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domingo, 18 de outubro de 2015

FATHER GINO, APOSTLE OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA

FATHER GINO, APOSTLE OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA


In Italy there now lives a brother of the Congregation of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, who has helped many people to know how to apply the Message of Fatima in their lives in the Twentieth Century. His name is Brother Gino, and in the following article we quote him many times when he talks about living the Message of Fatima. In addition to the edifying effect of his spiritual counsels and the example of his holy life, God seems to be teaching us another thing through the special gifts He has given this brother.
People who have a knowledge of theology and who have known Brother Gino agree that God has a special purpose for giving us this Brother in the Twentieth Century. One of the signs of the times today is the prevalence of atheism and materialism, where people live as though there were no God and where at times it seems whole nations forget that there is a God Who created all things and to Whom we are answerable for what we do. By giving to the Church in the Twentieth Century such a holy man, God seems to be showing us that Christ is real, the Catholic Faith is real, and that Christ is still with us. God hasn't forgotten us even though so many of us forget Him.
Brother Gino has a great devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, and he has built a large shrine in Her honor at San Vittorino, near Rome, Italy. He sees the importance of the Fatima Message in our times, and explains (as Pope John Paul II says), Fatima is a reaffirmation of the Gospels. Our Lady of Fatima told us how to apply the teachings of Christ to our lives in the Twentieth Century.
Brother Gino was born on July 7, 1932 in a small farming town called Gambassi, near Florence, in Italy. He is the eldest child of Angelo and Blandina Burresi. From an early age, as his mother noticed, he showed great charity for others and an unusual degree of devotion to God and the Blessed Mother. At the early age of 14 he joined the Congregation of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, and made his perpetual vows in 1956.

Saved American Soldiers

During World War II there was much crisis and sorrow for Italy, as there was for the rest of the world. Brother Gino was about nine years old at the time. Previous to the takeover by the American soldiers, Brother Gino helped to save the lives of several American soldiers who had been taken prisoner by certain German soldiers who intended to kill them.
Gino said to his father, "Those Germans intend to kill the Americans. It is not right to kill those many young men. You must free them."
Angelo Burresi replied to his boy, "It is too dangerous. The fence which surrounds the prison camp is electrified."
Gino said, "Father, do not worry. I will pray to the Blessed Mother. You go ahead and free those soldiers. Nothing will happen to you."
The boy Gino kept insisting until Angelo Burresi, together with his cousin, went to see what they could do. They cut the wire and helped the young prisoners to escape.
Angelo next called several Italian families together and came to an understanding with them that the American soldiers would be kept hidden from the Germans. These families would see that sufficient food was given to the Americans. Gino was assigned to represent the Burresis by carrying food to the American young men. It was necessary to pass the German soldiers to reach the hiding Americans, and at times Gino had much difficulty, as he had to make several river crossings.
His mother Blandina Burresi had taught him to pray in the following way when he was afraid: "Jesus, Mary, Joseph, accompany me along the way." And she had given him a Rosary and taught him to say it. Armed with these prayers Gino passed safely through the Germans and brought food to the American soldiers in their place of hiding. This whole incident was very heroic, as all who were involved in freeing, hiding, and feeding the American soldiers may well have been shot by the German soldiers if they were discovered.

Early Years as a Brother

On December 10, 1946, when Gino was fourteen years old, he entered the Oblates of the Virgin Mary as an aspirant. On February 13, 1950, he entered the novitiate. He wanted to be a brother. Since he was very talented and intelligent, his parents and superiors didn't understand why he didn't aspire to be a priest. Brother Gino was trying to do God's will above all, and he thought God wanted him to be a brother. He was happy to do the humble work of a brother, teaching catechism, visiting the sick, helping the poor, and looking after the cleaning of the churches where he was working at different times. After many years Brother Gino resumed his studies for the priesthood. In 1979 he was ordained a deacon, which is the major order which precedes ordination to the priesthood. Brother Gino, by his prayers and example, has drawn many young men to come to the Oblate Seminary at Our Lady of Fatima's shrine at San Vittorino.

The Oblates of the Virgin Mary

The Oblates of the Virgin Mary is a Congregation founded by Venerable Pio Bruno Lanteri, a humble Italian priest who lived in the troubled times during and after the French Revolution. When Bruno Lanteri was just a little boy of four years old, his mother died, and his father was left looking after a large family of young children. Bruno's father took him to the parish church, and there before the altar of Our Lady he said to his son: "You no longer have a mother here on earth. From now on, the Blessed Virgin will be your Mother. Love Her as your true Mother."
When Bruno Lanteri was in Turin studying for the priesthood, everywhere there was influence of the false doctrines of the Jansenists. Jansen taught in effect that human nature was completely corrupted by original sin and that we don't have a free will and he taught the false doctrine of predestination. These heresies caused people to lack trust in God's mercy and goodness. Heated controversies over the false doctrines occurred in theological circles. Bruno Lanteri however continued in his devotion to the Mother of God, who, as the Catholic Church says, is the destroyer of all heresies, and Bruno's prayers were answered, and he was saved from the errors of the Jansenists. Just before receiving the diaconate, Bruno Lanteri consecrated himself in a special way into the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary (in 1781), in a similar manner as the offering of St. Louis de Montfort.
While studying for the priesthood, Bruno Lanteri worked among the poor in Turin. As a priest, he constantly encouraged others to have loyalty to the Holy Father. "It is a question of the unity, of the center, of the foundation of the faith," he said. When Pope Pius VII was imprisoned at Savona (1809 -1812), then at Fontainebleau during the Napoleonic era in the hope that the Pope might give in to the Emperor who wanted control over Pope and bishops, it was Father Lanteri who, during these years, managed to get secret documents into the hands of the Pope which His Holiness in turn used to overcome Napoleon's plans to rule the Church.
Father Lanteri was devoted to spreading Catholic teaching through the diffusion of good Catholic literature. He also published pamphlets giving the Catholic Church's teachings regarding news events of the day, to alert the faithful, to clarify the issues and to give encouragement.
Father Lanteri found others to help him to help invalids and the sick and the poor and the imprisoned. One of the tasks of the order he founded was the formation and sanctification of the clergy. For this, Father Lanteri gave retreats using the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola, and he encouraged souls to consecrate themselves totally to God through the hands of Mary. In speaking of his religious order, he would say, "I am not the Founder. The Founder is Our Lady." And he directed his Oblates to be apostles of Mary as well as personally consecrating themselves to God through Mary, because as he said, "In order to bring souls to God it is necessary to make them pass through the hands of Mary."
The Oblates look to Saint Thomas Aquinas as their teacher of dogmatic theology, and Saint Alphonsus Liguori is their teacher in moral theology.
Their Rule says that the Oblates of the Virgin Mary fight against current errors, even those diffused within the Church, especially those regarding dogma and morals. To help them achieve this goal, they have frequent recourse to the Blessed Virgin Mary, "who has overcome all the world's heresies." According to the intention of their founder, the Oblates profess a complete obedience to the authority of the Holy See and a complete acceptance of the teachings of the Holy Father.

