A crucifix containing a holy relic of a Saint

A closer look into the supernatural ability of recognizing items that have been blessed (Hierognosis).

-The mystical recognition of Blessed objects, Relics, Priests, and the Holy Eucharist in the lives of several mystics.

"I see blessed objects endowed with a healing and helping power. I see them as luminous and radiating light" -Therese Neumann, a renowned German mystic.

Hierognosis is a supernatural gift given to certain mystics which consists of the ability to discern blessed or consecrated objects from those which are not blessed, such as whether or not a Host has been consecrated, whether a relic is authentic or not, or whether an object such as a crucifix or a rosary has been blessed by a priest. Additionally, the gift often extends to the discernment of the presence of a good or evil spirit, including especially the recognition of items that are cursed, and even the ability to find lost or hidden objects and holy relics.

It should also be noted that this charism is closely related to the gift of Cardiognosis (or Kardiognosis) which is the supernatural ability to read the hearts of others, thus being able to discern--in the light of God--as to whether a person is in a state of grace, or a state of sin.

Therese Neumann

Therese Neumann (1898-1962), a modern mystic, was renowned for this faculty of recognizing consecrated and blessed items along with relics, most especially when she was in the state of ecstasy.

In regards to her ability to recognize priests, Therese explained that she was able to recognize any ordained priest by his "consecrated hands”. Often, most especially during World War II, priests and military chaplains would come dressed as ordinary lay persons or in regular military fatigues, and she would immediately identify them, addressing them by saying “Hello Father”, leaving many astonished at her recognizing them.

Additionally she could also immediately tell the difference between consecrated and unconsecrated Hosts. She was able to recognize the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in a church as far away as one mile. When her spiritual director, Father Naber, asked her on several occasions while driving and visiting locations completely unfamiliar to her whether the Blessed Sacrament was present, her answer was always immediate and definite, pointing in the direction of the place where the Eucharist was located. When she approached the Blessed Sacrament--whether it was in the tabernacle of a Catholic Church or carried on the person of a priest making a sick call--her stigmata wounds reflected this joy, and the pain subsided temporarily. Knowing that Therese always recognized a Catholic Church having the Blessed Sacrament present, a priest once asked her, "Is it also true that you can feel when a visitor has received Holy Communion?""Yes," she said, "but only within a cer­tain length of time."

Once while Therese was in ecstasy, a Benedictine priest came to the Neumann home in the company of other visitors. Shortly after they entered the room, Therese motioned to the priest to come nearer to her bed. Then she reached out and clasped a relic that was suspended from the Benedictine's habit. After holding the relic close to her heart, she kissed it. She explained that it was a relic of the True Cross, and further identified it as a particle from the lower section of the Cross, close to where the nail had transfixed the Saviour's feet. During the few moments taken to identify this relic, Therese's sufferings seemed to subside, but they resumed immediately thereafter.

On another occasion while Therese was in ecstasy, she asked a visiting priest to show her his rosary. When the priest handed it to her, she kissed it devoutly and explained that this rosary had once been used by Blessed Kreszentia of Kaufbeuren, Bavaria. The priest knew the history of this particular rosary to be precisely as Therese stated it. On one occasion a gentleman brought a relic along from Italy. As Therese was touched by the relic, she immediately responded that it was from a saint in Heaven who knew the Pope very well. She also told the name of the saint; it was Contardo Ferrini, who was not known at all in Ger­many, and whose connection with the Holy Father was known by only a few trusted people. Again Therese startled the visitors by telling the incidents of his life, which they themselves did not know. It turned out that she was correct, as always.

Another gift bestowed upon Therese was the ability to discern whether relics were authentic, or not. She was able to tell, instantly, whether a relic is genuine or spurious, no matter what tests are applied or how firmly the authenticity of a supposed relic may have been held. She could also tell whether a relic is of the first class: a part of the body of the saint; or only a minor relic, like a piece of the saint's clothing or something that has touched a relic.

A Benedictine monk had inherited from his grandmother a supposedly true relic of the cross, which had belonged to nuns who fled from the Rhineland before the Napoleonic invasion. After a Passion ecstasy, the monk put the relic near one of Therese's stigmata. At once she raised her wounded hand as a sign that the particle was genuine, and added that it was from that part of the cross under the Redeemer's feet. The monk also was told that another relic was of a "holy pope and martyr." The label bore the word linus} but she did not see this. St. Linus was the first successor of St. Peter as pope and died in A.D. 78.

A physician named Dr. Gerlich wrote that on one occasion Father Naber submitted a relic enclosed and hidden in a sachel which Therese, without opening her eyes, described as a fragment of the true cross, and she gave exact details as to the part of the Cross from which it was taken. In other instances she would say: "This is not ... but it has been touched to....", or simply shake her head signifying that the item was not an authentic relic.

A religious identified as 'Brother C.' submitted a crucifix hanging from the cord of his habit. Therese said: "Genuine and spurious ....You believed that there was a relic of St. Francis in it. It is not a true one, but you may continue to reverence it, for it touched a true relic. The one of St. Clare is genuine."
Opening the crucifix and showing those nearby, the contents bore two inscriptions, 'S. Franciscus,' and 'S. Clara'.

She verified the relics of St. Odilo, who died more than one thousand years ago; of Duns Scotus and St. Cecilia, "the maiden whose neck they cut"; St. Stephen, the protomartyr; St. Lawrence and St. Elizabeth. When she identified the relic of Saint Nicholas von der Fliie, who died in 1487, she said: "Oh, my, that was a good man, for he loved the Saviour very much. And do you know, he ate nothing, just as I do. But he had it much better than I, for he was in the woods and the 'shining man' (her designation for the guardian angel) brought him our Lord." Someone asked how often this happened, and she answered, "Many times."

A native of her own village of Konnerseuth figured in one of Therese's identifications of relics. On this occasion referring to a relic she said: "This saint entered heaven without going through purgatory. He was born in Konnerseuth, then he went to Abyssinia, where he was martyred. One ought to pray for his speedy beatification."
The person she was speaking of was named Father Liberatus Weiss, a Franciscan missionary who was stoned to death on March 3, 1716.

As for the power of a blessing from a priest, it was often well attested that there was only one thing that would bring Therese out of a Thursday evening/Friday Passion ecstasy momentarily, and that was the blessing of a Catholic priest (or bishop) who might be present. She would respond to the blessing with the words: Thanks be to God, Father (or your Excellency).

Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich

Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774-1824) was unusually gifted in the discernment of holy things. Her remarkable ability to sense when an ordained priest was present, including priests dressed in lay clothing, or the identification of relics is well-documented in the various biographies concerning her holy life. Father Carl E. Schmoger, C.SS.R., described some of these discernments in his study of this most unusual stigmatist:

"With the gift of prophecy, Sister Emmerich had also received the power of discerning holy objects, even by the senses. Blessed bells had for her a melody all their own, a sound essentially different from every other that struck her ear; her taste detected the blessing imparted to holy water as readily as others can distinguish water from wine; her sense of smell aided her sight and touch in recognizing the relics of saints; and she had as lively a perception of the blessing of a priest sent to her from afar, just as when given to her in her actual presence...." (The Life of Anne Catherine Emmerich: Volume II, p. 394.)

Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich herself explained these holy things which she was able to distinguish, such as blessed objects or relics:
"I see the blessing and the blessed object endowed with a healing and helping power. I see them as luminous and radiating light; while evil, crimes and malediction appear before me as darkness radiating darkness and working destruction. I see light and darkness as living things enlightening or obscuring...." (p. 395.)

"I feel irresistibly drawn to relics....It is easy to recognize them at such times, for they shine with a different light. I see little pictures like the faces of the saints to whom they belong, toward which rays of light dart from the particles. I cannot express it! It was a wonderful state! ... (p. 417.)

Father Paul of Moll, Belgium (Francis Luyckx 1824-1896), a Benedictine priest, received from God some very extraordinary mystical graces during his lifetime, after being miraculously cured of a grave illness at the time he was ordained a priest. He worked many miracles, especially through the use of the medal of St Benedict, the founder of the religious order that he belonged to.

A woman from Zevenbergen, Holland once brought Father Paul a closed package containing three gross of medals (432 medals) of Our Lady and asked him to bless them. “With pleasure," replied the Rev. Father, "I shall bless them all except one which is a medal of the Precious Blood, and for that I shall say a little prayer." When the lady returned home and looked over all of the medals, she found among them one medal of the Precious Blood of which Father Paul had spoken.

A woman of Flanders with the family name Wyngene states: "I visited Father Paul one day with my daughter whom he had previously cured, and out of the the blue he asked her for her rosary, saying it was not blessed. That was true, in fact, and the Rev. Father blessed the rosary and gave it back to her."

Detection of cursed items
A married woman from Oostkamp, Belgium had lost several children in their infancy. In 1881 her last born child, only five weeks old, all at once became very sullen. The mother not being able to nurse him anymore, brought him to Fr. Paul at the monastery in Steenbrugge. Sitting down in a pew of the church, she held the baby on her knees. Father Paul knelt down before the child and held his hand, and for the first time the little one began to laugh while looking at Father Paul.

"Don't worry," he said, "your child will be cured: but you have in your house baby clothes that came from a strange woman; burn them as soon as possible. When you have done so, the child will be well. Make a novena in honor of St. Benedict; I shall pray also; if the trouble shall continue, come back."

Having returned home, the mother remembered that she had in possession some clothes that her sister had given her after the death of her children, and that her sister had received the things from a woman "of doubtful character" (presumably one whom practiced witchcraft- editor) living in the neighborhood. In accordance with the Rev. Father's advice, these clothes were burned. A few days later, the child seemed to be cured, but on the last day of the novena, it began to cry again as it had done before. The mother made a second visit to Steenbrugge.
"You did not burn everything in your house which came from that strange woman. Go home and seek everywhere, and on the way home, conceal your child and do not show him to anyone."

The woman left the monastery. Hardly had she proceeded a few hundred paces, when an old woman accosted her and said, "Hold on! you went to show your baby to Father Paul; let me see it also!" - "I have no time," the mother replied. As soon as she reached home, she searched every nook and corner of the house. Under a piece of furniture, she found an old pair of infant's shoes which she threw into the fire. From that day her sons health was permanently restored.

Little Gilles Bouhours (1944-1960)--The 6 year old boy who delivered a purported heavenly message to Pope Pius XII for the dogma of the Assumption in 1950

"The Blessed Virgin Mary did not die; She ascended to Heaven with Her body and soul" -Message from six year old Gilles Bouhours given to Pope Pius XII during a special private audience.

In 1950, as Pope Pius XII was preparing to promulgate the dogma of the Assumption of Mary into heaven, he privately prayed to God for a sign, to confirm that the proposed dogma was indeed God's holy will. This is the story of what was believed to be heavens remarkable answer to the Pope's prayer.

Baby Gilles is reportedly miraculously cured at age 9 months through the intercession of St. Therese of Lisieux
Gilles Bouhours was born in Mayenne, France on November 27, 1944, on the feast of the Miraculous Medal. He was the third of five children. His father, Gabriel Bouhours was a plumber, and his mother Madeleine was a housewife. Remarkably, God intervened very early in Gilles' existence. At the age of nine months, he was diagnosed with meningoencephalitis (meningitis with encephalitis), an illness that was often fatal at that time. The local physician, Dr. Dives, who was first consulted then sent them to a specialist in Bordeaux. The diagnosis was the same. In that year, penicillin was just starting to be tested on several patients with meningitis in Germany and in the USA, but for little Gilles in France there were no really effective medicines to combat the disease.

St Therese reportedly intercedes for Gilles

A Little Sister of the Poor nun who was a friend of the family gave the family two relic prayer cards to place under baby Gilles pillow, while praying for his healing; one was a relic card of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (1873-1896), and the other was of Father Daniel Brottier (1876-1936), of the Congregation of Saint-Esprit, a former missionary in Africa and director of the Orphelins Apprentis d'Auteuil (home for orphans) in Paris. Three nights pass without any noticeable improvement being felt. 

On the fourth night, the exhausted parents dozed off, and when the awoke they found Gilles without any pain, breathing and behaving normally, with the fever completely gone, without explanation. 
"A redness in the form of a "T" (Cross) was visible on each cheek" later explained his parents. Add to all this another strange fact captured their attention: While they found the image of Father Brottier intact under baby Gilles pillow, that of St. Therese of Lisieux was missing its relic--only the two red threads holding her relic were found after a through search of the crib and the floor. For Madeleine and Gabriel Bouhours, this was a sign that the "little Thérèse" had interceded with God for the healing of their child. Events later in Gilles life would later seemingly confirm this conclusion.

The beginning of the apparitions- The Virgin Mary reportedly appears to little Gilles
In September 1947 the Bouhours family was living in Arcachon, France. Little Gilles was two years and ten months, and is described as your average child, seemingly no different than other boys of his age. On September 30, 1947 he reportedly had his first appearance of the Virgin Mary, with more to soon follow. The child states that the Virgin Mary asked him to go to a place called Espis, (France) where there were news reports of three children--and soon afterwards a 40 year old man--who had reportedly been seeing the Virgin Mary since one year prior (1946). His parents were uncertain about Gilles visions, but his father manages to locate the place on a road map, and he decides to take a ride there by himself to visit the place, as requested by the Lady in Gilles apparition.

Gilles Bouhours on February 13, 1948

The purported visionaries of Espis and their association with little Gilles
Located in the department of Tarn-et-Garonne in the Diocese of Montauban, Espis is the place where in August 1946 there began reports of alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary. The events were soon investigated by the Diocese, and on December 12, 1946 the local Bishop first related his initial opinion that the apparitions "were not true". While Bishop Théas initial judgment pertained primarily to the other visionaries of the place, Gilles later was swept up in the affair, and was essentially implicated because of his association with the place, as the reader shall soon see, but nevertheless the Pope would soon receive little Gilles on two occasions, as the reader will also soon see.

On August 22, 1946, Claudine and Nadine Combalbert were watching a flock of geese in Bois d'Espis. On this day they reportedly suddenly saw a "lady dressed in black," with a "dress adorned with daisies." The next day (Aug. 23) the "Lady" appears to the two of them again, and this time a third child is present. The news soon spreads across the countryside like wildfire. 

Then on August 31, a forty year old man also alleges visions of the Virgin who purportedly says:
"I am the Immaculate Conception." 
A group of nuns soon gets involved, and the place suddenly turns into a whirlwind of excitement and what could be described as excessive religious fervor.

But back to our story, Gilles father, Gabriel Bouhours, once he got to Espis, asked one of the purported visionaries to come with him to confirm or disprove the words of his son. And so it was that on the evening of September 30, 1947, one of the girl visionaries came to the Bouhours to visit with little Gilles. 

According to her testimony, in the garden of the family house she saw the Blessed Virgin in the aspect of Our Lady of Lourdes. When Gabriel and three of his children, including Gilles arrive, only the latter reportedly sees the beautiful Lady. He declares: "Our Lady is on the water. She splits the water with a stick. I see two sticks in the sky. "

He describes Mary with a "hood" meaning that she is wearing a veil over her head. He was asked to explain the "sticks": "This is how the sticks," he retorts with his child vocabulary, using his hands to try to explain what in reality was a cross! Then he goes on to describe something terrible: a "yellow smoke" rises in the sky and Virgin "weeps". 

Thanks to the testimonies gathered on the spot and the notes taken immediately by the parents of Gilles, we have in pretty good detail the various purported appearances of Mary with their child. On October 2, 1947, Gilles reportedly sees the Virgin "bleeding" abundantly.
"Did you get a boo boo?" he asks Her innocently. "Did you fall into some sticks? Hold my tissue […]. Blessed Virgin, come next to me, give me your hand [...] Dad and mom are here"(referring to his parents). The freshness and simplicity of such a dialogue is striking and seemingly correspond to other apparitions of the Virgin Mary to children in other places.

On the 4th and 6th of October, 1947 the Virgin reportedly appeared briefly to Gilles. On October 13th (Feast of Fatima), at around 5pm the Lady in the apparition returns for the first time to the subject of Espis. " Oh! The Blessed Virgin!' Gilles states. The apparition asks him to go and pray in the woods (at Espis), in a place where a "spring" will later flow. At 6:30 pm, the Lady appears a second time to Gilles, this time surrounded by about thirty people. The Lady in the vision asks him to present to Her the rosaries that some people had given to him, that She might bless them, and She then asks that the people pray together a decade of the rosary for the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

St Therese of Lisieux reportedly makes an appearance
On November 27, and on December 13, 1947, Gilles was given two brief appearances. On the 8th of December, he sees a "great cross" in the heavens. Two days later, St. Teresa of Lisieux appears to him. According to Gilles, St Therese "tosses flowers towards him." 

Gilles first visit to Espis
Gilles visited Espis for the first time on October 13, 1947, and the Virgin Mary leads him to a place in the woods where a spring would begin to flow. On January 13, 1948, the Virgin appears to Gilles twice in one day, and asks him to pray to the Sacred Heart of Her Son. On February 8, several "crosses in the sky" are observed by the child.

