Over the last few days, I have sought to echo the voice of our Heavenly Father through short passages from the Message addressed to Mother Eugenia Ravasio. I believe it is very important that, as far as it depends on us, we strive to fulfill His wishes without delay. In this reflection, I would like to address one of them, which will one day become a reality throughout the Church and the whole world:
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Saint Barlaam and Josaphat: The true King
As we approach the end of the liturgical year, I would like to tell you about two saints who are likely unfamiliar to us today, but whose story was so popular in the Middle Ages that it was said some knew it better than the Holy Scriptures.
They are the hermit Saint Barlaam and the Indian prince Josaphat. Saint John Damascene, a Church Father born around 650, is considered the author of their story.
Ancient Indian chronicles recount that some hermits from the desert of Thebaid traveled to the land of the Hindus, where they converted people of all castes to Christianity. Many of them imitated the example of the apostles of Egypt and devoted themselves to contemplation in solitude. Their numbers were considerable, so the “new religion” attracted the attention of kings. Then Abener, a powerful king of India whose kingdom bordered Persia, rose up and began to persecute Christians. He worshiped the god Brahma and indulged in every sensual pleasure. But no matter how rich the treasure of his palace was, and no matter how much his clothes were adorned with gold and precious stones, his soul was poor in wisdom.
LIGHT FOR THE WORLD
“This light will lighten the ways which lead to the true Catholic Church for its poor children who are still victims of superstition” (Message from God the Father to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).
Numbered, weighed, divided
Dan 5:1-6,13-14,16-17,23-28
„King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his lords, with whom he drank. Under the influence of the wine, he ordered the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar, his father, had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, to be brought in so that the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers might drink from them. When the gold and silver vessels taken from the house of God in Jerusalem had been brought in, and while the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers were drinking wine from them, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. Suddenly, opposite the lampstand, the fingers of a human hand appeared, writing on the plaster of the wall in the king’s palace. When the king saw the wrist and hand that wrote, his face blanched; his thoughts terrified him, his hip joints shook, and his knees knocked. Then Daniel was brought into the presence of the king.
Memory of Saint Catherine of Alexandria: I myself shall give you eloquence and wisdom
Today we celebrate the memorial of St Catherine of Alexandria, who lived between the 3rd and 4th century. Catherine, being the only daughter of a pagan king named Costus, had received a good education. She had become a Christian.
When she heard that Emperor Maxentius had ordered all the people to come to Alexandria to offer sacrifice to the gods, Catherine hurried to the place where the Christians were, fearful of the death that awaited them if they refused to sacrifice.
OUR FATHER’S REQUEST
“Pray to Me, so that I will be able to accomplish My work of love in all souls” (Message from God the Father to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).
“THAT’S NOT ALL!”
“I cannot tell you more about this abyss yet, because if I revealed the fullness of my love for you, you would find yourselves before the greatest of all mysteries.” (Message from God the Father to Sister Eugenia Ravasio)
The virtue of fortitude – Part III
We had reflected on the virtue of fortitude in context with the readings from the book of Maccabees; those courageous men and women of the People of Israel. I also pointed out that we need this virtue for our Christian witness in the world, which, in an extreme case, can go as far as martyrdom. We can train ourselves in the virtue of fortitude, and we should not be discouraged if we are naturally fearful. The story of the novice Blanche de la Force (narrated in Gertud von Le Fort’s novel “The Last One at the Scaffold”) can encourage these fearful souls, showing them that they too can be capable of heroic deeds.
The Reign of Christ
Lk 23:35b-43
At that time, the leaders jeered at him with the words, ‘He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.’ The soldiers mocked him too, coming up to him, offering him vinegar, and saying, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’ Above him there was an inscription: ‘This is the King of the Jews’. One of the criminals hanging there abused him: ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us as well.’ But the other spoke up and rebuked him. ‘Have you no fear of God at all?’ he said. ‘You got the same sentence as he did, but in our case we deserved it: we are paying for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He answered him, ‘In truth I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’
VIGILANCE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GRACES
“I constantly offer you new graces and remind you of those that you let pass without taking advantage of them for your souls” (Message from God the Father to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).