Medjugorje visionary Vicka, speaks on Choosing an Afterlife.

Photo: Vicka speaks to Pilgrims.

Vicka Speaks on Choosing an Afterlife
By Sr. Emmanuel

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Visiting the cemeteries of Medjugorje on All Saints Day at night is really moving since the multitude of vibrant, colored candles give them almost a fairy tale aspect. It is lovely to think that each candle represents a relative or friend who has come to the aid of a dearly departed soul, helping them cross the threshold of Heaven. However, it would be a pity to wait for someone to die before helping him with our prayers, since the choices we make on earth hold immense consequences. We don't always realize this. Taking advantage of All Saints Day, I asked Vicka what would be the best way to transmit this message during my missions. She replied, "As the Gospa has told us, it is already here on earth that we each make the choice of going either to Heaven, or to Purgatory, or to hell. After death we then continue to live what we have chosen on earth. Each one knows how they are living on earth. As for me, I try my best to do all I can to go to Heaven with all of my heart. I have a great desire to go to Paradise since I am a Christian (here Vicka speaks as a person who has suffered under atheistic communism). On earth some people choose Purgatory, that is to say, they have not completely decided for God, they deliberately pick and choose with the Gospel. Other people here on earth choose to do everything against God and against the will of God. In doing so, they choose to live in hell. They start a hell in their heart and after death it is the same hell that continues for them.
“What we become after death depends on us, since God has given free will to everyone. It is we who choose our future in all freedom. After death, life continues, our life on earth is a short journey, a kind of a walk! The Gospa has said to us, ‘Many live only for this world. They believe that after death everything stops, that it's all over, that there is nothing more.’ ‘No!’ She said, ‘this is a big mistake! Life continues and after death there is eternity!’ " May these words become little candles for us that twinkle to remind us how unique and precious every hour of our existence is here on earth. Sources- http://www.childrenofmedjugorje.com/ November 15, 1999 report and http://www.spiritofmedjugorje.org/

Mercy over Justice

MERCY OVER JUSTICE (Jas 2:13)

"You have mercy on all, because You can do all things; and You overlook the sins of men that they may repent." -Wisdom 11:23

Before we sin, the devil tells us that sin is "no big deal," life is trivial, and guilt is an unnecessary hang-up. After we sin, the devil changes his tune and then tells us that we should be ashamed of ourselves, that we are monsters and perverts, and that we can't expect to be forgiven.In contrast, the Lord tells us of His mercy. Paul proclaimed: "You can depend on this as worthy of full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I myself am the worst. But on that very account I was dealt with mercifully" (1 Tm 1:15-16). The psalmist rejoiced that the Lord's mercy was everlasting (Ps 136). As much as the Lord desires sacrifice, He desires mercy even more (Mt 9:13; 12:7). He so desires to show us mercy that He suffered and died, thereby meeting the demands of justice and opening the door for mercy.Therefore, the Church repeatedly leads us to ask the Lord, the Lamb of God, to have mercy on us. The Lord wants to extend His mercy to all: the ashamed, the hated, to abortionists, sexual perverts, murderers, rapists, and even us. Accept the grace to go to Confession as soon as possible.

"Lord, have mercy" Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever" (Ps 136:1), "Who remembered us in our abjection, for His mercy endures forever" (Ps 136:23). Alleluia!

Man adopted 80 babies to save them.

Blog: the man who adopted 80 babies to save them
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source-spiritdaily

Souls in Purgatory

SPIRITDAILY

'NOVEMBER, MONTH OF THE DEAD' REMINDS US OF DESPERATE NEED OF SOULS FOR OUR PRAYERS AND MASS
By Susan Tassone

Anyone of else could die suddenly and find ourselves stranded on the lost continent of purgatory. Scripture tells us that our lives are like a flower of the field, like grass which flowers in the morning and grows dry and withers in the evening.
*Our Lady of Medjugorje also reminds us of the quickness of the passage of life. “Everything is passing, little children; only God is not passing.” (3/5/08)
Pope John Paul II defined purgatory like this: “Every trace of attachment to evil must be eliminated, every imperfection of the soul corrected. Purification must be complete, and indeed this precisely what is meant by the Church’s teaching on purgatory.” To achieve this we must pray. We have this tremendous energy in us and prayer gets us in touch with that energy. Prayer unleashes souls from purgatory through the Mass, the highest form of prayer.
In Rome there is a church called the Church of the Suffering Souls. In that church there is a small museum with relics from souls who touched objects and scorched them to show the purifying spiritual fires (and to indicate the desperate need for our Masses to move them on to Heaven). Every relic has a story. Every story has the same theme. Purgatory exists, and they were in desperate need of Masses. Once the soul leaves the body all merits ceases. For the poor souls their work does not count. It is penal labor -- a wearing out of one’s self without any effect. Their efforts obtain nothing. It flows, yet dries up as a river in the sand. Such is the life of the poor souls in purgatory.
At wakes do we hear the need to pray for the souls of our loved ones? We must remember that our faith requires our prayers to help our loved ones join the house of the Lord. Very few of us have souls free from defects -- but with our prayers we can create a soul without blemish. Pope Benedict XVI stated that “if we did not have the doctrine of purgatory we would need to invent it!”
The great month of the Dead is upon us. Do we have time for our departed loved ones? Do we have time to help our friends reach high places before the throne of God? You can help them. They are poor you are rich. The can do nothing for themselves; you can do everything for them. They can no longer assist at holy Mass and cleanse themselves in the Blood of Christ; you can offer the holy sacrifice and Christ’s Precious Blood for them. They can no longer eat the Bread of Life; you can receive it for them in Holy Communion. They can no longer perform good works or pay their debt by giving alms; you can do it for them! They can no longer draw from graces of the church you can apply your indulgences to them. Your prayers descend to them like refreshing dew and speed them home to Heaven.
Our Lord says to us: “Have mercy on these souls, whom My justice must purify; intercede for them, for they no longer can work; pray for them, atone for them and I will look upon you as if you had done it to me. And on the day of your judgment I will say to you, “Come blessed of my Father for I was in prison and you visited me; And you will ask, “When did I visit you in prison, Lord? And I will answer, “All you did for the Holy souls in the prison of purgatory, you have done it to me.”
Even though the holy souls can do nothing for themselves, they can do much for us even now while they are in purgatory, for they are just. Much more will they intercede for us when they enter into glory. Oh, how we need that prayer in the dangers and troubles of this life; and how we shall long for their prayers when we may have to languish in purgatory.
*Our Lady of Medjugorje told visionary Mirjana that in Purgatory there are several levels. The more you pray on earth, the higher your level in purgatory will be. The lowest level is closest to hell where the suffering is the most intense. The highest level is closet to Heaven and there the sufferings are the least.
Descend in spirit into the silent world of the holy souls and learn wisdom from the dead. Keep up a conversation with the holy souls; visit them frequently; appeal to them in the hour of trial and temptation; ask their advice in difficult problems and bring them the help they longingly desire, make their desire your desire, to see the face of God and be with Him forever.
[resources: Purgatory books]
[For Masses and Gregorian Masses visit: http://www.spiritualtreasury.com/]

