Tuesday, July 31, 2007

DIRECT FROM MEDJUGORJE:



Medjugorje Headline
Tuesday July 31, 2007

Fire on Apparition Mountain
Marija, the visionary, knew she had to act

The region in and around Medjugorje has been suffering extremely hot temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit and over, everyday for more than 2 and a half weeks. One night at Ivan's prayer group the temperature was still 98 degrees! As there has been no rain in over a month and a half, the conditions are very dry. It has been common, even on a daily basis, to see fires breaking out in the mountains and valleys surrounding Medjugorje. There have been some fires that have gotten quite close to homes. Several days ago, large billows of smoke could be seen coming from behind Apparition Hill, indicating that another large fire had broken out. Day by day the fire crept closer. Finally the flames could be seen licking the top of the mountain on Friday night, July 27th. The air was thick with smoke all around Medjugorje, irritating eyes and throats. Saturday night, July 28th, the sky was lit up orange from the flames that had finally crested Apparition Hill and had begun a downhill descent. There was much concern for Our Lady's statue on the Hill, the stations of the mysteries of the Rosary, and the area of prayer surrounding the apparition sites. But there seemed little that could be done to stop the fire from progressing. Some were also concerned for those who have homes at the bottom of Apparition Hill. Everyone went to bed that night seeing the flames slowly progressing across the mountain towards Our Lady's sanctuary.

Visionary, Marija Lunetti, Saturday night was so concerned that She stayed up all night, watching and checking the fire's progress which could be seen from her house. At dawn, She knew she had to act. For the last two days she had wanted someone to do something about it. No one did. So at 5:30 a.m., Sunday Morning, July 29th, she saw that the fire would overtake the apparition sites if something didn't happen soon. She began calling villager, family, the religious communities of Medjugorje, and many youth that she knows, to meet her on the Hill with anything they had to help put out the fire. Everyone reacted immediately. Water had to be hand carried up the mountain, and while some would make the hard climb time and time again carrying the heavy loads of water, others were pounding out the flames with brooms, shovels and any other material that they could find to do the job. As the sun rose higher in the sky, the temperature increased on the mountain, which made the heat nearly unbearable being near the fire and having to expend so much physical energy to fight it. Marija was right in the middle of it all, fighting the flames, as well as directing the actions of everyone up on the Hill. At one point, feeling exhaustion setting in, Marija approached three young people who were from Slovenia, a young man and two women who were praying. Marija said, "We are tired. Please help us." The man was stunned, because at the very moment Marija spoke to him, he also heard in his heart the voice of Jesus who said to him very distinctly, "I am very tired. Please help me." The young man did not recognize Marija and did not know that he was speaking with one of Our Lady's visionaries. They immediately went into action and became a team of hauling up more water. Marija said later that she was amazed at how hard the three she inducted had worked, never tiring climbing the Hill over and over again to bring the much needed water. The flames stretched out at least one mile. Climbing the mountain once is hard enough, to do it repeatedly and also to transverse the rocks, fighting the fire, was exhausting. The backbreaking work continued as more villagers and pilgrims joined in.

Fire on Apparition Hill ©COB

This picture was taken Sunday Morning, July 29, 2007, at around 8:30 a.m. Visionary Marija, with a crew she rallied together, had

already been working on putting the fire out for nearly three hours. It continued to smolder after, but most of the greater part of the

flames were extinguished as can be seen. It would be another hour before all the flames were gone completely. The apparition site

is just to the extreme right.

Finally things turned and they began to defeat it. All the flames were extinguished. It was about 9:30 in the morning when they finished the job. Marija then led everyone to the statue of Our Lady after the fire was out to pray in thanksgiving for their success. Ashes and smoke were everywhere, so with the remaining water, they cleaned all around Our Lady's statue and tidied the area up.

For many who participated, it was a very moving experience, as they did not think when they started to fight the fire that they would be able to stop it. It became for them, a lesson in faith. They were amazed that in only three hours, the fire was put out. It was also moving to see this visionary, who 26 years before saw Our Lady for the first time on this special mountain, take action and send out the rally call to go protect these sacred sites of Our Lady's apparitions. Marija always acts with great decisiveness and her love for Our Lady and Apparition Hill , and her spirit, shoulder to shoulder with pilgrims, various communities, villagers, and family, spurred everyone there to fight these flames with all their hearts.

As for the three young people that Marija had asked for help, she approached them once more after it was all over and told them she would like them to come to her apparition. Their joy, at that point, was immediate as they then recognized her as the visionary. Their story upon going back home to Slovenia will certainly be told and retold. What a gift to be given for their act of charity and love.

Amazingly, the very next evening, a very cool wind came into Medjugorje. This morning, July 31st, we awoke to a temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Clouds have moved in as well, and though we have not seen any rain as yet, the fires have stopped and every trace of smoke and ashes has disappeared, replaced by the freshness of the cool air. Perhaps we have all been blessed, here in the region of Medjugorje, for the sacrifice that a few made in putting out the fire on Our Lady's mountain. And now tonight we are freezing and actually wearing coats.

From the Home Front,
The Community of Caritas
In Medjugorje



--
"In Cordibus Jesu et Mariae"


AN EVENING REFLECTION

'It Is Time That I Myself Gather Them Together' is Our Lady's Message #39 to Fr. Gobbi.

Our Lady is gathering Her priest-sons together so that they get to know each other. She also gathers us together, those who are reading the Messages and these reflections. It's always amazing how we meet people who have the same ideas and dreams, the same love for Jesus and Mary. And when we meet, we feel like old friends, like we have been together and prayed together for ages, yet we are just now meeting for the first time. What a mystery!

Mary says She likes humility. She likes humble places too. Places that are unknown by others. And then, that's where She appears in Her apparitions. Did you ever think about that? Why Our Lady doesn't appear in some great city, or how about the U.N. No, She goes to the little children in places that remind Her of where She and Jesus lived; Bethlehem, Nazareth. She chooses poverty, simplicity, littleness and the ordinary to manifest Herself. Think of LaSalette, Lourdes, Beauraing, Banneux, Fatima, Garabandal, Medjugorje, to list a few; all children, mostly shepherds!

