Showing posts with label The Blessed Virgin Mary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Blessed Virgin Mary. Show all posts

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Signs of the Times


The great earthquake and tsunami which struck the east coast of Honshu Japan was nearly 60 miles from the town of Akita, Japan where the Vatican approved Marian apparition took place. During this apparition the Blessed Virgin Mary delivered the following message:




"As I told you, if men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge, such as one will never seen before. Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful. The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead. The only arms which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by My Son. Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and priests."
"The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres...churches and altars sacked; the Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.
"The demon will be especially implacable against souls consecrated to God. The thought of the loss of so many souls is the cause of my sadness. If sins increase in number and gravity, there will be no longer pardon for them" (October 13, 1973 - Akita, Japan)



Then we learned that major solar flares have been erupting this month with such intensity that they are prompting close monitoring by NASA. The following X-class solar flare is just one of many massive solar flares in its class that erupted in recent weeks. This one erupted on March 19, 2011:


We can perceive the devastating earthquake and tsunami near the Marian apparition of Akita, Japan as yet another signal from God for the entire human race to turn to God. A FOX News report cited:


"Earlier this month, the sun unleashed its second X-class solar flare of the year that was aimed at Earth. X-class solar flares are the strongest types of solar flares."

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Ave Maria by Josquin Desprez

Josquin des Pres (c. 1440-1521) Missa Mater Patris

Josquin pioneered the technique of pervasive imitation, by which the entire schola repeats one melody in different times in other voices.

In this prayer, the opening section declaims the four phrases of text - 'Ave Maria', in order. Clear and unobstructed imitation of each phrase (as if in a litany) occurs dramatically from the highest voice to the lowest; the imitated melody resembles a Gregorian chant version. Though the phrases of this section are completely balanced in length, the counterpoint increases in density, producing a strong climax at the first juncture where all four voices sing together. The lyrics to Josquin's Ave Maria comprises one of the most touching hymns to Our Lady.

Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with thee, gentle Virgin.
Hail, thou whose Conception,
Full of solemn joy,
Fills heaven and earth
With new gladness.
Hail, thou whose Nativity
Became our great celebration,
As the light-bringing rising light
Coming before the true sun.
Hail, blessed humility,
Fertility without man,
Whose Annunciation
Was our salvation.
Hail, true virginity,
Immaculate chastity,
Whose Purification
Was our cleansing.
Hail, glorious one
In all angelic virtures,
Whose Assumption
Was our glorification.
O Mother of God,
Remember me.
Amen.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007