"GOD": PERSONAL, CARING
...OR BLIND ENERGY?
Sister Jean Marie of the
Sacred Heart, OCD
YAHWEH
- "I AM; WHO AM WITH YOU" -
is My Name" (Exodus 3:14)
CLICK for full thesis
III. EXPERIMENTAL KNOWLEDGE OF GOD:
"He that loves Me, shall be loved by My Father: and
I will love him and will manifest myself to Him" (John 14:21)
GOD'S MANIFESTATIONS ARE MANY AND VARIED. But once a person has been touched by God, he/she knows the
Presence of a Personal Loving Father.
The Scripture connotation of a just man is one that "walks with
God" (Gen.5:22;6:9) that takes Yahwey as his Friend and constant companion
in life; who knows 'God loves me' and seeks in truth to please and love Him in
return.
"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father
will love him, and we will come to him and make our home in him" (John
14:23)
There is an experiemental knowledge of God that is the peace of a
Presence accompanied by inner joy.
Sometimes this is predominantly an experience of intellectual light,
sometimes of love and sometimes of both.
God becomes a constant Presence in our lives giving clarity of
understanding, strength in the midst of
weakness, and serenity in the time of sorrow.
Christ says,: "I no longer call you servants because the
servant does not know what his Master does.
I call you friends because all that I have heard of the Father I have
made known to you" (John
15:15). The following writings are
signs of God's living work in souls.
WRITINGS
OF HOLY SOULS ENLIGHTENED BY GOD'S SPIRIT:
(What follows is an unfinished work that shall
more and more be added to as time allows)
"Appointed
and End Times" ("back to
Daniel")
Vision of JULIAN OF NORWICH, Anchoress
of 13th Century England:
"All Shall Be
Well"
"Our Lord showed that a deed shall be done, and He shall do it, and mankind
shall do nothing but sin, and sin shall not prevent his Goodness from
working. He showed that I should take it wisely, faithfully, and
trustingly. But what this deed should be was kept secret from me.
And I saw that He wills not that we dread to know the things He shows. He
shows them because He would have us know them. By which knowing He would
have us love Him and have endless joy in Him. (This deed and the
other -Chap.32- are not both the same but two different ones. This one
shall be known sooner ("appointed time").
And the time shall be when we come to heaven - 2nd Coming). It is known that I
have done miracles before, many, most high, marvelous, worshipful and
great. And so as I have done, I do now continually, and shall do in
coming of time. It is known that before
miracles come sorrow
and anquish and tribulation, that we should know our own weakness and
feebleness, to make us meek and to cry to God for help and grace.
Miracles come after that, and they come of the high Might, Wisdom and Goodness
of God. Then means He thus:
He will that we be not borne over low for sorrow and tempests that fall
to us; for it has ever been so before miracle-coming." (Writings, Chap.36)
"Our
Lord said: "All things shall be well". There are evil deeds and so
great harms
taken, that it seems to us that it were impossible that ever it should come to
a good end. And thus in these five words, "I make
all things well"('End Time'), I
understand a mighty comfort of all the works of our Lord God that are yet to
come. There is a Deed the which the 
Blessed Trinity shall do in the last Days and when the Deed shall
be and how it shall be done is unknown to all creatures that are beneath Christ
and shall be till when it is done. (The Goodness and the Love of our Lord
God wills that we learn that it shall be. And the Might and the Wisdom of
Him by the same Love will hide it. And the cause why He wills that we
know this Deed shall be, is that he would have us more eased in our soul and
peaced in love. This is that Great Deed ordained of our Lord God from
without beginning, treasured and hid in His Blessed Breast, only known to
Himself; by which Deed He shall make all things well. For as the Blissful
Trinity made all things of naught, right so the same Blessed Trinity shall make
well all that is not well. Our Faith is grounded in God's word, and it
belongs to our Faith that we believe that God's word shall be saved in all
things. This this is the Great Deed that our Lord shall do, in which Deed
He shall save His word in all things and He shall make all well that is not
well." (Chap.32)
CHRIST'S
CHURCH
ST. JOHN BOSCO, Priest
Vision of the Bark of Peter in Storm:
THE
VISION OF THE TWO COLUMNS: On May 30, 1862 Don Bosco recounted that, in a dream, he had seen an immense sea,
on which a great many ships were arranged for battle, against a larger and
taller ship. He also saw others which
were defending the tall ship. Here are
his words:
"In
the midst of this endless sea,
two solid columns, a short distance apart, soar high into the sky. One is surmounted by a statue of the
Immaculate Virgin, at whose feet a large inscription reads: "Help of Christians". The other, far loftier and sturdier,
supports a Host (Holy
Eucharist) of proportionate size, and bears beneath it the inscription, "Salvation of Believers".
