"Stop, be quiet, and listen."

We are all molded and shaped by the hands of God.

We don't know why things happen.

We get mad, sad, angry, and even hopeless at times.

Events happen that make us challenge who we are.

What have you done?

Sometimes it is all in that one moment everything changes.

Do you listen to what everyone says you should do?

Do you pray for hours on end and still feel like you have no answer?

Do you challenge yourself or do you make excuses?

You know one answer is right and the other is wrong, a real choice to do good or evil.

You are so blinded that you have no clue what is right.

You break down and do things that you broke away from or never did in the past.

You feel such hurt, resentment, and abandoned from past events.

You are so afraid of that happening again.

Then you realize at that moment you are more alone than you ever have been in your life.

You fall to your knees sobbing and that moment you feel more broken than you ever have.

At that moment you think you realize what you really are.

Then you realize that you had a choice in letting yourself feel the way you did.

That you helped cause the events that lead to this moment.

You break down and pray in a way that you have never prayed before.

You feel that a barrier has been broken.

A barrier that gives you such an overwhelming peace in your heart and soul.

It's not easy to keep that barrier broken.

You keep praying and praying.

It's easier to realize we are the salt of the Earth.

Everyone has messed-up and we should not tell others we know what is best.

We don't, God does.

He has a plan for everyone.

Even at that moment we feel like God needs to speak to us, he is.

The barrier needs to be broken and we have to keep our ears open.

“Stop, be quiet, and listen.”

Suffering, Can it be transfered?

 

In my opinion, suffering can be transerable.  Just like a skin graph, an ACL graph, kidney transplant, or heart transplant.  Why if you can transfer something so vital as someone's heart, you can't transfer suffering.  Jesus did transfered his suffering for us when he was crucified.  He lifted up His sufferings, so that we can have a chance at eternal life.  The same for Our Mother, Mary.  Her "yes" at Gabriel's annunciation undid the "no" of Eve.

 

For example, there was a pious women who offered herself for the salvation of her husbands soul.  She wrote a note and it was given to her husband after she died.  She aked God to give her sufficient sufferings to purchase the soul of her husband and that he was to become a Dominican priest.  The husband thought this was just the words of a pious women and since he was well established Pagan, this would never happen.  He found himself sitting infront of a church that his wife use to visit daily before she died about 4-5 years after she died.  He was overcome with the Holy Spirit and knew what he had done was wrong and against God's will.  He immediately went into the church confessed and asked what he needed to do to become a Dominican priest.  The rest is history. 

 

If you ever think that there is not a Hell, I recommend reading 23 minutes in Hell.  That should help you understand the importance of salvation.  I myself am struggling everyday to get the point that I do not sin and hope that someday I might see the magnificant light of God.  Everyday I offer up my suffering for my husband and daughter.  I concecrate my daughter to Mary, that she may do Her will.  It is important to evangilize, tell the world about our God.  Do some act to help repair the wrongs that are done in the world and help the souls in Purgatory.  Do some fast and prayer to help transfuse what we are giving up in time and the minute moment of suffering for someone.  Not only that, it will help us with discipline and doing what is hard.  It trains us and if we have some type of demon attached to us, fasting and prayer is the only way to expel them.  It is said the most powerful prayer against demons in The Creed- because it exercises our will.  The "I believe..." and meaning it!

 

God Bless!

 

The Joyful Mysteries

The Joyful Mysteries

 

As I am trying to learn more about God I have started to ponder more about the Mother of God, our Blessed Lady.  She gave us the rosary, which is suppose to be one of the most powerful prayers.  It is to be said daily (or as many times throughout the day, as you'd like).  I have caught myself saying it several times throughout the day in the thought of trying to stay in constant prayer.  It also helps me keep my mind off of vain things of the world.  My life has greatly improved since saying the rosary.  As my name is on my blog 'Learning More About God', I am only a lay person trying to learn.  Nothing I write is scripture but just my interpretation along with the help of Archbishop Fulton Sheen.  Someone who I like to listen to on a daily basis to help me understand the little things that I ponder and wonder about.  So here is a description of the joyful mysteries, how to pray the joyful mysteries, and the virtue associated with each mystery.  I did this to the best of my ability.  If anyone is trying to learn more, like I am, I hope this helps.  Also, if you have more to offer please leave a comment.  Thanks and God Bless!

 

 

The joyful mysteries are about being a Christian. Giving ourselves completely to the Lord.

