Ijournal entry 100217 #39. October, Month of The Holy Rosary. The Rule of St. Benedict. Quotes by St. Josemaría Escrivá, St. Mark the Ascetic, and Fr. William Saunders. "HOW EVERYDAY PEOPLE LIVE OUT THEIR CHRISTIAN FAITH", from Christian Heart Ministry. "The battle for souls -The mystic saints vs. the demons", by Glenn Dallaire. Audio presentation: "Refurbishing the Soul", Episode 7, by Babsie Bleasdell.
"From the very beginning, Christians continued the Jewish tradition of praying and singing the 150 psalms as part of their sacred routine of daily prayer. By the Middle Ages, however, a largely illiterate population could neither appreciate the historical events to which the psalms referred, nor could they memorize and recite the psalms in Latin. Therefore, in the early 13th century a scriptural meditation was thoughtfully adapted for those who desired to participate in the sanctification of daily life through a cycle of prayer meant to complement the Divine Office chanted by the more educated monks and nuns.
What became known as the rosary was the recitation of the Aves and Paters (the Our Father and Hail Mary) that were counted off on a ring of beads numbering 150. The mysteries of the New Testament were meditated upon within this "mirror" of the 150 Old Testament psalms. Hence, Salvation History itself permeated this simple method of prayer. The repetition allowed for a rhythmic breathing, leading the participant to an inner realm of peace and calm. The rosary eventually became a favored personal devotion among many people, including the learned laity and religious.
The name rosary was derived from the rose, a flower having a great depth of symbolism. One of the spiritual titles given to the Virgin Mary, Mystical Rose, referred to her womb as the developing flower of Christ the Savior. Moreover, the patient unfolding of the five concentric petals of the rose was likened to our own patient mastery of the five senses, the integration of all the creative and life-communicating energies of a human person. Yet the blossoming of the spiritual life could only be achieved and maintained by the defensive "thorn" of daily perseverance. Through the centuries the Dominican Order has been very influential in the promotion of the rosary as we know it today. Other religious communities also developed and practiced their own particular form of this prayer"
Taken from the Introduction of The Franciscan Crown: The Joyful Mysteries in the lives of the Virgin Mary and Saint Francis of Assisi. Robert Melnick, O.F.M. Conv. & Joseph Wood, O.F.M.
What became known as the rosary was the recitation of the Aves and Paters (the Our Father and Hail Mary) that were counted off on a ring of beads numbering 150. The mysteries of the New Testament were meditated upon within this "mirror" of the 150 Old Testament psalms. Hence, Salvation History itself permeated this simple method of prayer. The repetition allowed for a rhythmic breathing, leading the participant to an inner realm of peace and calm. The rosary eventually became a favored personal devotion among many people, including the learned laity and religious.
The name rosary was derived from the rose, a flower having a great depth of symbolism. One of the spiritual titles given to the Virgin Mary, Mystical Rose, referred to her womb as the developing flower of Christ the Savior. Moreover, the patient unfolding of the five concentric petals of the rose was likened to our own patient mastery of the five senses, the integration of all the creative and life-communicating energies of a human person. Yet the blossoming of the spiritual life could only be achieved and maintained by the defensive "thorn" of daily perseverance. Through the centuries the Dominican Order has been very influential in the promotion of the rosary as we know it today. Other religious communities also developed and practiced their own particular form of this prayer"
Taken from the Introduction of The Franciscan Crown: The Joyful Mysteries in the lives of the Virgin Mary and Saint Francis of Assisi. Robert Melnick, O.F.M. Conv. & Joseph Wood, O.F.M.
The Rule of St. Benedict
"We must be on our guard, then, against evil desires, for death lies close by the gate of delight; whence Scripture gives this command: Go not after thy concupiscences. So if the eyes of the Lord behold the good and the evil, and the Lord is ever looking down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there be any that understand and seek God; and if our deeds are daily, day and night, reported to the Lord by the angels assigned to us: then, brethren, must we constantly beware, as the prophet says in the psalm, lest God some day behold us falling into evil ways, and turned unprofitable, and spare us for this present time, because he is merciful and awaits our amendment, but should say to us in the future: These things didst thou do, and I was silent"
MC= How vigilant is the dark one, always prowling around to catch us drowsy or half asleep. Sometimes we are even fast asleep, mesmerized by the things of this world. Lord have mercy. Being cognizant of God's watchful eyes should be the stimulant to keep us awake to the things of God, His ways, and what is His call to us in each circumstance befalling us. May we always make amends for our many offenses and seek to please God always. He you are the exception, then Praise the Lord, Laudate Donimum.
"We must be on our guard, then, against evil desires, for death lies close by the gate of delight; whence Scripture gives this command: Go not after thy concupiscences. So if the eyes of the Lord behold the good and the evil, and the Lord is ever looking down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there be any that understand and seek God; and if our deeds are daily, day and night, reported to the Lord by the angels assigned to us: then, brethren, must we constantly beware, as the prophet says in the psalm, lest God some day behold us falling into evil ways, and turned unprofitable, and spare us for this present time, because he is merciful and awaits our amendment, but should say to us in the future: These things didst thou do, and I was silent"
MC= How vigilant is the dark one, always prowling around to catch us drowsy or half asleep. Sometimes we are even fast asleep, mesmerized by the things of this world. Lord have mercy. Being cognizant of God's watchful eyes should be the stimulant to keep us awake to the things of God, His ways, and what is His call to us in each circumstance befalling us. May we always make amends for our many offenses and seek to please God always. He you are the exception, then Praise the Lord, Laudate Donimum.
