Mary TV: February 28, 2019 Reflection - A New Life!

 

Be born into a new life of the love of God!
(c)Mary TV/Anthony Zubac 

February 28, 2019
Dear Family of Mary!

"Dear children! Today, I am calling you to a new life. It is not important how old you are, open your heart to Jesus who will transform you in this time of grace and, like nature, you will be born into a new life in God's love, and you will open your heart to Heaven and the things of Heaven. I am still with you, because God permitted me out of love for you. Thank you for having responded to my call." (February 25, 2019)

Our Lady wants us to be "born into a new life in God's love..." She wants us to be new! St. Faustina was led by the Spirit during a retreat to seek just such a new life. Here are her words:

 

Third day. In the meditation on death, I prepared myself as if for real death. I examined my conscience and searched all my affairs at the approach of death and, thanks be to grace, my affairs were directed toward that ultimate goal. This filled my heart with great gratitude to God, and I resolved to serve my God even more faithfully in the future. One thing alone is necessary: to put my old self to death and to begin a new life. In the morning, I prepared to receive Holy Communion as if it were to be the last in my life, and after Holy Communion I brought before my imagination my actual death, and I said the prayers for the dying and then the De Profundis for my own soul. My body was lowered into the grave, and I said to my soul, "See what has become of your body, a heap of dirt teeming with vermin - that is your inheritance." (1343 Diary)

 

O merciful God, who still allow me to live, give me strength that I may live a new life, the life of the spirit, over which death has no dominion. And with that, my heart was renewed, and I began a new life while still here on earth, a life of love of God. Nevertheless, I do not forget that I am weakness itself, though I do not doubt even for a moment that I will obtain the help of Your grace, O God. (1344 Diary)

I am coming out of this retreat thoroughly transformed by God's love. My soul is beginning a new life, earnestly and courageously; although outwardly my life will not change, and no one will notice it, nevertheless, pure love is [now] the guide of my life and, externally, it is mercy which is its fruit. I feel that I have been totally imbued with God and, with this God, I am going back to my everyday life, so drab, tiresome and wearying, trusting that he whom I feel in my heart will change this drabness into my personal sanctity. (1363 Diary)

St. Faustina was led to prayerfully imagine her own death, even to imagine her body being buried. As she walked through her own death in her imagination, St. Faustina felt a great move of the Holy Spirit, seemingly resurrecting her to a new life. She saw her life in a new way after her meditation on death. She saw everything differently. Now God was everything for her. He was all she could think about, all she could desire, the only object of her love. St. Faustina was made new!
Our Lady wants us to have just such a new life. We need to recognize that our lives are finite on this earth and therefore desire the things of heaven! If we invite Jesus into our hearts He will show us the way.
Come Lord Jesus! Come into my heart. I long for you to dwell with me, there where I am only me, small and so much in need of You. Transform me from within. Work out all the old wounds and sorrows. Heal them with Your radiant love. Give me eyes only for your face. Give me ears only for Your voice. Then I shall be at peace. My hope will become secure in reality. I will desire only You and Your heaven. Come Lord Jesus and stay in my heart. Never leave me. I want to live a new life with You. Amen
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2019

 

PS.  Mike Nolan is offering a pilgrimage to Medjugorje this Easter Week!  April 22 - May 3!  Call Mike at 574-335-9952  or visit his web page:  https://www.pilgrim-medj.com/  You don't want to miss it!!  Medjugorje is the place to begin a new life!!





"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world."
Saint John Paul II
Be connected!
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Mary TV: February 27, 2019 Reflection - "I am calling you to a new life."

  

February 27, 2019
Dear Family of Mary!

"Dear children! Today, I am calling you to a new life. It is not important how old you are, open your heart to Jesus who will transform you in this time of grace and, like nature, you will be born into a new life in God's love, and you will open your heart to Heaven and the things of Heaven. I am still with you, because God permitted me out of love for you. Thank you for having responded to my call." (February 25, 2019)

Our Lady is calling us to become new creations in Christ. She doesn't want us to waste any more time riding the fence. We need to become new persons, completely new! And the newness has everything to do with becoming holy! Jesus and Mary invite us to reject sin, reject our self-centered attitudes, reject our luke warmness and turn towards Jesus so that we can be made new, holy, clean, loving, kind, humble, sincere, truthful, patient, generous and giving, joyful, hopeful, faith filled, laughing people!
St. Paul said it this way:

 

2Cor 5:17-22:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 

 

The Father allowed Jesus to take on our sins so that we could be freed of them and become good and holy, righteous like He is. This gift of being made new is a miracle beyond compare. How does anyone repent, turn from evil, choose the good without help? It just doesn't happen. But Jesus became our help. Jesus paved the way for our regeneration in love. So now we can indeed enter into a new life. We can live the life of God.
I think this message is a perfect preparation for Lent. What better Lenten practice could we choose than to become new!! We want to be new! It is a dream to be made new! But Jesus died for just that reason, that we could be made new. Unheard of!! Miraculous! Fantastic!
Mother, you call us to a new life and so we ask you to help us. Help us to open our hearts to Jesus this Lent, with a trust and love that will allow Him to come into our hearts and change them. We want to allow Jesus to give us new hearts, hearts of love, hearts filled with heaven and the things of heaven, hearts like your Immaculate Heart! May it be so, dearest Mother, may it be so!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
© Mary TV 2019

"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world."
Saint John Paul II
Be connected!
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February 25, 2019 Message from Our Lady, Queen of Peace

  

(c)Mary TV / Mateo Ivankovic

February 25, 2019
Dear Family of Mary!

