POPE FRANCIS AND THE SYNOD ON THE FAMILY by Mario Pezzi

The complete text of the catechesis by Fr. Pezzi – in both written and oral versions, the latter with spontaneous comments from Kiko - is in the highly detailed account for the internal use of the “live-in.” But this summary is enough to grasp its importance.

It will not be easy for the proponents of innovation in the matter of Catholic marriage to ignore this powerful voice to the contrary.

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POPE FRANCIS AND THE SYNOD ON THE FAMILY

by Mario Pezzi


The famous and criticized report of Cardinal Kasper is in five points, and only one of them deals with communion for the divorced and remarried, all of the others deal with the traditional doctrine of the Church. The pope once said: I am surprised that the press talks only about one point, and does not talk about the others. This is why I invite you not to pay attention to what the newspapers and television say, because everyone is pressuring the pope to be open to the world. Don't fall for it. Many times Father Lombardi has had to respond to the misinterpretation and misuse of the pope’s words.

In this catechesis we will not address the most burning issues, we will leave those to the synod fathers and to the pope, but we will talk about gender ideology, about the Christian family in the light of divine revelation, and finally about “Humanae Vitae” by Paul VI, which has been highly contested and rejected but which Pope Francis has wanted to revive.


GENDER IDEOLOGY


Pope Benedict XVI, on the occasion of his Christmas greetings to the Roman Curia in 2012, made an historic discourse, affirming that today we find ourselves before an epochal change, similar to that which happened at the time of the fall of the Roman empire and the invasion of the barbarian peoples. There is a decline in the foundations of society, of Catholic civilization.

Pope John Paul II himself said at Fatima in 1982: “What was once considered sin has now acquired the right of citizenship."

There have been many attacks against the Christian family in history. The latest virulent attack is represented by so-called "gender ideology."

Powerful lobbies are imposing this ideology as a dictatorship. Among the philosophical roots that have generated this monster that is threatening our families, especially in the schools, is Marxism.

In Marx, the notion that the essence of man is that of being able to create himself is connected to the overcoming of sexual gender and the destruction of the family.

The debate over gender then moved above all to the United States, where the idea that there are two sexes has been completely left behind. Instead of two genders there became five: male, female, gay, lesbian, and transgender. But in keeping with the anti-naturalistic approach, since man can create himself, the figure of 17 genders has been reached. There are even some today who count 51: the more the merrier.

Gender theory also reveals its Gnostic origin. The enemy for gnosis is not sex in itself, but sex as procreative, because producing children means contributing to the creative work of the wicked god.

It has been discovered that radical feminism is intimately connected to satanic worship. When Pope Francis has been asked about this aggression, he has said: it is the fruit of the devil who wants to destroy.

The myth of the transcendence of gender is also found in the Gnostic formulations of Freemasonry, which, at the highest levels of initiation, has the worship of the devil depicted with androgynous characteristics.

Gender theory implies a complete anthropological redefinition of the human essence. Man's attempt to take the place of God.

It has its historical origins in the anti-procreation planning beginning in the 1960’s, with the propaganda for contraception and abortion and the campaign for the use of the RU-486 pill.

When the episcopal conference of the United States adopted the formula "family planning,” the Vatican intervened to have it changed. Because it's misleading. The Christian is not the one who plans.

What does the Church say about this gender ideology? Pope Benedict XVI has said it, citing chief rabbi of France Gilles Bernheim:

“Man calls his nature into question. The manipulation of nature, which we deplore today where our environment is concerned, now becomes man’s fundamental choice where he himself is concerned. From now on there is only the abstract human being, who chooses for himself what his nature is to be. Man and woman in their created state as complementary versions of what it means to be human are disputed. But if there is no pre-ordained duality of man and woman in creation, then neither is the family any longer a reality established by creation. Likewise, the child has lost the place he had occupied hitherto and the dignity pertaining to him. Bernheim shows that now, perforce, from being a subject of rights, the child has become an object to which people have a right and which they have a right to obtain. When the freedom to be creative becomes the freedom to create oneself, then necessarily the Maker himself is denied and ultimately man. The defence of the family is about man himself.”


THE FAMILY IN THE LIGHT OF DIVINE REVELATION


The apostolic exhortation “Familiaris Consortio,” written by Pope John Paul II at the end of the synod on the family in 1980, still remains relevant today. And so does that beautiful post-synodal apostolic exhortation “Sacramentum Caritatis” of Pope Benedict XVI, which says: “The Eucharist inexhaustibly strengthens the indissoluble unity and love of every Christian marriage.”

Because of this, marriage is indissoluble. Pope Francis has clearly said that he is not going to change the doctrine of the Church as they say or as they want to make him say, because what God has united man cannot separate. The Church does not have the power. The conjugal bond is intrinsically connected to the Eucharistic unity between Christ the bridegroom and the Church his bride, a love that has its culminating point in the Cross, the expression of his "wedding" with humanity and, at the same time, the origin and center of the Eucharist.

There is no love without the cross. So "making love," as young people say, is pure falsehood. This is not a matter of love but of concupiscence, of attraction, etc. This is why the Church asks that there be no relations before marriage, because one comes to a certain point at which one is no longer free. I remember that at the beginning of the Way one of us came to say that he had decided to leave his girlfriend. He told Kiko and Carmen that she had threatened to kill herself, and had already made three suicide attempts, and he asked: what should I do? Kiko and Carmen replied to him: tell her she can go ahead and kill herself, God will provide. He left her, she did not commit suicide, and today he is happily married. Blackmail is easy.


RELEVANCE OF “HUMANAE VITAE"


Thanks be to God, Pope Francis inserted “Humanae Vitae” into the pre-synodal questionnaire and asked what the people think about it. It emerged that very many know nothing about it, because the priests have never presented it to them, and many of those who know about it reject it. The only ones who appreciate it are those who make a journey of faith, of Christian initiation. This is the problem, in my view, with this synod: almost no one talks about the necessity of Christian initiation. They talk only about being present for couples, helping them, forming the teachers…

On July 25, 1968 Paul VI, beatified at the end of the synod, published the encyclical “Humanae Vitae” subsequent to the efforts undertaken along with the council fathers.

