Mirjana to the Youth:

Our Lady Counts on You!

The following is from Mirjana’s talk at the 2006 Youth Festival:

   “It is a great honor for me to be here with you young people. I want so much to find the right words to tell you how much our Blessed Mother loves you! On the 2nd of each month I receive Our Lady’s apparition and I pray with Her for nonbelievers; or as She calls them: those who haven’t yet known God’s love. She asks us, especially from you young people who are the future of the world, to especially pray for these people, because it is due to their unbelief, or ignorance, that there are so many negative events in the world. Our Lady asks us to love them, and not to judge them; She asks us only to pray, and give them the example. When we pray for them, we pray for ourselves, for our own future and that of our children.

   Many pilgrims here at Medjugorje think we visionaries are privileged and that God listens more readily to our prayer. This couldn’t be more false! Our Blessed Mother does not prefer some children over others. We are all Her children, and each of us has different missions: we visionaries to give the messages, you, chosen as Our Lady’s apostles, to take these messages to the world. This is what Our Lady told me in Her message of January 2, 2006: “Dear Children, I have called you. Open your hearts; allow me to enter, so I can make you my apostles.” So we all have the same importance for our Mother.

   As I look at you all, my heart is filled with joy. I see flags from Croatia, Italy, Austria, Slovakia… it is so wonderful, but I think we are all gathered here under one flag: the flag of our Blessed Mother. We come to Her, bringing our weaknesses, sadness, and desires; our gratitude.

   Let me tell you about an experience of mine. One day I was going up Mt. Krizevac; you know it’s not an easy climb. In front there was a small group of Italians; six of these were carrying up a disabled person on a stretcher. I was behind them, and I noticed how happy they were. A while later a group of Americans arrived, and without many words (all they said was “change!”) they took this young Italian on their shoulders and continued carrying him up. A little later, a group of Germans arrived, and without many words, they took this young man on their own shoulders and continued to carry him up. So that young man was carried up Mt. Krizevac by the hands of people from all over the world! It is this that our Mother desires of us, for our hands to be united hands.”

                                                                                                                         Echo of Medjugorje, #189

Mirjana’s Birthday Message

The visionary Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo had daily apparitions from June 24^th, 1981 to December 25^th, 1982. During the last daily apparition, Our Lady gave her the 10th secret, and told her that She would appear to her once a year, on the 18th of March.  It has been this way through the years. This year several thousand pilgrims gathered to pray the Rosary at the Cenacolo Community in Medjugorje. The apparition lasted from  2:07 P.M. to 2:12 P.M. and Our Lady gave the following message:

"Dear children! I come to you as a Mother with gifts. I come with love and mercy. Dear children, mine is a big heart. In it, I desire all of your hearts, purified by fasting and prayer. I desire that, through love, our hearts may triumph together. I desire that through that triumph you may see the real Truth, the real Way and the real Life. I desire that you may see my Son. Thank you."

Our Lady blessed all of us and all religious articles. Again She emphasized that it is only Her Motherly blessing and She asked for daily prayers for those whom She said "my Son has chosen and blessed." Mirjana clarified that she thought Our Lady was referring to priests.

Storm Prayer

                                                                                   By June Klins
   Our Lady says by prayer and fasting we can change the course of nature.  Since we are entering the storm season, one of our readers suggested that we print the following “Storm Prayer” from the “Pieta” prayer book. It is a very powerful prayer. We have to apologize to the weathermen who have looked foolish several times after predicting a huge storm that never happened because of this prayer.

   Once on our way back from the Medjugorje Conference at Notre Dame we ran into a terrible storm. We were surprised that it did not quiet down after praying this prayer as it usually does. The next day we found out that we had been surrounded by tornadoes, but we had been protected! It can even be used in the winter to drive away snowstorms. Our apologies to our readers in Western New York  that several times it ended up in your area! Next winter you will have to pray this prayer too, and drive the storms out into the lake!

"Jesus Christ a King of Glory has come in peace. God became Man, and the Word was made flesh. Christ was born of a Virgin. Christ suffered. Christ was crucified. Christ died. Christ rose from the dead. Christ ascended into Heaven. Christ conquers. Christ reigns. Christ orders. May Christ protect us from all storms and lightning. Christ went through their midst in peace, and the Word was made flesh. Christ is with us with Mary. Flee you enemy spirits because the Lion of the Generation of Judah, the Root David, has won. Holy God! Holy Powerful God! Holy Immortal God! Have mercy on us. Amen!"

Divine Mercy – Two for the Price of One!

By June Klins

   Divine Mercy Sunday is on April 15 this year. Jesus told St. Faustina, “The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion (on Divine Mercy Sunday) shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.”

