Recommended
Reading
Reading
Recommended Reading
Author: Bernal Diaz del Castillo, companion and historian of Cortes.
Published by Da Capo Press
Author: Bernal Diaz del Castillo, companion and historian of Cortes.
Published by Da Capo Press
Recommended
Reading
Author: Kay Brigham
Libros CLIE
ISBN 84-7645-408-2
Reading
Author: Kay Brigham
Libros CLIE
ISBN 84-7645-408-2
Background scenery shows the DeSoto Landing Site.
PrayFlorida.com
Historical Considerations
Jesus told his disciples: "All power is given to me in heaven and in
earth.
Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost." Matthew 28:18-19
The Transmission of the Faith in Jesus Christ
to the Americas
Our Lady of Declaration of
Columbus 1521 Guadalupe 1539 St. Augustine 1620 Independence
I I I I I I l
1492 Cortes 1531 De Soto 1565 Mayflower arrives 1776
Plymouth Rock
Christopher Columbus and subsequent explorers discovered that the Spiritual needs of the natives of this land were so great because of their pagan sacrifices and reverence for the devil. This was documented in a letter written by a Jesuit priest, Fr. Rogel, in 1570, as he traveled from the St. Augustine mission, up the coast, to present-day South Carolina. He stated that the natives understood his teachings about the Trinity, and a little about the Cross, but when he began to preach against the devil, they "did not believe a thing I said, since I spoke ill of the devil."
Historical "facts" should never change. Truth does not change according to our perspective. But sadly, today anyone can publish anything they want---and it doesn't have to be accurate, just convincing. We recommend researching historical topics from reliable resources, preferably material that is as close to the original diary or manuscript of the person who experienced it. One should also consider the author's objective. If the author had a hatred for Christopher Columbus, his slant on Columbus' whole mission will lead away from the truth. Yet, according to written documentation, Columbus strived to be a holy man, who knew he had a defined mission from God.
In this segment, history testifies to the success of the early Christian explorers, who were obviously (and miraculously) led by God, in order to share their Faith in Jesus Christ with those in this land who had no knowledge of their Savior.
The books recommended here document how Our Lord provided for the transmission of the Faith to this half of the world. It's truly amazing to read how God performed so many miracles in order to put the very devout Queen Isabella on the throne in Spain...just as Christopher Columbus' mission needed her assistance---or how He provided so many miracles in order that Cortes and his men would be able to enter into the heart of the Aztec empire, so that those natives, too, might come to know Jesus as their Savior. In fact, God had already prepared Montezuma through ancient prophecies when Cortes and his men arrived on their shores.
As we can see by the above time-line, the Holy Christian Faith, through the missionary work of the Catholic Church, was well-established before the pilgrims even came to Plymouth Rock, and it must be noted that many priests and faith-filled explorers unselfishly gave their lives for the propagation of the Faith here, well before the Mayflower ever arrived. In the Church, we note how "the blood of the martyrs is the seed for evanglization." We are all here on this continent because of the faith and the missionary zeal of Columbus, Cortes and all who joined them, and because God "willed" and blessed their undertakings---against extraordinary odds.
With each discovery, the conquistadors and accompanying priests planted the "Cross of Christ" and dedicated all this land to Our God for the extension of the Holy Christian Faith in this portion of the world. Old Testament Scripture gives us a glimpse about how important dedications of land are to God. "Thou shalt not take nor remove thy neighbor's landmark, which thy predecessors have set in thy possession, which the Lord thy God will give thee in the land that thou shalt receive to possess." (Deuteronomy 19:14) The landmarks discussed on this page are the planting of the Cross of Christ by the early Christian explorers, along with all the prayers of dedications made in the Name of Jesus. Man, over time, cannot erase such dedications to our God. Therefore, Christians should not fear to stand up for the restoration of the Christian principals that this land was once dedicated, and it is our duty to do so, as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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The history of the transmission of the Faith to the Americas can trace its origins to the mission work of the Apostle, St. James, as Jesus instructed him to: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always, until the end of the world!" (Matthew 28:19-20)
St. James carried the seed of the new Christian Faith to the area of Spain, and at one point he became discouraged in his travels at the very slow progress he was making. According to historical tradition, one day he was deep in prayer when the Blessed Mother appeared to him and gave him a small wooden statue of herself holding the Christ Child. The statue was mounted on a column of jasper, and she instructed him: "This place is to be my house, and this image and column shall be the title and altar of the temple that you shall build." 2,000 years later, one can still travel to Saragossa, Spain, to view the statue of "Our Lady of the Pillar." This Church in Saragossa was the first church in the world to be built in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. ----The above picture is of an ancient statue, with column, that was found in a Florida second-hand store (just a few blocks from a museum.) Many of the Spanish explorers carried such images of Our Lady of the Pillar on their expeditions to the New World.
St. James was instrumental in transmitting the Holy Christian Faith to those in Spain, and from there, to the Western Hemisphere. We must keep in mind that at that time, 1/2 of the world did not know anything about Jesus, their Savior, or Christianity at all.
In the 9th century, a hermit, guided by an unusual array of stars, pointed out to the local bishop the burial place of St. James the Apostle. A monastery was built on the site, and the village that arose was called Campus de la Stella (Compestella, which means "Field of Stars.) As pilgrims traveled to give honor and ask favors of St. James, many miracles took place that were attributed to his intercession. Over the centuries multitudes of Christians have made their way to Compestella seeking the intercession of St. James, the Apostle.
In Spain there is another famous statue of Jesus and Mary that has proven instrumental in bringing knowledge of Jesus to our land of the Americas. It was a gift from Pope St. Gregory the Great to the Bishop of Seville, and it's history is fascinating, as well.
During the Muslim conquest of Spain, which began in 711, this beautiful wooden statue, which tradition documents to be carved by the Apostle, St. Luke, was buried for safe keeping in the hills of Estremadura near a river called "Guadalupe." This is an Islamic name: Guada means "river," and "Lupe means "wolf."
In 1326 a herdsman named Gil Cordero found one of his cows dead. As he began to cut the cow to skin it's hide for leather, the cow suddenly came to life and the Blessed Virgin appeared to him. She told him to go to the local bishop, and they should dig in the place where the cow had laid, and there they would find a statue. At that place, they were to build a shrine that would house the statue.
Their excavations revealed an iron casket with the statue, often called the Black Madonna, along with authenticating documents. Subsequently, a monastery was raised there, and it was from this place of the Virgin's appearance that Queen Isabella would often go for her spiritual pilgrimages, and to seek advise from her confessor.
In the remarkable story of Queen Isabella, we again see how the "Hand of God" arranged everything in her life, and put all events and people into motion, along the timeline of His Divine Will, in order to accomplish His great purpose....and history testifies to its wonderous results.
