A Marian "Apparition" or Reminder?...

“It was through the Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus came into the world, and it is also through her that he must reign in the world.” (St Louis de Montfort)

 

 

After being away from blogging for such a long while but never losing sight and reflection of my simple journey, today, I share my reflection of a milestone as we cross over to the cosmopolitan town of Subang Jaya, in Malaysia, where the population of Roman Catholics remain a small minority, what seem like a tiny drop in the vast ocean…nevertheless, without this drop, the ocean would be incomplete.

There has been much talk about a supposedly “apparition” of Mary on the window pane of a private healthcare centre; Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC).  Only through the eyes of faith, can one can see the beauty of Our Lady and deep within the heart of faith knows that perhaps the Lord is reminding us and a stern call to the corrupt party of the day to change, or “ubah” as some would be more familiar.  

St Bonaventure asserts that the Blessed Virgin Mary is the way which leads to our Lord…where truth, justice, integrity and humility prevail.

In the holy scriptures, we know that Mary, a young Jewish woman from Nazareth in Galilee, remained hidden during her life, poor and lowly, such that God was pleased to conceal her from nearly every other human creature.  Nevertheless, Mary was chosen by God to become the earthly paradise of Jesus Christ.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church sheds more light that what the Catholic faith believes about the all-holy, Blessed Virgin Mary is truly based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary’s divine motherhood, illumines its faith in Christ.  Mary is the Mother of our Saviour, the Mother of God (in Greek, Theo-tokos)…full of grace and enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role. 

God had initiated the work of mankind’s redemption on the basis of her cooperation.  By virtue of this, Mary becomes the spiritual mother of every human-being…we, thus, becomes her children.

Echoing the words of St Paul that, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has the heart of man understood…” the beauty, the grandeur, the excellence of Mary, who is indeed a miracle of miracles of grace, nature and glory.

“Devotion to you, O Blessed Virgin, is a means of salvation which God gives to those whom he wishes to save.” (St John Damascene)

Amidst much publicity of this “apparition” in an Islamic-majority country, where much of Christian literature, publications and scriptural texts are banned by the ruling party of the day, some still remain positive, brave and hopeful that justice will prevail, whereas others are sceptical and doubtful...easily seduced by money influence.

St. Louis de Montfort also dealt with true and false devotion to Mary.  Speaking of his own era he complained how, “The devil, like a counterfeiter and crafty and experienced deceiver, has already misled and ruined many Christians by means of fraudulent devotions to our Lady.”  Obviously “fraudulent devotions,” also includes the possibility of false apparitions, and if that was true three hundred years ago, then it is even more the case today, especially in the case of Subang Jaya.

 

He then goes on to make an extremely important point, one which clearly indicates that some modern apparitions must be false: “A counterfeiter usually makes coins only of gold and silver, rarely of other methods, because these latter would not be worth the trouble. Similarly, the devil leaves other devotions alone and counterfeits those mostly directed to Jesus and Mary...because these are to other devotions what gold and silver are to other metals.” 

 

Yes, fellow pilgrims, the Roman Catholic church continue to possess much treasures and richness of the apostolic faith, in this case, devotion to the Mother of Christ, which many others, if not all, new Christian denominations have conveniently cast or filtered away.  Now, what disciple of Jesus Christ would cast their own mother aside and then call themselves good Christians?  Jesus, himself loved his mother till the very end; even entrusting her to all of us.  To this end, only the Roman Catholic church has been faithful to this...still praying to Mary, the holy mother of God for her intercession for all our needs and the conversion of sinners.

 

Thus, unless the devil has radically changed his method of operation, which seems unlikely if not impossible, given that his opposition to the divine remains unchanged, then some of the modern alleged apparitions of Mary today may be false.  As is indicated in the section on biblical prophecy and apparitions the devil's usual approach is to copy an authentic prophecy, writing, movement or devotion and: “flood the market” with forgeries, thus sowing confusion and causing problems for the Church.

Thus it is certain that the authentic Marian apparitions have been counterfeited and that in all probability many, if not most, of the modern alleged apparitions are false.  This may seem like an extreme statement, but ultimately, the facts will surely bear it out.

