St. Paul thinks of everything. In his First Letter to Timothy (2:1-2) he writes:” First of all, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be offered for all men, especially for kings and those in authority, that we may be able to lead undisturbed and tranquil lives in perfect piety and dignity.”

Let us consider the following.  

~ St. Paul writes that this is “first of all” -  showing its great importance.
~ That we should pray for leaders - even those we disagree with!
~ That we pray these leaders be undisturbed and tranquil - a very charitably creative idea.
~ We are to pray they have piety and dignity, the latter being very much lacking in today's world 

So, first of all, let us pray for all people especially those in authority.  

Medjugorje Grand-Baby!

 

   Oliver Geoffrey Klins came into the world on June 24, 2009, the anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady in Medjugorje!  Our Lady asked that the 25th be the official anniversary though. Could it be that She did not want to interfere with the feast of St. John the Baptist, which is on the 24th?   

   What is interesting is that Oliver was born on the feast of the birth of St. John the Baptist and his brother Thomas was born on the feast of the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist. St. John the Baptist is the only saint other than the Holy Family that has more than one feast. I am not sure what God has in store for my grandsons, but the visionaries in Medjugorje say that there are no coincidences and that dates are very important. Hmmm

Questions for Ivanka Ivankovic- Elez

The following questions were posed to Ivanka Ivankovic- Elez when she visited the United States in November, 2008. We thank Helen Sarcevic who translated them.

Q: How old are your children now?

A: Kristina is 21, Josip is 18, and Ivan is 15.

Q: Have any of your children ever seen Our Lady?

A: No

 

Q: I thought I heard Mirjana say once that Vicka is not the only one who has the story of Our Lady’s life, but that you and Mirjana have also been given the life of Our Lady. Is this correct and if so, when will you be able to share this?

A:  This is correct and we will share this when Our Lady says so.

 

Q:  Mirjana told Michael Brown in June [2008], “Everything is now in place!”  Is there a connection between the disclosure of the secrets and Fr. Petar moving back to Bosnia?  Do you know when the time for the secrets will be and can you tell us if it is drawing near?

A:  I cannot talk about the secret messages.  They will be revealed when Our Lady says.

 

Q:  By far, the hardest message to follow is fasting.  Do you think that it makes Our Lady sad that so many people do not even attempt to fast because they think they cannot do it?

A:  Our Lady does not ask something impossible of us. It is up to every person how to respond to Our Lady’s request. Nothing is hard if we do it out of love.

 

Q:  Do you have any advice on how to fast better?

A: Yes!   In the beginning, start with giving up something small and gradually you will be able to give up other negative habits in your life.

 

Q:  How can we be better mothers, daughters, and friends being the children of Mary, our Mother? Practical, daily suggestions to implement Her teachings….

A:  Simply pray every day and ask Our Lady to help you be a better person. Pray with your heart.

 

Q:  What can you say to us to help us be able to pray better, listen more deeply, obey with cheerfulness and promptness and selflessness to Our Lady’s call and the call of Our Lord?

A:  When you pray, do not only recite the words – rather, think how every word is important in “Our Father…,” “Hail Mary…,” and “Glory be to the Father…”

 

Q:  As a young person, I am desperate for some guidance. What type of career should young people pursue nowadays? If a university environment is not one of holiness, is it good to go at all?

A:  If a young person lives the Christian faith, he or she can be holy in any environment.

 

Ivanka’s Annual Message, June 25, 2009

The visionary Ivanka Ivankovic-Elez had her regular annual apparition on June 25^th 2009. According to the visionaries, Vicka, Marija and Ivan continue to have daily apparitions, and Mirjana, Ivanka and Jakov have an annual apparition.

   At Her last daily apparition on May 7, 1985, Our Lady confided to Ivanka the 10^th secret and told her that she would have an apparition once a year on the anniversary of the apparitions. It was that way also this year. The apparition lasted 10 minutes. Ivanka had the apparition at home in the presence of her family, her husband and her three children.
   After the apparition, the visionary Ivanka said:
“Our Lady remained with me for 10 minutes and spoke to me of the tenth secret. Our Lady said: ‘Dear children, I call you to be apostles of peace. Peace, peace, peace. ‘”

To Follow or to Lead?

By George Ripple

   My third day in Medjugorje began at 4:30 AM  when I awoke with an urgent sense that I needed to start praying. My Guardian Angel Prayer was finished even before switching on a light and reaching for a copy of Pieta. There is a prayer to St. Joseph I have been using for quite some time; I started reading it aloud, but thoughts of “Jesus loves me, Mary loves me” seemed to overtake the words. I was finally wide awake now and couldn’t wait for the morning to get started, I love it here!  Our group is to leave the pansion at 7:30 by vans for the short trip to the community of Cenacolo to be present for the apparition to the visionary Mirjana.

