A Catholic Magazine on the Holy Angels Vol 8 • issue 4• 2017 £ 2,00 € 2,50 $ 5,00 ISSN 2081-5077

e Lamb e inestimable will conquer value of prayer Angels of people St Michael and St Faustina with indestructible faith God wanted me DEAR READERS CONTENTS

God is love and He is close to us Page 3 St Joseph and teaches us how to speak a model for men the language of love. Page 4 Advent with St Faustina

t Paul wrote, “The Lord is near” We can rely on the intercession of Page 6 The Lamb will and this expression has a delib- St Faustina, St John Paul II, St Padre conquer – book erate double meaning. First, the Pio, Blessed Father Michael Sopocko recommendation Lord is near in time and we should and many, many other saints. The S Page 10 Welcome St Michael expect him at any moment. There is Lord is near. always great excitement when a fa- When we are close to the Lord, He Page 11 Angelic mous person is expected to arrive, the is close to us when we are searching Pilgrimage 2018 crowds gather in anticipation when a for Him, He will answer our desires. star is due to appear. What great ex- He will fill our hearts with a divine and Page 12 The inestimable citement there is at the thought that merciful presence. value of prayer Jesus is about to come and we will I assure you of the constant prayer see Him. God is near in the Blessed of the priests of the Congregation of Page 14 God wanted me Sacrament and he comes to us each St Michael the Archangel for all our Page day during the Holy Mass. readers and their families. Kindly 16 Angels of people with Secondly, the Lord is near in the let others know about this magazine indestructible faith sense that He is already present in and also our new Q&A booklet that Page 18 The Rosary: this world, in the sacraments and answers many questions on the holy The Magnificat present in His spirit. He is present in angels and St Michael. meditation the Eucharist in the tabernacle and in We have a wealth of informa- each priest’s hands. A priest is a living tion including prayers, forthcom- Page 20 St Faustina sacrament, the hands of a priest are ing missions and pilgrimages, the and St Michael anointed by the Lord. Knighthood of St Michael, back is- the Archangel God being present in spirit, it sues of the magazine and much more means that we may sense His pres- on our English CSMA website. Page 23 Great masters ence. We hear His voice in our hearts, Ask your family and friends to view of the youth we speak to Him and although we it www.stmichaelthearchangel.info. Page cannot see the Risen Jesus we abide For the USA and Canada only 24 The cross, in His presence. www.stmichaelthearchangel.us as the symbol of He said, “I will be with you now and the Christian faith forever.” Jesus is indeed very near to God bless you. Page 26 Do we know our us today, tomorrow and every day. He constant companion? does not come alone but together with Fr Peter Prusakiewicz CSMA many saints who are close to the Lord. Marki, Poland Page 27 It is As it Is – book recommendation English translations: Agata Pawłowska, Isabel Brak, Joanna Jabłońska Page Graphics & Layout: Jacek Kawa 28 Missions and retreats TheAngels Website: www.stmichaelthearchangel.info Messengers from a loving God www.stmichaelthearchangel.us • www.kjb.24pl Page 29 Angelic items A Catholic Quarterly Magazine on Holy Angels Editorial Office:The Angels Magazine and CDs Publisher: The Congregation ul. Piłsudskiego 248/252, 05-261 Marki. Poland of Saint Michael the Archangel – Poland Email: [email protected] Page 30 Distributors The editors reserve the right to modify and edit submitted Editor-In-Chief: Father Peter Prusakiewicz (CSMA) articles with a view to brevity, clarity and style. / Bookshops Deputy Editor and Chief Co-ordinator: Noreen Bavister © 2017 CSMA – All rights reserved Editorial Staff:Agata Pawłowska, Karol Wojteczek, Imprimatur: General Superior of the Congregation of St Michael the Archangel Page 31 Prayers Magdalena Swierczewska, Magdalena Szczecina, Circulation: 4 000 Karolina Szydłowska ISSN 2081-5077 Printed in Poland Page 32 St Michael Chaplet

2 | The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 Saints St Joseph, a model for men From the earliest times in the Church, the faithful has honoured Joseph, foster father of Jesus. It was not until December 8th 1870 that Blessed Pius IX declared

St Joseph as Father of the Universal Church. www.commons.wikimedia.org „„St Joseph with Jesus the Child by Juan Sánchez Cotán, 17th cent.

nd yet, there is no written he could only afford two turtle doves to pray to St Joseph and named a record in the Gospels from St for sacrifice instead of a lamb. number of her foundations after him. Joseph. Instead he stands alone However, Joseph is revealed in He is also one of the patrons of the Aas the silent saint, a just man who his humanity as the “foster father” of Carmelite Order. was obedient to God’s instructions Jesus, drawing attention to the truth Nowadays St Joseph is recognised revealed to him by angels in dreams. about fatherhood which is much more as the most important saint after our He was a compassionate car- than a biological connection. Again, Holy Mother Mary. He is included in ing man accepting Mary’s pregnant his guidance is apparent both from every Eucharistic Prayer during the condition, concerned for her suffer- the spiritual and moral formation of Sacrifice of the Mass. ing and acquiescent to the angel’s the growing Jesus. He taught him to The faithful have a tradition of message of Mary’s Annunciation. pray, how to work and how to be a praying to St Joseph as the patron Although St Joseph is not the bio- man, carrying out his duties in quiet of workers. We can have no better logical father of Jesus, whose Father gentleness. It is this style that exem- example of a worker than St Joseph. is God alone, he lived his fatherhood plifies his whole existence by his ac- He provided everything necessary for fully and completely. He was a man of ceptance of God’s action in his spouse, the family with his diligence, stability total faith in God and at the behest of but always conscious of the mystery and serenity which were the virtues an angel he left everything he owned. of Mary’s Annunciation. in his life and work. It is little wonder Without knowing the outcome, he He was a real father to Jesus and with all of these attributes that work- fled to a strange country. He was act- communicated a parent’s strength ers turn to him in their need during ing to preserve the safety of Mary and and compassion, one who will suffer their working lives. the baby Jesus, only returning when and risk all for their family. St Joseph the faithful, gentle and in a dream an angel told him it was His intercession was often sought honourable foster father of Jesus and safe to return. by many of the saints. After several the chaste spouse of Our Blessed Although descended from a royal mystical experiences where St Teresa Mother Mary is still active in aid- lineage, Joseph was not a wealthy man of Avila (Teresa of Jesus) received ing souls on earth when they pray being a humble carpenter. This was help from St Joseph, she maintained for his help. apparent when Jesus was presented a real devotion to him for the rest of for circumcision at the temple when her life. She encouraged her sisters Bridget Ring, Scotland

The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 | 3 Liturgical year Advent with St Faustina The holy season of Advent, which this year is the shortest it can be, serves not only as a time to look back to the first coming of Christ in the stable of Bethlehem, but also inspires us to look forward to his Second Coming at the end of time; when as we say in the Creed “He will come to judge the living and the dead.”

he liturgical season makes this recently painted image of the Divine reminds us that this is a unique privi- division for us. The first part, Mercy could be displayed alongside lege in which our Lady participates in until December 17th, has as its that of the famous icon of Our Lady anticipation of her Son’s Passion. Christ Tfocus the Second Coming of the Lord. of Mercy, where he was to preach to the Son of the Immaculate Virgin, and Then there is a change as we return the assembled faithful gathered for the in her presence, would give of Himself to travelling to Bethlehem for the closing jubilee celebrations. Fittingly upon the cross and allow His pierced celebrations of the Lord’s nativity at the image of the Mother of Mercy heart to be opened wide for all. Christmas. would be united alongside the image At Bethlehem Mary becomes the Within Advent, on December of her Son of the Divine Mercy. Mother of Mercy by bringing to birth 8th we also have the great feast of It is good for us to consider in de- the Lord of Mercy. At the cross she the Immaculate Conception of Our tail both the theological and human witnesses His heart being pierced and Blessed Lady. This feast was of great factors in these events and to per- the fall of blood and water upon the importance to St Faustina. She would ceive the wonderful unfolding plan world. She becomes the Mother of prepare for its celebration by a daily of Divine Providence in the advance- the Church represented by the blood novena of 1000 Hail Marys. Through ment of the public veneration of the and water of the sacraments. It is the Immaculate Virgin, Christ entered Divine Mercy image. therefore most fitting that at Villnius, our world for the first time. As St John The Ostra Brama shrine, translated on the occasion of the jubilee of this Paul said in his book Crossing the as ‘The Dawn Gate’, is one dedicated act of Redemption, the image of the Threshold of Hope, “it will be through to Our Lady of Mercy. Her gentle Divine Mercy, and a summary of the Mary that Christ will come again.” image encased in silver, depicts her whole Easter message, should be sol- In the history of the Image of with hands folded in prayer and head emnly venerated and exposed. A new Divine Mercy, we know that whilst St bowed, perhaps in prayer or inclined age begins once again. Now it is the Faustina was at the convent in Vilnius so as to here our petitions. It could well time for mercy, as the horrors of the (now in Lithuania) she was able to be a representation of the moment of early twentieth century unfold. persuade her confessor, Blessed Fr the Annunciation when Mary prepares On many occasions our Lord told Michael Sopocko to commission an to say her ‘Yes’ and to give our fallen Sr Faustina that she would prepare the artist who would help her to fulfil the world a merciful saviour to lift it up. world for his Second Coming. This is Lord’s earlier command to “paint an The liturgy for the Feast of the referred to by St John Paul II in one of image”. The finished image was dis- Immaculate Conception greets Our his seven visits to Lagiewniki, “from played at the famous ‘Ostra Brama’ Lady as the ‘Morning Star’. She is here must go forth the spark which will Dawn Gate in Villnius, which housed the “holy light on earth’s horizon, prepare the world for his final coming.” the great Marian silver icon of Our star of hope to fallen Man.” Mary’s With the desire of our Lord for Lady of Mercy. The year 1935 was a Immaculate Conception banishes the the image to be painted and vener- jubilee year and Fr Sopocko had been darkness and empire of sin, and so ush- ated, there is a new dawn, a dawn asked to preach at the closing ceremo- ers in a new age - that of mercy. The of the Day of Mercy breaking forth nies. He agreed to do so only if the dogma of the Immaculate Conception before the dawn of the “awful day,