We continue here the biography of Brother Gino Burresi. O.M.V., which started in Issue 9-10 of The Fatima Crusader. Brother Gino's Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima at San Vittorino near Rome, Italy, has become internationally well-known, and people from all over the world come to visit Brother Gino and come to his Shrine as a place of prayer and pilgrimage. Many people feel they have received special graces through Our Lady's intercession there. Brother Gino has attracted many young people to San Vittorino to live the life of consecrated religious. These young people, mostly from the United States and Canada, have accepted the call to follow Christ and His Blessed Mother together with Brother Gino and the Oblates.
We continue here the description of the Oblate spirituality to which his young seminarians are attracted.

A special emphasis is given to adoration of the Eucharistic Lord, and this practice provides the Oblates with a major source of their spiritual strength and apostolic zeal.
Brother Gino by his words and example is true to the aims of the founder of his order. The first aim of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary is the salvation and sanctification of its members by imitating the virtues of Jesus and Mary. The second aim is the salvation and sanctification of others. Brother Gino constantly recommends loyalty to the Holy Father as the Vicar of Christ, as did Father Lanteri, who compared the Holy Father to a spiritual "prism through which is shed the light of Christian truth." Brother Gino directs souls to pray the Rosary and to practice devotion to Our Lord present in the Holy Eucharist.

Teaching Catechism

In his earlier years as a brother, Brother Gino taught catechism to children at St. Michael's Parish in Pisa. He taught in simple, humble, direct language that children understand. His soul was penetrated with Faith and love of God and of the Blessed Mother, and the children were aware of this and so they learned to have a similar faith and charity. They learned of the reality of Our Eucharistic Lord by watching their teacher's example as Brother Gino genuflected before the Real Presence of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. His spirit of love and adoration in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament communicated much more to the children and youth of the parish than the words of a book could have done.
In Pisa and in other towns where he was sent, he dedicated himself to helping the poor. He also had the responsibility of cleaning the rooms of students who were in residence at the university in Pisa. The students were easily attracted by the ways of the world, and often put God out of their minds. Brother Gino used opportunities when cleaning the students' rooms to meet these young men and to talk to them. His kindness and concern for their souls resulted in many conversions among the university students.

A Little Statue of the Madonna

When Brother Gino received news that he was being transferred to Chiavari, the altar boys and the children of the Catechism class, who were all very sad that he was leaving, decided to give him a present. They bought him a little statue of Our Lady of Fatima. All they knew about it was that it represented the Blessed Virgin Mary. Brother Gino himself had not heard about Our Lady of Fatima. His mother had taught him to have devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes. St. Bernadette was canonized by Pope Pius XI on December 8th, 1933, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. At that time Brother Gino was about one and a half years old. The devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes, also known as the devotion to the Immaculate Conception, had by that time become very popular, and Blandina Burresi instilled in her little boy a great devotion to God's Mother under that title.
When he went to Chiavari, Brother Gino brought with him the little statue of Our Lady of Fatima that the children had given him. He looked for reading materials that would tell him about the story concerning the little statue of Our Lady. At Chiavari he was assigned work in the chapel of the Sacred Heart and janitorial work in the college.
People he came in contact with began to notice his humility and charity and they would ask his counsel and prayers. He had words of comfort for all who came to him, and he invited them to turn with faith to Our Lady of Fatima. With the permission of his superiors, he would go to visit the sick in the nearby Civil Hospital, and bring them words of comfort and invite them to pray and have faith in the maternal intercession of Our Lady. He gave everyone little medals or rosaries or holy cards. Both the patients and the people who worked at the hospital enjoyed and desired his visits. Soon many souls began to tell of special graces they had obtained which they believed were the result of Brother Gino’s prayers. There were cures and conversions which seemed miraculous. At Chiavari, with the help of Our Lady of Fatima, Brother Gino began his special apostolate of conversion of sinners through counseling, direction of good souls and care of the sick. He did these things with great humility and discretion and even his superiors didn't at first realize the magnitude of his charitable works and the great effect he was having on so many souls.
On May 8, 1983 before a congregation of 25,000 people, Brother Gino was ordained to the priesthood. Our readers should note in the following articles Father Gino is referred to as Brother. We did not have time to change the type set for these articles. We are certain that our readers join with The Fatima Crusader in extending our prayerful best wishes to Father Gino on this sacred occasion.
We continue here the biography of Father Gino Burresi, O.M.V., which started in Issue 9-10 of The Fatima Crusader. Father Gino's Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima at San Vittorino near Rome, Italy, has become internationally well known and people from all over the world come to visit Father Gino and come to his Shrine as a place of prayer and pilgrimage. Many people feel they have received special graces through Our Lady's intercession there. Father Gino has attracted many young people to San Vittorino to live the life of consecrated religious. These young people, mostly from the United States and Canada, have accepted the call to follow Christ and His Blessed Mother together with Father Gino and the Oblates.
In 1955 he was sent by his superiors to the community of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary attached to the parish church of St. Helena's in Rome. There he was given the duty of care of the church and cleaning the house. There the people of Rome began to know of his goodness and they brought him things for the poor people whom he helped.
In 1957 the Rector Major (Superior General) called Brother Gino to be near him in the house of the General Curia which is next to the Mammertine prison in the heart of Rome. The Mammertine prison, which is presently in the care of the Oblates, is where two thousand years ago Saints Peter and Paul were instrumental in converting 47 fellow prisoners to the Faith. This happened about a day before Saints Peter and Paul were taken to their places of martyrdom. They had no water in the prison to baptize the converts with, but a miraculous spring came up out of the floor of the prison at the Saints' prayer, and they used this water to baptize the converts. To this day, this spring of water is still there.
Over this prison is built a church dedicated to Saint Joseph the Worker. As Brother Gino's reputation for holiness spread, more and more people came to ask graces through the intercession of the "Madonnina" (the little Madonna). They prayed the Rosary before his little statue of the Madonna of Fatima. The superiors at the Mammertine allowed the little statue to be exposed over a side altar in the church of Saint Joseph.

The Pious Congregation

The numbers of the faithful who were gathering to pray the Rosary at the Mammertine kept increasing, and many went there every day and thus became friends. They wanted to unite in an organization to work more effectively with Brother Gino to make known the devotion to the Madonna of Fatima and Her message. Brother Gino saw how the movement was growing and so he decided to seek approval from the ecclesiastical authority (The Vicariate of Rome) to canonically found the "Pious Congregation of Our Lady of Fatima" for the conversion of sinners.
With the help of Monsignor Crovella, who worked at the Vatican, a rule governing the association was proposed. There was a careful examination of the actions of the faithful in this new group.
The Statutes were officially approved by the Cardinal Vicar of the Holy Father, Cardinal Micara, on Feb. 28, 1958. Thus, through the initial instrumentality of the sacramental of the little Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, the movement grew and won official Church approval. In fact, Pope Pius XII, himself greatly devoted to Our Lady of Fatima, met in audience with Brother Gino and personally blessed the little statue and his work in the Fatima apostolate. At present, only the spiritual aspect of the association remains. They are prayer groups which bring groups of pilgrims to the Sanctuary of San Vittorino. The use that Heaven made of the small statue of Our Lady of Fatima is indeed a lesson in the importance of sacramentals, which are holy things or actions of which the Church makes use to obtain spiritual and temporal favors from God. Unlike Sacraments, the power of sacramentals does not come from the objects themselves, but from the Roman Catholic Church's prayers of intercession.

