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"Eclipse Pilgrimage of Mercy" Supplemental Prayers
Here are a few extra prayers you may wish to add to your Divine Mercy Novena or Pilgrimage Rosary. This is a 2-page PDF and includes the following prayers:
Traditional Catholic Prayer for the United States of America (By Archbishop John Carroll, the first bishop of the USA)
Prayer of the 2024 Nine-Month Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe (By Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke)
Canticle of Brother Sun & Sister Moon (By Saint Francis of Assisi)
Brother Sun, Sister Moon (Poem by CF Mathews)
Nomen Christi Apostolate Prayer (By CF Mathews)
Eclipse Pilgrimage of Mercy Supplemental Prayers PDF Printable
Everything "X" Eclipse!
“And God said: Let there be lights made in the firmament of heaven, to divide the day and the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years: To shine in the firmament of heaven, and to give light upon the earth. And it was so done. And God made two great lights: a greater light to rule the day, and a lesser light to rule the night: and the stars. And he set them in the firmament of heaven to shine upon the earth. And to rule the day and the night, and to divide the light and the darkness. And God saw that it was good.”
Genesis 1:14
“The Great American Eclipse”
&
“The Great North American Eclipse”
2017 ~ 2024
Many believe the Total Eclipse of the Sun proves the existence of God. It shows obvious intelligent design, that the Moon fits perfectly over the Sun, to block out the day and show the glorious corona, that can never be seen otherwise. For many, witnessing this event is deeply spiritual and life-changing. Other cultures, notably the Native Americans and the Muslims, have taken eclipses very seriously. Let us pray that the upcoming Total Eclipse on April 8th will see a conversion in hearts for those living lives of sin or those who do not believe in the Divine Majesty. Let us also pray, for those already on the path of holiness, that they may increase in faith and trust in our Almighty Creator after witnessing such an incredible phenomenon.
What are the basic facts about these 2 eclipses?
The upcoming eclipse takes place on the feast of the Annunciation, when the Angel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary, that she will bear the Savior of Mankind. Is this event an announcement of a sort? Even if it portends dark times, we know that there is always hope and in God’s time, a glorious ending. Totality starts in the Pacific Ocean, lands in Sinaloa Mexico, traverses from Texas to Newfoundland, Canada, and onto the Atlantic Ocean. This whole wavelike dance takes roughly 3 hours, 15 minutes (on land) and reaches maximum totality at 2:17 EDT. This eclipse is unique in that it will last roughly 4 ½ minutes (which is long), the sky will fall darker and the the Sun’s Corona will be quite active, as we will be close to a solar maximum (this refers to the Sun’s 11-year cycle). From astonomy.com:
“Everyone in the continental U.S. will see at least a partial eclipse. In fact, if you have clear skies on eclipse day, the Moon will cover at least 16 percent of the Sun’s surface…you’ll start to notice that the shadows around you are getting sharper. The reason is that the Sun’s disk is shrinking, literally approaching a point — and a smaller light source produces better-defined shadows. At about 85 percent coverage, you’ll be able to spot Venus 15° west-southwest of the Sun. If any trees are at your site, you may see their leaves act like simple pinhole cameras, with hundreds of crescent Suns appearing in their shadows…Unlike the 2017 eclipse, which covered only one large city, Nashville, the 2024 event will plunge several major metropolitan centers into darkness. [Following is edited for clarity.] Many lie directly along the path of totality, while others will have a smaller (but still significant) percentage of their areas covered. Among them are Mazatlán, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, Dallas, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Buffalo.”
The last total eclipse 7 years ago, crossed the USA from Oregon to South Carolina. The 2 eclipses together, create an “X” across the Midwest: 9,000 square miles covering parts of Missouri, Kentucky and Illinois. The first eclipse occurred on August 21st, the date of the Our Lady of Knock apparitions in Ireland in 1879. This was a strange, silent vision, seen by many people, which included not only Our Lady, but also Our Lord in the form of a Lamb, Saint Joseph and Saint John the Evangelist, along with angels. The presence of the writer of Apocalypse may indicate a prophetic meaning, perhaps even speaking of our own times. It is also worth noting this occurred during the month of the Immaculate Heart and the year of the Fatima Centennial. There was also a 9-month-long astronomical event overlapping with this eclipse, to be discussed below.