Think: In the joyful mysteries God sends out an Angel. The Angel passes over the planes of Israel.  He comes to a Virgin kneeling in prayer and says "Will you give God a human nature? God wishes to become a man." And the Blessed Mother after being told it was going to be done through the Holy Spirit, submitted and agreed to giving God a human nautre. Now something like that has all happened to us. God asks, will you give me your human nature? Mary gave me hers. And that human nature that Mary gave God was united substantially with God's divinity. Now yours won't be united in the same way but it will be united with Grace. So if you give God your human nature, He will work through you.

That is how God works through human nature, that Mary gave God. The human nature Mary gave God is much like a pencil in your hand. Here you have a personality. Of course a pencil couldn't have a personality because it not a person it is a nature. When God 's person, second person of the Blessed Trinity, came down and took that human nature. That human nature that our Blessed Lord took, was so flexible in his hand that it did everything in accordance to the Will of the Father. So when God asks you, as he did, for your human nature. He wanted you to be like a pencil in your hand. If you want it to write the word God it will write the word God. It is that flexible. Suppose that pencil had a will of its own and said I want to do my thing. And you tell the pencil to write the word God and suppose it writes the word flee. You couldn't do anything with it, useless pencil. So if we are perfect Christians like Our Blessed Mother gave her human nature to the Lord, we give our human nature to the Lord and he uses us.

To Begin:

Sign of the cross saying "In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Apostles Creed, 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Mary's, 1 Glory be and 1 Fatima Prayer

1) The Annunciation: (for the virtue of Humility)

God sends out the Archangel Gabriel to a Virgin kneeling in prayer. Coming with tidings saying "Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee." Asking "will you give God a human nature, God wishes to become a man". The Virgin Mary when told it would happen through the Holy Spirit said "yes" she would give God a human nature. Stating "behold the handmade of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word."

1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary's, 1 Glory Be, and 1 Fatima Prayer

2) The Visitation: (For the virtue of Charity)

When at news of her cousin Elizabeth she went in haste to see her. Upon greeting Elizabeth, she greeted her with the prophetic utterance "Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb." And Mary answered with the canticles of canticles The Magnificat.

1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary's, 1 Glory Be, and 1 Fatima Prayer

3) The Birth of Jesus: (For the virtue of Detachment from the World)

When the time had come Mary brought forth the Reedemer of the world, Jesus Christ. He was born in a clean stable at Bethlehem; where upon the choirs of angels filled the Heavens with their exultant song of praise "Glory to God in the Highest, on earth peace to men of good will."

1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary's, 1 Glory Be, and 1 Fatima Prayer

4) Presentation at the temple: ( For the virtue of Purity)

When in obedience to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the temple. Where the Holy prophet Simeon, taking Jesus into his arms, offered thanks to God for sparing him to look upon his Savior and foretold of Mary's sufferings by the words "thy soul also a sword shall pierce..."

1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary's, 1 Glory Be, and 1 Fatima Prayer

5) Finding of Jesus in the Temple: (For the virtue of Obedience to the will Of God)

This is where the Blessed Mother became the Mother of Sinners. Sin is the loss of God. The Blessed Mother lost her son for 3 days, sorrowing looking for him and during that time she found out what sin was during that time. So if we ever get off the road to Heaven she comes and seeks us out. When finding Her blessed Jesus in the temple with all the scholars and teachers she was overcome with Joy. After Jesus explained to Mary that he wanted to stay and do what His Father (God) wanted Mary stated it was not time. Jesus listened and went home with Mary.

1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary's, 1 Glory Be, and 1 Fatime Prayer

At the end of the rosary say "Hail Holy Queen".

I usually also say The Memorare and a prayer to St. Michael. (optional)

Then end with the Sign of the Cross. "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."  

Archangel Saint Raphael

Archangel Saint Raphael

 

 

 

Feast Day October 24

 

9 Day Novena:  October 15 - 23

 

 

Archangel Raphael's name mean "God Heals".  This is clearly seen in the Bible in the book of Tobit.  He was sent by God to help Tobit, Tobiah and Sarah. At the time, Tobit was blind and Tobiah's betrothed, Sarah, had had seven bridegrooms perish on the night of their weddings. Raphael accompanied Tobiah into Media disguised as a man named Azariah. Raphael helped him through his difficulties and taught him how to safely enter marriage with Sarah. Tobiah said that Raphael caused him to have his wife and that he gave joy to Sarah's parents for driving out the evil spirit in her. He also gave Raphael credit for his father's seeing the light of heaven and for receiving all good things through his intercession.  

 

Archangel Raphael is accredited to healing marriages, health (mental, physical, and spiritual), finances, and is the Patron Saint of the blind, nurses, physicians, and travelers.  It is said that he is not quiet when you are in his prescence.  People have said that there is an emerald green glow  (ray) when he is present.  To mankind, he represents the qualities of truth, concentration and healing. The emerald green ray is the color of the "third eye" chakra. His goal is to teach mankind how to develop inner vision. He helps us to be seers of truth.

