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! Also today I call you to prayer. May your prayer be as strong as a living stone, until with your lives you become witnesses. Witness the beauty of your faith. I am with you and intercede before my Son for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call."

February 11 is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The picture above was taken in Vicka’s prayer room in her grandmother’s house where she used to have her daily apparitions.

Medjugorje Calling

The following us an excerpt from an article written by Ray McGreevy, a subscriber from Ireland, who writes a weekly column about Medjugorje for a secular paper called “Medjugorje Calling.” . We thank him for giving us permission to share his article and photo.

One of the scenes that will remain indelibly in your memory, if you were fortunate enough to be in Medjugorje on the second of the month, is the many thousands of faith-filled pilgrims from around the world, waiting for hours for Our Lady's appearance to Mirjana. To be there is an unforgettable experience, but to see Our Lady as Mirjana does, and speak to Her comes at a great price. To have Heaven each month for a few minutes, only to lose it and be without it for 30 days, is a true penance, too heartfelt for words. Ivanka only has that blessing once a year.

On May 4 this year [2012], over 50,000 people witnessed an outline of Our Lady in the sky, and many had that verified in photos. All those there that evening went home knowing deeply the reality of Heaven, and were truly blessed.

We must never, however, neglect or ignore the purpose and significance of the appearances of Our Lady there in Medjugorje or any other similar holy place. Our Lady again cautioned us to NOT WASTE TIME on May 2, 2012. "My children, do not waste time…" On May 25, to Marija she spoke about VANITIES, in particular, "You little children are still far away – attached to the earth and earthly things…" She wants us to help sinners regain their sight, while having just said to us again through Marija [in the May 25 message], "… I call you anew: open your heart and your sight towards God and the things of God…"

You cannot be “apostles of God's Love and Will” if you are not first living Our Lady's messages in your own lives. You, therefore, must realize how “great is the responsibility upon you…" [June 2, 2012 message to Mirjana].

My Journey to Inner Peace

By Nila Passilla

My initial interest in Medjugorje began with viewing a video tape on the subject, followed by reading The Message by Wayne Weible, and reading several monthly newsletters. This is my testimony concerning my journey to holiness during my trip to Medjugorje in November of 1990.

Before I left home, I wrote out my personal petitions to be placed in the box at St. James Church. Among them was that I wanted to have the Spirit of Repentance to receive new life and truth through the Gift of Forgiveness. I asked to receive Purity of Heart and Soul because I very much wanted to pray with my heart as Our Lady tells the visionaries She wishes all of us to do. I especially wanted to pray the Rosary with deep devotion. I also asked to be released from worldly ideas, thoughts and deeds; especially concerning the spending of money and various material things like clothing and make-up, etc.

My call to holiness began when we arrived in Medjugorje. The next day, our pilgrim group of 28, along with our spiritual guide, Maria Strasner, left our house to walk to see and hear Vicka at her home. Then we walked to Marija's house. They were both so beautiful, and we all listened intently to what they each had to say. We then began to climb Apparition Hill about 11:30 A.M., and we had a very peaceful and private devotion when we reached the top, where we were all led in song to honor Our Lady. At 3:00 P.M. we were in St. James Church to see and hear Father Jozo. He spoke to us about our faith and our commitment to it. It was very moving and an emotional experience. We all stayed in the church for 15 decades of the Rosary and then the Croatian Mass.

The next morning was Saturday and, after breakfast we took taxi cabs to the bottom of Mt. Krizevac [Cross Mountain]. We all began to climb Cross Mountain at 9:45 A.M. We were led by Maria and, as we stopped at each Station of the Cross, our priest, Father Dave, led each Station in prayer; after he finished, Maria would add the most beautiful spontaneous prayers I have ever heard. Her prayers added to the spiritual experience very much. As we climbed the mountain, using our tall sticks to help us, I felt compelled to look at the sun to see if I could stare at it without harm to my eyes. I tried two times, and it was just too bright, so I looked away.