The
flagship commander - the Roman Pontiff - standing at the helm, strains every muscle to steer his ship
between the two columns, from whose summit hang many anchors, and strong hooks
linked to chains. The entire enemy
fleet closes in, to intercept and sink the flagship at all costs. They bombard it with everything they
have: books and pamphlets, incendiary bombs,
firearms, cannons. The battle rages
ever more furious. Beaked prows ram the
flagship again and again, but to no avail, as, unscathed and undaunted, it
keeps on its course. At times, a formidable
ram splinters a gaping hole into its hull, but, immediately, a breeze from the
two columns
seals the gash.
Meanwhile,
enemy cannons blow up; firearms and beaks fall to pieces; ships crack up and
sink to the bottom. In blind fury, the
enemy takes to hand-to-hand combat, cursing and blaspheming. Suddenly the Pope falls, seriously
wounded. He is instantly helped up, but
struck a second time, dies. A shout
of victory rises from the enemy, and wild rejoicing sweeps their ships. But no sooner is the Pope dead, than another
takes his place. The captains of the
auxiliary ships elected him so quickly, that the news of the Pope's death
coincides with that of his successor's election. The enemy's self-assurance wanes.
Breaking
through all resistance, the new Pope steers his ship safely between the two
columns; first, to the one surmounted by the Host, and then to the other,
topped by the statue of the Virgin. At
this point, something unexpected happens. The enemy ships panic and disperse, colliding with and scuttling
each other.
Some
auxiliary ships, which had gallantly fought alongside their flagship, are the
first to tie up at the two columns.
Many others, which had fearfully kept far away from the fight, stand
still, cautiously waiting until the wrecked enemy ships vanish under the
waves. Then they, too, head for the
two columns, tie up at the swinging hooks, and ride safe and tranquil beside
the flagship. A great calm now covers the sea".
THE PROCESSION (St. John Bosco): "And
to you, Rome, what will happen? You admire nothing else in your Sovereign
except luxury, forgetting that you and your glory stands upon Golgotha. Now he is old, defenseless, and
despoiled; and yet at his word, the word of one who was in bondage, the whole
world trembles. The power of the
Lord is in His hands. He scatters His
enemies as a cloud. The Venerable Old
Man attires himself in all his ancient raiment. There will come again a violent hurricane. Iniquity is consummated. Sin will have its end. And before two full moons of the month of
the flowers will have run their course, the rainbow of peace will rise above
the earth...There shall come a great warrior from the North carrying a
banner and on the right hand that supports it is written: "THE IRRESISTIBLE HAND OF THE
LORD" At that very moment there went out to meet him the Venerable
Old Man of Lazio (Pope) with a brilliantly glowing
torch.
The banner then increased in size and turned from black to snow
white. In the middle of the banner, in
letters of gold, there was written THE NAME OF HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO ALL
THINGS. The warrior with his men
bowed and shook hands with the Venerable Old Man
PROPHECY OF PREMOL - 5th
Century
War, war, war! Civil and foreign wars! Mourning and death everywhere! Famine
over the whole world. Why, O Lord, dost
Thou not stop all this with Thy arm?
The cities are destroyed , the natural elements are set loose, the earth
quakes everywhere. But mercy, mercy for
Rome! But Thou hearest not my
entreaties, and Rome also collapses in tumult. And I see the King of Rome with his Cross and his tiara, shaking
the dust off his shoes, and hastening in his flight to other shores. Thy Church, O Lord, is torn apart by her own
children. One camp is faithful to the
fleeing Pontiff, the other is subject to the new government of Rome which
has broken the Tiara. But Almigbty God
will, in His mercy, put an end to this confusion and a new age will begin. Then, said the Spirit, this is the beginning
of the End of Time"
OUR LADY OF LASALETTE (appearance
in 1846 to two shepherd children)
"A Protestant nation of the North will be converted and by that means the
rest of the world will be brought to the knowledge of the true faith".
MARY LATASTE - 1847
During three years and a little more, this city (Rome) shall appear
overcome. But my Mother will come
down to that city: She will take the hand of the old man sitting on the throne,
and will say to him: Lo! the hour is
come; rise up; behold thy enemies! I make them disappear, one after the other,
and they shall disappear forevermore.
Thou hast given me glory both on earth and in heaven. Behold, men venerate thy name, venerate thy
courage, venerate thy power; thou shall live, and I will live with thee. Dry up thy tears, old man; I bless
thee!"
BLESSED SISTER KATARINA
EMMERICK - 1774-1824
"I
saw a strange church
being built against every rule...No angels were supervising the building operations.
There was only division and chaos. There was something proud, presumptuous, and
violent about it, and they seemed to be very successful. I did not see a single Angel nor a single
saint helping in the work. I saw
also the relationship between the two popes...I saw how baleful would be
the consequences of this false Church.
I saw it increase in size; heretics of every kind came into the city.
The local clergy grew lukewarm, and I saw a great darkness ...Then the
vision seemed to extend on every side.
Whole Catholic communities were being oppressed, harassed, confined, and
deprived of their freedom. I saw many
churches close down, great miseries everywhere, wars and bloodshed. A wild and ignorant mob took to violent
action. But it did not last long. I saw again the Blessed Virgin ascend on the
Church and spread her mantle. I saw a
Pope who was at once gentle, and very firm...I saw a great renewal, and the
Church rose high in the sky."
ST TERESA OF AVILA
Once
in prayer, with much recollection, sweetness, and repose, I saw myself, as it
seemed to me, surrounded by angels, and was close unto God...I began to
intercede with His Majesty on behalf of the Church. I was given to understand the great services which a
particular Order would render in the latter days, and the courage with
which its members would maintain the faith (Blessed Anne of St. Bartholomew, Carmelite & St
Teresa's traveling companion says "The Order is Ours" - National Library of Madrid)
(The following visions are all part of the above but under
different variations. The "Large
Book" is always Scripture;
Elijah is the spiritual father of the Carmelite Order, founded by
the early hermits on Mt Carmel in Palestine.)
"I
had a vision of a Saint, whose Order was in some degree fallen. In his hands he held a LARGE BOOK which
he opened. And then told me,
"In times to come this Order will flourish; it will have many
martyrs".
On
another occasion, when I was at Matins in choir, six or seven persons (apocalyptic
symbol - 7 angels), who
seemed to me to be of this Oder, appeared and stood before me with swords in
their hands. The meaning of that, as I
think, is that they are to be defenders of the faith, for at another
time, when I was in prayer, I fell into a trance, and stood in spirit on a wide
plain, where many persons were fighting; and the members of this Order were
fighting with great zeal. Their faces were beautiful, and as it were on
fire. Many they laid low on the ground
defeated, others they killed. It seemed
to me to be a battle with heretics."
CARMEN GENESIS
Francis
Thompson (excerpts)
Sing
how the uncreated Light
Moved
first upon the deep and night…
Creation’s
primal plot…:
And
what thy Maker in the whole
Worked,
little maker, in thy soul
Thou work’st, and men know not….
Elias,
when thou comest! Yea,
Mak’st
straight the intelligential way
For
God to pace into…I
start,
Thy secrets lie so bare!
LILY OF THE KING
Poem
by Francis Thompson
O Lily of the King! low lies thy silver wing,
And long has been the hour of thine
unqueening;
AND
THY SCENT OF PARADISE ON THE NIGHT-WIND SPILLS ITS SIGHS,
NOR ANY TAKE THE SECRETS OF ITS
MEANING.
O
Lily of the King, I speak a heavy thing,
O patience, most sorrowful of daughters!
Lo,
the hour is at had for the troubling of the land,
And red shall be the breaking of the
waters.
Sit
fast upon thy stalk, when the blast shall with thee talk,
With the mercies of the King for thine
awning;
AND
THE JUST UNDERSTAND THAT THINE HOUR IS AT HAND,
THINE HOUR AT HAND WITH POWER IN THE
DAWNING.
When
nations lie in blood, and their kings a broken brood,
Look up, O most sorrowful of daughters!
Lift
up thy head and hark what sounds are in the dark,
For His feet are coming to thee on the
waters!
O
Lily of the King! I shall not see, that sing,
I
shall not see the hour of thy queening!
BUT MY SONG SHALL SEE, AND WAKE
like a flower that dawn-winds shake,
AND
SIGH WITH JOY THE ODOURS OF ITS MEANING.
O
Lily of the King, REMEMBER THEN THE THING
THAT THIS DEAD MOUTH SANG; and thy daughters,
As
they dance before His way, sing there on the Day
WHAT I SANG WHEN THE NIGHT WAS ON THE
WATERS!
*******
THE AFTER WOMAN
(excerpts)
Francis Thompson
Daughter
of the newer Eve…
The
celestial traitress play,
And
all mankind to bliss betray…
Give
me song, as She is, new…
FAIR,
I HAD A DREAM OF THEE
When
my young heart beat prophecy..
How
my desire desired your day,
…Then
EDEN’S
LOPPED TREE SHALL SHOOT AGAIN
For
who Christ’s eyes shall miss, with those
Eyes
for evident nuncios…
WHO
SHALL NOT FEEL THE HEAVENS HID
IMPEND,
at the tremble of your lid…
YEA,’FORE
THE SILVER APOCALYPSE
FAIL,
AT THE UNSEALING OF YOUR LIPS?
When
to love you is (O
Christ’s Spouse!)
To
love the beauty of His house;
THEN
COME THE ISAIAN DAYS; the old
Shall
dream; and our young men behold
Vision—yea,
the vision of Thabor-mount…
BECAUSE
IN ALL MEN’S HEARTS SHALL BE
THE
SEEING AND THE PROPHECY…
When
Egypt’s spoils are Israel’s right
And
Day fulfils the married arms of Night.
BUT
HERE MY LIPS ARE STILL,
UNTIL
YOU
AND THE HOUR SHALL BE REVEALED,
THIS SONG IS SUNG, AND SUNG NOT, AND ITS WORDS ARE SEALED.
THE LITTLE BLACK ROSE
Aubrey
De Vere
The
little black rose shall be red at last ;
What
made it black but the march wind dry,
And
the tear of the widow that fell on it fast?
It
shall redden the hills when June is nigh.
The
silk of the Kine shall rest at last;
What
drove her forth but the dragon-fly?
In
the golden vale she shall feed full fast
With
her mild gold horn and slow dark eye.
The
wounded wood-dove lies dead at last!
The
pine long bleeding it shall not die!
This song is secret—mine ear it passed
In
a wind on the plains at Athenry.
HUDSON
VALLEY (excerpts)
- Nation of the
"Great Lakes" -
by Dag Hammarskjold
- First Secretary to the U.N.
A
warm autumn night...
Far
away a heart stops.
On
the drawing-room table
The BOOK
became soiled,
And
the text was lost.
When
the God's play
They
look for a string
That
has never been touched by men.
May
I be offered
To
that in the offering
Which
will be offered...
Be
pure and dare--
In
this fight with the mountain,
With
myself against me...
FOR HIM WHO HAS FAITH,
THE LAST MIRACLE
SHALL BE GREATER THAN THE FIRST.