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! Today I call you to pray and fast for my intentions, because Satan wants to destroy my plan. Here I began with this parish and invited the entire world. Many have responded, but there is an enormous number of those who do not want to hear or accept my call. Therefore, you who have said ‘yes’, be strong and resolute. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

September 14 is the feast of the Triumph of the Cross. The metal cross, pictured above, used to stand on Apparition Hill at the spot where the first apparition took place. In 2001, a statue of Our Lady was placed there.

Gloria's miraculous photo on Apparition Hill (pictures above)
© Gloria Marinelli

My Healing from Ulcerative Colitis

By Dennis Todaro

Back in March of 2009, I became very sick with intestinal problems. I thought it would pass in a few days since we were in the middle of flu season. This problem persisted for several weeks so I went to my doctor for some relief. It seemed that no medicine or home remedy appeared to help. I went back to my doctor after two more weeks and was scheduled for a colonoscopy to find out what the problem was. As it turned out, I developed a severe case of ulcerated colitis and was literally living in the bathroom.

Over the next two weeks I lost 30 pounds, had no energy and began missing many days of work because of it. Well as you might expect, I collapsed and ended up in a Pittsburgh hospital. It became so bad that one doctor examined me and said, "I've been a doctor for 28 years and can find no reason why you should be alive today." I told her, “ I'm going to Medjugorje on May 31, so your job is to get me in shape to go.” Well, that doctor and six others said traveling was definitely out of the question. To make matters worse, my mother suffered four heart attacks in three days, and had to be scheduled for heart by-pass surgery. As it ended up, three days before our departure date, my mother had her surgery.

By now, I was still taking massive doses of medicine. I was still living in the bathroom, was concerned about my mother, and was scared to death to leave town. In fact on the way to the airport, there was still a 50 - 50 chance that I would back out and not go. What was I to do? I had 29 others depending on me! To make a long story short, I called the hospital where my mother was and asked the nursing staff how her vital signs were. They informed me that she was stable and recovering well. I said to them, "Tell my mother I'll see her in 10 days." At the airport I said to Fr. Bill Kiel, who was traveling with us, that if our plane was delayed one minute I was getting off, and I was dead serious. So I boarded the plane still very sick, thinking my worst fears would come true that when we arrived in Medjugorje I would have a message waiting for me to come home for my mother's funeral, and my heart was just not in it. At that last moment, I just prayed and said, "Jesus, what are you doing to me? I thought it was my mission for you to take multitudes of people to Medjugorje. So I'm giving this trip to You. You take over; I'm just along for the ride!” We finally departed. As I looked out the window, I could hardly see from the tears in my eyes from feeling so guilty about leaving. All the same time, I was praying, "Jesus, I trust in You; please get me through this.”

Well the trip went very well, and the 10 days seemed like 10 minutes. As we flew home, I realized I had just flown over the Atlantic nine hours without getting up one time to use the restroom! What's going on here?

Several days after we returned, I had an appointment to see a physician in Pittsburgh, Dr. Fusko, a specialist dealing with conditions like mine, which I was now told by six doctors that this condition is for life, there is no cure; you just have to try and control it.

As you might expect, I now had my third colonoscopy so he could see for himself what we were dealing with. Thirty

minutes after the procedure, Dr. Fusko came into the recovery room and said to me, "Who drove you here?" I said "My brother." He replied, "Wait here; I want to get him." He brought my brother into the room and said to him, “Pay close attention because your brother is not going to remember this conversation.” Well, I remember every word of it. He said, "If I had not known your condition before, from reviewing all the prior tests and reports, I would say to you,’Go home, there is nothing wrong with you.’ I found no ulcers, no colitis, no Crohn's disease, no cancer, no polyps, no bleeding, nothing! Just to be sure, I did 12 biopsies." A week later he called me and said to me, "Stop taking all your medicine; the biopsies are all negative. You must have been misdiagnosed I said to him, “Could seven doctors before you have been wrong?” It was then that I said to him, “No! It was Medjugorje." He had heard of Medjugorje but was not a believer. As it appeared, there were three others on that trip consisting of 30 pilgrims who had some type of cure, other than me.

Looking back, I think sometimes God will test your faith, then reward you when you least expect it. Over the years, I've taken many people to Medjugorje. Some of them I know, for a fact had only several months to live. Each one of them was cured and is alive today. I've seen this with my own eyes and can testify to that. Don't kid yourself. Medjugorje is for real; it's the most exciting thing going on in our lifetime. It's Mary's continuation of Fatima. Everyone needs to go to Medjugorje and experience what's happening there. When I tell people about it, I tell them it's not like a vacation, but it's a spiritual vacation in which your faith WILL be renewed; you will experience true peace and marvel at the daily occurrences going on there. I now have over 100 letters from past pilgrims who have accompanied me, and they all say the same thing. They say, "This was the most incredible trip of my life." I can only agree with them.