On February 10, 1948 the Bouhours family go on pilgrimage to Lourdes. Gilles has no visions the whole time they were there. This actually helped to further convince his parents and others that there was no suggestion involved in his visions. While visiting the entire place of Lourdes, Gilles noticed that all of the various representations made of the Blessed Virgin were indeed beautiful,  there were none near as beautiful as when he sees her in person. 

On February 13th, in the place of the future spring he reportedly sees Mary weeping "tears of blood". Gilles then asks his father for water, and after receiving a little holy water in the palm of his hand, he stretches out his hand, and the people present can see Gilles' little hand do as if he was wiping something. Again he asks for water, and the operation repeats itself as if Gilles was wiping the other cheek of the Blessed Virgin, during which time those present did not cease to pray. The apparition ended when Gilles had finished wiping away the tears of the Blessed Virgin, and the following day She reportedly kisses him tenderly in another vision.

On March 13, 1948, Gilles declares "I embraced the Blessed Virgin, but I did not kiss Her." In fact, the spring of 1948 brought some very notable events. On April 13, Gilles reportedly sees the Virgin Mary three times in Espis, and then in May he sees Her in different places--in his room and in the garden of the family house, etc. and "Rains of crosses" are described by the toddler. 

On June 4, 1948, Gilles informed his family concerning the identity of the apparition, saying She was "Holy Mary, Mother of God ", and on June 10th"Holy Mother of Graces". While She often appeared to Gilles on the 13th of each month, June 13 remains a day without appearance. But the family, anxious to obey recent decision of the local Bishop on May 4th concerning the visionaries at Espis (more info about this below), the family decides not to go to Espis, and Gilles reportedly receives a confirmation of this decision in an interior locution. 

On the 24th of June, he said to his mother: "After Sunday the Blessed Virgin will come to see me in our garden. Not today, she does not have time!"
What is She doing then? asks his mother.
"Well, She is not making soup! She puts flowers in heaven. "

During an apparition on August 13, 1948, a woman gave Gilles three rosaries that she wanted the Virgin Mary to bless. Gilles gave them back to her saying that the Virgin would not bless them because they were already blessed. Soon afterwards Gilles father found the woman and asked her if it was true that the rosaries were already blessed, and the woman confirmed that they were, and that she did not realise that the Virgin would therefore not be able to bless them.
[Editors note: This purported "blessing" of items by the Blessed Virgin Mary has occurred during other reported apparitions, for example at Garabandal. This writer recalls one instance where a person protested that the Blessed Virgin  does not have the power to bless items in Jesus Name, stating that only priests and deacons can do so. This writer will reply that if the Church recognizes that in an emergency situation, any person can baptize another person, which literally confers a Sacrament upon another person, then certainly the Mother of Jesus, born without Original sin and having given birth to the Son of God, can "sanctify" and perform a simple blessing upon an item in Her Sons holy Name. Either way, in an of itself I personally would not find this alone to have sufficient grounds to dismiss any purported apparition. -Glenn Dallaire] 

The Bishops ruling concerning the principle visionaries at Espis
Feeling compelled to intervene because of the news reports and excitement being generated by the various visionaries at Espis, the diocese conducts an investigation, and on December 12, 1946, Bishop Théas, the then Bishop of Montauban, writes in a private correspondence that these appearances "are not true" and that it is all an "Illusion", and six months later, on May 4, 1947, the bishop publishes an official negative judgment, suspending "a divinis" any priest who celebrates Mass there. Around this time, the Lady confirms the bishops decision by telling Gilles that no Masses should be celebrated in Espis, out of obedience to the local Bishops recent decision. 

After the departure of Monsignor Theas for the diocese of Tarbes and Lourdes, his successor, Monsignor Courrèges, establishes a commission of inquiry on February 1, 1950. Its conclusions are in summary "Auto suggestion and hallucinations " excluding any possibility of a "supernatural origin". 

Although Gilles was not one of the original or principle visionaries at Espis, he was nevertheless caught up in the affair due to visit that one of the principle visionaries had made to his home, and also the subsequent visits that he himself had made there after the bishops decision, which it should be pointed out was due to the expressed request by the Lady Herself in one of his early visions. Essentially he was "guilty by association", as the expression goes. 

The fact remains however that the bishops official ruling concerning the visionaries at Espis was on May 4th, 1947, and Gilles himself did not visit Espis until October 13th of that year, so the bishops decision concerning the authenticity of the alleged apparitions there obviously did not pertain to Gilles apparitions in any way. Its difficult to understand the designs of God in such matters, but the fact remains that even after the local bishops ruling, which was acknowledged by the Vatican, Gilles was nevertheless granted two separate private audiences with the Pope, as the reader will discover below. One can assume that while the some of the newspapers later implicated Gilles in the events at Espis, some at the high levels in Rome knew the facts of the timeline, and how to separate the wheat from the tares.

Biblical style visions of St Michael the Archangel
On August 15, 1948, a vision was imposed on the almost 4 year old child. He describes it with his pictorial words:
"I see big button [the earth] and, above, a big beast, like a lizard with a big tail and big legs wrapped around it. Not far away, I see a gentleman with feathers on his back." 

Without perhaps knowing it, Gilles has just described, in an original way, the archangel Saint Michael and the figure of satan influencing this world. On that day, Mary, dressed in blue but without a veil, asked him to follow the procession organized by the pilgrims of Espis and to sing "Chez nous que queen". In the weeks that followed, the Virgin asked him "many prayers." 

On October 13, 1948 the apparition revealed to him the "fights" led by the archangel Saint Michael for the benefit of souls. On December 13, Mary confided a "secret" to Gilles for the Pope, and for the Pope only. His father asks for explanations, and he answers: "She told me something [to tell the Pope] and if I told you it would be two sins" (leaving some to conclude that the secret might actually have contained two parts.)

One thing now occupies the little mind of Gilles: To go to Rome where "the one whoreplaces Jesus on earth" lives [the pope]. According to the testimony, in early 1949 the child participates in Lent in a remarkable manner, considering he is only just four years old. 

On May 13, 1949 he allegedly sees the Virgin present along the Way of the Cross, and feels in himself some of the pains experienced by Jesus. On June 12, Gilles receives his first Holy Communion in a climate of simplicity and spiritual devotion. During summer 1949, Gilles continues to recieve apparitions and locutions on the 13th of each month, with two additional visions on August 15th. 

Little miracle of the two turtle doves
On July 13, 1949 during a vision Gilles offers the Blessed Virgin a pair of turtle doves that a lady had bought to him for the Blessed Virgin. Gilles offers them by releasing them, but they do not fly away and on the contrary, the male flies over to the foot of the altar, and grabs a flower that is about 20 to 25 centimeters long, and holding it in its beak he flies back to Gilles, cooing and turning in front of him, and then finally he lays it before him. Needless to say those who witnessed this were utterly amazed by the event.

On November 13, 1949, the Virgin, after asking for prayers for all the sick, said, "Gilles, you must go to Rome to see the Pope. " 

Trips to Rome -First audience with Pope Pius XII
After repeated requests by the Lady of the visions and Gilles insistence, a first trip to Rome is organized, despite financial difficulties regarding the cost of the trip, for they were a family of very modest means. Because of this, only Gilles and his father went. On December 12, 1949 Gilles and his father were able to meet Pope Pius XII in a semi-private audience, but on that day the child does not give the Pope the secret of the Lady, because he is not alone with the Pope, as requested by the Madonna. Gilles is disappointed, but insistent that he must deliver the message privately.

So, a second trip begins to be organized, but soon afterwards some bad news reaches the family by post: because of the local Bishops decision concerning the various purported apparitions at Espis, it was stated that the Holy Father can not grant a second hearing to Gilles. Eight days later, after the Lady of the apparition again asked Gilles to go to the Vatican to inform the pope of the "secret", within days the various roadblocks seem to mysteriously disappear. Somehow, the obstacles were cleared at the highest levels of the Vatican. 

"Le Petit Gilles" book by Fr. Marius Jean

Second private audience with the Pope
Gilles and his father leave for Rome in late April, and on May 1, 1950 Pope Pius XII received Gilles in a private audience, with only six year old Gilles and the Sovereign Pontiff present. Of this private encounter very little has been revealed. One matter of note was the fact that little Gilles was presented to the Pope by Cardinal Montini, the future Pope Paul VI. Gilles father, Gabriel Bouhours, described the scene in a picturesque way:
"At around 10:30am, we entered the Vatican, where prelates of His Holiness bring us into a room. A Bishop said "Put the child on the chair. We will leave him alone with the Holy Father. " 
As soon as the latter entered, the prelates withdrew, and Gilles remained alone with Pope Pius XII. Pope Pius reappeared shortly afterwards with Gilles, who joyfully clapped his hands and cheered: 'Vive le Papa!' After the audience, and now freed from all constraints, the dear child revealed his secret to several people."

On June 10, 1950, a journalist from the 'Giornale d'Italia' published a long article entitled: "A little Frenchman of five years speaks to the Pope." 
This article quoted the famous "secret" of Gilles: "The Blessed Virgin Mary did not die; She ascended into heaven with her body and soul."

Other notable persons met "little Gilles" on the occasion of his trip to Rome, particularly Fr. Gabrielle Roschini, nown for being a great mariologist and professor at the Lateran University, and expert at the Second Vatican Council. At this time of meeting with Gilles he was one of the key individuals charged with preparing the dogmatic text of the Assumption. He describes his interview with Gilles: "I do not know what impression was produced on the Sovereign Pontiff concerning the "secret" of the Blessed Virgin. Speaking with the child before the pontifical audience, I had found little Gilles hermetically closed, and numerous other persons had not been successful either. He defended himself by saying that the Blessed Virgin had commanded to say it first, before anyone else, to the pope. And little Gilles did so. After the private audience he revealed it to me, as well as to several other people." 

Subsequently to Gilles private meeting with the Pope, several articles appeared in various newspapers, thus the case of "Little Gilles" became known. The profound accord between the content of this sentence given by Gilles to the Pope and the dogma of the Assumption, as well as the proximity of the dates between the hearing granted to Gilles (May 1, 1950), and the proclamation of this dogma on August 15th, 1950 could not fail to strike deeply into the minds and hearts of many.


Remarkably, according to several well-informed sources, it was reported that Pope Pius XII had in fact asked God for a sign to confirm that the proposed dogma of the Assumption was in accord with the will of God.  And so it was that members of his close entourage, as well as several people outside the Vatican, did not fail to identify this "sign" as being the private revelation of the child. One can only assume that the Pope did also.

More details concerning Gilles visions
While the mission of Gilles was realized in his delivery of heavens message to the Pope, from 1950 to 1958 Gilles continued to be visited by the Blessed Virgin at regular intervals. On May 13, 1950, he announced: "On June 13, I am to wear a white alb, and I will have to walk barefoot, like the little Jesus, for the conversion of sinners."

In fact, newspaper photographs have immortalized this moment (see photo above).

Gilles brother gives us an brief idea of what "little Gilles" was like during his childhood:
"He was often available for any sacrifice, small or great, in order always to please the Blessed Virgin or the "Little Jesus". He often deprived himself of sweets and he helped at home even when he would have preferred to come play with us. Gilles was often for us an example to follow both spiritually and in everyday life; he accepted everything and offered to the Good Lord and the Blessed Virgin all his sufferings, especially during the winter period when his hands and tip of his feet were deformed by very strong chilblains, but he never had a word to complain."

On November 5, 1954, during a Mass in honor of the Sacred Heart, the child sees the Virgin Mary whom very noticeably bows during the moment of the Consecration. Similarly, at the beginning of the 20th century we discover that Father John Lamy also saw the Virgin Mary bow during the Mass at the moment of the Consecration. On the 13th of January, February and March 1955, for the first time Gilles saw "brilliant golden rays emanating forth from the joined hands of the Blessed Virgin". On March 20, 1957, Gilles is sad because the Lady tells him:
"Gilles, soon I will not come to see you anymore".

The apparitions detailed in this article are only a brief highlight and summary of some of the purported visions given to Gilles. There were in fact many more apparitions than what is summarized here. While it was the Blessed Virgin Mary that appeared to Gilles most often, the were quite a few times where She was holding the Child Jesus in Her arms, and this is why Gilles often referred to Jesus as "Little Jesus".  He also had visions of St Joseph, St Therese and St Bernadette, each of who accompanied the Blessed Virgin on different occasions. When he saw Angels, he described them as being dressed in either white, blue or pink. 


On August 15, 1958, the Virgin appeared to him for the last time. A year and a half later Gilles passed from this life to eternity on February 26, 1960. He was 15 years old. He died after a short illness of 48 hours. Some in the medical field said it was a crisis of uremia, while others said it was asthma, but ultimately there was no precise explanation. Yet another remarkable thing happened at the moment when Gilles gave his soul to God--A flock of birds of all sorts came and fluttered around the window of his room and engaged in a melodious chirping, which lasted a few moments, enough for the people around the bed of Gilles to be fascinated by the sight, and later report it.
-Little Gilles Bouhours, pray for us!

By: Glenn Dallaire
Since I wrote my original article on Irving "Francis" Houle (1925-2009) of Michigan, USA back a couple of years ago I have since received a number of very positive comments in support of Francis, both beneath the original article and also by private email, attesting to various graces received through his intercession during his lifetime (particularly through his healing ministry), and since his passing back in 2009.

Photograph of the purported stigmata of  Irving "Francis" Houle with what appears to be images of a crucifix and Mary

Sacred images appearing in a photograph of the stigmata? We report, you discern
One of the letters I received from a person who knew Francis during his lifetime contained a very interesting photo of the purported stigmatized hands of Francis. The person who sent me the photo--which is an original photo on Fujifilm stock taken from the original developed film roll--told me that the photo (above) of Francis stigmata was taken in September of 1996 at the expressed request of Francis' brother Reynold, who along with Francis spiritual director Fr. Robert J. Fox were usually the only ones who were allowed to see Francis during the times he reportedly mystically suffered the passion. Concerning this photo she wrote:
"When the picture was developed, the images of Jesus and Mary appeared on his hands. Francis gave a copy of this photo to a close friend, who put it away until his death in 2009. This picture has not been altered in any way."

In turn, I have posted a high resolution scan of this photograph, and have not altered it in any way (you can click on the photograph to enlarge it). One can see in the photo that an image of a crucifix appears quite clearly over the left stigmatized hand, whereas somewhat fainter image of the Blessed Virgin Mary is seen in what appears to be a representation of our Lady of Lourdes upon the right hand stigmata.

Additionally, there appears to be at least one (if not more) additional image(s) in the finger areas of both hands, but upon close inspection with a magnifying glass this writer cannot make out what it is, as there seems to be some distortion in this area of the photo.

In the end this writer makes no claims or judgement concerning this photo, simply that "we report, you discern", as the purpose of this site is to publish a variety of information covering all aspects of Catholic mystics and mysticism.

For more information on Francis those interested can read my original article on Francis, and also the book “Francis”–A True Story- Family man suffers the Passion of Jesus daily”  by Father Robert J. Fox, Fatima Family Apostolate, 1999. In more recent editions the book was renamed “A Man Called Francis”.

Additionally for more info or for those who would like to report graces received through Francis' intercession can contact:
My Mother's House
2015 - 10th Avenue South
Escanaba, MI   49829
(906)786-2116

Six "gems" of private revelations given to Maria Valtorta (1897-1961) pertaining to the secluded life of the Blessed Virgin Mary

This inspiring and revealing article on the secret life of the Mother of Jesus was compiled by Mr. Joseph Costa from the writings of the Italian mystic, Maria Valtorta (1897-1961). The webmaster would like to gratefully thank Mr. Costa for sharing it here--May God reward him for his efforts.

Not much is revealed in the New Testament of the Bible about Virgin Mary's secluded earthly life. But many gems from that life have been revealed to us in the holy Writings of Maria Valtorta, by Virgin Mary Herself; and by Her Son and Lord: Jesus Christ - Her sweet, gentle, and patient Son... like Herself... like Mother, like Son.

When on earth, Jesus, the Messiah, true God and true Man, once said to His listeners [As revealed to Maria Valtorta]:

   "I want to be called the Son of Man because I lower Myself taking upon Myself all the miseries of man [via having acquired human nature, as a Man, in addition to retaining His divine nature, as God], to bear them [miseries, sufferings] as My first scaffold..."

Virgin Mary, a Woman, is the Mother of Jesus, as well as being Coredemptrix. Mary is descendant from man, from Adam and Eve, from the line of Bethlehemite king David of Judah. Without Mary, there would not have been Redemption. And She suffered for years and years, always obeying absolutely the Will of God, of God the Father Who, from eternity, "... generated Himself [as Jesus] from Himself [from the Father]."

Jesus was generated, not created, from the Father, Whose love for One Another generated Love, that is God the Holy Spirit, through Whose power Jesus, in His Humanity, was conceived and infused into the womb of Mary. Jesus never ceased being God while He was being formed, in His Humanity, in Mary's womb. And the Holy Spirit is the eternal real Spouse of Mary.

Below, Mary lights up for us 6 gems from Her secluded earthly life, which gems have been very briefly mentioned in the 4 Gospels according to saints Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There are of course other gems not mentioned herein. Mary is second in holiness only to God. With Her absolute purity, obedience, and humility, Mary, the New Eve, countervailed, cancelled, primogenitor Eve's sins of carnal lust, disobedience, and pride.

