An Excerpt from the book ‘Saint Mary’s Modern Miracles’ published by ‘Pope Kyrillos VI’s Sons’ through St. Mena Monastery Press:
“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Is 65:24).
Habib Farig developed a strong relationship with St. Mary and referred to her as the “Great Lady.” He would say of her that, as a mother, she knows the needs of us, her children, more than we do; he would also say that she knows what Christ has in His heart for us. He believed that having the Virgin’s presence in our lives gives us the hope to wait for the Lord’s miraculous and divine interventions. Through her intercessions, we see His Divine Power and blessings bestowed upon us.
From an early age, Habib witnessed acts of God through the Virgin. He saw his grandmother learning how to read the Bible in her dreams through St. Mary’s teaching. The Bible was the only book she could read. At the age of seventeen Habib was invited by the “Great Lady” to live for the Lord Jesus Christ and his response was spontaneous. “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end; while it is said: “Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in rebellion’ ” (Heb 3: 14-15).
Habib had a vision in which St. Mary took him to a place where sinners would be sent. It looked like an open cliff filled with liquid fire. The damned were there weeping and wailing. His soul was distressed and he asked St. Mary to take him away from there. She told him to make the sign of the cross and he found himself in a heavenly place with many thrones on which sat the saints; however, Habib saw one empty chair. He asked the Virgin, “Whose chair is this?” and she told him, “Yours if you follow the will of the Lord Jesus Christ.” He lived for Jesus from that day until he died at the age of twenty-seven.”
My Comments:
The Bible speaks on the reality of Hell many times for our very salvation so that we may avoid it. (Examples: Matthew 3:10-12, 5:22,29-30, 7:15-23, 10:28, 18:9, 23:15, 2 Peter 4-9, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Revelations 20:15, 21:8, etc).
The Bible also says that: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.” (Acts 2:17-18 / Joel 3:1-2).
Throughout scripture, we see our Lord use the Prophets, Saints, Apostles, Evangelists etc. to spread the Gospel, and by extension, warn about the necessity of repentance – with the lack thereof bringing forth their own condemnation. (Mark 6:12, Jonah 3, etc). St. Mary, The Theotokos, is of no exception! This is why The Coptic Orthodox Church calls her the ‘Queen, Pride, and Daughter of the Prophets’!
Liturgical Texts:
• “For on this day, / King David / came to the Queen / and spoke thus, / “Highly sublime / is her honor / you are the Queen, / Mary the Virgin!” – Adam Psali for the Birth of The Virgin
• “Mary, daughter the of Joachim; Mary, the daughter of the prophets; / Mary, the daughter of the patriarchs; / Mary the Theotokos.” – Watos Psali for the Consecration of the Virgin’s Church in El-Muharaq Monastery
• “As for the Apostle (Thomas) / he said to the Disciples / tell me about the Virgin / the Pride of the Prophets!” – Watos Psali for the Feast of The Assumption
St. Mary, by the Grace of God, is a very powerful intercessor before our Lord Jesus Christ her Son, who alone is the Mediator between God and Man. As Orthodox, we do not believe she is THE SAVIOR (this belongs to God alone), but we do believe her prayers to be of great effect as all righteous believers and saints of God. (1 Peter 3:12, James 5:16, Hebrews 12:1). God willing, I will post on this further in the near future. May she pray for us always and at the hour of our death!
“Be present and come to my rescue; overthrow my enemies; close the gates of Hell so they will not engulf my soul. Oh perfect Bride of the Real Truth” (Saturday Theotokias).
St. Mary, Theotokos, Pray for us, and to God be Glory forever! Amen!
Faith Unto Ages 