💭"Pronounce the Our Father and the Hail Marys of each decade [of the rosary] clearly and without rushing: this will help you always to get more and more out of this way of loving Mary". By St. Josemaría Escrivá
🐽 “Conquer temptations by patience and prayer. If you oppose them without these, you will fall all the more severely". By St. Mark the Ascetic
🌔 "God gave mankind the gift of language which should be used positively. Language should build good relationships with other individuals, and enable people to share their lives intimately with each other. Sadly, more and more, we hear in normal conversation profanity.Such language is not only negative, vulgar, impolite and offensive, but also debases the dignity of each human being.Take for instance the word Hell. First of all, no one should make light of Hell, that place of eternal damnation. Yet, people use the word is so many ways today: in anger, "Go to Hell!"; in surprise, "What the Hell!"; in greeting, "How the hell are you?"; or in inquiry, "What the hell are you doing here? Or, "What the hell are you doing?" No only are these various usages demonstrative of poor English, they show a lack of respect for what Hell is. Perhaps if a person really believed he could end up in Hell, he would not be so casual in using the term. Each of us needs to be careful in our use of language. Objectively, using God's name in vain, cursing and blasphemy are mortally sinful, although lack of due reflection or habit can diminish culpability. Profanity too can be mortally sinful when done with great anger or viciousness against another person. Each of us needs to control our tongues, and prevent a bad language habit from becoming part of our person. St. James wisely admonished:
🐽 “Conquer temptations by patience and prayer. If you oppose them without these, you will fall all the more severely". By St. Mark the Ascetic
🌔 "God gave mankind the gift of language which should be used positively. Language should build good relationships with other individuals, and enable people to share their lives intimately with each other. Sadly, more and more, we hear in normal conversation profanity.Such language is not only negative, vulgar, impolite and offensive, but also debases the dignity of each human being.Take for instance the word Hell. First of all, no one should make light of Hell, that place of eternal damnation. Yet, people use the word is so many ways today: in anger, "Go to Hell!"; in surprise, "What the Hell!"; in greeting, "How the hell are you?"; or in inquiry, "What the hell are you doing here? Or, "What the hell are you doing?" No only are these various usages demonstrative of poor English, they show a lack of respect for what Hell is. Perhaps if a person really believed he could end up in Hell, he would not be so casual in using the term. Each of us needs to be careful in our use of language. Objectively, using God's name in vain, cursing and blasphemy are mortally sinful, although lack of due reflection or habit can diminish culpability. Profanity too can be mortally sinful when done with great anger or viciousness against another person. Each of us needs to control our tongues, and prevent a bad language habit from becoming part of our person. St. James wisely admonished:
James 3:7-1" "Every form of life, four-footed or winged, crawling or swimming, can be tamed, and has been tamed, by mankind; the tongue no man can tame. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. We use it to say, 'Praised be the Lord and Father'; then we use it to curse men, though they are made in the likeness of God. Blessing and curse come out of the same mouth. This ought not to be, my brothers!". By Fr. William Saunders |
A couple of recent outings have provided the fodder for this veggie entry. It was an amazing surprise while out with a non Catholic friend, she informed me that, not one, but two older ladies in her church informed her that cooking big meals on Sunday was not the right thing to do. One have since passed on into eternity, may God bless her soul for trying to spread good news and keep the fires of purity and perfection burning brightly. Our conversation started in a French Quarter cafe, she mentioned how she didn't get all her washing done, and that she would be completing in later on, it was a Sunday afternoon when we gathered for fellowship. Learning now, to politely share the truth, as the corporal and spiritual works of mercy which the church have deemed it a Christian responsibility not to be taken lightly is to be adhered to. It's to speak the truth, and move on. In times past, how ignorant of me for trying to force feed truth. Now doing much better in this area. It was perfect what we learned from a speaker at a workshop one Saturday at the seminary. The Saint the speaker quoted was St. Augustine: "The truth is like a lion; you don't have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself". So with a poem that will be an upcoming veggie, it's not to have much to say, but to pray, pray, pray.
The first thing shared with the person was that we were not to do any servile work on a Sunday, but she was aware of that, that was why she said Friday nights are her routine wash days.
The first thing shared with the person was that we were not to do any servile work on a Sunday, but she was aware of that, that was why she said Friday nights are her routine wash days.
That led to me share something that was on my reading leader board recently about meal preparation time on a Sunday. It was stated that the meal should not take longer than two hours or so to prepare. Couldn't believe that she knew that and as a Catholic that info had never crossed my path. This caused me to wonder how many people know and practice this. Knowing and doing, now that's two different things:
After discovering this, shared it with Cathy, she is my bud who likes to learn what she can to become a better Christian, as we and some of you have similar goals, we are laboring for a front row seat, possible by the mercy and grace of God. Many of us are trying to be pleasing in God's sight, by learning and growing in the spirit, rather than being on cruise control or "luke warming" it for the long haul. It's so refreshing to be inspired by others making haste while it is still day, thank you all for helping me and being examples of "sold outs" for God. Some people have great graces being poured out upon then, guess we all do, but maybe some are utilizing them better than others. Can compliment the people coming in contact with me like Katie, who have grown so much, and Claudia you do have it spiritually going on. Daphne, you "good girl", wish you would let me tell by name some of your wonderful spiritual practices. Linda my PIC # 2 since the beginning, you are a diehard. Only mentioning two more to arrive at seven, which is the perfect number, completion. Clara, your killer kindness is a monster virtue, and Deregal your perseverance is remarkable. Now for a little lagniappe, the prayer warrior couple, Siena and Curt, can't touch that, in the pocket praying people. Thank you other folks, for your ministry. No one is left our, all of you that are unmentioned, you are no less important. God have placed you in my life, and considering our meeting a blessing of value, one highly appreciated. Even if it is only by email or fone contact (Dan, Larry, etc.), you all are helping me to stay the course, thank you so much. Lord help us all to ride the wave of the Holy Spirit, especially those who are seeking you with their whole heart, meet them and fill them with yourself.
