October 13th: the Alliance of the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary! Part 12

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Today is October 13th, the day we recall the “Miracle of the Sun” event at Fatima in 1917. This was intended to be a warning. Our Lady said at Fatima, ‘War is punishment for sin.” World War I was raging at the time and among her warnings was that a worse war would take place if her warnings went unheeded. They were and it did. What were her warnings? One was that the Pope and all the bishops in union with him would consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart. Although consecrations did take place, they were either too late or improperly done. The consecration request finally was done properly in 1984 with Pope (now Saint) John Paul II. There were other warnings, such as the increasingly offensive fashion styles (conservative and almost modest by today’s standards) and about sexual sin being the chief cause of why souls go to Hell.

Those are also being ignored. You wonder how much longer Heaven will tolerate being ignored. 

As we’ve already seen with several of these “Alliance of the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary” posts, the Immaculate Heart of Mary is intimately united with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On this Sacred Heart Friday, I would like to remind readers of this duality and how it can be used to at the personal level, increase your spiritual growth, and at a larger level, help combat evil in the world.

The personal level: recall the Fatima Message of prayer, penance, and especially reparation for sins. Now, combine that with the Sacred Heart devotion which essentially calls for the same thing. We return God’s love for us with prayer and acts of sacrifice in reparation for our and others’ sins. This increases the flow of grace into our souls, helps us beat back the attacks of the Devil and its minions, and sensitizes us to the sufferings of others (a natural side effect of concern for others sinning and the Hellish consequences of that.) We begin to become more aware of the humanity of other people; even those who do us harm. We see them as sick and broken. The wounded harm others when their wounds are not dressed.

The larger level: essentially an extension of the first. We become the change we wish to see in others and in reforming our own lives we can serve as examples for others. They want what we have. There is also the transformation at the spiritual level: our acts of prayer and repentance in some manner affect change in others. It calls grace down from Heaven and Mary distributes it to whom she wills.

So, I suppose one benefit of these “Alliance of the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary” posts is the reminder to remember the Message of Fatima and the need to live it.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Miscellaneous Mary Musings

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Today is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary; originally known as Our Lady of Victory, it was created to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary whose protection and intervention were credited with the Holy League’s defeat of the Ottoman Navy in 1571. Failure of the League would have been disastrous for Christian Europe, already riven by heresy and schism. Not much would have prevented victorious Moslem forces from overrunning Europe and forcibly converting Christians (Catholic, heretic, schismatic) to Islam.

Today also happens to be the 21st Anniversary of my Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary by the manner developed by St. Maximilian Kolbe. I credit my consecration for starting this blog; I honestly don’t think I would have had the courage to do it on my own, without the graces given to me through Mary. From this consecration arose my recent book, “The Catholicpunk Manifesto,” which is my way of applying my consecration in a practical manner.

Today is also Immaculate Heart Saturday. It is also First Saturday, which I did today (recall I missed yesterday’s First Friday.) Hopefully you did your devotional duty and fulfilled the five requirements! Saying the Rosary every day and doing the Five First Saturdays are wonderful ways to weave garlands of roses for Our Lady.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Scruples

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Today is Sacred Heart Friday; it was also the First Friday of the month but due to health issues I missed going to Mass. I have no idea what number Friday I was on, having done nine consecutive First Friday’s numerous times over the past few years. So, I’ll just “start over” next month. 

It’s important not to get too legalistic or scrupulous about devotions. If something happens and you fail to meet the requirements, trust that God understands. You may still get the graces and such like promised, given the circumstances. God is not a lawyer or an accountant, counting up merits and demerits. Scrupulousness may harken back to our drinking days when we just had to make sure we ‘had enough’ for the weekend; calculating from a number of factors: availability of funds, liquor store hours and so forth.

Anyway, it’s October, the month dedicated to the Holy Rosary. Expect a few posts on that over the next few weeks (including an ANNOUNCEMENT.)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

St.Jerome and the Immaculate Heart of Mary

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For this Immaculate Heart Saturday, I found some connections to the saint whose feast day today is. September 30th is the feast of St. Jerome, a Doctor of the Church and the translator of the Bible into 4th Century vernacular Latin. It was he who said, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”

That’s not the connection, but I can make it to be one. Since St. Jerome essentially said that to know the Bible is to know Christ, and since the Church teaches that Mary brings us to Christ (the essence of Consecration) then we can use a type of Sacred reading by which we ask Mary to ‘open Scripture for us,’ that is, when we prayerfully read Scripture, we pray beforehand to the Blessed Virgin to open our eyes and mind to what Scripture might be telling us. 