4 | The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 among us”, and suddenly everything vanished. How wonderful for us in this Advent season as we think of Our Lady preparing to bring to birth the Saviour of the world that her motherly merciful protection should now ex- tend to St Faustina. She was ‘to bring to birth’ as it were, the image of the merciful Lord whose gaze would awaken trust and hope in sinful Man. The Devil would strike and wage a battle against the image on numerous occasions, and of course against us because he hates Divine Mercy (Diary 1659); “this work will snatch a great number of souls from him”. When the image was first displayed it came alive and the Lord blessed the crowds. Similarly on returning from the ju- bilee celebrations and the first public showing of the image, St Faustina had a vision in which she saw the same image covered in mesh and nets but Christ comes alive again, made the sign of the cross and cut through the www.commons.wikimedia.org nets and disappeared. „„Our Lady of Mercy at Dawn Gate, Vilnius, Lithuania Mercy is always victorious over sin and misery. The Advent season is a the day of my justice is near” (Diary Christmas gift this year, or enclosing great time for us to make a good con- 965). Divine Mercy and His image is a prayer card with the Divine Mercy fession and to venerate the image of a reminder that this is a “sign for the image with your Christmas greetings Divine Mercy. Maybe if we have to put end times and after it will come the or to give a Divine Mercy Calendar for up our Christmas decorations early, day of justice” (Diary 848). the next year with the image, so that we can place a small prayer card of the As the Church celebrates Advent it will be displayed in various homes. image in the stable until Christmas we are called to look forward in joyful Your friends and families may expe- day. In the image, Our Lord’s foot is hope to the coming of Christ again. rience the promise of the Lord where portrayed ‘in movement’ coming to- We do so because we have come to his image is venerated. wards us, and one day he will come know Him and trust Him as our mer- Our Lady appeared to St Faustina again. If we Trust in him now, be mer- ciful saviour. He will continue to be in August 1934 telling her that she ciful to others, he will take our hand that until He comes to judge the living would have to suffer because of the and lead us into eternity to join with and the dead. coming into existence of this im- St Faustina and with Our Lady to sing There is a great urgency therefore age. The next day she fell seriously ill of His mercy, which endures from age each passing Advent to make known (Diary 321). St Faustina, when leav- to age and through all eternity. the Merciful Christ and to bring him ing the home of the artist after view- to birth in the lives and hearts of the ing the image for the final time, was Fr Jason Jones many people we encounter. Why not surrounded by darkness. She realised Diocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy consider a simple way to do this – giv- it was the ‘enemy’. She simply stated, Sacred Heart RC Church, Morriston, ing an image of Divine Mercy as a “the Word was made flesh and dwelt Swansea, SA6 6HZ Wales

The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 | 5 Holy places The Lamb

will conquer www.knockshrine.ie „„Inscription placed on a west outer wall of the Knock Shrine

Father Nigel Woollen offers a thoughtful and inspiring meditation on the 1879 apparition at Knock, with particular emphasis on the tableau of statues, depicting the vision, that are located within the Shrine Chapel.

ith recourse to apt scripture above your ways, my thoughts above opened to heaven; the veil of the Holy passages, as well as person- your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).God will of Holies – representing the place of al reflections, this recently indeed reply to this ardent prayer of God’s presence, that none of us can Wpublished 120 page book offers fresh, the prophet, in a way beyond all hu- reach by our own efforts – is torn apart; consoling insights into the appari- man logic or expectations; by the in- we are now invited to heaven, through tion – a joyful ‘revelation of heaven’ carnation of his only Son, Jesus, born the sacred humanity of God’s own Son. and explores its enduring symbolism on this earth to redeem his people and He came down to earth in order to both for our Christian forebears and to open the gates of the kingdom to the bring us to heaven, and he himself is for pilgrims today. What follows are whole human race. Jesus willed to be the Way, this is the Good News!When some sections taken from “The Lamb baptised by John in the river Jordan. we think of our poor world, in which will Conquer”. Mark’s Gospel tells us that no sooner countless innocent people suffer, and One of the most moving prayers in had Jesus come up out of the water than where so many of God’s children do the Old Testament is found near the ‘he saw the heavens torn apart and the not yet know his love for them – of- end of the book of the prophet Isaiah: Spirit, like a dove, descending on him. ten making destructive decisions that “Oh, that you would tear the heavens And a voice from heaven, “You are my lead them further away from the lov- open and come down – your presence Son, the beloved; my favour rests on ing Father who waits to show mercy the mountain would melt – to make you’”. (Mark 1:10-11). God truly has to them – we may often be tempted to the nations tremble at your presence, torn open the heavens to send his Spirit pray Isaiah’s prayer once more; “Oh, working unexpected miracles, such upon his beloved Son Jesus, who will that you would tear the heavens open as no one have ever heard of before” proclaim the Good News of the king- and come down!’ Yet God continues to (Isaiah 64:1-3). dom and perform saving works to show answer this prayer every day; whenever This prayer, expressing in the the Father’s power. Yet his ultimate goal good people pray with faith, the heav- strongest terms the prophet’s yearn- is to give his own life for us on the ens open to bring grace to our world, ing for the Lord to reveal his presence, Cross; he is the sacrificial Lamb who for ‘the heartfelt prayer of a good man is radical and bold; for the people of offers his life in order to save us from works very powerfully” (James 5:16). Israel, the Lord is all holy, utterly be- sin and death, and enable us to gain ac- Each time a Baptism takes place, the yond the grasp of human beings; no cess to Paradise! At the death of Jesus heavens are torn open, the Spirit comes one can see him and live. To ask God on the Cross, “the veil of the Temple to rest on the new Christian, and the to reveal himself is a risk! He always was torn in two from top to bottom” Father’s voice whispers, ‘you are my answers our prayers – yet not always (Mark 15:38), a sign which seems to beloved child!’ It is above all, at every in the way we think; “the heavens are signify the end of the Temple worship. Mass, that the heavens are truly torn as high above earth as my ways are It also reminds us that the way has been open; Christ himself comes down to

6 | The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 us. At the word of the priest, who obeys parish church, is not strictly necessary the Lord’s mandate entrusted to his for salvation; it doesn’t add any new Church, the bread and wine are trans- revelation to all that the Church hands John the Baptist formed into the very Body and Blood down to us through Scripture and A good place for a visiting pil- of Jesus, renewing his saving sacrifice Tradition. And yet, if we believe that grim to start a tour of Knock shrine of the Cross. He wants to give us the God always wants to speak to us, that is the dedication stone of the original best food for our journey, for he is the he can tear open the heavens to shine parish church in 1828, found on the Lamb of God who takes away our sins, his kindly light upon us, then we can be outer wall where it now joins onto the by feeding us with his own self, until grateful for such an ‘extra’ to confirm Apparition Chapel. The then pastor, Fr the day when the veil will be lifted and us in our faith and help us to know P O’Grady chose two biblical citations we will see him as he really is, in the joy something more of his wonderful love. for this dedication stone ‘My House of the saints in heaven. The Knock apparition is unparalleled shall be called the House of Prayer to In the sacraments, and especially in Church history, although authori- all Nations’ (Mark 11:17) and ‘This is in the Eucharist, we have everything! ties have not as of yet confirmed its a prophecy in action!’ Surely no one At every Mass, we first of all express supernatural character, stating merely could have imagined, at a time of great sorrow for our sins, as a community that the testimony of the fifteen wit- poverty and persecution that pilgrims of weak, vulnerable sinners who want nesses was ‘trustworthy and satisfac- would come from all nations to this to grow in mercy. Then we hear the tory’ (in two commissions of enquiry, obscure village in a remote corner of word of God, who speaks to his chil- in 1936 and 1979) and certainly no Ireland, in order to pray, so that this dren of his love and finally we receive one is obliged to believe in any par- house could truly be a house of prayer. the Word made flesh, for he doesn’t ticular private revelation. However, And the ‘gate’ of Psalm 117, which joy- merely want to speak to us but to live its nature is of such depth, and to this fully sings the Lord’s praises as pilgrims in us, sharing the mess of our lives in day its manifest fruits have endured so enter solemnly into the Temple, can be order to redeem them and turn us into powerfully, that we cannot simply cast understood as our ‘gateway’ to heaven, something beautiful, transforming us it aside as an irrelevance. The more we won for us by the Passion of Christ, into his very self; we are what we eat! mediate on the apparition and its mes- who fulfils the Psalms and every part of We are then sent out to bear witness to sage, the less credible it seems that the the Old Covenant (Luke 24:44). There’s his goodness and mercy; like the Lamb whole scene was invented! It must be more; the same pastor, over fifty years we are blessed, broken and given, in stressed that our Christian faith rests before the apparition, was inspired to order that the world may discover his on the word of God, not on private dedicate the new church to St John the love and return to him in hope. revelations; at the same time authentic Baptist! Why not, you might ask? Any However, the Lord knows we need private revelations echo God’s Word saint will do…Well, think about who ‘extras’. We need signs of his love that entrusted to the Church. For exam- the Baptist is; Jesus’ older cousin, who kindle in us this yearning for the king- ple, Our Blessed Mother’s words to leaps for joy in his mother’s womb at dom, the desire that the heavens be Bernadette in Lourdes in 1858, “I am the coming of the Lord coming to- torn open anew. Throughout Church the Immaculate Conception” came four wards him, “Look, there is the Lamb history particular manifestations of years after her Immaculate Conception of God that takes away the sin of the God’s presence, approved by Church was dogmatically defined by Blessed world!” (John 1:29) He baptizes Jesus authorities, have helped his pilgrim Pius IX in 1854.We can recall, too, the in the Jordan, when the heavens are people on their journey, renewing their pilgrimage to Knock in 1979 of St John torn open, the Lord praises John saying, faith and enabling them to grow in his Paul II (who also mediated at length “of all the children born to women, a love. The ‘unexpected miracle’ (Isaiah on the message of the apparition in an greater than John the Baptist has never 64:2) that took place in Knock, a small Angelus address during the Marian been seen” and also call him the new village in the west of Ireland, in August year on 13th March 1988) which is a Elijah (Matthew 11:11,14), the proph- 1879, when several people saw a vision strong affirmation of the coherence et called down the fire of the Lord on of the Lamb of God, accompanied by between the silent vision a century the sacrifice at Mount Carmel (1 Kings Our Lady, St Joseph and St John the earlier and the perennial message of 18:20 – 40) and who was to return, as Evangelist, on the gable wall of their the Gospel. the Jews believed in the Messianic era.

The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 | 7 Holy places Finally, the Baptist is imprisoned and put to death by Herod for defending the sanctity of marriage (Mark 6:17 – 29), he is not any old saint! So the saint who was proclaiming the Lamb of God, who baptized our Lord, thus causing the heavens to be torn open, was chosen as patron saint of the parish church in front of which, fifty-one years later, the Lamb appeared. There’s another aspect to consider; Mark in his Gospel prefaces the appearance of John the Baptist by quoting the Lord, www.wikipedia.org “make his paths straight” (Isaiah 40:3), „„Altar sculpture at Knock, based on accounts of the apparition before announcing “John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, proclaim- (Habakkuk 2:20). In order to hear God a drought not of water, but of hearing ing a Baptism of repentance for the speaking to us we need silence. A key the word of the Lord” (Amos 8:11). forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:3-4).The element of the Knock apparition was In our world today, while many suf- wilderness, or desert, is a key place in its silent nature; neither the Lamb, fer material poverty, how many more God’s revelation. The Hebrew word for nor Mary, nor Joseph, nor John the are starving for the Word of the Lord, wilderness is midbar, literally, a ‘place Apostle say one word (even though the since his Word has been drowned out without words’ a place of silence. In the Evangelist appears to be preaching), yet by the noise that surrounds us. wonderful irony of salvation history, this silence speaks volumes! Silence, not it was during the Israelites’ forty years just an absence of words, but a loving in the wilderness, the place without desire to adore the Lamb, begets a joyful words, that God gave the Decalogue, expectancy that God will speak to us. An invitation the Ten Words or Commandments to Within the silence, we encounter the We could describe the Knock phe- Moses (Exodus 20). Now, in the silence presence of the one who is Love, we can nomenon as a divine secret. In the of the desert, the voice of the prophet experience a glimpse of heaven; “there bibicial sense, a secret (or mystery) is resounds powerfully, calling his people was silence in the heaven for about half something that is incomprehsibe to us to repent, to change their way of think- an hour” (Revelation 8:1). human beings without a special light ing, in order that their hearts be ready The terrible poverty of much of from God. The secret of the Knock to welcome the one who is to come. nineteenth centry Ireland, particulary apparition, this vision without words, Finally, it is to the wilderness that Jesus, in the West and the great famine of the is awsome in its depth and radiance, the very Word of God, goes immedi- late 1840’s, which left its mark on the as we’ll discover, it reveals the Trinity, ately after his baptism by John, for forty land and its people for decades, is the the mysteries of our redemption, the days, to prepare himself for his mission inescapable backdrop to the event of sacraments and, above all, the beauty of spreading the good word of God’s 1879 in Knock. Certainly, if the Lord and splendour of Jesus the Lamb of love for his people. For through bap- chose this quiet spot in the West of God, our Bread from heaven, the one tism, all of us are missionaries of the Ireland to reveal his loving Word in the who gives Himself completely to us, Good News, since the Church is mis- silence of the heavenly vision, it was and invites us to give ourelves to Him, sionary by her very nature. principally to bring a glimmer of hope in a convenant relationship of mutual to a broken people, and to stir up their sacrificial love. faith in him. Today, however, there So whether or not you are already is another kind of hunger; “See what one of the many friends of Knock, Silence is golden days are coming, it is the Lord who whether you live near or far, or are “The Lord is in his holy Temple; let speaks, days when I will bring famine simply curious, let’s go in spirit to the the whole earth be silent before him” on the country, a famine not of bread, Apparition Chapel to contemplate

