A Different Kind of Christmas

A Different Kind of Christmas
by Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth" Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measure to you." --Luke 6:38

Friend to Friend Of all the Christmases that Mike Wekall remembers, his seventh stands out from all the rest. Mike was the fifth of six Wekall children. Like every child, Mike met December with the anticipation of new toys, freshly baked goodies, glittering decorations, and school vacation. But one week before Christmas, Mike's parents called the children into the den."Kids, I've have some bad news for you," Mr. Wekall said, barely able to look his children in the eye. "As you know, things have been pretty tight at work this year. In fact, we are going to have to file bankruptcy, so we won't have Christmas this year. I'm sorry. Maybe we can make it up to you next year." Then he quietly walked out of the room.

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The children just sat there for a while in silence. Mike thought to himself, "What does he mean 'we won't have Christmas'? Does that mean I've been bad and Santa isn't going to come? And what is bankruptcy?"It was a confusing time for little Mike, but one thing became perfectly clear on Christmas morning--Christmas had not come to the Wekall house. No presents were under a tree, and the aroma of a roasting turkey did not come from the kitchen. The family did, however, go off to church that crisp, cold morning. When they arrived at church, all the other children were sporting new clothes and chattering about what they had found under their trees."Hey, Mike, what'd you get?" one asked."Nothin'. We didn't have Christmas at our house. We're having a bankruptcy.""What's wrong? Have you been too bad to get anything? Didn't you even get a few switches?

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"Feeling rather blue, the family of eight went home for a lunch of lima beans and hamhocs. About an hour later, the door bell rang. "Maybe it is Santa after all," Mike thought as he ran to the door. Standing in the doorway wasn't Santa, but it was the Bosky family, all ten of them. Each of the eight children had smiles on their faces and two gifts in their hands. Mr. and Mrs. Bosky held a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. As it turned out, the eight Bosky children went home from church and told their parents about how the Wekalls weren't having Christmas this year. Seeing how they had been so richly blessed, the children decided to pick two of their toys and wrap them up for the Wekalls. Mom and Dad joined in and brought gifts for the parents. Even though Mrs. Bosky had Christmas dinner all choreographed for her own dining room, she gathered up the food in boxes and baskets to share with a family who needed it more.That was over forty years ago, but Mike still gets tears in his eyes when he shares this story. "It was the best Christmas I have ever had," he told me. "The Spirit of God showed me that Christmas wasn't about getting presents but about giving and caring for others. It is about showing goodness toward other people. Every year, I tell this story to someone, because it exemplifies how Christ gave so freely of Himself for us.

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*Let's Pray Dear Lord, I have so much and I am surrounded by people who have so little. Show me someone I can help this Christmas. Open the eyes of my heart to see the needs of others. Make me an extension of Your lavish love. In Jesus' Name, amen.

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Now It's Your Turn Consider some ways you can help others less fortunate this Christmas. Here are some ideas from my book, Celebrating a Christ Centered Christmas.
Help an elderly person decorate his or her home and take the decorations down at the end of the season.
Give an anonymous gift of money to someone who lost their job or someone who you know struggles financially.
Offer to do Christmas shopping for a disabled person.
Purchase and deliver a gift for a child whose parent is in prison
Pack a shoebox for a needy child overseas through Operation Christmas Child.
Process toys for the Salvation Army.
Volunteer to ring the bell for the Salvation Army.
Work in a Soup Kitchen
Visit someone in a nursing home who has few relatives.

Dear Children of Mary

Photo: (c) Bernard Gallagher - used with permission

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December 15, 2010 Dear Family of Mary!

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Bad Dreams

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Last night Denis and I were praying with some dear friends for a young woman who is experiencing "bad" dreams. As we prayed, I asked Our Lady for a message from my message box, hoping she would help us understand how to pray for her. This is the message I pulled at random from my box of messages:

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*"Dear children! Today again I am calling you to prayer, to complete surrender to God. You know that I love you and am coming here out of love so I could show you the path to peace and salvation for your souls. I want you to obey me and not permit Satan to seduce you. Dear children, Satan is very strong and, therefore, I ask you to dedicate your prayers to me so that those who are under his influence can be saved. Give witness by your life. Sacrifice your lives for the salvation of the world. I am with you, and I am grateful to you, but in heaven you shall receive the Father's reward which He has promised to you. Therefore, dear children, do not be afraid. If you pray, Satan cannot injure you even a little bit because you are God's children and He is watching over you. Pray and let the rosary always be in your hand as a sign to Satan that you belong to me. Thank you for having responded to my call." (February 25, 1988)

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I felt that the end of this message was especially anointed. Holding the Rosary as a sign to Satan that we belong to Mary! Oh yes! This is good advice for all of us. Though we are preparing for Christmas, and our thoughts are on the beauty and serenity of the Incarnation, I sense that Our Lady is bringing up the uncomfortable subject of Satan for all of us because she knows it is important. She is warning us of the reality of the evil one and giving us the weapons we need to be protected from him. Christmas or not, the enemy will be active. But with Our Lady, we are safe. The weapons Our Lady is giving us in this message: Prayer - "Pray at all times in the Spirit, with allprayer and supplication." (Eph 6:18) Surrender to God - "Submit yourselves therefore to God" (Jas 4:7) Resisting the devil - "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (Jas 4:7) Sacrifice - "And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Eph 5:2) No fear - "Hence we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?" (Heb 13:6) Prayer of the Rosary and holding the Rosary in our hands as a sign that we belong to Our Lady. With the Rosary in our hands we can defeat the enemy. The prayer of the Rosary places us in the Heart of Mary. Mary is the one to whom victory over the devil has been given. She will lead us to safety, victory, and peace, if we cling to her and pray under her guidance and power. In these days of spiritual upheaval, we have been given an incredible lifeline. We have been given direct help from heaven, in Our Lady of Medjugorje. We should walk in peace and confidence, holding her hand (by holding our rosaries) and praying with our hearts constantly.... In Jesus and Mary! Cathy Nolan....http://www.marytv.tv/

I Am God, there is no other, Isaiah 45:22

THE ONLY ONE" I am God; there is no other!" -Isaiah 45:22

Does your life and Christmas depend on anyone or anything other than Jesus? The Lord says: "I am the Lord, there is no other" (Is 45:6, 18, 22).

The Lord proclaims there is no other god besides Him (Is 45:21). He says: "There is no just and saving God but Me" (Is 45:21)..