Our Lady is teaching us that this is what She expects of us too. She says, 'I know this is a difficulty for many; and yet, this is necessary for those who wish to encounter me.' We have to be 'just little children!' In Mary's love for us She says that a child never looks at himself but gazes on his mother. And the mother looks at her little child and says 'How beautiful you are; how precious; how good you are!'

So that's the secret, my friends; having a childlike spirit is so pleasing to Mother Mary, She might appear to you too! Let us love one another; be united; look after each other; help each other; O how happy will be Our Mother Mary!
Roman Deacon




Meditation 84

THE HEART OF OUR LADY

1. Excellence of this Devotion.
Let us try to understand better the reasons which should move us to profess a tender and loving devotion to the most Pure Heart of Mary. The first reason is that this is a most excellent devotion. In fact its material object is the very Heart of Mary, that Heart of which the Holy Ghost availed Himself for the work of the Incarnation. From that most Pure Heart there sprung the most Precious Blood which shaped the sacred body of Jesus Christ and even His most Sacred Heart. Thence it was that the Lord took the blood which He was to offer on the Cross for the salvation of mankind.

That Heart was the center and focus of the life of our Heavenly Mother. All its beatings, all its movements took a part in the incalculable merits which She was accumulating all Her life long. Follow the footsteps of Mary and you will find that at Her every step Her Heart was recording Her impressions. Her Heart was moved with emotion on the day of Her Annunciation for She was troubled at the sight of an angel, and his message caused a blush to color Her delicate cheek. What would Her Heart feel on that first Christmas night when She saw the face of the little Jesus for the first time! How would that Heart tighten and feel choked with fear on the way to Egypt! And when old Simeon thrust that sword of sorrow into it, how would the Heart of Mary race! And how would the Pure Heart of Our Mother react to all His sufferings, to His disappearance in Jerusalem, to His Passion and Death. Everything that happened in Mary's life was reflected and recorded in Her Heart. Often, Unless God had miraculously intervened to keep Her in life, Her Heart would have borne it no longer! Do you not think that this consideration alone suffices to render this devotion more amiable and excellent in your sight?

And yet the reasons mount when we see in the Heart of Our Lady the sensitive organ of Her love, the instrument which received all Her impressions and all the messages of Her soul, translating them into love, whose ardent flame kept ever increasing. We can hardly expect to understand this mystery, but we should certainly feel it. Enter into that ardent Heart and entreat Our Lady to likewise set us all on fire, so that our hearts may to some small extent share that love of which the most Pure Heart of Mary is overflowing.


[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]


Monday, July 30, 2007



A REFLECTION FOR TODAY
'Let Them Live Out the Trust of the Present Moment' is the title of Message #38 to Fr. Gobbi.


Our Lady continues to lead and spiritually guide Fr. Gobbi so that through him, her other priest sons will also grow in their spirituality. What a great teacher She is! I know, because She has been my Mother and Teacher these many years. Right in the beginning of my conversion, On the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I offered and dedicated my life to Her totally! And Our Lady has taught and guided me well! I can never thank Her enough for teaching me the Faith and bringing me to Her Son, Our Savior, Jesus Christ!

So, when we entrust ourselves to Mother Mary, She takes us by the hand, clasps us to Her Immaculate Heart, and walks by our side. We also learn that Mary has prearranged everything for us. Are we suffering, misunderstood, abandoned? Our Lady says that has been prearranged so that we may grow strong on the way of perfection. But we must learn to see Mary at our side, to feel Her presence, so to say, even in obscurity.

Yes, this is hard. I've been there, I know what its like to be abandoned and even rejected, and I know how my nature rebels against it. But the answer is to live in the present moment, and surrender completely like little babies to Mother Mary! She says, So then why are you still thinking of the past? Forget it! Why are you making plans for the future? Forget it!

So my answer is to pray each day for the grace to be able to place myself in Our Mother's arms, like a babe, to be nourished and fed by Her with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and molded into an image of Her divine Son Jesus and Her. Could the Son not be the image of His Mother? His humanity had all Her genes, there was no human father. They must have looked like twins! May our image be like Theirs! And may we trust in the present moment!
Roman Deacon
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THE HEART OF MARY

4. Most Tender Devotion.
It must be a sweet task indeed for you to penetrate into this Heart of Mary, to study its affections, to know its beatings, to be aware of its love. You cannot know Mary unless you have entered that Heart of Her's. To know Mary you must know Her Heart. The more you study Her love, the more complete your knowledge of Her will be. A sweet consideration indeed and a sweet devotion too. God Himself knows Our Lady so. He loves and esteems Her just for the love of Her Heart.

And not only Mary but ourselves also. We men know one another by looking at one another's faces which is why we are so often sadly mistaken. How deceiving our appearance sometimes is! All of us have some share of hypocrisy. How skillful we are in concealing our real feelings. But God cannot be deceived. His knowledge is not based on appearances. He does not stop at a mere glance at our faces. He goes straight into the recesses of our heart. He reads what we are.

When God in this manner looks into the Heart of Mary what complacency and satisfaction will He experience at that sight! When God looks at my heart will He feel pleased or disgusted, consoled or horrified?

Ask from Our Lord a ray of that penetrating light which pierces the heart. Use that divine light in order to look into the Heart of your Mother and then seeing the difference be ashamed of your own soul and ask the grace of imitating Her. Entreat Her to make you a little more similar to Her, to give you a heart to Her own liking.

[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]

Sunday, July 29, 2007


MY REFLECTION FOR TODAY

"Rely on Me Alone" is the title of Message #37.

Our Lady continues to guide Fr. Gobbi as he struggles with the Marian Movement of Priests. She reminds him that this is Her Movement, not just one of many movements. This is important for us to understand. This MMP is special and comes directly from Our Lady; it is not man made, not some movement thought up by some saint or religious leader.