Then as Father Dave was praying the 10th Station, where Jesus is stripped of His clothes, I decided to look up once more into the sun, and this time I had no problem staring at it. I then grabbed my friend’s arm to tell her to look at the sun. The next moments that occurred are ones I will never ever forget!!! Only moments later, as I kept staring at the sun, then out of the clouds I saw Our Lady looking down on all of us from the sky. She was all in white with a halo around Her head, and She was standing on a cloud. At this time I could not move, and I thought everyone there was seeing Her as I was. Later I found out that they did not see Her as I did. Then Maria led them all up to the 11th Station, and I stayed behind to keep looking at Our Lady. She was so beautiful, and I did not want Her to go away. I began to pray in tongues. Then all of a sudden I felt a piercing pain in my heart, and a strange feeling in my stomach at the same time. I then bent over with my face in my hands and I began to cry very hard tears of sorrow because of all my sins. And at that time I knew the pain I was feeling was because of my sins against Jesus. I became very weak in my legs. Soon Maria sent Father Dave back down to help me up to the 11th Station where everyone was waiting for me to continue to the top. Maria asked me if I could please share my experience at the 10th Station with all of them. I told them all that I saw and all that I felt.

Later that afternoon, at about 4:30 P.M., I was able to find an English speaking priest, so that I could make a good, and probably the best, confession ever. After he gave me my penance, I told him about my experience earlier that day and asked him if he could give me an interpretation of what had happened on the mountain. He said to me that my soul was clean, and that I had received Purity of Heart, and my soul was cleansed by Mary's appearance to me. I felt so happy at that time.

It is difficult to put into words some of the feelings that I came home with. I only know that I wish everyone, especially my loved ones, could and will one day have these same feelings of inner peace that I now hold dear in my heart and mind. I realized the morning of November13th, when we were supposed to leave Medjugorje, I had a strong feeling of not wanting to leave, because of the peace and also the beautiful Croatian people in whose home we were guests – who had opened their hearts to us and fed us with a great deal of love!! It was like having one foot on the edge of Heaven and having to turn away and leave there.

When I got home I realized that this was not the end of my journey, but just the beginning, as I began to live the messages. To my surprise, the church I began attending for daily Mass has a mosaic of Our Lady that looked – except for the color of Her gown – just like the vision I saw of Her in Medjugorje! 22 years later, every day at Mass, when I see that mosaic, I am back at the 10^th Station on Cross Mountain. I will be forever thankful to Our Lady of Medjugorje.

Editor’s note: Nila lives in Meadville, PA.

Secrets Revealed Daily at Medjugorje…

By Bernard Gallagher

During his homily in St. James Church [in Medjugorje], an Irish priest made mention of the Medjugorje secrets... but stressed that it was important to recognize also that other secrets are shared with priests daily in Medjugorje during confessions. I had never looked at it that way before, and his remark gave me much to ponder on for the rest of my recent pilgrimage at Medjugorje.

Another incident that I haven't stopped thinking about since returning home, happened when I made my own confession at Medjugorje. It was late in the evening, around 9:00 P.M., when I set out to find an English-speaking priest. I wasn't surprised that hardly a soul was about, as it was an extremely cold evening. The only confessional that had a light on was servicing a handful of Italian pilgrims – and then I noticed a small group of four or five women hovering outside a box further down the row of confessionals. The priest was just about to lock the door and finish for the night. The sign on the door indicated he spoke German and English, so I asked if he had time for my confession. One of the group quipped that the priest would probably be more than happy at hearing a man confess after listening to so many women!

The priest returned to the confessional and sat down again in his chair. I followed and closed the door and then asked him if he would mind if I stood, as I was unable to kneel with both knees on the kneeler in front of him. Even on one knee brought its problems.

Then the young German priest surprised me when he got up and told me to take his chair. I hesitated, but he insisted. It was a strange feeling. But what really surprised me was when the priest then knelt down on the penitential kneeler in front of me. I had expected him to stand. It was a complete role reversal, and I said to him, "This reminds me of the time Jesus knelt before His disciples to wash their feet." The priest smiled and made the Sign of the Cross to begin hearing my confession.

