A Child’s Prayer-Reflection on 4/2/11 Medjugorje Message

If you do not believe my words, at least believe my wounds...

“Dear children, with motherly love I desire to open the heart of each of you and to teach you personal unity with The Father. To accept this, you must comprehend that you are important to God and that He is calling you individually. You must comprehend that your prayer is a conversion of a child with The Father; that love is the way by which you must set out – love for God and for your neighbor.

That is, my children, the love that has no boundaries, that is the love that emanates from truth and goes to the end. Follow me, my children, so that also others, in recognizing the truth and love in you, may follow you. Thank you.

[Once again Our Lady called us to pray for our shepherds, our priests, and said: “They have a special place in my heart. They represent my Son.”]

When our Lady first gave this message what stood out for me was one her desire to ‘open the heart’ and to teach us how to have a relationship with God the Father.

Our Lady said that in order for us to accept this, we must comprehend that we are important to God, and that He is calling us individually.

Let’s look at this a little closer. How many of us think that God does not notice me? God doesn’t love me, or God won’t care? You know that the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, when there is doubt, there is spiritual blindness.

I had to think back, and still sometimes I find myself saying do you really love me Lord, do you really care that much? For most of us, it is easy to say that. Why? Because we’ve grown up with so little love from childhood on. We grew up with conditional love…for someone to love us unconditional is not natural for us to believe in, because we do not naturally know it. But its real.

Our Lady once said that children learn the love of God through mother and father loving each other, and through the love that parents give their children. If God is Father, and our relationship with our maternal father has been wounded or severed, then we are not going to know a fathers love, and will not come to know especially the love of God as Father. Our view of an imperfect father’s love will be distorted, to the point we say, I don’t need God because He was never there for me.

I cannot count how many times I hear this said by those who do not believe especially with teens-gosh the crisis with teens is so great right now. But yet they are still miserable, and bring misery into the lives of those around them.

Contrary to what we think, Our Lady makes it clear. YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD. God knows us by name. God knew us before we were formed in the womb. (Jer.1) Not one child is an accident, NOT ONE!

Every human being was born out of the heart of the Father, out of love. The gift of baptism awakened the spirit within us to share in this life with the Father. It is God the Father that put your spirit in the womb of your Mother, and gave you a body to exist. The body is the vessel that carries your human spirit, united with the divine Spirit of God as a baptized Christian.

So why is it that so many do not know God’s love? Why is the world so cold to the love of God? Why is it so hard for anyone to enter into a loving relationship with their Creator and pretend to say He does not exist? How can we love or believe in something or someone that we cannot see?

Well like most relationships…it takes effort. You are going to get out of the relationship as much as you put in to the relationship.

We under estimate the power of the Word of God. If God who is all omnipotent can create such a vast and majestic universe has the power to do this by His spoken Word, how can we doubt when He said that (1) He will be with us to the end of time; (2) This is my body (my blood) given up for you; (3) If you see me you have seen the Father, for the Father is in me…and I can go on and on.

The Word of God (Jesus) came in the flesh so tell the world that the Father is real, and a living being. The Word of God allowed Himself to be handed over by men to be tortured and beaten to prove to the world that even to this kind of death, it is worth it to seek the Father.

Our Lady comes with the same message. It only takes an open heart to begin to understand that YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD whether you want to believe it or not.

YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD ENOUGH FOR HIM TO KEEP SENDING HIS OWN MOTHER INTO THE WORLD TO TELL YOU SO. If you are not feeling loved in your home, with your family, your spouse, community or work place you only have need to go so far as to your local parish the ark of salvation for all mankind, and sit before the Most Blessed Sacrament or the tabernacle where God Himself is fully present as He promised He would be, and let Him love you, and bathe you in His love. Here is the refuge for the human heart. The world cannot offer this love. Only God can offer the love the human heart desires.

I heard in the gospel yesterday the voice of the Lord say these words from John 8:47.

He said, “whoever belongs to God hears the Word of God; for this reason you do not listen because you do not belong to God…”

You belong to God if you hear the Word of God, and later he says, if you hear the word and ACT ON IT. This is Jesus saying this to those who did not believe in Him or His Word, which He said that He spoke from what He heard from His Father. He came to testify to the truth.

Jesus said, “no one can come to the Father except through me.” Saints Peter and Paul both said that there is no other name given to mankind for salvation except the name of Jesus Christ. So then why are we chasing after false prophets? The name of Jesus Christ every knee must bow in the heavens, on earth and under the earth.

The name of Jesus Christ is the ONLY WAY TOWARD SALVATION. Jesus Christ is the only acceptable sacrifice pleasing in the eyes of the Father. If we want to know the Father, we must know the Son. We must look like Jesus. We must come to know Jesus in the most intimate way as a Bride who desires to be one with her Spouse.

The Father is offering a love and is extending his hand in mercy to a world that is in desperate need of it. Jesus, Who is Divine Mercy said His mercy is unfathomable, incomprehensible; that means there is no limit, no end, no boundaries as our Lady just said. His mercy and love is eternal…never ending. We only have need to “open our hearts to receive it.”

So we have to ask ourselves, what is standing in the way of me receiving the love of God. What do I give more importance to in my life that is more important to God?

Who is the father we believe? The father of lies that says you are no good, that God does not love you? Or do you believe the Word of God in the flesh Who says, “I am love and mercy itself; put great trust in my unfathomable mercy…” God does not create junk. On the contrary God said what He has created is good.

The Lord began to teach more on the scripture from the gospel of John 8:42-46. He had me focus on these words all the more…

“If God were your Father you would love me for I come from God and am here, I did not come on my own, but He sent me. Why do you not understand what I am saying? Because you cannot bear to hear my word…”

Jesus is asking those who are questioning him “Why do you not understand what I am saying?” He repeats often, that those who know Him, know His voice and will recognize truth. If we do not know Him, then we do not know truth, and will not recognize nor accept His voice in the Word.

But the Lord made it clear, if we do not listen to His voice, then there is only one other voice that we welcome, as he said because we cannot bear to hear the truth-because that would mean we would have to change our life-and we get too comfortable in our sin; or we cannot bear to think we have to put effort into changinig for the good….

“Because you cannot bear to hear my word you belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your fathers desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie he speaks in character because he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me…If I am telling you the truth why do you not believe me?”

There is the truth and there is the lie. Which is easier to believe? Truth cuts through the heart. Truth breaks open the heart, and often comes with pain. Human nature naturally hides from truth. The Lord is revealing Himself in fullness of truth, but we cannot bear to hear it.

I find it is no different today. Our Lady in her messages is offering a remedy to the whole human race to reconcile with God. The outreach of heaven is incomprehensible at this time, and yet still so many are rejecting her love. She wants to teach us how to pray to the Father, she wants to teach us how to love her Son, and remind us of how He suffered for us so patiently with such great love. And what is the typical response of most of her children; “ah, that’s nice, Oh so what..or I cannot live that kind of life, that is for someone else…”

Really? If we are rejecting her, we are rejecting the one who sent her. In the gospel of John, the Lord spoke to us about the world’s hatred. He said if they rejected you, remember they rejected Him first. How so true do I find these words to be with the obstinacy of human creatures, even among those closest to me who have seen and witnessed great things.

And for this and the hardness of hearts, the Lord said he would send a deceiving spirit so that they would believe the lie. And so dear friends, here we are today. If we reject the one Whom the Lord sends, then we are rejecting him, and we have chosen another god in the making, the father of lies.

Our Lady calls us little children. Do we know the power of the prayer of a little child? A child who speaks only from the heart when a child is in need of the love of mother or father?

