Spread the good news of Sr. Marie!

Recently I've posted articles and biographies in German, Spanish, and French. Soon there will be a French translation of the long biography. Please share these with your contacts around the world. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to help us speak of Sr. Marie in many tongues.

If you can help with translations of either the short bio (see bottom of this blog page), or the long biography (see left toolbar), or if you find any articles about Mary's House that include reference to Sr. Marie's critical contribution, please write to sr.marie@yahoo.com

Also...Ask everyone you know to sign the online petition on the left of this page and most of all pray, pray, pray!

Thank you!

+JMJ+

Biographie von Sr. Marie de Mandat-Grancey - Deutsch

Sr. Marie de Mandat-Grancey (Schwester der christlichen Liebe) wurde 1837 als
Tochter einer angesehen Familie auf dem Familiengrundstueck in Chateau de
Grancey (Burgund), Frankreich geboren.

1858 trat sie als Schwester der christlichen Liebe des Hl. Vinzenz von Paul der
Gemeinschaft St.Sulpice in Paris bei. Am 27.September 1862 legte sie ihr
Geluebde ab. Nach Jahren im Krankenhausdienst in Frankreich wurde sie 1886 zur
Missionsarbeit in die Tuerkei gesandt um dort im franzoesischen
Marinekrankenhaus der Stadt Smyrna Dienst an verwundeten Soldaten zu leisten.
1890 wurde sie Oberin der dortigen Gemeinschaft sowie des Marinekrankenhauses.
Waehrend dieser Zeit wurde sie eine große Foerderin und Stuetze einer Gruppe
vinzentinischer Lazaristen und Archaeologen, und half bei der Suche und
Identifizierung eines Hauses (29. Juli 1891) indem einst Maria, die Mutter Jesu im
ersten Jahrhundert nach Christus gelebt haben soll.

Neben ihrer strengglaeubigen und frommen Gesinnung besass Sr.Marie die Gabe
grossen Einfuehlungsvermoegens.

Am 15. November 1892 sicherte sie den Erhalt des Marien-Hauses gegen vielerlei
Hindernisse. Sie tat dies mit unbaendigem Engagement.

Die Besonderheit des Marien-Hauses (Meryem Ana Evi) ist, dass es eine geheiligte
Staette sowohl fuer Christen als auch fuer Muslime ist. Meryemana (Marien-Haus)
ist auch das angebliche Sterbehaus Marias, der Mutter Jesu. Meryem heißt Maria
und Ana heißt Mutter (Meryem ana). Das Haus der Mutter Maria oder Marien Haus
heißt Meryem Ana Evi auf tuerkisch.

Papst Paul VI besuchte das Haus am 26. Juli 1976 und Papst Johannes Paul II.
zelebrierte als oeffentlicher Pilger am 30.November 1979 dort eine hl. Messe.
Sr. Marie lebte ein heldenhaft-christliches Leben der Barmherzigkeit. Sie starb
1915 mitten in den Wirren des Ersten Weltkrieges. Zur Zeit wird ueber ihre
Seligsprechung beraten.

Panaya Kapula

Recall that Sr. Marie was the inspiration and driving force behind the finding of Mary's House in Ephesus, Turkey. Once found she unquestionably demonstrated her great charity and generosity in insisting on purchasing not only Mary's House but the entire area of the mountain that I had always known by it's Greek Christian name of Panaghia Capouli, the translation of which is The Door to the Holiest. Yesterday I read this new name, Panaya Kapula. I believe this is Turkish and the translation of this term is Doorway to the Virgin. Both of these names are filled with meaning and they remind me of another name for Mary; Holy of Holies or Arc of the Covenant. But to me, the name Doorway to the Virgin shows us the way. The way to Jesus. We can always find our way to Jesus through Mary. Mary's House is a symbol of Her Heart. If we enter the safety of Mary's Heart, she will show us the way to Jesus. The symbolism is rich and worthy of much meditation.

In my heart, I have always imagined Sr. Marie holding open the door of Mary's House for us all. I have spoken and written of it often. It would seem that the image of Sr. Marie holding open wide the door to Mary's House, a symbol of Mary's Heart, is confirmed in this name of the entire area of purchase, Panaya Kapula, Doorway to the Virgin.

God chose Sr. Marie to be the one to give the world the Doorway to the Virgin! Please enter and find refuge in the Heart of Our Mother Mary. Let us pray the prayer on the prayer card ( find the prayer card on the left toolbar), and in so doing, spiritually enter Mary's House through the intercession of the one who opens the door... Sister Marie.

Mary our Mother is waiting inside! Come in!

Thank you, Sister Marie.

Photo courtesy of Jarek at http://www.sumiephotography.net/ This is a photo of a door in the Chateau de Mandat-Grancey where the Stones from Mary's House are kept and cherished in a small Chapel. These Stones were given by the Church as a gift to the de Mandat-Grancey family in gratitude for the generosity of Sister Marie.


Please sign the online petition.

A Ephese, Benoit XVI Celebre le Mystere de Marie - En Francais

Please visit the above link to find an article in French about Mary's House and the critical role Sister Marie has played in it's discovery. Sister Marie, sometimes I think of you as a sentinel safeguarding Mary's House not only so long ago when your determination resulted in the finding of Mary's House, but also now in these times! Thank you for cherishing all things Mary, especially Mary's House.

La Casa de Maria en Efeso

La casa de María en Éfeso

El lugar donde el Papa celebró la eucaristía este miércoles
ÉFESO, miércoles, 29 noviembre 2006 (ZENIT.org).-

Benedicto XVI celebró este miércoles la eucaristía con parte de la pequeña comunidad católica de Turquía a unos cuatro kilómetros de Éfeso en la casa, en la que, según la tradición, vivió María.Numerosos autores cristianos de Oriente y Occidente, desde los primeros siglos, mencionaron la estancia del apóstol Juan, acompañado de la Virgen, en esta ciudad, en la que se encontraba la sede de la primera de las siete iglesias recordadas en el Apocalipsis.¿Pero cómo se sabe que ésta era la casa de la Madre de Jesús? El descubrimiento tuvo lugar a finales del siglo XIX.El 29 de julio de 1891 dos sacerdotes de la Congregación de la Misión (lazaristas) franceses, lo padres Henry Jung y Eugène Poulin, cediendo a las insistentes peticiones de sor Marie de Mandat-Grancey, la superiora de las Hijas de la Caridad, que trabajaban en el hospital francés de Esmirna (Izmir), salieron en busca de la casa de María, teniendo como brújula las visiones de la mística alemana Anna Katharina Emmerick (1774-1824).

http://www.zenit.org/article-21903?l=spanish

+JMJ+

Happy Birthday Sister Marie!

Thank you dear Sister Marie,

for the hope, comfort, and refuge you have given us

in safeguarding for all the world

Mary's House.

With love,

Your little friends and helpers.

+JMJ+

Jesus speaks on 9/11

I wondered what to write on this sad anniversary then I went to Mass and after hearing what Jesus says to us today, there is nothing more that needs to be said.

Gospel
Lk 6:27-38
Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful. “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Amen.



Loving Our Enemies ~ Saint Caesarius of Arles

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and you must love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

My brothers and sisters, to widen our hearts we need not depend upon ourselves. Ask God to help you love one another - to love everyone without exception, not just your friends but enemies as well; not because they are your brothers and sisters in Christ, but so that they may be. Pray that you may always have a warm fraternal love for other people, both those who have become your bothers and sisters, and for your enemies that they may become such. Whenever you love brothers and sisters you love friends, for they are already with you, joined to you in Catholic unity. If they live virtuously you love them as people who have been changed from enemies into brothers and sisters. But suppose you love people who do not yet believe in Christ, or if they do, yet believe as the devil believes - they believe in Christ but still do not love Him. You must love just the same, you must love even people like that, you must love them as brothers and sisters. They are not such yet, but you must love them so that they may become such through your kindness. All our love, then, must be fraternal.

If you have Quicktime player, here is a beautiful song by Lloyd Stone done a cappella called "This Is My Home."

