11/27/15
The Medjugorje Message: Medjugorje and the ‘Miraculous Medal’
The Medjugorje Message: Medjugorje and the ‘Miraculous Medal’: Today is the Feast of the Miraculous Medal. The medal has an association with Medjugorje. On November 27, 1989, Our Lady said to the visiona...
11/26/15
Vicka - Medjugorje - Secrets - Do we need to fear?
Published on Nov 25, 2015
VICKA YOU HAVE 9 OF 10 SECRETS - DO WE NEED TO BE AFRAID?
11/25/15
Medjujorje: Our Lady's Message to Marija of November 25, 2015
“Dear children! Today I am calling all of you: pray for my intentions. Peace is in danger, therefore, little children, pray and be carriers of peace and hope in this restless world where satan is attacking and tempting in every way. Little children, be firm in prayer and courageous in faith. I am with you and intercede before my Son Jesus for all of you. Thank you for having responded to my call.”11/24/15
THE CERTAINTY OF THE END AND HIS COMING
"The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall...break in pieces all these kingdoms and put an end to them, and it shall stand forever." -Daniel 2:44
The vision Daniel interpreted has been the pattern of history (Dn 2:31ff). Great kingdom after great kingdom has been destroyed. Even the Temple and the city of God, Jerusalem, were destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. (Lk 21:6). Jesus prophesied that the fall of Jerusalem would be a prefigurement of the end of the world. "The present heavens and earth are reserved by God's word for fire; they are kept for the day of judgment, the day when godless men will be destroyed" (2 Pt 3:7). "What we await are new heavens and a new earth where, according to His promise, the justice of God will reside" (2 Pt 3:13).
Despite the historical proof of the accuracy of Jesus' prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction, many people, even Christians, doubt that Jerusalem's destruction prefigures the end of the world. However, most of the major critics of Christ's prophecy of the world's end have already been thrown on the garbage heap of history. For example, Karl Marx portrayed Christian eschatology as an escape from taking responsibility for justice in this world. He called Christianity "the opium of the people." Although millions still believe Marx's critique of Christianity, the breakdown of Marxist Communism in the Soviet Union has shown its weakness. The critics of Christianity and of its eschatology are passing away, but God's Word will last forever (Lk 21:33).
Let the world end and Jesus return.
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! (Rv 22:20)
11/23/15
THE TRUST TEST
"Test your servants." -Daniel 1:12
The four young Israelite men asked their master to test their faith (Dn 1:12). Likewise, the poor widow in the Gospel reading asked God to test her faith by giving the Lord all her money (Lk 21:4). During the testing they gave God their all, trusted Him in the present moment, and placed their futures in His hands.
Jesus teaches us that our heavenly Father's plan is to provide on a "daily bread" basis (Mt 6:11). Many try to provide for a better tomorrow by storing up treasures, only to have that future plundered by the collapse of financial markets, the whims of world governments, or the ravages of thieves, natural disasters, or divorce. "Now is the acceptable time," not tomorrow (see 2 Cor 6:2). Tomorrow may never happen (see Lk 12:19-20; Jas 4:13-14).
"Stop worrying, then, over questions like, 'What are we to eat, or what are we to drink, or what are we to wear?'…Your heavenly Father knows all that you need. Seek first His kingship over you, His way of holiness, and all these things will be given you besides" (Mt 6:31, 32-33).
Don't plan for tomorrow using today's faith. Your plans probably won't factor in the great faith God plans to provide tomorrow. "Test yourselves to see whether you are living in faith; examine yourselves" (2 Cor 13:5). Trust in God today, and pass the trust test.
Father, help me not to harden my heart today by being overwhelmed with the seeming burdens of the future (Ps 95:7-8).
"Blessed is Your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages." -Dn 3:52
11/22/15
"YOUR KINGDOM COME"
"Anyone committed to the truth hears My voice." -John 18:37
Decades ago, our young family gathered with several other young Catholic families and their small children in one family's large log cabin. It was a pleasant party until I happened to notice the host and another young father sitting in a far corner pulling out a recreational drug. They pulled out a cigarette lighter and flicked it into flame. Immediately in my mind, the verse reverberated over and over: "My kingdom does not belong to this world" (Jn 18:36). I knew we had to live as subjects of Jesus the King, at all times, in all occasions. Quickly, I gathered up my family and we left the party to return home.
There is a battle raging between two kingdoms. The kingdom of darkness, led by Satan, the ruler of this age (2 Cor 4:4), and the Kingdom of God, led by King Jesus, "Ruler of the kings of earth" (Rv 1:5), battle constantly for our loyalty. There is no neutral ground in this battle. We cannot serve two masters (see Mt 6:24). We can give our loyalty to only one of the kingdoms. We either live as obedient, loving subjects of Christ the King or we rebel against Him. King Jesus embraced lowliness. If we are truly His obedient, loving subjects, we must do the same.
All hail, King Jesus! "Your kingdom come" (Mt 6:10). I will seek first Your kingdom (Mt 6:33) every moment of my life.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the One Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty!" -Rv 1:8
Praise Jesus, the Lamb Who sits upon the throne!
11/16/15
Be ready at any moment to meet God face to face.
Two days after the horrendous jihadist attacks in Paris, Pope Francis preached about the “end times,” encouraging his hearers to be vigilant and ready at any moment to meet God face to face.
In
his Angelus message Sunday, the
Pope invited the ten thousand pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s Square to think
about their death, the day they will meet God and give an accounting for their
life.
The
Pope also explicitly addressed the Paris carnage, expressing his “deep sorrow
for the terrorist attacks that bloodied France late on Friday, causing many
casualties.” Along with offering his condolences to the victims and their
families, Francis condemned the massacre as an “unspeakable affront to human
dignity.”
“Such
barbarity leaves us shocked and we wonder how the human heart can conceive and
carry out such horrible events, which have shaken not only France but the whole
world,” he said.
Francis
unequivocally recognized the Islamist ideology behind the attacks, denouncing
the use of God’s name to justify the brutal attacks as “blasphemy.”
Commenting
on Sunday’s Scripture readings, the Pope said that Jesus’ preaching about the end of
the world contains “apocalyptic elements, like war, famine, and cosmic
catastrophes.”
“In
those days,” Francis repeated, “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not
give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in
the heavens will be shaken.”
These
signs are not the most important things, however, the Pope insisted. “Our final
goal is the meeting with the resurrected Lord.” The most important thing is not
knowing whenthe
end will come, but being ready for it when it does, he said.
“We
are called to live the present,” Francis said, but always ready to meet God
whenever he may call.
At
the end of the world, Francis said, “Jesus’ triumph will be the triumph of the
cross, the demonstration that the sacrifice of oneself out of love for one’s
neighbor, in imitation of Christ, is the only victorious power and the only
stable point in the midst of the upheavals and tragedies of the world.”
The
Pope also warned against an unhealthy curiosity to know details of the future,
with recourse to psychics and horoscopes, saying they distract us from what is
really important in the present.
We
are called rather “to watchfulness,” Francis said, that keeps us focused and
ready at all times.
“In
our days,” he concluded, “there is no lack of natural and moral disasters, as
well as adversities of every kind.”
“The
Lord tells us that everything passes and only He and his Word remain as a light
to guide and strengthen our steps,” he said.
11/15/15
THE END OF THE END
Immediately before the end of the world, we will have "trials of every sort" (Mk 13:24). "It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time" (Dn 12:1). "Indeed, had the Lord not shortened the period, not a person would be saved. But for the sake of those He has chosen, He has shortened the days" (Mk 13:20).
We will see a mass apostasy from our Christian faith, as the "man of lawlessness," the Anti-Christ, is revealed (2 Thes 2:3). "Because of the increase of evil, the love of most will grow cold. The man who holds out to the end, however, is the one who will see salvation" (Mt 24:12-13). "At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book" (Dn 12:1). "Some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace. But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever" (Dn 12:2-3). All of these things are certain and true, for Jesus has promised: "The heavens and the earth will pass away but My words will not pass" (Mk 13:31).
Repent! Live for Jesus alone! Lift up your eyes to see Jesus "coming in the clouds with great power and glory" (Mk 13:26). Maranatha! "Come, Lord Jesus!" (Rv 22:20)
Father, I want to be ready.
"Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins and took His seat forever at the right hand of God; now He waits until His enemies are placed beneath His feet." -Heb 10:12-13
Praise the risen Jesus, Who will come again in glory!
11/14/15
ANSWERS TO PRAYER
"I tell you, He will give them swift justice." -Luke 18:8
There's a certain kind of prayer that results in "swift justice." God will not delay long over us when we pray in this way (Lk 18:7). In this way of prayer, we call out to God "day and night" (Lk 18:7) and realize that at all times, even at the best of times, we are in desperate need of God. In this prayer, we cry out: "Save us by Your power, and help me, who am alone and have no one but You, O Lord" (Est C:25). We pray with the psalmist: "Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice!" (Ps 130:1) We pray as Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemani (Mk 14:32ff). When we pray in this way, we understand "the necessity of praying always and not losing heart" (Lk 18:1).
It takes faith to face head on the terrible condition of our world and our desperate need for God. However, when we pray in faith, aware of our total dependence on God, and call out to the Lord day and night, God's "all-powerful Word from heaven's royal throne" will bound into our doomed land (Wis 18:15). The Lord will save us. He will intervene, break through, and set us free.
Will anyone pray the prayer of necessity and faith? "When the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on the earth?" (Lk 18:8)
Father, "increase our faith" (Lk 17:5).
11/13/15
„I feel something very powerful in Međugorje, I believe God is here”
date: 07.11.2015.
Our journalists had opportunity to talk to many pilgrims in the last few months. One of them was Layousse, young man from Israel who came here during the Youth Festival. “Young people are here and they are members of the prayer groups, while the leader of our group is the representative of one Israelite prayer movement in Vatican. The purpose of our movement is to bring them closer to God, to talk to them and to help them get to know the faith. I heard about Medjugorje from my aunt who was here. When it comes to me, I always believed in God, but in Medjugorje I feel something very powerful, I believe God is here. I was able to see something that I never believed in before, and that is why I am grateful to God. The Youth Festival is well focused on the youth, to teenage people as many young regardless of religions feel completely lost in this world today. There are so many young people who are addicts on many material things and easily fall into temptations, so we need to return to God in order for us to avoid devil. Our Lady is our only hope.” http://www.medjugorje.hr/en/
11/12/15
Children of Medjugorje November 12, 2015
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11/11/15
How the Virgin Mary Became the World’s Most Powerful Woman
The Virgin Mary - National Geographic Magazine11/3/15
Pray for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
Padre Pio’s Mysterious Encounters with Souls from Purgatory
by
by
God chose Saint Pio of Pietrelcina to reveal the supernatural life to our tepid era. His supernatural interior life was made visible through his immense suffering and his well-known stigmata.
As we move into November and pray for the Poor Souls in Purgatory, we do well to recall a few encounters of Padre Pio with the souls of Purgatory.
Padre Pio once described an encounter he had with testified the following to the Bishop of Melfi, His Excellency Alberto Costa and also the superior of the friary, Padre Lorenzo of San Marco.
Below is third person written testimony of the words of Padre Pio:
“While in the friary on a winter afternoon after a heavy snowfall, he was sitting by the fireplace one evening in the guest room, absorbed in prayer, when an old man, wearing an old-fashioned cloak still worn by southern Italian peasants at the time, sat down beside him. Concerning this man Padre Pio states: ‘I could not imagine how he could have entered the friary at this time of night since all the doors are locked. I questioned him: ‘Who are you? What do you want?’
The old man told him, “Padre Pio, I am Pietro Di Mauro, son of Nicola, nicknamed Precoco.” He went on to say, “I died in this friary on the 18th of September, 1908, in cell number four, when it was still a poorhouse. One night, while in bed, I fell asleep with a lighted cigar, which ignited the mattress and I died, suffocated and burned. I am still in Purgatory. I need a holy Mass in order to be freed. God permitted that I come and ask you for help.”
According to Padre Pio: “After listening to him, I replied, ‘Rest assured that tomorrow I will celebrate Mass for your liberation.’ I arose and accompanied him to the door of the friary, so that he could leave. I did not realize at that moment that the door was closed and locked: I opened it and bade him farewell The moon lit up the square, covered with snow. When I no longer saw him in front of me, I was taken by a sense of fear, and I closed the door, reentered the guest room, and felt faint.”