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The first of the Ten Commandments says: "You shall not have other gods besides Me" (Ex 20:3; Dt 5:7). Therefore, we should pray and live: "Only in God is my soul at rest; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Stronghold" (Ps 62:2-3). Jesus is the only name by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12) and our "only Master and Lord" (Jude 4). He is the only Way to the Father (Jn 14:6). Therefore, we should say: "Only in the Lord are just deeds and power" (Is 45:24). Many Christians' Christmases depend almost wholly on family, friends, presents, parties, money, food, or pleasures. While we thank the Lord for all His temporal gifts, we are not to depend on them, even slightly. Christmas and life mean Christ (see Phil 1:21). If we were like Job, if we lost everything but the Lord, if we became impoverished and starving, alone and bereaved, we could still have Christmas because nothing can separate us from Christ's love (Rm 8:35). Jesus Christ is our only Need in life. Prayer: Father, thank You for loving me so much that You gave me Your only Son. May I believe in Him and love Him totally. Promise: "The blind recover their sight, cripples walk, lepers are cured, the deaf hear, dead men are raised to life, and the poor have the good news preached to them." -Lk 7:22

Revelation from Saint Maria Faustine

Revelation:

On the evening of the last day [November 15] of the novena at Ostra Brama, after the singing of the litany, one of the priests exposed the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance. When he placed it on the altar, I immediately saw the Infant Jesus, stretching out His little arms, first of all toward His Mother, who at that time had taken on a living appearance. When the Mother of God was speaking to me, Jesus stretched out His tiny hands toward the congregation.

The Blessed Mother was telling me to accept all that God asked of me like a little child, without questioning; otherwise it would not be pleasing to God. At that moment, the Infant Jesus vanished, and the Mother of God was again lifeless, and Her picture was the same as it had been before. But my soul was filled with great joy and gladness, and I said to the Lord, "Do with me as You please; I am ready for everything, but You, O Lord, must not abandon me even for a moment."
Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 529

Medjugorje Visionary Vicka is back.

Vicka is back! After almost two years out of sight because of her bad health, we were so happy to see her again these last days, beaming with joy, and hear her share Our Lady’s messages from her staircase. In fact, the pilgrims present for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8) were able to meet her and also profit from her blessing (see photo).
Vicka was not idle during her long absence! The physical and moral sufferings she endured were offered for each one of us with enthusiasm. The Gospa told her once in the 80s, “Rare are the people who have understood the great value of suffering, when it is offered to Jesus!” Sometimes Vicka expresses beautiful insights: “Suffering cannot be explained. Suffering may only be lived in one’s own heart. When the Lord gives us suffering, a cross, it is truly a great gift that he gives us. We often think, ‘How can illness be a gift?’ But it is a great gift! Only God knows why he makes that gift, and he alone knows why he takes it away at a particular time. But we are free to decide: am I ready to accept this gift?
There are different kinds of sufferings: there is the suffering given by God, and the suffering that we create ourselves. They do not have the same value.
Vicka reiterated: “When you smile in spite of pain, it is because you accepted it and you belong entirely to God. Later on, you no longer notice the pain, but feel joy. Since you suffer with joy, there is no more tension. But this joy does not come from outside, it comes from inside of you, from your heart. I feel such strong joy that I want to do more for the Blessed Mother!”

Source-www.childrenofmedjugorje.com

Medjugorje: Pilgrims from Japan

Pilgrims from Japan in Medjugorje
date: 11.12.2010.

Many pilgrims are coming to Medjugorje in this time of preparation for Christmas – Advent. Maria Fujie Ito and Paulo Masanovi Yamasaki came to Medjugorje for the first time from Japan. They travelled for thirty hours from Japan to come to this place of prayer and reconciliation. Maria said that she heard about Medjugorje twenty years ago, but could not come earlier due to business obligations. She is grateful to everybody for wonderful hospitality towards her here, and added: “I believe in Our Lady’s messages, in her presence and everything that she has been saying to us. When I retire I will come again here. This pilgrimage is a great experience for me. I really enjoyed climbing the Apparition Hill and praying Rosary there, that was what my heart needed so much, and I am truly grateful for being here. I will bring more pilgrims from Japan. “Paulo heard about Medjugorje twenty years ago and then he read a book about Medjugorje. “The most important about Christianity is in Medjugorje. You can really feel that here, while in Japan unfortunately people have forgot about that”, said Paulo.

Sourcre-Medjugorje Information Centre

Eucharistic Miracle in Argentina

http://www.americaneedsfatima.org/Articles/amazing-video-eucharist-is-our-lord.html

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A Special Thank You to my friend Maria, E.S.

Bishop Thomas Tobin, An open letter to Inactive Catholics

An Open Letter to Inactive Catholics
BY BISHOP THOMAS J. TOBIN
R. I. Catholic 12/9/10

My dear Brother or Sister: In the spirit of the Advent and Christmas Season, and as the Diocese of Providence nears the end of its “Year of Evangelization,” I’m writing this letter to inactive Catholics of our Diocese – perhaps you’re in that category – to let you know that we miss you, we love you and we want you to come home to the Church. The first dilemma I faced in writing this letter was how to describe you – an “inactive Catholic,” a “fallen-away Catholic” or a “former-Catholic.” I chose the first option.

I decided against “fallen-away Catholic” for it suggests someone falling off a fence or out of a tree. The image isn’t helpful.

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*And there’s really no such thing as a “former Catholic.” If you were baptized a Catholic, you’re a Catholic for life – even if you haven’t been to Mass for years, even if you’ve renounced the title and joined another Church. Your baptism infused your soul with Catholic DNA – it defines who and what you are.

Thus, I’ve chosen the title, “inactive Catholic,” because even though you haven’t been “active” in the Catholic community for awhile, especially by attending Sunday Mass, receiving the sacraments and otherwise participating in the life of the Church, you’re still a Catholic. Sorry . . . you’re stuck with us!

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Perhaps the exact name isn’t very important though. What’s more important is why you drifted away from the Church, why you stopped coming to Mass, and what we can do about it.
Did you leave the Church because you disagree with some of the Church’s teachings and practices; or because you found it boring and “didn’t get anything out of it”; or because someone in the Church offended you or disappointed you; or because you just got a little complacent, spiritually lazy, in the fulfillment of your obligations? Let’s look at each of these reasons.
If you left the Church because you disagree with the fundamental teachings of the Church I’m afraid there’s not much I can do to help you. The essential teachings of the Church on matters of faith and morals aren’t negotiable – they weren’t made up arbitrarily by human beings but, in fact, were given to us by Christ. They can’t be changed, even if they’re unpopular or difficult to live with. I hope that you’ll take some time to really understand what the Church teaches and why. Sometimes, we find, good folks get bad information and that leads to confusion and then alienation.
If you left the Church because you found it to be boring and “didn’t get anything out of it,” well, I understand. Sometimes, it’s true, leaders of the Church haven’t fed the flock very well – sometimes we haven’t provided sound and challenging teaching and preaching, and sometimes our worship has been banal and bland. Perhaps we haven’t been very kind or welcoming. I apologize for that; we can and should do better.
On the other hand, when you attend Mass it shouldn’t be all about you – the focus is God! You should attend Mass to give, as well as receive – to worship the Lord, to ask forgiveness of your sins, to thank Him for His gifts and to pray for others. And for Catholics the most important reason to attend Mass is to receive the Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, the Bread of Life. You can’t do that anywhere else!
If you left the Church because another member of the Church offended or disappointed you, I’m truly sorry for that offense and in the name of the Church I sincerely apologize. I hope you’ll forgive us and give us another chance. Members of the Church – including priests and bishops – are completely human. Sometimes we say things and do things that are totally unacceptable, even immoral. But let’s face it – we belong to a community of sinners – that’s why we begin every Mass by calling to mind our sins and asking for God’s forgiveness. The virtue of forgiveness is an essential part of the Christian life – we all need to seek and grant forgiveness now and then.

