet Michael the Archangel, in contending with the devil when he disputed about the body of Moses, dares not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord Rebuke You”’

(Jude 9)

May Lord Jesus and Mother Mary be our guide and receive us at the hour of transition from this mortal life to Immortality of Eternal Life.

May we understand when said, that man changes his state of being at death or departure of man from this mortal body.

‘But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob”?

He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.’(Mark 12:26-27)

And St. Paul says;

“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and ‘o present with the Lord”

(2nd Corinthians 5:8)

Next week, we will look at the opinions of great scientists on creation, the nature of man and their conclusion.

INTEGRATING RELIGION WITH ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE. SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION - A PARADIGM SHIFT

(PART 11)

MYSTICISM AND RELIGION

Below are newspaper extracts from Independent Sunday, July 16, 2000 made by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger while committing on the third part of Fatima “secret” shown below in respect of Queen Virgin Mother Mary revealing Religious Mysteries.

“No Unchangeable Destiny”

“There is no Immutable Destiny and That Faith and Prayer Are Forces Which Can Influence History”

So said Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith while shedding light, through his commentaries, on the third part of the Secret of Fatima.

Continuing. The cardinal further expressed that penance is the key to the‘secret’. The ‘Key Word of the Third Secret of Fatima’is the triple cry, "Penance, Penance, Penance!”

Other key words are “My Immaculate Heart Will Triumph” and “The Heart Open To God, Purified By Contemplation Of God Is Stronger Than Guns And Weapons Of Every Kind.”

“The Fiat Of Mary, The Word Of Her Heart Has Changed The History Of The World.”

The paper reporting further on the cardinal's comment on the ‘secret’ said:

“In the theological commentary of the prefect of congregation, the doctrine of the faith is divided into 3 parts:

Public Revelation and Private Revelations, the Anthropological Structure of Private Revelation and ‘An Attempt to Interpret the Secret of Fatima’.

The term public revelations refers to the revealing action of god directed to humanity as a whole and which finds its literary expression in the two parts of the bible, the old and new testaments.

Private revelation on the other hand, refers to all the visions and revelations which have taken place since the completion of the New Testament. This is the category to which we must assign the message of Fatima. The authority of private revelations is essentially different from that of the definitive public revelation.

The former demands Faith. Private Revelation, on the other hand, is a help to this Faith and shows its credibility precisely by leading (one) back to the definitive Public Revelation.

This is precisely what the Fatima message in the newspaper excerpt below is all about. Also below is another newspaper excerpt explaining that we are part of god's divine plan.

‘The rule of life that Jesus asks us to keep, if we are loyal followers of his, is not a series of prohibitions and Don'ts. It is rather a succession of sign post on the straight road to heaven, making our journey easier and safer’.

By Rev. Fr. Ambrose,

Windbacher,

From Independent,

Sunday, 16, 2000

If man lives to obey these rules, man will discover that God relents for repentant souls. Hence speaking further on the Fatima ‘secret’, the Cardinal further elaborates on the issue saying:

Indeed the Whole Point of the Vision is to Bring Freedom onto the Scene and to Steer Freedom in a Positive Direction.

The vision speaks of dangers and how we might be saved from them.

What remains was already evident when we began our reflections on the test as the ‘secret’. The exhortation to Prayers as the path of salvation for souls and, likewise, the summons to Penance and Conversion”.

Yes, God relents when man repents. Let us have confidence in God's promise and repent. He did it for the people of Nineveh.

THE CALL OF NINEVEH TO REPENTANCE

The Conversion of Nineveh;

The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time;

“Set out for the Great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you.”

So, Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the Lord's bidding.

Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing;

“Forty Days More and Nineveh Shall Be Destroyed!”

When the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them,great and small put on sackcloth.

When the news reached the King of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes, then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh;

“By decree of the King and his nobles, neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep, shall taste anything;they shall not eat nor shall they drink water.

Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God. Every man shall turn from his evil way and from the violence he has in hand. Who knows God may relent forgive and withhold his blazing anger so that we shall not perish”.

God saw their efforts to renounce their evil ways. And God relented about the disaster which He had threatened to bring on them, and did not bring it”

(Jo, 3: 1-10)

And so the people of Nineveh were saved because they did the will of God, by repenting.

