A Girl’s Notebook :)

The Assumption is closely related to the dogma of the Resurrection of the Body. We believe that at death, the immortal soul proceeds for the personal judgment, and hence to Hell, Purgatory or Paradise; meanwhile, the body is corrupted and goes back to dust whence it was taken. At the end of time, there will be the resurrection of the body – meaning that the body will be reunited to its soul, and together the risen body and soul will proceed to the universal judgment. In the case of Mary, her body did not experience corruption but was assumed immediately together with her soul to Paradise.

The dogma of the Assumption of Mary is implicitly based on the Book of Revelation: “A great sign appeared in the sky; a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Revelation 12:1). The woman is Mary; She is crowned with 12 stars, representing the 12 apostles, because she is the Mother of the Church; she is clothed with the sun, representing the Holy Spirit, because she is full of grace. The moon under her feet, symbolizing the firmament, indicates that the she is the Queen of Heaven. The feast of the Queenship of Mary, celebrated on August 22, was instituted in 1954 by Pius XIII with the encyclical letter Ad Caeli Reginam. This feast is closely related to the Assumption, since the Virgin Mary, after being assumed into Paradise, was crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Ciao!

I was arranging my file cabinet this afternoon and I found a little desk calendar for 2008. The calendar is called Marian Dogmas. As a Catholic, I have this great love for Mama Mary. Just to let you know, Mama Mary is not being praised as God. Everyone knows that she is not a God, but she is great example of God’s servant. Being chosen to be the mother of Jesus, Mama Mary deserves respect and veneration. It is simple as this; if you love your friends, you will learn to respect their parents. Likewise, if you love Jesus, you will learn to love and respect His loving mother. Well, who would not love Mama Mary.

As I was saying, I found this little calendar in my file cabinet. The calendar offers the four dogmas associated with Mary. Each dogma is explained in the light of the Holy Scriptures and in its historical evolution. Dogma means doctrine or code of beliefs.

Every Catholic knows that in the month of August, the Dogma of the Assumption of Mary is celebrated.

The Dogma of the Assumption of Mary body and soul into heaven was declared by Pope Pius XIII on November 1, 1950, with the Bull Munificentissimus Deus. It states: “We believe that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”

The use of the passive voice was assumed indicates that Mary was taken up into glory by the power of God, whereas Christ ascended by His own power as God. The Church does not specify whether the Virgin Mary died of simply fell asleep. For sure we know that she was preserved from corruption and taken up into heaven by a unique anticipation of the general resurrection. This privilege was granted to her because she is the Mother of God, and because her body was never stained by sin.

Since the fifth century, the feast of the Assumption, then known as the Dromitio Mariae (Falling Asleep of Mary), is celebrated on August 15. In the sixth century, a Basilica was built in Gethsemane, Jerusalem, on the place where popular belief held that the tomb of Mary was located. The dogma of the Assumption is supported by the universal tradition of the Church and by the book of Revelation: “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve starts.” (Revelation 12) (Source: The People’s Calendar 2008: Marian Dogmas)

What is it for us to know about the Assumption of Mary. Well, it is a reminder that all of us here are on a journey; that we are just passing this place and are all aiming to be in the same place after the journey. The place where Mama Mary was assumed by the great power of God.

Ciao!

We celebrate the month of holy rosary during the month of October. St. Dominic first used holy rosary. When we speak of the rosary, we also speak of Mama Mary. I remember that every known and verified Marian apparition, the holy mother always asked the people to pray the Rosary.

Two of the most famous Marian apparitions are the apparitions in Fatima, Portugal and in Lourdes, France. When Mama Mary appeared before Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco in Fatima, she always mentions praying the rosary. When she appeared before St. Bernadette in Lourdes, France, praying the rosary was her message, too.

Many people question about praying the rosary. Even ney, doesn’t believe in it. Well, maybe because he believes in other religion, he does not really agree in praying the rosary. It really made me upset that sometimes, he would say that it against God’s law to pray the rosary. Never does he know that the more he scrutinizes he rosary, the more I am drawn closer to it.

They would say that praying the rosary is a “repetitive kind of prayer”, but every mystery of the rosary is an important chapter in Jesus’ life, while He was still living with us. And, in every chapter, we would find His loving mother behind Him.

