#presentation of the blessed virgin mary

[vigilantkilliforniakatholixxx]

[thepastisalreadywritten]

The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated annually on November 21st, commemorates the presentation of the Blessed Virgin as a child by her parents in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Before Mary's birth, her parents received a heavenly message that they would bear a child.

In thanksgiving for God's gift of Mary's birth, they brought her to the Temple to consecrate their only daughter to The Lord.

The celebration of the feast is first documented in the 11th century within the Byzantine Catholic Church.

It was introduced into the Roman Catholic Church in the 15th century by Pope Gregory XI, then removed from the calendar by Pope Pius V in the mid-16th century.

Pope Sixtus V later reestablished the feast in 1585.

It is still celebrated today, commemorating the faith of her parents, Joachim and Anne, and the purity of Mary.

[myremnantarmy]

𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐆𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐥

Memorial of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary

Mt 12:46-50

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds,

his mother and his brothers appeared outside,

wishing to speak with him.

Someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside,

asking to speak with you."

But he said in reply to the one who told him,

"Who is my mother?

Who are my brothers?"

And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said,

"Here are my mother and my brothers.

For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father

is my brother, and sister, and mother."

[catholic-saint-tournament]

To read up on the mysteries of the Rosary, click here.

[allaboutyoupostnthings]

The Presentation of Mary in the Temple: A Moment of Grace and Devotion

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple is a beautiful and significant event in the life of the Church, celebrated on November 21st. This feast commemorates the moment when Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, the parents of Mary, brought her to the Temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her to the Lord. This act of dedication is a profound testament to their faith and devotion. The…

[sirrentxt]

Something about Luis leaning into Virgin Mary more than Jesus and God himself. Something about her being associated with holiness, hope, conversion of a sinner and motherly love.

His mother, absent; a memory, a tale, not so different from the knights and the dragons, save for the things that—Grandfather claims—carry the imprint of her fingers, the things that had the pleasure to witness the gentleness of her hand, years past. To Luis, she's family, familiar, a stranger, a ghost; a blurry figure in the eye of his mind. No pictures, no paintings, just his Grandfather's words: you have her eyes.

Luis being taught that, even if they say otherwise, God's love is conditional; but having Grandfather, more so than the Priest, be the source of information about Holy Mary. And never having Grandfather imply that her love is conditional. Luis believing that even if he's abandoned by God and His son, the Mother will be there for him.

Grandfather telling little Luis that his mom is watching over him alongside the Holy Mother. That even when mom can't watch over him, Mother Mary can, and she does, and she always will.

Her love isn’t religious, in his eyes. It’s purely motherly.

You can't love her more than Jesus did, Grandfather says to him one day, in passing. Luis thinks it a challenge, and loves her even more.

The drastic difference between God (Father; Allfather, paternal, proud, unreachable, mighty. God give me strength and God bless and God be with you. Conditional love; hate for the sinner. The one to exile, condemn, abandon) and Virgin Mary (Mother; maternal, gentle, caretaker. Present in households, a symbol of hope, protector of hearth. Unconditional love, no matter the weight of the sin, no matter what happens—watching over her children)

Luis' life, where God exists mainly in the church, in the prayer, in the concept—but Mother Mary is present, and in every house; somehow, or more so, even in his house, the house where no mother reaches out to her for strength and guidance, for protection from evil, because there is only two of them here; he and Grandfather.

In this house, she fills in the blanks.

When he's older and push comes to shove, it's not God or Jesus that he keeps close to his heart. When he thinks himself a sinner, a lost lamb, when the gifted cross no longer gleams around his neck, resting instead in a dusty drawer under ink-stained notes—it's the silhouette of Holy Mary that keeps him company, engraved on a ring he got, in a subtle reach for faith, off a man at the flea market. It's Holy Mary's image that he turns towards the wall on the nights when men pass through his sheets. It's her that sits patiently in the back of his mind, the corner of his kitchen, even though no prayer leaves his lips, other than the sinful ones he doesn't dare repeat in the light of day—they're not for the ears of the Mother, and they're not for the ears of God.

He might be His child, and still he picks Mother over Father.

pet project: meta // luis, on holy mary

[portraitsofsaints]

Happy Feast Day

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated first in Jerusalem in the sixth century.

Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase. (website)

[witchrog]

Growing up in the heart of the Balkans, I have been intimately woven into the tapestry of a unique ancient tradition known as Gromnica ( Gromnitsa) . Derived from the word "grom," which translates to thunder, and the creation of the Thunder Candle.

Gromnitsa, in particular, involves the sacred ritual of blessing candles and the creation of a distinctive candle known as the Thunder Candle (Gromnica) ." This candle, often adorned with intricate decorations, symbolizes the power of lightning or thunderbolt. Folklore says that the blessed candles and the Gromnitsa carry a protective aura, guarding against storms and malevolent energy. The Thunder Candle should be lit during hard thunderstorms or whilst someone in the household is ill, or on their deathbed.

Many lit candles are taken home to illuminate the household, symbolizing the spreading of light and the warming of the Earth, the awakening of Nature. Some communities also engage in processions or rituals meant to ward off evil and ensure a prosperous and safe year.

This centuries-old custom is intricately tied to the celebration of Candlemas, an event observed on February 2nd that blends Christian and pre-Christian customs. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Candlemas marks the presentation of Jesus at the Temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness.

In modern times, the gromnice is stored away carefully for important ceremonies such as a christening, First Communion, Confirmation or Anointing.

While the name "Gromnica" might not be universally used across the entire Balkan region, variations of the Candlemas celebration are observed multiple countries. These customs highlight the cultural and religious diversity of the region, where ancient traditions intertwine with Roman-catholic and Orthodox practices and continue to this day.

. . . . .

[studyverses114]

VIRGIN MARY 🌹 PROPHET JESUS IN QURAN 🌹

Virgin Mary Prophet Jesus son of Mary 🌹 _ in Quran 🌹

And Mary the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity; and We breathed into (her body) of Our spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of His Revelations, and was one of the devout (servants).66:12

—

Mention in the Quran the story of Mary. She withdrew from her family to a place to the east 19:16

and secluded herself away; We sent Our Spirit to appear before her in the form of a perfected man. 19:17

She said, ‘I seek the Lord of Mercy’s protection against you: if you have any fear of Him [do not approach]!’ 19:18

but he said, ‘I am but a Mes-senger from your Lord, [come] to announce to you the gift of a pure son.’

She said, ‘How can I have a son when no man has touched me? I have not been unchaste,’ 19:20

and he said, ‘This is what your Lord said: “It is easy for Me- We shall make him a sign to all people, a blessing from Us.”’

19:21

And so it was ordained: she conceived him. She withdrew to a distant place

and, when the pains of childbirth drove her to [cling to] the trunk of a palm tree, she exclaimed, ‘I wish I had been dead and forgotten long before all this!’ 19:23

but a voice cried to her from below, ‘Do not worry: your Lord has provided a stream at your feet

and, if you shake the trunk of the palm tree towards you, it will deliver fresh ripe dates for you, 19:25

so eat, drink, be glad, and say to anyone you may see: “I have vowed to the Lord of Mercy to abstain from conversation, and I will not talk to anyone today.”’

She went back to her people carrying the child, and they said, ‘Mary! You have done something terrible! 19:27

Sister of Aaron! Your father was not an evil man; your mother was not unchaste!’ 19:28

She pointed at him. They said, ‘How can we converse with an infant?’

[But] he said: ‘I am a servant of God. He has granted me the Scripture; made me a prophet; 19:30

made me blessed wherever I may be. He commanded me to pray, to give alms as long as I live, 19:31

to cherish my mother. He did not make me domineering or graceless.

Peace was on me the day I was born, and will be on me the day I die and the day I am raised to life again.’ 19:33

Such was Jesus, son of Mary. [This is] a statement of the Truth about which they are in doubt:

it would not befit God to have a child. He is far above that: when He decrees something, He says only, ‘Be,’ and it is. 19:35

‘God is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him: that is a straight path.’

— Imran Our Lady Mary

God chose Adam, Noah, Abraham’s family, and the family of Imran, over all other people, 3:33

in one line of descent- God hears and knows all.