Hence the Holy Bible tells us:

“Yahweh supports all who stumble and lifts up those who are bowed down.”

Again Psalm 14 echoes the same message:

“His pleasure is on those who fear him and in those who hope in his faithful love”

(Psalm 147:11)

Similarly, as was with story of NINEVEH, in the predictions of the third secret of Fatima, as described in the following extract, the Queen Virgin Mother Mary's role opposes the force of destruction.

Yes, Lord Jesus Her Son, is “The Lamb Of God Who Takes Away Sins

Of The World”.

Hence,Lord Jesus died between two thieves, showing that He came to call sinners and those who follows Him will be saved like one of the two thieves crucified with him, who repented, and to whom Lord Jesus said, as they were about to give up their ghosts;

“Assuredly, I Say To You, Today You Will Be With Me in Paradise”

(Luke 23:43)

The vision then shows the Power which stands opposed to the Force of Destruction, the splendour of the Mother of God and stemming from this in a certain way, the summons to Penance.

From that time forth the word that prevails is this;

“In the world you will have tribulations, but take heart; I have overcome the world”

The message of Fatima invites us to trust in this promise.For Psalm 145 tells us that

“Yahweh is generous to all, His tenderness embraces all His creatures”

(Psalm 145:4)

Lord Jesus himself assures us, of His gift of life of union with Him for those who repent and do God's will, by keeping His commandments;

“If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my Love.Just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in His Love”

(John 15:10)

"Whoever holds to my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me; and whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I shall love him and reveal to him"

(John 14: 21)

God demonstrated this love for the people of Nineveh in the above Love Story. Mother Mary's role for sinners makes the Church to address her as Refuge of Sinners one of the numerous titles of the Queen Virgin Mother of God is “DIAL” are reminiscence of HEZEKIAH.

This is because it is an obvious fact that God saved king Hezekiah and extended his life for fifteen more years when the King pleaded, requesting the intervention of Prophet Isaiah through whom God had said to King Hezekiah.

“Put your affairs in order for you are going to die, you will not live”

(Isaiah 8:1)

When the King pleaded, the Holy Bible says;

“Then the Word of Yahweh came to Isaiah.

Go and say to Hezekiah;‘Yahweh the God of your Ancestor David, says this: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears I shall add fifteen years to your life.

I shall save you and this city from the King OF Assyria’s clutches and defend this city for my sake and servant David's sake.’

Hezekiah said, ‘What is the sign to tell me that I shall be going up to the Temple of Yahweh?’

‘Here,’Isaiah replied,‘is the sign from Yahweh that He will do what He has said look, I shall make the shadow cast steps to Ahaz's roof room go back ten steps’,and by which it had declined.

(Isaiah 38:4-8)

The purpose of the above verse is to show that when man repents,God relents, hence the message of Fatima was to draw all mankind to consciousness in respect of Penance, the Gift of Forgiveness and Eternal Life.

From the above it obvious that the world should be grateful to the Queen Virgin Mother Mary for it is obvious from the vision and her follow up actions, over the world, that her intervention rescued humanity, giving us a second chance to repent as God sent Prophet Jonah to proclaim the following words to the people whose wickedness were crying to heaven for vengeance;

“FORTY DAYS TIME NINEVEH SHALL BE DESTROYED!”

As we have seen, the Holy Bible tells us that they repented and God relented. Being aware that God cannot lie nor deceive, there is need for us to listen to the message of life after death; promised all mankind of which Lord Jesus said;

“I am the Living Bread which came down from Heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever and the bread that I shall give, is my flesh which I shall give for the life of the world”

(John 6:51)

This means that the Queen Virgin Mother is alive in heaven confirmed by Revelation Chapter 12 and Psalm 45. For, the most qualified person to benefit the presence of God in man union hypothetically, is Mother Mary. We too experience this hypothetical union with God when we receive holy, communion worthily, through God’sin-built device, stated earlier.

In view of all what we have heard on the third secret of Fatima; there is need for us mankind to repent and listen to the advice of Mother Mary. Her message is better reported through the story of her apparition in which she asks us to pray the Rosary or Catholic Chaplet.