The Greatness of Mordecai



 

Esther 10

1 And King Ahasuerus imposed tribute on the land and on a the islands of the sea.
2 Now all the acts of his power and his might, and the account of the greatness of Mordecai, b to which the king 1 advanced him, are they not written in the book of the c chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?
3 For Mordecai the Jew was d second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, e seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his 2 countrymen.

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New King James Version (NKJV)

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

The Woman in Salvation History



God used various people, places and events in the Old Testament to prefigure realities later revealed in the New Testament. Guided by Church Tradition, we can discover how various Old Testament events and persons point to truths about Christ´s mother.

by Curtis Mitch | Source:

How can Catholic Tradition make so much of Mary when the New Testament seems to say so little about her? Do the unique quality of biblical passages about Mary sufficiently compensate for the lack of quantity?

Early on I learned that much of the Bible’s teaching about Mary exists in the form of Old Testament types. This means, among other things, that direct prophecy was not the only way that the Old Testament announced the glorious advent of the New. In addition to prophetic oracles about the future Messiah and His Mother (e.g. Gen. 3:15, Is. 7:14), God used various people, places, events and institutions of the Old Covenant to prefigure the mysteries He would later unveil through Christ. God was not bound to speak to His people only with words; He also adapted created things for His purposes and invested them with spiritual and prophetic significance.

In biblical language, these historical preparations for the Gospel are called types (Gk. Typos). This word was used by the New Testament writers to mean “copy,” “model,” or “figure” and literally refers to a stamp or mark made when one object strikes another. For example, an impression made in clay by a signet ring or seal would leave a mark that resembled its crafted image, yet differed from it as a copy differs from an original. Old Covenant “types” thus referred to historical persons and things that looked forward to greater realities yet to be revealed. These reflections of the New Covenant in the Old Testament were part of what made the entire Bible a living source of the Church’s teaching throughout the centuries.

Treasury of Marian Types

Catholic Tradition has culled numerous Marian gems from the rich mines of the Old Testament (cf. Catechism, no. 489). Pope Pius IX, when defining the Immaculate Conception, gave a brief index of Marian typology that figured prominently in the writings of the Fathers of the Church. Noah’s ark (Gen. 7:7), for instance, prefigured Mary’s singular purity and immunity from sin, for it alone escaped the dreadful judgment of God upon the world for its wickedness. Jacob’s ladder (Gen. 28:12) typified the Blessed Virgin as a heavenly intercessor, stretching up to the Lord and serving as the avenue whereupon angels and blessings pass between heaven and earth. The burning bush (Ex. 3:2) is a type of Mary as a mother enveloped in divine love – just as the bush burned but was not consumed, so the Virgin remained uncharred by the raging flames of God’s presence in her womb.

Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 8: 10-13) likewise foreshadows the mystery of her divine maternity: As God’s glory filled the sacred building, so Mary became a sanctuary housing the glory of God’s Son. The Litany of Loreto similarly addresses Mary as the Ark of the Covenant. Just as the golden ark held within it such things as the tablets of the law an a sample of heavenly manna, so Mary bore within her womb Jesus Christ, the living law of the New Covenant and the Eucharistic Bread of Life.

In addition to the symbolism of inanimate objects, Mary is also typified by the women and mothers of the Old Covenant. These outstanding figures exhibit a real but limited likeness to the mother of the future Messiah and prepared Israel to welcome her as their most exemplary and virtuous kinswoman.

Foremost among these ancient women is Eve, the mother of all the living (Gen. 3:20). The Church Fathers, following the same trajectory that St. Paul traced when contrasting Adam with Jesus (cf. Rom. 5:14; 1 Cor. 15:22), likewise recognized Mary as the blessed counterpart to Eve. Unlike the first woman, the Virgin always obeyed God, was always at enmity with the treacherous serpent, and was made the mother of all who are spiritually alive through grace.

Rebekah prefigured Mary in her maternal concern to secure blessings for her son Jacob and shield him from the plots of his envious brother Easau (Gen. 25-27). Like this matriarch, the Blessed Mother protects her children from the tactics of the enemy, gives them wise counsel and petitions the Father to bless them.

