WHO IS SHE?????

St Philip Neri (d. 1594)

Would you like to know if this is the Virgin Mary?

Saint Philip Neri was often consulted by bishops to judge the authenticity of mystics. The practice of humility and obedience allowed him to infallibly test false mystics, because the devil is proud and independent.

One day in 1560, the cardinals were divided about a nun who was having visions. Since they sought his opinion, Philip went to see the young sister. He looked at her warmly and said, "Sister, I didn't want to see you, I wanted to see the saint." And the nun replied, "But I am the saint!" Philip turned on his heels, retorting, "Ah, you're the saint? Thank you." And the verdict he gave the Cardinals was, "It's not from God..."

Another time, one of his penitents confided to him that the Virgin had come in the night in her room, filling it with joy and light! So Philip said, "Listen, the next time she comes you should spit in her face." The following night, the apparition spoke to her of God, but remembering the promise she had made to her spiritual director she spat in her face. The apparition immediately disappeared in a cloud of sulphur smoke: it was the devil. That same night, she awoke in the room full of light with a new apparition that smiled at her. This time the figure was not sitting on her bed, she standing in a corner of the room. The seer went over to spit again, but the apparition just said, "You can spit if you want." The apparition was too far to spit on, but she congratulated her for her obedience to her spiritual director! And Father Neri told her that that time it was the Virgin Mary.

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death.
From the magazine the Etoile Notre Dame, October 2006

9th Sunday of ordinary time: 1 June - Mt 7,21-27

Monday: 2 June 2008 - Mark 12,1-12 Tuesday: 3 June 2008 - Mark 12,13-17 Wednesday: 4 June 2008 - Mark 12,18-27 Thursday: 5 June 2008 - Mark 12,28b-34 Friday: 6 June 2008 - Mark 12,35-37 Saturday: 7 June 2008 - Mark 12,38-44
10ª Sunday of ordinary time: 8 June - Mt 9,9-13

Monday: 9 June 2008 - Matthew 5,1-12 Tuesday: 10 June 2008 - Matthew 5,13-16 Wednesday: 11 June 2008 - Matthew 10,7-13 Thursday: 12 June 2008 - Matthew 5,20-26 Friday: 13 June 2008 - Matthew 5,27-32 Saturday: 14 June 2008 - Matthew 5,33-37
11th Sunday of ordinary time: 15 June - Mt 9,36-10,8

Monday: 16 June 2008 - Matthew 5,38-42 Tuesday: 17 June 2008 - Matthew 5,43-48 Wednesday: 18 June 2008 - Matthew 6,1-6.16-18 Thursday: 19 June 2008 - Matthew 6,7-15 Friday: 20 June 2008 - Matthew 6,19-23 Saturday: 21 June 2008 - Matthew 6,24-34

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO all of you out there....with lots of LOVE.
Besides wishing all the best returns to you MOTHERS, let us not forget our departed ones...like mine!
I came across the following and I think it is quite fitting to propose as a salute to all mothers and as a pointer to their unselfish love....

My mother had only one eye,
I hated her as I was ashamed of her.
She was a cook in the school cafeteria where I studied.
One day, when I saw still in a primary class,
She came to visit me to see for herself that I was all right. I was very upset, how dare she do this to me?
After that incident I ignored her & looked on her only with hateful eyes….
The next day, a fellow-student told me, “oohhh, your mother has only one eye!”
At that moment, I wanted to crawl under the floor,and that my mother would be out of my life completely.
The next day I went to meet her and to tell her: “ Because of you I am the joke at school. Why don’t you die and go away!?
But, she did not respond…. I wasn’t thinking and did not know what I was saying; I was very angry. I could not imagine how she would react to my remarks.
And, I left town.
I studied relentlessly and obtained a scholarship to continue my studies abroad.
In fact, I completed my studies, got married, bought a house and set up my family.
I lived a happy and a peaceful life.
One day, my mother comes to visit me.
It had been many years since she had disappeared. She had never met her grand-children. She remained at the doorstep while my children were making fun of her.
I shouted at her: “ How dare you come all the way here and frighten my kids?! With a calm voice she responded: “I apologize, I am at the wrong address.”
And she disappeared.
One day, I received an invitation from my hometown school to attend a reunion under the “ close family ties “ topic. I lied to my wife and made her believe that I was traveling for business.
After the reunion I stopped by the house where I grew up. The neighbours informed me that my mother had passed away. I did not shed even one tear!!! The next door neighbor handed me a letter that my mother had left for me:
“My Dear son, I always thought of you.”
I regret having visited you abroad and frightened your kids! …I was very pleased when I heard that you would come to attend the reunion. …The only thing was that I could not get up from my bed to come and see you! I am broken-hearted that I brought shame to you on numerous occasions.
Did you know that when you were a baby you had an accident and lost your one eye?

As any other mother would, I would not let you grow up with only one eye!
So, I gave you my eye……..
I was very proud and happy to know that my son would be able to see the world with my eye.
… with all my love…
…Your mother….