Archbishop Elias of the Ukrainian orthodox Greek-Catholic Church speaks.
Archive for January, 2011
Beatification and Assisi of John Paul II: Archbishop Elias speaks
Monday, January 31st, 2011AUGUSTINE AND EVOLUTION
Sunday, January 30th, 2011
PREFACE
Evolution, as understood today, is at the utmost little more than a hundred years old. How then can St. Augustine, who lived so many centuries ago, be called an Evolutionist? Certainly no one pretends that the Holy Doctor held or taught Evolution in any modern form. What is assumed is that his doctrine of creation finds its logical consequence in Evolution.
The question is purely domestic. It is raised by Catholics who wish to go a certain distance with the modern Evolutionist, yet perceive that a large number of theologians and teachers hold that the wish can be followed only at the sacrifice of a Catholic teaching and divine revelation. To justify themselves and to bring the more timid to their way of thinking they are eager to draw to their support the great doctors of the Church, and especially him who devoted himself to the interpretation of the scriptural account of creation in the literal sense.
The matter is abstruse enough to prevent many from investigating it. Nevertheless, the affirmation is made and repeated. It is then accepted under the impression that someone must have gone into the question thoroughly. With all due respect to those making the assertion, we have come to doubt the thoroughness of the work.
The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano
Saturday, January 29th, 2011The Miracle of Lanciano is officially recognized by the Catholic Church as a true Eucharistic Miracle. It was the first and greatest Eucharistic Miracle of the Catholic Church.
This wondrous Event took place in the 8th century A.D. in the little Church of St. Legontian in Lanciano, Italy, as a divine response to a Basilian monk’s doubt about Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist.
During Holy Mass, after the two-fold consecration, the host was changed into Heart Tissue Flesh and the Wine was changed into Actual Blood, which coagulated into five globules, irregular and differing in shape and size.
Can blessing of water change its molecular structure?
Friday, January 28th, 2011The true nature of water has its destiny in the salvation of man and the world. The blessing of waters doesn’t “make bad water good”. It restores the water to its original state. The prayer at the blessing of water causes the revelation of the true ‘nature’ and ‘destiny’ of water, and thus of the world. By being restored through the blessing to its proper function water becomes again a means of communion with God. Christ in His baptism purified the nature of the waters. He came to redeem not only human beings but, through them, the entire material created world.
Here’s water from different sources usually used by people. Take a close look at the water structure.
“The Rite” trailer
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011“The Rite” movie with come out on January 28, 2011, two days from now. I hope this movie will have an impact on the people who will go to see it. This movie will just confirm the existence of the devil through the presentation of the real facts, for the popular culture.
The Devil is a real being. The existence of a spiritual world is real beyond a shadow of doubt. One can give testimony from paranormal activities at certain haunted places. Angels and demons are real.
Although I have not seen “The Rite” to really digest the whole plot of the movie, but one thing to make a note on is the fact that sins that people commit must be accomplished through their free will. That is to say the devil cannot force anyone to commit actual sins, although he can contribute to the temptation.
Patti Maguire Armstrong: “Be Not Afraid of the Devil”
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011Back in the days that I was working on being the bravest person on the planet, there was not much I was afraid to try. I even parachuted out of an airplane the week before I was scheduled to leave for the Peace Corps in Micronesia. One of my favorite things to do with like-minded friends was to backpack through mountains where we had to tie our food up in trees at night so the bears wouldn’t get it (only lost food once). But there was one thing I would NOT do. I refused to see the movie The Exorcist or anything of its ilk. No, jumping out of a plane alone at 3,000 feet was a piece of cake compared to sitting on the ground watching anything that had to do with the devil.
Then, last month, I accepted an invitation to go to Los Angeles to participate in a press junket in January for the movie The Rite starring Anthony Hopkins and also to interview the actors at a press conference afterwards. “Sure, I’ll go!” I responded, remembering how much fun the last junket was. But after getting off the phone, I began also to remember that I had never actually become the bravest person on the planet. I was still afraid of scary movies, particularly anything connected to the devil. That evening, my son, Luke warned, “Mom, you aren’t going to like it.” My husband agreed, “It’s a psycho/drama. You hate those kinds of movies.” When I told my siblings, my brother Brian emailed me. “Have you looked at the trailer? Good luck with that.”