The mother of the Maccabean martyrs (2 Mac. 7) is a striking prototype of Mary in her maternal anguish. She encouraged her sons to trust unswervingly in God despite torture, unconvinced that God would vindicate her sons and raise them again from the dead. Echoes of this event can be heard in the background as Mary stood at the foot of the Cross, pained at the spectacle of her tortured Son, yet full of motherly confidence in the divine promise of resurrection.

Precedents for the royal dignity of Mary can be traced to the prominent queens of the Old Testament era. Queen Esther (Esther 1-10) was a remarkable heroine whose privileged position in the Persian kingdom enabled her to avert a planned massacre of her fellow Jews in exile. Mary similarly uses her heavenly authority and intervention as Queen to protect God’s people from deadly schemes of the devil.

Queen Bathsheba was known as a powerful intercessor exercising great maternal sway over her son, King Solomon (1 Kings 2:13-25). Her royal advocacy in the kingdom of Israel speaks prophetic volumes about Mary’s greater and more effective intercession before Christ, the true successor and Son of David enthroned in heaven (cf. Mk. 16:19; Lk. 1:32).

We might ask ourselves, with some justification, whether these Marian types found in the Old Testament are instances of mere fanciful creativity, or examples that are firmly anchored in the inspired text of Scripture. That is, how do we know that Marian types are in the Bible and not just in the minds of its interpreters?

We will better understand the Church’s interpretive tradition when we examine how the New Testament itself confirms Marian typology and gives the Church an advantaged angle for seeing the Virgin throughout biblical history.

Blessed Among Women

When we look to Mary’s Visitation to Elizabeth (cf. Lk. 1:39-56), on the surface the episode appears dwarfed and overshadowed by the towering mysteries which surround it. Nothing extraordinary seemed to characterize this event until the two women finally met. All of a sudden, the Holy Spirit descended mightily on Elizabeth, the infant John jostled with joy in her womb, and she burst out in one of the most exuberant cries in Scripture: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Lk. 1:42).

Were it not for the nudging impulse of the Spirit, we might have thought Mary’s cousin was overstating things a bit. How could Elizabeth have already known that Mary was chosen to be the mother of the Messiah? How could she (and John!) have a clear picture of the mystery within her before Christ was revealed to the world? It had to be the Holy Spirit who illumined her mind and moved her soul in this way.

What did the words “Blessed are you among women” really mean? For the Catholic reader, this expression immediately recalls the beloved prayer, the “Hail Mary.” For Elizabeth and Mary, however, these words were strikingly similar to certain appellations in the Old Testament.

The first time a statement like this appeared in the Bible was centuries earlier in the Book of Judges. The story is told of a heroine named Jael who stands out as one of the most valiant women in Old Testament history (cf. Judg. 4-5). Though a humble woman without any known expertise in the art of war, she single-handedly brought low the chief enemy of God’s people. She crept stealthily to the Canaanite commander’s bedside, and drove a tent peg through his skull.

For this reason Deborah hailed her with the exalted words: “Most blessed of women be Jael…of tent-dwelling women most blessed” (Judg. 5:24). This is the first biblical echo that whispers – if not shouts - behind the words of Elizabeth in Luke 1:42.

The Book of Judith furnishes us with a second. Like Jael, Judith stands out in the Old Testament as a woman of unforgettable courage. She too lived during turbulent times in Israel’s history, when the ambitions of foreign empires posed a constant threat to God’s people. After careful planning, Judith wasted no time in seizing the moment when she took General Holofernes’ own sword and cut off his head! Quickly she slipped out of his tent with the ghastly trophy of the commander’s head tucked in a bag and returned to her beleagued city of Berthulia.

All rejoiced that the Lord wrought such an astonishing victory for Israel through the humble maiden Judith. The episode reached a climax when the city magistrate Uzziah came to her exclaiming: “O daughter, you are blessed by the Most High God, above all women on earth” (Judg, 13:18). In the end, Judith’s performance proved to be a turning point in Israel’s history – like Jael, she was a “blessed” vessel chosen by God to crush the stronghold of the enemy.

With this background now in the forefront of our minds, it is nearly impossible to imagine that Elizabeth could have spoken such words as “Blessed are you among women” without triggering a flood of biblical associations. Indeed the Spirit Himself - the same Holy Spirit who inspired the Scriptures - must have chosen such words for this very purpose. We can now see Mary standing in a long tradition of valiant biblical women whom God selected to carry forward His saving plan. Jael and Judith played such pivotal roles in the Old Testament as types that they prefigured the mission of the Messiah’s mother.