The Sanctuary at San Vittorino

One day in 1958 or thereabouts, Brother Gino went out to the edge of Rome, to a small village named San Vittorino. He went there to visit a man named Angelo Colista, who was sick. The doctors at the hospital in Rome realized there was nothing that could be done to save his life and they told his relatives to take him home to San Vittorino. Signor Colista relates: "My case moved the town with pity. I had small children, and my death would have left my family in great difficulties.
"Somebody told one of my relatives: 'Why don't you call Brother Gino? He is a religious brother. He lives in Rome and helps poor people. They say he is working miracles.'
"My parents ran to the parish priest. They begged him to go to Brother Gino. The day after, Brother Gino came to see me. As soon as I saw him I said, 'I don't ask to be cured. I am ready to remain an invalid forever, to suffer, but I wish to see my children grow and be able to be their advisor.'
"We prayed together. Brother Gino told me before he left, 'Be confident. Your wishes will be fulfilled."'
Signor Colista adds: "I am not completely cured. But I am still alive, just as I asked. Brother Gino and I became friends. He came to see me often. His visits left such a peace in my soul.
"On one Sunday afternoon, (December 8, 1960, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception), after speaking to me, he went for a walk with my son and the other lads. When they reached that part of the town where there is a chapel dedicated to Saint Rock, Brother Gino said, 'Let us pray the Rosary.'
"They began to pray. All of a sudden an extraordinary thing happened; he had begun to speak alone ..." Brother Gino was oblivious to his immediate surroundings.
Brother Gino came to understand at this time, that Our Lady wanted a church to be built on that spot, dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima. Many people would come to this shrine of Our Lady of Fatima to be converted. He understood that he would have to undergo many sufferings, but that Our Lady would always be near him to help him.
In January 1961 Brother Gino brought a statue of Our Lady of Fatima to the parish church in San Vittorino, and right away the people of the town began to share his enthusiasm for the new sanctuary. In the field chosen for the new church, a little shrine was built, and on May 13, 1961 a small statue of Our Lady of Fatima was placed there.
In 1964 a little crypt church was built there, which is now at the base of a large sanctuary. It is common in Europe to have a smaller crypt church at the base of a larger construction, and this is also the case at the Oratory of Saint Joseph in Montreal, Canada. In the smaller church at San Vittorino is a Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, which came from Fatima, Portugal. An American who visited San Vittorino recounts that in 1972 this statue shed tears. The tears were taken to Rome and analyzed and were found to be human tears. It seems according to that same American, that Brother Gino asked Our Lady why She was crying, and Brother Gino understood that She was sad because the work of the Sanctuary was going too slowly. That was in 1972 but now the sanctuary is nearly completed.
Not long after Brother Gino had understood that Our Lady of Fatima wanted him to build a shrine at San Vittorino in Her honor, the following incident took place, as related by a friend of Brother Gino:
"It was around this time that Brother Gino one day wanted to go to San Vittorino, to see a man about the deed for buying this particular land where the church was to be built. And a friend of his had an old Fiat car. And Brother Gino asked him to take him to San Vittorino in it. And his friend said, "Well, I'm sorry, Brother, but I don't have any gas in the car. It's completely run out. It's bone dry. And I don't have any money, and I know you don't either." And they got into the car, and Brother Gino asked for the keys, and he blessed the keys. And he told the man now to try to start the car. Well, it started, and they drove twenty miles to San Vittorino, and then about twenty miles back to the center of Rome where the Mammertine prison is, where Brother Gino lived. Brother Gino thanked the man for the ride."

FATHER GINO SPEAKS ON THE MESSAGE OF FATIMA

We continue below, the article which begins in Issue Number 9-10, which gives some practical ideas on how to live the message of Fatima today, as explained by Father Gino Buressi, O.M.V., an Oblate of The Virgin Mary, who has built a shrine in honor of Our Lady of Fatima in San Vittorino, Italy. Father Gino's knowledge and understanding of the message of Our Lady of Fatima, and his gift for teaching, have enabled many young people to understand the message that Our Lady of Fatima has for them as individuals, and to answer Our Blessed Mother's call in their own lives.
On May 8, 1983 before a congregation of 25,000 people, Father Gino was ordained to the priesthood. We are certain that our readers join with The Fatima Crusader in extending our prayerful best wishes to Father Gino on this sacred occasion.
We give, in this article, in some detail, words of Father Gino himself, on living the message of Fatima, as he has explained in various writings, conferences, talks and interviews. We are publishing this article with the hope that through it, more people will come to have a better understanding of how to put into practice in their own lives what Our Blessed Mother asks of us at Fatima.

Follow the Pope

In teaching about the message of Fatima, Father Gino indicates to mankind its infallible guide, the Pope, Vicar of the world's Savior, Jesus Christ. Our Lady of Fatima prophesied to the three children about persecution against the Church and particularly against the Holy Father. Little Jacinta saw visions of the Holy Father suffering. She said to her cousin Lucia in 1917, "I don't know how it was, I saw the Holy Father in a very big house, kneeling by a table with his head buried in his hands, and he was weeping. Outside the house, there were many people. Some of them were throwing stones, others were cursing him and using bad language. Poor Holy Father. We must pray very much for him." The message of Fatima reminds us to pray for the Pope and to follow his guidance in matters of faith and morals. Father Gino adds also that it is urgent that the priests be faithful to the Magisterium of the Pope and when guiding souls, they must teach according to the Pope's doctrine taught to the whole Catholic Church.