 

To those simple minded people who have simply been touched and strengthened their faith in Christ by virtue of this Marian “apparition”, it can only be by the grace of God that your hearts be moved and your faith increase.

Make no mistake that St Louis de Montfort has always stressed that, “Christ must be the ultimate end of all devotions.  Jesus, our Saviour, true God and true man must be the ultimate end of all our other devotions; otherwise they would be false and misleading.  He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and end of everything.

 

“We labour,” says St Paul, “only to make all men perfect in Jesus Christ.”  For in him alone dwell the entire fullness of the divinity and the complete fullness of grace, virtue and perfection. In him alone we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing; he is the only teacher from whom we must learn; the only Lord on whom we should depend; the only Head to whom we should be united and the only model that we should imitate.  He is the only Physician that can heal us; the only Shepherd that can feed us; the only Way that can lead us; the only Truth that we can believe; the only Life that can animate us.

He alone is everything to us and he alone can satisfy all our desires.  We are given no other name under heaven by which we can be saved.  God has laid no other foundation for our salvation, perfection and glory than Jesus.  Every edifice which is not built on that firm rock, is founded upon shifting sands and will certainly fall sooner or later.  Every one of the faithful who is not united to him is like a branch broken from the stem of the vine.  It falls and withers and is fit only to be burnt.

 

If we live in Jesus and Jesus lives in us, we need not fear damnation.  Neither angels in heaven nor men on earth, nor devils in hell, no creature whatever can harm us, for no creature can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.  Through him, with him and in him, we can do all things and render all honour and glory to the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit; we can make ourselves perfect and be for our neighbour a fragrance of eternal life.”

 

The salvation of the world began through Mary and through her it must be accomplished. As true disciples of Jesus Christ, in union with Mary, our Mother, we will crush the head of Satan with our heel, that is, our humility, and bring victory to Jesus Christ.

For the community in Subang Jaya, as pilgrims through life on a journey back home, simply feel blessed.  Whether or not this “apparition” is true, only your eyes of faith can reveal the truth known only to you.  As we can only call Jesus Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit, so it is with the same Sancte Spiritus that has graciously revealed the same to mere pilgrims in Subang Jaya.

 

Again, St Louis de Montfort reminds us that no other Catholic devotion calls for more sacrifices for God, none empties us more completely of self and self-love, none keep us more firmly in the grace of God and the grace of God in us.  No other devotion unites us more perfectly and more easily to Jesus.  Finally no devotion gives more glory to God, is more sanctifying for ourselves or more helpful to our neighbour…then our simple devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To the pilgrims at Subang Jaya and this blog…just two simple words… Fiat (yes) and Amen (“So be it”…a simple expression of faith that God will hear and act on the prayer)...

Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum,
benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus.
Sancta Maria mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen

 

(to the gifted hands that took these phorographs, may the blessings of the Lord be with you)

The Royal Wedding...A Reflection...

“Fear not to accept Christ in your daily work. Fear not to accept Him in your “world”. Then this world will be really human.”
Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II did not shy away from modernity…technology.  Instead, he embraced and challenged the secular culture on its own turf…writing books, staged the World Youth Day Rallies across the world, wrote encyclicals like “Evangelium Vitae”.  Be not Afraid…Totus Tuus (totally yours)…signifying his devotion to Mother Mary and his belief she was with him, guiding him, watching over him, as pope, leading the Church; His Bride.  As the saying goes…‘to Jesus, through Mary’.


In the present age of artificial secular successes, chaos, temptations, discrimination, struggles, sex, corruption, injustice, power and information overload, we too, must take time to soothe the mind, balm the heart and feed the soul.


“In some parts of the world voices are being raised against what is seen as domination of the media by so-called Western culture.  Media products are seen as in some way representing values that the West holds dear and, by implication, they supposedly present Christian values.  The truth of the matter may well be that the foremost value they genuinely represent is commercial profit.” (Pope John Paul II, Communication and Technologies)


As humans, we are all born equal, in the image of God, and we must constantly seek spiritual understanding as to how we relate to ourselves, to others and ultimately, to God - the Source of all life.