What is the significance of the 7-year time period between these eclipses?
This is obviously in the realm of speculation. We would do well to take a look at what has transpired in the past 7 years. 2 years after the first eclipse, the world saw a weaponized virus descend upon it. It’s been a whirlwind ever since, with no end in sight. We are now engulfed in a variety of polycrises or multi-front attack vectors, which we will take a look at below. The Western world has indeed crossed a threshold during these 7 years. The Covid agenda successfully proved that all human rights we took for granted can now be breeched, even in “the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.” Not surprisingly, in the wake of this unprecedented disaster, things are heating up all over. Since the US is the world’s great military power, anything happening here should concern the entire world…and there’s an “X” coming…and it’s hard to ignore.
Darkness in the form of an “X”…or a cross. We know God has used darkness before as a sign and will use it again. The 9th Plague of Egypt was 3 days of darkness. And during Our Lord’s Crucifixion, there were three hours of darkness, about the same amount of time for this eclipse to traverse from Mexico to Canada:
“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole earth, until the ninth hour.”
Matthew 27:45
But darkness is only a metaphor, an eclipse is only a symbol for the spiritual eclipse which has taken place in our world. Sin has blotted out the Light of Christ. And repentance will bring it back.
What are the spiritual polycrises facing us?
Gender Ideology In Vitro Fertilization Pornography Fornication Homosexuality Contraception Abortifacients Abortion Child Abuse Sacrilegious Communion Modernism Scandal & Confusion in the Church Occult Practices Corrupt Entertainment Despair Drug Use Dishonesty Violence Materialism Divorce Nihilism Religious Persecution Corruption of Children Immodesty
What are the temporal polycrises facing us?
Energy Depletion Green Energy Pipe Dream Trillions in Debt Excessive Money Printing International Abandoning of Dollar Political Corruption Distrust of Institutions Mass Human Migration Mind Control & Mass Psychosis Breeches of International & Domestic Law All Human Rights in Jeopardy Climate Change Hysteria Screen Addiction Human Trafficking Genocide Geo-Political Tensions Supply Chain Issues Weaponized Government Media Lies Electronic Surveillance Artificial Intelligence Ecological Damage Crime Biotechnology Advanced Weaponry Breakdown of Family & Community Government Dependence Globalist Agenda Weaponized Healthcare
This is why we must pray for mercy. Of course these 2 groupings overlap in many ways and fundamentally all is a spiritual battle…
“For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.”
Ephesians 6:12
Why perform a Pilgrimage?
Pilgrimages, or physical travel to places of religious significance is a universal and ancient practice. It has been practiced by Catholics and also the Jewish people, including the Holy Family, were required to visit the Temple in Jerusalem 3 times per year. Pilgrimages connect the faithful to places of meaning, for we live after all, in a physical world. The physical contains the spiritual, as the body contains the soul, as the Tabernacle contains the Real Presence. Pilgrimages connect us to the transcendent and also each other. Physical travel, along with devotional practice, shows effort and contains some measure of sacrifice. It is extraordinarily beneficial and also offers opportunity to create beautiful memories with our loved ones.
The Eclipse Pilgrimage of Mercy first invokes Our Lord in the Divine Mercy Novena, which is a Pilgrimage of the Heart coming to Christ. Then we travel to a holy site to pray the Rosary, invoking Our Lady. Our Two Hearts, pierced by 2 swords of sin across the land, creating a cross, we pray, will receive consolation and reparation. We in turn, hope to mitigate the coming chastisement.
What role does Our Lady of Guadalupe play in these events?
