Ave Maria!

Fr. Angelo contends that The Nativity Story by New Line Cinema is a good Protestant film which was the intent of the film. His only question is why so many well educated Catholic movie reviewers are calling it a good *Catholic* film.

Read a Review of the Movie by Fr. Angelo Mary Geiger

Resources:

• Early Review and Discussion
• Discussion of Labor Pains
• CCC 499 On the Perpetual Virginity
• John Paul II on the Perpetual Virginity
• Quoting John Paul II on Physical Integrity
• The Nativity Story Blog

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The post Standing Fast #1 – New Line Cinema’s The Nativity Story and the Virgin Birth first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Ave Maria!

Where the heck has our Roving Reporter been of late?

Well, I don’t know, but this was an interview he conducted earlier this year at UConn with an amazing woman – a woman that has such a strong will to live that her mother’s attempted saline injection abortion failed – and then to rub more salt into the wound, the abortionist was forced to sign her birth certificate!

This woman has an incredible will-power and despite having cerebral palsy, as a result of the attempted abortion, she has run the Boston Marathon and even the London Marathon! I’m sure we will be hearing more of her in the future.

Read this heartwarming story as well.
Ave Maria!

The post Video – Roving Reporter #19: Gianna Jessen first appeared on AirMaria.com.

General News #13 – Four participants of the 40 Days for Life tell their story. ( 05min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Four participants of the Forty Days for Life tell why they come out to pray in front of an abortion clinic.

Ave Maria!

The post Video – News #13: 40 Days for Life, Participants Speak first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Story:

We read, in the life of Sister Catharine of St. Augustine, that in the place where she resided, there was a woman, of the name of Mary, who in her youth was a sinner, and in her old age continued so obstinate in wickedness, that she was driven out of the city, and reduced to live in a secluded cave; there she died, half consumed by disease, without the sacraments, and was consequently hastily buried in a field like a beast. Sister Catherine, who always recommended the souls of those who departed from this world, with great fervor to God, on hearing the unfortunate end of this poor, old woman, never thought of praying for her, and she looked upon her (as everyone else) as irrevocably lost.  One day, four years afterwards, a suffering soul appeared to her, and exclaimed: “How unfortunate is my lot, Sister Catherine! Though you recommend the souls of all those that die, to God: on my soul alone you had no compassion.” “And who are you?” asked the servant of God. “I am,” she replied, “that poor Mary who died in the cave.” “And are you saved?” said Catherine. “Yes,” she answered, “by the mercy of the Blessed Virgin Mary.” “And how?” “When I saw myself at the point of death, loaded with sins, and abandoned by all, I had recourse to the Mother of God, saying, ‘Lady, you are the refuge of abandoned creatures: behold me, at this moment, abandoned by all; you are my only hope: you alone can help me: have pity on me.” The Blessed Virgin obtained, for me the grace to make an act of contrition. I died, and am saved; and besides this, she my Queen obtained for me another favor, that my purgatory should be shortened, by enduring, in intensity, that which otherwise would have lasted for many years: I now need only a few masses to be entirely delivered; I beg you to have them said; and on my part, I promise always to pray for you to God and to Mary.” Sister Catherine immediately had the masses said; and after a few days that soul again appeared to her, shining like the sun, and said: “I thank you, Catherine: behold, I go to Paradise, to sing the mercies of my God, and to pray for you.”

Prayer:

O, Mother of my God, and my Lady Mary: as a beggar, all wounded and sore, presents himself before a great queen, so do I present myself before you, who are the Queen of heaven and earth.  From the lofty throne on which you sit, disdain not, I implore you, to cast your eyes on me, a poor sinner. God has made you so rich that you might assist the poor, and has constituted you Queen of Mercy in order that you might relieve the miserable.  Behold me then, and pity me: behold me and abandon me not, until you see me changed from a sinner into a saint. I know well that I merit nothing; that I deserve, on account of my ingratitude, to be deprived of the graces that, through your means, I have already received from God. But you, who are the Queen of Mercy, seek not merits, but miseries, in order to help the needy. But who is more needy than I? O, exalted Virgin, well do I know that you, who are Queen of the universe, are already my queen; yet am I determined to dedicate myself more especially to your service, in order that you may dispose of me as you please. Therefore do I address you in the words of St. Bonaventure: “Do govern me, O my Queen, and leave me not to myself.” Command me: employ me as you will, and chastise me when I do not obey; for the chastisements that come from your hands will be to me pledges of salvation. I would rather be your servant than the ruler of the earth. I am yours; save me. Accept me, O Mary, for your own, and as yours, take charge of my salvation. I will no longer be mine; to you do I give myself. If, during the time past I have served you ill, and lost so many occasions of honoring you, for the future I will be one of your most loving and faithful servants. I am determined that from this day forward no one will surpass me in honoring and loving you, my most amiable Queen. This I promise; and this, with your help, I hope to execute. Amen.

The post The Glories of Mary #1: Mary Our Queen Our Mother first appeared on AirMaria.com.

How much our Confidence in Mary should be Increased
because she is our Mother

Story:

In the history of the foundation of the Society of Jesus in the kingdom of Naples,we read the following account of a young Scottish nobleman, named William Elphinstone. He was related to King James, and lived for some time in the heresy in which he was born. Enlightened by divine grace, he began to perceive his errors. Having gone to France, with the help of a good Jesuit Father, who was also a Scotchman, and still more by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, he at last discovered the truth, abjured his heresy, and became a Catholic. From France he went to Rome, and there a friend, finding him one day weeping and in great affliction, inquired the cause of his grief. He answered that during the night his mother, who was lost, appeared to him, and said: “It is well for you, son, that you have entered the true Church; for as I died in heresy, I am lost.” From that moment he redoubled his devotion towards Mary, choosing her for his only Mother, and by her he was inspired with the thought of embracing the religious state, and he bound himself to do so by vow. Being in delicate health, he went to Naples for a change of air, and there it was the will of God that he should die, and die as a religious; for shortly after his arrival, finding himself at the last extremity, by his prayers and tears he moved the Superiors to accept him, and in presence of the Most Blessed Sacrament, when he received it as viaticum, he pronounced his vows, and was declared a member of the Society of Jesus. After this it was most touching to hear with what tenderness he thanked his Mother Mary for having snatched him from heresy, and led him to die in the true Church, and in the house of God, surrounded by his religious brethren. This made him exclaim: “Oh, how glorious is it to die in the midst of so many angels!” When exhorted to repose a little, “Ah,” he replied, “this is no time for repose, now what I am at the close of my life.” Before expiring, he said to those who surround him: “Brothers, do you not see the angels of heaven here present who assist me?” One of the religious having heard him utter some words, asked him what he said. He answered, that his guardian angel had revealed to him that he would remain but a very short time in purgatory, and that he would soon go to heaven. He then entered into a colloquy with his sweet Mother Mary, and like a child that abandons itself to rest in the arms of its mother, he exclaimed, “Mother, mother!” and sweetly expired. Shortly afterwards a devout religious learned by revelation that he was already in heaven.

Prayer:

O most holy Mother Mary, how is it possible that I, having so holy a mother, should be so wicked? A mother all burning with the love of God, and I loving creatures; a mother so rich in virtue, and I so poor? Ah, amiable Mother, it is true that I do not deserve any longer to be your son, for by my wicked life I have rendered myself unworthy of so great an honor. I am satisfied that you should accept me for your servant; and in order to be admitted among the lowliest of them, I am ready to renounce all the kingdoms of the world. Yes, I am satisfied. You must not forbid me to call you mother. This name consoles and fills me with tenderness, and reminds me of my obligation to love you. This name excites me to great confidence in you. When my sins and the divine justice fill me with great consternation, I am all consoled at the thought that you are my mother. Allow me then, to call you mother, my most amiable mother. This do I call you, and this will I always call you. You, after God, must be my hope, my refuge, my love in this valley of tears. This is how I hope to die, breathing forth my soul into your holy hands, and saying, My Mother my Mother Mary, help me, have pity on me! Amen.