*Our Lady's Medjugorje Message, November 6, 1986 Dear children! Today I wish to call you to pray daily for souls in purgatory. For every soul prayer and grace is necessary to reach God and the love of God. By doing this, dear children, you obtain new intercessors who will help you in life to realise that all the earthly things are not important for you, that only Heaven is that for which it is necessary to strive. Therefore, dear children, pray without ceasing that you may be able to help yourselves and the others to whom your prayers will bring joy. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Sing Hallelujah to the Lord

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeAIKgv1430&feature=related

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Sing Hallelujah!

Raise Up Your Hands and praise Him

For he is worthy of all your praise.

Saint Brother Andre, The Miracle Worker

The Miracle Worker of Montreal - Brother Andre by Bob and Penny Lord

We want to discuss Brother Andre - the Miracle Worker of Montreal - 1845 - 1937

Brother André was a man of prayer.
He prayed long hours, several times a day, sometimes alone, at other times in the chapel, while traveling, with the sick and in a packed church.
[It reminds us of Mother Angelica; she and her Nuns pray and God does the miraculous!]
Brother André prayed and miracles happened!
Sometimes people would only have to mention the name of St. Joseph and healings would take place.
On other occasions Brother André would just be in a room where there were sick people, and they would be healed.
He might hand out medals of St. Joseph, or St. Joseph's oil taken from the lamp at the chapel of St. Joseph and have people pray together. Healings took place.
In 1916, there were 435 cures; this did not include those never reported.
He quickly and adamantly corrected anyone who asked him to heal them, or who credited him with having brought about miracles, always pointing to Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
He would scoff, "As if human power can heal!"
It was important to André that the crutches and other evidence of healings be displayed for all the visitors to see and upon seeing, have faith.
When the Provincial of his Order saw the many crutches, he ordered him to take them down. Brother obeyed! As God would have it, the Provincial became ill and was in the same infirmary as Brother André the miracle worker.
Now, he would have an opportunity to talk to him! He began, "You have always taught us that Miracles are signs given by God."
He went on, saying "crutches are signs by God that miracles have taken place, through the healings that have come about at the Oratory."
He continued, telling the Provincial that God has given these signs to His children to show that He cares so much, He will bring about miracles to heal them.
Just as miracles are signs given by God, so are the crutches. And if God has granted these signs, who would dare take it upon himself to hide them?
Besides, they were the outer signs of His foster-father's love and concern for us. "Jesus spoke, using signs that the people could relate to," André insisted.
These are the signs that the faithful of today understand.
Needless to say, the crutches were replaced, lining the walls, with new ones added each year.
Saint Joseph sends a priest
The sick came; they were cured.
There was need of the Sacraments so that no one would take his or her eyes off the One and Only True Healer.
Yes, Brother André did pray, and Saint Joseph did intercede and does till today; but the Healer was, and always will be, the One Who walked the earth and healed, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The people needed a priest!
It was 1910; a professor, Father Adolphe Clement came to the oratory. The young priest was sent by his Superior to help Brother André. Brother was overjoyed to be working with him.
He was so excited! He explained how people came with more involved ills than he could handle; their needs were more often Spiritual than physical; they needed forgiveness.
Brother Andre's Feast Day is January 6
Bob and Penny Lord are renowned Catholic authors and hosts on EWTN Catholic Television Network. They are prolific writers about the Catholic faith especially the Saints. Their website is http://www.bobandpennylord.com

Our Lady's Medjugorje message of October 25, 2010 to Marija.

Dear children! May this time be a time of prayer for you. My call, little children, desires to be for you a call to decide to follow the way of conversion; therefore, pray and seek the intercession of all the saints. May they be for you an example, an incentive and a joy towards eternal life. Thank you for having responded to my call. Medjugorje message, October 25, 2010

Sharon Heidland, From Darkness to Light

From Darkness Into God’s Marvelous Light

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Instead of being filled with happiness, she was empty. “After getting a taste of having everything the world says you should have to be happy, but finding my heart utterly empty, I began to deeply yearn for something more. The partying, boyfriends, school and sports didn’t fill me. When I was truly honest with myself, I had to admit that I was shattered within.”

National Catholic Register

Revelation: Saint Maria Faustina

Revelation
Most sweet Jesus, set on fire my love for You and transform me into Yourself. Divinize me that my deeds may be pleasing to You. May this be accomplished by the power of the Holy Communion which I receive daily. Oh, how greatly I desire to be wholly transformed into You, O Lord!

When I received Holy Communion, I said to Him, "Jesus, I thought about You so many times last night," and Jesus answered me, And I thought of you before I called you into being. "Jesus, in what way were You thinking about me?" In terms of admitting you to My eternal happiness. After these words, my soul was flooded with the love of God. I could not stop marveling at how much God loves us.
Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1292

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All the good that is in me is due to Holy Communion. I owe everything to it. I feel that this holy fire has transformed me completely. Oh, how happy I am to be a dwelling place for You, O Lord! My heart is a temple in which You dwell continually…
Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1392

From Medjugorje Forum, More information on Our Lady's Message of October 2, 2010 to Mirjana.

More Information on Our Lady's Message by NancyD » Sat Oct 09, 2010 12:51 am

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“Dear Children; Today I call you to a humble, my children, humble devotion. Your hearts need to be just. May your crosses be your means in the battle against the sins of the present time. May your weapon be patience and boundless love – a love that knows to wait and which will make you capable of recognizing God’s signs – that your life, by humble love, may show the truth to all those who seek it in the darkness of lies. My children, my apostles, help me to open the paths to my Son. Once again I call you to pray for your Shepherds. Alongside them, I will triumph. Thank You.

I have come to light a fire on the earth. Luke 12:49

PURE SUFFERING"

I have come to light a fire on the earth." -Luke 12:49

When we use the word "fire," we think of light, warmth, or even of being "fired-up," that is, enthusiasm. However, when the Bible speaks of fire, it usually means sufferings resulting in purification (see 1 Pt 1:7). So when Jesus said He came to light a fire on the earth, He was indicating His desire to suffer so as to purify the whole world. He did this by receiving a baptism (Lk 12:50), an immersion in the fires of Calvary's purifying sufferings.

Although Jesus on Calvary has already received the baptism in fire to purify the whole world, He wants us to share in His sufferings of purification (Col 1:24). He wants us also to be baptized in fire and in the Spirit (Lk 3:16). When we receive the Spirit, this will cause us to suffer rejection, pain, and persecution, even from our family members (see Lk 12:52). These sufferings are part of Christ's purifying fire. Would you pray: "Holy Spirit, come with Your fire, purify our hearts"?Prayer: Father, like Jesus, may I learn obedience and be perfected by what I suffer (Heb 5:8-9).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whMTcrkBs7Q

Long Live the Charismatics, Pope John Paul

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal with Pope John Paul

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-QDOcDGDWA
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Long Live the Charismatics. - Pope John Paul II, 1981
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Open yourselves docilely to the gifts of the Spirit. Accept gratefully and obediently the charisms which the Spirit never ceases to bestow on us. Do not forget that every charism is given for the common good, that is for the benefit of the whole Church. — John Paul II, 1998.
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Popes Paul VI and John Paul II both blessed the charismatic renewal but said that it will fulfill its purpose only when, like the early liturgical movement, it ceases to have a separate identity of its own and is absorbed into the whole Church.
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In other words, every Catholic should be a charismatic, baptized in the Spirit, empowered like the apostles. It is needed now, more than ever. Jesus is the one who sends the Holy Spirit. The Father in heaven will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. — Luke 11:9-13.

Song: Come Holy Spirit, Let the fire fall http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbsheBwT7YY

Song: Come Holy Spirit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2j5Ve0_rTg

Mending Souls, Sister Briege McKenna

Interview: Mending souls Sister Briege McKenna on the power of sacraments By Emily Stimpson - OSV Newsweekly, 10/10/2010

As a young woman, Sister of St. Clare Briege McKenna was miraculously healed of rheumatoid arthritis. Not long after, she received the gift of healing, and began a ministry to Catholic clergy and laity that has spanned four decades and five continents. But Sister Briege learned long ago that the deepest healing is that which can’t be seen by the naked eye.
That is the healing of the soul, and it comes to us first and foremost through the sacraments. In her newest book, “The Power of the Sacraments” (Servant, $9.99), Sister Briege calls Catholics to rediscover the sacraments and encounter their healing power. Recently, Our Sunday Visitor spoke with Sister Briege about her new book and the need for healing in the Church today.
Our Sunday Visitor: Why do you think Catholics sometimes tend to take the sacraments for granted?
Sister Briege McKenna: I think that’s because many don’t really understand the power of the sacraments. The greatest need in our present day is for people to be in-structed in the faith and to be taught what the sacraments really are. Catholics need to be evangelized about their own faith and beliefs.
OSV: And where does that evangelization begin?
Sister Briege: It begins by showing people how the deepest needs they have are fulfilled by the sacraments.
Take, for example, the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In today’s world people feel a need to unburden themselves, to confess. But they’re going to all the wrong people to do that: hairdressers, psychiatrists, strangers on the Internet. I can’t tell you how often people tell their sins to me on airplanes.
But I can’t absolve anyone of their sins. Nor can a hairdresser. They’re confessing, but they’re not going to the right place. They’re not going where they can find real freedom. The same is true for the Eucharist and the anointing of the sick.
In my ministry people come to me all the time looking for miracles. But do you know how many miracles I’ve seen through those sacraments? After people receive the Eucharist or the anointing of the sick, so many begin to get better. And even when there’s not physical healing, there’s healing of a different sort.
The Lord is on the altars of the world. If Catholics really understood that, they would crawl to Mass.
OSV: That understanding isn’t just an intellectual knowledge, is it?
Sister Briege: No, it’s not. I say to priests all the time that they need to pray for the charism of understanding. That’s true for all Catholics. Understanding is a charism of the Holy Spirit that helps us grasp the mysteries of the faith with our hearts. That’s what enabled the martyrs to give their lives. Many martyrs had different degrees of intellectual knowledge, but they understood the mysteries in their heart, and they died because of that.
OSV: You just mentioned in passing the work you do with priests. That’s been a primary focus for you in recent years. How did that start?
Sister Briege: It actually began not long after my own physical healing. I came to Florida in 1971 as a young nun. I’d grown up in a very devout Catholic culture, and we’d been taught never to criticize priests. I remember my father telling us stories about how we should honor them. And we should, of course, but many of us were doing it in the wrong way, putting them up on a pedestal.
Well, in 1971, that was changing, and I found myself, like many, becoming quite critical of priests. One day, I went into the chapel and asked God, “What’s wrong with these priests?” He then revealed two things to me. First, he showed me that a tremendous crisis was coming, a crisis that would lead to a great famine of the Word of God, and that Catholics would turn away from the faith.
OSV: And the second thing?
Sister Briege: The Lord told me to wash the feet of priests. He showed me Jesus weeping and said: “The time is coming when many bishops and priests will care more about the business of the world than about my wisdom. They will become ashamed of me. I want you to tell them to magnify me.”
I was horrified. But I wrote it all down and talked to my bishop. Shortly afterward, I got an overwhelming love for the priesthood, a real sense of what the Sacrament of Holy Orders was.
Then God brought Vincentian Father Kevin Scallon and I together. My mother general and his father general gave us their blessing and sent us out to work together. And ever since we’ve been going wherever we’re invited to help priests rediscover the spirit of their priesthood.



OSV: Some of the priests with whom you work are priests who have fallen into serious sin. As you’ve gotten to know these priests, what have you discovered about the circumstances that led them to where they are now?
Sister Briege: They didn’t get there overnight. Their struggles are generally the fruit of a long and slow neglect of the spiritual life. We all have an inner and an outer life. That inner life starts at baptism, and, in this world, it’s constantly under attack. So we have to protect it. How do we do that? We make our home in Jesus. We nourish it though prayer, sacraments and living the life we’ve promised Jesus to live.
If a priest isn’t doing that, if he’s not giving over every area of his life to Jesus, he neglects the inner life, and divorce comes. He begins to care only for his outer life. And he falls.
The priesthood is God’s gift. And any gift that is not cherished, that is not received and loved and cared for, dies. A priest can’t lose the gift of his priesthood, but he can lose the love that animates it. And that can cost him everything.
OSV: How has a wrong understanding of celibacy contributed to that fall?
Sister Briege: When a man is called to the priesthood, God doesn’t take away his sexuality. It’s normal to be attracted to another. And, as Pope John Paul II writes in his first letter to priests, the Lord has every right to challenge us. We’re not guaranteed freedom from temptation. What we are guaranteed is the grace of God. That grace can help us understand that celibacy is not a denial of human love.
Celibacy is a consecration of your most precious gift of sexuality to Almighty God. You offer it to the Lord. And you take time to discern if that’s an offering you can make. When you make it, God consecrates the gift of your sexuality and gives it back to you with a new power.
But you have to both understand that you’ve given it freely — it’s not something that’s been taken from you — and that you have to choose every day to remain faithful, just as a married person does.
OSV: There’s so much sin, shame and pain in the Church right now. How do Catholics make sense of it all?
Sister Briege: First, we have to pray for those who’ve suffered at the hands of priests. But we mustn’t let one priest’s sin, or even many priests’ sins, keep us away from the Church. When we do that, we commit spiritual suicide.
When Judas betrayed Christ, the disciples didn’t stop what they were doing and focus only on him. They found a replacement, Matthias, and continued with the work of the Church.
I’d also add that we must not forget that all priests who are accused are not guilty. I know many saintly men who have been falsely accused and are suffering horribly because of lies that have been told.
OSV: From what you’ve seen with the priests with whom you work, do you believe better days are ahead?
Sister Briege: I do. God is rectifying what’s happened. He’s cleansing the Church. And we’ve been so blessed to have such holy popes in our lifetime. It hasn’t always been like this. But the Church survived, and now we have a great pope leading us into a new springtime.
Before we see the fruit, there has to be purification, and the ground has to be fertilized. But the springtime is coming. The Church has been humiliated, and that’s good.
The prestige of the priesthood is no longer an earthly one. We’re looking more closely at who’s forming our priests and how.
Some bishops and priests are finding their voices again. They’re less afraid of speaking with authority. We need more of that, though. All bishops and priests must be willing to speak out and defend truth and the Church’s moral teachings. They must not be afraid to confront sin, even if it means martyrdom.
Emily Stimpson is an OSV contributing editor. Article First Published by Our Sunday Visitor

The Holy Spirit will teach you.

" The Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment all that should be said." -Luke 12:12

Only God knows what lies at the depths of the hearts of men and women (Sir 42:18). He knows what will reach a person's heart and what won't. We Christians, who are charged with making disciples, are "fishers of men" (Mt 4:19). We are like fishermen casting a line. Fishermen generally see only the surface of the water, not the fish under the water. Likewise, we see the outside of a person to whom we witness, but not the inside, while the Lord sees the inside as well (1 Sm 16:7). We Christians need "inside information" if we are to reach a human heart.

When Jesus called us to be fishers of men, He gave us the Holy Spirit to teach us to fish. The Spirit gives us that inside information, teaching us at any given "moment all that should be said" (Lk 12:12). If we use our own words, they might be eloquent, but they will ultimately be ineffective in catching men. However, the Spirit's words spoken through us will reach hearts. Jesus, working through the Spirit, "will give [us] words and a wisdom" that those to whom we witness cannot oppose or contradict (Lk 21:15). Let us constantly, moment by moment, seek the Holy Spirit. He is the Master Communicator, and is able to teach us what to say. "Since we live by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's lead" (Gal 5:25). Come, Holy Spirit!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, bring to my mind all that You would have me say and erase from my mind what I should not say. Teach me "what to say and how to speak" (Jn 12:49).

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*COMMENT: One evening about a haft hour before our Thursday night prayer meeting was to begin I asked Fr. John Randall what he was going to speak out that evening. His response was,

"I don't know yet, I'm waiting for the Holy Spirit to tell me". - Ed Sousa

Celebrating the healing Mass

Celebrating the healing Mass - The Rhode Island Catholic
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Aug 5, 2010 ... Some of the individuals whom Father Halbing prayed over were “slain in the Spirit,” and were gently lowered to the floor by ushers. ...
www.thericatholic.com/news/detail.html?sub_id=3349 - Similar

In Regards to the Risen Christ Statue in Medjugorje

I Received this report from a friend:

Hi Ed, Just back from Medjugorje and it was amazing. I have never seen so many people! Anyway, Read an article about the Risen Christ statue no longer weeping. This
is surely NOT the case! It is definitely weeping, I saw and got some of the drops myself.
And this was after warm, breezy days and windy nights!

Hope all is well with you :)

MIR!

The Holy Spirit, The great stranger.

The Holy Spirit: The great stranger

When St. Paul asked the disciples of Ephesus if they had received the Holy Spirit they said: 'No, we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit' (Acts 19:2). There must be a reason why even in our times the Holy Spirit has been called "the great stranger.' In truth He is the true conductor of our spiritual life. Hence, in this year of the Holy Spirit, we will try to know Him and His work with this brief, but rich lesson by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa.

Does the old testament mention the Holy Spirit? The opening words of the Bible are: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon theface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters (Gn 1:1). The world had been created but it was without form. There was chaos and darkness in the world; it was an abyss. That is, until the Lord's Spirit began to move over the waters; then, creation began to emerge. And there wasthe cosmos.We have before us a piece of beautiful symbolism. St. Ambrose interpreted it thus: The Holy Spirit is He Who makes the world pass from chaos to cosmos, that is, from confusion and darkness to harmony. In the Old Testament the features of the Holy Spirit are not yet clearly defined, but we do learn of the way He acts, and it is manifested mostly in two ways, as if He uses two different wave lengths.

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Charismatic Action. God's Spirit comes; rather, it bursts onto some people, giving them extraordinary powers, though temporarily, so they can fulfil certain tasks for Israel, God's people. It comes onto the artists who have to plan and realize the objects of worship; it enters the kings of Israel so they can suitably govern God's people: Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers;and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward (1 Sam 16:13). The same Spirit comes onto God's prophets so His will is revealed to the people; it is the Spirit of prophecy which animated the prophets of the Old Testament up to the time of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ. I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord; and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin (Mic 3:8). This is the charismatic action of God's Spirit; action destined mostly for the good of the community,through those people who receive it.

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There is another manner in which God's Spirit is manifested; it is His sanctifying action meant to transform people from within; to give them a new heart and new feelings. The receiver of the Lord's Spirit in this case is no longer the community, but the individual. We see this second type of actiontowards the end of the Old Testament, in the book of Ezekiel, where God says: A new heart I will giveyou, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and giveyou a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and becareful to observe my ordinances (Ez 36:26-27). It can also be seen in the famous psalm no. 51, the"Miserere," where the psalmist implores: Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me. We begin to see the Spirit of the Lord as an inner transforming power, which changes man, raising him above his natural wickedness.A mysterious power.

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In the Old Testament, however, the features of the Holy Spirit are still not well defined. St. Gregory Nazianzen said of the way the Holy Spirit was revealed: "In the Old Testament we clearly get to know the Father (God, the Creator) and we learn a little of the Son (in fact, some messianic texts speak of Him, though in a veiled manner). In the New Testament we come to know very well the Son because He became flesh and came among us, but we also get to know a little of the Holy Spirit: Jesus announces to the disciples that after Him will come the Paraclete.

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At long last," continues St.Gregory, "in our times, of the Church after the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit is among us and we can know Him. God's way of teaching is very gradual; almost light after light, in a slow rhythm, He takes usto the full light of the Trinity."The Old Testament is entirely pervaded by the breath of the Holy Spirit. But, of course, we cannot forget that the books of the OT are His greatest sign, because according to Christian doctrine, they were inspired by Him. His first action was to give us the Bible, which speaks of Him and of His work in the hearts of men. When we open the Bible with faith, and not just as scholars or out of curiosity, we meet the mysterious breath of the Spirit. It is not an abstract or fleeting experience. Echo

When The Sun Danced at Fatima

http://www.crownofstars.blogspot.com/

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THE FATIMA MIRACLE OF THE SUN... In Fatima, on October 13, 1917, up to 70,000 people gathered in expectation of a special sign that Our Lady would provide as proof of her apparitions there: - Posted by Pilgrim. -

Confession: Stronger than Exorism

Confession: Stronger than Exorcism

We must insist on the need for frequent confession - in spite of all the difficulties existing today to the frequent reception of this sacrament - since both theologians and exorcists reaffirm its great efficacy.
The exorcist of the Archdiocese of Venice, Fr. Pellegrino Ernetti, of the Order of Saint Benedict, said: “The sacrament of the Confession, we know, is the second best 'safety belt', right after Baptism… Experience teaches us that it is most difficult for Satan to penetrate a soul that washes itself frequently with the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. This Blood becomes a veritable armor against which Satan may force, but never succeeds in opening, not even the smallest breach. The assiduous and constant frequency to this sacrament is a necessity, for both those who perform the exorcism and those who need the exorcism. I am convinced, after my long experience that the priest ought to wash his soul in the Blood of Jesus daily, if he wants to fight against the demon, side by side with Jesus, and be victorious. It is this, truly, the sacrament that Satan fears… Christ defeated Satan with His Own Blood. And the Apocalypse tells us explicitly: 'These are the ones that have conquered Satan by the Blood of the Lamb'."
Fr. Gabriele Amorth, exorcist of the Diocese of Rome, is equally forceful: "I have written many times that one causes much more furor to the demon with Confession - that is expelling the demon from the soul - than with exorcism, that expels him from the body… Confession is much stronger than exorcism."
A sovereign contempt for the demon
The Saints and spiritual authors also encourage a sovereign contempt for the demon.
Let us hear to what Saint Therese says:
"It is very often that these damned spirits come to torment me; but they inspire very little fear in me, because I know them well and they cannot even stir without God's permission… This should be well known by all: every time we show our contempt for the demons, they lose their strength and the soul acquires more predominance upon them… To see themselves despised by weaker beings is, in fact, a severe humiliation for these arrogant beings. Well, as we said before, humbly supported by God, we have the right and the obligation of showing our contempt: if God is with us, who will be against us? They can bark, but they cannot bite, unless in the cases that - by imprudence, or pride - we place ourselves in their power".
Evidently, we must not confuse this contempt for the demon with the vain pretension that we, by ourselves, have any power over the fallen Angels.
By our nature, we have no power whatsoever over them; on the contrary, by their superior nature, they are far more powerful than us. Therefore, the foundation of this healthy contempt for the infernal enemies must not be based on a rash disregard of danger. Rather, it must be supported by the most perfect humility and true confidence in the Creator and in the Most Holy Virgin. If these cares are taken, it is befitting to do what the great Saint Therese indicates with such propriety.
Above all, we should make every effort to live a life of serious and sincere piety, without superstition or sentimentality. This will certainly maintain the demon at a distance, as much as that is possible.
(By Luis Solimeo, from his book Angels and Demons)

Pope Echoes Haunting Message from Medjugorje

Pope Echoes Haunting Message from Medjugorje ministryValues.com By Stephen Ryan October 12, 2010 In October of 1981 "Our Lady" the Queen of Peace at Medjugorje said "The West has made civilization progress, ...

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Yesterday on October 11, 2010 Pope Benedict XVI speaking of Europe and the West said "that with tremendous scientific, social and cultural progress" (Europe and the West, nevertheless) "had grown to believe that they can exist without God'..thinking himself the architect of his own nature and destiny"
In October of 1981 "Our Lady" the Queen of Peace at Medjugorje said "The West has made civilization progress, but without God, as if they were their own creators."

A Saintly Man, Brother Andrea to be canonized by Pope Benedict

Saintly man‎ - 1 day ago
By Richard C. Dujardin A relic of Brother André sits next to his bust at SS. ... And now, 73 years after his death, Brother André is to be canonized by Pope ...Providence Journal - 6 related articles

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Born Alfred Bessette, and assigned as a porter at the College Notre-Dame in Montreal for 40 of his 91 years, he was dubbed The Miracle Man of Montreal for his seeming ability to call on divine intervention to heal the sick. It was a story attested to not only by many in Canada, but by relatives and acquaintances in Rhode Island with whom he visited frequently.
And now, 73 years after his death, Brother André is to be canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday.

Lets Just Praise the Lord today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBGChEkuC7E&feature=related

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All praise, all glory, and all honor belong to You

Lord, Jesus Christ.

Revelation: Saint Maria Faustina

Revelation:

When I was attending Mass in a certain church with another sister, I felt the greatness and majesty of God; I felt the church was permeated by God. His majesty enveloped me and, though it terrified me, it filled me with peace and joy. I knew that nothing could oppose His will.

*Oh, if only all souls knew who is living in our churches, there would not be so many outrages and so much disrespect in these holy places!

Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 409

Experiencing the presence of My Guardian Angel

Experiencing the presence of my Guardian Angel
By Bonnie Lewis

In May of 1989 my husband Art surprised me with a trip to Medjugorje for our 25th Anniversary. Our Blessed Mother had been appearing to 6 children since June of 1981 and I so desperately wanted to make a pilgrimage there. It was the best gift he could have given me. The night before we left I remember asking my guardian angel to please be with me on this trip and make it a real spiritual experience.

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We arrived in Medjugorje a few days before the Feast of the Ascension. We were not connected with any tour group but met up with a group from the states and went a few places with them. Ivan (one of the visionaries) received a special message from Our Lady that there was going to be an apparition on Mt. Krizevac at 11:00 p.m. that night in honor of the Feast of the Ascension. My husband and I had already climbed the difficult and rocky mountain that afternoon, so he decided not to join us. I ended up meeting the group late that evening at St. James Church where a bus would be taking us to the foot of Mt. Krizevac.
We waited and waited for the bus but it never arrived, so we started to walk. As we were walking and talking I looked ahead and there was an elderly woman walking all by herself. I do not know when or how she got there but I broke with my group and went up to her. While we were talking I noticed that this cute, plump, little old lady’s shoes were like ballerina slippers with very thin soles.
I was thinking that there was no way this woman would be able to climb up that rocky mountain in those shoes! As we began the long climb to the top, I grabbed her arm and up the mountain we went. Another young girl saw how difficult it was for the lady and grabbed her other arm. The rest of my group plus hundreds of other people had passed us, but we finally reached the top and then departed. With thousands of people trying to get a spot near the Cross where Mary was going to appear, I gave up hope trying to get close. Then I saw one of my friends waving for me for she had saved me a place. What a blessing.
The night was clear and beautiful and while we were waiting for the visionaries to arrive everyone started to sing. As thousands were praising God in song, tears flowed from my eyes. People from different countries and nationalities were one in spirit at that moment. It was like heaven on earth! When the visionaries arrived they began praying and then there was silence.
I saw three lights appear on the Cross. Ivan told us that Our Lady would be accompanied by three angels. I believe that the lights on the cross were the three angels. He said the main message from Our Lady, as I remember it, was that if you have the Holy Spirit within you, you have everything.
As we began the climb down the mountain, I looked around to see if that little old lady was in sight. I was relieved when I didn’t see her because I was so tired I didn’t think I had enough strength to help her again. Immediately after that thought, there she appeared right in front of me. I grabbed her arm and slowly we began the climb down the mountain. It was pitch dark and all we had was our flashlights and the moon to guide us.
When we got to the bottom my arm ached so badly from supporting her that it was shaking. I was grateful to God for getting us down safely.
As we said our goodbyes, the little old lady grabbed me and held me in her arms. She then looked me straight in the eyes and it was as if she were saying to me, “I’ve known you all of your life.” I felt those words so strongly accompanied by a tremendous love. I immediately thought about the passage in the Bible that says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality, for by that means some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
At that moment I knew without a doubt that I was standing in the presence of my guardian angel in human form. I was too shocked to say or do anything but stand there and watch her turn and leave. She left with the cutest smile on her face and twinkle in her eye.
*Since that wonderful experience of sharing that holy time with my guardian angel, I have given her the name “ Cherish” which means Dear. I was told by a priest that everyone must give their guardian angel a name. We name everything else in this world, so our guardian angel deserves a name also. I thank God for Cherish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehnw7A_VIDM

Source - Spiritdaily

Dear Children of Mary

September 6, 2010 Dear Family of Mary!
Dear children; Today I call you to a humble, my children, humble devotion. Your hearts need to be just. May your crosses be your means in the battle against the sins of the present time. May your weapon be patience and boundless love - a love that knows to wait and which will make you capable of recognizing God's signs - that your life, by humble love, may show the truth to all those who seek it in the darkness of lies. My children, my apostles, help me to open the paths to my Son. Once again I call you to pray for your shepherds. Alongside them, I will triumph. Thank you. (October 2, 2010)

"May your crosses be your means in the battle against the sins of the present time." This may be the most difficult part of the Christian life to understand and live. It is completely counter-intuitive. How can our set-backs, our trials, our sicknesses and failures be the very things that help us to triumph against the sins of our day? How can misfortune become triumph? It makes no earthly sense. And that is exactly it. It makes no earthly sense. Our temporal existence, our natural lives have a logic. The powerful win, the strong survive, the intelligent prevail. The trouble is that the battle against sin is not an earthly battle. It is a heavenly battle, a supernatural battle in a realm where earthly logic fails. It is a battle against Satan and the evil spirits who would create a kingdom of hate for God, a reality that says no to the Creator. It is a battle against the enemy of all men, who would enthrall us to himself, chaining us to his anti-gospel of hatred, selfishness and death.And the only way to defeat such an enemy is the way of the cross. Jesus showed us that way in His passion. He chose to suffer, to be humiliated, to be mocked and rejected, to be tortured and to die. He chose the Cross as His means in the battle against sin. And He won! If it worked for Jesus, it will work for us. We can choose to battle against sin through our crosses. How does it work? It seems that we are given crosses every day. They may be small, vexing little crosses, like a backache, a headache, a little fight with our spouse, or a traffic jam. But if we embrace the cross we are given, if we enter into it willingly and offer it up to the Father for the sake of souls, miracles will happen. Somewhere, someone will receive the strength to stay clean of drugs for that day, or to have hope in God, or to go to confession. Somewhere the battle against sin will be won in someone's life. That is the way it works. Our willingness to embrace our crosses can win ground for others who need the help. Such a life of intercession goes against all that the world would tell us. It is selfless, humble, forbearing, and generous. Such a life operates on heavenly logic, not earthly logic. But the victories are huge in such a life!! Absolutely huge! We will only know their full extent when we enter the heavenly courts and meet the souls who were helped by our surrender! "May your crosses be your means in the battle against the sins of the present time." Our crosses are tailor made for the sins of our time. God knows how hard it is to go against the prevailing winds. But if we choose to embrace the difficulties of our time, we will help Him to save many souls. Aren't we blessed!! Let's not lose hope, but do exactly what our time presents to us. As Gandalf said to Frodo, when he was ruing the fact that the Ring had come to him, "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." It's true. We can't rewrite things so that we have other crosses or other times. We have been given this time in history; we face the sins of our present time. But in our crosses we have been give the means to defeat those sins, just as Frodo was given the cross (the Ring) that would defeat the sins of his time. May we pray for the grace to embrace the crosses of today. In them we will find our victory. In Jesus and Mary! Cathy Nolan
(To sign up for these reflections go to our website and click on the yellow button that says "Join our Daily Reflection List. You can enter your email to the list and receive these reflections directly to your inbox. http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=5kvau7bab&et=1103750658774&s=662&e=001g2REko0_AUjcasp5EwzPi5PftTGtG907nfef4CeOfYat3xhmpACp1GjSDFVN7UhCvBPLJw3m0eaciJ6CDDL_sv4t_99h5G2DN6yefztOXzg= )

Da Mihi Animas: Fr. Stan Fortuna on St. Francis#links#links

Da Mihi Animas: Fr. Stan Fortuna on St. Francis#links#links

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Father Stan Fortuna speaks about Saint Francis.

Divine Mercy, Saint Faustina's Chaplet Vision Instructions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liWjpDmpAgM

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St. Faustina visions and Jesus' instructions to say and promote The Divine Mercy Chaplet. Music is "Divine Mercy Flood My Soul", written and sung by Annie Karto, Catholic singer/songwriter and inspirational speaker from Treasure Island FL.

Chosen Soul

Daily Grace

Chosen soul, living image of God and redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, God wants you to become holy like Him in this life, and glorious like Him in the next…It is certain that growth in the holiness of God is your vocation. All your thoughts, words, actions, everything you suffer or undertake, must lead you towards that end. Otherwise you are resisting God in doing the work for which He created you…. (Secret of Mary, § 3, St. Louis de Monfort )

One of Grandma’s favorite Bible quotes was, “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect. “ (Mt. 5:48). It was a quote she lived her life by. She was a woman of simple means and very little money. But, if you asked her for her shoes, she would give you her socks to go with them. If you were sick she would cook and clean for you. If you needed a bed she would give you hers while she slept on the couch. This was how she lived her life. She belonged entirely to the Lord; and she considered the things she did for others to be her duty to fulfill His desire that we all become perfect. These deeds she did for Him, she did with love. She taught me many things, not so much by her words but through the work she did.

As Christians, God's chosen souls, we go through many stages in our life’s journey; sometimes we seem to advance on our path, other times we seem to get side tracked or move backwards. It takes humility for us to admit that we are weak, that we need the Lord’s help in everything we do. But, through prayer and penance we are strengthened so that we, too, may grow in holiness.

"Dear children! Today I am with you and bless you all with my motherly blessing of peace, and I urge you to live your life of faith even more, because you are still weak and are not humble. I urge you, little children, to speak less and to work more on your personal conversion so that your witness may be fruitful. And may your life be unceasing prayer. Thank you for having responded to my call." BVM , Medjogorje, September 25 2010 Message to Marija

Source- http://dailygrace001.blogspot.com/

Polish women Stanislawa Leszczynska to be honored for saving Jewish babies during the Holocaust.

Polish woman to be honored for saving Jewish babies during the Holocaust
Friday, October 01, 2010 By Speroforum

A woman who saved hundreds of newborn babies from Nazis during the Second World War will be honoured during the 5th World Prayer Congress for Life, organized by Human Life International in Rome from October 5th to 10th. According to LifeSiteNews, the late Polish midwife, Stanislawa Leszczynska will be honoured for her heroic efforts in saving newborn babies from a brutal end at Auschwitz, a network of concentration and extermination camps that were built and operated in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany. Before she arrived at the camp in April 1943, all the newborns of prisoners in the infamous Nazi concentration camps were drowned and allowed to be ripped apart by rats before their mothers' eyes. But, as Matthew M. Anger reports in his article, 'Midwife at Auschwitz,' Leszczynska refused to carry out the Germans' order to kill the babies even opposing the infamous Dr. Mengele and, amazingly, was allowed to carry on unimpeded. During her time at Auschwitz, Leszczynska delivered over 3,000 babies. Half of those were murdered and another thousand died from the horrible conditions in the camp.


Father Nithiya believes the whole world should embrace the message of peace promoted by Mahatma Gandhi. The need to look to the poor and needy, because only with the development of the least can a just and tolerant society be achieved.But those with blond hair and blue eyes, about 500, were sent to be raised as Germans, and another 30 survived the camp. In her 'Report from Auschwitz,' Leszczynska described how the pregnant women were plagued with intense hunger and extreme cold and faced a severe lack of medicine and water. She and others had to work day and night to keep away the rats, which would gnaw off the noses, ears, fingers and feet of the sick. "Rats with their diet of human flesh grew to sizes of large cats,"” she said.

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During Leszczynska's entire time at the camp, no mother or baby died under her care. Asked by her supervising doctor to report on the death rate, she reported this fact to his astonishment. "Lagerarzt looked at me in disbelief,"” she recounts. Even the most sophisticated German clinics at universities, he said, could not claim such a success rate.” Leszczynska was able to use a secret tattoo under the newborns’ armpit to help many of the families reunite after the war. "As long as a newborn was together with the mother, motherhood itself created a ray of hope. Separation with the newborn was overwhelming," she said. "The thought of a possibility of future reunion with their children helped many women go through this ordeal."” The cause for Leszczynska's beatification in the Catholic Church is underway. The Stanislawa Leszczynska Foundation, led by members of her family, is working on a feature film about her life. Various high-level Vatican officials will attend the worldwide pro-life movement meeting scheduled to take place in Rome.

Our Lady's message to Mirjana of October 2, 2010

Amazing Apparition to Mirjana

Our Lady appeared to the visionary Mirjana today at the Blue Cross area of Medjugorje, giving the following message:

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“Dear Children; Today I call you to a humble, my children, humble devotion. Your hearts need to be just. May your crosses be your means in the battle against the sins of the present time. May your weapon be patience and boundless love – a love that knows to wait and which will make you capable of recognizing God’s signs – that your life, by humble love, may show the truth to all those who seek it in the darkness of lies. My children, my apostles, help me to open the paths to my Son. Once again I call you to pray for your shepherds. Alongside them, I will triumph. Thank You.

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”Sean Bloomfield (Queen of Peace Productions) has been in Medjugorje working on a new project. Today, with the help of Steve McEveety (producer of The Passion of the Christ) and Zaid Jazrawi of IHS 312, we filmed Mirjana's entire apparition. See below.According to insiders at the Medjugorje parish, a prominent theologian who specializes in mystics reported that this was one of the most profound messages to ever come from Medjugorje.

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Medjugorje was overflowing with pilgrims today, with estimates in the range of 60,000 to 70,000 based on the amount of hotels and pansions that were fully booked, not just in Medjugorje but in the surrounding towns as well. When the apparition took place, many of those present reported feeling a powerful peace and calmness in their hearts.

. High-res video and photos can be viewed at medjugorjelive.org

Holy Hour in Medjugorje

Friday, October 1, 2010

Medjugorje Time - 7:15 pm

Photo taken off of live webcam

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Our Lady tells us,"I have come to tell the world that God exists. He is the fullness of life, and to enjoy this fullness and peace, you must return to God." Our Lady's mission is one of peace and love. She has come to earth to re-educate us and to help us convert and re-center our lives back to God. Our Lady's role has always been one of guiding people to Her Son, Jesus. What a fantastic opportunity to have before us! It is important that we understand both the magnitude and the urgency of Our Lady's call to conversion, and that we respond to it wholeheartedly.