   Last year I was wondering how the plenary indulgence granted by Pope John Paul II for Divine Mercy Sunday is different from the "extraordinary graces" that Jesus told St. Faustina about.  So I went to the Divine Mercy website and found a booklet people can download that explains it. It is called "Understanding Divine Mercy Sunday" (http://marian.org/divinemercy/UnderstandDM.pdf)  What is interesting is that on Divine Mercy Sunday we can not only get the extraordinary graces for ourselves, but we can also get a plenary indulgence for someone in Purgatory!  Pope John Paul II said that praying for the souls in Purgatory is one of the highest acts of supernatural charity, so this is certainly a work of Mercy! Wow!  We get two for the price of one! Here is an excerpt from the booklet:

   Indulgences available to the Faithful for Mercy Sunday Devotions

   “On June 29, 2002, in a decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Holy Father Pope John Paul II granted a plenary and a partial indulgence to the devout observance of the Second Sunday of Easter, "Divine Mercy Sunday." The decree offers: a plenary indulgence, granted under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion and prayer for the intentions of Supreme Pontiff) to the faithful who, on the Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday, in any church or chapel, in a spirit that is completely detached from the affection for a sin, even a venial sin, take part in the prayers and devotions held in honor of  Divine Mercy, or who, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, recite the Our Father and the Creed, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus (e.g. “Merciful Jesus, I trust in you!"); a partial indulgence, granted to the faithful who, at least with a contrite heart, pray to the merciful Lord Jesus a legitimately approved invocation. For those who cannot go to Church, especially the seriously ill, there were special, compassionate provisions for the obtaining of these indulgences…

   “It is important to note that the Church's provision of these indulgences for Mercy Sunday devotions does not constitute either a substitute for, nor an official endorsement of, the extraordinary graces promised by our Lord to St. Faustina for those who receive Holy Communion with trust in God's mercy on that day… the complete renewal of baptismal grace promised by our Lord to St. Faustina – the "extraordinary grace" par excellence of Divine Mercy Sunday - is something even greater than a plenary indulgence. This new plenary indulgence offered by the Church is therefore an opportunity to receive additional graces on this extraordinary feast day!

  “ Ideally, the faithful would seek to obtain the plenary indulgence on this day for the sake of souls suffering in Purgatory, even while, at one and the same time, they are receiving for themselves the "extraordinary grace" of Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday, in accordance with our Lord's promises to St. Faustina. What a tremendous opportunity this is to receive a special outpouring of God's mercy, both upon oneself and for others, all on the same day! “

   Last year someone who is not Catholic asked me how non-Catholics could participate in the graces of Divine Mercy Sunday. I wanted an "official” answer, so I wrote a letter to Fr. Donald Calloway, M.I.C., and told him I would like to publish his reply because we have a number of non-Catholic subscribers. Here is what he wrote back to me:
   "In response to your question, only 'official' thing that I could find regarding how non-Catholics may participate in the graces of Divine Mercy Sunday comes from the webpage that my community has done specifically on Divine Mercy.  It is www.thedivinemercy.org. Here is what the answer is for this question:
   “Non-Catholics may participate in the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday by making a Spiritual Communion, with great trust, since it is by the degree of trust that we receive graces.  Although Our Lord did not reveal to St. Faustina the extent to which the extraordinary graces of this feast day are available to non-Catholics, it is theologically certain that anyone who is seeking Him with a sincere heart will be richly blessed on that day: ‘No one who comes to Me shall every be hungry, no one who believes in Me shall ever thirst.’ ‘No one who comes will I ever reject.’(Jn 6:35-37)"

  Editor’s note: If you would like to invite a friend or family member to take advantage of this awesome gift from Heaven, we have available a free Divine Mercy invitation card which you can print out, fold and give to someone. We thank Father William A. Rice, of Fryburg, PA, who designed the card for us. To get the Divine Mercy card, email June at tnklins@velocity.net and please put “Divine Mercy card” in the subject line.

Mirjana’s Message on March 2, 2007

"Today I will speak to you about what you have forgotten:  Dear children, my name is Love.  That I am among you for so much of your time is love, because the Great Love sends me.  I am asking the same of you. I am asking for love in your family. I am asking that you recognize love in your brother.  Only in this way, through love, will you see the face of the Greatest Love.  May fasting and prayer be your guiding star.  Open your hearts to love, namely salvation. Thank you"

A Journey from Darkness to Light

By Virginia Hogue

   In the spring of 2005, after many years of praying to return to the once deep devotion I had for God, the Holy Spirit came over me with a powerful force.  He set my heart on fire with love for Jesus and His Blessed Mother.