I remember when my girls were little, and to hear the words…’mommy or daddy’ would just melt my heart with their tiny little voices. How do you think the Father would respond to such love and innocence of a child who cries out to him in love.

This is what Our Lady means when she says, “…you must comprehend that your prayer is a conversation of a child with the Father; that love is the way by which you must set out, love for God and neighbor….”

Jesus taught us how to pray to the Father. Read the gospels. Seek out how many times He went off to pray to His Father in secret. John chapter 17 is a good reflection on the prayer of Jesus. Now put love to this prayer as you hear the words, “Father, they are your gift to me…”

We can hear these words as parent with our children, or we can hear it as Jesus praying for me; or we can hear it as Blessed Mother praying the words of her Son to the Father for our sake….the depth of the Word of God is boundless and eternal. If we only knew the power of His mercy in it.

Once we understand this and the Word of God becomes flesh in us, and who we are, then the love of God will emanate from us TRUTH, and nothing can stop His truth from moving forward. Others will begin to see that living love is within the heart, and others will desire this love and long for it. And before you know, conversion of heart is moving ahead.

My friends, the only way the fruit of Medjugorje will be known in the world is if the pilgrims of Medjugorje are living in the world as a witness to Our Lady’s time of visitation with her Son. One cannot go to Medjugorje and go back to his former way of life…woe to you if you did not take to heart the seriousness of the grace that had been given you. The more evil tries to end what is good, the more accountable the children of Our Lady must be for truth and to live the truth as what she calls apostles of love. We are responsible to make Medjugorje known by our deeds, not just in words.

YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD IN THIS TIME. WITHOUT YOU GOD’S PLAN CANNOT BE REALIZED. BE A WITNESS THAT YOU LOVE GOD ABOVE EVERYTHING. HOLY MARTYRS DIED WITNESSING, I AM A CHRISTIAN AND I LOVE GOD OVER EVERTHING…DO NOT SURRENDER!

Debates can go on and on in word, but deeds do not lie. Your actions must speak louder than your preaching…it is required! Christians can no longer shrink from their Christian vocation.

Remember these words of Jesus to St. Faustina… “If you do not believe my word, at least believe my wounds.” Now, there is truth. Live out the remaining days of your Lenten season gazing at Jesus Crucified, and thank him with all your heart for the immeasurable love He has for you, and on Good Friday beg the Lord for mercy upon the whole world and be reconciled to God.

Let us all pray for our shepherds and priests, and for the fulfillment of the great plan of God.
Ave Maria!

“Do not be afraid of sufferings; I am with you (151). The more you will come to love suffering, the purer your love for me will be. (279)” (Diary of St. Faustina)

Be sure to take to prayer you call to go to Medjugorje. We are taking pilgrims, especailly young people on August 4th through 8/16. Click on the tab for the 22nd Annual Youth Prayer Festival for more information. A great gift for one who is graduating and beginning their adult life preparing for their vocation.

Divine Mercy Novena Begins April 22

Tell the Whole World about my unfathomable Mercy...

Divine Mercy Sunday, May 1, 2011. Novena begins on Good Friday

Divine Mercy Novena. Jesus to St. Faustina: “On each day [start on Good Friday] of the novena, you will bring to My Heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy. On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My Passion, for the graces for these souls. By this novena, I will grant every possible grace to souls.” ( #1209 & 796)

Day One: “Today bring to Me All Mankind, especially all sinners and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me.”

Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins, but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from it. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy forever and ever. Amen.

Day Two: “Today bring to Me Souls of Priests and Religious and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave Me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind.”

Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service, that they may perform worthy works of mercy, and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard, upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation, and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.

Day Three: “Today bring to Me All Devout and Faithful Souls and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls brought Me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were that drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness.”

Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in the great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from it. We beg this of You by that most wondrous love for the Heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.

Eternal Father, turn Your Merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love of lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Day Four: “Today bring to Me Those who do not believe in God and Those Who do not yet know Me. I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.”

Most Compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Day Five: “Today bring to Me the Souls of those who have separated themselves form my Church and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is My Church. As they return to unity with the Church, My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion.”

Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son’s Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your Own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Day Six: “Today bring to Me The Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly angels who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. Only the humble souls is capable of receiving My grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence.”

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said, “Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart.” Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy, and they are the Heavenly Father’s favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart. O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls and upon little children, who are enfolded in the abode of the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Day Seven: “Today bring to Me The Souls who especially Venerate and Glorify My mercy and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will sine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.”

Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your Mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident in Your Mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your Mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God: Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.

Day Eight: “Today bring to Me The Souls who are Detained in Purgatory and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only know the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice.”

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.

Eternal Father, turn Your most merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded, manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.

Day Nine: “Today bring to Me The Souls who have become Lukewarm and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: ‘Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will’. For them the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy.”

Most Compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love let these tepid souls, who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love; and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.

Week 5-Lenten Exercise “Lord Grant Us Perseverence”

The Bride must resemble her betrothed...

The Lord has asked me to slow down for this week, as there are many who are struggling with being able to keep up with this exercise. DO NOT GIVE UP, PRESS ON ALL THE MORE AND KEEP YOUR FOCUS. For this reason the gift we will work on is the gfit of Fortitude and the strength to carry the cross all the way to calvary.

Living the life of Jesus and the way of the cross is not easy, but it comes with a triumph in the end. If we do not believe this, then meditate on the death and passion of the Lord. He has risen and is fully alive today and in our midst. But we must see with the eyes of faith, and firmly believe that Jesus makes all things new!

We are coming to the end of this Lenten journey in just a mere couple of weeks. Review and look back to see how far you have come. Where are the areas of growth for you and reflect about what you have experienced thus far with this walk through the desert with Jesus and Mary, and what gift of grace the Lord has prepared for you. Keep your focus on the vision of the plan of God for you. Do not be dismayed if this plan is not exactly the way you imagined it would be, for all too often we put our human expectations and emotions in the plan.

God seeks only our salvation. And His plan will acheive that end in its perfection, and is contrary to our own way of thinking. IF YOU HAVE NOT MADE IT TO CONFESSION YET THIS MONTH, DO SO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO PREPARE YOUR HEART FOR THE RISEN LORD TO ENTER.

Throughout this week pray for a deep gift of fortitude to continue the journey.

REMEMBER PRAY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT BEFORE WORKING ON THE DAILY EXERCISES

Daily Meditation:

“Dear children! I invite you to reflect about your future. You are creating a new world without God, only with your own strength and that is why you are unsatisfied and without joy in the heart. This time is my time and that is why, little children, I invite you again to pray. When you find unity with God, you will feel hunger for the Word of God and your heart, little children, will overflow with joy. You will witness God’s love wherever you are. I bless you and I repeat to you that I am with you to help you. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (1/25/97)

Day 1
“Dear children! Also today I am with you and I again call all of you to come closer to me through your prayers. In a special way I call you to renunciation in this time of grace. Little children, meditate on and live, through your little sacrifices, the passion and death of Jesus for each of you…” (2/25/98)

“My daughter, I am always with you. I have given you the opportunity to practice deeds of mercy which you will perform according to obedience. You will give me much pleasure if each evening you will speak to me especially about this task.” (Jesus – Diary #1267)

Jn. 10:17-18, Jn. 15:5, Rom. 8:29, 1 Jn. 4:18

Day 2
“…Only if you come closer to Jesus will you comprehend the immeasurable love He has for each of you. Through prayer and your renunciation you will become more open to the gift of faith and love toward the Church and the people who are around you. I love you and bless you. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (2/25/98)

