The Spirit of Medjugorje Online

THE 25TH DAY OF EACH MONTH, THE BLESSED VIRGIN GIVES A MESSAGE TO THE VISIONARY MARIJA, THAT IS TO BE GIVEN TO THE WORLD.

“Dear children! I look at you and I see in your heart death without hope, restlessness and hunger. There is no prayer or trust in God, that is why the Most High permits me to bring you hope and joy. Open yourselves. Open your hearts to God’s mercy and He will give you everything you need and will fill your hearts with peace, because He is peace and your hope. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Mt: 18:4) St. Francis of Assisi was struck by the humility of the most High God, who at the birth of Jesus took the form of a poor and helpless child. (For a related story, see p. 3.)

In the photo of the above painting, which was taken in Humac, near Medjugorje, we see a loving mother showing us Humility Himself. In Her messages of September 25 and October 2, 2010, Our Lady speaks of humility. She wants us to be humble like the Christ Child, so that we can be “greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.”

Korean girl on stage at Mladifest 2010

Reflections on the 21^st Youth Festival -- Mladifest 2010

by Louise Lotze

When planning my pilgrimage to Medjugorje last winter, I was not enthused about going in August for Youth Festival Week. However, this date was what worked best for finding care for my 95 year-old mother as well as coordinating a visit to Germany to visit a grandson born in January. I was envisioning a week surrounded by teens, but, oh my, was I surprised! There were families with infants in their arms, young adults, children, and the elderly. It was hot, but I have experienced worse temperatures in previous years, so this didn't bother me. It turned out to be a week of listening to exciting speakers. We had singing and dancing with hand motions between speakers; it was fun and lively. The evening Croatian Mass outdoors was packed with 50,000 to 70,000 people, depending on the night. The music at the altar was fabulous during the Mass, and the Gospel and homily were translated into about 15 languages; we wore headsets to tune into our chosen language. Since there were over 500 priests on the altar (570 the night of Aug 4), the distribution of the Eucharist was very orderly and smooth despite the huge crowd.

There were youth from over 70 countries who waved their flags on long poles. Some of the youth wore traditional costumes such as the dirndls from Bavaria, Germany. Africa had pilgrims dressed in their native costumes. Each country went to the altar with their flag and spoke to represent and name their country. This was done on opening night. It was so awesome to behold. After the first night's Mass and Adoration, there was a candlelight procession of all the 70 countries with their flags flowing behind a statue of Our Lady of Medjugorje carried on a traveling platform. They sang and prayed the Rosary out to Apparition Hill and then to Mt. Krizevac and returned to the Church. What a sight to watch as they formed the procession in front of the altar rail behind the Church. We were told on the evening of Aug. 3^rd that 50,000 youth were registered on the internet that day. Our Lady is reaching out to the youth in a very spectacular and technological way. How awesome is this? They are the future of the Church!

The first afternoon we were given a greeting from Cardinal Schonborn, via a phone call to Fr. Danko, who interrupted the speaker to tell us that the Cardinal had called to send his warm greetings. Then on our last day there, the Cardinal called again, and Fr. Danko interrupted to say that the Cardinal sent joy and greetings to beloved Medjugorje. The Cardinal thanked us for coming to Youth Week, and sent God's blessing to us.

Some of the highlights that I recall are the beautiful and outstanding exhibit of the Shroud of Turin which was displayed behind and around the Risen Christ statue. All the displays were front and back on cloth and attached to wooden stands. There were perhaps 24 different pictures with explanations on cloth. Prof. Giulio from the University of Padua, Italy, gave a very thorough talk about the Shroud. It was awesome and remained there for several days.

There were talks given by young Sisters about their vocations and the joy and happiness they still experience as a result of following God's call for them. Couples who had trouble conceiving a child spoke about the struggles they experienced and the joy of success from prayer and visits to Medjugorje. A scientist, Vladimir Paar, spoke about how science and faith are compatible – man vs. the chimpanzee. Where in the code can a chimp build a cathedral or compose music? Fr. Danko said that science and faith go hand in hand.

Many spoke about their personal conversions which have been life-long (Natasha from the Ukraine and Yang from Korea). A Croatian couple with a large family (8 children) spoke on how they have been blessed and how they pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Rosary as a family.

