Precious insights into the family life of the Blessed Virgin Mary – and our families, as well

Saint Joachim, the father of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God and the Mediatrix of All Graces, knew the contempt that would be visited upon His Divine Grandson, Our Blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Joachim sent himself into voluntary exile after he was denounced by a priest of the Old Dispensation for not producing a child after twenty years of marriage to his wife, our good Saint Anne.

There, he was visited by an angel, who reminded him of the fact that Abraham’s wife, Sarah, did not conceive a child until she was ninety years old, telling him that his wife, Saint Anne, would conceive a daughter named Mary, who would be the Mother of God.

Saint Joachim and Saint Anne brought their daughter to the Temple when she was three years old, giving their long-awaited child back to the good God Who had given them to her, so that she could be the Mother of their own Savior, Our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ.

Read more

Bad news for Muslims: Archaeological proof discovered for existence of the old Temple Worship System in Jerusalem

Pilgrims came from hundreds of miles away to sacrifice animals at an ancient temple in Jerusalem, new research suggests.

An analysis of bones found in an ancient dump in the city dating back 2,000 years revealed that animals sacrificed at the temple came from far and wide.

“The study shows that there is a major interprovincial market that enables the transfer of vast numbers of animals that are used for sacrifice and feasting in Jerusalem during that time period,” said study co-author Gideon Hartman, a researcher at the University of Connecticut.

Read more

Editor’s note: It’s nice when science continues to confirm what people of the Christian – and in this case, Jewish faiths – already know. Muslims continue to deny that a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem ever existed.

Scripture and Tradition: How Catholics know what we know about the early life of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

November 21 is the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast has always been celebrated as a commemoration of Mary being presented in the Temple at the age of three years by her parents, St. Joachim and St. Anne.

 

Mary lived in the Temple precincts until the age of 14* when she was betrothed to Saint Joseph.

Modern “sophisticated scholars” cast doubt on this tradition as pious legend.

However, by the 400s it was universally believed that Mary lived at the Temple from the age of 3 till 14.**

Moreover, the Church Fathers and the Doctors of the Church confirm that the Blessed Virgin was in fact consecrated at the Temple to serve therein.

Read more

Precious insights into the family life of the Blessed Virgin Mary – and our families, as well

Saint Joachim, the father of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God and the Mediatrix of All Graces, knew the contempt that would be visited upon His Divine Grandson, Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, sent himself into voluntary exile after he was denounced by a priest of the Old Dispensation for not producing a child after twenty years of marriage to his wife, our good Saint Anne.

He was visited by an angel, who reminded him of the fact that Abraham’s wife, Sarah, did not conceive a child until she was ninety years old, telling him that his wife, Saint Anne, would conceive a daughter named Mary, who would be the Mother of God.

Saint Joachim and Saint Anne brought their daughter to the Temple when she was three years old, giving their long-awaited child back to the good God Who had given them to her so that she could be the Mother of their own Saviour, Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Read more

Bad news for Muslims: Archaeological proof discovered for existence of the old Temple Worship System in Jerusalem

Pilgrims came from hundreds of miles away to sacrifice animals at an ancient temple in Jerusalem, new research suggests.

An analysis of bones found in an ancient dump in the city dating back 2,000 years revealed that animals sacrificed at the temple came from far and wide.

“The study shows that there is a major interprovincial market that enables the transfer of vast numbers of animals that are used for sacrifice and feasting in Jerusalem during that time period,” said study co-author Gideon Hartman, a researcher at the University of Connecticut.

Read more

Editor’s note: It’s nice when science continues to confirm what people of the Christian – and in this case, Jewish faiths – already know. Muslims continue to deny that a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem ever existed.

Divine Providence: Source of abundant, easily quarry-able stone was a only a short distance from the Jerusalem Temple site.

Text and photos

A verse by verse explanation of Matthew 24 – Christ’s prophecy about the 70 A.D. destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans

Jerusalem encircled by the Romans – Pentecost 70 A.D.

In Matthew chapter twenty-four [v.3] The disciples came unto him privately, and asked Christ TWO different questions:

1)when shall these things be? [the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem prophesied in Matt. 24:2]

2) what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

And Jesus answered, starting with the first question, saying to them, “Take heed that no man deceive you”[Matt 24:4]. When we compare the the words of Christ’s prophecy to the History of the distraction of the Temple, we note the incredible accuracy of Christ’s words.