What was I thinking? But then, I did something that took away my fear. I interviewed three exorcists. My intent was to write a series of articles on exorcism to go along with the movie review. After talking with them, my fear evaporated. The bottom line is staying close to God and His sacraments protects us from evil and fills us with grace. What especially uplifted me and drove away the fear was to hear each exorcist and also a bishop state that the sacrament of confession is more powerful than the rite of exorcism. The sacraments confer grace on us while the rite of exorcism is a blessing that moves a person towards grace. Yes, I decided, I could go see this movie after all.
possible date(s) for the Warning and Miracle (Garabandal)
Friday, January 21st, 2011Will we soon to witness the prophesied Warning and Miracle?
As one person puts it:
“There is a line up of dates in 2012 that would seem to be right for the Great Miracle at Garabandal. The Feast of St. Hermenegild on April 13 will land on a Friday, so that its vigil will occur on a Thursday. The Feast of St. Hermenegild is one of those events in the liturgical calendar whose observance actually begins with the Early Vespers of the previous day, that is, in the late afternoon. Therefore, by 8:30 P.M. on Thursday, 12 April, 2012, all the criteria that are required for the Great Miracle would be in place, as far as I know. It seems that nobody besides our group is looking at the vigils of these feasts in connect with the Great Miracle, but in order for the event to take place at night, its coinciding with the vigil of a “Saint of the Eucharist” makes sense. One reason why nobody else is thinking about the vigils and the old Roman Breviary, which describes which feasts are begun on the previous evening, is because the conciliar church of antichrist has done away with nearly all the vigils.”
“In any case, if the Great Miracle were to occur on 12 April 2012, then the Warning could happen anytime after 12 April 2011.”
(Giuffre, 2011)
Repent! Repent! Repent!
a story of Vincent Ferrer, part 1
Friday, January 21st, 2011
At the end of the fourteenth century, an extraordinary personage appeared from the depths of Spain. His name was Vincent Ferrer. A prophet and wonder-worker since his youth, he grew up amidst universal astonishment. The Spirit of God lay upon him, took possession of his heart, and inflamed him with a zeal unknown since St. Paul. It ruled his body, which he sustained, despite his extreme weakness, amidst the most crushing labors, and the harshest austerities. The power to work miracles was granted him– in short, he uttered the most prodigiously powerful words that mankind had ever heard since St. Paul.
A superhuman being, although he was a man, he constantly refused the honors the Pope urged him to accept. His life was one of continuous prayer, fasting, and preaching. For twenty years, he traveled through Europe, and, for twenty years, Europe trembled beneath the ardor and fire of his inspired voice.
The last judgment was the favorite subject of his preaching. He himself declared to all that he had been specially sent by the Sovereign Judge to proclaim the approach of the last days.
One day, at Salamanca, a city renowned for its theologians and scholars, a countless throng crowded around to hear the messenger from heaven. Suddenly, raising his voice in the middle of the multitude, he said, “I am the angel of the Apocalypse whom St. John saw flying through the midst of heaven, crying aloud: Ye nations, fear the Lord and render Him glory, for the day of judgment is near.”
excerpt from “The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life” by Father Charles Arminjon
St. Michael’s Prayer (long version)
Friday, January 21st, 2011
O Glorious Prince of the heavenly host, St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle and in the terrible warfare that we are waging against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the evil spirits. Come to the aid of man, whom Almighty God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of Satan.
“Fight this day the battle of the Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist thee, nor was there place for them any longer in Heaven. That cruel, ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels. Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of His Christ, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. This wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity.
“These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the spouse of the immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on her most sacred possessions. In the Holy Place itself, where the See of Holy Peter and the Chair of Truth has been set up as the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety, with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck, the sheep may be.
“Arise then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and give them the victory. They venerate thee as their protector and patron; in thee holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious power of hell; to thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude. Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly find mercy in the sight of the Lord; and vanquishing the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, do thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen.
V. Behold the Cross of the Lord; be scattered ye hostile powers.
R. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered the root of David.
V. Let Thy mercies be upon us, O Lord.
R. As we have hoped in Thee.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Let us pray.
O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy Name, and as supplicants, we implore Thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin Immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious St. Michael the Archangel, Thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all the other unclean spirits who wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls. Amen.”
Roman Raccolta, July 23, 1898, supplement approved July 31, 1902,
London: Burnes, Oates & Washbourne Ltd., 1935, 12th edition.