Here I will cite from a recently published book about that pope, very well documented, prepared by the Paul VI Institute based in Brescia, for the cause of beatification:

“How much mud was slung on that encyclical and on Paul VI by those who wanted to impose their own vision of a liberal-nihilistic world! A deliberate climate of tension had been created a year before, when in April 1967 a document was published by the pontifical commission that John XXIII had instituted in March 1963 and that Paul VI wanted to expand so that alongside the theologians, the composers of the text, there would be the voices of demographers, sociologists, economists, physicians, and a few married couples.

“That document, confidential by nature, was published simultaneously in Le Monde in France, in The Tablet in Great Britain, and in the National Catholic Reporter in the United States. There were clear signs of coordination by a single hand that wanted to present the document as the relation of the majority, maintaining that only four of the seventy members of the commission had criticized the text, something that turned out to be false."

Having created this expectation - as they are again creating it today by saying that Pope Francis will allow communion for the remarried - everyone was expecting Paul VI to approve contraceptives, the pill, to reduce the population. So when the pope gave the final word, that every conjugal act is unitive and procreative, open to life, there was a general scandal, not only in the secular world:

“There was equal incomprehension among many Catholics, including Cardinal Suenens and various famous theologians. To these were added, with words that were disconcerting for their toughness and hostility, eighty-seven theologians of the Catholic University of Washington, the episcopal conferences of Austria and Canada, as well as several thousand German Catholics.

“What is striking is the emphasis given by the mass media to those voices of dissent, compared with the very many endorsements that came from all over the Church and that were, if not silenced, not always correctly reported by the main media outlets. Paul VI did not allow himself to be drawn into the controversy or be overcome by dismay, but exerted himself in giving the correct explanation right away with the audience immediately following the publication of the encyclical, on July 31, when he reiterated that ‘Humanae Vitae’ did not enshrine a negative statement, but was intended to be ‘the positive presentation of conjugal morality for the sake of its mission of love and fecundity, in the light of an overall vision of man, of his earthly and eternal vocation.’”

Pope John Paul II made “Humanae Vitae” the focus of the last fourteen catecheses of his whole cycle on the theology of the body, in 1984.

As for Pope Francis, you know that a few Sundays ago he celebrated the marriage of twenty-four couples. I was very careful to listen to the formula that he used. Because in the ritual of marriage there is the first formula which is the one used by the pope, but there are also others that are not as explicit. It would be interesting to see which one the priests use. Because the first formula says: 

“Are you ready to accept with love the children that God may wish to give you, and to raise them according to the law of Christ and of his Church?”

“The children that God wishes to give you”: I don’t know if all priests say that.

[KIKO: All of this is fine when there are Christian people, but when the people are not Christian they couldn't care less less about all these things. Thanks to God you have listened to us catechists who have told you what the Church says and you have been humble and have not opposed our catechesis with ideas from the newspapers. Carmen once said to the pope, years ago: What is it all about, this obsession in favor of natural methods? It seems that the Church is thinking only about how to limit children. Because in the end this was the thinking, that the Catholic family should have two children, no more. Some even within the Church still have this idea. We said to those of Catholic Action: and afterward, what do you do? After you have two children, how do you continue the conjugal act? Do you use coitus interruptus? Do you use natural methods? Do you use the pill? Everywhere it has been preached that responsible parenthood means limiting births, and the number of children has been left to the conscience of the spouses. This has been preached everywhere. But did the pope say this? No! Responsible parenthood means accepting not to limit the number of children, it means accepting the plan of God. But no one has repeated these things the pope said. Thanks to God you have been saved because you have obeyed us. You have continued to believe that the conjugal act is an act of holiness, a true sacrament. We are happy to see that even our children and grandchildren follow us in this, they have children and they are happy].


THE REASON FOR THE “HONORIS CAUSA” DOCTORATE FOR KIKO


To conclude, I cite the doctorate “honoris causa” conferred on Kiko by the pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family.

In the “Laudatio Academica", Professor José Noriega presented the three reasons why the institute decided to give this recognition, we might say, to the Neocatechumenal Way:

1. “The rediscovery of the fecundity of Baptism for the life of the couple has had one of its most significant fruits in the rediscovery of the holiness of the conjugal act between the spouses. Seeing this as one of the places where God acts, the couples of the Way have wanted to live their love with a singular openness to life, knowing that they are collaborators with God in the generation of persons."

2. “At a time of crisis and disorientation on the part of many, the unreserved acceptance of the prophetic encyclical of Paul VI ‘Humanae Vitae’ on the part of the families of the Way has been an authentic testimony for the whole Church, showing that beyond our fears or difficulties it is possible to live what the Church points out as specific to the way of holiness of the couple."

3. “The families of the Neocatechumenal Way quickly understood and adopted a form of domestic liturgy. In this way the great mission of transmitting the faith to the children has found the proper setting for the testimony of the parents. In the context of a frightful secularization of ‘vast areas of the earth, where the faith is in danger of being extinguished like a flame that no longer has fuel,’ the Way has been able to ‘make God present in a singular form’: I am talking about the great testimony of the families on mission.”

Along the Neocatechumenal Way, in catechesis, we have told you that the family has, so to speak, three altars: the holy Eucharist, the nuptial bed, and the family table where the faith is passed on to the children.

It is good to emphasize that this “Laudatio” refers to all the families of the Neocatechumenal communities, and not only to the families on mission.

As for these latter, for more than thirty years they have been giving their lives often in heroic situations to bear witness to the love of God through their presence and apostolate, in which often their children are the first missionaries who draw the estranged to the Church.

In recent years the Lord has raised up among us the missions “ad gentes”: nuclear families with many children, accompanied and supported by a presbyter, an associate, and a few sisters, which constitute a point of attraction in completely pagan or dechristianized areas. A new form of evangelization for the secularized and pagan world of today.

Echoes of bang inside

Adios my joy of sorrow; Thanx for everything t'was more than a decade living with yo as i still can't believe that i survived in those years ;) and because of that almost all my dreams had been fulfilled (except one last click the remote control flying machine up above the sky but it seems ok since i also have the down under the sea:)

My life really changed a lot there where pains n joys, ups n down was revealed yet those were the beauty of them all. they were truly great blessing in disguises and of experiences. But one thing that really touch my whole being there is the great Encounter of the Divine... My communion with the Transcendence as the real presence of goodness or the most High and the Holy One. This for me is the most meaningful and wonderful manifestation of truth and beauty amidst the sufferings and sorrows within & without in that space and time. I witnessed a whole lot of courage and humility not to mention the stupidity n angers or impatience if not craziness.

