Protection of Soul
With the Helmet of Salvation
The helmet of salvation is simply belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. St. Paul speaks of a helmet because a helmet protects the head and the brain, where one’s thoughts and beliefs are formed. Satan wages war against our faith on the battlefield of the mind -- Because if he can get a soul to disbelieve in Jesus, then he knows he has defeated that soul.
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“Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.” (Acts 16:30-33)
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
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“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
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“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (Eph 2:8)
God's Will
Once we profess belief in Jesus Christ, part two is obedience. It is not enough to just be “believers.” Real, authentic belief should transform us into “doers.”
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“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Mt. 7:21)
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“And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:17)
Those who live according to God’s will enjoy a special kind of intimacy with God, and thereby special protection. They are members of his family and citizens of the Kingdom. We see this in the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 3. Jesus was speaking to a crowd, and someone notified him that his family had arrived.
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Jesus replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” Then he said, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mk 3:35)
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Jean-Pierre de Caussade, a French Jesuit spiritual director and writer born in the late seventeenth century, wrote about this very topic in his book, “Abandonment to Divine Providence.” A few excerpts reiterate the importance of living in God’s will:
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“The secret to holiness is to view everything that happens to us as a manifestation of God’s will and to embrace whatever is required with every fiber of our being.”
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“In reality holiness consists in one thing alone, namely, fidelity to God’s plan.”
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“Perfection lies not in understanding God’s designs but in submitting to them.”
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God will “lies hidden in the duties of present moment. To discover it, we must abandon our self-will and embrace whatever is asked of us from one moment to the next.”
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“We can achieve the highest peaks of sanctity at every step and from one moment to the next simply by traying to discover what God is saying to us in and through the events and circumstances of the world in which we live.”
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“This constant communion with the will of God in all things in nothing other than what the Church fathers, recalling Jesus and the Apostle Paul called “prayer without ceasing.”
For more information on how to better live in the will of God, read “The Examen” by Stacy Mal. The Examen is an in-depth examination of conscience, looking at each of the ten commandments.
A Message from Jesus Regarding the Protection of His Will
On May 18th, 1915, Jesus appeared to a woman from Corato, Italy, named Luisa Piccarreta. He said to her:
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"My daughter, courage. It is true that great will be the tragedy, but know that I will have regard for the souls who live from my Will, and for the places where these souls are. Just as the kings of the earth have their own courts and quarters in which they keep safe in the midst of dangers and among the fiercest enemies — since their strength is such that while the enemies destroy other places, they do not dare to look at that point for fear of being defeated — in the same way, I too, King of Heaven, have my quarters and my courts on earth. These are the souls who live in my Volition, in whom I live; and the court of Heaven crowds round them. The strength of my Will keeps them safe, rendering the bullets cold, and driving back the fiercest enemies. My daughter, why do the Blessed themselves remain safe and fully happy even when they see that the creatures suffer and that the earth is in flames? Exactly because they live completely in my Will. Know that I put the souls who live completely from my Will on earth in the same condition as the Blessed. Therefore, live in my Will and fear nothing. Even more, in these times of human carnage, not only do I want you to live in my Will, but to live also among your brothers — between Me and them. You will hold Me tightly, sheltered from the offenses that creatures send Me. As I give you the gift of my Humanity and of all that I suffered, while you keep Me sheltered, you will give to your brothers my Blood, my wounds, my thorns — my merits for their salvation."
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For more information on the messages given to Luisa Picarreta, visit Countdown to the Kingdom here.
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The Scapulars
The "Dog Tags" of the Militia
In 1251, St. Simon Stock spent the entire night in prayer to the Virgin Mary, seeking her assistance for their order. In the morning, Mary appeared to him with the infant Jesus and many angels, and she handed him a brown scapular. A scapular is two square pieces of fabric (similar to military dog tags) that are connected with string and worn around the neck—one square on the chest, one on the back.
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Mary then promised St. Simon, “My beloved son, receive this scapular for your Order. It is the special sign of a privilege which I have obtained for you and for all God’s children who honor me as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Those who die devotedly clothed with this scapular shall be preserved from eternal fire. The brown scapular is a badge of salvation. The brown scapular is a shield in times of danger. The brown scapular is a pledge of peace and special protection, until the end of time.”
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On September 25, 1995, Mary appeared to Maureen holding a white scapular. She said: "My daughter, those who accept and wear this sign of My Confraternity will give witness to the world of their special vocation of love. I will place them in My Heart - gateway to the New Jerusalem. This scapular is a sign of predestination of those who choose it. It will be a special armor against evil and recourse to My Grace."
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She came closer to Maureen and held out the scapular so that she could see what was on it. On one tag was Mary’s heart; on the other tag was Jesus’ heart. The Virgin Mary put it over her head. The image of her heart was in the front. She said, "It is a special sign in these the last days of My final call to humanity. Make it known."