This incident really brought home to me that it is Jesus, in all reality, we meet with when we confess our sins, and that the priest acts with the full authority of Jesus when we are blessed with absolution.

Jesus said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly, so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other's feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you. I tell you most solemnly, no servant is greater than his master, no messenger is greater than the man who sent him. Now that you know this, happiness will be yours if you behave accordingly" (John 13.12-17).

The Medjugorje Message, UK

Don’t Be on “Horizontal Hold”

By June Klins

Last month I heard a very interesting homily when I was out of town visiting my brother. The priest said that when he was getting an oil change recently, he picked up a photography magazine in the waiting room. An article in there suggested that a rectangular shape of a photo, where the horizontal length is longer than the vertical, is more likely to sell or win a contest. Father gave some other examples of this shape we see nowadays, such as the shape of TV screens, computer monitors, etc. Just as I was wondering where he was going with this, he began to explain that in modern day thinking, our spirituality seems to follow the same pattern – we seem to prefer the horizontal over the vertical. Father further explained what he meant by making reference to a crucifix, in which the horizontal beam of the cross signifies our relationship with one another, while the vertical beam signifies our relationship with God.

Father said that of course we need both the vertical and horizontal; it is not a case of “either/or,” but “both/and.”

We need a good relationship with God and also with others. But Father also noted that the vertical beam in crucifixes is longer than the horizontal beam. Does this not remind us of the two Great Commandments? The first is to love God, and the second is to love our neighbor. Does it not seem that the world is on “horizontal hold” ?

As we approach the holy season of Lent, maybe we can work on “lengthening” the vertical beam. Of course, there are many, many ways to do this, but one suggestion would be to bring back the practice of praying the Stations of the Cross.

It is sad to see how few show up for Stations of the Cross devotions during Lent. On February 20, 1986, Our Lady said, “… renew prayer before the cross. Dear children, I am giving you special graces and Jesus is giving you special gifts from the cross. Take them and live! Reflect on Jesus' Passion and in your life be united with Jesus!"

The Stations of the Cross devotion is an essential part of a pilgrimage to Medjugorje. Draga Vidovic, a Medjugorje guide who was a friend of the visionaries growing up, wrote in her book, Salvation of Mankind, that in the early days, Mt. Krizevac (Cross Mountain) had just simple wooden crosses and stones with Roman numerals as markers for the Stations of the Cross. When the Italian artist, Carmelo Puzzalo, came to Medjugorje in 1985, he asked Fr. Slavko why there were not “real Stations” on the mountain. Fr. Slavko asked Carmelo what the Stations should look like, and he replied that they should be bronze reliefs depicting the Passion of Jesus. When Fr. Slavko asked Carmelo if he thought that people would pray better if they had bronze reliefs in front of them, Carmelo replied that people could pray their best if they stood in front of Stations made of bread crumbs, as long as they were made with love. Fr. Slavko agreed, and then suggested that Carmelo make the Stations, even though he was not a sculptor, but a painter.

When Carmelo returned to Italy, he found people willing to sponsor the Stations project. After the Stations were completed, there was a delay, however, before they could be placed on the mountain, because the communists were still in power. In 1988, the sixteen bronze reliefs, which included the Agony in the Garden and the Resurrection, were finally placed on Cross Mountain. Draga Vidovic wrote in her book, “What is so unique regarding these Stations is that Our Lady’s image is in each one of them, as if the artist wanted to say how Our Lady follows Jesus, but us as well on our own journey of life.” After these Stations were put up, the priests and the people of the parish of St. James decided to pray the Way of the Cross every Friday at 2:00 P.M. For those who are not able to climb Cross Mountain, there are Stations of the Cross in the area behind the church, near the Risen Jesus statue. And of course, there are Stations of the Cross inside the church.