   The road outside Cenacolo was a mass of pilgrims walking and winding through a maze of buses and vans bringing more pilgrims to the apparition. Once inside the entrance the foremost action was to find a spot which would allow a strategic view. A view of what--I had no idea, but I wanted the spot that would allow me to see whatever was going to happen. The community building was already packed to capacity and the surrounding grounds were rapidly filling with people. Pilgrims were standing, or leaning against trees, stone walls, lining the pathways sitting on chairs, fold out seats or just sitting on the ground. Even with so many, for the most part there was a silence and reverence present.

   I was walking with my brother’s family, Michael, Wendy and Isaac, our friend Rita, and Wendy’s sister’s family. We walked a short distance on a stone path winding through trees to an area about 30 yards from the corner of the community building where Mirjana would have her visit from our Blessed Virgin Mary. From this vantage point I could see two closed circuit monitors mounted on the building and a third if I turned around to watch in a tent structure immediately behind. As far as I was concerned nothing could escape or miss my field of vision, and I was ready.

   I sat down on a rock used to line the edge of the pathway and settled in for the wait. The Rosary was being prayed in Croatian, Italian and English and could be heard over loud speakers. Even when responding to the Hail Mary’s I couldn’t stop thinking, “How special this is - does everyone else feel all jittery inside?” The music being played between the decades added a relaxing aspect which allowed me to sort of catch my breath from the reality of “I’m actually here to witness!” I needed to calm down a little bit, after all no one else seemed jumpy, so I decided to take some photos of whatever was around.

   One of the pictures taken was of the mountainside immediately behind and to the right of the community building. After snapping this photo and still looking at the mountain I had a thought, “What a great place to see Mary walking out of the sparse bushes at the top and winding Her way down and around the rocks.  Yes, what a great place for Mary to survey all Her pilgrims who have come to hear Her message before somehow entering the building unseen.” My thought of Mary was not of some glorious bright light, but just a woman dressed in brown and blue robes.

   The passing seconds and minutes became filled with thoughts of my previous two days and the special consideration Mary and Jesus had already given me. What more could possibly be felt, or in my case be shown, to convince me of the graces received! The day dreaming was abruptly interrupted with people scurrying to move around for a better view. Mirjana was escorted up a path about 15 yards from where I was seated. Quietly and quickly Mirjana moved inside and the closed circuit televisions allowed us ‘unfortunate’ pilgrims who couldn’t be inside with her to watch and hear. Mirjana was kneeling and praying. All eyes inside and outside were affixed on Mirjana; all were waiting and wanting the apparition to begin.

   I was now totally focused on the moment and nothing could distract me from Mirjana. I anxiously awaited, staring more intensely at a monitor, when without provocation I changed my view from Mirjana to the mountainside. Calmly I looked and focused on a flock of sheep and a single shepherd. My heart started racing. Am I seeing things? This is in the exact same spot where I had Mary arriving! I held my breath, re-focused and tried to hide an emerging smile. For the briefest of moment I wanted to keep this all to myself. Glancing at the monitor, Mirjana was still praying. I had time to share.

    I leaned across the path to tell my brother, “Look there is a flock of sheep and a shepherd.” My brother saw them immediately even without my pointing out the location. “Yes,” he nodded, “I see them.” I motioned hurriedly for my nephew, Isaac, sitting just behind me to come up and sit on my knee so I could show him too. Again, without having to give any sense of direction Isaac nodded his head, turned, and smiled indicating that he saw the flock of sheep and the shepherd. 

   There was a gasp in the air and looking at the monitor I could see the ecstasy in Mirjana’s face. I knew our Blessed Mother had appeared.

   My gaze returned to the mountainside and I continued to watch the shepherd and his flock. They were staying in the same area as when I first saw them. As soon as the apparition was over the flock of sheep and the shepherd vanished - not from view, but disappeared on the spot. Both Michael and Isaac looked at me with astonished expressions. All three of us had witnessed the same happening.

   We instantly knew this was special, and stood looking at each other wide eyed and smiling. My wide eyes and smile broke down into tears and quivering lips as I managed to find the words to tell Wendy and Rita what we had just witnessed. Isaac was agreeing with every word, “Yes, yes, I saw them too!” Rita was disappointed that she hadn’t seen them. Wendy smiled. Wendy calmly affirmed that this gift was meant for only George, Michael and Isaac to see.

   Just about this time Mary’s message was being translated to the pilgrims and the loud speakers carried Her message:

   “Dear children, today I call you to a complete union with God. Your body is on earth, but I ask you for your soul to be all the more often in God’s nearness. You will achieve this through prayer, prayer with an open heart. In that way you will thank God for the immeasurable goodness which He gives to you through Me and, with a sincere heart, you will receive the obligation to treat the souls whom you meet with equal goodness. Thank you, my dear children.”