Regardless of our position, rank, wealth, royalty or personality, we should always live our lives simply and humbly, knowing where we stand before our Creator, finding comfort and guidance in Him alone…being faithful to His teachings.

Of late, we have been swarmed by the media with the hype and fuss of the so-called “royal” wedding between Prince William of Wales (William Arthur Philip Louis) and Miss Catherine Elizabeth “Kate” Middleton…the protocols, the security, controversial wedding invites, selective guest lists, the ceremony, the jewels, expensive outfits, open carriage, the transformation of a commoner to a woman who will one day be Queen.

We must remember that this was the same media or clan of paparazzi, that sang the same tune at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Di, the same media that stirred up the so-called tragic affair of the Princess of Wales…played up the divorce of the Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York…“commercial profit” reporting, says Pope John Paul II.  Does all this help us transform and become more human in our journey home to our Father in heaven?


Rather than be seduced and drowned by these commercial media glamour and values, we go back, instead, to the first miracle at Cana marking the commencement of Christ's public vocation as the Redeemer - the beginning of the “Hour”, which was finalized with His Passion and Death at Golgotha…ultimately, the joy of the Resurrection in Easter.


This familiar short narrative, as ‘reported’ by St John, tells us that Mother Mary was the first to notice that the wine had run out and intervened; a metaphor of our own human needs today.


“When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”” (John 2:3, NAB)


Traditionally, wine is symbolic of “joy” and having wine run out equates to the challenges all married couples face today - sadness, conflicts, lack of trust, loneliness, unfaithfulness, impatience, financial difficulties, extended families pressure, work stress, inability to have children, infidelity…  What has become of this holy Sacrament of Marriage?


This Gospel reading appropriately reminds us of the value and trust we must place upon the jewel of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession for the joy and unconditional love of all married couples…the everlasting unity, faithfulness, forgiveness, guidance and happiness of all marriages.


“His mother said…, “Do whatever he tells you.”” (John 2:5, NAB)

Jesus’ presence at the wedding at Cana reaffirms to us today of the sacredness, royalty and prime goodness of the Sacrament of Marriage; a reminder to all married couples to remain faithful and become an effective sign of the presence of Christ in the world today.

We are reminded that marriage is a covenant “by which a man and woman establish between themselves a partnership for the whole of life” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1601).


Christians get married like anyone else in the unique cultures where they lived.  Christians must see that the loving union of a husband and wife, in covenant with God, mirrors not only family values but also about God's values.

In this Easter season, we pray for all married couples that this sacrament of union continue to be transformed by Jesus, to reveal more fully the faithful Love of God.

The Second Vatican Council reminds us that the marriage covenant exists not only for the good of the partners and their children, but also for the good of the Church and the good of society at large. (Church in the Modern World, #48)

With this, we also pray for the union of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton that their love for each other and the fidelity of their commitment, continue to become a sacramental sign and witness of God’s love for the world we live and journey in.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous…not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails.”

(1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NAB)

Via Dolorosa 4/14...Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother

The next few days of Lent, we will contemplate this journey with Jesus, Who “went out, carrying His cross, to the place called “the place of the skull”, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha” (John 19:17).  I humbly pray that the contemplation of these steps of Christ’s journey will speak simply to your heart.

“Adoramus te, christe, et benedicimus tibi, quia per crucem tuam redemisti mundum.

We adore Thee O Christ, and we praise Thee - Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.”

– The Testament of St. Francis of Assisi – 1182 - 1226

Scriptural Reading:


“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:25-27, NAB)


“When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. ” (John 16:21-22, NAB)


“…Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35, NAB)

Simply Reflect:


O Jesus, your body trembled under the weight of the Cross, you dragged yourself up and continued your journey towards Golgotha; your head still bleeding profusely, your wounds, so bitter mixed with your sweat and dirt.


Then suddenly from the corner of your eye, you caught a glimpse of a familiar face, the motherly face which constantly comforted you, cared for you and ever tenderly pampered you with so much love.  Amidst all the cursing and mocking in the surroundings, both their eyes connected, Jesus and His Mother.

