July 21, 2011
St. Lawrence of Brandisi
Dear Family of Mary!
Here is the final installment of Ivanka's talk at the anniversary.
"Only two months before that day, my mother had died. In those moments when Our Lady appeared, I asked her, 'Our Lady, where is my mom?' She only smiled, and said that my mother was with her. Then she looked at all six of us, and she told us 'Do not be afraid of anything. I will always be with you.' From the first day it remained like that. If she had not been with us, none of us would have been able to endure what we have endured in all of these years.
"Whenever we asked her why she chose the six of us, she always smiled back to us and she always said, 'I am not always necessarily looking for the best.' I am not better nor worse than any one of you here. When we asked her for how long she was going to stay with us, she told us, 'Are you already bored with me?' We never asked that question again...She never gets tired of us, but it seems that we people get tired of her.
"She introduced herself here as the Queen of Peace. And the first message that she gave to us was 'Peace'. Then she invited us to prayer, to conversion, to fasting and to penance. In the beginning she invited us to pray seven Our Fathers, Hail Mary's and Glory bes. Then she invited us to pray one Rosary. In the beginning she invited us to fast on Wednesdays on bread and water. Then in the later years she invited us to pray all three mysteries of the Rosary, now all four, and to fast twice a week , Wednesdays and Fridays on bread and water. She told us that with fasting and prayer we can even stop wars.
"From 1981 to 1985 I had apparitions every single day. In those years Our Lady entrusted her life to me. She also entrusted to me the future of the Church and the future of the world. I wrote down all of that. And when the time comes for me to give that to somebody, I will give it at the certain time she designates.
"On May 7, 1985, I had my last daily apparition. It was on that day that I received the 10th secret. Then she told me I would no longer be able to see her on a daily basis. From 1985 until today I am able to see Our Lady only once a year, on the 25th of June, the anniversary day. On the last daily apparition that I had, Our Lady gave an immense gift for me, and for all mankind. If you ask yourself whether life after this life does exist, I am here standing in front of you as a living witness, to testify to you that life after this life does exist. The dear God has given me the grace to see my mom, just as I am able to see you right here, right now. My mom hugged me and my mom told me, 'My dear child, I am very proud of you.' (Ivanka Elez speaking at St. James Church during the 30th Anniversary)
In her understated way, Ivanka tells us something incredible. "From 1981 to 1985 I had apparitions every single day. In those years Our Lady entrusted her life to me. She also entrusted to me the future of the Church and the future of the world. I wrote down all of that." Wouldn't we love to know the details of Mary's life! Not to mention the future of the Church and of the world!?! Wow! Ivanka knows what is coming, the future. She knows some amazing things about the past as well, the story of Our Lady's life. Though I had already heard this, for some reason it really struck me this time. Poor Ivanka! To have such knowledge and not be able to share it with anyone, not even her husband. No wonder she is so serious and so reserved. This is a great cross for her, I am sure.
Observing the visionaries on this trip to Medjugorje, I realized more profoundly what a burden they carry. They see Our Lady, which is heaven. But they stand between heaven and earth, like a bridge, helping us to comprehend the reality of God and of eternity, and communicating to us the words from heaven that are being given to help us. They are witnesses of truth, and witnessing is very exhausting work. As Ivanka said, "If she had not been with us, none of us would have been able to endure what we have endured in all of these years." They are so faithful. Only love could hold them to such a task. Love of God and of Our Lady! And, yes, love of us as well. We should pray for them in gratitude.
In Jesus and Mary!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2011
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