8/21 St. Pius X Feast Day

St. Pius X
Motto “renew all things in Christ”
[1903-1914]

Was Pope during an 11 year period, soon followed by WWI,
when the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta
completed the very important book “The Hours of the Passion”

Several witnesses relate that one day Father Annibale came to the house of Luisa more content than ever, and said that he had brought this book, “The Hours of the Passion”, to the Holy Father, Saint Pious X, who had received him several times in private audience. Father Annibale was reading him one of the Hours (that of the Crucifixion), when the Pope interrupted, saying: “Not this way, Father, but kneeling one must read. It is Jesus Christ that is speaking.” Finally, Father Annibale, as Censor of the writings, obtained the Imprimatur from His Excellency the Archbishop of Trani for the volumes written by Luisa (at that time there were already nineteen)

In the year of 1903 (the same year Leo XIII died and Saint Pius X was made Pope on August 9th), Luisa completed the 1st volume of her life, up to the point on February 28, 1899, when she was given the obedience to write.

Highlights: Pius X said that the motto of his pontificate would be “instaurare omnia in Christo”

He advised all (Decr. S. Congr. Concil., 20 Dec., 1905) to receive Holy Communion frequently and, if possible, daily, dispensing the sick from the obligation of fasting to the extent of enabling them to receive Holy Communion twice each month, and even oftener (Decr. S. Congr. Rit., 7 Dec., 1906).

By the Decree “Quam Singulari” (15 Aug., 1910), he recommended that the first Communion of children should not be deferred too long after they had reached the age of discretion.

He published, 22 November, 1903, a Motu Proprio on sacred music in churches, and at the same time ordered the authentic Gregorian Chant to be used everywhere.

In the Encyclical “Acerbo nimis” (15 April, 1905) he treated of the necessity of catechismal instruction, not only for children, but also for adults.

On 8 Sept., 1907, there appeared the famous Encyclical “Pascendi”, which expounds and condemns the system of Modernism.

December 28, A.D. 1908 Italy, Messina – The Tenth Most Destructive Known Earthquake on Record in the World (estimated) 7.5mag. Deaths 70,000 to 100,000 from earthquake and tsunami

City of Messina after the 1908 Earthquake

Jesus foretells to Luisa the earthquakes in Messina, Sicily and Calabria and how large areas of the world will be destroyed by earthquakes, floods, and wars. Five hours later, a massive earthquake destroyed the city of Messina, Sicily, burying thousands of people under a mass of rubble. Not a single one of Fr. Annibale’s orphans died in the earthquake, but 13 of his nuns perished in the ruins. Responding immediately to the disaster, Pope Pius X sent money to relieve the victims, including private funds specially earmarked for the orphans. Through his fatherly concern for the orphans of Messina, the pope formed a deep admiration for Fr. Annibale Di Francia, an esteem destined to have a profound impact on Luisa Piccarreta’s life and work.

Book of Heaven – December 28, 1908

Finding myself in my usual state, I felt as if the earth were wavering and that it wanted to fall out from under me. I became horrified, and said to myself: “Lord, what is this?” Upon which, in my interior, He said: “Earthquakes.” Then He became silent.

I nearly didn’t pay attention to Him, and remaining somewhat in myself I continued my usual interior acts. Thereupon, after five hours had passed since He had first spoken to me, I sensibly felt the earthquake. Consequently, hardly had I finished feeling it, then I found myself outside of myself.

Somewhat confused, I saw agonizing things. However I was immediately removed from the sight of that, and I found myself inside a Church. From the altar came a Young Man dressed in white, who I believe was Our Lord—but I couldn’t say for sure. That Young Man, coming close to me, with an imposing look said to me: “Come.” I felt crushed, without being able to lift myself up. Also I noticed in myself that, at the same time, I was being scourged and destroyed. I said, almost refusing the invitation: “But Lord, is it already time to take me?”

Then that Young Man threw Himself into my arms, and in my interior I heard said to me: “Come, oh daughter, so I can finish with the world. This is because I will destroy large areas of it with earthquakes, floods, and wars.” After that, I found myself within myself.

8/19 Fatima – Apparition of August 19, 1917

From the EWTN Website

Under the pretext of providing his personal automobile, so that the children could travel safely through the crowds pressing around their homes, the civil Administrator or Mayor of the district in which Fátima was located, arrived in Aljustrel on the morning of August 13th. A previous attempt on August 11th to obtain the “truth” from the children having been unsuccessful, Artur Santos, an apostate Catholic and high Mason, had devised a scheme by which he would take them into custody and force them to reveal all. With a show of good will he now offered to take the three and their parents to see the parish priest, whom he claimed wished to see them, and then to the Cova. At the parish house he abandoned this ruse, and the parents, taking the children alone from there to the district headquarters in Vila Nova de Ourem, some 9 miles away. Here he tried bribes, threats of death and locking them in a cell with other “criminals” in order to get them to recant their story. It was to no avail. Despite their ages, their belief in the Lady and their courage was unshakeable.

Meanwhile, in the Cova at noon on the 13th the characteristic external signs of the Apparition appeared for the benefit of the crowd, the greatest crowd to that time. After they ended the crowd dispersed, as yet unaware of the trickery of the government.

The “trial” of the children, however, continued for two days, to the consternation of their families. Finally, on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, the Administrator had them driven back to Fátima and deposited on the steps of the rectory. Here they were seen as the people, who had just come from Mass, were trying to determined from Ti Marto where the children were. Their anger was poured out on the driver, and on the Mayor when he arrived a little later, both of whom were no doubt glad to be rid of their little charges and to escape unscathed. It would effectively be the only serious effort of the civil authorities to interfere with the Lady of Fátima.