8 | The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 the beautiful sculptures that repre- showing that the Lamb was the focal his people. Although he was not a great sent what those witnesses saw on 21st point of the apparition. What would military leader who would deliver his August 1879, to learn something of have gone through the minds of those nation by force as in the days of old, he what the Lord is telling us today, on villagers in 1879 as they gazed upon is the conquering hero, but in death, by our own path to the kingdom. the Lamb? First of all, for most of these being the willing sacrifice to atone for parishioners of a rural farming com- his friends, he delivers and saves, yet munity, the lamb stood for their live- in a hidden, mysterious manner that lihood! It is a detail I am conscious only faith can see. It’s a long way of when I am preaching on the Good Readers are encouraged to engage Shepherd, knowing many in the con- deeply with the message of Knock and to Tipperary gregation know a lot more about shep- to see in a call to journey compassion- There are still a few old timers liv- herding than I do. Nevertheless, some ately and lovingly with our neighbour ing in Knock village today who knew of those nineteenth century witnesses in Christ. the last of the witnesses to the 1879 would have also been familiar, at least apparition (who died in the 1930’s and to some degree, with the theme of the 1940’s). This reminds us of the impor- lamb in the Bible, culminating in John tance of oral history, of treasuring our the Baptist’s exclamation when en- links with generations past – as I re- countering his cousin Jesus, “There is alise whenever I meet someone from the Lamb of God that takes away the Tipperary who remember the clothes sin of the world” (John 1:39). store of my late grandmother’s family We recall Abraham’s aforemen- in Thurles. When we read the geneal- tioned trial of faith, and his prophetic ogy of Jesus (Matthew 1 and Luke 3) words to his son Isaac, God himself will we savour God’s plan unfolding slowly provide the lamb for the burnt offer- but inexorably through the human ing (Genesis 22:7-8). We also think of generations. In addition to Joseph, the the Passover event of Exodus 12, when parents of Mary are also honoured in the lamb was eaten by the Israelites, Knock; the church of Shanvaghera (the and its blood was spread on their other church of Knock parish) built doors to protect them from the pun- in 1936 is dedicated to St Anne, Our ishment meted out to the Egyptians. Lady’s own mother, reminding us of Every Good Friday, the only day in The author - Father Nigel Woollen - the importance of grandparents and the year where no Mass is celebrated, originally from London, was ordained their place in society, in handling on anywhere in the world; we hear, during a Catholic priest in Ars, France, at the faith and tradition. We see this ‘hand- the celebration of the Lord’s Passion, Shrine of St John Vianney, in 1996. He ing on’ of faith and tradition. We see the fourth Servant Song from Isaiah studied biblical theology in Rome and this ‘handing on’ throughout the his- (52:13 – 53:12), describing the myste- worked for some years in retreat centers tory of the Church. rious servant of the Lord who suffers in France and Italy. He came to Ireland for his people. “Harshly dealt with, as a chaplain in Knock in 2003 and he bore it humbly, he never opened is currently curate (associate pastor) his mouth, like a lamb that is led to at Knock Shrine. To order copies of Heart of the vision the slaughter-house. (….) By his suf- ‘The Lamb will Conquer’ a well writ- We now come to the heart of the ferings shall my servant justify many, ten 120 page book on the reflections of Knock vision, the Lamb, standing on taking their faults on himself” (Isaiah the Knock apparition by Fr Woollen. a plain altar, with a large Cross behind 53:7, 11). The Church, re-reading the Go to: www.veritas.ie it, and angels circling overhead. The First Covenant anew in the light of ISBN 978 1 84730 789 7 witness said the light shining from the the Resurrection, understands these Lamb was greater than that emanat- passages as all pointing to Jesus, the Adapted from the text by ing from Mary and the other figures, Messiah (or Anointed One) awaited by Noreen Bavister, Deputy Editor

The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 | 9 Pilgrimage report Welcome St Michael in Italy The group of fifty two people from England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Kenya, Cameroon, India and Mauritius attended the 8th Angelic Pilgrimage to Italy between 4th-11th September 2017.

efreshed after an overnight Archangel. Each day the group visited stay in Rome, the pilgrims Holy Shrines beginning with St Michael travelled by coach bound for the Archangel, the nearby Shrine of St RMonte Sant’ Angelo. On the way the Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotundo and group visited the Shrine of the Holy the Shrine of St Matthew in San Marco Face in Manopello and Father Peter in Lamis. When visiting the Shrine of „„Monk explaining techniques Pruskiewicz CSMA, who was the the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin in of icon writing in Pulsano spiritual director of the pilgrimage, Pulsano the pilgrims had an opportu- offered up Holy Mass. nity to understand the techniques of also filled with Holy Mass, adoration of For the next four days the pil- icon writing during a talk given by one the Blessed Sacrament, prayers, sing- grims stayed at the Pilgrims’ House in of the resident monks. ing hymns and deeply spiritual talks Monte Sant’ Angelo, which is situated While all these visits to the holy by Father Peter. During a spiritually next to the Shrine of St Michael the places were interesting, each day was uplifting Holy Hour at the Grotto of St Michael the Archangel, ten people became Knights of St Michael. While travelling back to Rome there was a visit with Holy Mass at the Shrine of Lanciano, the place of the Eucharistic miracle. Unfortunately the pilgrims were unable to attend the Angelus bless- ing of Pope Francis because the Holy Father was on pilgrimage to South America at that time. Instead prayers were said at the tomb of St John Paul II, followed by an arranged tour around Rome. “Arrivederci Italia!” – With these words the pilgrims said their good- byes on the last day, hoping that they will return to Italy.

„„Pilgrims in San Giovanni Rotundo Lily Lister, Scotland

10 | The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 SpiRiTuAL JOuRNEy Angelic pilgrimage „ Rome 5-12 May 2018

Anniversary pilgrimage of the first apparition „ Monte San Angelo of St Michael on 8th May 492 „ Monte San Angelo Spiritual Director Fr Peter Prusakiewicz CSMA Price £585 / €663 / $756 plus fl ights to and from rome Single room supplement £140 / €164 / $183

• rome: The Angelus with Pope Francis • Shrine of St Michael the Archangel in Monte San Angelo: 8th May 2018 our group will take part in the ceremony of the statue of St Michael. „ The miraculous • Shrine of Padre Pio in San Giovanni rotundo image of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii • San Marco in Lamis and shrine of St Matthew • Monastery of the famous icons in Pulsano • Monte cassino: about 80 miles south of Rome, is the home of the sacred relics and monastery of St Benedict (480-543), the patron saint of Europe and founder of western monasticism. • The Pontifi cal Shrine of our lady of the rosary of Pompeii „ Pompeii contact: Noreen Bavister PO Box 4332, Harlington Dunstable, Beds, LU6 9DG UK Phone: +44-7795-318-605 Email: [email protected]

The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 | 11 DO YOU KNOW? The inestimable value of prayer “Pray constantly, and for all things give thanks to God, because this is what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).

t seems easy for the Apostle Paul wholly directed to the Father, in un- ourselves entirely to God. This is pre- to enjoin us to “pray constantly”, ion with the human will of the Son of cisely why the Devil puts so much ef- while it generally leads us to ask God made man” (Catechism of the fort into convincing us that everything Iat least two questions: 1. How should Catholic Church 2559). else is more important, that we should we do so? We frequently struggle in While these statements are unde- make time for everything else and prayer. What is the essence of prayer? niably theologically correct, we should put our prayer off until later. This is 2. Why should we pray? What do not be discouraged, as these wise defi- why there are times that we go to bed we gain by it? Does God need our nitions of masters of the spiritual life at night and discover that we’ve run prayer? There can be no aspect of are intended to assist us. In sharing out of time to spend with God. The our lives of which He is unaware, so their experiences of prayer it is they amount of time we devote to God is why do we have to tell Him? Jesus who discovered the truth behind the a measure of the extent to which we did after all say: “Your Father knows watchword: Oratio est fides in actu believe! what you need before you ask Him” (prayer is faith in action). This led The second constituent of prayer (Matthew 6:8). them to conclude that: Lex orandi – is intention. This is why, regardless lex credenda est (the rule of prayer is of whether our prayer is one of peti- the rule of faith, i.e. the measure of tion or thanksgiving, its main inten- our prayer is the measure of our faith). tion is to glorify God, our Creator. The essence A person experiences and testifies This intention is the most important, to their faith most perfectly in their the most beautiful and the most es- of prayer prayer. Why? It is because the essence sential part of our relationship with “Prayer is a surge of the heart, it is of prayer does not lie in the extent God, as we are created “in God’s im- a simple look turned toward heaven; it of our concentration, lack of distrac- age and likeness”. In turning to God, is a cry of recognition and of love, em- tions, or even in any exaltation we we tell Him that He is our Father bracing both trial and joy” (St Thérèse may experience but in above all in two and that we are His children. This is of Lisieux). basic constituents: time and intention. why the greatest dryness and distrac- “Prayer is a raising of one’s mind If we give our time to God, we tion is incapable of reducing the sig- and heart to God or the requesting then give ourselves. Giving our time nificance of our prayer, because the of good things from God” (St John to another is the greatest gift we can Father loves His children just as they Damascene). give, for, in giving our time, we give are. This is why we should always “Christian prayer is a covenant them our presence. When we decide begin even the shortest of prayers by relationship between God and man to give our time to prayer, we then praising and glorifying God. We do in Christ. It is the action of God dedicate it to nobody else but to God this when we kneel down in church and of man, springing forth from alone. When we come to pray, we then and begin our prayer by adoring the both the Holy Spirit and ourselves, put aside all other activities and give Blessed Sacrament. Exorcists tell us

