How Friar Leo saw a terrible vision in a dream

ONCE, in a dream, Friar Leo beheld a vision of the making ready of the Divine judgment. He beheld the Angels making music with trumpets and divers instruments, and calling together a marvellous great crowd in a meadow. And on one side of the meadow was set a ladder all rosy red, which reached from earth even unto heaven, and on the other side of the meadow was set another ladder all white, which descended from heaven to earth. On the top of the red ladder, Christ appeared a Lord offended and exceeding wrath. And St. Francis was nigh unto Christ but a few steps lower down; and he came farther down the ladder, and with a loud voice and great fervour called and said: “Come ye, my friars, come confidently, fear not, come, draw nigh unto the Lord, for He calleth you”. At the voice of St. Francis and at his bidding, the friars went and climbed up the red ladder with great confidence. And, when they were all thereon, some fell off the third step, and some off the fourth step, others off the fifth and the sixth; and at the last all fell, so that there remained not one upon the ladder. And so great ruin of his friars, St. Francis, as a pitiful father, was moved to compassion, and besought the Judge for his sons, that He would receive them to His mercy. And Christ showed His wounds all bloody, and said unto St. Francis: “This have thy friars done unto Me”.

And St. Francis delayed not, but, even as he interceded, came down certain steps, and cried unto the friars that were fallen from the red ladder and said: “Come ye, rise up, my sons and friars, be of good courage and despair not, but run to the white ladder and climb up it, for by it ye shall be received into the Kingdom of Heaven; run, friars, through paternal admonishment, to the white ladder”. And on the top of the ladder appeared the glorious Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ, all pitiful and kind, and welcomed those friars; and without any difficulty they entered into the eternal kingdom. To the praise of Christ. Amen.

“See, My daughter, My heart surrounded by thorns which ungrateful men pierce at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude… Say to all those who, for five months, on the first Saturday, confess, receive Holy Communion, recite the Rosary and keep Me company for 15 minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, in a spirit of reparation, I promise to assist them at the hour of death with all the graces necessary for the salvation of their souls.”

The confession may be made on the First Saturday itself or some days before or after the First Saturday. This reparatory devotion was requested to atone for the five ways in which people offend the Immaculate Heart of Mary:

1. attacks upon Mary’s Immaculate Conception;
2. attacks against her Perpetual Virginity;
3. attacks upon her Divine Maternity and the refusal to accept Her as the Mother of all mankind;
4. for those who try to publicly implant in children’s hearts indifference, contempt and even hatred of this Immaculate Mother, and
5. for those who insult her directly in her sacred images.

The fairest flower of them all…

We honor the Mother of God and we have put all our hope in her because we know she can do everything. And do you know she can do everything? Her Son does not refuse anything she wishes, because He has not been able to give back to her what He took on loan from her.  He took His flesh from her, and made it divine, but He did not give it back. This is why we feel ourselves so safe in the garden of the Mother of God.

A Greek Orthodox monk to Pope Benedict XVI

This month we will concentrate on Our Lady!

 ”The mood of springtime informs the church’s interior; nature’s blossoming, the warm air of May evenings, human gladness in a world that is renewing itself — all these things enter in. Veneration of Mary has its place in this very particular atmosphere, for she, the Virgin, shows us faith under its youthful aspect, as God’s new beginning in a world that has grown old. In her we see the Christian life set forth as a youthfulness of the heart, as beauty and a waiting readiness for what is to come.”

-- Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Seek That Which is Above

Mary was born a saint, and a great saint; for the grace with which God enriched her from the beginning was great, and the fidelity with which she immediately corresponded to it was great.

STORY

There were two young noblemen in Madrid, of whom the one encouraged the other in leading a wicked life, and in committing all sorts of crimes.  One of them one night in a dream saw his friend taken by certain dark men, and carried to a tempestuous sea.  They were going to take him in a similar manner, but he had recourse to Mary, and made a vow that he would embrace the religious state; on which he was delivered from those men.  He then saw Jesus on a throne, as if in anger, and the Blessed Virgin imploring mercy for him.  After this his friend came to pay him a visit, and he then related what he had seen; but his companion only turned it into ridicule, and he was shortly afterwards stabbed and died.  When the young man saw this his vision was verified, he went to confession, and renewed his resolution to enter a religious Order, and for this purpose he sold all that he had; but instead of giving it to the poor, as he had intended, he spent it in all sorts of debauchery.  He then fell ill, and had another vision.  He thought he saw hell open, and the divine Judge, who had already condemned him.  Again he had recourse to Mary, and she once more delivered him.  He recovered his health and went on worse than ever.  He afterwards went to Lima in South America, where he relapsed into his former illness; and in the hospital of that place he was once more touched by the grace of God, confessed his sins to the Jesuit Father, Francis Perlino, and promised him that he would change his life; but again he fell into his former crimes.  At last the same Father, going into another hospital in a distant place, saw the miserable wretch extended on the ground, and heard him cry out:  “Ah, abandoned wretch that I am! For my greater torment this Father is come to witness my chastisement.  From Lima I came here, where my vices have brought me to this end; and now I go to hell.”  With these words he expired, without even leaving the Father time to help him.