Imran’s wife said, ‘Lord, I have dedicated what is growing in my womb entirely to You; so accept this from me. You are the One who hears and knows all,’ 3:35

but when she gave birth, she said, ‘My Lord! I have given birth to a girl’- God knew best what she had given birth to: the male is not like the female- ‘ I name her Mary and I commend her and her offspring to Your protection from the rejected Satan.’ 3:36

Her Lord graciously accepted her and made her grow in goodness, and entrusted her to the charge of Zachariah. Whenever Zachariah went in to see her in her sanctuary, he found her supplied with provisions. He said, ‘Mary, how is it you have these provisions?’ and she said, ‘They are from God: God provides limitlessly for whoever He will.’ 3:37

— Mary Jesus Torah and the Gospel

The angels said to Mary: ‘Mary, God has chosen you and made you pure: He has truly chosen you above all women.

3:42

Mary, be devout to your Lord, prostrate yourself in worship, bow down with those who pray.’

This is an account of things beyond your knowledge that We reveal to you [Muhammad]: you were not present among them when they cast lots to see which of them should take charge of Mary, you were not present with them when they argued [about her]. 3:44

The angels said, ‘Mary, God gives you news of a Word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, who will be held in honour in this world and the next, who will be one of those brought near to God. 3:45

He will speak to people in his infancyand in his adulthood. He will be one of the righteous.’

She said, ‘My Lord, how can I have a son when no man has touched me?’ [The angel] said, ‘This is how God creates what He will: when He has ordained something, He only says, “Be”, and it is. 3:47

He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel, 3:48

He will send him as a messenger to the Children of Israel: “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I will make the shape of a bird for you out of clay, then breathe into it and, with God’s permission, it will become a real bird; I will heal the blind and the leper, and bring the dead back to life with God’s permission; I will tell you what you may eat and what you may store up in your houses. There truly is a sign for you in this, if you are believers. 3:49

I have come to confirm the truth of the Torah which preceded me, and to make some things lawful to you which used to be forbidden. I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. Be mindful of God, obey me:

God is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him- that is a straight path.”’

When Jesus realized they [still] did not believe, he said, ‘Who will help me in God’s cause?’ The disciples said, ‘We will be God’s helpers; we believe in God- witness our devotion to Him. 3:52

Lord, we believe in what You have revealed and we follow the messenger: record us among those who bear witness [to the Truth].’

The [disbelievers] schemed but God also schemed; God is the Best of Schemers. 3:54

God said, ‘Jesus, I will take you back and raise you up to Me: I will purify you of the disbelievers. To the Day of Resurrection I will make those who follow you superior to those who disbelieved. Then you will all return to Me and I will judge between you regarding your differences. 3:55

I will make the disbelievers suffer severely in this world and the next; no one will help them.’ 3:56

God will pay those who believe and do good deeds their reward in full; God does not love evildoers.

We relate to you [Muhammad] this revelation, a decisive statement. 3:58

In God’s eyes Jesus is just like Adam: He created him from dust, said to him, ‘Be’, and he was.

This is the truth from your Lord, so do not be one of those who doubt. 3:60

—

O population of the Book, why do you argue about Ibrahim? And in no way were the Tawrah (The Book revealed to Musa "Moses") and the Injil (The Book revealed to Isa "Jesus") sent down except even after him. Do you not then consider?3:65

—

Say [Muhammad], ‘We [Muslims] believe in God and in what has been sent down to us and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes. We believe in what has been given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets from their Lord. We do not make a distinction between any of the [prophets]. It is to Him that we devote ourselves.’ 3:84

If anyone seeks a religion other than [islam] complete devotion to God, it will not be accepted from him: he will be one of the losers in the Hereafter. 3:85

— Jesus the Gospel

We gave Moses the Scripture and We sent messengers after him in succession. We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear signs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. So how is it that, whenever a messenger brings you something you do not like, you become arrogant, calling some impostors and killing others?

—

We favoured some of these messengers above others. God spoke to some; others He raised in rank; We gave Jesus, son of Mary, Our clear signs and strengthened him with the holy spirit. If God had so willed, their successors would not have fought each other after they had been brought clear signs. But they disagreed: some believed and some disbelieved. If God had so willed, they would not have fought each other, but God does what He will. 2:253

—

and because they disbelieved and uttered a terrible slander against Mary, 4:156

and said, ‘We have killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of God.’ (They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, though it was made to appear like that to them; those that disagreed about him are full of doubt, with no knowledge to follow, only supposition: they certainly did not kill him-4:157

God raised him up to Himself. God is almighty and wise.

