Category: Miracle

The Victories of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Post author By Jude Missa
Post date June 22, 2022

The Battle of Lepanto (1571)

The Battle of Lepanto is one of the greatest naval battle in the world. Where Pope St. Pius V organized the Holy League, a coalition of forces from Spain and smaller Christian Kingdoms to rescue Christian outpost in Cyprus from the Ottoman Empire. The Holy League was disadvantagesagainst the Ottoman Empire, Pope St. Pius V called for all Europe to pray Holy Rosary for Victory until the Holy League won against the Ottoman Empire. Pope St. Pius V instituted the feast of “Our Lady of Victory” in commemoration the victory of Battle of Lepanto where the Blessed Virgin Mary help the Holy League by the Most Holy Rosary. Then in 1573, his successor, Pope Gregory XIII change the name of the feast to “The Feast of the Holy Rosary”.

The Battle of La Naval De Manila (1646)

In the Philippines, the combined Spanish and Filipino forces fought against Protestant Dutch Republic whom are attempting to invade the Country. They ask for the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and pray the rosary repeatedly to win this naval battle which lasted in five battles. Before the second battle began, General Orellana and Admiral Lopez made a public vow to the Blessed Virgin Mary if they come out victorious, they will make a solemn feast in Her honor, and all of them would walk barefoot to Our Lady’s chapel at Santo Domingo church. After their third victory in third battle, General Orellana fullfilled his vow by marching barefoot to Santo Domingo Church together with his troop. And after their victory in their last battle agains the dutch, they once again marched barefoot to the Shrine of our Lady of the Rosary in Santo Domingo Church. On April 4, 1906, Pope St. Pius X approved the image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary — La Naval de Manila by Canonical Coronation.

The EDSA Revolution (1986)

The Blessed Virgin Mary also had another victory in the Philippines. In 1986, the people revolt against the Dictator, President Ferdinand Marcos who use Martial Law to reign the country in 20 years where many people suffered and died during his reign. Instead of a bloody revolt, it became bloodless as Catholic Faithful gather to EDSA without weapons, instead they brought their rosaries, Crucifixes, images of Sto. Nino and the Blessed Virgin Mary, food, flowers and prayed to God with the intercession of the Blessed Mother. President Marcos sent a full army with tanks and armored vehicles. He planned to stop the revolt even if that brings chaos to the people. As the soldiers advanced, they saw up in the sky what appeared to be a cross-like figure but it did not hinder them as they continued to press forward to the crowd but the people still continuous praying the Holy Rosary. Then what happened next change the hearts of the soldiers. While preparing for an assault, they saw a beautiful woman dressed as a nun who became visible in front of the tanks. The beautiful woman dressed in blue with heavenly eyes as she appeared in front of the soldiers and extended her arms outward and spoke in a voice that was clearly audible to everyone:

“Dear soldiers, stop! Do not proceed. Do not harm my children. I am the Queen of this land.”

The Soldiers dropped their weapons and join the people to fight against the Dictator. The television station that covering the event prompted “Mother Mary is with us”. Marcos’ central command gave the order to fire on the people but the soldiers just made excuses like machine malfunctioned and the canons are not working. The people won, the dictator was removed to his position and declared Corazon Aquino as the new president. To commemorate the victory of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Edsa Revolution and to thank God for freeing the Filipino people from the dictator, a shrine was built in EDSA with the large image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is called the Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of Edsa).

Truly, the Blessed Virgin Mary is victorious when we have a deep devotion to her and her Immaculate Heart. As her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, our God, always listens to her. Sadly, people are slowly forgotten these events. But still we must not lose hope and continued to pray to God with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin as in the end, her immaculate heart will triumph!

Sources:
https://sspx.org/en/news-events/news/our-lady-rosary-and-battle-lepanto
https://pintakasi1521.blogspot.com/2016/09/nuestra-senora-del-santisimo-rosario-de.html
https://pintakasiph.wordpress.com/tag/edsa-revolution/

Marian Apparition Miracle

God’s Message in Various Ways

Post author By Simon Fe Dolor
Post date June 9, 2021

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

In the old covenant, God the Father directly spoke from a voice in heaven to patriarchs such as Noah, and Abraham. The book of Exodus records the presence of God in a burning bush without burning its parts (Exodus 3: 1-21).