   I began reading books about Mary’s apparitions and Her messages at Medjugorje -the very same words Jesus taught us over two thousand years ago while on earth.  The Blessed Mother introduced Herself to the six visionaries as the Queen of Peace.  She told the children through the power of prayer and fasting all wars could be stopped and peace would reign among nations.

   Although I had read many books about Medjugorje, none of these pertained to recent events.  In the back of a particular book there contained a list of current news publications on Medjugorje.  There were so many listed, I didn’t know which one to choose.  I decided to close my eyes and at random I placed my finger on one of the noted publications.  Jesus blessed me by directing my finger to “The Spirit of Medjugorje” newsletter. 

   I contacted the editor, June Klins, to subscribe to the publication.  As we talked on the phone that evening, June informed me that Ivan Dragicevic, one of the visionaries, would be in Ohio in less than three weeks.  Because Ivan is still having daily apparitions of the Blessed Mother, I knew I wanted to be there for Mary’s appearance to him.          

   My son, Jerry, and I flew from Oklahoma on a sunny spring day and arrived in Cleveland in the middle of a blizzard.  The people in Ohio told us this was unseasonable weather for late April.  Once again Satan was wreaking havoc for the pilgrims that had come to honor the Blessed Mother.

   At the apparition, Ivan shared with the faithful a story about a previous apparition in which Mary was accompanied by Pope John Paul II shortly after the Pontiff’s death.   He went on to tell us that Our Lady embraced the Pope, then said to Ivan, “My son has come home.”

   After returning home from the celestial event, with the help of the Queen of Peace, a Medjugorje prayer group was started at St. Monica’s Catholic Church.  There were five original members.  Now we have 25 members and we’re growing. 

   One afternoon at prayer group we were discussing conversion.  One of the gentlemen in the group wanted to share the story of his conversion.  Mike told us that he was a cradle Catholic and that he attended Catholic schools.  Mike went on to explain that as an adult he stopped worshipping at the Catholic Church and joined another denomination.  He stated that his conversion began as he was watching the funeral of Pope John Paul II.         Several days after the solemn funeral rite, Mike was driving past St. Monica’s when he felt compelled to go inside and pray.  Later in the week he was drawn to a Catholic book store.  While in the store he purchased a rosary.  Mike now spends much of his free time in church in prayer at the adoration of the Holy Eucharist, including praying the daily Rosary. He believes his devotion to the Holy Rosary is responsible for the many blessings he has since received.  Just as the passion of Jesus redeemed the world, so did the Pope’s suffering and death touch his heart.

   While Mike was sharing his story of conversion, a young woman held her hand up.  Sarah couldn’t wait to tell her experience.  She explained that she was originally from another country - a country where few people knew about God, and where even fewer attended church. Sarah told us that she always felt emptiness in her life.  She tried to fill the emptiness with worldly pleasures, but nothing she did made her feel complete.

   After she witnessed the Pope’s funeral, she knew she had to learn more about the Catholic faith.  One day she decided to visit St. Monica’s Church.  Sarah told us that from the moment she stepped into the church she knew she was home.  The empty hole she had in her heart was now filled with her love for God and His Church.  She gives the Pope credit for her conversion.

   Mike commented that he believed there were many stories of conversion which were generated by the outpouring of love for the Pope during the time before and after his passing.  He added that many of these stories are yet untold and maybe unrealized, but will come to light with the sharing of similar experiences.

   The moment Mike made these statements, a light went on in my head.  I personally had not made the connection with the Pope’s sacrifices of love and my deep conversion until Mike and Sarah spoke of their journey from darkness to light.

   Because of Pope John Paul II, I know of at least three souls in the Medjugorje prayer group at St. Monica’s Church who are the beneficiaries of the Pope’s courage, suffering and his love for Christ and the Blessed Mother.

   Nothing is impossible with God!

Editor’s note: Virginia is from Edmond, OK.

Ivan's Schedule

April 21  6:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. 

The Church of St.Helen

12060  Kinsman Road, Newbury, OHIO  44065
 
 
April 22   5:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M.

Saint Ambrose Catholic Church
929 Pearl Road, Brunswick,  OHIO   44212

For our subscribers in the Erie area: A bus trip is being planned to see Ivan (and be present for Our Lady's apparition) on April 21, in Newbury, Ohio. For more details call Dean Rose at 814-868-8690.

