Persecution is Near:

"The Woman (a symbol of both Mary and the Church) has been laboring to give birth to the "full number of gentiles." When she does, a persecution will break out. I wrote recently how I believe that a unity among the "gentiles," that is Christians, will come about through the Eucharist, precipitated perhaps by a universal"illumination" of consciences. It is this unity which will draw the anger of the dragon and persecution from his servants, the False Prophet and the Beast—Antichrist, if in fact, these are the times which have arrived."

My friend Mark Mallett continues his prophetic writings which we can relate to with the prophecies of Garabandal!

Deacon John

M A R K  M A L L E T T
–––S P I R I T U A L  F O O D  F O R  T H O U G H T–––

Persecution Is Near

St. Stephen the First Martyr

I HEAR in my heart the words that there is coming another wave.
In Persecution!, I wrote about a moral tsunami which struck the world, particularly the West, in the sixties; and now that wave is about to return to sea, to carry with it all who have refused to follow Christ and His teachings. This wave, though seemingly less tumultuous on the surface, has a dangerous undertow of deception. I have spoken more about this in these writings, my new book, and on my webcast, Embracing Hope.
A strong impulse came over me last night to go to the writing below, and now, to republish it. Since it is difficult for many to keep up to the volume of writings here, republishing the more important writings ensures that these messages are read. They aren’t written for my amusement, but for our preparation.
Also, for several weeks now, my writing Warning From the Past has been coming back to me time and again. I have updated it with yet another somewhat disturbing video.
Lastly, I recently heard another word in my heart: "The wolves are gathering."  This word only made sense to me as I re-read the writing below, which I have updated. 
Read more… »

All Mark's writings can be found at:  Spiritual Food For Thought
Listen to Mark's music on his official website:  www.markmallett.com

HELL EXISTS AND WE MIGHT GO THERE!

In the Second Formal Message of Our Lady at Garabandal she said: "Many cardinals, many bishops and many priests are on the road to perdition and are taking many souls with them!" (June 18, 1965)


Today's Gospel for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jesus:
‘But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go out.’ (Mark 9: 47-48)

Below is a powerful sermon by a holy priest who had the courage to proclaim it to bishops that were gathered at Fatima. I'm re-posting it here and I added some pictures too. It certainly fits in with today's Gospel!
Deacon John 

HELL EXISTS AND WE MIGHT GO THERE!
by Father Marcel Nault

[Father Marcel Nault, 1927 - 1997. On Easter Sunday, March 30,1997 at
12:00 noon, Father Marcel Nault was called from this earthly life unto
the God whom he had loved and. served with zealous devotion. Born on
March 3, 1927 in Montreal Quebec, his was a relatively late vocation. He
was ordained to the diocesan priesthood on March 4, 1962 the day after
his 35th birthday.]

The following is a speech given by Father Marcel Nault to the World
Catholic Bishops Fatima Peace Conference in Fatima, Portugal in 1992.
This speech made such an impact that after this Conference, several
Bishops asked Father Nault to hear their confessions.

Our Lord Jesus Christ came on earth for one reason, to save souls from
Hell. Teaching the reality of Hell is the most important and unavoidable
duty of the Holy Catholic Church.

Image via Wikipedia

One of the greatest Fathers of the Church, St. John Chrysostom,
continually taught that Our Lord Jesus Christ preached more often on
Hell than on Heaven.

Some people say it is better to preach on Heaven. I disagree. Preaching
on Hell produces many more true and strong conversions than only
preaching on Heaven. St. Benedict, the founder of the Benedictines,
while he was in Rome was told by the Holy Ghost: "You are going to lose
your soul in Rome and go to Hell." He left Rome and he went into the
silence and solitude outside the city to meditate on the life of Jesus
and the Holy Gospels. St Benedict ran away from those numerous occasions
of sin of pagan Rome. He prayed. He made sacrifices for himself and
sinners. The Holy Ghost spread the word of his holiness.

As a result, people came to see, hear and follow St Benedict's example
and advice. He separated himself from occasions of sin and became holy.
Holiness attracts souls. Why do you think St. Augustine changed his
life? Because of the fear of Hell! I preach often on the tragic reality
of Hell. It is a Catholic Dogma priests and bishops do not preach
anymore.

Image via Wikipedia

Pope Pius IX, who pronounced the two dogmas of Papal Infallibility and
the Immaculate Conception, and who also issued his famous Syllabus
condemning the errors and heresies of the modem world, used to ask
preachers to preach more often on the Four Last Things, especially on
Hell, as he himself did preach. He asked this because the thought of
Hell makes saints.

The Saints Feared Hell
Here is something very curious, saints are afraid to go into Hell but
sinners are not afraid. Saint Francis de Sales, Saint Alphonsus Liguori,
Saint cure of Ars, St. Therese of Avila, St. Therese of the Infant Jesus
were all afraid to go to Hell.

Saint Simon Stock the Superior General of the Carmel, knew that his
monks were afraid to go to Hell. His monks were fasting and making
prayer. They were living in seclusion, cut off from the dangerous world
dominated by Satan. Still they were afraid of going to Hell.

Image via Wikipedia

In 1251, Our Lady of Mount Caramel appeared in Aylesford, England to
Saint Simon Stock. She said, "Do not be afraid anymore, I am giving you
a special vestment; all those who will die wearing this vestment will
not go to Hell." I wear my Brown Scapular under my vestments and I have
another one in my pocket because I never know when people will ask me to
preach on Hell or the Brown Scapular.

Mary said to the Dominican priest, Blessed Alan de 1a Roche, "I will
come and save the world through My Rosary and My Scapular." One cannot
specialize in everything and preach on everything; one must make a
choice. I believe that it is the will of Our Lord Jesus that I preach on
Hell.