Prophets received messages from a voice that they can clearly recognized coming from God. Messages for the people and commandments to remind and guide the people of what is pleasing to the Almighty.

Like the prophet Jonah, God warned that the Ninevites would be punished if they did not turn to God. Driven by his human weakness, it was only natural for the prophet to be afraid and not follow immediately out of fear and self-doubt. However, when the prophet acted on the message, the Ninevites believed and obeyed. Thus, the punishment that was looming did not take place (Jonah 1: 2).

On the other hand, God may appear to other prophets with heavenly beings in majestic glory. Like what happened to prophet Ezekiel who revealed and made known the destiny of Israel in the future.

I heard the sound of their wings, like the roaring sound of the sea, as they moved. It was like the voice of God Almighty, a roaring sound like a noisy army. When the living creatures stopped, they lowered their wings. Now above the dome there was something that looked like a throne. It looked like a sapphire gem. And on the throne was a shape like a human. Then I noticed that from the waist up the shape looked like glowing metal with fire inside. From the waist down it looked like fire, and a bright light was all around. The surrounding glow looked like the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day. It seemed to look like the glory of the LORD. So, when I saw it, I bowed facedown on the ground and heard a voice speaking.

Ezekiel 6: 24-28.

IN DREAMS

Dreams is a way that is definitely mysterious in the spiritual life. In the old testament, God gave holy people the gift to receive and understand dreams. Joseph the son of the patriarch Jacob recorded in the book of Genesis was endowed with the ability to interpret dreams. Even in the new testament God’s plan for the Holy Family were conveyed many times in a dream to another Joseph, St. Joseph the carpenter by an angel.

ANGELIC APPEARANCES

In many instances, heavenly beings like angels also show up and live with man. They are seen not as a spirit but with human flesh. God allowed these in order to put His plans into place.

As in Sodom and Gomorrah, the patriarch Abraham negotiated with God that if he saw at least ten good people in the city, the place would be spared from punishment. God sent two angels to see the condition of the place. They went to Lot, Abraham’s nephew. But the angels in disguised was seen and desired by the locals. They were rowdy and demanded to surrender his guest to them. The angelic guests came to his rescue and blinded them. They revealed their mission to Lot and it was time to escape. And we already know the story after that, a rain of fire punished Sodom and Gomorrah.

One of the seven archangels St. Raphael also appeared to Tobias. The archangel also disguised as a traveler and paced their journey. He went fishing and even helped cure Tobias’ blind father on their return. In the book of Tobit 12:15 he revealed to be “one of the seven holy angels [archangels] who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One.”

IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

The book of Luke had the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, father of St. John the Baptist, “The angel replied,‘ I am Gabriel, who stands in God’s presence, and I have been sent to speak to you and bring you this good news. ” Luke 1:19, And the archangel returned again to send greetings from God to the Blessed Virgin, Luke 1: 26-38, “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, you who enjoy God’s favor! The Lord is with you.’ “

Before the passion of Christ in the garden of Gethsemany the Lord prayed, and here the three apostles St. Peter, St. John and St. James saw the Transfiguration of the Lord. This incident was very important because it is a miracle confirming that Christ is the bridge between heaven and earth. Showing the glory of Christ, and as God the Father said on that occasion, “And a voice came from the cloud saying, ‘This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.’, Luke 9:35.

ON THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

After the resurrection and the ascension of Christ, God the Holy Spirit descended. Its spirit and power came to the Apostles in the form of a tongue of fire. Filled their hearts and minds to be more enlightened to the truth and prepared to testify of Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit are evident in the fervent love of saints in the history of the Catholic Church. Their great contributions, writings, miracles and great charity they have shown to those in need.

VISIONS

Visions are supernatural events, usually these are private revelations and experiences recorded by the saint or the visionary. In an extraordinary way the mysteries and messages revealed to him are spoken to or shown to the visionary. Similar to the visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich in the life of the Blessed Virgin and Jesus Christ.

APPARITIONS

Apparitions are supernatural appearances usually of the Virgin Mary, they usually give a message of significant for those times or may also be warnings of the future.

For the last 500 years, God has continued to make us feel His love by bringing the Blessed Virgin, her mother, to apparitions here on earth.

