The Immaculate Heart of Mary as the New Ark of Noah

Mary's mantle protects all who take refuge in her love.

Source By Fischer.H - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46105885

The Immaculate Heart of Mary as the New Ark of Noah

By: A Carmelite Brother, June 2023

Case Study: The Jesuit Presbytery of Hiroshima, 1945

AtFátima,theVirginMarysaid,MyImmaculateHeartwillbeyourrefugeandthewaythatwillleadyoutoGod.(June

13,1917)Asthoughtoprovideaproofofthispromise,sheshelteredeightpriestsfromcertaindeath—priestswho werefaithfultothecounselsshegaveatFátima.

ThesepriestslivedinHiroshima,Japan,asmissionaries,onlyeightblocks(onekilometer)fromthehypocenterofthe atomicbombthatfellonAugust6,1945.Miraculously,thepresbyteryremainedstandingamidflattenedbuildings.The priestsescapedwithonlyminorinjuriesandhadnolastingeffectsfromtheradiation.Theylivedoutafullnumberof years.

Thesuperiorofthecommunity,Fr.HubertSchiffer,wasreportedlyexaminedover200timesbyscientistsanddoctors

—hehadzeroradiationin hisbody.Whatwasthesecretof theirsurvival?Fr.Schifferexplains,Wewereunderthe specialprotectionofGod.WesurvivedbecausewewerelivingthemessageofFátima.Welivedandprayed theRosarydailyinthathome.

The'messageofFátima'referstotheapparitionsoftheVirginMaryatFátima,Portugalin1917.Sherequestedacts ofpenanceandprayer,particularlytheRosary,asameanstosoftenDivineJustice.Thesepriestsbelievedthattheir survivalwasduetotheirdevotiontoOurLady.HerHeartwastheirarkofrefugeamidthedevastation.

The Jesuit presbytery (in red) remained intact during the atomic bomb explosion at Hiroshima      Source: Public domain

 The Genesis Flood as a Lesson for Our Times

According to the Genesis account, God sent the Flood because corruption enveloped the earth. While the Flood was a response of his infinite justice, the Ark was a result of his mercy. Afterward, He promised never again to destroy mankind with water. (Gen. 9:15) But, will He again purify it by some other means?

AccordingtoScripture(2Peter3:7,10),andseveralmodernmystics,Godwilloncemorepurifytheearth,notwith waterbutwithfire.Whoa!Fire?Why?BecausecorruptiononceagainenvelopstheEarth.AstheBlessedVirginsaid toBlessedElenaAiello,"ThewholeworldisinturmoilbecauseithasbecomeworsethanatthetimeoftheDeluge."(Dec8,1956)

Butwait—willGodalsoprovideanarktosurvivethisfuturedelugeasHedidforNoah'sfamily?Yes,Hemercifully providestheImmaculateHeartofMaryasthesaferefugetosailthroughthecomingconflagration.Howcanthisbe? WiththehelpofScripture,privaterevelations,andlifeexamples,letuslearnmore.Aboveall,letussecureourticket andclimbaboardGod'snewArk—theHeartofMary.

Symbolic Comparisons of the Virgin Mary with Noah'sArk 

NoahtheRighteous—Noah(hisnamemeans'rest,'or'comfort'),isaChrist-likefigure.Hewasfound"blamelessin hisgeneration,"and"walkedwithGod."(Gen.6:9)Soalso,NoahmodeledChristasthesaviorofhisfamilyandasa preserveroflife.AstheArkenclosedNoah,soMaryprotectedJesustheSaviorofhumanityinherwomb.The Chaldeanliturgyputsitthisway,"MaryisthearkoffleshwhichshelteredthetrueNoah,whowastofreeournature fromslaverytoSatan."

PerfectionofDimensions—GodinstructedNoahtobuildthearkaccordingtocertaindimensions:300cubitslong,

50cubitswide,and30cubitshigh.Acubitisabout20"inlength.Thewidth-to-heightratiooftheArkwas5to3,or

1.666,whichisasclosetothegoldenratio(1.618)ascanbeachievedwithsimplenumbers.Inlikemanner,God fashionedMarytobetheperfectdwellingplaceforhisSon.