The most memorable presentation for me occurred on Aug. 5^th, Our Lady's birthday. A mother from South Korea who brought her child, about 10 years old, spoke about the birth of this child, which the doctors wanted her to abort. She gave the details, and when the child was born she had health problems with her legs, and her hands – both had only two fingers each – a thumb and a little finger. The mother had her tested as she grew, and the doctors told her she could never do math because of her brain, and couldn't hold a pencil, so she couldn't go to school. In the meantime, the girl had both her legs amputated from the knee down. She has what looks like a short “foot” bone, which she places slippers over so she can walk. The mother decided to teach her daughter how to play the piano, but she herself had to first learn how to play the piano. Her hope was that this would strengthen her daughter's fingers. With time, the child was able to take lessons from a professional, despite being told early on that she would not understand quarter notes, eighth notes, etc. To our amazement, this child sat at the piano on the altar and played Chopin beautifully in a skilled manner for perhaps 10 minutes. It was superb, and her fingers flew like angels from key to key. When she finished, she swiveled on the piano bench and placed slippers on her “feet,” and slid down and went to the microphone. Her next surprise was when she sang the Ave Maria with a voice like an angel again. The audience behind the Church this afternoon was swept away with love and awe for this sweet child. God's gift had been treasured and nurtured by her mother, despite the odds and negative comments from the doctors. This can be seen and heard on www.marytv.tv, which recorded all the days and events there that week.

Thanks to the genius of Fr. Slavko, who began Youth Week in 1990, we are able to benefit from this wonderful week of events each year. On Aug 1, at the Sunday morning Mass, Fr. Devine spoke how an evil force tried to stop Fr. Slavko from the formation of Youth Week, like an army in battle gear from Hell. Fr. Devine went on to say that “last night a sense of incredible joy was felt behind the Church, and Youth Week hadn't even officially started. We all speak the language of the heart here. We join in the dream of love here. Open our hearts and receive the graces Our Lady wants to shower on all of us. We are here to listen, and most of all, we've come home to Mother who will embrace us, hungry for the Bread of Life.”

As a consequence of my experiences I highly recommend this week for anyone making plans to visit Medjugorje in the future. You will never regret this decision!

Editor’s note: Louise is from Ashtabula, OH. For more information on a pilgrimage for the 2011 Youth festival, contact Steveshawl at sshawl@medjweb.com.

The Mystery of Gregorian Masses

Pope was Champion of Holy Purgatorial Souls

By Susan Tassone

Many want to know about Gregorian Masses — especially for deceased loved ones — so let us begin at the beginning: Gregorian Masses date back to the end of the sixth century, when they were instituted by Pope St. Gregory the Great, a doctor of the Church. It is why these Masses take their name from him. He established them when he was Abbot of St. Andrew's Benedictine Abbey of Monte Celid in Rome — and a rather strict one, I might add. In one of his most notable works — called Dialogues — Pope Gregory spoke of a monk named Justus. "See to it," said Gregory, "that for 30 days the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass be offered for him and that not one day be missed in which the Holy Victim be immolated for his intention."

The Abbot of this monastery for many years, and one who possessed a keen interest in the afterlife (recording
the first near-death accounts), Gregory had an affectionate goodness toward the monks of the monastery and
also maintained a strict adherence to the demands of the Rule — its set of guidelines.

In the case of Justus, as one instance, the future pope had his body tossed on a dung hill because three gold coins were found in his cell after his death. This was against an article of the Rule that prohibited all individual property! The three coins were thrown on the body in the presence of all the religious who had to take turns repeating the words: "Let your money die with you."

Once this act was completed, mercy won over the heart of Abbot Gregory, who had the Holy Mass celebrated those thirty consecutive days for the monk! Thus, the name, “Gregorian Masses." We are told that on the thirtieth day, St. Gregory had knowledge of the liberation of Justus' soul and was told — through a revelation — about the efficacy of the thirty liturgies, which, all told, comprise the "Gregorian Masses."

Inflamed with an ardent charity for the purgatorial souls, Pope Gregory lamented that after his own death, he would not be able to do anything else for them.

“My friend,” Our Lord supposedly said to Gregory, "I want to grant in your favor a privilege that will be unique. All souls in Purgatory, for whom thirty Masses are offered in your honor and without interruption, will immediately be saved however great may be their debt toward Me."

This hallowed tradition of over 1,300 years has been declared a "pious and reasonable belief of the faithful" on the authority of the Sacred Roman Congregation on Indulgences.

Let us also be the deliverers of those in the darkness of the hereafter. When St. John of God collected alms for his hospital in the streets of Granada, Spain, he called out: "Give alms, my brothers and sisters, for the love and mercy of yourselves." He did not say: "Pity the poor sick!" He said: "Be merciful to yourselves! Be good to the Holy Souls, out of mercy towards them, and out of mercy towards yourselves."