Truly it was the contradicting joys of sorrows, success of failures or the paradox of it all ;) when i decided these out it went smoothly unexpectedly. never thought of a graceful exit but i'm not sure yet since there's still greater challenge ahead all these divine comedy, the medicine of laughter n joy ;)

thank u again. u'r embedded now not only in my soul but also in my mind or my being all of these memories. The problem is that words are not enough to express how i feel that's why we'll just make it as an abstract painting on these virtual or literal canvas ;) then this void will echo a small bang inside me to lighten up the darkness or tunnel. opening another window or door or page of ventures in order to pass through these wall of prison or this golden cage in order to complete the puzzle of true life and prove its real purpose.. Scary but that was how i started all of these beautiful adventures.. therefore this for sure is another joy - or all but another eternal presence of love!

MYSTICS OF THE CHURCH

Short stories of Purgatory -A remarkable collection of visits from the souls in Purgatory to various Saints and Mystics.

“I know when you pray for me, and it is the same with all of the other souls here in Purgatory. Very few of us here get any prayers; the majority of us are totally abandoned, with no thought or prayers offered for us from those on earth” (Message from a soul in Purgatory)

Over the years of studying the lives of the mystics of the Church I have amassed a large number of eye witness accounts from various books and manuscripts of the appearances of the souls in Purgatory to a number of persons-- a good number of these accounts are not widely known, so I thought it would make a very interesting study to compile a number of shorter accounts from a variety of sources for those interested in this subject.

St Padre Pio’s visions of the souls in Purgatory

In May, 1922, Padre Pio testified the following to the Bishop of Melfi, His Excellency Alberto Costa and also the superior of the friary, Padre Lorenzo of San Marco along with 5 other friars. One of the five friars, Fra Alberto D' Apolito of San Giovanni Rotondo wrote down the account as follows:

"While in the friary on a winter afternoon after a heavy snowfall, he was sitting by the fireplace one evening in the guest room, absorbed in prayer, when an old man, wearing an old-fashioned cloak still worn by southern Italian peasants at the time, sat down beside him. Concerning this man Pio states: ‘I could not imagine how he could have entered the friary at this time of night since all the doors are locked. I questioned him: 'Who are you? What do you want?'

The old man told him, "Padre Pio, I am Pietro Di Mauro, son of Nicola, nicknamed Precoco." He went on to say, "I died in this friary on the 18th of September, 1908, in cell number 4, when it was still a poorhouse. One night, while in bed, I fell asleep with a lighted cigar, which ignited the mattress and I died, suffocated and burned. I am still in Purgatory. I need a holy Mass in order to be freed. God permitted that I come and ask you for help." 

According to Padre Pio: "After listening to him, I replied, 'Rest assured that tomorrow I will celebrate Mass for your liberation.' I arose and accompanied him to the door of the friary, so that he could leave. I did not realize at that moment that the door was closed and locked: I opened it and bade him farewell The moon lit up the square, covered with snow. When I no longer saw him in front of me, I was taken by a sense of fear, and I closed the door, reentered the guest room, and felt faint.”

A few days later, Padre Pio also told the story to Padre Paolino, and the two decided to go to the town hall, where they looked at the vital statistics for the year I908 and found that on September 18 of that year, one Pietro Di Mauro had in fact died of burns and asphyxiation in Room Number 4 at the friary, then used as a home for the homeless. 

Around the same time, Padre Pio told Fra Alberto of another apparition of a soul from Purgatory which also occurred around the same time. He said: 

One evening, when I was absorbed in prayer in the choir of the little church I was shaken and disturbed by the sound of footsteps, and candles and flower vases being moved on the main altar. Thinking that someone must be there, I called out, "Who is it?" 

No one answered. Returning to prayer, I was again disturbed by the same noises. In fact, this time I had the impression that one of the candles, which was in front of the statue of Our Lady of Grace, had fallen. Wanting to see what was happening on the altar, I stood up, went close to the grate and saw, in the shadow of the light of the Tabernacle lamp, a young confrere doing some cleaning. I yelled out, "What are you doing in the dark?" The little friar answered, "I am cleaning." 

"You clean in the dark?" I asked. "Who are you?" 

The little friar said, ‘I am a Capuchin novice, who spends his time of Purgatory here. I am in need of prayers.’ and then he disappeared," 

Padre Pio stated that he immediately began praying for him as requested, and it is not known if he had any further dealings with this particular soul. However, in regards souls in Purgatory it is very interesting to note that later in life Padre Pio once said that ‘As many souls of the dead come up this road [to the monastery] as that of the souls of the living.” Without a doubt, many souls from Purgatory visited Padre Pio seeking his prayers, sacrifices and sufferings to obtain their release.

From the manuscript of Sister M. de L.C., written from 1874-1890

To get an idea of how Purgatory is arranged, we can get a good glimpse of it from a nun from France who had died on February 22, 1871 at the age of 36, and 2-1/2 years later (in November 1873) she began appearing from Purgatory to a fellow nun in her convent, named Sister M. de L.C (name kept anonymous in the manuscript to protect the nuns identity, as the manuscript was published while the nun was still living) as related in the booklet “An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory” published by The Reparation Society of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Inc., 2002:

“I can tell you about the different degrees of Purgatory because I have passed through them. In the great Purgatory there are several stages. In the lowest and most painful, it is like a temporary hell, and here there are the sinners who have committed terrible crimes during life and whose death surprised them in that state. It was almost a miracle that they were saved, and often by the prayers of holy parents or other pious persons. Sometimes they did not even have time to confess their sins and the world thought them lost, but God, whose mercy is infinite, gave them at the moment of death the contrition necessary for their salvation on account of one or more good actions which they performed during life. For such souls, Purgatory is terrible. It is a real hell with this difference, that in hell they curse God, whereas we bless Him and thank Him for having saved us. 

Next to these come the souls, who though they did not com¬mit great crimes like the others, were indifferent to God. They did not fulfill their Easter duties and were also converted at the point of death. Many were unable to receive Holy Communion. They are in Purgatory for the long years of indifference. They suffer unheard of pains and are abandoned either without prayers or if they are said for them, they are not allowed to profit by them. There are in this stage of Purgatory religious of both sexes, who were tepid, neglectful of their duties, indifferent towards Jesus, also priests who did not exercise their sacred ministry with the reverence due to the Sovereign Majesty and who did not instill the love of God sufficiently into the souls confided to their care. I was in this stage of Purgatory. 