12 | The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 www. wikipedia.org www. „„The Angelus by Jean-François Millet, between 1857-59 that what the Devil most fears is the which is the highest act of faith. It is things from the learned and the clev- praise and glory of God, as doing so through our prayer that we are pleas- er and revealing them to mere chil- is the antithesis of all that he embod- ing to God. It is through prayer that dren. Yes, Father, that is what it has ies. Praise given to God is therefore we are capable of finding God in every pleased You to do” (Matthew 11:26). always a form of exorcism. circumstance of our life. How poor are Praise given to God always brings they who do not pray! happiness to man. It is a small piece In order to motivate us to pray of heaven on earth. more, we should examine the prayer Secondly, the Saviour prayed with The purpose and of Our Lord Jesus in more detail. the intention of discovering and When does Jesus pray and what does recognising the will of the Father, fruit of prayer He pray about? when He was faced with a choice: The purpose of prayer is best de- Firstly, Jesus generally spoke to “Now it was about this time that he fined in the Letter to the Hebrews: His Father to praise and glorify Him. went out into the hills to pray; and “Now it is impossible to please God Giving glory and praise is an act of he spent the whole night in prayer without faith; since anyone who unity of the Son with the Father. to God. When the day came he sum- comes to him must believe he exists Our Saviour frequently glorified moned his disciples and picked out and rewards those who try to find His Father. For instance, when He twelve of them; he called them ‘apos- him” (Hebrews 11:16). If prayer is an expressed His grief at the refusal of tles’; Simon, whom he called Peter, act of faith oratio est fides in actuand the towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida and his brother Andrew; James, we are incapable of pleasing God with- to repent, He sighed in prayer to the John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, out faith, then how much less likely Father: “I bless you, Father, Lord of Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, we are to please God without prayer, heaven and of earth, for hiding these Simon called the Zealot, Judas son

The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 | 13 DO YOU KNOW? Worth considering of James, and Judas Iscariot who be- the night he went towards them, walk- od willed that I be conceived came a traitor” (Luke 6: 12-16). ing on the lake, and when the disciples and born because He want- This is why we run severe risks saw him walking on the lake, they ed me no matter what any when making major life decisions were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’, they said Gparent or any other person says to (choice of marriage partner, calling and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus the contrary. I am wanted and I am or other difficult choices) without called out to them, saying, ‘Courage, not an accident – God wanted me first praying about them. it is I. Do not be afraid’. It was Peter because He has a mission for me Thirdly, Jesus prayed when He was who answered. ‘Lord’, he said, ‘if it is which is special. He willed my ex- faced with suffering: “They came to a you, tell me to come to you across the istence. I am not an afterthought, small estate called Gethsemane, and water’. ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter born by mistake or accident or even Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Stay here got out of the boat and started walking because of a sin by my parents out- while I pray’. Then he took Peter and towards Jesus on the water, but as soon side of marriage. God permitted James and John with him. And a sud- as he felt the force of the wind, he took the sin because He has given us den fear came over him, and great fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save freedom to choose but in His fore- distress. And he said to them, ‘My me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand knowledge He intended to bring soul is sorrowful to the point of death. at once and held him. ‘Men of little out of it a far greater good which Wait here and keep awake’. And going faith’ he said. ‘Why did you doubt?’ would have eternal consequences on a little further he threw himself on And as he got into the boat, the wind for good and I am chosen by Him the ground and prayed that, if it were dropped. The men in the boat bowed to accomplish it. possible, this hour might pass him by. down before him and said, ‘Truly, you If I was born because my moth- ‘Abba (Father)!’ He said. ‘Everything are the Son of God’” (Matthew 14: er forgot to take a pill then know is possible for you. Take this cup away 22-33). that God did not will that any pill from me. But let it be as you, not I, The greatest gift we can give those be taken to prevent my birth. would have it’. He came back and we love is intercessory prayer. Even if If I was conceived because my found them sleeping, and he said to they are “immersed” in sin, they will mother was at an age when it was Peter, ‘Simon, are you asleep? Had not drown, thanks to our prayers. not thought she could conceive you not the strength to keep awake God will rescue them. then I was directly willed by God. one hour? You should be awake, and Above all else, let us turn to God All those born in Holy Scripture of praying not to be put to the test. The with the very question which the a mother either barren or too old spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak’. Apostles asked their Master, in reply were given a very special call by God Again, he went away and prayed, say- to which Jesus taught them the prayer to do special work for Him. ing the same words” (Mark 14:32-39). which is most perfect and most pleas- God created me at the moment We will be incapable of making ing to Him. Let us then make this of conception – I did not evolve: an sense of our difficulties and suffer- prayer our own: “Now once he was in immortal soul cannot evolve but ings without prayer. a certain place, praying, and when he my spirit, my soul comes directly Fourthly, Jesus prayed to His had finished one of his disciples said, from His hands at the moment of Father when He wished to help oth- ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John my conception. This real me was in ers, particularly those He most loved: taught his disciples’. He said to them, the mind of God from all eternity “Directly after this he made the dis- ‘Say this when you pray: Father, may to be created out of love, for love, to ciples get into the boat and go on your name be held holy, Your king- recognise my Father’s true love and ahead to the other side while he would dom come; give us each day our daily to respond and enter that life stream send the crowds away. After sending bread; and forgive us our sins, for of love in heaven for all eternity. the crowds away he went up into the we forgive each one who is in debt We will utter one great call at hills by himself to pray. When evening to us. And do not put us to the test’” our moment of death as our spirit came, he was there alone, while the (Matthew 6,9:13). leaves our body and we enter heav- boat, by now far out on the lake, was en: “Father, I’m home!” battling with a heavy sea, for there was Fr Ryszard Andrzejewski CSMA Jesus, the Eternal Word, we a head-wind. In the fourth watch of will be filled with the Holy Spirit

14 | The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 God wanted me in a single eternal breath of escalat- causes) happens to us only by the will there is sinfulness in all these actions. ing love, joy and purest ecstasy and of God, by the disposal of Providence, How then can God will them and adoration. by His orders and under His guid- take part in them if He is all-holy ance; and if from the frailty of our and can have nothing in common understanding we cannot grasp the with sin? reason for some event, let us attribute God indeed is not and cannot be The theology for it to Divine Providence, show Him the author of sin. But it must be re- respect by accepting it from His hand, membered that in every sin there are believing the above believe firmly that He does not send two parts to be distinguished, one Nothing happens in the universe it to us without cause.” natural and the other moral. without God willing and allowing it. But let us be careful to attribute ev- Thus, in the action of the man you This statement must be taken abso- erything to the will of God and believe think you have a grievance against, lutely of everything with the excep- that all is guided by His paternal hand. there is, for example, the movement of tion of sin. “Nothing occurs by chance the arm that strikes you or the tongue in the whole course of our lives and that offends you, and the movement God intervenes everywhere” is the of the will that turns aside from right unanimous teaching of the Fathers How can God will reason and the law of God. The physi- and Doctors of the Church. cal action of the arm or the tongue, St Augustine says: “All that hap- or allow evil? like all natural things is quite good in pens to us in this world against our However, you will perhaps now itself and there is nothing to prevent will (whether due to men or the other say of bad things that happen to me, its being produced with and by God’s cooperation. What is evil, what God could not cooperate with, is the sinful intention which the will of man con- tributes to the act. When a man walks with a crippled leg the movement he makes comes both from the soul and the leg, but the defect which causes him to walk badly is only in the leg. In the same way all evil actions must be attributed to God and to man in so far as they are natural, physical acts, but they can be attributed only to the will of man in so far as they are sinful and blameworthy. Conclusion: God wills every natu- ral act including my conception and birth irrespective and separately of any sinful intention within those who are its cause. www.unsplash.com „„Mel Elias Sr Ann Wood, UK

The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 | 15 Contemporary witnesses of God Angels of people with indestructible faith Soon after the funeral of Benedetta Bianchi Porro (1936-1964) her mother admit- ted: “When Benedetta died, I was feeling deprived of her guidance, her help, her hand. I was feeling like someone during a raging sea storm, deprived of a ray of light and of any support whatever. She was for us all an example of humility, simplicity and above all trust and indestructible hope.”

ho was and is Benedetta her friend Anna Laura Conti: “You health. She was ambitious, extremely Bianchi Porro? She was are my first friend. In my under- hard working, but different obstacles born on 8 August 1936 in standing, a friend is more than what blocked her way. She had to over- WDovadola, Italy and already her birth people on the whole understand. Our come herself. She decided not to be was marked by suffering: a haemor- friend has to be part of us and you are angry at her life, not to rebel, but to rhage appeared. Her mother asked for me half of my soul, water in which take advantage of humiliations and for baptism immediately after birth. I can see myself like in a mirror”. to grow in humility. Soon symptoms of the Heine-Medin It was her time at high school and disease also appeared which caused of the first symptoms of hearing loss. one leg to grow shorter and during The illness progressed and Benedetta her school years contributed many felt terrified of the circumstances. In I want to live and humiliations by her peers. 1953 she wrote to her friend: “My Immediately after World War II dear Anna Laura, my boat is very sacrifice myself for she moved to Forli with her parents, fragile, the sails have been burnt by then Sirmione, where she spent the a thunderbolt, the oars have been the good of people last years of her life. While attending broken and the water current draws After high school Benedetta start- high school she experienced the first me away from the shore; I wish to ed studies at university, initially phys- symptoms of deafness, which were study, enter life with enthusiasm and ics to fulfil her father’s wishes, but in fact the first manifestations of a to get to know that people are good soon moved to medical studies in serious illness that led to her death and that there is so much beauty Milan, which she undertook with at the age of 28. in the world, but my lake is so grey a willing heart and great eagerness and the sky cloudy”. In spring 1954, because since she was a child she she wrote to her: “I fear my spiritual had dreamed to become a doctor. darkness. Anna, you don’t even know She would say that she wanted to live Humility is the key how much I need your help”. and to sacrifice herself for the good It seemed as if the girl found of people. But her illness progressed to heaven herself in a blind alley, from which and Benedetta lost her hearing. She She had lots of friends who were she did not know how to get out. continued her studies, however, pass- attracted to her like bees to honey. In However, the exit was found very ing exams in writing. her inner life she made giant steps. In simply. Benedetta met each day with At Christmas 1956 she was able 1951 15-year-old Benedicta wrote to different indignities as a result of her to give herself the real diagnosis of

16 | The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 she underwent another head opera- bag and I took out a grain of wheat tion. Then she lost her sight. that I gave to the King. What was my Everything had been taken from surprise when in the evening while her, but she found everything again searching my bag I found there a grain in God. This was the true miracle of of gold! I sat beside the road and cried Benedetta: joy found again and sung bitterly that I did not give the King all in the midst of suffering. that I had.” This fairy tale educated Benedetta for years. She therefore did not cry on her deathbed. On the contrary, she was The Lord expects filled with deep peace and joy because she was aware that she had given every- great things from us thing to God and that she had testified Looking at her life only with the about the Gospel that it is God’s truth eyes of a non-believer, you could from the first syllable to the last. She