The post The Glories of Mary #2: Confidence in Mary first appeared on AirMaria.com.

The Greatness of the Love which this Mother bears us.
Story:
Father Auriemma relates that there was a certain poor shepherdess, whose sole delight was to go to a little chapel of our Blessed Lady, situated on a mountain, and there, while her flocks were browsing, she conversed with her dear Mother and rendered honor to her. Seeing that the little image of Mary (which is carved in relief) was unadorned, she set to work to make her a mantle. One day, having gathered a few flowers in the fields, she made a garland, and climbing on the altar of the little chapel, placed it on the head of the image, saying, “My Mother, I would place a crown of gold and precious stones on your brow, but, as I am poor, receive this crown of flowers, and accept it as a mark of the love that I bear you.” With this and other acts of homage, the pious maiden always endeavored to serve and honor our beloved Lady. But let us now see how the good Mother on her part recompensed the visits and the affection of her child. The latter fell ill, and was at the point of death. It so happened that two religious were passing that way, and, fatigued with their journey, sat down under a tree to rest: one fell asleep, and the other remained awake; but both had the same vision. They saw a multitude of most beautiful young women, and among these was one who in beauty and majesty far surpassed them all. One of the religious addressed himself to her: “Lady, who are you, and where are you going by these rugged ways?” “I am,” she replied, “the Mother of God, and I am going with these holy virgins to a neighboring cottage to visit a dying shepherdess who has so often visited me.” Having said these words, all disappeared. At once these two good servants of God said, “Let us go also to see her.” They immediately started and having found the cottage of the dying virgin, they entered it and found her stretched on a little straw. They saluted her, and she said, “Brothers, ask our Lord to let you see the company that is assisting me.” They immediately knelt, and saw Mary by the side of the dying girl, holding a crown in her hand and consoling her. All at once the virgins began to sing, and at the sound of this sweet harmony her blessed soul left her body. Mary placed the crown on her head, and taking her soul, led it with her to Paradise.
Prayer:
O Lady, O ravisher of hearts! I will exclaim with St. Bonaventure: “Lady, who with the love and favor you show your servants do ravish their hearts, ravish also my miserable heart, which desires ardently to love you. You, my Mother, have enamored a God with your beauty, and drawn him from heaven into your chaste womb; and shall I live without loving you? “No, I will say to you with one of your most loving sons, John Berchmans of the Society of Jesus, I will never rest until I am certain of having obtained your love; but a constant and tender love towards me, my Mother, who has loved me with so much tenderness,” even when I was ungrateful towards you. And what should I now be, O Mary, if you had not obtained so many mercies for me? Since, then, you did love me so much when I loved you not, how much more may I not now hope from you, now that I love you? I love you, O my Mother, and I would that I had a heart to love you in place of all those unfortunate creatures who love you not. I would employ them all for your honor. Had I subjects, I would make them all your lovers. In fine, if the occasion presented itself I would lay down my life for your glory. I love you, then, O my Mother; but at the same time I fear that I do not love you as I ought; for I hear that love makes lovers like the person loved. If, then, I see myself so unlike you, it is a mark that I do not love you. You are so pure, and I defiled with many sins; you so humble and I so proud; you so holy, and I so wicked. This, then, is what you have to do, O Mary; since you love me, make me like you. You have all power to change hearts; take, then, mine and change it. Show the world what you can do for those who love you. Make me a saint; make me your worthy child. This is my hope.

The post The Glories of Mary #3: Her Love for Us first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Marian Shrines of the World #4 – Our Lady of Las Lajas ( 8 min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

September 16 is the feast day of Our Lady of Las Lajas, the Marian shrine highlighted in this episode of Marian Shrines of the World. Join Fr. Andre as he tells the story of this beautiful Colombian shrine and the miraculous image associated with it. This episode is not to be missed!

Audio (MP3)

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The post Video – Marian Shrines of the World #4: Our Lady of Las Lajas first appeared on AirMaria.com.