In the second Purgatory are the souls of those who died with venial sins not fully expiated before death, or with mortal sins that have been forgiven but for which they have not made entire satisfaction to the Divine Justice. In this part of Purgatory, there are also different degrees according to the merits of each soul. 

Thus the Purgatory of the consecrated souls or of those who have received more abundant graces, is longer and far more painful than that of ordinary people of the world. 

Lastly, there is the Purgatory of desire which is called the Threshold. Very few escape this. To avoid it altogether, one must ardently desire Heaven and the vision of God. That is rare, rarer than people think, because even pious people are afraid of God and have not, therefore, a sufficiently strong desire of going to Heaven. This Purgatory has its very painful martyrdom like the others. The deprivation of the sight of our loving Jesus adds to the intense suffering.” 

Another explanation of the levels in Purgatory from this same book:

Retreat, August 1878: “Great sinners who were indifferent towards God, and religious who were not what they should have been are in the lowest stage of Purgatory. While they are there, the prayers offered up for them are not applied to them. Because they have ignored God during their life, He now in His turn leaves them abandoned in order that they may repair their neglectful and worthless lives. While on earth one truly cannot picture or imagine what God really is, but we (in Purgatory) know and understand Him for what He is, because our souls are freed from all the ties that fettered them and prevented them from realizing the holiness and majesty of God and His great mercy. We are martyrs, consumed as it were by love. An irresistible force draws us towards God who is our center, but at the same time another force thrusts us back to our place of expiation. 

We are in the state of being unable to satisfy our longings. Oh, what a suffering that is, but we desire it and there is no murmuring against God here. We desire only what God wants. You on earth, however, cannot possibly understand what we have to endure. I am much relieved as I am no longer in the fire. I have now only the insatiable desire to see God, a suffering cruel enough indeed, but I feel that the end of my exile is at hand and that I am soon to leave this place where I long for God with all my heart. I know it well, I feel more at ease, but I cannot tell you the day or the hour of my release. God alone knows that. It may be that I have still many years of longing for Heaven. Continue to pray; I will repay you later on, though I do pray a great deal for you now.” 

Why is it that I pray for you with less fervor than I pray for others and that often I forget to recommend you? 

Do not trouble yourself about that. It is a punishment for me. 

Even if you prayed more I should not be any the more relieved. God wills it thus. If He wants you to pray more He will inspire you to do so. I repeat again, do not be worried about me. You will never see me in my sufferings. Later on, when your soul is stronger, you will see souls in Purgatory and very awful ones, but let this not frighten you. God will then give you the neces¬sary courage and all that you need to accomplish His holy will. 

Is this not a punishment? 

No, certainly not, I am here for my relief and for your sanctification. If you would but pay a little more attention to what I say. 

That is true but these happenings are so extraordinary that I do not know what to make of them; it is not an ordinary thing to hear you in this way. 

I understand well your difficulty and I am aware of your sufferings on this account. However, if God wishes it and it relieves me, you will have pity on me, will you not? When I am released you will see that I will do far more for you than you have ever done for me. I already pray much for you.

Where is Sister --?

In the lowest Purgatory, where she receives no benefit from anyone's prayers. God is often displeased, if one may speak thus, when many religious come to die, because He has called these souls to Himself that they might serve Him faithfully on earth and go straight to Heaven at the moment of death, but because of their infidelity, they have to stay long in Purgatory - far longer than people in the world who have not had so many graces.

1879, Retreat in September. We see St. Michael as we see the angels. He has no body. He comes to get the souls that have finished their purification. It is he who conducts them to Heaven. He is among the Seraphim as Monsignor said. He is the highest angel in Heaven. Our own Guardian Angels come to see us but St. Michael is far more beautiful than they are. As to the Blessed Virgin, we see her in the body. She comes to Purgatory on her feasts and she goes back to Heaven with many souls. While she is with us we do not suffer. St. Michael accompanies her. When he comes alone, we suffer as usual. When I spoke to you of the great and the second Purgatory, it was to try to make you understand that there are different stages in Purgatory. Thus I call that stage of Purgatory “great” or “worst” where the most guilty souls are, and where I stayed for two years without being able to give a sign of the torments I was suffering. The year when you heard me groaning, when I began to speak to you, I was still in the same place.

In the second Purgatory, which is still Purgatory but very different from the first, one suffers a great deal, but less than in the great place of expiation. Then there is a third stage, which is the Purgatory of desire, where there is no fire. The souls who did not desire Heaven ardently enough, who did not love God suf¬ficiently, are there. It is there that I am at this moment. Further, in these three parts of Purgatory, there are many degrees of vari¬ation. Little by little, as the soul becomes purified, her sufferings are changed.

You sometimes say to me that the perfecting of a soul is a long process and you are also astonished that after so many prayers, I am so long deprived of the sight of God. Alas, the perfecting of a soul does not take any less time in Purgatory than upon earth. There are a number of souls, but they are very few, who have only a few venial sins to expiate. These do not stay long in Purgatory. A few well-said prayers, a few sacrifices soon deliver them. But when there are souls like mine - and that is nearly all whose lives have been so empty and who paid little or no attention to their salvation - then their whole life has to be begun over again in this place of expiation. The soul has to perfect itself and love and desire Him, whom it did not love sufficiently on earth. This is the reason why the deliverance of some souls is delayed. God has given me a very great grace in allowing me to ask for prayers. I did not deserve it, but without this I would have remained like most of those here, for years and years more.”

The immense power of the Mass for the souls in Purgatory

Next, from the excellent book “Purgatory –Explained by the Lives and Legends of the Saints” by Father F.X. Schouppe, S.J., Tan Books, 1986 we read the following accounts which highlight the power and importance of offering holy Masses for the departed. The following is a sincere testimony from the person who experienced several visits from a soul in purgatory, and thus she provides a detailed and frank eye-witness account with regard to the facts: 

On October 13, 1849, there died at the age of fifty-two, in the parish of Ardoye, in Flanders, a woman named Eugenie Van de Kerckove, whose husband, John Wybo, was a farmer. She was a pious and charitable woman who generously gave to charity in proportionate to her means. She had, to the end of her life, a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and abstained from meat in her honor on the Friday and Saturday of each week. Although her conduct was not free from certain faults, she otherwise led a exemplary and edifying life. 