PRAYER

O holy and heavenly Infant, You who are the destined Mother of my Redeemer and the great mediatrix of miserable sinners, pity me.  Behold at your feet another ungrateful sinner who has recourse to you and asks your compassion.  It is true, that for my ingratitude to God and to you I deserve that God and you should abandon me; but I have heard, and believe it to be so (knowing the greatness of your mercy), that you do not refuse to help any one who recommends himself to you with confidence.  O most exalted creature in the world! Since this is the case, and since there is no one but God above you, so that compared with you the greatest saints of heaven are little; O saint of saints, O Mary! Abyss of charity, and full of grace, comfort a miserable creature who by his own fault has lost the divine favour.  I know that you are so dear to God that he denies you nothing.  I know also that your pleasure is to use your greatness for the relief of miserable sinners.  Ah, then, show how great is the favour that you enjoy with God, by obtaining me a divine light and flame so powerful that I may be changed from a sinner into a saint; and detaching myself from every earthly affection, divine love may be enkindled in me.  Do this, O Lady, for you can do it.  Do it for the love of God, who has made you so great, so powerful, and so compassionate.  This is my hope.  Amen.

How befitting it was that each of the Three Persons should preserve Mary from Original Sin.

STORY

A woman came to a house of our little Congregation in this kingdom to let one of the Fathers know that her husband had not been to confession for many years, and the poor creature could no longer tell by what means to bring him to his duty; for if she named confession to him, he beat her. The Father told her to give him a picture of Mary Immaculate. In the evening the woman once more begged her husband to go to confession; but he as usual turned a deaf ear to her entreaties. She gave him the picture. Behold! He had scarcely received it, when he said, “Well, when will you take me to confession, for I am willing to go?” The wife, on seeing this instantaneous change, began to weep for joy. In the morning he really came to our church, and when the Father asked him how long it was since he had been to confession, he answered, “Twenty-eight years.” The Father again asked him what had induced him to come that morning. “Father,” he said, “I was obstinate; but last night my wife gave me a picture of our Blessed Lady, and in the same moment I felt my heart changed, so much so, that during the whole night every moment seemed a thousand years, so great was my desire to go to confession.” He then confessed his sins with great contrition, changed his life, and continued for a long time to go frequently to confession to the same Father.

In another place, in the diocese of Salerno, in which we were giving a mission, there was a man who bore a great hatred to another who had offended him. One of our Fathers spoke to him, that he might be reconciled; but he answered: “Father, did you ever see me at the sermons? No, and for this very reason, I do not go. I know that I am damned; but nothing else will satisfy me, I must have revenge;” The Father did all that he could to convert him; but seeing that he lost his time, he said, “Here, take this picture of our Blessed Lady.” The man at first replied, “But what is the use of this picture?” But no sooner had he taken it, than, as if he had never refused to be reconciled, he said to the missionary, “Father, is anything else required besides reconciliation? – I am willing.” The following morning was fixed for it. When, however, the time came, he had again changed, and would do nothing. The Father offered him another picture, but he refused it; but at length, with great reluctance, took it, when, behold! He scarcely had possession of it than he immediately said, “Now let us be quick; where is Mastrodati?” and he was instantly reconciled with him, and then went to confession.

PRAYER

Ah my Immaculate Lady! I rejoice with you on seeing you enriched with so great purity. I thank, and resolve always to thank, our common Creator for having preserved you from every stain of sin; and I firmly believe this doctrine, and am prepared and swear even to lay down my life, should this be necessary, in defence of this your so great and singular privilege of being conceived immaculate. I would that the whole world knew you and acknowledged you as being that beautiful “Dawn” which was always illumined with divine light; as that chosen “Ark” of salvation, free from the common shipwreck of sin; that perfect and immaculate “Dove” which your divine Spouse declared you to be; that “enclosed Garden” which was the delight of God; that “sealed Fountain” whose waters were never troubled by an enemy; and finally, as that “white Lily,” which you are, and who, though born in the midst of the thorns of the children of Adam, all of whom are conceived in sin, and the enemies of God, was alone conceived pure and spotless, and in all things the beloved of your Creator. Permit me, then, to praise you also as your God himself has praised you: You are all fair, and there is not a spot in you. O most pure Dove, all fair, all beautiful, always the friend of God. O how beautiful are you, my beloved! How beautiful are you! Ah, most sweet, most amiable, immaculate Mary, you who are so beautiful in the eyes of the Lord, – ah, disdain not to cast your compassionate eyes on the wounds of my soul, loathsome as they are. Behold me, pity me, heal me. O beautiful loadstone of hearts, draw also my miserable heart to yourself. O you, who from the first moment of your life did appear pure and beautiful before God, pity me, who not only was born in sin, but have again since baptism stained my soul with crimes. What grace will God ever refuse you, who chose you for his daughter, his Mother, and Spouse, and therefore preserved you from every stain, and in his love preferred you to all other creatures? I will say, in the words of St Philip Neri, “Immaculate Virgin, you have to save me”. Grant that I may always remember you; and you, do you never forget me. The happy day, when I shall go to behold your beauty in Paradise, seems a thousand years off; so much do I long to praise and love you more than I can now do, my Mother, my Queen my beloved, most beautiful, most sweet, most pure, Immaculate Mary. Amen.

The Sweetness of the Name of Mary during Life and Death.

STORY

St Camilla de Lellis urged the members of his community to remind the dying often to utter the holy names of Jesus and Mary.  Such was his custom when assisting people in their last hour.  When he himself came to die he gave an edifying example of confidence in the holy names.  His biographer relates that when death was approaching, the saint invoked the sweet names of Jesus and Mary with such tender devotion that all present were inflamed with love for the sacred names.  With his eyes fixed on the images of Jesus and Mary, and his arms crossed on his breast, an expression of heavenly peace rested on his face when his soul took its flight.  His last words were the sacred names of Jesus and Mary.

PRAYER

O great Mother of God and my Mother Mary, it is true that I am unworthy to name you; but you, love me and desire my salvation, must, notwithstanding the impurity of my tongue, grant that I may always invoke your most holy and powerful name in my aid, for your name is the succor of the living, and the salvation of the dying.  Ah, most pure Mary, most sweet Mary, grant that henceforth your name may be the breath of my life.  O Lady, delay not to help me when I invoke you, for in all the temptations which assail me, and in all my wants, I will never cease calling upon you, and repeating again and again, Mary, Mary.  Thus it is that I hope to act during my life, and more particularly at death, that after that last struggle I may eternally praise your beloved name in heaven, O clement, O pious, O sweet Virgin Mary.  Ah, Mary, most amiable Mary, with what consolation, what sweetness, what confidence, what tenderness, is my soul penetrated in only naming, in only thinking of you!  I thank my Lord and God, who for my good, has given you a name so sweet and deserving of love, and at the same time so powerful.  But, my sovereign Lady, I am not satisfied with only naming you, I wish to name you with love:  I desire that my love may every hour remind me to call on you, so that I may be able to exclaim with St Bonaventure, “O name of the Mother of God, you are my love.”  My own dear Mary, O my beloved Jesus, may your most sweet names reign in my heart, and in all hearts.  Grant that I may forget all others to remember, and always invoke, your adorable names alone.  Ah! Jesus my Redeemer, and my Mother Mary, when the moment of death comes when I must breathe forth my soul and leave this world, deign, through your merits, to grant that I may then pronounce my last words, and that they may be, “I love You, O Jesus; I love you, O Mary; to you do I give my heart and my soul.”

How great are the clemency and compassion of Mary.

STORY

In the life of Father Anthony de Colleli we find the following occurrence narrated:  “A certain unfortunate woman was having illicit relations with two young men.  One of these, prompted by jealousy, stabbed the other to death.  Very much frightened by what had happened, the sinful woman went to confession to Father Onofrius.  She related the following:  After the murder the unfortunate man appeared to her, all black, bound in chains, and surrounded by flames.  He held a sword in his hand with which he attempted to kill her.  Trembling with fear she cried out:  ‘Why do you wish to kill me?  What have I done to you?’  The man, filled with rage, replied:  ‘What, you wretch, you ask what you have done!  It is your fault that I have lost my God.’  Immediately the woman called on the Blessed Virgin to help her, and at the sound of the name of Mary, the apparition vanished.”

