California Fires, be sure to look at all of these photos. Notice the Cross on the bottom of the hill on fire.

This must have been really something for those who witnessed it.

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The next Day.

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Even the fire fighters that were near the Cross said it was going to be destroyed. The next day Gene Blevins, the photographer went back to the scene to get some more shots and saw the Cross was not even touched not ever scorched from the heat.

May you be blessed always.

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Thank you Maggie for sharing these photos with me. Ed

Medjugorje: Good News Cardinal Schonborn to visit Medjugorje

Cardinal Schonborn is to visit Medjugorje from December 8 (feast of the Immaculate Conception) to January 4.

What an incredible newsflash!! Cardinal Schonborn will be in Medjugorje for such a long time....and will be there for Christmas and to enter the New Year! Allelujia! I am sure much more news will follow :)

Ljubav i mir!

Maureen

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Archbishop of Vienna to visit Medjugorje--BREAKING NEWS-- 11/11/2009 Fr. Neil Buchlein
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I just received an e-mail this morning from one of my friends who lives in Medjugorje and helps with the coordination of the music for the English speaking masses and lives there year round that Cardinal Schonborn will be visiting Medjugorje from December 8th through January 4th. No doubt this is very good news and the Cardinal has been a very strong supporter of Medjugorje since the late 1980s

He told Cardinal Ratizinger in 1989, "if Medjugorje were closed, he would also have to close the Seminary in Vienna, because the majority of those candidates had received their call to the priesthood through Medjugorje. To this, Cardinal Ratzinger replied: 'Closing Medjugorje is not even a question!'"

In 1998 he said, "I believe that the words of Mary at Cana: “Do whatever He tells you,” make up the substance of what s he says throughout the centuries. Mary helps us to hear Jesus and she desires with her whole heart and with all her strength that we do what He tells us. This is what I wish for all the communities of prayer which were formed from Medjugorje; this is what I wish for our diocese and for the Church. ...

Personally, I have not been to Medjugorjre, but in a certain way I have been there many times through the people I have met and the people I know. And in their lives I am seeing good fruit. I would be lying, if I said this fruit did not exist. This fruit is concrete and visible and I can see in our diocese and in many other places graces of conversion, graces of a supernatural life of faith, graces of joy, graces of vocations, of healings, of people returning to the Sacraments - to confession. All this is not misleading. Therefore, as far as I am concerned, as a Bishop, I can only see the fruit. If we had to judge the tree by it’s fruit, like Jesus, I must say that the tree is fruitful!"Will Cardinal Schonborn also pay a visit to the Bishop of Mostar? We can certainly hope and pray that he does! source: http://www.blessedmotherschildren.com/

Bishop Thomas Tobin turns up the heat on Rep. Patrick Kennedy

Bishop turns up heat on Kennedy

Dear Family of Mary

November 9, 2009The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
Dear Family of Mary!

"Today I invite you to offer your crosses and sufferings for my intentions --- Little children, offer your sufferings as a gift to God so that they may become a most beautiful flower of joy. Therefore, little children, pray that you may understand that suffering can become joy, and the cross a way of joy." (September 25, 1996)

Last night Denis received an unexpected phone call from Mary Jo Chenevert. Mary Jo loves Our Lady of Medjugorje. She has made several trips to Medjugorje. She had an beautiful experience with Pope John Paul II in 1993. She went to Rome with a group that was scheduled to meet with him, but the Holy Father broke his collar bone and the meetings were cancelled. Mary Jo felt that the Lord wanted her to meet the Holy Father and talk to him about Medjugorje and so she held out hope. Finally, just before leaving Rome, her group was admitted to a meeting with the Pope.Mary Joe said that Pope John Paul II was suffering from his injury, but that he greeted everyone. When he greeted her, he traced the Sign of the Cross on her forehead. She was very moved, and forgot to say anything about Medjugorje, but as he walked away she held out some Rosaries that she had brought from Medjugorje to give to him. She blurted out, "They are from Medjugorje!" The Holy Father turned around smiling, and came back to her and said, "Do everything you can to protect Medjugorje!" Mary Joe answered, "But, most Holy Father, I am only one person!" He answered, "Pray for the protection of Medjugorje!" As he walked on, he kissed the Rosaries. (Mary Jo's witness appears in Medjugorje and the Church, by Sr. Emmanuel and Denis Nolan, 1995, paraphrased here.) "Do everything you can to protect Medjugorje!" These words have since taken on a new meaning for Mary Jo. She has fallen very ill. She can no longer travel to Medjugorje, or even go to daily Mass. She is suffering. But she told Denis that she is offering up her suffering for Medjugorje. She is acting as a human shield for Medjugorje in the spiritual battle that is raging in the heavens. Indeed, one person can do a great deal in spiritual warfare, because we can offer our sufferings for the sake of souls, and win much ground for God's plan. Medjugorje is God's plan for the salvation of the world in these days. Medjugorje is renewing the Church, drawing her children back to the faith by the millions. The enemy is enraged against Medjugorje. Our Lady needs prayer warriors like Mary Jo who will pray for her intentions in Medjugorje. It is critical at this time that we respond to Our Lady's call. Let's pray for Mary Jo, that she can persevere in her intercession, and that the Lord will heal her. Thank you, Mary Jo, for your response to Our Lady's call. You teach us a great deal by your witness. Maybe Our Holy Father is speaking to all of us now, "Pray for the protection of Medjugorje!"

In Jesus and Mary!Cathy Nolan
Mary TV

Medjugorje: Cross in the Sky

Just moments after Mirjana’s apparition of Our Lady Queen of Peace of Medjugorje on November 2, 2009 at the Blue Cross, the thousands of pilgrims present looked up to see this cross directly above Cross Mountain. Many of the pilgrims were touched, seeing this as a sign from God, directly after hearing Our Lady’s words calling us back to God the Father.