Here are the lyrics:

THIS IS MY SONG
This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine;
But other hearts in other lands are beating
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on clover-leaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too and clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
Oh, hear my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for their land and for mine.


Sr. Marie, please pray for us as we pray for peace. Please spiritually bring all God's children home to Mary's House where we can honor Mary, Mother of Jesus, and pray side by side in peace. Thank you Sr. Marie for safeguarding and preserving this precious gift of Mary's House for these times.

+JMJ+

A Birthday Gift

I was once told that, although we on earth find it customary to give gifts to the one celebrating his or her birthday, instead of receiving gifts on Her birthday, Our Lady gives gifts. The Mother of Love is always showering Her children with gifts and especially does so on Her birthday; special gifts that mean so much; gifts so specially chosen that the one who is blessed to be the recipient knows without doubt that it is Our Lady who is giving the gift and is smiling on them.

Erin and I, and the entire EWTN viewing audience as you will soon see, received such a gift from Our Lady today. Just a few minutes ago Erin called to tell me she had just received a telephone call telling her about the show airing on EWTN television at that very moment. It was none other than "Sr. Marie De Mandat-Grancey; True Daughter of Charity." (We offer this DVD in our left toolbar.) Erin tuned in at the very last moment only to see Sr. Marie's name scroll across her screen...but that was more than enough and more than perfect. This gift is received with great gratitude and love by both Erin and I...and every soul who viewed the show today will be blessed by their Good Mother and Sr. Marie.

Erin called me right away and we rejoiced at the goodness of Our Mother who comforts and encourages us with so many little gifts as we fumble along our way. What a lovely way to end this day knowing that on Her birthday, Our Lady saw fit to share with the world Her beloved Daughter of Charity, Sr. Marie De Mandat-Grancey.

Thank you EWTN, and bless you.
Happy Birthday Dear Blessed Mother.
JMJ

Prayerful Prep for the Upcoming Election

A fellow parishioner from my hometown parish has shared with me an extremely important prayer plan for us as we approach the upcoming election. Please freely print out this 2 page flyer (below) called "Our Lady of Fatima Prayerful Preparation for the Upcoming Presidential Election" and distribute to your prayer friends. Also why not give a copy to your Parish Pastor and ask for his permission to place this prayerful preparation for the election in your local church vestibules? Let's pray through Our Lady's intercession that the Gospel of Life will permeate the new Administration! Don't forget to add the Sr. Marie prayer for this intention as well. Thank you!

Mary's Project Flyer Page One
Mary's Project Flyer Page Two

Also, on this flyer you will find an address for a lovely booklet called Calling Out To Mary: Woman Reflect On The Mother Of God.

Available from:
Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles
Priory of Our Lady of Ephesus
1400 NE 42nd Terrace
Kansas City, MO 64116

I was very happy to read the name of Priory of Our Lady of Ephesus and thought it a special "God-incidence" and particular invitation to us; a call to prayer.

Sr. Marie, pray for all religious Sisters and for us all.

October in Ephesus

Well, once again, the Blessed Mother has accomplished an incredible task. All seemed completely impossible and then all at once it all came together ...regardless of Erin's and my upset tummies!... as we fumbled through over a week of travel worries, changes, ups and downs. Erin and I will be travelling to Ephesus this October and ask you to pray with us that all of Our Lady's intentions during this trip for the cause of Sr. Marie will be fulfilled. Hopefully some additional work will also be done on the documentary. Our film friend Dominik from London will be meeting us there. PLEASE keep our trip in your prayers. Without question we desperately need them and appreciate them more than we can say. It is incredible that Our Lady accomplishes anything at all with the likes of Erin and I ...truly, this is a fact... and it's a testimony to the truth that She uses the least of Her children to do some few little works so that Jesus, Our Lord and God, may be glorified through Her alone. Totus Tuus, Maria! Sr. Marie, pray for us....please!!!


JMJ

First Friday Meditation

I am re-posting this Sorrowful Mysteries Meditation for this Friday and also the Chaplet of Our Lady's Tears. More on the image on the tree here.