 

These archangels (Archangel Raphael and Archeia Mary) work on the fifth ray, a shimmering emerald green. It makes perfect sense that this ray is the third eye chakra in Eastern thought. The third eye gives us the power to visualize and to bring into manifestation God's plan for our lives and allows us to see the abundance he intends for us.

The green ray sends its healing glow down to the earth most strongly on Wednesday. The ruling archangels of this ray reside above Fatima, Portugal, in the etheric plane.

Archangel Raphael is the legendary healer. His ray is the color of spring and rejuvenation. Green is the healing color of nature. It combines the bright, yellow power of fire, like the sun, with the grounded power of nature, the earth, to create beauty and vitality all around. It is the green of life-giving chlorophyll, created by the sun's action on the fertile earth, that restores man to health, sustaining and connecting him to his Creator.

Archeia Mary was embodied as Mother Mary, the mother of Jesus. She is the aspect of grace, God's gift of mercy, compassion and protection. As the flame of concentration, she sustains and nurtures God's children. She consolidates energies-the act of focusing one's attention on a particular vision or achievement. Such concentration focuses the mothering sustenance of birth.

Archangel Raphael and Archeia Mary also work with people on their ability to visualize the "immaculate concept," the vision of their perfect selves. They help us understand science. They nurture our creative talents. As the angels of healing, they assist doctors and nurses. They direct colorful, healing currents of energy into homes and hospitals where healing is needed.

Novena to Archangel Saint Raphael

(To Be Followed By The Rosary)

Glorious Archangel Saint Raphael,
great prince of the heavenly court,
you are illustrious
for your gifts of wisdom and grace.
You are a guide of those who journey
by land or sea or air,
consoler of the afflicted,
and refuge of sinners.
I beg you,
assist me in all my needs
and in all the sufferings of this life,
as once you helped
the young Tobias on his travels.
Because you are the medicine of God,
I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities
of my soul and the ills that afflict my body.
I especially ask of you the favour

(Make your request here...)

and the great grace of purity
to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

St. Raphael,
of the glorious seven
who stand before the throne of Him
who lives and reigns,
Angel of health,
the Lord has filled your hand
with balm from heaven
to soothe or cure our pains.
Heal or cure the victim of disease.
And guide our steps when doubtful of our ways.

 



Why do we pray to Saints and Angels?

This next post came as a request.  I am going to try to answer it to the best of my ability.  Please note I am not a theologian or a priest, I am just a lay person trying to 'learn more about God'.  The question is....

Why do we pray to Saints and Angels?

Well let me first start off by saying we do not pray to them like we do to God.  We ask for their intercession.  For example, the greatest Saint of all time in my opinion is Mary the Mother of God.  She was sinless from conception much like Christ and is our great mediatrix.  She is the greatest mediatrix because she is Christ's mother.  She went through everything with Christ (the 7 swords of Mary) and she remained sinless while on her Christian pilgimage here on Earth.  She is able to make our requests 'perfect' and without original sin that we are unable to.  When you go to ask a favor of someone (and you are somewhat scared of what the answer would be) do you not ask for the intercession of a friend or go their mother to get them to phrase it in the 'perfect way'.  That way when they answer, they are answering your favor/question but they do so with a smile on their face and without any hesitation because the person who interceded for you is perfect and the way they asked the question was perfect.  After all Mary is full of grace by being The Holy Spirits spouse, God's daughter (the most perfect adorer of the blessed Trinity), and Mother of God (Jesus).  It is all perfectly laid out in the Magnificat.

The other more orthox answer is the 'communion of saints'.  Every Catholic should know these words at least, because we recite it in the Apostles Creed every weekend at church and everyday in our rosary.  The communion of saints is quite simply the Church.  "Since all the faithful form one body, the good of each is communicated to the others... We must therfore believe that there exists a communion of goods in the Church.  But the most important member is Christ since he is the head...Therefore, the riches of Christ are communicated to all the mmbers, through the sacraments."  ( The Catechism, 947).  We also state we believe "in the resurection of the body" which because of Christ's death and ascention into Heaven is possible for us.  That is one of the reasons why it is so important for us to realize Christ is the God-head. 

