6/30/14
Spanish Model Quits Her Career to become a Nun
At the peak of her career Spanish model gives it all up.
6/29/14
Medjugorje 33rd Anniversary, June 25, 2014
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.
The 33rd Anniversary
The 33rd Anniversary of Our Lady’s Apparitions celebrated in Medjugorje
date: 26.06.2014.
The 33rd Anniversary of Our Lady’s Apparitions was solemnly celebrated in Medjugorje on Wednesday, June 25, 2014. Along with many local pilgrims from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Croatia, there were bigger groups from Italy, Hungary, Germany, France, Ireland, the United States, Romania, China, Vietnam, Puerto Rico, Slovenia, Poland, Belgium, Slovakia, Korea, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, Spain, Albania, Brazil, Hong-Kong, Mexico, Ukraine, Lebanon, Canada, Columbia, Lithuania, Latvia, Sri Lanka, Argentina, Uruguay and Uganda. Many of these pilgrims, especially young ones, walked to Medjugorje so they would fulfil their vows to the Queen of Peace and thank her for all the graces they received. There were 21 Holy Masses celebrated during the day and the central evening prayer programme began at 6 p.m. with Rosary and Holy Mass at 7 p.m. Fr. Branimir Musa, parish priest from Tihaljina, celebrated the solemn Holy Mass with 247 priests who concelebrated. The day before, on the Eve of the Anniversary, Fr. Miro Sego celebrated Holy Mass with 188 priests that concelebrated. The traditional 23rd Peace Walk took place on June 24 and it started in Humac, shrine of St. Anthony to the church of St. James in Medjugorje. (photos)
6/28/14
Sharing This
May you all be blessed by Father's words!
--
Maureen
“Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the
world!” Blessed Pope John Paul
II
"Live peace in your
heart and in your surroundings, so that all may recognize the
peace
which does
not come from you but from God." 12/25/88
6/25/14
Estimated 100,000 Attend Anniversary
by Jakob Marschner
The 33rd anniversary of the first apparitions in Medjugorje is celebrated by next to 100,000 people. Medjugorje’s parish priest says that individual recognition of the Medjugorje message precedes the Church recognition. Visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic asks for prayers for the seers.
A fraction of the just about 100,000 people estimated to be in Medjugorje these days
Thirty-three years after the six Medjugorje visionaries had their first apparition, great numbers of pilgrims gathered today to mark the anniversary. Mass was celebrated in 18 languages.
“Today, the thirty-third anniversary of the apparitions in Medjugorje, next to 100,000 faithful gathered from around the world” the regional newpaper Dnevni List, based in nearby Mostar, reports.
Fr. Marinko Sakota
On the occasion, Medjugorje parish priest Fr Marinko Sakota tells Radio Mir Medjugorje that he views the internal change experienced by
pilgrims as the most important part of the Medjugorje phenomenon.
pilgrims as the most important part of the Medjugorje phenomenon.
“The most important thing is that I personally recognize Medjugorje, by praying, fasting, and going to Mass. And at the same time that prayer changes us on the inside. It is a recognition of Medjugorje’s corrrectness, and then the official Church will officially recognize all the gifts and fruits. The most important thing is that we recognize the (style of) life of Medjugorje” Fr. Marinko Sakota says.
Visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic prays before the Blessed Sacrament after the 23rd annual Peace March on June 24. Photo: Medjugorje Info
His comments come five months after the Vatican’s international Commission on Medjugorje delivered its report to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the contents of which have remained unknown.
On June 23, visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic issued a rare appeal for prayers for the six Medjugorje visionaries:
“Tonight, when Our Lady comes to me, I will pray for all of you. But you remember the visionaries sometimes and say a prayer for us as well” she said, according to the Medjugorje blog site Crown of Stars
http://www.medjugorjetoday.tv/33rd Anniversary message from Our Lady, to Marija:
Dear children! The Most High is giving me the grace that I can still be with you and to lead you in prayer towards the way of peace. Your heart and soul thirst for peace and love, for God and His joy. Therefore, little children, pray, pray, pray and in prayer you will discover the wisdom of living. I bless you all and intercede for each of you before my Son Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call."
Message of June 25, 2014
6/24/14
The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
The child grew and became strong in spirit. (Luke 1:80)
What do you think is the most impressive thing about John the Baptist? His uncompromising zeal for the Lord? His clear, passionate preaching? Maybe his gift of self-denial or the humility he displayed despite his fame?
How about this instead? That even as a fetus, John leaped for joy in the presence of Mary and Jesus. Imagine: here was an unborn baby, barely aware of life outside of the womb, and yet the muffled sound of Mary’s greeting when she visited Elizabeth filled him with the Holy Spirit and caused such a joy-filled reaction!
John’s leap may remind us of Isaac’s wife, Rebecca, who also felt an unusual amount of activity from the twins in her womb. Rebecca asked the Lord why this was happening, and he told her that something spiritual and prophetic was going on inside of her (Genesis 25:20-23). King David also leaped before the ark of the covenant. He loved God so much he could not contain his joy at seeing the ark of God’s presence finally brought home safely to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:14-15). The prophet Isaiah wrote that in the age to come, when the glory of the Lord is made manifest, even the lame will leap for joy (Isaiah 35:4-6).