The February 25, 2019 Message from Our Lady, Queen of Peace:

"Dear children! Today, I am calling you to a new life. It is not important how old you are, open your heart to Jesus who will transform you in this time of grace and, like nature, you will be born into a new life in God's love, and you will open your heart to Heaven and the things of Heaven. I am still with you, because God permitted me out of love for you. Thank you for having responded to my call." (February 25, 2019)

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
Marytv 2019




"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world."
Saint John Paul II
Be connected!
www.marytv.tv

Mary TV: February 22, 2019 Reflection - Oh Mary, mother of goodness, love and mercy

(c)Mary TV / Anthony Zubac 2018 Procession during the Youth Festival 2018 February 22, 2019 The Chair of Peter Dear Family of Mary! In Fr. Slavko's homily from February 1986 (see Daily Reflection for February 21, 2019), he quoted Our Lady as saying, "All those who listen to my messages and live them are my parish." He explained:    Every evening Mass is celebrated here for all the pilgrims, for all those who come here and for all those who ask us; and we priests ask the people here to accept you, with love if possible. When you return home you should become Medjugorje for others, like a sign and invitation towards conversion and prayer. We must be conscious of this reality - people will ask your help, just as Our Lady has asked your help. You are Medjugorje too. Our Lady once said, "All those who listen to my messages and live them are my parish." So, there are no boundaries to the Medjugorje parish; all those who live with us in prayer and fasting are parishioners. We feel responsible for your conversion, and when you return to your homes you at once become responsible for the conversion of others. In this way Our Lady's wishes will be spread. We are part of the parish of Medjugorje! We are those who listen to and live Our Lady's messages, and so we are part of the parish. And our job, like the job of the parish, is to pray for the conversion of others and live the messages! To do this we need to give ourselves to Our Lady. Here then, is a prayer that Our Lady dictated to Jelena so very long ago, to help us to learn to give ourselves to her:   How to Give Oneself to Mary Mother of Goodness, of Love and of Mercy  (Given by Our Lady to Jelena Vasilj, 4/19/1984)  Oh my Mother!  Mother of goodness, love and mercy!  I love you immensely, and I offer myself to you.  Through your goodness, your love,  And your mercy, save me!  I wish to be yours.  I love you immensely  And I wish that you protect me.  In my heart, oh mother of goodness,  Give me your goodness,  So that I go to Heaven. I ask you for your immense love  That you may give me the grace  That I will be able to love each one  Just like you loved Jesus Christ.  I ask you in grace  That I be able to be merciful to you.  I offer myself completely to you  And I wish that you will be with me at each step,  Because you are full of grace.  I wish never to forget your grace,  And if I should lose it,  I will ask, make me find it again.  Amen. In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Marytv 2019

"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world." Saint John Paul II Be connected! www.marytv.tv

Mary TV: February 21, 2019 Reflection -"All those who listen to my messages and live them are my parish."