Editor’s note: Dennis is from Greensburg, PA. This story was used with permission from the book called In Thanksgiving by Walter Senoski. You can visit his website at www.waltersenoski.com for more information.

Fr. Angelus Shaughnessy Speaks on Suffering

By June Klins

On July 13, 2008, I was graced to attend a talk given by Fr. Angelus Shaughnessy, OFM, Capuchin (formerly on EWTN) at the Carmelite Days of Prayer in Erie, PA. I was so impressed with Father’s talk that I typed up the notes I took and distributed copies to people. Recently I felt Our Lady nudging me to share these notes with our readers. I will do my best to summarize what Fr. Angelus said, but I admit that any attempt I make will not do this talk justice:

That day, the gospel reading was the parable of the soil. Father explained that the “good soil” in this parable refers to those of humble heart, and noted that the root word for humble, “humus” is the Latin word for “soil.” Father said that the only thing that Jesus ever asked us to learn was to be humble of heart. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart.” (Mt 11:29) Where we learn to be humble of heart is by looking at Jesus on the cross.

“God allows us to suffer,” continued Father Angelus. For some, it is His direct Will, but for others, it is His permissive Will. “Regardless,” Father emphasized, “ALL SUFFERING HAS A PURPOSE. Father gave the example that the suffering caused by guilt can make us go to Confession.

Then Father gave another example – if you are suffering because of some person that is hard to get along with, it can force you to pray. At the natural level (not relying on Jesus to help you), it is easy to descend to the unnatural (negative relations with this person). But at the supernatural level, you can give this person to Jesus and pray for them. When Jesus says to “take My yoke upon you,” He refers to a yoke used for two oxen to pull a load. You and Jesus together handle the problem.

Father clarified that this does not mean that we just swallow everything. We should learn to assert ourselves. That does not mean blasting the person either. ASSERTION is the middle ground. Jesus was the most assertive Person who ever lived. He asserted Himself with the Pharisees. Father related that when he was sassy as a child, his mother gave him a swat on the behind and he never was sassy ever again. He said this was a healthy way of dealing with it.

Father admonished us not to indulge in self-pity. He warned that it is the first step in a downward spiral to depression. Instead, he said, “Go under the yoke with the Lord.” He also warned of the danger of comparing yourself to other people. I loved his next suggestion: “ If you want to make a comparison, go to the hospital, to the cancer floor, or to the emergency room.” I often think of that example now when I am tempted to complain.

Father said that the best thing to do is to focus on the Crucified. “Here is where you see ACCEPTANCE,” he exclaimed. “Every wound in His body shouts, ‘I love you!’ In the Mass this is created daily until the end of time.” Father made it clear that the words of the Consecration of the Mass contain the solution to all the problems of the world.

Father then described the three degrees of suffering. The first stage is where you tolerate the suffering. The second is where you accept the suffering, and the third and highest stage is where you embrace the suffering. Father noted that short suffering prepares us for long suffering. For example, if you miss your plane and have to sit in the airport for five hours, that is short suffering. Father lamented that the tragedy of suffering is that so much of it is wasted.

“Suffering is a MYSTERY,” continued Father. “If anyone ever tells you that they have the answer to suffering, don’t believe them. When you get to Heaven it will be made clear why you had to suffer, and why at that particular time. This is a minor mystery (as opposed to the Trinity) and so it will be revealed.” One thing for sure – God loves us too much to leave us the way we are.

Father then explained that St. Francis, the founder of his order, asked two things of God. The first was to suffer as Jesus did. That prayer was answered when he received the stigmata and had it for two years and two weeks. The second thing St. Francis asked was to carry the love Jesus had on the cross to love people.

Father Angelus concluded his talk with his favorite poem, which was written by Francis Thompson, a former drug addict, who lived in the late 19^th century. The poem is called “The Hound of Heaven.” The poem says, in so many words, that God takes things away and then uses it as bait to bring us back to Him. Father said, “He has done us a wonderful favor by taking things away.” Father gave an example that when he was serving as a missionary in Papua, New Guinea, which is five degrees off the equator, he had to walk four or five hours daily . When the sun was shining, it was so hot that by the time he got to where he was heading, the energy was zapped right out of him. But on days when it rained (the sun taken away), even though he had gotten soaked while walking that distance, he arrived at his destination with energy.