This painting rested in the Bradenton museum in the 1990's.
It depicts another apparition from the birthplace of Hernando DeSoto.
When Christopher Columbus asked for permission and finances to sail to the west, Queen Isabella initially refused his request because all of her resources were tied up in their fight against the Muslim forces (the Moors). But that was no obstacle to God's Divine Will. The war suddenly ended on January 2, 1492, as the Moors formally surrendered to the King and Queen of Castile. After a great period of bloodshed from fighting against Islamic forces, God abruptly ended the war through His servants, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, a very devout Catholic woman, and thus He opened the door for the discovery of the 'New World' and the transmission of the Faith to a new hemisphere.----For it is the Love of our God, "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1st Timothy 2:4
".....how shall they believe him, of
whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear, without a preacher?
And how shall they preach unless they be sent, as it is written: How
beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them
that bring glad tidings of good things!" Romans 10:14-15
Columbus claimed that a miraculous voice told him one night:
"God will cause thy name to be wonderfully resounded through the earth, and will give thee the keys of the gates of the ocean, which are closed with strong chains."
Consider where we have heard something similar to a portion of the earth being closed, or an entry prevented:
"And he cast out Adam; and placed before the paradise of pleasure Cherubims, and a flaming sword, turning every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." Genesis 3:24
His Inspiration: Columbus, a devout Catholic, was very confident that God, Himself, was leading his mission. In a letter to the King and Queen, he wrote: "At this time I have seen and put in study to look into all the Scriptures, cosmography, histories, chronicles and philosophy and other arts, which our Lord opened to my understanding. (I could sense his hand upon me), so that it became clear to me that it was feasible to navigate from here to the Indies; and he unlocked within me the determination to execute the idea....Neither the sciences, which I mentioned above, nor the authoritative citations from them, were of any avail. In only your Highnesses remained faith and constancy. Who doubts that this illumination was from the Holy Spirit? I attest that He, with marvelous rays of light, consoled me through the holy and sacred Scriptures, a strong and clear testimony...encouraging me to proceed..."
As Columbus was returning to Spain after his 4th voyage, he heard a voice say: "O foolish one, slow to believe and serve your God, the God of all. What more did he do for Moses or for David, his servant, than he has done for you? Since you were born, he has always
kept you under his watchful care. When he saw you at a suitable age for carrying out his purpose, he wonderfully brought renown to your name throughout the land. He gave you for your own the Indies, which are so rich a part of the world. You divided them as it pleased you, and He gave you authority to do so. He gave you the keys to the barriers of the Ocean Sea, which were closed with such mighty chains. You were obeyed in many lands, and you gained honorable fame throughout Christendom. What more did He do for the people of Israel, when He brought them out of Egypt, or for David, whom from a shepherd He made to be king in Judea? Turn to him and acknowledge your error. His mercy is infinite....God does not fail in honoring the privileges and promises He gives...He performs his word to the letter. He fulfills all that He promises with interest. This is His way of doing things. Now I have told you what your Creator has done for you and does for everybody...Do not fear, but trust. All these tribulations are written in stone and not without cause."
Historical facts testify to God's great work through Christopher Columbus. He was God's chosen instrument in carrying the Holy Christian Faith to this half of the world---a world that lay hidden from the knowledge of their God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
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Cortes - The Conquest of Mexico
(All quotes are taken from "The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico," by Bernal Diaz del Castillo, Conquistadore.)
The adventures of Hernando Cortes are so extraordinary that one cannot even begin to detail how miraculously God led, confirmed, and supported him throughout the entire conquest. It is strongly recommended that one should read the first-hand account of the adventure, as written by Bernal Diaz del Castillo, who was the historian that accompanied Cortes throughout the entire journey. It's a very exciting read, and he details how our God provided that a small band of soldiers (greatly outnumbered in every battle) should be able to conquer such a vast territory, and how God gave them victory after victory in so many battles, even before they reached the heart of Montezuma's empire.
The Pyramid of the Sun, Mexico
In today's world, and at the hands of those who teach history with a bias, people are led to believe that all Columbus, Cortes and the conquistadors were interested in was gold, and the killing of Indians. Bernal Diaz del Castillo knew Cortes well and witnessed the entire conquest of Mexico. Throughout his historical documentation, he mentions the many times that Cortes made every effort to be kind, loving, peacable and fair with all the Indians he encountered. Of course, if his life was threatened, he had to act to defend himself and his men. Diaz documented: "Cortes ordered us not to annoy them in any way. Here in this Island, Cortes began to rule energetically, and Our Lord so favored him that whatever he put his hand to it turned out well for him, especially in pacifying the people and towns of these lands, as we shall see further on." In fact, when one of the soldiers went to a nearby village and stole some fowl, cloth and gold mixed with copper, Cortes "reprimanded him severely, and told him that we should never pacify the country in that way by robbing the natives of their property," and he ordered it all to be returned.
The Indians saw what valiant warriors the conquistadors were in battle after battle as they made their way to Tenochtitlan, and they were particularly impressed by Cortes' great kindness and grace, so much so that many of the natives ended up joining forces with Cortes to fight against Montezuma, who had a history of oppressing neighboring tribes.
At the beginning of their travels, one of the great blessings God provided them was an interpreter by the name of Dona Marina. She was a very instrumental asset in the conquest. She was a native woman who had been ousted from her family and knew the native language well. She was happy to be their interpreter throughout their journey.
The Pyramid of the Moon, and altars along the Avenue of the Dead outside of Mexico City
Moses: "These are the precepts and judgments, that you must do in the land which the Lord the God of thy fathers will give thee, to possess it all the days that thou shalt walk upon the earth. Destroy all the places in which the nations, that you shall possess, worshiped their gods upon high mountains and hills, and under every shady tree. Overthrow their altars, and break down their statues, burn their groves with fire, and break their idols in pieces: destroy their names out of those places...." Deuteronomy Ch. 12:1-3
Consider "why" it was so necessary that God should send, and bless, Christian conquerers to Mexico. In what the Conquistadors called the Isla de Sacrificios, Bernal Diaz describes: "...we found two masonry houses very well built, each house with steps leading up to some altars, and on these altars were idols with evil looking bodies, and that very night five Indians had been sacrificed before them; their chests had been cut open, and the arms and thighs had been cut off and the walls were covered with blood." In another entry, he wrote what they found on entering some small towns : "...he found in the cues bodies of men and boys who had been sacrificed, and the walls and altars stained with blood and the hearts placed as offerings before the Idols. He also found the stones on which the sacrifices were made and the stone knives with which to open the chest so as to take out the heart....he found most of the bodies without arms or legs, and that, he was told by some Indians, they had been carried off to be eaten....we found the same thing in every town we afterwards entered. In this entry he describes the Aztec priests who offered the human sacrifices "...they wore their hair very long, down to the waist, with some even reaching down to the feet, covered with blood and so matted together that it could not be separated, and their ears were cut to pieces by way of sacrifice, and they stank like sulfur, and they had another bad smell like carrion..."