A Monsignor, my superior at that time, once told me: you preach too
often on Hell and you scare people". He added: "Marcel, I have never
preached on Hell, people don't like it. You scare them." In a very
friendly way, the Monsignor told me in his own office: "Marcel, I have
never preached on Hell and I never will preach on Hell, and look at the
nice and prestigious position I hold." I kept a long silence, then I
looked him in the eyes. "Monsignor," I said, "you are on the road to
Hell for all eternity. Monsignor, you preach to please men, instead of
preaching to please Christ and save souls from Hell. Monsignor, it is a
mortal sin of omission to refuse to preach the Catholic Dogma of Hell. "

When God sent Prophets in the Old Testament it was to remind men to come
back to the truth, to come back to holiness. Jesus came, preached and
sent His Apostles in the world to preach the Holy Gospels. The Serpent
came and spread his poison through heresies, so the Lord Jesus sent His
Beloved Mother, the Queen of Prophets: "Go on earth and destroy
heresies." The Fathers of the Church have written that the Mother of God
is the hammer of heresies. If you take the time to study with great
attention the Message of Our Lady of Fatima, you will notice it is a
most tragic and profound message repeating the teaching of the Holy
Gospels.

The Lessons Taught at Fatima
The summary of the Message of Fatima is, Hell exists. Hell is eternal
and we will all go into Hell if we die in the state of mortal sin. "What
does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his soul?"

Our Lady has come and told us that we can be saved through Her two
divine sacramentals of predestination, the Holy Rosary and the Brown
Scapular. There is also special emphasis on Devotion to the Immaculate
Heart of Mary and Devotion of the Five First Saturdays.

At the first apparition of the Angel of Portugal at the Cabeco, in May
1916, the Angel of Portugal came to the three children and he showed
them how to adore God with two different prayers. "Oh my God, I believe,
I adore, I hope and I love Thee. I ask pardon for those who do not

Image via Wikipedia

believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love Thee." The Angel
prayed this while prostrating himself on the ground.

The Angel of Fatima has shown the three children that in the order of prayers, first things first. One must first adore God and. then after pray to the saints. God first, creatures second. The Angel of Fatima has
shown men that we must adore and pray to God on our knees. The more a man knows God, the more he humbles himself in front of God his Creator.

The great French Bishop Bossuet said: "Man is really great when he is on his knees." Yes, Man is truly great when he is on his knees in front of his Creator and Redeemer, Jesus in the Most Holy Blessed Sacrament The
Angel at Fatima came to teach the three children that our first duty, according to the First Commandment, is to adore God.

At his third apparition at the Cabeco, the Angel of Portugal came with the Chalice in his left hand and the Host in his right hand. The children wondered what was going on. The Angel miraculously left the
Chalice and the Holy Host suspended in the air. The Angel prostrated
himself on the ground and recited a profound Trinitarian prayer of
adoration. "Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I adore Thee
profoundly and I offer Thee the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul and
Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world,
in reparation for the outrages, sacrilege and indifference by which He
is offended, and by the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and
through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conver-sion of poor
sinners.

God wants us to adore Him on our knees. Do all of us kneel in prayer and
adoration of Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist? We should. When the three
wise men came to Bethlehem and entered the house, they prostrated
them-selves in front of baby Jesus to adore Him on their knees. We have
the example from Scripture and from the Angel at Fatima that God wants
us to adore Him on our knees.

Image via Wikipedia

The Reinforcement of Catholic Dogma
One year later, on May 13, 1917, the children saw a young girl appear to
them. It was Our Lady's first apparition. Lucy asked, "Where do you come
from?" She replied, "I come from heaven." The Catholic dogma of heaven.

The children asked, "Will we go into heaven?" She replied "Yes, you will." They then asked, "Our two girl friends, are they in heaven?" Mary
replied, "one yes". The children asked, "Where is the other girl? Is she in Heaven?" Mary replied, "She is in Purgatory until the end of the world." This girl was around 18 years old. A second dogma, Purgatory exists and will end at the end of this world. The Mother of God cannot
lie.

The Angel of Fatima taught the three children how to adore God the
Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. This is a reinforcement of
the dogma of the Most Holy Trinity, the greatest of them all without
which Christianity cannot stand. We must adore the three Persons of the
Most Holy Trinity.

A Vision of Hell
On Friday, July 13, 1917 Our Lady appeared at Fatima and talked to the
three seers. Our Lady never smiled. How could She smile, for it was on
this day that She was to show the children the vision of Hell?

She said "Pray, pray very much because many souls go into Hell." Our
Lady opened Her hands and suddenly the three children saw a hole in the
ground. That hole, said Lucy, was like a sea of fire in which we saw the
souls in human forms, men and women, burning, shouting, and crying in
despair. Lucy said demons looked like ugly and unknown animals. The
children were so terrified that Lucy screamed. She was so afraid that
she thought she would die. Mary said to the children: "You have seen
Hell where sinners go when they do not repent." Another Roman Catholic
dogma, Hell.

Hell is Eternal Our Lady said "Each time you say the Rosary, My
children, say after each decade, '0 my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save
us from the fire of Hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those
most in need." Mary came to Fatima as a Prophet of the Most High to save
souls from Hell. The patron of all pastors, St Jean Marie Vianney used
to preach that the greatest act of charity towards your neighbor is to
save their souls from Hell. The second act of charity according to St.
Jean Vianney is to deliver souls from Purgatory. One day in his little
church, (where, to this day, his body lies incorrupt) a man possessed by
a demon approached St. Jean Vianney and said: "I hate you, I hate you
because you stole from my hand eighty-five thousand souls." Your
Eminence, Excellencies, Priests, when we will come to be judged by
Jesus, Jesus will ask us one question. "I made you a priest, a bishop, a
cardinal, a pope, how many souls have you saved from Hell?" St. Francis
de Sales, according to statistics, has converted and probably saved more
than seventy-five thousand heretics. How many souls have you saved? When
you read the Fathers of the Church, the Doctors of the Church and the
saints, you are struck by one thing; they all have preached the holy
Gospels of Jesus and the FOUR LAST THINGS: Death, Judgment, Heaven,
Hell. They all have preached the Catholic dogma of Hell because when we
meditate on the abode of the damned, we don't want to go to Hell. As a
result, we avoid the occasions of sin and take all the means necessary
to become saints and therefore avoid Hell and attain Heaven.