Eugenie had a servant named Barbara Vennecke, aged twenty-eight, who was known as a virtuous and devoted girl, and who had assisted her mistress in her last sickness, and after Eugenie’s death, she continued to serve her master, John Wybo, the widower of Eugenie. 

About three weeks after her death, the deceased appeared to her servant under circumstances which we will now relate. It was in the middle of the night; Barbara slept soundly, when she heard herself called distinctly three times by her name. She awoke with a start, and saw Eugenie before her, sitting on the side of her bed, clad in a working dress, consisting of a skirt and short jacket. At this remarkable sight, Barbara was seized with astonishment. The apparition spoke to her: “Barbara," she said, simply pronouncing her name. “What do you desire, Eugenie?" replied the servant. 

Power of the Mass for souls in Purgatory

‘Please take," said the mistress, “the little rake which I often told you to put in its place; stir the heap of sand in the little room; you know to which one I refer. You will find there 500 franks; use it to have Masses said, two francs for each Mass, for my intention, for I am still suffering." “I will do so, Eugenie," replied Barbara, and at the same moment the apparition vanished. After awhile she fell asleep again, and reposed quietly until morning: 

On awaking, Barbara thought that maybe it was all just a dream, but yet she had been so deeply impressed, so wide awake, she had seen her old mistress in a form so distinct, so full of life and she had received from her lips such precise directions, that she could not help saying, “This cannot have been a dream. I saw my mistress in person; she presented herself to my eyes and she surely spoke to me. It is no dream, but a reality." 

She therefore immediately went and took the rake as directed, stirred the sand, and drew out a purse containing the sum of five hundred francs. 

In such strange and extraordinary circumstances the good girl thought it her duty to seek the advice of her pastor before spending the 500 francs on having Masses said, and went to relate to him all that had happened. The venerable Abbe R., then parish priest of Ardoye, replied that the Masses asked by the departed soul absolutely must be celebrated, but, in order to dispose of the sum of money, the consent of the husband, John Wybo, was necessary, since the money was found in his house. The latter willingly consented that the money should be employed for so holy a purpose, and the Masses were celebrated, being given two francs for each Mass. 

We call attention to the circumstance of the Mass donations, because it corresponded with the pious cus¬tom of the deceased. The fee for a Mass fixed by the diocese at that time was a franc and a half, but during her lifetime Eugenie-through consideration and charity for the clergy, many of whom were quite poor- always gave two francs for each Mass that she made offerings for. Thus the extra 1/2 a frank Mass offering that she normally made was an act of charity and additional financial support for the priests who celebrated them. 

Two months after the first apparition, while Masses were still being said for Eugenie’s intentions, Barbara was again awakened during the night. This time her chamber was illuminated with a bright light, and her mistress appeared before her with a radiant smile, beautiful and fresh in appearance as in the days of her youth, and was dressed in a robe of dazzling whiteness—“Barbara," she said in a clear voice, “I thank you! For I am now delivered from the place of purification.' Saying these words, she disappeared, and the chamber became dark as before. 

The servant, amazed at what she had just seen, was full of joy, and she soon spread the remarkable story to everyone about the town . This apparition made the most lively impression upon her mind, and she pre¬serves to this day the most consoling remembrance of it. It is from her that we have these details, through the favor of the venerable Abbe L., who was curate at Ardoye when these facts occurred. 

This is but one of the many stories in regards to the power and efficacy of the Holy Mass wherein the Son of God Himself offers Himself upon the altar for the forgiveness of our sins, for it is a fact that of all that we can do in favor of the souls in Purgatory, there is nothing more powerful and precious than the offering of immolation of our Divine Saviour upon the altar. Besides being the express doctrine of the Church as manifested in her Councils, there are many mirac¬ulous facts, properly authenticated, which leave no room for doubt in regard to this point. 

In evidence to this we now provide another incident, related by the historian Ferdinand of Castile. From 1324-1327 there was at Cologne two Dominican Religious of distinguished talent, one of whom was Blessed Henry Suso (1295-1366). They shared the same studies, the same kind of life, and above all the same desire for sanctity, which had caused them to form an close friendship. 

When they had finished their studies, seeing that they were about to be separated to return each one to his own convent, they agreed and promised one another that the first of the two who should die should be assisted by the other for a whole year by the celebration of two Masses each week--on Monday a Mass of Requiem, as was customary, and on Friday that of the Passion, in so far as the Rubrics would permit. They promised each other that they would do this, gave each other the kiss of peace, and left Cologne. 

For several years they both continued to serve God with the most edifying fervor. The priest religious whose name is not mentioned was the first to be called away, and Father Suso received the news with sentiments of resignation to the Divine will. As to the contract they had made, time had caused him to forget it. However, he prayed much for his friend, imposing new penances upon himself and many other good works, but he did not think of offering the Masses which he had promised a number of years previously. 

One morning, while meditating in retirement in the chapel, he suddenly saw appear before him the soul of his departed friend, who, regarding him with tenderness, reproached him with having been unfaithful to his word from which he had a perfect right to rely upon with confidence. Blessed Suso, surprised, excused his forgetfulness by relating the many prayers and mortifications which he had offered, and still continued to offer, for his friend, whose salvation was as dear to him as his own. 

"Is it possible, my dear brother;' he added, "that so many prayers and good works which I have of¬fered to God do not suffice for you?" "Oh no," dear brother, replied the suffering soul, "these are not yet sufficient. It is the Blood of Jesus Christ that is needed to extinguish the flames by which I am consumed; it is the Holy Sacrifice which will deliver me from these frightful torments. I implore you to keep your word, and refuse me not that which in justice you owe me." 

Blessed Suso hastened to respond to the appeal of the suffering soul; he contacted as many priests as possible and urged them to say Masses for his friends intentions and, to repair his fault, he celebrated, and caused to be celebrated, a large number of Masses that very same day. On the following day several priests, at the request of Father Suso, united with him in offering the Holy Sacrifice for the deceased, and he continued his act of charity for several days. 

After a short time the priest friend of Suso again appeared to him, but now in a very different condition; his countenance was joyful, and he was surrounded with beautiful light. "Thanks be to you, my dear friend” he said “behold, by the Blood of my Saviour I am delivered from my sufferings. I am now going to Heaven to contemplate Him whom we so often adored together under the Eucharistic veil." 