So Mother Mary tells us, through Fr. Gobbi, don't get discouraged when things don't go the way you think they should. So, humanly speaking, we're always in a hurry for God to act. "When will God intervene and change this world around," we ask. And Our Lady says: Rely on Me and not on human means; this is what I ask of you for the spread of My Movement: your prayer, your suffering, and your trust in Me.

Our human nature says, "I know how to do it right! Let me show you." And everything comes tumbling down because we didn't place our trust in Our Lady but ourselves. Mary says we must accustom ourselves now to seek Her alone, to listen to Her alone, and to entrust ourselves to Her alone because when the great tempest comes and everything is plunged into darkness, She will be the light to show us the way!

"O God, who resists the proud and bestowest Thy grace on the humble" (James 4:6 and 1Peter 5:5). Like Kermit, maybe we need to be moved from the inside, letting Jesus through Mary be our Pilot, and we the co-pilots, following Their inspirations during these dark and faithless times.
Roman Deacon




THE HEART OF MARY

3. The Formal Object.
We can leave aside the question whether indeed our heart of flesh influences us in our love. One thing is certain: our affections have a repercussion on our heart, they affect it. Whether it is sadness or joy, fear or anger, all is recorded in our heart; they speed us, or slow down, its beatings. They sometimes even paralyze it. Evidently there is a close connection between the physical life of our heart and the affective life of our soul.

Perhaps on account of this everybody refers to the heart as to the cause, the reason, the seat, or, at least, the symbol of love. And it is in this current and popular meaning that we may refer to it.

Consider then that in every man what interests us is his heart and therefore his love. This being so, how much interest should we have in the Heart of Our Lady!

Man is what he is on account of his heart. All his science, all his ability and shrewdness, all his genius, have very little use for us if they happen to exist in a man about whom we say, "Oh, he has no heart!" How repulsive such a one is.

On the contrary, how nice, how love-inspiring is a person, who has a large heart, a noble and worthy heart. Everything is explained in the saying, "He has a large heart." Look now to your Heavenly Mother who is at the same time the Mother of God. What kind of heart must God have placed in Her? If it had depended on you, what kind of heart would you have given Her? It could not actually depend on you but depend it certainly did on God. It was in God's hands that the Mother of His son, that the Mother of all mankind should have this or that heart. So if it was given to Her by Him, how great it must be, how lovable in His sight! Mary had to love both God and men with a love that stands second only to God's own love. How great then must be a heart that enclosed such love!

[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]

Saturday, July 28, 2007


TODAY'S MMP REFLECTION

A very short Message (36) today titled: 'What a Mother Can Do.'

What can Our Mother do? Only what we desire, if it is a holy desire. She respects our free will and will never go against it, but She will definitely try to correct us in line with Jesus' Will and certainly try to bring us to Him, especially through the Holy Roman Catholic Church!

So, today Our Lady talks to Fr. Gobbi in Rome, the Eternal City. Gathered together with twelve priests in a Cenacle of Prayer, She says that the seed is now planted and from this group of twelve (sounds like the Acts of Apostles) the Marian Movement of Priests will spread out through the whole world! And so it has. If you look at the list of all the Cenacles you will be amazed!

So Our Lady is speaking through Fr. Gobbi, and his spiritual director helps him discern Our Lady's Messages and what to write in the booklet. Those who read and live the words of Mother Mary will receive extraordinary graces which will transform our lives and the life of the whole world! Mary says: Oh, always let yourself be led by me; then you will see what the Mother can do for you. If we conform our wills to Christ, She will work wonders for us!
Roman Deacon

MARIJA'S DAILY APPARITION

Description of Marija’s Apparition

Chapel of Two Hearts, Friday, July 27, 2007

Marija leading the rosary at her chapel July 27, 2007 ©COB

Friday, July 27, 2007, Marija greets everyone present. As her chapel is filled to capacity, Marija led the Rosary from the doorway, near the hand-carved crucifix in Her chapel.

Many wonder what it is like to be in a daily apparition with one of the visionaries. Tonight, at Marija’s Chapel of Two Hearts, a large Italian group met at Marija’s Chapel, along with several Croatian villagers from Medjugorje, as well as pilgrims from Australia and some from America. There was a large youth group in attendance, so Marija actually led the Rosary herself tonight. Normally she allows those who bring the groups to lead the Rosary. She prayed the mysteries of the Rosary out loud and then offered for others to pray the actual decade.

At approximately 6:35 p.m., the Salve Regina was sung while everyone stood up to honor Our Lady. Immediately after, Marija explained in several languages that apparition time was approaching and asked for everyone to kneel down. She then knelt down in front of Our Lady’s statue and began praying the 7 Our Father’s, Hail Mary’s, and Glory Be’s. Within these prayers, Our Lady arrives and all in the Chapel are aware of Her arrival because Our Lady always comes while Marija is praying the prayers out loud. Suddenly Marija’s voice disappears and her head is turned upward.

Our Lady will remain anywhere between 2-5 minutes. Marija, after making the Sign of the Cross to end her prayer, will stand in front of everyone in the chapel and explain what happened in the apparition. She always recommends all the intentions of those gathered today for the apparition. Our Lady then prays over and then blesses everyone, and included in that blessing are all the religious articles that people have brought with them. The significance of Our Lady’s blessing is also a blessing for the whole world. We do not understand fully this blessing, but we know enough that it is protecting the world from self-destruction.

Marija in estcasy June 27, 2007 ©COB

Silence descends upon the chapel when Our Lady appears. Marija is before the statue of Our Lady in ecstasy this evening.

Tonight, Marija surprised everyone by inviting them to stay to listen to her share stories about Our Lady and Her messages. She did so for more than an hour, to a very captive audience.

Tonight, Marija also will begin a novena to Our Lady, climbing Apparition Hill each day in preparation for Our Lady’s birthday, August 5th. What are you doing for Our Lady’s birthday this year? Decide today to do something concrete for Our Lady’s intentions during these nine days.