So proud of my well informed friends, because at times when you share with some people your own faith journey, you get stares, glares, and rebuffs, but it's to speak truth and move on in peace and in love. Those whose hearts are right, sooner or later come unto the true knowledge necessary for the work of perfection to continue. God is surely teaching me every waking day. Finding it is so slow with certain things, but trying to open up and surrender to God more so He can complete the work He has begun. As people surrender it truly shows, it is like day and night, a contrast with no grey lines. Lord have mercy on us all.
Well, the other outing resulted in this text mess being sent out the following day:
☎️Phylicia Delta: "I noticed it in others B 4 in myself, I found myself taken aback how easily fellow Christians exclaimed, “Oh my God!” & “Jesus” as if da names meant nothing. When stopped going 2 da theater cause of intense language,began noticing how I myself slipped in 2 ‘fake’ cuss words & mayB even a real 1. In recent years a trend in Christian thought has some progressing 2ward acceptance of cussing in da life of a Christ follower: “It’s not a gospel issue”, “Let’s stop gettin hung up on minor issues, concentrate on what’s really important”. So I’m a Christian, and I cuss a lil. Is that so bad? Actually, it is. It's not okay 2 take da name of God in vain, 2 waste da power of da name of Jesus on anger R frustration. 2speak God’s name in such a way is demeaning, irreverent, & worse – it breaks da very law of God. What about phrases like “go 2 hell” & “damn it”? What about a-words & b-words & other -words? What about ‘Gosh’ & Golly’, ‘Darn’ & ‘Dang’?Want 2 mention something a friend told me that I never forgot (but don’t always implement). Kristen told me “2 use the word “damn” is 2 act as if one has da power of God Himself”. Since God is da only 1 who can condemn 2 Hell, when we usurp dat power with our words it's an offensive act of pride in da face of God. Take for instance da word Hell. 1st of all, no 1 should make light of Hell, dat place of eternal damnation. Yet, people use da word in so many ways: in anger,"Go 2Hell!"; in surprise, "What da Hell!"; in greetin, "How da hell R?"; R in inquiry, "What da hell R U doing?", they show a lack of respect 4 what Hell is. Perhaps if a person really believed he could end up in Hell, he would not be so casual in using da term"
(MC=Glad 2 find those who agree in regards 2hard core, R "fake" curse words, dat this should B a no-no. Thank God 4 those trying 2 walk purified & distilled from da common ways of the world.
So proud of my well informed friends, because at times when you share with some people your own faith journey, you get stares, glares, and rebuffs, but it's to speak truth and move on in peace and in love. Those whose hearts are right, sooner or later come unto the true knowledge necessary for the work of perfection to continue. God is surely teaching me every waking day. Finding it is so slow with certain things, but trying to open up and surrender to God more so He can complete the work He has begun. As people surrender it truly shows, it is like day and night, a contrast with no grey lines. Lord have mercy on us all.
Well, the other outing resulted in this text mess being sent out the following day:
☎️Phylicia Delta: "I noticed it in others B 4 in myself, I found myself taken aback how easily fellow Christians exclaimed, “Oh my God!” & “Jesus” as if da names meant nothing. When stopped going 2 da theater cause of intense language,began noticing how I myself slipped in 2 ‘fake’ cuss words & mayB even a real 1. In recent years a trend in Christian thought has some progressing 2ward acceptance of cussing in da life of a Christ follower: “It’s not a gospel issue”, “Let’s stop gettin hung up on minor issues, concentrate on what’s really important”. So I’m a Christian, and I cuss a lil. Is that so bad? Actually, it is. It's not okay 2 take da name of God in vain, 2 waste da power of da name of Jesus on anger R frustration. 2speak God’s name in such a way is demeaning, irreverent, & worse – it breaks da very law of God. What about phrases like “go 2 hell” & “damn it”? What about a-words & b-words & other -words? What about ‘Gosh’ & Golly’, ‘Darn’ & ‘Dang’?Want 2 mention something a friend told me that I never forgot (but don’t always implement). Kristen told me “2 use the word “damn” is 2 act as if one has da power of God Himself”. Since God is da only 1 who can condemn 2 Hell, when we usurp dat power with our words it's an offensive act of pride in da face of God. Take for instance da word Hell. 1st of all, no 1 should make light of Hell, dat place of eternal damnation. Yet, people use da word in so many ways: in anger,"Go 2Hell!"; in surprise, "What da Hell!"; in greetin, "How da hell R?"; R in inquiry, "What da hell R U doing?", they show a lack of respect 4 what Hell is. Perhaps if a person really believed he could end up in Hell, he would not be so casual in using da term"
(MC=Glad 2 find those who agree in regards 2hard core, R "fake" curse words, dat this should B a no-no. Thank God 4 those trying 2 walk purified & distilled from da common ways of the world.