The interpreter paused, then continued to speak, “Our Lady added: ‘ With the heart I pray to God to give strength and love to your shepherds to help you in this and to lead you.’ ”

    Isaac immediately broke into tears, ran to me, hugged me and held on tight. Michael smiled and I became quiet fighting back my own tears. How privileged to receive a personal confirmation during such an important event meant for all pilgrims! Others with us were now asking, “What happened? Is everything ok? What’s going on?”

We were the fortunate pilgrims!

Editor’s note: George is from West Newton, PA. George sent his story to me 6 months ago, and I told him God would let me know when to use it. When I heard that the Pope declared a “Year of the priest” to begin June 19, this story seemed appropriate. "…for the priest is sacred to his God. Honor him as sacred who offers up the food of your God; treat him as sacred, because I, the LORD, who have consecrated him, am sacred." (Leviticus 21:7-8)

The Greatest Gift to My Parish

By Fr. Neil Buchlein

  Today [June 13] I ask for your prayers in a special way as I recall and celebrate my ordination to priesthood eleven years ago. How quickly time flies by! Ever since I laid prostate in front of the altar, promised the Bishop obedience to him and his successors, had my hands anointed with Holy Chrism, my life has not been the same. It has continued to be an exciting and sometimes frustrating journey being a pastor due to the demands and responsibilities. The highlights for me have been celebrating the Eucharist and the other six sacraments of the Church. I say exciting because it is in the sacraments that we meet Christ personally.

    In the last few years I have had tremendous peace and joy when celebrating the Eucharist when my arms are outstretched. I have felt a mild penetrating heat in my hands, especially my right one. I love the opportunity to preach and to share and explore how the Word is still applicable today. It is always a great joy to celebrate Mass in Medjugorje and to be able to preach to English speaking people from all over the world!

   We have heard a number of times from Our Mother's messages to Mirjana on the second of the month to pray for our priests. Remember, priests are human too and we do make mistakes and sometimes say things that don't make too much sense. Also remember that we are on the "Front Lines" and Satan is always looking to "take one of us out."

   I would say the greatest gift that I have given to my parish in the last year and a half is that of Perpetual Adoration. The response has been wonderful and our program "runs like clockwork". . .and not because of me, but of how it is structured. Our parish is a little less than 400 families and we have all hours and days filled round the clock. Last year I heard the Lord say to me that He wanted me to spend one hour a day in Adoration. I said, "I did ,Lord, when I was in seminary and my schedule was so predictable and set. Now, it is always fluctuating and it is difficult." The Lord said that He needed this so that He could bless me with even stronger gifts. Oh, there are times when I can find myself saying, "I still have to do Adoration, and look at the time." It is in those times that when I get there that I find myself in another world, a world of peace and joy where nothing else matters. The next thing I know, the hour has passed and time to go.

   It was mentioned in a prior newsletter that it would be nice to send a card to one's priest. I would say this, whether you have Adoration or not, spend one hour in front of the tabernacle, pray one Rosary and then give your priest a card saying that you made a Holy Hour for him and a Rosary for his intentions. And, do this whether you really think he is the holiest and greatest priest you ever met or not. Remember, if there are no priests, there can be no Eucharist. No Eucharist, No Jesus. We certainly need Our Jesus more than ever as we watch our world search for answers that it cannot find since it wishes to ignore Him.

Editor’s note:  Fr. Neil is from Hurricane, WV.

 

“A priest is not born of an angel but of a mother. He is chosen from amongst the people, is anointed with the Sacrament of Priesthood and returned back to the people, to the Church –  into their care, their prayer and their love. The priest is a sign of the omnipotence of our God. Pray for priests. Love them. Support them. Help them to be holy. We are weak and fragile. If your knees are not bent in prayer for us, we stumble and fall. We need your prayer.”  ~ Fr. Jozo Zovko ofm      

Would You Like to Know if This is the Virgin Mary?

                            By  Fr. Hayden Williams, OFM, Cap  

 

   Saint Philip Neri was often consulted by bishops to judge the authenticity of mystics. The practice of humility and obedience allowed him to infallibly test false mystics, because the devil is proud and independent. One day in 1560, the cardinals were divided about a nun who was having visions. Since they sought his opinion, Philip went to see the young sister. He looked at her warmly and said, "Sister, I didn't want to see you, I wanted to see the saint." And the nun replied, "But I am the saint!" Philip turned on his heels, retorting, "Ah, you're the saint? Thank you." And the verdict he gave the Cardinals was, "It's not from God..."