Pursuant to the holy Writings of Maria Valtorta, truly one of the Church's greatest mystics that's ever lived on earth:

   Virgin Mary Most Holy, Immaculate, lights up for us some gems from the coffer of Her secluded earthly life, thus:
___________________________________________________________________________

   [Gem 1 - Presentation of Baby Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem - Luke 2.33]

   Virgin Mary reveals to us, that:  "When speaking of the Presentation [of Baby Jesus] in the Temple [in Jerusalem pursuant to the then Jewish rite of Purification],  [saint] Luke says that 'the father and the mother [i.e. (saint) Joseph and Virgin Mary] remained in amazement over the things that were being said about the Child [Baby Jesus]'  [said with words by Simeon, and by Anna of Phanuel; and with glances by various persons nearby. Anna was the resident matron in the Temple, under whose care Mary was under for the 12 years or so that She, Mary, resided in the Temple, consecrated there along with other Jewish girls. She 'left' the Temple to marry Joseph, but both willingly, happily, took an oath therein, before they married, to remain chaste in marriage: '... to love each other as the angels do' - as their sacrifice of love to the Eternal Father for the early coming of the Messiah. Joseph, chosen miraculously for Her, was already a Nazirite. God knows where to lay His gifts].

   [Virgin Mary continues:]  "The two spouses [(saint) Joseph and Virgin Mary] felt this wonder ['over the things that were being said about the Child'] in different ways. I, to whom the Spouse Spirit had revealed the whole future [to Her from the Annunciation on], felt supernatural wonder, adoring the Will of the Lord [Jesus], who was robing Himself in flesh because He wanted to redeem man and was revealing Himself to the spiritually alive. I felt wonder once more at the fact that God had chosen Me, His humble handmaid, to be the Mother of the Incarnate Will [Jesus].  [Saint] Joseph felt wonder in a human manner, too, for he did not know anything except what the Scriptures had told him and the angel [Gabriel the Archangel] had revealed. I kept silence.

   "The secrets of the Most High [God] were as if deposited in a closed ark [Tobit 12.7] in the Holy of Holies, and only I, the supreme Priestess, knew them, and the Glory of the Lord concealed them from the eyes of men with His unbearable splendour. They were abysses of splendour, and only the virginal eye kissed by the kiss of God could look fixedly at them. That is why both [saint] Joseph and I felt wonder. In different ways, but equally in awe.

   [Gem 2 - Jesus 'lost' in the Temple for three days - Luke 2.49-50]

   Virgin Mary reveals to us, that:  "The other passage in [saint] Luke should also be interpreted in this way [i.e. with Mary and Joseph 'feeling wonder in different ways,' as above, with Mary understanding more than Joseph, resulting in different feelings of awe]: 'But they [Mary and Joseph] did not understand what He [Jesus] had said to them.'

   [When seemingly 'reprimanded' by Jesus' Mother, Jesus had replied to them, to Mary and Joseph: 'Could you not tell that I must needs be in the place which belongs to My Father?'

 [This happened after Mary and Joseph had finally found 'lost' Jesus in the Temple after three days' searching for Him.

   [Jesus was then about 12 years old and was then disputing with the then Jewish doctors/clerics of the (religious) Law - chiefly with Hillel, Gamaliel, and also with at least another one, Shammai, a nasty fellow who's probably now in Hell for calling 12 years old Jesus, 'Satan.' They, those religious doctors present, and those like them, Jesus told those present, '... could not understand the Word of God because meanness, pride, and falsehood prevented them from seeing and hearing.' Of course, these self-imposed, self-inflicted handicaps continue to plague the Church to this very day - via some clergy - albeit unseen, snakily.]

   [Rabbi Gamaliel, stiff-necked and quintessentially Hebraic, eventually converted to Christianity in his last days, when he was old and completely blind, a blindness that began slowly immediately after the Crucifixion. And he eventually converted in secret - by going secretly in the night to Virgin Mary, and genuinely wept before Her in contrition in not seeing the Light, Jesus, sooner. When he calmed down, She then asked (saint) John to take him to (saint) Peter - the first Pope. Hillel seems to have died some time before circa 31 A.D. and, sometime after this, Jesus went and prayed for him at his grave.]

   [Virgin Mary continues:]  "I understood [the Words that Jesus had said to Mary and Joseph on being 'found,' that He '... needed to be in the place that belonged to His Father.']. I knew [She understood] even before [from the Annunciation], and if [God] the Father permitted My anguish as a mother, He did not conceal from Me the sublime meaning of the Words of My Son. But I remained silent so as not to mortify [saint] Joseph, to whom the fullness of grace was not granted. [Of the two, only Mary was full of Grace.]

   "I was [and She still is, eternally] the Mother of God, but that did not exempt Me from being a respectful wife towards the Good Man [chaste holy saint Joseph, who, Mary had once said to him, was the head of the Family] who was My loving companion and vigilant brother.

   [Recall that Tobit (in the Book of Tobit) called his wife Anna: 'sister,' as did also Raguel call his wife Edna: 'sister.']

   [Virgin Mary continues:] "Our Family did not experience defects, for any reason or under any aspect. We loved one another in holy fashion [as angels do, holily], concerned about one thing alone: our Son [Jesus].

   [Saint Joseph, on earth being the putative father of Jesus, always referred to Jesus as, 'his son.' And Mary referred to Joseph as being Jesus' father. And, so far as I'm aware, there was no one at that time who doubted that, despite what a today's times despicable clergyman, a filthy 'mouth of a snake,' had once said about this matter.]

   [Virgin Mary continues:]  "Oh, Jesus, as only He could do, restored to My Joseph every comfort in the hour of [Joseph's earthly] death [seemingly in pain], in remembrance of all that He had received from that Just Man [saint Joseph]. Jesus is the model for children, as Joseph is for husbands. I have received much pain from the world and on account of the world. But My holy Son and My just Husband [saint Joseph] made no other tears come to My eyes except those of their pain. [e.g. Mary wept when Joseph told Her that they had to flee immediately to {then wholly non-Muslim} Egypt - She wept because She felt Herself being the contributor to Joseph's pain of having to flee immediately, and in the middle of the night with Her and with a Toddler: infant Jesus.]

 
   [Just before Joseph was about to breathe his last and die, Jesus said to him: "Go before Me and tell the [Jewish] Patriarchs [which obviously included Abraham] that the Saviour is in the world and the Kingdom of Heaven will soon be opened to them." (John 8.56)

   [No man was in Heaven prior to Redemption. All the just were then waiting in Limbo, waiting for Redemption to occur in order to enter Heaven. Limbo still exists, housing all the holy unbaptised (and perhaps all the aborted, murdered infants?) - until the Last Judgement, when they will then be baptised by the Fire of the Holy Spirit and thereby become part of the Mystical Body of Christ, and so can enter pure Heaven. Nothing impure can enter or remain in Heaven.]

   [Virgin Mary continues:]  "When [saint] Joseph was no longer at My side and I was the first earthly authority for My Son, I no longer acted as if I did not understand by remaining silent. No one would feel mortified any longer by seeing himself surpassed in understanding, and at [the wedding of Susanna at] Cana I spoke [to the servants]. 'Do what He tells you,' I said, for I knew that Jesus refused Me nothing [and He still doesn't] and that behind His standoffish Words there was already the first miracle prompted by Me and offered to Me by My Son, like a white rose that was first to appear on a rosebush in the spring. [Jesus worked this miracle, His first miracle on earth, turning water into wine, into the best wine, especially to please His Mother, as 'a wish of Hers is a law for Him.']

   [Virgin Mary continues:]  "It is necessary to know how to read the Gospel, Maria [Valtorta], Men do not know how to read it. I will guide your hand and explain it to you wherever My Jesus does not explain it to you. I am the Mother of both of you. I want My girl [Maria Valtorta], to know her most sweet Jesus, our Jesus, as few know Him.

   "The more you know Him [that we all ought to do], the more you will love Him [that we relentlessly fail to do]. The more you love Him, the happier you will make Me."

   [Jesus exhorts all of us to make an effort to know God, Himself, better; and to love also His Mother and ours, given to us by Him from the Cross at His Crucifixion. Mary suffered for many years as Coredemptrix... willingly]

   [Gem 3 - We all have kinship with Jesus, through having the same Father - Matthew 12.46-50; Mark 3.31-35]

   Virgin Mary reveals to us, that:  "[Saint] Matthew says, 'While Jesus was speaking, His Mother and [two of] His brothers [Joseph and Simon - being two of the four biological sons of Alphaeus and of his wife Mary of Clopas, and being two of the four biological nephews of saint Joseph, the earthly spouse of Virgin Mary] were outside, trying to speak to Him [to Jesus]. Someone said, 'Your Mother and your brothers are looking for You.' But He [Jesus] replied, 'Who is My Mother and who are My brothers? Here is My Mother and here are My brothers: whoever does the Will of My Father.'

   [Virgin Mary continues:]  "[Were the above Words...] A repudiation of His Mother?  No.  [They were...] Praise for His Mother, who was perfect in doing the Will of the Father. My Jesus well knew the will that I was carrying out! A will which I had made My own and before which I did not draw back, even if every lapsing minute repeated to Me, like a blow upon a nail driven into My heart, 'This ends with Calvary [at the Crucifixion of Jesus].' He [Jesus] well knew I had deserved to be the Mother of God because I had done His [God's, the Father's] Will, and if I had not done it, He [Jesus] would not have had Me as a Mother.

   "Therefore, among all those who listened to Him [Jesus], as one bound to Him by a tie superior to the blood, by a supernatural link, I was the first among all the disciples in time and knowledge, for the Word of God [Jesus] had been instructing Me since the period when I bore Him in My womb [from the Annunciation]; I was 'His Mother,' in the meaning He attached to His divine Words, and, together with the human recognition of the listeners, He gave Me His divine recognition as a true mother, for I gave [human] life to the Will of His Father and mine [and ours].

   [Gem 4 - The importance of hearing and observing the Gospel: the Words of Jesus: Truth - Luke 11.27-28]

   Virgin Mary reveals to us, that:  "[Saint] Luke narrates that while Jesus was speaking, a woman [who had just fully recovered from illnesses] said 'Blessed is the woman that bore You and the breasts which gave You milk.' My Son replied, 'Rather, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and observe it.'

   [Too many clerics, most likely with nothing else better to do, seem to prefer hearing and preaching, contrary to the teachings of saint Paul, the useless words of dead philosophers, thereby faulting within the meaning of Luke 12.8--9; or perhaps they may be much too busy writing books that no one will read.]

   [The woman above was Colomba, the elderly wife of old Abraham of Engedi, the head of the then Jewish synagogue in Engedi. Colomba was healed by Jesus both of blindness, and of being dull-witted due to grief. She received these two healing graces while Jesus was preaching uninvited, unsolicited, in the public square of Engedi but while she was simultaneously at her home. Her son, Elisha, whom in due course Jesus also cured, some years back had gone away to live in the mountains alone as he had contracted leprosy {but now curable, thanks to Mother Eugenia Elisabetta Ravasio}; and Colomba's daughter had died leaving her, elderly Colomba, and her holy elderly husband, Abraham, young grandchildren to care for.

   [Little wonder, then, that poor elderly Colomba got grief-stricken; and went blind and dull-witted as a result. Jesus restored to elderly Colomba, 'the eyesight of her bygone days and the intelligence of her youth,' in order to comfort her holy husband, Abraham, in his old age.

   [Abraham had once given assistance to the three kings (or wise men or magi) who were then fleeing from the hot pursuit of the murderous soldiers of wicked king Herod the Great cut-throat. Rome then censured his killings of the innocent infants in Bethlehem, with Caesar {?Augustus?} calling Herod, a 'pig who feeds on blood.']

   [Abraham had learned that Jesus, the Messiah, was in the world from the three kings (Gaspar, Melchor, Baldazar), and was glad beyond measure when he finally met Him, Jesus, in Engedi.]

   [Engedi was then near the edge of the Dead Sea; and Engedi was then a: "...  pleasant oasis, the survivor of the lands of Eden [i.e. of the lands of wicked Sodom and Gomorrah] punished by God..." Sodom and Gomorrah lie at the bottom of the Dead Sea, never to rise again.]

   [Virgin Mary continues:]  "To be the Mother of Jesus was a grace [and] it was not licit for Me to boast of. Among the millions and millions of souls created by the Father, by an inscrutable decree He chose mine to be without stain [i.e. without Original Sin].

   "The Eternal [i.e. the Eternal Father, God] does not want Me to humble Myself in Heaven, for He made Me Queen in the happy instant in which, on leaving the Earth, I was encircled by the embrace of My Son - this was My intense longing in the time of separation [i.e. in the duration during which She was separated from Her Son, between the time of the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven and the time of the Assumption of Mary, body and soul, into Heaven], a desire which consumed Me like a burning lamp. But, if He so permitted [i.e. the Eternal Father], I would eternally remain prostrated before His Radiance so as to humble My whole self in His sight, in remembrance of His benign decree, which gave Me a soul baptised [immaculate, without Original Sin] before all souls, not with water and salt, but with the fire of His love."

   [The most humble person in Heaven is Virgin Mary - Queen of Heaven and Queen of the angels.]

   [Gem 5 - The Christian conversion of Longinus, the Roman centurion who was, prior to his conversion, in charge of Jesus Christ's crucifixion: the abomination relentlessly demanded by the then Jewish Sanhedrin and consented to unlawfully and criminally by Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, at the peak of his cowardice and cruelty, in full view before the assembly of the Sanhedrin and their hysterical 'lynch-crucifixion' mob whom they, the Sanhedrin, had incited or bribed or lied to: all drunk with satanic vile hate for innocent Jesus, the Messiah, and baying for His Blood - Matthew 27.55-56; Mark 15.46; Luke 23.49; John 19.25]

   Virgin Mary reveals to us, that:  "It was the mercy of Longinus that allowed Me to approach the Cross [with (saint) John - then probably about 20-22 years old - whom Longinus wrongly thought was Her son], at which I had arrived by way of steep shortcuts, carried more by love [by a miracle?] than by My own strength.

   "Longinus was an upright soldier who did his duty and exercised his right with justice. He was already predisposed, then, towards the miracle of Grace. Because of that mercy of his, I obtained for him the gift of the drops [of Blood] from the Side [of Jesus' Chest when he, Longinus, pierced It with a lance - 'as for a knight'], and they [drops of Blood] were his baptism in grace, for his soul was thirsty for Justice and Truth."

 
 [Just before ordering Jesus out from the Antonia fortress to be crucified, feeling genuine pity for Him, Longinus kindly offered Him a drink of water mixed with honey. It was a hot day. Jesus thanked him but refused, saying in effect that He had to suffer the full gamut of sufferings in order to redeem man. Longinus then asked Him to take a draught of it to show him that He did not hate pagans like himself. Jesus then did so, but took only a sip to demonstrate it so. Longinus then told Him that he would try to make Him suffer only what was necessary, and he indeed kept his word. Contrary to the many heretical movies, no Roman soldier hurt Jesus along the Way of the Cross!! Only the rabid rabble, the mob did so, along the Way.

   [Longinus also did other compassionate things for Jesus. But, by an 'Eternal Decree' not obviously then known to Longinus, it was to be he that had to pierce Jesus' Side - His Heart. Later, the next day, responding to a request from Virgin Mary via others, he, together with another Roman, both in civilian clothes, went to the house of the Supper Room and gave Her what She had requested: the spear-head, which still had the stain of Jesus' Blood on it. In due course, Longinus became a saint of the Church.

   [Most of the movies, if not all of them, about the various stages of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, are mostly hopelessly inaccurate - except for the actual fact of the Crucifixion itself. I have already dealt with this, at length, elsewhere.]

   [Gem 6 - Descent of God, the Holy Spirit - Acts 2.1-4]

   Virgin Mary reveals to us, that:  "When the Spirit of the Lord descended to invest the twelve [= original remaining 11 apostles plus newly elected-with-prayers apostle, Matthias] assembled in the Cenacle [in the house of the Last Supper room] with His Power, He poured Himself upon Me as well. But if for all of them [the twelve apostles present] it was a knowledge which made them aware of the Third Person [of God the Holy Spirit] and of His divine gifts, for Me it was only a more intense rediscovery. For all of them He was a flame; for Me He was a kiss.

   "He, the Eternal Paraclete [God the Holy Spirit], had already been [by this time] My Spouse for thirty-four years, and His Fire had so possessed and penetrated Me as to make My whiteness [holiness, obedience, purity, virginity] the body of a Mother [worthy of God]. After the divine marriage [at the Annunciation] He had also left Me filled with Himself, nor could He add Perfection to Perfection, for God cannot increase Himself, being most perfect and unsurpassable in His measure and having given Himself to Me without limit, to make My womanly flesh so holy as to become a dwelling place for the Divine One [for God the Son, the Lord Jesus] who was descending [as God] to incarnate Himself in Me [to become also a Man]."

   [The Holy Spirit entered the locked-up room as a very shining burning Globe and went directly to Mary, hovering above Her head for some moments; and then split up into 13 canorous flames and descended to kiss the forehead of each of the 12 apostles, except that the flame for Mary was not a tongue of flame, but a crown that embraced and encircled Her holy virginal head.]