The Fatima Message Is for Our Times

Our Lady of Fatima warned us that if Her requests were not heeded, Russia would spread its errors throughout the world. One of these errors is to deny the existence of God and Heaven and Hell and our immortal souls, and to live as if material things were our gods. Another error is militant atheism which seeks to destroy Christ and His Church by seeking to destroy the life of Christ (Sanctifying Grace) in our souls, and by open persecution of the Church as occurs in Communist and Marxist countries.
When asked why the Fatima Message is so important for these times, Father Gino replied, "Because in the world there was the great spreading of materialism, and it was just, that from Heaven should come a reminder so that men should pay attention and be careful not to fall into the error of materialism, but rather should strengthen themselves in the Christian life." "It (materialism) is a total destruction of the faith. Now we see why Our Lady has asked for the consecration of oneself to the Immaculate Heart of Mary so that these errors of materialism which have spread throughout the world will not enter into our hearts. Our Lady has given us a way so that our hearts will not open up to embrace this materialism. First, she calls us to prayer and a certain way of prayer: saying the Rosary. If we are attentive in looking around us we see that the modern mentality of materialism and atheism has attacked each one of these ways of salvation which has been given to us. So Our Lady says to pray the Rosary; in our times the Rosary has been attacked." Father Gino also said: "Another thing we should look at is that the message of Fatima has not been heeded to its fullest extent, and we can see around us today the effects of this. Materialism has brought us to a great confusion, and we don't know who to follow anymore. We read about how little Jacinta came to the two other children and said that she had seen a vision of the Pope, who was weeping because no one would listen to the message, because their hearts were no longer open. Therefore, we must listen to the secure guide, who is the Pope. We must not make the Gospel into a political thing, which (error) today is bringing the world to disaster."
Speaking on another occasion about materialism, Father Gino said: "I wish to underline one thing: This materialism is truly an incredible thing. Let the man beware who opens the door of his heart to it. It will kill him. It will bring death into the heart of the man, and it will kill all the life which Christ has brought to him. It has a very cruel goal and that is to bring man lower than an animal. We all must see the need to prevail upon Our Lady to bring about this miracle to destroy the materialism that destroys the commandments of love (love of God and love of neighbor). Man separates them and then does not love any longer. Then he is finished." Father Gino is alluding to the fact that some modern men think that they serve the Gospel by preaching concern for the poor without teaching living the love of God, and thereby these men end up not loving or being concerned for the poor or for anyone, in fact.
Speaking about materialism, Father Gino said "Materialism destroys. It destroys Christ in man and elevates the animal part. It not only takes away the Christian ideals but makes us worse than animals. Materialism includes pampering the body, wanting excessive property, the best of food, giving in to desires of the flesh. This is a freedom which is not a freedom. Actually, you become a slave of all these things, and then you are not even a master of yourself. You become a slave to vice, to carnal vices, the desire to have more than is necessary - one is never content. It is a construction of hell which we create on this earth."
Speaking about the present disbelief in the existence of hell, Father Gino said among the material punishments, Our Lady spoke of the eternal one and that is hell. Nowadays, man laughs in scorn when hell is mentioned. He does not believe it. Yet the Saints all tremble at hearing the word."
"... a world of materialism and atheism seeks to destroy the true life in the heart of man, the life of Christ in us. Without this life mankind finds itself totally disoriented and plunged in darkness, bringing many of our brothers to live in brutal violence and in an immorality that effaces the beauty and the dignity of man."
Father Gino in a letter of Easter 1982 tells us a way to help overcome this problem as individuals: "We who believe in the Risen Christ and who strive to live His glorious resurrection, must do something for these our brothers; and the first thing Jesus asks of us is this: to be ever of good example, especially where we spend the most part of our day.

Conversion of Russia

Our Lady of Fatima promised that if Her requests were granted, Russia would be converted and there would be peace. On this point, Father Gino gave the following helpful advice: "We must also remember another thing. We must pray every day for those who are behind the Iron Curtain, for the conversion of Russia, for the conversion of sinners who do not believe. Our hearts pray as part of the Mystical Body of Christ. We must pray that every individual person, through the intercession of the Blessed Mother, will have the time in which he will be able to hear the call and listen to the message of God."


 
Father Gino giving Holy Communion to one of the Sisters of the new religious order that he founded, assisted by one of the many seminarians who have been attracted to San Vittirino by Father Gino. 

How Christ Is Killed in the Modern World and How to Bring About His Resurrection

Father Gino further makes clear how it is that Christ is being crucified again through sins of individuals and nations, and how Catholics, by reason of their membership in the Mystical Body of Christ (which is the Catholic Church) can, by their good deeds and virtuous acts, done for God's sake and performed while in the state of grace, can bring about Christ's Resurrection in the modern world. That is to bring mankind as a whole back into friendship with our Creator. And this is what the Mother of God is trying to teach us through the message of Fatima.
"If we look for a moment at this poor world, we would see that Jesus has been killed in many ways. He has been killed in the maternal womb and many mothers organize new "sanhedrins" so that Christ will be killed in their baby.
Today Christ is killed in the innocents and for this purpose the little ones are taken out of those nursery schools where they are taught to know Jesus. There is only one purpose of the materialists. That is: Put the death of materialism that kills Jesus, into the heart of the child. Christ is killed in the hearts of youth when they are made into instruments of this same materialism and pushed toward hate that ends up in the most cruel violence. Christ is killed in the schools where civility and honesty should be taught, while many times also here they try to lead the children to hatred and violence. Christ is killed in the work environment and we know well how much he who wants to give a Christian testimony is persecuted. Christ is killed in the press, in the cinema, in the theater and in many other environments. In a word, (the purpose of the materialists is that) Christ's commandment of love be killed in the mind and heart of man (and yet the unreflecting materialists do not realize) that man without Christ will be the cause of many tears of sorrow for all."
Father Gino also said: "If you want to hasten the Resurrection in all environments where Christ is killed, we Christians and devotees of the Madonna must respond to the satanical attack of so much evil with the armor of goodness and charity of the Gospel, pray for them, offer sacrifices for them. Start saying the Holy Rosary for them, accept all which God would send our way, even if it makes us suffer. To suffer well, this also means to love; it is an act of love for God when I accept suffering to repair first of all my failures, and it is a true act of love of God and of my neighbor when I offer this suffering in particular for the return of these poor brothers blinded by the same materialism that they accepted. This is none other than the message of Fatima. Respond to the message of hate with the message of love." 
 

sábado, 17 de outubro de 2015

Nossa Senhora, Fátima: «Não ofendam mais a Deus Nosso Senhor, que já está muito ofendido!» Alexandrina, Balasar: «Convertei-vos! Não ofendais a Jesus, não queirais perdê-Lo eternamente! Ele é tão bom! Basta de pecar! Amai-O! Amai-O!»

FÁTIMA E BALASAR



Nossa Senhora, Fátima:
«Não ofendam mais a Deus Nosso Senhor,
que já está muito ofendido!»




Alexandrina, Balasar:
«Convertei-vos! Não ofendais a Jesus,
não queirais perdê-Lo eternamente!
Ele é tão bom! Basta de pecar! Amai-O! Amai-O!»



Fátima e Balasar são duas terras “irmãs” pois em ambas assistimos a uma revelação particular da Mensagem de Deus à humanidade.

O Pe. Humberto Pasquale, S.D.B., segundo diretor espiritual de Alexandrina, é o autor de um livro ao qual pôs o nome de “Fátima e Balasar, duas terras irmãs”. Este sacerdote conhecia profundamente Alexandrina e correspondia-se regularmente com a Irmã Lúcia, a mais velha dos três Pastorinhos de Fátima.