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THE HEART OF MARY

2. Material Object.
As the gem, such the ring; as the pearl, such the shell; as the jewel such the coffer. How beautiful must the Heart of Mary be! We have already meditated on the physical beauty of Mary; we have already said that God made Her the most beautiful of all creatures since She was to be the Mother of the most beautiful of the sons of men. All this beauty must have been condensed in that Immaculate Heart.

The bodies of the saints, their relics and, in some instances, their heart, as for example in the case of St. Theresa of Jesus, are venerated by devoted souls. But there is no comparison between those relics, and the veneration they rightly receive, and the Heart of Our Heavenly Mother, since every act of cult rendered to the Heart of Mary redounds as an act of honor to the person of Mary.

We kiss the hand of a superior, we kiss the foot of the Holy Father; but when doing so we show respect and affection to the whole person. So it is with the Heart of Mary. Whatever honor we render it, is a homage to Her whole person. It is Her greatness, Her virtue, Her purity and sanctity that we venerate and honor.

[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]

Friday, July 27, 2007



A REFLECTION FOR TODAY

Mary's Message #35 is titled 'The Sign That I Give to Each One.'

What a wonderful Mother do we have! She takes care of everything for us, everything! Today She tells Fr. Gobbi, Don't worry about the Marian Movement of Priests. She will provide everything for its spread throughout the world. Just trust in Her, She says.

How many of us do that? Do we let Our Lady take care of everything in our lives? Do we trust in Divine Providence? I learned early in my spiritual journey to place my trust in God and Our Blessed Mother. It seems that ever time I tried to make something happen on my own, I had to get to the point where I could do no more and then God, through Mother Mary would act. How many times did I have to pray, "Lord, I can't do any more. I place this problem into Your hands through the Immaculate Heart of Mary." Then my prayers were answered, even miracles came to me in answer to my petition.

Today Our Lady is saying: Imitate Jesus in His poverty! When you do, I will provide everything you need to live, and with dignity! I am the Mother! I will do great and extraordinary things, even miracles for you. Don't be concerned even about food and clothing; leave it up to Me to provide. Now that takes a lot of trust in God and Our Mother; total abandonment to God's Will and grace!

Meanwhile, we are to continue to pray, love and console the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We are to be united with Our Lady in Her concern for the salvation of souls; She says so many are being lost and falling into the hands of Satan. Feel the great motherly sorrow that is growing in Her Heart. Place ourselves in that Sorrowful Heart and offer reparation. This is the Sign; our hearts united with Their Sacred Hearts!
Roman Deacon



Meditation 83

THE HEART OF MARY

1. Double Object.
The object of the devotion to the most Pure Heart of Our Lady may be considered in two ways. The material object and the formal object. Just as man is made of two elements, one material and visible, his body, the other spiritual and invisible, his soul, and the union of both elements makes the complete man, so in a similar manner in this devotion to the Heart of Mary we must distinguish its two elements in order to understand well in what this devotion consists.
The material element is the physical heart, the real and palpitating heart of Our Heavenly Mother, a heart of flesh, human and in everything similar to that of the rest of men. The formal element, the invisible and immaterial part, consists in the love, in that ardent charity contained in, and symbolized by, that most Pure Heart. Putting either element aside would mean destroying, or at least maiming, this devotion to the Heart of Mary. Whenever we speak of, or meditate on, the most Pure Heart of Mary, we must mean to honor the love of the Holy Virgin contained in Her Heart as in a precious vessel. Her love is a jewel but Her Heart is the coffer which contains it.

[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]


Heaven Speaks to Parents Who Worry About Their Children’s Salvation
By "Anne," a Lay Apostle
Saturday, 14 July 2007

"Anne" has received permission from her local ordinary, Bishop Leo O'Reilly, Bishop of Kilmore, Ireland, for the spreading of her messages, and has also submitted all her writings to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (see article, "Discernment of Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King" in the Marian Private Revelation section). – Ed.

December 20, 2006

MESSAGE #5.

The Blessed Mother

My dear parent, how my heart hurts for you. I understand the pain of worrying over a child. I know that you worry because you seek to prevent additional pain for your child, regardless of their age. I know that you see their path and you fear trouble ahead for them. I also see this and I will help you to call your child back to God's path. We do this in great love and gentleness. This is the best way. I will give you my gentleness and with it you will melt your child's heart and create in them a longing for goodness.

There is no circumstance that should cause you to give up hope. I will not allow you to give up hope. Even as you read these words I am obtaining fresh hope for you and with this hope I am also obtaining a spirit of calm that will enable you to serve in peace. We will surround this child for you. We will protect this child. If your child has died and you worry for their salvation, I ask you today to stop. God is all-merciful. Trust in His goodness. The good God could not face a parent who trusted Him and disappoint that parent. Your greatest weapon in the battle to save your children is trust in God. Use this weapon and be at peace because I am your mother and I read your heart effortlessly. I will help you. Your battle is also my battle.


For further information regarding the Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King, or to purchase Heaven Speaks booklets, please contact Direction for Our Times on the Web at
www.directionforourtimes.com, or mail inquiries to the following address: 9000 West 81st St., Justice, IL 60458, U.S.A.

Thursday, July 26, 2007


Mark

Mark Mallett

—Spiritual Food For Thought—

Voluntary Dispossession


Birth/Death, Michael D. O’Brien

TWO words: voluntary dispossession. Two words which continue to grow in my heart like the corn in the fields.

HOW DIFFICULT!

This may be a very difficult writing for many to read. For in the western civilization, few realize how far we have fallen from the true spirit of the Gospel, the spirit of true followers of Christ. Paul VI tells us what that is:

This century thirsts for authenticity… The world expects from us simplicity of life, the spirit of prayer, obedience, humility, detachment and self-sacrifice. POPE PAUL VI, Evangelization in the Modern World, 22, 76

‘Simplicity of life… detachment and self-sacrifice.’ You could summarize these living qualities as a "spirit of poverty."