All of these dramatic displays show us that there is a part of us that can recognize God, regardless of what we do or who we are. It’s encoded into the way he made us. This ability to recognize the Lord is not limited to unborn babies or great saints. It’s in all of us, and it’s something that the Holy Spirit wants to bring to life so that we too can recognize Jesus more deeply—and rejoice in his presence.
So let’s join John the Baptist and leap for joy. After all, Jesus is present to us just as he was to John—and even more so, since we have been baptized into his life. Let’s tell Jesus how happy we are that he has redeemed us. Let’s praise him for his mercy and his healing power. More than anything else, let’s rejoice that we belong to him, and he belongs to us!
“Lord, I am so glad you live in me. Your love is so strong that it makes me want to sing and dance in your presence. Jesus, I love you!”
Medjugorje: 23rd Peace Walk
Apart from that event, all pilgrims are also participating in the celebration of Holy Masses, and the vigil Holy Mass of Anniversary was celebrated at 7 p.m. at the White Dome of St. James' church. (photos) http://www.medjugorje.hr/en/
6/22/14
The Medjugorje Message: The years pass by...
 |
| Photo by Bernard Gallagher http://crownofstars.blogspot.com/ |
The Medjugorje Message: The years pass by...: No one is more patient than God the Father; no one understands and knows how to wait as much as he does. — Pope Francis (@Pontifex) May 2, 2...
6/21/14
Our Lady's apparition to Ivan
Women writes to Pope and receives medal from Medjugorje
Featured article from June's Spirit of Medjugorje
A Very Special Medal
By Alicia Italiani
Several months ago, I wrote a letter to Pope Francis asking his blessing and prayer for my family and for myself. I have a devotion to Our Lady of Medugorje, and I understand that whether the alleged apparitions in Medugorje are approved or not, that prayer and fasting and any devotion to the Blessed Mother is good and pleasing to God. But I still felt like I needed to know if it was OK to follow those particular messages (just because there’s been so much confusion regarding the devotion within the Church).
On May 6, I received a response back – coincidentally the same day I had requested special Masses through Fr. Hampsch with the Claretian ministries for Healing of my Family Tree (Generational Healing). The response was from the Papal Nuncio to the United States from Pope Francis. Included in the envelope were a medal from Medugorje, a medal of St. Michael the Archangel and two holy cards – one with a picture of Pope Francis and the other a picture of St. Francis with his prayer for peace (Make me a channel of Your Peace...). The note said that the medals were blessed by Pope Francis!I felt so comforted and I just wanted to share the story.
Editor’s note: Alicia is from Erie, PA. Please note that Alicia did not misspell Medjugorje. That is the way it is spelled in Medjugorje, and that is the spelling on her medal. Although we do not want to preclude any judgment by the Church regarding Medjugorje, we did find this story interesting. What was also interesting is that the postmark on the envelope is May 2 – the day that Our Lady appears to Mirjana to pray for unbelievers. I felt prompted to look up the Mass readings for that day and was not surprised at all when I saw that the first reading was from Acts 5, which included the words, “For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God” (Acts 5:38-39). http://www.spiritofmedjugorje.org/index.php
The Medjugorje Message: The light inside...
 |
| Photo by Bernard Gallagher http://crownofstars.blogspot.com/ |
The Medjugorje Message: The light inside...: The lamp of the body is the eye. It follows that if your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light. But if your eye is disease...
6/20/14
6/19/14
Children of Medjugorje Newsletter June 2014
June 15 2014,
Feast of the Holy Trinity!
Feast of the Holy Trinity!
Dear
children of Medjugorje, praised be Jesus and Mary!
1.
On June 2, 2014, Mirjana received her monthly apparition at the Blue Cross,
in the presence of a huge crowd! After the apparition she gave the following
message:
"Dear children, I call you all and accept you as my children. I am
praying that you may accept me and love me as a mother. I have united all of you
in my heart, I have descended among you and I bless you. I know that you desire
consolation and hope from me because I love you and intercede for you. I ask of
you to unite with me in my Son and to be my apostles. For you to be able to do
so, I am calling you, anew, to love. There is no love without prayer - there is
no prayer without forgiveness; because love is prayer - forgiveness is love. My
children, God created you to love and you love so as to forgive. Every prayer
that comes out of love unites you with my Son and the Holy Spirit; and the Holy
Spirit illuminates you and makes you my apostles - apostles who will do
everything they do in the name of the Lord. They will pray with their works and
not just with words, because they love my Son and comprehend the way of truth
which leads to eternal life. Pray for your shepherds that they may always lead
you with a pure heart on the way of truth and love - the way of my Son. Thank
you."
2.
On June 13th we celebrated a great Franciscan saint who is very
dear to the Croatian people, even though he is Portuguese: Saint Antony of
Padua. 20 minutes from Medjugorje there is a beautiful sanctuary dedicated to
him, and every year thousands of Croatians go there from far away, often walking
barefoot. To further exemplify how popular this saint is with the people, few
are the families who do not have an "Ante" or "Anthony" among their sons. Even
Vicka is one of them, her only son is named Ante!
Saint Antony received many charisms from God, one of which was preaching in the Holy Spirit. When he spoke, hearts opened to God like flowers to the sun. Saint Francis of Assisi therefore entrusted him with preaching, and teaching his brothers. One of my favorite anecdotes from his life goes like this: One day Saint Anthony was preaching, and a passerby began to listen to him. The man had committed very grave sins and had been making fun of God, but when he heard Anthony's words of grace, his heart was touched and he could feel the incredible love Jesus had for him. Seeing himself loved so much, he began to sob like a little child, and his tears became even more abundant when he thought about all the harm he had done to Jesus with his sins. He then decided to change his life, to follow Jesus with all his heart, and to go to confession.
Upon entering Saint Anthony's confessional, his crying prevented him from uttering a single word. So Anthony suggested that he go back home, write his sins on a piece of paper, then come back to the confessional, and he did. Anthony slowly read the impressive list of sins while the man could only nod as a sign of acquiesce. He still hadn't recover his voice, so strong was the emotion that had seized him. Finally Anthony reassured his penitent and encouraged him to change his life and to live with Jesus according to the Gospel. Then he gave him a penance and the absolution from all of his sins. The man had made peace with God! Anthony carefully folded the paper where the terrible list of sins were written and gave it back to the forgiven sinner who left unburdened and joyful.
When
the man arrived home, he wanted to burn the paper. He unfolded it and to his
surprise, he found the paper completely blank! His sins had totally disappeared!
Gone! God was caught in the middle of a delicate act of mercy! It is then that
the man realized even more the grace of his confession: when God sees that we
come to Him with a real contrition, the desire not to sin any more, and the
decision to change our ways, He rejoices so much that not only does He forgive
us our sins, but He forgets them! They no longer exist! They are washed in the
blood of the Lamb and God becomes amnesic of our evil deeds.
If
we have sincere contrition, even the debt caused by the sin is erased, either
partly or totally, according to the depth of our repentance. In other words, the
pain from having wounded Jesus, The one we love, spares us purgatory, either
completely, or partly. Our desert fathers even claimed that the gift of tears is
the greatest gift that we can expect from the Holy Spirit. It is a burning love,
a most blessed burn because it opens wide the gates of Heaven!
3. Our
Lady invites us! She knows that the root of our spiritual illnesses is that
we actually love Jesus too little. This is the real cause of the disharmony we
feel within ourselves and with others! The one who loves Him is so happy, so
free! This is why Mary offers us a sure way to grow in the love of Christ. She
recommends that we stand in front of the cross and adore her son, and to adore
Him with all our hearts, for a long time! We can then contemplate his sores, his
wounds, and how much He suffered to save us. Little by little our hearts begin
to feel compassion for Him and we start to hate our sins that struck Him to
death. We desire to change the direction of our life. Genuine contrition emerges
within us. Furthermore, with our eyes focused on his open heart, we are able to
receive what sprang from this heart. The wound inflicted by the lance 2000
years ago never closed. Water, blood, and the Holy Spirit sprang from this
heart, and continue to flow in a stream that never dries out. This Heart is the
wellspring of a whole river of love! If we are with Mary as we contemplate Him,
then we receive an abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit! I would say even a
shower with the Holy Spirit!
4.
The novena before the 33rd Anniversary of the Apparitions starts
today June 16th. So many graces are awaiting us! 33 is a very special
number! Jesus was 33 years old when his heart opened to let mercy flow. One of
the nicest gifts we can offer the Gospa is living her message, "I expect you to
unite yourselves to me in my Son and to be my apostles...to be able to do this,
I invite you again to love. There is no love without prayer - there is no prayer
without forgiveness, because love is prayer - forgiveness is love. My Children
God created you to love." Each day of the novena let's take time with merciful
Jesus, and let us begin a conversation with Him that comes from the heart.He is
waiting for us there, with his Mother. You can also join in with the parish,
which will pray 2 mysteries every day at 4 p.m. on Apparition Hill.
Dear
Gospa, we send you a huge thank you for your 33 years of apparitions, for
your motherly love that has no bound, for your patience, your mother's
tenderness, your teachings, your blessings, your mercy, your protection, your
miracles, and for your maternal mantle with which you cover all those who follow
your school with all their hearts!
Sister Emmanuel +
6/18/14
Most Important in the Spiritual Life is to ask for the gift of the Hoy Spirit
"Come Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit."
We can never repeat that enough. It's the most fundamental of prayers. You can even ask the Holy Spirit to tell you what you need and how to pray for it!
It is the Holy Spirit Who grants guidance, heals sickness, strengthens our bodies, and protects us against all untoward events. It's the Holy Spirit Who imbues Mass with Christ's Presence. When there are miracles or revelations, these are accomplished through the Holy Spirit. During Mass He is especially strong. He is especially willing to pervade our spirits.
And we should invite that. We should beg for His arrival. We should beg Him to pray through our minds and lips. Again, we should ask Him to reveal to us what it is we should be praying about.
He is the Spirit of Truth. He is the Spirit of prayerfulness.
When the priest gives us the opportunity to reflect upon our sins, we should ask the Holy Spirit to tell us what sins we most need to purge. We should ask Him to reach deep into our pasts and expunge any evil. We should ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten us as to what we need for spiritual development.
And we should cover ourselves with the whiteness of His protection.
Such is crucial in our time, when evil spirits (which we'll be discussing more this week) are more numerous than ever-- when they continue to climb in a horde from the pit, when they antagonize and anger and divide us. We need special protection, and that protection is given by the Holy Spirit. He draws us to the Father. He draws us to Jesus. As part of the Holy Trinity, He has the power to grant us health (if such is the Will of God) and shield us from demonism.
At Mass we should ask the Holy Spirit to protect us and our loved ones from accidents and disease. We should ask for protection from any unfortunate events. We should ask the Spirit to send special angels and further empower those angels we have. We should ask Him to guide our every thought and action. We should ask for a long, healthy life, a holy death, and the sure route to heaven.Nothing brings the Holy Spirit like the Eucharist, and with God, anything is possible.
Anything can change. Anything can be accomplished. As the Virgin of Medjugorje said, "The most important thing in the spiritual life is to ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit comes, then peace will be established. When that occurs, everything around you changes. Pray for the Holy Spirit for enlightenment. Ask the Holy Spirit to renew your souls, to renew the entire world. Raise your hands, yearn for Jesus because in His Resurrection He wants to fill you with graces."
Anything can change. Anything can be accomplished. As the Virgin of Medjugorje said, "The most important thing in the spiritual life is to ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit comes, then peace will be established. When that occurs, everything around you changes. Pray for the Holy Spirit for enlightenment. Ask the Holy Spirit to renew your souls, to renew the entire world. Raise your hands, yearn for Jesus because in His Resurrection He wants to fill you with graces."
When that happens, when we have the Holy Spirit, then, according to Our Blessed Mother, we have everything.
[adapted from Secrets of the Eucharist] Source-Spiritdaily
6/17/14
Kiera's Miracle
Featured article from June's Spirit of Medjugorje
Kiera's Miracle
By Cathy Chirdon
My family and I were devastated four years ago when our
nine year-old granddaughter, Kiera, was diagnosed with stage-4 Epithelioid
sarcoma – a very rare cancer causing tumors with finger-like extensions. She had
a tumor in her sacrum (bottom) area, the size of a man’s fist that had
finger-like extensions to other areas. A surgeon in Pittsburgh could not remove
the entire tumor because of where the extensions were. Pittsburgh had never seen
this type of cancer, so we went to Philadelphia. We were told that there was
nothing that could be done – radiation and chemotherapy would not work. The only
cure was to remove the entire tumor. Because of where Kiera’s tumor was, it
would be a very radical surgery, having to remove her buttocks and maybe more.
It would be too painful and most likely that area would not heal. We didn’t want
to just give up, so the oncologist said she would do another scan in a few
months.
Meanwhile, everyone was praying. Kiera’s name spread like wild fire. We received so many holy items and Masses. Kiera’s picture was taken to the Holy Land, Medjugorje, and Rome.
My friend, Joann, told me about Fr. Bill Kiel. Her mother had been to his Healing Mass in Indiana, PA, and was healed from kidney cancer. Fr. Kiel met with us privately and blessed us all, and we went to his Healing Mass several times. After my first Healing Mass and resting in the Spirit for the first time, I had felt peace for the first time since Kiera was diagnosed. Kiera also rested in the spirit.
When Kiera had her scan, the surgeon said that surgery would be doable, but would have to have a plastic surgeon available. However, they found a nodule on Kiera’s lung, and she had to have a biopsy. After her biopsy, the first thing Kiera said was, “Nana, I just felt the Blessed Mother kiss me on my forehead.” The biopsy was negative – a miracle! The oncologist was sure that the cancer had spread to her lungs. If it had, no surgery would have been performed.
We kept going to Fr. Kiel’s Healing Masses and to a local church, St. Francis Night of Worship, where the Franciscan’s brothers prayed for her. Fr. Kiel had gone to Medjugorje where he said Mass for Kiera and brought her back 100 rosaries and medals. Kiera enjoyed giving these to everyone.
Kiera had to have a colostomy before her major surgery, then in a few weeks she would have the surgery. A week before her surgery, we got a call that her surgeon had to have back surgery. We had the choice of having another surgeon or to wait until Kiera’s surgeon returned. We thought God must have a reason for this. We would wait because he was the best surgeon. Because her surgery was delayed by another six weeks, she had to have another scan. The surgeon was surprised to see that the tumor and its extensions were much, much less, and a plastic surgeon would not be needed. The surgeon said he did not understand how it could be better. I told him it was God, and he wouldn’t believe how many people were praying for her. She had her surgery while everyone was praying for her, and the surgeon got clean borders – a miracle! Kiera healed miraculously well with no problems at all. She was back in school a week after her surgery. If her surgeon wouldn’t have had surgery himself, Kiera’s surgery would have been much more radical.
A year later, Kiera had her colostomy reversed. During all of this, we were blessed to meet so many amazing people. And of course, God had already blessed us with our wonderful family and friends, and co-workers. We had so many God-winks.
Then, in October, 2011, Kiera felt a tiny lump in her chest that started to grow. A biopsy showed it was the same cancer. Her oncologist said surgery was not possible due to the tumor’s finger-like extensions down around her ribs. Of course, we confirmed it with a second opinion. No surgery or chemo could be done. I thought, “Why did God take away His miracle?“ That is when our wonderful friend, Debbie, said we should go to Medjugorje.