My Gift in Medjugorje

By Teresa Parker

   One of my greatest gifts from the Holy Spirit in Medjugorje was to be ‘denied’ my Lord Jesus in Holy Communion; and the yearning to receive my Lord came from the depths of my soul. This is a story of the mercy of God shown to me during Holy Mass at St. James Church, Medjugorje, Saturday, June 3, 2006.

   My friend Bonnie and I had found a small piece of floor to sit on for Holy Mass, near the front of the first pew in the church. A nun and another older woman in wheel chairs were to our right. It was time for the priests to come down from the altar to distribute Holy Communion to the many hundreds of people in the church and outside. Bonnie and I helped the women in the wheel chairs to have easier access to the first priest who left the altar. Both of them received Jesus. Then more priests came to the floor of the church, flowing in their beautiful white robes with stoles from various countries. A priest came and started to distribute Holy Communion to the people on the right of Bonnie and myself.  Others came and gave Holy Communion to the people to the left of us. All this time Bonnie and I were still anticipating receiving Jesus, but no priest came to where we were standing… It was as if they did not see us at all!

   Suddenly, a priest came down from the altar and walked directly towards us. I rotated my position slightly and moved Bonnie gently in front of me, moving my body behind hers so that she would receive Jesus first…which she then did. I stood right behind her, praying. Then, unbelievably, the priest suddenly made an abrupt turn, and left to go outside to distribute Holy Communion to the hundreds of faithful waiting on the side of the church, leaving me standing alone, without receiving Our Lord. All around me, everyone was kneeling in prayer, having already received Our Lord. I was the only person who had not.

   I will never forget the experience of what happened next in my soul. My heart was broken and I felt completely and utterly lost. I felt more abandoned than at any time in my life. I cannot explain the depth of sadness that filled my heart. I felt like my heart was torn out, that I was left as empty as a tomb. And the feeling of such great sadness…such great emptiness…and complete abandonment about my relationship to and with Jesus Christ. I stood there, and I felt so utterly alone, so lost and forsaken. I cannot fully express the depths of despair I felt. Bonnie later said that she could see all of these emotions resonate on my face and over my entire body. I started to cry deep, deep sorrowful tears in my soul. The tears were running down my face. My heart was aching to receive my Lord as I have never known before. The feeling of abandonment was overwhelming. I never felt so utterly alone in all my life. I remember having one thought…’That this is what Purgatory feels like - to be so in love with Jesus, and yet to be denied union with Him, He who is your Heart and Soul, your Eternal Love.’

   In absolute desperation, I responded to my inner thirst, my soulful desire for Jesus; and then I heard Bonnie’s soft encouragement, “Go to the center isle and a priest will see you.” I was crying deep in my soul; my face and my clothes were wet with tears, I remember feeling like I didn’t exist at all.

   I moved slowly to the center aisle, and after what seemed like an eternity…a journey I will never forget, I caught the eye of a priest coming back towards the altar with the chalice. I motioned through my tears to the priest, with my hands folded upwards; I motioned by touching my lips with my hand, that I was humbly asking to receive my Lord Jesus in Holy Communion. I said softly, pleadingly, “Please Father.”

   I don’t remember walking back through the throngs of people kneeling in reverence as I made my way back to my little place on the floor beside Bonnie. I do remember kneeling down. The next thing that I remember was a voice that spoke clear and deep to my heart. The voice was that of my Lord. Jesus said to me with a solidness of voice that was unmistakably my Lord and my God, “You see my child, without Me, you are nothing. But with Me, you have Everything!”

   And now I felt I had been given life—clear and distinct—ALL LIFE! The gift of all life in a moment - the moment I received my Lord Jesus Christ. I had felt dead inside. And now I was ALIVE! My heart was so full, so complete in the presence of my Lord!

   My feelings of my unimportance, my insignificance, my smallness, my complete dependence on Jesus was the most humbling loss of myself I have ever experienced.

   Thank you Jesus, My Lord. I understand I am nothing and You are everything. Let me never forget this gift. 

“When you have received Him, stir up your heart to do Him homage; speak to Him about your spiritual life, gazing upon Him in your soul where He is present for your happiness; welcome Him as warmly as possible, and behave outwardly in such a way that your actions may give proof to all of His Presence." ~ St. Francis de Sales

Editor’s note: Teresa is from Baraboo, WI.

“I saw the Lord Jesus nailed to the cross. When He had hung on it for a while, I saw a multitude of souls crucified like Him. Then I saw a second multitude of souls, and a third. The second multitude were not nailed to [their] crosses, but were holding them firmly in their hands. The third were neither nailed to [their] crosses nor holding them firmly in their hands, but were dragging [their] crosses behind them and were discontent. Jesus then said to me, Do you see these souls? Those who are like Me in the pain and contempt they suffer will be like Me also in glory. And those who resemble Me less in pain and contempt will also bear less resemblance to Me in glory.”  (St. Faustina’s Diary, # 446)

Why the Mass ?