No words were spoken, no words were necessary.  Mother Mary stared tearfully at her once little baby, flesh of her flesh, sorrowfully understood and sadly pondered all these quietly in her heart - her pierced bleeding heart.  Though overwhelmed, Mother Mary was fully united in this journey with her boy to Golgotha…she grieved so much but her heart simply knew that His hour had finally come.

Dear Jesus, in your stare, God’s love came down from heaven.  Time stood still… You looked at us, you searched for us…yet we never even stopped to look back, not even a glance, keeping ourselves a distant from you.  We were too caught up with the rest of the crowd, watching all the action and the commotion…we left you out…alone in the cold.

O Jesus, the unspeakable pain you must have felt when we isolated ourselves from you and merely watched from afar at the whole spectacle of your most painful journey to redeem us.



Quiet Pondering:


My dear Jesus, how sorrowful is the sight of you making your way of the Cross - in obedient silence.  The compassionate gaze and stillness of your Mother brings comfort.  We know we are the cause of such pains and great sufferings by our sinning against you.

During my moments of weakness, why do I so easily succumb to doubts, give in and allow evil to triumph in my life?  Jesus, help me learn from you as you obediently bore the burden of the Cross (my sins) and trusted God the Father…never permit me to separate myself from you.

Mother Mary, teach me to imitate you, and learn that faith is to trust even in the face of God’s apparent silence - Trust God when I am hurting or in pain or do not understand, trust God when I do not know why cancer does not discriminate, the good die young or why good people become terminally sick, why the innocent suffer…  Mother Mary truly loved until it hurts and never ceased to trust God. Mother Mary, pray for us this Lent.

Resolve to imitate Mother Mary’s example of being an obedient and trusting instrument of God, even when experiencing obstacles and challenges in your daily lives…always keep your eyes on Jesus.

Jesus, help me on this journey through Lent. Mother Mary, please pray for me.

“Look at His adorable face.

Look at His glazed and sunken eyes.

Look at His wounds.

Look Jesus in the Face.

There, you will see how He loves us.”

- St. Therese of Lisieux

Lent...The Journey Begins...

“…Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word…” (Luke 1:38, NAB)



This would not be the usual biblical verse that one would expect to hear on Ash Wednesday, but then, the journey of each one is different, the reflection of each, a gift from God. 

On this first holy day of Lent 2011, I share the humble musings of my heart.


By the grace of the Holy Spirit, all of these events began with a simple and free ‘fiat’ response spoken by our Mother Mary to the Angel Gabriel and Christ was conceived and born into the world.

‘Fiat’ is a Latin word translating to ‘Let it be done’.


“She uttered her yes ‘in the name of all human nature’”
- St. Thomas Aquinas

 St. Irenaeus in the 2nd Century added that, “Being obedient, she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race”.

Mother Mary was first to kiss the face of the baby Lord Jesus, the holy face of God. 

She mothered, embraced and loved Jesus throughout His growing up years with all her heart, with all her soul. 

Such was the joy, we felt when we experienced Christmas, not so many months ago; Jesus coming into the world.

However, little did Mary know the consequences of this obedient ‘fiat’ to God’s Word. 

Little did she know that her little cherished lamb, would one day be slained as a sacrifice for the salvation of the world.


“And thy own soul a sword shall pierce...” (Luke 2:35, Douay-Rheims)


Bishop Fulton Sheen wrote in his great book, Life of Christ, “The sword was already coming to Mary before the Cross had come to her Son, for she was already feeling the cutting separation…Jesus grew up as a village carpenter, a maker of wood.  The familiar nails and crossbeams in the shop would later on become the instruments of His own torture; and He would Himself be hammered to a tree.  One wonders why this long preparation for such a brief ministry of three years.”

Throughout His growing up years, Jesus experienced fully the love of His parents Mary (and Joseph).  They probably pampered Him and groomed His spiritual life and in the knowledge of the faith, the scriptures...


By their ever patient loving guidance, His human nature and spiritual maturity grew to perfection. 

Mary, eternally faithful, journeyed with her Son right to the end, at the foot of the old rugged wooden Cross.  

One can imagine her pain, her tears...seeing the flesh of her flesh being scourged, nailed, pierced...her little boy.