The common denominator linking together the experiences of Jael and Judith is the violent downfall of God’s adversaries. Both women were chosen to strike down the enemy forces with a lethal blow to the head. The question that immediately presents itself to us is obvious: What possible connections could such brutal details have with the quiet life of Mary? In what specific way was she really like these biblical heroines?

The Mystery of Mary

Questions like these inevitably push the attentive reader into the historical context of ancient Judaism, a world with magnificent hopes for the coming Messiah. Like any and every Jew, Elizabeth would have known many ancient prophecies foretelling the advent of Israel’s deliverer. Doubtless, then, she knew well the very first prophecy of the Old Testament: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Gen. 3:15). With this promise, God announced far in advance of its fulfillment that the devil’s triumph in the Garden of Eden would eventually end in defeat, with his head being crushed or bruised under the trampling blows of the Messiah and His mother.

We can safely say that Jews would not be prone to forget such bright promises so graphically depicted. Elizabeth was no exception. In a flash of inspired intuition, this ancient prophesy (Gen. 3:15) converged with the ancient types of Jael and Judith in the mind of Elizabeth, yielding a biblical portrait of the maiden standing before her.

She realized that this humble, expectant mother was to play a leading role with her Son in the great drama of redemption. Thus while Mary’s blessedness was prefigured in the lives of Israel’s valiant women, the comparisons worked out to her advantage – for both the enemy fought (Satan) and the victory won (over sin) would be immeasurably greater. This Mary was at one level the mirror image of women like Jael, Judith, and other memorable heroines; at another, she stood far above them as the most exemplary woman in history.

Stunned by the impact of this mystery, Elizabeth could do nothing but clothe her thoughts in the poignant words of Scripture: “Blessed are you among women” (Lk. 1:42).

The role of Mary in Sacred Scripture can seem like both a puzzle and a hurdle – for practicing Catholics, non-Catholics, and returning Catholics alike. Guided by the Church’s Tradition, however, we can be led from the surface of the Bible into the depths of its Old and New Testament teaching concerning the life of the mother of Our Lord.

This article is a condensed version of a chapter from Catholic for a Reason II: Scripture and the Mystery of the Mother of God. Reprinted with permission from Catholic Lay Witness ( 1-800-693-2484). All rights reserved.

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Taken from:

http://catholic.net/index.php?option=dedestaca&id=3511&grupo=Church%20Teaching%20QA&canal=Bible%20School

Lessons from the Book of Esther

By Ken Raggio
 

 

God Can Remove Anyone Who Is In His way

God prepared the way for Esther to save Israel from genocide long before her time. Ahasuerus was king over a vast empire in the Middle East, extending from India to Ethiopia. Queen Vashti scandalously refused the kings request to appear at a state dinner at Shushan the palace. The king's wise men urged him to banish her. He did. Esther soon became the queen. God can remove anyone who hinders you from doing His will.

Esther 1:20 - "When the king's decree which he shall make shall be published, ...all the wives shall give to their husbands honour."

Esther Chosen Above All The Women

After king Ahasuerus ridded himself of queen Vashti, the search was on for a new queen. Inside the palace, a captive Jew named Mordecai heard the news and brought his uncle's daughter Hadassah (Esther) to the keeper of the women. Mordecai warned her to keep her Jewish identity secret. He knew there was a plot in the palace to exterminate all Jews. But God had already arranged to promote Esther.

Esther 2:17 - "The king loved Esther above all the women, ...so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti."

God Gave Mordecai Favor With King Ahasuerus

King Ahasuerus did not know that Queen Esther was a Jew. Mordecai told her to keep silent about it. One day, while sitting in the king's gate, Mordecai overheard a conspiracy to assassinate the king. He quickly informed Esther, who told the king. The would-be assassins were caught and executed. Meanwhile, powerful men in the palace plotted to kill the Jews. But God was plotting to save them. Mordecai's favor to the king was recorded. God orchestrated Mordecai's future defense.

Esther 2:23 - "It was written in the book of the chronicles before the king."

Enemies Would Destroy All God's People

King Ahasuerus promoted Haman above all the princes. Everyone bowed to Haman, except Mordecai. That infuriated Haman so he decided to kill ALL Jews. Haman persuaded the king that Jews threatened his kingdom, and must be destroyed. The king said, "do with them as it seemeth good to thee." Never underestimate your enemy's intentions.