I don't want to criticize Bishops, but I must confess this truth. I have
thirty years of priesthood. It is sad to say that I have never seen nor
heard a bishop, even my bishop or any other bishop, preach the Roman
Catholic dogma of Hell. I suppose in your countries and elsewhere they
do, but in America, Hell is not preached.

One day in a cathedral I said to a bishop, "Your Excellency you make a
nice meditation of the Holy Rosary every night for the radio. This is
beautiful. But I must ask, why don't you have your meditation a little
shorter and insert after each decade: '0 my Jesus, forgive us our sins.
Save us from the fire of Hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially
those most in need of Thy Mercy'. Why do you refuse to say that little
prayer alter each decade, as requested by Our Lady of Fatima on July 13,
1917, after She had shown Hell to the three seers?" The Bishop said to
me: "Well, people don't like us to preach on Hell, the word Hell makes
them scared."

We are not there to preach to please the crowd but to save souls from
Hell, to prevent them from going into Hell for all eternity. This may
not hold true for all Bishops, but I have often heard Bishops recite the
Rosary and omit that merciful prayer to save souls from Hell. I believe
that little prayer of Our Lady of Fatima given to the children on July
13, 1917 is more powerful and more pleasing to God than any kind of
meditation even given by a holy bishop.

You have received your own missions from God, and I believe that Jesus
and Our Lady want me to preach on Hell as my mission. So I preach often
on Hell. There are many revelations that we can read in the life of
privileged souls. Some souls in Hell have been ordered by God to speak
in order to help us in our faith. It is a mortal sin of omission to
refuse to preach the Catholic Dogma of Hell. Those souls in Hell said:
"We could accept to be in Hell a thousand years. We could accept to be
in Hell a million years, if we knew
that one day, we would leave Hell." My friends, we must meditate, not
only on the fire of Hell, not only on the privation of seeing God, but
we must also meditate on the eternity of Hell. Meditate seriously in
front of the tabernacle on the Roman Catholic dogma of Hell. Dear
Bishops, you must preach the whole Gospel of Jesus, including the tragic
reality of eternal Hell.

Heretical Concept of God's Mercy
A priest at a charismatic conference told a crowd of about three
thousand people and one hundred priests that "God is love, God is mercy
and you will see His infinite Mercy at the end of the world, when Jesus
will deliver all souls from Hell, even demons." That priest continues to
preach and his Bishop doesn't take away his faculties for preaching
heresies.

"Go in the eternal fire", said Jesus. Eternal fire, not temporary fire.
With our limited human intelligence we make a little philosophic
proposition: "God is love, God is Our Father. How can a father, for
Heaven's sake, take little Peter and throw him in a burning furnace? It
is impossible. It is an insult to God, Who is love." How many times have

Image by Torley via Flickr

you heard that?

The truth, however, is that Hell exists. Hell is eternal. And we will all go into Hell if we die in the state of mortal sin. I can go into Hell. You can go into Hell. If any of us die in mortal sin, we will be
in Hell for all eternity, burning, weeping, and crying in despair. Not for a million years, but for billions and billions and billions of years and beyond, for all eternity. In our lifetime, who has never made one
mortal sin? Only one mortal sin not repented before you die is enough
for Jesus to throw us in Hell.

One of the greatest Fathers of the Church, Patron of all Catholic Preachers, St. John Chrysostom said: "Few bishops are saved and many
priests are Damned."

When we were coming from Lisbon to Fatima by bus, I preached on the bus
to the lay people, priests and bishops present. I implored them, "Please
when you come to Fatima, why not make an excellent holy general
confession. Maybe ten years ago, maybe fifty years ago, maybe you
didn't have the courage to confess that sin because you were ashamed.
Please, make a holy and complete confession in Fatima before you leave.
There are many priests in Fatima that you will never see until you reach
Heaven." I preach to Bishops like I preach to everyone because Bishops
also have a soul to save. And if Bishops are truly humble they will also
accept the truth even from an ordinary simple priest. Let us not leave
Fatima without making a Holy General Confession.

A Great Act of Charity
Your Excellencies, Jesus made us priests, The Lord Jesus has chosen us
among millions of men to make us priests. We have been made priests for
one reason, to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to the Almighty
Father, to pray the breviary every day and to preach the Gospels of
Jesus to save souls from Hell. Nobody is sure to go to Heaven unless
they have received a private revelation from God like the Good Thief on
the cross or the three seers of Fatima. Why not take all the insurance
that Heaven has given us, the Rosary (devotion to My Rosary is a sure
sign of predestination), the Brown Scapular and the wonderful Sacrament
of penance.

Preach, my dear Bishops, like the Fathers of the Church. The first duty
of a bishop is to preach, not only to administer a diocese. The Church
needs to see and hear bishops preaching like the Fathers of the Church.

If only one Bishop among you would have come to Fatima then return to
his diocese and on certain occasions preach "The Four Last Things" with
the full Message of Fatima, what a great act of Charity it would be.
With the help of the Holy Ghost, say to your faithful: "Listen, my
brothers in Christ, I am your Bishop, I am here to save your soul from
Hell. Please listen, accept and meditate on my teaching today. You too
my dear priests in my diocese, imitate your Bishop, and preach on Hell
with the authority that Jesus has given you. Preach at least one entire
sermon on Hell once a year." You would be doing the greatest act of
charity of your priesthood, of your episcopate.