Finally, if you left the Church because of your own spiritual laziness – complacency – I guess the ball’s in your court. I can only encourage you to start over – to think about your relationship with God and try to understand how important the Church is in helping you fulfill your God-given potential and, more importantly, helping you achieve eternal life.
You see, the Church isn’t just another human organization, some sort of social club. We believe that the Church has divine elements – that it was founded by Christ and is guided by the Holy Spirit. You need the Church – you need the teachings of the Church, the life-giving sacraments of the Church, and the support of a community that shares your faith and values. But the Church also needs you – we need the gifts of your time and talent, your faith and commitment. The Church has an awful lot to offer you, but if in fact we’ve been imperfect fulfilling our mission, in serving the Lord and caring for one another, perhaps you can help us to do better.
The irony of this letter, of course, is that if you’ve been an inactive Catholic, you might not see it. But I’m counting on a Catholic member of your family, or a friend, neighbor or co-worker, to see it and share it.
The Christmas Season is a wonderful, grace-filled time, a time when we remember that the Word of God became flesh and that Jesus is “Emmanuel” – God with us. God came to earth to search for us, to embrace us, to lift us up, and to take us with Him to eternal life. He came to invite you to be His friend and companion along the way.
Dear brother or sister, if you’ve been away from the Church for awhile, it’s time to come home. If there’s an issue or a problem we can help you with, please contact your local parish, or contact me here at the Diocese of Providence. I might not be able to solve every problem and meet every need, but I’ll try. Please know, however, that we miss you, we love you and we hope to see you soon.
Your brother in Christ,
Bishop Tobin

BBC Documentary on Medjugorje

Story of this photo................

October 2, 2010 The Spinning Sun in Medjugorje Photo by Barbara G..

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I took this on October 2nd at the time of Mirjana's apparition. A few of us were praying the Rosary at the Crucifix on Sr. Immanuel's property. We were looking towards the Blue Cross on Apparition Hill and saw the sun spinning. That's when I took the picture. May you receive a special blessing from the Lord today! Barbara

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Content of the article
Pilgrims - BBC documentary on Medjugorje - Part 1 http://www.medjugorje.ws/en/videos/bbc-pilgrims-medjugorje/
Pilgrims - BBC documentary on Medjugorje - Part 2
Pilgrims - BBC documentary on Medjugorje - Part 3
Pilgrims - BBC documentary on Medjugorje - Part 4
Pilgrims - BBC documentary on Medjugorje - Part 5
Pilgrims - BBC documentary on Medjugorje - Part 1
The story of the thousands of Northern Irish pilgrims who flock to the controversial shrine of Medjugorje. Every year around 25,000 people from Northern Ireland travel to the unlikely destination of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the small town of Medjugorje. But sun, sand and silly souvenirs are not high on the list of priorities for them.
Next : Pilgrims - BBC documentary on Medjugorje - Part 2

Related content
A Journey of Faith -- filmmakers of Pilgrims documentary for BBC (Eamonn Devlin, Gerard Stratton) give their impressions of the Medjugorje phenomenon
Video The man who 'sees' Virgin Mary every day -- BBC Newsnight Report on Medjugorje ( Medjugorje Videos )
David Parkes Miracle Healing in Medjugorje ( Medjugorje Videos )
Liam's Stewart life-changing Medjugorje experience

Source of these video's--http://www.medjugorje.ws/

Eyewitness Account of Attack on Iraqi Catholic Church

Our Lady of the Massacre: Eyewitness Account of Attack on Iraqi Catholic Church
By Marco Pedersini • Chiesa • 12/9/2010
'Leave them alone, take me!' shouts Fr. Wasim, and is immediately hit with a bullet square in the chest. The crucifix becomes a shooting target. The terrorists riddle it with gunfire shouting mockingly: 'Come on, tell him to save you! You are infidels.' BAGHDAD, Iraq (Chiesa) - Raghada al-Wafi ...

John Barrys Blog: Medjugorje Video: Apparition to Mirjana December ...

John Barrys Blog: Medjugorje Video: Apparition to Mirjana December ...: "Our Lady's Message to Mirjana at Medjugorje on December 2, 2010 “Dear children; Today I am praying here with you that you may gather the strength to open your hearts and thus to become aware of the mighty love of the suffering God. Through this His love, goodness and meekness, I am also with you. I invite you for this special time of preparation to be a time of prayer, penance and conversion. My children, you need God. You cannot go forward without my Son. When you comprehend and accept this, what was promised to you will be realized. Through the Holy Spirit the Kingdom of Heaven will be born in your hearts. I am leading you to this. Thank you.

A Catholic Mom in Hawaii: Bishop Ricken approves Marian apparitions at Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help#links#links

A Catholic Mom in Hawaii: Bishop Ricken approves Marian apparitions at Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help#links#links

Fr. Peter Mary Rookey, The Healing Priest, Pilgrimage of Love, A New Video

New Fr. Rookey video:

Watch a preview or order DVD

The beautiful new DVD "Pilgrimage of Love: The Story of a Priest" follows Fr. Peter Rookey as he makes one last journey to the Holy Land, a walk of faith that parallels his remarkable life story, including his own healing of blindness as a child and his 60+ years as a Catholic priest......Watch a preview or order DVD

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Praise God for this holy, humble worker in the vineyard, and for the many healing miracles that Jesus Christ has worked through him.

source-Our Sorrowful Mother's Minisrty http://osmm.org/

Does the Pope believe in Medjugorje

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Blog: does he believe in Medjugorje?

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Parishoners from Medjugorje parish at the General Audience with Holy Father
date: 03.12.2010.

Vatican, (VIS) - At the end of today's General Audience, during the part when Holy Father greets pilgrims in their own languages, Holy Father spoke to the group of Croatian pilgrims and said: "I am greeting all of the Croatian pilgrims from my heart, and especially those from the parish of St. James of Medjugorje. Your pilgrimage to Rome is part of the preparation for the coming of the Lord. Therefore, in hope, be evangelisers of God's love in your nation. Praised be Jesus and Mary!" -- sources-Medjugorje Information Centre, Spiritdaily, Medjugorje Miracles-Christine Watkins.....http://www.medjugorjemiracles.com/

Medjugorje Miracles

Video Miracles of Medjugorje
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This video contains some photos of events, that seemingly have supernatural character. Further, Timothy Klauck, former U.S. Army Intelligence Officer, speaks about his opinion on miraculous or supernatural happenings in Medjugorje. He also speaks about an incident with aircraft bombers, that he saw near Medjugorje. He became convinced that Medjugorje during the Bosnian war in ninetees became relatively untouched, because of divine intervention.
***This video also contains a testimony of Actress, Singer, Dancer, Lola Falana's experience in Medjugorje. In 1987 entertainer Lola Falana, started to feel unwell. She felt paralysed, and her ability to even speak was becomming retarted. She went and saw her doctor, who diagnosed her with MS.

source of video-http://www.medjugorje.ws/

Virgin Mary - by Fr. Joe Whalen

Video: Mary our model

Record Number of Priests Celebrate the Holy Mass in Medjugorje

Medjugorje 2010

Since statistics have been kept the number of priests celebrating Mass at the St. James Parish in Medjugorje has broken a record.