Jesus, while still remaining also being God, could not have also acquired humanity by being conceived and born in a human body that had the 'bite of Satan' there. That is, that had the stain, the scar of Original Sin. That's why Mary was conceived and born immaculate, i.e. without Original Sin, in order to be pure and holy, and worthy to receive the pure divine Seed: Jesus. Mary's soul was created 'from everlasting.'

Jesus reminds us: "Always remember that She [Virgin Mary] is the Daughter of the Father, the Mother of the Son, and the Bride of the Holy Spirit and that Her fusion with the Trinity is perfect. She thus possess the power, intelligence, and wisdom of Her Lord. And She possess them in absolute fullness."

Mary, like Jesus, never sinned, "not even the lightest." That doesn't mean, though, that they were never tempted to sin. 'One is tempted to sin without consent, but one sins with consent.' We should always flee fast from situations that can make us fall into sin - something that primogenitor Eve failed to do, and so fell into sin. It was she who then led Adam into sin, and both were justly punished by God. I will say more on this some other time.

We all eventually die and immediately get judged, not by Jesus-the-Lamb, but by Jesus-the-Judge. Virgin Mary did not die as an individual born of woman dies, and She was not judged by God, Jesus, when Her time on earth was over.

But Jesus, Infinite Mercy, Order, has promised that those who recite the 'Chaplet of Divine Mercy,' even if only once, will receive great mercy from Him upon their earthly death.

After earthly death, a man's soul goes either to Hell, or to Heaven (or therein via a temporary stay in Purgatory or Limbo). There are no other abodes to go to!! After the Last Judgement (= the third judgement), when all the dead bodies of men resurrect from the earth and reunite with their respective souls [Ezekiel 37.7-8], only Hell and Heaven will then remain... eternally!!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us.

The foregoing is pursuant to the Gospel that Jesus dictated to Maria Valtorta, the Bible, and my analysis.

With kind regards.

Joseph Costa
-------------------------------------------------
Excerpts from the Writings of Maria Valtorta cited herein are with permission from the Italian publisher:
Centro Editoriale Valtortiano srl, Viale Piscicelli 89-91, 03036 Isola del Liri (FR), Italy.
http://www.mariavaltorta.com/
info@mariavaltorta.com
-------------------------------------------------

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St Mary Francis of the Five Wounds of Jesus--Stigmatic

Saint Mary Frances of the Five Wounds of Jesus (Anna-Maria Gallo, 1715-1791).
-An Italian laywoman (3rd Order Franciscan) who bore the stigmata

HER BIRTH—PREDICTIONS AND SIGNS OF HER FUTURE SANCTITY.
St Mary Frances of the Five Wounds of Jesus (Santa Maria Francesca delle cinque piaghe di Gesu) was born in Naples, Italy on the 25th day of March, 1715. Her parents were Francesco Gallo and Barbara Basinsin. She was baptized with the name Anna Maria (Gallo) at the local Parish Church of S.S. Francis and Matthew in Naples. He father was said to be a severe and greedy man, who allegedly had a fiery temper, and from him the saint and her mother had very much to suffer. He subjected them to ill-treatment and excessively hard work, which caused them both health issues. However her mother, Barbara Basinsin, was a gentle and pious person who was patient in bearing with the brutal conduct of her husband.

The prediction of two Saints concerning her future, St. John Joseph of the Cross, O.F.M., and St. Francis de Geronimo, S.J
God, it seems, was pleased to foreshadow the birth of this blessed child by two extraordinary signs pointing to her future sanctity. During the pregnancy her mother was reportedly being tormented by evil spirits and afraid for herself and for the child in her womb she decided to visit St. John Joseph of the Cross, a professed priest of the Franciscan Order of St. Peter of Alcantara, who was known at that time for his life of heroic virtue and penance. The Saint blessed her with a crucifix, and after reciting some prayers, he stated
"Be not afraid, and take good care of the child God is sending to you, for she will become a great saint."

Regarding this episode, it is interesting to note that St Mary Frances of the Five Wounds later joined the Order of St. Peter of Alcantara (to which this holy priest was attached) as a 3rd Order Franciscan.

In addition, almost the same exact words were also addressed to her by St. Francis de Geronimo, S.J, who said that God had a noteworthy future mission for her child, and that He would one day raise her child to an extraordinary degree of holiness.

A miracle through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Given these wondrous predictions, once can imagine what must have been the mother's joy and exultation of soul when she pondered over these different prodigies surrounding the birth of her child. But the Lord, who for the good of our souls is often pleased to unite sufferings and difficulties to the graces He may also give to us, that we may resign ourselves completely to His Holy Will, permitted that she should be no longer able to nourish the child herself through breastfeeding, and she was therefore obliged to hire a person to breastfeed for her (a wet nurse).

Apparently the woman who took the position concealed from the parents that she was no longer producing milk, and the child began losing weight quickly. The nurse was changed, yet still the child's health did not improve and became worse each day, to the extent that she was soon reduced to skin and bone.

Full of the most bitter sorrow at this sight, and not knowing any other person to whom she could entrust her child, the mother took her in arms, and with tears in her eyes she presented her before an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, saying:
"My Mother, You who are so powerful through Your Son, I beg of You to obtain for me the favour of being able to nurse my own child."

She then placed her hand on the sacred image, and behold! from that night she was to breastfeed her little Anna-Maria, all thanks be to God through His Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Thanks much in part to the spiritual guidance of her pious mother, from a young age little Anna-Maria showed herself to be a devout and disciplined soul, especially noteworthy in the practice of devotions and her desire to always please God.

Statue made from a wax facial cast taken right after her death

The Blessed Virgin Mary intercedes once again
Having arrived at that age when young girls at that time were called to help support their families, her father decided that she should be instructed in the trade of a gold ribbon weaver, which was also his own business. Unfortunately he exacted too much of her, and the delicacy of the young child's health was not suitable to the severity of the work, and she soon began vomiting blood, became feverish and was consigned to bed. This illness quickly progressed to such and extent that there was a fear she was going to die, so her mother called for the parish priest to administer the last Sacraments of the Church.

At this time both her and her mother together turned to their dear protectress, Mary, the Mother of God, and almost immediately she began to get well once again, so much so that her cure was regarded by all as being miraculous. Rescued from this danger, she passed, by orders of her parents, from the trade of weaver to that of sewer of gold ribbons, which was the occupation of her mother, as well as of her sisters.

She denies a marriage offer from a wealthy young man, and becomes a 3rd Order Franciscan
When she reached her sixteenth year, her modesty, manners, innocence and humility drew to her the affections of a certainly wealthy young man, who sought her hand in marriage. The father, rejoicing at the prospect of the fortune which he imagined would benefit his own interests through the marriage, gave his consent without consulting his daughter. When he sent for her and communicated his intention, he was astonished to hear her answer: "My father," she said, "dont give yourself any trouble on my account in this matter, for I have already made up my mind to know nothing of the world, but on the contrary I wish to be clothed with the religious habit of St. Peter of Alcantara, and for this I now ask your permission." 

There was nothing the father did not say, first with sweet and then with angry words, to dissuade her; but finding her become more steadfast in her resolution, he got enraged, and taking a rope, beat her unmercifully, and would have gone further if her mother had not rushed in and taken her into her own hands. During all this time the poor girl was motionless, and did not attempt to defend herself, rejoicing to suffer for Jesus Christ, and offering as first fruits to her Heavenly Spouse the cruelty of an earthly father, who refused to give permission for his daughter to be joined to the King of kings, and to contract spiritual relationship with Him.

St Mary Frances of the Five Wounds of Jesus (1715-1791)

Her father then shut her up in a room, where he kept her many days on bread and water, prohibiting both mother and sisters from seeing her. Thus closed up, she occupied the hours in one continued prayer, beseeching the Lord to save her from this furious storm, grieving not for herself but for the anxiety it caused the rest of the family.

The Lord was moved by the piety of His servant, and through a certain Father Theophilus, a devout and pious priest, he enlightened the blinded father, so that he completely changed his mind and, calling together the family, confessed his error, and permitted Anna Maria to embrace the state of life she had determined upon. She did not speak, tears choked her utterance, and falling at the feet of her father, she kissed his hand in a transport of joy, and then retiring to her room returned thanks to the Divine Goodness for the grace she had received. She began at once to prepare with extraordinary fervor to receive the habit of St. Peter of Alcantara, choosing for the entire sacrifice of herself the eighth day of September, on which day the Church celebrates the Nativity of the Mother of God, Mary Most Holy.

And so it was at age 16 on September 8, 1731 that Anna Maria received the habit of St. Peter of Alcantara as a 3rd Order Franciscan, taking the name MARY FRANCES OF THE FIVE WOUNDS OF JESUS, out of devotion to the Blessed Virgin, St. Francis of Assisi, and the Sacred Passion of Jesus.

Ecstasies and other various Mystical phenomenon are noted
 And it is precisely from the names taken by Sister Mary Frances of the Five Wounds of Jesus that we can see how much she was devoted to torments endured by our Lord in His passion, seeking to emulate the Virgin Mary and St Frances of Assisi in their devotion to Jesus at the foot of the Cross. In fact, ever since she was a small child she made the Way of the Cross each day at the local parish Church, and it was said to be her very favorite act of devotion, apart from attending Holy Mass everyday. In fact, not a day would pass that she did not go to the Church to pray and meditate on the Way of the Cross, and a torrent of tears usually accompanied her prayer.

Henceforth in this article, all the events that will now be related concerning various mystical gifts given to her by Our Lord, is documented extensively in the sworn statements of numerous witnesses, as contained in the official documents for her cause for canonization.

And so it was that various people who happened to be in Church while Mary Frances of the Five Wounds of Jesus was making her daily way of the Cross would see her suddenly collapse to the ground, usually after having reached the second or third Station, seemingly in great pain, and she would remain senseless upon the ground for quite some time.

At first it was believed by the local townspeople that these falls were the effect of epilepsy or some similar illness; but during one of her "falls" during the Stations of the Cross those around her in Church noticed that a few of her bones were visibly disjointed from the fall, so her priest-confessor was immediately called to examine her, and having blessed her with the Sign of the Cross, he ordered her under obedience to come back to her senses, and those surrounding saw that not only did she return to herself, but her bones also were restored to their places with a "popping"sound that was heard by everyone present, and it was then realized that the falls were not of natural origins, but obviously an extraordinary gift given by God.

Mary Frances wept when she heard of the judgment formed of her by the townspeople, since in her humility she ardently desired to lead a life hidden and crucified in Jesus Christ, and so she prayed that the ecstasies might no longer take place in public. Rev D. Giovanni Pessiri, a priest of virtue and charity has testified in the most solemn manner to the truth of these facts, which he himself witnessed during the many years he was acquainted with her.

As time went on it was discovered that during the meditations which she made on the Passion of Jesus on Thursdays and Fridays of each week, and especially in the month of March, she became changed both internally and externally into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ, and in the end was marked by Him with the impression of His Sacred Stigmata, as shall be presented below.

The gloves she wore to cover her Stigmata

Gift of Prophecy
To the many mystical gifts given to her Lord united those of prophecy and revelation of future things, so that notwithstanding all her efforts and artifices to conceal herself, the fame of her sanctity increased day after day.

In the year 1763 Mary Frances learned by Divine revelation that in the following year (1764) a great famine would desolate the Kingdom of Naples, and afterwards would be followed by a deadly plague. She told Father Pessiri and others: "Make a provision of wheat for yourself, as much as will be necessary for the coming year, because there is about to be a great famine, which will be followed by a mortal epidemic, for the Lord has shown me the dead bodies lying in pairs in the houses; more than this I cannot tell you now".

Having confided this same prediction to the members of a few families who came to see her, they all recommended themselves to her prayers, and the Saint answered them in these terms, "Don't be afraid; I shall pray for you and neither you nor your families will die."

And this prediction came true to the finest points, for although famine and disease laid waste almost the whole Kingdom of Naples, none of those for whom the Saint prayed died. She herself, however, in the beginning of that year was stricken down by the epidemic, and reduced so low that she received the last Sacraments, nor did she recover till the epidemic had entirely abated.

On another occasion it was revealed to her by the Lord that a certain Marguerite Troise, a penitent of her own Confessor, would be clothed with a habit like her own on the approaching solemnity of Pentecost. This young woman, Marguerite, was not known by either Sister Mary Frances or her priest director, but the latter made diligent enquiry and found out where she was.

Come to find out, everything seemed opposed to the fulfillment of the prophecy—the nearness of the predicted date, the extreme poverty of the girl and the lack of any assistance from relatives or friends. "No matter," said Mary Frances, "the same Lord who has revealed it to me will arrange it" and she was not deceived.

On the predicted day she received the funds necessary for a dowry from somebody who was inspired at the moment, was clothed with the holy habit of St. Peter of Alcantara, and took the name of Sister Mary Felix of the Passion. According to the express prediction of Sister Mary Frances, she became her inseparable companion, and lived the most familiarly with her for fifty years, even up to her death, and survived to be able to give plentiful first hand legal testimony at the canonization process concerning the virtues and graces with which the goodness of God enriched and adorned His chosen servant, Mary Francis.

Statue covered in little gifts, tokens of gratitude

Her guardian Angel
Mary Frances of the Five Wounds not only was gifted with visions of Jesus, but she also reportedly had frequent visits from her Guardian Angel, for whom she had a singular affection and devotion, which she for her part tried as much as possible to communicate to others. Great was the joy and strength she drew from the almost continual presence and conversation of this blessed spirit. From him she learned how to defend herself against the assaults of her father's anger, and in her trials and difficulties she received most wonderful light and assistance.

It was under the Angel's guidance that she learned to distinguish between true and false apparitions, and therefore was able to thwart the deceptions of the devil. The rule for such discernment was that at th appearance of a purported heavenly visitor, she was to immediately say "Blessed be Jesus and Mary!", of which a heavenly visitor would always be happy to repeat, but which a demon would never say. Thus her Angel taught her a most important means for "testing the Spirits".

Interestingly, this was the very same method was given to the 20th century mystic and stigmatic, St Gemma Galgani. 

Mary Frances receives the Stigmata
As mentioned earlier in this article Mary Frances had a very deep devotion to the Passion of her loving Spouse, Jesus Crucified, and how she reflected on His sufferings in the Way of the Cross each day, and how during this holy exercise she was often called to a share in His mortal agonies, to suffer in union with Jesus for the conversion of sinners.

For His part the Lord was pleased to reward her tender love for Him by a most singular privilege— namely, by impressing her with His Five Wounds, and by making her share in what He suffered for our eternal salvation. By freely consenting to suffer in union with Jesus for the conversion of souls, she would suffer all the Mysteries of the Passion, as recited in the Sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary.

Thus, the stigmata was physically imposed upon her over the course of 5 successive Fridays during Lent, in the form and manner of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, culminating on Good Friday (5th Sorrowful mystery--the Crucifixion) with the visible wounds of Jesus impressed upon her hands, feet and side.

And so it was that on the First Friday of Lent that year she suffered the Agony in the Garden, in conformity with the First Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary, the 2nd Friday was the Scourging at the Pillar (of which those privileged souls witnessing this event were deeply shocked and moved), 3rd Friday was the Crown of Thorns, 4th Friday was the Carrying of the cross, and finally culminating with the 5th Friday (which was Good Friday that year) and the 5th Sorrowful Mystery- the Crucifixion--whereby that morning she visibly received the stigmata on her hands, feet and side, and then soon afterwards she began to mystically suffer death, remaining motionless from Good Friday afternoon until  when the bells rang at the Gloria in Excelsis. As if she had suffered nothing, she then stood up, and, full of joy and gladness, began to put her little chapel in order. During the time she suffered the pain of the Passion, there came forth from her body a most delicious odor, which perfumed the whole room, an odor so agreeable, that no earthly fragrance could be compared with it.

On Easter Sunday she was perfectly restored, not a trace or sign of her suffering remained except the Sacred Stigmata which her Divine Spouse left impressed in her, in order to comfort her heart and to testify that she had been raised to the incomparable honour of being the crucified spouse of Jesus.

There were many persons who had witnessed the Stigmata. One of these, the Rev. Dean Pascal Nitti, testifies as follows: "I have seen them (i.e., the Sacred Stigmata) in her hands, have touched them, and, like the Apostle St. Thomas, have inserted my finger in them. The wounds were right through her hands; for my index finger being inserted in the wound met my thumb placed on the opposite side of her hand, an experiment I often repeated in later years during the Fridays of Lent, at which time the Sacred Stigmata were most perfect. I know from the Saint's own admission, to which I obliged her in virtue of holy obedience, that she had them also on her feet and side."

But, as there was nothing the good Mary Frances more desired than to be hidden in Jesus Christ, she earnestly besought Him to conceal her inestimable gift from the eyes of others as much as possible, and the Lord was pleased to do so, by covering the Sacred Stigmata at times with a most subtile coating of skin. Father Nitti ascertained this for himself, by holding her hands between himself and the light, when he saw the holes and the transparent skin that covered them. When the Lord di nit permit that the wounds be hidden, Mary Frances of the five wounds of Jesus would wear handmade gloves in an attempt to hide them.