Com base no seu livro, reuniram-se os principais pontos comuns às duas mensagens:
Eucaristia
Conversão dos pecadores
Oração
Sagrado Coração de Jesus
Imaculado Coração de Maria
Rosário
Inferno
Guerras mundiais

terça-feira, 13 de outubro de 2015

FOTOS DA PEREGRINAÇÃO DE 13 DE OUTUBRO AO SANTUÁRIO DE FÁTIMA PRESIDIDA PELO cardeal Giovanni Battista Re



















Cardeal D. Giovanni Battista Re, presidiu às celebrações das Aparições de Nª Sª no Santuário de Fátima a 12 e 13 de Outubro



13 de outubro: Fé não é questão irrelevante nem marginal
2015-10-13




O cardeal D. Giovanni Battista Re, Prefeito Emérito da Congregação para os Bispos e Presidente Emérito da Pontifícia Comissão para a América Latina, valorizou a importância da fé, esta manhã durante as celebrações.
O cardeal italiano considera a fé algo essencial que não pode ser marginalizado ou tido como algo irrelevante “porque muda radicalmente a maneira de pensar e agir”. E para D. Giovanni não se trata só de uma questão importante para a salvação eterna, é também algo essencial para “uma vida serena nesta terra”.
“A maior desgraça que nos pode acontecer é precisamente a perda de fé”, uma vez que para o Perfeito Emérito da Congregação para os Bispos, a fé enriquece a existência humana em todas as dimensões.
Mas hoje em dia, a fé enfrenta o desafio dos estilos de vida e das correntes de pensamento, segundo D. Giovanni Re, no entanto “em Maria, temos um apoio da Nossa Fé”. O Cardeal  e Perfeito Emérito considera ainda que as aparições aqui em Fátima, transmitem uma mensagem de santidade e um convite a mudar de vida. 
Homilia de 13 de outubro de 2015, por D. Giovanni Re, Prefeito Emérito da Congregação para os Bispos




12 de outubro: “O verdeiro problema do nosso tempo é a falta de fé em Deus”
2015-10-12


 

Na noite de 12 de outubro, o cardeal D. Giovanni Battista Re aproveitou a homilia para apontar alguns “sinais preocupantes de futuro em risco”, dando exemplos das “várias crises atuais”. O Prefeito Emérito da Congregação para os Bispos lembrou “a crise económica e financeira que desde há vários anos pesa sobre as famílias”, aliada à crise moral e a crise social, que “comporta tantos problemas”, e sublinhou que “na base destas crises está uma que é a raiz de todas as outras: a carência de Deus”.
“Sem Deus, o homem e a mulher deixam de ter princípios que iluminem o caminho da vida”, continuou o cardeal, destacando que “quando Deus perde o lugar central que Lhe compete, também o homem perde o seu lugar”. Isto porque, como diz, “longe de Deus, o ser humano perde-se, ficando à mercê de egoísmos pessoais e interesses de grupo”.
Especialmente focado no problema da falta de fé, D. Giovanni Re recordou que “o Evangelho levou-nos em pensamento até ao templo de Jerusalém”, que Cristo encontrou “transformado num covil de negócios e de comércio”. O cardeal aproveitou esta passagem para pedir aos peregrinos que se interrogassem sobre “o lugar que Deus ocupa no nosso coração e na nossa vida”, alertando para o perigo de quando “Deus passa a ser a última das nossas preocupações”.
D. Giovanni Re recordou ainda a homilia da beatificação dos pastorinhos Francisco e Jacinta Marto, de 13 de maio de 2000, altura em que o papa João Paulo II disse que “quantos acolhem esta presença [de Deus] tornam-se morada (…) do Altíssimo”.

segunda-feira, 12 de outubro de 2015

Promesas del Rosario dadas por la Santísima Virgen al Beato Alano de La Roche




Santo Domingo de Guzmán, realizando un exorcismo a un poseso albigense en presencia de una gran muchedumbre, invocó a la Santísima Virgen para que obligara a los demonios a contestarle a cuál de los santos del cielo temían más y cuál debía ser más amado y honrado por los hombres. Los demonios que invadían al hereje comenzaron a gritar: “¡Oh enemiga nuestra! ¡Oh ruina y confusión nuestra! ¿Por qué viniste del cielo a atormentarnos en forma tan cruel? ¿Será preciso que por ti, ¡oh abogada de los pecadores, a quienes evitas el infierno; oh camino seguro del cielo!, seamos obligados –a pesar nuestro– a confesar delante de todos lo que es causa de nuestra confusión y ruina? ¡Ay de nosotros! ¡Maldición a nuestros príncipes de las tinieblas!”. “¡Oíd, pues, cristianos! Esta Madre de Cristo es omnipotente y puede impedir que sus siervos caigan en el infierno. Ella, como un sol, disipa las tinieblas de nuestras astutas maquinaciones. Descubre nuestras intrigas, rompe nuestras redes y reduce a la inutilidad todas nuestras tentaciones. Nos vemos obligados a confesar que ninguno que persevere en su servicio se condena con nosotros”.

“Un solo suspiro que ella presente a la Santísima Trinidad vale más que todas las oraciones, votos y deseos de todos los santos. La tememos más que a todos los bienaventurados juntos y nada podemos contra sus fieles servidores”.

De igual manera los malignos confesaron que muchos cristianos que la invocan al morir y que deberían condenarse, según las leyes ordinarias, se salvan gracias a su intercesión. Aseguraron que si la Madre de Dios "no se hubiera opuesto a nuestros designios y esfuerzos, ¡hace tiempo habríamos derribado y destruido a la Iglesia y precipitado en el error y la infidelidad a todas sus jerarquías!”. Luego añadieron que “nadie que persevere en el rezo del Rosario se condenará. Porque ella obtiene para sus fieles devotos la verdadera contrición de los pecados, para que los confiesen y alcancen el perdón e indulgencia de ellos”.

Promesas del Rosario dadas por la Santísima Virgen al Beato Alano de La Roche:

1. Aquellos que recen con enorme fe el Rosario recibirán gracias especiales.

2. Prometo mi protección y las gracias mas grandes a aquellos que recen el Rosario.

3. El Rosario es una arma poderosa para no ir al infierno: destruye los vicios, disminuye los pecados y nos defiende de las herejías.

4. Se otorgará la virtud y las buenas obras abundarán, se otorgará la piedad de Dios para las almas, rescatará a los corazones de la gente de su amor terrenal y vanidades, y los elevará en su deseo por las cosas eternas. Las mismas almas se santificarán por este medio.

5. El alma que se encomiende a mi en el Rosario no perecerá.

6. Quien rece el Rosario devotamente, y lleve los misterios como testimonio de vida no conocerá la desdicha. Dios no lo castigará en su justicia, no tendrá una muerte violenta, y si es justo, permanecerá en la gracia de Dios, y tendrá la recompensa de la vida eterna.

7. Aquel que sea verdadero devoto del Rosario no perecerá sin los Sagrados Sacramentos.

8. Aquellos que recen con mucha fe el Santo Rosario en vida y en la hora de su muerte encontrarán la luz de Dios y la plenitud de su gracia, en la hora de la muerte participarán en el paraíso por los méritos de los Santos.