There is not one of the People of the Book who will not believe in [Jesus] before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them.)4:159

—

People of the Book, do not go to excess in your religion, and do not say anything about God except the truth: the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was nothing more than a messenger of God, His word, directed to Mary, a spirit from Him. So believe in God and His messengers and do not speak of a ‘Trinity’- stop [this], that is better for you- God is only one God, He is far above having a son, everything in the heavens and earth belongs to Him and He is the best one to trust. 4:171

The Messiah would never disdain to be a servant of God, nor would the angels who are close to Him. He will gather before Him all those who disdain His worship and are arrogant: 4:172

to those who believe and do good works He will give due rewards and more of His bounty; to those who are disdainful and arrogant He will give an agonizing torment, and they will find no one besides God to protect or help them.

—

Those who say, ‘God is the Messiah, the son of Mary,’ are defying the truth. Say, ‘If it had been God’s will, could anyone have prevented Him from destroying the Messiah, son of Mary, together with his mother and everyone else on earth? Control of the heavens and earth and all that is between them belongs to God: He creates whatever He will. God has power over everything.’ 5:17

The Jews and the Christians say, ‘We are the children of God and His beloved ones.’ Say, ‘Then why does He punish you for your sins? You are merely human beings, part of His creation: He forgives whoever He will and punishes whoever He will. Control of the heavens and earth and all that is between them belongs to Him: all journeys lead to Him.’

—

We sent Jesus, son of Mary, in their footsteps, to confirm the Torah that had been sent before him: We gave him the Gospel with guidance, light, and confirmation of the Torah already revealed- a guide and lesson for those who take heed of God.5:46

So let the followers of the Gospel judge according to what God has sent down in it. Those who do not judge according to what God has revealed are lawbreakers.

We sent to you [Muhammad] the Scripture with the truth, confirming the Scriptures that came before it, and with final authority over them: so judge between them according to what God has sent down. Do not follow their whims, which deviate from the truth that has come to you. We have assigned a law and a path to each of you. If God had so willed, He would have made you one community, but He wanted to test you through that which He has given you, so race to do good: you will all return to God and He will make clear to you the matters you differed about. 5:48

—

Those who say, ‘God is the Messiah, son of Mary,’ have defied God. The Messiah himself said, ‘Children of Israel, worship God, my Lord and your Lord.’ If anyone associates others with God, God will forbid him from the Garden, and Hell will be his home. No one will help such evildoers. 5:72

Those people who say that God is the third of three are defying [the truth]: there is only One God. If they persist in what they are saying, a painful punishment will afflict those of them who persist.

Why do they not turn to God and ask His forgiveness, when God is most forgiving, most merciful?5:74

—

Say, ‘People of the Book, do not overstep the bounds of truth in your religion and do not follow the whims of those who went astray before you- they led many others astray and themselves continue to stray from the even path.’

Those Children of Israel who defied [God] were rejected through the words of David, and Jesus, son of Mary, because they disobeyed, they persistently overstepped the limits,5:78

they did not forbid each other to do wrong. How vile their deeds were!

—

On the Day when God assembles all the messengers and asks, ‘What response did you receive?’ they will say, ‘We do not have that knowledge: You alone know things that cannot be seen.’5:109

Then God will say, ‘Jesus, son of Mary! Remember My favour to you and to your mother: how I strengthened you with the holy spirit, so that you spoke to people in your infancy and as a grown man; how I taught you the Scripture and wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel; how, by My leave, you fashioned the shape of a bird out of clay, breathed into it, and it became, by My leave, a bird; how, by My leave, you healed the blind person and the leper; how, by My leave, you brought the dead back to life; how I restrained the Children of Israel from [harming] you when you brought them clear signs, and those of them who disbelieved said, “This is clearly nothing but sorcery”;5:110

and how I inspired the disciples to believe in Me and My messengers- they said, “We believe and bear witness that we devote ourselves [to God].”’