Afterwards, Blessed Suso prostrated himself to ‘thank the God of infinite mercy, because he now understood more than ever the inestimable value of the Mass.’ 

Eugenie von der Leyen

Modern apparitions to Eugenie von der Leyen (1867-1929)

As to Saints and Blesseds, so far we have shared stories from St Padre Pio and Blessed Henry Suso. But there are many more canonized Saints who have been great helpers of the suffering souls. The most well known and recognized are St John Macias (who was known to have released literally thousands of souls from Purgatory during his holy lifetime), St. Augustine, St. Dom¬inic, St. Francis Xavier, St. Victor, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Nicolas of Tolentino, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Catherine of Genoa, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Gregory the Great, St. Odilon of Cluny, St. Francesca Romana, St. Bridget of Sweden, St. Ambrose, St. Bonaventure, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Efraim, St. Peter Damian, St. Francis de Sales, St. Catherine of Genoa, and in modern times the recently canon¬ized saints Gemma Galgani, St. Padre Pio, and St Faustina Kowalska, to name but a few.

Since many of the stories of Purgatory from the above mentioned Saints are well known, the emphasis here is to provide the lesser known and nonetheless fascinating stories from sources and individuals not widely known or read, because in His infinite mercy, history is full of “everyday” persons whom on occasion God has permitted to assist the souls in Purgatory. I will say however that the one notable thing about such occurrences is that seers of souls from Purgatory are often reported to be especially good and pious persons, which is logical, for God permits a soul to appear so that it can be released from Pur¬gatory, or at least, that its suffering be greatly lessened, and a pious, compassionate person is more likely to respond to its requests by the offering of fervent sacrifices, sufferings and prayers which are the means which help the poor souls. In other words, such souls are “saintly” persons, without of course ever becoming canonized Saints.

One such soul is Eugenie von der Leyen (1867-1929) who kept a diary of the appearances of the souls in Purgatory to her. Eugenie was a well educated woman of high German nobility; in fact Eugenie bore the title of princess and lived in the ancestral castle at Waal, Bavaria, Germany. By order of her confessor, she kept diary of her contacts with the poor souls, which after her death was handed over to Bishop Eugenio Pacelli, who later became Pope Pius XII.

The Shepherd named Fritz –From the diary of Eugenie von der Leyen, 1923.

June 11, 1923. At awakening, a long grayish form over me, completely nebulous; I can't say whether man or woman, but unsym¬pathetic; I am very frightened. 

June 14. The phantom was already in my room when I wanted to sleep. Then I said my evening-prayer aloud, during which it came very near to me. If it hadn't been for his arms, it rather would seem a walking tree-trunk. It stayed perhaps twenty minutes, then came back at four o'clock. 

June 16. It was very bad. It shook my shoulder. That is a horrible moment. I struck him and said: "You may not touch me!" Where¬upon it withdrew in a corner. At my push, I didn't feel a body, it was like a humid, warm towel. I believed I couldn't stand such terror any longer. 

June 18. Again this horrible thing; it wanted to clasp my neck. I prayed in fear and took the particle of the Cross [a holy relic she possessed] in my hand. Then it remained with me, staying upright and big before me. It didn't answer questions." then it went out through the door, which it left open. 

June 19. I can recognize now that it is a man; he was only there for a short while.

June 21. The horrible man more than an hour during the night, went back and forth continuously. He has disheveled black hair and horrific eyes. 

June 22. This man from one o'clock until past five with me, it was very bad. He repeatedly bowed over me and sat down at my bedside. I really wept for fear, then prayed the "hours" so that I didn't need to see him. Then he went again back and forth and moaned horribly. Now it seems to me I must know him, however I cannot find out who it is. I have become very cowardly, for many times it is really a decision for me to go to my room in the evening. Yet ordinarily I am able to fall asleep very well. 

June 24. He came back, seized me at my shoulder. I said: "Now tell me what you want and then don't come back." 

No answer; he went again through the room a couple of times and then was gone. My rest however was completely destroyed. At six in the morning he came back. In daylight he even looks more horrific, makes a disgusting impression, belongs to the dirtiest category of ghosts who have already come. I said: "Don't disturb me, I want to prepare myself for holy Communion!" Then he drew very near to me and lifted his hands imploringly. I was so sorry for him that I promised him a lot. Then I said: "Can't you speak?" Whereupon he shook his head. "Do you have much to suffer?" Now he moaned terribly. I gave him much holy water" and then he was gone. 

June 27. He was there again, in the night. Seems to know me; I racked my brains as to who he might be. He is very unsympathetic.? 

June 29. He was again in the room when I went to bed. It could be the murdered shepherd Fritz. I asked him at once, but he didn't react. I prayed with him, during which he fixed his eyes on me so angrily that I was really frightened. I asked him to go and then he went indeed. 

June 30. He came very briefly; his moaning waked me up. 

July 1. Again, I really believe it is shepherd Fritz. However his face is so black that I have difficulty recognizing him. But figure, nose, and eyes are wholly "he," as I saw him so many times in life. 

July 2. He came back, didn't look so terribly wild anymore and stayed not for a long time. I addressed him as "shepherd Fritz," which he apparently found quite natural. 

July 3. He came very briefly. I asked: ''Are you the murdered shepherd Fritz?" Then he said distinctly: "Yes!" 

July 4. He came to me in the morning, looked sadly at me and went away soon, answered nothing, too. 

July 5. Now it struck me that everything about him is clearer. During prayer, he made the Sign of the Cross. 

July 6. I am very happy for he can speak now. I asked him: "Why do you always come to me?" He: "Because you have always prayed for me." (That is right, for I had always been sorry for the poor fellow; he always looked so particular, even as a boy.) I: "Then what saved you?" He: "Insight and repentance." I: "Weren't you dead immediately?" He: "No." I: "Will you be released soon?" He: "Not by far." Then I gave him permission to continue coming to me, if it does him well. How remarkable it is, that someone who was so rude in life speaks like that when separated from his body. Now I am not frightened by him anymore, and would like to help him as best I can. How merciful is the good Lord! 

July 8. He came very briefly. 

July 9. He came at 6:00am and by doing so woke me up. Otherwise I had overslept. I: "Is it so important for you that I go to holy Mass?" He:"That way, you can help me a lot."