Ropes and chains that she used for acts of penance

Her special assistance for the souls in Purgatory
The Most Reverend Anselm Marin Toppi, Bishop of Termoil, relates the following, which he witnessed, and which is formally recorded in the Summary of the process for canonisation, No. 12, p. 307:
"More extraordinary was her charity towards the holy souls in Purgatory, for whose liberation she employed voluntary sufferings, fasts, mortifications, disciplines, haircloths, and other penances, in addition to many purgatories she underwent to assist anyone specially recommended to her, as occurred in the case of a relative of mine, commended to her by me.

"For a long time she offered up continual prayers for this poor soul, when at length on the night before Corpus Christi, and while I was in bed, I was struck a blow at the sound of the bell, and thrown to the ground, and as I saw the whole room filled with a great light, I became frightened and began to recommend myself to God.

Meanwhile, I heard a voice which told me to give thanks to God, for that the soul of my relative was freed from Purgatory. Returning to myself and feeling greatly consoled, I determined that very day to discreetly inquire with the Saint concerning this remarkable circumstance. Accordingly, after dinner, I went to her, and without telling her anything of what had occurred to me, I asked,' Sister Mary Frances, have you remembered the soul of my relative?' 

She replied, 'How is it Father that she has not been liberated from Purgatory, for was she not with you at the very hour last night that she was released?! Yet you ask me whether or not I have remembered her?"

Mystical espousal with Jesus on Christmas Eve
In proportion as the flames of Divine love increased in her, in the same proportion increased also the marks of God's graces and blessings towards her. Not content with preparing herself for the celebration of the birth of Jesus by recollection and continual prayer during the nine days preceding Christmas, she began her preparations for it from the first Sunday of Advent, by fasts, penances, disciplines, and by redoubling the fervor of her prayers and meditations.

In the year 1741, while the Saint and her companion Sister Mary Felix knelt before the nativity crib in their house, the latter suddenly saw Mary Francis rapt in ecstasy and conversing with some invisible person. Suddenly Mary Francis became so weak that she could scarcely keep herself from falling on the floor, and it became necessary to carry her into her own room; but as there was in her own room another little crib which she had made with her own hands, the ecstasy continued.

When Mary Felix asked her afterwards who it was with whom she spoke with, she was silent, and did not answer; but being pressed on the point by a gentle questioning, Mary Frances shared all her confidence with her companion, and said to her secretly that the Lord appeared to her amidst a great light, and spoke to her thus:
"My Spouse, I have come to visit thee; what have you to offer to Me?" and she replied, "What can I give Thee, oh Lord, for I am poor both in soul and body? You alone give me everything."

She then continued and said that when she was carried to the little crib in her own room, the Lord again appeared to her, and after taking her right hand said, "This night I have made thee My spouse" (Sum. No. 8, p. 155).

However, such was the brightness of the light with which she was surrounded her when Jesus appeared that night, that she was rendered blind by it, and the next day (Christmas), Mary Felix had to lead her by the hand to the Church of St. Lucia del Monte, where, having narrated everything to their common Confessor, Father Felix, he blessed her and at his precept of obedience, she returned to her former state.

And now that Mary Frances was made the spouse of the Lord, as happened formerly to St. Catherine of Sienna and a number of other mystics, now at the simple mention of Jesus in the Crib or the events surrounding His Birth no matter what her infirmity was, her countenance would get inflamed, and she appeared to forget all her sufferings of the moment.

A vision of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem
In the year 1787, the Ven. P. D. Francesco Bianchi, for whom the spouse of Jesus Christ had a great respect, learned from her that on Christmas Eve of that year beginning at 3pm she was rapt out of herself, and that having performed the ceremony of placing the Holy Babe in the crib at 6pm she again fell into an ecstasy, during which she was conducted in spirit by the Lord into the grotto of Bethlehem, where He showed her the place He was born in, how wretched and poor it was, and how there was a very cold rain during the time of His birth, causing significant discomfort for the holy family. These visions deeply increased her love and devotion to Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

Child Jesus statue that miraculously moved its arms and legs

In relation to the Child Jesus we have yet another wonderful event to relate. Mary Frances was a skillful weaver, and on one occasion she made a beautiful outfit for a statue of the Infant Jesus. The small statue's arms were resting on its breast and the legs were closed, making it so that she couldn't dress it with the outfit that she had made, so she prayed to Jesus to help her. Suddenly the small statue raised its arms and stretched its legs in such a way that she was easily able to reclothe it with the new outfit.

Her Holy Death
Towards the end of her life her body was tortured with a host of ailments, though her spirit was joyful and yet very serious. She was foretold of her death one year before it was to occur, and she prepared for it in every way possible, most especially through a deep contrition and frequent confession.

On the day before her death she told Fr. Giovanni that she "will be departing tomorrow."

Finally, the sixth of October 1791 dawned, the last day of her mortal life. She had passed the whole night lying in the one position, and uttering low, plaintive groans, which, however, she ceased when Father Pessiri suggested to her some sentiment connected with the Passion of Jesus Christ. When morning came, although her eyes were closed and her teeth clenched, so that she could hardly be distinguished from a corpse, Father Giovanni asked her if she would like to receive Holy Communion, to which, unable as she was to speak, she made a sign of assent.

He celebrated Mass, and whilst he presented to her Jesus her Spouse in the Most Holy Sacrament, she rallied a little, bowed her head in adoration, and then with open mouth communicated. Immediately after, she fell into an ecstasy of most indescribable sweetness, during which she repeated in a clear voice: "The Madonna, the Madonna! See ! my Mother is coming; oh my Mother!"

Being asked by Signora Kosaria Aletto, who never left her during the whole time of her last illness, and by Signora Grazia Bolognino, where the Blessed Virgin was, the dying Saint was silent, and only bowed her head in adoration.

Blood stained undershirt of St Mary Frances

Midday arrived, and those good Priests in attendance, thinking they had a few minutes to spare, left for their own houses with the intention of returning as soon as possible. Thus there remained around the sick bed only Father Pessiri, Father Luigi of Jesus, an Alcantarine, Signor Francesco Borrelli, Signora Alletto, and Signora Bolognino. Indeed the Saint had already predicted that she would leave this world without many being aware of the event, for as she changed colors every moment, she always seemed on the point of dying. Suddenly Father Pessiri approached with a blessed candle, and after giving her Sacramental Absolution, presented the crucifix to her, in order to ascertain if she had departed. "Mary Frances," said he to her, "kiss the feet of your Spouse who died on the cross for us."

In obedience to his command, the Saint tried to raise herself a little, and approaching her lips to the feet of her beloved Lord, kissed them in the most tender manner; this done, she let her head fall back on the pillow, and died. She was age 77.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His servants. Precious also the death of St. Mary Frances of the Five Wounds of Jesus Christ, Professed Tertiary of St. Peter of Alcantara, who in her love for Jesus Christ and the conversion of sinners sacrificed everything and offered herself completely, without reserve. Happy now is she whose battles are finished, and whose joy in heaven will never have an end!

Her mortal remains are buried at St. Lucia del Monte, the Alcantarine church in Naples where St. John Joseph of the Cross is also buried.

St Mary Frances was the first woman from Naples to have been declared a saint by the Catholic Church. She was declared Venerable by Pope Pius VII on May 18, 1803, she was beatified by Pope Gregory XVI on November 12, 1843, and she was canonized a Saint by Pope Pius IX on June 29, 1867. Her feast day is celebrated each year on October 6th.
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Primary source is the book "The life of St. Mary Frances of the Five Wounds of Jesus Christ" by Bernardo Laviosa, which can be read online for free here.

Official site Santuario di Santa Maria Francesca delle cinque piaghe

Additional Photos of St Mary Francis of the Five Wounds of Jesus--See the full article on St Mary Francis here

Throughout her life she always slept on the floor, but during her last days of life, she had to obey Her superiors, agreeing to use these two mattresses and the cushion shown above.

The altar, the Saint's statue, and frames containing little objects, offered by those devoted to her to thank the Saint for the many miracles she has obtained from God on their behalf.

The original wax mask of St Mary Frances of the Five Wounds of Jesus revealing her facial features at the age of 77, which were imprinted on this wax mask three quarters of an hour after Her holy death.

During one of her many severe illnesses when she could not lay down she used to sit on this chair for many hours. During this time she was said to not sleep at all, or else very little. Over the years many people have asked to sit in the chair, and a number of them have obtained miracles.

New Website devoted to An Early Christian's Perspective on the Mysteries of the Rosary

For those interested, we are just putting the finishing touches on a new website entitled "An Early Christian's Perspective on the Mysteries of the Rosary"

This new website, which is based on the monumental work of Greg Biltz, explores how the early Jewish-Christians would have viewed the Mysteries of the Rosary, along with unveiling the prophecies and signs in the Scriptures pointing to the coming of Christ.

In addition, through his extensive studies of the various Jewish Feasts and religious customs, along with studies of the Jewish Temple Priest rotation Calendar from 4BC to 70AD, he has come to some very fascinating conclusions.

For example, through his studies he has concluded thatJesus was born on September 13th, 2BC (the Feast of Tabernacles), and that Jesus died on the Feast of Passover, April 3rd, 33AD.

In addition he has also concluded that John the Baptist was born on Passover, March 20, 2BC, noting how the Jews always leave a place for Elijah at the table, as in Jewish custom and tradition he is believed to return on a Passover.

This and much more is presented in the new An Early Christian's Perspective on the Mysteries of the Rosary website! Please feel free to stop by the new website and share your own perspectives by leaving a comment or two regarding all of the interesting information presented there.

Rev Linus Michael Schrems (1899-1979)

Theresa Neumann (1898-1962)

Rev. Father Linus M. Schrems

+Father Linus Michael Schrems was born on September 20, 1899 and died on March 17, 1979. Eternal rest grant unto him O' Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him.

Those interested in reading more about Therese Neumann can visit the article I wrote about her "Therese Neumann (1898-1962) Mystic, Stigmatist and Victim Soul".

Jesus' Blood type and what it may possibly signify

Date of the Jesus’ Birth from Scripture

The percentage of souls that are saved according to the Mystics and Saints
By: Glenn Dallaire

Are only a few saved? Does the greater proportion of humanity end up in hell? Some quotes attributed to the Mystics and Saints
For sure, many of the Mystics and Saints within the Church throughout the centuries have been quite stringent and rigorous in their interpretation of the Scriptures, especially in what pertains to the proportion of humanity that will be saved. In fact, some of their predictions have been quite disquieting:

“The common opinion is that the greater part of adults are lost.” -Saint Alphonsus Liguori, -Mystic and Doctor of the Church

"It is certain that few are saved."– Saint Augustine, Doctor of the Church

"Out of one hundred thousand sinners who continue in sin until death, scarcely one will be saved."
-Saint Jerome, Father and Doctor of the Church

"The number of the elect is so small — so small — that, were we to know how small it is, we would faint away with grief: one here and there, scattered up and down the world!” -Saint Louis Marie de Montfort

"So vast a number of miserable souls perish, and so comparatively few are saved!"–Saint Philip Neri, mystic

“The greater number of Christians today are damned. The destiny of those dying on one day is that very few – not as many as ten – went strait to Heaven; many remained in Purgatory; and those cast into Hell were as numerous as snowflakes in mid-winter.” -Blessed Anna Maria Taigi, mystic

“Among adults there are few saved because of sins of the flesh. […] With the exception of those who die in childhood, most men will be damned.” -Saint Regimius of Rheims

“The number of the damned is incalculable.” -Saint Veronica Giuliani, mystic“

"So many people are going to die, and almost all of them are going to Hell! So many people falling into hell!”  –Blessed Jacinta, visionary of Fatima

“Taking into account the behavior of mankind, only a small part of the human race will be saved.”
-Sister Lucia, visionary of Fatima

“I was watching souls going down into the abyss as thick and fast as snowflakes falling in the winter mist.” -Blessed Benedict Joseph Labre, mystic

“The number of the saved is as few as the number of grapes left after the vineyard-pickers have passed.”  -Saint John Mary Vianney, the Cure of Ars, mystic
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And so it is that we are presented with quite a disconcerting appraisal as foretold by some of the Saints and Mystics of the Church! Yet, it should be noted that other Saints and Mystics have been considerably more lenient in their assessment of the proportion of those saved.

For the "other side of the coin", lets take Sr. Josefa Menedez, for example. Jesus reportedly said to her:

"Oh, all you who are steeped in sin, and who for a time more or less long have lived as wanderers and fugitives because of your crimes ... if the offences of which you have been guilty have hardened and blinded your hearts . . . if to grant satisfaction to one or other of your passions you have sunk into evil ways ... Ah! when the motives or accomplices of your sin have forsaken you, and you realize the state of your soul, oh then, do not yield to despair! For as long as a breath of life remains a man may have recourse to mercy and ask for pardon.

"If you are still young, if already the scandals of your life have lowered you in the eyes of the world, do not be afraid. . . . Even if there is reason to treat you as a criminal, to insult and cast you off . . . your God has no wish to see you fall into the flames of hell. ... On the contrary He ardently desires you to come to Him so that He may forgive you. If you dare not speak to Him, at least look at Him and let the sighs of your heart reach Him, and at once you will find His kind and fatherly hand stretched out to lead you to the springs of pardon and life.

"Should it happen that you have spent the greater part of your life in impiety and indifference, and that the sudden approach of the hour of death fills you with blinding despair . . . Oh! do not let yourself be deceived, for there is still time for pardon. If only one second of life remains to you, in that one second you can buy back eternal life!"  (Words of Jesus to Sr. Josefa Menendez)

St Therese of Lisieux and the 'Virgin of the Smile'

The 'Virgin of the Smile'--The story of how St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus was miraculously cured on Pentecost Sunday (May 13) through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Depicted on another page on this website is the story of the miraculous intercession of St Therese of Lisieux in the lives of 6 different Mystics, but what many people are unaware of is the story of how St. Therese herself had her own extraordinary mystical experience, and was miraculously cured of a very grave illness when she was just 10 years old, through the remarkable intercession of the Virgin Mary.

Therese's mysterious illness began at age nine in late 1882 when she started having what she described as a "constant headache". On April 7, 1883 during Easter season, she was suddenly overtaken with what she described as a "strange trembling" throughout her entire body. In addition to this, she suffered weakness and soon began to have frequent hallucinations, and thus she became completely bedridden.

Her physician, Dr Notta, was very thorough in his examinations, but he was unable to determine the cause of her mysterious illness. Because of her uncontrollable trembling, weakness and hallucinations she could not be left alone, so her sisters and other family members took turns taking vigil at her bedside, praying for a cure.

 In fact, many family, friends and neighbors were praying for little Therese. As Therese herself later recounts, her father gave her sister Marie some gold pieces and asked her to write to the shrine of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires in Paris, to ask for a novena of Masses to be offered for Therese's cure. And it was during this Novena to "Our Lady of Victories" that she was cured.

Saint Therese of the Child Jesus

The Virgin of the Smile- Therese's healing on Pentecost Sunday, May 13, 1883

On Pentecost Sunday, May 13, 1883, while her sister Marie had gone out to the garden, leaving Therese with Leonie who was reading near the window, Therese began to call for "Maman" which was her nickname for her sister Marie.  But when Marie came back into the room, Therese did not recognize her, for she was in the midst of the worst attack of her whole illness.  Marie later testified how she wanted to give Therese something to drink, but Therese screamed in terror: 'They want to poison me."

Everyone was quite distraught at this sudden downturn. After some futile attempts to show Therese that she was by her side, Marie knelt by the bed with her sisters Celine and Leonie, and began praying fervently before the statue they later called the "Virgin of the Smile."

Therese also turned towards the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Suddenly Marie saw Therese's face grow calm and her eyes clear. They all realized that something extraordinary was happening.  We shall let Therese herself describe what happened next:

"All of a sudden the Blessed Virgin appeared beautiful to me, so beautiful that never had I seen anything so attractive; her face was suffused with an ineffable benevolence and tenderness, but what penetrated to the very depths of my soul was the ravishing smile of the Blessed Virgin."

"At that instant, all my pain disappeared, and two large tears glistened on my eyelashes, and flowed down my cheeks silently, but they were tears of complete joy. Oh! I thought, the Blessed Virgin smiled at me, how happy I am, but I will never tell anyone, for my happiness would then disappear. 

"Without any effort I lowered my eyes, and I saw Marie who was looking at me lovingly; she seemed moved and appeared to know the favor the Blessed Virgin had given me. Oh! it was really to her--to her touching prayers that I owed the grace of the Queen of heaven’s smile. Seeing my gaze once again fixed on the Blessed Virgin, she cried out:“Thérèse is cured!”

Therese was in fact completely restored; the "Little Flower" was in bloom once again! For the mysterious illness was entirely gone, never to return for the rest of her life.

