Michael Fighting
"Michael…who standeth for…thy people," — Dan. 12:1-12
Marian Year
Fifty years ago Our immediate Predecessor of happy memory, Pope Pius XII, opened a Marian year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Pope Pius IX’s definition of the Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception with an Encyclical Fulgens Corona, which is profitable reading. Today We announce the observance of a Marian year, calling all to honor the Mother of God, the blessed Virgin Mary, Who is so insulted in these days. We must remember that any insult to Her Divine Son, our Lord Jesus Christ is an insult to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We wish the next year to be a fitting preparation to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the definition of the Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, which shall be celebrated on December 8, 2004. To do this We ask all to say one third part of the Rosary every day, and to meditate on the mysteries of our salvation, which are contained therein. Also We ask all to celebrate each and every Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary in some manner in their families and with others, if this is possible.
Saint Peter Canisius writes in the Breviary for the Feast of the Assumption: The Church frequently and reverently keeps feasts dedicated to the Mother of God, realizing that it is a work pleasing to God and worthy of the faithful if many feasts, with fixed dates and public ceremonies are celebrated in honor of the most blessed of all the blessed in heaven, the Mother of our Lord and God. And Pope Pius XI in instituting the Feast of Christ the King for the Last Lord’s Day in October reminds us: For people are instructed in the truths of the faith, and brought to appreciate the inner joys of religion far more effectually by the annual celebration of our sacred mysteries than by any official pronouncement of the teaching of the Church. Such pronouncements usually only reach a few and the more learned among the faithful, feasts reach them all; the former speak but once, the latter speak every year-in fact, forever. (Quas Primas) Unfortunately feasts are not observed today, because the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has been taken from us; let us pray for its soon return to us!
We would like to briefly consider the various feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary that are observed throughout the year. And we begin the Ecclesiastical Year with the celebration of the Immaculate Conception, that singular privilege of being conceived without the stain of original sin. As such the Blessed Virgin Mary is considered Patroness of the United States and other parts of the world. This festival is so important that it is a Holyday of Obligation in the Universal Church. We shall also consider what the Apostate Vatican II Church has done to dishonor the Mother of God by removing, moving and changing Her feasts. All of Mary’s feasts are observed with special solemnity in the Catholic Church, but the Apostate Church has reduced many to the same level as the feasts of common saints.
Guadalupe
On December 12th some parts of the world, especially the Americas, the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Guadalupe, Mexico is remembered. This apparition is very important to the Church and brought about more conversions in the New World than people were lost in Europe to the Protestant Revolt. We shall consider this apparition in more detail at a later time, it is so full of meaning.
Purification
On February 2nd, we remember the Blessed Virgin’s holy obedience in submitting to the rite of Purification dictated by the Old Law for women after child-birth. Even though Immaculate, Mary did not consider Herself above the law, but was perfectly obedient to the Law of God in all details. The Vatican II Church has changed this feast to be the Presentation of the Lord.
Lourdes
The Blessed Virgin has appeared several times throughout the history of the Church. And this apparition is remembered with a feast in its honor on the universal Calendar. It should be remembered that Mary not only heals the body, but devotion to Her heals the soul of all diseases, especially the horrible disease of heresy, which is so rampant today. This feast has been made optional in the Vatican II Church.
The Annunciation
On March 25th we remember that great moment, when the Angel Gabriel announced that Mary would become the Mother of God and Her immediate fiat, saying let it be done to Me according to thy word. This act of obedience to the Will of God began our salvation! This is now called the Annunciation of the Lord, which although true, minimizes the importance of this feast.
The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary are considered by not one, but two Feasts in the Church. The first comes a week before Good Friday, but has been totally eliminated by the Apostate Church. The second comes in mid-September
Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
At the end of May, Pope Pius XII in the last Marian Year introduced the Feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which the Vatican II Church has changed to the Visitation, eliminating this remembrance of the last Mystery of the Holy Rosary.
The Visitation
Upon hearing of the pregnancy of Elizabeth, Mary proceeded to assist her in her time of need, showing us an example of the corporal works of mercy. And this feast is kept in the Catholic Church on July 2.
Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel
Antipope John XXIII, Angelo Roncalli, in 1960 reduced this feast to a mere commemoration, although it was held in high honor by the Catholic Church for many centuries. This feast is especially dear to Us, as it is the anniversary of Our election as Pope, ending the longest interregnum in Church history on July 16, 1990.
Dedication of the Church of Our Lady of the Snows
This story is indeed important, showing the power of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A child-less couple decided to dedicate their fortune to building a Church in Mary’s honor. One night both the Pope and the couple dreamed of this snow storm and the place. The next day it snowed on the spot where Mary wished the church to be built, despite being in the heat of the summer. Grace descends on us like a snow to purify us, but we seek cover away from the snow fall of grace.
The Assumption
Here is another of Mary’s feasts that is so important that the Church has made it a Holyday of Obligation. And every August 15, we head to church, or hope to, when the Mass is restored. Pope Pius XII defined this dogma in 1950.
The Immaculate Heart of Mary
On August 22nd, the Catholic Church remembers the Immaculate Heart of Mary, whereas the Apostate Church has moved this feast to the day after the Feast of the Sacred Heart. So much could be written on this subject, and throughout the Marian Year, we shall consider the Blessed Virgin Mary in more detail.
Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary
In the Catholic Church we celebrate three birthdays. All are familiar with Christmas, which from being observed as the anniversary of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ has been perverted in our day to become a day of gift giving, while the true meaning has been totally lost. And in June we celebrate the birthday of Saint John the Baptist. Finally on September 8th we celebrate the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary. All three were born without original sin. Jesus, being God could not sin, and Mary was conceived without original sin. Finally Saint John the Baptist was purified in the womb at the Visitation.
Our Lady of Ransom
This feast is kept in honor of the Order founded in Mary’s honor for the ransom of captives. This feast is kept on September 24 in the Catholic Church, but has been eliminated in the Apostate Church. Let us pray that Mary will ransom those held captive by sin, especially those captivated by the allurements of false doctrines!
The Rosary
One day through the Rosary and the Scapular I will conquer the world, Mary told Saint Dominic, when She gave him the Rosary as a weapon against here. There is not space now to recount all of the miracles wrought through the Rosary. Our Predecessor of happy memory, Pope Leo XIII, wrote several Encyclicals on the Rosary. Let us faithfully pray the Rosary every day.
Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Vatican II has removed this feast, probably as another useless repetition, as the Jansenists would consider it. This feast is kept on October 11.
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
As we end the Ecclesiastical year on November 21 we remember Mary’s own presentation to God as required by the Old Law.
Saturday
And Saturday is also kept in remembrance of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Liturgically on any Saturday that is not in a time of Penance, such as Advent and Lent, or in an Octave, or on which no more notable Saint is remembered, a special Office is said in Her honor. Thanks to the decree on the Calendar of Pope Pius XII, promulgated in 1955, more Saturdays are dedicated to Mary than prior to this decree. However, the Vatican II church has rendered this optional.
Dedication of the Saints
There is not Saint that did not have a devotion to the Mother of God. Many have written books about the Blessed Virgin Mary and every preacher has extolled her virtues from the pulpit. However, some Saints come to mind in connection with the Blessed Virgin Mary. We wish to consider only two, Saints Louis de Montfort and John Eudes.
Saint Louis de Montfort
This Saint wrote a wonderful book, True Devotion to Mary, that all should reread, during this Marian year, and make or renew the Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary.
Saint John Eudes
The Breviary tells us that Saint John Eudes was the author of the liturgical devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. His works on these devotions are excellent reading.
Help of Christians
Saint John Bosco had a vision of the Pope steering the barque of Peter between two columns. On one was the Blessed Sacrament and the other was a statue of Mary with the title Help of Christians. Indeed Mary is our aid in all times and for all needs. Saint John Bosco penned a prayer to Mary under this title, in which we pray: Thou alone hast destroyed every heresy the whole world.
Our Devotion
In these days, not only has Jesus been denied by the world, but also His most holy Mother. We need to have true devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ and to His Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. And the foundation of this devotion is a total acceptance of everything Jesus teaches us through His Church. Without the Faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6) And let us consider the Faith of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was most perfect! And following Her example, we must learn the truths of the Faith well, and practice what they require. As we have just seen, the victory for these times is reserved to the Blessed Virgin Mary and this is not a hollow military victory, but a spiritual victory. And this victory is not merely a victory over sin, but over the most perverse of sins, that of heresy, which separates people from the one only saving Catholic Faith! We pray on many of Mary’s feasts in the Divine Office: Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Thou hast trampeled down all heresies in the whole world. We count the victory as already won.
Marian Year To Be Observed
Normally these types of years are observed with pilgrimages and many other pious exercises, but the chastisement we are in precludes this. However, the current chastisement obliges us to pray fervently that this victory may come soon. And we are to use the weapons God has given us, especially the Rosary, which was given almost a millennium ago for the specific purpose of vanquishing heresy. To encourage people to say one third part of the Rosary daily, meditating on the mysteries, We grant a plenary indulgence under the condition that prayer is made for the intentions of the Pope. The general intentions of the Pope are the exaltation of Holy Mother Church, the extirpation (overcoming) of heresies, propagation of the Faith, the conversion of sinners and peace among Christian nations. During an interregnum, we declare that the intentions of the Pope are for a speedy Papal Election, reminding all of the duty of praying for this intention, during the vacancy of the Apostolic See.
We encourage the faithful to arrange to pray together wherever possible at least once a month, during this Marian Year for these intentions, making sacrifices whenever necessary to accomplish this. The road to the end of this chastisement, the worst in history, is through prayer and penance, and We encourage all to make special prayer and penance throughout this Marian year.
But above all, We remind you that the first penance required of all is the completion of the duties of our state in life. If we fail in this, then we are worse than the heathen and the publican. (Matthew 18:17)
In addition to your regular spiritual reading, We shall revisit these subjects so that we may all be reminded of our duties to God and man, because we are to be the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14)
Given by Pope Michael at the beginning of the Marian year of 2003-4 on December 12, 2003.
Mary, powerful Virgin, thou art the mighty and glorious protector of holy Church; thou art the marvelous help of Christians; thou art terrible as an army in battle array; thou alone hast destroyed every heresy the whole world. In the midst of our anguish, our struggles and our distress defend us from the power of the enemy and at the hour of our death receive our souls in paradise. Amen (St. John Bosco).