Our Lady of Medjugorje told Mirjana that "most souls are released on Christmas Day, not all Souls Day." We invite you to join us with Our Lady and give the gift of JESUS to our purgatorial souls on Christmas Day! Do you realize, as Our Lady promises, how many "fresh intercessors" you will have on Christmas Day by helping to bring about their release? Be Our Lady's merciful ones. Christmas is upon us. Give them Paradise! Make their desire your desire to see the face of Jesus gazing on them with love for all eternity!

Remember, the Holy Souls are our mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, friends, Godparents, priests, religious – all who have helped us in this life. Just think of the power and privilege God has given to us to help HIM. Offer Gregorian Masses, or a Novena of Masses for your departed loved ones this Christmas season. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen tells us: "As we enter Heaven we will see them, so many of them coming towards us and thanking us. We will ask who they are, and they will say, 'A poor soul you prayed for in Purgatory.'".

Editor’s note: Susan lives in Chicago. She has authored a number of books, including her latest, Praying with the Saints for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Visit www.spiritualtreasury.com for books, Masses, and Gregorian Masses.

St. Nicholas and the Three Girls

By St. John Vianney

Tell me, now, my brethren, on what foundation are rash judgments and sentences based? Alas! They are based upon very slight evidence only, and most often upon what "someone said." But perhaps you are going to tell me that you have seen and heard this and that. Unfortunately, you could be mistaken in the testimony of both your sight and hearing, as you are going to see.... Here is an example which will show you, better than anything else can, how easily we can be mistaken and how we are nearly always wrong.

What would you have said, my dear brethren, if you had been living during the time of St. Nicholas and you had seen him coming in the middle of the night, walking around the house of three young girls, watching carefully and taking good care that no one saw him. Just look at that bishop, you would have thought at once, degrading and dishonoring his calling; he is a dreadful hypocrite. He seems to be a saint when he is in church, and look at him now, in the middle of the night, at the door of three girls who do not have a very good reputation! And yet, my dear brethren, this bishop, who would certainly have been condemned by you, was indeed a very great saint and most dear to God. What he was doing was the best deed in the world. In order to spare these young persons the shame of begging, he came in the night and threw money in to them through their window because he feared that it was poverty which had made them abandon themselves to sin.

This should teach us never to judge the actions of our neighbor without having reflected very well beforehand. Even then, of course, we are only entitled to make such judgments if we are responsible for the behavior of the people concerned, that is, if we are parents or employers, and so on. As far as all others are concerned, we are nearly always wrong. Yes indeed, my brethren, I have seen people making wrong judgments about the intentions of their neighbor when I have known perfectly well that these intentions were good. I have tried in vain to make them understand, but it was no good. Oh! Cursed pride, what evil you do and how many souls do you lead to Hell! Answer me this, my dear brethren: Are the judgments which we make about the actions of our neighbor any better founded than those which would have been made by anyone who might have seen St. Nicholas walking around that house and trying to find the window of the room wherein were the three girls?

It is not to us that other people will have to render an account of their lives, but to God alone. But we wish to set ourselves up as judges of what does not concern us. The sins of others are for others, that is, for themselves, and our sins are our own business. God will not ask us to render an account of what others have done but solely of what we ourselves have done.

Let us watch over ourselves, then, and not torment ourselves so much about others, thinking over and talking about what they have done or said. All that, my dear brethren, is just so much labor lost, and it can only arise from a pride comparable to that of the Pharisee who concerned himself solely with thinking about and misjudging his neighbor instead of occupying himself with thoughts of his own sins and weeping for his own poor efforts. Let us leave the conduct of our neighbor on one side, my dear brethren, and content ourselves with saying, like the holy King David: Lord, give me the grace to know myself as I really am, so that I may see what displeases Thee, and how to correct it, repent, and obtain pardon.

No, my dear brethren, while anyone passes his time in watching the conduct of other people, he will neither know nor belong to God.

www.theworkofgod.org

Confessionals in Medjugorje

The Secret of Confession

By June Klins

St. Louis DeMontfort wrote a wonderful little book called The Secret of the Rosary. It is such easy reading, yet has such profound truth. If only he had written a book called The Secret of Confession! Confession is one of those best kept secrets that Our Lady has been trying to make known for almost thirty years now. Our Lady, in Her messages, has said that we should go to Confession once a month. She says this as a caring mother who loves Her children. She knows what a good Confession can do for us. It frees us and makes us open to all the graces God wants to pour into us. I myself have found that I do my best work right after going to Confession. There are times when I draw a blank in my writing, but after a good Confession, it all seems to just flow. It is so amazing.