When the disciples said, ‘Jesus, son of Mary, can your Lord send down a feast to us from heaven?’ he said, ‘Beware of God if you are true believers.’5:112

They said, ‘We wish to eat from it; to have our hearts reassured; to know that you have told us the truth; and to be witnesses of it.’

Jesus, son of Mary, said, ‘Lord, send down to us a feast from heaven so that we can have a festival- the first and last of us- and a sign from You. Provide for us: You are the best provider.’ 5:114

God said, ‘I will send it down to you, but anyone who disbelieves after this will be punished with a punishment that I will not inflict on anyone else in the world.’

When God says, ‘Jesus, son of Mary, did you say to people, “Take me and my mother as two gods alongside God”?’ he will say, ‘May You be exalted! I would never say what I had no right to say- if I had said such a thing You would have known it: You know all that is within me, though I do not know what is within You, You alone have full knowledge of things unseen-5:116

I told them only what You commanded me to: “Worship God, my Lord and your Lord.” I was a witness over them during my time among them. Ever since You took my soul, You alone have been the watcher over them: You are witness to all things

and if You punish them, they are Your servants; if You forgive them, You are the Almighty, the Wise.’5:118

—

Zachariah, John, Jesus, and Elijah- every one of them was righteous- 6:85

—

The Jews said, ‘Ezra is the son of God,’ and the Christians said, ‘The Messiah is the son of God’: they said this with their own mouths, repeating what earlier disbelievers had said. May God confound them! How far astray they have been led!

9:30

They take their rabbis and their monks as lords, as well as Christ, the son of Mary. But they were commanded to serve only one God: there is no god but Him; He is far above whatever they set up as His partners! 9:31 [Surah At-Tawbah]

—

They say, ‘God has children!’ May He be exalted! He is the Self-Sufficient One; everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him. You have no authority to say this. How dare you say things about God without any knowledge? 10:68

Say [Prophet], ‘Those who invent lies about God will not prosper.’

They may have a little enjoyment in this world, but then they will return to Us. Then We shall make them taste severe punishment for persisting in blasphemy. 10:70 [Surah Yunus]

—

and to warn those who claim, “Allah has offspring.”18:4

They have no knowledge about this, nor did their forefathers––it is a monstrous assertion that comes out of their mouths: what they say is nothing but lies.18:5

—

[blueiscoool]

16th-Century Compass Possibly Belonging to Nicolaus Copernicus Unearthed in Poland

Researchers have discovered a 16th-century compass that is thought to have been used by astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus in the canonical gardens of Frombork, northern Poland, during a recent archaeological dig.

Copernicus is famously known for his heliocentric theory, which posited that the Sun is the center of the solar system and the planets orbit around it, as presented in his work De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium. Copernicus, who served as a canon at the Frombork cathedral, lived in the town for nearly 30 years, conducting his clerical duties and astronomical observations.

Nicolaus Copernicus famously wrote himself into history by looking up at the sky and speculating that the Sun, not the Earth, was at the center of the universe. Now, researchers from Warminska Grupa Eksploracyjna, an amateur archaeological exploration group in Poland, have made a discovery about Copernicus himself by looking at the ground.

The compass, which was made of a copper alloy, was discovered buried under the gardens of the northern Polish cathedral known as the Archcathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Andrew, or Frombork Cathedral.

The compass is the third of its kind to be found in Poland, and the second to be found in Frombork’s gardens. According to an employee from the Nicolaus Copernicus Museum in Frombork, Zorjana Polenik, the compass “could have belonged to Nicolaus Copernicus himself.”

Nicolaus Copernicus (19 February 1473 – 24 May 1543) was a Renaissance polymath, active as a mathematician, astronomer, and Catholic canon, who formulated a model of the universe that placed the Sun rather than Earth at its center. In all likelihood, Copernicus developed his model independently of Aristarchus of Samos, an ancient Greek astronomer who had formulated such a model some eighteen centuries earlier.

[thepastisalreadywritten]

The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated annually on November 21st, commemorates the presentation of the Blessed Virgin as a child by her parents in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Before Mary's birth, her parents received a heavenly message that they would bear a child.

In thanksgiving for God's gift of Mary's birth, they brought her to the Temple to consecrate their only daughter to The Lord.

The celebration of the Feast is first documented in the 11th century within the Byzantine Catholic Church.