Esther 3:13 - "Letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, ...and to take the spoil of them for a prey."

A Loud And Bitter Cry

When Mordecai saw Haman's decree announcing a date to exterminate all Jews, "he rent his clothes, put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry." He wore sackcloth into the king's gate, which was forbidden. Esther was exceedingly grieved and sent raiment to Mordecai, but he refused it. She sent a chamberlain to query Mordecai. Mordecai sent Esther a copy of the genocide decree. His loud and bitter cry arrested the queen.

Esther 4:9 - "Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai."

You Have Come To The Kingdom For Such A Time As This

By law, anyone entering the king's chamber unbidden must be put to death, unless the king holds out his golden sceptre. Esther feared, but Mordecai insisted that if she held her peace, "thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther knew she had to go. Mordecai called the Jews in Shushan to fast three days. Sometimes, the will of God is simply "Do or Die."

Esther 4:16 - "So will I go in unto the king, ...and if I perish, I perish."

A Three-Day Fast For Esther

Esther literally risked her life to appear in the inner court of the king's house. She had not seen the king in thirty days. If he did not raise his golden sceptre toward her, by law, she must die. But a multitude of Jews fasted three days in behalf of Esther, and God gave her favor in the king's sight. He held out the golden sceptre, and his offer was completely awesome.

Esther 5:3 - "What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom."

Esther's Petition

Haman negotiated with Ahasuerus, King of Persia and Media, to have all Jews in his kingdom killed on the 13th of the month. Mordecai saw the decree posted and sent word to Esther that she must intervene. All the Jews fasted and prayed for three days with great consternation. Esther and her maidens fasted likewise. Miraculously, the King totally reversed his decision, and killed Haman instead.

Esther 5:6 - "What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed."

Esther Planned To Trap Haman

Ahasuerus happily received Esther to his throne and offered her request up to half his kingdom. All Esther wanted was for the king and Haman to come to a banquet she planned to prepare. Haman's ego swelled because he was invited with the king. But Haman's delight soured when he saw Mordecai in the king's gate. His wife and friends said, "Build a gallows a hundred feet high, and ask the king to hang him tomorrow!"

Esther 5:14 - "The thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made."

God Can Force Your Enemy To Bless You

King Ahasuerus was sleepless, so called someone to read aloud from his chronicles. He heard about Mordecai foiling a plot to kill the king. "What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this?" "Nothing, sir." God was about to deliver Mordecai and all the Jews from annihilation. With shrewd irony, God used the very man who wanted most to kill Mordecai, to set him free.

Esther 6:4 - "The king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come ...to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows. ...the king said, Let him come in."

Blindness To God's Will Is Fatal

Haman wanted permission from the king to execute Mordecai. But God had other plans. Mordecai, Esther and a multitude of Jews had been fasting, because they knew Haman planned to kill them all. Haman was totally ignorant of the plan and purpose of Almighty God. He expected to be honored, and Mordecai to die. Instead, Mordecai would be exalted, and Haman would die. It is dangerous not to know God's prophetic will.

Esther 6:6 - "Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?"

God Turns The Table On Haman

King Ahasuerus asked Haman what he thought should be done for "the man whom the king delighteth to honour." Haman vainly expected the king wanted to honor him, and spelled out a lavish public ceremony. Ahasuerus then shocked Haman. "Do even so to Mordecai the Jew."

Esther 6:11,12 - "Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. ...But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered."

Esther Intercedes For The Jews

Haman despised Mordecai, and was mortified as he escorted him through the city streets on the king's horse. His wife and friends warned him that if Mordecai was a Jew, he would never prevail - he would surely fall before him. Haman attended a banquet with the king and queen. Esther bravely announced, "We are to be destroyed, to be slain," and begged the king for the lives of her and her people. "Who presumes to do this to you?" the king asked. Esther indicted Haman.

Esther 7:6 - "And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman."

You Will Pay Dearly If You Persecute God's People

When Esther revealed Haman's plot to exterminate the Jews to her husband, King Ahasuerus, Haman was terrified. Ahasuerus was so angry, he stood up and walked outside. While he was out, Haman fell on a bed where Esther was, and pleaded with her for his life. Then the king accused him of attempting to force his wife. One of the chamberlains informed the king that Haman had built gallows 100 feet high to hang Mordecai on.