We all hav sumthing 2 work on 2 become better, so if dat's not dat problem it's a million other bad habits, especially 4 me dat is. 1 of my favorite lines included these words "OMG". Gloria called me out on dat. Da next step 4 me was to do some research, not coppin an attitude and getting offended. Fraternal correction is a good thing for those who care to grow and become more pleasing in the sight of God, rather than just pleasing themselves. Something people are gracious and thank you when they are corrected, while others, well let's move right along, for God can take care of His own business very well. After finding out that Gloria was correct, that the common cultural expression was indeed taking da name of God in vain, only one thing was left to do. For me it was to quit cold turkey, thanks B 2 God 4 grace and Gloria. A text response back from Roxanne was forthcoming:
💁🏻"I often express 2 people how aggravating it is 2 hear OMG 4 EVERYTHING DAT COMES OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS! I am correcting my granddaughter on dat, because she hears it SO MUCH ON TV. A friend of mine a while ago, told me dat instead of saying GOD in a curse word (she is a Baptist), they were told 2 say "God Blessed" in stead of cussing. A great idea, cause when using the word dame, one is damming a person....1 dat God created to H---. I pray people stop saying that all the time on TV, FOR EVERYTHING!!!!"
After reading the comments on Phylicia Delta's blog, these two were the ones chosen because they were attention getters:
1."I should b settin a Christ-like example b4 da world by guardin my mouth &my thoughts wit all diligence.God bless, Bethany"
2."Thank u so much 4this article.God has been dealin wit me about holiness,in my listening,reading,&watching habits.Reading this I am very convicted about my talkin habits.I am very guilty of occasionally cursing,especially takin God’s name in vain.I gotta get serious about becoming holy.I want 2b His bride without spot R wrinkle.Melinda"
A few responses to the GIG's text mess were in acknowledgement of saying a few words "fake" or "real" here and there, especially when angry or aggravated. My response below, seemed 2 b an instant cure for someone who texted back: "God have mercy on me" and "Oh Lord. Forgive me". So glad that person is in my life, a very inspiring person walking the extra mile. When you see someone walking the extra mile, it makes you want to follow suit.
MC=A priest exorcist once said cursing is da language of da demons, that's exactly what they do in some of the exorcisms. Makes perfect sense, since none of that type of language passes off the lips of the holy angels.
💁🏻"I often express 2 people how aggravating it is 2 hear OMG 4 EVERYTHING DAT COMES OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS! I am correcting my granddaughter on dat, because she hears it SO MUCH ON TV. A friend of mine a while ago, told me dat instead of saying GOD in a curse word (she is a Baptist), they were told 2 say "God Blessed" in stead of cussing. A great idea, cause when using the word dame, one is damming a person....1 dat God created to H---. I pray people stop saying that all the time on TV, FOR EVERYTHING!!!!"
After reading the comments on Phylicia Delta's blog, these two were the ones chosen because they were attention getters:
1."I should b settin a Christ-like example b4 da world by guardin my mouth &my thoughts wit all diligence.God bless, Bethany"
2."Thank u so much 4this article.God has been dealin wit me about holiness,in my listening,reading,&watching habits.Reading this I am very convicted about my talkin habits.I am very guilty of occasionally cursing,especially takin God’s name in vain.I gotta get serious about becoming holy.I want 2b His bride without spot R wrinkle.Melinda"
A few responses to the GIG's text mess were in acknowledgement of saying a few words "fake" or "real" here and there, especially when angry or aggravated. My response below, seemed 2 b an instant cure for someone who texted back: "God have mercy on me" and "Oh Lord. Forgive me". So glad that person is in my life, a very inspiring person walking the extra mile. When you see someone walking the extra mile, it makes you want to follow suit.
MC=A priest exorcist once said cursing is da language of da demons, that's exactly what they do in some of the exorcisms. Makes perfect sense, since none of that type of language passes off the lips of the holy angels.
"HOW EVERYDAY PEOPLE LIVE OUT THEIR CHRISTIAN FAITH", from Christian Heart Misistry
Info from this site:
https://www.thechristianheart.com/stories/
"USING MY ORDEALS TO HELP OTHERS: I tried to take my life once. I had so many bad things happen: I had been molested, raped, physically abused and I’ve had a child die. I have been a Christian since I was seven years old. But I thought there must be something wrong with me and that I must be a bad Christian if all these horrible things were taking place in my life. I sat down one night and told God that I couldn’t deal with the pain of this world any longer and I wanted to come live with Him. So I took a bunch of pills. When I woke up in the hospital, I knew I needed help. I went to counseling for some time, but what helped me more than anything was that I started seriously reading the Bible, every day. I found that these painful things were not happening to me because I was a bad Christian. I felt like God wanted me to use my ordeals to help others. I thought about how I could do that. I have always had an ability to relate to people that may be different, that others may feel awkward talking to. And I thought I could relate to just about any bad thing that someone may have experienced. So I started talking to ladies that worked in strip clubs. I go into the dressing room and just listen to them. I do not have an agenda, and I don’t hand them any pamphlets or tracts. I just love them unconditionally. I meet them were they are. I don’t preach or try to get them to go to church. I just listen and love. I hear some very heartbreaking stories. I feel I have a platform where I can share their pain because of what I’ve been through. And they seem to relate. A number of these ladies have ended up asking me what makes me so different. That’s when I share how God’s love changed my life, and how He can change theirs."