DaubedwithPitch—AccordingtoGod'sinstruction,NoahsaturatedthewoodoftheArkonbothsideswithpitch. Thiswasnotbitumenpitch(tar),whichisthoughttobeaby-productoftheFlooditself,butaresinousliquid,suchas sapfromacypresstree.Oncethesappolymerized,thewoodwaspreservedfromthedamagingeffectsofwater.In likemanner,Maryis"fullofgrace,"symbolizedbytreesap,whichpreservedherfromthedeadlywatersofsinand death.

By Lucie - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=107448027

Self-abandontoGod'swill—theArkhadnorudderandwasdirectedsimplybythewillofGod.Marysaid,"Iamthe handmaidoftheLord,beitdonetomeaccordingtothyword."SheallowedherlifetobesteeredbyGod'sSpirit.

ThreeLevels—TheArkhadthreedecksorlevels.ThiscorrespondstoMary'suniquerelationshipwitheachmember oftheHolyTrinity.SheisthebeloveddaughteroftheEternalFather;sheistheMotherofJesus,theIncarnateLogos, andsheisthespouseoftheHolySpirit.

RefugeforAnimals—TheArkenclosednotonlyrighteousNoahandhisfamilybutlowlyanimalsaswell.Similarly, MarynotonlyhousedJesus,theSunofRighteousness,butsheisashelteringmotherforrepentantsinners.Aswill beexplainedfurtheron,Maryisthe"RefugeofSinners."

By the Spirit's Urge 

CriticsofaGlobalFloodandNoah'sArk,inparticular,citetheimpossibilityofNoahgatheringtheanimalsoftheEarth. Tohuntandtrapsomanycreaturesbogglesthemind.However,twomattersmadethetaskverysimpleforNoah.

Inthefirstcase,theanimalsandbirdscametotheArkoftheirownvolition.(Gen.6:20)Thisisunderstandable,as eveninourday,onehearsofanimalssensingdangerandseekingasaferlocation.Forexample,wholegroupsof animals,suchaselephantsandflamingossoughtsafetybeforethedeadlytsunamiof2004.Their"sixthsense"detecteddangerandurgedthemtoescape.

Secondly,evensecularscientistsacknowledgethattheEarthwasformerlyonemassivesupercontinent,knownas Pangea.Hence,thepre-FloodgeographyenabledanimalsfromlongdistancestocometotheArk.Therewasno needforthemarsupialsofAustralia,forexample,tomiraculouslytraversetheocean.Thelandwasone.

AsthewildcreaturesacceptedtheurgingsofGod'sSpiritandcameoftheirownaccord,sothesameSpiriturges soulstotakerefugeinMary'sHeartbeforethestormbreaks.Soulsgotohervolitionally,drawnbyloveandtrust. WhiletheimpendingdelugewillbeanexerciseofGod'sjustice,Hemercifullyprovidesasaferefugeaheadoftime.

Yet,thetimeofmercyislimited—onceNoahenteredtheArkunderGod'scommand,"theLordshuthimin."(Gen.7:16).Therainsbegansevendayslater.Inlikemanner,thewindowofopportunitytoenterMary'sHeartis limited;it'sbesttofindaspotbeforethestormbegins.

ADeluge of Fire?

Theforecastappearsominousindeed.Ifitweresomeisolatedprophecy,whoshouldbealarmed?Asitis,manyand diversemysticssaythesamething:GodintendstopurgetheEarthwithfireunlessitrepents.Thisfireisnotman- made,suchasfromanuclearholocaust,butsentdirectlyfromheaven.MysticsrefertoitastheChastisement.

Hereareonlyafewprophecies(fromamongmany)thatforetellthisevent.ThefollowingmessageisfromtheBlessed

VirgintotheItalianstigmatistandmystic,BlessedElenaAiello(1895-1961)

Atempestoffireshallfallupontheworld.Thisterriblescourge,neverbeforeseeninthehistoryof humanity,willlastseventyhours.Godlesspersonswillbecrushedandwipedout.(April16,1954)

FromtheapprovedapparitionsatAkita,Japan,comesthismessageoftheVirgintoSisterAgnesSasagawa:

Ifmandoesnotrepent,theHeavenlyFatherwillinflictapunishmentworsethantheDeluge,suchasone willneverhaveseenbefore.Firewillfallfromthesky,wipingoutagreatpartofhumanity,thegoodaswell asthebad,sparingneitherpriestnorfaithful(October13,1973).