Esther 7:10 - "So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified."

The Enemies of God's People Are God's Enemies

God promised "I will be an enemy unto thine enemies," (Exodus 23:22). God put down Haman. Ahasuerus removed Haman's ring and gave it, and his entire estate, to Mordecai. Then Esther asked the king to reverse Haman's decree to exterminate the Jews. The king gave the task to Mordecai.

Esther 8:8 - "Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse."

Great Rejoicing After Haman's Demise

Haman planned to hang Mordecai on the gallows, but God helped Esther expose his plot to exterminate the Jews, so the king ordered Haman hanged on the gallows instead of Mordecai. The king ordered Mordecai to publish an order through all provinces for Jews to resist every assault or attempt to spoil them, post-haste.

Esther 8:16,17 - "The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day."

The King Of Persia Defends God's People

Persian law fordade Ahasuerus from reversing his own law. Haman's genocide order could not be nullified. To countermand it, Ahasuerus ordered Mordecai to command the Jews to defend themselves. When the Jews mustered, everyone feared them. "The day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, ...the Jews had rule over them."

Esther 9:2 - "The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people."

Great Tragedies Can Be Averted By One Intercessor

Mordecai became great in the King's house, and the rulers throughout Persia favored him and showed favor to the Jews. Ahasuerus' ordered the Jews to fight against anyone who tried to harm them. Their casualties included ten of Haman's sons, 500 in Shushan the palace, and 75,000 others nationwide. The Jews faced extermination in Persia until Mordecai intervened. Will YOU stand up for God's people?

Esther 9:5 - "Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them."

The Feast Of Purim Celebrates "Hidden Miracle"

After Mordecai and Esther intervened to prevent genocide of the Jews, and 75,000 enemies died, the Jews made two days of feasting and gladness. Since Haman cast lots (or "Pur") for the date of their execution, the Jews called the holiday the Feast of Purim. God is never mentioned by name in the book of Esther, but He is called the "hidden miracle" in their victory.

Esther 9:28 - "These days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews."

Esther And Mordecai Rule In Persia

In the end of the story of Esther, the queen issued a decree that all Jews should celebrate the Feast of Purim throughout every generation. Her decree was written into Persian law. Mordecai became the second most powerful man in the Persian empire - the largest empire in antiquity. You never know how far God might promote you if you do your best.

Esther 10:3 - "For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed."

 

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Taken from: http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=376048328085020268#editor/target=post;postID=6147228492066856701

Esther, Judith, Mary

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Father Joseph

It has long been the teaching of the fathers of the Church—going way back to St Justin in the second century with his understanding of Mary as the New Eve—to see in the Old Testament various symbols or prefigurations of the mystery of the Mother of God. Here I want only to look at two women of the Old Testament who offer us some insight into what Our Lady does for us and for our salvation.

There’s a connection between Queen Esther and Mary, the Queen of Heaven, and it is not only because “she was exceeding fair, and her incredible beauty made her appear agreeable and amiable in the eyes of all” (Esther 2:15). Nor is it only in the fact that Mary pleased God and was made Queen of Heaven as Esther pleased King Ahasuerus and was made queen of his realm: “She pleased him and found favor in his sight… And the king loved her more than all the women, and she had favor and kindness before him… and he set the royal crown on her head…” (2:9, 17).

At Fatima, Our Lady appeared with a star near the hem of her robe. This is interpreted as a symbol of her intercessory role. The name Esther means “star,” and we know that in the Bible, the beautiful Queen Esther interceded with the king to save her people from the destruction plotted by an evil man. The people were to be annihilated on the 13th of the month (Our Lady appeared in Fatima on the 13th of 6 successive months). Esther went to the king and pleaded that her people would be spared, and the king granted her request, executing the evildoer instead. This is a prefiguration of how Mary, the Queen of Heaven, appears before the King to intercede that her people be saved from the evil one and all his treacherous plots against our souls.

We read in the Book of Esther that that her uncle Mordecai “charged her to go to the king and make supplication to him and entreat him for her people” (4:8). This is precisely what Mary does for us: making supplication to the King of Heaven for her people. We should be grateful that God has chosen and loved one of us so much as to make her our Queen, with the power of intercession, and so her petitions He will never refuse. “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you” (7:2).