After each battle Cortes and his men would tear down the native pagan altars of human sacrifice and remembrance of their false gods and place the Cross of Christ or a statue of the Blessed Virgin there, and show the natives how they must respect them.
As he began his conquest, Cortes "ordered two standards and banners to be made, worked in gold with the royal arms and a cross on each side with a legend which said:
'Comrades, let us follow the sign of the Holy Cross
with true faith, and through it, we shall conquer."
(Cortes' Standard included an image of the Virgin Mary, and another standard had a dove on it, representing the Holy Spirit.)
When one of the village chiefs offered Cortes his daughter, Diaz wrote: "...Cortes replied that he wished first to do the will of God our Lord, and that for which our Lord the King had sent us, which was to induce them to do away with their idols, and no longer to kill and sacrifice human beings, and to lead them to believe in that which we believed, that is in one true God, and he told them much more touching on our Holy Faith, and in truth he expressed it very well....and that they should at once give up their evil idols and believe in and worship our Lord God and things would prosper with them, and when they died their souls would go to heaven to enjoy glory everlasting: but that if they went on making sacrifices as they were accustomed to do to their idols, they would be led to hell..." However, the chief stated that his people were not ready to change so quickly: "Malinche, ...we thoroughly believe that this God of yours and this great Lady are very good, but look you, you have only just come to our homes. As time goes on we shall understand your beliefs much more clearly...But how can you ask us to give up our Teules which for many years our ancestors have held to be gods and have made sacrifices to them and have worshiped them?..." One of the priests accompanying Cortes advised him: "Sir, do not attempt to press them further on this subject, for it is not just to make them Christians by force." But in the towns that became friendly to them they erected the Cross of Christ, "its meaning explained and they were told to hold it in great reverence."
Cortes and his men conquered and brought the Faith to Mexico under the banner of Our Lord, as Diaz tells in the final words of his historical documentation, whereby he gives all credit to Jesus and Mary:
"Guatemoc and his captains were captured on the 13th day of August at the time of vespers on the day of Senor San Hipolito in the year 1521, thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ and our Lady the Virgin Santa Maria, His Blessed Mother. Amen"
Just 10 years later, the Virgin Mary would give the Mexican people her miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which would solidify their Faith. (See the "Our Lady of Guadalupe" page.)
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Hernando De Soto - The Bay of the Holy Spirit
In 1539 Don Hernando De Soto came ashore at the present day mouth of the Manatee River (Bradenton) along with 12 priests. They dedicated their landing site in honor of "Espiritu Santo" (the Holy Spirit). There are some from other nearby communities who've disputed the landing site as being farther south, and some say farther north.
Author's Note: For the sake of my own documentation, which I want to be truthful, I turned to Our Lord in prayer that He might somehow confirm the Bradenton location if it really was the true landing site.
Shortly after my prayer, our family went on an outing to the De Soto Memorial, at the north end of 75th St. West in Bradenton. I didn't tell anyone about my prayer request. As we were driving there, I understood the landing site was "where the Cross is." As there is a large Cross on the property, I assumed that that must be it, as it was so obvious. But as we were walking the paths, I suddenly noticed a perfect little Cross made out of twigs. That tiny little cross was like Elijah's little whispering sound---compared to the large concrete cross that marks the property. I tried to ignore it and walk past it, but something kept telling me to go back and take a picture of it.--- About 20 feet in front of the little Cross was the Manatee River, and between the Cross and the river was a historical marker. This is the actual landing site according to the final report of the 1939 U.S. DeSoto Expedition Commission after its extensive investigation.
The Bay of the Holy Spirit seemed to be a place of favor during the 2004 hurricane season as 3 back-to-back hurricanes had their sights set on Manatee County...but just before entering, all 3 turned away from the county at the last minute. (Charlie, Jeanne & Frances.)
This author prayed many, many Chaplets of Divine Mercy as each storm approached. The Christian Faith is strong in this area, and I know that many of us were praying.
The night before Charlie arrived, I was up most of the night making exhausting preparations. The following morning, I went to Mass, in what looked like a ghost town, then settled in at our office (which was out of the flood zone) to await Charlie's arrival. I listened one more time to the forecast, then, exhausted, I gave up and just submitted to God's Divine Will, laid down on the floor, and fell asleep. I dreamed that there was a large, powerful angel in the Gulf---a mighty and commanding angel---and he was facing toward the East. When I woke up a short time later, the news forecasters were almost "apologizing" for their miscalculations because Charlie, a strong Cat. 4 hurricane, had taken a sudden, last-minute turn to the East, just shy of entering Manatee County.
Within weeks, Jeanne and Francis also gave our county a scare, but they, too, turned away just before entering.
< The Bradenton Herald headlines read, "Manatee Blessed,"
after being spared from the 3rd Hurricaine in a month.
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In the Old Testament, people knew about God the Father. The New Testament was mostly about Jesus. Now, in our day, the essential guidance of the Holy Spirit assists us in seeking personal holiness through the many tools available to us, as mentioned on this web-site.
The Holy Spirit has been evident from the very beginning--for Genesis 1:2 states, "...and the spirit of God moved over the waters." Jesus also sent the Holy Spirit to His disciples, as recorded in Acts, Ch:2. Today, the Holy Spirit, guides us in a marvelous manner along the Holy Way to the Father, through Jesus Christ, His Son, and to the Heavenly Jerusalem, the Kingdom of the Divine Will. The Holy Spirit is our Sanctifier.
"Not with an army, nor by might, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts..." Zacharias 4:5
11/13/93 (Mary @ Holy Love) - "Be attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Do everything in Holy Love for the sake of holiness. Then God, in His mercy, will take what He needs from you and add what He sees you need from Him.
Prayer of Consecration to the Holy Spirit
1/3/98 (Mary-Holy Love) - "Praise be Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father. My angel, put this down as a morning consecration to My Spouse.
"Most Holy Spirit, I consecrate to You this day in time.
Open my heart to Your promptings.
Inspire me to do the Divine Will of God. Amen"
"When you begin the day in such a way, the Holy Spirit will be with you and guide you. You will not fear any consequence of the day as you will be under His protection."