Our Lady appeared to Saint Juan Diego on Tepeyac hill in Mexico. This coming eclipse begins on land, also in Mexico. The miraculous image which appeared upon Diego’s “Tilma,” shows the Mother of God surrounded by the rays of the Sun and standing upon a crescent Moon. One cannot help but see a connection to Saint John’s apocalyptic vision mentioned below, which some say appeared in the sky 33 days after the first eclipse. Also, Mary’s image on the cloak has been described as a kind of “eclipse,” as she seems to be blocking the Sun, while its Corona emanates from her.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is known as the “Queen of Mexico” and the “Empress of the Americas,” as her devotion spread throughout Mexico and to all the people of South America. The “X” Eclipse is given to North America, within her patronage (and hence to the world). She brings this warning to our land at a time when we are engulfed in crises like never before, with all manner of devastation looming. Just as she converted the pagans of Mexico, she now seeks to convert this post-Christian culture, which has forgotten its great Redeemer, and create a new world, close to God and nature…the Authentic Life.
April 8th’s Eclipse is overlapping with Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke’s Nine-Month Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe, which began March 12th. He sees the polycrises all around us and has instituted this devotion as a response. Like a loving Mother, Our Lady always comes, not simply to chastise, but ultimately to console. Remember her words to Saint Juan Diego:
“Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms?”
How does this Eclipse relate to Apocalypse 12:1?
What was the 9-month astronomical event which took place in conjunction with the Eclipse 7 years ago?
“And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”
Apocalypse 12:1
My research has yielded the following. This is speculative. Please make your own judgement. I am not responsible for errors, as I am not an astronomy expert.
On the feast of Christ the King, Novemer 20th 2016, an astronomical story began to unfold, which lasted 9 ½ months, correlating roughly with a woman’s pregnancy. Some believe a comet, which appeared at the outset, represented the Incarnation. And at the end of this period, a birthing, reflecting Apocalypse 12.
This story began with Jupiter, representing a king, entering the womb area of the constellation Virgo, representing a virgin. Jupiter was in “retrograde,” and spent 9 months in this position. The first half of the “X” Eclipse occurred on August 21st, 2017. On September 23rd, on the feast of Saint Padre Pio, in the month of Our Lady of Sorrows, the “birthing” was seen in the night sky. The planet came out of Virgo, the Sun rose directly behind the constellation, and the Moon was at its lower part. Saint John’s account depicts a crown of 12 stars upon the lady. Above Virgo, appeared the nine stars of Leo, along with Mercury, Venus and Mars. Some say the saga continues astronomically with the depiction of the dragon seeking to devour the child, etc.
Saint Pio may be significant, as he gave a number of warnings about the coming days. The woman in this verse, is often seen to represent the Church or the Virgin Mary. There are varying opinions as to the uniqueness of these events. Some insist that taken as a whole, such a progression in the sky cannot be ignored and would be extremely rare. The Eclipse in August is a local sky event that can be seen as overlapping with the other universal phenomena. Are we living through Apocalypse in real time? You decide.
Remember to be joyful and always trust in God!
He sends us this “X” out of love!
We have such a great Savior and such a beautiful Mother!
Peace be with you & your families!
PS If you are reading this after the fact…the “X” will remain relevant, it cannot be forgotten…you can always say the Divine Mercy Chaplet Novena and you can always pray the Rosary…please also pray Cardinal Burke’s Guadalupe prayer, see link above.
April is the Month of the Holy Eucharist
April begins with the joyful and festive Octave of Easter. Yes, this is the time we pray the Novena of the Divine Mercy (as Our Lord requested of Saint Faustina) and this year, we prepare for the “X” Eclipse, what seems like a warning that we best pay attention to. And yet, we must always remain joyful. It is an insult to Our Blessed Lord, Whom we receive in Holy Communion, to be anything less than exceedingly happy, even in the midst of sorrows and uncertainty.
Divine Mercy Sunday (also Low or Quasimodo Sunday in the trad) is the 7th. The day after, the feast of the Annunciation, is the Great North American “X” Eclipse. One sword pierced the heart of America 7 years ago and another pierces again. Perhaps these represent the swords which pierce both the hearts of Our Lady and Our Lord, due to our sins. Together they make a cross. As we pray in the Divine Mercy Novena:
“Oh Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in Thee!”
Let us seek to console Our Two Hearts and to draw down mercy, not wrath.