As I mentioned earlier, in my thirty years as a priest, I have never
heard a Bishop preach on Hell. When I want a sermon on Hell, I have to
read Saint John Chrysostom, the Fathers of the Church, the Doctors of
the Church and canonized preachers. Dear Bishops, please, preach on Hell
like Jesus, Our Lady of Fatima, the Fathers of the Church and the
Doctors of the Church and you will save many souls. Who saves one soul,
saves his own soul. Preaching on Hell is a great act of charity because
those that hear you will believe. They will change their lives and make
holy confessions.

The Garment of Grace
People sometimes ask me: "Why is it, Father, that the Brown Scapular
isn't preached anymore? In the past, we received the Brown Scapular at
First Communion, but today there are no more blessings and imposition of
the Brown Scapular. Is the Brown Scapular true today as in the past?"
Yes, the Brown Scapular is honored to this day; this truth has not
changed. On Saturday, October 13, 1917 during the Miracle of the Sun in
Fatima, Mary was holding the Brown Scapular. Sister Lucy said: "The
Rosary and the Brown Scapular are inseparable."

Why is it then priests never preach on the Brown Scapular? How can
priests preach on the Brown Scapular if they deliberately refuse to
preach on Hell? If you never preach on Hell, people won't believe in
Hell. What is the use of wearing the Brown Scapular?

Jesus said: "If you have faith, you will move mountains." If you have
faith, you will convert souls with the grace of God.

If you preach on Hell with faith, people will believe in Hell. Saint
Paul said to his disciples: "Preach with conviction." To talk or read a
homily in a Church is not preaching. Preaching is intended to move the
will; preaching is intended to move men, to change their lives, to save
their souls from Hell.

The Defection of Clergy
There are four major reasons why 75,000 priests have left the
priesthood:
1) because they have neglected to pray every day.
2) because they did not avoid the occasions of sin and have forgotten
that prudence is the science of saints.
3) because they did not have the humility and courage to make holy and
complete confessions. Jesus said: "Without Me you can do nothing."
4) because they lived in mortal sin and continued to celebrate thus. If
a priest is in the state of mortal sin and celebrates Mass, it is a
sacrilegious mass for him. When he receives Communion, it is another
sacrilegious communion for him.

How can a priest in the state of mortal sin preach under the inspiration
and the strength of the Holy Ghost? How can he preach if he's filled
with demons? Priests, go and make holy confessions and you will become
excellent preachers. The Holy Ghost will speak in you and through you
and you will save thousand of souls from Hell.

One day, the Cure of Ars received a visit from a young priest from a
nearby parish. That young priest was a little curious to meet Cure of
Ars. After lunch the Cure of Ars said: "Will you, please, hear my
confession?" The young priest nearly fell off his chair when asked to
hear the confession of the already very holy priest St. Jean Vianney.
Saints go to Confession! And those that go to Confession become Saints.

Image via Wikipedia

Finally, Our Lady of Fatima said: "pray, pray very much and make many
sacrifices for many souls go into Hell because there is no one to pray
and make sacrifices." Let us pray often and every day: "0 my Jesus,
forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell and lead all souls
to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy Mercy. "

Fr. Nault's sermon taken from http://www.holysouls.com/

GARABANDAL CLARIFICATION

     In November 1996 a letter from Bishop Jose Vilaplana Blasco of Santander, Spain,
"postmarked October 11, 1996" appeared in a periodical called GOSPA MISSIONS. Since then, it has been widely circulated causing confusion because the English translation of the original Spanish is inaccurate in key areas.

Image by garabandal archives via Flickr

     This letter has now appeared on the Internet and in The National Catholic Register and was reprinted in SOUL Magazine in its March-April 1997 issue. We have, therefore, to rectify the situation.

     Firstly, the letter is not new. Ramon Perez, the author of Garabandal - the Village Speaks, received the original in Spanish dated 8 June l993 from Bishop Vilaplana. (Where therefore did they get the above-mentioned date of October llth l996? Was it deliberately updated?)

     Secondly, we have the original Spanish and it is obvious to those who understand the language that there have been serious discrepancies in the translation. We mention only one as follows:

GOSPA translation: All the bishops of the diocese since l96l through l970 agreed that there was no supernatural validity for the apparitions (last part of the sentence omitted).

CORRECT translation: All the bishops of the diocese since 1961 through 1970 affirmed that the supernatural character of said apparitions was not certain for those succeeding years. Furthermore, the entire GOSPA translation conveys a harsh tone that is not characteristic of the Spanish original. Whoever made that translation is obviously hostile toward Garabandal. Incidentally, SOUL Magazine has made the correction in their May-June 1997 issue in accordance with the accurate translation outlined above.

     We now quote the last two paragraphs of the Bishop's letter in full because they are important for our comments. We will use our own translation and these two paragraphs are numbered 6 and 7 in the original:

6. Given the declarations of my predecessors who studied the case have been clear and unanimous I do not believe it opportune at this time to make a new public declaration which would only give notoriety to events that happened so long ago. However, I do believe it timely to reissue this information as a direct response to those persons who ask for orientation about this question which I consider finished, accepting the decisions of my predecessors -- which I make my own -- and the directives of the Holy See.

7. Referring to the celebration of the Eucharist in Garabandal, following the dispositions of my predecessors, Mass can only be celebrated in the village church without reference to the alleged apparitions and with the authorisation of the current pastor who acts on my behalf.