The other connection I found was after I searched for “St. Jerome and the Immaculate Heart.” One of the first hits was this  article: “10 Things to Know About the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”

2. Does the Bible Foretell Mary’s Triumph?

Have you ever seen a statue or painting of the Virgin Mary stepping on a snake? What’s that all about? It is a reference to Genesis 3:15, in which God warns Satan of his ultimate defeat: “I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel” (Gen 3:15). While Protestants suggest that the Hebrew text says “he shall crush your head,” the Catholic interpretation may be closer to the truth.

In simple terms, one Hebrew translation (the medieval Masoretic text) says “he” and two other ancient manuscripts say “she.” St. Jerome (347-420), translator of the Bible into Latin, rendered it as “she.” He was not alone in this interpretation; three of the most respected Jewish scholars of all time, Philo Judaeus (c. 20 B.C.-50 A.D.), Josephus (c. 37-100 A.D.), and Moses Maimonides (1138–1204), all insist that it should be interpreted as “she.” In other words, a woman will crush Satan’s head.

Fast forwarding to the end of the Bible, we find a mysterious confrontation between a woman, ‘clothed with the sun,’ and a great red dragon in the book of Revelation (Rev 12:1-6, 13-17). The dragon pursues the woman who is to give birth to a child who will rule the nations with a ‘rod of iron.’ In the end, the woman is victorious and the dragon is cast down to hell.

A ‘triumph’ suggests a victory over an enemy. These biblical references become more sensible in light of Mary’s prediction at Fátima. Furthermore, it is understood that it is the ultimate humiliation for Satan to be defeated by a woman. In his rage, he makes war “on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.” (Rev. 12:17) In the end, the devil is squashed under Mary’s heel.

The entire article is rather interesting; while I don’t completely accept the conclusions, especially since it quotes heavily from an unapproved apparition (Fr. Gobbi and the ‘Marian Movement of Priests’,) the part I did quote from is as far as I know, free of error.

Item No. 8 in the article is good: “What Are Ways to Prepare for the Triumph and New Era?”

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

St. Michael the Archangel and the Reign of the Sacred Heart

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Today is the feast day of St. Michael the Archangel (technically, it’s for all three Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, but since I just completed a Novena to St. Michael, this post is focused on him. I promised Gabriel and Raphael that they’ll get their own post someday. Incidentally, this was originally just St. Michael’s Day, “Michaelmas,” in the pre-Vatican II liturgical calendar. Gabriel and Raphael had their own days before 1962.)  

In coming up with today’s Sacred Heart Friday post, I ran across this prayer:

For the Reign of the Sacred Heart

O Mary Immaculate, great Queen of Heaven and earth and our gentle advocate, we beg Thee to intercede for us. Pray God to send St. Michael and the holy Angels to ward off all the obstacles contrary to the reign of the Sacred Heart in our souls, our families, our country and in the whole world.

And thou, O holy Michael, Prince of the Heavenly hosts, from our hearts we beg thee to come to our aid.

Defend us against the rage of Satan. Through the Divine power bestowed on thee by God, after securing victory for the Church here below, guide our souls to our eternal home. Amen.

St. Michael, first champion of the Kingship of Christ, pray for us!

Source: Catholic Tradition

It beautifully combined devotion to St. Michael with fighting for the reign of the Sacred Heart in the souls of everyone. It is a prayer very pertinent to what’s going on today.

 

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

The Catholicpunk Manifesto is now available in paperback!!!

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My new book, inspired by St. Maximilian Kolbe and my way of working out Total Consecration to Mary, is now available in paperback through Amazon! Some of you were waiting for this! (Thank you in advance!)

AMAZON LINK TO PURCHASE THE PAPERBACK!! 

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For info on where you can purchase the ebook version (available NOW!) visit: The Catholicpunk Manifesto

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

St. Padre Pio and the Immaculate Heart of Mary

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Just like yesterday, I am going to ‘cheat’ a little for today’s Immaculate Heart Saturday post and direct your attention an article posted on the EWTN Library on St. Pio of Pietrelcina, popularly known as ‘St. Padre Pio.’ His feast day is today, September 23. 

For today, please read “Padre Pio and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”

Thank you!

NOTE: I may do this from time to time, rather that write something of my own, direct you to a useful resource or article from elswhere. 

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

St. Padre Pio and the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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I am going to ‘cheat’ a little for today’s Sacred Heart Friday and tomorrow’s Immaculate Heart Saturday posts and direct your attention to two articles posted on the EWTN Library on St. Pio of Pietrelcina, popularly known as ‘St. Padre Pio.’ His feast day is tomorrow, September 23.

For today, please read “Padre Pio and the Sacred Heart.”

Thank you!

NOTE: I may do this from time to time, rather that write something of my own, direct you to a useful resource or article from elswhere. 

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

The Catholicpunk Manifesto is available all over the place!!!