The 21st is Good Shepherd Sunday in the new. The 25th is April’s Major Rogation Day in the trad, a day for prayer and penance, very similar to the Ember Days, with a different origin. The Litany of the Saints is recited on the Rogation Days.
How may we honor and celebrate the Holy Eucharist this month? The many unworthy Communions of unrepentant Catholics is probably one of the main reasons we’re getting the “X.” Offering reparation and properly instructing your loved ones, even when it’s difficult, are some ways we can console the pierced Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.
Calendar of trad feasts for April: calefactory
+++ HOLY SATURDAY / THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER +++
Our Sorrowful Mother with 30 Pieces of Silver at Her Feet
30 Pieces of Silver, the Price of the Life of Our Blessed Lord
Yes, that is really 30 pieces of silver. There is something greatly emotional about holding them in your hand. It gives a new perspective on the Gospel account of Judas’ betrayal. It brings tears to your eyes. It is the price of what is priceless. It seems to cut into the collective heart, to the deepest part of what it means to be human…and not just human, but redeemed human. This small heap of silver taps into an inner knowing beyond the conscious mind. Somehow, part of us knows what it is looking at. The glittering in the light. The weight which feels as if it lies upon your very heart. The small amount of value, but the greatest spiritual significance.
“Then went one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, to the chief priests, And said to them: What will you give me, and I will deliver him unto you?”
Matthew 26:14
Note: This is about all the silver I own, so don’t come to my house thinking I have a ton of it:) BTW, the weight of this silver coin was 1 lb, 9.6 oz. It really is an experience to hold it in your hands. Think about silver.
+++ GOOD FRIDAY / DIVINE MERCY NOVENA +++
For some reason, this song is on my mind today. On this day of the beginning of our “Eclipse Pilgrimage of Mercy,” the start of the Novena of the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Our Lord spoke to Saint Faustina, as the intention for the first day, to be said on Good Friday, 9 Days before Divine Mercy Sunday…Our Lord calls from the Holy Cross:
“Today bring to Me all mankind, especially all sinners, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.”
Please have a listen and pray for the dear soul of Leonard Cohen. This is live from Belfast on his last tour before he died of a head injury…
“If It Be Your Will” by Leonard Cohen
If it be Your will
That I speak no more
And my voice be still
As it was before
I will speak no more
I shall abide until
I am spoken for
If it be Your will
If it be Your will
That a voice be true
From this broken hill
I will sing to you
From this broken hill
All Your praises they shall ring
If it be Your will
To let me sing
If it be Your will
If there is a choice
Let the rivers fill
Let the hills rejoice
Let Your mercy spill
On all these burning hearts in Hell
If it be Your will
To make us well
And to draw us near
And bind us tight
All Your children here
In their rags of light
In our rags of light
All dressed to kill
And end this night
If it be Your will
If it be Your will
Divine Mercy Chaplet Special Novena Prayers
It's Coming Like a Wave from West to East...
An “X” across the greatest military power in human history.
Spanning 7 years.
At the end of an Empire.
Pride comes before a fall.
But all ends also bring new beginnings.
What will our new beginning look like?
We will be the ones to decide.
“the great north american eclipse”
“the great american eclipse”
on the date of Our Lady of Knock apparitions, in the Month of the Immaculate Heart, in the year of the Fatima Centennial
crossing “the great north american eclipse”
on the feast of the Annunciation, in the Month of the Holy Eucharist
Images from timeanddate.com and astronomy.com
Chiara F Mathews on Bill Kassel's Podcast / Good Shepherd Catholic Radio!
Listen to Chiara F Mathews discuss the “Eclipse Pilgrimage of mercy”
(at 20:08 minutes)
Bill Kassel, host of the radio show “Free Expressions” on Good Shepherd Catholic Radio out of Michigan, was gracious enough to request an interview about our “Eclipse Pilgrimage of Mercy.”