Info from this site:
https://www.thechristianheart.com/stories/
"USING MY ORDEALS TO HELP OTHERS: I tried to take my life once. I had so many bad things happen: I had been molested, raped, physically abused and I’ve had a child die. I have been a Christian since I was seven years old. But I thought there must be something wrong with me and that I must be a bad Christian if all these horrible things were taking place in my life. I sat down one night and told God that I couldn’t deal with the pain of this world any longer and I wanted to come live with Him. So I took a bunch of pills. When I woke up in the hospital, I knew I needed help. I went to counseling for some time, but what helped me more than anything was that I started seriously reading the Bible, every day. I found that these painful things were not happening to me because I was a bad Christian. I felt like God wanted me to use my ordeals to help others. I thought about how I could do that. I have always had an ability to relate to people that may be different, that others may feel awkward talking to. And I thought I could relate to just about any bad thing that someone may have experienced. So I started talking to ladies that worked in strip clubs. I go into the dressing room and just listen to them. I do not have an agenda, and I don’t hand them any pamphlets or tracts. I just love them unconditionally. I meet them were they are. I don’t preach or try to get them to go to church. I just listen and love. I hear some very heartbreaking stories. I feel I have a platform where I can share their pain because of what I’ve been through. And they seem to relate. A number of these ladies have ended up asking me what makes me so different. That’s when I share how God’s love changed my life, and how He can change theirs."
"The battle for souls -The mystic saints vs. the demons", by Glenn Dallaire
Info from this site:
http://www.mysticsofthechurch.com/2013/12/the-battle-for-souls-mystic-saints-vs.html
Info from this site:
http://www.mysticsofthechurch.com/2013/12/the-battle-for-souls-mystic-saints-vs.html
"The primary mission of the mystics is to be victim souls—that is, they are especially called by God to suffer in union with Jesus for the conversion of souls. It is a spiritual battle for souls between God and the demons, where the victim soul is essentially the “battle ground”, and the stakes is the conversion of many persons who are at that moment in the hands of the devil. For the majority of us, the devil and his demons prefer to wage a silent, hidden war, primarily because it is through this method that the demons stand the best chance of tempting and deceiving us, for if we physically saw a demon in its efforts to tempt and lead us to sin, we would be absolutely horrified by its hideous appearance and would in fact be strengthened in our resolutions against sin and evil deeds. So it is in our daily lives that most of us are subjugated to unseen temptations and attacks by the demonic spirits--but in the lives of certain mystics, God allows the malignant spirits to use open warfare.
When it comes to the mystic Saints however, there is much more at stake than one individual soul, for it is the victim soul who, through their mystical union with Jesus on the Cross, actually snatches souls out of Satan’s hands. And with the victim soul, the devil is met with resolute resistance from the one who has offered him/herself in union with Jesus for the conversion of sinners; and with the prospect of losing souls in his grasp, and unable to make the victim soul sin in any serious way, he takes the most fearful vengeance against them, using all the powers of hell in a demonic torrent of attacks in countless forms, all in an effort to cause the victim soul to despair and lose their trust and love for God. So it is that in the case of many mystics, the battle with the demons is not hidden one but it is in fact open warfare. And this open battle is permitted by God to manifest to everyone the reality of both the devil and hell, which unfortunately many today try to disclaim the existence of. For the devil and the demons are very much a reality, and in their dealings with God's mystic saints they show themselves in the most horrid and undisguised perversities of their vicious and corrupt nature, in the wicked hope of snatching from Christ the souls He loves, and for whom He has paid such a high a price in the shedding of His Precious Blood.
These battles between the demons and the victim souls are often epic, and terrible to witness or to even read of. Just one of many examples we will document below be that of St Gemma Galgani, who died in 1903. The devil, in the form of either a hideous, hairy, ape like man or sometimes in the form of a black dog who would grab her by the hair and rip her out of bed onto the floor, taking out clumps of hair in the process, and would proceed to beat her mercilessly, dislocating her shoulder among many other things in the process, horribly cursing God and shouting “War! War against you and your spiritual director!” But for the many reasons that God allows such diabolic and hellish attacks in the lives of the mystics, certainly one of these reasons is to teach us to have a great horror for grave sin. And so let us contemplate a few of these battles of the mystics vs. the demons, so as to gain some new perspectives on the beneficial fear that we should have within ourselves for sin.
Before we get started with the stories of these epic spiritual battles in the lives of a number of 20th century Saints, it is very important to note that Satan and perhaps a good number of the higher ranking demons can appear in most any form imaginable--commonly called "phantasms", the demons can visibly appear as any variety of animals and animal-like creatures, as Angels, Saints, the Virgin Mary and even as Jesus Christ Himself, as we shall see in the stories below. However, in this writers investigations of the lives of the mystics I would list the following as the most common forms. We should bear in mind that everything the devil and the demons do is in direct opposition to God and they often seek to mock God and anything that is holy and pertains to Him.
🐒-Black ape or hairy man–Symbolizes satan’s mockery of Jesus, for he is really the "ape" of God.
🐍-Black serpent or snake- Symbolizes satan’s intelligence and cunning temptations (as in the book of Genesis)
🐱-Large black cats and black dogs make their appearances quite often in the lives of the mystics. Their precise symbolism seems to be unknown, but they both are very often used in physical attacks. Note, the demonic black dog is not to be confused with the large grey dog who often mysteriously appeared in the life of St John Bosco and whom literally saved his life on several occasions.
☠-Black human-shaped "shadow people" are also quite common, and are demons in "raw" form. Their purpose seems to be to terrorize and scare, hoping to lead the victim to despair.