: www.wikipedia.org describe it in the words of Francois felt deep gratitude in her heart. „„Benedetta Bianchi Porro Mauriac that it was a person who from A year before her death Benedetta her illness, of which deafness was early childhood ‘dragged behind her a wrote in her diary: “God sends us suf- just a symptom: extensive neurofi- heavy chain’. She, on the other hand, fering as copious rain onto dried out bromatosis type 2. In June 1958 the appraised her life completely differ- earth. Suffering throws us into God’s girl underwent her first head opera- ently. When she was a little girl she arms. We should trust God implicitly.” tion, as a result of which the left side was enchanted by R. Tagore’s fairy On 22nd January 1964 on the vig- of her face was paralysed. In spite of tale “The King and the Beggar”. She il of her death she asked her moth- this she did not give up on her medi- would often return to it in conversa- er: “Mum, please kneel beside me cal studies, continuing to pass exams tion. Clearly this fairy tale carried a and thank the Lord for all the gifts till June 1959. persuasive message for her. This is that he has given me.” Her mother Her hair was cut in preparation the main plot: A beggar confides what kneeled and very slowly recited the for her head operation. She felt very happened to him: “I would go to the Magnificat according to her daugh- humiliated, but she disarmingly con- edge of the village and beg there. One ter’s wishes. Her last word alive was fided in her mother: “While my hair day I saw a gold carriage approach- the word “Thank you!” was being cut, I felt like a lamb being ing. I wondered who could it be? It is Benedetta left letters to relatives sheared and I prayed to the Lord to some powerful king for sure, a King of and friends, diaries, collections of make me strong and small. Mother, kings. I was very happy and I thought words of wisdom - a real spiritual in- the Lord expects great things from us. to myself: ‘Now my beggar’s fate will heritance. Together with her biogra- I suffered a lot and I asked the Lord end, because I will receive alms fit phy they are all being translated into to make me a small lamb in his arms”. for a king’. And indeed the carriage many languages and published by She discovered that humility is stopped. The King looked at me, the Benedetta’s Friends Society. Her the key to heaven. smiled and came out of the carriage. beatification process started in 1970. In August that year her spi- I felt that it was the most important nal cord was operated on. She was moment of my life. But something paralysed from her waist down as strange happened. Instead of giving a result and she was forced first to me alms, the King holds his hand out Christianity remain in a wheelchair and later to me and says: ‘What do you have in bed. Dependent on the help of to give me?’ Oh! What a moment! is humanity’s hope others at every step, the girl went The surprising gesture of an extend- “What strikes us above all about through a peculiar school of humil- ed arm from him and the request for many religious minds?” writes ity. Slowly she lost her sense of taste, something directed to a pauper. I felt Francois Mauriac. “Their balance touch and smell. In February 1963 ashamed, but slowly lifted my beggar’s and conquering activity, even in the

The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 | 17 Contemporary witnesses of God Prayers most extreme mystics. Their con- quest is twofold: one internal, over instincts, the second external. We see this in St Catherine of Siena, St Ignatius Loyola, St Therese of Avila. Immersed in the life of their epoch, The Rosary they surface above it, they shape its face and stamp it with their spirit. They are masters of themselves and masters of the world to a very high Magnificat degree. ‘Because the Son of Man came to save what was lost’ (Mt 18,11). And yet we need to ask, do we not all belong, even those apparently strongest, to ‘what was Meditations lost’? What is Christian life if not the conquest of normality? For The First Joyful Mystery: The Second Joyful Mystery: some it is in marriage, for other in celibacy, according to their vo- The Annunciation The Visitation cation. Only Christian spouses do not transgress against nature. The angel of the Lord declared Mary did not sit around over- In Christianity, there is no abnor- unto Mary, “Rejoice, O highly fa- whelmed or dumbfounded by the mality. Because every man, even voured daughter! You shall conceive calling she had received. She imme- if deeply wretched, can become a and bear a son and call Him Jesus. diately continued to serve the Lord, masterpiece of balance and har- He will be called Son of the Most not by great deeds, but by humbly mony in Christ. Even acute suf- High and His reign will be without serving those around her in her quiet fering, illness or disability will be end.” And Mary responded, “I am way, letting the light of the Lord shine useful to shape him.” the servant of the Lord. Let it be through her. Elizabeth’s child leapt It is not kings and politicians done unto me as you say.” for joy when he recognized the pres- who improve the world, but saints, We too are highly favoured, and ence of the Lord within Mary, and who like Servant of God Benedetta are called to be vessels of the Lord. Elizabeth declared, “Blessed are you Bianchi Porro, take on their daily How can we say “yes” and accept such among women, and blessed is the fruit cross and trustingly follow Jesus. a lofty role? Our Mother can teach us. of your womb.” Mary immediately Holy angels, keep watch over She acknowledged her lowliness and acknowledged the cause of her great- human hearts, so that when gave all glory back to God, saying, ness, giving the glory back to God: facing enormous suffering and “He has looked upon His servant in “My being proclaims the great- difficulties, they do not sink in her lowliness; All ages to come shall ness of the Lord.” lethargy and hopelessness, but al- call me blessed.” Lord, let my being proclaim Your low themselves to be enlightened Thank You, Lord, for loving me greatness to all the world. May Your by the light of the Word of God, in my unlovableness and for valuing light shine out from me in all direc- that teaches us that “all that we me in my unworthiness. Thank You tions, for everyone to see. May all suffer in the presenttime is noth- for raising me from the ashes and who meet me be blessed by Your ing in comparison with the glory restoring me to life. I am the beloved presence, and grow ever closer to which is destined to be disclosed child of the King of Kings. Help me, Your love. Make me an empty ves- for us” (Romans 8, 18). Amen. Lord, to fulfill the role you have for sel to pour Your grace out onto the me. Be it done unto me according world, and serve those around me Fr Henryk Skoczylas CSMA, to your word. like Mary did. Let me diminish so Poland that people see not me, but only You.

18 | The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 The Third Joyful Mystery: that all gifts come from God, and presented their Child back to the The Nativity Lord. Let us follow their example, and hasten to be faithful to the laws The stable was dirty, cold, and of our Church. May we seek to be crowded with animals. Mary did healed and purified by the Sacrament not have a warm bed in which to lay of Penance. May we receive the her infant Son. Far from family and Eucharist in joy and immediately friends, the only visitors that first present our lives back to the Lord in night were humble shepherds from a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, a nearby field. But Mary had eyes saying with Mary, that were open to see, and rejoiced “God who is mighty has done in the beauty of her Child. She had great things for me. Holy is His ears that were open to hear, and lis- name.” tened to the song of the angel choirs Lord, You have healed my celebrating the arrival of her Son. wounds, washed away my fail- She had a heart that treasured the ures, and created me anew. When presence of the Lord: I am weak, I am strong, because my “My spirit finds joy in God my strength comes from You. You are Saviour.” holy. You are good. You are beautiful. Lord, be my joy, my all, my ev- Therefore so am I, because You live erything. Take away my desire for within me. Help me to be worthy of anything that is not You. Let me see Your calling and to give my life to

Your glory reflected in all good things You. Be with me always, so I can live : www.wikipedia.org of the world. Take away all desire for within You and fulfill Your holy will „„Annunciation by Cristóbal de Villalpando, worldly vanities and help me grow in all things. early 18th cent. in appreciation and gratitude for the goodness and love that is You. Help The Fifth Joyful Mystery: Help us to ponder it in our hearts like me to yield to Your love, the way You Mary did. Guide us when we lose our surrendered to Mary’s care as an in- The Finding of way. Mary reminds us, fant in Bethlehem. “The hungry He has given every the Child Jesus good thing, while the rich He has The Fourth Joyful Mystery: sent empty away.” in the Temple Lord, give me a hunger to find The Purification You, a hunger only You can fill. You Mary and Joseph show us where meet my every need and fill my ev- of Mary and the to find the Lord when we lose Him. ery desire. I want for nothing when I We lose Him when we seek peace have You. Help me to love You more. Presentation in among worldly things. Mother, help Do not let me take the Eucharist us persevere in our search and return for granted. Increase my devotion. the Temple to prayer. We will find Him waiting Inflame my heart with desire to re- in the Temple, in the Sacraments and ceive You. Vain pursuits leave me Mary was pure after the birth of Scripture. He dwells in our hearts in empty and dry. I cannot be whole her holy Child. But she was faithful peace. When we find Him, He will apart from You. Let me feel the ache to the law of Moses and so went to ask, “Why were you looking for Me? of emptiness that only You can fill. Let the temple for purification, according Did you not know I would be in my me never forget where true riches lie. to the practice of her faith. She and Father’s house?” Lord, sometimes we Joseph acknowledged immediately do not fully understand your word. J.S., USA

The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 | 19 Apostle of the Divine Mercy St Faustina and St Michael the Archangel Although angels are pure and incorporeal and, therefore, invisible spirits, they neverthe- less sometimes assume bodies. The Angelic Doctor, St Thomas Aquinas, has this to say on the subject: “By Divine power sensible bodies are so fashioned by angels as fittingly to represent the intelligible properties of an angel assuming a body” (Summa 1 51,2).

isions of angels are mentioned shepherds (Luke 2:9 and 2:13). After An angel never does his own will in many sections of the Bible. the Resurrection, the guards and and never speaks of his own accord. The very first book of the Bible the women see an angel at the tomb He is always sent (from the Latin ange- Vshows an angel with Hagar (Genesis (Matthew 28:2-7), Mary Magdalene lus – messenger, intermediary) by God 16:7-14 and 21:17), the Angels in saw two angels (John 20:11-13). An to reveal God’s will. The most beauti- Sodom (Genesis 19) and the Angel angel appeared and released the ful examples of this are two happen- with Abraham at the sacrifice of Isaac apostles (Acts 5:19) and then Peter ings noted by St Luke: the prophecy (Genesis 22:11-18). Jacob saw the an- (Acts 12:5-7) from prison. of the birth of John the Baptist (Luke gels of God ascending and descending In more recent Christian history, 1: 5-20, verse 19 in particular) and the (Genesis 28:12). An extensive descrip- we know of the happenings at Fatima, Annunciation, which clearly illustrates tion of the appearance of the Angel of which began in 1916 with the children’s the angel’s role in fulfilling a specific the Lord to Gideon ends with his fear- encounter with an angel. The shrine at mission: “The angel Gabriel was sent ful confession: “Alas my Lord Yahweh! Monte Sant’Angelo came about as a by God…He went in and said to her… I have seen the angel of Yahweh face result of apparitions of St Michael the Mary said to the angel…And the angel to face!” (Judges 6:11-22). Archangel, which first occurred on th8 left her” (Luke 1:26-38). This latter -oc May in the year 492, the last apparition currence has also been immortalised being on 22nd September 1656, which within the daily prayer of the whole of was commemorated by a statue of St the Church in the Angelus, a prayer The importance of Michael the Archangel and a plaque which St John Paul II particularly en- with an inscription in Latin. These are couraged us to say. Angels in Scripture only a few instances of happenings The history of the New Testament which indicate that physical appari- begins with encounters with an- tions of angels to human beings are all Special mission gels. Zachariah saw an angel of the part of the Divine Plan. It is therefore St Bernard of Sienna notes that: Lord (Luke 1:11), Mary speaks to unsurprising that St Faustina writes “Whenever Divine Providence choos- the angel Gabriel (Luke 1: 26-38), that she saw St Michael the Archangel es someone for a special mission or to a throng of angels appeared to the on his feast day. some extraordinary state, He grants

20 | The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 (Mark 1:14), “being tempted there by the Devil” (Luke 4:1-13); and later in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-53) before being arrested and condemned to death, as so graphi- cally portrayed in Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion of the Christ”. During a General Audience on 13th June 1986 St John Paul II said: “Thus, the evil spirit tries to trans- plant into man the attitude of rivalry, insubordination and opposition to God, which has, as it were, become the motivation of all his existence.”