(c)Mary TV / Anthony Zubac 2018 Pilgrims pray during the Evening Program at St. James Church February 21, 2019 St. Peter Damian Dear Family of Mary! Our Lady has told us many times that God has given her a plan for the salvation of souls which will be enacted in and through her presence in Medjugorje, specifically in the parish of Medjugorje. We have seen over the past 37 years that a great program of prayer has developed in the parish of St. James. Through this program alone, many conversions have happened, many lives have been changed. Combined with the messages, the life of the parish is powerful. Fr. Slavko understood the importance of the parish of Medjugorje. He points out that in January 1986 Our Lady gave five messages that were formative for the parish of Medjugorje. I will include them at the end of the reflection for us to pray over. Fr. Slavko mentions these messages in this homily from early February 1986: "All those who listen to my messages and live them are my parish." Our Lady insists on prayer in a special way in her January messages, "I invite you to prayer", "I invite you once again to prayer", "I invite you especially to prayer of the heart", and also in her latest message, "Today I invite all of you to pray so that all the plans God has for you may be fulfilled together with everything that God wishes to realize through you." This is a very simple message, but also very profound. Our Lady tells us that our prayer helps God to realize all the plans He has for us, for each one of us. When she says, "Today I invite all of you", we can say that she is thinking of all those who have accepted these apparitions and these messages. So, God has some plans for us and in us, to bring about peace in our hearts, love, reconciliation, the spirit of prayer and fasting. If God has been able to realize His plans with us, He has another plan - to bring about the same things for others through us. Our Lady tells us, "God cannot do anything without you." Our Lady is not calling us to ask for peace from others or reconciliation from others in her messages. Our Lady always wants us to be the ones to bring peace, for us to start to be reconciled, for us to begin and not wait for others to do so. There is no human being in the world who does not wish to be loved, to have peace. But if no one loves and if no one brings peace, who will have peace, who will be loved? Our Lady is not calling us to criticize our neighbor because we already know how to criticize and judge others but to bring peace, love and reconciliation to others. Her message continues, "Help others to be converted, especially those who come to Medjugorje".  In her last message, too, she also asked us to pray for others and their conversion and said that the ice of their hearts would be melted if we pray; she is making us responsible for the conversion of others. Many times, we say, "Leave him alone, if he doesn't want to. He is an atheist, he doesn't go to Mass, he doesn't pray, leave him alone." Our Lady doesn't want us to judge or leave someone alone; we must pray day by day for the conversion of others. It would be a big mistake to think, "Others need to be converted, not me." We all need to be converted every day. By inviting us to pray for others, Our Lady is asking us to bring love to others, to everyone. She said, "Especially those who come to Medjugorje." So she is making the parishioners responsible for our conversion. We do all we can here; I do not know if you will return home converted as Our Lady desires... Every evening Mass is celebrated here for all the pilgrims, for all those who come here and for all those who ask us; and we priests ask the people here to accept you, with love if possible. When you return home you should become Medjugorje for others, like a sign and invitation towards conversion and prayer. We must be conscious of this reality - people will ask your help, just as Our Lady has asked your help. You are Medjugorje too. Our Lady once said, "All those who listen to my messages and live them are my parish." So, there are no boundaries to the Medjugorje parish; all those who live with us in prayer and fasting are parishioners. We feel responsible for your conversion, and when you return to your homes you at once become responsible for the conversion of others. In this way Our Lady's wishes will be spread. Now something very important. Our Lady said, "Dear children. Do not allow satan to take control of your hearts." How does one become an image of satan? Look, if there is hate, bitterness, jealousy in your heart, if we quarrel with others, if we do not forgive, if we are not reconciled, who is in our heart? Certainly not Our Lady, not God, because God always asks us for love, peace, reconciliation and forgiveness. If we want to become the image of Our Lady then it is necessary to open ourselves to peace, love, reconciliation, to God and to others. Once again, "I invite you to pray so that you may become witnesses of my presence." If we have now decided to become Our Lady's witnesses, if we want to help towards conversion and the grace of peace, we must pray, fast and open ourselves to God and He will fill us. If we want to become witnesses of her presence we must pray. Our Lady has also said, "Without you, God cannot fulfill His plans." So, we are important. A young man asked me why God who is almighty cannot realize what He wants without us. I explained that we have been created free; God respects our freedom and says to us, "If you wish..." It is in this sense that we can say God cannot do everything without us, because if God is love - as St. John tells us - He cannot and does not want to act by force. In this message, too, Our Lady says, "God has given everyone a free will and it is in your control." Our Lady knew that she was free when the Angel came and asked her, "Do you want to become the Mother of God?" She thought for a little and replied, "Yes". She was free, even if she was full of grace; freedom was not taken from her and neither was responsibility. We must feel free, and in freedom and love answer the messages." (Fr. Slavko Barbaric - 1st February 1986) Here are the January 1986 messages Fr. Slavko was referring to.  Powerful!! January 2, 1986 "Dear children! I call you to decide completely for God. I beseech you, dear children, to surrender yourselves completely and you shall be able to live everything I am telling you. It shall not be difficult for you to surrender yourselves completely to God. Thank you for having responded to my call." January 9, 1986"Dear children! I call you by your prayers to help Jesus along in the fulfillment of all the plans which He is forming here. And offer your sacrifices to Jesus in order that everything is fulfilled the way He has planned it and that satan can accomplish nothing. Thank you for having responded to my call."    January 16, 1986"Dear children! Today also I am calling you to prayer. Your prayers are necessary to me so that God may be glorified through all of you. Dear children, I pray you, obey and live the Mother's invitation, because only out of love am I calling you in order that I might help you. Thank you for having responded to my call."    January 23, 1986"Dear children! Again I call you to prayer with the heart. If you pray with the heart, dear children, the ice of your brothers will melt and every barrier shall disappear. Conversion will be easy for all who desire to accept it. That is the gift which by prayer you must obtain for your neighbor. Thank you for having responded to my call."    January 30, 1986 "Dear children! Today I call you all to pray that God's plans for us may be realized and also everything that God desires through you! Help others to be converted, especially those who are coming to Medjugorje. Dear children, do not allow satan to get control of your hearts, so you would be an image of satan and not of me. I call you to pray for how you might be witnesses of my presence. Without you, God cannot bring to reality that which He desires. God has given a free will to everyone, and it's in your control. Thank you for having responded to my call." In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2019

"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world." Saint John Paul II Be connected! www.marytv.tv

Mary TV: February 20, 2019 Reflection -I invite you all to prayer...

 

(c)Mary TV / Anthony Zubac 2018 Pilgrims pray during the Evening Program at St. James Church February 20, 2019 Dear Family of Mary! January 25, 2019 "Dear children! Today, as a mother, I am calling you to conversion. This time is for you, little children, a time of silence and prayer..." Here is a teaching that Fr. Slavko Barbaric gave in 1986 about prayer. It is wonderful, and so practical, just like Fr. Slavko! "Without prayer, dear children, you will be unable to experience either God, me or the graces I am giving you." Marija and Jakov have left for their spiritual exercises. The simple fact that the visionaries have to make their spiritual exercises and pray is significant for us. It should be a message for us all. I have been with the pilgrims for nearly five years and I well know that many people have thought that the visionaries are already saints and that they already possess everything because they see Our Lady. But I must tell you that if the visionaries do not pray, fast or regularly go to confession, their faith and their peace will not grow only by reason of the apparitions. It would be too easy. If a visionary does not pray or fast he or she could become just like the telephone. Our Lady telephones to us what we should do through the visionaries, and that would be the end - everything would remain really dry within.   Why? Because God leaves us free, because He wants us to grow, each one according to their personal gifts. Even if you were to be all the time with a visionary, if you did not pray, you would not receive graces. As a small consolation for you all, if you have not yet seen any of the visionaries but find the Rosary in your pocket and start praying, you will already be on the right path. I will read to you last Thursday's message: "Dear children, today I invite you all to prayer. Without prayer, dear children, you will be unable to experience either God, me or the graces I am giving you. I am therefore inviting you to begin and end your day always with prayer. Dear children, I wish to guide you as much as possible, day after day, to pray, but you are unable to grow spiritually as you do not wish to. I invite you, dear children, to make prayer your first priority." Let us be sincere; what was the response in your heart when you heard Our Lady's words, "I therefore invite you to pray both at the beginning and the end of your day", that is to say, starting and ending your day with prayer? If Our Lady had said, "Please wash your face or have breakfast every day, drink a little coffee in order not to go to work on an empty stomach." I am sure you would have said, "Of course, one would die if one did not do so, or one would not be able to work." But if Our Lady says, "Pray", what is your reply? "I cannot because I am always in a hurry in the morning, I have not time."   Something else. What would parents do if Our Lady said, "Pray." Would they wake their children in the morning in order to pray? Normally, because they usually watch television until late it is impossible next morning to enter into the spirit of prayer.   If Our Lord tells us through Our Lady, to behave in this way, but during the day we are not at peace and live in conflict, I assure you that it is only the result of your own choice. Our Lord invites us through Our Lady to pray every morning and we say, "Sorry, I cannot'. What will be the consequences? A void in our soul and in our heart. Before the fifth anniversary of the first apparition Our Lady invited us all to pray continuously. It is now for five years that she has been appearing and hoping that at least some of us may walk during the whole day, not just take a few steps forward. She invites us to continuous prayer, not just to move our lips. Our Lady is thinking of something else. I will explain. When Our Lady invites us to pray continuously, to pray with the heart, she invites us to be in touch with God. I dare say that in order to pray continuously it is not enough just to love God, but one must be in love with God. When one is in love with somebody, this person is ever present in one's thoughts, in one's heart and in one's feeling, even when at work. It is only in this way that we can explain continuous prayer. It is not enough just to love, one must be in love! If someone says, how can I? I ask you and also myself, when was the last time we prayed for the grace of prayer with the heart, or for continuous prayer, or for the grace of being always able to accept the love of Our Lord and Our Lady? This message is then very clear. Our Lady is asking us to give first place to prayer in our priorities. Without prayer we can experience neither God nor Our Lady. This is quite normal; if we are not in touch with Our Lord, if we do not pray, if we do not open our hearts to Our Lord, how can we hear Him? Here is something very important and practical. Our Lady says, "I want to guide you day by day as much as possible to prayer, but you cannot spiritually grow, because you're not willing to." We can wish it, "yes, I would like to..." as the lazy student says, "I would like to complete my studies," but when you tell him to study, he replies, "I cannot". What a useless wish! It is not enough to say I would like to pray with my heart. It is necessary to try. Our Lady shows us here a maternal teaching which is practical. Read the messages. She never recommended a book from which to learn to pray, but how many times she told us to pray, to meditate on the Rosary, to go to confession, to be reconciled, and so on. So Our Lady is like the mother who takes her child by the hand and tries a new step every day until it can walk. No mother has ever first given her child a book so that it can understand which muscles to use in order to walk; she takes him by the hand and begins in a practical way. And so, Our Lad also does the same. So, let us kneel down and pray individually, in our families, in communities, in our prayer groups, and then all else will be given to us. If we then still dare to find excuses for being unable to pray, this means that Our Lady's words are still incapable of moving us, but one day they will. It is important to fast. Jesus, said, "Blessed are the poor in heart, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." This is true, but we are not poor in heart and in our practical neglect of God we say, "Lord, I do not need you." The words, 'Poor in heart' may be translated as, blessed are those who have a need for prayer, who need God. By fasting, little by little we overcome our neglect of God and we are able to experience to a greater extent our true selves and our need for God. This then seems to me to be the summary of Our Lady's school and of her teaching. In the light of the messages Our Lady shows us her behavior and tries to enter into our lives, our families, in the whole Church and in the whole world. The greatest grace when you come to Medjugorje is this - God gives us a stimulus for prayer. This is the experience of a great number of people; when one comes here one is able to pray, one continues to pray, and prayer can grow. Make up your minds to pray, meet together every week, meditate on the Rosary, read the Bible and let God speak to you in silence - this then is your prayer group. It is very easy. (Fr. Slavko Barbaric - 9th July 1986 - from "I beseech you, listen to my messages and live them." 1986) Classic! This is Our Lady's priest caring for her little ones! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2019

"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world." Saint John Paul II Be connected! www.marytv.tv

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Mary TV: February 19, 2019 Reflection - A time of silence and prayer!

(c)Mary TV / Anthony Zubac 2018
A time of silence and prayer!

February 19, 2019

Dear Family of Mary!

January 25, 2019 "Dear children! Today, as a mother, I am calling you to conversion. This time is for you, little children, a time of silence and prayer. Therefore, in the warmth of your heart, may a grain of hope and faith grow and you, little children, will from day to day feel the need to pray more. Your life will become orderly and responsible. You will comprehend, little children, that you are passing here on earth and you will feel the need to be closer to God, and with love you will witness the experience of your encounter with God, which you will share with others. I am with you and am praying for you, but I cannot without your 'yes'. Thank you for having responded to my call."

In this message, Our Lady calls us to silence and prayer and then gives us a long list of the benefits of such prayer! A grain of hope and faith will grow. Our lives will become orderly and responsible. We will realize our lives are passing and that God is everything. And we will share all this with others. Wow! 

I found some powerful help in understanding the prayer of silence that Our Lady calls us to in the Catechism. If this prayer is so fruitful, we need to do it!

Catechism of the Catholic Church - Part Four - Christian Prayer - Section One - Prayer in the Christian Life - Chapter Three - The Life of Prayer - Article 1 - Expressions of Prayer - III Contemplative Prayer (Paragraphs 2709 to 2719)

III. CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER

2709 What is contemplative prayer? St. Teresa answers: "Contemplative prayer [oracion mental] in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us."6 Contemplative prayer seeks him "whom my soul loves."7 It is Jesus, and in him, the Father. We seek him, because to desire him is always the beginning of love, and we seek him in that pure faith which causes us to be born of him and to live in him. In this inner prayer, we can still meditate, but our attention is fixed on the Lord himself.

2710 The choice of the time and duration of the prayer arises from a determined will, revealing the secrets of the heart. One does not undertake contemplative prayer only when one has the time: one makes time for the Lord, with the firm determination not to give up, no matter what trials and dryness one may encounter. One cannot always meditate, but one can always enter into inner prayer, independently of the conditions of health, work, or emotional state. The heart is the place of this quest and encounter, in poverty and in faith.

2711 Entering into contemplative prayer is like entering into the Eucharistic liturgy: we "gather up:" the heart, recollect our whole being under the prompting of the Holy Spirit, abide in the dwelling place of the Lord which we are, awaken our faith in order to enter into the presence of him who awaits us. We let our masks fall and turn our hearts back to the Lord who loves us, so as to hand ourselves over to him as an offering to be purified and transformed.

2712 Contemplative prayer is the prayer of the child of God, of the forgiven sinner who agrees to welcome the love by which he is loved and who wants to respond to it by loving even more.8 But he knows that the love he is returning is poured out by the Spirit in his heart, for everything is grace from God. Contemplative prayer is the poor and humble surrender to the loving will of the Father in ever deeper union with his beloved Son.

2713 Contemplative prayer is the simplest expression of the mystery of prayer. It is a gift, a grace; it can be accepted only in humility and poverty. Contemplative prayer is a covenant relationship established by God within our hearts.9 Contemplative prayer is a communion in which the Holy Trinity conforms man, the image of God, "to his likeness."

2714 Contemplative prayer is also the pre-eminently intense time of prayer. In it the Father strengthens our inner being with power through his Spirit "that Christ may dwell in [our] hearts through faith" and we may be "grounded in love."10

2715 Contemplation is a gaze of faith, fixed on Jesus. "I look at him and he looks at me": this is what a certain peasant of Ars in the time of his holy curé used to say while praying before the tabernacle. This focus on Jesus is a renunciation of self. His gaze purifies our heart; the light of the countenance of Jesus illumines the eyes of our heart and teaches us to see everything in the light of his truth and his compassion for all men. Contemplation also turns its gaze on the mysteries of the life of Christ. Thus, it learns the "interior knowledge of our Lord," the more to love him and follow him.11

2716 Contemplative prayer is hearing the Word of God. Far from being passive, such attentiveness is the obedience of faith, the unconditional acceptance of a servant, and the loving commitment of a child. It participates in the "Yes" of the Son become servant and the Fiat of God's lowly handmaid.

2717 Contemplative prayer is silence, the "symbol of the world to come"12 or "silent love."13 Words in this kind of prayer are not speeches; they are like kindling that feeds the fire of love. In this silence, unbearable to the "outer" man, the Father speaks to us his incarnate Word, who suffered, died, and rose; in this silence, the Spirit of adoption enables us to share in the prayer of Jesus.

2718 Contemplative prayer is a union with the prayer of Christ insofar as it makes us participate in his mystery. The mystery of Christ is celebrated by the Church in the Eucharist, and the Holy Spirit makes it come alive in contemplative prayer so that our charity will manifest it in our acts.

2719 Contemplative prayer is a communion of love bearing Life for the multitude, to the extent that it consents to abide in the night of faith. The Paschal night of the Resurrection passes through the night of the agony and the tomb - the three intense moments of the Hour of Jesus which his Spirit (and not "the flesh [which] is weak") brings to life in prayer. We must be willing to "keep watch with [him] one hour."14

Footnotes6 St. Teresa of Jesus, The Book of Her Life, 8,5 in The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, tr. K. Kavanaugh, OCD, and O. Rodriguez, OCD (Washington DC: Institute of Carmelite Studies, 1976),I,67.
7 Song 1:7; cf. 3:14.
8 Cf. Lk 7:36-50; 19:1-10.
9 Cf. Jer 31:33.
10 Eph 3:16-17.
11 Cf. St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, 104.
12 Cf. St. Isaac of Nineveh, Tract. myst. 66.
13 St. John of the Cross, Maxims and Counsels, 53 in The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, tr. K. Kavanaugh, OCD, and O. Rodriguez, OCD (Washington DC: Institute of Carmelite Studies, 1979), 678.
14 Cf. Mt 26:40. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p4s1c3a1.htm
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2019

"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world."
Saint John Paul II
Be connected!
www.marytv.tv 

Mary TV: February 18, 2019 Reflection - A river of hope!

 

(c)Mary TV / Mateo Ivankovic

Our Lady of Medjugorje, pure hope!!!

February 18, 2019
Dear Family of Mary!

November 25, 2008 "Dear children! Also today I call you, in this time of grace, to pray for little Jesus to be born in your heart. May He, who is peace itself, give peace to the entire world through you. Therefore, little children, pray without ceasing for this turbulent world without hope, so that you may become witnesses of peace for all. May hope begin to flow through your hearts as a river of grace. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Our Lady has come to give us hope. She is the beacon of hope for this very tired and lost world. We cling to her presence and her words to us, because she pours hope into our hearts with every word she speaks to us. Her messages are liquid hope!!
I want to share something I found in a wonderful monthly Medjugorje Newsletter, The Spirit of Medjugorje! ( http://www.spiritofmedjugorje.org/ ) Deacon Jerry Peterson wrote "Mysteries of Hope" for the Rosary, as a way to strengthening our hope through Jesus' words and deeds in Scripture. I am reproducing the little article which introduces those mysteries, so you can pray them in your private prayer. Deacon Jerry explains it this way:

Mysteries of Hope

By Deacon Jerry Peterson

Why I wrote these mysteries [for private devotion]: I love praying the Rosary. I know that in Jesus there is always hope. There is no better way to send our prayers of hope to Jesus than through our mother Mary. These mysteries were given to me by the Spirit as my wife, Joan, and I were praying the Rosary after morning Mass.

1. Jesus feeds 5,000.

[Jesus] said to them "There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves." But they said to him, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have here." Then he said, "Bring them here to me," and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied... (Matthew 14:16-21)

2. Jesus calls Peter to walk on the water.

Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him. (Matthew 14: 28-31)

3. Jesus restores Bartimaeus' sight.

[Jesus said to him] "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see." Jesus told him, "Go your way: your faith has saved you." Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10: 51-52)

4. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.

Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. [But] even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise." Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11: 21-23, 25-26)

5. Jesus welcomes the Good Thief into His kingdom.

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23: 42-43)

Editor's note: Deacon Jerry is the nephew of our late spiritual advisor, Msgr. James Peterson (Fr. Pete, as he preferred to be called). I suspect maybe he got a little help from him while composing these mysteries, especially with the fifth mystery, since Fr. Pete often spoke about St. Dismas, the Good Thief

http://www.spiritofmedjugorje.org/issues/February2019pdf.pdf

Thanks to June Klins and her helpers for sending out Spirit of Medjugorje every month. This little newsletter is filled with hope!! Hope from Medjugorje! We are the most blessed of children to have Our Lady with us in these days. We are truly children of hope!!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2019

 

"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world."
Saint John Paul II
Be connected!
www.marytv.tv

Sister Emmanuel's Report from Medjugorje for February 2019

 

Medjugorje, February 17, 2019 Dear children of Medjugorje, praise be to Jesus and Mary!                                                                          1. On February 2nd, 2019, Mirjana received her monthly apparition in her pension house, surrounded by a small group. After the apparition, she conveyed this message:  "Dear children, the love and goodness of the Heavenly Father give revelations, which make faith grow, for it to be interpreted, that it may bring peace, certainty and hope. In this way, I, too, my children, through the merciful love of the Heavenly Father, always, anew, am showing you the way to my Son, to eternal salvation. But, unfortunately, many of my children do not want to hear me; many of my children are of two minds. And I always, in time and beyond time, magnified the Lord for all that He has done in me and through me. My Son gives Himself to you and breaks the bread with you. He speaks the words of eternal life to you so that you may carry them to everyone. And you, my children, apostles of my love, what are you afraid of when my Son is with you? Offer your souls to Him so that He can be in them and that He can make you instruments of faith, instruments of love.  My children, live the Gospel, live merciful love for your neighbours, and, above all, live love for the Heavenly Father. My children, you are not united by chance. The Heavenly Father does not unite anyone by chance. My Son speaks to your souls. I speak to your heart. As a mother I am saying to you: set out with me, love one another, and give witness. Do not be afraid, with your example, to defend the truth - the Word of God, which is eternal and never changes.  My children, whoever acts in the light of merciful love and truth is always helped by Heaven and is not alone. Apostles of my love, may you always be recognized among all others by your hiddenness, love and radiance. I am with you. Thank you."  Mirjana told us that the Blessed Mother was sad.   Watch the apparition here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKQtm9l94lI 2. Saint Joseph is looking for work! On March 19th, we will celebrate the feast day of the great Saint Joseph, husband of the Mother of God.  In our home, the tradition is to offer him a thirty-day novena starting February 16 to March 18, where we pray the Saint Joseph litany every day (See PS1). We always ask him for many favors, as he doesn't like being redundant when it comes to obtaining graces for us.    It's not possible for St. Joseph to be that old man who is often depicted by painters. It would have required a strong man to flee to Egypt by night with a very young wife and a newborn baby. In addition, once they arrived in Egypt, he would have had to provide for his family. Local traditions in Egypt reveal a responsible man who had to flee Herod's spies. Seeing that he had missed his target despite the massacre of the innocents in Bethlehem, Herod was constantly searching for the little King of the Jews whom he feared so terribly! The Holy Family had to travel several thousand kilometers in the space of four years, before the death of Herod. Later on, in Nazareth, Saint Joseph had to rebuild a viable source of income from scratch, an activity that would provide for his family, by returning to his fine job as a carpenter. In his workshop, he had to carry heavy loads, beams, paneling, carts, furniture and other objects that he manufactured daily, and deliver them to his customers. Is he not the one who taught Jesus to carry heavy beams on his shoulders, preparing Him for His painful climb to Golgotha?   He still likes to work today and through this thirty-day novena we offer him a great opportunity to spoil us and shower us with great blessings!     3. The "interrupters". A few pilgrims traveled to Tihaljina (30 minutes from Medjugorje) to pray before the famous miraculous statue of the Blessed Mother. For many people, this statue is the emblem of Medjugorje, however it was offered to this church before the apparitions took place in Medjugorje.    After prayer, a pilgrim asked my Spanish friend, Teresa, to take a picture in front of the statue to immortalize this blessed moment. Once the picture was taken, a man kneeled before the statue and, with his head in his hands, began to pray with fervor. The pilgrim, seeing that the photo was beautiful, asked Teresa to take another one. But Teresa told her to wait so as not to interrupt the man praying. This prayer went on and on, for more than 20 minutes, so the pilgrim became impatient and said out loud: "Well, no point in waiting any longer for the photo, let's go!"  The man, hearing this remark apologized and got up to give her some room. A new picture was taken. But when Teresa saw this second picture, she was in for a surprise! The sweet face of Mary had changed. She expressed a silent reproach, clearly visible in her eyes and her mouth. The pilgrim understood the message: She should never have interrupted the man's prayer for a photo!   When she was just 6 years old, St Catherine of Sienna was playing outside with her little brother. Suddenly the Lord Jesus appeared to her, seated on the chair of Peter and dressed in pontifical clothes. Fascinated by this apparition, little Catherine was absorbed byGod who was speaking to her and was already preparing her for her great mission in the Church, close to the papacy. This conversation lasted for some minutes when the little boy, impatient to continue playing, drew her out of her contemplation. She turned around and scolded him, but when she returned to her prayer and looked again in the direction of the apparition, Jesus was gone! This plunged her into deep sadness. Jesus himself would undoubtedly have liked to continue His dialogue with her... But the distraction had ended this moment of divine intimacy.    How often does the same scene occur in our churches! Too few people really pray with their heart. So should we not in fact rejoice to see others immersed in a relationship with God? Who knows what is going on between God and a soul? Who knows if God has not planned to give a specific grace to His child at that moment? Who are we to interrupt an intimate dialogue between God and a soul? This dialogue is sacred. Of course, in the event of an emergency, we have to interrupt them,but that does not happen at every Mass!    One day, I was praying after Holy Communion with my head in my hands. Someone patted me on the shoulder and asked me, "Are you Sister Emmanuel?" I must confess that I was not very kind, because I said, "It doesn't matter who I am, but the one I'm trying to talk to is Jesus!" I quickly repented of my reaction because the person must surely have been hurt. So now, whenever this happens, I say: "Yes, we will speak to each other, but please let me first finish speaking with Jesus who is in my heart! Besides, He is also in your heart, why not give Him another 10 minutes of your time to talk to Him?" The fruits are excellent! One day, a group of eight pilgrims came to interrupt me; so I exhorted them to pray for a few more minutes in silence. All of them did so willingly, and they were so blessed that after 10 minutes, they no longer wanted to leave the church!   4. A memorable confession!  Lent is approaching, so I wish to share a testimony that will touch the hearts of those who are still lukewarm...   Around 1840, a man named Rochette had a disabled child. He decided to take the child to the Priest of Ars, the "Curé d'Ars" as Saint Jean-Marie Vianney was called, and who was known for the miracles that took place through his prayer. His wife accompanied him. She went to confession to the holy priest and received Holy Communion. But Rochette only cared for one thing: the child's recovery. He did visit the church a few times, but never beyond the holy water font. He was standing at the back of the church when the saint, coming from behind the altar where he gave confession to priests, began to call him in a loud voice. Rochette didn't move. His wife and son were in front, near the communion table.  "So he really doesn't believe?" The saintly priest asked the mother. He called Rochette again. Finally, at the third call, the man decided to walk up. "After all", he thought, "the Cure of Ars won't do me harm!" And he went off to join the Curé behind the altar.   "And now let's have a chat, the two of us, Mr. Rochette," he said, pointing to the confessional. "Sit down over there!" - "Oh", said Rochette, "I don't really feel like it!" - "Well you just get started!" Unable to resist this robust onslaught, Mr. Rochette fell to his knees. "Father, he stammered, "it's been a while since ... Ten years!" - "Add on a little more!" - "Twelve years!" - "A little more!" - "Yes, since the Great Jubilee of 1826." "There we are! If we search for it, we end up finding the answer!"  Rochette confessed like a child after 14 years without receiving Holy Communion. He received Communion the next day by his wife's side, and their son left behind, in the church of Ars, two crutches that had become useless.  (FromThe Curé of Ars, by Bishop Trochu - Résiac Publisher).   "Dear children," The Gospa tells us, "I cannot help you if you do not live the commandments of God, if you do not live the Mass and if you do not go to confession."   5. The Bishop of Mostar, Msgr Ratko Peric, 75 years old, is retiring. We do not yet know who will be taking over his duties, but we can pray for him as well as for his predecessor. Bishop Hoser continues his mission as envoy of the Pope to Medjugorje for pastoral work.  6. My next Live Broadcast on the message of 2 March will be on March 3rd at 9pm, in French. The February 3rd live broadcast can be seen here:   http://www.enfantsdemedjugorje.fr/medjugorje-direct-du-3-fevrier-2019/   Dearest Gospa, thank you for reminding us that "the Heavenly Father unites no-one by chance." Wherever we live, please help us wage a powerful war against the divider! Help us anticipate the joys of Heaven where God will be fully within us all! May the Spirit of Unity prevail among us!  Sister Emmanuel + (Translated from French) PS1: The litanies of Saint Joseph can be found on our website  https://sremmanuel.org/2019/02/17/litanie-of-saint-joseph/ PS2: Our missions from the 20th to the 31st of March will take us to Italy, Germany and Austria. May your prayers accompany us for a beautiful spiritual harvest! Thank you! PS3: New!!Sister Emmanuel's Instagram at:  https://www.instagram.com/enfants_de_medjugorje/ PS4. Watch our YouTube presentations,  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCveRmNCjId_yX6zkqz9VEbQ PS5. "Truly Sister Emmanuel's Best Work Yet!"  The Second Printing is here! Order Today!  https://sremmanuel.org/product/scandalous-mercy-god-goes-beyond-boundaries/    PS6. Follow the evening program of the parish!  Click here: http://www.centremedjugorje.org/ PS7. At home, pray the Rosary on Apparition Hill with Sr. Emmanuel (in French)! She is waiting for you on our site, http://imedj.net/index.php/2016/02/29/chapelet-les-mysteres-douloureux-sur-la-colline/   PS8. Your little children sometimes say beautiful, innocent words. Please send them to us and we will be happy to share them in this report!  Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God belongs to the children and those who resemble them".  Let us rejoice in the words spoken from their pure hearts! PS9. Download Sister's MP3s today! Check them out here: https://sremmanuel.org/product-category/download/   PS10.  For those who also speak French, watch a virtual pilgrimage in Medjugorje from home! Sister shows 11 key places explaining the importance of the place and prays there with you.  Click on the site, www.IMedj.net PS11. Sign up to receive the 'Monthly reports from Medjugorje' by Sr. Emmanuel French (the original copy): gospa.fr@gmail.com English: commentscom@gmail.com  German: wolfgang@trautmann.ca   Italian: gospa.italia@gmail.com Spanish: gospa.espanol@gmail.com Flemish: gclaes@scarlet.be Croatian:  djeca.medjugorja@gmail.com  Portuguese: medjugorje.portugal@gmail.com Chinese:  ch.gospa@gmail.com Arabic: friendsofmary@live.com   You are no longer receiving the news? Is spam blocking our emails? Please add us to your "safe" list of contacts! Children of Medjugorje, INC, PO Box 18430, Denver, CO 80218