It was introduced into the Roman Catholic Church in the 15th century by Pope Gregory XI, then removed from the calendar by Pope Pius V in the mid 16th century.

Pope Sixtus V later reestablished the feast in 1585.

It is still celebrated today, commemorating the faith of her parents, Joachim and Anne, and the purity of Mary.

[orthodoxadventure]

I don't usually do this sort of thing but its sort of an All-Hands-On-Deck situation. Please pray for the mother of my friend, She was diagnosed with cancer some time ago, but it has since spread to her brain.

Of course I will pray, may God bless her and provide her with healing and comfort. And may God also bless and comfort those family members, friends, and all those that know her who are also in pain and anxiety because of her suffering.

Under the Readmore, I have attached some prayers for those with cancer that you might find to be helpful. I would especially recommend looking into some of the Patrons associated with Cancer patients and asking for their aid. For example St. Parthenios, St. Nektarios, St. Panteleimon

Through Your illuminating and sanctifying Spirit, Lord, guide through medical science those who are seeking through studies to exterminate its wickedness, reveal to them the medicine and the way of healing, and grant strength to those who are suffering and patience and respite in their pain, rewarding them all with the healing of their soul and body, through the intercessions of our Most-blessed Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, the Life-Giving Spring, whose waters in the Queen City were poured over those who were sick with cancer and their suffering ceased, as well as those of our Holy Father Parthenios, Bishop of Lampakos, the holy, glorious and wonderworking Unmercenaries, the holy, glorious Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, and all Your Saints. Amen.

--

O Most-Pure Mother of God, O Queen of All! Hearken unto our much-afflicted sighing and look upon thy children, suffering from unhealed ailments, who fall down before thee with faith! As a bird covers its nestlings with its wings, so do thou now, who art ever present, cover us with thy greatly healing omophor in that place where hope be. There where bitter sorrows overcome us, there will patience and rest be revealed. Where the torment of despair dwells in the soul, there will shine the ineffable Light of Divinity! Console the fainthearted, strengthen the weak, bestow softening and enlightenment upon embittered hearts. Heal thine ailing people, O All-merciful Queen!

Bless the minds and hands of our physicians, that they might serve as instruments of the All-powerful Physician, Christ our Saviour. We pray that thou mightest truly live with us, O Sovereign Lady!

Stretch out thy hands, filled with healing and cures, O Joy of the sorrowful, Consolation in afflictions, that having speedily received miraculous help, we may glorify the Life-creating and Undivided Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, unto ages of ages. Amen.

--

O Christ, Who alone art our Defender: Visit and heal Thy suffering servant [name], delivering her from sickness and grievous pains. Raise her up that she may sing to Thee and praise Thee without ceasing, through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind.

--

Lord have mercy. O Lord Almighty, the Healer of our souls and bodies, You Who put down and raise up, Who chastise and heal also; do You now, in Your great mercy, visit our sister (Name), who is sick Stretch forth Your hand that is full of healing and health, and get her up from her bed, and cure her of her illness.

Put away from her the spirit of disease and of every malady, pain and fever to which she is bound

If she has sins and transgressions, grant to her remission and forgiveness, in that You love mankind.

Yea, Lord my God, pity Your creation, through the compassions of Your Only-Begotten Son, together with Your All-Holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit, with Whom You are blessed, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

--

O Lord our God, Who by a word alone did heal all diseases, Who did cure the kinswoman of Peter,

You Who chastise with pity and heal according to Your goodness;Who are able to put aside every sickness and infirmity, do You Yourself, the same Lord, grant aid to Your servant _____________and cure them of every sickness of which she is grieved.

Send down upon them Your great mercy, and if it be Your will, give to _____________ health and a complete recovery;  for You are the Physician of our souls and bodies, and to You do we send up Glory: to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen

--

O God, our help in time of need, Who are just and merciful, and Who inclines to the supplications of His people.

Look down upon ____________and have mercy on them and deliver them from the trouble that now besets them.

Deal with ____________ not according to their iniquities, but according to Your manifold mercies, for we are the works of Your hands, and You know our weaknesses.

I pray to you to grant ____________ Your divine helping grace, and endow them with patience and strength to endure their hardships with complete submission to Your Will.

