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From the Virgin Mary in the Kingdom of the Divine Will

Day 12

The soul to the Little Celestial Queen:

Here I come again to You, my dear little Baby, in the house of Nazareth. I want to be spectator of your tender age; I want to give You my hand as You take your first steps and speak with your holy mama and with your father Joachim. Little as You are, after you have learned how to walk, You help Saint Anne in the little jobs. My little Mama, how dear You are to me, and all striking! O please, give me your lessons, that I may follow your childhood and learn from You – also in the little human actions – to live in the Kingdom of the Divine Will.

Lesson of the Little Queen of Heaven:

… I departed from Heaven only to do the Will of the Eternal One. Even though I had my heaven within Me – which was the Divine Will – and I was inseparable from my Creator, yet I enjoyed being in the Celestial Fatherland.

… I would depart from Heaven without hesitation, and I would return to the midst of my dear parents. They loved Me very much; I was all lovable, striking, cheerful, peaceful, and filled with childlike grace, such as to capture their affection. They were all attentive over Me – I was their jewel. When they took Me in their arms, they would feel unusual things, and a divine life palpitating in Me.

Little Sacrifice:

Today, to honor Me, you will give Me all of your acts to keep Me company during my tender age, saying to Me three acts of love, in memory of the three years which I lived with my mother, Saint Anne.

St. Apollinaris

from:  http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01616a.htm

One of the first great martyrs of the church. He was made Bishop of Ravenna by St. Peter himself. The miracles he wrought there soon attracted official attention, for they and his preaching won many converts to the Faith, while at the same time bringing upon him the fury of the idolaters, who beat him cruelly and drove him from the city. He was found half dead on the seashore, and kept in concealment by the Christians, but was captured again and compelled to walk on burning coals and a second time expelled. But he remained in the vicinity, and continued his work of evangelization. We find him then journeying in the province of Aemilia. A third time he returned to Ravenna. Again he was captured, hacked with knives, had scalding water poured over his wounds, was beaten in the mouth with stones because he persisted in preaching, and then, loaded with chains, was flung into a horrible dungeon to starve to death; but after four days he was put on board ship and sent to Greece. There the same course of preachings, and miracles, and sufferings continued; and when his very presence caused the oracles to be silent, he was, after a cruel beating, sent back to Italy. All this continued for three years, and a fourth time he returned to Ravenna. By this time Vespasian was Emperor, and he, in answer to the complaints of the pagans, issued a decree of banishment against the Christians. Apollinaris was kept concealed for some time, but as he was passing out of the gates of the city, was set upon and savagely beaten, probably at Classis, a suburb, but he lived for seven days, foretelling meantime that the persecutions would increase, but that the Church would ultimately triumph. It is not certain what was his native place, though it was probably Antioch. Nor is it sure that he was one of the seventy-two disciples of Christ, as has been suggested. The precise date of his consecration cannot be ascertained, but he was Bishop of Ravenna for twenty-six years.

Celebrations for Santa Maria Greca, protector of Corato

Celebrations for Santa Maria Greca, protector of Corato

Yesterday was celebrated the feast of Santa Maria Greca – proclaimed Principal Protector of Corato in 1956 by Pope Pius XII on the occasion of the 3rd centenary of the apparition, as it is stated in the plaque next to the church, but always dear to the people of Corato – organized by the  Archconfraternity of the same name led by Pasquale Nocca.

The sober and planned festivities participated in, besides the preparatory novena,  was particularly Monday night’s prayer vigil in memory of the victims of the rail accident of July 12, 2016, and yesterday’s three Eucharistic celebrations.
One of celebrations, that of 11 am, was presided over by Mons. Giannotti, a vicar general, and was followed by the traditional Supplication to Our Lady at 12 o’clock, when the harmonious sound of the bell, 361 years ago, resounded freeing Corato from the plague.

The Icon of the Protector – to be more precise the wooden board on which the image of the Black Madonna is imprinted with the Greek pastoral and preserved in the crypt of the same name – was taken in procession along the city street after the Eucharistic celebration in the sacred church.

The members of the Sacred Heart Association of Jesus, who opened the procession

The procession, begun by some members of the Association of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, saw a distinguished participation of the faithful who did not just look at it from the edge of the sidewalks, but welcoming the invitation of Father Sergio Pellegrini, parish priest of St. Maria Greca, followed the icon praying Rosary and reflecting on some passages from the writings of Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.  Also present were representatives of the many Catholic associations in the city and the political authorities.

Music played by Bitonto’s Bass Band also accompanied the return to the Church of the Icon of the Protector, greeted by the festive clapping of hands of her Children, aware of being sinners, as  the Hymn dedicated to her is repeated, but who as children invoke Her prayer of intercession and celestial protection.

The festivities this year also include a clarinet concert by the Quartet Melody, a chamber ensemble formed by four  clarinetists from Corato, who will be playing on Sunday, July 23 in the church of Santa Maria Greca in memory of the victims of the railway disaster.

Domenico Varesano, Vicenzo Di Puppo, Cataldo Taccardo and Vincenzo Catalano – who joined together in January 2016 with the aim of raising the city of Corato’s awarness of music culture – will perform the famous “Pavane for a dead infant” by Ravel Maurice, “Ammerland” By Jacob De Haan, “The Mission (Gabriel’s Oboe)” by Ennio Morricone, “7th Symphony 2nd Movement” by Ludwing van Beethoven, “Oblivion” by Astor Piazzolla, “River Flows in You” by Yiruma.

Meeting Sunday at 8 pm.