Was her mysterious illness caused by the Devil?
For her part, Therese definitely attributed her mysterious illness to the Devil, writing:
"I can’t describe this strange sickness, but I’m now convinced it was the work of the devil." and elsewhere she wrote:
 "The sickness which overtook me certainly came from the demon; infuriated by your [her sister Pauline] entrance into Carmel, he wanted to take revenge on me for the wrong our family was to do him in the future. But he did not know that the sweet Queen of heaven was watching over her fragile little flower, that she was smiling on her from her throne in heaven and was preparing to stop the storm the moment her flower was to break without any hope of recovery."

"She is more Mother than Queen" -St Therese

Her older sister Marie also thought likewise. In her written testimony for the process of Therese's Beatification, Marie writes:
"Around the age of ten, the Servant of God was stricken by strange illness that certainly came from the devil, as she said herself in her manuscript, who had gained an exterior influence over her. She said during this illness, that she never lost use of her reason for even an instant. Indeed, I never heard her say a word that didn’t make sense and she never had an instant of delirium. But she had terrifying visions that chilled those who heard her screams of distress. Certain nails attached to the bedroom walls suddenly took on the form of big charred fingers and she cried out, “I’m afraid, I’m afraid.” Her eyes, so calm and so sweet, had an expression of dread that was impossible to describe. 

"Another time, my father came to sit next to her bed; he was holding his hat in hand. Thérèse looked at it without saying a single word as she spoke very little during this illness. Then, as usual, in the blink of an eye, her expression changed. Her eyes stared at the hat and she let out a mournful cry: “Oh! The big black beast!” Her cries had something supernatural about them. One had to have heard them to have an idea. 

"One day the doctor was present during one of these attacks. He said to my father: “Science is helpless when faced with these phenomenons; there is nothing to do about them.” I can say that the devil even tried to kill our little sister. Her bed was placed in a big alcove and at the head and the foot there was empty space she tried to throw herself into. This happened to her several times and I wondered how she didn’t crack her head on the stone tile but she didn’t even have a scratch."

"...Several times a week she had attacks of such extraordinary terror that a learned doctor, Monsieur Notta, now deceased, said he had never seen such a case. I heard him admit to my father his helplessness. He even said these words: “Let them call this what they will, but for me it’s not hysteria.” 

Our Lady of the Smile statue in Therese's bedroom at Les Buissonnets

For this writer, having studied the lives of many Saints and mystics of the Church, I personally would not be in the least bit surprised if the origin of Therese's mysterious illness was in fact demonic, for we often see in the lives of the Saints how the devil, seeing their heroic virtues and foreseeing the future examples of holiness that they will likely give to others, tries in a variety of ways to thwart the plans of heaven for such individuals.

For example we have the devil trying to burn St John Vianney's bed while he was lying in it, or physically beating St Padre Pio while he was praying in his cell, or incessantly tormenting Job in a variety of ways, as we read in the old Testament. Whatever the cause of Therese's illness, one thing was for sure: Her cure through the "Virgin of the Smile" was sudden, inexplicable and permanent.

-“Love can supply for length of years. Jesus, because He is Eternal, regards not the time but only the love.” 
-"I will spend my heaven doing good upon the earth. I will let fall a shower of roses" -Sayings of St Therese of Lisieux
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St Therese of the Child Jesus "Little Flower" relic locket

-Support this website! Check out the relic lockets, rosaries and booklets in the Mystics of the Church Gift Store.

Explanation of how the Saint Therese "Little Flower" relic lockets (shown above) are made

Example of relic pouches used to make the relic lockets

The fragment of cloth relic inside the Saint Therese of the Child Jesus "Little Flower" relic lockets come from original authentic relic pouches and relic holy cards issued by the Carmelites in Lisieux, France, with the Carmelite seal stamped on each relic pouch/holy card.  I have obtained these oftentimes vintage relics over the years from various sources, and these are the cloth relics that are placed inside the lockets. 

These relics are usually labelled "Étoffe ayant touché a Sainte Thérèse de l'Enfant Jésus" which translated means "Cloth touched to Saint Therese of the Child Jesus", so these would be considered 3rd class relics.

Click here to return to the Mystics of the Church Gift Store

Antonietta De Vitis (1936-2004)

Antonietta De Vitis (1936-2004) -A modern Mystic and Stigmatic who reportedly lived without food and water for 53 years

Storm clouds develop over protestors

The prophetic pulse--Is a period of global Purification/Warning beginning this Fall?

“When you see clouds building in the west, you say at once, ‘A storm shower is coming’; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘It's going to be hot’ and so it is. So why is it then that you cannot read the signs of the times?" Luke 12:54-56

by: Glenn Dallaire

The "Signs of the Times"
The prophetic world seems on fire lately. Prophets and prophecies abound in Catholic circles, and in the greater christian community as a whole. In the spiritual realm, due to a malevolent virus we have all experienced closed Churches, with the inability for most of the Catholics in the world to be able to receive Jesus in Holy Communion, and even the ability to have one's sins forgiven in Confession has also been prevented in many areas throughout the world up to this point. Thankfully, summer in the Northern Hemisphere seems to be bringing with it a bit of a reprieve from this malevolent virus. And make no mistake--this virus is malevolent and evil at its source. But this is a subject for another time.

Out on the streets of America and in many other countries we have had fervent protests with quite a bit of lawlessness in many areas. Many business and even some Churches have been vandalized, looted or set aflame, not to mention the toppling of numerous statues and monuments dedicated to various persons once admired and respected.

Many persons have commented lately that the world really seems to have gone mad. There is seemingly so much division and divisiveness, and we all know who the author and formentor of division is. To this writer it all calls to mind the Scripture quote at the top of this article concerning reading the signs of the times: "When you see clouds building in the west you say at once, ‘A storm shower is coming’; and so it happens." 

Do not the storm clouds really seem to be building upon humanity in these times? What, if anything can we gather from the current signs of the times?

 “For the Lord GOD does nothing without first revealing his secret to his servants, the prophets" -Amos 3:7
As we can see, Scripture states that nothing significant happens to humanity without God first announcing it first through the prophets. So what are the purported prophets of our time saying? Could we be on the precipice of something significant happening in the world?

Thankfully in this vein we have a wonderful collaboration of four persons who have recently put together a noteworthy website entitled "Count Down To The Kingdom" (www.countdowntothekingdom.com) wherein some messages from purported visionaries and prophets of our time have been highlighted.

Father Michel Rodrigue (Queen of Peace Media, YouTube)

One of the more notable persons who has been making some significant waves recently in the mystical and prophetic world is a Catholic priest from Quebec named Father Michel Rodrigue, who is the founder and superior of a new religious Community entitled "Fraternité Apostolique Saint Benoît-Joseph Labre" (The Apostolic Fraternity of St. Benedict Joseph Labre).

Along with being a founder of a religious Community Fr. Michel Rodrigue claims to receive heavenly visions and messages, and in addition he has also been appointed as an exorcist, and his experiences in this area has given him some very interesting perspectives on the spiritual battles that we all endure.

The Blessed Virgin Mary Herself has reportedly named Fr. Michel “Apostle of the End Times.” A good deal of information concerning him can be read on the aforementioned website, along with a number of video retreats that he has made which are published here on Youtube

We report, you discern
As stated here, Fr. Michel's bishop, Rev. Gilles Lemay, does not support Fr. Michel's private revelations; he stated to Fr. Michel, in writing, that he does not support the idea of "...the Warning, the chastisements, the third World War, the Era of Peace, any construction of refuges, et cetera."

At the same time it is important to also point out that Fr Michel is reportedly in good standing with his bishop, and his private revelations have not been formally condemned. For his part, Fr. Michel has reportedly always sought to be obedient to his bishop and his directives.

With that said, for the purposes of this article let us now highlight some of Fr. Michel Rodrigue's purported prophecies concerning the Purification/Warning and what he foresees will soon be occurring for humanity.

In a letter to his supporters dated March 26, 2020 Fr. Michel writes the following:
"My dear people of God, we are now passing a test. The great events of purification will begin this fall. Be ready with the Rosary to disarm Satan and to protect our people. Make sure that you are in the state of grace by having made your general confession to a Catholic priest. The spiritual battle will begin.

Remember these words: THE MONTH OF THE ROSARY WILL SEE GREAT THINGS!"
-Dom Michel Rodrigue, fabl
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We of course know that the'month of the Rosary' is October, and he adds that '..great events of purification will begin this fall'. 

In what would seem to be a preparation for what Fr. Michel warns of to occur this fall, in another letter to his supporters dated March 24, 2020 he writes the following:
"....After this period of compulsory confinement [due to coronavirus -editor], life will resume its course. The summer period will open a window of time where we will be able to prepare well for the coming test … that of being with Jesus on the Cross. We cannot see the Glorious Cross without encountering the cross with Jesus.

"You must now consecrate your house or apartment to the Eternal Father through the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary if you have not done so. We must regularly bless our places, our homes, with exorcised holy water. During this summer, you need to prepare a food supply for a period of three months, with drinking water, too. You will need to have made your general confession before fall. The prayer of the Holy Rosary, of Saint Michael the Archangel, and that of your guardian angels will be your comfort, your strength, your protection."

Economic collapse, Revolution, Martial law and World War III?
Along with a global 'Purification' that Fr. Rodrigue says will begin this Fall 2020, he also foresees the following:
"...There will be famine. Jesus presented this to me just recently. I was in my room, and when I sat down, preparing to go to bed, I saw a black cavalier coming. This means famine. I heard, “They will have money, but they will have no bread,” which means that you can have money to buy it, but you will find nothing.

"Then all money will crash, so it is good to give your money away now, as it will disappear. There will be a great uprising. You will see revolution in your streets. People will fight each other openly. The government will have no other choice than to institute martial law. At the same time that martial law begins, so will the war. 

And here is more on the "war" that Fr. Michel was purportedly shown:
"He [the devil -editor] will start a nuclear war that will be global—the third world war—his war against all of humanity. The devil will kill one third of humanity in this war, and through plagues and abortion, just as one third of the angels were cast out of heaven into hell. Seven nuclear missiles will be permitted to strike the United States as a result of its abominations. Many nuclear missiles will be deflected by the Hand of God because America prays the Divine Mercy Chaplet. I was told this by the Eternal Father.

"...And I know that the war will come from two countries: One is Korea and the other is Iran. They will come together to face the United States of America."

Father Michel Rodrigue, 2020  (YouTube, Queen of Peace Media)

"Fighting against each other for Political reasons"
And elsewhere he states:
"The times are urgent. The Tribulation will come, and it will be soon. We are in a time of emergency. When the Father gave me the fraternity, He asked me to build it quickly because it will be a refuge for many priests who will come there. Much of what you will witness will be orchestrated by the devil. You will see people fighting against each other for a political reasons. The persecution of Christians, which has already begun, person to person through ridicule and accusation, will come from laws that are lawlessness. You will not be able to follow these laws in good conscience, so persecution will then fall under civil authority."

The world wide Warning/Illumination of conscience
The following is some of Fr. Michel Rodrigue's explanations concerning the Warning:
".....Then the Warning will come. I saw this. The stars, the sun, and the moon will not shine. All will be black. Suddenly in the heavens, a sign of Jesus will appear and light up the sky and the world. He will be on the Cross, not in His suffering, but in His glory. Behind Him in a pale light, we will appear the face of the Father, the True God. It will be something, I assure you.

From the wounds in Jesus’ hands, feet, and side, bright rays of love and mercy will fall onto the entire Earth, and everything will stop. If you are in an airplane, it will stop. If you are riding in a car, don’t worry—the car will stop. If you ask me, “How can that be?” I will say, “God is God. He is the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and Earth. If He put Fr. Michel out in there the universe, like a piece of dust, do you think He cannot stop matter? Do you believe that your small airplane will bother Him? No. This is what God told me; but He has also told such things to others, like at Garabandal, which St. Padre Pio believed in.

Everything will be fixed in time, and the flame of the Holy Spirit will enlighten every conscience on Earth. The shining rays from Jesus’ wounds will pierce every heart, like tongues of fire, and we will see ourselves as if in a mirror in front of us. We will see our souls, how precious they are to the Father, and the evil within each person will be revealed to us. It will be one of the greatest signs given to the world since the Resurrection of Jesus Christ."

Elsewhere Fr. Michel has stated:
"After the Warning, no one left on Earth will be able to say that God does not exist. When the Warning comes, everyone will recognize Christ, and they will also recognize His Body, and the body of Christ is the Catholic Church.

"...After the illumination of conscience, humanity will be granted an unparalleled gift: a period of repentance lasting about six and a half weeks when the devil will not have the power to act. This means all human beings will have their complete free will to make a decision for or against the Lord.

"...When the devil returns after six and a half weeks, he will disseminate a message to the world through the media, cell phones, TV’s, et cetera. The message is this: A collective illusion happened on this date. Our scientists have analyzed this and found it occurred at the same time that a solar flare from the sun was released into the universe. It was so powerful that it affected the minds of the people on Earth, giving everyone a collective illusion.

"The devil fools us even now through the new priests of the world: television journalists who want you to think what they think, so they present only the news that is their opinion. They twist the truth and you are hypnotized, manipulated into believing them."

Fr. Michel also speaks of "Refuges" along with other matters, which space does not permit here. Those interested can read more at the 'Virtual retreat' here and/or watch his retreats on YouTube. 

Conchita Gonzalez of Garabandal in 2019

Garabandal and the visionary Conchita
Once again I would like to reiterate that this article is published under the category of "We report, you discern". This writer makes no claims for or against Fr. Michel Rodrigue's private revelations. It can be noted in the quote above the Fr. Michel mentions Garabandal and that much of what he has stated concerning the predicted world wide Warning closely corresponds to what was purportedly revealed by the Blessed Virgin Mary to the visionary Conchita Gonzalez in Garabandal in the early 1960's (one of the 4 visionaries at Garabandal).

And speaking of which, Conchita was reportedly given the date of the "Miracle" which she was told by the Blessed Virgin Mary would occur right after the Warning. Conchita was not only told the exact date of the great Miracle, she was told that she would be instructed by heaven to announce the Miracle to the world publicly 8 days before it occurs.

Now, one of the obvious requirements here is that Conchita must be alive to announce it to the world. Since she was born on February 7, 1949, she is therefore currently 71 years old. With this in mind one could conclude that the time for the Warning and Miracle is likely coming soon.

As for Fr. Michel Rodrigue, a prophet is judged by his prophecies. Time will tell whether they are authentic, or not.

Jesus, the Savior of the World

The Warning, the Miracle, the AntiChrist and the coming of the Kingdom

(The following is a guest article written by a Catholic friend named Brian who is a watchman of the Lord, a 'Voice crying out in the wilderness.' 
-May God reward him for his efforts in preparing God's people for Thy Kingdom Come!)

Jesus' Hour of Mercy versus Satan's Hour of Darkness

An interesting discussion has just recently been sparked in the comment section of one of the articles here on this website concerning the significance of what is often referred to as the 3:00 a.m "Witching Hour" or "Devils Hour."

Since Jesus died at 3pm, the Church celebrates 3pm as the Hour of Mercy, where for the sake of His sorrowful Passion, we call upon God during this specific Hour to have mercy upon us and upon the whole world.

On the opposing side, for his part the devil therefore seeks to  mock and "one-up" Jesus and His Hour of Mercy by doing the exact opposite "hour of evil" at 3am, which is even more suitable for the demonic in that the time beginning around 3 a.m.is the darkest part of the night, since the moon is setting or has already set at that time, and its usually darkest right up until dawn. Due to his excessive pride and avarice, Lucifer often seeks to ape and mock God, and this "Hour of darkness" opposite the Hour of Mercy maliciously suits him and his minions very well unfortunately.

For its part, Wikipedia makes the following observations concerning the"Witching Hour":
"In folklore, the witching hour or devil's hour is a time of night associated with supernatural events. Witches, demons and ghosts are thought to appear and to be at their most powerful. Black magic is thought to be most effective at this time. In the Western Christian tradition, the hour between 3 and 4 a.m. was considered a period of peak supernatural activity, due to the absence of prayers in the canonical hours during this period."

For we see how Light and darkness is often used in the Scriptures to symbolize Good vs Evil. God Himself is often symbolized by Light, whereas the devil and his demons are symbolized by Darkness. Paradoxically, Lucifer himself while in heaven was given the title "Light Bearer"--a title which he of course completely lost when he uttered his blasphemous "Non serviam" against God (I will not serve).

We often see in the lives of many Mystics like St Padre Pio, St John Vianney, St Gemma, and Sr. Josefa Menedez for example how the malignant spirits sought to harangue and terrorize these holy souls, most particularly in the depths of the night when everyone else was sleeping. One can surmise in all this that its likely the demonic gains an increased level of power or boldness during the increasing darkness of the night, however they never have the power to overcome souls by their own doings--they only have the power to tempt or harass.

Servant of God, Teresa Helena Higginson (1844-1905)

-The schoolteacher mystic who received many supernatural gifts including Ecstasies with visions of Jesus Passion, along with the Crown of Thorns and the Stigmata, and who was called to promote the practice of devotion to the Sacred Head of Jesus.

Born while on a pilgrimage at St. Winifred's Well, Holywell
Teresa Higginson was born on May 27th, 1844 in the shrine town of Holywell, England. She was the third child of Robert Francis Higginson and Mary Bowness. Right before Teresa's birth, her mother was in a very poor state of health, so she went on a pilgrimage to Holywell hoping to obtain a cure at St. Winifred's Well, where the healing waters known as the "Lourdes of England" are said to cause miraculous cures, and so it came to be that this child of special destiny was born at the ancient and famous shrine-- the oldest continually visited pilgrimage site in Great Britain.

