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May 13, 2011
Our Lady of FatimaDear Family of Mary!"Dear children! Today I am calling you to renew your hearts. Open yourselves to God and surrender to him all your difficulties and crosses so, God may turn everything into joy. Little children, you cannot open yourselves to God if you do not pray. Therefore, from today, decide to consecrate a time in the day only for an encounter with God in silence. In that way you will be able, with God, to witness my presence here. Little children, I do not wish to force you. Rather freely give God your time, like children of God. Thank you for having responded to my call."
Vatican for his weekly general audience on May 11, 2011
We must learn to recognize God's voice in silence. As Our Lady says, "Consecrate a time in the day only for an encounter with God in silence." To encounter God, to hear His voice we need silence within. Father Jacques Philippe describes this silence in this way: "Maintaining peace is linked to the practice of silence. This silence is not an empty silence: it is peace, attentiveness to God's presence and attentiveness to others, waiting in trust and hope in God We sometimes let ourselves be overtaken by excessive noise - not so much physical noise as the ceaseless whirlwind of thoughts, imaginations, and words that we've heard or said - an all this merely feeds our worries, fears, and frustrations, and obviously leaves the Holy Spirit little chance of making himself heard. Silence is not emptiness but that general attitude of inwardness that enables us to have an 'inner cell' in our heart, to use an expression of St. Catherine of Siena's, where we are in God's presence and converse with him. Silence is the opposite of the dissipation of the soul in curiosity, gossip, and so forth. It is a capacity for returning almost spontaneously within ourselves, drawn by the presence of God within us." (Jacques Philippe. In the School of the Holy Spirit. p. 38-39)
Silence can be found in our "inner cell". We each have such a place. We may not frequent it, but it is very real. It can be found. And we need to go there every day, to meet the Lord. May we encounter God in prayer today and tomorrow and every day after that! We need to be totally connected to Him. Mary, Mother of Divine Grace, pray for us!In Jesus, Mary, Joseph and Blessed John Paul II!
Cathy NolanPS. Today begins the 2011 National Medjugorje Conference at the University of Notre Dame. It runs from May 13 to May 15. We hope many of you are coming to share in the testimonies and prayer, the Adoration and Holy Mass. It is an awesome weekend. Among the speakers will be Jelena Vasilj Valente, who received locutions from Our Lady of Medjugorje for several years at the beginning of the Apparitions. We are excited to hear what she has to share! Also speaking will be Danielle and Alyssa Duet, two beautiful young women who traveled to Medjugorje for the first time in August of 2010. It's not too late to come! Hope to see you there!
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