Image by garabandal archives via Flickr

Commentary
The misuse of the Spanish verb constar definitely changes the meaning implied in the letter. But aside from that, it is nevertheless true that Bishop Vilaplana considers the matter settled; and has no intention of continuing the study, at the diocesan level, of these events. What should be the response of the followers of Garabandal? The facts are these:

• Garabandal has never been condemned as is clearly stated in the nota of Bishop Eugenio Beitia Aldazabal dated 8 July 1965 -- "we have found no grounds for an ecclesiastical condemnation" (And this has been specifically confirmed by Bishop del Val Gallo in the video entitled Garabandal - the Eyewitnesses.)
• The messages of Garabandal "do not contain anything contrary to traditional Church teaching on Faith and Morals" (Declaration of Bishop Jose Cirada Lachiondo published in June 1970.)
• The spiritual recommendations made at Garabandal were under "traditional praiseworthy forms" (nota of Bishop Beitia, 8 July 1965).
• Expressions no constaba and no consta indicate that the door is open for future amendment. The declaration of the Bishop of Santander is not irrevocable. We have been assured of this by an ecclesiastic who is a canon lawyer. While it is certainly Bishop Vilaplana's prerogative to regard the matter finished as far as he is concerned, how can the case of Garabandal be considered closed so long as the date of the prophesied miracle is still pending. And Conchita, the visionary who knows the date, has said that she will reveal it at the proper time.
• With the abrogation in 1967 of canons 1399 and 2318, it is permitted without ecclesiastical censorship, to publish information about alleged manifestations and visit the sites thereof so long as there is nothing in the events contrary to the Church's teaching on Faith and Morals. Garabandal clearly passes this test.

Bishop Vilaplana has cordially received Jacinta on two occasions and Conchita at least once. In fact, after the circulation of his letter, Mari Loli telephoned him about it. He told her it was not meant for publication. (So why was it on the Internet?)

Image by garabandal archives via Flickr

The bottom line is that the Garabandal events are of such an awesome nature that the seal of authenticity can only come from an act of God and that is what we eagerly await in the Warning and Miracle and in the Sign that will be left at the Pines in Garabandal until the end of time. And let's not forget that Fr. Luis Andreu and Padre Pio have already been given a preview of the Miracle. So Garabandalists take heart and be assured that the status of the events is the same as it has always been and will probably remain so until the great events take place. Then, as Our Lady has assured us, "All will believe."

God bless!

CLARIFICATION CONTINUED

In view of persistent attempts to discredit Garabandal (a blatant case of "they protesteth too much"), here is our response on behalf of our members.
The translation of Bishop Vilaplana's letter published on the Internet is still flawed in that it fails to accurately translate the key parts that designate the status of Garabandal. This is a very important point because whenever bishops deal with private revelation or mystical phenomena to which they are required to render a judgement, they use a very specific terminology, which signifies the classification in which they place the alleged manifestations. This was true in the case of Padre Pio when the genuineness of his stigmata was being called into question and it is also true with Garabandal. There are three classifications:

1. Constat de supernaturalitate -- It is certain that the events are of supernatural origin.
2. Non-constat de supernaturalitate -- It is not certain that the events are of supernatural origin, or the supernatural origin has not been established. In this classification, the events in question are still open to eventual recognition as being authentic.
3. Constat de non supernaturalitate -- It is certain that the events are not of supernatural origin.

The key word here is "constat" which has the meaning -- to be certain, to be sure, to be evident. So long as a manifestation is in the second category listed above, it is in the safe zone. Garabandal is in this second category and what is interesting is that the very letter being used to discredit the events confirms its second category status. In Spanish, the verb "constar" is derived from the Latin "constat" and has the same meaning. In Bishop Vilaplana's letter, when referring to the alleged apparitions, he uses the expression "no consta" (not certain) clearly assigning it to the second category.

Also, the detractors of Garabandal claim that because Bishop del Val (predecessor of Bishop Vilaplana as diocesan bishop) said he was "in communion with his predecessors" (some of whom did not believe in the apparitions) that means he also did not believe. This simply is not true and Bishop del Val once admitted to Father Turner that it was an ambiguous statement.

All the bishops, at least of that diocese, are required upon their installation, to publicly affirm their communion with their predecessors. This does not mean they agree with everything they did nor said as evidenced by the fact that Bishop del Val launched a new investigation into Garabandal after his two immediate predecessors, Bishop Puchol and Cirarda, declared there were no apparitions. If "communion" meant "agreement" then why would he have bothered instituting a new study?

Image by garabandal archives via Flickr

We are not at all concerned that Garabandal is still being attacked. Viewed in the light of all God's authentic works throughout Church history, this is a good sign.