9. Libraré del purgatorio a a quienes recen el Rosario devotamente.

10. Los niños devotos al Rosario merecerán un alto grado de Gloria en el cielo.

11. Obtendrán todo lo que me pidan mediante el Rosario*.

12. Aquellos que propaguen mi Rosario serán asistidos por mí en sus necesidades.

13. Mi hijo me ha concedido que todo aquel que se encomiende a mi al rezar el Rosario tendrá como intercesores a toda la corte celestial en vida y a la hora de la muerte.

14. Son mis niños aquellos que recitan el Rosario, y hermanos y hermanas de mi único hijo, Jesus Cristo.

15.- La devoción al santo Rosario es una señal manifiesta de predestinación a la gloria.

 * Siempre que convenga a sus almas. 
Fuentes: 1 y 2

HOJE É A FESTA DE Nª Sª DO PILAR, PADROEIRA DA HISPANIDADE . É TB A FESTA DE Nª Sª DE APARECIDA

Virgen Del Pilar - Patrona De La Hispanidad - Fiesta Octubre 12

domingo, 11 de octubre de 2015|
Historia de la Virgen del Pilar




La tradición, tal como ha surgido de unos documentos del siglo XIII que se conservan en la Catedral de Zaragoza, se remonta a la época inmediatamente posterior a laAscensión de Jesucristo, cuando los apóstoles, fortalecidos con el Espíritu Santo, predicaban el Evangelio.

Se dice que, por entonces (40 AD), el Apóstol Santiago el Mayor, hermano de San Juan e hijo de Zebedeo, predicaba en España. Aquellas tierras no habían recibido el evangelio, por lo que se encontraban atadas al paganismo. Santiago obtuvo la bendición de la Santísima Virgen para su misión. Juan y Santiago, hijos de Zebedeo, pescadores de Galilea que siguieron a Jesús hasta transformarse en Sus Apóstoles. Después del Pentecostés, llenos del Espíritu Santo, los doce Apóstoles salieron a evangelizar el mundo. Santiago tuvo la inspiración de elegir la Península Ibérica como destino, cambiando a partir de allí la historia de España y de la América toda, muchos siglos más tarde.

Los documentos dicen textualmente que Santiago, "pasando por Asturias, llegó con sus nuevos discípulos a través de Galicia y de Castilla, hasta Aragón, el territorio que se llamaba Celtiberia, donde está situada la ciudad de Zaragoza, en las riberas del Ebro. Allí predicó Santiago muchos días y, entre los muchos convertidos eligió como acompañantes a ocho hombres, con los cuales trataba de día del reino de Dios, y por la noche, recorría las riberas para tomar algún descanso".

La Virgen María
se aparece a Santiago


En la noche del 2 de enero del año 40, Santiago se encontraba con sus discípulos junto al río Ebro cuando "oyó voces de ángeles que cantaban Ave, María, gratia plena y vio aparecer a la Virgen Madre de Cristo, de pie sobre un pilar de mármol" 



La Santísima Virgen, que aún vivía en carne mortal, le pidió al Apóstol que se le construyese allí una iglesia, con el altar en torno al pilar donde estaba de pie y prometió que:
"Permanecerá este sitio hasta el fin de los tiempos para que la virtud de Dios obre portentos y maravillas por mi intercesión con aquellos que en sus necesidades imploren mi patrocinio"

Desapareció la Virgen y quedó ahí el pilar. El Apóstol Santiago y los ocho testigos del prodigio comenzaron inmediatamente a edificar una iglesia en aquel sitio y, con el concurso de los conversos, la obra se puso en marcha con rapidez. Pero antes que estuviese terminada la Iglesia, Santiago ordenó presbítero a uno de sus discípulos para servicio de la misma, la consagró y le dio el título de Santa María del Pilar, antes de regresarse a Judea. Esta fue la primera iglesia dedicada en honor a la Virgen Santísima.

La Virgen no demoró su misión ni un minuto. Cuando aún estaba en esta tierra, antes de su Asunción, nos mostró con su aparición en España cuál iba a ser su misión a lo largo de los siglos. Mucho tiempo después, fue San Luis Grignon de Monfort quien nos enseñó el alcance verdadero de la misión de María en el Plan de Dios.

Muchos historiadores e investigadores defienden esta tradición y aducen que hay una serie de monumentos y testimonios que demuestran la existencia de una iglesia dedicada a la Virgen de Zaragoza. El más antiguo de estos testimonios es el famoso sarcófago de Santa Engracia, que se conserva en Zaragoza desde el siglo IV, cuando la santa fue martirizada. El sarcófago representa, en un bajo relieve, el descenso de la Virgen de los cielos para aparecerse al Apóstol Santiago.


Así mismo, hacia el año 835, un monje de San Germán de París, llamado Almoino, redactó unos escritos en los que habla de la Iglesia de la Virgen María de Zaragoza, "donde había servido en el siglo III el gran mártir San Vicente", cuyos restos fueron depositados por el obispo de Zaragoza, en la iglesia de la Virgen María. También está atestiguado que antes de la ocupación musulmana de Zaragoza (714), había allí un templo dedicado a la Virgen.

La devoción del pueblo por la Virgen del Pilar se halla tan arraigada entre los españoles y desde épocas tan remotas, que la Santa Sede permitió el establecimiento del Oficio del Pilar, en el que se consigna la aparición de la Virgen del Pilar como "una antigua y piadosa creencia".

Simbolismo del Pilar

El pilar o columna: la idea de la solidez del edificio-iglesia con la de la firmeza de la columna-confianza en la protección de María. La columna es símbolo del conducto que une el cielo y la tierra, "manifestación de la potencia de Dios en el hombre y la potencia del hombre bajo la influencia de Dios". Es soporte de lo sagrado, soporte de la vida cotidiana, María, la puerta del cielo, la escala de Jacob, ha sido la mujer escogida por Dios para venir a nuestro mundo. En Ella la tierra y el cielo se han unido en Jesucristo.


Las columnas garantizan la solidez del edificio, sea arquitectónico o social. Quebrantarlas es amenazar el edificio entero. La columna es la primera piedra del templo, que se desarrolla a su alrededor; es el eje de la construcción que liga entre sí los diferentes niveles. María es también la primera piedra de la Iglesia, el templo de Dios; en torno a Ella, lo mismo que los apóstoles reunidos el día de Pentecostés, va creciendo el pueblo de Dios; la fe y la esperanza de la Virgen alientan a los cristianos en su esfuerzo por edificar el reino de Dios.

Vemos en Éxodo 13, 21-22, que una columna de fuego por la noche acompañaba al pueblo de Israel peregrino en el desierto, dirigiendo su itinerario.

En la Virgen del Pilar el pueblo ve simbolizada "la presencia de Dios, una presencia activa que, guía al pueblo elegido a través de las emboscadas de la ruta".

El día 12 de octubre de 1492, precisamente cuando las tres carabelas de Cristóbal Colón avistaban las desconocidas tierras de América, al otro lado del Atlántico, los devotos de la Virgen del Pilar cantaban alabanzas a la Madre de Dios en su santuario de Zaragoza, pues ese mismo día, conocido hoy como el Día de la Raza, era ya el Día de la Virgen del Pilar.

