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| December 30, 2010 The 6th Day in the Octave of Christmas Dear Family of Mary! "Dear children! Today I call you to renew prayer and fasting with even greater enthusiasm until prayer becomes a joy for you. Little children, the one who prays is not afraid of the future and the one who fasts is not afraid of evil. Once again, I repeat to you: only through prayer and fasting also wars can be stopped - wars of your unbelief and fear for the future. I am with you and am teaching you little children: your peace and hope are in God. That is why draw closer to God and put Him in the first place in your life. Thank you for having responded to my call." (January 25, 2001) We are drawing near to the New Year, 2011. We are all wondering what it will bring. There is so much to worry about, so much to fear. Our world feels out of control. But I believe that Our Lady is with us precisely because of this chaos. She has been sent from heaven to help us through these difficult days. We can face 2011 with confidence and hope because of Our Lady of Medjugorje. St. Faustina entered the year 1937 with many misgivings and fears. Her world was equally chaotic. Germany was rising in power and menacing Poland. Her health was very bad. Her work to spread Divine Mercy was being hindered and misunderstood. Even her community did not understand her or her illness. Through all this, it was God who was her strength. She writes: "J.M.J. Cracow, Pradnik. January 1, 1937. - Jesus I trust in You. "Today, at midnight, I bid good-bye to the old year 1936 and welcomed the year 1937. It was with fear and trembling that, in this first hour of the year, I faced this new period of time. Merciful Jesus, with You I go boldly and courageously into conflicts and battles. In Your Name, I will accomplish everything and overcome everything. My God, Infinite Goodness, I beg of You, let Your infinite mercy accompany me always and in all things. "As I enter this year, fear of life overwhelms me, but Jesus brings me out of this fear and lets me know what great glory this work of mercy will bring Him. "There are times in life when the soul finds comfort only in profound prayer. Would that souls knew how to persevere in prayer at such times. This is very important." (Diary 859-860) Jesus brought St. Faustina out of her fear and showed her the wonderful things He was going to do through the work of Divine Mercy. I believe that Jesus will bring each of us out of our fear also! He will show us the wonderful things He is going to do through us in 2011! We only need to listen to St. Faustina and Our Lady. "There are times in life when the soul finds comfort only in profound prayer. Would that souls knew how to persevere in prayer at such times." Yes, there are times when only prayer will help us, only our deep communion with God! "Little children, the one who prays is not afraid of the future and the one who fasts is not afraid of evil." Yes, it is only in prayer and fasting that we will find our strength in the battle, and fear will flee from us! This year, 2011, may we listen to Our Lady! "I am with you and am teaching you little children: your peace and hope are in God. That is why draw closer to God and put Him in the first place in your life." In Jesus and Mary!
Cathy Nolan |
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