Only You know our misery and sufferings, and to You, our only hope and refuge, we flee for relief and comfort, trusting in Your infinite love and compassion, that in due time, when You know best, You will deliver ____________ from this trouble, and turn their distress into comfort.

We then shall rejoice in Your mercy, and exalt and praise Your Holy Name, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, both now and forever and to the ages of ages.  Amen

[myremnantarmy]

"The Immaculate alone has from God the promise of victory over Satan. She seeks souls that will consecrate themselves entirely to her, that will become in her hands forceful instruments for the defeat of Satan and the spread of God's kingdom."

~ St. Maximilian Kolbe

[gnosisofthedualrealms]

The Great Mother - Gnosis of Yeliel

Yeliel embodied motherly symbolism the most recent time I contacted her. Since I come from a Catholic background, it's no surprise she presented herself as the Virgin Mary through visions, but there was so much more to this experience.

A huge gust of wind:

When I felt energy surging up in myself after altering my consciousness through word and name repetition (I repeated the name Yeliel as my second layer of altering my consciousness), I called Yeliel forth, and a huge gust of wind blew on my garage door, which I was facing. This frightened me because it was unexpected, but it certainly made me more excited than anything.

Critters and Little Birds:

Throughout the ritual, little critters that sounded like chipmunks, mice, and birds ran near my garage, which played into Yeliel's role as a great mother. She's a mother to ALL the living, not just humanity.

The Whispers in the Forest:

I was taken into an extremely dark forest. It felt like nighttime, and I could feel Yeliel's presence around me. I felt like I was seeing the forest without actually seeing it. My eyes were closed, but I saw it through another perception.

She seemed to whisper to me, telling me all sorts of secrets, but I didn't hear any of them clearly enough to remember. However, I understood in my soul that she carries all the whispers of the world and hears every whisper of every heart.

The Virgin Mary:

When I was religious, I envisioned Mary the same way that I saw Yeliel: a mother who always cared for her children and heard every single whisper that passed through their hearts. She always did her best to satisfy their hearts, but nature sometimes had other plans.

Nature can be beautiful, but it can also be equally cruel. Sometimes, the whispers of certain hearts are heard, and the opposite is given. Instead of blessings, curses are sent. We can argue whether it's right or wrong, but all we know is that it happens.

In my mind, Yeliel is the mother to the living and does her best to care for all her children, but she does so exactly as is necessary.

Symbolism:

The symbolism surrounding Yeliel is straightforward. She is the divine feminine who presents herself with different names across cultures but maintains the same definitions. She's the Virgin Mary to me, but to others, she could be Isis, Gaia, etc. She cares for all her children by listening to their hearts and giving them what they need.

She is emotional, regardless of whether they are grounded, selfless, or selfish. Yeliel is our path to enlightenment, not through conscious and logical thought but through the unknowable unconscious energy that cannot be harnessed or understood.

[kittyplushy]

The First Sighting of A Star

Original Story. Broken into parts. Horror fan shares to her history bluff a blog post from 2007. Today that website has been wiped from the internet.

Cw for mentions of abuse towards women in a historical context. Also a bit of body horror!? Not sure if it counts.

My friend sent me a blog post from a website that documents Fascinating Horror back in 2014. Usually she would send me fanart or writing prompts or photos of mall trips she'd take with her cousins but this treasure from 2007 stuck out to her so much, she needed to share it. I wondered how it fell into her lap in the first place but nonetheless, she was a fan of horror. It'd make sense she'd find this when she can tell me stories about coin locker babies or a comic that scrolls by itself to flash you a scare.

The problem is, it wasn't horror. It sounded more like a German fairytale. Fairytales were used to scare children. Don't talk to strangers. Don't be so naive. Witches eat fingers, and Matriarchs kill orphans. Don't kiss women that live with bears.

The blog was called "The First Sighting of A Star". It was about a fake documentation, or maybe a collection of manuscripts found in the Medievial Period that recalls strange phenomenons of women waking up with burns, blisters, scars, or even melted body parts all over Europe during the months of October to March. Doctors and priests were unable to find the cause of such a significant injury when the women have not been in accidents or doing anything dangerous the previous evening. This was a mystery until a woman began blabbering about a face she saw. It was slender and porcelain. The face had long lashes, thin lips, a big forehead, and a calm smile.

