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Traditional Catholic Faith => The Sacred: Catholic Liturgy, Chant, Prayers => Topic started by: poche on August 16, 2018, 04:38:31 AM

Title: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: poche on August 16, 2018, 04:38:31 AM
 Every year, on the Orthodox feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, a monastery on a Greek island experiences a miracle – dozens of snakes come to 'venerate' an icon of Mary.
In a phenomenon that has reportedly been happening for hundreds of years, black snakes begin appearing on the Greek island of Kefalonia between Aug. 5 and Aug. 15, the days when the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the dormition of the Theotokos (celebrated in the Western Church as the Assumption of Mary).
According to tradition, the miracle of the snakes began in 1705, when nuns of the monastery were about to be attacked by pirates.
Legend has it that the nuns prayed fervently to the Virgin Mary, asking her that she turn them into snakes to avoid capture. Other versions say that the nuns prayed that the monastery be infested with snakes so as to scare away the pirates. Either way it happened, they were spared.
Since then, the small black snakes, known as European Cat Snakes, appear every year just before the feast, and make their way to the walls and entryways of the Church to 'venerate' the silver icon of Mary known as the Panagia Fidoussa, or the Virgin of the Snakes.
The snakes' patterning can produce a small black cross on their head, and they have a forked tongue, adding to the legend that these snakes are marked by the sign of the Cross.  
In recent years, the faithful have taken to transporting snakes to the church in jars and bags, to protect them from being run over by unwitting motorists.
The usually-aggressive snakes are reportedly docile and calm during these days, when they are welcome in the church for Mass and prayers, and disappear from the island completely after the feast until the next year.
Reportedly, the only years the snakes have not appeared on the island were during World War II, and in 1953 - the year of a massive earthquake. Locals now take the lack of the snake's appearance as a bad sign.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/holy-snakes-a-marian-feast-days-strange-stunning-miracle-12114
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: poche on August 16, 2018, 04:39:50 AM
https://youtu.be/LccpW44CKG4
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: poche on August 16, 2018, 04:41:23 AM
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Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: Stubborn on August 16, 2018, 06:31:32 AM
Quote
Legend has it that the nuns prayed fervently to the Virgin Mary, asking her that she turn them into snakes to avoid capture. Other versions say that the nuns prayed that the monastery be infested with snakes so as to scare away the pirates. Either way it happened, they were spared.


Never heard of anyone, I mean anyone - let alone nuns (of all people), praying to be turned into snakes of all things - to scare away pirates (of all people)? The whole idea, aside for being altogether repulsive, sounds entirely perverse to me.

Our Lady always has and always will crush the head of the snake, which represents Satan, yet at this monastery dozens of snakes come to venerate an icon of Mary?  
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: forlorn on August 16, 2018, 04:37:17 PM

Never heard of anyone, I mean anyone - let alone nuns (of all people), praying to be turned into snakes of all things - to scare away pirates (of all people)? The whole idea, aside for being altogether repulsive, sounds entirely perverse to me.

Our Lady always has and always will crush the head of the snake, which represents Satan, yet at this monastery dozens of snakes come to venerate an icon of Mary?  
Yeah that sounds a bit dodgy to me. I think the infestation version of the story is more likely, but it still sounds altogether very strange and unlikely. Why would Mary perform a miracle at a heretical Church every year anyway? I can imagine Her in Her mercy performing a miracle to save the nuns from being raped, but the yearly miracle does nothing other than bolster the faith of these Orthodox heretics. 
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: poche on August 16, 2018, 11:13:11 PM

Never heard of anyone, I mean anyone - let alone nuns (of all people), praying to be turned into snakes of all things - to scare away pirates (of all people)? The whole idea, aside for being altogether repulsive, sounds entirely perverse to me.