She grew up in Gainsborough and Neston, and as an adult she lived in Bootle and Clitheroe, England, and spent 12 years in Edinburgh, Scotland and lastly in Chudleigh, England where she died.

"Will become either a great saint, or a great sinner"
From early childhood Teresa had a very strong nature and will, almost obstinate one would say, which of course caused her parents much difficulty and concern, so much so that one day they spoke to a local priest about her, and this struck her deeply and became one of her earliest recollections---

Her parents, speaking of the troubles they were having concerning her strong will, she overheard the priest say "This child will be either a great saint or a great sinner, and will lead many souls to God, or away from Him."

 Concerning this she later wrote:
"This I think had a great impression on me though he (the priest) did not think I heard it, yet it sank deep down in my soul, for that night when we received our parents' blessing, when Papa put his hand on my head, he sighed and it went through me. Then that same night when Mama came to check on us, she knelt down by my crib and cried, and when she kissed me the warm tears fell upon my face, and I was too much ashamed to open my eyes and felt unworthy of so good a mother. I mention this fact for it has never been forgotten, and I think our dear Lord had a great deal to do with it, though I did not then fully understand the meaning of it all, but I did beg of the dear little infant Jesus to help me to be more like Him and never to let me do anything that would make my dear parents cry, for I loved them so tenderly. I don't know how old I was then, but I must have been very young."

On March 3, 1854 Teresa and her two older sisters went to live at the convent-school at Nottingham that was run by the Sisters of Mercy. She was ten years old when she arrived with her two elder sisters. There was a beautiful chapel where Teresa spent many hours before the Blessed Sacrament, and where too she made her first confession and communion and was confirmed.

With her tender heart, little Teresa felt keenly this first parting from her mother and, try as she would, she could not help being terribly homesick;
"Though I tried to bind myself very closely to Him and tried to love and serve Him better, yet at this time I seemed to forget everything and fret very much to go home again. Then the beautiful month of May came which was kept with very great devotion and then I began to settle and really love the convent, for I remember one of the dear nuns telling me that when our Blessed Lady was taken to the Temple at three years old, she never cried for Saints Anne or Joachim nor wished to go home again, and then I began to feel how ungrateful I was and self seeking and made acts of contrition and told our dear Lord since He had loved and thought so much for me, I could never love or think of anything out of Him and begged of Him to give me some little suffering as proof of His love."

She remained at the convent-school for 11 years. During this time she injured herself in two separate falls--one into a pit, and another not long afterwards when:
"On the feast of Corpus Christi all the cloisters and every place through which the Blessed Sacrament was carried was beautifully decorated, and archways were left till morning when fresh lilac, laburnum etc. were gathered, and I climbed up the tree to bend the branches for Sister to break off small branches, and when doing so I fell out of the tree and hurt myself."

It took her about a year to recover from this second very painful fall.

Dryness in prayer, her spirit of mortification and voluntary sacrifices out of love for God
Teresa writes:
"I think it was at or about this time, that I made the resolution of rising in the night for the sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary and half an hour's meditation and then go back to bed. This was very hard for me, and I was often tempted to give it up, especially when our dear Lord tried me with dryness which He frequently did and sometimes for months, but when I felt this very much I would prolong instead of shortening the time and looked carefully after opportunities of denying and mortifying myself, for I wanted to try and prepare well for my first Holy Communion.

"On one occasion we had Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and I went with the others to make a visit, and I had been very full of desolation and could not form a single prayer, which was a great trial to me; but I tried to adore and love Him and kept my eyes upon Him in the sacred Host, but I had no satisfaction in my prayer. And after we went out of chapel dear Rev. Mother asked me what I saw and if our dear Lord had told me anything, so then I told her how I had not been able to say my prayers etc. for a long time; that I had not seen anything, not even the angels which I frequently did, but that I had promised our dear Blessed Lord that I would not move or take my eye off Him. I was only therefore keeping my promise for so well I remember how I felt — that I could not make one act of love nor feel sorry about it. I was so indifferent that of course I took it as a sign that He had left me on account of my wickedness and sin, and as I could not adore Him in reality, I would at least do so as far as outward acts went."

"I did not undertake any regular corporal punishment until I was preparing for my first Holy Communion. Then I began to rise and lay on the floor under the bed (after Sister had put out the gas light and gone to bed) until the bell rang at five in the morning for the nuns to rise — then I used to get back into bed.

"During this time period I managed to get a piece of sacking and I pushed in bits of old knitting needles, little tacks, etc. I used to put it under me on the floor, but I did not do this long for fear of being found out. I was so often sick and the nuns took such great care of me that they seemed to notice every little scratch or mark, but I had an opportunity one day of getting some red hot cinders from the fire and I only just had time to pick them from the grate when Sister entered. I put them down my breast and they set my things on fire, but when I made the holy sign of the cross on the flames they went quite out, but Sister scolded me very much and told me never to do such a thing again. I begged her not to say anything so as she gave me her word I feel sure she never did."

"Later in the year of my first Holy Communion, towards the close, a great feeling of indifferentism came upon me and lasted for many months and what I went through then, our dear Lord only knows. I felt as if I had no power to do anything for God, that I really did not love Him, and I seemed to care very little about whether I did love Him or not, I used to think, 'Oh if I could only be sorry for not loving Him that would be a consolation m itself, but I was too cold and callous to really think of anything good, my prayer was hard to make and dry, and so far as I could see without fruit. I was sick too in myself, and I felt very weary and worn, tired of everything and seemed to have no power to exert my will to act or heart to love."

A remarkable recovery
"In 1860, when I was taken very ill and given up by the doctors. I was in bed, I think, for nearly nine months, I was anointed and received all the rites of our Holy Church, and the nuns were waiting for me to die. I was consecrated a child of Mary and then became unconscious and remained so for some days. On the 13th of December the Bishop and Rev. Edward Smith who was in Rome with Father Powell both said a votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin for me. They all thought I must die and told me their little secrets that they wished me to ask our dear Lady to grant them when I died, but on the octave of the Immaculate Conception I came to myself again and began to get better. I consecrated myself again most solemnly to our dear Lord and His blessed Mother, promising to live and die for them, and begging them to let me work and suffer for the salvation of souls."

Her call to become a school teacher
In the year 1871, a terrible epidemic of smallpox and cholera broke out in Liverpool and the neighboring towns. One of the most severely affected was Bootle, where the schools had to be closed for a lack of teachers. The rector of St. Alexander's church at Bootle, the Rev. Edward Powell asked the training college at Mount Pleasant if they had any available teachers--due to the smallpox they had none, however Sister Mary Philip who was in charge there at that time recommended Teresa, for one of Teresa's sisters was a student there at that time.

 Teresa, far from being scared by the fear of infection, was delighted at this opportunity of sacrificing her life in the cause of charity and eagerly offered her services. Father Powell gratefully accepted the offer, and two souls destined to play a great part in each other's lives, were thus brought together. The appointment proved a great success. Teresa quickly won her way with the children and remained at Bootle for about a year.

Father Powell became more and more impressed with her as he recognized the great heights of virtue to which she had already attained, and the special graces with which Almighty God had endowed her. He allowed her to communicate daily, a thing most unusual in those days and one for which she was ever grateful to him. He soon discovered her wonderful gift for teaching. When she was giving her catechism classes on a Sunday he used to watch the benches fill with grown-up people as well as children, all listening to her with rapt attention. After a time he told her he thought Almighty God was calling her to serve Him as a certified teacher, and sent her to consult the Sisters of Notre Dame.

Sister M. Philip told her that she would require a year's study before going in for the necessary teachers examination, but Father Powell, finding that one was to be held in the following week, told her to try and take the examination. She obeyed and successfully passed the exam. As we shall see, she became a school teacher and remained a teacher for her entire life, right up to her holy death in 1905.

Fasting and ecstasies
Thus she began teaching at the St Mary's Catholic school in Wigan. The little staff of St. Mary's school were on very happy, intimate terms. One of the things which attracted their attention with regard to Teresa was the strange attacks of weakness to which she was subject early in the morning, prior to receiving Holy Communion. She went to daily Mass but was often so weak that she had almost to be carried to the altar rails; then, after receiving holy Communion, her strength returned and she would walk back unaided to her place and be able to carry out her duties for the rest of the day as though in normal health. They noticed too, how rigorously she fasted. There were times when she seemed literally to live on the Blessed Sacrament alone, for three days at a time taking no other food.

Towards the end of 1873, a new teacher was appointed to the staff, Miss Susan Ryland. She spent a day at Wigan to visit the school, and Teresa told her later how, before her arrival, the Devil had tormented her, saying that she would no longer be able to keep her secrets as the new teacher would soon find them out. Miss Ryland took up her duties on January 5th, and Teresa soon recognized in her the friend Father Spencer had promised her our Lord would send her in her need. For the next eighteen months they were seldom parted, and during the holidays Miss Ryland accompanied Teresa to her home. Mrs. Higginson met her with open arms, saying: "I have longed to meet you. You are the only friend Teresa has ever had."

Miss Ryland and Teresa attached to St. Mary's school, where they occupied the same room and even slept in the same bed. Poorly lodged and poorly paid, there was a good deal of sacrifice in the life of the Catholic teacher of those days. The year 1874 was to be one of the most eventful in Teresa's life, and our Lord had provided her with a friend after her own heart, loyal, silent, and above all not inquisitive. Living in such close intimacy it would have been impossible to hide all traces of the mysterious events of those months, and though she almost never spoke of her inner life, Miss Ryland was the silent witness of many marvels concerning which she drew her own conclusions.

"I became acquainted with Teresa", Miss Ryland writes, "at the end of December, 1873. It was on January 5th, 1874 that 1 began my life with her. I remained with her at Wigan until July 1875. During that time she received to my knowledge many favours from God; visitations from the evil One in person, also from our Lord, our Lady and the saints. In Lent, 1874, she was granted the following of our Lord in the details of His sacred Passion, the Crown of Thorns, like St. Rose of Lima, the sacred Stigmata and many other favours."

Miss Ryland soon began to suspect that there was something very remarkable about her. Her first experience of anything out of the common was after she had been at Wigan a fortnight. It was about 10:30 and they were going to bed, when she looked round and found Teresa lying on the floor, unconscious. Being unable to move her she called for help and lifted her on to the bed. She saw that this was no ordinary illness, and when, by 1pm the following day there was no change, she went for Father Wells. He came at once though she was surprised to see the calm way in which he took the matter. Teresa was still unconscious, but when he gave her some Lourdes water she immediately came to herself. He then sent Miss Ryland for the doctor, who expressed astonishment at Teresa's excessive weakness and could make nothing of the case. Miss Ryland herself soon realised that these strange illnesses were supernatural — Teresa was in fact in ecstasy, a condition which became very constant at this time. Her friend has described her outward appearance on these occasions:

"There were two ways in which Teresa was taken. In one the body was supple and she showed either excessive grief or excessive joy. In the other the body was quite rigid and it was almost impossible to move her. That state did not last long. Twice she was like that in the street. Fortunately it was in a lonely part or it might have proved awkward. I could do nothing but stand at her side till she became conscious.

Louise Lateaux, another contemporary mystic, appears to her
Her roommate and fellow schoolteacher, Miss Ryland continues:
"During the early part of 1874, there was something in the paper about Louise Lateaux in France being in ecstasy every Friday and we passed the remark (I mean Miss Woodward and I), 'That is nothing to this house. It is a daily occurrence here', which it really was at that time.

"Teresa must have had some kind of communication with her, for she said one day after coming to herself: 'Louise Lateaux told me to read something in the life of St. Teresa.'

So I brought the book to her but I don't know exactly what she was told to read in it.

Being friends to a saint is not always easy
"When we said the rosary together she would suddenly stop and I had to wait a long time for her, so I made up my mind not to wait but to continue taking both sides. That night in the middle of the first mystery, she stopped and began again when I was finishing the fourth. She touched me gently when I began the fifth and said: 'It is only the second.' I replied: 'It is the second for you, but for me it is the fifth, and I don't want to be here all night.' That sounds irreverent, but I was dealing with her then not as a saint but as a familiar friend.

Appearances of the Virgin Mary
Miss Ryland continues:
"On four occasions, to my knowledge, our Lady appeared to her. I give an account of two. I saw she was talking to someone. Of course, at these times she was unconscious of anything else. When our Lady went away she said to me: 'Isn't she beautiful?' I asked: 'Who?''Our blessed Lady. Didn't you see her, dear?' When I said no, she was very quiet and only said: 'She has told me I love Him more than I can tell.'

"The second apparition was at a time when she was very ill and not able to help herself. I was kneeling by her side when she sat up and said: 'Our Lady says I am cured, and I shall go to holy Communion on Thursday morning.'  That was Tuesday night, and I wondered why not the next morning since she was better, but in the morning I found she was weak as ever. I got her up before dinner and brought her downstairs. After dinner she became unconscious again. I had to leave her and go to school. Miss Woodward remained with her. A little before four o'clock, she (Teresa) came up to the school to me although she had to mount a flight of stone steps. I said:  'You have no right to come up here when you have been so ill.'  She said: 'What God does He does well. I am all right', or words to that effect. She had also been to church, and to see Father Wells. Miss Woodward told me that at three o'clock she came to herself and said: 'Didn't our Lady say three o'clock?'  She then put on her hat and came out, going first to church.

"St. Joseph was with her once and St. Peter once. There were other visions which she only told me of, but I mention only those which I was present for."

Little miracles
Miss Ryland continues with some wonderful short stories about Teresa:

"At the request of Father Wells she cured a child of some chest disease. She used common lard (as an excuse I suppose). The child's mother asked her afterwards for some of the ointment. Teresa said to me: 'What shall I do? It is only common lard.'

"Another time I had forgotten, or did not notice, that there was no wood in the house. In the morning I wanted to light the fire. Teresa was in bed. I went in to her and said: 'We have no wood and I want to light the fire.' She said: 'There is plenty in the sacristy.' But I said: 'The church is not open yet.''Very well', she said, 'ask St. Joseph for some.' I said: 'You ask him, he won't do it for me.' Then she said: 'Have you been to such a cupboard?' I said: 'Yes, and there is none there.''Well, go and look again.' I went and found a quantity of nice pieces not like the wood we bought.

"One day the key of our school was lost. We kept it in the house, and it was not to be found. I searched the house for it, so did she. She then went up to the parlour and I knelt by the table. Afterwards she came out with the key in her hand and looking very pale. I said to her: 'What on earth is the matter with you? You look frightened to death.' (It was unusual to see her like that.) 'Yes', she said, 'I was frightened because I saw nothing, but a white hand put the key down.'

"Another day after coming from Holy Communion she lighted the fire on the spur of the moment by making the sign of the cross over cold cinders. She said: 'This would warm the children's cans.' Then made the sign of the cross and I saw the flames come into the cold cinders. She did the same thing at home. Her sister Fanny said to me in Teresa's presence (they, like myself, used to tease her sometimes): 'Our Tess is very clever, she can light a fire without coal or wood.'
I asked Teresa what she meant and she told me her Mama was ill that morning and Fanny wanted the fire quickly. Hence the result.

Her brother said to me one day: 'Tess can do wonderful things. She can send up a tray before her.' He was teasing her. I asked her what he meant. She told me she was going to bring up the tray but it was too heavy for her, so her guardian angel took it from her and put it into her brother's hands at the top of the stairs, while he saw her at the bottom of the stairs.

Attacks from the devil
"Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in high places", says St. Paul, and often the greater the saint, the harsher will be the conflict.

Rev Alfred Snow who eventually became her spiritual director, ordered Teresa to write about certain topics to describe her experiences, so he would better be able to spiritually guide her. Concerning the  attacks from the malevolent spirits she thus wrote:
The following letter describes some of her experiences in this respect.

"A M D G et in hon B V M et Bt. J.                           
"Bootle, June 20, 1880

"Dear Rev. Father,

"In honor of the Seat of divine Wisdom and in the holy name of Jesus and Mary I will relate the principal temptations at Wigan by which the Devil by the permission of God assailed me.

"I think the first visible temptation which I had at Wigan was as soon as I went. I think you know that without any permission I used to rise as soon after midnight as I conveniently could (I had not a bed to myself) to make my meditation etc. and each time I commenced the Devil used to beat and attack me, and spit horrible filth upon me in the face and eyes, in fact, completely cover me which made me very sick, and the stench was almost poisoning. And this I told to Rev. T. Wells who told me he thought I had a very fertile imagination, and as far as I can judge he did not believe me, but he told me to tell him each time I fancied it, and when he saw that it still continued he asked me could he write to some priest of great experience about it. But in the meantime, he said, you must not rise to make your meditation. Night is the time to sleep and rest so that you may be able to do your work as duty requires.