🐐-The devil has been often known to take on the form of a goat, to mock Jesus as the lamb of God who takes away the sins of humanity.
🔥-Some of the Saints describe being watched by a pair of fiery-red glowing "burning" demonic eyes which contradicts the ever watchful "Eye of God", which itself symbolizes the omnipresence and omniscience of God, who watches over all things. For example on July 2, 1961 the four children of Garabandal, Spain purportedly saw a very large "Eye of God" above and to the right of the Blessed Virgin Mary as She was appearing to them. After the apparition, each of the children individually all described this to be precisely the "Eye of God" who presumably was revealing to the children that He is watching over all events..
“The devil will work assiduously to make you fall, but My grace is more powerful than his infernal malice” -Jesus to Josefa Menendez, April 6, 1921. One of the many victim souls who had to undergo horrific attacks from the evil spirits was the Spanish born mystic, Josefa Menendez (1890-1923), who became a nun in France. The devil often appeared to her in the form of a terrifying black dog, a black snake, or in the form of a "shadow" man. On December 4th, 1921 Josefa was violently pulled from her bed and she was thrown to the ground, and then pummeled by a barrage of demonic blows she was made to listen to abominable blasphemies against Our Lord and Our Lady. Long hours were so spent, and the torture renewed on the two following nights. After one such terrible night, she wrote on the morning of Tuesday, 6th December: "Unable to bear any more, I knelt beside my bed, endeavouring to forget the horror of that malevolent voice insulting Our Lord and Our Lady. Suddenly I heard gnashing of teeth and a yell of rage. Then all vanished and before me stood Our Lady, all loveliness.
"Do not fear, my daughter; I am here."
"I told her how terrified I was of the devil, who made me suffer so much.
"He may torment you, but he has no power to harm you. His fury is very great on account of the souls that escape him . . . souls are of such great worth . . . If you but knew the value of a single soul!"
"Giving me her blessing, she said: 'Do not fear.'
"I kissed her hand and she went away."
Later Jesus appeared to Josefa, and she immediately told Him of her greatest concern--the fear that in those hellish torments that her soul had lost something of its purity, or at any rate of its former innocence. "Because I never know anything about all those things with which the devil torments me."
Jesus replied to her: "Do not be afraid; your soul is steeped in My Blood, and none of that can stain it."
Then alluding to a specific word which more than once in the preceding days had given her strength: "Your Mothers have found the word . . . "Abandonment". The devil has no power but what is given him from on high. Tell your Mothers that I am supreme." [The "mothers" in the quote of Jesus given to Josefa refer to the Mother Superior of her convent and also the Mother Master of Novices who was personally responsible for Josefa during that time period-]. Nevertheless, the demons sought to discourage her from her mission of sacrificing and suffering for souls, and they endeavored by all means to drive her to despair, and she overheard them saying such things as:
“You will be one of us! ... we shall tire you out! ... we shall overcome you! ...Don't let go of her; be on your guard to plague her in any way you can! ... she must not escape!...we must induce her to despair! ...
And in the life of Josefa Menendez there occurred an even greater phenomenon that is very rare in the lives of the Saints: God permitted the devil to take her down to hell. There, in hell, she spent long hours, sometimes a whole night, in unspeakable agonies. Though she was dragged down into the bottomless pit more than a hundred times, each sojourn seemed to her to be the first, and appeared to last countless ages.
She endured all the tortures of hell, with the one exception: that of the hatred of God. For Josefa, the most painful of these torments was to hear the horrid confessions of the damned, their cries of hatred, of pain and of despair. Under the eyes of those in her convent, Josefa would suddenly disappear, and after long search she would be found thrown into some loft, or beneath heavy furniture, or in some unfrequented spot. In their presence she was burnt, and without seeing the devil, they saw her clothes consumed and on her body unmistakable traces of fire, which caused wounds that took very long to heal. Likewise the effects of fire which burned her were seen on her garments and flesh; fragments of scorched
linen are still preserved to this day. Ten times in all Josefa was thus set on fire. She saw the devil vomit on her flames of which visible traces were seen not on her clothes only, but on her person. Painful wounds which took long to heal left on her body scars which she carried to the grave. The evil one suggested despairing thoughts, blasphemies, and wicked temptations that continued for days and nights, during which God hid Himself, and Josefa, bewildered, felt as if abandoned and at the mercy of the most ignoble and infamous of tormentors.
Yet, when at long last she came back to life, completely worn out and spent, her body agonized with pain, she looked upon no suffering, however severe it may be, as too much to bear, "...if by it I should save a soul from that dreaded abode of torment." "In the night of 16th March towards ten o'clock," wrote Josefa, "I became aware, as on the preceding days, of a confused noise of cries and chains. I rose quickly and dressed, and
trembling with fright, knelt down near my bed. The uproar was approaching, and not knowing what to do, I left the dormitory, and went to our Mother Superiors cell; then I came back to the dormitory. The same terrifying sounds were all round me; then all of a sudden I saw in front of
me the devil himself." "Tie her feet and bind her hands," he cried. . . .
"Instantly I lost sight of where I was, and felt myself tightly bound and being dragged away. Other voices screamed: "It is no good to bind her feet; it is her heart that you must bind." "It does not belong to me." came the answer from the devil.