Gran Milagro del Cojo de Calanda


La tradición habla del milagro del Cojo de Calanda, ocurrido en el año 1640. El joven Miguel Juan Pellicer Blasco, famoso por el milagro que la Virgen del Pilar obró en él. A los 19 años (a finales de julio de 1637) llevaba un carro cargado de trigo y tirado por dos mulas, sobre una de las cuales cabalgaba Miguel Juan, cayó éste a tierra, pasándole una rueda del carro sobre su pierna derecha, y fracturándole la tibia en su parte central. Es trasladado a Valencia e ingresa en el Hospital Real el día 3 de agosto de 1637, según consta en el Libro de Registro, que aún se conserva. En este hospital sólo permanece cinco días, ya que añora sus tierras de Aragón. Solicita permiso para trasladarse a Zaragoza, y después de casi dos meses de viaje llega a su destino a primeros de octubre de 1637.

La primera visita que realiza en Zaragoza, nada más llegar, es al Templo de Nuestra Señora del Pilar. Y a continuación es ingresado en el Hospital General de Nuestra Señora de Gracia. Es aquí donde, según consta, se le amputa la pierna "cuatro dedos más debajo de la rodilla". Enterrándose dicha pierna en el cementerio del hospital, dentro de un hoyo "como un palmo de hondo". Se le dio de alta en el hospital, se le colocó una pierna de madera y se le proporcionó una muleta en la primavera de 1638.

Hubo de recurrir a la limosna para poder vivir, hecho que realizaba en una de las puertas del Templo del Pilar, en Zaragoza. Y aprovechaba esta circunstancia para oír misa todos los días en la Santa Capilla, a la vez que se ungía con aceite de las lámparas el muñón de la pierna para intentar suavizar el dolor. Esta vida de Miguel Juan duró unos dos años, ya que decidió volver a su casa de Calanda.

La Noche del Milagro

En la primera semana de marzo de 1640 inicia su viaje de retorno a Calanda. El 29 de marzo de 1640, y después de una dura jornada de trabajo en su casa, al llegar la noche, y habiéndole preparado su madre una yacija improvisada con un serón de esparto y sobre él un pellejo, al lado del lecho conyugal, debido a que su habitación la empleaba un soldado que se alojaba en su casa, se duerme. Eran, aproximadamente, las diez de la noche.

Milagro de Calanda
La leyenda señala que entre las diez y media y las once de la noche entran sus padres en la habitación "a luz de candil", y perciben una "fragancia y olor suave no acostumbrados allí", y al acercarse su madre para comprobar cómo se había acomodado Miguel Juan en el lecho improvisado de aquella noche, lo encuentra dormido, pero, según la leyenda local, ve admirada por debajo de la capa paterna que asomaban dos pies cruzados. Comprobaron, Miguel Juan y sus padres, ya en los primeros momentos, a la luz del candil, la persistencia de viejas cicatrices de la "pierna amputada" en la "nueva pierna".

El día 2 de abril, cinco días después del supuesto milagro, concretamente el Lunes Santo, D. Miguel Andreu, notario de Mazaleón, levanta acta notarial de "tan impresionante hecho". El original de esta Acta Notarial, con todo el protocolo del año 1640, se conserva en el Archivo del Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza. El 25 de abril, Miguel Juan y sus padres llegan a Zaragoza para dar gracias a la Virgen del Pilar. El Cabildo de Zaragoza remitió al Conde-Duque de Olivares la información del hecho para que, a su vez, la pusiera en conocimiento del Rey Felipe IV.

Declaran en dicho proceso: Facultativos y Sanitarios (5 personas), entre ellos el cirujano que le amputó la pierna, familiares y vecinos (5 personas), autoridades locales (4 personas), autoridades eclesiásticas (4 personas), personajes diversos (6 personas, destacando a dos mesoneros de Samper de Calanda y de Zaragoza).

La Iglesia reconoce el hecho como "milagro" el día 27 de abril de 1641.

El Papa Clemente XII señaló la fecha del 12 de octubre para la festividad particular de la Virgen del Pilar, pero ya desde siglos antes, en todas las iglesias de España y entre los pueblos sujetos al rey católico, se celebraba la dicha de haber tenido a la Madre de Dios en su región, cuando todavía vivía en carne mortal.

Rasgos Peculiares
de la Virgen del Pilar

  1. Se trata de una venida extraordinaria de la Virgen durante su vida mortal. A diferencia de las otras apariciones la Virgen viene cuando todavía vive en Palestina: "Con ninguna nación hizo cosa semejante", cantará con razón la liturgia del 2 de enero, fiesta de la Venida de la Virgen.
  2. La Columna o Pilar que la misma Señora trajo para que sobre él se construyera la primera capilla que, de hecho, sería el primer Templo Mariano de toda la Cristiandad.
  3. La vinculación de la tradición pilarista con la tradición jacobea (del Santuario de Santiago de Compostela). Por ello, Zaragoza y Compostela, el Pilar y Santiago, han constituido dos ejes fundamentales, en torno a los cuales ha girado durante siglos la espiritualidad de la patria española.

El día 12 de octubre de 1492, precisamente cuando las tres carabelas de Cristóbal Colón avistaban las desconocidas tierras de América, al otro lado del Atlántico, los devotos de la Virgen del Pilar cantaban alabanzas a la Madre de Dios en su Santuario de Zaragoza, pues ese mismo día, conocido hoy como el Día de la Raza, era ya el día de la Virgen del Pilar.



La primitiva y pequeña capilla, con el correr de los siglos, se ha convertido hoy en una basílica grandiosa que acoge, como centro vivo y permanente de peregrinaciones, a innumerables fieles que, desde todas las partes del mundo, vienen a rezar a la Virgen y a venerar su Pilar.

La advocación de Nuestra Señora del Pilar ha sido objeto de un especial culto por parte de los españoles: difícilmente podrá encontrarse en el amplio territorio patrio un pueblo que no guarde con amor la pequeña imagen sobre la santa columna. Muchas instituciones la verán también como patrona.

Muy por encima de milagros espectaculares, de manifestaciones clamorosas y de organizaciones masivas, la Virgen del Pilar es invocada como refugio de pecadores, consoladora de los afligidos, madre de España. Su quehacer es, sobre todo, espiritual. Y su basílica, en Zaragoza, es un lugar privilegiado de oración, donde sopla con fuerza el Espíritu.

La devoción al Pilar tiene una gran repercusión en Iberoamérica, cuyas naciones celebran la fiesta del descubrimiento de su continente el día 12 de octubre, es decir, el mismo día del Pilar. Como prueba de su devoción a la Virgen, los numerosos mantos que cubren la sagrada imagen y las banderas que hacen guardia de honor a la Señora ante su santa capilla testimonian la vinculación fraterna que Iberoamérica tiene, por el Pilar, con la patria española. Abierta la basílica todo el día, jamás faltan fieles que llegan al Pilar en busca de reconciliación, gracia y diálogo con Dios.

