Francis prays and fasts to ‘Mary’
Pope Francis (Source: presidencia.gov.ar)
Pope Francis had called for a fast on the vigil of Mary’s “birthday” (which allegedly is this evening) to supposedly ask her to intervene in Syria. Various Catholic land other leaders called for people to follow him in this (bolding in source):
September 7, 2013
Pope Francis isn’t eating much today—he’s fasting and praying for Syria, and hundreds of thousands of Christians across the globe are joining him.
Today, during a five-hour evening prayer service for Syria in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis challenged the tens of thousands gathered there to rethink approaches to conflict as the fighting in Syria escalates and as the United States and France contemplate a military strike…
The prayer service began when four Swiss guards processed through the square with the icon Salus Populi Romani, Mary, the Queen of Peace and the Protectress of the Roman people. The Pope led the Rosary recitation, a meditation, and a Eucharist ceremony. Bible readings from the Gospel of Luke focused on Mary, and thousands of people in the square followed along with a 51-page booklet the Vatican produced for the service. Priests heard confessions under the St. Peters colonnade…
The World Council of Churches, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and religious leaders around the world urged their followers to join the Pope’s call and spend Saturday in prayer. http://swampland.time.com/2013/09/07/pope-francis-leads-global-prayer-vigil-for-syria/#ixzz2eFl7KVuV
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York and Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, in a Sept. 3 statement {said}
“As our nation’s leaders contemplate military action, it is particularly appropriate and urgent that we in the United States embrace the Holy Father’s call to pray and fast on September 7 for a peaceful end to the conflict in Syria and to violent conflicts everywhere,” they continued.
Cardinal Dolan is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Bishop Pates chairs the conference’s Committee on International Justice and Peace.
The two Church leaders echoed the words of Pope Francis, who called on the whole Catholic Church to take part in a day of fasting and prayer this Saturday, Sept. 7, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace…
Bishops from other countries have also embraced the Pope’s call for prayer and fasting.
Prayer vigils will be held in dioceses across Spain with the theme, “Vigil for Peace, United with Pope Francis.”
The Archdiocese of Madrid announced that all the Masses celebrated this Saturday will be offered for peace in Syria, and Bishop Demetrio Fernandez Gonzalez of Cordoba asked that church bells be rung at noon to remind Catholics to pray the Angelus to Mary Queen of Peace. http://www.aleteia.org/en/religion/news/us-bishops-join-pope-in-urging-sept-7-prayer-fasting-for-syria-3909001
September 7, 2013
The Argentinian pope has called for a “cry for peace” from the Christians as whole as well as believers from other faiths and atheists.
Syria’s Sunni Muslim leader, Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, has called for Syrians to join in the prayers and the patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I, spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox, has said he is also backing the initiative, according to AFP news agency. http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2013/09/07/Pope-Francis-leads-global-fasting-prayer-day-for-Syria-peace.html
September 7, 2013
Tens of thousands of people have come to the Vatican on what the pontiff has declared a day of fasting and prayer in the name of peace. Speaking to the crowd Saturday, Francis said that when people withdraw into selfishness, the world fills with violence…http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/09/07/220037027/pope-francis-leads-vigil-calling-for-peace-in-syrian-crisis
It is interesting that a Muslim leader, the World Council of Churches, and the leader of the Eastern Orthodox are supporting this Marian-oriented endeavor. The Pope has an ecumenical view, and it is often focused on his version of ‘Mary.’
Here is a later update (than my original post here) on what happened:
The four-hour service in the Vatican included the praying of the rosary, and silent time of Eucharistic adoration. The crowd was estimated at more than 100,000…
7 pm — Vigil began
– The pope greeted the crowd
– The ancient hymn “Veni Creator” was sung, followed by Marian prayer to Our Lady Queen of Peace
– The Marian icon “Salus Populi Romani” (health of the Roman people) was carried by four Swiss Guards from the obelisk in the center of the square while two girls carried bouquets of flowers.
– The rosary was prayed with readings from the poetry of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. The Pope has a special devotion to this young, Carmelite Saint beloved around the world. She is also known as “The Little Flower.”
– Pope Francis gave his reflection
– Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
– Office of Readings. John 20:19-29 (25 minutes of prayerful silence, music)
– Eucharistic benediction
The event concluded at 11:00 p.m. http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/100-000-gather-with-pope-to-plea-for-peace
Here are some earlier words from Pope Francis about the vigil he wanted for this evening:
I have decided to proclaim for the whole Church on 7 September next, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace, a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world, and I also invite each person, including our fellow Christians, followers of other religions and all men of good will, to participate, in whatever way they can, in this initiative…
Let us ask Mary to help us to respond to violence, to conflict and to war, with the power of dialogue, reconciliation and love. She is our mother: may She help us to find peace; all of us are Her children! Help us, Mary, to overcome this most difficult moment and to dedicate ourselves each day to building in every situation an authentic culture of encounter and peace. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us! (Francis, Pope. September 1, 2013, as reported 09/03/13 by The Fatima Center)
The Bible does not teach that we are to pray to or fast to Mary. The Pope seems to believe that prayers and fasts for ‘Mary’ may bring peace to Syria (see Pope Francis’ ‘solution’ to Syrian crisis will not work).
Actually, if the Pope wanted to call a fast this month, he should have considered calling one on the Day of Atonement which begins at sunset Friday, September 13, 2013. This is the day that the New Testament refers to as “the Fast” (Acts 27:9).
Pope Francis is a big promoter of Mary as well as the apparition in Fatima. He consecrated his pontificate to ‘Mary () and even further had his pontificate consecrated to the Lady of Fatima (Pope Francis’ pontificate consecrated to ‘Lady of Fatima’). He has also taken more earlier Marian steps than any recent pontiff.
Pope Francis is pushing a Marian agenda.
Some items of related interest may include:
Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions Do you know much about Mary? Are the apparitions real? What happened at Fatima? What might they mean for the rise of the ecumenical religion of Antichrist? Are Protestants moving towards Mary? How do the Eastern/Greek Orthodox view Mary? How might Mary view her adorers? Here is a link to a YouTube video Marian Apparitions May Fulfill Prophecy.
Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy? Pope Francis has taken many steps to turn people more towards his version of ‘Mary.’ Could this be consistent with biblical and Catholic prophecies? This article documents what has been happening. There is also a video version titled Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy?
Feast of the Immaculate Conception? Did early Christians teach Mary had an immaculate conception and led a sinless life?
Origin of the Marian Dogmas: Where Do Catholic Scholars Say The Four Dogmas of Mary Came From?
Assumption of Mary Did Mary die? Was she taken to heaven on August 15th? What is known? What does the Bible show?
Could Pope Francis be the Last Pope and Antichrist? According to some interpretations of the prophecies of the popes by the Catholic saint and Bishop Malachy, Pope Francis I is in the position of “Peter the Roman,” the pontiff who reigns during tribulations until around the time of the destruction of Rome. Do biblical prophecies warn of someone that sounds like Peter the Roman? Could Francis I be the heretical antipope of Catholic private prophecies and the final Antichrist of Bible prophecy? This is a YouTube video.
The Malachy Prophecies and “Peter the Roman” An Irish bishop allegedly predicted something about 112 popes in the 12th century. Pope Benedict XVI was number 111. Francis would seem to be number 112–if he is that one–and if so, he is to reign until Rome is destroyed. May he be an antipope/final Antichrist?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions. [Português: Qual é fiel: A igreja católica romana ou a igreja do deus?]
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet.” Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy. You can also watch a video titled What Does the Bible teach about the Antichrist?
Jesus: The Son of God and Saviour Who was Jesus? Why did He come to earth? What message did He bring? Is there evidence outside the Bible that He existed? Here is a YouTube sermon titled Jesus: Son of God and Saviour.
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