Father summarized his talk by saying, “The vertical beam of the cross is the Will of God and the horizontal beam is our will.” Addictions to alcohol, drugs, carbohydrates, etc. are really an attempt to escape from the pains of life. If we eliminate the impure processes, our lives would be less complicated. “Jesus knows the way, shows the way and goes the way, so none of us have to do it alone. Suffering is the kiss of Christ.“

Editor’s note: Father Angelus is the National Executive Director of the Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers. You can visit his website at www.fatherangelus.com.

Seer at Famous Apparition Gave Enthralling Hints of What May Be in Her First “Secrets”

Part I

Those who believe in apparitions are often intrigued by so-called "secrets," particularly in well-known places like Medjugorje in Bosnia-Hercegovina, which is currently under Vatican study. Recently, in a talk on June 24, 2011, during anniversary celebration in the village, seer Ivan Dragicevic gave some interesting comments.

"Many people ask me if Our Lady has ever talked about the second coming of Jesus," he said. "No. Has Our Lady talked about the end of the world? No. Our Lady hasn’t come because of that. So many ask, what does Our Lady say? What do you talk with Her every day? We talk a lot. And believe me, if we had 24 hours, we would miss some minutes. But one day when the time comes, when some things get revealed, you will understand why the apparitions are such a long time and why every day. Later on, we will understand some things. Later on, our eyes will be opened. When we see physical changes that are going to happen in the world. This is so important to understand. I’m not going to tell you the secrets! (laugh). The time in front of us is the time of great responsibility."

In 1985, another seer, Mirjana Dragicevic Soldo, gave some rare, revealing, and far more sobering indications of what is in the secret prophecies she maintains the Blessed Mother gave her before daily apparitions halted in 1982 (after she was granted her tenth such alleged prophecy). The seer, who has been called to testify before the Vatican commission investigating the events, explained, in a private interview with her spiritual director, Father Petar Ljubicic, that there would be events in the first two secrets she was given that would come as warnings, and then a “sign” that would serve "as additional confirmation."

In recent years, Mirjana has stayed almost completely away from discussing her secrets, as do the other visionaries. In fact, she has stated that a supernatural "block" about them has allowed her to go about life without thinking or even readily recalling most of them. She brushes aside questions about them.

But back in 1985 – when the alleged revelations were fresh – she said about the first secret, “To the people of this world who pray it will be a gift.” Other parts of the interview were even more revealing:

Father Ljubicic: How would you assess the current situation around the world? How would you personally view all these things?

Mirjana: There never was an age such as this one; never before was God honored and respected less than now, never before have so few prayed to Him; everything seems to be more important than God. This is the reason why she cries so much. The number of unbelievers is becoming greater and greater. As they endeavor for a better life, to such people, God Himself is superfluous and dispensable. This is why I feel deeply sorry for them and for the world. They have no idea what awaits them. If they could only take a tiny peek at these secrets, they would convert in time. Certainly, God always forgives all those who genuinely convert.

Father Ljubicic: Did She perhaps alert us to other things we must do, in addition to praying and preparing for that time? Perhaps something concrete?

Mirjana: Yes, She told me it is necessary to pray a great deal until the first secret is revealed. But in addition to that, it is necessary to make sacrifices as much as possible, to help others as much as it is within our abilities, to fast – especially now, before the first secret. She stated that we are obliged to prepare ourselves.

Father Ljubicic: Tell me, how do you view the situation around you? How do you view the young people around you? I am referring to your peers, the ones you live and interact with?

Mirjana [then in her teens and studying in Sarajevo]: Father, I wish you only knew how I feel on some days! There are times when I feel that I could go mad. If Mary wasn’t here, if She didn’t fill me with strength, by now I would have surely gone mad… When I see how people believe, especially in Sarajevo, how they use God and His Name in their swearing, how thoughtless they are, how they curse God… These wretched ones have no idea what awaits them in the near future. It is then, as I observe them, that I take pity on them. I feel so sorry for them and pray and cry and pray, pray so much for them. I pray to Mary to enlighten their minds because, as Jesus said: they truly do not know what they do… And yet the first two secrets are not all that severe and harsh. What I mean is, yes, they are severe, but not as much as the remaining ones.

Father Ljubicic: Are [the secrets] perhaps of a notable, distinct character, or more of a spiritual nature?

Mirjana: Distinct, distinct.

Father Ljubicic: Distinct?

Mirjana: Yes, distinct. It will be visible. It is necessary in order to shake up the world a little. It will make the world pause and think.

Father Ljubicic: Something like a catastrophe?

Mirjana: No, it will not be anything as huge as that. That will come later. It will be something that will give the world something to think about seriously, allow it to see that She was indeed here, and to see and realize that there is God, that He exists.

