The CatholiCity Message
Volume XXI, Number 4 – May 12, 2017
Deliver Us From Evil
Dear CatholiCity Citizen,
Everything short and sweet today, including a special prayer I composed for the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima on Saturday, how I quit smoking (as promised), a few other items, a great group prayer, a joke, quotes, upcoming feast days, and...so let's go!
How I Was Delivered from Nicotine Addiction
As a super addict, I was not planning to quit my lifelong two-pack-a-day cigarette habit, yet God delivered me from nicotine slavery anyway through a long, improbable series of divine "coincidences." I believe He did this because He wants to show you or people love how to break free from this deadly addiction. And believe it or not, it will be easy and require no willpower. We posted my story of divine intervention over the span of three decades here.
Quotations
You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart.
Our Lady of Fatima
Hell is a reality. It is a supernatural fire and not physical. It cannot be compared to fire that burns wood or charcoal… Continue preaching about hell because Our Lord himself spoke about hell, and it is in Sacred Scripture. God does not condemn anyone to hell. God gave men the liberty to choose, and God respects this human liberty.
– Sister Lucia
The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.
– Our Lady of Fatima
Suddenly the whole chapel was illumined by a supernatural light and above the altar appeared a Cross of light, reaching to the ceiling. In a brighter light on the upper part of the Cross, could be seen the face of a man and his body as far as the waist. Upon his breast was a dove of light; nailed to the Cross was the body of another man. A little below the waist, I could see a chalice and a large Host suspended in the air, onto which drops of blood were falling from the Face of Jesus Crucified and from the wound in His side. These drops ran down onto the Host and fell into the chalice. Beneath the right arm of the Cross was Our Lady and in her hand was her Immaculate Heart. (It was Our Lady of Fatima, with her Immaculate Heart in her left hand, without sword or roses, but with a crown of thorns and flames). Under the left arm of the Cross, large letters, as if of crystal clear water which ran down upon the altar, formed these words: Grace and Mercy.
– Sister Lucy, Seer of Fatima, describing an apparition she received on June 13, 1929.
Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners; for many souls go to hell, because there are none to sacrifice themselves and pray for them.
– Our Lady of Fatima
Best EVER Explanation of Marian Apparitions
Maybe you missed it, but last year we re-released the most popular Catholic audio recording of all time, my own father's "Marian Apparitions Explained." Not only does it summarize hundreds of years of approved apparitions of Jesus and Mary (including many you do not know about), it is a truly mind-blowing, riveting talk that has helped convert countless people. His inspired explanation of hell simply must be heard.
You can order free CDs or listen online. Not only does Bud Macfarlane Sr. explain Our Lady's appearances in Fatima one hundred years ago, he also places Fatima perfectly in context with all the other apparitions, the Bible, and total consecration to Immaculate Mary. Don't be shy: come and get 'em.
Your Turn
What do you think of Pope Francis? Just hit reply. Be brief.
My Son Buddy Made Up This Funny
We had Bud Sr, and I'm Bud Jr., so why not Bud the Third? When he was in high school, my son Buddy came up to me one day and offered to show me his "dog jaw." This is how he said it. "Have you ever touched a dog jaw?" He leaned his head forward and gestured for me touch his jaw. Perplexed, curious, I went to touch it, and just as I did, he started barking vociferously. It scared the daylights out of me and I laughed like crazy. Yes, try this at home.
Skip the 4K UHD Def Televisions
This surely falls into the Emperor's New Clothes department. My "regular" HD television broke recently. It was a few years old, so instead of having it fixed, I purchased a smaller "UHD 4K" television. Unfortunately, ultra-high def makes detail stand out to the point of annoying distraction. I don't want to see eyebrow hairs and the caked on make-up on my favorite actors! Yuck. Worse, and oddly, it made most movies and television shows, even those filmed in the older pre-digital camera era look like cheap video ("like a telenova" as one friend remarked to me when I showed him my television). I returned my UHD television a few days later and had my old "HD" tv fixed for a lot less.
Save your money. Seriously.
Another Way to Save Money
Speaking of saving money, many years ago I posted this summary of the best negotiating course ever conceived. It has saved a lot of people a lot of money over the years. Please print it out. Make sure you read it now—and reread it before you buy a car or a house.
Upcoming Feast Days
- May 13, Saturday, Our Lady of Fatima.
- May 14, Sunday, Mother's Day
- May 20, Saturday, St. Bernardine. This is one Bern I do feel, and my close friend (and the editor of my novels), John O'Brien, is being ordained a priest on this day. Please pray for John and for all our friends, sons, daughters, and relatives with vocations. "Saint Bernadine, pray for us! Amen."
- May 25, Thursday, Ascension of the Lord. Voted Easiest Holy Day of Obligation to Miss by Accident for 1500 Straight Years Running. Make a note.
- June 4, Sunday, Pentacost. "Come Holy Spirit! Amen."
- June 5, Monday, St. Boniface. This is the guy who went before the German king and cut down the giant tree they worshipped while his court and hundreds of onlookers waited for the pagan gods to strike him dead. An enormous cracking of wood then the crash of the tree to the ground. Bonnie turned to the king and said, "Where's you God now?"
- June 11, Sunday, Most Holy Trinity. God is a Family.
- June 13, Tuesday, Saint Anthony of Padua. Basically, my favorite friend in heaven for everything I need—not just to find lost stuff. I lovingly call him the WD-40 of saints. Begin your 9-day novena on June 5 (Saint Boniface).
Tens of Thousands Praying Together
Remember how I made a pilgrimage to Fatima in 2015 and brought thousands of your petitions along with me? If you were getting this Message back then and submitted a petition, I want to remind you that I found a permanent place for the printed petitions within a few paces of the statue of Our Lady in the chapel—the very spot where the Mother of God appeared to those three little kids in the most important apparition in the history of the world. Keep that in mind as we pray today. As always when I compose prayers for you, I ask the Holy Spirit to guide me, and then write whatever comes, so let us begin, all of us together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...
Dearest Beloved Mary, Lady of Fatima, Lady of My Life, Lady of Love, On the moment I was baptized Jesus became my brother and you became my mother. Please whisper to Him for me how grateful I am for my own mother, who bore me in her womb as you bore Jesus in yours. When I pray, "I love you, mom!" it could be about you or her. I am so overjoyed to have two mothers!
Oh, Lady of Love, I implore you to show me concretely how much you love me, as soon as possible. Oh, Lady of My Life, help me and help the people I love! Oh, Lady of Fatima, pray for us! Oh, sweet sweet Mary, I beg you for miracles in the lives of the people I love: especially for miraculous healings of body and soul—immediate, superabundant miracles and profound divine interventions. With Saint Therese I echo, "I want it all!" All blessings, beyond my wildest dreams while thanking you beforehand for answering my prayers, no matter how long it takes or in whatever form these answers take. I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you. Amen.
Well, that was something. Enjoy the people you love. Enjoy every breath of life. I pray for you every day at Mass when I receive Holy Communion. I will never cease. I am grateful that you are a part of our work and our lives. Mary sent you to us. Thank you.
With Saints Jacinta and Francisco,
Bud Macfarlane
Founder and President