Medjugorje.com

Reflection on Mirjana's October Message

Reflection on Mirjana’s October Message
By Fr. Neil Buchlein

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Greetings! I hope that you have "caught your breath" by now after saying, "WOW! That is quite a message!" At the same time it could also "lull us" into a false complacency of how well we are doing. We may be on the other side of saying, “This is for non-believers, but that is not me!” Let's take a look at what Mirjana means when she says that she prays for non-believers. Here is what she has said in the past: “Our Lady prays together with me for the non-believers, though She says: `For those who have not yet known God's love.’ For this intention, Mary asks for the help of us all, or those who look at Her as Mother, because She says we can change the non-believers through our prayer and example. In these difficult times, Mary desires that we pray especially for them, because all the ugly things that happen (wars, homicide, suicide, divorce, abortion, drugs) are caused by the non-believers. That is why She repeats: ‘When you pray for them, you are praying also for yourselves and for your future.' On my part, I urge you to take this seriously. If only you could see just once the tears that run down Our Lady's face when She speaks of the non-believers, I'm sure you'd pray with all your heart. Mary says that this is time for deciding, thus, we who say we believe in God have a great responsibility when we know that our prayers and sacrifices dry the tears from Our Lady's face."
I'm going to "stretch the envelope" a little, and ask those of us who are sleeping or reading these messages with closed minds and hearts, "When we are not living the messages, then who do you think we are?" "We are non-believers!" We are certainly not going to win over those who say they are non-believers when we are providing a poor example and not living faithfully. Are we really using the Five Stones [prayer, Eucharist, Confession, Bible reading, fasting] to our advantage?
Take a look once again at the message: "Dear Children, As I look at you, my heart seizes with pain.” She is hurting as any mother would for her children who are wondering off. Her heart is in pain because of Her unconditional, merciful love for us. She will, as our Heavenly Mother, NEVER give up on us, but She will soon stop reminding us monthly, when Her Son tells Her that She will no longer appear to the visionaries.
Humanity is addicted to sin, and we are on the fast track to destruction. How quick we are to defend ourselves even when we are doing wrong. What a horrible and no-good priest am I when I question a person who does not attend Sunday Mass on a weekly basis! Gee, I thought that I was called and ordained (a Sacrament in the Church) to be a shepherd and lead them from going astray.
We live so fast, and have so much at our "beck and call" that many look to try to "fit God into their lives," rather than having Him as the center. We can justify anything today, even without thinking long and hard about it. This attitude is extremely prevalent in the world today. Gee, do you really think we want to humble ourselves and "Kneel down beneath the Cross and look at my Son." This message is not about "doom and gloom" but certainly a "Wake Up Call" and tell us that we are NOT doing what we need to do. Don't say, "Oh, Fr. Neil, but I am trying." Don't try, but DO IT.
Time is running out very quickly, and one day soon we will no longer have these Messages of Love. Our Mother does not want us to lose the race, but live with Her Son forever. BUT will we be responsible, or come up with some ridiculous or "worldly justifiable excuse" that "everyone is doing it"?
This is not an easy life, and once you know of the Messages, there are many obstacles that are thrown in our way. It takes courage, perseverance, and love. Doing what we need to do may even cause us heartache, and to become unpopular. I know priests (and I am one of them. . .imagine that!) who have lost "friends" because they spoke the Truth, but the friend(s) did not want to hear it. So the priest licks his wounds, cries out to the Lord and the Blessed Mother, and hears the words, "Thank You for being a priest and teaching the Truth." The Truth may not make me popular, but it will get me into Heaven. Isn't that where you want to be?
The clock is in motion. Do an inventory of your soul. Get to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and make the necessary changes that you need to make. Mother is waiting!
Editor’s note: Fr. Neil lives in Hurricane, WV. He has just launched a websitehttp://www.blessedmotherschildren.com/ Article from http://www.spiritofmedjugorje.org/

Living in the Spirit

IN THE SPIRIT"

We have gifts that differ according to the favor bestowed on each of us." —Romans 12:6
Doctors recommend regular physical exercise to keep our bodies in shape. Physical therapists recommend specific exercises to enable an injured body part to work normally. Musicians practice exercises on their instruments to develop "muscle-memory." Thereby musicians hone their physical talents to the point of being automatic, making them free to enter into the spirit of the composition.

In an even greater way, Doctor Jesus commands us to exercise the gifts of the Spirit He has given us (see Rm 12:6. By exercising our spiritual gifts, the body of Christ becomes more vigorous. Each spiritual gift helps to heal the wounded parts of Christ's body when exercised properly (1 Cor 12:9). By exercising our spiritual gifts regularly, we become so "in tune" with the Spirit that we develop "Spirit-memory." We are more quickly able to recognize the movements of the Holy Spirit, even to the point that we become "co-workers" with the Spirit (1 Cor 3:9).The risen Jesus has given us the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:8, 10). Now we have a choice. Will we exercise these gifts or make excuses for not using them? Holy Spirit, "I will not treat God's gracious gift as pointless" (Gal 2:21). Fill me up and use me up.

All Souls Day

"Our Lady's Message, November 25, 1986"

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“Dear Children! Today I wish to call you to pray daily for souls in purgatory. For every soul prayer and grace is necessary to reach God and the love of God.

By doing this, dear children, you obtain new intercessors who will help you in life to realize that all the earthly things are not important for you, that only Heaven is that for which it is necessary to strive.

Therefore, dear children, pray without ceasing that you may be able to help yourselves and the others to whom your prayers will bring joy. Thank you for having responded to my call. ”

Medjugorje: Our Lady's Message to Mirjana of November 2, 2009

Dear children,

Also today I am among you to point you to the way that will help you to come to know God’s love, the love of God who permitted you to call him Father and to perceive him as Father.

I ask of you to sincerely look into your hearts and to see how much you love him. Is he the last to be loved? Surrounded by material goods, how many times have you betrayed, denied and forgotten him?

My children, do not deceive yourselves with worldly goods. Think of your soul because it is more important than the body; cleanse it. Invoke the Father, he is waiting for you. Come back to him. I am with you because he, in his mercy, sends me. Thank you. November 2, 2009

Breaking News, The Vatican's Apostolic Nuncio of Austria was in Medjujgorje this week.

Austria's Papal Nuncio in Medjuorje ***BREAKING NEWS*** 10/30/2009

The Vatican’s Apostolic Nuncio of Austria was in Medjugorje this week for four days with a large group of Austrian pilgrims estimated at more than 1,000.

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Last Sunday, Archbishop Stephan Zurbriggen told the congregation at the English-speaking Mass that his benediction carried with it a special papal indulgence (with the usual conditions attached) for all those able to attend the Masses at which he was the Celebrant while he was in Medjugorje. Peace and Blessings. http://www.blessedmotherschildren.com/

Fr. Nick Mormondo,The Call to the Priesthood

I was a perpetually professed Capuchin brother, happy with my life as it was and truly looking for nothing more than to be holy. In April of 1995, I looked into the possibility of taking some of the members of our parish Youth Group to Medjugorje. With only $20 in our Youth Group account, the likelihood of making the journey seemed impossible. To make a long story short, in no time at all, I had $11,000 which covered the cost for myself, four youth and two parents. We already had our first miracle and we hadn't even left Tampa, Florida!

For the previous year, thoughts of returning to studies for the priesthood, which I had abandoned years earlier, kept coming to mind. I had been praying on it as well as taking it to Spiritual Direction. Now that I was going to Medjugorje, I decided to make a request of Our Lady. In my prayer, I reminded her that it seemed as though everyone who went to Medjugorje got some kind of a miracle and I wanted one, too. I told her that if I was supposed to be a Priest, I needed to hear those words in Medjugorje. Truthfully, almost as quickly as I made the request, I completely forgot about it.

*On July 19th, our group had the privilege of being present with the Visionary Vicka for an apparition. It was very prayerful but I cannot say that I had any kind of extraordinary sense of the event. Two days later, on July 21st, Sandy Tobin, our pilgrimage director, asked to speak to me. Expecting to hear something about the kids' behavior, I was surprised to earn that she had something else to tell me. After I had taken a seat in her room, she looked me right in the eye and, pointing at me, she said, - "You're supposed to be a priest."

At that instant, I remembered the request I had made of Our Lady prior to leaving for the pilgrimage and burst out in tears. I realized that my request was being answered. Sandy proceeded to tell me that, during the apparition, she had a sense that I was being called but that I was struggling with it. She heard, "believe first, then you will see." She sensed that I was wanting to see first; then I would believe.

You're waiting for a big miracle to happen and then you'll believe; but the Lord is saying, believe first and then you'll see. As far as I was concerned, the big miracle had just happened.
I spent about three or four hours that day, by myself, in front of the Blessed Sacrament in the little Chapel behind St. James Church. Basically, I told the Lord that I was willing to accept the call. The one sense that I can remember experiencing during that time was the awareness that my life was going to change again. I wasn’t looking for another change; but I knew that my life was going in another direction and that I couldn’t see what it would hold.