"Then I was dragged along a very dark and lengthy passage, and on all sides resounded terrible cries. On opposite sides of the walls of this narrow corridor were niches out of which poured smoke, though with very little flame, and which emitted an intolerable stench. From these recesses came blaspheming voices, uttering impure words. Some cursed their bodies, others their parents. Others, again reproached themselves with having refused grace, and not avoided what they knew to be sinful. It was a medley of confused screams of rage and despair. I was dragged through that kind of corridor, which seemed endless. Then I received a violent punch which doubled me in two, and forced me into one of the niches. I felt as if I were being pressed between two burning planks and pierced through and through with scorching needle
points. Opposite and beside me souls were blaspheming and cursing me. What caused me most suffering . . . and with which no torture can be compared, was the anguish of my soul to find myself separated from God. . . .
"It seemed to me that I spent long years in that hell, yet it lasted only six or seven hours. . . . Suddenly I was violently pulled out of the niche, and I found myself in a dark place; after striking me, the devil disappeared and left me free. . . . How can I describe my feelings on realizing that I was still alive, and could still love God! "I do not know what I am not ready to endure to avoid hell, in spite of my fear of pain. I see clearly that all the sufferings of earth are nothing in comparison with the horror of no longer being able to love, for in that place all breathes hatred and thirst to damn other souls."
When it comes to the mystic Saints however, there is much more at stake than one individual soul, for it is the victim soul who, through their mystical union with Jesus on the Cross, actually snatches souls out of Satan’s hands. And with the victim soul, the devil is met with resolute resistance from the one who has offered him/herself in union with Jesus for the conversion of sinners; and with the prospect of losing souls in his grasp, and unable to make the victim soul sin in any serious way, he takes the most fearful vengeance against them, using all the powers of hell in a demonic torrent of attacks in countless forms, all in an effort to cause the victim soul to despair and lose their trust and love for God. So it is that in the case of many mystics, the battle with the demons is not hidden one but it is in fact open warfare. And this open battle is permitted by God to manifest to everyone the reality of both the devil and hell, which unfortunately many today try to disclaim the existence of. For the devil and the demons are very much a reality, and in their dealings with God's mystic saints they show themselves in the most horrid and undisguised perversities of their vicious and corrupt nature, in the wicked hope of snatching from Christ the souls He loves, and for whom He has paid such a high a price in the shedding of His Precious Blood.
These battles between the demons and the victim souls are often epic, and terrible to witness or to even read of. Just one of many examples we will document below be that of St Gemma Galgani, who died in 1903. The devil, in the form of either a hideous, hairy, ape like man or sometimes in the form of a black dog who would grab her by the hair and rip her out of bed onto the floor, taking out clumps of hair in the process, and would proceed to beat her mercilessly, dislocating her shoulder among many other things in the process, horribly cursing God and shouting “War! War against you and your spiritual director!” But for the many reasons that God allows such diabolic and hellish attacks in the lives of the mystics, certainly one of these reasons is to teach us to have a great horror for grave sin. And so let us contemplate a few of these battles of the mystics vs. the demons, so as to gain some new perspectives on the beneficial fear that we should have within ourselves for sin.
Before we get started with the stories of these epic spiritual battles in the lives of a number of 20th century Saints, it is very important to note that Satan and perhaps a good number of the higher ranking demons can appear in most any form imaginable--commonly called "phantasms", the demons can visibly appear as any variety of animals and animal-like creatures, as Angels, Saints, the Virgin Mary and even as Jesus Christ Himself, as we shall see in the stories below. However, in this writers investigations of the lives of the mystics I would list the following as the most common forms. We should bear in mind that everything the devil and the demons do is in direct opposition to God and they often seek to mock God and anything that is holy and pertains to Him.
🐒-Black ape or hairy man–Symbolizes satan’s mockery of Jesus, for he is really the "ape" of God.
🐍-Black serpent or snake- Symbolizes satan’s intelligence and cunning temptations (as in the book of Genesis)
🐱-Large black cats and black dogs make their appearances quite often in the lives of the mystics. Their precise symbolism seems to be unknown, but they both are very often used in physical attacks. Note, the demonic black dog is not to be confused with the large grey dog who often mysteriously appeared in the life of St John Bosco and whom literally saved his life on several occasions.
☠-Black human-shaped "shadow people" are also quite common, and are demons in "raw" form. Their purpose seems to be to terrorize and scare, hoping to lead the victim to despair.
🐐-The devil has been often known to take on the form of a goat, to mock Jesus as the lamb of God who takes away the sins of humanity.
🔥-Some of the Saints describe being watched by a pair of fiery-red glowing "burning" demonic eyes which contradicts the ever watchful "Eye of God", which itself symbolizes the omnipresence and omniscience of God, who watches over all things. For example on July 2, 1961 the four children of Garabandal, Spain purportedly saw a very large "Eye of God" above and to the right of the Blessed Virgin Mary as She was appearing to them. After the apparition, each of the children individually all described this to be precisely the "Eye of God" who presumably was revealing to the children that He is watching over all events..
“The devil will work assiduously to make you fall, but My grace is more powerful than his infernal malice” -Jesus to Josefa Menendez, April 6, 1921. One of the many victim souls who had to undergo horrific attacks from the evil spirits was the Spanish born mystic, Josefa Menendez (1890-1923), who became a nun in France. The devil often appeared to her in the form of a terrifying black dog, a black snake, or in the form of a "shadow" man. On December 4th, 1921 Josefa was violently pulled from her bed and she was thrown to the ground, and then pummeled by a barrage of demonic blows she was made to listen to abominable blasphemies against Our Lord and Our Lady. Long hours were so spent, and the torture renewed on the two following nights. After one such terrible night, she wrote on the morning of Tuesday, 6th December: "Unable to bear any more, I knelt beside my bed, endeavouring to forget the horror of that malevolent voice insulting Our Lord and Our Lady. Suddenly I heard gnashing of teeth and a yell of rage. Then all vanished and before me stood Our Lady, all loveliness.