July 11. Only came very briefly. 

July 12. We prayed together," then I: "Then what do you have to suffer?" He: "I am burning!" Then he came up to me and before I could defend myself, he pressed a finger on my hand. I was frightened so much and it hurt me so much, that I screamed. Now I have a red burn which I hope will heal soon. It is a very strange feeling, to have this visible mark from the other world.

July 24. Shepherd Fritz and the other one came two times in the night, all silent, but [the new one] not very pleasant. 

July 29. Nothing special to mention. Now these two are coming every night. The new one looks horrible, while shepherd Fritz becomes ever more bright!! 

August 10. Shepherd Fritz drew so near to me again, but looked very friendly. So I said to him, "Don't you have to suffer so much anymore?" He: "No." and I: "Can you pray for me yet?" He: "No." and I: "Where are you then all the time?" He: "In the forlornness." I: "Will you still come often to me?" He: "No." and I: "Why not?" He: "I am not allowed to any more!" and I: "Have I been able to help you?" He: "Yes." Then he was gone…. 

To close this remarkable account, Father Sebastian Wieser, Eugenie's parish priest and confessor, comments: 

“The behavior of this apparition is like the echo of his earthly life. I have known shepherd Fritz well -he was like a "billygoat" in the parish. In him, the greatness of the mercy of God really manifests itself. Rarely did he come to church. He had an only son, who in school became well known for his meanness, falsehood, and deceptions and caused many troubles to his teachers and those in authority over him. When the boy had to be punished at school, the father pulled out all the stops of his indignation over the schoolmaster and priest. I prophesied at that time that someday the father himself would get a beating from this only son! 

When this son was seventeen years old and was big and quite strong, he beat his father to death at around midnight .... Nobody knew if Fritz was dead immediately or if he came to for a moment. The latter seems to have been the case. The murderer had knocked him down in the hay-barn and abandoned him to his fate. Only in the morning was the dead man discovered ....On the sixth of July he states that: "…insight and repentance" have saved him from damnation! On the twelfth day of July he says, "I am burning!" and presses a finger on the hand of the princess, which leaves a red burn which I have seen myself.” –Father Sebastian Wieser

Another modern account: St Gemma Galgani obtains the relief of a soul in Purgatory

The final account in this article will go to the webmasters favorite Saint: St Gemma Galgani (1878-1903). It is taken from the excellent book“The Life of St Gemma Galgani” by Venerable Father Germanus Ruoppolo C.P.:

"Gemma knew by Divine inspiration that in the Convent of Passionist Nuns at Corneto [Italy] there was a Religious Sister very dear to God who was near death. She asked me about it, and on my answering that it was so, she at once began to implore of Jesus to make that particular Religious expiate all her faults on her deathbed, so that breathing her last she might enter Paradise at once. Her prayer, at least in part, was heard. The Sister suffered greatly and died in a few months. Gemma told those in her home of it in order that they might pray for the deceased, and she gave her name, Maria Teresa of the Infant Jesus, as she was not known in Lucca. After her death, this soul appeared to her full of sorrow, imploring her help as she was undergoing great torments in Purgatory for certain defects.

Nothing more was needed to set all the fibers of Gemma's heart in motion. From that moment she gave herself no rest: she fervently offered prayers, tears and loving petitions to Our Lord.

"Jesus, save her," she was overheard to exclaim. "Jesus, take Maria Teresa to Paradise without delay. She is a soul that is most dear to Thee. Let me suffer much for her; I want her to be in heaven." 

And during this time Gemma writes the following in her Diary:

"It was around 9:30 and I was reading; all of a sudden I am shaken by a hand resting gently on my left shoulder. I turn in fright; I was afraid and tried to call out, but I was held back. I turned and saw a person dressed in white; I recognized it was a woman; I looked and her expression assured me I had nothing to fear: "Gemma," she said after some moments, "do you know me?" I said no, because that was the truth; she responded: "I am Mother Maria Teresa of the Infant Jesus: I thank you so very much for the great concern you have shown me because soon I shall be able to attain my eternal happiness."

 

The extraordinary mystic, St Gemma Galgani

All this happened while I was awake and fully aware of myself. Then she added: "Continue still, because I still have a few days of suffering." And in so saying she caressed me and then went away. Her countenance, I must say, inspired much confidence in me. From that hour I redoubled my prayers for her soul, so that soon she should reach her objective; but my prayers are too weak; how I wish that for the souls in Purgatory my prayers should have the strength of the saints'."

And the dear victim of expiation suffered without ceasing for sixteen days, at the end of which God was pleased to accept her sacrifice and to release that soul. This is how Gemma herself told me of it:

“Toward half-past one it seemed to me that the Blessed Mother herself came to tell me that the holy hour I was making was drawing to an end. Then almost immediately I thought I saw Sr. Maria Teresa coming toward me clad as a Passionist, accompanied by her Guardian Angel and by Jesus. Oh, how she was changed since the day I first saw her! Smiling, she drew close to me and said: "I am truly happy, and I go to enjoy my Jesus forever." She thanked me again. Then she made sign of bidding me good-bye with her hand, several times, and with Jesus and her Guardian Angel she flew to Heaven. It was about half-past two o'clock in the morning.”

So You Want to Be a Saint — Secrets of Success

Today on the feast of All Saints, Pope Francis revealed the secrets to holiness, saying it’s not some rare “privilege for the few,” but an inheritance everyone receives at baptism.

“Saints aren’t superheroes nor were they born perfect. They are like us, each one of us,” just that when they experienced the life-changing encounter with God,” they never left his side, the pope said during today’s Angelus address.

Pope Francis essentially gave a road-map today for how to follow this path to holiness. The path “has a name and a face,” he said. “It’s the face of Jesus Christ. He teaches us to become saints.”

So You Want to Be a Saint — Secrets of Success:

• Experience God’s love.

• Follow God with your whole heart, without compromise, without hypocrisy.

• Spend your life serving others.
  

  A volunteer distributes food at the Bank of the Poor in Valencia, Spain, June 12, 2012. According to Caritas Internationalis, more than 11 million people live under the edge of poverty in Spain. ( CNS photo/Heino Kalis, Reuters)

• Bear suffering and adversity without hating. “Saints never hated,” the pope said, because love comes from God and hate comes from the devil. “Saints kept far away from the devil.”

• Respond to evil with goodness.