36,803 priests have celebrated Mass at Medjugorje in 2010.

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Statistics by Medjugorje Information Center http://medjugorje.hr/en/medjugorje-phenomenon/statistics/

What Will Matter: - Ready or Not, someday it will all come to an end.

What Will Matter:

Jesus said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Today's Daily Encounter is by Michael Josephson

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear. So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. It won't matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end. It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought but what you built, not what you got but what you gave. What will matter is not your success but your significance. What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught. What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage, or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example. What will matter is not your competence but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone. What will matter is not your memories but the memories that live in those who loved you. What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what. Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to live in light of eternal values so that my life will not be wasted but invested in the lives of others for all eternity so that my life will matter. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

Medjugorje Visionaries Mirjana and Marija condemn Abortion at Masnago, Italy

John Barrys Blog: Medjugorje Visionaries Mirjana and Marija condemn ...: "A huge crowd of believers turned out on Sunday afternoon at Masnago in Italy for the visit of Medjugorje visionaries Mirjana Dragicevic and Marija Pavlovic..."

Mother, You are as beautiful as the Sun

O Mary, Immaculate Virgin, Pure crystal for my heart,You are my strength, O sturdy anchor! You are the weak heart's shield and protection.
O Mary you are pure, of purity incomparable; At once both Virgin and Mother, You are beautiful as the sun, without blemish, And your soul is beyond all comparison.
Your beauty has delighted the eye of the Thrice-Holy One. He descended from heaven, leaving His eternal throne, And took Body and Blood of your heart And for nine months lay hidden in a Virgin's Heart.
O Mother, Virgin, purest of all lilies,Your heart was Jesus' first tabernacle on earth Only because no humility was deeper than yours Were you raised above the choirs of Angels and above all Saints.
O Mary, my sweet Mother, I give you my soul, my body and my poor heart. Be the guardian of my life, Especially at the hour of death, in the final strife.
Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 161

Where Are You God?

Aggie Catholics: Where Are You God?: "**Have you ever felt that God just wasn't interested in your problems? **Have you ever felt God was distant and unaccessible? **Have you ever..."

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Comment from- A Catholic Mom in Hawaii

Aggie Catholics is a new blog I have been reading. It soon became one of my favorites to check out daily. Even though I did not know the blogger I was moved by his request for prayers for his dying sister. God has since taken her home. Her brother Marcel wrote the following:Marcel LeJeune's Where Are You God?
Posted by Esther G. Posted 10:54 AM

Pope Smiles for Medjugorje

Friday, December 03, 2010

Posted by Pilgrim

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

Pope Benedict smiles for Medjugorje!
• When the Pope mentioned Medjugorje in welcoming Croatian pilgrims to Rome on Wednesday, a cheer erupted from a section of the audience and Benedict looked up from his notes, smiled, then raised his right hand to acknowledge the group of applauding and cheering Croats. The photo above shows the Pope’s reaction. Time and date of smile: 12:25, Wednesday, December 1, 2010.
Hvaljen Isus i Marija PRAISED BE JESUS AND MARY!• Benedict ended his welcome to the pilgrims from the Medjugorje parish with the words: “Hvaljen Isus i Marija!”

Last year, on December 30, cardinal Christoph Schönborn began his homily in St James church with the same words: “Hvaljen Isus i Marija” a Croatian phrase that means “Praised be Jesus and Mary.” This is a much-used greeting among the visionaries and Medjugorje villagers. The cardinal repeated it several times and urged the congregation to repeat it with him.
Posted by pilgrim at 3:11 PM

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

Our Lady Queen of Peace of Medjugorje’s December 2, 2010 Message To Mirjana Soldo

“Dear children, today I am praying here with you that you may gather the strength to open your hearts and thus to become aware of the mighty love of the suffering God. Through this His love, goodness and meekness, I am also with you. I invite you for this special time of preparation to be a time of prayer, penance and conversion. My children, you need God. You cannot go forward without my Son. When you comprehend and accept this, what was promised to you will be realized. Through the Holy Spirit the Kingdom of Heaven will be born in your hearts. I am leading you to this. Thank you.”

The Lord Called and Marcel Taillon answered.

The R.I. Life: The Lord called, and Marcel Taillon answered
01:00 AM EST on Monday, November 29, 2010
By G. Wayne Miller Journal Staff Writer