Battle for souls Insubordination and opposition to God! It is the defining characteristic of

photo: M. Pawlowski photo: Satan, which he managed to transmit „„St Michael conquering Satan by Gabriel Davioud, Place Saint-Michel, Paris, France to some of the angels, who shared his attitude of radical insubordination to them all the necessary charisms re- “For the salvation of even a single God. It is a continual, never-ending quired to fulfil the task and increase soul is worth the sacrifice of a lifetime struggle. At the beginning of the world their spiritual beauty.” From the Diary and the bearing of the greatest sacri- the first war broke out in the heavens, we learn that the personal mission fices and torments, seeing how great between St Michael and his angels and of St Faustina was assigned to her by the glory it gives God” (Diary 1435). the great dragon, the primeval ser- Jesus himself and that it was He who pent, and his angels. It was a war for a chose her for a special mission or to place in the heavens (Revelation 12:7- some extraordinary state. To live and 9). Since that time until the present to suffer for others was her particular Offering oneself day, that same battle for souls as well purpose and vocation in life: “You are as for their place in the heavens, goes not living for yourself but for souls, for others on. St Faustina also does battle, as this and other souls will profit from your Will Satan allow such activity? is what Jesus wants: “Do not fear, My sufferings. Your prolonged suffering Will he give up without a fight? little child, you are not alone. Fight will give them the light and strength Never! Jesus said that: “A man can bravely, because My arm is supporting to accept My will” (Diary 67). The have no greater love than to lay down you; fight for the salvation of souls, sacrifice which St Faustina was called his life for his friends” (John 15:13). exhorting them to trust in My mercy, to make would serve to rescue souls. Offering oneself for others, the ulti- as that is your task in this life and in The continual sacrifice would wrest mate act of love, always encounters the life to come” (Diary 1452). The souls from Satan’s grasp. She is aware opposition from Satan, whether di- Lord knows that St Faustina needs of this when she says: rectly or indirectly. St Padre Pio is someone to support her who is His “Daily I make great efforts to take an excellent example, as, above all, is right arm, that is, St Michael. Jesus part in community life, thereby gain- Jesus himself. First of all during his Himself did not take advantage of ing graces for the salvation of souls, temptation in the desert, before his his assistance, although he did say: shielding them by my sacrifice from call to conversion and announcement “... do you think that I cannot appeal the fire of hell. of the coming of the Kingdom of God to my Father who would promptly

The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 | 21 Apostle of the Divine Mercy send more than twelve legions of an- as an intercessor in hopeless cases, and like your brothers the prophets gels to my defence?” (Matthew 26:53). or St Anthony of Padua, who so ef- and like those who treasure what you However, Jesus did commission St ficaciously assists us in finding lost have written in this book. It is God Michael the Archangel to take par- objects. From the biography of St John that you must worship” (Revelation ticular care of his chosen one (Diary Vianney, we learn that it was a lesser- 22:8-9). The Church teaches us that 400). He commissioned St Michael known saint, St Philomena (who died we should worship God alone and, if to be with St Faustina in her battle AD 303-304) to whose intercession he we venerate angels and saints, we do against Satan and in her daily efforts effectively turned in all matters, and so only on His account. to save souls from destruction in hell. to whom he constructed an altar in the parish church in Ars. St Faustina’s testimony, however, immediately inclines us to look for the The first fragment reason behind such a great devotion to St Michael the Archangel. Who is St Faustina he and what is it about him which inspires and deserves such reverence? Diary No 667 We must begin by saying that the In this very short fragment, consist- cause of this reverence does not lie in ing of only one sentence, St Faustina any personal qualities possessed by St testifies to the reverence in which she Michael – neither the dignity of his held St Michael the Archangel and to nature, his pure and perfect spirit, the devotion which she had for him. his beauty, magnificence, mind or In order to gain greater insight into the will – that is, in none of the attributes text, it has been divided into three frag- with which the angelic nature was ments with No 2 and No 3 insights in endowed from the beginning of crea- the next issue of The Angels magazine tion. It is entirely perfect and flaw- St Faustina is full of wonder, re- in March 2018. less, as God does not create anything spect, reverence and admiration for 1) I have great reverence for Saint sub-standard or imperfect: “God saw St Michael the Archangel. The fun- Michael the Archangel all he had made and indeed it was damental and only reason behind 2) He had no example to follow in very good” (Genesis 1:31), which the such an attitude is, as she is at pains doing the will of God Church emphasises, teaching that to stress, the fact that he did the will 3) Yet he fulfilled God’s will faithfully. angels are spiritual and incorporeal of God. He is for her the angel re- beings. “As purely spiritual creatures, splendent in his wonder and bound- angels have intelligence and will; they less humility towards the Creator. He are personal and immortal creatures, is the angel who gazes at God with Great reverence surpassing in perfection all visible love, who learns the will of God and I have great reverence for St creatures, as the splendour of their courageously carries it out. Michael the Archangel. The first frag- glory bears witness” (Catechism of ment is a short and honest testimony. the Catholic Church 330). This is part of an extended booklet, Through it we perceive the sincere The very perfection of their nature further details of which can be and deep attachment that existed be- may incline us to the kind of venera- obtained on Page 29. tween St Faustina and St Michael the tion and worship owed strictly to God, Archangel. It is natural to have favour- as the highest Good, and to no other ‘St Faustina and St Michael’ personal ite saints, to whom we turn and whose creature (Luke 4:7-8). When St John contemplation and reflections help and intercession we experience knelt at the feet of the angel, who had by Fr Karol Dabrowski CSMA, Poland in our lives. These do not necessarily showed him extraordinary things, to have to be the best-known saints, such worship him, the angel said, “Don’t Adapted from the text by as St Jude, generally acknowledged do that: I am a servant just like you Noreen Bavister, Deputy Editor

22 | The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 News from Australia Great masters of the youth The two heroes for youth Bl Bronislaw Markiewicz and St Don celebrate the feast of Bl Markiewicz on Bosco honoured together in Horsley Park, NSW Australia. that day. I suggested that we join these two feasts together, because Bronislaw Markiewicz was the spiritual son of Don n the fall of 1885, Blessed Bronislaw Pell to give to our care another parish in Bosco. He was the first Salesian who Markiewicz left Poland to travel to the Archdiocese of Sydney. He offered us came from Italy to Poland. So, the two Italy. When he arrived in Turin, he several parishes to consider, and one of heroes of youth were celebrated together, Imet John Bosco, who welcomed him them was Our Lady of Victories, Horsley in Australia, at Horsley Park. On 31st with open arms and said to him: “I’ve Park, a suburb of Sydney in the state of January 2016, we honoured, for the first been waiting a long time for you.” So, New South Wales, Australia. time, both saints as Michaelite Fathers Don Bosco (as he is commonly known), who belong to the Greater Salesian introduced Bronislaw Markiewicz to Family, one of 30 officially recognised the Salesian Rule, the mission being groups of the Salesian Family of Don the education of the poor and aban- I felt at home Bosco. We joined with the members doned youth. Bronislaw entered the I remember that it was the feast of and friends of the Maltese Past Pupils & Salesians and on the day of his profes- St John Bosco. When we came into Friends and the Don Bosco Association. sion, at the holy founder’s (John Bosco) the church, I was amazed at the ar- The statue of Don Bosco was request, committed himself with an chitecture and immediately I saw the placed to the side of the altar, in a more additional vow, to remain faithful to statue of John Bosco with St Dominic prominent position together with a the Rule. Bronislaw became a Salesian Savio. I felt quite at home at that mo- framed picture of Blessed Bronislaw in 1887 and Don Bosco continued to ment. When our Local Superior, Fr Markiewicz. direct him spiritually. Janusz Bieniek asked me later: “Do Fr Carmelo Sciberras, who is the you want to stay here and begin the chaplain of the pupils, preached and pastoral work as a Michaelite?” I felt emphasised during his homily that sure that God was sending me to this even today the education system of Pastoral services parish. Today, I am very proud to work Don Bosco is still relevant for our On 31st January 1888, Don Bosco with this community and share the youth. Also, Fr Claude Borg, former rendered his soul to God. Bronislaw Michaelite charism. Parish Priest, prayed with us on this Markiewicz’s task was to perform pas- important occasion. toral services in Turin, but he was soon A procession with the statue took struck down by tuberculosis. He re- place on the parish grounds followed turned to Poland in 1892 as a Salesian Spiritual son of by refreshments at Marion Hall. and dedicated himself to the poor and Thanks be to God and to all those who abandoned Polish youth. Don Bosco assisted in making this celebration a Ten years ago, my General Superior Two years ago, Mr Mark Caruana, unique historic occasion, which we at the time, Fr Kazimierz Radzik, sent me the president of the Pupils of Don hope augurs well for the future. to Australia to support our Michaelite Bosco in Sydney, asked me to organ- Fathers in their pastoral work. Four ise the feast for Don Bosco during our Fr Dominik Karnas CSMA NSW, years ago, we asked Cardinal George parish Mass. I told him that we would Australia

The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 | 23 Sacramentals of the Catholic Church The cross as a symbol of the Christian faith The cross, as the symbol of the redemption of humanity, occupies first place in order of importance among the sacramentals of the Catholic Church. It lies at the very essence of Christianity, of faith in the Son of God, who came down from heaven and gave his life in order to save us and to atone for our sins.

eminding us of the sacrifice of- before battle. It was this particular centuries. It was originally made, with fered for our sins, the cross has, Roman ruler who (in AD 313), later three fingers upon the forehead, relat- from earliest Christian times issued the Edict of Milan, which end- ing to the three persons of the Blessed Runtil the present day, been a sign of ed the era of persecution of Christians Trinity. Similarly, the present-day recognition, and, being rooted in within the empire, allowing complete practice of making the Sign of the Christ’s teaching, is visible in every religious toleration. Cross, using all five fingers, relates to Catholic church and in the churches Over time, the cross as the symbol the five wounds of Christ. of most Christian denominations. of the redemption, began to appear It is worth citing the words of The significance of this symbol to ever more openly in the public do- Tertullian, who wrote of the Sign Christianity can be demonstrated by main, in the decoration of liturgical of the Cross, as follows: “In all our the fact that those who actively pro- vestments and on other sacramentals, endeavours – when we go in or out, claim its antithesis, that is, Satanists on graves, churches and in church in- before we enter the bathhouse, dress, and believers in the occult, who reject teriors, particularly upon altars. when we eat our meals, when we light and deride the sacrifice of Christ, use At this same period there was the lamps in the evening, when we as their basic symbol, the inverted an increase in the veneration of al- lie down to rest, when we sit down ‘Southern’ cross. leged relics of the true cross, sent out to read, before we begin to carry-out throughout the Christian world by any new activity, we should make the the 7th century Byzantine emperor, Sign of the Cross on our foreheads.” Heraclius. It was only on the cusp of In heaven and in the 6th and 7th centuries that crosses, which had hitherto simply represent- the bathhouse ed two crossed planks of wood, be- A road already In the early Christian centuries, gan to include figures of the crucified the sign of the cross was frequently Jesus, therefore becoming crucifixes. travelled and laid- made to form part of other symbols, Quite apart from the increased such as the anchor, or was used in significance of the representation of out for us by Mary monograms, so as not to be imme- the cross in material form in the de- The devotional practice of making diately identifiable to potential per- velopment of the Christian Rite, the the Way of the Cross is indissolubly secutors of the Church. The ending practice of making the Sign of the linked with the Sign of the Cross. As is of the era of persecution was itself Cross with the right hand as a sign the case with the majority of elements linked to the sign of the cross, viewed of witness to one’s faith had also been within the Christian tradition, the in the sky by Constantine on the day accepted from the earliest Christian Way of the Cross has its beginnings