• Have a joyous heart and spread joy and peace to others.

• Pray.

• Follow the path of the Beatitudes (Mt. 5: 3-12).

• Don’t derive your sense of security from things, but from God’s love.

• Have a simple, humble heart.

• Don’t assume you are righteous.

• Don’t judge others.
  

  Daughter of Charity Sister Sophie Boueri comforts a Palestinian child at a creche for abandoned children in Bethlehem, West Bank, Sept. 22, 2010. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

• Know how to suffer with those who suffer and rejoice with those who rejoice.

• Don’t be violent. Be merciful.

• Seek to be builders of reconciliation and peace. “Always help reconcile people and always help to bring peace.”

The pope said the path God shows us to holiness “is beautiful, it’s a beautiful journey!”

And along this journey, the pope said, the saints are on the sidelines encouraging everyone to not be afraid.

“Don’t be afraid to go against the current or to be misunderstood and derided when we speak about (Jesus) and the Gospels.”

The saints’ message to people today is “trust in the Lord because he never disappoints. He is a good friend, always by our side.”

counsel

There were many things that bothered my mind or even my own justification of the events. What are the reasons behind all these? Beyond my immeasurable quests that I seek for answers but only giving me sign which I'm not sure if they’re good or bad? Then I beg for counsel… what’s really happening at this stage of my journey called life? :)

There were many, I may call special encounters that’s affecting me deeply or even causes some confusion within and without. Are they another unending quest that’s asking for more concrete and meaningful signal? Or just part of my discouragement called “original sin”? or could this be my own temptations or worst done by other principalities around that roars silently like lions and sharks and taking advantage of the weaknesses and pit-holes inside out? These wounds of helplessness that are killing me softly like helpless devotions… are there escapes from all of these entanglement?

Desiderata

Desiderata - Words for Life by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

THE GENTLE ART OF BLESSING

THE GENTLE ART OF BLESSING

by Pierre Pradervand 

On awakening, bless this day, for it is already full of unseen good which your blessings will call forth; for to bless is to acknowledge the unlimited good that is embedded in the very texture of the universe and awaiting each and all.

On passing people in the street, on the bus, in places of work and play, bless them. The peace of your blessing will accompany them on their way and the aura of its gentle fragrance will be a light to their path.

On meeting and talking to people, bless them in their health, their work, their joy, their relationships to God, themselves, and others. Bless them in their abundance, their finances...bless them in every conceivable way, for such blessings not only sow seeds of healing but one day will spring forth as flowers of joy in the waste places of your own life.

As you walk, bless the city in which you live, its government and teachers, its nurses and streetsweepers, its children and bankers, its priests and prostitutes. The minute anyone expresses the least aggression or unkindness to you, respond with a blessing: bless them totally, sincerely, joyfully, for such blessings are a shield which protects them from the ignorance of their misdeed, and deflects the arrow that was aimed at you.

To bless means to wish, unconditionally, total, unrestricted good for others and events from the deepest wellspring in the innermost chamber of your heart: it means to hallow, to hold in reverence, to behold with utter awe that which is always a gift from the Creator. He who is hallowed by your blessing is set aside, consecrated, holy, whole. To bless is yet to invoke divine care upon, to think or speak gratefully for, to confer happiness upon - although we ourselves are never the bestower, but simply the joyfull witnesses of Life's abundance.

To bless all without discrimination of any sort is the ultimate form of giving, because those you bless will never kmow from whence came the sudden ray of sun that burst through the clouds of their skies, and you will rarely be a witness to the sunlight in their lives.

When something goes completely askew in your day, some unexpected event knocks down your plans and you too also, burst into blessing: for life is teaching you a lesson, and the very event you believe to be unwanted, you yourself called forth, so as to learn the lesson you might balk against were you not to bless it. Trials are blessings in disguise, and hosts of angels follow in their path.

To bless is to acknowledge the omnipresent, universal beauty hidden to material eyes; it is to activate that law of attraction which, from the furthest reaches of the universe, will bring into your life exactly what you need to experience and enjoy.

When you pass a prison, mentally bless its inmates in their innocence and freedom, their gentleness, pure essence and unconditional forgiveness; for one can only be prisoner of one's self-image, and a free man can walk unshackled in the courtyard of a jail, just as citizens of countries where freedom reigns can be prisoners when fear lurks in their thoughts.

When you pass a hospital, bless its patients in their present wholeness, for even in their suffering, this wholeness awaits in them to be discovered. When your eyes behold a man in tears, or seemingly broken by life, bless him in his vitality and joy: for the material senses present but the inverted image of the ultimate splendor and perfection which only the inner eye beholds.

It is impossible to bless and to judge at the same time. So hold constantly as a deep, hallowed, intoned thought that desire to bless, for truly then shall you become a peacemaker, and one day you shall, everywhere, behold the very face of God.

possibilities too

power to the communities...

everything posted in the group/s of culion
are of helpful in many different ways
and in unique revelations
that really make us grow
and know each other well
and that is the beauty of it all!
we don't have to be closed doors
when something different or unique
or not compatible with what
we perceived
we encounter along the way
and shoot our minds & hearts.
we need to be open in a
possibly 4 doors in our life...
the door that we know that others don't know
the door that we don't know but others know
the door that we both know and
the door that only God knows...
the danger is the door that sometimes
we forcefully want to open that is not for us
or the one we don't want to open
there lies the borderline...
it's either we don't want to
open and close ourselves
or we want to open it by force
even hurting others & ourselves...
drawing between the lines
of egoism & altruism
of vices & virtues.
no my point here is we all want to grow
everything we do here will
determined our identity
as how we build ourselves
how we matured
especially in the image
that really reflects life
not illusions and confusions...
we encounter many obstacles
within & without
and we will find ways
of managing them
that will make our journey
peacefully even in the midst
of storms or conflicts
and nothing can stop us
this is what we are trying to define
this is what we want to understand
that's why
we need to move & to grow
not to become stagnant...
and one biggest challenge is the
definition of basin vs ppa
and the real objectives of this collective force
one of this is the true spirit of culion
and conquer all our gaps..
then we'll all be in peace.
all become one

we have to draw between the lines now

give us your share then...
seriously or not we need to be solid first.

or tell us what confuses 'us'?

by all means we have to grow...
we'll continue to learn
because the only constant (that never change:)
is change.

smile

"power to the people"