In January of 2012, we went to Medjugorje. The visionary Vicka had been too ill to be speaking in public, but she began speaking the week before Kiera arrived. Vicka held Kiera in her arms and prayed for her. She told her that there is nothing to fear. Kiera said that she knows that, and that she is in a win-win situation. She wins if she goes to Heaven and she wins if she stays here. Vicka said our Blessed Mother took her to Heaven, and Heaven is the most joyful place we could ever imagine.
Meanwhile, everyone was praying. Kiera’s name spread like wild fire. We received so many holy items and Masses. Kiera’s picture was taken to the Holy Land, Medjugorje, and Rome.
My friend, Joann, told me about Fr. Bill Kiel. Her mother had been to his Healing Mass in Indiana, PA, and was healed from kidney cancer. Fr. Kiel met with us privately and blessed us all, and we went to his Healing Mass several times. After my first Healing Mass and resting in the Spirit for the first time, I had felt peace for the first time since Kiera was diagnosed. Kiera also rested in the spirit.
When Kiera had her scan, the surgeon said that surgery would be doable, but would have to have a plastic surgeon available. However, they found a nodule on Kiera’s lung, and she had to have a biopsy. After her biopsy, the first thing Kiera said was, “Nana, I just felt the Blessed Mother kiss me on my forehead.” The biopsy was negative – a miracle! The oncologist was sure that the cancer had spread to her lungs. If it had, no surgery would have been performed.
We kept going to Fr. Kiel’s Healing Masses and to a local church, St. Francis Night of Worship, where the Franciscan’s brothers prayed for her. Fr. Kiel had gone to Medjugorje where he said Mass for Kiera and brought her back 100 rosaries and medals. Kiera enjoyed giving these to everyone.
Kiera had to have a colostomy before her major surgery, then in a few weeks she would have the surgery. A week before her surgery, we got a call that her surgeon had to have back surgery. We had the choice of having another surgeon or to wait until Kiera’s surgeon returned. We thought God must have a reason for this. We would wait because he was the best surgeon. Because her surgery was delayed by another six weeks, she had to have another scan. The surgeon was surprised to see that the tumor and its extensions were much, much less, and a plastic surgeon would not be needed. The surgeon said he did not understand how it could be better. I told him it was God, and he wouldn’t believe how many people were praying for her. She had her surgery while everyone was praying for her, and the surgeon got clean borders – a miracle! Kiera healed miraculously well with no problems at all. She was back in school a week after her surgery. If her surgeon wouldn’t have had surgery himself, Kiera’s surgery would have been much more radical.
A year later, Kiera had her colostomy reversed. During all of this, we were blessed to meet so many amazing people. And of course, God had already blessed us with our wonderful family and friends, and co-workers. We had so many God-winks.
Then, in October, 2011, Kiera felt a tiny lump in her chest that started to grow. A biopsy showed it was the same cancer. Her oncologist said surgery was not possible due to the tumor’s finger-like extensions down around her ribs. Of course, we confirmed it with a second opinion. No surgery or chemo could be done. I thought, “Why did God take away His miracle?“ That is when our wonderful friend, Debbie, said we should go to Medjugorje.
In January of 2012, we went to Medjugorje. The visionary Vicka had been too ill to be speaking in public, but she began speaking the week before Kiera arrived. Vicka held Kiera in her arms and prayed for her. She told her that there is nothing to fear. Kiera said that she knows that, and that she is in a win-win situation. She wins if she goes to Heaven and she wins if she stays here. Vicka said our Blessed Mother took her to Heaven, and Heaven is the most joyful place we could ever imagine.
Kiera with visionary Vicka
While climbing Cross Mountain, we first saw the Miracle
of the Sun. At another location, Kiera captured this miracle on her phone, which
the rest of us could not capture. You can see her video on YouTube (Video of
Pulsating Sun from Medjugorje). My husband, Bob, saw a hand above the Cross as
he was praying. At the Risen Christ statue, tears drip out of the leg; but every
time Kiera touched it, they flowed (not drip). Fr. Kevin Devine said Mass for
her and treated her like an angel. We met so many amazing people and friends for
life. We all had such a peace that is hard to explain. We didn’t want to leave
and cried as we drove away.
Kiera’s care was transferred back to Pittsburgh, so she would be closer for palliative care. She was in a clinical trial in the summer of 2012, which failed, and the tumor grew. She also developed tumor lesions and fistulas in her original tumor site on her bottom. She was in extreme pain.
Our friends, Anita and Nancy, who we met at Fr. Kiel’s, were going to Medjugorje in November, 2012, with Fr. Kiel. They felt that Kiera HAD to go back to Medjugorje. They were leaving in three weeks, and I said we just couldn’t afford to go again so soon. They said not to worry about the money. Special anonymous Earth angels donated money to pay for Kiera and her father, Dan (my son), to go. There just happened to be room on the plane and in the hotel. Also, I found out later that they were short $500, and a man from Massachusetts we never even met, who couldn’t make his trip with the same travel company that we were with, wanted to use his refund toward a child going to Medjugorje. He knew nothing about Kiera, but the agent at the travel company did. Just so happens that he has a granddaughter whose name is Kiera - spelled the same. So, November 6, 2012, we were so blessed to go back to Medjugorje, which was Kiera’s wish. Kiera climbed Apparition Hill and Cross Mountain in her bare feet all the way to the top and back. Fr. Kiel blessed Kiera from a puddle of water between the statue of Our Blessed Mother and the Crucifix, making a Sign of the Cross over her tumor in her chest. Kiera said that she felt Jesus and Mary were with her, and that evening she said she thought the tumor was shrinking. So many more God-winks, blessings, and peace in Medjugorje!
Kiera’s care was transferred back to Pittsburgh, so she would be closer for palliative care. She was in a clinical trial in the summer of 2012, which failed, and the tumor grew. She also developed tumor lesions and fistulas in her original tumor site on her bottom. She was in extreme pain.
Our friends, Anita and Nancy, who we met at Fr. Kiel’s, were going to Medjugorje in November, 2012, with Fr. Kiel. They felt that Kiera HAD to go back to Medjugorje. They were leaving in three weeks, and I said we just couldn’t afford to go again so soon. They said not to worry about the money. Special anonymous Earth angels donated money to pay for Kiera and her father, Dan (my son), to go. There just happened to be room on the plane and in the hotel. Also, I found out later that they were short $500, and a man from Massachusetts we never even met, who couldn’t make his trip with the same travel company that we were with, wanted to use his refund toward a child going to Medjugorje. He knew nothing about Kiera, but the agent at the travel company did. Just so happens that he has a granddaughter whose name is Kiera - spelled the same. So, November 6, 2012, we were so blessed to go back to Medjugorje, which was Kiera’s wish. Kiera climbed Apparition Hill and Cross Mountain in her bare feet all the way to the top and back. Fr. Kiel blessed Kiera from a puddle of water between the statue of Our Blessed Mother and the Crucifix, making a Sign of the Cross over her tumor in her chest. Kiera said that she felt Jesus and Mary were with her, and that evening she said she thought the tumor was shrinking. So many more God-winks, blessings, and peace in Medjugorje!
Kiera with Fr. Bill Kiel
In December, Kiera went for her check-up, and her bottom
area was as the doctor said, “Amazingly better.” She no longer had pain in this
area, and she had put on 10 pounds. Her tumor in her chest was still there, but
not giving her as much pain as before. Her oncologist decided it wouldn’t hurt
to try radiation on her chest; although, it had been proven that radiation does
not work on this type of tumor. Over Christmas, she had radiation and then again
the end of January. When we went for Kiera’s checkup in August, 2013, no tumor
could be felt. Her oncologist said it is unexplainable and is miraculous! He
said she is his third miracle since he became a doctor. He said there was no way
that radiation would have shrunk it. Also, when Kiera had an echocardiogram, I
had the technician place the ultrasound over the tumor site, and he could not
detect any tumor. Miracle! Kiera just had her six-month checkup on Good Friday,
April 18th [2014], and her oncologist still says it’s a miracle!
If it hadn’t been for Kiera’s illness, we would not have become closer to God, met so many amazing people, and been blessed with so many new friends. Kiera has made so many people more faithful. Kiera told me when the cancer had come back to not be sad; she couldn’t wait to meet God, and that we would be together soon because our time here on Earth is like a blink of God’s eye. We never gave up hope and praying, but also accepted God’s will and peace. Most important of all is for us to be in Heaven with Our Lord! Maybe Kiera’s illness has saved some souls.
Before Kiera’s illness, I always thanked God, but didn’t really praise Him. I always went to church, but hadn’t made God the center of my life. I knew of the Holy Spirit, but didn’t KNOW the Holy Spirit like I do now. I now know the power of the Rosary and fasting, and read God’s Word, the Bible. So I have to thank God for Kiera’s illness because it brought me and others closer to God. Kiera is God’s gift to us – she is God’s. I know there is a God because how else can we have a heart that can love others so much. Thank you, my wonderful Blessed Mother, all my angels, saints, loved ones in Heaven and on Earth for your prayers. Thank you, God The Father! Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Holy Spirit! If you are reading this, please give thanks for me.
Remember to always give thanks and praise to God; prayer is very powerful. Nothing is impossible with God. Jesus, I trust in You!
If it hadn’t been for Kiera’s illness, we would not have become closer to God, met so many amazing people, and been blessed with so many new friends. Kiera has made so many people more faithful. Kiera told me when the cancer had come back to not be sad; she couldn’t wait to meet God, and that we would be together soon because our time here on Earth is like a blink of God’s eye. We never gave up hope and praying, but also accepted God’s will and peace. Most important of all is for us to be in Heaven with Our Lord! Maybe Kiera’s illness has saved some souls.
Before Kiera’s illness, I always thanked God, but didn’t really praise Him. I always went to church, but hadn’t made God the center of my life. I knew of the Holy Spirit, but didn’t KNOW the Holy Spirit like I do now. I now know the power of the Rosary and fasting, and read God’s Word, the Bible. So I have to thank God for Kiera’s illness because it brought me and others closer to God. Kiera is God’s gift to us – she is God’s. I know there is a God because how else can we have a heart that can love others so much. Thank you, my wonderful Blessed Mother, all my angels, saints, loved ones in Heaven and on Earth for your prayers. Thank you, God The Father! Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Holy Spirit! If you are reading this, please give thanks for me.
Remember to always give thanks and praise to God; prayer is very powerful. Nothing is impossible with God. Jesus, I trust in You!
Editor’s note: Cathy is from
Dysart, PA. http://www.spiritofmedjugorje.org/index.php
6/15/14
Novena to Our Lady, Queen of Peace, in honor of 33 years of her presence in Medjugorje.
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6/14/14
Ten ways to open up to the Holy Spirit
Fr. Ed Broom
The Gift of Gifts, the Paraclete, the Counselor and Consoler, Friend, Sanctifier, Third Person of the Blessed Trinity—all of these are different titles given to the Person of the Holy Spirit. In an earlier article we explained the power of the Holy Spirit to transform sinners into great saints—as we saw in the Apostles, and especially Simon Peter. Saint John XXIII actually said: “The saints are the masterpieces of the Holy Spirit.” A future saint can be you and me.
In this article we would like to point out ten specific ways that we can deepen our knowledge, love, intimacy and union with the Holy Spirit and thereby allow Him to do the work of transforming us from sinners into saints. It can be done if we become docile instruments in the hands of God who is the Holy Spirit! “Come Holy Spirit, come, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary!”
1. Prayer. Form the habit if praying to the Holy Spirit on a frequent basis. You could pray the traditional prayer to the Holy Spirit: “Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle within us the fire of your divine love.” If you like the hymn in Latin: “Veni Creator”; or the Sequence prayed on Pentecost “Veni, Sancte Spiritus.” Or you might sing the classical hymn to the Holy Spirit, “Come Holy Ghost.” Or it might appeal to you to pray the Litany of the Holy Spirit. Never forget, you can pray and talk to the Holy Spirit using your own words, simply speak to Him from your heart.
2. Acts of the Apostles. Read the book from the Bible, “The Acts of the Apostles”. Written by the Evangelist Saint Luke, this book clearly shows the powerful working of the Holy Spirit in the Apostles—especially Saint Peter and St. Paul—as well as the formation of the primitive church. As you read be keenly attentive to the presence and workings of the Holy Spirit and beg Him to work powerfully in your own personal life! “Come Holy Spirit come….”
3. Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Get to know the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. You received the Gifts of the Holy Spirit the day of your Baptism. These Gifts were fortified the day of your Confirmation. However, these Gifts must be used and exercised. If these Gifts are not used then they become rusty, dormant, and inactive. Memorize them and study them. Here they are: Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety and Fear of the Lord. These gifts, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, perfect our intellect and our will—so that we can know God more clearly and love Him more ardently.
4. Silence. We must cultivate zones of silence in our daily lives, even though many of us have to combine the Martha and Mary (The Active and the Contemplative) in a harmonious balance. Still the danger is to launch ourselves into a frenetic activism whereby there is little time for prayer and much less for silence. The Holy Spirit speaks to a heart that is ready to listen in silence. With Samuel in the temple we should pray: “Speak O Lord for your servant is listening.”
5. Docility. Silence is a prerequisite to move on to the next step—docility to the Holy Spirit. A person who is living in the state of grace, honestly pursuing a life of holiness and seeking perfection will be exposed to heavenly inspirations that come from the Holy Spirit. The key is an ability to listen to these gentle but insistent inspirations, discern them coming from God and then the most difficult is to follow and obey these inspirations. The Holy Spirit is so to speak a “Gentleman” and will never force Himself upon anybody. Rather, He waits patiently for us to respond and then He can work very powerfully only if we are silent, humble and obedient.
6. Spiritual Readings. Highly to be recommended, with respect to learning to be docile to the Holy Spirit, is the reading of a spiritual masterpiece “The School of the Holy Spirit”, written by the French spiritual master Jacques Philippe. The essence of this book is very clear and simple. If we want to arrive at sanctity of life we must get to know the Holy Spirit, love the Holy Spirit and manifest this knowledge and love by being docile to His heavenly inspirations.
7. Be Careful and Alert. The work of the devil is to discourage us, make us sad and to push us into desolation and then despair. Be aware of the workings of the Holy Spirit. The workings of “The sweet Guest of the soul” are the direct opposite of the devil. How does the Holy Spirit work? St. Ignatius of Loyola in his rules for discernment specifies how the Good Spirit works. He strengthens our resolve to follow Jesus and fortifies our faith, hope, charity. He infuses peace and joy and energy to follow the Lord. He encourages us to lift our mind to heaven. He consoles us with the thoughts of the eternal salvation of our soul. Therefore, do not allow the devil to discourage you, but let the Holy Spirit encourage and strengthen you.
8. Prayer, Penance, Power, Perseverance, & Perfection. Try to connect these “5 P’s” to union with the Holy Spirit; all are necessary for a constant and growing union with the Holy Spirit. We must pray to the Sanctifier. Also, as Mary and the Apostles acted in the Cenacle for this powerful novena, we must practice penance or self-denial. This will give our will power— or if you like “Will-power” to do good. However, the journey can be long and cumbersome, we must persevere and if we fall bounce back. Then if we are faithful to the first 4’P’s the Holy Spirit will bring us to perfection in the following of Jesus.
9. Loneliness? Problems? If you experience loneliness and are weighed down by many problems then never forget to enter into the depths of your soul and speak to the Holy Spirit whose name is “Sweet Guest of the soul”. You will recognize that you are really not alone and that your problems and crosses are not as heavy as you think. Rather, the Holy Spirit can help you to resolve your problems or at least help you to cope with them.