"Agreatpartofhumanity?"BeforeonelosesconfidenceinGod,itiswelltorememberthatGod'sinfinitejusticeis temperedbymercy.AsinthedaysofNoah,Henowprovidesameansofescapebeforetroublecomes.Therefuge HehaspreparedisnothingotherthanthearkofMary'sHeart.But,howexactlydoesthishappen?Canshesaveus fromtheflames?Ifso,howcanoneenterintotheArkofherHeartandbesafe? 

"A tempest of fire shall fall upon the world."     | Source: Pixabay

Refuge of Sinners 

"HowcansomeoneasbrutishasIdwellinMary'sHeart?"Ifonefeelsunworthytodwellinsuchaholysanctuary,itis necessarytorecallthatMaryhasbeenveneratedthroughtheagesasthe"RefugeofSinners."JustasNoah'sArk shelteredanimals,soMaryprotectslowlysinners.

SaintGertrudeoncehadavisionofMarywithhermantlespreadopen.Wildbeasts,suchasleopards,lions,and bearswerehidingunderhermantle.GertrudesawthatnotonlydidtheBlessedMothernotdrivethemaway,butthat shereceivedthemcharitablyandcaressedthemwithherbenignhand.TheSaintunderstoodthatthesewildbeasts weremiserablesinners,whoarewelcomedbyMarywithsweetnessandlovethemomenttheyhaverecoursetoher.

HerHeartisopentoallandrefusesnone,assheexplainedtoSt.BridgetofSweden:

Howevermuchamanmayhavesinned,ifhereturnstomewithagenuineintentionofrepentance,I’m readyatoncetoreceivehim.Idon’tpayattentiontothesinswithwhichhe’sburdened,butonlytothegood dispositioninwhichhecomes.AndthenIdon’trefusetoanointandhealhiswounds,forIamcalled,and trulyam,theMotherofMercy.

Inthefollowingvideo,Fr.IgnatiusManfredonia,F.F.I.,explainsmoreofhowMaryistheMotherofMercy.

How Do We Enter TheArk of Mary's Heart?

Noah'sArkhadonedooronly.Thesafetyofthevesselwouldhavebeencompromisedotherwise.Inlikemanner,the singleentrywaytoMary'sHeartistheactofconsecrationtoher.Bythisactofentrustmentandthroughlivingit faithfully,apersonbecomesMary'sspecialproperty,hercargo,asitwere.However,astheanimalsascendedaramp beforeenteringtheark,soonemustpreparebeforeenteringthedoor.

TherampthatleadstoMary'sHeartismeditationandprayer.Simplybytakingthefirststep,oneprovesthe willingnesstoriseabovetheearth.Then,throughreadingandprayer,oneeasilyascendshigherandentersthedoor.

Bylivingtheconsecrationwithdevotion,oneadvancesandeventuallydwellsasinthewombofaship.Pleasenote: consecrationtoMaryalwaysendsinGod.ThisiswhytheGreekChurchcallsher,"Hodegitria,"or"shewhoknows theway."SheleadsthewaytoGod.

Nonetheless,toremaininMary'sHeartgoesbeyondrecitingaformula.Itinvolvesatransformationofone'svalues andwillingnesstoheedheradvice,asatFátima.Inpracticalterms,thismeansacquiringpurityofheartanddevotion, whichistheresultofpenanceandprayer.ThesedispositionsenableapersontoenterintotherecessesofherHeart andbesafe.

RemaininginMary'sHeartalsoimpliestheavoidanceofworldlinessanddissipation.AsJesushimselfindicates,the personsofNoah'sdaywerefocusedonworldlyconcerns:"InthedaysofNoah...Theyate,theydrank,theymarried, theyweregiveninmarriage,untilthedaywhenNoahenteredtheark,andthefloodcameanddestroyedthemall."(Luke17:27)

Is There Enough Room in Mary's Heart? 

WhileNoah'sArkwasvastenoughtoholdthetypesofanimalsweseetoday,spacewasstillacommodity.Notso

withMary—herHeartislargeenoughtogatherasmanysoulswhocometoher. AsPopeBenedictsays,"Mary,totally unitedtoGod,hasaheartsobigthatallcreationcanenterthisheart,andex-votosineverypartoftheworldshowit. Maryisclose,shecanhearus,shecanhelpus,sheisclosetoeveryoneofus."

