I have heard many 'three knock' stories, always amazes me! When I was a child this picture frightened me. I recall going to many funerals for relatives when I was very young, and this image was often on the prayer cards for the deceased, so I associated it with death. It's a beautiful picture that actually brings me much comfort now. Many, many years ago my young aunt was tragically killed in an automobile accident. My mother said they heard three very loud unexplained bangs at their home before the family was notified about the accident. My mother always knew it was Jesus calling her sister home.
Thank you for telling us this beautiful story of your MIL. I think of hidden saints when I hear of souls like this. Very powerful. The sanctifying power of one's vocation lived faithfully. Clearly she had some infused knowledge that the Lord was about to call her home. I was so moved by "that is the Good Shepherd...you may let Him in." It sounds like she was gladly letting Him in her whole life. My favorite aunt was like this. She lost her sister to a very brutal cancer and then her husband. Soon after she too was diagnosed and had a long period of suffering before she died. After her sister died I remember her telling me that as she watched the excruciating pain her sister was in she simply understood that she was sharing Calvary with Jesus. Later during her own passion she told my mother that in the night when the pain was very bad she was offering it that some soul who was on the brink of committing a mortal sin would receive the grace not to. As things got very bad she was just a thin skeleton with a luminous smile. Her children were all gathered with her and they were waiting for a young man who had grown up with her kids and was very close to them all. He had become a priest. He got there and led them all in the Rosary and she too was praying with her beads. Just as the Rosary finished she smiled and was gone. A truly holy death. How blessed I am to have had her in my life and praying now for all of us from heaven.
There was a time in my life where I became a virtual prisoner in my own home for about 10 months. Someone sent me some information about Saint Philomena. I had not had knowledge of her before that, but it was very appropriate, as she is the Patron Saint of prisoners. and evidently she "knocks 3 times" as a sign of her presence in the lives of some of her devotees.
Wow. This gives me chills. St John Vianney was very very devoted to St Philomena and often recommended others to ask for her intercession.
Fr Elias, in his homily, quotes St Therese of Lisieux: "She says the question of whether heaven will follow right after death is a question of trust, God does not need our merits in order to take us straight to Him, but He needs all of our trust. Or the other way around - it's not our sins that can prevent God from giving us this grace, but rather, our lack of trust. Therefore we must draw the conclusion that everything depends solely on trust. There is no trust without perfect love, and vice-versa, there is no love without trust." +
In the Park when I walk the dogs afer workin the morning there are many swans. When i watch them flying off and landing I enjoy counting them. Very,very foten there are seven , or four or three, all special numbers. There is something about swans.....
Fr Elias talks about how St Therese counselled her novice to have the faith that it was possible even for her to get to heaven right away. The novice had wondered how if she fails even in the smallest things, she could still hope to get straight to heaven. St Therese who knew well the weakness of her novice, replied, "Yes, God is so good, he will know how he can come and get you. But despite this, try to be faithful so that he does not wait in vain for your love." I'm not sure what to make of St Therese's advice. +
Sg, Some time ago I shared how the Church teaches us about merit through the Divine Liturgy: The Church does teach that we merit heaven. Isn't that the same as earning heaven? No. Some beautiful prayers from Holy Mass during the month of August clarify the source of merit: Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Collect O God, who have prepared for those who love you good things which no eye has seen, fill our hearts, we pray, with the warmth of your love, so that, loving you in all things and above all things, we may attain your promises, which surpass every human desire, Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... Prayer Over the Offerings Receive our oblation, O Lord, by which is brought about a glorious exchange, that, by offering what you have given, we may merit to receive your very self. Through Christ our Lord. Isn't this amazing! In the first prayer God promises unsurpassing good gifts. And why? Because we have loved Him with the love that He put in our hearts in the first place! Wow! The second prayer expresses the same thought. It speaks of a glorious exchange, but notice: we receive the Lord Himself by offering up what God has given to us in the first place! And look at the Collect from the Friday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time below. It's God who has clothed us, inflamed us with His love, and conformed us to His image! And the result? We merit a share in eternal redemption! Yes, we are responsible for our choices and actions, but these prayers wonderfully reveal that it is God Who initiates and brings to completion. Alleluia! Collect Clothe us, Lord God, with the virtues of the Heart of your Son and set us aflame with his love, that, conformed to his image, we may merit a share in eternal redemption. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... How rightly Paul writes in the first reading on the following Saturday: 1Cor 1: 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption; 31 therefore, as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord."
Thanks, Mario. But I'm still puzzled. I guess part of the reason is because our Blessed Mother told Conchita of Garabandal that her hands had to 'be full' in order to enter heaven.(or words to that effect). Mother Angelica said that avoiding purgatory is simple. "...it's very simple. We have only to do the will of God in the present moment. That's it! Now, you can't sin, of course, but doing the will of God in the present moment excludes sin." +
I mean, I'm sure everyone of good will would want to avoid the fires of purgatory and go straight to heaven. But how? +