"Her eyes were as deep as the rivers yet as dark as the night" said one translation.

The priests believed that this was an apparation of the Virgin Mary. These women were blessed by her presence yet they questioned why she would leave them with these injuries. Ah, false tidings. It was an illusion by the Devil. Many of these women were either exorcised, beaten, or left to die by their burns.

This problem persisted for decades. The devil would find its way from village to village. Travellers began hear stories of these apparations and burns. Women began to worry if they'd succumb to temptation and be left tainted. Husbands were commanded to be on guard for whenever it'd strike next.

One evening, a farmer smelled a strong scent of lavanders and violets. Those flowers don't bloom in these places. It was impossible, he thought as he walked to the source to gather for oil. Then a blinding yellow light shone through the woods. It was no fire nor lamp. It was warm and magnificent and brilliant. He looked above him for angels but the sky hadn't opened. Further down the path, the smell grew stronger and it became so concentrated, his lungs gave out. He saw a woman surrounded by black bears. Her delicate fingers scratched one's head while another bear laid on her feet. She had thin lips.

Deep in the woods would be a light. People assumed it might be a procession passing through. It was a traveller setting up camp. It could be a lamp. Instead, those who survived saw a lady of slender stature with long, straight hair, half lidded eyes, a sharp nose, thin lips, and a soft smile. She was accompanied by many bears, and they thought she was either singing or playing with them. They never attacked her. It was almost as if they were obedient to her and she whispered into their round ears prayers.

She would never come near anybody. The men of the village could tell it was near when the scent of lavanders and violets was present. Some nights the smell would become so powerful it would allegedly put whole villages to sleep.

But there was another manuscript translation of a milkmaid who was drawn to the light one night. She followed the light into a field beyond the woods. It was surrounded by mountains and the blades swept past her waist. Deep into the foliage, families of bears walked past her, unfeeling and docile. She nervously stood still until a warm illumination stood behind her. The light was not as blinding as the men had warned, but it was hot. The beautiful lady smiled at her, whispering in a song.

"I've watched you from above. You work so hard and yet nobody sends you flowers to thank you."

The woman cried.

"Oh but it is my work. I get paid to do it and I must not ask for more."

The Illuminated Woman brought her a handful of daisies. She smiled with pride.

"But I must pay you. You are all I need to know."

The woman was going to ask her if she was her guardian angel but the Illuminated Woman touched her face. It was warm, then hot, then scalding. The milkmaid did not care. It was like every worry in her body began to melt.

Then the Illuminated Woman held her hand and it seared through her fingers, bruising and scarring it. She looked into her green eyes. They smiled at each other and the milkmaid leaned into her for a kiss. Everything in them struggling to contain until it could...

Burst.

The milkmaid's remains were eaten by the bears. The Illuminated Woman stood in horror over what she had done again. She tried to touch it again but the body was unrecognizable beyond belief. The image of her face seared itself into her memory and then she searched again for another beloved. Bears followed her like an idol. Every part of the empire she landed on, she'd yearn, find, kill, and leave.

If she did not kill, the church would. They thought of it as the first sighting of Lucifer, the North Star. It came and slain women. An extraterrestrial or supernatural serial killer.

The blog was tagged under "serial killers", "historical", "weird", "stars", "bears", and "Europe": all terms I added after "Star Woman Killer Weird History" after searching for hours after work. The memory waved back to me on the LRT. Manila was such a horrid place to look up. There were no stars other than airplanes. I suspected the worst. It was gone. The chats I had with my friend have long passed. We were no longer in contact since 2016.

Recently, my mind has been flooded with her memory. I was not seeing her completely though. But my mind filled in the missing gaps. Half-lidded eyes. Long lashes. Thin lips. Defined nose. A sharp face. She did have long hair, I remember.

If anyone knows where the blog is now, I'd appreciate it if anyone could email it or message me.

It's all I have from her.

[catholicpriestmedia]

"Celebrating the Feast Day of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary." #BlessedVirginMary

📷 The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin, Kensington, London / #LawrenceOP / #Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED). #Catholic_Priest #CatholicPriestMedia #CanvaPro #PresentationoftheVirginMary