As it was the Lady’s plans were delayed slightly. On Sunday the 19th Lucia, her brother John, and Francisco, were grazing the sheep at a place known as Valinhos. It was located on the side of the same hillock opposite Aljustrel where the angel appeared twice, though a little farther north. At apout 4 o’clock, sensing that Our Lady was about to appear, Lucia tried unsuccessfully to get John to fetch Jacinta, until she offered him a couple pennies for the errand. As she and Francisco waited they saw the characteristic light. The moment Jacinta arrived the Lady appeared.

“What do you want of me?”

Come again to the Cova da Iria on the thirteenth of next month, my child, and continue to say the Rosary every day. In the last month I will perform a miracle so that all may believe.“What are we to do with the offerings of money that people leave at the Cova da Iria?”

I want you to have two ardors [litters to carry statues] made, for the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. I want you and Jacinta to carry one of them with two other girls. You will both dress in white. And then I want Francisco, with three boys helping him, to carry the other one. The boys, too, will be dressed in white. What is left over will help towards the construction of a chapel that is to be built here.

Lucia then asked for the cure of some sick people.

Some I will cure during the year.”(looking sadly at them) Pray, pray very much. Make sacrifices for sinners. Many souls go to hell, because no one is willing to help them with sacrifice.

Having said that she departed as she had on the other occasions.

THE SIX STEPS

The Six Steps

This prayer, derived from “The Virgin Mary in the Kingdom of the Divine Will” can be recited every day, especially after receiving Holy Communion. It is repeated three times in honor of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

To You Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, following Our Lady’s lessons in union . . .

1.with Luisa I sacrifice my human will in honor of You God the Father. Amen.

2.with Luisa I empty myself of my human will in order to let the Divine Will have Principle of Life in my soul. Amen.

3.with Luisa I decide with a firm resolution to no longer give life to my human will. Amen.

4.with Luisa I give to you my God my human will as proof, giving my Fiat and my acceptance of Your test. Amen.

5.with Luisa I decide with a firm resolution to no longer give life to my human will, sacrificing it at the foot of the Divine Throne of God, for my entire life, without ever giving life to my human will. Amen.

6.O Most Holy Divine Fiat, in unity with Luisa allow my soul to take possession of all the Divine Qualities as much as possible and imaginable for a soul. With Luisa I ask this through Christ Our Lord, Amen

BOOK OF HEAVEN

From the Writings of the Little Daughter of the Divine Will,

Luisa Piccarreta

8/10/31 – Vol. 29

 Ugliness of the human nature without the Divine Will; beauty of one who lives in It. The Smile of Heaven upon the earth.

Now, what good can the creature hope for, if she does not Live United with Our Divine Will, in Which the beginning of her creation was established? Oh! if all would comprehend this, how attentive they would be to let themselves be Dominated, Nourished, Raised by My Will, that, being the beginning of their existence, would Form in them all that is Beautiful, Good and Holy, and the great fortune of life down here, and then the great Glory of their life up there.”

After this, I continued my Acts in the Divine Will, and it seemed to me that These Acts done in It had the Virtue of Uniting Heaven and earth, and of Drawing all the celestial inhabitants to look at the creature that was letting herself be Invested by the Divine Volition to Give It the field of action in her acts. And my Sweet Jesus added: “My daughter (Luisa), there is nothing more beautiful, holier, more gracious, and that possesses an enrapturing force and virtue, than a soul who lets herself Be Dominated by My Divine Will. She is the smile of Heaven and of the earth; each Act of hers Forms a Rapture for her Creator, Who Feels the Sweet Force of His Will in the creature, and sweetly Lets Himself Be Enraptured. And all the Blessed Feel that, from the earth, there is someone who enraptures the Will of Heaven, to make it her own and to live in common with them. Oh! how they feel twice as happy in seeing that also on earth Reigns That Fiat that, while It Beatifies them and Forms their supreme happiness, Reigns at one point of the earth, Operating and Triumphant. Therefore, at that point of the earth appears a Nimbus of Heaven, a Divine Will Operating, a smile of the Celestial Fatherland, that draws the attention of the whole of Heaven on that point, to keep it defended and to enjoy that Smile that the Divine Will Forms in that creature. In fact, the Saints are inseparable from all the Acts of It and they enjoy and take part In Them according to their merits. More so, since the Acts done in My Divine Will are as many Chains of Love that Flow between Heaven and earth, and They Love all, without putting anyone aside; and because she loves all, she is well-liked by all.

From the Writings of the Little Daughter of the Divine Will,

Luisa Piccarreta

8/12/16 – Vol. 11
Glory of the souls who will Live in the Divine Will on earth.

I was fusing myself in the Most Holy Will, and my Sweet Jesus Told me: “My daughter Luisa, only by one who Lives in My Will do I Feel as though repaid for Creation, Redemption and Sanctification, and she glorifies Me in the way in which the creature Must Glorify Me. Therefore these souls will be the Gems of My Throne and will take within themselves all the contentment and the glory Which Each Blessed Will Have for himself alone. These souls will be as though Queens around My Throne, and all the Blessed will be around them; and just as the Blessed will be as many suns that will shine in the Celestial Jerusalem, the souls who Have Lived in my Will, Will Shine in My Own Sun. They will be as though Circumfused with My Sun, and these souls will see the Blessed from Within Me, because it is right that, having Lived on earth united with Me, with My Will, as they lived no life of their own, they have a place distinct from all others in Heaven, and they continue in Heaven the Life which they lived on earth – completely Transformed in Me and Immersed in the Sea of My Contentment.”