The Five Dogmas on Mary

Garabandal Apparitions of Virgin Mary Conchita Speaks and Sings  Videos Garabandal Center in New York Dr. J. Domínguez, M.D. The picture that reminds most the Blessed Mother of the Apparitions to Conchita Pictures of theVirgen in the Apparitions Video of Conchita with Dr. Domínguez (English, 30 minutes) Conchita Sings with Dr. Domínguez (Audio, Spanish, 11 Songs) To listen, you have to install Media-Player 11,  it is "free"   In Spanish... Español Apparitions of Garabandal Information and Art Gallery The supposed Y2K 2000 and Garabandal Web Sites of the Apparitions at Garabandal (Spanish and English) Las Apariciones de la Virgen en Garabandal (Spanish) The Three Popes and Garabandal Written in 2004 This is from J. Dominguez, M.D. a great friend of Conchita. He has passed on for his great reward in Heaven! May he rest in peace! The Five Dogmas on Virgin Mary... and Three more Coming!    Try Her!... do you have an important, impossible problem?... Try Her, even if you are not a Christian                                               1- The Mother of God... the Prophecy of the Bible about Mary 2- Ever-Virgin... asserted by the Reformers... and the Bible - Brothers and sisters of Jesus 3- The Immaculate Conception... every child looks like his mother! 4- The Assumption... The Queen of Heaven, of Earth, and of your Heart. 5- The Mother of the Church... The Woman of Genesis 3:15... and of Revelation 12 6- Mary: Co-redeemer, Mediator, Advocate... the work of the Queen in her Reign. Our Blessed Mother at the Cross The Five Dogmas on Virgin Mary... and Three more Coming: The Catholic Church has proclaimed five Dogmas about Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ:     1- Mary Mother of God, 431.     2- Mary always Virgin, before the birth of Jesus, during the birth, and after the birth of Jesus, 649.     3- Mary Immaculate: On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX issued the bull Ineffabilis Deus, which proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, "preserved free from all guilt of original sin".      4- The Assumption of Mary, on November 1, 1950, when Pope Pius XII stated that Mary was "taken up body and soul into heaven," and "exalted as Queen of the Universe."      5- A fifth dogma is "Mother of the Church", proclaimed by Paul VI, Second Vatican Council, Nov. 21, 1964     6- Lately, the Pope is being urged to proclaim Mary with another three titles, with three dogmas:         - The Co-redeemer or Co-redemptrix,         - The Mediatrix, or Mediator of all graces,         - The Advocate for the people of God, Intercessor, Helper, Benefactress.     The Maternal Mediation of Mary is under its three essential aspects of Co-Redeemer ("the Mother Suffering"), Mediator("the Mother Nourishing"), and Advocate ("the Mother Interceding")... so, these tree dogmas are interrelated and may be it is only one, because the roles of a mother, as heart of the family, are multiform but the truth of her motherhood is singular, only one!.     This last triple dogma would be the climax of the Age of Mary, and like all dogmas is right now highly debated within the Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox. In fact, the reason of any dogma proclaimed by the Church is to clarify and assert the truth on any important biblical issue when it is being debated with controversies among the faithful... this was the case of the declaration by the Church of the dogmas of the Trinity, the Divinity of Jesus, the Divinity of the Person of the Holy Spirit... all the dogmas declared were under high controversy at the time of their proclamation!.     Once the dogma is pronounced, all the doubts end, at least for the faithful of the Catholic Church... but the proclamation of these last three dogmas may create a schism even within the Catholic Church, and ecumenical problems, which has also been the case of the proclamation of any dogma in the history of the Church, praise the Lord!... but the truth always prevail, and it is the best weapon to fight schisms and to advance ecumenism.     By the way, the first four Marian dogmas relate organically to the others:     Because she is Theotokos, Mother of God, it is fitting that she be perpetually virgin...     ... because she was preserved from original sin, it is fitting that she be preserved from the final effects of sin, namely, the decay of the body...     ... Vox Populi proposes that the dogma of Co-redeemer, Mediator and Advocate would be a continuation of the Dogma Mother of the Church, answering the questions, What is she doing in heaven, body and soul? If she is Queen of Heaven and Earth, how does she exercise her reign?    Try Her!:     As far as I am concerned, I have no problems, because I have got the most beautiful dreams through my Blessed Mother:     I had an impossible wish in my School, and someone told me, if I ask anything to Virgin Mary, I will have it... I didn't believe it, but it cost me nothing, so, I prayed three Hail Marys every night for that dream... and I got it!... the number one in my class, though I was a mediocre student!...     After that, I believed it!... and I finished my studies of Medicine and Surgery with the highest marks in my class... not because I am smart... you know how!.     I had another dream: A house on the waterfront... I prayed my 3 Hail Marys... and you got it!... in three months I had a house not just in the waterfront, but "in" the water, and very cheap!, and I keep it for 35 years... half of our home is built on five large pillars at Pelham Bay, in New York, the basement of that part of the House is the ocean!.    I wanted to have a Christian program on the Radio, I prayed my 3 Hail Marys... and I had it in one month, and then another one, and then one daily and three other weekly... and then on T.V., already for 30 years... now on the Internet!, while I still keep up with my Radio and TV programs...     I don't want to bore you with more testimonies... but the Mother of Jesus is "your Mother", know it or not, believe it or not... Try Her!...      In the wedding at Cana, they had "no wine"... and Jesus didn't care, because his time to make miracles had not yet come, as Jesus told his Mother, "my hour has not yet come" (Jn.2:4)... If only Jesus would have been at that wedding, they would have had no wine... but they got the needed wine!... and with a miracle of Jesus!, the first!, though his time had not yet come... I believe it is the only place in the Bible where the "Plan of God" has been changed... because of the love of your Mother!... please, read Life of Jesus Christ in Us.    Just try Her: If you have an impossible dream, or a very difficult problem, pray 3 Hail Marys every night... and you will see wonders in your life... Prayers to Mary, the Blessed Mother    If you are not a Christian, try Her!, she is your mother!, believe it or not... you don't have to renounce to anything, nor to believe in anything... the first time I tried Her I didn't believe it... it costs you nothing!... so, just try Her... and I guarantee it!... you will see wonders in your life!... let me know!.      A Warning: The boat of Mary only leads to the shores of the Church of Her Son Jesus. I started with my three Hail Marys, then I started to pray a Rosary daily, then to Mass every day, work in the Catholic Action, in the Cursillos in Christianity, in the Legion of Mary, in the Charismatic Renewal... then I published 100 Christian books and booklets... my Mother has lead me all my life, and always to live more fully in the Church of Her Son Jesus the Messiah, the Christ, praise the Lord. Thank you Mother Mary, thank you my God and Savior Jesus. J. Dominguez, M.D.

Garabandal Forum

A Suggestion from Tasmania, Australia

Dear Tony,

I am writing to make a suggestion to you.

The predicted "Warning" has been supported by other revelations including some from several centuries past. I have even read in the "Two Hearts" magazine that spoke of a Protestant pastor having a similar vision where everyone saw their souls as God sees them.

It seems that this will happen soon.

When it does happen there will be such an outpouring of sorrow and confusion that people will need spiritual help as to what to do next. It will be impossible to minister to all those in need of direction.

With this in mind I have begun putting together "Mercy Packs." In each is a Miraculous Medal, a Rosary, pamphlets on "How to Pray the Rosary," Heaven, Hell and Purgatory, the Divine Mercy devotion; prayers to God the Father, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Joseph, the Holy Spirit, an act of sorrow for sins, a Morning Offering to live in the Divine Will, a small picture of the Divine Mercy and a small booklet of the Gospel of St. Luke.