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A week later, Jesus appeared to Maureen and promised five things to those who wear the Two Hearts Scapular that the Virgin Mary had showed her. He said,
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1. "It is a barrier against evil, dispelling conflict and confusion in the heart of the one who wears it."
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2. "It will lead the soul into the embrace of Our Two Hearts."
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3. "It will bear with it a conviction of heart, revealing to the wearer un-proclaimed faults. Thus, the soul will be led deeper into holiness."
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4. "It will deepen devotion to My Real Presence in the Eucharist." [He stops and just smiles for a minute.]
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5. "Those who faithfully wear it shall be embraced in Holy and Divine Love and shall not die an unprovided death." (October 2, 1995)
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The Image of Mary
And the Miraculous Medal
On November 27, 1830, Mary appeared to St. Catherine Laboure in France. She appeared to be standing on a globe, with the head of a serpent under her foot. The Virgin Mary’s arms were outstretched, and rays of light were flowing from her fingers.
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She asked St. Catherine to have a medal imprinted with the image she saw. She explained to her, "These rays symbolize the graces I shed upon those who ask for them… All who wear it will receive great graces; they should wear it around the neck. Graces will abound for persons who wear it with confidence."
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The medal was produced and distributed throughout France. So many people reported miracles attributed to the medal that it became known as the “Miraculous Medal.”
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Similarly, the Virgin Mary asked an American visionary, Maureen Sweeney-Kyle, to have an image painted as she appears to her in apparitions. The Virgin Mary explained to Maureen, “My Image (Refuge of Holy Love) leaves him (Satan) in terror. Use it. Carry it with you. Have it near you. Hold it prominent in your homes. He has no weapon to match this Holy Image. I am with you. I will defeat Satan through your prayers. I am blessing you.” (June 1, 1997) See below for more messages about Her image.
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Her image is such a powerful weapon against Satan because Mary is full of grace and blessed among women. (Luke 1:26-28) In other words, she lives righteously. She is holy. And because of this, the Lord is with her. (Luke 1:26-28)
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What’s more, the image of Mary is a sign of his downfall. Mary is his adversary. She is the Woman who will crush his head with the power of God. Her victory has already been pronounced, foretold, and ordained by the Word of God in the garden of Eden. (Gen 3:15) It is undoable. And Satan hates the reminder.
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Many and particular graces will come through this Image. (March 6, 1997)
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Satan flees before this Image. It leaves Satan in terror. (April 6, 1997; June 1, 1997)
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It is a fortress against evil, against much that will occur in the world, and should stand guard over every heart and home. (April 11, 1998; April 28, 1998)
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Each home should accept this Image as protection and shelter. Those that do so shall not have anything to fear in these tribulations which are at hand. (April 9, 1998)
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It is the invocation ‘Mary, Refuge of Holy Love, pray for us' that is your protection and your defense. Dear children, rely on the Image of My Heart that reminds you of this certain Refuge. (May 7, 1998)
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It carries with it very many special graces which the world needs today. (January 19, 2010)
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It carries with it a call to conversion of heart – a call to renounce the false gods of self-love and to live in Holy Love. (December 12, 2006)
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It brings with it spiritual healing and peace. (May 15, 1997)
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Those who venerate this Image, either in picture or three-dimensional form, will be drawn into deeper personal holiness. Their thoughts, words and deeds will be clarified in Holy Love. (January 19, 2010)
The Image of the United Hearts
The United Hearts of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, surrounded by the Fire of God the Father and the Light of the Holy Spirit is a visual representation of God’s will. Because this is what God desires for each of us. He desires that we be drawn into close union with the Holy Trinity, through the Virgin Mary. It’s our destiny. Our goal. Think of this image as the big red X on the spiritual map. Therefore the image of the United Hearts itself is a source of protection for our souls.
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In fact, the Blessed Mother appeared to American visionary, Maureen Kyle, and revealed three promises for the souls devoted to this image. She said:
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Blessed Mother says: “Praise be to Jesus.”
“My daughter, I have been sent today with three important promises concerning reverence to the Complete Image of the United Hearts.”
1. “The souls who display this Image and regard it with reverence will receive, by the Hand of the Eternal Father, the grace to draw nearer to His Divine Will, even though the world separates itself more and more from His Eternal and Perfect Will.”
2. “My Beloved Son vows the patronage of all the Heavenly Court to such souls who venerate this Image.”
3. “Through the intercession of My Immaculate Heart, the souls devoted to this Image will be protected from heresy; thus, their Heavenly Mother will protect their Faith.”
“Please make this known.” (May 24, 2009)
At the Last Supper Jesus prayed...
"I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me."
(John 17:21)