tailieunhanh - The Revelations of St Bridget and Church Reform

Early Mystical Experiences Even as a young girl Bridget received extraordinary graces, including at least one apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary when she was six years old and one of Jesus Christ. The latter, when Bridget was ten years old, involved the vision of Christ with freshly received wounds over his whole body. Jesus said to her, “See how I have been wounded!” “Oh, my Lord!” Bridget cried out, terribly shaken by what she was seeing, “who has done this to you?” Christ answered her: “Those who despise me and forget My love.”4 This profound mystical experience became. | The Revelations of St Bridget and Church Reform CONTENTS Introduction 1. Early Mystical Experiences 2. The Voice of God 3. Reform in Scripture and Church History 4. Apostasy 5. Causes of Apostasy 6. Reform Repentance and Confession 7. Atonement for Sins Committed 8. God s Mercy and Justice 9. The Blessed Virgin Mary 10. Visions of Hell and Purgatory 11. Heresy and Dissent and the Occult 13. The Yoke of the World vs. the Yoke of Christ 14. Eucharist The Real Presence 15. The Passion of Christ 16. Perfect Charity 17. Teaching by Word and Example 18. Preaching 19. Chastity 20. Admonishing Sinners 21. Contempt for the World 22. Humility 23. St Bridget for Today Notes Introduction God is disgusted by the fall and ruin of his holy C of burning and smoking sulfur are dripping from the roof the walls are as revolting to look at as pus mingled with rotting blood. 1 These are startling words and they are from one of the many revelations received by St Bridget or Birgitta of Sweden 1303-1373 wife mother of eight widow social and Church reformer mystic and foundress of the Order of the Most Holy Savior also known as the Brigittine The world has witnessed in recent years a rapidly growing interest in St Bridget among Catholics as well as Protestants and even non-Christians scholars and the general population alike. Pope John Paul II declared St Bridget Co-Patroness of Europe 1 Oct 1999 and called her a Model for Today s Woman 3 Oct 2002 seeing in her life and in her writings a powerful witness to the Gospel a icon as it were reflecting the beauty goodness and loving mercy of God - as well as his justice - to our modern world in great need like the Prodigal Son of coming to its senses and returning to its Father. St Bridget is best known for the Revelations the divinely inspired messages she received from God the Father Jesus the Virgin Mary and numerous saints over a period of almost 30 Although the Revelations consist of nine books .