While Martin Luther committed heresy in Europe that led to the apostasy of so many Catholics in the 16th century, the Blessed Virgin appeared in Guadalupe, Mexico in 1531 to Juan Diego. The apparitions led to many miracles and left an imprint of an image of Our Lady. According to historians, in just ten years there were nine million converts to Catholicism.

The apparitions of the Virgin Mary are a sign of God’s continuous generosity with mankind to attain the sanctifying grace it needs.
In 1830 she appeared in France, as Our Lady of Graces and left the Miraculous Medal. At La Salette in also France in 1846 the importance of the day of worship was reminded. In Lourdes, France again in 1858 he introduced himself as the Immaculate Conception. Leaving a spring that until now brings miracles to the needy and the sick. In Ireland the apparition of Our Lady of Knock, Mary with angels, Jesus, St. Joseph and St. John. In Fatima, Portugal in 1917 the Virgin of the Rosary appeared and miraculously witnessed the miracle of the sun by nearly 70,000 people. Here the Blessed Virgin left so many messages and warnings for these times.

Now that there is a pandemic these messages may have been missed. If not, ignored and forgotten, but human’s strength is never material. It is therefore wise to remember that in the course of tragedies in history there is a God who is willing to help His people.

God’s love never ends. That is why one should only listen and receive His messages.

God says in Matthew 28:20 “I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.”

Feast Day Holy Rosary Mariology Miracle

Our Lady of La Naval de Manila

Post author By Jose Maria Francisco
Post date February 7, 2021
No Comments on Our Lady of La Naval de Manila

With the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Filipino and Spanish Catholics successfully defeated the invading forces of the Protestant Dutch Republic during the Battles of La Naval de Manila in the year 1646, in a triumph similar to the Battle of Lepanto of 1571.

The Spanish and Filipino forces, consisted mainly of three Manila Galleons miraculously neutralized a Dutch fleet of nineteen warships. Heavy damage was inflicted upon the Dutch squadrons forcing the Dutch to abandon their invasion of the Philippines.

Pope Pius X granted the image a Canonical Coronation on 5 October 1907. In 2009, the Philippine government designated the image and its shrine as a National Cultural Treasure, making it one of the country’s Cultural Resources.

The Grand Lady of the Philippines
Nuestra Señora el Santissimo Rosario La Naval de Manila
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary

Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City, Philippines was constructed by the Dominicans in 1954. The church also holds a secret vault that contains ivory icons and wooden images of saints.

The church centerpiece is the shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of La Naval, sculpted in the 18th century by a Chinese artist, who later converted to Christianity. It is said to be the oldest Marian icon in the country. Her oriental features make Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary a uniquely indigenous Virgin.

She is called the Nuestra Señora del Satissimo Rosario de la Naval de Manila in Spanish; in Filipino: Ang Mahal na Ina ng Santo Rosaryo ng La Naval de Manila.

The image of the Blessed Virgin Mary is venerated in the Philippines because devotees believe that she interceded during the Protestant Dutch invasion in the Battle of La Naval de Manila in 1646, just as she ensured victory for allied Christian forces, in the Battle of Lepanto of 1571, against the Islamic Ottoman Empire.

Feast Day Marian Apparition Mariology Miracle

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Patroness of the Americas and the Philippines.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe, is a Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary associated with a series of five Marian apparitions.

In an early morning of dawn in December 9, 1531, the Virgin Mother of God appeared to a native convert Saint Juan Diego. Our Lady asked him to go to the Bishop of Mexico and request him to build a church on the barren hill of Tepeyac Hill outside Mexico City in Her honor and to show her love and compassion to all of her children. Juan Zumamaraga, who was then the Bishop asked Juan Diego to ask Our Lady for a sign. Saint Juan Diego did what the Bishop have asked and Our Lady promised for a sign.

On December 12, 1531, The ever Blessed Mother appeared again to Saint Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill and instructed him to pick the roses of different colors that miraculously bloomed on the hill. These are species of Castillian roses that normally grows in Castile Spain. Saint Juan Diego gather these roses on his Tilma and brought them to Bishop Zummaraga as a sign for him to believe the request of our Lady. He opened the Tilma and to everyone’s surprise, the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on it as Juan Diego have seen it on Tepeyac Hill.

After this miracle, the Bishop then built the Church as Our Lady had requested. More than 10 million natives were converted and baptized to Catholic faith for the next 10 years. Her miraculous portrait continued to venerated at the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City until to this day.