“Honour My Mother
as I, who am The Word and above all,
honour her;
would I then not desire you
who are dust and ashes
recognise Her as Queen of Heaven,
honouring Her?
My grief of today
is to see how little My creation knows of Her importance.”
(Message of December 22, 1987)
In honouring Our Lady we wish to show all the respect we have for her, to pay homage to the countless graces that have been granted to her, especially the sublime gift of the Divine Motherhood. We would also like to mark our attention to all the merit she has acquired as a true disciple of the Lord, filled with perfect faith and unfailing charity.
The Blessed Virgin Mary’s role in our times, in the Church, in Heaven, and in human history is often interpreted in different ways depending the tradition one was raised under. The True Life in God Messages have revealed to many, now, in our times, “what the eye has not seen” and the “ear has not heard”. It is no different with Mary, the “Mother of Our Lord”.
Our Lord describes much about her role and relationship to humanity, to the Church and to Himself. Mary, herself, has given many messages in True Life in God. Here is one such Message. An urgent message for our times.Mary in Scriptures
What does the Bible say about Mary of Nazareth, the Mother of Jesus Christ? And what is the teaching that these texts want to transmit to the believers?
During many years it was feared that the worship of Mary could compromise the faith in Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and mankind. But Mary has her place in the Creed of the Church, for dogmatic statements about Mary have a very solid biblical foundation.
First of all, Holy Scripture mentions Mary (in Hebrew Miryam), chosen by God to be the Mother of His Son.
Scripture says those words, “Mother of my Lord”; Elizabeth, who was inspired by the Holy Spirit, spoke these words; write: “Of all women You are the most Blessed, and Blessed is the Fruit of Your Womb; why should I be honoured with a visit from the Mother of My Lord?”1 (Message of February 10, 1988).
At the Annunciation, at the moment when God’s promise is fulfilled, Mary pronounces the yes of faith. The New Testament testimony about Mary is not, however, limited to the accounts of Jesus’ childhood in Matthew and Luke.We also encounter Mary during the earthly mission of Jesus2. She is also on the Way of the Cross. She remains faithful to the yes she said at the beginning, in faith, and she stands with “the disciple whom Jesus loved”, at the foot of the Cross3. She is the “Mother of sorrows”. Finally, we meet her again in the early community of Jerusalem in prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit4.
In this story, Mary occupies a unique place, at the moment when the divine promise is fully realized. She is situated in the “fullness of time”, when God sent His Son, “born of a woman”5. She is the one to whom the words of her cousin Elizabeth apply: “Blessed is she who believed”6. Therefore, at the announcement of Jesus’ birth, she is challenged with the same words with which the Old Testament addresses Israel, the “Daughter of Zion” : “Rejoice”7. This “Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!”8. Mary is therefore the Daughter of Zion, the representative of Israel at the hour when her hope is fulfilled.
Mary herself sings of the fulfilment of the promise of the Old Testament in the New Testament, in this hymn which we call the Magnificat9. This text is full of allusions to the Old Testament and at the same time indicates that Mary anticipates the Gospel of the New Testament, especially the Sermon on the Mount, which proclaims the poor, the little ones, the afflicted and the persecuted blessed. Mary is therefore the model and prototype of the Christian faith. She keeps and meditates in her heart what she has seen and heard from God10.
This is what Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants affirm in common about Mary. “Mary is part of the Gospel” states the Protestant Catechism for Adults. “Thus, Mary is the prototype of men who open themselves to God and allow themselves to be filled by God, the prototype of the community of believers, of the Church”.
Mary the New Eve who, “by her obedience, has become the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race”. “Thus, the knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience”11. Thus, the knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience. These assertions in no way contradict the fact that only Jesus Christ is the Saviour of all humanity. Mary is but the humble handmaid of the Lord. She is, like all of us, redeemed by Jesus Christ. But, in the act of redemption, God wants to hear a yes freely pronounced by His creature. Mary’s fiat, Mary’s “yes”: “I am the handmaid of the Lord; May it be done to me according to your word”12, expresses in an exemplary way that God wants to make a covenant with men, to enter into dialogue with them and to give them the opportunity to live as his friends in communion with him.
Titles of Mary
The Lord Himself adorns His Mother with many titles of honor in the Messages. Here are many of them:
Holy Mother of God, (10.2.88 ; 10.5.88 ; 3.12.88 ; 5.10.92 ; 27.1.96 ; 25.3 ; 3.4.96 ; 9.4.96)
Blessed Virgin of virgins, (3.4.96)
Holy Coredemptrix, (11.11.93 ; 25.3.96)
Mother of the Lord, (10.1.90)
Mother of the Incarnate Word, (10.2.88 ; 22.4.90)
Mother of Christ, (6.9.86 ; 9.11.86 ; 29.4.87)
Mother of the Redeemer, (31.1.90)
Mother of divine grace, (25.3.96)
Beloved Mother of God, (10.2.88)
Mother honored by God, (8.10.97 ; 25.1.88 ; 19.3.88)
pray for us ; Mother worthy of honors, (22.12.87)
pray for us ; Mother worthy of veneration, (22.12.87)
Mother who precedes the coming of the Lord, (10.10.90)
Mother who conceived our Savior, (13.12.92)
Mother who conceived God, (14.8.89)
Mother of the True Vine, (4.4.97)
Mother of Divine Love, (4.4.97)
Mother who fed our God, (10.2.88)
Mother whose arms carried the Son through the desert, (27.1.96)
Mother inseparable from God, (26.1.88)
Mother of the incomparable Redemption, (25.3.96 ; 4.4.97)
Mother of our Savior (15.8.88 ; 26.9.88 ; 31.1.90 ; 10.10.90)
Mother of all humanity, (26.9.88 ; 21.11.88 ; 24.11.91 ; 9.9.92 ; 5.10.92)
Mother of Sorrows, (8.1.87 ; 6.8.88 ; 14.11.91)
Mother close to all those who call on You, (25.3.96)
Mother of Perpetual Help, (1.5.92 ; 15.4.96)
Mother of the Immaculate Heart, (25.1.88 ; 30.1.88)
Mother of the disciples, (25.3.96 ; 4.4.97)
Mother of the prophets, (4.4.97)
Mother of charisms, (25.3.96 ; 4.4.97)
Mother of Triumph, (25.3.96 ; 4.4.97)
Mother of unlimited graces, (25.3.96)
Our Mother (Notre Mère), (9.11.86 ; 15.12.86 ; 2.19.87 ; 7.9.87 ; 23.9.87 ; 24.9.87 ; 8.10.87 ; 4.12.87 ; 12.12.87 ; 26.12.87 ; 6.1.88 ; 25.1.88 ; 26.1.88 ; 31.1.88 ; 10.2.88 ; 3.6.88 ; 7.6.88 ; 9.8.88 ; 15.8.88 ; 19.8.88 ; 26.9.88 ; 5.10.88 ; 21.11.88 ; 7.12.88; 22.1.89 ; 3.3.89 ; 26.3.89 ; 13.8.89 ; 13.9.89 ; 10.3.90 ; 15.5.90 ; 31.1.91 ; 7.2.91 ; 8.4.91 ; 13.6.91 ; 18.6.91 ; 2.8.91 ; 4.8.91 ; 10.8.91 ; 12.8.91 ; 15.9.91 ; 5.10.91 ; 17.10.91 ; 13.11.91 ; 3.3.92 ; 4.3.92 ; 20.4.92 ; 1.5.92 ; 5.5.92 ; 15.5.92; 10.6.92 ; 2.7.92 ; 7.7.92 ; 10.7.92 ; 20.7.92 ; 9.9.92 ; 14.9.92 ; 8.10.92 ; 1.11.92 ; 13.12.92 ; 22.2.93 ; 26.4.93 ; 25.5.93 ; 3.6.93 ; 6.12.93 ; 19.4.94 ; 19.1.95 ; 13.10.95 ; 10.11.95 ; 25.3.96 ; 3.4.96 ; 9.4.96 ; 26.1.97 ; 4.4.97 ; 12.4.97 ; 26.1.98 ; 9.4.98
XX Our Mother (Notre Maman), (15.8.88)
Our Educator , (8.6.90)
Virginal breast full of grace and truth, (25.3.96)
The Most Holy of all Virgins, (25.3.96)
Immaculate Conception, (25.3.96)
The most beautiful of women, (5.10.92 ; 11.11.93)
Woman highly favored by God, (27.1.96)
Woman holding the rarest essences of virtues, (5.10.92)
Woman as beautiful as Heaven, (11.11.93)
Woman fully clothed with virtues, (25.3.96)
Woman of unique perfection, (5.10.92 ; 11.11.93)
Woman called Blessed by all generations, (27.1.96)
Woman whose Creator of heaven and earth is delighted with Magnificence, (25.3.96)
Woman who makes demons paralyzed with fear, (25.3.96)
Woman whose Hands shine with Graces, (25.3.96)
Woman placed by God above all, (25.3.96)
Woman radiant with the Glory of God, (11.11.93)
Woman of the Apocalypse, (9.9.92)
Woman clothed with the Sun, (11.11.93 ; 27.1.96 ; 25.3.96)
Woman adorned with the Holy Spirit, (27.1.96)
Sun to illuminate our frightening darkness, (25.3.96)
Great Sign in the Sky, (25.3.96)
Great Sign that illuminates the heavens, terrifying the Darkness, (25.3.96)
Pillar of fire resplendent in the night to guide our steps, (25.3.96)
Burning Furnace of Divine Love, (25.3.96)
The Most Beautiful Love, (25.3.96)
Incessant prayer, (25.3.96)
Unceasing adoration for God, (25.3.96)
Repairing Incense, (25.3.96)
Comforter of our Comforter, (11.11.93)
Co-Redemptrix of our Redeemer, (11.11.93)
Pure emanation of the Glory of God, (25.3.96)
The Sweetest Song of the Psalmists, (11.11.93)
New Song of God, (25.3.96)
Harp of God, (25.3.96)
Citadel of God, (25.3.96)
City of God, (3.4.96)
August Treasure of God, (25.3.96)
Masterpiece of the Father, (11.11.93 ; 25.3.96)
Sublime Masterpiece of Yahweh, (25.3.96)
Delight of the Heart of God, (3.4.96)
Delight of the Soul of God, (11.11.93)
Paradise for God, (25.3.96)
Image of the Goodness of God, (25.3.96)
Grace in Grace, (11.11.93)
Reflection of the Eternal Light of God, (11.11.93)
Throne of the King of kings, (25.3.96)
Throne of Wisdom, (25.2.98)
Throne of God, (25.3.96 ; 4.4.97)
Celestial Throne of the Most Holy Trinity, (4.4.97)
Radiant Tabernacle of God, (25.3.96)
Theme of the Joy of God, (11.11.93)
Honor and Pride of God, (11.11.93)
Virtuous Virginal Heart, (25.3.96 ; 4.4.97)
Royal Heart full of benevolence and kindness, (4.4.97)
Blessed Heart of blessed hearts, (25.3.96)
Luminous Heart, (25.3.96)
Heart as bright as the day, (25.3.96)
Heart burning with boundless love, (25.3.96)
Incomparable Heart, (25.3.96)
Most Holy Heart of Holies, (25.3.96)
Heart which carried our King, (25.3.96)
Heart which shared everything until the Cross, (25.3.96)
Heart promised to triumph with the Heart of God, (25.3.96)
Heart united to the Heart of God in One Heart, (25.3.96)
Heart of the Heart of God, (25.3.96)
Image and likeness of the Sacred Heart, (25.3.96)
Ship of True Light, (11.11.93)
Vessel of the Glory of God, (11.11.93)
Vessel of the Word made flesh, (11.11.93)
New Eve, (25.3.96)
True Vine of the Vineyard, (25.3.96)
Enclosed garden, (5.10.92 ; 25.3.96)
Sealed fountain, (5.10.92 ; 25.3.96)
Fountain making the gardens fertile, (25.3.96)
Ark of the Covenant, (10.10.90)
Ark of the Covenant of the Divine Works of God, (4.5.88)
Ark of the Covenant of the Word of God, (26.12.87)
Gate of Heaven, (10.10.90 ; 11.11.93)
Door wide open to Heaven, (25.3.96)
Path that leads everyone to God, (25.3.96)
Morning star, (11.11.93)
Comfort of our pains, (25.3.96)
Our Lawyer, (27.7.92)
Our Defender, (1.11.92)
Our Shield, (29.1.88)
Our Rampart, (2.8.91 ; 21.7.92)
Mediator of all kindness , (4.4.97)
Crown of Splendor of God, (25.3.96)
Bride of the Holy Spirit, (11.11.93 ; 25.3.96 ; 4.4.97)
Queen crowned by the Hand of God, (23.3.88)
Crowned queen in the presence of all the heavenly court, (25.3.96)
Queen crowned with twelve stars, (8.10.87 ; 11.11.93)
Queen of Heaven, (8.10.87 ; 12.12 ; 22.12.87 ; 10.2.88 ; 23.3.88 ; 10.5.88 ; 3.12.88 ; 12.6.89 ; 10.10.90 ; 13.10.91 ; 17.10.91 ; 11.11.93 ; 25.3.96 ; 3.4.96)
Queen honored by God, (8.10.87)
Queen always in the presence of the throne of the Most High, (25.3.96)
Queen of Creatures, (25.3.96)
Queen of Angels, (25.3.96)
** Queen of the Earth, (25.3.96)
Queen of Peace (10/10/90 ; 3.11.90)
Why the Rosary
One of the most formidable means to combat evil and minimize its effects in the world today is the recitation of the Rosary. This traditional prayer of the Church has long been honoured as the “chain that will bind Satan”, and as “the weapon for these End Times.” Many saints recited the Rosary, in particular, St. Padre Pio, who would tell all those who recommended themselves to his prayers, “Love the Madonna; recite the Rosary.” St. Padre Pio’s friars would relate that he recited the Rosary continuously and considered it the short path to holiness. Our Lady of Fatima, said, “Say the Rosary every day to obtain world peace and an end to war.” St. Pope Pius X prayed the Rosary daily, as did his successor St. Pope John Paul the Great who related, “Would you like me to tell you a ‘secret’? It is simple, and after all, is no secret: Pray, pray much. Say the Rosary every day.”
In the True Life in God messages, Jesus reveals that “by persevering,1 the devil weakens; evil diminishes; learn the Holy Rosary, embellish My Church… love will increase and evil will decrease” (June 2, 1988); “Never stop praying your Rosary; come with joy to pray the Rosary; the rich man will not reply, but the poor man will come to Me with his Rosary and in his poverty I shall listen to him while he prays this simple prayer; for all that is poor and simple is deadly to Satan, who is Vanity Itself; this is one of the main reasons why Satan hates the Rosary” (March 18, 1991); “Please Me by praying the Holy Rosary; feel the Mysteries, see them through your Holy Mother’s Eyes; these Mysteries that your era tries to rationalise; daughter, they still have not understood that I want them as children, innocent, with a child-like-faith” (June 4, 1988).
When we pray the Rosary we are invited by God and Mary to do so with a spirit of recollection, and by internalizing the events upon which we meditate and contemplate. Jesus teaches us how to do so:
“Elevate your soul to Me by reducing your external thoughts, recollect yourself and feel My Presence; let your soul rise from meditation into contemplation; reach Me your God in silence; come to Me in contemplative adoration; see? Pray the rosary now… I am listening together with My Mother… beware not to lose your concentration…” (December 4, 1989).
Rev. J.L. Iannuzzi, S.T.L., S.Th.D.
If we search the messages for the phrase, “Pray the Rosary” we are given ten references. Nine of these are requests or invitations from Heaven. The International Prayer Book for TLIG prayer Groups contains both the Marian Rosary and the Orthodox Rosary. Many have no problem with the Orthodox prayer (the “Jesus prayer”) but some still have questions about the five decade Rosary either because they find it difficult or because it is “too Catholic” and not part of their tradition – yet, Jesus and His Mother ask us to use it.
Research shows that the “Catholic” Rosary was known to Christians in the West before the Reformation. It is, then, a pre-Reformation prayer. Legend tells us that it originated with St. Dominic (founder of the Order of Preachers or the Dominicans), but there is no real evidence for this. The Rosary as we now have it dates from the seventeenth century, but this is a development from vita Christi (The Life of Christ) Meditations dating, at least, from the twelfth century, and Our Dear Lady’s Psalter (as set out by a Dominican in 1483). It is worthwhile looking at these two devotions.
It was another Dominic, a Cistercian monk, who put together meditation on the life of Christ with the repetition of Ave Maria in sets of 50 prayers. This is dated as between 1409 and 1415. This is the essence of the Rosary as we know it today.
A study of German devotional writing of the Middle Ages (by Anne Winston) suggests that by the thirteenth century, the ‘Marien Rosenkrantz’ (Rose Garland or wreath) consisted of the recitation of 50 ‘Aves’ (not, by then the complete ‘Hail Mary’ as we have it now, although the intention of the second part is virtually the same). To keep track of these prayers, a string of beads came into being (a ‘Zapel’ or chaplet) which became known as the ‘Ave’ or ‘Paternoster’ beads because they were used to mark off these prayers. At the same time the practice of private recitation of the psalms began, as a replacement for the traditional canonical hours. The Marian Psalter included verses as introductions for each psalm interpreting them in relation to Christ or His Holy Mother. As time progressed, the psalms themselves disappeared, leaving the stanzas and then, instead of the psalms, ‘Paternosters’ or ‘Ave Marias’.
Further development is associated with the Carthusians at Trèves. Adolf of Essen and a fellow monk, Dominic of Prussia combined the recitation of ‘Ave’s’ with meditations on the life of Christ and Our Lady and included what came to be known as the ‘Jesus Clause’. The Hail Mary became a kind of ‘Jesus prayer’ because of these additional clauses. From this time we can certainly say that the Marian Rosary was Christocentric.
In 1483 the Dominican book, “Our Dear Lady’s Psalter” reduced the 50 meditation points to 15. Except for the last two these correspond to the 15 mysteries we know today. Another Dominican, Alberto da Castello, wrote “The Rosary of the Glorious Virgin” (1521). He was the first to use the term ‘mysteries’ for the meditation points.
During the sixteenth century the Rosary of 15 mysteries, with the Jesus Clauses, became the accepted form.
Another interesting point is that the first part of the Hail Mary is found in the Eastern Liturgy from the fifth century. Marian devotion is not a Roman Catholic invention. The Orthodox world is rich with both beautiful prayers and magnificent icons relating to the Mother of God. Early Christian Tradition leaves us in no doubt that asking Mary’s prayers is a normal part of orthodox Christian life.
If most people no longer use the Jesus Clauses (there are some Rosary books which do) this does not mean that the Rosary is not Christocentric. We need only refer to the writings of modern Popes, like Paul V1 and the late John Paul 11 to see that. The Rosary invites us into the Gospel story in the company of the Mother of Christ. There can be no surer guide. As we know from the messages of ‘True Life in God’, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, wants us to have a proper respect and love for His Mother. She, in her turn says, “Do whatever He tells you”.
(Please see the book “Beads and Prayers: The Rosary in History and Devotion” by John D. Miller)
Fr John Abberton (May his memory be immortal)
“For My Sake will you learn the Rosary?”Mary Our Mother
“again I tell you daughter, that My Mother is your Mother too, you are Her children, it is written in My Word and I am telling it again for those who do not know, Scripture says, in the book of Revelation, that when Satan failed in his pursuit of My Mother, he was enraged with Her and went away to make war on the rest of Her children, that is, all who obey the Commandments and bear witness for Me” (October 8, 1987)
“My Soul suffers intolerably, as well as the Soul of your Holy Mother when We see Our children heading straight into Satan’s traps” (January 6, 1988)
“My Mother’s Immaculate Heart is united to Mine… I desire you to approach My Mother and honour Her as I honour Her; I desire that every knee bends, honouring Her; I desire you to pray the Rosary and Hail your Holy Mother; I want you to repair your sins, asking Her to teach you” (January 25, 1988)
“I, Vassula, am everybody’s Mother” (January 26, 1988)
“Vassula, seek Me near My Mother, your Holy Mother; We are together” (January 31, 1988)
“I, who am God, grew in My Mother’s Womb; She nourished your God, creation! I fed from Her; I, who am the Word, love Her and honour Her; Vassula, in the very beginning I had given you an account of My Crucifixion; remember when I said, “My gaze fell on My Mother, I looked upon Her and Our Hearts spoke: I am giving you My beloved children to be Your children too, You are to be their Mother””. (February 10, 1988)
“Scripture never lies; Scripture says those words, “Mother of