Miracle at the Vistula
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The spiritual battle we face will not be won or lost by the election. There is a much larger spiritual war raging that involves the whole world – not just the United States of America. It is bigger than politics, economics or military might.
We are witnessing the cosmic battle of Revelation 12 which is playing out right before our eyes. The Woman clothed with the sun, Mary the Mother of God and Saint Michael engaged in a battle with the great red dragon, Satan. But Satan cannot touch the woman; he has no power over her; So he makes war on her children, those who keep the commandments and bear testimony to Christ.
The devil makes war on the children of Mary by supreme deception - as the CCC 675 states - in which the Spirit of the Antichrist offers all people of the world an apparent solution to all their problems at the price of rejecting God, truth, goodness and relinquishing our God given freedoms.
The election will not solve the evil we face. It goes beyond politics. Therefore, we must avoid two dangers:
· Despair if your party loses
· Presumption if your party wins and you think all the danger is past.
o Because both despair and presumption cause us to lay down our weapons and stop fighting.
Regardless of what happens with the election – the cosmic spiritual battle is only heating up. We must fight on with the weapons God has given us.
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In 1976, St. JPII, then Karol Wojtyla, gave an address in the America in which he stated:
“We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has ever experienced. I do not think that wide circles of American society or wide circles of the Christian community realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church, between the Gospel and the anti-gospel, between Christ and the antichrist. We all realize it is not an easy matter, and a great deal of it depends upon the outcome on the Vistula. This confrontation lies within the plans of Divine Providence. It is, therefore, in God's Plan, and it must be a trial which the Church must take up, and face courageously. We must prepare ourselves to suffer great trials before long, such as will demand of us a disposition to give up even life, and a total dedication to Christ and for Christ. With your and my prayers, it is possible to mitigate the coming tribulation, but it is no longer possible to avert it, because only thus can the Church be effectually renewed. How many times has the renewal of the Church sprung from the shedding of blood? This time, too, it will not be otherwise. We must be strong and prepared and trust in Christ and in his Holy Mother and very, very assiduous in praying the holy rosary."
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What did St. John Paul II mean when he said: We all realize it is not an easy matter, and a great deal of it depends upon the outcome on the Vistula.
By August 1920, Poland appeared doomed as the Soviet Red Army advanced on the city of Warsaw. Only the Vistula river stood between the Polish and Soviet Armies
On August 15, 1920 both Polish and Russia soldiers testified they saw Mary appearing over the Polish Army as if to defend them in Battle.
· Simultaneously a break in the Soviet defenses was detected,
· through which General Pilsudski led the Polish army to out flank the Soviets,
· throw them into a panic and defeat them.
· Everyone that day was convinced that the Victory came through Mary.
o They called it the Miracle of the Vistula
JPII said that what happened at the Vistual is a prophetic sign of what will happen in America
That only Our Lady has the God-given role to crush the head of the serpent, Satan and to give us victory in this spiritual battle. That is why we consecrate ourselves to her, belong ever more fully to her and take up the weapon of the Rosary every day.
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The Two most effective weapons God gives us in this spiritual battle are the Eucharist and Devotion to Mary.
St. John Bosco had a vision that pertains to us: He saw an immense sea battle between two opposing armadas. One good; the other evil. On a majestic ship fully equipped he saw a captain who was the Pope. Many smaller ships surrounded that ship and defended it from the opposing fleet trying to destroy the Main Ship. As the battle raged two mighty columns of great height arose out of the sea, a short distance one from the other. On the top of one, stood the Immaculate Virgin Mary; on the other, which was much higher and bigger, stood the Eucharist. The Pope steered the main ship between the two columns of Mary and the Eucharist, and as long as it remained anchored to those columns it was safe from the opposing fleet and was able to defeat them.
Don Bosco Explains
The enemy ships are persecutions. The most serious trials for the Church are near at hand. That which has been so far is almost nothing in the face of that which must befall. Her enemies are represented by the ships that tried to sink the principal ship if they could. Only two means are left to save her amidst so much confusion: DEVOTION TO MARY MOST HOLY and FREQUENT COMMUNION, making use of every means and doing our best to practice them and having them practiced everywhere and by everybody.”
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In 1792, the Bishop of Baltimore, John Carroll Consecrated America to Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception. She is the Patroness of our country
Our Father in Heaven, Who chose Mary as the fairest of Your daughters; Holy Spirit Who chose Mary as Your Spouse; God the Son Who chose Mary as Your Mother, In union with Mary, we adore Your Majesty And acknowledge Your supreme, eternal dominion and authority. Most Holy Trinity, we place the United States of America Into the hands of Mary Immaculate In order that she may present the country to You. Through her we wish to thank You for the great resources of this land And for the freedom which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our President And on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy, born of justice and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of Mary Our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the tempted, sinners....on all who are in need. Mary, Immaculate Virgin, Our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise and honor you And give ourselves to you. Protect us from every harm. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will And the will of your Divine Son, We may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.