InabeautifulvisionofBlessedElenaAiello,MaryrevealsthespaciousnessofherHeart.Shesays,

"MyHeartissobigforpoorsinnersandImakeuseofeverypossiblemeansthattheymaybesaved.Look atthismantle,howbigitis.IfIwerenotbentovertheearthtocoverallwithmymaternallove,thetempest offirewouldhavealreadybrokenuponthenationsoftheworld!"

BlessedElenaexclaimed,"MylovelyMother,neverbeforehaveIseentheewithsuchalargemantle."The BlessedVirgin,holdingherarmswide,answered:"Thisisthemantleofmercyforallthosewho,having repented,comebacktoMyImmaculateHeart.See?Therighthandholdsthemantletocoverandtosave poorsinners,whilewiththelefthand,IholdbacktheDivineJustice,sothatthetimeofMercymaystillbe prolonged."

Finally,St.AlphonsusLiguorinotes,"MaryhasbeencalledanarkmorespaciousthanthatofNoah.Foronlytwo animalsofeverykindwerebroughtintothearkofNoah.ButunderthemantleofMary,therighteousandsinnersall findtheirplace.

By AndyScott - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75718217

TheArk of Mary's Heart in the Messages to Fr. Stefano Gobbi

DonStefanoGobbi(1930-2011)wasanItalianpriestandfounderoftheinternationalMarianMovementofPriests.On apilgrimagetoFátimain1972,heunexpectedlystartedreceivinginterior"locutions,"orspokenmessages,fromthe VirginMary.Inconsultationwithhisspiritualdirector,hebeganwritingthesemessagesdownwhichoftenamplifyon themesfirstmentionedatFátima.Inseveralmessages,MaryurgesalltoseekrefugeinherHeart:

YoumustnowallenterrightawayintothesaferefugeofmyImmaculateHeart.JustasNoah,inthename oftheLord,calledintotheArkthosewhoweretobesavedfromtheFlood,sonowmustyou,mylittlestchild,inthenameofyourheavenlyMother,callintotherefugeofmyImmaculateHeartthosewhomustbe protected,defendedandsavedfromthegreattrialwhichhasnowcomefortheChurchandforallhumanity. (message489)

EnterintotheRefugewhichyourHeavenlyMotherhaspreparedforyou,foryoursalvationandthatyou maybeabletopassinsafety,inmyImmaculateHeart,theterribledaysofthegreattempestwhichis alreadyathand.

AtthetimeofNoah,immediatelybeforetheflood,thosewhomtheLordhaddestinedtosurvivehisterrible chastisemententeredintotheArk.Intheseyourtimes,Iaminvitingallmybelovedchildrentoenterintothe ArkoftheNewCovenantwhichIhavebuiltinmyImmaculateHeartforyou.(message328)

AStockpile of Trust 

Theprospectofaglobalconflagrationischillingindeed.Greattrustisnecessaryeventocopewiththethought.Just assomepeoplestockpileprovisionsduringuncertaintimes,itisofgreateradvantagetogatheralargereserveof trust.

Trustfulabandonkeepsonesafefromsinkingintodespair.TotrustthatMaryistheMotherofMercyandRefugeof SinnersisthetickettoclimbaboardGod'snewark.TheServantofGod,Fr.BartoloméXiberta,O.Carm.,putsitthis way,"TheimportantthingistoremainalwaysinaspiritoftrustfulreposeinthehandsoftheLordandofourBlessed Mothersothatsentimentsofanguishdonotdominateoursouls."

AfterNoah'sArkrestedonthemountainsofArarat,Godblessedthenewtimeswithpeace,symbolizedbythe rainbow.So,also,thefuturebeyondthecomingstormlooksbright.TheVirginsaidatFátima,Intheend,my ImmaculateHeartwilltriumph...andaperiodofpeacewillbegrantedtotheworld.

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A Simple Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: 

https://pearlbede.wordpress.com/2023/05/03/a-simple-act-of-consecration-to-the-immaculate-heart-of-mary/

References

ToThePriests,OurLady'sBelovedSons,17thEdition,publishedbyTheMarianMovementofPriests,1996

Anarticleonanimal's"sixthsense"

ThepropheciesofBlessedElenaAiello

ThepropheciesofOurLadyatAkita,Japan

TheGloriesofMarybySt.AlphonsusdeLiguori,publishedbyHeliconPress,Inc.,1963