In his homily of September 12, my pastor, renowned speaker, Fr. Larry Richards, said: “When I was in Ireland [a few weeks before], almost everybody that was with me in Ireland – of all the thousands, kids and adults – almost every one of them had been to Medjugorje. The whole Youth 2000 event had been because of Medjugorje. So I got back into reading about Medjugorje. I was there some twenty years ago. The Church hasn’t said one word or the other about it yet. The Bishop is against it, but Cardinal Schönborn just invited people to come back and to relook at what is going on. One of the things, of course, that Our Lady calls us all to, is repentance – to change our life – and that He [God] loves us and He wants us all to come home. And She talks about if the world would go to Confession, if Catholics would go to Confession once a month, the world would be converted in two years. Just simple things like that. Instead of saying, ‘I don’t need to go to Confession,’ we acknowledge why I need to. I have to change my life. I have to repent. I have got to turn towards God. All of us need to do that.”

At the end of his homily, Father announced that he would have confessions after Mass, and went through a quick list of sins that need to be confessed. After Mass that day, the line for Confession stretched almost the entire length of the church! Since that day, Father has continued to have confessions after Mass, and the line is always long. We are so blessed because our resident priest does the same thing after his Mass too. .

I have heard priests remark that there are times when a person will come to Confession and say that they are just there for the grace and have nothing to confess. Elderly people will sometimes say that they do not need to go to confession because they are “too old to sin.” Our resident priest will ask a person who comes to Confession with “no sins,” if he has been impatient. Father said that nine times out of ten, he will get a positive response. Father says that all of us, to some degree, possess the vice of impatience. We may not steal, commit adultery or lie, but we are all, to some degree, impatient. Father says that the sin of impatience is an offshoot of the vice of pride – “I am not getting what I want, when I want it.” Other sins of a person who thinks he is sinless could include being judgmental, selfish or even gluttonous (a problem with Americans). What about the sins of omission? Fr. Larry asks in his Examination of Conscience, “Do you consistently take care of the poor?” (In other words, do you do more than throw a dollar in the Salvation Army bucket at Christmas?) The list goes on… We are human, and imperfect. Jesus wants to meet us in the confessional and wrap His loving arms around us and forgive us.

A subscriber recently shared with me the following story: ”One year after my return from Medjugorje, I was still smoking cigarettes. I know I shouldn't smoke, but I could not beat the addiction. When Christmas Eve came, I tried to get a ride to church to welcome the Dear Baby Jesus. It didn't happen. So I decided to stay awake and watch the Vatican Midnight Mass. John Paul II was Celebrant. It was beautiful; I couldn't help being impressed by his tenacity and humility. I marveled again, his attendant "drove" his chair out of the church to adore Our Lord in the manger, It seemed as in slow motion, when he bent low to kiss the little feet of the Infant. I was dumbfounded as I suddenly felt that if I had tried to kiss the Infant, I would surely kill him with the smell of the cigarettes on my breath! I felt an immediate release from my smoking addiction, and I have not had a cigarette since. Praise the Lord!!! “

When we go before the manger this Christmas, will our “spiritual breath” be fresh to kiss the Baby Jesus? If not, there is a priest in a nearby confessional waiting for us. As Fr. Larry said in his homily, “If you are willing to repent, God is always willing to invite you home.”

Editor’s note: You can see a short clip from Fr. Larry’s Confession talk, including an Examination of Conscience, at his website, www.thereasonforourhope.org. You can also listen to or read Fr. Larry’s homilies every week at this site.

Reflection on the Special Monthly Message of Mirjana – November 2, 2010

By Fr. Neil Buchlein

Good Evening. Today is Thursday, November the 4^th and the time is 8:45. I’d like to spend some time with you here this evening in looking at this special message that we received from Mirjana. “Dear children, with motherly perseverance and love I am bringing you the light of life to destroy the darkness of death in you. Do not reject me, my children. Stop and look within yourselves and see how sinful you are. Be aware of your sins and pray for forgiveness. My children, you do not desire to accept that you are weak and little, but you can be strong and great by doing God’s will. Give me your cleansed hearts that I may illuminate them with the light of life, my Son. Thank you.”

Now, yes, once again the message that is given to Mirjana is that for unbelievers. But are you and I in the boat of unbelieving when we fail to live the messages, when we continue to embrace sin? Our message on this 2^nd of the month, I would say, is a little bit heated because of the fact that we’re still not getting it. We’re not getting it. What’s it going to take for us to get it? Notice what she starts out with. “Motherly perseverance and love.” She’s been here for us for 29 and a half plus years. She has been persevering. She has been pleading with her son for all of this time that we – that She will have the opportunity to continue to encourage us, to love us into spreading the peace that the world is hungering for, to have the peace within ourselves, within our families, within our communities and within the world. And yet, we’re persevering in what? Having a hard heart and having a stony heart, and having a mind that doesn’t want to let go of ways which are wrong and move us to way which are right.

“I’m bringing you the light of life to destroy the darkness of death in you.” We’re not blinded by light, we’re blinded by darkness. Think about it. The world is in darkness because of the fact that it continues to embrace sin. The truth today is even being watered down by certain members in the Church. We have Bishops, we have Cardinals that are not functioning as shepherds, or they believe they are shepherds but they’re leading their flock to the edge of the cliff, not to greener pastures. That shouldn’t shock you. It’s out there. Search the internet, read Catholic papers from different Dioceses. Some Bishops, some Cardinals, unfortunately, I am sorry, are like politicians. They flip-flop and they use the Word of God, and where are you being led? Are you that blind? Now for those who are loyal, and yes, there are many, we’re still not following the light. We’re still lost in the darkness. What’s it going to take? What’s it going to take? Why are we blinded by the darkness? Are we giving up the fight? Are we going to lose the war? Are we saying that Satan is stronger than God? Why do we embrace sin? It’s convenient, it’s easy, it’s pleasurable. But, oh, to stop and to follow the Word of God, that becomes laborious. It can become boring. It’s a bunch of rules and regulations. I’m not free. It’s not fun. Who said it had to be fun?

You think it was fun for Jesus to take our sins and take them to Calvary? Do you think when he fell down He said, “Oh, don’t worry. Don’t worry. I’ll get up. I’m getting up. Don’t worry. Not a big deal. I can handle this.” We’re handling sin in the wrong way and we don’t want to stop. Stop and look within yourselves and see how sinful you are. “Mom.” Boy, if that’s not a reality slap. Stop and look within yourselves and see how sinful you are. The world says we are so good. Yes, we are good, because we are created in the image and likeness of God. But on the other hand, we’re not doing what we’re supposed to be doing, out of laziness, out of complacency, we have time. No, we don’t have time. We think we have time, we hope that we have time, but you know what, that’s still not going to be time to change us because, what? We’re not stopping to look within ourselves. And what are we doing? We’re rejecting. She says, “Do not reject me.” Think about it. We think that, what? We have the answers. But we have and are being unfaithful and we’re walking in the darkness, but we’re not called to the darkness, we’re called to the light. And She continues to come, look at basically twice a month. Twice a month. But we’re so lost and blinded by our own arrogance. She even says in the message, the special message of July 2^nd, 2007, “The first station on the way, my children, is confession. Reject your arrogance and kneel down before my Son. Comprehend, my children, that you have nothing and you can do nothing. The only thing that is yours and what you possess is sin. Be cleansed and accept meekness and humility.”

Wow. It certainly goes in line with this message. “Be aware of your sins and pray for forgiveness.” Oh, we don’t want to stop and be aware, no, no, we don’t have any sins. “My children, you do not desire to accept that you are weak and little.” No, we don’t want to be humble. We don’t want to be true to ourselves. So many people today are living a facade. They don’t get it. They’re living in a bubble. They don’t get it. They don’t get it at all. Think about it. You know those people. You can even hear about it on the news. Jobs are being created. The economy is doing good. It is? I don’t what state you’re living in, or what state of mind you’re living in, but, what? We’re deceiving ourselves and we can change.

God is waiting patiently for us to change. God is waiting with love. God is waiting with mercy. Think about this. How many people that you have known that have been family, that have been friends, that have been acquaintances, co-workers, neighbors, that you have known, that died in the state of grace. They live saintly lives. How many people? How many?

I think tonight of those poor people in Haiti who are preparing and certainly praying that this horrendous weather, it doesn’t matter that the hurricane, if it’s a number one or a number five, a category five, it won’t matter. They don’t have anywhere to go, nowhere to go. Will they lose what they have? Will they lose their own life? Are they ready to meet God? How many Priests are available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation? That’s a good question. But death could be imminent for so many, and we’re talking large numbers. Will they die in the state of grace? Have they had the opportunity to stop and to reflect and to look within themselves and to ask for forgiveness? If there are no Sacraments available, certainly God hears their prayers and their cries. But we in our own arrogance, in our might and in our strength, we don’t want to stop and accept that we are weak and little in the eyes of God. No, the world doesn’t tell us that. And the world tells us that we don’t need God either. But yet we want to listen to the world. We don’t want to stop and reflect. We don’t want to stop and really, what? Do what we need to do. But this is the time. A merciful and loving God waits so we can be strong and experience that true love. But why do we want to disappoint God and our Blessed Mother?

“Give me your cleansed hearts.” Is that so difficult? One of the Sacraments that is becoming a forgotten Sacrament is that of reconciliation. We don’t have sin. We don’t commit sin. Everything that we’re doing is right. “Oh, I don’t want to bother Father. What’s Father going to think of me when I say I haven’t really prayed the Rosary daily and the Blessed Mother’s been telling me to do that since Fatima?” Well, what’s your excuse? Just like the woman that saw me the other night, Monday night, at the City Hall meeting. “Oh, yes, I brought my Crucifix over and you blessed it.” The woman’s never been in my church. I’ve been here nine years. I think the Crucifix was blessed seven years ago. And I asked her, “So are you Catholic?” “I’m non-practicing.” “Well, I’m sorry, you’re not a Catholic.” We’re in or we’re out. Come on, let’s stop playing games. Let’s stop feeding one another marshmallows and being politically correct and polite. I’m here for your soul. Whether your love me or not, I really don’t care. You want to reject me, that’s fine. Reject me because I told you the truth. There you go, give me points on the board. Reject me because I gave you the truth.

“Why did you have a blessed Crucifix?” “Well, that’s what Catholics do.” Oh, well, gee whiz, I guess that’s number one. Make sure you have a blessed Crucifix in your house but don’t go to Mass and don’t raise your kids in the Church. Have them baptized so you can have a big party. No. This is not correct. We’re going to wrong way. Wrong way. We are becoming unbelievers if this is what we subscribe to. We’re becoming unbelievers and you and I both know many unbelievers. And what are you doing about it? Are you sharing the messages with them? Are you asking them to come to Mass? Are you encouraging them to come to Mass? Are you encouraging them to confess their sin without sounding like some holy roller? We have a tremendous responsibility. You too. You’re baptized. You’re part of the plan. You’re part of the solution. Don’t become part of the problem. Shed the darkness. Move away from the darkness. Move towards the light. Lead others to the light.

Do you ever see dark, cloudy days and how you feel? Have you said, “Oh, my gosh, I just can’t wait till the sun comes out. I feel like I’m going nuts.”? I think there’s a lot of people that are affected by seasonal affective disorder. It’s sad. And don’t even know it. Don’t even know it. We need the light. We need the light of Christ and it’s here. He came into the world. But we look and we go, “Oh, gosh, it just too hard. It’s too hard to follow. It’s too blinding. It hurts. It’s not easy. It’s not convenient. It’s not during my time.”

Let’s pray for a change. The Mother continues to come. The Mother continues to call. The Son waits. The Mother waits. Let us rejoice in being called by name. Let us rejoice in being recipients of love and mercy. And let us say no to the darkness and death of sin and say yes to the light of life that is Jesus Christ.

May you be blessed. God Bless you.

Editor’s note: Fr. Neil is from Hurricane, WV. You can visit his website at www.blessedmotherschildren.com

The Spirit of Medjugorje
P.O. Box 6614
Erie, PA 16512

Medjugorje

Since Msgr. Peterson was not able to write an article for us this month, we thought we would share an excerpt from his book, The Sweep of John’s Gospel. This short excerpt is from Chapter 8, the chapter about the woman caught in adultery. We chose this particular excerpt because it deals with reconciliation and conversion, which is what Medjugorje is all about.

“Neither do I condemn you…go away…and sin no more.” [John 8:11]

John wants his readers to empathize with the woman taken in adultery, to know her sense of shame, her terror before death, and the marvelous relief she has in being freed.

Jesus enables her to begin life over. Then he wants us to realize the peril in which we exist by reason of our sin, to have that same sense of helplessness – even of terror. And to know the joy of reconciliation, of beginning life over. “…if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free.” (John 8:36)