I have also included a small sachet of blessed salt.

I leave it to your discretion as to whether to pass this suggestion on to those who believe in the Garabandal messages.

Yours in the love of Christ

Maree

Dear Maree,

Thank you for your suggestion re the Mercy Packs. We will include it in the Forum section . . .

To Jesus through Mary

Tony

I might add that years ago we were supplied with packs similar to these by a group of devout ladies who put them together. I personally gave out many of them to my students at Sunday school and also at prayer meetings and Garabandal conferences that I gave showing the "Events of Garabandal" movie and giving a talk on Garabandal. They were very popular and I think it's a great idea. I always said that after the "Warning," us believers will have our hands full helping people to enter the Church as Catholics. Think about it!

Deacon John

 

Conchita of Garabandal interviewed in 1980 in English

Recently added to the environs of Garabandal is a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, at the very place where Our Lord appeared to Jacinta in June 1961 as the Sacred Heart. 

I don't have a copy of a picture of the statue yet but what I have seen is that this image above is a close copy of it. It looks quite large and overlooks the village from where it stands on a hill. The hill is on "mercy road" which is a trail that leads up to the "Pines." A new fence was installed along the precipitous section of the road. The view of the surrounding mountains is spectacular from road but I don't think I would drive on it, too many dangerous curves for me!

Deacon John

   

Garabandal Forum

End of Time - Australia

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Question:
Dear Tony,


What does it mean that John Paul II is gone, Benedict is the forth Pope. . . could we be in the end of time . . . earthquakes are more numerous, natural disasters also, and nuclear battles being discussed by the media.
Please share your views.
Regards,

Image via Wikipedia

Douglas


Answer:
Dear Douglas,


In June 1963 on the death of Pope John XXIII, Conchita announced that "there would be three more popes to the end of time." With the death of John Paul II, we are now in "the end of time or the end of the epoch." This does not mean the end of the world. When Conchita was asked what the end of time meant she said she did not know. I believe it will only be after the Warning and the Miracle that we will understand what the end of time means. We know that Russia will be converted, the Christian religions will unite. As the Old Testament ended with the coming of Jesus and the New Testament was ushered in, the Garabandal Events will herald in The New Era.
God Bless,
Tony  

Penace & Sacrifice

"We must make many Sacrifices and perform much Penance . . . Garabandal 1961 - 1965

What does sacrifice and penance mean? Joey Lomangino said it means "to fulfill our daily duty well. We should accept with grace the trials and tribulations that come to each of us always offering every part of our day to God through our Morning Offering Prayer." Joey also said "you don't have to look for crosses and sufferings, they will come as God's will in our daily lives." Joey should know, he has been blind since 16 years of age!

At Fatima in 1917, Our Lady appeared to three young children, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta with a plea for mankind to amend our lives. She called for sacrifice and penance.

In the Gospels the word penance means conversion of one's life, a turning away from sin, and a turning back to God. As Our Lady insisted at Fatima: "Men must amend their lives, and ask pardon for their sins . . . They must no longer offend Our Lord, Who is already so much offended." The Fatima message is a call for men to give up sinful practices which grieve God and draw down His chastisements on the world, to make reparation for them. Commenting on Our Lady's request for penance, Sr. Lucia wrote: "The part of the last apparition which has remained most deeply imprinted on my heart is the prayer of our heavenly Mother begging us not to offend any more Almighty God, who is so much offended."

Image by karmablue via Flickr

Jacinta too, shortly before her death, remarked: "If men only knew what eternity is, how they would make all possible efforts to amend their lives . . . mortification and sacrifice give great pleasure to Our Divine Lord."

In August of 1917 Our Lady told the children, "Pray much and make sacrifices for sinners, for many souls go to hell because there is no one to make sacrifices for them." As to the kinds of sacrifices Our Lady was asking, she revealed to Sr. Lucia on one occasion: "The good Lord is allowing Himself to be appeased . . . but He Himself complains most bitterly and sorrowfully about the small number of souls in His grace who are willing to renounce whatever the observance of His laws require of them."

"Many persons," Sr. Lucia explained, "feeling that the word penance implies great austerities, and not feeling that they have the strength for great sacrifices, become discouraged and continue a life of lukewarmness and sin." Then she said Our Lord explained to her: "The sacrifice required of every person is the fulfillment of his duties in life and the observance of My law. This is the penance that I now seek and require."

In this materialistic culture in which we live, almost heroic virtue is required to be faithful to the duties of the Christian life. Yet, over and above those sacrifices "required of every person", the children of Fatima practiced many little acts of mortification and renunciation on their own initiative.

It is hoped that many devotees of Our Lady will not be content with the minimum required and will not pass up opportunities of voluntary mortification, placing in the hands of Our Lady the fruits of the little trials, frustrations and irritations of each day accepted with patience and resignation.

Image by seminarianvoitus via Flickr

It was in this same spirit that the Angel spoke to the children in 1916: "Offer up everything in your power as a sacrifice to the Lord in reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners . . . More than all else, accept and bear with resignation the sufferings that God may send you."

It is now 92 years since Fatima and 44 years since Our Lady's appearances at Garabandal. How much more time does mankind have to amend their lives? Can we respond to Our Lady's call at Fatima and Garabandal for penance and sacrifice?

[Adapted from an article by Tony Kissane at www.rosarycentre.org]

Garabandal by Hugh J. Lynch

Garabandal where Mary has been;

2000 apparitions children have seen

The pilgrims come from far and wide

To this famous village by the mountain side.

The rocky path and the ancient pines

Have been used by God, as wondrous signs

Of His power and His Mother's love;

The message direct from heaven above.

God chose His heavenly Mother's face

To appear in this beautiful mountain place

Here, He has used His power and might

In this dark world to give us light.