The Rev. Marcel Taillon, who worked at CVS before joining the priesthood, prays at St. Thomas More Church in Narragansett.
The Providence Journal / Mary Murphy The Rev. Marcel Taillon, a Woonsocket native, talks with a parishoner after Mass on Wednesday at St. Thomas More Parish in Narragansett.
The Providence Journal / Mary Murphy
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NARRAGANSETT — Among the prayers that the Rev. Marcel Taillon offers during his celebration of Mass this day before Thanksgiving is one common during Catholic services for more vocations. It is a prayer he often heard as a young man, when he enjoyed a promising lay career at CVS.
“When that petition would come up at Mass, it rocked me” –– in a disturbing way, says Father Taillon, 45, pastor of St. Thomas More Parish. He sits in his church rectory as he tells the story of his calling, which did not follow a traditional path.
His path led through the drugstore chain, where he had started work as a teenager and where in his 20s he was still happily employed –– making good money and enjoying a social life. He was traveling the country for CVS, part of a 1980s team that was assisting company pharmacists’ often difficult transition to computers. His strength was in people skills: communicating, listening, problem-solving.
“I loved CVS,” he says. “I loved my job. I loved my friends. I loved it all. I was really happy, but I wasn’t fulfilled.”
And that was one problem he couldn’t solve. He felt incomplete: a feeling, he would later discover, shared by other eventual priests. “It’s one of the threads that runs through everybody’s different story: You’re not sure what it is, but you can feel something’s missing.”
Father Taillon had been a devout Catholic since he was a child, and during his teenage years and into his 20s, lay people, along with some clergy, sometimes remarked that he would make a good priest. The possibility both intrigued and frightened him. A vocation might fulfill him, but his lay life was comfortable.
So he adopted an avoidant mentality.
“I ignored it pretty well, I think, for a while,” he says. “I put all my eggs in the corporate basket. I wanted to do a good job. And my job at CVS really affected people’s lives. They needed support.”
Mass-time prayers and Sunday sermons about callings, he says, kept resurrecting his dilemma. He was increasingly conflicted: a young man caught between a life he enjoyed and a life, not easily achieved, that might hold more for himself and others.
“It was spiritually uncomfortable, when I look back,” he says. “I wouldn’t have called it that then, but now I can put it together and see that obviously the Lord was calling. Very mysterious.”
One of three children of a forklift operator and a housewife, Father Taillon grew up in Woonsocket in a French-Canadian family where the rosary was prayed regularly. His mother took him to Mass every day and he was an altar boy, which brought him into contact with priests and a nun who would prove influential: Sister Maria, who belonged to a small and now-dwindling order, the Sister Servants of Our Lady, Queen of Clergy.
“She was an anchor in my spiritual life,” says Father Taillon. “Without being heavy-handed, she was always teaching me.”
After Catholic grammar school, the young Marcel entered Woonsocket High School, class of 1983. He was a class officer. He dated. At 16, he took a part-time job at CVS. He had no desire to become a priest, despite what others thought –– to Marcel’s annoyance.
“In high school, I resented it when people told me I should be a priest. I didn’t like it at all. I actually thought it was terrible.” He thought he would get a good-paying job, marry and have children, like most of his friends.
Marcel worked at CVS while attending Southern New Hampshire University, which he left shortly before graduation to join the Woonsocket-based corporation full-time. He was returning from a trip to Newark three days before Easter in the late 1980s when he decided to visit his parish church, St. Ann, in Woonsocket.
“It was Holy Thursday,” he says. “The churches are open, the Eucharist is out, and that’s the day that we believe that Jesus instituted the Eucharist and the priesthood.”
A nun was praying. Light from the sanctuary cast a glow.
Thoughts of joining the priesthood settled on him again, this time decisively.
All right, he thought, I’m going to try this.
Marcel contacted the Diocese of Providence, and the vocations director, Monsignor Paul D. Theroux, now the diocesan Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, began to advise him. He would have to pass extensive psychological and other testing and, if accepted, enter the seminary, complete a degree at Providence College and undertake more years of education and training. He was accepted. The time came to quit CVS. He had kept his new direction to himself.
He chose a coworker named Tina to tell first. He didn’t know her spiritual leanings, but professionally, they were close.
Tina, he said, I have to tell you something. I’m going to leave CVS and go to the seminary.
“I was afraid she was going to say, ‘What, are you crazy?’ But she wept right away. And she said: ‘You go! Get out of here and don’t look back!’ It was tremendous. It was so freeing for me.”
He told other close coworkers, and then his larger team, with whom he had some fun.
I’m going to work for a company that has more outlets than CVS, he told them. It’s a global company, it’s not just U.S.
“They all thought it was IBM because I had worked closely with them,” Father Taillon says. When they learned where he was really headed, he says, they were supportive –– and more. “Right away, everyone came to me to talk about their problems. Immediately. ‘Can you pray for me?’ It all came out.”
Father Taillon entered Our Lady of Providence Seminary in 1988, received an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Providence College, and left in 1990 for Pontifical North American College in Rome, where he studied for five years. Ordained a priest in Providence in 1994, he served in Vocation Ministry and was chaplain to Bishop Hendricken High School for several years before becoming St. Thomas More’s pastor.
In his work now with the faithful and in his celebration of the Eucharist, Father Taillon says he finds fulfillment, which he defines as something beyond ordinary emotion.
“There’s greater than happiness. There’s joy. And I found joy, and joy makes you cry sometimes, makes you suffer with love — makes you more human, more alive, more Christian. It’s not a mood or a feeling but the knowledge of the presence of God every moment and the freedom to trust that relationship is true and real.”
Men reach the priesthood, he says, along many paths.
“Some guys know right out of the womb,” he says, “and they’re right; they know, and God gives them that gift. And for other people, it comes out of nowhere later in life. For myself — when I look back now, I think it was always there.”
But achieving it took a sort of perseverance, a theme he strikes in his day-before-Thanksgiving sermon.
“I look back and think of all the fears and struggles and the obstacles that were mostly self-created,” he says from the pulpit.
He draws two lessons.
“Fears can keep us from doing good things,” he says.
And: “Persevere until the end.”
gwmiller@projo.com

Daily Grace: God's Mercy Will Give You Everything

Daily Grace: God's Mercy Will Give You Everything: "Out of love God created the heavens and the earth, The sun to shine by day, And the moon and the stars to guide by night. He created the w..."

Revelation by Saint Maria Faustina on the sacrament of Confession.

Revelation:

Today the Lord said to me, Daughter, when you go to confession, to this fountain of My mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul and ennobles it. Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself entirely in My mercy, with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of My grace upon your soul. When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity. The torrents of grace inundate humble souls. The proud remain always in poverty and misery, because My grace turns away from them to humble souls.
Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1602

Today, I went to confession to Father An. [Andrasz] I did as Jesus wanted. After confession, a surge of light filled my soul. Then I heard a voice: Because you are a child, you shall remain close to My Heart. Your simplicity is more pleasing to Me than your mortifications.
Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1617

God will make a Way

The things that may be impossible for men pose no problem for God because, as Jesus said, "With God all things are possible."
Matthew 19:24-26 Jesus looked at them and said, " With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible...

Don Moen-God will make a way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQQrYrtD2Zs
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Janet Paschel-God will make a way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAz7K72a8ks&feature=related

It is good to thank the Lord

GIVE THANKS>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzQdtLyAxmc

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Psalm 106

1Praise the LORD
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
2 Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare his praise? 3 Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right.
4 Remember me, LORD, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them, 5 that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise.

Today in Medjugorje, November 25, 2010 - Our Lady's Message

Today in Medjugorje

Photo: Saint James Church

November 25, 2010

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Our Lady of Medjugorje's November 25, 2010 Monthly Message:

"Dear children! I look at you and I see in your heart death without hope, restlessness and hunger. There is no prayer or trust in God, that is why the Most High permits me to bring you hope and joy. Open yourselves. Open your hearts to God’s mercy and He will give you everything you need and will fill your hearts with peace, because He is peace and your hope. Thank you for having responded to my call."

All will hate you because of ME - Luke 21:17

NOW HERE THIS" All will hate you because of Me." -Luke 21:17

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People "will manhandle and persecute you" (Lk 21:12). "You will be delivered up even by your parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death" (Lk 21:16). "Anyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus" will be persecuted (2 Tm 3:12). All Christians will be persecuted, and some will be martyred.

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When we hear these blunt statements from Jesus, most of us almost immediately reason that persecution and martyrdom will not happen to us. Even if they should, the persecution will be mild, and probably not for a long time. However, today's Gospel reading has never been more true. Never in the 2,000 year history of the Christian community have so many Christians been persecuted and even martyred. China, the most populous country in human history with a population of well over a billion people, is viciously shedding the blood of many Christians.