“…suffering will be a sign to you that I am with you…” (Jesus-Diary #869)

Is. 40:31, Ps. 18:1-2, Mt. 27:39-42

Day 3
“Dear children! Also today I call you to fasting and renunciation. Little children, renounce that which hinders you from being closer to Jesus. In a special way I call you; pray, because only through prayer will you be able to overcome your will and discover the Will of God even in the smallest things. By your daily life, little children, you will become an example and witness that you live for Jesus or against Him and His will.” (3/25/98)

“…It is in My Passion that you must seek light and strength…Fear nothing, I am with you.” (Jesus – Diary #654-55)

1 Cor. 13:4-8, Jn. 19:26, Mt. 16:21, Jn 13:37

Day 4
“….Little children, I desire that you become apostles of love. By loving, little children, it will be recognized that you are mine. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (3/25/98)

“Do not fear anything. I am with you. These matters are in My hands and I will bring them to fruition according to My mercy, for nothing can oppose my will…I am always in your heart; not only when you receive Me in holy Communion, but always.” (Jesus-Diary #573, 575)

Jn. 21:18, Jn. 21:19, Jn. 20:19, Acts 4:29-31

Day 5

“Dear children! Today I invite you to come still closer to me through prayer. Little children, I am your mother, I love you and I desire that each of you be saved and thus be with me in Heaven. That is why little children, pray, pray, pray until your life becomes prayer. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (8/25/98)

“…My delight is to be united with you. With great desire, I wait and long for the time when I shall take up My residence sacramentally in your convent. My spirit will rest in that convent and I will bless its neighborhood in a special way. Out of love for you all, I will avert any punishments which are rightly meted out by My Father’s justice…I have inclined my heart to your requests…” (Jesus – Diary #570)

Ex. 14:13-14, Eph. 6:11-13, Lk. 4:18, 2 Cor. 1:22

Day 6
“Dear children! Today I call you to become my witnesses by living the faith of your fathers. Little children, you seek signs and messages and do not see that with every morning sunrise, God calls you to convert and to return to the way of truth and salvation. You speak much little children, but you work little on your conversion. That is why, convert and start to live my messages, not with your words but with your life. In this way, little children you will have the strength to decide for the true conversion of the heart. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (9/25/98)

“…Your assignment and duty here on earth is to beg for mercy for the whole world. No soul will be justified until it turns with confidence to My mercy, and this is why the first Sunday after Easter is to be the Feast of Mercy. On that day, priests are to tell everyone about My great and unfathomable mercy….tell the confessor that the Image is to be on view in the church and not within the enclosure in that convent. By means of this image I shall be granting many graces to souls; so let every soul have access to it.” (Jesus – Diary 570)

Is. 53:5-6, Jn. 16:33, Rev. 2:10-11, Mt. 7:13

Day 7 – Review

Week 4-Forty Days in the Desert-Lord Quench My Thirst

Lord quench my thirst for you...

Pray this week in a special way for the gift of an open and receiving heart, as a bride who receives her bridegroom in love and mercy.

Remember to begin each day with the prayer to the Holy Spirit. Really take the time this week to reflect on the theme of the Catechism of the Catholic Church with the weekly reflections. The Lord is moving a step forward and calling us into deeper union with Him. Remember to keep track of the way the Lord is moving in you through your prayer journal, and the areas of growth or healing He desires to accomplish through your heart.

A quick note – work at your own pace in these exercises according to your schedule in your state in life. Some days you may not be able to rest with the Lord as you are with other days. God honors your time you give to him, and can multiply the graces all the more.

Catechism of the Catholic Church – CCC 2655-2679

“Dear children, today I thank you for every opening of your hearts. Joy overtakes me for every heart that is opened to God especially from the parish. Rejoice with me! Pray all the prayers for the opening of sinful hearts. I desire that, God desires that through me. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (4/18/85)

Day 1

“Dear children, today I want to tell you to begin to work in your hearts as you are working in the fields. Work and change your hearts so that a new spirit from God can take its place in your hearts…” (4/25/85)

“…My beloved daughter, you have come to know well the depths of my mercy. I will do what you ask, but unite yourself continually with my agonizing heart and make reparation to my justice. Know that you have asked me for a great thing, but I see that this was dictated by your pure love for me, that is why I am complying with your requests…” (diary 873)

Ps. 19:10, Ps. 111:10, Jn. 21:16-17

Day 2

“Dear children, today I call you to prayer with the heart, and not just from habit. Some are coming but do not wish to move ahead in prayer. Therefore, I wish to warn you like a Mother. Pray that prayer prevails in your hearts in every moment. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (5/2/85)

“It is my Passion that you must seek light and strength…fear nothing, I am with you.” (Diary 654-55)

Jn. 21:15, Jn. 13:34, 2 Cor. 5:20-21

Day 3

“Dear children, no; you do not know how many graces God is giving you. You do not want to move ahead during these days when the Holy Spirit is working in a special way. Your hearts are turned toward the things of earth and they preoccupy you. Turn your hearts toward prayer and seek the Holy Spirit to be poured out on you….” (5/9/85)

“…My omnipotent mercy is active here. Happy the soul that takes advantage of this grace. What joy fills my heart when you return to me. Because you are weak, I take you in My arms and carry you to the home of my Father…” (diary 1486)

Rom. 8:19, Lk. 24:47, Acts 9:31

Day 4

“…I am calling you to more active prayer and attendance at Holy Mass. I wish your Mass to be an experience of God. I wish especially to say to the young people; be open to the Holy Spirit because God wishes to draw you to Himself in these days when satan is at work…” (5/16/85)

“…You have a special claim on my mercy. Let it act in your poor soul; let the rays of grace enter your soul; they bring with them light, warmth and life. My child, all your sins have not wounded my heart as painfully as your present lack of trust does; that after so many efforts of my love and mercy you shouldn’t doubt my mercy…” (Diary 1486)

2 Cor. 4:10-12, 1 Jn. 4:19, Jn. 15:12-13

Day 5

“Dear children, these days I call you especially to open your hearts to the Holy Spirit. Especially during these days the Holy Spirit is working through you. Open your hearts and surrender your lives to Jesus so that He works through your hearts and strengthens you in faith…” (5/23/85)

“Here soul, are all the treasures of my heart. Take everything you need from it. Tell me all, my child, hide nothing from me because My loving heart, the Heart of your best friend is listening to you.”

Matt. 9:11-13, Matt. 11:29-30, Is. 45:3

Day 6

“Dear children, I call you again to prayer with the heart. Let prayer, dear children be your everyday food in a special way when your work in the fields is so wearing you out, that you cannot pray with the heart. Pray, and then you shall overcome even every weariness. Prayer will be your joy and your rest. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (5/30/85)

“Poor soul, I see that you suffer much and that you do not have even the strength to converse with me. So I will speak to you. Even though your sufferings were very great, do not lose heart or give in to despondency. But tell Me my child, who has dared to wound your heart? Tell me about everything; be sincere in dealing with Me, reveal all the wounds of your heart. I will heal them, and your suffering will become a source of your sanctification…do not be discouraged. I know your boundless trust in me; I know you are aware of my goodness and mercy. Let us talk in detail about everything that weights so heavily upon your heart..talk to me simply as a friend to a friend. Tell me now, my child what hinders you from advancing in holiness?”

Rev. 21:3-5, 1 Jn. 1:3-4, Jn 3:16, Jer. 1:5-8

Day 7 Review

Santa Cruz Media Statement for Fr. John Corapi

Keep praying for priests!