Fuente - Texto tomado de CORAZONES.ORG:

Fuente - Texto tomado de ENCUENTRA.COM:
Fuente - Texto tomado de REINADELCIELO.ORG:

Fuente - Texto tomado de ES.WIKIPEDIA.ORG:

Fuente - Texto tomado de PICASAWEB.GOOGLE.ESCIELO.ORG:

Nuestra Señora De Aparecida - Patrona De Brasil - Fiesta Octubre 12

domingo, 11 de octubre de 2015|


Historia
Nuestra Señora de Aparecida


La devoción a Nuestra Señora de la concepción Aparecida, más conocida como "Nuestra Señora Aparecida" tiene un carácter muy especial. Surgió cuando un grupo de pescadores, después de varios intentos infructuosos, pidieron la intercesión de Nuestra Señora y en lugar de pescado, encontraron una pequeña imagen de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción hecha en terracota. El título de "Aparecida" deriva del verbo "Aparecer" porque fue en un momento de gran necesidad que los pescadores la encontraron y se dieron cuenta de que este hecho indicaba una señal de la intercesión de la Virgen. La imagen tenía un color oscuro y ennegrecido por el tipo de material en que estaba hecha y también por el hecho de estar perdida dentro del río.

Este milagro ocurrió en la segunda mitad de octubre del año 1717, cuando el conde de Assumar y gobernador de la capitanía de São Paulo y Minas de Ouro, Don Pedro de Almeida, iba pasando por la ciudad de Guaratinguetá, ubicada en el Valle de Paraíba, durante un viaje hasta Vila Rica. Los habitantes de Guaratinguetá decidieron celebrar una gran fiesta en honor de Don Pedro de Almeida y aunque no era buena época para la pesca, ellos arrojaron sus redes al río Paraiba, en un intento de conseguir algo de pescado para el evento. Los Pescadores Domingos Garcia, João Alves y Filipe Pedroso oraron pidiendo la intercesión de Nuestra Señora. Después de varios intentos, fueron río abajo hasta que llegaron al puerto Itaguaçu. Cuando estaban a punto de abandonar la pesca, João Alves lanzó su red otra vez y en lugar de pescado, recogieron el cuerpo de una imagen de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, pero sin la cabeza.


Con el lanzamiento de la red de nuevo, recogieron también la cabeza, que encajaba perfectamente en el cuerpo de la imagen. Después de haber recuperado las dos partes, la imagen de la Virgen Aparecida se colocó tan pesada que ellos no podían moverla. Los pescadores sacaron tantos peces que se vieron obligados a regresar al puerto, pues casi se hunden las embarcaciones. Este fue el primer milagro atribuido a Nuestra Señora Aparecida.


Este evento recuerda un pasaje del evangelio donde después de haber pasado toda la noche intentando pescar, Pedro sólo logra frutos en el momento en que arroja las redes en nombre de Cristo. Una nueva pesca milagrosa ocurre y mueve la fe de las personas. Durante 15 años, la imagen se quedó en la casa de Filipe Pedrosa, pero la multitud de personas que iban a orar y pedir la intercesión de Nuestra Señora Aparecida creció tanto que se hizo necesario trasladarla a una capilla privada. En 1834, comenzó la construcción de la antigua basílica que fue inaugurada el 8 de diciembre de 1888.


El 8 de septiembre de 1904, la imagen fue coronada con una corona de joyas donadas por la princesa Isabel y vestida con una túnica, bordada en oro y piedras preciosas, reconociendo así su realeza y poderosa protección. Después de la coronación el santo padre concedió al santuario de Aparecida: Oficio y misa propia en honor de Nuestra Señora Aparecida e indulgencias a los peregrinos que visitan el santuario. El 29 de abril de 1908, la iglesia recibió el título de basílica menor, sagrada el 5 de septiembre de 1909. El 17 de diciembre de 1928, la población que se había formado alrededor de la iglesia en lo alto del morro dos coqueiros, se convirtió en un municipio, tomando el nombre de Aparecida. Nuestra Señora de la concepción Aparecida, fue proclamada Reina y Patrona de Brasil el 16 de julio 1930, por decreto del Papa Pío XI. Con el enorme crecimiento de los peregrinos, surge la necesidad de un lugar más grande para la multitud de fieles. En 1955 comenzó la construcción de la Basílica Nueva.


El Arquitecto Benedito Calixto imaginó un edificio en forma de cruz griega, con 173 m. de largo por 168 m. de ancho, las naves de 40 m. y 70 m. con alta cúpula.


El 4 de julio de 1980, el Papa Juan Pablo II, durante su visita a Brasil, consagró la Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Aparecida y la declaró el mayor santuario mariano del mundo.


La Basílica de Aparecida fue también el escenario de la Quinta Conferencia General del Episcopado de América Latina y el Caribe del 13 al 31 de mayo de 2007. El Papa Benedicto XVI inauguró la Conferencia e invitó a toda América Latina a la Misión Continental, convirtiéndose cada vez más en discípulos misioneros.

Oración de Consagración
a Nuestra Señora de Aparecida
Papa Francisco
Julio 24 de 2013


Río de Janeiro, 24 de julio de 2013 - 12:15 pm (ACI / EWTN NOTICIAS)

Antes de culminar la Misa en el Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Aparecida, el Papa Francisco elevó una oración frente a la imagen mariana, Patrona de Brasil, para consagrar su pontificado a la protección de la Madre de Dios.

Éste es el texto completo de la oración:

"Oh María Santísima, de los méritos de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo en tu querida imagen de Aparecida, alcanza numerosos beneficios sobre todo a Brasil.

Yo, aunque indigno de pertenecer al número de tus hijos e hijas, pero lleno de deseo de participar de los beneficios de tu misericordia, postrado a tus pies consagro mi entendimiento para que siempre pienses en el amor que mereces.

Te consagro mi lengua para que siempre te alabe y propague tu devoción. Te consagro mi corazón para que, después de Dios, te ame sobre todas las cosas.

Recíbeme, Oh Reina incomparable. Tú, que en Cristo crucificado eres nuestra Madre en el dichoso número de tus hijos e hijas, recíbeme bajo tu protección.

Socórreme en todas mis necesidades espirituales y temporales, sobre todo en la hora de mi muerte. Bendíceme oh celestial cooperadora; y con tu poderosa intercesión, fortaléceme en mi flaqueza a fin de que te sirva fielmente en esta vida y después pueda alabarte, amarte y darte gracias en el cielo por toda la eternidad".

Fuente - Texto tomado de ACIPRENSA.COM:
http://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/video-esta-es-la-oracion-que-el-papa-francisco-pronuncio-al-final-de-la-misa-en-santuario-de-aparecida-22859/#.UfAN39Lrzzl

Fuente - Texto tomado de CORAZONES.ORG:
http://www.corazones.org/maria/aparecida/pagina_principal_aparecida.html#historia