24 | The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 Photo: Simon Matzinger, www.unsplash.com Simon Matzinger, Photo: in the Holy Land and the devotional particular, the elderly, sick and lonely, you, as God’s particular gift, in His practices of the Crusaders and pil- to daily make this devotion. The ap- ever-merciful love”. grims from the 5th century onwards. ostolate takes as its basis the words of These were the words of St Francis According to revelations made to Jesus himself : “If anyone wants to be de Sales on the subject of the cross St Brigid, the practice of making the a follower of mine, let him renounce carried by each of us in imitation of Way of the Cross was started by Our himself and take up his cross every day the cross of Christ. Apart from the Blessed Mother, who daily walked the and follow me” (Luke 9:23). fact that the cross, as a symbol, re- way of the passion, praying at points minds us of the of Christ’s Passion and along the road particularly linked to death, endured by Our Saviour for the sufferings of Her Son. There are our redemption, it is also a metaphor also narratives which claim that the No cross for the pain and suffering which God Apostles did the same. sometimes permits in order for us, in The devotional practice of the Way is too heavy our limited way, to bear a small part of the Cross was, however, not popu- “The Eternal God, in his wisdom, in that redemptive suffering. larised in Europe until the end of the had anticipated the cross which He Let us then remember this when medieval era, particularly due to the now gives to you as a gift from the this sign, which brings together and effort of the Franciscan Order. It was very depths of His heart. This cross, unites millions of the faithful, becomes at this time that Stations of the Cross which he sends you, was encompassed the object of mockery or of vulgar, began to be constructed in European by His all-seeing eyes, conceived by pseudo-artistic profanation. May it towns and villages, the number of his divine intelligence, tested by his remain for us a sign of recognition, which, curiously, was not always the wise justice, warmed by his loving identifying us as a community of same. A great effort in propagating arms, weighed in his own hands, so those who have entrusted themselves the devotion of the Way of the Cross that it would be neither a centimetre to Christ, and, filled with gratitude was made by St Leonard of Porto too long or a gram too heavy. He has for His Sacrifice, are prepared to have Maurizio. It was also at this time that blessed it by His Holy Name, anoint- a share in it. Pope Innocent XI granted indulgences ed it by His grace, filled it with the to those making the Way of the Cross. fragrance of His consolation. He has Prepared by Karol Wojteczek, The Franciscan Apostolate of the Way then taken a last look at you, weighed- based upon “Handbook of Catholic of the Cross continues to be active to up your courage, and has, at last, sent Sacramentals” by Ann Ball this day, encouraging people, and in it down from heaven especially for and “Signs of Life” by Scott Hahn

The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 | 25 Angelic advice Do we know our constant www. wikipedia.org www. companion? „„For Fame by Jacek Malczewski, 1903 The truth that we have a guardian angel is one of the loveliest of our Catholic faith. But perhaps parents do not talk to their children enough about it. Sadly, some peo- ple even doubt their existence, but we have the evidence in scripture and tradition.

n the book of Exodus the Lord says, any of these little ones, for I tell you that of course we thank him at the end of the “I myself will send an angel before their angels in heaven are continually in day for being our constant companion. you to guard you as you go and to the presence of My Father in heaven.” You can be sure that our guardian Ibring you to the place I have prepared Angels come in many guises. When angel helps us when we come to die. He for you”; and the psalmist wrote, “For Saint Peter was imprisoned in Jerusalem is the one who conducts our soul to the he will command his angels concerning the jail door was suddenly opened for Judgement Seat of God and will console you to guard you in all your ways; they him and he was led to freedom. Surely, us in purgatory. They see in their charges will lift you up in their hands, so that that must have been his guardian an- souls of priceless value since they have you will not strike your foot against a gel? I think we have all had similar ex- been redeemed by the blood of Christ. stone. You will tread on the lion and the periences in our lives. We have been We shall never know from how cobra; you will trample the great lion in difficulties, unable to see a way out many dangers our guardian angels have and the serpent” (Ps 91:11-14). and having almost given up hope, when saved us, nor how much of our salva- In the time of Jesus the Jews had a someone suddenly arrives with just the tion is actually due to him. His work firm belief in the part angels played in help we need. We may even have said, is a work of love. How can we ever be their daily lives. Every nation had its ‘Oh, you are an angel!’ So often when able to repay him for the love that he angel. Every natural force, such as the we feel desperate God sends that special has shown us? Loving God and our wind, thunder, lightning and rain had messenger at the right moment. neighbour is the only reward he desires. its angel. Each person had an angel who It is comforting to remember that So let us love our guardian angel with informed and guided him or her. So we have our own personal ally through- sincere affection, and try to be more when Jesus spoke about children having out life. We can hold conversations with aware of his presence in our lives. Let us guardian angels this was nothing new. our guardian angel, asking for his help often say the well-known prayer to our Every single human being, Christian at the beginning of each day or at the guardian angel: Angel of God, my guard- or non-Christian, whether in grace or start of a journey. He can guide us ian dear, / To whom God’s love commits in sin, remains during their entire life through our daily problems and he can me here. / Ever this day be at my side under the care of a guardian angel. And give us the strength to fight temptations / To light, to guard, to rule and guide. it is generally believed that each human and keep Satan at bay. We can beg for being has his or her distinct guardian his guidance when we need counselling Fr Francis Maple angel not assigned to anyone else. It is over important decisions we have to The Franciscan Friary, Pantasaph, the words of Our Lord that point to this make. He can help us to prepare well for Holywell, Flintshire, Wales conclusion, “See that you never despise Holy Communion and Confession, and www.fatherfrancismaple.co.uk

26 | The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 We recommend It is As it Is True story of a shared friendship and the process of dying

ehind the gaily-patterned soft whom has terminal cancer. However, cover of It is As it Is hides a rich the real value of the memoir lies in its banquet of thoughts and feel- unflinching look at the process of dy- Bings, plus a critically important mes- ing. So much about death is segregated sage for our times. or sanitized in society today that we are The book covers a three-year period in danger of losing all perspective on „It is as it is”, becomes Prudentia’s during which the author has regular the subject. It is As it Is reminds us that default answer when she does not contact with an old friend. They create dying is not a failure to live. Rather, it want to speculate on the reasons that a strong bond out of shared faith and a is another stage of life to be navigated accompany end-of-life issues. love of pastries. When they were girls to the best of our ability, with the as- Malina thinks this response is a cop- at school together in Poland they had sistance of family and friends. out but she eventually finds contentment jokingly called each other Sr Prudentia Told in a series of journal entries, simply sitting in silence by Prudentia’s and Sr Sapientia, of the ‘Congregation we get Malina’s view of the next few bedside. The “otherness” of Malina and of Cake-Eating Sisters’. Their lives have years culminating in Prudentia’s death. Prudentia’s lives never distracts from diverged and they find many years later It is a testament to Stahre-Godycka’s the story, though. Here they are sim- that they are both living in Sweden. skill that we are able to follow both ply two people with a shared history Each is now married and has a grown- women’s points of view. This is par- who choose to accompany each other up child. By the time they reconnect, ticularly useful because dying is as through a major life event. Prudentia’s Prudentia is dying of cancer. curious a process for the person dying acceptance of Malina’s presence is as The author, Malina Stahre- as for someone observing. Prudentia is generous as Malina’s offer of it. Godycka was born and brought up matter-of-fact about sharing her jour- Their willingness to share this most in Communist Poland. She studied ney. “It’s a very good thing I can be personal of encounters with us is even law there and left the country to trav- of such use to you and possibly even more generous. I would recommend el extensively. She settled in Sweden other people,” she says to her friend, It is As it Is to anyone who has experi- where she married. Here she began “everyone wants to be useful.” enced serious illness themselves or with her writing career, with a translation Repeatedly we see that death, someone they love. And perhaps even into Polish of a work by the famous like life, varies from one day to the more to anyone who fears that. American-Swiss psychiatrist, Elisabeth next, from one person to another. Kübler-Ross. Kübler-Ross was famous Sometimes it brings humour, cour- This article is a compilation for her classic description of the stages age, even joy. Other times it brings by two authors of grieving and mourning. depression, anger and guilt. As death Kevin Martin for Veritas As the author puts it: “The source approaches, it seems to distil the es- and by Alice Matisz of many of our troubles surely lies in sence of a person making them more Lethbridge Herald Dec 2016 the fact that we are afraid when life “themselves” than ever before. Malina does not go as we would wish and real struggles to accept her friend when fil- Title: “It Is As It Is: A True Story of life begins to diverge from the vision of ters of politeness and political correct- Hope, Loss and Friendship” reality we have created for ourselves.” ness are scoured by pain. Prudentia, By Malina Stahre-Godycka. On the surface, this book is a true in turn, is frustrated by Malina’s end- Published and available from story about a friendship between two less questions about experiences that Veritas bookshops and online at women, Prudentia and Malina, one of are not best processed with intellect. www.veritasbooksonline.com

The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 | 27 Missions and retreats England 2018 2nd – 4th November 2018 8th September 2018 Holy Angels 5.00 pm Teaching on St Michael 10th February 2018 and Knighthood of St Michael and The Knighthood incl. private Talks St Michael with Eucharistic Healing Hour devotion and prayers / Dangers of New Age Sandymount House of Prayer 7:30 pm Holy Mass and homily with Eucharistic Healing Hour 16 Burbo Bank Road followed by Holy Hour 8.00 am – 4.00 pm Liverpool L23 6 TH Saint Eunan's Cathedral Holy Mass 9:15 am Contact: Stuart Sentry Hill, Letterkenny West Bromwich Bethel Centre, Phone: +44-(0)-756-488-2006 Co. Donegal. Birmingham. B70 7JW Email: Contact: Fr Eamonn Kelly Contact: Fr Soji Olikkal [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: +44-(0)-121-747-7390 www.sandymountcrosby.co.uk Email: [email protected] www.sehion.org USA 2018 11th February 2018 Scotland 2018 10:00 am Sunday Mass 24th May 2018 St Gerard’s Catholic Church 5th National Indianapolis 2 Renfrew Square Divine Mercy Conference Contact: Kathy Denny Yatesbury Avenue, Castle Vale, Saturday 20th October 2017 Email: [email protected] Birmingham B35 6JT 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Contact: Fr Soji Olikkal Theme of conference: TBC 26th – 27th May 2018 Phone: +44-(0)-121-747-7390 St Augustine’s Church, Divine Mercy Email: [email protected] 12 Dundyvan Road, The Holy Cross Catholic Church Langloan, Coatbridge, 2300 Main Street 6th April 2018 ML5 1DQ Batavia, Illinois 60510 – 7625 (Mass time to be confirmed) Contact: Helen Border Contact: Fr James Parker Divine Mercy Email: Phone: +1-630-879-4750 and St Michael the Archangel [email protected] Email: [email protected] St Leo’s RC Church Lickers Lane, Wiston, 1st – 3rd June 2018 Liverpool L35 9PN Walking in the Spirit of Mercy Contact: Fr Michael McCormack Ireland 2018 and the Holy Angels retreat Phone: +44-(0)-151-424-2129 St Clare’s Retreat Centre, Email: [email protected] 6th September 2018 2381 Laurel Glen Road, 95073 7:30 pm Holy Mass Soquel, California Divine Mercy Sunday Talk: The Knighthood Phone: +1-831-423-8093 8th April 2018 of Michael the Archangel Email: [email protected] 2.00 pm Holy Mass Church of Immaculate www.stclaresretreatcenter.com St Charles Borremeo Conception Catholic Church, Convent Hill, 8th – 9thJune 2018 12 Jarratt Street, Hull, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork Abba Father Institute East Yorkshire, HU1 3HB Contact: Fr Michael Fitzgerald San Diego, California Contact: Fr Paul Dowling Phone: +353-(0)-86-258-4062 Contact: Filip Ponulak Phone: +44-(0)-1482-329-100 Email: michaelstownparishoffice@ Email: Email: stcharleshull@stcharleshull. eircom.net [email protected] karoo.co.uk www.abbafatherinstitute.org