Read more

Related info

Late summer and early fall sequence of Jewish high holy days may serve as supernatural “markers” for coming end time events

Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem

by Doug Lawrence

CNS reports: Pope Benedict offered his “heartfelt best wishes” for Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot, in the telegram released to reporters by the Vatican Sept. 20.

Read more

I’m not trying to stoke “end of the world” fever here, and I’m not attempting to predict the day or the year Jesus will return. All I’m doing is correlating the ancient Hebrew feast days with the old and new testament scriptures, in order to calculate what time of the year we’re most likely to see Jesus, again.

See if you can follow the logic:

Near as I can figure, John the Baptist … Jesus’ cousin … was born at or around Passover … sometime in April.

Jesus was six months junior to John, which would put the actual date of his birth (Christmas) around late September/early October.

That coincides with the end of the high holy days … the feast of Sukkot … which is typically celebrating by living outside, in tents and other types of temporary shelters. (The shepherds may not have been alone, when they were out there in the fields, tending their sheep.)

It’s quite common for God to mark out the time for future events, through past events. So … if  God chose to sanctify a particular day in late September/early October for Jesus’ first coming … why couldn’t he do pretty much the same thing for his second?

Then we have what Jesus correctly predicted as the “end” of the ancient Jewish world … the Roman siege of Jerusalem and the subsequent destruction of the Temple … which began in the spring, on Pentecost, in the year 70 AD, followed some six months later by the fiery destruction of the Temple, in the fall … right around the end of the high holy days … punctuated by a trumpet blast (St. Paul’s “last” trump … St. John’s 7th?)

Those familiar with the scriptures will note many corrollaries between these events and still to come end time events, as detailed by Jesus, St. Peter, St. Paul, and St. John, and many of the old testament writers.

If you’re “into” this type of thing, here’s a few comprehensive links for you:

“Deep” background

16 End Times

17 Scriptures for the End

18 What Do We Do Now?

19 A Catholic Look At the AntiChrist

Divine Mercy, blood and water flowing from the Temple, and Jesus, the Fountain of All Holiness

Ancient Jewish readers would have recognized the significance of the bloody flow from the side of Christ as Temple imagery.

During festival seasons prior to the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in AD 70, huge amounts of animal blood were generated by the Temple sacrifices. The blood was ducted out of the Temple precincts by a plumbing system which emptied out of the side of the Temple Mount, creating a stream of blood that flowed down and joined the Brook Kidron that flowed along the ravine between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives.

This bloody brook had to be crossed if one entered Jerusalem near the Pool of Siloam. So a “stream of blood and water” would evoke the image of the Temple and the Temple city to the ancient Jewish reader. This phenomenon helped identify the body of Jesus as the New Temple.

Read more

Donald R. McClarey’s “Report” illustrates the sordid politics that led to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

A fictional first draft of a report by the Roman Governor of Palestine, Pontius Pilate, to Tiberius Caesar, detailing the extraordinary events which recently took place in Jerusalem … the various persons involved … their likely motives … and their actions.

Based on the gospel accounts.

Report to the Emperor-First Draft

Pray the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus

Jesus publicly received his Holy Name
when he was presented at the Temple
and circumcised, under the Law

Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus

Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy, Jesus, hear us. Jesus, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us (etc.)

Jesus, Splendor of the Father,

Jesus, Brightness of eternal Light,

Jesus, King of Glory,

Jesus, Sun of Justice,

Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary,

Jesus, most amiable,

Jesus, most admirable,

Jesus, the mighty God,

Jesus, Father of the world to come,

Jesus, angel of great counsel,

Jesus, most powerful,

Jesus, most patient,

Jesus, most obedient,

Jesus, meek and humble of heart,

Jesus, Lover of Chastity,

Jesus, our Lover,

Jesus, God of Peace,

Jesus, Author of Life,

Jesus, Model of Virtues,

Jesus, zealous for souls,

Jesus, our God,

Jesus, our Refuge,

Jesus, Father of the Poor,

Jesus, Treasure of the Faithful,

Jesus, good Shepherd,

Jesus, true Light,

Jesus, eternal Wisdom,

Jesus, infinite Goodness,

Jesus, our Way and our Life,

Jesus, joy of the Angels,

Jesus, King of the Patriarchs,

Jesus, Master of the Apostles,

Jesus, Teacher of the Evangelists,

Jesus, Strength of Martyrs,

Jesus, Light of Confessors,

Jesus, Purity of Virgins,

Jesus, Crown of all Saints,

Be merciful unto us, spare us, O Jesus!