There are many books of meditations one can use when praying the Stations. My personal favorites are Mary’s Way of the Cross and The Way of the Cross Based on St. Faustina’s Diary. Of course, you do not need a book to meditate on the Way of the Cross. And there is no law that says you can only pray them during Lent! Some people pray them every day. You cannot help but get closer to the Lord when you pray the Stations with your heart.

This Lent, let’s increase the vertical beam. That does not mean we ignore charity to our neighbors. When we increase the vertical beam, the horizontal will automatically increase. Mother Teresa used to pray for three hours a day in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament BEFORE she went out and did her work with the poor. Our Lady said on January 25, 2012, “Through prayer, the Most High will give you an abundance of grace and you will become my extended hands…”

BROTHER ESTANISLAO (1903 - 1927)

At the age of 10, a young Spaniard entered tho Novltlute of The Brothers of the Christian Schools at Bugedo, He took the Vow of Regularity, Perfection and Pure Love. In October, 1926, he offered himself to Jesus through Mary. Soon after this heroic donation, he fell ill, and was obliged to rest. He died saintly in March 1927. He was, according to the Master of Novices, a privileged soul, who received messages from Heaven. Confessors and theologians recognized these supernatural facts. His director asked him to write:

THE PROMISES MADE BY OUR LORD

TO THOSE WHO HAVE DEVOTION TO

THE WAY OF THE CROSS

1. I'll grant everything that's asked of Me with faith when
making The Way of the Cross.

2. I promise Eternal Life to those who pray from time to
time, The Way of the Cross.

3. I'll follow them everywhere in life and I'll help them,
especially at the hour of death.

4. Even if they have more sins than blades of grass in
the fields, and grains of sand in the sea, all of them
will be erased by The Way of the Cross. (Note: This
promise doesn't eliminate the obligation to confess
all mortal sins, and this, before we can receive Holy
Communion.)

5. Those who pray The Way of the Cross often, will have
a special glory in Heaven.

6. I'll deliver them from Purgatory, indeed, if they go there
at all, the first Tuesday or Friday after their death.

7. I'll bless them at each Way of the Cross, and My bless
ing will follow them everywhere on earth and, after
death, in Heaven for all Eternity.

8. At the hour of death I won't permit the devil to tempt
them; I'll lift all power from him in order that they'll
repose tranquilly in My Arms.

9. If they pray it with true love, I'll make of each one of
them a living Ciborium in which it will please Me to
pour My grace.

10. I'll fix My eyes on those who pray The Way of the
Cross often; My hands will always be open to protect
them.

11. As I am nailed to the Cross, so also will I always be
with those who honor Me in making the Way of the
Cross frequently.

12. They'll never be able to separate themselves from Me,
for I'll give them the grace never again to commit a
Mortal sin.

13. At the hour of death I'll console them with My Pres
ence and we'll go together to Heaven. Death will be
sweet to all those who have honored Me during their
lives by praying The Way of the Cross.

14. My Soul will be a protective shield for them, and will
always help them, whenever they have recourse.

The Spot Where Our Lady First Appeared

By Cathy Nolan

I want to present the transcription of "Tea with Rosie" for January 7, 2013, because I believe that what Rosie shared with us is extraordinary! She reveals to us Our Lord and Our Lady's exquisite attention to detail in Her appearances in Medjugorje. Rosie shares with us about the original site of Our Lady's apparitions, on Mount Podbrdo, Apparition Hill, and about the exact spot where She first descended to greet the visionaries:

“I am here on the Mountain of Apparitions. This is the place where Our Lady beckoned the visionaries to come up this mountain.... It's full of rocks. It's full of thorn bushes. The visionaries came up here very, very quickly. The eye witnesses said they felt as though they were flying up. They were drawn over here to where the statue is now, today. oday.

“But at that time, where the statue is, there was a hole dug in the earth. And the hole was one meter deep and three meters in diameter. The reason why we know this is because at that time, the villagers used to take all this lime stone (and there's plenty of it in this region) and on top of that hole that was dug, they would make with the limestone an igloo shape – a kiln really– and then they would cut the thorn bushes from all around and put them inside the kiln and burn the thorn bushes.... The thorn bushes have a high calorie, so they would burn very well [hot] and they would burn the fire for three days and three nights.