Immediately upon my return from Medjugorje, I told my superior that I wanted to study for the priesthood. Eventually, that door was opened and I began my seminary studies in August of 1997. I was ordained a priest on Saturday, June 23, 2001, the day on which the Church celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Nothing could have been more appropriate...http://www.pilgrimspeace.com/

A New Blogsite by Father Neil Buchlein

Fr Neil Buchlein’s new blogsite: " Our Blessed Mother’s Children. "

http://www.blessedmotherschildren.com/

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Father Neil Buchlein is a diocesan priest for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia and was ordained on June 13, 1998. He is the pastor of Ascension Church in Hurricane, WV. He has traveled to Medjugorje sixteen times since 2003 and has served as Spiritual Director on four of the pilgrimages. Father Neil is proactive in spreading the Medjugorje Message and fostering devotion to Our Lady. He looks forward each year to Medjugorje because of the powerful spiritual experiences which very much impacted his priesthood.

Wayne Weible questions bishop on Medjugorje

Well-known journalist questions bishop on Medjugorje

Bishop Thomas Tobin rebukes Rep. Patrick Kennedy

Providence bishop slams Rep. Kennedy

Representative Patrick Kennedy is in hot water with the Catholic Church, the latest politician to run afoul of the church in the health care overhaul debate.
The church, along with many Republicans, is pushing for the bills to explicitly outlaw the use of public money for abortions. The bill's supporters say it already includes such a ban, but abortion foes say that a public insurance plan could provide coverage that would include abortion services and that new federal subsidies to help poor people buy coverage from private plans could be spent on abortions.
Kennedy, a Rhode Island Democrat, criticized the Catholic Church's stand on the health care bill.
"I can’t understand for the life of me how the Catholic Church could be against the biggest social justice issue of our time, where the very dignity of the human person is being respected by the fact that we’re caring and giving health care to the human person--that right now we have 50 million people who are uninsured,” Kennedy told Catholic News Service in an article posted Thursday.
"You mean to tell me the Catholic Church is going to be denying those people life saving health care? I thought they were pro-life?” Kennedy added. “If the church is pro-life, then they ought to be for health care reform because it’s going to provide health care that are going to keep people alive. So this is an absolute red herring and I don’t think that it does anything but to fan the flames of dissent and discord and I don’t think it’s productive at all.

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That brought this rebuke today from the most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence: “Congressman Patrick Kennedy’s statement about the Catholic Church’s position on health care reform is irresponsible and ignorant of the facts. As I wrote to Congressman Kennedy and other members of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation recently, the Bishops of the United States are indeed in favor of comprehensive health care reform and have been for many years. But we are adamantly opposed to health care legislation that threatens the life of unborn children, requires taxpayers to pay for abortion, rations health care, or compromises the conscience of individuals." "Congressman Kennedy continues to be a disappointment to the Catholic Church and to the citizens of the State of Rhode Island. I believe the Congressman owes us an apology for his irresponsible comments. It is my fervent hope and prayer that he will find a way to provide more effective and morally responsible leadership for our state,” Tobin added.

Jesus Asked, What do you want me to do for You

Jesus asked him, 'What do you want Me to do for you?' " —Mark 10:51

One of Jesus' favorite questions is: "What do you want?" Many times we don't know what we want, and Jesus challenges us to clarify this.Often we want things which are incompatible. We want to sin and still have a loving relationship with the Lord. We want to "do our own thing" and still be free. We want both selfishness and happiness. If we face reality, we see that these things are incompatible. Therefore, we must decide what we want most and reject the other "wants."Another problem in deciding what we want is denial.

We see this especially with alcoholism and other addictive behavior. But all sin produces some denial. In denial, we will not admit our true needs. This prevents us from wanting these needs fulfilled.

. For example, if sinners deny their sin, they'll not want forgiveness. If the spiritually blind deny their blindness, they'll not want sight. If the enslaved deny their slavery, they'll not want freedom. We can even deny our denial.Therefore, we must repent, face reality, and come out of denial. Now, we can answer Jesus' question: "What do you want Me to do for you?" Sacred Heart of Jesus, may I want what You want....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wutmEjdbedE

Our Lady's Medjugorje message to Marija of Ootober 25, 2009

Dear children!

Also today I bring you my blessing, I bless you all and I call you to grow on this way, which God has begun through me for your salvation. Pray, fast and joyfully witness your faith, little children, and may your heart always be filled with prayer. Thank you for having responded to my call. October 25, 2009

Revelation from Saint Maria Faustina Kowalaka, Diary

Revelation
After Communion today, Jesus told me how much He desires to come to human hearts. I desire to unite Myself with human souls; My great delight is to unite Myself with souls. Know, My daughter, that when I come to a human heart in Holy Communion, My hands are full of all kinds of graces which I want to give to the soul. But souls do not even pay any attention to Me; they leave Me to Myself and busy themselves with other things. Oh, how sad I am that souls do not recognize Love! They treat Me as a dead object.

I answered Jesus, "O Treasure of my heart, the only object of my love and entire delight of my soul, I want to adore You in my heart as You are adored on the throne of Your eternal glory. My love wants to make up to You at least in part for the coldness of so great a number of souls. Jesus, behold my heart which is for You a dwelling place to which no one else has entry. You alone repose in it as in a beautiful garden.
Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1385

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

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Oh, how painful it is to Me that souls so seldom unite themselves to Me in Holy Communion. I wait for souls, and they are indifferent toward Me. I love them tenderly and sincerely, and they distrust Me. I want to lavish My graces on them, and they do not want to accept them. They treat Me as a dead object, whereas My Heart is full of love and mercy. In order that you may know at least some of My pain, imagine the most tender of mothers who has great love for her children, while those children spurn her love. Consider her pain. No one is in a position to console her. This is but a feeble image and likeness of My love.
Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1447

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After Holy Communion the Lord said to me, If the priest had not brought Me to you, I would have come Myself under the same species. My daughter, your sufferings of this night obtained the grace of mercy for an immense number of souls.
Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1459

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Today, when the chaplain [Father Theodore] brought the Lord Jesus, a light issued from the Host, its light striking my heart and filling me with a great fire of love. Jesus was letting me know that I should answer the inspirations of grace with more faithfulness, and that my vigilance should be more subtle.
Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1462

Springtime in October, Come Holy Spirit

" Why can you not interpret the present time?" —Luke 12:56 "

Most of the time it's easy to predict the weather. Jesus claimed it was also easy to interpret the signs of the times (Lk 12:56). What are the signs of our times? What time is it spiritually? Pope John Paul II prophesied it is early "springtime" for the Church (Mission of the Redeemer, 86). This means we have weathered a long, cold spiritual winter. Some have spiritually died during this winter; others are starving, sick, or weakened. We must reach out to resurrect, nourish, and heal our Christian brothers and sisters. We should also tell them the good news that, although early spring sometimes looks like winter, it is still spring.
We have the certain hope of new life. "For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the dove is heard in our land" (Sg 2:11-12). Although we may be getting ready for winter in the calendar year, winter is over in the spiritual calendar.
The dove, the Holy Spirit, is singing a new song of new life in our land. Come, Holy Spirit of springtime!~~Father, send the Spirit to teach me to read the signs of the times. Come O Holy Spirit, please descend upon us through the most powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Your most chaste and well beloved spouse~~http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2j5Ve0_rTg

Are You Born Again? Do You Have the Holy Spirit?

Yesterday I came across a letter to the editor that I wrote during President Carter’s administration. It was never published as they said it was not in response to something in the newspaper, but, rather, evangelization.
So be it. Today it is being published.
TO THE EDITOR:
I seem to be a confirmed writer of letters to the editor. When issues are important to me, I want to make my views known, to stand up and be counted, and since I write better than I talk, I resort to letters.
It recently occurred to me that I have been silent on the most important issue of all.
We all know that President Carter and others claim to have been “born again,” but many people have only the vaguest idea of what that means. Some folks think they are Christians because they have been born into a Christian family, or attend a Christian church, or believe that Christ was the son of God, crucified for the sins of mankind.~ But a person is not really a Christian until he has personally, and I mean personally, committed his life to following Christ’s teachings, until he makes the decision that he is going to try to do God’s will. Then he becomes “another Christ,” is “born again” (John 3:5) as a child of God, and can call God “Father.”
Time is measured forwards and backwards, A.D. and B.C., from the time of Christ. An extraordinary star shone at his birth, the earth quaked at his death. His Word is the all-time best-seller. The shroud of Turin seems to be a modern-day testament to his resurrection. To this day people are living and dying for what he taught. Miracles continue to be worked in his name. His message of love touches all hearts, especially at Christmas-time.
What manner of man was this? He claimed to be God. He said, “The Father and I are one.” Was he a liar, lunatic, or truly what he said?
If Jesus Christ is truly God, I think the single most important decision a human being can make is to listen and to follow, to be born again. Christ’s life and death require some kind of response on our part. Who do you say that he is?
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***Nicodemus said said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God. – John 3:4-5 http://www.musingsat85.com/myblog/

Medjugorje: Bishop Siller Celebrating English Mass at Saint James Church

Bishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, seen here celebrating English Mass in St. James Church on September 29, 2009, grew up in the central-Mexico city of San Luis Potosi. He is the oldest of 15 children. He joined the religious order of the Mexico-based Missionaries of the Holy Spirit. He serves under the Archdiocese of Chicago. This was his first visit to Medjugorje.

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Homily of Bishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller
Bishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, from the Archdiocese of Chicago, spent a week in Medjugorje and celebrated Sunday Mass in Medjugorje on September 28, 2009. The message he gave in his homily this day speaks of the importance of allowing the HOLY SPIRIT to guide us all in being instruments of the New Pentecost.

We are not called to privatize - Read Bishop Stiller Homily at http://www.medjugorje.com/

Year of the Priesthood, Come Holy Spirit

The year for Priesthood: This month, let’s pray with Sr. Briege McKenna and Fr. Kevin the beautiful prayers for priests spread at “Intercession for Priests“(To say every day for a month, as announced in the Report of July 15th).

“Lord Jesus, you have chosen your priests from among us and sent them out to proclaim your word and to act in your name. For so great a gift to your Church, we give you praise and thanksgiving. We ask you to fill them with the fire of your love, that their ministry may reveal your presence in the Church. Since they are earthen vessels, we pray that your power shine out through their weakness.
In their afflictions let them never be crushed; in their doubts never despair; in temptation never be destroyed; in persecution never abandoned. Inspire them through prayer to live each day the mystery of your dying and rising.
In times of weakness send them your Holy Spirit, and help them to praise your heavenly Father and pray for poor sinners. By the same Holy Spirit put your words on their lips and your love in their hearts, to bring good news to the poor and healing to the brokenhearted.
And may the gift of Mary your mother, to the disciple whom you loved, be your gift to every priest. Grant that she who formed you in her human image, may form them in your Divine image, by the power of your Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Amen“.

Taken from Children of Medjugorje.

Through Our Lady's intercession, I beleive, Medjugorje is leading to the triumph of the Immaculate Heart.

“I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.”

These lyrics from the hymn Amazing Grace testify to the life of Fr. David Gunter, a priest from Massachusetts, who through a brief experience of becoming blind and deaf from the abusive use of drugs led him to seek after and return to God.

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Through his conversion he left the world of drugs behind, but it wasn’t until his encounter with Our Lady in Medjugorje that he found real healing of the soul that eventually led him to the priesthood.

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Through Our Lady’s intercession, I believe, Medjugorje is the beginning of a process leading to the triumph of the Immaculate Heart. This is what we are experiencing here in Medjugorje. And it is healing and it is mercy. So I tell you all now, be not afraid. There is so much more to come. So much more healing, so much more grace. Our Lord wants you all to have peace, peace.
Read Fr. Gunter testimony at http://www.medjugorje.com/

My Heart Seizes with Pain

My Heart seizes with pain. (©http://crownofstars.blogspot.com)
October 15, 2009

St. Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor Dear Family of Mary!

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*"Dear Children, as I look at you, my heart seizes with pain. Where are you going, my children? Have you sunk so deeply into sin that you do not know how to stop yourselves? You justify yourselves with sin and live according to it. Kneel down beneath the Cross and look at my Son. He conquered sin and died so that you, my children, may live. Permit me to help you not to die but to live with my Son forever." (October 2, 2009)

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Someone shared with me the following transcription of a talk that Mirjana gave at Oasis of Peace, the day after this message was given. It is just the beginning of the talk. It reflects the typical no-nonsense approach to Our Lady's messages that all the visionaries have. I hope that the rest of the talk will be transcribed soon.
"Mirjana reflects on October apparition:The following is part of a question and answer session given by Mirjana at the Oasis of Peace on 3rd October 2009. I will transcribe the rest at a later date.
Q: Yesterday's message was very serious and very sad; can you elaborate a little bit?
A: Message was very sad and you were lucky because you did not have a chance to see the expression on Our Lady's face so that your heart breaks. Because she is mother, and as she said in one of her messages, she desires to bring all of us as the most beautiful bouquet of flowers to her Son. Once she realizes that we do not see, we do not understand that, she is the way she was yesterday.Talking about her message, I have no right to comment on the message because I received it the same way you did. Same like you, I also have to reflect on message in order to understand what it tells me. But I would like to ask you one thing. Yesterday when I talked with some people about message, most people said 'when shall this world change, when shall the world understand?' but no one said 'when shall I understand, when shall I change myself?' I am only asking from all of you to start from ourselves to see where we make mistake and what we can change. Once we change, it will be easier to change others, not always put the blame on others. We should start with ourselves.
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Q: She said her heart was seizing? A: I also say that my heart seizes when I see her so sad. Our Lady had a very sad expression on her face, filled with pain because she was looking at us and we know what she was able to see within us. - Taken from Medjugorje Forum.Fr. Ed Sousa, Jr. shared this transcription on his blog site: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102765617965&s=662&e=001ukYigHCKs5O8KWAwr38q6lpAQWEtXBXKxnD6Hr5tmF42F59wgP1Y5VYdPcKs7pB_guGKOOmDzPSykfSmW9E-olUkWx_JLNvdsHjvUamGI47l2B28IkgCvXujb7w8inFPDNXY4-jjKu8tq6CnHRcU1U9VMmvn41b3ptiPut-ST0K5V5of5RC-le7vJLDiOVuwolwEvkm6ksw=
It is also found on the Medjugorje forum: http://www.medjugorje-online.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17840 You can see that Our Lady communicated her deep emotion to Mirjana, the seizing of her heart for her children. We need to take this message seriously, each according to our own reality with the Lord. It is indeed a call to self-examination. What does the Lord want of me right now? What is he asking of me? Like the rich young man who approached Jesus (Mark 10: 17-30), we need to ask Him what we must do to be saved. In Jesus and Mary!Cathy Nolan
Mary TV

Dear Fathers who have visited Medjugorje.

Photo By Pilgrim

Dear Fathers,

The parish of Medjugorje is compiling a book of priests who have had an impact on their
vocations from visiting Medjugorje, whether a vocation was received there, enhanced there,
saved there, etc. This is briefly stated on the bottom of the attached form.


Questionnaire


Respected brothers, the purpose and aim of this questionnaire is to make a list of priests who received their vocation through Medjugorje.
So, we kindly ask you to fill out this form with following information:

Name and surname:

Name of the diocese or religious community:
· diocesan priest
· religious(what order)
· deacon
· theology student

address:

home phone number:

mobile phone number:

When did you visit Medjugorje for the first time?

How many times have you been to Medjugorje so far?

Please, briefly decribe on one page the way Medjugorje influnced your decision to become a priest?

Your opinion about Medjugorje?

When did you decide to study theology?

Where did you study?

Date of your ordination?

What and where have you worked as a priest since your ordination?

Meeting pilgrims we have found out that you experienced a significant spiritual renewal in Medjugorje.
However, we do not have enough written testimonies about concrete fruits, so we kindly ask you to fill out above written qustionnaire.
These information will be used for the needs of Information center Mir Medjugorje only.
We thank you in advance

Please send your answers to the following e- mail address:vianney500@gmail.com untill January 1, 2010.

Patrick & Nancy Latta of Medjugorje welcome Fr. Jaime, Fr. Dave, and Fr. George, to their home in Medjugorje. Below Patrick gives his testimony

Photo's by Maureen

Mirjana reflects on Our Lady's October 2, apparition.

Mirjana reflects on Oct apparition

The following is part of a questions and answer session given by Mirjana at the Oasis of Peace on 3rd October 2009. I will transcribe the rest at a later date.

Q: Yesterday’s message was very serious and very sad, can you elaborate a little bit?

A: Message was very sad and you were lucky because you did not have a chance to see the expression on Our Lady’s face so that your heart breaks. Because she is mother, and as she said in one of her messages, she desires to bring all of us as the most beautiful bouquet of flowers to her Son. Once she realises that we do not see, we do not understand that, she is the way she was yesterday.
Talking about her message, I have no right to comment on the message because I received it the same way you did. Same like you, I also have to reflect on message in order to understand what it tells me.
But I would like to ask you one thing. Yesterday when I talked with some people about message, most people said ‘when shall this world change, when shall the world understand?’ but no one said ’when shall I understand, when shall I change myself?’ I am only asking from all of you to start from ourselves to see where we make mistake and what we can change. Once we change, it will be easier to change others, not always put the blame on others. We should start with ourselves.

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Q: She said her heart was seizing? A: I also say that my heart seizes when I see her so sad. Our Lady had a very sad expression on her face, filled with pain because she was looking at us and we know what she was able to see within us.. - Taken from Medjugorje Forum.

Do Not Absent Yourselfs from the Assembly. Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in their midst.

THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD" - Call an assembly." —Joel 1:14

The Lord considers it a high priority for His people to assemble. He promises: "Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in their midst" (Mt 18:20). Therefore, "we should not absent ourselves from the assembly, as some do, but encourage one another; and this all the more because you see that the Day draws near" (Heb 10:25). It is so important for us to assemble that the Catholic Church was led by the Spirit to make the Sunday assembly (Sunday Mass) an obligation we must do our best to fulfill or else we commit a serious sin.

However, most Christians, including Catholics, don't believe God's revelation that our assemblies are so important. Almost half the registered Catholics in the USA don't attend Sunday Mass. Even many who do go on Sunday don't consider it that important. Therefore, they don't assemble any more than they have to — only on Sunday.One reason our assemblies are not much appreciated is because they often lack a most important aspect of a godly assembly — repentance.

Joel did not merely call an assembly; he called for repentance (Jl 1:13). Peter did the same at the very first assembly of the Church. On Pentecost afternoon, when the Church was born, there was an assembly in which three-thousand people repented and opened the door to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, assemble, repent, receive, rejoice! Father, let the presence of other Christians inspire me to repent. "If it is by the finger of God that I cast out devils, then the reign of God is upon you." —Lk 11:20

Maureen: - Just Returned from Medjugorje

Just returned from Medjugorje

Hi everyone, I just returned last night from two weeks in Medjugorje and spent a bit of time speaking with our dear Blue Cross. What a joy to finally meet him! There were so many pilgrims there, thousands, and so many wonderful priests. We were blessed to have Archbishop Gustavo Garcia from Chicago present in the village while we were there, and he is such a gifted homilist~~fantastic! There were also several Byzantine clergy from the Ukraine present as well. Medjugorje certainly is a microcosm of the Church. For the evening international Holy Mass and for Adoration there was standing room only, and about 40 to 50 priests on the altar each evening.

I have been many, many times to Medjugorje and I must say that if the "numbers are down," that wasn't the case in the past two weeks, and we are told the the Youth Festival had the largest attendance ever. It will be interesting to hear what the Vatican will declare about this most special place, but no matter what, the fruits cannot be denied.

A Bishop very close to our Holy Father spoke at the Youth Festival, and Cardinal Schoenborn has also again welcomed a visionary to his Cathedral as you know, this time Marija, last year Ivan. We had 13 days of bright sunshine and one day of rain in the afternoon and evening of Our Lady's apparition to Mirjana on Oct 2, that very sad message from Our Lady perhaps reflected in the rain.

I truly believe that whatever happens between Rome and Medjugorje, it is part of Our Lady's plan. We must perservere and continue to pray for the priests of Medjugorje, the visionaries, and all those responsible in making the decisions. As for me, Medjugorje is a most important place in these times in which we live and will play a huge role in whatever is to come. Ljubav i mir!! - Maureen

Catholic Mom in Hawaii, Book Review of Fr. John Randall's new book, No Spirit, No Church.

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Book Review - No Spirit..No Church

Fr. John Randall, S.T.D Thanks to my friend Ed, I read Fr. John Randall's book No Spirit...No Church and had a hard time putting it down until I finished it. And, because of this book, I have learned to love and rely on the Holy Spirit even more.Father Randall's book is more or less a memoir from the time he was a young seminarian until the present time. He writes from experience and sometimes what he writes is difficult to read especially when you see how the modernists have tried to change the church from within.
"In 1962, Blessed Pope John XXIII called the Second Vatican Council on, as he said 'an inspiration of the Holy Spirit.' He waned to open the windows and let a fresh wind of the Holy Spirit blow through the Church. In preparation for the Council, among other things, he delegated western theologians from Europe and America to compose an initial draft of the Constitution on the Church.However, when the Council opened, bishops from the East, who always had a living devotion to the holy Spirit, read the draft and were horrified-there was little or no mention of the holy Spirit in it. They said, 'No Spirit, no Church!' and rejected the document. Subsequently, the Council fathers came up with a new version giving the Holy Spirit his due- The beautiful Dogmatic Constitution on the Church: Lumen Gentium. This helped open the door for a mass infusion of Holy Spirit life into the Church..."His book at times brought memories of another book that looked at what happened in our seminaries during the 60's and especially the 70's and the 80's, Goodbye Good Men by Michael Rose.Father Randall was not too enthusiastic upon the introduction to the Charismatic renewal upon his introduction to it. In fact, he used to refer to those folks as "holy rollers". Yet, it was the Holy Spirit working through people like Ralph Martin, Terry Martin (Mr. Martin's sister), and others mentioned in Father's book, many of whom were not Catholic but alive with the Holy Spirit, that Father was able to share "the hope of the victory that the Holy Spirit can bring about if we allow Him his central place in our lives".The entire book is filled with stories from Father Randall's many years as a priest and events that occurred in the Church and outside the Church, but which affected life for Catholics such as abortion, etc.. He has many good things to say about many Protestants who are filled with the Holy Spirit as aforementioned. One in particular struck me immediately and that was in Father's praise and admiration of healer Benny Hinn. I guess I was one of those arrogant Catholics Father refers to, that used to mock Rev. Hinn until I read Father's book. I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to learn to love and rely more on the "poor, forgotten Holy Spirit". If you are interested in ordering Father Randall's book, please write him at Fr. John Randall at PO Box 114006, North Providence, Rhode Island 02911. I believe the cost is 10.00. I leave you with a prayer from a Holy Card given to me by Ed and a friend from Church:
***"Come, Holy Spirit" Holy Spirit, my Light, my Life, my Love, my Strength, be with me now and always: in all my doubts, anxieties and trials, Come, Holy Spirit; in hours of loneliness, weariness and grief, Come, Holy Spirit;in failure, in loss and in disappointment, Come, Holy Spirit; when others fail me, when I fail myself, Come, Holy Spirit; when I am ill, unable to work, depressed, Come, Holy Spirit; now, and forever, and in all things,"Come, Holy Spirit" Apostles of the Holy Spirit2709 Woodburn Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45406-1724 Imprimatur: Mot Rev. Carl K. Moeddel,Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of CincinnatiApril 29, 1998.
Posted by Esther G. Posted 2:32 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: Book Review http://hicatholicmom.blogspot.com/

Today is the day that the Lord has made.

To be Free
I choose to be blessed and to be a blessing.

Today is a new day, free of stress or anxiety, free of conflicts or concerns. And I am free to choose what I want it to be. I greet this day, knowing that I am a child of God and that as God's child, I am healthy, whole, prosperous and free. By making the conscious choice to be blessed and to be a blessing, I open my heart and my life to God.
I focus on being a positive influence in the lives of others. Regardless of conditions in the world around me, I look for the good and trust God for right results. What a freeing feeling this is! What an uplifting, renewing way to live! By letting go of outer concerns and focusing on my inner state of being, I remember there is a higher power at work, and there is nothing to fear.
"Do not worry about anything ... let your requests be made known to God."--Philippians 4:6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO5bWmRzwwk&feature=related

Cardinal Vinko Puljic says vatican will issue directive.

REPORT: CARDINAL SAYS VATICAN WILL ISSUE A DIRECTIVE ON APPARITIONS AT MEDJUGORJE

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Cardinal Vinko Puljic of Sarajevo: “We are now awaiting a new directive on this issue. I don’t think we must wait for a long time, I think it will be this year, but that is not clear. I am going to Rome in November and we must discuss this.” “People have the right to pray everywhere, including in Medjugorje. It is not a sin to pray, it’s not a sin to hear confessions, it is not a sin to give penance, this is a good climate. But this phenomena, apparitions or visions, falls to the (Vatican) commission. It is a very delicate question.”

A Catholic Mom in Hawaii: Padre Pio and the Guardian Angels

A Catholic Mom in Hawaii: Padre Pio and the Guardian Angels

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A Father Lino said: “I was begging my Guardian Angel to bring padre Pio a request of prayer for a lady who was very sick, but it seemed that nothing changed. When I met Padre Pio I told him: “Father, I begged my Guardian Angel in order to bring you a request of prayer for a woman who is very sick...is it possible he didn’t do it? And Padre Pio answered: “Do you believe your Guardian Angel to be disobedient as you and me?

What do you do with Good News ?

Is the Gospel good news to you? If it is, then what do you do with good news. You spread it around. You share it with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Evangelism is a decision we make. Just like love is not a feeling. It is a decision.
So is evangelism.

Fr. John Randall

Medjugorje Visionary Mirjana, October 2, 2009

What is it like to see Our Lady “sad”? Most of us will never know that secret until we reach heaven. But Mirjana has said that if any of us had the opportunity to see Our Lady cry we couldn’t help but be moved to give Our Lady what She asks of us in our prayers and sacrifices. It’s enough to break one’s heart, as it appears Mirjana’s heart is breaking in the apparition today. ( Photo's from Medjugorje.com )

Our Lady's Medjugorje message to Mirjana

Our Lady's Message - October 2, 2009

Our Lady appears to the visionary Mirjana on the 2nd of each month to pray for unbelievers. This is the message that was given today:

*"Dear Children, as I look at you, my heart seizes with pain. Where are you going, my children? Have you sunk so deeply into sin that you do not know how to stop yourselves? You justify yourselves with sin and live according to it. Kneel down beneath the Cross and look at my Son. He conquered sin and died so that you, my children, may live. Permit me to help you not to die but to live with my Son forever."

F-15 E Strike Eagle taking off. Photo taken by photographer Greg Sousa of Argus News, Goldboro, N.C.

Click on Photo to Enlarge.

Sr. Isabel Reflection on Our Lady's message of September 25, 2009

September 25, 2009 -- Our Lady's Message

*Dear children, with joy, persistently work on your conversion. Offer all your joys and sorrows to my Immaculate Heart that I may lead you all to my most beloved Son, so that you may find joy in His Heart. I am with you to instruct you and to lead you towards eternity. Thank you for having responded to my call.

*A Reflection (by Sr. Isabel)
Conversion is a moment by moment task that we all have in our pilgrimage to eternity. Everything that happens in our life contributes toward our conversion, towards our drawing closer to Jesus, and to growing in the perfection He has for each of us. Our Lady says in this message, when we offer all our joys and sorrows to her Immaculate Heart, she will lead us to her most beloved Son. Sometimes, we focus on the joy or the sorrow or the experience of the moment, and we forget to offer it all to Our Lady. But, once we do, she takes over, and leads us closer and closer to Jesus. There is nothing new in the message, just a motherly reminder that her purpose in coming to earth is to lead us to Jesus, where we will find true and lasting joy. She desires to be our teacher and to show us the way to eternity.
Ten days ago, I was privileged to be in the chapel which Ivan, the visionary, has on his property in Medjugorje. The occasion was his daily visit from Our Lady. At the end of the apparition, Ivan said that Our Lady came joyful and happy. She called us to pray for holiness in our families as Satan is trying to destroy families. She said, "Let each family be church... a living church." That’s what happens when families strive to be the witnesses of God’s love for one another, growing in the conversion Our Lady calls for. She said, “I am with you and I thank you for accepting and living my messages.”
I prayed for each of you during the apparition. Our Lady knows your needs and desires, and I asked her to intercede for you with her Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Some of you may know that Sr. Janja Boras had open heart surgery last week. She is recuperating at the convent in Zagreb. Please continue to pray for her speedy and complete recovery. Sister has served the English speaking pilgrims in Medjugorje since the apparitions began.
Peace & prayers,
Joy

Our Lady of Medjujorje Messages

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DanZwbnK-7w&feature=related

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I HAVE COME TO TELL THE WORLD THAT GOD EXIST.

All is possible with God

THE GOD OF THE IMPOSSIBLE"Even if this should seem impossible in the eyes of the remnant of this people, shall it in those days be impossible in My eyes also, says the Lord of hosts?" —Zechariah 8:6It seemed impossible that the Israelite nation would ever be restored, but "nothing is impossible with God" (Lk 1:37). Think of the most impossible situation in your life — a marriage that seems irreconcilable, a terminal illness, long-term compulsive behavior, a dead parish, mental illness, family breakdown, etc. What man considers impossible, the Lord sees as opportunities to manifest His almighty power.To strengthen your faith in the God of the impossible: * Read and pray God's word. "Faith comes through hearing, and hearing by God's word" (Rm 10:17, our transl.). * Ask others, including Saint Jude, to pray for you to see the most impossible situations in your life the way God sees them. * Go to Confession and repent of giving in to doubt. * Praise and thank the Lord for doing the impossible, even before He does it. * Share your faith in the God of the impossible by telling others about Him.God will do more than we can ever ask for or imagine (Eph 3:20). He will do the impossible.Prayer: Father, thank You for the hope that "will not leave us disappointed" (Rm 5:5)."Whoever welcomes this little child on My account welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes Him Who sent Me; for the least one among you is the greatest." —Lk 9:48

Our Lady's Medjugorje message.

Monthly Message - September 25, 2009

"Dear children, with joy, persistently work on your conversion. Offer all your joys and sorrows to my Immaculate Heart that I may lead you all to my most beloved Son, so that you may find joy in His Heart. I am with you to instruct you and to lead you towards eternity. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Cardinal Schonborn of Vienna welcomes Medjugorje seer

On September 15th, St Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Austria, welcomed the visionary, Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti. The Cathedral, packed with people, hosted a beautiful evening which included Holy Mass and Eucharistic Adoration. It lasted from 4pm to 9:30pm! At the end of the evening a very powerful and happy surprise came when Cardinal Schönborn gave the final benediction to the whole assembly.

Afterward, he highlighted the importance of Medjugorje for our times. He told of the graces of liberation obtained in Medjugorje. In particular he featured stories about addictions (drug, alcohol, etc) and the graces that come to those who participate in the life of the Church.
Here are a few words from the Cardinal: “We can give thanks to Our Lord because through His mother, so many people are lead to the Love of God, so many conversions happen, people go back to Confession and they develop a love for the Eucharist. Reconciliations happen in families, and some people are cured from drug and other types of addictions. The fact that the mother of God wishes to be so close to all her children is an immense gift. She has already showed this proximity in many places and for many years in a special way in Medjugorje.”

This is the day the Lord has made.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO5bWmRzwwk&feature=related

If you knew for sure Jesus would be coming back today.

I charge you to keep God's command without blame or reproach until our Lord Jesus Christ shall appear. This appearance God will bring to pass at His chosen time." —1 Timothy 6:14-15

Paul said: "I have a solemn charge to give you, Timothy, my child" (1 Tm 1:18). He charged Timothy to be fully aware that Jesus could return at any time, and to preach the word accordingly. "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is coming to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingly power, I charge you to preach the word" (2 Tm 4:1-2).

If you knew for sure Jesus would be coming back today, would you do anything differently? Hopefully, you would not need to make any changes. The Lord calls us to be so conscious of His Second Coming that we live each day as if it were our last. We are called to do the Lord's will all day, every day, and that's the way to be prepared for His coming. Are you charged up about Jesus' Second Coming? Are you looking forward to seeing Him face to face? Do you wish Jesus would come back today? True disciples of Jesus over the centuries have been excited about Jesus' return. They love Jesus and want to see Him. Let's charge each other to run the race and fight the fight of the Christian life because Jesus is coming "soon and very soon" (see 2 Tm 4:8).

Jesus, may I want to see You more than I want to see the person I love most in this world.

The seed on good ground are those who hear the word of God in a spirit of openness, retain it, and bear fruit through perseverance." —Lk 8:15

Capturing a Village of Faith: You don't choose to go to Medjugorje, Medjugorje chooses you.

Timaru Herald photographer Natasha Martin travelled to Medjugorje as a professional, but found the pilgrimage became part of her personal experience, writes Claire Allison.
Natasha Martin went to the Bosnian village of Medjugorje as a photojournalist.
She came away with more than she expected.

Medjugorje is considered a modern-day Lourdes. Each year, 40 million people make a spiritual pilgrimage to the tiny village, hoping to experience some of the miracles that are said to occur there.
Martin's original destination was Ireland. But when that fell through, she was left with a ticket to Europe to use, and decided to catch up with her mother and two aunts who were travelling to the village.
The chance involved supports a theory Martin heard often while she was there; that you don't choose to go to Medjugorje Medjugorje chooses you.
"In many ways, I didn't really know what I was letting myself in for.
"For me, my purpose for going was purely to look at it as an editorial photographer and the opportunity that would present. But on leaving, I left with the feeling there was certainly something ... You certainly do react even when you see things through a lens, you can't not react it does affect you in a way.
"I went in as a professional, but I came out with something extra."
Professionally, Martin was following in the footsteps of a young Life magazine photographer who was sent out many years ago with a basic Box Brownie camera to shoot a photo essay of New York, and in more recent times, a fellow Fairfax photographer had used a small "point and shoot" camera for a trip to South America. The challenge of using the compact equipment and the invisibility that offered, in contrast to the traditional bulky SLR equipment, appealed to Martin.
While her knowledge of Medjugorje was limited, what she knew piqued her interest.
The Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to six children in Medjugorje in June 1981, and has been appearing every day since then. From her, they receive messages for their parish and the world, and have each been given 10 secrets to eventually be made public.
"It's not something I would normally set out to do. I'm not as devout as my mother, but given the option of having a ticket, it was something that intrigued me.
"I'd read that it's one of the most amazing and important supernatural events of our time. There are supernatural things that happen, there have been miraculous healings there and also spiritual healings.
"Our Lady has been appearing every day since 1981, and this will be the last time that she appears in the world. There will not be another Lourdes or Fatima. So it has been the centre of world attention and studies."

Martin saw for the first time how important religion could be in people's lives.
"What stuck in my mind was how important religion is, and realising how devout people were. It was overwhelming at first, but towards the end of it, I realised how little I had in my own life. I felt like I could be a better person over there.
"You come back home and realise it's not as important over here. To them, religion comes first. The basic values over there are something that's lacking here."
But with the spiritual comes the commercial.
"Driving into Medjugorje at night time, and the first thing we noticed coming into the township was what seemed like store upon store upon store of religious artefacts; they were open until about midnight. There were hardly any normal shops. And most of the people who run those stores aren't even locals they're people that come in.
"So there's that tourist side of it too ... while it has created jobs, in some ways it does lose a little bit of the essence of the place."
The sheer number of people became evident at the outdoor masses.
"That's when you see how overwhelming it was every inch of ground was covered."
Huge crowds would gather to hear the visionaries speak.
"Sometimes the visionaries would appear in public as they were visited by Our Lady, but you never know when it's going to happen. It's just word of mouth. We heard one day that she was appearing on a place called Apparition Hill so we thought we'd go over. All the way up the hill, it looked like maggots. All you saw was all these people swarming up the hill ... I don't know how many people would have been there."
Professional and personal lines became intertwined, with many of Martin's images focusing on individuals' reactions, experiences and struggles.
"Maybe because it was something I felt in myself, my own personal struggles of coming to terms with faith in my life through the camera seeing people having quiet moments aside.
"I don't know whether I purposely focused on that, or whether it subconsciously reflected what I was thinking."
"I hope in some ways that's translated through the images the effect of faith on people's lives."
Martin was able to capture on camera the phenomenon of a bronze statue weeping tears, and she watched as people lined up to wipe the tears, and attempt to heal others with them.
"There are some things that go beyond your understanding of faith."
Settling back in to life in Timaru, Martin would not pass up the chance to return to Medjugorje.
"As a photographer, pilgrimages themselves are very interesting, especially to see such a vast number of people in one place you can't ignore that and have to ask yourself why 40 million people are visiting this place.
"As a photographer and as a person because I can't separate the two I would go there again without a doubt."

Medjugorje-Feast of the Holy Cross

Let the Word of Christ dwell in You.

A LIFESTYLE IN GOD'S WORD"Let the word of Christ, rich as it is, dwell in you." —Colossians 3:16 To let the word of Christ dwell in you, do the following:
* Devour God's word; let it become your happiness and joy (Jer 15:16). * Study it daily (Acts 17:11) and allow it to burn in your heart (Lk 24:32). * Savor God's word. Let it become to you more precious than riches and sweeter than honey (Ps 119:72, 103). * Allow God's word to judge (Jn 12:48), pierce (Heb 4:12), and change you. * Abide in God's word (Jn 8:31) and let it abide in you (Col 3:16). Spend your best time and your spare time in the word. * "Humbly welcome the word that has taken root in you, with its power to save you. Act on this word" (Jas 1:21-22).
* Let God's word fill your heart, mind, and soul to the point that your native language is "Scripture" (Ps 119:13; Lk 6:45). * Teach the word of God to others (2 Tm 4:2). Let the word of Christ dwell in you so "the word of God [will continue] to spread and increase" (Acts 12:24). Jesus, open my mind to the understanding of Your word (Lk 24:45). "In Your word I hope" (Ps 119:114). Be filled with the Spirit of the Lord and his Word.

Father Stefan Starzynski, the Healing Priest.

Fr Stefan Starzynski: the healing priest
September 7, 9:18 PM Roman Catholic Examiner Pamela Luther

When we think of healing, we often think of physical and emotional healing sometimes through the hands of medical care and sometimes through prayer to Our Lord.
Fr. Stefan Starzynski of Fairfax, VA is a priest at St. Mary of Sorrows Parish. He uses his time to conduct the normal business and demands of most priests.
But Fr. Stefan does even more. He has been an instrument that God has used to heal people, both physically and emotionally. God has also used Fr. Stefan to minister to the needs of expectant mothers by providing housing and hope for them.
Every Wednesday evening, Fr. Stefan leads a charismatic prayer group every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. On the second Saturday of each month, he also has a healing mass at 7 p.m. Both the mass and the prayer group are held at St. Mary of Sorrows Parish, 5222 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, VA, 22032.
Many people have been blessed by Our Lord’s touch at both the prayer group and at the healing mass.Having been a priest for 13 years, he has youth, energy and joy. Compound that with being filled with the Holy Spirit, you find quite a vibrant force of Our Lord moving at these prayer groups and meetings.Fr. Stefan writes that when he was ordained, lying prostrate before the Lord, he asked that he not only be ordained as a priest in the sacramental sense but also baptized by the Holy Spirit in the Pentecostal sense. A few short days later, his prayer was answered and God started to use him to perform miracles.
Because of the Catholic Church’s pro-life stance and his own personal convictions, Fr. Stefan later heard the call to build a home for expectant mothers who need shelter during their pregnancies and afterwards. It is his belief that Roe v. Wade will be overturned, and there will be more of a need to help pregnant women who must have shelter. The Paul Stefan Home for Expectant Mothers has proved to be a blessing to many women who would have had no place to go had this home not been there to welcome them.
In communicating with Fr. Stefan, he told me that his first book Miracles and Margaritas will be released Spring 2010. This book will detail Fr. Stefan’s true stories of divine healings and other miracles.
In the year of the priest, let us pray that all our priests listen to the call of the Lord to minister in any way He calls them to do. We are called to pray for our priests ; pray for Fr. Stefan. Amen.
For more information:Va. family grateful for ‘miracle’ child, now 3; preemie confounded doctors’ dire predictions
Priest starts homes for unwed mothers as the pro-life ‘next step
Virginia home helps expectant mothers face unintended pregnancies
Fr. Stefan Starzynski: “Come Holy Spirit:
Paul Stefan Home for Expectant Mothers

New Video from Medjugorje

Chrissie, Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 - I think this video about Medjugorje needs some attention. Medjugorje Forum.

http://www.youtube.com/user/tdonn07#play/all/uploads-all/0/jPQuEF_oT0s

Lay Fast for Our Priests, October 24, 2009

WE know, fasting is very powerful, and the more people we get together
to join in this Lay Fast for Priests, we do this for His apostles on earth.
We need them to bring us HIM.
I am bringing this to my church...St Mark of Attleboro Falls in attempt
to bring this info to this parish, and to gain "fasters" for our priests.
God bless,

Lay Fast for Priests 2009 Update
Dear Friends in Christ,
The response to the invitation to help promote this year's Lay Fast for Priests
has been truly inspirational. As our numbers continue to grow across the world,
the Spiritual impact of such a powerful prayer from so many people must be
immense indeed. We, the Fasters, in turn are also being remembered by two
nuclear power plants of prayer - the Cistercian Sisters at Mount St Mary's Abbey
in Wrentham, Massachusetts and the Sisters of the Precious Blood in Manchester,
New Hampshire. Thanks to the newly-arrived La Salette Sisters at the National
Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro Massachusetts, we are also joined
this year by their communities in the Phillipines.
We are sending out the promotional materials by separate email to all of you who
have requested them (if you have not got around to requesting these yet, contact
us at any time before October 17). This includes the little two-minute talk for
presentation at the end of Sunday Masses and also the details for our upcoming
information session at the Shrine.
With this email, we are attaching the information fliers for the Fast should
anyone wish to forward these to your email contacts list or post them (with
permission!) in your local Church.
If there is anything else that you may need, please get in touch at any time.
In Jesus through Mary,
Anna
Lay Fast 2009 Team
http://www.annaprae.com/
http://www.annaprae.com/layfast_2009.html
--- On Sat, 8/29/09, Anna Rae-Kelly <admin@annaprae.com> wrote:
> From: Anna Rae-Kelly <admin@annaprae.com>
> Subject: Lay Fast for Priests 2009
> To:
> Date: Saturday, August 29, 2009, 8:22 PM
> Dear Friend in Christ,
>
> Saturday, 24 October 2009 is the 4th annual Lay Fast Day
> for Priests. Over the years, it has pleased Our Lady to
> extend our endeavor and there are now fasters joining our
> ever-growing number from the West coast of America, across
> Europe and on to the East coast of Korea and all countries
> in between.
>
> Here in New England, Sean Cardinal O'Malley has once again
> given the Fast his blessing, as has Bishop Coleman and
> Bishop Tobin. And so to the point of this email!
>
> This is a LAY PERSON'S gift of a personal sacrifice for
> priests, all priests. In this year designated as the Year
> for Priests, our gift is all the more poignant. A priest
> can't and shouldn't request that his parishioners
> participate. I would see such a request as something as
> crass as my asking a friend to take me out for a meal!!!
> This is a generous, unsolicited gift, from a lay person, to
> a priest...for the gift he has given of his life, for his
> ever-embattled spirituality, and to storm heaven for many,
> many more men to hear God's beckoning ---because without a
> priest, we, lay people all over the world would be denied
> Holy Communion, the Sacrament of Confession and the Last
> Rites. And we would Spiritually starve.
>
> Would you be the person in your parish to ask permission
> from your Parish priest to announce this year's Lay Fast?
> Would you invite folks to sign up to join in this gift?
> Before you drop dead of fright at the thought, I would send
> you the letter of approval from your Bishop. I would send
> you the little 2 minute talk that you would present at 2
> week-end Masses before the actual Fast Day of Oct. 24. And I
> would send you the sign-up sheet that folks would sign who
> want to commit to the Fast.
>
> Before you approach your priest, I would get everything to
> you that you could possibly need to assist you in your work.
> I just don't have a barrel-load of confidence to send you in
> a package but I will pray most earnestly for you that the
> Holy Spirit will shower much greater gifts on you that I
> can't even imagine!
>
> With many smiles and best wishes and deep hopes that you
> will join this army of organizers which is building a wall
> of prayer, better known as the Cloak of Mary around our
> priests and that she will ask her Spouse to give us many
> more.
>
> If you feel you would like to help, please email me at:
>
> admin@annaprae.com
>
> In Jesus through Mary.
>
> Anna
>
> wwww.annaprae.com

What Choice would you make ?

TWO CHOICES

What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its
dedicated staff, he offered a question:
'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.
Where is the natural order of things in my son?'
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'
Then he told the following story:
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'
Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart.. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the
plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.
The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.
Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!
Run to first!'
Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.
He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.
He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!
Shay, run to third!'
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.
You now have two choices:
1. Delete
2. Forward
May your day, be a Shay Day.