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Many Muslim nations consider it their religious duty to kill Christians who share their faith in Jesus. Secular humanists pride themselves on their tolerance of almost everything, even the worst perversions, yet make an exception for Christians, against whom they openly exhibit bigotry.

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Severe persecution against Christians is occurring now. You have good reason to expect that it will happen here to you. Rejoice! "It is your special privilege to take Christ's part - not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for Him" (Phil 1:29).
Father, may I watch and pray so that I will not fail the test (see Lk 22:40).
"Who would dare refuse You honor, or the glory due Your name, O Lord? Since You alone are holy, all nations shall come and worship in Your presence." -Rv 15:4

Da Mihi Animas: Remembering Father Slavko Barbaric, OFM#links#links

Da Mihi Animas: Remembering Father Slavko Barbaric, OFM#links#links

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*November 24 is the 10th anniversary of the death of Father Slavko Barbaric, OFM of Medjugorje. This saintly man was a wonderful witness to so many pilgrims.

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Dear children! Today when Heaven is near to you in a special way, I call you to prayer so that through prayer you place God in the first place. Little children, today I am near you and I bless each of you with my motherly blessing so that you have the strength and love for all the people you meet in your earthly life and that you can give God's love.

*I rejoice with you and I desire to tell you that your brother Slavko has been born into Heaven and intercedes for you. Thank you for having responded to my call. Medjugorje message, November 25, 2000

What The Pope Said

Dear Friend in Christ, The media's treatment of the Catholic Church is well known .. but every now and then .. the media out does itself in how low it can go. Please watch this newest episode of The Vortex.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/RealCatholicTV?feature=mhum#p/a/u/0/9aS1VgoUxbE

The Reed of God: MEDJUGORJE TESTIMONY OF FR. DONALD CALLOWAY

The Reed of God: MEDJUGORJE TESTIMONY OF FR. DONALD CALLOWAY: "Fr. Don Calloway CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO FR. DON CALLOWAY'S PERSONAL TESTIMONY THAT HE GAVE AT THE MARIAN CONFERENCE IN LOUISVILLE, KY 10-..."

A Family in Crisis, Alberta Sequeira, Author, Speaker, Survivor, writes of Richie and Lori.

Photo's- Author Alberta Sequeira, and her daughter Lori Lopes.

Richie Lopes was born on January 2, 1937. He had been born into a family fighting alcoholism, a disease that had been past down from generations of family members. His mother and sister battled their addiction leaving Richie and his sibblings with little security or happy times in his young growing years. By the time I had met Richie, I was at eighteen, and he was already drinking. Being a young girl coming from a happy family life, I had no knowledge, education or awareness on what alcohol abuse was all about or what it could do to a person. It wasn't until we got married and had two daughters, Debbie and Lori, that I came to see how alcoholics can't stop at one drink. They drink until they slurr their words, get into arguements, and can't remember a thing the next day. Slowly, I became an enabler without realizing it. In the late sixties and up, I kept silent to our problems with our families. Small arguments turned into abusive moments with the girls witnesses things they shouldn't have in their lives. I should have protected them more than Richie. Our once happy, family life turned to fear, confusion and abuse. While I thought I was protecting our children and foolishly thinking they needed their father, I innocently damaged our daughter's emotionally. Instead, I brought fear into Lori's life that continued up until her death. It took a lot of strength for me to open up about our lives that I had kept behind closed door for over seventeen years to write Someone Stop This Merry-Go-Round; An Alcoholic Family in Crisis (2009). I watched a loving husband and father turn into someone I didn't know. This man who hated his family for drinking and the life he swore never to bring into our family became the same person with abusive behavior.After many times of suffering physical abuse and being lucky not to have been killed, I left a man that I once loved to survive. By then, my daughters had seen too much and lived without knowing love in a family. The horrible, sufficating disease passed down to Lori. My memoir shows how we all get on the merry-go-round to keep the abusive action going within the family. Making demands without breaking down would have stopped years of our family's mental and physical suffering.Feburay 10, 1985 at forty-five years of age, Richie died from this awful disease. Now I waited to see if my daughers would abuse alcohol.

Lori Lopes (Cahill) was born July 29, 1967 at Morton Hospital in Taunton, MA. She was my second daughter coming into the world four years after the birth of her sister, Debbie Lopes (Dutra) on May 14, 1963. I had lived in North Dighton, MA for over thirty years. Lori had a personality once she started to walk and discovered the world and the people in it. By two years old, she delighted in any comical gesture of hers to make people laugh. She continued this wonderful habit throughout her life. Our house filled with her friends since Lori seemed to be the leader of the pack. I enjoyed each moment my daughter's girlfriends, and at times the boys in the gang, come over to our house. I knew where they were and loved all the neighborhood kids.On the outside, Lori made everyone around her think that she was delighted with life and the friends she had. But, she hid her pain deep down inside her including away from me, her mother. At the age of seventeen, Lori and Debbie at the age of twenty-one lost their father when he was only forty-five years of age from cirrhosis of the liver. It wasn't until Lori's last two years that the family came to realize that she had been following the same path as her father. She had deeper problems that kept her frightened all her life, making her lose confidence in herself, and turned to alcohol abuse, and I think drugs played a part in her silent suffering. How does a parent miss the signs, especailly after losing a husband nineteen years earlier? Easily. Lori never came and told me she was hurting or had been mentally upset with past trumas in her life. It had been the physical, and mental health breakdowns that opened the door to her illness, including being bulemic. Her second marriage fell apart, and I blamed the weight loss to the stress she had been under.On November 22, 2006 after three alcoholic rehabilitation stays, Lori died at thirty-nine years of age at the Charlton Memoiral Hospital in Fall River, MA. She was laid to rest with her father at the St. Patrick Cemetery in Somerset, MA.God gave me a loving, happy, beautiful daughter who filled all our lives with joy. She left us her two children, Joe and Meagan. Debbie and her husband, Brian, took Lori's children to live with them and their children Kerri and Michael. Meagan became the nurse Lori had hoped to be and Joe became a Marine December 18, 2009. I see her each time I look in their eyes. Please, God, Not Two; This Killer Called Alcoholism (2010) is the sequel after self-publishing Someone Stop This Merry-Go-Round; An Alcoholic Family in Crisis (2009). It's a very honest, painful and emotional story of losing a child to a demon that became her killer. People say authors write to heal. I haven't healed. Every parent losing a child in any way, has to go on living. It's how we live that counts. I turned my life to speaking engagements on "The Effect of Alcoholism on the Whole Famliy." For a shy girl, who couldn't talk in public, I'm now reaching out to other families of abusers and the abusers themselves. God has a way of putting a path in front of us. We have to decide if we want to travel down it. If we open our hearts to Him, the decision is easy. My trust and love in God has me taking this dark journey along with other sufferers hoping to find a light at the end of visiting each location to give a speaking engagement. Like the alcoholics state; "It's one day at a Time." But, I know He leads me. If I stumble, I just get up and keep going. Seeing the faces of lost souls controlled by this killer, gives me peace when they hug and kiss me while thanking me for coming to talk to them.