Statement of Santa Cruz Media, Inc. Relative to Fr. Corapi’s Suspension

Santa Cruz Media, Inc. is the owner of all of Fr. John Corapi’s intellectual property and the DVDs, CDs, and books that flow from it. We are a secular corporation and not affiliated with the Catholic Church in any way. As such, we are not under the jurisdiction of any bishop or other official in the Catholic Church, although we have the utmost respect for Church authority.

We fully support Rev. John Corapi in this terrible trial, not surprisingly having begun on Ash Wednesday. Through the sacrifice and struggle of the desert and all of the dark moments that this entails, we are confident that the glory of the risen Lord will shine forth from the power of the Resurrection and Easter.

We have consulted with a number of canon lawyers. They have assured us that the actions of the Bishop of Corpus Christi, Texas are, on several points of canon law, illicit. It is our fervent hope that The Dallas Charter will be changed because of false accusations like this. There is no evidence at this time that Fr. Corapi did anything wrong, only the unsubstantiated rant of a former employee, who, after losing her job with this office, physically assaulted me and another employee and promised to “destroy” Father Corapi. We all continue to pray for this person, and we ask you to do the same.

We sincerely believe that the work Fr. Corapi has done is of greatest value to the Church, hence hated by the devil. We fully intend to make Fr. Corapi’s material available as a service to the Church and the world for as long as we possibly can.

The Church provides no financial support to Fr. Corapi. He has to pay for his own legal representation, medical costs, food, housing, etc. We have never accepted donations or charitable contributions of any kind. We are supporting Father’s efforts to defend himself. Your purchase of products from Santa Cruz Media helps provide the funding for Father’s continued work as well as the legal expenses he continues to incur as a result of these malicious allegations.

Father Corapi and all of us here at Santa Cruz Media, Inc. greatly appreciate your kindness, support, and prayers. Please continue to pray for Father Corapi and his accuser, as well as all priests who find themselves in this unfortunate situation.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Bobbi Ruffatto
Vice President of Operations
Santa Cruz Media, Inc

The Breastplate of St. Patrick-Feast Day March 17

St. Patrick Pray for Us...

The beautiful prayer of St. Patrick, popularly known as “St. Patrick’s Breast-Plate”, is supposed to have been composed by him in preparation for this victory over Paganism. The following is a literal translation from the old Irish text:

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.

I bind to myself today
God’s Power to guide me,
God’s Might to uphold me,
God’s Wisdom to teach me,
God’s Eye to watch over me,
God’s Ear to hear me,
God’s Word to give me speech,
God’s Hand to guide me,
God’s Way to lie before me,
God’s Shield to shelter me,
God’s Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.

I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.

Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop [deck],
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

Week 1 – Lenten Exercise; Setting out on the Journey

FORTY DAYS IN THE DESERT

Try to Begin on Ash Wednesday. This exercise will continue through the GREAT FEAST OF DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY!

Do not begin this exercise without the help of the Holy Spirit. Pray every day for the Holy Spirit to come with His gifts, especially for the Spirit of Truth, that the Word spoken is taken into the heart in fullness of truth.

We will post these exercises week by week.

Remember we are walking with Jesus and Mary in the desert and with several hundred others who are joining us. You are not alone.

Each day you will find short scriptures to reflect with, along with the words of Jesus through Divine Mercy and Our Lady. Use these reflections as if both Jesus and Mary are speaking to you in the present moment as you would with Sacred Scripture.

It is best to record and dialog with the Lord and/or Blessed Mother with each reflection and scripture. And review at the end of the week what has come out of your thoughts and your heart. Begin to focus on areas that are repeated often, or things the Lord may reveal about you, or himself. God always speaks in repetition when He is conveying His Word, and what He desires to accomplish.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph(s) are provided for your reference to seek a deeper understanding of the faith and can be used at any time during this week.

This exercise may also be put to use with your family prayer and/or prayer groups. A member of the family or prayer group may keep a log of the family’s sharing time with the reflections and the scriptures given. This is an excellent way to see how the Holy Spirit is moving in your domestic church or within your parish.

Please remember, we are all on this journey together in this walk of faith with God. Feel free to share your experience through these exercises on this post, so that others can see that they are not alone on this journey through the desert. You may experience things or hear a Word from God that may inspire another soul. As the psalmist says, “Encourage each other daily while it is still today…”

Tips to help you in your journey when you thirst through the desert….

Keep a balanced diet each day of your Lenten sacrficies and time with God. No time given to God is ever wasted, even if it were just for a few moments of the day. The Lord can multiply the grace of time as He desire for you.

In your fasting and penances, make note of your successes and failures as you see yourself in growth with the Spirit. It will help encourage you when the journey in the desert feels taxing and your are quenched with thirst. Let God love you as the gift you are!

Most important make time for Eucharistic Adoration a minimum of 1 hour a week; more if possible; and holy mass daily if possible as your schedule permits. Frequent the Sacrament of Reconciliation as often as you feel called…there is no limit to God’s Mercy for a soul that is open to His mercy.

Week 1 – Setting out on the Journey

Passing through Your Baptismal Gifts – CCC 538-550

This week pray for the gifts of your baptismal graces to be renewed in your heart, and to experience the love of God for you.

Week 1 – Daily Meditation:

“Dear children! Today I call you to unite with Jesus in prayer. Open your heart to Him and give Him everything that is in it; joy, sorrows, and illnesses. May this be a time of grace for you. Pray, little children, and may every moment belong to Jesus. I am with you and I intercede for you. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (3/25/02)

Day 1

“…today again I invite you to pray, so that through prayer, fasting and small sacrifices you may prepare yourself for the coming of Jesus…” (11/25/96)

“My daughter, be always like a little child toward those who represent Me, otherwise you will not benefit from the graces I bestow on you through them.” (Diary 1260)

Matt. 13:17, 1 Cor. 6:19, Gal. 4:6, John 17:22-23, 1 Pet. 1:3

Day 2

“…May this time, little children be a time of grace for you. Use every moment and do good for only in this way will you feel the birth of Jesus in your hearts…” (11/25/96)

“…You see my daughter that my will must be done and that which I had promised you, I shall do. Through him I spread comfort to suffering and careworn souls. Through him it pleased me to proclaim the worship of my mercy. And through this work of mercy more souls will come close to me than otherwise would have even if he had kept giving absolution day and night for the rest of his life, because by so doing he would have labored only for as long as he lived; whereas, thanks to this work of mercy, he will be laboring till the end of the world…” (Diary 1256)

Luke 11:2-4, Matt. 18:3, Rom. 5:2-5, Col. 1:24-27

Day 3

“…If with your life you give an example and become a sign of God’s love, joy will prevail in the hearts of men. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (11/25/96)

“…I desire to unite myself with human souls: My greatest delight is to unite Myself with souls…” (Diary 1385)

1 Peter 3:15-17, Ps. 119:49, Ps. 119:81, Matt. 17:5, John 6:63-69

Day 4

“Dear children! Today I am with you in a special way, holding little Jesus in my lap and I invite you, little children to open yourselves to His call. He calls you to joy. Little children, joyfully live the messages of the Gospel, which I am repeating in the time since I am with you…” (12/25/96)

“…Know my daughter, that when I come to a human heart in holy Communion, my hands are full of all kinds of graces which I want to give to the soul. But souls do not even pay any attention to me; they leave me to myself and busy themselves with other things. Oh how sad I am that souls do not recognize Love! They treat me like a dead object…” (Diary 1385)

John 15:9-10, John 16:13, Eph. 1:16-18, John 8:27-29, John 7:37-39

Day 5

“…Little children, I am your Mother and I desire to reveal to you the God of love and the God of peace. I do not desire for your life to be in sadness but that it be realized in joy for eternity, according to the Gospel. Only in this way will your life have meaning. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (12/25/96)

“…as you are united with me in life, so will you be united at the moment of death…” (Diary 1552)

Ex. 34:29-30, John 10:29-30, Matt. 5:3-9, Rom. 12:9-18

Day 6

“Today in a special way, I invite you to take the cross in the hands and to meditate on the wounds of Jesus. Ask of Jesus to heal your wounds, which you dear children during your life sustained because of your sins or the sins of your parents. Only in this way, dear children will you understand that the world is in need of healing of faith in God the Creator. By Jesus’ passion and death on the cross, you will understand that only through prayer you too can become true apostles of faith, when in simplicity and pray, you live faith which is a gift. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (3/25/97)

“Write down everything that occurs to you regarding my goodness…” (Diary 1605)

Phil. 4:11-14, 1 John 3:2, Isaiah 43:1-4, Jer. 29:11-13, Matt. 28:19-20

Day 7 Review

Pre-Lenten Reflection: New Life Bud’s Forth

Before my Son Jesus I intercede for your conversion

“Dear children, nature is awakening and on the trees the first buds are seen which will bring most beautiful flowers and fruit. I desire that you also little children work on your conversion and that you be those who witness with their life, so that your example may be a sign and an incentive for conversion to others. I am with you and before my Son Jesus I intercede for your conversion. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (2/25/11)

My dear friends, this message speak very deeply to my soul, as most of them do, however this one is hitting me right where I am at.

You see, about six months ago, there was an event in our community area that caused a lot of upheaval for many of us. At this time, just before the upheaval our Lady spoke to the world and said that we her children were not humble enough, and that we needed to work on our conversions then, and work more towards humility. Many of us heard this loud and clear as we watched the events unfold.

Well this of course means pride has to go right? For many of us, we’ve been very humbled and very quickly as we witnessed those who were held in the esteem in the eyes of many fall from grace. And realizing how quickly God can remove a blessing for habitual sin.

Many of us during this time of prayer have been scattered and called into a new way of solitude, but that towards working on our Christian vocations which is our path to heaven. I have been writing about this in these postings if you have been following along. I can say for us, it has all come with tremendous blessings and fruit.

But at this time when the trial came some of us were in prayer and we were given an image of the season we were in, which was the fall. The leaves were falling to the ground, the seeds of the season fell to the ground to die and to shed its life, and all of creation was going into hibernation, or a deep sleep.

But the image continued and showed that when creation was going into its deep sleep, just like Adam when He awoke there would be a new creation, that is that the new spring time would blossom and a new foilage of flowers and leaves would come forth with all its brilliant colors, as it moved into the summer season again.

And here today, Blessed Mother begins her message as if she is showing us that she is continuing the work in us. She has repeated over the past few months that she is praying for us before her Son, for certain intentions.

This month is no different. She is still praying for us but for this month, she is praying before Jesus her Son that we receive the gift of conversion of heart. She is asking Jesus to give us the grace so that we can change our hearts.

Now this morning, again I prayed this message in the same light, and with this same understanding as I was led by the Holy Spirit. Today however the image came immediately where I saw Jesus crucified and our Lady standing beneath the cross interceding, begging Him to forgive the sins of the world and asking Him to convert hearts.

Behind Our Lady I saw a great number of people, however many of them were not looking at Jesus crucified, but look past Him as if they did not see Him, while some had their eyes on Him. It spoke to me of the unawareness of men who do not comprehend the magnitude of the greatest gift given to the world, and who do not even care that He gave His life for our salvation.

Today our Lady is still praying for us, that is her children that we comprehend the greatness of her coming to the world; and the greatness of the gift of her Son and what He did for our salvation. She is praying that we all should stand beside her and gaze upon our God who looks at us today and says, “See I have endured this for you my bride. See how much I love you…”

And like most marriages today, many spouses do not appreciate the love of their other spouse and take them for granted as we are doing this day with our mystical spouse.

The other day when I prayed this message as all of this was coming to light, Our Lady gave me the following words from a previous message on 2/17/89. The message said this:

“Dear children, tonight I don’t ask you to do anything special. I only with you to begin to live my messages. Dear children, I seek your action, not your words! You are happy when I give you a beautiful message, but live the message I give. May each message be for you a new growth. Take THIS message into your life, in this way you will grow in life. Your Mother cannot give you other messages if you don’t live the ones I already give you. Begin tonight to live the messages.”

For me on this day, it was convicting, and I felt like a sword pierced my heart. I know full well there are specific areas in my heart that I need to change. I know that I still need to continue on with my conversion, and there are some very visible areas in my vocation that I need to work on in growing in love and in virtue.

Lent is quickly approaching. It is a time to work on changing the heart, and stripping away through penance and fasting, what is displeasing to God. We have the full six weeks of Lent to work on each day that one area of the heart that needs either healing, conversion or a way to expand it more in love. To stretch ones heart is to go beyond ones comfort zone in an extraordinary way.

But in order to make something a way of life, it needs practice to do so. This is what Lent is for us. It is not about giving up the chocolate and the dessert or smoking just for that window of six weeks. It is about giving up that vice for your life as a way of life, in a way of dying to yourself, to grow closer to God.

I know this, but living it is another story. And here Our Lady said, I do not seek your word, she wants to see it done and lived out. Ouch, there is the sword! Now I have to do something about it right? When heaven reveals something of yourself, you have to do something about it, because if you don’t, well I think we all know what happens next.

So many times the dear Mother has convicted me this way. We cannot flock to be there for an apparition, and then just walk away saying, “Oh that was nice, or I experienced this or that…” No! We have to take to heart what was said, what was spoken to us in this time, and put it to life. Sometimes its easy, and others it is much harder, and will take more collective reflection to understand the meaning in our own personal life.

Just like the message she just gave to the world speaking about the trees budding forth, the above message she just gave me is no different but enhances the meaning behind the 2/25/11 message. She said,

“… but live the message I give. May each message be for you a NEW GROWTH. Take THIS message into your life, in this way you will grow in life.”

Isn’t this the same as her describing the new spring coming forth? She desires a new growth to come forth for us, to go deeper into our conversion, and to remove sin.

She is not going to tell us anything new. Every message has the same core meaning of prayer, penance, fasting, conversion, living the bible, and holy mass. All of this is pointing towards her Son, Jesus Christ. But apparently we still aren’t doing as she asked in the full context of what heaven desires for us.

Let us go back to her message again on 2/25/11. She also said,

“…work on your conversion and that you be those who witness with their life, so that your example may be a sign and an incentive for conversion to others…”

Now I can witness to this personally, as I learned throughout my journey and path of conversion, that I had to change first. It was not until after I began to change that I began to make visible changes in my family, with my children, and my spouse. This was not easy, and I will not make light of the fact that in general we as human creatures do not like to change. We are comfortable in our sin, because that is what we have grown used to.

The older we are the harder it is. For children in formation years it is much easier, because their hearts are open. But as they grow older, it gets tougher especially for teens to have the desire to sit down and pray, and attend holy mass often. Teens want to be out with the rests who appear to be partying and having a good time. However most teens are at the lonliest because they do not have parents or strong peers who walk with them in light, and they sit in darkness, roping others into their misery, and numbing their pain. And in most cases, parents aren’t even aware of what is going on in the hearts of their teens. Nor are they aware that most of them are already sexually active, and medicating themselves in excess with drugs or alcohol on a regular basis.

But my friends, living this message is not an option, this is required! What do I mean by this?

It is not any different for someone who wants to get good at something, such as a sporting event, or even let’s say dieting. A change of life style needs to occur right?

If you are practicing a sport, your are going to get better at the sport your are enjoying, right. Or if you want to lose weight, you need to implement a diet plan to stick to, and an exercise schedule right? All for conditioning and getting into shape either way. Isn’t it most often in the spring when the weather changes for those who live north of the sunbelt that is, that we begin a new to condition our bodies from the winter weight?

Well it is the same for your human spirit, the interior part of your being.

In Romans chapter 8, it says the body is opposed to the spirit, and the flesh has desires against the spirit. And if we live by the flesh, we are opposed to God. In order to strengthen the spirit, the flesh needs to become weaker than the spirit. Jesus already told us that our spirits are willing, but our flesh is weak.

So how do we help our spirit overcome our flesh desires? We need spiritual exercise!

We need a spiritual routine so to say to get our Christian practice back into shape. This will take a full conscientious effort to do so on our part. It does not come naturally easy, because we are naturally inclined to sin. We must work at not to sin.

Here’s another scenario; let’s take a small child. Is a small child naturally living good behavior all the time, or does a child naturally get itself into trouble. How many times does a parent have to tell a toddler, no, no, no…? And then the parent has to correct the actions of the child right?

To do good, one has to be taught the right way in how to do good. Blessed Mother has made it very clear that the world is headed for destruction. For her it is like witnessing a small child running out into the street in the middle of a highway. A child is going to get hurt, unless the mother stops the child from running into the street.

She was sent into the world, to stop the children from getting hurt, or in this case from death, eternal death that is. And now she is teaching us how to be good little children to please the Eternal Father. Just the way she taught Jesus. Like a good Mother, she will fulfill her duties in her maternal vocation as God has ordained her to do, to make sure her children come out of the darkness and into the light to be with her in heaven.

Dear friends, this world is passing. We are in this world only for a short time. Our final home is heaven. But what we do on this earth will determine if we finish the journey and enter the promise land. Remember, not everyone entered the promise land. It was only those who persevered and were faithful to God and lived His commandments.

We are in a special time. A time in history that has never occurred in the world since the beginning of creation. 30 years of apparitions of the Mother of God to the world. It has taken all of the 30 years, to begin to convert this world, and we are not finished yet.

Take heed the words of the Mother of God with great seriousness. If God so much in His mercy has allowed her to come to the world for this long, and we as a people on this earth do not take it with seriousness, I don’t even want to begin to imagine what the consequences will be in the end when all is completed.

Now is the time to come out of the darkness, and seek the light of God. There is no more room for those who are on the fence. Now is the time of decision. Choose life that it may go well with you.

Ave Maria!

“You know the time in which we are living. It is now the hour for you to wake from sleep, for our salvation is closer than when we first accepted the faith. The night is far spent; the day draws near. Let us cast off deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us live honorably as in daylight; not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual excess and lust, not in quarreling and jealousy. Rather put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh…” (Romans 13:11-14)

“Holy Family Workshop, Tools for Today’s Marriage and Family, Living the message of Medjugorje through scripture”

Proper Prayer Comes from the Heart

I am He Who is called Faithful and True

I have taken some time now, as I have in my own private prayer and in prayer group setting to reflect more and more on the richness of the message of Our Lady that was just given on 2/2/2011 through Mirjana.
Here it is again for your review:

“Dear children, you are gathering around me, you are seeking your way, you are seeking, you are seeking the truth but are forgetting what is the most important, you are forgetting to pray properly. Your lips pronounce countless words, but your spirit does not feel anything. Wandering in darkness, you even imagine God Himself according to yourselves, and not such as He really is in His love. Dear children, proper prayer comes from the depth of your heart, from your suffering, from your joy, from your seeking the forgiveness of sins. This is the way to come to know the right God, and by that also yourselves, because you are created according to Him. Prayer will bring you to the fulfillment of my desire, of my mission here with you, to the unity of God’s family. Thank you.” (2/2/2011)

Our Lady said on 1/25/2011 that the Holy Spirit is working in the hearts of those who said ‘yes’ to her. And here she is now giving detailed instruction on how to follow her teaching.

The first image I had when I began to reflect on her message was of a child’s game called pin the tale on the donkey. The focus was on the child who is blindfolded, spinning around and then trying to find its mark. And here is our Lady saying three times repeated, “you are seeking, your are seeking, your are seeking…” as if she is saying you are getting closer and closer, and closer to me….BUT….

“…you are seeking the truth, but you are forgetting what is the MOST IMPORTANT, you are forgetting to pray properly. Your lips pronounce countless words, but your spirit does not feel anything…”

Does this sound like your prayer life? Is it all repetition? Or do you feel you are just going through the motion, but not getting any where, and you are wondering why you even need to take the step to pray? What’s the purpose? Are you saying, “I’m not getting anything out of it?”

Most likely you won’t get anything out of it, if you are just praying with your lips, in a religious routine, reciting your words over and over, just to get the prayer done and out of the way. But you are not encountering God in your prayer. Your spirit is still in darkness and you are not quite there yet to meeting God.

The imagination wanders and you imagine God to be who you want Him to be, not who He is.

I find this very common among our Christian brothers and sisters. God bless them!

However, the lose term is “Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior.”

Is God a personal God? Can we make God what we want Him to be for us? Do we see a problem with this?

Let’s just think for a moment. If God is my personal God, then I am going to tell God what I want Him to do for me. Or I can go on sinning and have no accountability for my sin, because Jesus died for me and that is it! He saved me, so I am going to heaven.

This is so contrary to the gospels in this way of thinking. We forget that God is the Creator, and we are the creatures. God belongs to no body! But we belong to Him.

Here is a basic catechism lesson. Why did God create you? To know Him, to love Him and to serve Him in this life so that we can be with Him in the next life. So many are asking, who is God? For most this will be kept a great mystery until the day of judgment.

For others however, we know God, because He has come in human form in the person of Jesus Christ. If you want to know the Father, you must know the Son. He is the way to the Father. Remember, Philip the apostle said to Jesus, “show us the Father and we will believe…” Jesus told Philip, ‘you have been with me this long, and you still don’t believe. If you see me then you see the Father…” Jesus is the way to the Father. “No one can come to the Father except through me,” said the Lord.

How quickly in our prayer do we run to the Father in our pride? Do we realize who we are encountering in this moment? Even Jesus humbled Himself before the Father, and said, “Equality to the Father is something to be grasped. Think about these words…

We really need to be careful in our spiritual life and fully aware of what we are doing, especially in the presence of the Father. It is wise and prudent to ask the Lord for the gift of Fear of the Lord, for in this comes all wisdom.

Our Lady continues on and speaks about prayer. She said,

“…Dear children, proper prayer comes from the depth of your heart, from your suffering, from your joy, from your seeking the forgiveness of sins. This is the way to come to know the right God, and by that also yourselves, because you are created according to Him….”

Wow! The key word here is ‘proper prayer.’ I have heard many times so many people say, ‘it does not matter how you pray, as long as you pray.’ Now there is truth to this, however the Mother is looking for a little more. The mother is saying, ‘proper prayer comes from the heart…”

Our Lady calls us to prayer with the heart and has done so on many occasions, and to make it all the more clearer, the prayer with the heart comes out of your suffering, out of your joy and when you are humbled asking for forgiveness when sin has been enlightened in you.

Now in reality, let’s look at suffering prayer. Don’t you think when the Father was looking at Jesus in his tormented agony praying from the cross, or praying in the garden of Olives that the Father had compassion on the Son? Of course He did! The Father was moved in grief to see His only Son suffer in the way He did so beautifully, laying His life down showing the Father everything that He created was good, and worth it to do what He had accomplished.

When someone is in joy, isn’t their heart rejoicing and the spirit is lifted high? So what do we do with this joy. We praise and thank God for giving us the gift of joy, and the gift that we are joyful for, with an ardent love for him in great gratitude, and maybe as a sign of our appreciation, we would make a special offering of thanksgiving to the Father for what He has done for us.

Prayer of the heart in seeking forgiveness. My friends, never forget the cross. Never forget what Jesus endured to save the soul. Here is the triumph of mercy for souls, in the cross. When we seek the Lord in His mercy and ask for forgiveness, there is no greater glory that is given to God, for we acknowledge our weakness, and give praise to Jesus on the Cross for our redemption.

For the one who is humble, and the one who has contrition for sin, there is nothing that the Lord will not do for such a soul. Jesus said to St. Faustina that we offend Him most when we do not trust in His mercy.

In the darkness, we are blind and we cannot see. Our Lady says we are wandering in the darkness, just like the image give above. We are disoriented and cannot find our way. Sin weakens the soul, and makes deaf our ears and eyes of the heart. That is when we are in sin, we cannot discern clearly the things of God, we lose our focus and fall off the path He has designed for us. We must always seek to remain in the light, and frequent the sacrament of reconciliation.

Do we see now that we cannot justify ourselves and our life styles to have God conform to us? NO! This is the lie. God is the same, and I will repeat this over and over. He is the same, yesterday, today, and will be in generations to come.
God cannot be made up in the imagination. He is Who He is, and in truth and in prayer we must seek Him for Who He is. You cannot create God to be what you want Him to be for yourself; that is ‘disordered.’ No! he created you to be who you are. He knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb. (Is. 44:2, Jer. 1:5, Is. 43:1)

Our Lady has come with a purpose. Her purpose, her desire is to convert sinners and return them back to her Son. She wants the world to convert. This leaves no one human person out. She said very clearly in this message:

“…Prayer will bring you to the fulfillment of my desire, of my mission here with you, to the unity of God’s family….”

Her mission is to bring the family of God back together as one. Yes, she repeated again what she just said last month; remember, she is praying that we comprehend that we are God’s family. And she has summed up the purpose for her coming for this very reason. God’s children must reflect the image of the Father, and who better than the Mother to form and to teach the children of the family of God. Isn’t this a Mother’s role after all in the home?

Well it is suppose to be. Blessed Mother is the true feminine. She knows her role to perfection, and she will not shrink from her role and mother to make sure that every child of hers is safely back with her.

Remember, God is Father. Our Lady is Mother, and this Mother is determined to transform her children in the image of Jesus. Remember, Jesus was the only acceptable sacrifice pleasing to the Father. If we want the Father to see us then the Father needs to see Jesus fully alive in us. That means someone has to go, and that is the I, I, I inside of me, me, me. As St. John the Baptist said, “I must decrease so that He may increase…” (John 3:30)

Our Lady came to Medjugorje on 6/24/1981; the feast of St. John the Baptist, the herald call of the prophet who said, “prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His path.” She has come in the Spirit of Elijah to bring the triumphant reign of her Son in the world, and in human hearts. This is the mission. This is her plan. There is nothing short of this.

My friends, when Medjugorje is fulfilled, the power of satan will be destroyed. Mirjana said this. There will be nothing left but God and the sinner in fullness of truth. There are so many false claims of a final confrontation or the last battle. The battle is for your soul. God has already won the battle on Good Friday over 2000 years ago.

The enemy wants your soul, and will stop at nothing to claim it. Our Lady said in Medjugorje, it knows it has but a short time and it has become aggressive. The human spirit is so weakened by sin, it is just handing itself over into the hands of the enemy, without even reflecting on the eternal future.

Prayer and conversion are the only things that are important today. Satan wants you to think other wise and lures to worldly things which only distract the human intellect and heart from God. There is nothing more important than the salvation of your soul. If anyone can walk away from anything in reading these letters, I repeat again, your soul is more important than your home, your car, your bank account. Let’s get it all into perspective my friends. Convert!

I will continue on again in another posting, however for this purpose I feel I must stop here, to allow time for reflection. Take to heart the words and read them prayerfully with the help of the Holy Spirit, and pray for truth!

“The one who comes from above is above all. The one who comes from the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all…the Father loves the Son and has given everything over to Him. Who ever believes the Son has eternal life. Whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.” (Jn. 3:31, 35-36)

Accept the Call with Seriousness

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful...

God is good! Picking up from where we left off yesterday, and reflecting on the series of the messages of Medjugorje from the spring of 1992, I came across a reflection from St. Louis deMonfort from “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.”

If you recall the message I posted on 1/24/2011 from 3/25/92, the Blessed Mother said that her children were losing interest in her and her messages, and taking the message “superficially” as if this word was carefully used to describe the lukewarmness of the hearts of many so called devotees of Our Lady.

This is what the great Marian saint said about “superficial devotees.”

“Superficial devotees are people whose entire devotion to Our Lady consists in exterior practices. Only the externals of devotion appeal to them because they have no interior spirit. They say many rosaries with great haste and assist at many Masses distractedly. They take part in processions of our Lady without inner fervor. They join her confraternities without reforming their lives or restraining their passions or imitating Mary’s virtues. All that appeals to them is the emotional aspect of this devotion, but the substance of it has no appeal at all. If they do not feel a warmth in their devotions, they think they are doing nothing; they become upset, and give up everything or else do things only when they feel like it. The world is full of these shallow devotees, and there are none more critical of men of prayer who regard the interior devotion as the essential aspect and strive to acquire it, without however neglecting a reasonable external expression which always accompanies true devotion.” (96)

St. Louis deMonfort is describing those literally who just go through the motion; for example let’s say just praying the rosary with the lips, but there is no heart to heart union or contemplative reflection on the life of Jesus in the rosary. The rosary is a prayer of the gospels. They rush through the rosary, and are seen in the church as pious devotees however, there is no relationship with Our Lady or their God.

They have no interest in changing their lives or following the way of the cross as true devotees, in fact are put off by it. They look for spiritual consolations to make themselves feel good, but quickly find dryness in their prayer; kind of a “what’s in it for me attitude.”

St. Louis de Montfort called them ‘shallow devotees’ and are very critical of those seeking the interior life. They will not go deep into their hearts to look at themselves.

There is a danger here in this practice, because of self-righteousness, and false piety.

In her message of 3/25/92, the Blessed Mother admonished these superficial devotees, and said because of their coldness and disinterest in her, the messages or her Son, they leave themselves prey for the enemy. Simply because they are not seeking holiness, nor do they desire holiness, they do not root out the sin inside of them, nor practice their virtues and do not move toward conversion of heart.

So their spirits are left empty and void of God’s grace. If God is not filling the soul or spirit, there is only one thing left that can fill the spirit, and that is the wiles of the enemy.

Again, for your discernment dear reader, contemplate and read this slowly and prayerfully with the heart with the help of the Holy Spirit to help understand a deeper meaning for you.

It is very easy for anyone to fall into complacency; but there comes a point to where we have to pick ourselves up, and seek again that ardent and fervent desire to press on in the journey.

The following message came the next month. Keep in mind of the war that was occurring in the region at the time of this message.

Again I also remind the reader that Our Lady was sent by God to call the world to conversion, which she began at Fatima. The world rejected her call and World War II began as she said it would, and the spread of communism and godlessness throughout the world.