10. Mary and the Holy Spirit. Mary is the Daughter of God the Father, the Mother of God the Son, and she is the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit. St. Maximilian Kolbe has written brilliantly on the intimate relationship between Mary and the Holy Spirit. Also Saint Louis de Montfort has gone so far in saying: “Those who love Mary, the Holy Spirit flings Himself into that soul,” if you like, as a powerful Frisbee cutting through the air going from one hand to the next. If you want to have a powerful invasion in your heart of the Holy Spirit, a personal Pentecost experience in your life, then why not turn to Mary. As the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles the day of Pentecost through Mary’s prayers and presence, He can descend into your soul through the prayers and presence of Mary. “Come Holy Spirit, come, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” http://catholicexchange.com/
6/13/14
Listening To The Voice of the Holy Spirit
There was a tiny whispering sound. (1 Kings 19:12)
Israel was at a critical juncture in its history, and Elijah had retreated to Mount Horeb to hear the voice of the Lord. First a strong wind, then an earthquake, then a fire passed before Elijah—all very impressive manifestations of God’s power, each one seeming to bear the kind of majesty that befitted Israel’s need. But God was in none of them. Instead, Elijah heard the Lord through a “tiny whispering sound” that was so intimate and so intense it made the prophet hide his face in his cloak (1 Kings 19:13).
How do you know when God is speaking to you and when you’re just thinking good thoughts? We may think that heroes like Elijah found it easy to hear God, but history shows that they were ordinary people just like us. They, too, had to learn the art of discernment. Was God speaking in the whirlwind? Or was that just the prophet’s emotional turmoil? Was that faint whisper in the back of her mind the Holy Spirit? Or was it just wishful thinking? Only trial and error could sharpen their skills.
The same is true for us. God speaks to us in many different ways: in the events of the day, in the Scriptures and teachings of the Church, in the words and actions of friends, and, yes, in powerful manifestations of his presence. In all of these situations, God wants us to learn how to discern the voice of his Spirit.
So how do we begin? It’s really quite simple. Jesus once said, “By their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:16). This can apply to our own thoughts as well as to other people. For instance, if a thought in your mind helps you love God more or be a little kinder to someone, it’s probably from the Lord. But if something makes you anxious, fearful, angry, or resentful, it’s probably not God speaking to you.
God wants to speak to you. In fact, he’s probably trying to tell you something right now. Take a moment to quiet your heart and listen.
“Holy Spirit, open the ears of my heart. Teach me to hear you clearly, so that I may follow your plan for my life.” http://wau.org/meditations/current/
Pope Francis invites Charismatics to Vatican
CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARINGPope invites charismatics to Vatican for 2017 jubilee
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service|Published June 12, 2014
ROME (CNS)—Meeting more than 50,000 Catholic charismatics in Rome’s Olympic Stadium, Pope Francis admitted he was not always comfortable with the way they prayed, but he knelt onstage as they prayed for him and over him by singing and speaking in tongues.
“In the early years of the charismatic renewal in Buenos Aires, I did not have much love for charismatics,” the pope said June 1. “I said of them: They seem like a samba school.”
Little by little, though, he came to see how much good the movement was doing for Catholics and for the church, he told a gathering organized by the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services and the Catholic Fraternity of Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowships.
Pope Francis invited the crowd, which included charismatics from 55 countries, to come to St. Peter’s Square for Pentecost in 2017 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the movement. The Catholic charismatic movement traces its origins to a retreat held in 1967 with students and staff from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
“I expected all of you, charismatics from around the world, to celebrate your great jubilee with the pope at Pentecost 2017 in St. Peter’s Square,” the pope said.
The celebration in Rome’s Olympic Stadium began with the song, “Vive Jesus, El Senor,” (“Jesus, the Lord, Lives”) a Spanish-language song which Pope Francis joined in singing with his hands open like many in the crowd. The pope said he likes the song, which charismatics in Argentina also sing.
At another point, when the crowd prayed that the Holy Spirit would fill Pope Francis, he knelt on the bare floor of the stage, while they sang with their hands raised toward him. After the song, many in the crowd kept their hands raised as they prayed in tongues, speaking in unfamiliar languages.
*Pope Francis told the charismatics that their movement was begun by the Holy Spirit as “a current of grace in the church and for the church.”
He pleaded with charismatic groups not to try to organize everything or create a bureaucracy that attempts to tame the Holy Spirit.
The temptation “to become ‘controllers’ of the grace of God” is a danger, the pope said. Group leaders, sometimes without even meaning to, become “administrators of grace,” deciding who should exercise which gifts of the Holy Spirit. “Don’t do this anymore,” Pope Francis said. “Be dispensers of God’s grace, not controllers. Don’t be the Holy Spirit’s customs agents.”
From the beginning, he said, charismatics were known for their love of and familiarity with the Scriptures; the pope asked those who lost the habit of carrying their Bible with them everywhere to “return to this first love, always have the word of God in your pocket or purse.”
Pope Francis also said Catholic Charismatics have a special role to play in healing divisions among Christians by praying with members of other Christian churches and communities who share a belief in Jesus as lord and savior.
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