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The other day I announced a new book I wrote. Well, distribution of The Catholicpunk Manifesto has increased! You can now obtain an ebook copy for yourself through Amazon Kindle and through (as of now) a half-dozen or so other digital publishing sites via Books2Read: click here for the list of these additional options.

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There will be a paperback version, but I have to work out some issues with Amazon and Draft2Digital. The paperback edition should be available (hopefully) within a week or two? NOTE: Draft2Digital is a company that offers self-publishing opportunities to a growng number of people who seek to diversify away from (or in addition to) Amazon. I love Amazon, most of my sales for The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics and The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts come from them. But, it is prudent not to have all your beer bottles on one cooler, as they say, and Draft2Digital offers distribution to a wide array of epub sites. For those ‘in the know,’ I had used Smashwords previously as my Amazon alternative; Draft2Digital acquired Smashwords in 2021 and is slowly merging accounts. Within a few months, by Smashwords account will be merged into my Draft2Digital one, and my Smashwords storefront will have a new look.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

ANNOUNCEMENT!! NEW BOOK!!!! “The Catholicpunk Manifesto: ‘Creatives of Catholicism, unite! You have everything to gain, especially souls!'”

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I hinted at being busy with a new project that interfered a bit with posting to this blog. Well, I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT!!!! I have written a new book. It isn’t recovery related, but it can be useful to you if you’ve sobered and cleaned up and now want to know what to do with the rest of  your life. It was inspired by some thinking done over the past few years, and was the subject of two recent blogposts, which  this book combines and greatly expands upon.

 

A N N O U N C I N G :

 

The Catholicpunk Manifesto: “Creatives of Catholicism, unite! You have everything to gain, especially souls!”

From the book description:

“The Catholicpunk Manifesto is a call to arms, or rather, a call to pens, paintbrushes, and video cameras, for creative Catholics to take up St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe’s call to infiltrate pop culture and help alleviate the ills that pervade contemporary society. St. Maximilian saw back in the 1920s how the use of cinema, radio, and mass-market books was corrupting society. He thought that those same tools could be used as a force to counter this corruption. The Catholicpunk Manifesto tells how the teachings of the Catholic Faith can be used to provide a road map out of our current morass and a blueprint to build a more just and fair society constructed according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy and other elements of traditional Catholic Social Teachings (CST).

A Catholicpunker is someone who Catholicpunks. Catholicpunk is, to borrow from the Manifesto:

“…a literary and artistic form that seeks to mak

e use of Catholic Social Teachings to lead the world away from the cliff of self-destruction it is heading towards…

The ‘-punk’ suffix as typically used in literary and artistic forms suggests a countercultural, anti-establishment, and anti-authoritarian ethic.

Think of ‘cyberpunk,’ ‘steampunk,’ ‘solarpunk,’ and so forth.

Therefore, ‘Catholicpunk’ utilizes countercultural values in opposition to secularist and modernist mores and values. It is anti-establishment inasmuch as it defies the increasingly centralized authority of modern governments and the intrusive reach of corporations and is anti-authoritarian based on Catholicism’s traditional opposition to dictatorships.

Catholicpunk addresses how the future might look if humanity survives the contemporary social and moral collapse plaguing the Western world and the poverty and oppression prevalent in the Global South and the East. Catholicpunk illustrates how applying CST solves major contemporary challenges made by globalism, militarism, and the anti-life and sexual libertine agendas. When Catholicpunk emphasizes sustainability, it will be with an eye towards responsible management of resources so that there will be plenty for future generations, and not through restrictions on population such as aggressive birth control and abortion agendas. People from womb to tomb will be viewed as resources to be cherished and valued, not as parasites or polluters.

Catholicism is the purest form of counter-cultural expression there is today. Catholicpunkers capitalize on this… and inspire people and give them a way out.”

Are you a creatively inclined Catholic? Are you an aspiring writer or musician, do you write poetry in secret, do you want to go to Hollywood and sell a spec script for millions, or did you draw on walls when you were little and never could color within the lines but loved drawing and coloring anyway, despite the critical opinions of others?”

Then you need to be a Catholicpunker, find other Catholicpunkers and mutually support one another in Catholicpunking! Buy and read one another’s works, listen to Catholicpunk music, watch Catholicpunk videos, support Catholicpunk painters, and so forth.”

This book can hopefully inspire you to get going and start creating and applying your Catholic faith to your works! Become a Catholicpunker!”

It’s available for $5.99 through this link: The Catholicpunk Manifesto. It will be available as a paperback within a few weeks (updates on that as I get them) and also through other online vendors. When those are completed, I’ll post updates. 

The book has it’s own Page: The Catholicpunk Manifesto Page on Paul Sofranko Space.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)