By Fr. Albert Shamon

   Christ becomes present at Mass to enable the church (1) to offer highest worship to the Father and (2) to change us into loving persons and (3) through us, to change our world into a community of love…

   The Mass celebrates four presences of Christ: General, Verbal, Real, and Cosmic. (cp., Constitution on the Liturgy, #7). That is why the symphony of the Mass has four movements.

General Presence

   The first movement is the Introductory Rites – a call to worship the Father (“We gather together to sing the Lord’s praises.”). Now Christ promised to be where two or more are gathered together in His name.  The Introductory Rites celebrate this presence of Christ. It is a General Presence like that of a loved one in the mind of a lover.  Because of His presence, we feel our unworthiness and beg forgiveness for our sins. (the Penitential Rite).

Verbal Presence

   The second movement is the Liturgy of the Word.  God the Father speaks to us in the Old Testament readings; God the Son, in the Gospel; and God the Holy Spirit in the homily.

   Here Our Lord is not present just in our hearts, but verbally present – He speaks to us. “When we read, God speaks to us!”  Thus we conclude the readings with “This is the word of the Lord” - not the word about the Lord.  The Liturgy of the Word celebrates this Verbal Presence.

Real Presence

   The third or core movement of the Mass is the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  This part of the Mass is modeled after the Last Supper.  There Jesus did 3 things: (1) He took bread (our Preparation of the Gifts); (2) He gave thanks (our Eucharistic Prayer); and (3) He said, “Take and eat” (our Communion Rite). At this point of the Mass, we celebrate the best presence of Christ: His Real Presence in our midst.

Cosmic Presence

The fourth and last movement of the Mass is the Concluding Rite. The Mass always ends with the imperative “Go.” Having come to Christ at Mass, having been enriched with the Bread of Life (His Word), and the Living Bread (His Body and Blood), we are bid to “go forth among the people” and make Him present in the circle in which we move by personal witness. This is the Cosmic Presence of Christ.

   In a word, the Mass is a real encounter with Christ. He is present in every possible way….

   At Mass we banquet with Christ – we meet Him and commune with Him. However to build a true relationship of friendship with Him, we must have countless encounters with Him – go to many, many Masses. Our Lady at Medjugorje recommended that we go to Mass daily, if possible!  Daily Mass has changed the lives of the people of Medjugorje and their villages.  It can do the same for us and our communities. Try it and see!

                                                                                     Excerpt from Our Lady Says: Let Holy Mass Be Your Life

Mother Mary is Talking – Is Anybody Listening?

By Stephen Sematico

  On behalf of the Medjugorje Center, and all the people of Uganda, I take this opportunity to thank all of you who read the article in the January issue of “The Spirit of Medjugorje,” and felt prompted to help us start up a Medjugorje Center in Uganda to spread the messages of Mother Mary to all Ugandans. May the good Lord bless you so much.

  I would like to thank both the “The Spirit of Medjugorje” and the spiritual director for the Medjugorje Center of Uganda, Father  Peter Bakka, who have worked so tirelessly to see that the people of Uganda who cannot afford to go Medjugorje can also live according to the messages of Our Lady. The Medjugorje Center is going to serve all age groups in Uganda.

   Every third week of the month we spend a night at the Queen of Peace Shrine here in Uganda, praising the good Lord.  We made a list of all your names, and we present the names to Mother Mary praying for you all the time. Our theme is “Mother Mary is Talking – Is Anybody Listening?”

  I end by thanking all of you for the fatherly and motherly heart that you have for the people of Uganda.

Praise be the name of Jesus and Mother Mary. May She cover you in Her mantle. GOD BLESS YOU SO MUCH! Editor’s note: Thanks to many of our generous subscribers, a copy machine has been purchased for the center. If anyone else feels prompted to donate rosaries, Bibles, or money to help them purchase a computer and other supplies for the center, please contact us at one of the contact numbers on the front cover.  

We thank Marge Lee, Ginny Akhoury, Mary Baylie, and Lauren Cagesso for making us more prayer cloths.

To borrow an original prayer cloth from Medjugorje for a week send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the address below. You MUST include your phone number. To obtain a prayer cloth we made to keep, send a self-addressed stamped envelope with postage of $.52 on it.  The prayer cloths are free. To express thanksgiving, we suggest that you pray a Rosary for Our Lady's intentions.

The Spirit of Medjugorje

P.O. Box 6614

Erie, PA 16512