Alberta Sequeira: http://albertasequeira.com/ Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved

Daily Grace: The Light of Life

Daily Grace: The Light of Life: "I have heard it said, “If you point your finger at someone, remember there are 3 more pointing at you!” We are always so quick to find fault..."

The Conversion of Fr. Donald Calloway

Friday, December 02, 2005

Posted by Pilgrim

The conversion of Fr Donald
The gathering on a warm September Thursday did not appear unlike any other English Mass in St James’ Church, Medjugorje. It included some 160 souls who had arrived from Birmingham in the early hours of that morning and had managed to be up and seated on time ready for 10am Mass.The priests gathered in number on the altar and the congregation were in fine voice, packed into the pews and spilling over into the aisles. Fr Donald Calloway (pictured) was the celebrant, an American priest blessed, as he said, to be in Medjugorje for his first time and celebrating his first Mass there.

During his homily, in a clear and resonant voice, Fr Donald spoke of the boy he once knew who had started experimenting with drugs at the age of 12. By his late teens the young man had sampled every drug in the book, even heroin and crack-cocaine. He just lived for the life of ‘sex, drugs and rock and roll’ and dressed and acted accordingly. Not surprisingly he had been convicted and imprisoned several times, even thrown out of three countries. The stress this young man gave his parents drove them to become Catholics! Then one day, when their son came out of his teen years, he picked up a book lying on the coffee table in his parents’ home. It was titled, The Queen of Peace Visits Medjugorje, and it was to change the 20-year-old drug addict’s life. Encouraged to join a community and ‘clean up’ – which he did – he too joined the Catholic Church.It was then that Fr Donald’s voice penetrated every listening heart in St James church, when he proclaimed: “That young man is celebrating Mass before you today!” Applause is not encouraged during Mass, but it happened – although not in the usual way – as every heart of every person present, pounded loudly with joy. Needless to say, Fr Donald was a priest in demand after Mass as he patiently attended to everyone who presented themselves, whatever their need or desire. As a high school dropout, it took Fr Donald ten years of studies in the seminary before he was ordained a priest in the order of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception – an order by his choice, because it twice contains Our Lady’s name! “Right now we have nine men in formation back in Stockbridge and all their vocations came from Medjugorje,” says Fr Donald, who is Assistant Rector of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Mass. (USA).Fr Calloway is not frightened about confronting or owning up to his past life. In fact, he doesn’t have to look too far back to be reminded. Just to the tattoos still on his shoulder!
Posted by pilgrim at 12:00 AM

Fr. Donald Calloway, A New Book, No Turning Back

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

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In his own words, No Turning Back recounts Fr. Donald's personal story of conversion after reading a book about Our Lady.
Though today he is a devout Catholic Marian priest, Fr. Donald's early years were no indication of what was to come. Before his conversion to Catholicism, he was a high school dropout who had been kicked out of a foreign country, institutionalized twice and thrown in jail multiple times. Discovering a book on Our Lady led to his conversion and ardent love of Mary and the Church.

Famous Italian actress and convert, Claudia Koll on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje.

Claudia Koll on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje
date: 14.11.2010.

Famous Italian actress and convert, Claudia Koll, came to Medjugorje in the beginning of November on a pilgrimage. She gave interview to radio station “Mir” Medjugorje and she openly spoke about her life and her conversion. It felt as we had listened to the unwritten story of Mary Magdalene of our days.

She told us about all of the troubles and difficulties she had while she was growing up, all beacuse her mom had died during her birth. She was raised by her granny and had many identity crises while she was educated and at the end got completely lost in the world of movie production. After a number of obscene roles in movies, Claudia walked through the Holy door on Basilica of St. Peter in Rome, in Jubilee Year of 2000 and instantly felt that the life she had up to that moment was broken and disappeared. And then, she said: “One day there was this dramatic situation that needed to be resolved and I did not know how to handle that at all. I remember being desperate, I walked the room up and down, and just simply in one moment I started to speak to God. I prayed Our Father and I was squeezing in the palms of my hands a little crucifix that one of my friends gave to me few days prior to that. In those moments, my whole being was turned towards the God, I felt as I was tied close to the Cross and I was able to feel complete liberation. I felt as I was immersed in something like a deep peace. And I rested in that feeling. No longer was I worried, nor afraid; it felt as there was only one feeling of deep silence, something unknown to me prior to that particular moment. It was that silence that spoke to me about God, I did not see Him, but I was able to feel Him. I asked Him, ´Why did You do that, why did you console me, I do not deserve that?’ Then I said: ‘You are my Father, I prayed to you in the prayer of Our Father and I told You that I would like to meet You!’ That was my prayer!”“Lord did not take away my suffering, but He walked with me, slowly, and helped me to resolve that pain. Even more, that suffering was my journey towards Him, I started to feel desire to go back to the church. In the beginning I would just spend time in a church and enjoy silence and peace of God and that had brought me to the sacrament of Holy Eucharist. God started to heal me through the sacraments. It was a long process, with its ups and downs, but every time I would fall down, I would be getting up again.” She realised that she needs to follow Jesus and it needs to be on both of her feet, one of love and the other of truth. She would turn down all of the movie roles that were not in accordance with the spirit of Gospel. She told us interesting detail from those days: “One day I signed the contract that offered me lots of money. The role itself was not negative but I knew I shouldn’t have had signed that contract, since I was to meet those same people that I had promised to the Lord I would not meet ever again. The second I signed the contract I knew I made mistake. I was not able to say no, because I was still weak in my decisions. But, when I got the money for that project, I started to give it to the poor people in the church. I felt that money did not belong to me, it was the money of betrayal.”The following chapter of her life was how she went to do mission work, in Ethiopia where she had witnessed so much poverty, famine, little children dying all over the place. She said: “I remember one little boy whose eyes were closed not because he was blind but because he did not have any water to wash his eyes. His eyes were inflamed because of all of the dirt that was in his eyes. I used moisture tissues to clean and wash out his eyes and while his eyes were being opened, the Lord was opening mine. I realised I lived in a luxurious home, I had expensive carpets, silver cutlery and none of that was able to save my life. I started to see everything in a different way and I realised I needed to give part of my wealth to those who were poor. “After she came back, she visited the shrine of Divine Mercy and she was able to discover the message of Divine Mercy. “I realised that the Lord was saying to me ‘Claudia, if you fell down, that was because you trusted too much in your own abilities, trust me!’ For me, that was what ‘Jesus, I trust in you’ meant. I needed to realise that my conversion was going to happen together with Jesus and I should have trusted in my Lord more, from the beginning. I think that genuine faith is the one Abraham had, he hoped and believed beyond and against every hope and belief”, says Claudia. Claudia also spoke about her relationship and devotion towards Our Lady. “Our Lady was always present in my life, ever since I was born. I remember watching a movie about Our Lady from Fatima, it was when I was 8, 10 years old, I do not remember exactly. And I remember saying how Our Lady was not just a statue, she was a woman. I was really impressed that Our Lady gave such important tasks to the visionaries. I remember, as I was going back home after seeing that movie, I was reciting a little prayer in my heart to Our Lady and I told her ‘I want to live with you and come to you, bring me closer to You as You brought Jacinta.’ I was asking from Our Lady to die, and Lord did not answer that prayer, but I think He wants me now to witness for Him, and all of the experiences I had are just evident proofs of Divine Mercy. “Claudia mentioned how Our Lady was with her all along her conversion, and she feels strongly about Medjugorje and apparitions to the visionaries. In the moments of apparitions, she feels powerful presence of Our Lady. Describing one such event she said: “I could see that it was raining, but I did not feel rain drops on my umbrella at all. I think it is such a wonderful experience to feel Our Lady with heart. It never occurred to me to look for the signs, to look in the sky. I think that this encounter takes place in the depths of our hearts. I do not even want to look into the face of the visionary, I am only interested in my own prayer and encounter with Our Lady. “Claudia emphasises especially the love she feels now through Our Lady’s presence. The love in a completely new way. The journey to that new experience had several stages. This is just one of them. “When my conversion began, first people that Lord would place in front of me were those who had AIDS. And it was through one of such young man, through his suffering that I got to know Christ’s love. I started to think about Jesus in a Garden of Gethsemane, and his sweat of blood, how he must have feared death. On the other hand, this young man was lying in a bed and he was in a very bad state. He was unable to speak because illness affected speech centre in his brain. But his eyes spoke about his fears. And when I took his hand, I felt great love in my heart. The love I never felt before, strong and gentle. It was that love that converted me. When I look into my past now, I think about how many times Jesus entered such areas of my life. But my eyes were blind, closed and I was not able to recognise Him. When my conversion started, I realised that Jesus was present in all those who were suffering.”Claudia Koll is the founder of Association “The Works of the Father” that is dedicated to missionary work in Africa. She is building a house for disabled people called Little Lourdes. In the world of Arts, she is the Head of the Academy of Arts that was founded on the principles from the Letter to the Artists of late Holy Father John Paul II. Through this Academy, she wants to help young people to enter into the world of fame and spectacle in a healthy, Christian way. It is interesting that music from Medjugorje regularly plays inside this Academy.