PRAYER

O Mother of mercy, since you are so compassionate, and have so great a desire to render service to us poor creatures and to grant our requests, behold I, the most miserable of all men, have now recourse to your compassion, in order that you may grant me that which I ask.  Others may ask what they please of you, – bodily health, and earthly goods and advantages; but I come, O Lady, to ask you for that which you desire of me, and which is most in conformity and agreeable to your most sacred heart.  You are so humble; obtain for me humility and love of contempt.  You were so patient under the sufferings of this life; obtain for me patience in trials.  You were all love towards your neighbour; obtain for me charity towards all, and particularly towards those who are in any way my enemies.  You were entirely united to the divine will; obtain for me entire conformity to the will of God in whatever way he may be pleased to dispose of me.  You, in fine, are the most holy of all creatures; O Mary, make me a saint.  Love for me is not wanting on your part; you can do all, and you have the will to obtain me all.  The only thing, then, that can prevent me from receiving your graces is, either neglect on my part in having recourse to you, or little confidence in your intercession; but these two things you must obtain for me.  These two greatest graces I ask from you; from you I must obtain them; from you I hope for them with the greatest confidence, O Mary, my Mother Mary, my hope, my love, my life, my refuge, my help, and my consolation.  Amen.

Mary Leads Her Servants to Heaven.

STORY

The Franciscan Chronicles relate that a certain Brother Leo saw in a vision two ladders the one red, the other white.  On the upper end of the red ladder stood Jesus and on the other stood His holy Mother.  The brother saw that some tried to climb the red ladder; but scarcely had they mounted some rungs when they fell back, they tried again but with no better success.  Then they were advised to try the white ladder and to their surprise they succeeded for the Blessed Virgin stretched out her hand and with her aid they reached heaven.

PRAYER

O Queen of heaven, Mother of holy love!  Since you are the most amiable of creatures, the most beloved of God, and his greatest lover, be pleased to allow the most miserable sinner living in this world, who, having by your means been delivered from hell, and without any merit on his part been so benefited by you and who is filled with love for you, to love you.  I would desire, were it in my power, to let all men who know you not, know how worthy you are of love, that all might love and honor you.  I would desire to die for the love of you, in defence of your virginity, of your dignity of Mother of God, of your Immaculate Conception, should this be necessary, to uphold these your great privileges.  Ah! my most beloved Mother accept this my ardent desire, and never allow a servant of yours who loves you, to become the enemy of your God, whom you love so much.  Alas!  Poor me, I was so for a time, when I offended my Lord.  But then, O Mary, I loved you but little, and strove but little to be beloved by you.  But now there is nothing that I so much desire, after the grace of God, as to love and be loved by you.  I am not discouraged on account of my past sins, for I know that you, O most benign and gracious Lady, do not disdain to love even the most wretched sinners who love you; even more, that you never allow yourself to be surpassed by any in love.  Ah! Queen most worthy of love, I desire to love you in heaven.  There, at your feet, I shall better know how worthy you are of love, how much you have done to save me; and thus I shall love you with greater love, and love you eternally, without fear of ever ceasing to love you.  O Mary, I hope most certainly to be saved by your means.  Pray to Jesus for me.  Nothing else is needed; you have to save me; you are my hope.  I will therefore always sing O Mary, my hope, you have to save me.

Mary Succors Her Clients In Purgatory.

STORY

A noble lady, who had an only son, was informed one day that he had been killed.  The murderer had by chance taken refuge in her own palace.  She then began to reflect that Mary had forgiven the executioners of her Son; and therefore determined that she also would pardon that criminal for the love of the sorrowful Mary.  She not only did this, but also provided him with a horse, money and clothes, that he might escape.  Her son then appeared to her, and told her that he was saved, and that for her generous conduct to his enemy the divine Mother had delivered him from purgatory, in which otherwise he would have had to suffer for a long time, and that he was then going to Paradise.

PRAYER

O Queen of heaven and earth!  O Mother of the Lord of the world!  O Mary, of all creatures the greatest, the most exalted, and the most amiable! It is true that there are many in this world who neither know you nor love you; but in heaven there are may millions of angels and blessed spirits, who love and praise you continually.  Even in this world, how many happy souls are there not who burn with your love, and live enamoured of your goodness!  O, that I also could love you, O Lady worthy of all love!  O, that I could always remember to serve you, to praise you, to honor you, and engage all to love you!  You have attracted the love of God, whom, by your beauty, you have, so to say, torn from the bosom of his Eternal Father, and engaged to become man, and be your Son.  And shall I, a poor worm of the earth, not be enamoured of you?  No, my most sweet Mother, I also will love you much, and will do all that I can to make others love you also.  Accept, then, O Mary, the desire that I have to love you, and help me to execute it.  I know how favorably your lovers are looked upon by God.  He, after his own glory, desires nothing more than yours, and to see you honored and loved by all.  From you, O Lady, do I expect all; through you the remission of my sins, through you perseverance.  You must assist me at death, and deliver me from purgatory; and finally, you must lead me to heaven.  All this your lovers hope from you, and are not deceived.  I, who love you with so much affection, and above all other things, after God, hope for the same favors.