Another Old Testament heroine is Judith. The way she prefigures Mary is somewhat different. As we know from Genesis, God put enmity between the woman and the serpent, who represent Mary and the devil, respectively, and through the power of her Son, the Woman would crush the serpent’s head. Well, Judith is an image of this mystery, for she saved her people by cutting off the head of the evil and tyrannical general, Holofernes. Judith, like Esther and like Mary, was exceedingly beautiful and devout, and was held in high honor by her people. When their faith wavered in the face of the threats and power of the enemy, she counseled them to trust in God, and not put Him to the test by placing a limit on how long they would wait for Him before they would surrender to their enemies. For God would deliver them at the proper time by the hand of a woman.

After Judith had killed the enemy leader and returned victorious to her people, they sang to her (and this is used in the Latin Rite on certain feasts of Our Lady): “You are the exaltation of Jerusalem; you are the great glory of Israel; you are the great pride of our nation! You have done all this single-handedly; you have done great good to Israel, and God is well pleased with it. May the Almighty Lord bless you forever! … The Lord Almighty has foiled them by the hand of a woman!” (Jdt. 15:9-10; 16:6). Our Lady is the Woman at whose hand (or rather, under whose foot) God has foiled the designs of our evil enemy, the devil. God has chosen her to bring the Savior into the world and to stand with Him and to wield the power He has given her to protect us from evil and to neutralize its power and influence in our lives.

There is much more that can be said about Old Testament prefigurings of the Mother of God, but let this suffice for now. Let us realize that just as the mystery of Christ was known in Heaven for all eternity, the mystery of his Mother was known as well—for how could there be an incarnate Son considered in isolation from the one who gave flesh to Him? So the mystery of both Mother and Son was intimated in the stories of salvation history, until their complete revelation in the fullness of time—and the ever-deepening understanding of these divine mysteries in the ongoing life of the Church, until the Lord returns in glory.

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Taken from: http://icxcmary.wordpress.com/2011/09/18/esther-judith-mary/

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"There is always hope." Claudia - Black Mountain, NC

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Taken from: http://www.lighthousecatholicmedia.org/store/title/feminism-misunderstood-one-woman-s-journey-to-peace

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Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime

Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime Dr. Ray is a psychologist, radio talk show host, husband, and a father to 10 adopted children. He explains that what is needed to raise well-adjusted children who are prepared to succeed in life in today's challenging environment is uncommonly good parenting. He draws from his wealth of knowledge and experience to discuss, with wisdom and humor, practical ways to succeed in this God-given calling.

Also Titled: You Are a Better Parent Than You Think

Fantastic insight into better parenting attitudes and guidelines! It is great to listen to over and over again. Cecilia - Merrick, NY

Dr. Ray Guarendi

Seven Reasons to be Catholic

Seven Reasons to be Catholic Dr. Peter Kreeft is a world-renowned philosopher and best-selling author of over 35 books. Drawing from the treasured wisdom of such great spiritual thinkers as St. John of the Cross, Thomas Aquinas, C. S. Lewis, and Cardinal Newman, he helps us to understand why truth trumps everything! Listen as he clearly presents seven undisputable reasons why every person should indeed be Catholic.

This CD has re-started the spark I had lost! I am looking forward to listening to the other CDs I purchased! Bob - Fremont, OH

Dr. Peter Kreeft

Finding the Fullness of Faith

Finding the Fullness of Faith Stephen Ray was raised in a devout, loving, Baptist family. In this presentation, he shares his amazing conversion to Catholicism and explains why he is convinced it is the Church founded by Christ over 2000 years ago.

Fantastic!! This is absolutely the one CD everyone should start with ... it is persuasive, informative, and highly valuable in educating Catholics and non-Catholics about Catholicism! I will order many and give them to family and friends. Susan - Land O Lakes, FL

Stephen Ray

My Spiritual Journey

My Spiritual Journey Formerly titled "A Call to Joy"

Matthew Kelly is one of the most sought-after speakers of our time. When he was a young man, a friend helped him to open his heart to God. Since that time, Matthew has helped millions around the world to embrace the Lord's call to live a deeper spiritual life. Listen as he shares both his remarkable personal story and his uniquely inspiring outlook on faith and the adventure of living the Christian life to the fullest.

Awesome! I loved this talk and came away with a fresh inspiration to grow my faith and find joy. This is perfect for all ages. I passed it on to my teenage sons. Cindy - Houston TX

Matthew Kelly

Why Is There Hell? What You Should Know About It!

Why Is There Hell? What You Should Know About It! In this moving study on hell, Dr. Scott Hahn shares what scripture teaches about why hell is necessary. What it is like? Who goes there? How can you stay out forever? He explains why Lucifer refused to serve and then responds from a scriptural perspective to the most seductive modern errors about hell. Included are two bonus excerpts from Dr. Hahn's talk, The Healing Power of Confession.

This is a great CD! It gives the theological basis for hell. For me, it also highlighted the need for continued conversion throughout life. Chad - St. Michael, MN

Dr. Scott Hahn

Feminine Genius

Colleen Carroll Campbell

Building upon Blessed Pope John Paul II's writings about "the feminine genius", Colleen Carroll Campbell discusses the uniqueness of the makeup and vocation of women from God. She uses the lives of several female saints to help women recognize and use their gifts to live out their faith as Christians in the modern world. Author and columnist Colleen Carroll Campbell hosts EWTN's Faith and Culture program.

"Colleen uses John Paul II's message to show us how to affect the world with our true feminine genius. I'm going to share this with my own girls!"

Sue - Fort Myers, FL

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Taken from: http://www.lighthousecatholicmedia.org/store/title/feminine-genius



Other Recommended Titles:Seven Deadly Sins - Seven Lively Virtues


Seven Deadly Sins - Seven Lively Virtues Join noted Professor of Theology and author, Fr. Robert Barron, in this revealing presentation as he sheds light on the Seven Deadly Sins - those great spiritual blocks that inhibit our relationship with God and others - and the antidote to them, the Seven Lively Virtues! Fr. Barron uses Dante's DIVINE COMEDY to expose these sinful patterns in our lives and show how they are effectively counteracted by the cultivation of virtue through the development of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This fascinating journey shows the path that God has designed to lead us to health, happiness and holiness.

Absolutely wonderful! I love how Fr. Barron gives practical ways to use the information he’s presenting. Nancy - Warroad, MN

Fr. Robert Barron

Why I am Catholic When I Could be Anything Else

Why I am Catholic When I Could be Anything Else Patrick Madrid gives compelling biblical and historical reasons for why he embraces the faith as a lifelong Catholic. He shares valuable insights into the beauty of the Catholic Church and its claim to contain the fullness of the deposit of faith given by Christ.

This CD was awesome - I'll be listening again and again! It gave logical, biblical reasons to be and stay Catholic. Peggy - Finksburg, MD

Patrick Madrid

Anger and Forgiveness

Anger and Forgiveness Catholic psychotherapist Deacon Dr. Bob McDonald provides a spiritual and psychological prescription for overcoming the sinful anger that poisons the mind of Christ within, causing alienation and division. His practical wisdom shows that only by learning how to forgive can we hope to promote healing and understanding in our relationships and enjoy the blessings of a forgiving heart.

This CD has changed my life! It has given me a clearer understanding of anger and how we can overcome it Dan - Oakdale, CA

Deacon Dr. Bob McDonald

No Turning Back

No Turning Back How is a diehard agnostic transformed into a fervent apostle of Christ? Fr. Donald Calloway, a former drug dealer, will have you on the edge of your seat as he candidly shares the amazing story of how he was unexpectedly led into the Catholic Faith and to the priesthood by God's grace and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. His conversion can be compared to that of St. Augustine. Formerly titled: Former Drug Dealer to Catholic Priesthood

Awesome!! Every aspect was awesome, riveting at times, especially when he described the Holy Eucharist! Sandra - Wendel, IN

Fr. Donald Calloway M.I.C.

The Healing Power of Confession

The Healing Power of Confession Dr. Scott Hahn presents the historical and biblical origins of the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation). He provides an important guide for new Catholics, a source of renewal for "old hands", and a challenge to all of us to deepen our relationship with Christ through regular use of the Sacrament of Penance.

This is an outstanding talk on Confession that cuts to the heart of this great Sacrament of Mercy. Father Joseph - Baltic, CT

Dr. Scott Hahn

There is Life in the Womb

There is Life in the Womb Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was one of the best-loved and most influential preachers of the 20th century and author of over 90 books. He reached nearly 30 million people through his weekly program, Life is Worth Living, and his Cause for Canonization was officially opened in 2002. He explains the Church's teaching on life from a philosophical and historical perspective.