Author's Note: One day as I drove across the bridge that spans the Manatee River (from Bradenton to Palmetto) I was so taken in by what looked like a cloud formation of a large angel in the sky. It took me a couple of minutes to get off the bridge and pull over near the marina to take a picture. When I did, I had trouble seeing the angel, but decided to take pictures anyway. Later, as I was reviewing my pictures, I was so surprised to see what looked like a dove in front of the sun with rays of light coming forth from it (as seen in the the picture below.) A portion of the angel can still be seen kneeling below the dove. (It's facing to the right, head bowed with hands to head, as though praying, but most of its wings are blocked by the light that surrounds the dove, directly above it.) The whole area surrounding the mouth of the Manatee River--The Bay of the Holy Spirit--is under the umbrella of light which emanates from the area of the dove.
In subsequent pictures, we can see how the dove changes into a heart, then, in the 3rd picture, it looks like the dove is in flight in the area of the angel, (in the dark cloud, below where the dove was). All three photos are remarkable, but it still amazes me that an "angel" drew me there to take pictures, even though I couldn't see what I was taking. I believe the photos are Our Lord's way of confirming that this really is the place dedicated to His Divine Spirit.
The Dove
Heart
The below photo: Dove in flight (below the area of the sun)
The angel's wings can best be seen in this photo, to the left of the dove.
The picture of the cloud formation in the shape of a mountain (explained on "The Mountain of the Lord" page) was also taken looking toward the De Soto landing site. So, in all of the images---the mountain, the doves & the heart---all rested over the actual landing site.
We should also remember, that this is where the statue of Our Lady of Fatima came to rest on the day that the last Fatima visionary died. (As mentioned before, there seems to be a connection between the Fatima statue and doves.) If this really is the place on the map that was consecrated to the Holy Spirit by the Spanish explorers and the missionary priests that accompanied them, then time and disputes cannot erase the intention of God's Divine Purpose.
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The following are 2 little personal notations regarding the doves in this area.
One day a European Collared dove was making a lot of cooing noise as it kept flying back and forth across the yard. After about 15 minutes, I jokingly commented to the little dove. "What are you trying to tell me?" Immediately the dove flew through my opened lanai door and hovered above the statue of the Blessed Virgin. It reminds me of one of her many titles as the "Spouse of the Holy Spirit"...as it was by the Holy Spirit that she conceived her Son, Jesus.
Another time I remarked to the Lord that I would love to hold one of the baby doves. The next morning when my husband went out to get the newspaper, he asked me who put the bird on the front step. Right next to the front door was a young dove, just sitting there. I enjoyed keeping it for the day, then let it go late in the afternoon.
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Baptism is an essential beginning in our Journey of Faith. Jesus said: "Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit..." John 3:5-6 Baptism removes the stain of original sin that was passed on to us from our original ancestors, and opens up for us a life of grace through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, Who knows all things and desires to lead us to Heaven. How necessary it is to entrust ourselves to His Divine Guidance.
The following words of HERNANDO DE SOTO demonstrate his spiritual nature, and his goals, as he interacted with the natives in this new land.
One day, in his teachings to the Indians of the Mississippi area, he lifted up a cross he made out of pine wood and said, "This was He Who had made the sky and the earth and man in His own image. Upon the tree of the Cross He suffered to save the human race, and rose from the tomb on His third day...and, having ascended into heaven, was there to receive with open arms all who would be converted to Him."
(This monument is at the De Soto Memorial in Bradenton.)
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Pedro Menendez de Aviles - St. Augustine
(All quotes taken from the Cross in the Sand, by Michael V. Gannon)
According to the writings of Fr. Lopez who was present at the founding of St. Augustine, he noted how God's Providential Hand had guided their mission. "...while we were near the entrance to the Bahama Channel, God showed to us a miracle from Heaven. About 9:00 in the evening, a comet appeared, which showed itself directly above us, a little eastward, giving so much light that it might have been taken for the sun. It went towards the west--that is, towards Florida, and its brightness lasted long enough to repeat two Credos....(The Creed: 'I believe in God...')" The following day they sighted land near present-day Cape Kennedy.) Fr. Lopez further wrote, " Thanks to God and the prayers of the Blessed Virgin,
we soon had the pleasure of seeing land, and found ourselves actually
in Florida."
They continued north along the coast, and on Sept. 8th, 1565, the Captain General Pedro Menendez went ashore with ceremony as Fr. Lopez describes: "On Saturday, the 8th, the General landed with many banners spread, to the sound of trumpets and salutes of artillery. As I had gone ashore the evening before, I took a Cross and went to meet him, singing the hymn, Te Deum Laudamus. The General followed by all who accompanied him, marched up to the Cross, knelt, and kissed it. A large number of Indians watched these proceedings and imitated all they saw done."
They then offered the first Mass in North America in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as it happened to be her birthday on the Church's calendar. By God's Divine Will the Nativity of the Virgin Mary marked the beginning of Christian missionary work in North America. Its mission site was dedicated to God under the title, "Nombre de Dios," which means the "Name of God." This historical site in St. Augustine is home of the first Church in North America, and where the first Shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary was erected, called Our Lady of La Leche, meaning "Our Lady of the Milk and Happy Delivery."
Throughout those early years, the missionary priests taught the Florida Indians how to read and write, to worship God on Sundays, and such holy prayers as the Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Hail Holy Queen, which are all prayers of the Rosary.
The Book, "Cross in the Sand," by Michael V. Gannon (Univ. Press of FL Gainsville) details how extensive the priests' missionary work was throughout the northern and central regions of Florida in those early years. They had great success in teaching the Indians for over 100 years, and by 1655 the Franciscan missionary priests had taught the Christian Doctrine to over 26,000 Indians, and there were many missionaries set up between St. Augustine and the Panhandle of Florida.
What's notable about the missionary work of St. Augustine, as well as that of Columbus, Cortes and De Soto, is that they all had the good intention of teaching the natives about God. Of course there were battles and struggles along the way, as can be expected by resistance, but history confirms that the Spanish explorers discussed on this page were all successful in bringing the Faith to the natives of this new land. They did not steal or bribe them out of their land and force them onto "reservations," as other European immigrants would do in the coming centuries. Instead, they brought the Faith to them where they were, and the natives were receptive to it, and incorporated it into their daily lives once they began to understand its significance.
Throughout all of these centuries, God has not forgotten all of those consecrations---all of those dedications in His Name. Even though humanity might want to stray from God's Divine Will, from His Commandments and moral teachings, His purpose remains the same. He has a standard that He expects us to follow....a standard that this whole land of the Americas was founded upon. How many times has our nation respected the views of atheists over those moral teachings of Our Lord, and His Christian people, in making laws that govern our nation? Therefore, let us remember God's purpose for this land, and raise up, once again, His Standard across our nation. God will assist us, just as He miraculously assisted Cortes, if we humbly pray and courageously strive to uphold His Christian principals.
< The oldest church in North America-St. Augustine Catholic Church.
The Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche
This statue is a replica of the original honored by the first Spanish settlers. This is the first shrine in the United States to be built in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To gain a better understanding of God's purpose and Divine Will for the discoveries of the New World, please consider reading any of the books recommended on this page.
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Next: Please visit the "Apparitions" tab at the top of this page.
(This is page 4 of 10 pages.)
Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost." Matthew 28:18-19
The Transmission of the Faith in Jesus Christ
to the Americas
Our Lady of Declaration of
Columbus 1521 Guadalupe 1539 St. Augustine 1620 Independence
I I I I I I l
1492 Cortes 1531 De Soto 1565 Mayflower arrives 1776
Plymouth Rock
Christopher Columbus and subsequent explorers discovered that the Spiritual needs of the natives of this land were so great because of their pagan sacrifices and reverence for the devil. This was documented in a letter written by a Jesuit priest, Fr. Rogel, in 1570, as he traveled from the St. Augustine mission, up the coast, to present-day South Carolina. He stated that the natives understood his teachings about the Trinity, and a little about the Cross, but when he began to preach against the devil, they "did not believe a thing I said, since I spoke ill of the devil."Historical "facts" should never change. Truth does not change according to our perspective. But sadly, today anyone can publish anything they want---and it doesn't have to be accurate, just convincing. We recommend researching historical topics from reliable resources, preferably material that is as close to the original diary or manuscript of the person who experienced it. One should also consider the author's objective. If the author had a hatred for Christopher Columbus, his slant on Columbus' whole mission will lead away from the truth. Yet, according to written documentation, Columbus strived to be a holy man, who knew he had a defined mission from God.
In this segment, history testifies to the success of the early Christian explorers, who were obviously (and miraculously) led by God, in order to share their Faith in Jesus Christ with those in this land who had no knowledge of their Savior.
The books recommended here document how Our Lord provided for the transmission of the Faith to this half of the world. It's truly amazing to read how God performed so many miracles in order to put the very devout Queen Isabella on the throne in Spain...just as Christopher Columbus' mission needed her assistance---or how He provided so many miracles in order that Cortes and his men would be able to enter into the heart of the Aztec empire, so that those natives, too, might come to know Jesus as their Savior. In fact, God had already prepared Montezuma through ancient prophecies when Cortes and his men arrived on their shores.
As we can see by the above time-line, the Holy Christian Faith, through the missionary work of the Catholic Church, was well-established before the pilgrims even came to Plymouth Rock, and it must be noted that many priests and faith-filled explorers unselfishly gave their lives for the propagation of the Faith here, well before the Mayflower ever arrived. In the Church, we note how "the blood of the martyrs is the seed for evanglization." We are all here on this continent because of the faith and the missionary zeal of Columbus, Cortes and all who joined them, and because God "willed" and blessed their undertakings---against extraordinary odds.
With each discovery, the conquistadors and accompanying priests planted the "Cross of Christ" and dedicated all this land to Our God for the extension of the Holy Christian Faith in this portion of the world. Old Testament Scripture gives us a glimpse about how important dedications of land are to God. "Thou shalt not take nor remove thy neighbor's landmark, which thy predecessors have set in thy possession, which the Lord thy God will give thee in the land that thou shalt receive to possess." (Deuteronomy 19:14) The landmarks discussed on this page are the planting of the Cross of Christ by the early Christian explorers, along with all the prayers of dedications made in the Name of Jesus. Man, over time, cannot erase such dedications to our God. Therefore, Christians should not fear to stand up for the restoration of the Christian principals that this land was once dedicated, and it is our duty to do so, as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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The history of the transmission of the Faith to the Americas can trace its origins to the mission work of the Apostle, St. James, as Jesus instructed him to: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always, until the end of the world!" (Matthew 28:19-20)St. James carried the seed of the new Christian Faith to the area of Spain, and at one point he became discouraged in his travels at the very slow progress he was making. According to historical tradition, one day he was deep in prayer when the Blessed Mother appeared to him and gave him a small wooden statue of herself holding the Christ Child. The statue was mounted on a column of jasper, and she instructed him: "This place is to be my house, and this image and column shall be the title and altar of the temple that you shall build." 2,000 years later, one can still travel to Saragossa, Spain, to view the statue of "Our Lady of the Pillar." This Church in Saragossa was the first church in the world to be built in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. ----The above picture is of an ancient statue, with column, that was found in a Florida second-hand store (just a few blocks from a museum.) Many of the Spanish explorers carried such images of Our Lady of the Pillar on their expeditions to the New World.
St. James was instrumental in transmitting the Holy Christian Faith to those in Spain, and from there, to the Western Hemisphere. We must keep in mind that at that time, 1/2 of the world did not know anything about Jesus, their Savior, or Christianity at all.
In the 9th century, a hermit, guided by an unusual array of stars, pointed out to the local bishop the burial place of St. James the Apostle. A monastery was built on the site, and the village that arose was called Campus de la Stella (Compestella, which means "Field of Stars.) As pilgrims traveled to give honor and ask favors of St. James, many miracles took place that were attributed to his intercession. Over the centuries multitudes of Christians have made their way to Compestella seeking the intercession of St. James, the Apostle.
In Spain there is another famous statue of Jesus and Mary that has proven instrumental in bringing knowledge of Jesus to our land of the Americas. It was a gift from Pope St. Gregory the Great to the Bishop of Seville, and it's history is fascinating, as well.
During the Muslim conquest of Spain, which began in 711, this beautiful wooden statue, which tradition documents to be carved by the Apostle, St. Luke, was buried for safe keeping in the hills of Estremadura near a river called "Guadalupe." This is an Islamic name: Guada means "river," and "Lupe means "wolf."
In 1326 a herdsman named Gil Cordero found one of his cows dead. As he began to cut the cow to skin it's hide for leather, the cow suddenly came to life and the Blessed Virgin appeared to him. She told him to go to the local bishop, and they should dig in the place where the cow had laid, and there they would find a statue. At that place, they were to build a shrine that would house the statue.
Their excavations revealed an iron casket with the statue, often called the Black Madonna, along with authenticating documents. Subsequently, a monastery was raised there, and it was from this place of the Virgin's appearance that Queen Isabella would often go for her spiritual pilgrimages, and to seek advise from her confessor.
In the remarkable story of Queen Isabella, we again see how the "Hand of God" arranged everything in her life, and put all events and people into motion, along the timeline of His Divine Will, in order to accomplish His great purpose....and history testifies to its wonderous results.
This painting rested in the Bradenton museum in the 1990's.
It depicts another apparition from the birthplace of Hernando DeSoto.
When Christopher Columbus asked for permission and finances to sail to the west, Queen Isabella initially refused his request because all of her resources were tied up in their fight against the Muslim forces (the Moors). But that was no obstacle to God's Divine Will. The war suddenly ended on January 2, 1492, as the Moors formally surrendered to the King and Queen of Castile. After a great period of bloodshed from fighting against Islamic forces, God abruptly ended the war through His servants, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, a very devout Catholic woman, and thus He opened the door for the discovery of the 'New World' and the transmission of the Faith to a new hemisphere.----For it is the Love of our God, "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1st Timothy 2:4
".....how shall they believe him, of
whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear, without a preacher?
And how shall they preach unless they be sent, as it is written: How
beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them
that bring glad tidings of good things!" Romans 10:14-15Columbus claimed that a miraculous voice told him one night:
"God will cause thy name to be wonderfully resounded through the earth, and will give thee the keys of the gates of the ocean, which are closed with strong chains."
Consider where we have heard something similar to a portion of the earth being closed, or an entry prevented:
"And he cast out Adam; and placed before the paradise of pleasure Cherubims, and a flaming sword, turning every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." Genesis 3:24
His Inspiration: Columbus, a devout Catholic, was very confident that God, Himself, was leading his mission. In a letter to the King and Queen, he wrote: "At this time I have seen and put in study to look into all the Scriptures, cosmography, histories, chronicles and philosophy and other arts, which our Lord opened to my understanding. (I could sense his hand upon me), so that it became clear to me that it was feasible to navigate from here to the Indies; and he unlocked within me the determination to execute the idea....Neither the sciences, which I mentioned above, nor the authoritative citations from them, were of any avail. In only your Highnesses remained faith and constancy. Who doubts that this illumination was from the Holy Spirit? I attest that He, with marvelous rays of light, consoled me through the holy and sacred Scriptures, a strong and clear testimony...encouraging me to proceed..."
As Columbus was returning to Spain after his 4th voyage, he heard a voice say: "O foolish one, slow to believe and serve your God, the God of all. What more did he do for Moses or for David, his servant, than he has done for you? Since you were born, he has always
kept you under his watchful care. When he saw you at a suitable age for carrying out his purpose, he wonderfully brought renown to your name throughout the land. He gave you for your own the Indies, which are so rich a part of the world. You divided them as it pleased you, and He gave you authority to do so. He gave you the keys to the barriers of the Ocean Sea, which were closed with such mighty chains. You were obeyed in many lands, and you gained honorable fame throughout Christendom. What more did He do for the people of Israel, when He brought them out of Egypt, or for David, whom from a shepherd He made to be king in Judea? Turn to him and acknowledge your error. His mercy is infinite....God does not fail in honoring the privileges and promises He gives...He performs his word to the letter. He fulfills all that He promises with interest. This is His way of doing things. Now I have told you what your Creator has done for you and does for everybody...Do not fear, but trust. All these tribulations are written in stone and not without cause."Historical facts testify to God's great work through Christopher Columbus. He was God's chosen instrument in carrying the Holy Christian Faith to this half of the world---a world that lay hidden from the knowledge of their God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
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Cortes - The Conquest of Mexico
(All quotes are taken from "The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico," by Bernal Diaz del Castillo, Conquistadore.)
The adventures of Hernando Cortes are so extraordinary that one cannot even begin to detail how miraculously God led, confirmed, and supported him throughout the entire conquest. It is strongly recommended that one should read the first-hand account of the adventure, as written by Bernal Diaz del Castillo, who was the historian that accompanied Cortes throughout the entire journey. It's a very exciting read, and he details how our God provided that a small band of soldiers (greatly outnumbered in every battle) should be able to conquer such a vast territory, and how God gave them victory after victory in so many battles, even before they reached the heart of Montezuma's empire.The Pyramid of the Sun, Mexico
In today's world, and at the hands of those who teach history with a bias, people are led to believe that all Columbus, Cortes and the conquistadors were interested in was gold, and the killing of Indians. Bernal Diaz del Castillo knew Cortes well and witnessed the entire conquest of Mexico. Throughout his historical documentation, he mentions the many times that Cortes made every effort to be kind, loving, peacable and fair with all the Indians he encountered. Of course, if his life was threatened, he had to act to defend himself and his men. Diaz documented: "Cortes ordered us not to annoy them in any way. Here in this Island, Cortes began to rule energetically, and Our Lord so favored him that whatever he put his hand to it turned out well for him, especially in pacifying the people and towns of these lands, as we shall see further on." In fact, when one of the soldiers went to a nearby village and stole some fowl, cloth and gold mixed with copper, Cortes "reprimanded him severely, and told him that we should never pacify the country in that way by robbing the natives of their property," and he ordered it all to be returned.
The Indians saw what valiant warriors the conquistadors were in battle after battle as they made their way to Tenochtitlan, and they were particularly impressed by Cortes' great kindness and grace, so much so that many of the natives ended up joining forces with Cortes to fight against Montezuma, who had a history of oppressing neighboring tribes.
At the beginning of their travels, one of the great blessings God provided them was an interpreter by the name of Dona Marina. She was a very instrumental asset in the conquest. She was a native woman who had been ousted from her family and knew the native language well. She was happy to be their interpreter throughout their journey.
The Pyramid of the Moon, and altars along the Avenue of the Dead outside of Mexico City
Moses: "These are the precepts and judgments, that you must do in the land which the Lord the God of thy fathers will give thee, to possess it all the days that thou shalt walk upon the earth. Destroy all the places in which the nations, that you shall possess, worshiped their gods upon high mountains and hills, and under every shady tree. Overthrow their altars, and break down their statues, burn their groves with fire, and break their idols in pieces: destroy their names out of those places...." Deuteronomy Ch. 12:1-3
Consider "why" it was so necessary that God should send, and bless, Christian conquerers to Mexico. In what the Conquistadors called the Isla de Sacrificios, Bernal Diaz describes: "...we found two masonry houses very well built, each house with steps leading up to some altars, and on these altars were idols with evil looking bodies, and that very night five Indians had been sacrificed before them; their chests had been cut open, and the arms and thighs had been cut off and the walls were covered with blood." In another entry, he wrote what they found on entering some small towns : "...he found in the cues bodies of men and boys who had been sacrificed, and the walls and altars stained with blood and the hearts placed as offerings before the Idols. He also found the stones on which the sacrifices were made and the stone knives with which to open the chest so as to take out the heart....he found most of the bodies without arms or legs, and that, he was told by some Indians, they had been carried off to be eaten....we found the same thing in every town we afterwards entered. In this entry he describes the Aztec priests who offered the human sacrifices "...they wore their hair very long, down to the waist, with some even reaching down to the feet, covered with blood and so matted together that it could not be separated, and their ears were cut to pieces by way of sacrifice, and they stank like sulfur, and they had another bad smell like carrion..."
After each battle Cortes and his men would tear down the native pagan altars of human sacrifice and remembrance of their false gods and place the Cross of Christ or a statue of the Blessed Virgin there, and show the natives how they must respect them.
As he began his conquest, Cortes "ordered two standards and banners to be made, worked in gold with the royal arms and a cross on each side with a legend which said:
'Comrades, let us follow the sign of the Holy Cross
with true faith, and through it, we shall conquer."
(Cortes' Standard included an image of the Virgin Mary, and another standard had a dove on it, representing the Holy Spirit.)
When one of the village chiefs offered Cortes his daughter, Diaz wrote: "...Cortes replied that he wished first to do the will of God our Lord, and that for which our Lord the King had sent us, which was to induce them to do away with their idols, and no longer to kill and sacrifice human beings, and to lead them to believe in that which we believed, that is in one true God, and he told them much more touching on our Holy Faith, and in truth he expressed it very well....and that they should at once give up their evil idols and believe in and worship our Lord God and things would prosper with them, and when they died their souls would go to heaven to enjoy glory everlasting: but that if they went on making sacrifices as they were accustomed to do to their idols, they would be led to hell..." However, the chief stated that his people were not ready to change so quickly: "Malinche, ...we thoroughly believe that this God of yours and this great Lady are very good, but look you, you have only just come to our homes. As time goes on we shall understand your beliefs much more clearly...But how can you ask us to give up our Teules which for many years our ancestors have held to be gods and have made sacrifices to them and have worshiped them?..." One of the priests accompanying Cortes advised him: "Sir, do not attempt to press them further on this subject, for it is not just to make them Christians by force." But in the towns that became friendly to them they erected the Cross of Christ, "its meaning explained and they were told to hold it in great reverence."
Cortes and his men conquered and brought the Faith to Mexico under the banner of Our Lord, as Diaz tells in the final words of his historical documentation, whereby he gives all credit to Jesus and Mary:
"Guatemoc and his captains were captured on the 13th day of August at the time of vespers on the day of Senor San Hipolito in the year 1521, thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ and our Lady the Virgin Santa Maria, His Blessed Mother. Amen"
Just 10 years later, the Virgin Mary would give the Mexican people her miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which would solidify their Faith. (See the "Our Lady of Guadalupe" page.)
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Hernando De Soto - The Bay of the Holy Spirit
In 1539 Don Hernando De Soto came ashore at the present day mouth of the Manatee River (Bradenton) along with 12 priests. They dedicated their landing site in honor of "Espiritu Santo" (the Holy Spirit). There are some from other nearby communities who've disputed the landing site as being farther south, and some say farther north.
Author's Note: For the sake of my own documentation, which I want to be truthful, I turned to Our Lord in prayer that He might somehow confirm the Bradenton location if it really was the true landing site.
Shortly after my prayer, our family went on an outing to the De Soto Memorial, at the north end of 75th St. West in Bradenton. I didn't tell anyone about my prayer request. As we were driving there, I understood the landing site was "where the Cross is." As there is a large Cross on the property, I assumed that that must be it, as it was so obvious. But as we were walking the paths, I suddenly noticed a perfect little Cross made out of twigs. That tiny little cross was like Elijah's little whispering sound---compared to the large concrete cross that marks the property. I tried to ignore it and walk past it, but something kept telling me to go back and take a picture of it.--- About 20 feet in front of the little Cross was the Manatee River, and between the Cross and the river was a historical marker. This is the actual landing site according to the final report of the 1939 U.S. DeSoto Expedition Commission after its extensive investigation.
The Bay of the Holy Spirit seemed to be a place of favor during the 2004 hurricane season as 3 back-to-back hurricanes had their sights set on Manatee County...but just before entering, all 3 turned away from the county at the last minute. (Charlie, Jeanne & Frances.)
This author prayed many, many Chaplets of Divine Mercy as each storm approached. The Christian Faith is strong in this area, and I know that many of us were praying.
The night before Charlie arrived, I was up most of the night making exhausting preparations. The following morning, I went to Mass, in what looked like a ghost town, then settled in at our office (which was out of the flood zone) to await Charlie's arrival. I listened one more time to the forecast, then, exhausted, I gave up and just submitted to God's Divine Will, laid down on the floor, and fell asleep. I dreamed that there was a large, powerful angel in the Gulf---a mighty and commanding angel---and he was facing toward the East. When I woke up a short time later, the news forecasters were almost "apologizing" for their miscalculations because Charlie, a strong Cat. 4 hurricane, had taken a sudden, last-minute turn to the East, just shy of entering Manatee County.
Within weeks, Jeanne and Francis also gave our county a scare, but they, too, turned away just before entering.
< The Bradenton Herald headlines read, "Manatee Blessed,"
after being spared from the 3rd Hurricaine in a month.
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In the Old Testament, people knew about God the Father. The New Testament was mostly about Jesus. Now, in our day, the essential guidance of the Holy Spirit assists us in seeking personal holiness through the many tools available to us, as mentioned on this web-site.
The Holy Spirit has been evident from the very beginning--for Genesis 1:2 states, "...and the spirit of God moved over the waters." Jesus also sent the Holy Spirit to His disciples, as recorded in Acts, Ch:2. Today, the Holy Spirit, guides us in a marvelous manner along the Holy Way to the Father, through Jesus Christ, His Son, and to the Heavenly Jerusalem, the Kingdom of the Divine Will. The Holy Spirit is our Sanctifier.
"Not with an army, nor by might, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts..." Zacharias 4:5
11/13/93 (Mary @ Holy Love) - "Be attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Do everything in Holy Love for the sake of holiness. Then God, in His mercy, will take what He needs from you and add what He sees you need from Him.
Prayer of Consecration to the Holy Spirit
1/3/98 (Mary-Holy Love) - "Praise be Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father. My angel, put this down as a morning consecration to My Spouse.
"Most Holy Spirit, I consecrate to You this day in time.
Open my heart to Your promptings.
Inspire me to do the Divine Will of God. Amen"
"When you begin the day in such a way, the Holy Spirit will be with you and guide you. You will not fear any consequence of the day as you will be under His protection."
Author's Note: One day as I drove across the bridge that spans the Manatee River (from Bradenton to Palmetto) I was so taken in by what looked like a cloud formation of a large angel in the sky. It took me a couple of minutes to get off the bridge and pull over near the marina to take a picture. When I did, I had trouble seeing the angel, but decided to take pictures anyway. Later, as I was reviewing my pictures, I was so surprised to see what looked like a dove in front of the sun with rays of light coming forth from it (as seen in the the picture below.) A portion of the angel can still be seen kneeling below the dove. (It's facing to the right, head bowed with hands to head, as though praying, but most of its wings are blocked by the light that surrounds the dove, directly above it.) The whole area surrounding the mouth of the Manatee River--The Bay of the Holy Spirit--is under the umbrella of light which emanates from the area of the dove.