Be merciful unto us, graciously hear us, O Jesus!

From all evil, deliver us, O Jesus!

From all sin, deliver us, O Jesus!

From Thy wrath, deliver us, O Jesus! (etc.)

From the snares of the devil,

From the spirit of fornication,

From everlasting death,

From the neglect of Thine inspirations,

Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation,

Through Thy Nativity,

Through Thine Infancy,

Through Thy most divine Life,

Through Thy Labors,

Through Thy Agony and Passion,

Through Thy Cross and Dereliction,

Through Thy Sufferings,

Through Thy Death and Burial,

Through Thy Resurrection,

Through Thine Ascension,

Through Thine Institution of the Most Holy Eucharist,

Through Thy Joys,

Through Thy Glory,

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Jesus!

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Jesus!

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Jesus!

Jesus, hear us, Jesus, graciously hear us

Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, Who has said: Ask and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: grant, we beseech Thee, to us who ask the grace of Thy most divine love, that we may love Thee with all our hearts, words and works, and never cease to praise Thee. Make us, O Lord, to have a continual fear and love of Thy holy Name; for Thou never ceasest to rule and govern those whom Thou doest solidly establish in Thy love. Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. (Amen.)

Link

Scripture and Tradition: How Catholics know what we know about the early life of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

November 21 is the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast has always been celebrated as a commemoration of Mary being presented in the Temple at the age of three years by her parents St Joachim and St Anne. Mary lived in the Temple precincts until the age of 14* when she was betrothed to Saint Joseph.

Modern “sophisticated scholars” cast doubt on this tradition as pious legend. However, by the 400s it was universally believed that Mary lived at the Temple from the age of 3 till 14.** Moreover, the Church Fathers and the Doctors of the Church confirm that the Blessed Virgin was in fact consecrated at the Temple to serve therein.

Read more

Related link

The Writings of St. Anselm: “Details Concerning the Antichrist”

St. Anselm

“Towards the end of the world Antichrist will draw the hearts of the Jews to him by his great generosity and sympathetic attitude so much so that they will praise him as a demi‐god;”….“For, the Temple which Solomon built having been destroyed, in its place he [Antichrist] shall restore it, he shall circumcise himself, and he shall give forth the lie that he is the son of the omnipotent God.”

More…

The Papacy and the Priesthood

One of the hallmarks of the Catholic faith is our belief that
the Pope is God’s designated and true representative on earth.

Firmly rooted in Scripture and confirmed
from the earliest times by Apostolic Tradition,
the primacy of Simon Peter,“the Rock”
whose office and authority lives on today
in Benedict, our current Pope,
remains the solid earthly foundation
on which the Roman Catholic Church is built.

When God made Aaron, the brother of Moses,
the first high priest, he set up the office of priest in perpetuity
(a man so ordained would remain a priest forever
and the office of the priesthood would continue forever):

Exodus 29:9-11
To wit, Aaron and his children,
and thou shalt put mitres upon them;
and they shall be priests to me by a perpetual ordinance.

The high priest was endowed with awesome
responsibilities, special powers and extraordinary authority.
A high priest normally served for life
(until later times, when that was changed).

He was in charge of all the other priests,
as well as the administration of the Tabernacle or Temple.
When he died, his office was to be handed down to his successor:

Exodus 29:29-30
And the holy vesture, which Aaron shall use,
his sons shall have after him, that they may be anointed,
and their hands consecrated in it.
He of his sons that shall be appointed high priest
in his stead, and that shall enter into
the tabernacle of the testimony to minister in the sanctuary,
shall wear it seven days.

It was also normal for the high priest to prophesy.
His prophetic words were considered to come straight from God.
This was true even for corrupt high priests:

John 11:49-53
But one of them, named Caiphas,
being the high priest that year, said to them:
You know nothing. Neither do you consider
that it is expedient for you that one man
should die for the people
and that the whole nation perish not.
And this he spoke not of himself:
but being the high priest of that year,
he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation.
And not only for the nation,
but to gather together in one the children of God
that were dispersed. From that day therefore
they devised to put him to death.

Read more

At the Gate Called Beautiful: A Picture of the Church and Our Spiritual Journey

At the Vigil Mass of today’s Feast of Saints Peter and Paul was read the story of a paralyzed man whom Peter and John encounter just outside the Temple at the Gate called “Beautiful.” This paralyzed man’s story is our story and as we read it we learn something of our own spiritual journey to the Lord and to heaven, symbolized here by the Temple. Let’s look at this moving story which is not merely an event of 2000 years ago but is our story. (N.B. The Beautiful Gate is the gold plated doors in the foreground of the picture).