On a personal note, praying the Rosary has been always my armor before pain and problems. In my 28 years of existence, I have been through many of life’s difficulties, yet I am still standing. Not because I am a super woman, but because God has always been with me, Mama Mary has always been with me through prayers and praying the Rosary.

Ciao!

The Blessed Mother said, “The greatest suffering is about to befall mankind. Children, my dear children, prepare now. The time has come for God to punish all mankind.

“Pray, fast, little ones. Please. The events I speak about are close at hand.

“Remain faithful.

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“Have blessed candles and a blessed image of my Son and holy water in your homes.”

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“Please tell my children to have blessed candles and a blessed image of my Son and holy water in your homes.”

“My children will not listen.

“Pray and sacrifice that my Son may postpone these events. Please, please, please listen.

“I love you, my precious, precious children.

“Please make the Sign of the Cross as I depart. Please remember to thank my Son. He is your salvation. With His help I am able to shield you under my mantle.”

It’s October once again. The month of October is known to the yuppies as the month of festivities with beer. Of course, we all know about “October Fest,” where a beer cost cheaper than usual. There are many street parties, which happen to different part of the world in the whole world.

Yet, aside from partying all night, October, for Catholics and Marian devotees, is a month of the Holy Rosary.

The holy rosary is the most popular devotion to Catholic. Its formal name is the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The feast of the Rosary is celebrated every October 7. It is the date in 1571, when Christian forces defeated the Turkish (Moslem) fleet in a sea battle at Lepanto. It is located at the western coast of Greece. St. Pope Pius V had asked all Christians to pray the Rosary for victory.

The word rosary means crown of roses. If you own a Rosary, you will notice that the beads of it are usually in a form of a rose. But then the beads of the Rosary now varies. It goes with the current trends and designs which are attractive and eye-catching especially to the youth.

The Mysteries of the Holy Rosary

Back in the old days, there were only 15 mysteries. But then Pope John Paul II added another 5 which were called the Mysteries of Light. I was able to research about the 20 mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary through Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila website.

The Joyful Mysteries

The first five decades, the “Joyful Mysteries”, are marked by the joy radiating from the event of the Incarnation. To meditate upon the “Joyful” mysteries, then, is to enter into the ultimate causes and the deepest meaning of Christian joy. It is to focus on the realism of the mystery of the Incarnation and on the foreshadowing of the mystery of the saving passion. Mary leads us to discover the secret of Christian joy, reminding us that Christianity is, first and foremost, evangelion, “good news”, which has as its heart and its whole content the person of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, the one savior of the world.

1. The Annunciation
2. The Visitation
3. The Nativity
4. The Presentation
5. The Lost and Finding at the Temple

The Mysteries of Light

Moving on from the infancy and the hidden life in Nazareth to the public life of Jesus, our contemplation brings us to those mysteries which may be called in a special way “Mysteries of Light.” Certainly the whole mystery of Christ is a mystery of light. He is the “light of the world” (John 8:12).

1. The Baptism at Jordan
2. The Marriage at Cana
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom
4. The Transfiguration
5. The Institution of the Eucharist

The Sorrowful Mysteries

The Gospels give great prominence to the Sorrowful Mysteries of Christ. The Rosary selects certain moments from the Passion, inviting the faithful to contemplate them in their hearts and to relive them. The Sorrowful Mysteries help the believer to relive the death of Jesus, to stand at the foot of the cross beside Mary, to enter with her into the depths of God’s love for man and to experience all its life-giving power.

1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion

The Glorious Mysteries

The contemplation of Christ’s face cannot stop at the image of the Crucified one. He is the Risen One! Contemplating the Risen One, Christians rediscover the reasons for their own faith and relive the joy not only of those to whom Christ appeared – but also the joy of Mary who must have had an equally intense experience of the new life of her glorified Son…the Glorious Mysteries lead the faithful to greater hoe for the eschatological goal towards which the journey a members of the pilgrim People of God in history. This can only impel them to bear courageous witness that “good news” which gives meaning to their entire existence.

1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
4. The Assumption
5. The Coronation of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven and Earth

Fifteen Promises of the Holy Rosary

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Holy Rosary, shall receive signal graces.
2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of people from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.
6. Whoever recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its Sacred Mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion to recite the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the church.
8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the Saints in Paradise.
9. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
12. I shall aid all those who propagate the Holy Rosary in their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who recite the Rosary are my children, and brothers and sisters of my only Son, Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination