“Do not Shut your Eyes to the Warning…” March 2, 2013 Medjugorje Message

I had a wow experience with this message in a personal way. This message came on the first Saturday of the month. A day Our Lady asked in Fatima to make reparation for the offenses committed against the Sacred Heart of Jesus and her Immaculate Heart.

I was at a local retreat center attending an all night vigil for just this…that is in reparation for the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary, on the first Friday and Saturday of the month. It was not until into the evening on Friday when I realized that the 2nd of the month message would come for unbelievers and it would be apparition time during the night. I was so excited to be united with Our Lady in prayer during this apparition. And ironically I was given the post to sit with the Lord between 12:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. which is exactly when the apparition was occurring in Medjugorje. And the intention for that hour unbeknown to the one who gave me the intention was to pray for unbelievers and those who have separated themselves from God and His Church. God is so good!

As though this message were speaking directly to me, even though I know it was to the world, particularly for those who do not know the love of God; Our Lady said specifically, in the below message,

“….My children, keep vigil. I, as a mother, am keeping vigil with you. I am especially praying and watching over those whom my Son called to be light-bearers and carriers of hope for you – for your shepherds. Thank you.”

Her words not only penetrated my heart to the very depth but I understood in them that she was united with us who all remained awake with her in all night prayer, and how important this is for our faith life; that is STAY AWAKE be ready.

After I was able to ponder her words in spirit and in prayer, I asked her to help me to contemplate the meaning of this message,and the monthly message of 2/25/13 given to Marija. And she began to open her message to my heart.

Father forgive them, they know not what they do

I will give the reflection in parts as to take time to absorb in the heart the seriousness of the Mother of God’s messages.

Reflect below on her words:

“Dear children! Anew, in a motherly way, I am calling you not to be of a hard heart. Do not shut your eyes to the warnings which the Heavenly Father sends to you out of love. Do you love Him above all else? Do you repent for having often forgotten that the Heavenly Father, out of His great love, sent his Son to redeem us by the Cross? Do you repent for not yet having accepted the message? My children, do not resist the love of my Son. Do not resist hope and peace. Along with your prayer and fasting, by His cross, my Son will cast away the darkness that wants to surround you and come to rule over you. He will give you the strength for a new life. Living it according to my Son, you will be a blessing and a hope to all those sinners who wander in the darkness of sin. My children, keep vigil. I, as a mother, am keeping vigil with you. I am especially praying and watching over those whom my Son called to be light-bearers and carriers of hope for you – for your shepherds. Thank you.”</em>

Beginning with the first two sentences of her message,

“Dear children! Anew, in a motherly way, I am calling you not to be of a hard heart. Do not shut your eyes to the warnings which the Heavenly Father sends to you out of love….”

This was the attention getter for me. In her motherly way she is telling her child to quit being so hardened in the heart. And immediately the psalm came forth “…if today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts…”

And who is she speaking to? Her own children. These are the ones as I have often said IN THE CHURCH first. Yes to the world, but she said clearly, “MY CHILDREN…” You are the ones who Jesus gave to her at the foot of the cross. You are ones consecrated to her, who say you belong to her, and who say you love her.

Now lets hear this message and where you hear her say, “my children, or dear children” insert your name into the place of children. Because she is talking to you and me.

As a Mother I could relate to this message. I had an image of Our Lady being in a kitchen of the House of God, the place where the family eats the meal together. I saw the Mother talking to her children, admonishing them with a stern warning in a motherly way…(let’s think of a good Jewish mother here); who is trying the raise the conscience of her children. (I can hear myself say this to my own children, so I can appreciate the following words of the message which come as an examination of conscience.

So to ponder her message in the following reflection, we will reflect on Our Lady’s words as an examination of conscience in this Lenten time.

Do not take this lightly friends. Because Our Lady makes no bones about this message. She sternly said ‘DO NOT SHUT YOUR EYES TO THE WARNINGS WHICH THE HEAVENLY FATHER SENDS YOU…’

Anyone asking what warning the Heavenly Father is sending. The word WARNING is no accident here. Because part of the secrets are warnings to the world. And the visionaries have clearly indicated, we are entering into it, while the church is going to go through an ordeal.

Take to heart her words, and continue to reflect on them in the coming days. Ave Maria!

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts…

Medjugorje Febuary 25, 2013 Message

Do not let sin drag you to the things of the earth. Be healed and reconciled

“Dear children! Also today I call you to prayer. Sin is pulling you towards worldly things and I have come to lead you towards holiness and the things of God, but you are struggling and spending your energies in the battle with the good and the evil that are in you. Therefore, little children, pray, pray, pray until prayer becomes a joy for you and your life will become a simple walk towards God. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

Healing prayer of Forgivness

Father forgive me a sinner

NOTE: IF YOU SEE ADS ATTACHED TO THIS SIGHT, THEY ARE NOT OF OUR DOING. THIS SITE DOES NOT ADVERTISE FOR ANYONE. WE ARE WORKING ON FIXING THE PROBLEM!

This is a great spiritual exercise for individuals, families, healing ministries and retreat groups

The Lord says that the fasting He desires is to set the oppressed free. There is much oppression when we are not able to forgive someone and hold a grudge against them.

Spend time in this prayer as a healing for yourself and to those whom may have hurt or sinned against you, and for those you may have caused hurt or pain to yourself. Remember, it is natural to still feel hurt and/or pain for any wrong that has been done to us. But taking steps to consciously forgive, and bringing Jesus into the pain will help begin the healing process, and take the power away from satan who wants to keep us in the pain because it is an open door for him to enter and provoke us to sin.

After each exercise, list as much as you can and bring it all to Jesus at the foot of the cross and visibly nail the pain to the cross to console the heart of Jesus, and watch what He does with the pain you have given to him in return.

Set the captives free!

Prayer of forgiveness

Loving Father, through Jesus your beloved Son, crucified on the cross I choose to forgive everyone in my life, including myself because you have forgiven me. Thank you Lord, for this grace. I forgive myself for all my sins, faults and failings, especially (list all the things you cannot forgive yourself for). I forgive myself for not being perfect, I accept myself and make a decision to stop picking on myself and being my own worst enemy. I release the things that I hold against myself and free myself from bondage and make peace with myself by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I forgive my Mother in her human weakness for any negativity and unlove she may have caused t me throughout my life, knowing or unknowingly, especially for _____________ Or for any abuse of any sort, I forgive her today. For any way that she did not provide a deep, full satisfying mother’s blessing. I do forgive her today. I release her from bondage and make peace with her today before Jesus crucified, and I ask Jesus in His mercy to cover her with His divine grace.

I forgive my Father in his human weaknesss for any negativity and unlove he may have caused t me throughout my life, knowing or unknowingly, especially for _____________ Or for any and all abuse of any sort, unkind acts, hurts and deprivations I do forgive him today. For any way that he did not provide a deep, full satisfying father’s blessing. I do forgive him today. I release him from bondage and make peace with him today before Jesus crucified, and I ask Jesus in His mercy to cover him with His divine grace.

Father forgive them, they know not what they do

(for adults can repeat the same for SPOUSE/Children)

I forgive my SISTERS AND BROTHERS for any negativity and unlove especially (name sibling/specific event or behavior). I forgive my BLOOD RELATIVES for any abuses, especially ______________. I forgive my ANCESTORS for any negative actions that affect my life today and make it harder for me today to live in the freedom of a child of God. I release them all from bondage and make peace with them today in Jesus’ name.

I forgive my FRIENDS for any actions of negativity and unlove, especially for ______________. For any time they abused our relationship or led me astray far from Jesus and your Kingdom. I do forgive them. I release them all from bondage this day and make peace with them, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

(You can include same wording for EMPLOYERS; SCHOOL TEACHERS/DOCTORS, LAWYERS, NURSES, CLERGY, all representatives of the Church ETAL)

I forgive any member of SOCIETY who has hurt me in any way; those who have hurt me by criminal action or who have harmed my family, I forgive all in public life who have passed laws opposing Christian values. I forgive all the unfair, anonymous sources of pain and annoyance in my life.

Heavenly Father, I now ask for the grace to forgive the ONE PERSON IN MY LIFE WHO HAS HURT ME THE MOST for the sake of my love for Jesus your Son who loves and forgives them and died for them. This one is the hardest for me to forgive, but I now choose to forgive them before Jesus, even through I am still angry and hurt. I also make peace with the one family member, the one friend and the one authority figure who has hurt me the most.

Lord, is there anyone else that I need to forgive? (Be still and listen for what may come to your heart)

Thank you Father for the immeasurable love you have for me and for your Son Jesus who is setting me free in this moment. I now pray that your blessing will come on all those who have hurt me. Lord do something special for each of them this day. Thank you Lord. I praise you in your mercy and goodness. I ask for the grace to always strive for peace, and to choose love over all things. Jesus I trust in you. Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us.

I am Repeatedly Warning You-

March 2, 2012 Message to Mirjana

“Dear children, through the immeasurable love of God I am coming among you and I am persistently calling you into the arms of my Son. With a motherly heart I am imploring you, my children, but I am also repeatedly warning you, that concern for those who have not come to know my Son be in the first place for you. Do not permit that by looking at you and your life, they are not overcome by a desire to come to know Him.

Pray to the Holy Spirit for my Son to be impressed within you. Pray that you can be apostles of the divine light in this time of darkness and hopelessness. This is a time of your trial.

With a rosary in hand and love in the heart set out with me. I am leading you towards Easter in my Son. Pray for those whom my Son has chosen that they can always live through Him and in Him-the High Priest. Thank you.”

I was able to go into deeper prayer with this message given by Our Lady to the world for unbelievers. Her wisdom and teaching that came in this message just blew me away, so I felt in my heart it should be shared what she had shared with me in my prayer, and the importance of praying for “non-believers.”

I meditated on the first part of the message when Our Lady said,

“Dear children, through the immeasurable love of God I am coming among you and I am persistenly calling you into the arms of my Son. With a motherly heart I am imploring you, my children, but I am also repeatedly warning you, that concern for those who have not come to know my Son be in the first place for you…”

I read these words over and over and now again I read them in light before the Most Blessed Sacrament in front of Truth. I then recalled the words that Mirjana once said while I was with her. She said, “When you pray for unbelievers, you are praying for yourself, because bad things come from unbelievers.”

Then I asked Our Lady, “how different is this prayer when we just pray for your intentions instead of offering the prayer specifically for unbelievers. If we pray for your intentions aren’t you using the prayer for those who do not know Jesus?”

Her reply to me went as such…

“…All graces flow from my hands; but when you pray in this way I draw directly from the source of grace itself; that is through my Son whom gave His life surrendering Himself on the holy Cross for the sins of men. ‘My Son, my Son’ I cry out to Him, mindful of his misery in torment for the hatred and coldness of man’s heart, while I am pleading for the forgiveness of sins in Him. I and my Son are the bridge that consoles the heart of the Almighty God. Here I do not remember those who hurt my Son and who still this day bring Him great suffering. No my little one, my eyes are always fixed upon the work of redemption in my Son.

This prayer that you offer for those who do not know my Son is most pleasing to me; for in this prayer I bring glory to the most merciful heart of God; appealing to Him for the ingratitude of men and that which my Son has endured. Never cease my little one, to appeal to the heart of the Father in Heaven in this way, for here you are most closely united with your Mother, and my Son through the work of redemption. Continue to pray with your Mother my little one in this way. I need your prayers to fulfill my plans.”

I then had an image of the Crucified on the cross. His body was all bloodied and He was in agony and our sorrowful Mother was in bitter grief falling to her knees with her eyes fixed upon Jesus her Son. Yet not only was she looking at her Son it appeared that her gaze was piercing through His heart as an open window to the Father in Heaven who was united in sorrowing weeping over His Son. In His agony, and remembering His love for him, the Father relents in His justice, for Jesus so loved us, that His burning love consumed this sins of men in His bloodied flesh. The Father who justly wants to deal in His justice for the crimes of men, seeing His Son, the living Passover relents and pours out His mercy through His Son.

Our Lady is appealing to us persistently to pray in this way. She said on another occasion, “God wants to convert the entire world and bring it to the way of salvation that leads to Himself.”

His love is so great, He sent His Mother in love to teach us the power of intercession through her. A multitude of souls will convert through this offering if we we only appeal to the Father through the Mercy of the Heart of Jesus. As I wrote this, I had a greater understanding of the Divine Mercy Chaplet and its significance for the world in this time.

Those who are in great suffering in this time of their trial have much to offer to God. Her it is that the Father sees His suffering Son incarnate in human form. Jesus said, “How pleasing to Him is living faith.”

You who are in the time of your trial; ‘pray for the Holy Spirit to impress the Spirit of Jesus within you, so the Father can see His Son in you; and so that you can be living apostles to the divine light in this time of darkness and hopelessness. Pray into your cross. Meditate on the Passion of Christ with love and adore Him in His suffering. Set out with Blessed Mother! This is how she will lead you to her Son; that is the way of the Cross to the Easter resurrection in her Son.

Please continue to pray for priests and your Shepherds to Jesus the High Priest that they may be worthy apostles of the Lord.

THE BRIDE MUST RESEMBLE HER BETROTHED (Divine Mercy to St. Faustina)

Coming out of the Desert-Passion Week Reflections

Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me

Our Lady once said in Medjugorje, “Great is the love of God. I repeat Great is His love…” This coming week we will walk with the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary as we enter into Holy Week, mindful of the Passion of the Lord.

Take time this week to go into solitude and silence, and reflect in deep contemplation the mystery of man’s redemption.

These reflections are the beginning of the way of the Cross, and through the week, I will post the remaining reflections to complete the Passion of the Lord. Let us never forget all that the Lord has done for us. For we have been purchased at the price of His blood.

Remember also, Our Lady never left his side on the way of the Cross. She is always with us as well in our times of trial and stuggles.

At the cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last…

Opening reflection:
“Dear children! Rejoice with me in this time of spring when all nature is awakening and your hearts long for change. Open yourselves, little children and pray. Do not forget that I am with you and I desire to take you all to my Son and He may give you the gift of sincere love towards God and everything that is from Him. Open yourselves to prayer and seek a conversion of your hearts from God; everything else He sees and provides. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (4/25/02)

Day 1 – “The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward.” (Mt. 26:59-60)

Jesus: “Do not be surprised that you are sometimes unjustly accused. I myself first drank this cup of undeserved suffering for love of you (289). When I was before Herod, I obtained a grace for you; namely that you would be able to rise above human scorn and follow faithfully in my footsteps.”

Blessed Mother: “I am teaching you love and I am showing you that the dear Father has loved you…He sacrificed His Son for your salvation, my children. I am leading you children towards love, towards the dear Father. I am leading you toward eternal life. Eternal life is my Son. Accept him and you will have accepted love.”

St. Faustina: We are sensitive to words and quickly want to answer back without taking any regard as to whether it is God’s will that we should speak. A slient soul is strong; no adversities will harm it if it perseveres in silence. The silent soul is capable of attaining the closest union with God.

Songs 4:11, Songs 1:1-2, Songs 2:8, Songs 4:16

Day 2 – “Pilate took Jesus and had Him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on His head, and clothed Him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, “Hail King of the Jews!” So Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. Pilate said to them, ‘behold the man!’ When the chief priests and the guards saw Him, they cried out, ‘crucify Him!’” (John 19:1-6)

Jesus – “Do not be afraid of sufferings, I am with you. The more you will come to love suffering the purer your love for me will be.”

Blessed Mother: “I am always with you, and do not be afraid of temptations because God is always watching over us. Also I have given myself to you and I sympathize with you even in the smallest temptation.”

St. Faustina: Jesus, I thank you for the little daily crosses, for opposition to my endeavors, for the hardships of communal life, for the misinterpretation of my intentions, for humiliations at the hands of others, for the harsh way in which we are treated, for false suspicions, for poor health and loss of strength, for self denial, for dying to myself, for lack of recognition in everything, for the upsetting of all my plans…

Songs 5:1, Rev. 21:2, Gen. 3:1-5, Rev. 12:13-17

Day 3 – “We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the Lord laid upon Him the guilt of us all…” (Is. 53:6, 12)

Jesus: “Involuntary offenses of souls do not hinder my love for them or prevent me from uniting myself with them. But voluntary offenses, even the smallest obstruct my graces and I cannot lavish my gifts on such souls.” (1641).

Blessed Mother: “I call all of you to decide for holiness. May for you little children, always in your thoughts and in such situations holiness be in the first place, in work and in speech. In this way you will also put it into practice; little by little, step by step prayer and a decision for holiness will enter your family. Be sure with yourselves and do not bind yourselves to material things but to God.”

St. Faustina: My Jesus, despite your graces, I see and feel all my misery O my Jesus how prone I am to evil, and this forces me to be constantly vigilant. But I do not lose heart. I trust God’s grace, which abounds in the worst misery.

Lk. 1:30, Ps. 19:5-6, Songs 8:6

Day 4 – “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And you yourself a sword will pierce…” (Lk. 2:34-35)

Jesus: “Although all the works that come into being by My will are exposed to great sufferings, consider whether any of them has been subject to greater difficulties than that work which is directly mine – the work of redemption. You should not worry too much about adversities.” (1643)

Blessed Mother: “I thank you for every sacrifice you have offered. And now I urge you to offer every sacrifice with love. I wish you, the helpless ones to begin helping with confidence and the Lord will keep on giving to you in confidence…(Queen of Peace)

“I am Mother to you all, thanks to the unfathomable mercy of God. Most pleasing to me is that soul which faithfully carries out the will of God. Be courageous. Do not fear apparent obstacles, but fix your gaze upon the passion of my Son, and in this way you will be victorious…” (1643)

St. Faustina; Mary, Mother of Mercy be near me always, especially in suffering as you were on your Son’s way of the cross.

Eph. 3:17-19, Eph. 5:21, Hos. 2:21-22

Day 5 – “As they led Him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus…” (Lk. 23:26)
Jesus: “Write that by day and by night My gaze is fixed upon him, and I permit these adversities in order to increase your merit. I do not reward for good results but for the patience and hardships undergone for my sake.” (86)

Blessed Mother: “I wish to tell you to open your hearts to the Master of all hearts. Give me all your feelings and all your problems! I wish to comfort you in all your trials. I wish to fill you with peace, joy and love of God.”

St. Faustina: “Jesus, you do not give a reward for the successful performance of a work, but for the good will and the labor undertaken. Therefore, I am completely at peace, even if all my undertakings and efforts should be thwarted or should come to naught. If I do all that is in my power, the rest is not my business.”

Hos. 2:16, Songs 2:13-14, Luke 1:46-55, John 19:26-27

Day 6 – “He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth there was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, no appearance that would attract us to him. He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity. One of those from whom men hide their faces spurned, and we held him in no esteem.” (Is. 53:2-3)

Jesus: “Know that whatever good you do to any soul, I accept it as if you had done it to me.” (1768)

Blessed Mother: “I see that you are tired. I wish to support you in your effort, to take you in my arms so that you may be close to me. I give you my heart; accept it. I wish to be constantly with you, with the heart.”

St. Faustina: I am learning how to be good from Jesus, from Him who is goodness itself, so that I may be called a child of the Heavenly Father (669). Great love can change small things into great ones, and it is only love which lends value to our actions. (303)

2 Cor. 12:9, Gal. 5:22-23, Rev. 22:17, Is. 55:1

Day 7 Review

Pope John Paul II, – Medjugorje, Its The Spiritual Heart of the World

Pope John Paul II “Medjugorje – The Spiritual Heart of the World”
by admin on March 16, 2010
By Daniel Klimek, March 13, 2010

Pope John Paul II once powerfully observed, “Today’s world has lost its sense of the supernatural, but many are searching for it –and find it in Medjugorje, through prayer, penance, and fasting.” The late pontiff and future saint, his holiness, spoke these words on August 1, 1989,while addressing a group of Italian physicians studying the apparitions in Medjugorje with medical and scientific investigations.

It is no secret within Rome that John Paul II absolutely loved Medjugorje, once even acquiring the nickname “Protector of Medjugorje” within the Vatican. Even eminent American intellectuals were no strangers to this reality. The great Franciscan intellectual, Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, himself an investigator of supernatural phenomena, once admitted about John Paul II in a revealing interview: “I can tell you for a fact that the pope loves Medjugorje from afar and would go there in a minute if the theologians would let him.”

While it is known that the late Polish pope never personally visited Medjugorje, what is less known is that throughout the last two decades of his life Pope John Paul II held personal meetings and correspondences with Medjugorje visionaries, Medjugorje priests, even Medjugorje inner locutionaries, and numerous pro-Medjugorje bishops. His enthusiasm and love for Medjugorje’s mystics was overwhelming and filled with abundant respect and a joyful beauty overcome with hope. One such example is when Medjugorje visionary, Mirjana Dragicevic Soldo, met with John Paul II. She once shared the details behind this poignant, and somewhat humorous, encounter while addressing a group of pilgrims:

“I personally had a such a great honor to be able to speak with late Pope John Paul II. That was so beautiful. I was in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome with all other pilgrims. Pope as he was walking by, he was blessing everybody. He blessed me and just walked away. And then this Italian priest I was with said ‘Holy Father, this is Mirjana from Medjugorje.’ He came back, blessed me again and he left. And I said to this priest, ‘Father, you see he just thinks that I need a double blessing’ [laughter]. However, in the afternoon we received an invitation tomorrow morning to come to Castelgondolfo, close to Rome in order to talk to Holy Father. I don’t have to tell you that I couldn’t sleep all night. Tomorrow when I reached the place, he saw that I was so excited. We were alone and then he started talking to me in Polish. He thought I would understand because both are Slavic languages. He wanted to make me feel comfortable but I didn’t understand a word because it’s not even close to our language. However, I was crying and I couldn’t catch a breath to say a word. So when I finally succeeded to say a word, I said ‘Holy Father, can we try in Italian ?’ [laughter].

*Then we talked and among other things he said to me, ‘If I were not Pope, I would be in Medjugorje a long time ago. I know everything, I have been following everything. Ask pilgrims to pray for my intentions. And take good care of Medjugorje because Medjugorje is the hope for the entire world………….’ ”

Beyond such personal words of encouragement and trust for the visionaries and the fruits of faith at Medjugorje, Pope John Paul II frequently displayed his appreciation in officially signed papal blessings as well. Two such official blessings were given by John Paul II to Fr. Jozo Zovko, O.F.M., the pastor in St. James Church at Medjugorje when the apparitions began, and to Vicka Ivankovic, one of the Medjugorje visionaries who still receives daily apparitions. Vicka, like Mirjana, has also personally met with the Holy Father in Rome, exchanging gifts and warm sentiments of faith. The official blessing she received from the late pope hangs on her wall, beautifully framed, in her home.

Fr. Jozo met with Pope John Paul II in 1992, in the midst of the wars in the former Yugoslavia. John Paul II’s words to Fr. Jozo were striking: “I am with you, protect Medjugorje! Protect Our Lady’s messages!” The passion and urgency of the Holy Father’s words for the protection of Medjugorje make clear how much the holy site, as to millions of Catholics, meant to him.

That Our Lady is appearing in Medjugorje, the Holy Father had little doubt about. The papal blessing he signed and gave to Fr. Jozo read:“I grant from the heart a particular blessing to Father Jozo Zovko, O.F.M. and I invoke a new outpouring of graces and heavenly favors, and the continuous protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Joannes Paulus II.”

The Holy Father’s own knowledge of Medjugorje and the major figures surrounding the events there was very impressive. Often his knowledge extended beyond the facts that many Medjugorje devotees may even know. For instance, most Medjugorje followers know that there are six visionaries. However, fewer may know that, in addition to the original six children who reported experiencing apparitions of Our Lady in 1981, two also reported experiencing interior locutions (locution cordis), the mystical grace of seeing and hearing Our Lady in an interior way – through the heart, especially when in prayer. Jelena and Marijana Vasilj, distant cousins, were the two youngsters who reported experiencing this grace. At Medjugorje, they acquired the nickname of “the seers of the second generation,” being ten year-old girls (compared to the older visionaries) during the beginning periods of the apparitions.

Of course, such idiosyncratic distinctions, between young mystics who received apparitions and those who received inner locutions—while perhaps a bit perplexing to many observers—were no problem for John Paul II to discern. He didn’t miss a beat. In 1988, John Paul II received a group of Croatian Catholics into his private chapel in Rome. He instantly recognized two members of the group from photographs he had witnessed. Approaching the two young girls, he said, “Ah yes, Jelena and Marijana, who have the interior locutions.” John Paul II greeted the girls warmly and stared into their eyes for some time with much amusement.

Today, both Jelena and Marijana are, of course, mature women. Jelena’s path has especially been interesting. Traveling to the United States for her undergraduate studies, she completed her B.A. at the Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. Shortly thereafter, Jelena returned to Rome where she pursued a doctorate in theology at the Gregorian University, always displaying a sophisticated mind with a deep appreciation for the Catholic faith.

Only two years after the pope met with “the seers of the second generation,” John Paul II sent his friend and confidant, Bishop Paul Hnilica, S.J., then Auxiliary Bishop of Rome, to accompany Marija Pavlovic, another Medjugorje visionary, on a visit to Russia. Bishop Hnilica continually told Marija how much the pope wished to visit Medjugorje. Similarly to the words John Paul II gave to visionary Mirjana Soldo during their meeting, the Bishop emphasized how the Holy Father explained to him: “If I wasn’t the Pope, I’d be in Medjugorje already!

Many bishops from around the world have had similar encounters with John Paul II on the topic of Medjugorje. In June 1986, in response to a group of twelve Italian bishops seeking advice on pilgrims traveling to Medjugorje, the pope recognized the indisputable fruits of faith present in the village: “Let the people go to Medjugorje,” he said, “if they convert, pray, confess, do penance and fast.”

Similarly, in April 15, 1990, the National Catholic Reporter quoted Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer of San Angelo, Texas. Bishop Pfeifer explained:“During my Ad Lumina visit to Rome with the Bishops of Texas in April 1988, I asked our Holy Father his opinion about Medjugorje during the private conversation I had with him. He spoke very favorably about the happenings there, pointing out the good which had been done for people. During the lunch which the Texas Bishops later had with the Holy Father, Medjugorje came up for further discussion. Again His Holiness spoke of how it has changed the lives of people who visit it, and said that so far the messages are not contrary to the Gospel.”

Likewise, during his Mass Homily at the Notre Dame Conference on Medjugorje delivered on May 14, 1989, Bishop S. Treinen, Bishop of Boise, Idaho, related a conversation he once had with John Paul II:

“In the course of it [our conversation] I said: ‘Holy Father, I have just come from Medjugorje. There are wonderful things going on there.’ The Pope replied: ‘Yes, it’s good for pilgrims to go to Medjugorje and pray and do penance. It’s good.’ That’s first hand, I heard him say it myself.”In February 1990, Bishop Murilo Krieger, then Auxiliary Bishop of Florianopolis, Brazil, reported a conversation with John Paul II about the apparitions, wherein the pope enthusiastically told him: “Medjugorje is a great center of spirituality!” Not only that but the Holy Father also happily assented to Bishop Krieger’s request, giving his papal blessings to the visionaries. Bishop Krieger explained:

“In 1988, I was with eight other bishops and thirty three priests on spiritual retreat in the Vatican. The Holy Father knew that many of us were going to Medjugorje afterwards. After a private mass with the Pope, before leaving Rome, he said, without having been asked anything, ‘Pray for me in Medjugorje.’ On another occasion, I told the Pope ‘I am going to Medjugorje for the fourth time.

* ’He concentrated his thoughts and said, “Medjugorje, Medjugorje, it’s the spiritual heart of the world’. On the same day I spoke with other Brazilian bishops and the Pope at lunch time and I asked him: ‘Your holiness, can I tell the visionaries that you send your blessing?’ He answered: ‘Yes yes,’ and embraced me.”

In addition to Pope John Paul II’s overwhelming support, in recent years Medjugorje has acquired some very influential supporters in Roman Catholic circles. Critics of Medjugorje, from the bishop of Mostar to German theologian Manfred Hauke, are given a lot of media attention. But what is noteworthy is how many cardinals have voiced their affection for the shrine, including Cardinals Tonini Ersilio, Emmanuel Wamala, Jean Margeot, Frantisek Tomasek and, most recently, his eminence Christoph Cardinal Schonborn, the Archbishop of Vienna who visited Medjugorje as a pilgrim for Christmas 2009. Even theologians have shown their appreciation. The French theologian Fr. Rene Laurentin and the Swiss theologian and cardinal Hansursvon Balthasar have been open Medjugorje supporters. Balthasar, in addition to being arguably the most eminent theologian of the twentieth century, is also known for co-founding—with his friend Joseph Ratzinger (the current Pope), and with others—the Catholic journal Communio. He frequently referred to the events happening at Medjugorje as “a theater of holiness.

*”Most recently, the popular American priest, Fr. Donald Calloway of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, published his autobiography, No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy. Fr. Calloway is the vocation director for the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, the author of numerous books, and a leading proponent of the Divine Mercy devotions of St. Faustina Kowalska. It was a book about Medjugorje, The Queen of Peace Visits Medjugorje, which led to Calloway’s famous conversion, going from an agnostic and destructive youth wrestling with addiction, promiscuous sex, and illegal crime to someone who found hope, peace, and meaning in Medjugorje, leading to the priesthood and to his current life of spiritual maturity and personal unity with Christ and Our Lady.

The messages and fruits of Medjugorje have reached an innumerable amount of people. From the faithful millions who have visited the village to the millions who have read about it, to some of the most influential members of the Catholic Church. Pope John Paul II, who many Catholics believe was a mystic himself, had a special relationship (in his immense spirituality and in his devotion to Our Lady) with Medjugorje. He asked others to protect Medjugorje and he believed that Medjugorje was the fulfillment of Fatima.

Monsignor Angelo Kim, President of the Korean Bishops’ Conference, once wrote about his encounter with John Paul II in the Korean national weekly newspaper, Catholic News, in 1990. Prior to the conclusion of the last Bishops’ Synod in Rome, the Korean bishops were invited to a lunch with John Paul II. Msgr. Kim addressed the Holy Father directly and said, “Father, thanks to you, Poland was able to liberate itself from Communism.” To this, the Holy Father responded, “No, this is not my merit. This is the work of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as She had predicted in Fatima and in Medjugorje.”

As mentioned, in the Vatican he was known as the “Protector of Medjugorje.” In reality, this relationship was mutual. According to the testimony of the Medjugorje visionaries, on May 13, 1982, on the anniversary of the Fatima apparitions and on the occasion of an assassination attempt on John Paul II’s life, Our Lady said, “His enemies tried to kill him, but I have protected him.”
Source-Medjugorje Org. Medjugorje Web

this article has been posted for informational purposes only….”Dear children, I invite you!
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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.

Notes from Vicka Talk and Medjugorje

and you yourself a sword will pierce...

This post is for information only from a recent talk given by fellow Medjugorje pilgrims. It is important to note the important high lights of the call from the Mother of God to her children.

Dear Family of Mary!

“Dear Children! I am with you and I bless you all with my motherly blessing. Especially today when God gives you abundant graces, pray and seek God through me. God gives you great graces, that is why, little children, make good use of this time of grace and come closer to my heart so that I can lead you to my son Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (June 25, 2001)

This is definitely a time of unparalleled graces. Our Lady has said this many times over the past 30 years. We have only to make good use of this time and open our hearts to accept them.

Denis has returned from his short trip to Medjugorje, and brings with him reports of those graces! He went to inspect the TV facility, and found it in very good shape. Everything is now finished and ready to be used, except for our studios. As soon as the Lord provides the funds, we will finish those studios and begin streaming and broadcasting! Amazing!!

While he was in Medjugorje last week, Denis was able to attend a short talk given by Vicka. He took some notes, based on the English translation by Miki Musa, which I want to share with you. Vicka’s words are full of hope and wisdom. She gives us again the way to open ourselves to the graces Our Lady speaks of:

“Vicka said that the Rosary protects us from Satan. She said that parents should pray the Rosary with their children. Satan cannot do any harm to us if we pray. Our Lady also advises that we carry blessed religious objects with us. Our Lady also tells us to put Holy Mass at the first place in our life, to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and to go to Confession once a month.

“Vicka also said that young people find themselves in a very, very difficult situation. We can help them only with our love and prayer with the heart. Our Lady says: ‘Dear young people! Today’s world is passing!’ Satan is using every free moment for himself, working through young people to destroy our families.

“Vicka continued: ‘This time is a time of great graces. She calls us to be carriers of her peace and to prepare for peace in the world. First, pray for peace in our own heart, then peace in our family, community, then will come peace in the world. If we pray for peace in the world and don’t have peace in our hearts, that doesn’t make any sense!’

“Vicka stated: ‘Gospa needs our prayers for the realization of her and God’s plans. Our Lady invites us to read the Holy Bible every day, to read a few lines and to try to live that every day. Gospa asks us to pray for the Pope, bishops and priests, the whole church needs prayers. In a special way pray for one plan that is supposed to be realized soon. Our Lady has been stressing recently that young people and families are in a very, very difficult situation. Our Lady prays for peace and asks us to help her in this same intention with our prayers.

“Tonight, Vicka said, she will recommend all of us to Our Lady. ‘You, too, at 5:30 pm open yourself and your heart and tell her all your wishes and intentions,’ she added.” (Short talk by Vicka Mijatovic given in Medjugorje on April 4, 2011)

We can see all the basic elements of Our Lady’s messages in Vicka’s comments: prayer, especially the Rosary, peace, conversion, the Bible, Holy Mass, Confession, the family, and Our Lady’s special plan. If we live these things, really live them, we will receive all the graces that are being poured out upon us in these days. I especially like Vicka’s advice to open our hearts to Our Lady at apparition time, and to ask for all we need then. If we ask, we will receive!

Let me conclude with this little prayer to Our Lady written by St. Faustina:

“O sweet Mother of God,
I model my life on You;
You are for me the bright dawn;
In You I lose myself, enraptured.

“O Mother, Immaculate virgin,
In You the divine ray is reflected,
Midst storms, ‘Tis You who teach me to love the Lord,
O my shield and defense from the foe.” (Diary 1232)
Truly, Mother Mary is our mother, the one who is here to help us draw close to God and receive His grace. Thank you, dear Mary, for coming again today for us!

In Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan

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