Father Ljubicic: After that, will there be anyone who will say, ‘This is some sort of a natural phenomenon’ or along those lines?

Mirjana: Perhaps some staunch unbelievers might say something like that after the first and second secrets.

Father Ljubicic: I am just curious whether anyone will be able to say, ‘I feel something, that something will happen soon’ or along those lines.

Mirjana: Well, you can see there are some rather peculiar things going on in the world. People are unhappy, dissatisfied, avarice reigns everywhere, hardly anyone admits that they ever have enough of anything. Yet, none of this gives any clues about the secret. This secret stands on its own. The secret will abundantly speak for itself and requires no prior clues or signals.

Father Ljubicic: Once again, concerning the first secret, who will experience, see, and be convinced and then be able to say: ‘Truly, that which has occurred or is occurring is the manifestation of the secret’? Who will be able to see all that?

Mirjana: All those who will be here or in the place(s) where the secret will unfold.

Father Ljubicic: Let me assume that this involves a specific place. All those who will wish to see and experience this sign or whatever the secret is, will they have to come to that particular place to see and experience this?

Mirjana: Well, Father, surely no one wishes to watch disasters, distress, and misfortune. I don’t think that this kind of thing attracts people at all. Why would people go to see something of that sort? It is one thing to go and see a sign, quite another to go and see suffering or a disaster. Who would, for example, go to Italy to see a dam collapse? Who has that kind of a desire? I don’t think that anyone does – and that is how it will be with this secret. Whatever is in the secret, it will, of course, be something that everyone, everywhere, will immediately hear about.

Father Ljubicic: Tell me, if the secret involves a location rather than a condition or a situation, wouldn’t it be desirable to have as many people as possible see – to have as many eyewitnesses as possible – even though it may not be a joyful thing or something pleasant to look at?

Mirjana: Father, it will be obvious… It will be something that people will hear about very far.

To be continued in the next issue. www.spiritdaily.com

My Call to Medjugorje

By Mary Cruz

I was in Medjugorje in 1995, and was 7 1/2 months pregnant. I was with a wonderful group, but decided to do much on my own! There were so many things that happened to me while I was there, but this space is limited. The first Mass, I received one Host from the priest, but in my mouth, it became two. I heard in my heart, "The second Host is for your husband."

I decided to walk the Rosary Hill and a few ladies joined me. We were getting warm and wanted to put our coats down, but didn't know where. I said, "Oh here's a dog, he will watch over them!" Right then, the dog walked up to me! I asked if he would watch our coats. We put all of the coats down, behind one of the "plaques." The dog immediately came over and laid down on the coats! When we came down the mountain two hours later, the dog saw us, and without being asked, he got up, and we were able to pick up our coats!

There are many more stories from this trip... Mother has always been at my side. At times I feel Her Presence! I have lived in a very abusive relationship. If it weren't for my Rosary, Scripture, and Sacraments, I wouldn't be whole or at peace today. She is my prayer partner and advocate. One night, in constant tears, and being pregnant with my 6th baby, I cried out to Mother saying, "I love You so much, I just wish I could tell You to Your face!" The next day, I was in a conference in Charlotte. Someone walked up to me in the crowd and handed me $50. She said, "Go buy Wayne Weible's books and get them signed." I didn't know her and I didn't want any books. She insisted. As I got closer to Wayne, he looked at me, then grabbed my arm and pulled me to the side. I thought, "HOW STRANGE!" He then whispered in my ear, "I have a message for you. The Blessed Mother wants you to know that She loves you very much." He reached into his pocket and said, "She has a gift for you," and handed me a rosary that had been in the Apparition Room in Medjugorje. Remember my prayer the night before???

My life has been very hard, and now I raise my four teens alone. I am calm and at peace because of Mother. Medjugorje gave me the gift of peace and serenity in the most difficult of trials. So many people tell me they couldn't have lived my life. My Mother and the Blessed Trinity are the precious secrets I have in my arsenal to allow me and to assist me to carry out all my endeavors.

In Medjugorje, I found simple truth – my God is Mighty, my God is Gracious, and my God loves me and my children. Mother helps me and teaches me how to be a good mother, which is an ongoing process.

This testimony is from the website, servantstotheworld.com, If you send your Medjugorje witness to this site, they will send you a free download of the beautiful CD, “Queen of Peace Messages TO THE WORLD.”

Our Lady’s Messages are for Everyone

By Shelly Kibbe

The following came up at our Medjugorje prayer group meeting: “The message of Medjugorje is for the world. However, the message is very Catholic. Confession, Rosary and Holy Mass are very Catholic. So how can you tell non-Catholics about the Medjugorje message and expect them to believe? They can't relate to that. Sure, love, forgiveness, fasting are universal, but others are Catholic directives.”