So here we are on the verge of a heated war ensuing in the Baltic region in 1990’s which was waged against Christian Catholics, (a sign perhaps foreshadowing the attack on the Church, Christians of the world…who knows-that is for your discernment); but keeing in mind that Our Lady just said to the world the month prior that we were not taking her messages with seriousness, and because of this, she is not able to help us.

I am sure those who lived in the region seeing the effects of the war, and their loved ones whose lives are threatened, were most likely listening very intently to what she was saying, and increased their prayer to God for help. Here is her message:

“Dear children, today also I invite you to prayer. Only by prayer and fasting can war be stopped. Therefore, my dear little children, pray and by your life give witness that you are mine and that you belong to me, because satan wishes in these turbulent days to seduce as many souls as possible. Therefore, I invite you to decide for God and He will protect you and show you what you should do and which paths to take. I invite all those who have said ‘yes’ to me to renew their consecration to my Son, Jesus and to His heart and to me so we can take you more intensely as instruments of peace in this unpeaceful world. Medjugorje is a sign to all of you and a call to pray and live the days of grace that God is giving you. Therefore, dear children, accept the call to prayer with seriousness. I am with you and your suffering is also mine. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (4/25/92)

“…but woe to you earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in a great fury for he knows he has but a short time…” (Rev. 12:12)

Here it is the remedy to defeat the enemy and sin…”prayer and fasting” Prayer and fasting can stop wars! Now look throughout biblical history how many times God wanted to chastise the people because of their sin. But when the people repented of their sin, they prayed and fasted, and put on sack cloth as a sign to God of their repentance.

Here in lies the majority of the call of Medjugorje, “prayer, penance and fasting…”

Through this form of penance there is a dying to ourselves in the flesh, which brings greater strength in our spirits.

Many are familiar with this message from Our Lady, which is common on many of her prayer cards. For this purpose though it bears repeating. She said:

“Dear children, I invite you for your individual conversion. This time is for you! Without you God’s plan cannot be realized. Dear children, grow day by day closer to God through prayer. I give you the weapon AGAINST YOUR GOLIATH, here are your little stones: (1) Prayer WITH THE HEART: ROSARY, (2) Eucharist; (3) Holy Bible, (4) Fasting, (5) Monthly confession.” (emphasis added)

Your Goliath, that is your giant sin that you just cannot defeat in you. The big sin in you where the enemy has the stronghold over you, where he agitates you, salts the wound, triggers you to react and fall into further sin. The weapons she is leading you to are the core themes of her messages.

So if we go back to her invitation to prayer and fasting to stop wars, the first step is to stop the war that is going on inside of the heart. Because war begins in the heart, with anger, hatreds, revenge, retaliation and so on. Your weapons to defeat this battle is the use of unceasing prayer, the sacraments and practice of penances, frequenting the sacrament of reconciliation.

The second part of this message of 4/25/92 she said;

…”Therefore, my dear little children, pray and by your life give witness that you are mine and that you belong to me, because satan wishes in these turbulent days to seduce as many souls as possible…”

Give witness that you are hers, she wants to protect us from the attacks of satan as in the way I said above. These are turbulent days she said.

Keep in mind of the words our Lady carefully uses here “turbulent”. The meaning of this word from the dictionary is, confusing, unstable, disordered, disorderly, chaotic, tumultuous, in turmoil, violent, rowdy, unruly, riotous, quarrelsome, restless…does this describe our world today? I should say so. And who is behind it? She named it, satan.

How many can honestly say that our surrounding enviornment most often is filled with as we described above “turbulence?”

These people of that region had to choose God or satan. It was a matter of life or death for them. They were facing possible death by the effects of war, a war that resulted in deep seeded hatreds of culture, religion, politics and race. Our Lady was asking them to be a witness of good against evil, as a sign that she was really appearing there. She gave a promise and said,

“Therefore, I invite you to decide for God and He will protect you and show you what you should do and which paths to take. I invite all those who have said ‘yes’ to me to renew their consecration to my Son, Jesus and to His heart and to me so we can take you more intensely as instruments of peace in this unpeaceful world…”

“Decide for God”…to decide for God is an act of the will and a conscious choice, one that we make with firm decision in our hearts first, and then we bring this witness to life. If you decide for God, you will show others that the Cross is worth living, and you can live it without fear. You decide by living His Commandments, obeying His Word and His authority.

Our Lady promised protection for those who “decided for God.” And by this firm decision, God protected the children of Our Lady and showed them how to avert the war and bring peace to the region. It began with reconciling among themselves, and lowering their egos to be humble enough to take the first step of reconciliation with their enemies and neighbors.

Now realistically this did not occur over night. The war went on for a few years, because to convert a region there has to be the cooperation of many hearts. Now we are lookiing at a conversion of the whole world. It is no wonder she remains with us for this long.

Fr. Jozo gave an incredible witness and testimony to this type of reconciliation, by stopping in the mass, and everyone that is everyone in the Church needed to go and reconcile before he would continue the mass. It was a powerful witness to the people, but it birthed a grace for the world to becoming still what it is today.

Our Lady didn’t stop there, not only did she say decide for God, but in addition invited all those now who did decide, those who said yes, no matter if it meant life or death, to now make an act of consecration, so that she could see not just in word, but now in deed that they really meant what they say in their choosing.

Therefore, trials would come their way, persecutions and tests of faith, which they would all have to persevere through still in virtue and as a witness to peace.
At the conclusion of this message she made a bold statement to the world about Medjugorje. She said,

… “Medjugorje is a sign to all of you and a call to pray and live the days of grace that God is giving you. Therefore, dear children, accept the call to prayer with seriousness. I am with you and your suffering is also mine. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

“Medjugorje is a sign to all of you and a call to pray and live the days of grace that God is giving you. I hear and feel the firmness and seriousness of these words in the depth on my heart. Accept this call with seriousness.”

Let’s just understand here for a moment, not in human terms, but in eternal, universal Godly terms, the words…”accept the call with seriousness.” God is serious, and means business.

If a father is serious about something with his child, how does a father respond to the child? Now let’s step it up for example in a family environment. If the mother is disciplining the child and the child does not respond to the mother, most often the mother turns to the father to intercede with greater authority. Is it any different for an Eternal Father? Actually most severe, and a great spanking is warranted.

Our Lady is determined to defeat satan in the world. (Rev. 12) Our Lady is fighting this battle along side of us, those who are devoted to her, she is there on the front lines with us, and with Jesus who is the General, the King leading the battle.

Our weapon is her weapon, the weapon of the King of Peace, who carries to two edge flaming sword into battle. Ephesians 6 describes this part of the armor as the “sword of the spirit” or the living Word of God, powered by the Holy Spirit. The breath of God will defeat the enemy, and Our Lady is carrying the full armor and clothing her children in it.

We need to be clothed with the power of the Most High God to win. We need the Holy Spirit fully alive in our hearts to defeat evil and sin in the heart, first in our own hearts, and then around us.

Folks the battle is “not out there,” the battle is in the heart. If every human being lived this call of conversion, frequently lived the sacraments given by the Church, how much more of the Spirit of Jesus will be in the world?

Instead because of sin and the infestation of sin, the spirit of evil is triumphant in many, many hearts.

The mother said that the world is spiraling into sin and it cannot help itself. She came to help pull it out of the pit of darkness. She comes with a great plan of God who is the master builder to reconstruct the human temple, and build a kingdom for her Son, to reign triumphant in us.

So the question comes again…”what are you devoted to?” Is it important enough for you to act and begin a new?

“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. But the one who restrains is to do so only for the present, until he is removed from the scene. And then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and render powerless by the manifestation of his coming…” (2 Thes. 2:7-8)