In subsequent pictures, we can see how the dove changes into a heart, then, in the 3rd picture, it looks like the dove is in flight in the area of the angel, (in the dark cloud, below where the dove was). All three photos are remarkable, but it still amazes me that an "angel" drew me there to take pictures, even though I couldn't see what I was taking. I believe the photos are Our Lord's way of confirming that this really is the place dedicated to His Divine Spirit.
The Dove
Heart
The below photo: Dove in flight (below the area of the sun)
The angel's wings can best be seen in this photo, to the left of the dove.
The picture of the cloud formation in the shape of a mountain (explained on "The Mountain of the Lord" page) was also taken looking toward the De Soto landing site. So, in all of the images---the mountain, the doves & the heart---all rested over the actual landing site. We should also remember, that this is where the statue of Our Lady of Fatima came to rest on the day that the last Fatima visionary died. (As mentioned before, there seems to be a connection between the Fatima statue and doves.) If this really is the place on the map that was consecrated to the Holy Spirit by the Spanish explorers and the missionary priests that accompanied them, then time and disputes cannot erase the intention of God's Divine Purpose.
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The following are 2 little personal notations regarding the doves in this area.
One day a European Collared dove was making a lot of cooing noise as it kept flying back and forth across the yard. After about 15 minutes, I jokingly commented to the little dove. "What are you trying to tell me?" Immediately the dove flew through my opened lanai door and hovered above the statue of the Blessed Virgin. It reminds me of one of her many titles as the "Spouse of the Holy Spirit"...as it was by the Holy Spirit that she conceived her Son, Jesus.
Another time I remarked to the Lord that I would love to hold one of the baby doves. The next morning when my husband went out to get the newspaper, he asked me who put the bird on the front step. Right next to the front door was a young dove, just sitting there. I enjoyed keeping it for the day, then let it go late in the afternoon.-----------------------------------------
Baptism is an essential beginning in our Journey of Faith. Jesus said: "Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit..." John 3:5-6 Baptism removes the stain of original sin that was passed on to us from our original ancestors, and opens up for us a life of grace through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, Who knows all things and desires to lead us to Heaven. How necessary it is to entrust ourselves to His Divine Guidance.
The following words of HERNANDO DE SOTO demonstrate his spiritual nature, and his goals, as he interacted with the natives in this new land.
One day, in his teachings to the Indians of the Mississippi area, he lifted up a cross he made out of pine wood and said, "This was He Who had made the sky and the earth and man in His own image. Upon the tree of the Cross He suffered to save the human race, and rose from the tomb on His third day...and, having ascended into heaven, was there to receive with open arms all who would be converted to Him."
(This monument is at the De Soto Memorial in Bradenton.)
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Pedro Menendez de Aviles - St. Augustine
(All quotes taken from the Cross in the Sand, by Michael V. Gannon)
According to the writings of Fr. Lopez who was present at the founding of St. Augustine, he noted how God's Providential Hand had guided their mission. "...while we were near the entrance to the Bahama Channel, God showed to us a miracle from Heaven. About 9:00 in the evening, a comet appeared, which showed itself directly above us, a little eastward, giving so much light that it might have been taken for the sun. It went towards the west--that is, towards Florida, and its brightness lasted long enough to repeat two Credos....(The Creed: 'I believe in God...')" The following day they sighted land near present-day Cape Kennedy.) Fr. Lopez further wrote, " Thanks to God and the prayers of the Blessed Virgin,
we soon had the pleasure of seeing land, and found ourselves actually
in Florida." They continued north along the coast, and on Sept. 8th, 1565, the Captain General Pedro Menendez went ashore with ceremony as Fr. Lopez describes: "On Saturday, the 8th, the General landed with many banners spread, to the sound of trumpets and salutes of artillery. As I had gone ashore the evening before, I took a Cross and went to meet him, singing the hymn, Te Deum Laudamus. The General followed by all who accompanied him, marched up to the Cross, knelt, and kissed it. A large number of Indians watched these proceedings and imitated all they saw done." They then offered the first Mass in North America in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as it happened to be her birthday on the Church's calendar. By God's Divine Will the Nativity of the Virgin Mary marked the beginning of Christian missionary work in North America. Its mission site was dedicated to God under the title, "Nombre de Dios," which means the "Name of God." This historical site in St. Augustine is home of the first Church in North America, and where the first Shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary was erected, called Our Lady of La Leche, meaning "Our Lady of the Milk and Happy Delivery."
Throughout those early years, the missionary priests taught the Florida Indians how to read and write, to worship God on Sundays, and such holy prayers as the Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Hail Holy Queen, which are all prayers of the Rosary.
The Book, "Cross in the Sand," by Michael V. Gannon (Univ. Press of FL Gainsville) details how extensive the priests' missionary work was throughout the northern and central regions of Florida in those early years. They had great success in teaching the Indians for over 100 years, and by 1655 the Franciscan missionary priests had taught the Christian Doctrine to over 26,000 Indians, and there were many missionaries set up between St. Augustine and the Panhandle of Florida.What's notable about the missionary work of St. Augustine, as well as that of Columbus, Cortes and De Soto, is that they all had the good intention of teaching the natives about God. Of course there were battles and struggles along the way, as can be expected by resistance, but history confirms that the Spanish explorers discussed on this page were all successful in bringing the Faith to the natives of this new land. They did not steal or bribe them out of their land and force them onto "reservations," as other European immigrants would do in the coming centuries. Instead, they brought the Faith to them where they were, and the natives were receptive to it, and incorporated it into their daily lives once they began to understand its significance.
Throughout all of these centuries, God has not forgotten all of those consecrations---all of those dedications in His Name. Even though humanity might want to stray from God's Divine Will, from His Commandments and moral teachings, His purpose remains the same. He has a standard that He expects us to follow....a standard that this whole land of the Americas was founded upon. How many times has our nation respected the views of atheists over those moral teachings of Our Lord, and His Christian people, in making laws that govern our nation? Therefore, let us remember God's purpose for this land, and raise up, once again, His Standard across our nation. God will assist us, just as He miraculously assisted Cortes, if we humbly pray and courageously strive to uphold His Christian principals.
< The oldest church in North America-St. Augustine Catholic Church.
The Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche
This statue is a replica of the original honored by the first Spanish settlers. This is the first shrine in the United States to be built in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To gain a better understanding of God's purpose and Divine Will for the discoveries of the New World, please consider reading any of the books recommended on this page.
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Next: Please visit the "Apparitions" tab at the top of this page.
(This is page 4 of 10 pages.)