It’s a short discussion relating the main points of the Pilgrimage and why it is important and relevant for the entire world. I am deeply grateful to Bill for this opportunity. Please have a listen and here is more about Mr. Kassel and “Free Expressions” from his website:
“Bill Kassel has made a specialty of communicating religious ideas and moral principles in highly accessible ways to a broad public. He is the author of two Christian mysteries: Holy Innocents (2000) and This Side of Jordan (2005). He is also a songwriter, Christian entertainer, and humorist…
Writing under his own byline or as a ghostwriter for others, he has authored or edited non-fiction books as well as articles appearing in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Newsweek, National Catholic Register, American Legion Magazine, and numerous other publications.”
Kassel’s most recent book My Brother’s Keeper, a novel about the family of Jesus, has won the 2018 “Catholic Arts & Letters Award.” Here’s more:
“MY BROTHER’S KEEPER is an imaginative and riveting historical / religious novel in the tradition of such bible-based classics as Ben Hur, The Robe, and The Silver Chalice. It offers a sweeping vision of a nation at its tipping point — a proud and ancient people facing economic stress, political division, and the specter of radicalism and violence, conditions not unlike those of our own time. This is a sprawling tale with a fresh and compelling perspective on Jesus and his family that will make you reconsider the story that’s at the very heart of Western Civilization.”
Kassel also writes a blog, see above link for further exploration of his work.
Good Shepherd Catholic Radio is affiliated with EWTN, Ave Maria Radio and the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan.
"Avoiding Babylon" Interviews Michael Hichborn & Gives Us a Plug!
Are [Certain] Bishops Tools of the World Economic Forum?
I’ve mentioned our friend Anthony Abbate before. We’ve known him from the Latin Mass on Long Island for years. He started a YouTube channel called “Avoiding Babylon” several years ago and has recently had a meteoric rise in popularity. He’s had incredible guests like Dr. Taylor Marshall and Bishop Athanasius Schneider. Last night, he and his sidekick Rob (who very entertainingly smokes cigars while Anthony talks) interviewed the President of The Lepanto Institute, Michael Hichborn. From their website:
“The Lepanto Institute for the Restoration of All Things in Christ is a research and education organization dedicated to the defense of the Catholic Church against assaults from without as well as from within. Whether in the form of armies, heretics, or traitors, the Church has always faced enemies seeking Her destruction. Today, the Church faces all three.”
Towards the very end of the video, Anthony mentions Nomen Christi Apostolate’s “Eclipse Pilgrimage of Mercy.” I am deeply grateful for his help in promoting this. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have people in all 50 states, from sea to shining sea, praying the Divine Mercy Novena and visiting Catholic sites to pray the Holy Rosary for mercy? I don’t know if this campaign will be quite that successful, but we are giving it the best effort we can….and we need your help too!
Check out “Avoiding Babylon” for a whole host of fascinating discussions and guests!
Cardinal Burke's 9 Month Novena-Starts March 12th!
Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke’s Novena overlaps significantly, IMHO, with the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse we have been discussing. This Novena is dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe and she seems to keep coming up in relation to the eclipse (we will discuss this further in another post). Burke sees the polycrises in the world and understands we must flee to Our Lady. That is what our Eclipse Pilgrimage of Mercy is doing as well, fleeing to Our Lord in the Divine Mercy Novena and also Our Lady in the Holy Rosary…and for the same reasons.
A Worldwide Call to Prayer: Return to Our Lady
From the website:
“Sign up for this 9 month novena, which begins March 12 and culminates in a consecration to Our Lady of Guadalupe for her feast day on December 12.
Each month, you'll receive emails from his Eminence with encouragement and spiritual direction along the journey of this novena, leading up to the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
There is real, miraculous, and transformative peace in the protection of Mary’s Mantle. To this end, Cardinal Burke is calling upon all Catholics to join him in a significant novena seeking Our Lady’s intercession. Those who sign up to accompany the Cardinal in this urgent effort can expect short video reflections from his Eminence each month, in addition to regular written reflections and prayers.
When Juan Diego opened his tilma and roses poured out, a miracle was set into motion. The miracle continues with our participation in this historic prayer event to Our Lady. Join the world in prayer.
Beginning March 12, we will pray daily for Our Lady's intercession. Cardinal Burke has composed a prayer specifically for this novena.”
If you’re late in joining the Novena, or if you fail to say the prayer each day, don’t be discouraged! Keep at it!