“And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19, NAB)

The wood that made the cradle for the baby Jesus, the wood that He grew up and played with would has become the heaviest Cross He would have to carry, the Cross that fell on Him 3 times, the Cross that He would be nailed onto for the redemption of all mankind, the Cross drenched with His Precious Blood. 

The sweet embrace of Mary at Christmas has turned into a bitter, painful and bloody one on Good Friday.  The tears of joy has become the tears of sorrow.


As the holy season of Lent begins today, let us remember to live out this ‘fiat’ spirituality of Mary in spiritual communion with the Church and in solidarity with all fellow human beings, as being one creation in the image of God.

This Lent, let us more fully accept Jesus in our heart, mind and body, remembering always to share this same salvation and healing with the rest of the world, too.

Let us not doubt but be faithful in the journey, with Jesus as our companion, through all that life has to offer.  May this Lenten season give us new strength to persevere till the very end when we will meet our Lord.


This Lent, may we always imitate Jesus’ obedience and cry out, “…still, not my will but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42, NAB)

This is our faith...this is our hope...

 

As Another New Year Begins...We Remember...Our Mother...

“As the world begins a new year, it is fitting that we invite Mary, the Mother of God, to pray with us and to pray for us.”

(Pope Benedict XVI, Homily at First Vespers, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, December 31, 2006)

Because of Mary's faithfulness to God, she was able to receive the gift of God's Son and accept her role in God's plan for salvation.

Scripture tells us that the Angel Gabriel honors Mary with the greeting “Hail, full of grace” (Luke 1:29). Then, Elizabeth prophesies “blessed are you among women.”

One resolution we ought to make today is to live our life more like Mary. We must remember that nothing is impossible with God and like Mary, we must continue to live in wonder, humility and simple trust; keeping all things and reflecting on them in the quietness of your heart. Ultimately, we must resolve, my fellow travelers, to live in possibility…in hope…in simple FAITH.

This new year, be aware of your soul who knows that God exists and yearns to know more about God.

Mary’s claim to fame was that she simply said yes to God. She believed He could do as He said and would do as He said.

Most of all, Mary surrendered her plan for her own life, and yielded to God’s plan.

“Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be done with me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

Mary’s “fiat”, as it is called (Latin for “let it be done”), was a yes to the Unknown as she accepted the impossible message of the angel. Mary's "fiat" echoes that of her Son - "Father, your will be done".

This first day of the year 2011 presents us with an opportunity to begin once more - to cherish more deeply the life we have been gifted and honoring the one God who gave life for our salvation – because of Mary…the Mother of God…our mother also.

"From the cross, Jesus also said to his disciples, “…Behold, your mother."" (John 19: 27)

The symbolic date, "1-1-11" presents us with a unique opportunity to remember, to recall, to appreciate and also to cherish the love of our own mother, the one who brought us into this world.

In the quiet of our heart, we ponder on the words of this simple poem…


"A mother is someone to shelter and guide us,
To love us, whatever we do,

With a warm understanding and infinite patience,
And wonderful gentleness, too.

How often a mother means swift reassurance
In soothing our small, childish fears,

How tenderly mothers watch over their children
And treasure them all through the years!

 The heart of a mother is full of forgiveness
For any mistake, big or small,

And generous always in helping her family
Whose needs she has placed above all.

A mother can utter a word of compassion
And make all our cares fall away,

She can brighten a home with the sound of her laughter
And make life delightful and gay.

A mother possesses incredible wisdom
And wonderful insight and skill –
In each human heart is that one special corner
Which only a mother can fill!"

- Katherine Nelson Davis

In this New Year 2011, may we, as pilgrims on this earth, come to recognized the value of the Mary’s maternal presence and know that we, her children, always have recourse to her for every kind of grace and needs,

With this confidence, we invite Mary, the Mother of God, to pray with us and to pray for us that…

"The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!"

(Numbers 6: 24-26, NAB)

Hail Mary, full of grace.
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum,
benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus.
Sancta Maria mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc,
et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen

(Luke 1:28-35, 42-48)

"May God be gracious to us and bless us" in our journey through this life, as we remember and imitate the goodness of our Mother throughout the New Year 2011!

(Psalm 67: 2, NAB)