A few days later, Padre Pio also told the story to Padre Paolino, and the two decided to go to the town hall, where they looked at the vital statistics for the year 1908 and found that on September 18 of that year, one Pietro Di Mauro had in fact died of burns and asphyxiation in Room Number 4 at the friary, then used as a home for the homeless.
Around the same time, Padre Pio told Fra Alberto of another apparition of a soul from Purgatory which also occurred around the same time. He said:
One evening, when I was absorbed in prayer in the choir of the little church I was shaken and disturbed by the sound of footsteps, and candles and flower vases being moved on the main altar. Thinking that someone must be there, I called out, “Who is it?”
No one answered. Returning to prayer, I was again disturbed by the same noises. In fact, this time I had the impression that one of the candles, which was in front of the statue of Our Lady of Grace, had fallen. Wanting to see what was happening on the altar, I stood up, went close to the grate and saw, in the shadow of the light of the Tabernacle lamp, a young confrere doing some cleaning. I yelled out, “What are you doing in the dark?” The little friar answered, “I am cleaning.”
“You clean in the dark?” I asked. “Who are you?”
The little friar said, ‘I am a Capuchin novice, who spends his time of Purgatory here. I am in need of prayers.’ and then he disappeared,”
Padre Pio stated that he immediately began praying for him as requested, and it is not known if he had any further dealings with this particular soul. However, in regards souls in Purgatory it is very interesting to note that later in life Padre Pio once said that ‘As many souls of the dead come up this road to the monastery as that of the souls of the living.”
Without a doubt, many souls from Purgatory visited Padre Pio seeking his prayers, sacrifices and sufferings to obtain their release.
Pray for the Poor Souls daily.
11/2/15
Medjugorje - Our Lady's apparition to Mirjana of November 2, 2015
“Dear children, anew I desire to speak to you about love. I have gathered you around me in the name of my Son, according to His will. I desire that your faith be firm, flowing forth from love. Because, those of my children who understand the love of my Son and follow it, live in love and hope. They have come to know the love of God. Therefore, my children, pray, pray so as to be able to love all the more and to do works of love. Because, faith alone without love and works of love is not what I am asking of you: my children, this is an illusion of faith. It is a boasting of self. My Son seeks faith and works, love and goodness. I am praying, and I am also asking you to pray, and to live love; because I desire that my Son, when He looks at the hearts of all of my children, can see love and goodness in them and not hatred and indifference. My children, apostles of my love, do not lose hope, do not lose strength. You can do this. I am encouraging and blessing you. Because all that is of this world, which many of my children, unfortunately, put in the first place, will disappear; and only love and works of love will remain and open the door of the Kingdom of Heaven. I will wait for you at this door. At this door, I desire to welcome and embrace all of my children. Thank you!”
11/1/15
THE GUIDE TO HEAVEN
"Who are these people all dressed in white? And where
have they come from?" -Revelation 7:13Today we thank God for saving and sanctifying the saints on earth and in heaven. We especially thank Him for taking our family members, relatives, and friends to be with Him in heaven. We look forward to becoming holy and joining Jesus and the family in heaven. We cannot do this by our own power but we can let it be done to us (see Lk 1:38).
The Father and the Son have sent the Holy Spirit to make us holy. All we have to do is obey by following the lead of the Spirit (Gal 5:25). However, this is difficult to do because our flesh (human nature) lusts against the Spirit (Gal 5:17). There is a strong opposition between what we naturally want and what the Spirit wants. Therefore, to let the Spirit make us saints, we must allow the Spirit to crucify our flesh with its passions and desires (Gal 5:24). We must let the Holy Spirit take us to the cross to crucify us to the world (Gal 6:14). In this way, we become holy, able to be like our Father and "see Him as He is" (1 Jn 3:2; see also Heb 12:14).
Holiness is the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of our efforts. All saints have been produced by the Spirit. "Receive the Holy Spirit" (Jn 20:22). Life in the Spirit leads to life in heaven.
Holy Spirit, guide me to all truth (Jn 16:13). Guide me to heaven.
"How blest are the poor in spirit: the reign of God is theirs." -Mt 5:3
Praise Jesus, Who is the Light of the world! Praise the Holy Spirit, the saint-Maker!
The Signs Remain
Words by Fr Jozo Zovko ofm, parish priest of St James in Medjugorje when
the claimed apparitions of Our Lady first began in June 1981.
Images by Bernard Gallagher.
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