“The rock would become so burnt it would turn into what they call quicklime. The villagers used this quicklime stone because they didn't have running water at this time over here; they just had big tanks of rain water. So to purify the water they would take this burnt limestone, put it into the water, it would dissolve, and the water would become purified and healthy to drink. They also took the rock, dissolved it in water, and they would disinfect the walls of their houses and whitewash with lime. And the third use of that lime would be to spray onto their vinograds ( their vineyards), and that would kill the bacteria growing in their vineyards. So it was a great, great help to the villagers at that time to have these kilns of limestone.

“And it was here, above the hole, Our Lady chose to appear. And because it was three days and three nights that that fire had to burn, a group of families would do the job together, and then they would share the limestone between them.

“So when Our Lady appeared on the first day, She appeared above the hole. The hole remained. The stones had been taken away, but [the] hole remained. And She appeared above that hole, and it marked the site for the visionaries of where to come. And also that's why in the early days they stood in a half semicircle, because Our Lady was above that hole.

“And now today, as you can see, there is a lovely big white statue of Our Lady and that's above the dip in the land that I told you about... They filled it all with rocks, cemented the top, and this statue is placed here. It was placed in 2001 and donated by a Korean family. They were a Buddhist family. They had come here to pray for the cure of their child. And their child was in fact cured. And the Korean family donated this statue in 2001 for the 20th anniversary of Our Lady's appearances here in Medjugorje –right here, up on this mountain, which is covered just with rocks and thorn bushes, because Our Lady said this is the place that God chose for the sign to appear. And Our Lady said that the sign would be indestructible, visible and permanent. And once the sign arrives here, Our Lady's appearances will be without question.”

(Rosie Zubac, "Tea with Rosie" January 7, 2013 – www.marytv.tv )

Thank you, Rosie, for that bit of information about the site of the first apparitions on Apparition Hill! I find this piece of information fascinating! Here is why...God sent Our Lady to appear directly above the spot where a quicklime kiln had existed. This kiln had produced a life-saving purifier for the villagers. They needed to purify the water they stored. Water is essential for life. And only pure water can be used for drinking. So the quicklime from that kiln kept them healthy and hydrated. The quicklime also disinfected their homes. Molds can grow on stucco and stone, making a house dangerous to live in. The quicklime killed the molds – another lifesaving purpose for the kiln! And the third use of the quicklime was in the fields, where it was spread to disinfect the ground, keeping the vines healthy as well. No vines, no wine!

Well, you can see that God chose to send Our Lady to the spot on the hill where purification was provided for the villagers necessary life-saving purification. Does it not follow that Our Lady was sent by God with an even more necessary purifying agent! She came with the redemptive love of Jesus, the forgiving love of the Father, and Her own motherly love, to purify from their sins the village and all those who are drawn there, so that their lives would be saved for all eternity! She came to purify and cleanse Her children, so they could approach their heavenly Father.

And even more interesting, that very spot is where the permanent sign will appear! On the very site where quicklime was produced by a hot fire, the permanent sign will appear, bringing the fire of God's love, the sign of the veracity of the apparitions in Medjugorje, proof to the world. God knows what He is doing. He chose that spot for Our Lady to appear, and for the permanent sign. That spot where the kiln that produced a purifying agent for the simple life of the villagers, will be the spot where a worldwide purifying agent will be produced, changing the hearts of millions, and drawing them to salvation through Jesus Christ.

And one more thing – Rosie told us that three families would have to join together to manage the three days of intense work, cutting the thorn bushes, and stoking the fire to produce the quicklime. Now we see the village gathered around the church, working together in prayer to keep the fires of love glowing red hot in Medjugorje, so that all who come there can be purified. Fr. Slavko once told me that the prayer around the church was like a furnace. It is a purifying furnace of love that burns away all that is not good, and gives new life.

www.marytv.tv

Editor’s note: Rosie Zubac, who has lived in Medjugorje since 1984, shares news from Medjugorje and interesting stories in her program, “Tea with Rosie.” A new episode can be seen each week on the home page of www.marytv.tv.

“Live My Commandments” and “Live My Messages”

By Sr. Emmanuel

On Christmas day, Marija said that, exceptionally, Our Lady kept quiet the whole length of the apparition. But, she said that, to her amazement, Baby Jesus started speaking!!! She was so overwhelmed that, after the apparition, she could hardly speak to us (a little group of translators and friends).

Have you ever heard a newborn speak? This is an amazing event for Medjugorje! It has never happened before, during 31 years of apparitions. Marija said that Baby Jesus spoke with authority, though he was a real newborn. He said:

"I am your peace. Live my commandments!"

This is serious! Now we can't help but ask ourselves, "Why all this?" I don't know. But one thing all of us should know is that if God, as a baby, had to speak out so clearly, it is because the whole world needs to hear Him! The world won't have any peace until we put Him, Jesus, at the first place. And in order to have that precious peace we yearn for so desperately, we need to go back to living the commandments of God. Simple!

After this special event of December 25th, many people started to extrapolate with all sorts of interpretations, even apocalyptic ones. No one actually knows – not even the visionaries – if the end of the apparitions is close. Of course, every 24 hours brings us closer to that day. Let us not be distracted by unsure interpretations; let's rather go right to Jesus' words, because His call is short, simple and crystal clear! I guess my role is to tell people: "Just do it!"
In order not to miss the point, I wish to quote the major commandments of God, starting with what Jesus said in the Gospel: A scribe asked Jesus: – “Which is the first commandment of all?” Jesus answered him: “The first of all the commandments is 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these" (Mt 22:35-40). "Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do so, will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matt. 5:19). …

Our Lady said: "Dear Children, I cannot help you if you do not live the commandments of God, if you do not renounce sin, and if you do not live holy Mass” [10/25/93].

On the evening of December 28, we gathered at the Blue Cross for prayer with Ivan's group. When Our Lady appeared, She gave this message: "Dear children, also today I desire to call you to joy. Anew I call you to joy! I call you at the same time to responsibility. Dear children, accept my messages responsibly and live my messages, because in the living of my messages I desire to lead you to my Son. All of these years that I have been together with you my finger has been directed toward the Son, towards Jesus. I have a desire to lead all of you to Him. Therefore these days that are upcoming, may your question also be – and I pose this question to you – 'What can I do that my heart may be closer to Jesus?' May this question lead you. Say to yourselves, 'What must I leave behind? What must I reject that my heart may be closer to Jesus? ‘ Pray, dear children, and I will pray for all of you that your answer in your hearts may be 'Yes, I desire to be closer to Jesus!' Thank you, dear children, for also today having responded to my call."

www.childrenofmedjugorje.com, letter of December 31, 2012

"A Child Will Lead Them" (Isaiah 11:6)

By Dave Sheehan

We are living in Biblical times; a lot of people do not seem to realize this.

A few months ago, I picked out a holy card of the Christ Child at our church gift shop. Its appearance was a bit unusual. The Christ Child was plainly dressed and seated on a plain pedestal as if He was teaching us. His right hand was raised and His left hand was holding onto the tablets of the 10 commandments. The 10 commandments were on the reverse side of the holy card. The card reminded me of when Our Lord was twelve and in the temple teaching the scribes and elders by the Rabbinic way of asking questions (Luke 2: 42-50).

Then I read the December 25th message to Marija: Our Lady came with little Jesus in Her arms and She did not give a message, but little Jesus began to speak and said : "I am your peace, live my commandments." With a sign of the cross, Our Lady and little Jesus blessed us together.

So, we are living in times in which God is coming to earth in some special visitation and bringing the end of Satan's 100 years of having a go at us. We are like relief pitchers in baseball. We are to keep pitching, throwing as hard as we can until the Manager (God) comes up to the mound and relieves us.

God bless and keep pitching!