Read more

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple

(Click on picture to enlarge)

The Old Testament Book of Numbers, Chapter 30, makes specific provisions for consecrated, perpetual virgins, under the Law of Moses.

According to those biblical provisions, a girl could be consecrated solely to God (as a perpetual virgin) at a young age (typically around three years old) … and even in that consecrated state, the virginal person could later choose to marry … while continuing to remain a virgin … for life.

All that was necessary was the informed consent of the potential husband. Once the husband agreed, the woman’s permanent virginal status was absolutely and undeniably confirmed … the vow now binding on both parties … typically, under pain of death.

Read more

And more …

Submitted by Doria2

Why Catholic Churches Should be Tall

…I think a lofty church inspires because there is something sacramental about it. Everything in a gothic church points up. When you enter the heart lifts because the building lifts. The gothic structure of solid stone seems to be made instead of something lighter. The delicate tracery, the pointed arches, the finials and filigree transforms the stone and suddenly I am longing that my heart of stone might be re-made and transformed into a heart of fire and light.

Then as the pointed arches rise I see my hands placed together in prayer like little pointed arches themselves and I want to be a sacrament of stone and light. I want my heart to arch up to heaven and become a temple of the Holy Spirit–a dwelling of peace and beauty that speaks silently of grace and welcomes sinners home.

I look and see high stained glass windows, too far away for my mortal eyes to see the detail and to understand and I know that the joys of heaven are as beautiful and distant and complex and colored and mysterious as those high windows. Further down I can see some windows where saints are pictured and I want to be like that–a saint standing in eternal stillness radiant through with the light from beyond.

Read more

His Gospel was about light, so why do Christians preach about sacrifice when Jesus did no such thing?

Q: His Gospel was about light, so why do Christians preach about sacrifice when Jesus did no such thing?

A: Jesus also explained that he came to lay down his life, so we might be saved. Sacrifice was Jesus’ primary purpose. It was the fulfillment of hundreds of Bible prophecies, and the essential theme of all the Old Testament scriptures.

Malachai 1:11 For from the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to my name a clean oblation: for my name is great among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of hosts.

Without Jesus’ atoning death we would all still be eternally enslaved to Satan, sin, and death, crushed under Satan’s evil dominion, and we would have never even heard of the Kingdom of God.

And since Jesus is the only sacrifice that is truly acceptable to God the Father, it’s not surprising that he expressed his distain for typical sacrifices … especially the mite infested doves and the poor quality livestock that was then being sold for that purpose, at the Temple in Jerusalem.

Without Jesus’ one time, once for all, perfect and eternal sacrifice on the cross, which is and will be re-presented until the end of time at every Catholic Mass, precisely as Jesus commanded … there would be no light … no hope … and no salvation.

Anyone who fails to understand this most essential matter is not likely to understand much of anything else about the authentic Christian faith.

For more, go here:

https://douglawrence.wordpress.com/a-shor…

Is Israel the Biblical “Fig Tree” that is considered a sign of the end times?

Q: Is Israel the Biblical “Fig Tree” that is considered a sign of the end times? 

A: To understand how Israel figures in this, you need to first, look at all the biblical references to the fig tree … 30 verses, in totality … this one being the key:

Mat 24:32 And from the fig tree learn a parable: When the branch thereof is now tender and the leaves come forth, you know that summer is nigh.
Mat 24:33 So you also, when you shall see all these things, know ye that it is nigh, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34 Amen I say to you that this generation shall not pass till all these things be done.

Then you need to analyze the history, see what actually happened, and working backwards, put all the pieces of the puzzle together.

When you do that, you’ll see that the fig tree does indeed represent Israel, that the apostles were given a “season” (40 years) to water and fertilize it (with the Gospel), and when the fig tree still failed to bear fruit (rejected Christ and the Gospel), it was plucked out by the roots and burned (courtesy of the Romans, who sacked Jerusalem and burned the Temple to the ground, in the late SUMMER of 70 AD) and that some who had actually heard Christ speak those prophetic words were still alive at the time, to witness it all.

About the only thing the modern secular state of Israel has in common with the Israel of old, is it’s continuing institutionalized persecution of Christians.

Will that be enough for Israel to prominently figure in end time events, as many Christians believe?

Tune in again next time, for the amazing conclusion!