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J.M.J September 6, 2012 Dear Family of Mary! "Dear children, as my eyes are looking at you, my soul is seeking those souls with whom it desires to be one - the souls who have understood the importance of prayer for those of my children who have not come to know the love of the Heavenly Father. I am calling you because I need you. Accept the mission and do not be afraid, I will strengthen you. I will fill you with my graces. With my love I will protect you from the evil spirit. I will be with you. With my presence I will console you in difficult moments. Thank you for your open hearts. Pray for priests. Pray that the unity between my Son and them may be all the stronger, that they may be one. Thank you." (September 2, 2012) "Accept the mission and do not be afraid, I will strengthen you." Of course, we have to say "yes" to her invitation to become intercessors with her. And it is a mission. It is one of the most important tasks given to the Church Militant. To pray for others is a self-less task. Most often, the persons we pray for will never know of our efforts on their behalf, at least not in this life. And we may never know the results of our intercession either. Such prayer is done "in the dark". It is prayer that comes from compassion and mercy, from a desire that all souls will be saved. It often is accomplished when we are most tired, sick, lonely, or in distress ourselves. Intercessors take on the pains and trials of those they pray for. It is God's way of uniting us, and of lightening the burden of those being interceded for. So you can see why Our Lady would tell us not to be afraid and assure us that she will strengthen us. Intercession is really a battle for souls. Caryll Houselander was an intercessor. In a letter written in 1952, Caryll describes her efforts at intercession. At the time her health was failing, and she suffered greatly. She never complained about her suffering, but it is clear from the letter that she was struggling. Yet, she was filled with joy and love and peace as well, and very capable of intercession. She wrote: I am really sorry to have left your letters unanswered for so long. I know that you do know that it is not because I am indifferent or unsympathetic about your troubles, but quite honestly I have been unable to get half the things done that I ought to. My letters waiting for answers are a positive shame. I have, however, been praying for you. I find that nowadays I cannot sleep much, but all the same when in bed I am too tired to write (as I used always to do at night). So this makes it possible for me to spend some hours every night praying for my friends, and I think I have said a rosary for you...every night for the last two months - usually at 4 o'clock in the morning, an hour at which I always wake up, as certainly as if I had an alarm clock set for that time. I am really very glad indeed to hear at last a little good news, and shall go on praying continually for a series of miracles to make it all come right and stay right. I am quite sure that all your suffering and patience is working miracles: God is quite surely watching, measuring, even allowing, every pang, every moment of fatigue, anxiety and distress, and suddenly it will all be given back to you in full measure, but changed into joy. You must try never to forget that God would not allow...you...to suffer the least fraction that He did not know to be not merely the best way to your ultimate joy, but the essential condition of it, and the only way to it. Why some people have to go through so much, and others so little (or it seems so), we shall never know on earth, but without any doubt at all it is all part of a plan of God's infinite love for each one of us, and in some way connected with our interrelation with each other. In the next life we shall find that the answer to this mystery is also the fullest and most astonishing answer to the mysterious beatitude, "Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted"... (Caryll Houselander. The Letters of Caryll Houselander. P. 187-88)
Clearly, intercession came at great cost for Caryll. Her suffering made work impossible, but provided the perfect way to intercede. Haven't we all been awakened in the night, unable to go back to sleep? Very often God will put someone on our heart at that time, the time when intercession is so powerful. Our Lady doesn't want us to fear such inconveniences, but see them as great possibilities to join her in her mission for souls. Like Caryll, we can pray. Almost anywhere and anytime we can pray. She will strengthen us. She will join us. Together with Mary, we will be able to persevere in prayer and win the day! "Accept the mission and do not be afraid, I will strengthen you." In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2012 PS. Fruit of Medjugorje airs tonight, 8:00 pm EDT!! Don't miss it. More beautiful testimonies of the graces of Medjugorje!! See you then! www.marytv.tv |
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