Date: Tue May 15, 2001 8:59 pm
Subject: Children of Medjugorje May 15, 2001 Report
Children of Medjugorje : May 15, 2001 Report
May 15, 2001
Dear Children Of Medjugorje,
Praised be Jesus and Mary!
1. Vicka is once more offering up some suffering to God. She injured herself recently, damaging her hip. Each day she goes for treatment near Medjugorje. She will recover, thanks be to God! And she is offering up each pain for the Gospa's intentions, joyfully. Let us all consider this example, especially if our hearts are burdened by crosses these days. Jesus told St. Faustina, "A suffering soul is closest to my Heart" (Diary 1487). We are brought very close to Jesus in our sufferings, and they can do immense good when offered up with love to Him. Vicka has often modeled this to us.
2. As we approach the 20th Anniversary of the first apparition in Medjugorje, it is good to reflect upon the amazing event of Our Lady's coming to the visionaries. We can grow accustom to the idea that she visits us each day, and communicates her love to us through the visionaries. But her coming is in itself an incredible occurrence. Recently, pilgrims observed Mirjana during an apparition and told us:
" On April 2, 2001 Mirjana had her monthly apparition at the Cenacle. The boys had opened up their huge green tent to the crowd and the weather was very sunny. One interesting thing is this: before the apparition, the sun was shining right on the face of Mirjana and she couldn't raise her eyes to look straight ahead. She had to keep her eyes down. Whenever she tried to look up, she would make a face, because the light was too bright for her eyes. It was the same for all of us. But suddenly, when the Gospa appeared before her, Mirjana lifted her face, and gazed intently. Though she was facing the sun, she was open-eyed for the entire apparition, not even blinking! This itself was a powerful testimony. "
We know that scientists have done exhaustive studies on the visionaries during the time of apparition with the Gospa. Professor Joyeux (France) is one of them. He came on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje at the end of April and during a talk stated again several details that he himself observed in the 1980's when he performed his medical examination of the visionaries. For one thing, his team put some dazzlingly bright lights in front of the eyes of the seers during an apparition, and they manifested no reaction. It was as if they didn't see it. Their external senses were suspended. Similarly, they produced some very powerful sounds right in the ears of Ivan during the apparition and he didn't react at all. He didn't hear anything.
Clearly something powerful is happening during the apparition. The visionaries are enveloped with the presence of Our Lady, and her heavenly reality supersedes their earthly reality for that time.
Many of us who have journeyed to Medjugorje testify to an experience of peace in that place that can only be attributed to Our Lady's heavenly touch. Her daily coming provides an environment of protection and peace in which our souls can find rest in God, and a new openness to His graces. We can definitely see the good fruit of these heavenly visits. Since 1981, Medjugorje has been visited by millions of needy souls, hungry for God. And through the visionaries and their faithful witness, many have been renewed, healed, forgiven and strengthened in their lives. It seems appropriate therefore that at this most amazing 20th Anniversary, all of us who have been blessed by Medjugorje could join together in a prayer of gratitude and solidarity for the visionaries, the parish, and especially for the Gospa.
The Parish of Medjugorje has organized for that very purpose a Novena to the Queen of Peace. It is entitled "A Gift For Our Lady" and contains nine days of intentions and prayers to be offered before the 20th Anniversary on June 25, 2001! This beautiful novena will unite us all in a prayer to honor the Gospa and her 20 years of faithful presence in Medjugorje. Let us all join together for this powerful novena!
You can find the text of the novena in several languages at the parish website: www.medjugorje.hr
Consider joining together with your prayer group, parish, or family to offer this gift to the Mother and Queen of Peace.
3. Another novena is also close at hand, the novena to the Holy Spirit, which begins on Ascension Thursday, May 24, 2001. Our Lady has regularly stressed in her messages the importance of asking for and receiving the Holy Spirit. She said:
"Begin by calling on the Holy Spirit each day. The most important thing is to pray to the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit descends on earth, then everything becomes clear and everything is transformed." (6/3/83)
"You are not aware of the messages which God is sending to you through me. He is giving you great graces and you are not grasping them. Pray to the Holy Spirit for enlightenment. If you only knew the greatness of the graces God was giving you, you would pray without ceasing." (11/8/84)
"Today I want to tell you to begin to work in your hearts as you work in the fields. Work and change your hearts so that the Spirit of God will move into your hearts." (4/25/85)
And finally, "I rejoice with you and in this time of grace I call you to spiritual renewal. Pray, little children, that the Holy Spirit may come to dwell in you in fullness, so that you may be able to witness in joy to all those who are far from faith. Especially, little children, pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that in the spirit of love, every day and in each situation, you may be closer to your fellowman; and that in wisdom and love you may overcome every difficulty." (5/25/00)
Could it be any clearer? We cannot live the messages of Our Lady unless it is through the power of the Holy Spirit. Truly she has said that "when you have the Holy Spirit, you have everything." In the catechesis on the Holy Spirit, prepared by the Theological Historical Commission for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, it says, "the Virgin Mary, even after the birth of Christ, remained in the power of the Annunciation, that is in the constant arrival of the Holy Spirit who continually makes her Mother, not only of Jesus, but of the body of Christ, which is the Church." Our Lady knows the Holy Spirit intimately, and has lived in the power of the Holy Spirit all her days. She knows how necessary it is constantly be open to the arrival of the Spirit. Therefore, let us renew our hearts in the Holy Spirit at this special time of prayer before Pentecost.