Christians are called to become living wells from which the world can drink of the life of Jesus Christ. But when we fill the well with all kinds of material attachments and surround ourselves with excessive comfort and luxury, it clouds our witness. We may speak of and even follow Christ’s commandments, attracting souls to the edge of our hearts. But when they peer into our lives and see the algae of greed, self-indulgence, and materialism floating in our hearts and growing upon its walls, then they are unable to "taste and see the goodness of the Lord."

Oh, my friends! I write to you with a great big finger pointing at myself! How poorly I have responded to Christ’s condition for being His follower:

If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Matt 16:24)

Deny what?

…all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life… (I Jn 2:26)

SADNESS

When we hear these words, our response is one of sadness. We immediately begin to think of those earthly treasures we value so highly or desire, or those vices and habits we so readily guard. We begin to argue, like the rich man who approached Jesus, that we are good Christians:

All these [commandments] I have observed from my youth. (Luke 18:21)

But Jesus responds,

One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. (v. 22-23)

Jesus then astonishes us by saying that for such a man to enter the Kingdom of God will be very, very difficult.

Zacchaeus was also rich. But when he decided to give his goods to the poor and to those whom he defrauded, Jesus said,

Today salvation has come to this house. (Luke 19:9)

One man lived the commandments, but loved his riches. The other broke the commandments, but renounced his wealth. Salvation came to the one who smashed the idols within his heart, and then began to live the commandments as well, in spirit and in truth.

But woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation… remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here [in Heaven], and you are in anguish. (Luke 6:24; 16:25)

No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and mammon. (Matt 6:24)

THE BLESSED

If Christ is our Head, should not the Body follow suit? Should the Head be crowned in poverty, while the Body is adorned in riches? Yet, this call to a renewed spirit of poverty should not make us sad, but cause us to search the meaning of the words:

Blessed are you poor. (Luke 6:20)

The Gospel of Matthew says,

Blessed are the poor in spirit. (Matt 5:23)

If we listen to the context of Christ’s words in the rest of Scripture, it is clear the Gospel writers are not presenting us two options, but two views of the same Mountain of Blessedness. That is, a lifestyle of simplicity and detachment lends to a spirit of poverty, and a spirit of poverty should manifest in a lifestyle of simplicity. While not absolute, it is very difficult to enter the Kingdom, Jesus warns, for those who are rich.

Jesus is demanding because He wishes our happiness. —JOHN PAUL II

SIMPLICITY, NOT DESTITUTION

Yes, I believe the Spirit of Jesus is calling us to voluntarily give up the pursuit of things which, although in and of themselves are neither good nor bad, lead our hearts and affections away from the Kingdom. This does not mean that we are necessarily called to sell everything and live in a hut (unless Christ gives you a specific calling to real poverty, such as He gave to Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta). But I do believe the Lord is asking us to sort through our things, to sell or give away that which we don’t need, and cease the pursuit of those things which steal our heart from Him and cause us to lose our heavenly focus.

To live a life of simplicity does not mean living in filth or untidiness. "Grace builds on nature," and therefore our surroundings should be well-ordered and maintained without an excessive desire for perfection or for "the best."

BEING PREPARED

I wish to repeat again the words which continue to resonate in my heart, "Come out of Babylon!" For Babylon, the illusory world of the flesh, is going to collapse. Its walls will fall on the rich, that is, those hearts where the very walls of Babylon have been erected. But those who have voluntarily dispossessed themselves of the seductions of this world, the collapse of western civilization will not be a major shift, at least of the heart.

Most importantly, the noise of the world will not be competing with the voice of Jesus. For God is speaking to and directing his people… but it is in whispers …the "still small voice", the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit. Only the attentive will hear now. And we can only be attentive if we are not distracted, or rather, do not ourselves to be distracted.

THE JOY OF JESUS

I believe Satan absolutely fears the poor in spirit. For they so easily reflect Jesus. They so profusely flow, like a living well, with the waters of joy, freedom, humility and peace.

Why, then, are we afraid to be counted among them?

There is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. (Mk 10:29-30)

Make room for Christ. When you possess Christ you are a rich man, for He is sufficient for you. He himself, shall provide for you and faithfully administer all your cares. Imitation of Christ, Thomas Kempis


Published in: DAILY JOURNAL, SPIRITUALITY | on July 26th, 2007 |


A REFLECTION ON MESSAGE #34
IN THE MMP BLUE BOOK


The title of this Message from Our Lady to Fr. Gobbi is: 'Cenacles of Life with Me.'

I believe this is the first time Mother Mary is mentioning the Cenacle. Just what is a Cenacle, you ask? Our Lady wants the priests and laity of her great white army, Her Marian Movement to form prayer groups, even from 2 or 3 souls, who will meet at least weekly to pray together and with Her. "Where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there in the midst of them (Matt. 18:20).

Those words are, of course from Jesus, but Mary says that She will be there too! Just like She was with the Apostles and disciples in the Upper Room, called the Cenacle, united in prayer and receiving the Holy Spirit, so She wants to be with her Priests and with us too.
So, where 2 or 3 (or more) are gathered under the umbrella of the MMP, there is a Cenacle.

As we gather around Our Lady in prayer She will nourish and form us; we will grow in perfect consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. And because we are praying with Mary and united with each other, how efficacious is that prayer! Our Lady loves it when we assist at or celebrate Holy Mass, recite the Liturgy of the Hours, and pray Her Holy Rosary!


In the Cenacle we are to live as true brothers and sisters, loving and helping each other, in the company of our true Mother, Mary. There is too much loneliness and abandonment today. We must really be brothers and sisters where no one feels alone or left out. Meanwhile we await the decisive moments when Our Lady will call us forth to proclaim, with courage, the divinity of Jesus, the reality of Our Lady's place as Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix of all Graces and Advocate, the truth of our beloved Church under the leadership of the Holy Father, and all the truths of the Gospel! By our example many souls will return to the True Faith and be saved! For now we wait and pray and prepare ourselves for the great struggle ahead.