Editor’s note: Dave is from Crowley, TX. The holy card can be ordered from http://www.wheresmyjewelry.com/tencommandments.aspx

A Praise Report from Florida

By Marge Lee

In November of 2011, when I took my Rosa Mystica statue to a couple named Nancy and Tom, I prayed over their son Mark, age 44, who couldn't breathe on his own and was on a respirator around-the-clock. Mark's lung capacity was limited due to a neuroblastoma during infancy and the subsequent chemo and radiation.

While I was praying over Mark, he and I held a prayer cloth I made from one which was touched to the liquid weeping from the Risen Jesus statue in Medjugorje. The liquid has been scientifically tested and found to be human tears. Nancy and Tom joined us in praying The Lord's Prayer. As we were touching the prayer cloth, we both felt something like electricity go through us.

Nancy and Tom returned to their home in Georgia for the summer, and when they returned to Florida in the fall of 2012, I again took my Rosa Mystica to them, and they related to me that Mark had been breathing on his own all summer and had a full-time job! I just praised and thanked the Lord and His Mother!

Editor’s note: Marge is from North Port, FL. When Marge told me about the “electricity,” they felt, I could not help but think of the sensation Ivo Juricic felt when he touched Our Lady. (That story is in our January, 2012 issue). This story was one of four prayer cloth testimonies I heard in a period of a week. If you would like to receive a prayer cloth, see page 8.

January 2, 2013 Message to Mirjana
"Dear children, with much love and patience I strive to make your hearts like unto mine. I strive, by my example, to teach you humility, wisdom and love because I need you; I cannot do without you my children. According to God's will I am choosing you, by His strength I am strengthening you. Therefore, my children, do not be afraid to open your hearts to me. I will give them to my Son and in return, He will give you the gift of Divine peace. You will carry it to all those whom you meet, you will witness God's love with your life and you will give the gift of my Son through yourselves. Through reconciliation, fasting and prayer, I will lead you. Immeasurable is my love. Do not be afraid. My children, pray for the shepherds. May your lips be shut to every judgment, because do not forget that my Son has chosen them and only He has the right to judge. Thank you."

Ivan Lifts Irish Fight Against Abortion

By Jakob Marschner on Jan 8, 2013

The number of abortions in the world makes the Virgin Mary cry, visionary Ivan Dragicevic told between 1,000 and 2,000 people in Dublin on January 7. Ivan’s visit came at a time when abortion is on top of the public agenda in Ireland, and attendees said the seer’s appearance came timely.

Medjugorje visionary Ivan Dragicevic on Monday invested his experiences with the Virgin Mary in the current Irish abortion debate, by mentioning the deep sorrow abortion causes to Mary, and quoting one of Her previous messages.

A more than full St. Saviour’s Church in Dublin listened, with one report mentioning more than 1,000, another around 2,000, and a third more than 2,000 attendees. Aside of those seated, more people were standing all around the chapel. A large crowd had gathered an hour and a half before the arrangement began.

“In his testimony, Ivan reinforced the dignity of all human life from conception to natural death. He said the large number of abortions in the world gives the Virgin Mary tears in her eyes, and that She calls us to respect life from [the] moment of conception to natural death,” attendee Donna McAtee reports to Medjugorje Today.

“At this time when Ireland is struggling with abortion debates, the message from Mary could not have come at a better time,” says attendee Teuta Hasani.

Ivan’s apparition lasted nine minutes. It makes it one of his longer ones, though not an unusually long one. Afterwards, Ivan reported this message given by the Virgin Mary to the attendees in Dublin:

“Dear children, today your Mother is very happy with you. Today I am calling you to prayer. Dear children, do not get tired in prayer, know that I am always near you, that I am with you and that I intercede before my Son for you. Therefore pray with me, pray for my plans that I want to accomplish in this world. Thank you, dear children, that you have responded to my call.”

www.medjuggorjetoday.tv

Editor's note: To see Ivan's schedule for 2013, go to http://www.medjugorje.org/ivanse.htm.