"And so I did not rise intentionally, but several times I found myself rising, and when I at once returned the devils would shriek and yell and laugh in a most dreadful manner and mock me and say: 'Most obedient maid how firm are your words of promise to the King of heaven!' But I did not notice him. Of course each time I found myself getting out of bed I told my confessor as soon as I could see him and he said if the will was really desirous of being entirely obedient he did not see how I could be so continually rising; but I begged and prayed our Lord and His blessed Mother to help me to accomplish perfectly and promptly whatever my director would wish, cost it me what it would.

"And so by degrees I did not rise, but I seldom slept, I could not help myself making my meditation though I think I strove hard to resist, and so I told Father Wells. Then he said I must sleep a certain time, I forget now but I think he said four hours, and under obedience I did so, and when I slept the Devil would rouse me. Sometimes he cried as though some poor child were out upon the doorstep; sometimes he used to throw me completely out of bed, throw things at me that were in the room, and make awful noises, and I used to be afraid at first that Miss Gallagher or the people of the house would hear. And several times when I awoke I perceived a smell of something burning, and the house being filled with smoke and brimstone, I thought surely the house was on fire.

"Other times I saw the whole bed and room full of flames and heard the crackling and I am afraid in this case I proved a coward, for I was frightened more than I can tell at first for there was no holy water: the Devil threw something against the bottle and broke it. But Mary and St. Michael were ever near and when I called upon her I knew he had no power to hurt. But I thought the house might really be burnt and I think it was the Devil so I told Fr. Wells that I felt afraid and he said I must tell the Devil he must not do it again. And any temptation I always noticed stopped at the command of my director. Fr. Wells told me to ask our b. Lord to change the temptation.

"When Fr. Wells told me not to make my meditation I thought that was just what the Devil wanted, but I did not say so for I knew that obedience and giving up my own will was more pleasing to our b. Lord and more to my own good than anything else.

"Our Lord kept these temptations secret till we went to the school-house and then they were soon known. The Devil knew I did not like anyone to know these things and so he often told me he would let the other mistresses see and know all; but I knew he had no power of himself so I never heeded him, and I used to say to our dear b. Lord when he said these things to me: 'Thou know best oh Lord what is good for me. I am Thine do with me what Thou please."

"At length Miss Ryland (who is now a nun) and Miss Woodward (at Burscough Hall) soon saw and heard everything almost; at least I don't know what they knew, but as they were frightened Fr. Wells told them the Devil could not hurt them etc. I think I had temptations against every virtue while there and I seemed entirely abandoned by God and His holy Mother, and at these times Fr. Wells on more than one occasion would not hear what I had to say. He used to tell me to go to holy Communion as usual which was then only four times per week.

"I think the reason why the Devil used to spit and throw that abominable filth of such awful stench at me was because at that time I resolved to mortify the senses more rigorously and never to gratify them in the least, or rather to do all that I could that was disagreeable and hurtful to them. Certainly at times I was almost suffocated but the holy and strong God never forsook me and Mary was ever a tower of strength against all the wiles of the wicked one. And when ever our dear good God accepted my poor prayers and little nothings in behalf of poor sinners he, the Devil, used to be infuriated, and beat, drag and almost choke me. He used to tell me it was no use me trying to save souls when my own was lost, that God had already given him power over me, that it was far better for me to live a very ordinary life, that such things that I took upon myself were more than the greatest saints attempted, that it was mad presumption on my part to expect that God would work continual miracles in my behalf...

"When our dear Lord tried me with great desolation, he appeared with numberless demons and tempted me as I think they would tempt the poor souls whose guilt I took upon myself, with, I think, every description of sin — against charity, with envy — hatred I may say, and against holy Purity, against Faith and to a dreadful despair. For when I was really worn out with continual struggling and I knew not whether I had sinned or no and I cried out to God for pity and pardon, and to Mary, Joseph, and St. Michael for protecting help, the fiends laughed and cried as with one voice: 'Where is now Thy God who has hitherto helped you? In what a true friend you confide, see now what effect your prayers have. Most compassionate friend, generous and charitable soul, perhaps now you will learn that charity begins at home. Learn wisdom if it is not too late; see what a reception you will have, angelical Teresa, humble and beloved Spouse of the Almighty One. Who will now help you? Where are the souls you have saved? Where is your loving Mother now? Where the God you thought to serve? Where is your God?'

Teresa Helena Higginson in 1904

"And bowing to the august and thrice blessed Trinity I answered the wicked One by saying: 'Ah my Jesus, my God, my only Hope! Surely Thou art here in Thy Justice. Spare me not oh Lord, but save them whom You desire I should help. Remember Thy most Precious Blood is the price of each soul! Look on Thy gaping Wounds! See Thy Mother's heart is breaking. Look on the work of Thy Hands, and when Thou look have mercy and spare!'

Miss Ryland, her roommate and school teacher friend (and whom afterwards became a nun) was of course frightened at times with some of the noises and other goings on by the demons directed against Teresa, but Teresa would say that it was best to not be afraid and to pay as little attention as possible to the devil when he tried to torment her — he just wanted to be a distraction and to be noticed!

Her ecstasies and participation in the Passion of Jesus
A well-known feature in the lives of mystics/victim souls is how in mystical visions they accompany and participate with our Lord Jesus in His Passion. In the case of Teresa, Miss Ryland gives a very detailed description of what took place in Holy Week of 1874, though she says the same happened on other occasions also. Teresa was quite unconscious, but was evidently following our Lord step by step in all His sufferings, as was clear to those who watched from her actions and expressions, and from the exclamations which fell from her lips. The following are some extracts from these notes:

"Holy Thursday. April 2, 1874

"Commenced at half-past four by asking our Lord to come to her. 'When wilt Thou come oh Lord? I am a sinful creature. Wash me in Thy Precious Blood oh Jesus. Ah Lord never permit me to betray Thee. I will never leave Thee.' Leans her head as St. John. 'Here let me rest oh Lord.' Raises her head a little. 'Ah Lord never permit me to betray Thee. Let me go with Thee. Oh my Jesus I will not leave Thee, oh let me. Oh Lord I cannot stay, let me go.' Head drops forward, slightly convulsed, shuts her eyes very closely as if to shut out some sight. 'Oh Eternal Father, if it be possible let this bitter chalice — Oh my God, my God, desert Him not. Ah pity Him. Thy Will be done oh Eternal Father, oh Angels come and help Him. Oh that I could help Him.' Groans for a few minutes. Head falls to right. 'Let me watch with Thee oh my Jesus.' Head falls on breast. Convulsions, head falls to right. 'Stay oh my Jesus.' Offers to hold Him. 'Hide. Hide, let me go.' Groans and works dreadfully, stretches out her hands. 'Oh Jesus stay. Stay for Mary's sake.' A look of great disappointment and groans. 'Do not permit them to rise again.' Turns her head from side to side with looks of horror. 'Ah my Jesus canst Thou bear this ingratitude?'

"Sees Him bound in the garden, stretches out her hands and begs to be bound instead. Blow on right cheek by the mouth. Blow on left eye. Heavy groans. A blow on mouth. Pulling of beard. Holds her chin. Low cries of pain. Sickness. A blow on left side of head. Beard is pulled. Appears to hear blasphemy, puts hands to ears to shut it out. Rests with head to right, hands to ears again. A blow on the right eye. Sickness, rests, head being inclined to right. Fingers to ears. 'Oh wicked Herod. Oh God of Wisdom. Clothed with scorn. Oh my Jesus.' Sickness, rests two seconds. 'Rest oh my Lord. Oh God Thou sees and knows all things.' A blow on the right cheek. Rests, closes her ears, turns head away as if to shut out some sight. 'God of infinite Mercy show that there is no cause in Thee.' Turns head away. Rests for about three minutes. Turns aside in horror, gasps. Buffeted about the head. 'Canst thou stand with Him. Oh let me go with Thee, Lord Thou art too weak.' Turns in horror. 'Strip my heart of every affection. Oh let me, Lord Thou canst not bear it.' A tear drops from left eye. A blow on the face. Stretches out her hands in agony and begs for pity for Him. Writhes in fearful agony, apparently being scourged. Rests. A cry of pain, writhing again, rests, fearful writhing, rests.

'Oh see how torn He is, Ah find me something soft for mercy's sake.' Dreadful agony. 'Oh King of Heaven and earth, oh let me hold it for Thee. Ah King, God of Heaven and earth.' Puts hand to head with a look of great pain. 'Oh put it on me, You have done enough.' Crowning with thorns. Groans and writhes and clenches her hands. Raises her hand to her head and then to left cheek in great pain. 'Oh angels of Heaven adore Him.' Calls out: 'Show them all Thy wounds oh Lord and soften their hearts, oh lift Thine eyes blind with Thy Precious Blood, oh deafening yells.' Tries to shut them out. 'Oh Lord they know not what they do.' Is quite still for three minutes. Sees the drink offered. 'Oh take it Lord.' Calls out in agony. 'Oh help him Lord.'

"Stretches out her hand for the Cross. 'Oh Lord let me bear it a little while. Thou art too weak. Oh lean on me. Thou art too weak oh Jesus lean.' First fall to the right. 'Oh Jesus let me raise Thee.' A blow on left cheek. 'Stand back.' A blow on right cheek. 'Oh Mary. Oh Jesus! Support her. Oh Jesus oh Mary?' Stretches her hands in agony. 'Oh Lord let me bear it, I can.' Lifts her right hand. 'Let me wipe it.' Sinks back. 'Lord I was not worthy.' Second fall. Five fearful blows about head and face, one on the mouth. 'Oh stand back! Oh trampled under. Oh my heart will break. Oh Eternal Father raise Thy Son.' A blow on the mouth. 'Oh how canst Thou forget. Oh compassionate heart, oh well may they weep. Oh lean. My Jesus lean. Let me guide Thy tottering steps, do not break the heart of Thy blessed Mother.' Fearful fall. Calls out in pain. Seven blows about head and face. One on the stomach. 'Stand back! Remember He is thy God.' Two blows. 'Raise Him gently.' Stoops to the ground.

'Oh Jesus, lean on me Lord.' A blow on the right cheek. 'Oh lean on me Lord. Take it off.' Head falls to right. Rests about four minutes. Seems to see drink offered. 'Take it Lord. Oh Mary bid Him take it.' Stripping off garments. Begs to be allowed to take them off. 'Oh take them gently. Oh pure God.' Appears to feel garments torn. Holds them at the waist. 'Oh holy and pure God. Most keenly felt by Thee oh my Jesus.' Turns her head aside in anguish. Moans. 'I will not let Thee go.' Cries of agony. 'Oh Jesus say not Thou must go. I cannot leave Thee Lord. Oh Mary bid Him stay. He never disobeyed thee. Oh Jesus for Thy Mother's sake.' Goes prostrate and is still as death."

Teresa receives the Stigmata
It was in this same year 1874, during Holy week that our Lord Jesus conferred upon His chosen servant the special marks of His Sacred Wounds. In a letter written some years later in obedience to Father Powell, she thus simply tells him of the fact:

"And when I was at Wigan in 1874, on the Friday morning in Passion Week, my Lord and my God gave me the marks of His five Sacred Wounds which I earnestly begged of Him to remove, but to give me an increase if possible of the pain. During all the following week they bled, and Fr. Wells saw one of them on the Good Friday, after which that disappeared, the others having done so earlier in the morning, and on several occasions they have reopened. This I think I have mentioned to you before but as I am not quite certain about it I thought it better to do so here."

Again in another letter she says:

"I have suffered much in the head, chest and side since 1860 but the pains have been much greater since 1874 when our dear B. Lord conferred the great favor I told you of and in the centre of the hands, feet, head and heart they are at times very excessive, but I am relieved always when they bleed which does not happen very very often. I also have a severe pain in the shoulders. I feel ashamed of calling them pains for I know they are excessive favors which I could never merit or have anything to do with. They are all Thine oh my God as are all the favors Thou hast bestowed on me. I did not at first think what was the cause of these favors but some ten or twelve years back I noticed they were always worse on Fridays, feasts of our Lord and during Lent. I have always reaped great spiritual strength and benefit from them and often when I felt I could not overcome poor human nature in some way I have pressed these parts which were as fountains of life to me and I was always able to overcome. I mean my Lord gave me great help when I did so. But during this eclipse which last took place in the soul, our dear B. Lord has not pleased to give this help, they have appeared to me, vile coward, as mines of untold and almost unbearable suffering and torture. Yet oh Lord I know they are the pledge of Thy love to me, and I value them perhaps more than any other gift Thou hast bestowed. May Thy Holy Name be forever blessed."

For her part, Miss Ryland gives a most interesting account of what she herself witnessed at this time:

"To begin with the receiving of the Crown of thorns. It took place on Passion Sunday, 1874. I was the only person present. She asked me to come upstairs in the afternoon. She was apparently suffering and she went to lie down. She asked me to pray that she might be able to go to Sunday school and at night she would bear all our Lord wished. She added: 'He gave me this pain Himself.' She was able to get up, and went to Sunday school and also to Benediction. Towards night she got very weak and after we were in bed became very ill. I wanted to go for Miss Woodward who slept in the next room, but she would not let me so I returned to bed. All at once she sprang up and I am sure she left the bed, for I sprang up too to pull her down. For a while she spoke to her heavenly visitor. Then she put out her right hand towards our Lord (for it was He) and said aloud: 'No, not that, the thorny crown, give me the thorny crown.' Then in a few moments she fell back just as she had got up. I said to her: 'Teresa are you going to die? If you are I must go for Father Wells.' She did not seem to wish to get him up so I left it alone. Then she said to me: 'Our Lord has given me His Crown of Thorns, and also the Wound in the shoulder.' I saw no signs of it next day, except I thought there were pimples on the forehead, but I could not say whether they had anything to do with it or not.

"On the eve of Palm Sunday after going to bed (I think I had to take her as I often did on account of her weakness), I was kneeling by her side and she was unconscious (at least so far as I was concerned). She was speaking (to herself) to someone present. She raised her right hand and held it up quite firmly for a minute or two. Then she let it drop. I did not examine it. I was strangely wanting (as I think now) in curiosity about these things, but the next morning she kept it closed, placing her thumb in the middle. I think she washed herself that morning with the left hand but I forget. However, when she handed me back the towel it was stained with blood. The morning after both hands were closed. I washed her and she said to me: 'I can wash my own hands, dear.' So I gave her the same towel and she returned it to me again spotted with blood. This happened every day...

"On Good Friday we went to the morning service leaving Miss Higginson in bed and the house door locked. When we returned we both ran up to her at once and found her stretched on the bed, her arms extended in the form of a cross, and wounds in her hands. As usual I did not go very near. I saw Miss Woodward lift up the clothes at the foot of the bed to see if the feet were the same, and I ran off to bring Father Wells. He came. She was still the same, and he said to me: 'Run for the doctor.' I went and when I got back accompanied by Dr. Hart she was natural again and talking to Father Wells. Dr. Hart found her extremely weak, but, as Father Wells said, he did not at all know what was the matter with her."

Her mission to spread devotion to the Sacred Head of Jesus, Seat of Divine Wisdom
Space does not permit here to go into details concerning the revelations from heaven in what would become her calling to spread devotion to the Sacred Head of Jesus, Seat of Divine Wisdom. The SacredHead.org website goes into wonderful details explaining this devotion and Teresa's own story and the special revelations that she was given concerning it, and the Promises for those who honor the Sacred Head of Jesus.

Her holy death
Teresa remained a school teacher throughout her entire life. In 1904 while preparing to return home for the Christmas holidays she suffered a stroke. The chaplain found a Catholic nurse, Miss Casey, to attend her during her last illness. This nurse wrote about her experience caring for Teresa in detail and  she was very deeply inspired and edified by Teresa's demeanor in her last days. On February 9th Teresa said goodnight to Miss Casey, thanking her, and added:

"Do not fear, dear child, but put your hand with loving confidence into your Father’s hand and He will guide you through every path. And where the road is rough and stony, He will carry you in His arms."

Shortly after this she fell into a coma. She passed from this life six days later on February 15, 1905, after several hours of apparent suffering. She was buried at St Winifrede’s Church, near her family home in Neston.

Her cause for Beatification/Canonization
Teresa’s Cause for canonization was accepted by the Church in 1937. Thus she is officially recognized as a "Servant of God". On February 21, 1938 Monsignor O’Brien--the vice-postulator of her cause--was sent a letter from the Secretary of the Congregation informing that the Holy Office had pronounced the 'Non Expedire' on the introduction of her Cause, meaning it was put on hold until further notice. However, a letter from the Vatican in February 1949 confirmed that there was no insurmountable obstacle to the Cause progressing. A Professor named Paul Haffner recently visited the offices of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints in Rome, and was told that her Cause is still 'on the books' - awaiting its time. A miracle attributed to her intercession could very well jump start the cause once more.

One of Teresa's favorite sayings was: "Its the small branches that show which way the wind blows", meaning that it is the little things that we do which prove our attitude towards God.

Much of the information for this article was taken from the book "TERESA HELENA HIGGINSON--SERVANT OF GOD, "THE SPOUSE OF THE CRUCIFIED" by Cecil Kerr, which can be read in its entirety for free here.

"Oh Wisdom of the sacred Head of Jesus, guide us in all our ways, Oh Love of the sacred Heart, consume us with Thy fire!-Teresa Higginson