You have written and spoken well of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are a loyal son of the Church. Pope John Paul II -

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati - Man of the Beatitudes

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati - Man of the Beatitudes Born in 1901 in Turin, Italy into a family of wealth and status, Pier Giorgio enjoyed good friends, hiking and skiing, museums and music, and was involved in political action, He found that deep prayer, service to the poor, and a passion for bringing others to Christ led to a life of purpose, peace, and happiness. Pier Giorgio died at the age of 24 on July 4, 1925. He was beatified on May 20, 1990 by Pope John Paul II who referred to him as a "man of the beatitudes".

BONUS: As a teenager, Brian Walch had everything the world tells us we should want. While still immersed in our modern culture, he had a radical deepening of his Catholic Faith which led him to his martyrdom for Christ in 1975. His cause for canonization has been opened.

Thank you so much for this talk! This has provided me the encouragement and assurance that a poor sinner like me truly can become a saint. Jeremy - Haubstadt, IN

Fr. Tim Deeter

Confession

Confession Based upon his proven and powerful parish mission presentation, Fr. Larry Richards' talk on Confession has become the #1 talk in North America dealing with one of the Catholic Faith's most misunderstood Sacraments. He is riveting, honest, very human, often touchingly gentle, and yes, even humorous, and provides listeners with hope for a closer, healing relationship with Jesus Christ.

I re-evaluated my entire way of living because it made me realize that I was not as close to God as I thought! Brandy - Arlington, VA

Fr. Larry Richards

Aborting America: The Story of an Ex-Abortionist and Ex-Atheist

Aborting America: The Story of an Ex-Abortionist and Ex-Atheist Bernard Nathanson is an American medical doctor from New York who helped to found the National Abortion Rights Action League, but who is now a pro-life activist. He gained national attention by becoming one of the founding members of the National Abortion Rights Action League, now known as NARAL Pro-Choice America. He worked with Betty Friedan and others for the legalization of abortion in the United States. He was also for a time the director of the Center for Reproductive and Sexual Health New York's largest abortion clinic. Nathanson has written that he was responsible for more than 75,000 abortions throughout his pro-choice career.

Bernard Nathanson

Becoming The-Best-Version-of-Yourself

Becoming The-Best-Version-of-Yourself Matthew Kelly possesses a powerful ability to combine the ageless tool of storytelling with a profound understanding of today's culture and the common yearnings of the human heart. He shows us how to see the challenges in our everyday lives in a new light. He will help elevate and energize you to pursue the highest values of the human spirit and become the best version of yourself.

OUTSTANDING!!! This timely presentation was filled with truth & presented in a way that was easy to identify with and understand. Anne - Youngstown, OH

Matthew Kelly

Esther and Mordecai Bring About Haman’s Downfall



Esther 7:

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7 So the king and Haman came to have dinner with Queen Esther. 2 On the second day, while they were drinking wine, the king asked Esther, “What is your request, Queen Esther? It will be granted to you. And what would you like? Even if it is up to half of the kingdom, it will be granted.”

3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, Your Majesty, spare my life. That is my request. And spare the life of my people. That is what I ask for. 4 You see, we—my people and I—have been sold so that we can be wiped out, killed, and destroyed. If our men and women had only been sold as slaves, I would have kept silent because the enemy is not worth troubling you about, Your Majesty.”

5 Then King Xerxes interrupted Queen Esther and said, “Who is this person? Where is the person who has dared to do this?”

6 Esther answered, “Our vicious enemy is this wicked man Haman!” Then Haman became panic-stricken in the presence of the king and queen.

7 The king was furious as he got up from dinner and went into the palace garden. But Haman stayed to beg Queen Esther for his life, because he saw that the king had a terrible end in mind for him. 8 When the king returned from the palace garden to the palace dining room, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was lying. The king thought, “Is he even going to rape the queen while I’m in the palace?” Then the king passed sentence on him, and servants covered Haman’s face.

9 Harbona, one of the eunuchs present with the king, said, “What a coincidence! The 75-foot pole Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke up for the well-being of the king, is still standing at Haman’s house.”

The king responded, “Hang him on it!” 10 So servants hung Haman’s dead body on the very pole he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king got over his raging anger.

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