Here is an Invocation to the Holy Spirit:
Eternal Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, and through the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, send upon me the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, into my heart and sanctify it.
Come, Father of the poor, and bring me relief.
Come, Author of all good, and console me.
Come, Light of our minds, and enlighten me.
Come, Consoler of souls and comfort me.
Come, Sweet Guest of our hearts, and never depart from me.
Come, True Repose of my life, and restore me. - Pause in silence.
Recite Glory be... (3X)
Holy Spirit, eternal Love, Fountain of heavenly light, Come inflame our hearts. Eternal Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, and through the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, end to me your Holy Spirit.
Come, Holy Spirit, and grant me the gift of wisdom.
Come, Holy Spirit, and grant me the gift of understanding.
Come, Holy Spirit, and grant me the gift of counsel.
Come, Holy Spirit, and grant me the gift of fortitude.
Come, Holy Spirit, and grant me the gift of knowledge.
Come, Holy Spirit, and grant me the gift of piety.
Come, Holy Spirit, and grant me the gift fear of the Lord - Pause in silence.
Recite Glory be... (3X)
Holy Spirit, eternal Love, Fountain of heavenly light, Come inflame our hearts. Amen.
In deep gratitude and unity of prayer, we salute you, O Gospa!!
Thank you for your coming every day!
Cathy Nolan - USA
05/02/01
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From: "joycelang"
May 1, 2001 St. Joseph the Worker
Dear Children of Medjugorje!
Praised be Jesus and Mary!
1. During this blessed Easter Season we rejoice at the new life of the Resurrection. The following testimony, received by Sr. Emmanuel, really demonstrates this dramatic new life that Jesus is giving to us, especially through the channel of Medjugorje. Our Lady's last message said that "Prayer works miracles." In Medjugorje, there is no lack of prayer, or miracles!
" My name is Candace Evans. I am 43 years old and live in New Hampshire (USA) with my husband and nine year old son. My parents, both deceased, were Jewish. My mother was an atheist. We never spoke of religion in our home so I never had any spiritual teaching or guidance as a child, nor later as an adult. In 1977 I was diagnosed by biopsy with chronic active liver disease. This is a terminal disease with deterioration of bodily function as the liver gets weaker and fails to filter the blood. The disease progressed slowly over the years until spring of 1993, when many things happened - none of them very good! I was working at night with developmentally disabled adults. One night a man I was working with broke his wheelchair over my back. This left me totally disabled. I could not move without being in tremendous pain - especially in my back and my legs. Also about this same time, I found a lump in my breast. I went to a doctor who performed a biopsy and said that it must be removed immediately. He scheduled the surgery. But the pre-op blood work showed that my liver enzymes were extremely elevated and, after consultation, he told me he could not operate - that I could not possibly tolerate the surgery.
" Now, due to the trauma to my back, my liver began to fail rapidly. Soon I could no longer eat solid food because I could not metabolize it or digest it. I was very weak and had great difficulty breathing. I could not leave my house for more than an hour or so because I was afraid I would not make it back again. My skin lost all its elasticity and was grayish yellow in color. Then I began to lose my eyesight and could no longer read. The doctors did many tests. After obtaining the results, they told my husband and me that there was nothing more they could do. So I went home. All I could do at this point was watch TV. This was near Easter time of 1994. A show about Medjugorje came on the television. I really didn't pay much attention because it was about religion, of which I knew nothing. All I retained was that it was about the Catholic Church, the former Yugoslavia and a place called 'Medjugorje'. I felt an urge to find out about it. After searching my son's maps with no luck, I found a National Geographic with a picture of a hill covered with crosses, labeled 'Medjugorje.' I was SO happy!! I had found it! When my husband came home - I told him I must go to this place! He thought I was crazy!
" I called a Catholic church and asked them if they knew of this place. The lady said yes, she would have someone phone me. A few days later, a lady called and said that she organized 'pilgrimages' to Medjugorje. I didn't even know what a 'pilgrimage' was but she said that she was going there soon, so I told her I wanted to go also! That was it.
" Amazingly, on May 28, 1994, I left for Medjugorje. The next day we went to the church. St. James Church in Medjugorje was the very first church I had ever been in! I knew nothing of church ceremony so I just did what everyone else did. I saw everyone going to receive communion, and I felt great comfort in the presence of the Eucharist, though I had no idea what it was. I felt as though a blanket of peace had been dropped over me. I found myself totally immersed in a tremendous peace which I had never experienced before... and it was too beautiful. A few days later, we went to Fr. Jozo's. Watching Fr. Jozo speak of Our Lady with such love and devotion was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. He gave us all a rosary and beautiful picture of Our Lady. Then everyone began going to the front of the church again. Remembering the peace that had enveloped me during Mass in St. James, I joined the rest in going forward. I saw that the priests were praying over the people, and some of them were falling on the floor. I found myself standing there, and then Fr. Jozo prayed over me and I, too, fell. It felt so safe, so soft and so very secure, as if I had fallen in the arms of a mother who loves me very, very much. I do not remember much about the rest of that day but when I woke up the next morning, right away I noticed the large mass (my liver that had turned to fat and scar tissue) was gone! My skin was normal! I felt no weakness or pain at all! I was fine.
" I went home. My husband could see right away how different I was. He was very happy. After returning home, all I wanted to do was to pray and learn about Jesus. I studied very hard. At the Easter Vigil the following year, my husband, my son and I were all baptized and confirmed in the Roman Catholic faith. My son has his mother, my husband has his wife, and we all have a very strong faith. I am, we all are, so very grateful! I try to live the messages of Our Lady of Medjugorje. I am very grateful that She invites us to pray, fast, read the Bible, go to confession and receive the Eucharist. We all would like to know how to improve our lives. Our lady is telling us. This is our invitation to heaven! "
2. Denis and I have also experienced the power of prayer. During Easter week, Denis underwent surgery for colon cancer. He wants to share his experience with you.
" Our Lady's words on March 25th, 'Awake from the tired sleep of our soul and say yes to God with all our strength' scared me even more than the news about my cancer. I knew if I didn't respond I'd regret if for eternity! And so following Vicka's advice (see the March 15, 2001 Report) I took my cancer as a gift. And being scared because of the operation afforded me a great opportunity to spend Holy Week close to Jesus. Knowing, too, that everything was in His hands, I didn't want the news spread as if it was a matter of stacking prayers up on one side with God and the cancer on the other. As I prayed for God's will to be done (not for a healing) the sense grew within me that it wasn't in God's timing yet for me to go and be with Jesus...
" I am grateful now that word about my cancer leaked out. People prayed! And because of prayer I think God's will was done. The surgeon was concerned to discover the tumor was about to break through the wall of the colon, but a biopsy of 34 lymph nodes found no trace that the cancer had spread! I won't have chemotherapy! 'Prayer works miracles,' Our Lady said on April 25th while I was lying in my bed in the hospital. She reminded me that, though, yes, everything is in Jesus hands, much, too, is in ours! And so now I've got an idea!
" It seemed most of the people lying in hospital rooms were looking for ways to escape. TV's blared above every bed (with the programs less than inspiring, to say the least). Let's do something for Mary! What if together we set about offering a set of our 1/2 hour television programs, 'MEDJUGORJE: OUR MOTHER'S LAST CALL with Sr. Emmanuel' to every Hospital in America! Most have closed circuit TV systems. Investigate the hospitals in your community.. My wife, Cathy, and my son, Sean (who edits the shows) and I simply have to have partners or these things won't get done. Consider helping us. Remember, everything that happened for Candace started when she happened to see a glimpse of Medjugorje on television! (For instructions, also for how to get these programs aired on your local cable station , see: www.childrenofmedjugorje.com, or write COM, Box 1110, Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA.)
" During my time in the hospital I began to see that we are on the verge of great victory. Seemingly impossible situations in our lives and in the world can be turned around immediately if we respond to Our Lady with the same generosity as when we first heard Her call: 'Prayer works miracles!' "
Mary, help us respond with love and pray - putting into your hands miracles!
04/17/01
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From: "joycelang"
CHILDREN OF MEDJUGORJE REPORT
April 15, 2001
Dear children of Medjugorje,
Christ is risen! He is alive!
This is the most awesome news of today, let's celebrate and rejoice together!
1. Kathy Jones, 50, a mother of three grown daughters, is in Medjugorje today, leading a group of pilgrims. Upon hearing her beautiful story of healing, Sr. Emmanuel asked her to share it with you as a special gift for Easter. With tears of joy, she happily agreed...
" I was raised in a devout Lutheran home in New York and always believed in God, but from my teen years onward I rejected organized religion, believing it was created totally by man and not by God. After marrying Ed and reluctantly agreeing to raise our children Catholic, I told him, ' Don't EVER expect me to become Catholic. You have to be born that way - you'd have to be crazy to choose it voluntarily! ' I rejected the Church's teachings, thinking they were made up by men who had nothing better to do than make people feel guilty and miserable. I occasionally went to church with my family, but found it profoundly boring.
" In 1987 I was diagnosed with cervical cancer and had major surgery which revealed that it had spread to lymph nodes. I went through intensive sessions of chemotherapy and radiation, but the future looked grim and the inevitable recurrence constantly loomed over my head. During one of my hospital stays I cried out to God, saying, ' If You're really out there, please take this despair away and let me accept the fact that I'm going to die before my children are grown. ' I waited, but felt no peace and concluded that there wasn't anybody out there that really cared - prayer was just wishful thinking. To make matters worse, Ed's employers relocated to Dallas Texas during my recuperation, and I was sure I would end up dying there without my extended family support system in New York.
" Through a bizarre set of circumstances that only God could orchestrate, I drove my mother-in-law to a prayer meeting in January 1990, and reluctantly ended up in the room with a rosary placed in my hands. I desperately wanted to run out, but politely stayed while the group prayed, and actually began to pray with them. A profound sense of peace suddenly came over me, fear left me and I was filled with hope - my whole life changed that day through the intercession of Our Lady of Hope... the Queen of Peace! In October of that year Ed and I went to visit her shrine in Medjugorje (and during the pilgrimage it became evident that God wanted St. Francis of Assisi to be a special intercessor and guide for my life). We went to see Fr. Jozo Zovko in Tihaljina. He blessed me and prayed with his hands extended over my body. This was a powerful experience. My friends told me that I had received a healing. Today I am still cancer-free. I still don't know whether this is a miracle or a simple result of medical care. But the most important grace I received then was a spiritual healing. This formerly skeptical, irreverent woman joyfully became Catholic the following Easter of 1991, and daily reception of the Eucharist has been the heart of my day ever since. My husband Ed, now a deacon, reminds me how I used to tease him about going to Mass every Sunday, and how I refused to let a priest come into my hospital room, even when I was heavily drugged with morphine! As part of my ministry now, I bring our Eucharistic Lord to those who are ill in the hospital and pray with them. With God, NOTHING is impossible.
" Now, I experience a deep joy within me and I'd like to do anything for the Blessed Mother. It is such a treat to be in her school of love. Pray the rosary! Listen to our Mother's messages and LIVE THEM! She tells us: ' If you knew how much I love you, you would weep for joy. ' "
2. At Medjugorje, Our Lady invites us: " Be enthusiastic with the Resurrection ! " During the 80's, the Blessed Mother, herself, trained the young people of Jelena Vasilj's prayer group. She would especially direct them to live the Resurrection of Jesus deep in their hearts. Here are some messages she gave them:
" Dear children, I wish that you all feel within you the Resurrection, that you all feel freedom before the problems and hardships which often bind you. Dear children, you should open wide your hearts to be able to praise God in the midst of hardship and to be able to carry your crosses with love. Jesus carried his Cross for the entire world, he was filled with peace and love, he was resurrected and went up to Heaven. Therefore, dear Children, you too, carry your crosses with love! The Cross is salvation, and after the Cross comes the Resurrection. " (March 20, 1990)
" You know that, dear children, when it's cold and dark and then people notice a fire, they go there and warm themselves up. So it is with the Christian who follows Jesus. If he really becomes fire, he becomes a servant for others and he helps them to know the true light. Therefore, dear children, I expect from you that you are this flame in the night which will show others the true light. " (January 14, 1989)
" When you are sad, when you are going through hardships, go to Jesus. He will give you strength. When you think there is no way out, know that it is He who is the way out! " (April 29, 1989)
" Do not consider the weight of the Cross for it is salvation. Help people around you to understand the Cross not as a burden but as salvation. After the Cross, there is the Resurrection. " (November 9, 1989)
" God loves you and he wants to warm up every little corner that is cold in your heart. Dear children, love God above all self-concern and without any limit; especially help those whose hearts are sick. Help them heal through your love. " (June 26, 1990)
3. April 30 is the first anniversary of Sr. Faustina's canonization in Rome. This holy nun has performed to the extreme the practice of mercy. Even beyond the veil, her extraordinary mission of Mercy continues just as Jesus told her it would. Through her intercession, many sick hearts have been healed, and many lives resurrected. The following testimony is a powerful example of the graces of Divine Mercy available through St. Faustina!
The event took place in Poland and was reported by a Polish sister to a French couple who was bringing supplies in the 80s. One night Ewa, a prostitute, was walking in the woods, in great despair. Having reached her limit, she was about to commit suicide. At that very moment a nun walked toward her and started talking very gently to her, suggesting that she walk to the next town. She gave her precise directions on how to find a house where the lights were still on and urged her to walk there.
Ewa found everything exactly as the nun had said and she rang the bell. An old priest, who was still up, welcomed her. He offered to put her up and the next day she asked him to give her the sacrament of reconciliation, which she had not received since she was a child. Both were then blessed with a shower of graces. Having decided to change her life completely, Ewa was touched from within by the Holy Spirit and she found hope and peace again! Then the priest, deeply moved, asked Ewa who had told her to come to his house.
Only then did Ewa realize that it was not very usual to meet a nun in the woods in the middle of the night! But she told the truth to the priest. More and more intrigued, he asked Ewa to describe the nun's habit. He then showed her pictures of nuns living in the neighboring convents to find from which Order the nun came. She recognized the habit of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. With that information, the priest then inquired from the Mother Superior which nun was out in the woods on that night. Of course, none was there. So the priest took Ewa to the convent, hoping that she would recognize her benefactor. Upon entering into the parlor, Ewa suddenly stopped in front of a picture hanging from the wall saying: "There she is! She is the one who talked to me in the woods and showed me your house!"
It was the picture of Sr. Faustina who had actually died long before...
Dearest Gospa, how we want to also be used by God for Mercy!
Please take our hand and lead us!
Cathy Nolan
P.S. from Denis Nolan :
I'm afraid - as many of you know - I've lost all corrections and additions for Children of Medjugorje's email list that I have received since July 25,2000. If you know of any email addresses that were sent to me to add to our list - or email address corrections - please re-send them. I would hope to update our email list as much as possible.
I am very sorry for this inconvenience caused you - and Our Lady. Praise God for His Mercy and for this time of grace He gives us!
Your brother in Jesus and Mary,
Denis Nolan (dnolan@c...
04/02/01
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Children of Medjugorje April 1, 2001 Report
April 1, 2001
Dear Children of Medjugorje!
Praised be Jesus and Mary!
1. On March 18, 2001 Mirjana had her yearly birthday apparition in Medjugorje. Her face was full of tears. She says that it is her deep longing to be with Our Lady that causes the tears. We can only imagine how much love has transpired in their relationship. Our Lady gave her a beautiful message of Mercy:
"Dear children! Today I call you to love and mercy. Give love to each other as your Father gives it to you. Be merciful - with the heart. Do good works, not permitting them to wait for you too long. Every mercy that comes from the heart brings you closer to my Son."
This message helps us live this Lent with Jesus! It also foreshadows the great event of the first "official" Divine Mercy Sunday in the Church!
2. Almost one year ago, on April 30, 2000, we waited with anticipation the canonization of Sr. Faustina (Saint Faustina now!!). How exciting it was! Thousands were gathered in St. Peter's Square to witness the celebration. This glorious Jubilee event was telecast all over the world! The Holy Father gave a beautiful witness to the sanctity of Sr. Faustina and he declared, " From now on, throughout the whole Church, this day will take the name of 'Divine Mercy Sunday!' " It was stunning. Could it really be? Was he instituting the Feast of Divine Mercy? Yes!!! (Incidentally, it was our own dear Sr. Emmanuel - using her cell phone from St. Peter's Square - who gave the first report to America. The news media - reporting instead from the Pope's prepared text - was caught off guard.)
Now we find ourselves approaching the first "official" Feast of Divine Mercy for the world wide Church (April 22, 2001), the first Divine Mercy Sunday of the Third Millennium. What can we expect? Great graces! This is a tremendous moment of grace! Jesus said to Saint Faustina, " My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable Mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender Mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My Mercy. The soul that will go to Confession (within 8 days before or after "Mercy Sunday") and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day are open all the divine floodgates through which graces flow... The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy " (Diary 699). Jesus could not be more clear. He wants to shower us with his graces on that day. Let us encourage all those we love to take advantage of the Feast of Divine Mercy.
In preparation for the Feast, we are invited to make the Novena of Divine Mercy which begins on Good Friday. During this novena we bring all souls, even the most hardened, to the fountain of Mercy that issues from the Heart of Jesus. Jesus told Saint Faustina, " I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the fount of My Mercy, that they may draw there from strength and refreshment and whatever grace they need in the hardships of life and, especially, at the hour of death... I will deny nothing to any soul whom you will bring to the fount of My Mercy " (Diary 1209). Think of the good we can do by our prayers at this time. Indeed, by praying this novena with all our hearts we will be responding to the call of Our Lady on March 25, " Little children, you live in a time in which God gives great graces but you do not know how to make good use of them. " Let us take advantage of these graces for our own conversion and for the conversion of so many! (More information on the prayers and Feast are in the annex.)
3. In connection with this, let me share a story.
Ugo Festa is an Italian who suffered from multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and epilepsy from an early age. By early 1990 his spine was twisting and he was having daily seizures. The doctors were unable to help him. On April 28, 1990 he went on a pilgrimage to Rome, confined to a wheel chair. He was invited to a retreat at the Divine Mercy Shrine in Trent but did not go. A nun gave him some pictures of the Divine Mercy Image and a medal. "The following day the 29th April 1990, Ugo wore the medal and carried in his arms the images to be blessed to the papal audience at the Vatican. At the bottom of the steps to St. Peter's the Holy Father passed by. Ugo asked him to bless his Divine Mercy pictures. After blessing the pictures the Pope asked him how he was. Ugo told him he felt very despondent and was at a crisis in his life. The Holy Father said, 'How could you have a crisis with Jesus the Divine Mercy in your arms? Entrust yourself to him and pray to my Sr. Faustina to intercede.' With this advice Ugo changed his mind and decided that he would go to the Divine Mercy Shrine in Trent. At the side altar in the Valla O'Santissima Villazzano, Trent, there is a shrine to the Divine Mercy with a life size icon of the Divine Image. On the fourth day of praying in front of this icon Ugo suddenly noticed the arms of the image stretched out to him and a tremendous warmth flowed through his body. He found himself standing on his feet with his arms outstretched to the Lord and he heard himself loudly praising Jesus the Divine Mercy. He saw Jesus coming down to him, his white garment blowing as if in a breeze, he thought, 'My God, this is the man from Galilee coming towards me.' He heard Jesus say in a clear voice, 'Rise up and walk.' He began to walk. All his ailments were at that instant cured and he was more physically perfect than he had ever been in his life." Ugo returned to the Vatican a year later to share his joy with the Holy Father, and he has been serving the sick in hospitals with the message of Divine Mercy ever since. (Handbook of Devotion, Divine Mercy Publications, Ireland)
Can't you just hear the Holy Father saying to each of us, "How could you have a crisis with Jesus the Divine Mercy in your arms?" (And might Jesus say especially to us: How could you have a crisis with my Mother coming to you everyday!) During this time of grace let us give all our circumstances to the Lord in his great Mercy!
4. Finally, Our Lady is telling us: " Be merciful - with the heart. Do good works, not permitting them to wait for you too long. " Likewise, Saint Faustina encouraged us not only to pray for Mercy, but to live Mercy. Jesus told her, " There must also be acts of mercy... I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor: the first - by deed, the second - by word, the third - by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy " (Diary 742).
Let me share a story of mercy.
Little Adam is in third grade. He is one of the brightest boys in the class. Everything comes easily for him. One day his teacher announced that as soon as each student finished his page of math, he could go outside for an extra recess! Jubilation in the classroom as the students rapidly finished their assignment. But the teacher noticed that little Freddie was again lagging behind. Freddie was heavily medicated because of seizures and other disabilities and his work came slowly to him. There would be no extra recess for him. Then she saw Adam, who had just handed in his assignment make his way to Freddie's desk and begin helping him with the work. Adam patiently waited for Freddie to complete his task, encouraging him all the time. A lump came to her throat as she witnessed this merciful and compassionate act from a boy of 8. She was witnessing Mercy in action.
This is a true story, it just happened last week. See how the children can teach us! It makes me think again of Our Lady's recent message to Mirjana. Adam did not make Freddie wait too long, let us all rush to do the works that Jesus puts on our heart. What joy this will create in our lives and so many lives around us.
Dear Mother, As we open ourselves to the grace of this time, may we be channels of that grace through our merciful acts.
Cathy Nolan
PS. Many of you have experienced the wonders of Divine Mercy in their lives. We invite you to share them with us so that many more could be touched and thank the Lord! Especially if your testimonies are connected with Medjugorje!! (Please write to dnolan@c... or Children Of Medjugorje, P.O. Box 1110, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA. Thank you in advance!)
PPS. Sister Emmanuel is fulfilling two engagements committed to before she began her sabatical year of prayer: a one day Marian Eucharistic Conference sponsored by the Ave Maria Centre of Peace in Toronto, Canada, May 19th.... contact Henry Kovacic, Tel. (416) 251 - 4245; (800) 663 - 6279; Fax: (416) 253 - 0480; and the National Conference on Medjugorje at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, May 25, 26 & 27; contact Queen of Peace Ministries, Tel: 219-288-8777; Fax: (219) 288 - 8795
PPPS. Divine Mercy Novena begins on Good Friday. Read that days meditation, then pray the chapletIt is said on ordinary Rosary beads.
03/15/01
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March 15, 2001 Report
Dear Children of Medjugorje!
Praised be Jesus and Mary!
1. In these days of Our Lady's coming in Medjugorje, we are made beautifully aware of the reality of the Communion of Saints. Just as Our Lady has been given to us as an intercessor and guide, we can also rely on a myriad of helpers in heaven who have gone before us. One of the most powerful is Saint Joseph, who John Paul II has called "the father of the third millennium." While we are still within the novena to St. Joseph (March 10 to 19), it is my joy to share with you a wonder that just happened in Medjugorje and that Sr. Emmanuel told me about on the phone :
"There is a woman named Mira who's husband was wounded during the war and cannot work. He received no pension from the government and therefore he can't feed his family. Mira has to work to pay the bills, and the family lives in a small shelter in the countryside, outside Medjugorje, in humble conditions. They have a little girl, and hope for other children. Mira had worked in a shop in Medjugorje for 3 months but she never received a pay check. Finally she left the shop. Though she was deeply upset, Mira tried to find other small jobs such as cleaning in the hotels.
"A few days ago, my friend Betty told me about this incident, and I got angry. I kept thinking that Mira deserved her salary. She must get that salary! So I decided to find the money for her, though I didn't know how. Then on the first day of the Novena to St. Joseph Betty met her and told her in faith: 'Oh, Mira, we have just started the Novena to Saint Joseph. Please join the novena. You'll see, he will help you. You don't even need to ask for his help, rather just start thanking him for the help he is already providing!' Now, this conversation took place before 6 PM.
"That same evening, I was in church for the evening program, and as I left the church, a woman came up to me and said: 'I have some money. Do you know of anyone who badly needs help?' Of course Mira was on my heart, and I shared her story with the woman, who then said: 'Well, there will be some help for her when you come to the Holy Hour tonight [on Saturdays there is an hour of Adoration in the church from 9 to 10]. Sure enough, when I opened the envelope there was enough for the entire 3 months of salary!!
"This is typical of Saint Joseph ! Upon receiving the thanksgiving of that poor woman, Saint Joseph could not help himself. He had to provide the whole salary immediately! It took him less that 3 hours to respond. When Mira heard it, she cried for joy on the phone and she humbly repeated over and over, 'What did I do to deserve this, My God what did I do to deserve this?' Filled with gratitude, she now knows that she has a great friend in Heaven. And believe me, she will not let him be jobless!' Isn't Saint Joseph the Head of the Holy Family, and the spouse of the Queen of Peace? (End of Sister Emmanuel's sharing).
2. I was overjoyed to hear these incredible insights about Lent that Vicka shared with a pilgrim recently: "Many times we see Lent as a time when we make sacrifices and practice self-denial by giving up coffee, alcohol, chocolate, cigarettes, TV, or whatever we are overly attached to. But we must renounce those things out of love for Jesus and Mary, and be careful not to do it for our own glory. Often we wait for the end of the forty days, only to drink again, to watch TV again, etc. This is not the right way to live Lent!
"Yes indeed, Our Lady asks us for sacrifices, but she does so all the time, not just during Lent. During Lent, we must offer to God all our desires, our crosses, our sickness and suffering, so that we may walk with Jesus, walk with Him toward Calvary. We should take to heart to help Him carry His Cross because He carries His cross for all of us, asking Him, 'Lord, how can I help you? What can I offer you?' I don't mean that He cannot carry His Cross but when we join with Him from the heart, then it becomes a very beautiful thing. I don't refer to Him when I need Him only, but I walk with Him when He most needs me, during His suffering for us. "Many times, when we have a cross we could offer Him, we instead pray this way: 'Lord, please remove that cross from my shoulders, it's heavy, I can't take it. Why is this cross given to me and not to someone else?' No! This is not the right way to pray! Our Lady says we should rather tell Him: 'Lord, I thank you for this cross, I thank you for this great gift You are giving me!'
"Very few are the people who understand the great value of the cross and the great value of the gift of our crosses when they are offered to Jesus. We can learn so much through this gift of a cross! In this time of Lent, we must understand from the heart how much Jesus loves us all and we should walk by His side with great love. We should try to be united with Him in His passion. This is the sacrifice that is expected from us. Let's walk this way, and then when the day of Easter comes with the Resurrection, we won't look at the Resurrection from outside but we will also be resurrected with Jesus, because we will have become free inside of us, free from ourselves and all our attachments. Isn't this a beautiful thing? We will be able to live His love and His Resurrection inside of us!
"Every single cross has a reason. God never sends any cross without a motive, a meaning, and He knows when He will remove that cross from us. At times of suffering, let's thank Jesus for this gift and also tell Him, 'If you have another gift for me, I am ready. But right now I am begging for Your strength, in order to have the courage to carry my cross and go forward with you, Lord!'
"I remember how the Gospa spoke to me about suffering when she said: 'If you knew the great value of suffering!' This is really a very great thing! And then it all depends on us, afterwards, to be ready for this or not. It all depends on our Yes to Jesus. It takes our whole life to learn this and go forward. Each morning, when we wake up, we can start our day with God. Our Lady does not ask us to pray the whole day long but to put prayer at the first place, to put God at the first place and then perform our works and go ahead in all the aspects of our life, visiting sick people, etc.
"When we do a charitable work without prayer, it's not valuable. The same way, when we pray and do not act in a charitable way, it is not valuable either. Those two things, prayer and charity, work always together. And then, step by step, we go forward." (End of Vicka's words.) Knowing how much Vicka has suffered, and how beautifully she ministers to the pilgrims who visit her in Medjugorje, her words take on special meaning. Vicka lives the way of the cross with Jesus, daily. And she knows the joy it brings. What good advice she has given us for this Lent! Her words reflect St. Faustina's: "Oh, if only the suffering soul knew how much God loves it, it would die of joy and excess of happiness! Some day we will know the value of suffering, but then we will no longer be able to suffer. The present moment is ours!" (963)
Dear Mother, we want to move forward this Lent, help us say Yes to Jesus with love!
Cathy Nolan (for Sr. Emmanuel)
PS 1 from Denis and Cathy: Here is a message that Sister Emmanuel asked us to transmit to you all as she is prolonging her time of break.
Dear readers, I want to thank you from the heart for your prayers during these weeks of break and retreat. Actually, deep in prayer, the Lord showed me that this was just a beginning and that He was inviting me to prolong this time of "retreat" this whole year of 2001 (until December 31). This break concerns only my writing reports and books, not my witnessing to the pilgrims here in Medjugorje. As I was sharing this with some friends lately, they expressed some kind of disappointment and said they'll miss my reports. But be happy instead because in doing so, Our Lady has a plan to improve Her instrument rather than to remove it. In taking a break from some activities, I will be able to get more enriched by God through contemplative prayer and therefore better prepared for my apostolic task during this "Springtime" that Our Lady is speaking about in Medjugorje. I know I can count on your understanding and support in this! Needless to say, I will carry you deep in my prayers and I'll be always happy to meet you in Medjugorje.
My dear Cathy Nolan (Denis' wife) will continue taking over for the by-monthly report. Many people shared with me here that they liked her way to do it, praise God! She will also help us go deeper in the meaning of the monthly messages. (The president of the Mariological Society of America specifically requested that she become a professional member, for, he said, "her writings reflect a unique gift: the combination of the scholar's intellect with a mother's heart.") And since she is in constant touch with Medjugorje, she might also once in a while tell you what she hears on the phone from our team here or from me, as it is the case for Mira's story today.
We all try to stick to the plan of Our Lady in our personal life in the best way we can, and I fully trust that doing so individually is the only way to truly serve our brothers and sisters and be inspired. Please don't worry, Our Lady is in control!
With love and joyful hope, in JMJ + S (Jesus, Mary, Joseph + Slavko!), your sister, Emmanuel
PS. 2 from Denis Nolan - an important prayer intention: This week Cardinal Sch÷nborn is hosting a meeting of the presidents of all the Catholic Bishops Conferences of the Balkans (including Bosnia Hercegovina) to discuss the Church's contribution toward reconciliation and stability after a decade of conflict. The meeting's aim is to identify ways in which the Church can best contribute to establishing peace. When visiting America earlier this month, just before going to the meeting in Vienna, the President of the Episcopal Conference of Croatia met with Mr. Frank Dunn, founder of his city's Center for Peace, and thanked him for the millions of dollars in medical aid his Medjugorje center sent to the Balkans during the war. Let us pray these Bishops recognize and protect the river of peace flowing through Medjugorje for the whole world!
Date: Tue May 1, 2001 4:05 pm
Subject: Children of Medjugorje- May 1, 2001
Date: Mon Apr 16, 2001 9:23am
Subject: Children of Medjugorje Report-April 15, 2001