Mary has come with scapular and crown

To help us all she has come down.

From sin she promises full release,

And gives us hope of eternal peace.

With Michael the archangel, she did appear

To draw us closer to her Son so dear.

They came to show all of us the way

By praying the rosary every day.

To simple poor and honest folk

She taught us how to bear the yolk

Her message from the heavenly skies

Of penance, prayer and sacrifice.

The cup is full we've had our fill

We now await the Miracle

Our Blessed Mother loves us all

Her children await their Mother's call.

The Russian Garabandal Center

On September 8, 2009, Our Lady's birthday, the Russian Garabandal Center will observe its own 17th anniversary. Through these years it is estimated that over 1 million people, especially in the Ukraine, have learned about the apparitions of Our Lady of Garabandal.


Many conferences were given by the workers of  Our Lady and the Message was spread wherever it could -- via mailing lists, mass media and the Garabandal Videos.  

• At wholesale markets, where Catholics from Ukraine, Belorus, Uzbekistan, Moldova and the South of Russia come to trade their products. They willingly took literature on Garabandal and rosary beads to distribute back home and later sent thank you letters.
• At Catholic churches in several cities of Russia.
• At Polish-Russian cultural organizations and Russian Orthodox groups.
• On personal trips of Catholis and Orthodox to cities throughout Russia including Sevastopol, Minsk (Belorus), Krasnoyarsk, Murmansk, Archangelsk, Belgorod, Yakutsk, Zaporozhe, (Ukraine), Yalta (Ukraine), Lida (Belorus).
• At numerous St. Petersburg metro stations, universities and hospitals.

I think it is wonderful that Catholics and Orthodox faithful, in order to express their love and reverence for the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Queen of Heaven and Our Intercessor, are working together to spread the Message of Garabandal. Our Lady will be the One who will unite us for the Glory of God! May it be so here in America and throughout the rest of the world.


Happy Birthday, Mother Mary! 
Deacon John

Benedict XVI Is the Second-to-Last Pope, Says Irish Prophet Malachy

 I  found this article this morning and I'm wondering why ABC is reporting it? If they knew the Fatima & Garabandal prophecies, they would change the headline to "End of Era" instead of "End of World." God is going to change the world to be a better place to live in, an "Era of Peace" as Our Lady said at Fatima. Let us continue to pray for Our Lady's intentions and the "Triumph of her Immaculate Heart!"

Have a great day!

Deacon John

Malachy: End of World to Come With Next Pope's Reign

The prophecies of the Irish saint Malachy, the 12th century bishop of Armagh who predicted all the popes, have thrilled and dismayed readers for centuries. He has stated there will be only one more pope after the current one, and during his reign comes the end of the world.

A 12th century Irish prophet claimed Pope Benedict XVI would be the second to last pope -- and the end of the world would come with the next pontiff's reign.

(ABC News Photo Illustration)

"In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End."
In 1139, then-Archbishop Malachy went to Rome from Ireland to give an account of his affairs. While there, he received a strange vision about the future that included the name of every pope, 112 in all from his time, who would rule until the end of time. We are now at the second last prophecy.
Continue reading here: http://abcnews.go.com/International/benedict-xvi-pope-irish-prophet-malachy/story?id=8499430

Garabandal Forum

Distant Pines, Site of the Miracle & Great Sign to Come.

Question:

Dear Sir,

After the Warning, it has been said that when people go to the Pines and see the Miracle, that people will be healed and converted. Since not all people will be able to go there at that moment due to financial reasons, will they be able to go later as the Sign will be left there until the end of time? I was told that it would be televised so will you be healed by looking at it on TV or do you have to go there in person? Not everyone in the whole world will be able to go there when all this happens so please help me to understand.

Blessings from Pam.

Answer:

Dear Pam,

Thank you for your inquiry about the Miracle to occur at Garabandal, and to be announced by Conchita 8 days in advance. We need to look carefully at what Our Lady said would happen on the day of the Miracle. Conchita in an interview in 1973, quoting the Virgin, said, "that everyone who would be there (Garabandal) on that day would see it. The sick who are there will be cured, no matter what their diseases or religion. However they have to be there." She also said, "all sinners would be converted." You are correct in saying that you have to be in Garabandal to be healed or converted. Conchita also said that the Miracle would be televised. Mother Angelica of E.W.T.N. said she would have a television crew on the plan two hours after Conchita's announcement of the Miracle.

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

I share your concern about the many, many people who would like to be there but for financial or other reasons can't be there on the day. I remember reading a few years ago about a mother of six who was paralyzed, in a wheel chair and living in Portugal, while watching the blessing of the sick at Lourdes on TV, being totally cured. So who is to say this will not happen at Garabandal? The Miracle I believe will be the greatest event since the Incarnation of Christ. It will hopefully convert the "whole world." Will healings be a testament and a reminder of the reason for Garabandal and the need to repent and return to God? I believe they will.

If you want to be at Garabandal for the Miracle, ask Our Lady for that great grace. If it is God's will, you will be there. I hope this explanation has helped you to understand.

God Bless,

Tony

I've been asked many times whether I would go to Garabandal for the Miracle. I really don't have a desire to be there in person. My miracle has already come with my own conversion and many graces and healings I have received from Almighty God through Our Lady of Mt. Carmel de Garabandal. I wear the "kissed relic" at all times and Our Lady said Jesus would perform "prodigy's through them." He certainly worked a "prodigy" with my conversion and ordination to the Holy Diaconate. I was told to my face that I would never make it and some even tried to have me rejected. But God is greater than them all and opened the necessary doors to allow me to reach that special day when I consecrated my life to His glory.

So, like millions of others, I will watch the Miracle on TV and celebrate. 40 years ago, I gave up drinking alcohol (I was a heavy drinker and haven't touched a drop since) and said that on the day of the Great Miracle I will have a beer. I look forward to that!

Deacon John