We also pray to saints for their intercession because while they were on their Earthly pilgrimage they lived a life that would be considered pleasing to Christ (without sin as much as humanly possible) and performed at least one miracle while on Earth, which would lead us to believe that while they are in Heaven they can interced for us and bring our petition before the Lord and a possible miracle would occur.  In the 54-day rosary novena to our Blessed Mother, we say during our intention before the rosary "I beg you to present my petition to your Divine Son.  If you will pray for me, I cannot be refused.  I know dearest Mother, that you want me to seek God's Holy Will concerning my request.  If what I ask for should not be granted, pray that I may recieve that which will be of greater benefit to my soul".  So, just because you are requesting something and it does not come to be, it is God's Will.    As Jesus said during the agony in the garden when the Devil was tempting him and blood was running from every pour of his body at the vision of the torcher he was to undergo.  He cried in anguish, "Abba!  Father!  if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me!"   He also had to submit himself to the will of the Lord by saying these words "Not as I wilt, but as Thou wilt."


Now as far as praying to Angels, what I found is.  Although Catholic prayers are mainly to God, church doctrine affirms that prayers can be made to angels asking for intercession. Catholic Answers Forums, the largest Catholic community on the internet writes, “The Church teaches us that we should pray not only directly to God, but also to those who are close to God, those who have the power to intercede upon our behalf. Indeed, we pray to the angels to help and watch over us..." The Catholic Encyclopedia also explains that it is biblical to pray to angels for intercession. In the apocryphal Book of Tobit 12:1, “The angel Raphael says: ‘I offered thy prayer to the Lord.’” It is common for a Catholic to ask an angel for help directly. Some Catholics ask a specific archangel to come to their aid.

I hope this helps.

What are the 9 Choirs of Angels?

What are the 9 Choirs of Angels?

 

The First Sphere: (Liberated)

Seraphim- The First and Highest Order.

The name Seraphim means "the burning ones." Seraph (singular) are said to take care of God's Throne.  "Above it stood Seraphim:  Each one had six wings: With two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew."  Isaiah 6:2
and one cried to another and said:  "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts: The whole Earth is full of His Glory!"  Isaiah 6:3

Seraphiel holds the highest rank of the Seraphim.  Seraphiel is found in the book of Enoch as the protector of Metatron.  He is also referred to as the Angel of Silence.  In Enoch, Seraphiel is described as an enormous, brilliant angel as tall as the seven heavens with a face like the face of angels and a body like the body of eagles. He is beautiful like lightning and the light of the morning star. As chief of the seraphim, he is committed to their care and teaches them songs to sing for the glorification of God.

Cherabim- The Second Order.

Cherubim have four faces: one of each a man, an ox, a lion, and an eagle. They have four conjoined wings covered with eyes, a lion's body figure, and they have ox's feet. Cherubim guard the way to the tree of life in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24) and the throne of God (Ezekiel 28:14-16).

"Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end: you shall make the cherabim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat."  Exodus 25:19
"And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard even in the outer court, like the voice of the Almighty God when He speaks." Ezekial 10:5



Thrones- The Third Order

Thrones or Elders, known also as Erelim or Ophanim.  They are a class of celestial being mentioned by St. Paul in in Colossians 1:16.  "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him"  They are living symbols of God's justice and authority, and have as one of their symbols the throne. These high celestial beings appear to be mentioned again in Revelation 11:16.  The Ophanim : Wheels, also known as Thrones, from the vision of Daniel 7:9) are unusual looking even compared to the other celestial beings; They appear as a beryl-coloured wheel-within-a-wheel, their rims covered with hundreds of eyes.

They are closely connected with the Cherubim:  "When they moved, the others moved; when they stopped, the others stopped; and when they rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them; for the spirit of the living creatures [Cherubim] was in the wheels." Ezekiel 10:17.

The Second Sphere:  (Active)

Dominions- The Fourth Order.

Dominions, some sources refer to them as the Hashmallim. Their primary function that God delegates to them is the task of regulating the duties of lower angels. As their name implies these angels present order to the lower ranks and will on occasion make themselves known to man. They preside over nations. The Dominions are believed to look like divinely beautiful humans with a pair of feathered wings, much like the common representation of Angels, but they may be distinguished from other groups by wielding orbs of light fastened to the heads of their scepters or on the pommel of their swords. They are purified, illuminated and perfected by the divine Illuminations bestowed on them in a secondary manner through the first order of angels. 

"For by Him all things were created that are in Heaven and that are on Earth.  Visable and invisable, whether Thrones or Dominions."  Colossions 1:16

Virtues- The Fifth Order.

Virtues are responsible for the maintenance of the physical universe. Their primary duty is to supervise the movements of the heavenly bodies in order to ensure that the cosmos remains in order. They possess great strength and appear to be “workhorses” of the angels.

"The Virtues or Strongholds lie beyond the Ophanim (Thrones/Wheels).  Their primary duty is to supervise the movements of the Heavily bodies in order for Cosmos remain in order." 