28 | The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 NEW BooK! Q&A Booklet Double CDs Talks by Fr Peter St Faustina St Michael Prusakiewicz (CSMA) and St Michael the Archangel angels in the Bible talks including Fr Peter and holy angels Prusakiewicz CSMA leading and explaining each decade of the angelic chaplet St Michael the Archangel Many questions and the holy angels to St Michael the Archangel Making the most of the presence of answered on this Archangel and the angels in our lives Q&A’s St Michael Based on the teachings your guardian of the Catholic Church Including the immense value of scapular of St Michael the Archangel the Archangel angel, St Michael The power of the nine choirs of angels and his angels and a descriptive representation of Basic talks the nine choirs of on Divine Mercy

Father Peter Prusakiewicz CSMA Chief Editor of THE ANGELS messengers from a loving God magazine & Holy Angels angels General animator of The Knighthood of St Michael the Archangel Marki, Warsaw, Poland. advanced Talks Set No 1 Divine Knighthood Mercy & Holy Angels Life and mission booklet of Blessed St Faustina is full of wonder, fr Michael Sopocko respect, reverence and admiration for St Michael the Archangel. The of St Michael The secrets fundamental and only reason and spiritual behind such an attitude is, as she with angelic The Knights life of St Faustina chaplet and of St Michael is at pains to stress, the fact that the Archangel One Double CD many prayers he did the will of God. He is for £10 / €12 / $15 Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptised her the angel resplendent in his will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be Mix and match sets available associated with believers: in My Name they will cast out Devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will wonder and boundless humility pick up snakes in their hands and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their towards the Creator. He is the hands on the sick, who will recover. angel who gazes at God with love, (Mark 16:15-18) who learns the will of God and Who Scapular of St Michael, courageously carries it out. is like God! angelic beads and Contemplation and re ections St Michael prayer card by Fr Karol Dąbrowski CSMA book / booklets / St Michael stone £5.50 / €6.50 / $9.00 £4.00 / €5.00 / $7.00 £4.00 / €5.00 / $7.00 incl. postage incl. postage – see form inside To orDer – see form inside Write, phone or email: O ce of the Knighthood For uSA & canada only: of St Michael The Angel Magazine C/O PO Box 4332, Harlington, 1401 Whittier Road, Grosse Dunstable, Beds, LU6 9DG. UK Pointe Park, MI 48230, USA Phone: +44 (0) 7795–318–605. Phone: +1 (313) 647–5072 Email: Email: [email protected] [email protected]

The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 | 29 Distribution co-ordinators Africa Sonia Starc Veritas Shop Fr Silvester Bukenya 20 Field St, Craigieburn 20 Shipquay Street Our Lady of Visitation Victoria 3064, Australia Derry BT48 6DW. Mbuye Catholic Parish Email: [email protected] Contact: Lucy Gillespie PO Box 103 Rakai, Phone: +61–413–314–718 Phone: +44 28–7126–6888 Kyotera, Uganda Email: [email protected] Bosnia and Herzegovina Termonbacca Retreat Centre Divine Mercy Center Derry BT48 9XE Father Ssengendo Charles Lwanga Medjugorje, Bosnia and Hercegovina Contact: Philomena Henderson Contact: Marijana Dugandzic Phone: +44 28–7126–2512 St. Karoli Lwanga, Email: [email protected] Ggaba Parish Phone: +387–63–403–614 Top News PO Box 9415, Kampala, Uganda 3 Georges Street, Omagh BT78 1DE Contact: Jackie Kemigisha Croatia Contact: Lucia Hughes Phone: +256–782–353–724 Vjekoslav Klaric Phone: +44 28–8224–0084 Email: [email protected] Zagrebacka 197, 4200 Varazdin, Croatia Japan Susan Tasiya Phone: +385–995–989–421 Maria Socorro Latoja-Kawasaki PO Box AD759ADD, 201 Musashino, Postnet Kgale, Gaborone, Ireland Samariya Mansion, Botswana, Africa Main Co-ordinator for subscriptions 2-16-1 Naka-cho, Musashino City Phone: +26–77211–3861 Noreen Bavister Tokyo 180-0006, Japan Email: [email protected] PO Box 4332 Harlington Dunstable Email: [email protected] Beds LU6 9DG UK Phone: +81–90–6185–6537 Rev. Fr Christopher Geh Kum Email: [email protected] Douala Archdiocesan Phone: + 44 (0) 7795 - 318 - 605 Mauritius Youth Movement Carl Ma Poon PMB 10.010 Buea, Cameroon Bookshop Veritas, La Cocheyle Phone: +23–767–773–2710 Also supplies The Knighthood booklets Tombeau Bay, Mauritius Phone: +23–769–740–8284 Knock Shrine Bookshop Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Knock, Claremorris. Phone: +230-592-888-88 Co. Mayo F12 Y226 Phone: +230-247-2938 Argentina Phone: +353–94–937–5030 Monaco Christian Minniti Northern Ireland Bookshops Miss Chimese Nkwabilo Av. Del Libertador 2424 Our Lady of Bethlehem Abbey Le Castel, Apt 202, 9 Avenue, Crovetto, Piso 8 Departamento 2 The Cistercian Repository Freres, MC 98000, Monaco Buenos Aires, C1425AAX, Argentina 11 Ballymena Road, Portglenone. Phone: +33–66111–5945 Email: [email protected] County Antrim BT44 8BL Email: [email protected] Phone: +54–911–3911–7191 Contact: +44 28–2582–2404 Phone: Pat Cuskeran Philippines Australia Davina M Padill (LADMA) Holy Spirit Catholic Church St Mary’s Repository Lipa Archdiocesan 2 Cooney St North Ryde The Holy Shop Divine Mercy Pastoral Center NSW 2113, Australia 7 Chapel Lane, Belfast BT1 1HH Gen Luna St corner P. Laygo St Contact: Fr Stan Kluk CSMA Contact: Fiona Docherty Sabang, Lipa City, 4217 Philippines Phone: +61–298–882–569 Phone: +44 28–9032–7848 Phone: +63–939–913–1359 Email: [email protected] Email: info@the holyshop.co.uk Phone: +63–43–756–5583

30 | The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 PRAYERS Poland Mona Rahael Fr Peter Prusakiewicz Missionaries of The Divine Mercy The prayer The Angel Magazine – Head Office An Apostolate of The Sanctuary of St Gertrude The Congregation of the Holy Family of St Michael the Archangel 18 Windsor Road, for holy souls ul. Pilsudskiego 248/252 Goodwood Park 05-261 Marki, Warsaw, Poland Trinidad, West Indies Eternal Father, I offer Thee Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] the Most Precious Blood of Thy Phone: +1-868-678-2636 Divine Son, Jesus, in union with Scotland the Masses said throughout the Lily Lister, USA world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners every- 8 Bridge Street, Colleen Keelan where, for sinners in the universal Arbroath, Angus DD11 1RJ The Angel Magazine church, those in my own home Email: [email protected] 1401 Whittier Road and within my family. Amen. Phone: +44(0)7999–868–412 Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230, USA Carfin Pilgrimage Centre Phone: +1–313–647–5072 Sited at the National Email: Marian Shrine [email protected] Carfin, Motherwell www.stmichaelthearchangel.us Lanarkshire ML1 5AL Contact: Margaret McGuigan United Kingdom Phone: +44 (0)1698–268–941 and Worldwide Noreen Bavister Singapore P.O. Box 4332 Harlington Anthony Tay Dunstable Beds, LU6 9DG UK

Magnificiate Media Pte Ltd 623, Email: [email protected] wikipedia.org www. Aljunied Road, # 07–04 Aljunied Phone: +44 (0) 7795–318–605 „„St Gertrude by Miguel Cabrera, 1763 Industrial Complex, www.stmichaelthearchangel.info Singapore 389835 St Joseph Phone: +65–9144–4400 LONDON Email: [email protected] ST PAULS Bookshop novena prayer by Westminster Cathedral Footprints Books Morpeth Terrace, Victoria Almighty God, You have chosen & Magazines – Distributor London SW1P 1EP Saint Joseph to be the mainstay of 291A Compassvale Street, Email: [email protected] Jesus and Mary, the wise and faithful #02-290 Singapore 541291 Phone: +44(0)20–7828–5582 servant in whom they could trust. Email: [email protected] We pray that he may truly be the guardian of Your Church; that he Mobile: + 65–8612–5610 may inspire with confidence those who are devoted to him; that he may Trinidad & Tobago Chief Editor: give security to those who work in Lisa Hosein Father Peter Prusakiewicz CSMA the vineyard of Your Son and, finally, Lange Park, Chaguanas, Deputy Editor that he may be a source of strength Trinidad & Tobago and Chief Co-ordinator: to us who wish, like him, to dedicate Email: [email protected] Noreen Bavister ourselves to Christ’s service, now Phone: +1 868–726–6308 and in times to come. Amen.

The Angels | Vol 8 | issue 4 | 2017 | 31 PRAYERS Chaplet of St Michael

L. In the name of the Father, and of 3. By the intercession of St Michael the Son and of the Holy Spirit. and the celestial Choir of Thrones, A. Amen may the Lord infuse into our hearts a true and sincere spirit of Say the following prayer on the medal: humility. Amen. (1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys) O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. 4. By the intercession of St Michael and Glory be to the Father, etc. the celestial Choir of Dominions, may the Lord give us grace to gov- 1. By the intercession of St Michael ern our senses and subdue our un- and the celestial Choir of ruly passions. Amen. Seraphim, may the Lord make us (1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys) worthy to burn with the fire of per- fect charity. Amen. 5. By the intercession of St Michael (1 Our Father on the first large and the celestial Choir of Powers, bead, 3 Hail Marys on the next may the Lord vouchsafe to protect three small beads) our souls against the snares and temptations of the Devil. Amen. 2. By the intercession of St Michael (1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys) protected by them in this mortal and the celestial Choir of life and conducted hereafter to eter- Cherubim, may the Lord vouchsafe 6. By the intercession of St Michael nal glory. Amen. to grant us grace to leave the ways and the celestial Choir of Virtues, (1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys) of wickedness, to run in the paths may the Lord deliver us from evil of Christian perfection. Amen. and suffer us not to fall into temp- Recite on the next four beads: (1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys) tation. Amen. (1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys) 1 Our Father in honour of St Michael 7. By the intercession of St Michael 1 Our Father in honour Prayer and the Celestial Choir of of St Gabriel of Pope Leo XIII Principalities, may God fill our 1 Our Father in honour souls with a true spirit of obedi- of St Raphael Saint Michael the Archangel, ence. Amen. 1 Our Father in honour defend us in battle, (1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys) of our Guardian Angel be our protection against the wickedness 8. By the intercession of St Michael and O glorious prince, St Michael, chief and snares of the Devil. the celestial Choir of Archangels, and commander of the heavenly May God rebuke him, may the Lord give us perseverance hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher we humbly pray and do thou, in faith and in all good works, in of rebel spirits, servant in the house O Prince of the heavenly host, order that we gain the glory of of the Divine King, and our admirable by the Divine Power of God, cast into hell Satan Paradise. Amen. conductor, who shines with excellence and all the evil spirits (1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys) and superhuman virtue, vouchsafe to who wander throughout deliver us from evil, who turn to you the world seeking 9. By the intercession of St Michael with confidence, and enable us by your the ruin of souls. and the celestial Choir of Angels, gracious protection to serve God more Amen. may the Lord grant us to be and more faithfully every day. Amen.