Are you up to it? The Lord says, "Without Me, you can do nothing!" Let us unite ourselves everyday with Jesus, Our Savior, in Holy Communion, so that He can give us the strength to "fight the good fight!" By the way, I make spiritual communions often, when I can't receive in person. Here is a short prayer:
My Jesus, really present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, since I cannot receive Thee now under the sacramental veil, I beseech Thee with a heart full of love and longing, to come spiritually into my soul through the Immaculate heart of Your Holy Mother, and abide with me forever, Thou in me and I in Thee in time and in eternity.
Roman Deacon


MARY, UNIVERSAL MEDIATRIX

4. God So Wants It.
We must conclude that God has clearly manifested His will: He could have redeemed us without Mary, yet He did not. Then, though He could, He would not sanctify us without Mary. We owe a great devotion to Our Heavenly Mother for a thousand reasons but there will scarcely be one stronger to persuade us than this, since it indeed comprises and sums up all the other titles. Out of love and gratitude towards such a lofty Mediatrix, nay also for our own interest and profit, we owe Her the most profound devotion. We must approach Jesus through Mary. We shall not manage to speak to Him without Her. God gives Himself to us through Mary. It is through Her we must reach God. We must entirely give ourselves up to Mary so that She may lead us to God. This way is an easy, a safe, a beautiful and consoling one. Courage, then; place yourselves in Her hands once and forever; give your Mother the key of your heart that She may turn it at Her will; and worry no longer; whatever She arranges is always the best for us. Entreat Her to give you a little share in the graces She possesses but ask for one grace in particular, namely, the grace of loving Our Blessed Lord in life and in death, in time and in eternity, with Her and through Her.

[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]


Heaven Speaks to Parents Who Worry About Their Children’s Salvation
"Anne" has received permission from her local ordinary, Bishop Leo O'Reilly, Bishop of Kilmore, Ireland, for the spreading of her messages, and has also submitted all her writings to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
December 20, 2006
MESSAGE #4.
St. Monica
There are those among you who are wondering how to reconcile your feelings about your child's sinfulness to your faith. In other words, you believe perhaps that your child's soul is at risk because of the behaviors being practiced by them. You possibly feel concern about their bitterness or rebelliousness. I will tell you that each family on earth is a model of the bigger family of God. God is telling you through this apostolate that each apostle brings light to the world through their commitment and service. It is the very same in your family. If your child is in darkness and is being deceived into thinking that sinful behavior is acceptable, you have all the more reason to allow God's light to flow through you. Through being exposed to the light, your children will begin to understand what is dark. You should tell your children in the greatest love that you are concerned. Tell them why you are concerned. Give them anything that will help them. Do not allow yourself to be intimidated and stand firm in your beliefs, my friend, but do not ever leave God's love. Most particularly, you must love your children while you are explaining your feelings about behaviors or attitudes that you find concerning. Indeed, it is at this time when you must allow the most love to flow through you. It is not appropriate for you to make judgments, of course. Only God can judge. Only God knows the true nature of the wounds in your child and if your child feels judgment from you, your child may turn further from Christ. Remember that Jesus came not to condemn but to save. Your interactions with a loved one in error must reflect the goal of saving, not condemning.
Oh my dear parent, I feel your concern. I feel your heartbreak. Loving each other with God's love creates vulnerability to this type of hurt. Parents are well familiar with the hurt of rejection. I am cautioning you to love because heaven seeks to pull your children back at this time and heaven does this most successfully through love. Pray and be at peace. You have more help than you can possibly imagine.
For further information regarding the Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King, or to purchase Heaven Speaks booklets, please contact Direction for Our Times on the Web at http://www.directionforourtimes.com/, or mail inquiries to the following address: 9000 West 81st St., Justice, IL 60458, U.S.A.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007


A MMP REFLECTION

"My Heart Will Be Your Refuge" is the title of Message #33.

Of course this reminds me of Our Lady of Fatima's words to the three seers: "My Immaculate Heart will be your safe refuge and the sure way which will lead you to God." These words so impressed me when I first read them 40 years ago that they have never left my mind. They are also the theme for my Marian Blogs.

Today Mother Mary is telling Fr. Gobbi that She wants to lead him by the hand into the depths of Her Immaculate Heart, where he can live and contemplate all the events happening in the world. By being in that safe refuge, the coldness of egoism, sensuality, hatred, violence, unhappiness, and atheism will not affect him. He will remain serene, not troubled, having no fear because of being in Our Lady's Heart. How? By being in the Heart of Mary, it will be like living in a part of Paradise, outside of time. There Mother Mary consoles and directs Her sons (and daughters) and prepares them to point out the way for a great multitude of Her wandering children as we approach Her triumph!

What about you? Do you have these feelings too? Like living outside of the world? Are you serene, untroubled and having no fear as the world around us goes mad? I know that's how I feel. I live each day for itself, with the Holy Mass as the center of the day and everything else surrounding it. I can't live in the past; I can't worry about the future; everything is in God's hands! If the world ended right now, so be it. Amen! Don't we pray every day "Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done"! Don't we pray "Give us this day our daily bread". We're asking for today's bread, not yesterdays or tomorrows! Don't we want to go to heaven? In the meantime, I try to reach out to as many souls as I can with Our Lady's loving Messages, praying "Jesus, Mary, I love You; Save souls!" If we remain in Mary's Heart, She will get us to Heaven safely and at the right time!
Roman Deacon

JUNE 25, 2007 MESSAGE
FROM OUR LADY AT MEDJUGORJE


“Dear children! Today, on the day of the Patron of your Parish, I call you to imitate the lives of the Saints. May they be, for you, an example and encouragement to a life of holiness. May prayer for you be like the air you breathe in and not a burden. Little children, God will reveal His love to you and you will experience the joy that you are my beloved. God will bless you and give you an abundance of grace. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

FROM MARK MALLETT:
Mark

Mark Mallett

—Spiritual Food For Thought—

The Days of Elijah… and Noah


Elijah and Elisha, Michael D. O’Brien

IN our day, I believe God has placed the "mantle" of the prophet of Elijah on many shoulders throughout the world. This "spirit of Elijah" will come, according to Scripture, before a great judgment of the earth:

Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the day of the LORD comes, the great and terrible day, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with doom. Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the day of the LORD comes, the great and terrible day. (Mal 3:23-24)


THE GREAT DIVIDE

Much has been done in the past century to divide children from their fathers. While many sons and daughters grew up on farms working alongside their parents, today’s industrial and technological age has driven families into the city, parents into the workplace, and children, not only into schools all day long, but into daycares where the influence and presence of their parents is virtually nil. Dads, and often the mother too, spend long hours at work just to make ends meet, or else, excessive time away from home in pursuit of success and greater material wealth.

