![\"Assumption\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/616\/2016\/02\/Assumption.jpg\")
<\/a>Pope Francis has often talked about \u00a0the importance of Virgin Mary\u2019s role in the redemption of man.<\/p>\nPope Francis opened his first morning as pontiff by praying and delivering a bouquet of flowers at Rome\u2019s main basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary, He placed it at the feet of the image of Santa Maria Salus Populi Romani (Protectress of the Roman People), also known as the Virgin of Snows. Pope Francis knelt for 10 minutes and concluded with the singing of the Salve Regina together with those who accompanied him.<\/p>\n
It has become abundantly clear, to many Vatican observers, that the Blessed Mother will play a major role in the New Evangelization\u201d in the years ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew Evangelization\u201d can mean many things to many people but for Cardinal Ivan Dias \u2013 Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the phrase not only means that Catholics should spread the \u201cGood News\u201d of the Gospels, but should also understand that, in today\u2019s world, spiritual warfare is a reality and that we are in the \u201cmidst of a fierce battle between good and evil\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n Cardinal Ivan Dias superbly illustrates what\u2019s at stake for the world in his foreword to Stephen Walford\u2019s new book Heralds of the Second Coming.<\/p>\n By Cardinal Ivan Dias<\/p>\n Catholic Church, at the dawn of the third millennium after Christ, finds itself in the midst of a fierce battle between the forces of good and evil, between God and Satan, resulting from the fall of our first parents Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This ferocious combat has wound its way through history and will continue until the end of time. The intensity of this con\ufb02ict has increased most notably in the past two centuries, as the forces of evil have misled a large segment of humanity to bow before the pseudo-gods of rationalism, secularism, and relativism: their aim is to create a world where God is irrelevant, and is replaced with the idols of hedonism and materialism, while banishing the natural law and conscience to history.<\/p>\n The popes of the past century have recognized this assault and spoken of it in prophetic terms encouraging the Church to read the signs of the times in the light of its eschatological journey towards the new heaven and new earth.<\/p>\n A decisive moment in the spiritual combat was when the Blessed Virgin entered into the battle fray in the nineteenth century with her apparitions at Rue du Bac in Paris, and thereafter at La Salette and Lourdes in France, and in many other places all around the world, some of which still await the approval of the Holy See.<\/p>\n These supernatural events could, in a sense, open the pages of the Book of Revelation with more clarity, as in chapter twelve, narrating the confrontation between the \u201cWoman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars\u201d (12:1), and a \u201cgreat red dragon\u201d (12:1-17). It is the same Woman mentioned in Genesis when God cursed the serpent saying: \u201cI shall put enmities between you and the Woman, between your seed and her seed: she shall crush your head\u201d (3:15). Mary is, indeed, the Woman of Genesis and the Woman of the Apocalypse. The Marian era that is reaching its climax now is shrouded in the mystery of Divine providence.<\/p>\n It is preparing the Church for the final showdown between God and Satan, involving the persecution of Christians by the Antichrist and the inevitable martyrdom that will follow, as the last part of the third secret of Fatima would seem to foretell. The Holy Spirit has guided the recent popes to understand the importance of these challenging times and to fulfill certain wishes from heaven in preparation for the final clash: for instance, the Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Divine Mercy devotion and dedicating the second Sunday of Easter to it, and the recitation of the Holy Rosary. In their ordinary magisterium, they have drawn our attention to the crisis unfolding; we may recall the warnings of modernism and apostasy of St. Pius X, the mystical intuition of Pius XII and the \u201csmoke of Satan\u201d seen by Paul VI.<\/p>\n On the other hand, the past century, in particular, has abounded in signs pointing towards \u201ca new heaven and a new earth.\u201d Pope John XXIII prayed for a New Pentecost and convoked the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council which, besides strengthening the inner cohesion and sanctity of the faithful, opened avenues of dialogue with other Christian communities, with non-Christians, and even with non-believers. His successors toiled unceasingly to promote \u201ca civilization of love.\u201d Blessed John Paul II gave a sharper focus to the eschatological dimension of the Church as he proclaimed a \u201cnew advent.\u201d Pope Benedict XVI stated recently: \u201cIndeed, it was a concern of John Paul II to make clear that we are looking ahead to the coming of Christ: that consequently the One who has come is also, even more so, the One who is to come and that, from this perspective, we should live out our faith toward the future\u201d (Light of the World, 63).<\/p>\n For the great Polish Pontiff, a joyful watchfulness for the second advent of Jesus was to be an ever-present theme of his \u2013 even calling the youth of the Church \u201csentinels who keep watch, preparing for the glorious return of the risen Lord.\u201d Pope Benedict XVI has also spoken prophetically in similar fashion in recent years declaring: \u201cOne day, not far off, everything will find its fulfillment in the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom of justice and peace\u201d (First Vespers of Advent, 2009). He has also prayed for the hastening of the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary at the Shrine of Fatima, and in union with his great predecessor urged vigilance from all the faithful in the face of the gathering dark clouds. For our present Holy Father, truly a theologian pope, the Catholic Church must awaken from its interior sinfulness and be purified, as it awaits what the Lord will allow for its passion and resurrection \u2013 for only in this way will the Lord find faith on earth when He returns (cf. Lk. 18:8).<\/p>\n What the popes of the Marian era have given us is a prophetic stream running alongside that of private revelations from visionaries and mystics. They confirm, through the authority of their office, the knowledge that we live in days leading towards the greatest triumph of God and the installation of His eternal Kingdom. They speak of hope and joy for the complete renewal of the Universe, and in doing so invite us to live like the saints immersed in the love of God and neighbor. There are many signs taking place on earth and in the heavens that point towards the dawning of a new day. In spite of the pain and suffering endured by so many throughout the world we can live our faith, safe in the knowledge that the final victory of good over evil is already assured and that God is preparing the fulfillment of the great prophecy found in the Book of Revelation: \u201cAnd God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things have passed away\u201d (Rev. 21:4).<\/p>\n The Blessed Virgin Mary has an important role to play in Christ Our Lord\u2019s Second Advent. St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Monfort begins his renownedTreatise on the True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary with these words: \u201cIt was through the Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus came into the world, and it is also through her that He must reign in the world.\u201d It is indeed amazing to see how Mary has been involved in the well-being of the children she received at the foot of Jesus\u2019 cross on Calvary.<\/p>\n Who can forget her many apparitions from Akita in Japan to Kibeho in Rwanda; from Walsingham and Aylesford in Great Britain to Lavang in Vietnam; from Knock in Ireland to Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina; from Paris, La Salette, and Lourdes in France to Vellankanni in India; from Saragozza and Garabandal in Spain to Guadalupe in Mexico; from Fatima in Portugal to Naju in Korea; from Cuapa in Nicaragua to Alt\u00f6tting in Germany; from San Nicholas in Argentina and Czestochowa in Poland to Aparecida in Brazil; from Amsterdam in the Netherlands to Zeitoun in Egypt; from Beauraing and Banneux in Belgium to Betania in Venezuela; and \u2013 in Italy \u2013 from Pompei, Siracusa, and Civitavecchia to Saint Mary Major, Sant\u2019Andrea delle Fratte, and Tre Fontane in Rome.<\/p>\n The Blessed Virgin is weaving an enormous network, building up a large army of her devoted children in order to launch a frontal and final assault against Satan, and thus paving the way for the glorious victory of Jesus Christ, her beloved Son. Truly: \u201cWho is she who comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?\u201d (Song 6:10).<\/p>\n The exact day and hour of Christ Our Lord\u2019s second coming is a closely guarded secret in the bosom of God our heavenly Father. It remains for us to heed Jesus\u2019 exhortation: \u201cBe prepared, because it will come upon you like a thief in the night.\u201d<\/p>\n Stephen Walford\u2019s book, Heralds of the Second Coming: Our Lady, the Divine Mercy and the Popes of the Marian Era from Blessed Pius IX to Benedict XVI, will be a beacon of light to many, exhorting all to watch and pray that those who will go through the \u201cgreat tribulation\u201d may persevere with courage in the \u201cFaith of our Fathers living still through dungeon, fire, and sword\u201d until Christ\u2019s final victory over Satan, thanks to Mary, His Immaculate Mother and ours as well.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Cardinal Ivan Dias Feast of Blessed Pius IX, Pope Francis has often talked about \u00a0the importance of Virgin Mary\u2019s role in the redemption of man. Pope Francis opened his first morning as pontiff by praying and delivering a bouquet of flowers at Rome\u2019s main basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary, He placed it at the feet of the image of Santa Maria Salus […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2537,"featured_media":1030,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1028","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-medjugorje"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nPrefect Emeritus of the Congregation for
\nthe Evangelization of Peoples;
\nMember, Congregation for
\nthe Doctrine of the Faith<\/p>\n
\nFebruary 7, 2012<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"