Powers or Authorities- The Sixth Order.

Some sources list Powers as the bearers of conscience and the keepers of history. They sometimes serve as warrior angels, fiercely loyal to God. Some believe that no Power has ever fallen from grace, but another theory states that Satan was the Chief of the Powers before his fall. They work diligently to oversee the distribution of power among humankind, hence their name.

 

 

 

The Third Sphere: (Active)

 Principalities or Rulers-  The Seventh Order.

We usually see these entities wearing a crown and carrying a scepter. Their duty also is to carry out the orders given to them by the Dominions and grant blessings to the material world. They oversee groups of people. As beings related to the world of the ideas, they inspire living things to many branches of knowledge such art and/or science.  It is also said their job is to prevent the 'fallen angels' from taking over the world and keeping the Universe in balance

"For We do not wrestle against flesh and blood.  But against Principalities, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."  Ephesians 6:12




Archangels- The Eighth Order.

Please see post on Archangels.

(Satan was throne out of heaven) "and war broke out in Heaven: Michael and His Angels fought with the dragon: and the dragon and his angels fought".  Revelation 12:7

"I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold.  A certain man (Gabriel) clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with Gold of Uphaz!  His body was like Beryl, his face like the appearance of lightening, his face like the appearance of lightening, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude." Daniel 10:5-6



Angels- The Ninth Order

Messengers that commune with various life forms within the physical worlds. This Order includes guardian angels of mankind, and as such, are the most accessible angels to humans. They are more properly named angels by humans than those of higher rank because their Order is more directly in contact with humans.

We see them as spirit beings that exist to fulfill the tasks given to them by God. As their name suggests, they are chiefly messengers of God and/or higher Orders of angels. In Muslim tradition, two angels are assigned to each person at birth. One angel records the person’s good deeds while the second records bad deeds.

In Psalms, we learn the concept of “guardian angels”:

“For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Psalms 91: 11, 12.

Seven Archangels

The Seven Archangels are:

St. Michael the Archangel, St. Gabriel the Archangel, St. Raphael the Archangel

Then depending on what source you read the other 4 vary in name. 

The Eastern Orthodoxy tradition venerates Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jegudiel, and Barachiel.

Another variation lists them corresponding to the days of the week as: St Michael (Sunday), St Gabriel (Monday), St Raphael (Tuesday), St Uriel (Wednesday), St Sealtiel (Thursday), St Jegudiel, (Friday), and St Barachiel (Saturday).

According to Rudolf Steiner, four important archangels also display periodic spiritual activity over the seasons: Spring is Raphael, Summer is Uriel, Autumn is Michael, and Winter is Gabriel.

In the Coptic Orthodox tradition the seven archangels are named as Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, Suriel, Zadakiel, Sarathiel and Aniel.

The Roman Catholic Church only explicitly names 3 archangels: Gabriel, Michael and Raphael. Gabriel and Michael are the only two named in the new testament of the Bible. However, the same passages that name Raphael in the book of Tobit also states that he is "one of the seven who stand before God." The other names can be derived from traditional Jewish teaching.

I will try to go into a little more depth about three of the primary Archangels.

Saint Michael the Archangel

Saint Michaels name means: "Who is like unto God?"  He is the Patron Saint of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.  Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as "one of the chief princes," and leader of the forces of Heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell. He has been especially honored and invoked as patron and protector by the Church from the time of the Apostles.

Although he is always called "the Archangel," the Greek Fathers and many others place him over all the angels - as Prince of the Seraphim.

Saint Gabriel the Archangel

Saint Gabriels name means: "God Conquers/ the might of God".  He is the Patron Saint of the Sacrament of Baptism.  Saint Gabriel is the Archangel of the Annunciation and the Incarnation's triumph over sin & death. When Mary "Taking that sweet Ave which from Gabriel came, Peace confirm within us, Changing Eva's name." (Ave Maris Stella, 2nd paragraph).  His lilies represent the new purity of the soul through the sacraments of Baptism and Confession, both sacraments made possible by the Redemption. His banner is a declaration of Our Lady's universal motherhood.

Saint Raphael the Archangel

Saint Raphaels name means: "God has healed".  He is the Patron Saint of the Sacrament of Pennance.  He is also the patron of travelers and bearers of good news.  In most pictures you will notice Raphael carries a jug.  This jug contains oil for annointing. You might also notice a fish.  The fish traditionally symbolizes the soul and the oil the healing of it's ailments through confession. The fish is also a reminder of the story of his protection of young Tobias and healing his father Tobit. (see the book of Tobit in the Old Testament for his story; only a Catholic bible will contain this

book.)