Novenas - Totus2us

Day 9, Novena for Europe - Blessed John Paul II's apostolic exhortation, Ecclesia in Europa - Entrustment to Mary: "The Church's journey through history is accompanied by “signs” which are visible to all, yet need to be interpreted. Among such signs the Book of Revelation presents the “great portent” which appeared in the sky, which speaks of a conflict between the woman and the dragon. The woman, clothed with the sun, in travail and ready to give birth, can be seen as the Israel of the Prophets which gives birth to the Messiah “who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.” But she is also the Church, the People of the New Covenant, subjected to persecution and yet protected by God. The dragon is “the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world.” The conflict is an uneven one: the dragon seems to prevail, so great is his arrogance before the defenceless and suffering woman. Yet in reality the triumph belongs to the son born of the woman. In this conflict one thing