Here is what the Holy Spirit sent me:

Before Our Lord ascended into Heaven, He told His disciples: “… go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations.

Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you.” (Mt 28:19-20) He did NOT say, “Now, when you speak to the Greeks or the Corinthians, you should skip the crucifixion part because they will not be able to relate to it.” No, the disciples were instructed to teach them everything they had learned from Christ.

Think of what a difficult task this was for them. How could the apostles expect the Gentiles to believe their testimonies? How could the pagans relate to Christ? St. Paul talks about people’s inability to relate to the Cross of Christ in I Corinthians: 18-25. He says: “… but we preach Christ crucified – a stumbling block to Jews and an absurdity to Gentiles.” (I Cor. 1:23) Reading on further, Paul tells about the conversion of the Corinthians: “My message and my preaching had none of the persuasive force of wise argumentation, but the convincing power of the Spirit. As a consequence, your faith

rests not on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” (I Cor. 2:4-5) Thus, the conversion of the people of Corinth to the Gospel message came about through the grace of God, and not by Paul’s appeal to human reasoning.

Keeping all this in mind, we should have courage when addressing non-catholics with the Medjugorje messages. The disciples accomplished a great deal, and so can we if we ourselves convert, live the messages, spread the messages, and pray, pray, pray for the non-believers.

When speaking with non-believers about the Medjugorje messages, we should imitate Mary, Our Mother. We tell them everything that She has commanded us. We withhold nothing. We do not use “persuasive force of wise argumentation.” We allow the power of God and His grace to convince and convert them. When we do this, WE grow in holiness because we practice and grow in the virtue of FAITH. We have faith that God will do His part to provide the grace to the non-believer so that they will do their part in the conversion process. Remember Our Lady’s words: “I am calling you again to pray with your heart. If you pray with your heart, the ice in your brothers will melt and all the obstacles will disappear. Conversion will be easy for the ones who wish to accept it. This is a gift which you must get for your neighbor with your prayers.” (Jan. 23, 1986)

So, don’t be afraid to share the messages with anyone. But most importantly pray, pray, pray for them, and let the Spirit of God do His work. Don’t forget – our Mom says, with prayer, we can accomplish everything!

Editor’s note: Shelly lives in Erie, PA. She is the daughter of Joan Wieszczyk, founder of this newsletter.

If you really want a Bible, then I say, do not buy a large, expensive and beautiful family Bible – the black or burgundy leather-covered one where births, marriages, and deaths may be recorded. (My grandfather wrote the wrong date of the birth for one of his children, which led to endless discussions that included the waving in the air of a birth certificate...but that is my family!) True, these look very nice, and can be placed prominently in one's living room as witness to visitors that this person or family believes in The Good Book, but I would never recommend buying a Bible that weighs over a pound and a half, at most. Resist the urge to buy any of these as a gift, even though it may seem to make a lovely wedding present. (Can't every new couple use twelve toasters?)

Why do I speak so strongly against these Bibles? Because, with very few exceptions, they are never read, but remain placed on tables in living rooms, and the only attention they receive is dusting! (A friend wrote, "Read Me!" with his finger in the dust on the Family Bible at another friend's home!) You may already have one, and you may also have several other types of Bibles, but the Bible of choice (so says I), is a paperback that you write in, underline, perhaps highlight, and wear out. Reverence is important, but I knew a woman who would not let anything be set on her never-read Bible. I have my late father's prayer book, which is reverently worn and stained from the natural oil from his hands. And, NO, you do NOT (contrary to rumor), have to be Protestant to carry your Bible around with you...and in a handy Bible case. Plus, they do make tabs to find the various books of the Bible for Catholic Bibles. Of course, if you already have a worn-out paperback Bible, then just ignore all I wrote. I think you get the point.

Brother Craig may be contact at monkadorer@verizon.net

St. Leopold image above the confessionals in Medjugorje

Prayer Request

Our Spiritual adviser, Monsignor James Peterson, is experiencing some health problems. His spirits are good, and he, as always, accepts whatever God’s will is for his life. Please keep Msgr. Peterson in your prayers. Thank you.

Our thanks to Barb Sirianni, Marge Spase, Mary Kerman, Agnes Trott, Joanne McIntire, Alicia Italiani,Jessica, Veronica and Michael Kibbe for help with the August mailing. We thank Helen Bell and Isaac Ripple for their photos in this issue. We thank Pat Berrier for faithfully proofreading for us each month.