"Do not fear, my daughter; I am here."
"I told her how terrified I was of the devil, who made me suffer so much.
"He may torment you, but he has no power to harm you. His fury is very great on account of the souls that escape him . . . souls are of such great worth . . . If you but knew the value of a single soul!"
"Giving me her blessing, she said: 'Do not fear.'
"I kissed her hand and she went away."
Later Jesus appeared to Josefa, and she immediately told Him of her greatest concern--the fear that in those hellish torments that her soul had lost something of its purity, or at any rate of its former innocence. "Because I never know anything about all those things with which the devil torments me."
Jesus replied to her: "Do not be afraid; your soul is steeped in My Blood, and none of that can stain it."
Then alluding to a specific word which more than once in the preceding days had given her strength: "Your Mothers have found the word . . . "Abandonment". The devil has no power but what is given him from on high. Tell your Mothers that I am supreme." [The "mothers" in the quote of Jesus given to Josefa refer to the Mother Superior of her convent and also the Mother Master of Novices who was personally responsible for Josefa during that time period-]. Nevertheless, the demons sought to discourage her from her mission of sacrificing and suffering for souls, and they endeavored by all means to drive her to despair, and she overheard them saying such things as:
“You will be one of us! ... we shall tire you out! ... we shall overcome you! ...Don't let go of her; be on your guard to plague her in any way you can! ... she must not escape!...we must induce her to despair! ...
And in the life of Josefa Menendez there occurred an even greater phenomenon that is very rare in the lives of the Saints: God permitted the devil to take her down to hell. There, in hell, she spent long hours, sometimes a whole night, in unspeakable agonies. Though she was dragged down into the bottomless pit more than a hundred times, each sojourn seemed to her to be the first, and appeared to last countless ages.
She endured all the tortures of hell, with the one exception: that of the hatred of God. For Josefa, the most painful of these torments was to hear the horrid confessions of the damned, their cries of hatred, of pain and of despair. Under the eyes of those in her convent, Josefa would suddenly disappear, and after long search she would be found thrown into some loft, or beneath heavy furniture, or in some unfrequented spot. In their presence she was burnt, and without seeing the devil, they saw her clothes consumed and on her body unmistakable traces of fire, which caused wounds that took very long to heal. Likewise the effects of fire which burned her were seen on her garments and flesh; fragments of scorched
linen are still preserved to this day. Ten times in all Josefa was thus set on fire. She saw the devil vomit on her flames of which visible traces were seen not on her clothes only, but on her person. Painful wounds which took long to heal left on her body scars which she carried to the grave. The evil one suggested despairing thoughts, blasphemies, and wicked temptations that continued for days and nights, during which God hid Himself, and Josefa, bewildered, felt as if abandoned and at the mercy of the most ignoble and infamous of tormentors.
Yet, when at long last she came back to life, completely worn out and spent, her body agonized with pain, she looked upon no suffering, however severe it may be, as too much to bear, "...if by it I should save a soul from that dreaded abode of torment." "In the night of 16th March towards ten o'clock," wrote Josefa, "I became aware, as on the preceding days, of a confused noise of cries and chains. I rose quickly and dressed, and
trembling with fright, knelt down near my bed. The uproar was approaching, and not knowing what to do, I left the dormitory, and went to our Mother Superiors cell; then I came back to the dormitory. The same terrifying sounds were all round me; then all of a sudden I saw in front of
me the devil himself." "Tie her feet and bind her hands," he cried. . . .
"Instantly I lost sight of where I was, and felt myself tightly bound and being dragged away. Other voices screamed: "It is no good to bind her feet; it is her heart that you must bind." "It does not belong to me." came the answer from the devil.
"Then I was dragged along a very dark and lengthy passage, and on all sides resounded terrible cries. On opposite sides of the walls of this narrow corridor were niches out of which poured smoke, though with very little flame, and which emitted an intolerable stench. From these recesses came blaspheming voices, uttering impure words. Some cursed their bodies, others their parents. Others, again reproached themselves with having refused grace, and not avoided what they knew to be sinful. It was a medley of confused screams of rage and despair. I was dragged through that kind of corridor, which seemed endless. Then I received a violent punch which doubled me in two, and forced me into one of the niches. I felt as if I were being pressed between two burning planks and pierced through and through with scorching needle
points. Opposite and beside me souls were blaspheming and cursing me. What caused me most suffering . . . and with which no torture can be compared, was the anguish of my soul to find myself separated from God. . . .
"It seemed to me that I spent long years in that hell, yet it lasted only six or seven hours. . . . Suddenly I was violently pulled out of the niche, and I found myself in a dark place; after striking me, the devil disappeared and left me free. . . . How can I describe my feelings on realizing that I was still alive, and could still love God! "I do not know what I am not ready to endure to avoid hell, in spite of my fear of pain. I see clearly that all the sufferings of earth are nothing in comparison with the horror of no longer being able to love, for in that place all breathes hatred and thirst to damn other souls."
Audio presentation: "Refurbishing the Soul", Episode 7, by Babsie Bleasdell.
Link to audio presentation:
http://listen.ewtn.com/~IJ/~IJ000010.mp3
Link to audio presentation:
http://listen.ewtn.com/~IJ/~IJ000010.mp3