Radical feminism has done much to emasculate fatherhood. The role of the father has been reduced from spiritual leader to simple provider, and worse, a superfluous entity within the home.

And now, the systematic push to create cultural acceptance of redefined sexuality and marriage is throwing even more confusion into the value and necessity of mature spiritual manhood in the family, Church, and world at large.

…when… fatherhood does not exist, when it is experienced only as a biological phenomenon without its human and spiritual dimension, all statements about God the Father are empty. The crisis of fatherhood we are living today is an element, perhaps the most important, threatening man in his humanity. The dissolution of fatherhood and motherhood is linked to the dissolution of our being sons and daughters. —POPE BENEDICT XVI (Cardinal Ratzinger), Palermo, March 15th, 2000

That’s what has happened and continues to happen in the world. But something else is taking place quietly within a portion of the Church…

THE GREAT TURNING

It would seem to me that God has released the prophetic spirit of Elijah into our world; in the past 15 years or so, movements such as St. Joseph’s Covenant Keepers (Promise Keepers is the Protestant version) have been effective in restoring spiritual fatherhood in the family. God has also raised powerful evangelists and preachers, both layman and clerical, who have exhorted men to repent of ungodliness and to be better witnesses to their wives and children.

There has also been a growing homeschooling movement where parents are feeling called to spend more time forming their children, not just with math and english, but with their simple presence. The Church has also raised its voice in this area, reaffirming parents’ role as the "first" and primary educators of their children.

And in a fresh movement of the Spirit, there is a strong word growing in many hearts calling them to a life of simplicity. It is a life more removed (if not far removed) from the materialistic quests of the world, less integrated in worldly systems, and in some cases, removed from the infrastructure (power grid, natural gas, city water etc.) It is a call to "Come out of Babylon," or as author Michael O’Brien put it recently, ‘global Babylonian captivity’—a bondage to the illusory consumeristic and materialistic demands of the world.

SIGN OF THE TIMES: GATHERING OF THE FAMILY

Jesus said that one of the signs that a future generation will have arrived at "the days of the Son of Man" is that those times will be "as it was in the days of Noah" (Luke 17:26) And what happened just prior to that great day of judgment when God flooded the earth? He gathered Noah and his family into the refuge of the ark. The days of Noah and the days of Elijah are one and the same: fathers’ hearts will be turned towards their children, and these families will be gathered together into the Ark of the New Covenant, the Blessed Virgin Mary. This would be a sign that we are entering into the proximate period when the time of grace would come to an end, and chastisement, "the day of the LORD," would soon befall an unrepentant world.

This sign of our times carries even more significance when we consider that many families, some which I have met during my concert tours through Canada and the United States recently, have been called to live in close proximity to other families. Perhaps these are the "sacred refuges" that I wrote of in Trumpets of Warning–Part IV. The most striking factor that unites these families is that they all felt this call to move their families at the same time, independent of one another. The call came swiftly. It was strong. It was urgent.

I have witnessed this in several places… and am experiencing it myself.

God is gathering His people.


EPILOGUE

Very shortly after writing this meditation, a glorious rainbow suddenly formed over the place where my family (and several others) feel called to move, and remained a very long time (we are parked here in our tour bus). Yes, God promises that after the coming storm, a wonderful period of peace will be born when faith, hope, and love will flourish. I believe Jesus spoke of that coming Era of Peace when He said:

Elijah does come first [before the Final Resurrection] to restore all things. (Mk 9:12)


Published in: DAILY JOURNAL, SIGNS | on July 25th, 2007


Heaven Speaks to Parents Who Worry About Their Children’s Salvation
Print
By "Anne," a Lay Apostle
Saturday, 14 July 2007

"Anne" has received permission from her local ordinary, Bishop Leo O'Reilly, Bishop of Kilmore, Ireland, for the spreading of her messages, and has also submitted all her writings to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (see article, "Discernment of Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King" in the Marian Private Revelation section). – Ed.

December 20, 2006

MESSAGE #3.

St. Monica

There are good ways to prompt conversion in your children. The best way to prompt conversion in your children is to love them, even in their error. When you are with your children, show them God's love by loving them. Do not focus all the attention on their errors or on the areas where you disagree with them or where you believe God disagrees with them. Instead, shine the brightest lights on the areas where you agree with them, where you feel God agrees with them, and where you see hope of greater goodness. What is it that God is consoled by when He looks at your child? Find this in them and talk about it. Your children will see God in you if they see God's love in you. Treat these loved ones in error the way Jesus treated those who were in error. Jesus was kind and loving. Jesus loved each person on earth individually and totally. You must look at each of your children with the Lord's eyes and love them individually and totally. This can be difficult, particularly if your child is behaving in a way that is not lovable. In fact, it is most clear that you will not feel this love in your heart if your child is behaving in an aggressive or hurtful manner. This is no problem if you work with heaven because Jesus will put His love in your heart. In this way the renewal begins in your family. God's love is abundantly available. God's forgiveness is also abundantly available. Ask God to send forgiveness to you so that when your children look into your eyes, they see only love.


For further information regarding the Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King, or to purchase Heaven Speaks booklets, please contact Direction for Our Times on the Web at
www.directionforourtimes.com, or mail inquiries to the following address: 9000 West 81st St., Justice, IL 60458, U.S.A.



MARY, UNIVERSAL MEDIATRIX

3. The Mediation in the Gospel.
a) She appears in the Incarnation as a Co-Redemptrix since at that moment by Her consent She accepted the sacrifice of being the Mother of Sorrows of the Man of Sorrows. In the presentation of the Child Jesus where She offers Her Son and renews Her generous immolation and hears from the lips of Simeon the cruel prophecy about the sword which pierces Her heart, She again shines forth as Co-Redemptrix. She is our Co-Redemptrix at the foot of the Cross when She associates Herself with Her Son in such a manner that both were two hosts of the same sacrifice.

b) When She visits St. Elizabeth and thanks to the presence of Our Blessed Lady the Baptist is sanctified in the womb of his mother, She is again a Mediatrix who intercedes, obtains and distributes graces. She is Mediatrix in the wedding of Cana where the first miracle of Our Lord is performed by the prayer --we might perhaps say at the imposition-- of Mary when She succeeds in anticipating the hour of the manifestation of Her Son. She is a Mediatrix in the Supper Room on Pentecost Day where Mary prepares the apostles to receive the Holy Spirit, that is to say, where She cooperates with the sanctifying work of grace in the souls of the apostles.

[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Our Lady of the New Millennium

MY REFLECTION FOR TODAY

'They Become Intoxicated with Emptiness,' is the title of todays MMP Message #32.

This Message was given on New Years eve, the last night of the year 1973. Our Lady says to begin the new year with her, in prayer. Which brings up the question, "What do you do on New Years Eve?"

Mary is complaining that most people are celebrating the arrival of the new year intoxicated; empty and offensive to their dignity of being humans who are made in the image of God; redeemed and loved by Jesus, Her divine Son!

Do you remember the new year's eve of 2000, the millennium? The pastor of our small community [Transfiguration Parish] decided to have a Mass celebrated at that moment and then some coffee/tea and donuts afterward to celebrate 2000 years of Christianity! I was very pleased with this and of course was there at that Mass. Unfortunately it was not repeated the next year. Actually, there is no place better to be than in the presence of Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament any time of the year!

My friends, lets remember these words of Mother Mary: "Begin the new year on your knees, praying with Me, O my son" (and daughter). Mary wants us to pray for all those who are offending Almighty God on this vigil night of Our Lady's great Feast of Mary, Mother of God! Watch, believe, and entrust ourselves to Our Lady as She guides us into these years of Her great Triumph!
Roman Deacon

St Monica prayed many years for
the conversion of her son, St. Augustine.


Heaven Speaks to Parents Who Worry About Their Children’s Salvation

By "Anne," a Lay Apostle
Saturday, 14 July 2007

"Anne" has received permission from her local ordinary, Bishop Leo O'Reilly, Bishop of Kilmore, Ireland, for the spreading of her messages, and has also submitted all her writings to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (see article, "Discernment of Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King" in the Marian Private Revelation section). – Ed.

December 20, 2006

MESSAGE #2.

St. Monica

How heavy is the heart of a parent when their child has abandoned morality. This causes a pain that does not heal until the child has returned to God's path. I understand this burden because I carried it myself. Jesus seeks to help all such parents because He also understands this burden. With heaven, the priority is always personal growth in holiness. For this reason, God uses every experience we have on earth to make us holier and to bring us closer to Him. If we are close to God, God can use us powerfully and this helps the family of God. At this time, heaven has a need to bring light to a dark world. It is the darkness of the world that has distracted God's children. Perhaps your child is among these. Jesus is telling you that the best way to help your children is to become holier and holier so that His light can flow into the world through you. When a soul participates with God in this process of renewal through their personal holiness, God experiences great gratitude. God denies that soul nothing and the soul has great intercessory power. If you work for renewal through your attempt to become holier, God will reward you.

Part of the way God will reward you is by reclaiming and healing your children. Believe this, my dear parents. It is true. Jesus promises all lay apostles that He will pursue full conversion of their loved ones. Jesus does not make this promise lightly. Jesus intends to keep this promise. If you work for Jesus, you are doing what you need to be doing for your children.

There is an excellent opportunity for holiness in this situation and that is by practicing trust. When you trust God, you are free to be joyful in His service. If you look at your children and feel distress at their condition, but then turn to God and trust Him with these children, you will know joy. It is good to tell God that you trust Him. It is good for God to hear this because it consoles Him. It is also good for you to hear yourself telling God that you trust Him as you will begin to believe. I am going to give you this advice and then I will pray that you take it. Each time you feel worry over one of your children, say, "Jesus, I trust in you. Take care of this child." If you feel worry for one of your children one hundred times today, say this prayer one hundred times on this day. Believe me. It will work. I will be helping you with this and praying for grace for you. This is a new way to proceed because you are actually fighting the enemy's attempt to distract you with worry. I will be working with you and with heaven in the struggle to reclaim your child so you are not alone in this project. Show Jesus that you understand His great power by trusting Him.


For further information regarding the Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King, or to purchase Heaven Speaks booklets, please contact Direction for Our Times on the Web at
www.directionforourtimes.com, or mail inquiries to the following address: 9000 West 81st St., Justice, IL 60458, U.S.A.


How about some laughter today! Here's a funny joke:

"The Work of the Parish Priest"

During a Eucharistic Congress, a number of priests from different orders are gathered in a church for Vespers. While they are praying, a fuse blows and all the lights go out. The Benedictines continue praying from memory, without missing a beat. The Jesuits begin to discuss whether the blown fuse means they are dispensed from the obligation to pray Vespers. The Franciscans compose a song of praise for God's gift of darkness. The Dominicans revisit their ongoing debate on light as a
signification of the transmission of divine knowledge. The Carmelites fall
into silence and slow, steady breathing.
The parish priest, who is hosting the others, goes to the basement and replaces the fuse.
Source: http://catholicfire.blogspot.com/

Have a happy day!