   Another time, one of his penitents confided to him that the Virgin had come in the night in her room, filling it with joy and light! So Philip said, "Listen, the next time she comes you should spit in her face." The following night, the apparition spoke to her of God, but remembering the promise she had made to her spiritual director she spat in her face. The apparition immediately disappeared in a cloud of sulphur smoke: it was the devil. That same night, she awoke in the room full of light with a new apparition that smiled at her. This time the figure was not sitting on her bed, but standing in a corner of the room. The seer went over to spit again, but the apparition just said, "You can spit if you want." The apparition was too far to spit on, but she congratulated her for her obedience to her spiritual director!  And Father Neri told her that that time it was the Virgin Mary.

St. John Neumann as pictured in the Bread of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel, Erie, PA

God Cannot Be Outdone in Generosity

By June Klins

   Did you know that the use of relics has a basis in Sacred Scripture? “They cast the dead man into the grave of Elisha, and everyone went off. But when the man came in contact with the bones of Elisha, he came back to life and rose to his feet.” (2Kings13:21)

   On Pentecost Sunday some friends and I were blessed to obtain some first class relics that a man had received from a priest who had a friend in the Vatican. I chose a relic of St. Philomena to give to a priest who had a devotion to her. After the others chose a relic, there were a few left, and I wondered if I should take one for myself. When I noticed that St. Pius X was still available, I decided he was a perfect match for me since he is known as “The Pope of the Eucharist,” and I am very devoted to the Holy Eucharist. I wanted his powerful intercession as I begin working on the next issue of our Adoration newsletter.  Soon after I chose St. Pius X, a lady who has been battling cancer came in and I had to break the news to her that all the relics were gone.  Although the smile she always has never left her face, I knew she really wanted one, and I knew I would feel no peace if I did not give her mine. So I gave her St. Pius X. The selfish side of me had a very hard time giving him up, but my heart told me I did the right thing.

   God cannot be outdone in generosity though. The very next day, I got a letter in the mail from the Pope!!!  If that were not enough, three days later I got a first class relic of St. John Neumann in the mail from a subscriber!  She did not know that I had given away the relic I had, nor did she know that I teach at a Catholic school and St. John Neumann is a patron of Catholic education!  What I later discovered is that St. John Neumann was also devoted to the Holy Eucharist and he initiated the 40 Hours devotion in the US. I will be writing up the incredible story of how this got started in our next Adoration newsletter!  The paper that came with the relic said that it should not sit on a shelf and collect dust, but be used actively.  I have already begun doing that.

   When the man who originally gave me the St. Pius X relic learned that I gave it up, he brought me another St. Pius relic and said to me, “Keep this for yourself.”  I received it on the feast of Corpus Christi!   How awesome is that?!!! So now I will have help from both holy saints of the Eucharist as I work on the next Adoration issue! I have no doubts that it will be a good issue thanks to my “holy helpers.” God cannot be outdone in generosity!

Editor’s note: Issue #2 of “The Spirit of Adoration” will be printed soon. Please pray for this project. Thank you. In the meantime you can read or download and print the first issue of "The Spirit of Adoration"  at http://spiritofadoration.home.comcast.net/~spiritofadoration/ .

Our Lady of the Mount

   A few months ago, PTC, an inmate at the PA State Correctional Institution at Rockview wrote and told us about  Our Lady of the Mount Parish there. He said the church was built in 1963 by inmates and is one of the few existing Catholic churches on Department of Corrections grounds. He said that they meet three times a week there for Mass and Communion services.  He wrote, “When I arrived [at Rockview] Medjugorje’s message was scant, but with the help of a faithful brother in Christ several sparks have begun to inflame souls, thanks to your newsletters and books[The Best of “The Spirit of Medjugorje,” Volumes  I and II].” This is thanks to our subscribers whose donations make it possible for us to send the newsletter and books to prisons.

   He also said that he writes spiritual poems, and has been doing so for almost a decade or more. It is a type of healing for him. He wrote the following poem on the anniversary of Medjugorje, June 25, 2008 and gave us permission to print it:

Our Lady (of Mir)

By PTC

She was the daughter,

Pure and true…

She was the Gem,

Through and through.

 

She beheld His glory…

She exulted His name…

She Herself suffered in agony,

She Herself suffered in pain.

 

She Herself saw that hour,

She Herself called upon His name…

She Herself embraced His Body…

She Herself witnessed our shame.

 

She has now returned…

She has something to proclaim…

For She alone is the Gospa,

Sent out to us in His name.

 

She has spoken of His wonders…

She has spoken by the power of His name.

She proclaims the hour which is before us,

She is the precursor of the new reign.

 

 

 

A special thanks to Cindy Bielanin, Agnes Trott, Louise Lotze, Vilma Smith, Chris Maxwell, Marge Spase, Sally Dugan, Pat Berrier, and Ryan McCandless for their help with the June mailing and to Marlene Scully for making us more prayer cloths. Thanks to Diana Stillwell, Dr. Steve Miller, Bernard Gallagher and Mike Golovich for their photos.

 Please pray for Ginny Spaeder, our proofreader and former co-editor. She has been diagnosed with liver cancer.