Our Lady always has and always will crush the head of the snake, which represents Satan, yet at this monastery dozens of snakes come to venerate an icon of Mary?  
All knees shall bend at the name of Christ. Why shouldn't all nature come in veneration of the Holy Virgin?
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: poche on August 16, 2018, 11:18:41 PM
Yeah that sounds a bit dodgy to me. I think the infestation version of the story is more likely, but it still sounds altogether very strange and unlikely. Why would Mary perform a miracle at a heretical Church every year anyway? I can imagine Her in Her mercy performing a miracle to save the nuns from being raped, but the yearly miracle does nothing other than bolster the faith of these Orthodox heretics.
Maybe she wants to show them that in spite of themselves that her son still loves them.
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: Stubborn on August 17, 2018, 06:21:18 AM
All knees shall bend at the name of Christ. Why shouldn't all nature come in veneration of the Holy Virgin?
Simply because if it is a miracle from heaven, then the snakes came in order that Our Lady would do the same thing She always has and always will do - crush their heads as they lie in wait for her heel.
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: Stubborn on August 17, 2018, 06:22:00 AM
Yeah that sounds a bit dodgy to me. I think the infestation version of the story is more likely, but it still sounds altogether very strange and unlikely. Why would Mary perform a miracle at a heretical Church every year anyway? I can imagine Her in Her mercy performing a miracle to save the nuns from being raped, but the yearly miracle does nothing other than bolster the faith of these Orthodox heretics.
Exactly.
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: poche on August 19, 2018, 11:07:46 PM
Exactly.
The Holy Virgin is a mother to all of her children.
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: Recusant Sede on August 20, 2018, 04:28:21 AM
The true Church is confirmed by miracles and prophecy. How could it be that a schismatic/heretical church be a place where true miracles would be performed by God? It would only solidify the adherents belief in their false church, no? It is most likely either (as a natural explanation) the mating season for that snake or a ruse of the devil.
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: Recusant Sede on August 20, 2018, 04:29:56 AM
The Holy Virgin is a mother to all of her children.
Are schematics members of the Church?
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: poche on August 21, 2018, 02:00:24 AM
Are schematics members of the Church?
They are if they convert.
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: Recusant Sede on August 21, 2018, 07:08:36 AM
They are if they convert.
That begs the question.....who are the Holy Virgin’s children?
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: poche on August 21, 2018, 10:41:51 PM
That begs the question.....who are the Holy Virgin’s children?
All the people who call on her are her children. 
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: Recusant Sede on August 22, 2018, 04:34:44 AM
All the people who call on her are her children.
So, then you believe that Mary’s children are even those who reject her Son’s Church?
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: Neil Obstat on August 23, 2018, 11:48:06 PM
.
The children of Mary are all those who are validly baptized, because by that means they are reborn in grace through her intercession.
.
Why would anyone call on the Blessed Virgin Mary while they reject Her Son's Church? Would those be impostors or frauds? 
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: Recusant Sede on August 24, 2018, 11:32:54 AM
.
The children of Mary are all those who are validly baptized, because by that means they are reborn in grace through her intercession.
.
Why would anyone call on the Blessed Virgin Mary while they reject Her Son's Church? Would those be impostors or frauds?
Correct 
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: poche on August 24, 2018, 11:26:48 PM
So, then you believe that Mary’s children are even those who reject her Son’s Church?
I have seen the Holy Virgin do wonders for those who don't even know what is her Son's Church.
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: Recusant Sede on August 25, 2018, 05:11:31 PM
I have seen the Holy Virgin do wonders for those who don't even know what is her Son's Church.
So, according to you, those who she does “wonders” for are her children?
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: poche on August 25, 2018, 10:41:28 PM
So, according to you, those who she does “wonders” for are her children?
The Holy Virgin is the Queen of Heaven and Earth. That includes everybody.
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: Recusant Sede on August 26, 2018, 04:09:30 AM
The Holy Virgin is the Queen of Heaven and Earth. That includes everybody.
Can you give me a respected pre-VII theologian that supports that position?
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: poche on August 26, 2018, 10:30:15 PM
Can you give me a respected pre-VII theologian that supports that position?
The 15th decade of the rosary, Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth. 
If she is truly queen of all the earth then that includes everybody. Only those who reject her motherly love will be those who are truly lost. 
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: Recusant Sede on August 27, 2018, 04:32:03 AM
The 15th decade of the rosary, Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.  
If she is truly queen of all the earth then that includes everybody. Only those who reject her motherly love will be those who are truly lost.
Is that supposed to be an argument?
Title: Re: The Miracle of the Snakes
Post by: poche on August 27, 2018, 08:38:38 AM
Is that supposed to be an argument?
To say that the Holy Virgin is our mother is not an argument. It is part of a profession of faith.