Source of Article....http://medjugorje.s3.novenaweb.info/en/news/claudia-koll-on-a-pilgrimage-to-medjugorje,3295.html.

Medjugorje: Angels over the Vineyards

Photo: Fr. Donald Calloway at the Notre Dame Conference 2004


Angels Over the Vineyards
By Cathy Karem

It was a beautiful fall evening in September, 2005. Father Donald Calloway, the spiritual director for another group from the US, walked into Pansion Nada, where he and his group were staying and where I always stay when coming to Medjugorje. I was sitting at a table having a cup of coffee after awaiting my husband’s phone call from the States.
Fr. Calloway looked at me and said, “Excuse me, could you please come outside with me for a minute?” I said, “Sure, Father.” I didn’t know why or what, but I followed him out the front door to the driveway, which is located right across the street from the vineyards, and to the right of Mount Krizevac. He pointed up into the sky and he said, “ What do you see?” I looked and I gasped, “Oh my gosh, Father. There’s angels!” they were going around in a circle in the sky. It looked like they were playing chase! All of a sudden a huge bolt of lightening and a big thunder boom struck the sky and everyone who had started gathering for this heavenly spectacle gasped with awe.
The angels kept chasing one another in a circular motion and we then noticed inside the big circle of angels was a smaller circle of baby angels chasing one another. After what seemed about 10 minutes or so, another huge bolt of lightening lit up the sky and a huge boom of thunder clapped. That was number two. We all screamed with excitement again! Priests and pilgrims were running out of their rooms and were gathering to see this beautiful heavenly display. Everyone was “ooohing” and “awing” and saying, “Wow! Look at these angels!!!” These precious little heavenly creatures were having a great time playing “Catch me if you can” over the vineyards.
Now, after what seemed to be another 10 minutes had gone by, the third and biggest bolt of lightening struck. It seemed to cover the entire sky. You could see the whole village of Bikavici. The thunder bolt was so loud it seemed to shake the earth!
Everyone was so excited! And with that, the angels were gone! The sky went black and everybody was silent. You could have heard a pin drop. It seemed like the heavens opened up and they were called back to the Heavenly Court.
Why? How??? I kept asking myself. I remembered that Ivan had called us to the Blue Cross for a message and apparition of the Blessed Mother this night and I couldn’t go on this particular evening because I had to wait for my husband’s phone call from the States. As a rule, I would never have missed Her call to the Blue Cross, but I knew, after having missed my husband’s call the previous night, that our Blessed Mother would want me to be considerate and be there this time for my husband’s phone call. When I go to Medjugorje I usually stay a month, so I knew that in all probability that the Blessed Mother would call us again to the Blue Cross, and I would go then.
Boy am I glad that I listened to my heart and that I had awaited his phone call !
Our Blessed Mother has called me to come to Medjugorje many times, and I have been very blessed and privileged to have been able to answer Her call. I have seen the Miracle of the Sun many times, my rosaries have turned gold, and many other beautiful miracles have happened, but never in all my days had I seen a visual miracle of heavenly creatures like these angels!
Our Blessed Mother gives us so many blessings and miracles from Her Son Jesus, but they don’t always hit us like streaks of lightening and bolts of thunder. But this was definitely a gift and all I can say is that miracles do
happen and they come in many shapes and forms, but we must open our hearts to receive them.
This beautiful place called Medjugorje is truly a precious and indescribable gift to the world. How God loves us so much to have sent His Heavenly Queen, our Heavenly Mother all these years to help us through our lives. This place called Medjugorje has truly marked me and millions of other people. Mary’s presence is there! And you can feel Her wrap Her loving arms around you.
I must add something very important to this story… THANK YOU, Blessed Mother and Jesus for loving me!
Editor’s note: Cathy is from Louisville, Kentucky.
Source of this article....http://www.spiritofmedjugorje.org/july2006.htm

Video: Medjugorje Inspired Pro-Life Art

Joanne Von Zwehl

Medjugorje Inspired Pro-Life Art....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMndfcasyw8
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All children of Christ unite and fight for life.

Joanne Von Zwehl, My Silent Plea

JoAnne Von Zwehl wrote this beautiful pro-life poem

My Silent Plea (Pro Life Poem)

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Today I had nightmare, It was scary as can be. From inside my mothers womb I was taken so violently. No longer would I live and feel Gods life in me. I knew it was a nightmare. That was not Gods plan for me. He wove me in your womb. So I may be a blessing to all humanity. I feel, I touch, I am alive. Mammy tell me it cant be. Today I had a nighmare. I would be taken from thee. Let me stay another day. Let me grow to be me. God so loved me. He gave me life. Please don’t take my life from me.

Medjugorje Inspired Pro-Life Art....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMndfcasyw8