Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, Folio 43v -
The Archangel Gabriel Appears to Zachary the Musée Condé, Chantilly.

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #2

But the angel said to him: "Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard: and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son. And thou shalt call his name John." (Luke 1:13)

The power of persevering prayer: Zachary and Elizabeth had probably prayed for many years that they might have a son. Their prayers seemed to be offered up in vain, but nevertheless they persevered in laying the great desire of their hearts before God. At last they were heard, and received from God much more than they had asked for. They had asked for a son who might succeed his father in the priestly office, and they received a son who was to become a great Saint, a prophet of God, and the precursor of the Divine Redeemer. This was the rich reward of their perseverance in prayer.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

Month of the Rosary

"A Means for Contemplating Jesus"

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 7, 2007 ( Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today to the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square when he led the praying of the midday Angelus.

Click here: ZENIT.ORG

--
"In Cordibus Jesu et Mariae"

SECOND LETTER

Difference between himself and others. * Faith alone consistently and persistently. * Deprecates this state being considered a delusion.

NOT finding my manner of life in books, although I have no difficulty about it, yet, for greater security, I shall be glad to know your thoughts concerning it. In a conversation some days since with a person of piety, he told me the spiritual life was a life of grace, which begins with servile fear, which is increased by hope of eternal life, and which is consummated by pure love; that each of these states had its different stages, by which one arrives at last at that blessed consummation. I have not followed all these methods. On the contrary, from I know not what
instincts, I found they discouraged me. This was the reason why, at my entrance into religion, I took a resolution to give myself up to GOD, as the best satisfaction I could make for my sins; and, for the love of Him, to renounce all besides.

For the first years, I commonly employed myself during the time set apart for devotion, with the thoughts of death, judgment, hell, heaven, and my sins. Thus I continued some years applying my mind carefully the rest of the day, and even in the midst of my business, to the presence of GOD, whom I considered always as with me, often as in me.

At length I came insensibly to do the same thing during my set time of prayer, which caused in me great delight and consolation. This practice produced in me so high an esteem for GOD, that faith alone was capable to satisfy me in that point. [I suppose he means that all distinct notions he could form of GOD were unsatisfactory, because he perceived them to be unworthy of GOD, and therefore his mind was not to be satisfied but by the views of faith, which apprehends GOD as infinite and incomprehensible, as He is in Himself, and not as He can be conceived by human ideas.] Such was my beginning; and yet I must tell you, that for the first ten years I suffered much: the apprehension that I was not devoted to GOD, as I wished to be, my past sins always present to my mind, and the great unmerited favors which GOD did me, were the matter and source of my sufferings.

During this time I fell often, and rose again presently. It seemed to me that the creatures, reason, and GOD Himself were against me; And faith alone for me. I was troubled sometimes with thoughts, that to believe I had received such favors was an effect of my presumption, which pretended to be at once where others arrive with difficulty; at other times that it was a willful delusion, and that there was no salvation for me.

When I thought of nothing but to end my days in these troubles (which did not at all diminish the trust I had in GOD, and which served only to increase my faith), I found myself changed all at once; and my soul, which till that time was in trouble, felt a profound inward peace, as if she were in her center and place of rest.

Ever since that time I walk before GOD simply, in faith, with humility and with love; and I apply myself diligently to do nothing and think nothing which may displease Him. I hope that when I have done what I can, He will do with me what He pleases. As for what passes in me at present, I cannot express it. I have no pain or difficulty about my state, because I have no will but that of GOD, which I endeavor to accomplish in all things, and to which I am so resigned, that I would not take up a straw from the ground against His order, or from any other motive but purely that of love to Him.

I have quited all forms of devotion and set prayers but those to which my state obliges me. And I make it my business only to persevere in His holy presence, wherein I keep myself by a simple attention, and a general fond regard to GOD, which I may call an actual presence of GOD; or, to speak better, an habitual, silent, and secret conversation of the soul with GOD, which often causes in me joys and raptures inwardly, and sometimes also outwardly, so great that I am forced to use means to moderate them, and prevent their appearance to others. In short, I am assured beyond all doubt, that my soul has been with GOD above these thirty years. I pass over many things, that I may not be tedious to you, yet I think it proper to inform you after what manner I consider myself before GOD, whom I behold as my King. I consider myself as the most wretched of men, full of sores and corruption, and who has committed all sorts of crimes against his King; touched with a sensible regret I confess to Him all my wickedness, I ask His forgiveness, I abandon myself in His hands, that He may do what He pleases with me. This King, full of mercy and goodness, very far from chastising me, embraces me with love, makes me eat at His table, serves me with His own hands, gives me the key of His treasures; He converses and delights Himself with me incessantly, in a thousand and a thousand ways, and treats me in all respects as His favorite. It is thus I consider myself from time to time in His holy presence. My most usual method is this simple attention, and such a general passionate regard to GOD; to whom I find myself often attached with greater sweetness and delight than that of an infant at the mother's breast: so that if I dare use the expression, I should choose to call this state the bosom of GOD, for the inexpressible sweetness which I taste and experience there. If sometimes
my thoughts wander from it by necessity or infirmity, I am presently recalled by inward motions, so charming and delicious that I am ashamed to mention them. I desire your reverence to reflect rather upon my great wretchedness, of which you are fully informed, than upon the great favors which GOD does me, all unworthy and ungrateful as I am.

As for my set hours of prayer, they arc only a continuation of the same exercise. Sometimes I consider myself there, as a stone before a carver, whereof he is to make a statue: presenting myself thus before GOD, I desire Him to make His perfect image in my soul, and render me entirely like Himself.

At other times, when I apply myself to prayer, I feel all my spirit and all my soul lift itself up without any care or effort of mine; and it continues as it were suspended and firmly fixed in GOD, as in its center and place of rest. I know that some charge this state with inactivity, delusion, and self-love: I confess that it is a holy inactivity, and would be a happy self-love, if the soul in that state were capable of it; because in effect, while she is in this repose, she cannot be disturbed by such acts as she was formerly accustomed to, and which were then her support, but would now rather hinder than assist her. Yet I cannot bear that this should be called delusion; because the soul which thus enjoys GOD desires herein nothing but Him. If this be delusion in me, it belongs to GOD to remedy it. Let Him do what He pleases with me: I desire only Him, and to be wholly devoted Him. You will, however, oblige me in sending me your opinion, to which I always pay a great deference, for I have a singular esteem for your reverence, and am yours in our Lord.

From 'The Practice and Presence of God'
Creator: Lawrence, Brother (Nicholas Herman, c. 1605-1691)

Starting today I will be posting some Scripture commentary so that together we can grow in our faith and love for the Lord in our Catholic Religion!

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth. And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame. And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren: and they both were well advanced in years. And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God, According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord. And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
And Zachary seeing him, was troubled: and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him: "Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard: and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son. And thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness: and many shall rejoice in his nativity. For he shall be great before the Lord and shall drink no wine nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias: that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people." (Luke 1:5-17)

THE PROMISE OF THE REDEEMER: By announcing to Zachary that his holy son should precede the Redeemer, the angel foretold the speedy advent of the Messiah. The words of the angel testified that the redeemer was God: "He shall," said Gabriel, alluding to the son of Zachary, "convert many . . .he shall go before Him." Now, who is meant by "Him?" The Lord God is meant; and therefore the Redeemer, before whom John was to go, must be the Lord God Himself.
[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]

"In Cordibus Jesu et Mariae"

FEAST DAY OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY

FROM MARK MALLETT:

Look To The East!

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, by Tommy Canning

 

Then he led me to the gate which faces the east, and there I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. I heard a sound like the roaring of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. (Ezekiel 43:1-2)

 
MARY is calling us to the Bastion, to a place of readiness and listening, away from the distractions of the world. She is preparing us for the Great Battle for souls.

Now, I hear her saying,

Look to the East! 

 

FACE THE EAST

The East is where the sun rises. It is where the dawn arrives, dispelling the darkness, and scattering the night of evil. East is also the direction where the priest faces during Mass, anticipating the return of Christ (I should note, it is the direction the priest faces in all of the rites of the Catholic Mass—except the Novus Ordo, though it's possible in that rite.) One of the misinterpretations of Vatican II was to turn the priest toward the people for the entire Mass, an interruption of 2000 years of tradition. But in restoring the ordinary use of the Tridentine Mass (and therefore beginning the restoration of the Novus Ordo), Pope Benedict has literally begun to turn the whole Church back toward the East… toward the anticipation of the coming of Christ.

Where priest and people together face the same way, what we have is a cosmic orientation and also in interpretation of the Eucharist in terms of resurrection and trinitarian theology.  Hence it is also an interpretation in terms of parousia, a theology of hope, in which every Mass is an approach to the return of Christ. —POPE BENEDICT XVI (Cardinal Ratzinger), The Feast of Faith, San Francisco: Ignatius Press , 1986, pp. 140-41.)

As I have written elsewhere, the Era of Peace is going to coincide with the reign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, that is, the Eucharist. In that day, no longer will it be just the Church who adores Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, but all the nations. It is most significant then that the Holy Father is turning the Church toward the East at this time. It is a call now to seek Jesus who is among us in anticipation of His coming reign.

Look to the East! Look to the Eucharist!

 

THE EUCHARISTIC ROCK

Everything which is not built on Rock is going to crumble. And that Rock is the Blessed Sacrament. 

The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch. —Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1324

Everything the Church needs for her spiritual health, sanctification, and growth is found in the Sacraments, which all find their root in the Eucharist.

We just don't believe it.

So for the past 40 years, we have been wandering in the desert, from one idol to the next, searching for healing and answers everywhere but at the Source. Sure, we go to Mass… and then run to the therapist or the "inner healing" team for the healing! We turn to Dr. Phil and Oprah rather than to the Wonderful Counselor. We spend money on self-help seminars instead of turning to the Savior, present to us in His Body and Blood. We travel to other churches for an "experience" rather than sit at the feet of Him from whom all creation exists.

The reason is that this generation is impatient. We want a "Drive Thru" healing. We want quick and easy answers. When the Israelites became restless in the desert, they erected gods. We are no different. We want to see God's power now, and when we don't, we turn to other "idols", even seemingly "spiritual" ones. But they are going to crumble now, for they are built upon sand.

The solution is Jesus! The solution is Jesus! And He is here among us now! He Himself will tend us. He Himself will lead us. He Himself will feed us… and with His very Self. Everything we've ever needed has been provided through His side upon the Cross: the Sacraments, The Great Remedies. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Look to the East!

 

RETURN TO THE REMEDIES

Sin is the root of most of today's psychosis and mental disease. Repentance is the avenue to freedom. Jesus gave the remedy: Baptism and Confirmation which make us into a holy and immaculate new creation through the power of the Holy Spirit in whom we live, and move, and have our being. And if we sin, the way to restore that state is Confession.

Others hurt us, that is true. And so Jesus gave us another remedy related to Confession: Forgiveness.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:36-37)

Sin is like a poison-tipped arrow. Forgiveness is what draws out the poison. Still there is a wound, and Jesus gave us the remedy for that: the Eucharist. It is up to us to open our hearts wide to Him in trust and patience so that He can enter and do the surgery.

By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Pt 2:4)

I believe the day is coming when all the Church will have is the Eucharist. We will be stripped down to nothing… nothing but Him.

 

THE AGE OF MINISTRIES IS ENDING

I saw in my heart an image of the sun rising at dawn. The stars in the sky seemed to vanish, but they really didn't. They were still there, merely drowned out by the brilliance of the sun.

The Eucharist is the Sun, and the stars are the charisms of the Body.  The charisms light the way, but are always leading toward the Dawn. The days are coming and are already here when the charisms of the Holy Spirit will be purified and re-ordered toward the Eucharist.  This too is what I hear our Blessed Mother saying. The call to the Bastion is a call to lay down our gifts before our Queen to be purified and strengthened so that they can be used in this new phase of the Battle, according to her plan. And her plan is His plan: to call the world to conversion—to Himself in the Eucharist—before it is purified… 

See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers. (Isaiah 43:19)

 

THE RIDER UPON THE WHITE HORSE 

In Revelation 5:6, the one who is worthy to break open the Seals of Judgment is Jesus, described by St. John as…

…a Lamb that seemed to have been slain.

It is Jesus, the Paschal Sacrifice—a Lamb that seemed to have been slain—that is, He was slain but was not conquered by death. It is He who is to lead the Great Battle upon the earth. I believe He is going to reveal Himself to us in a manifestation of His presence in or related to the Eucharist. It will be a warning… and the beginning of the end of this era.

Look to the East, says our Mother, for the Rider upon the White Horse is approaching.

WORLD ROSARY DAY

EUROPE - For 7 October World Rosary Day thousands all over the world will be praying the Rosary at the same hour for peace, life, the family , the Pope and vocations

Roma (has been World Rosary Day. Thousands of Catholics all over the world will pray with rosary beads in hand at the same time. Religious institutes, lay movements, parishes, families are encouraged to pray the rosary on this occasion at home, with friends, in community in a sports stadium or in church.

This Simultaneous Rosary Prayer was first organized in 1996 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of John Paul II. Some twenty countries joined in the initiative. On the World Rosary Day in the year 2000 more than 140 countries took part, organizing the recitation of the Rosary in churches, on the streets, in cathedrals, city squares, hospitals, schools. Many of the events were broadcast on radio and television. Millions of Catholics were united in the prayer of the Rosary and the number grows every year. The intentions for this special Day include world peace, for respect for life, for families for the unborn child, for the Pope, priests and priestly and religious vocations,.

(RG) (Agenzia Fides 5/10/2007; righe 14, parole 195)Agenzia Fides)

--
"In Cordibus Jesu et Mariae"

FIRST LETTER

  How  the habitual sense of God's Presence was found.

   SINCE you desire so earnestly that I should communicate to you the method by
   which I arrived at that habitual sense of GOD's Presence, which our LORD, of 
   His mercy, has been pleased to vouchsafe to me; I must tell you, that it is
   with great difficulty that I am prevailed on by your importunities; and now
   I do it only upon the terms, that you show my letter to nobody. If I knew 
   that you would let it be seen, all the desire that I have for your
   advancement would not be able to determine me to it. The account I can give
   you is:

   Having found in many books different methods of going to GOD, and divers 
   practices of the spiritual life, I thought this would serve rather to puzzle
   me, than facilitate what I sought after, which was nothing but how to become
   wholly GOD's.

   This made me resolve to give the all for the All: so after having given 
   myself wholly to GOD, to make all the satisfaction I could for my sins, I
   renounced, for the love of Him, everything that was not He; and I began to
   live as if there was none but He and I in the world. Sometimes I considered 
   myself before Him as a poor criminal at the feet of his judge; at other
   times I beheld Him in my heart as my FATHER, as my GOD: I worshipped Him the
   oftenest that I could, keeping my mind in His holy Presence, and recalling 
   it as often as I found it wandered from Him. I found no small pain in this
   exercise, and yet I continued it, notwithstanding all the difficulties that
   occurred, without troubling or disquieting myself when my mind had wandered 
   involuntarily. I made this my business, as much all the day long as at the
   appointed times of prayer; for at all times, every hour, every minute, even
   in the height of my business, I drove away from my mind everything that was 
   capable of interrupting my thought of GOD.

   Such has been my common practice ever since I entered into religion; and
   though I have done it very imperfectly, yet I have found great advantages by
   it. These, I well know, are to be imputed to the mere mercy and goodness of 
   GOD, because we can do nothing without Him; and I still less than any. But
   when we are faithful to keep ourselves in His holy Presence, and set Him
   always before us, this not only hinders our offending Him, and doing 
   anything that may displease Him, at least wilfully, but it also begets in us
   a holy freedom, and if I may so speak, a familiarity with GOD, wherewith we
   ask, and that successfully, the graces we stand in need of. In fine, by 
   often repeating these acts, they become habitual, and the presence of GOD is
   rendered as it were natural to us. Give Him thanks, if you please, with me,
   for His great goodness towards me, which I can never sufficiently admire, 
   for the many favours He has done to so miserable a sinner as I am. May all
   things praise Him. Amen.

    

   The Practice of the Presence of God: The Best Rule of Holy Life
   Creator(s): Lawrence, Brother (Nicholas Herman, c. 1605-1691) 

MARK MALLETT CONTINUES: TO THE BASTION!

To The Bastion! — Part II

 

 

TWO small trumpets have been placed in my hands which I feel compelled to blow this day. The first:

That which is built on sand is crumbling!

 

ALL THINGS WITHOUT FOUNDATION

The reason God has taken the extraordinary measure of sending us His prophetess, the Blessed Virgin Mary, is to call this wayward generation back to the Rock, who is Jesus Christ our Lord. But it is more than that. The time is coming, and is already here, when that which is built on sand in our world is going to collapse. "Babylon" is going to collapse, and it has already begun. The call to the Bastion is then, is a call to safety, a call to refuge, wherever you are. Christians everywhere will be affected by this collapse, which is why we need to be in the Bastion. For it is in this refuge of the Heart of Mary (which is intimately united to the Heart of Christ) that we will be protected from spiritual harm.

That which is going to collapse is the works of the flesh which are founded, not on the will of God, but on the pride of man.

Everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined. (Matt 7:26-27)

It is an interior collapse of those things which are not of God. Thought patterns, assumptions, and presumptions even now are being exposed to the Light. And souls are waking up! We are discovering within ourselves, through God's Mercy and Light, those things which we thought to be true of ourselves and Him, but are really falsehoods. When you understand that Jesus is purifying you for Himself, to protect you from this imminent collapse, your suffering and crosses should be a cause of joy for you! Christ is taking you out of Babylon so it does not collapse on your head!

 

THE AGE OF MINISTRIES IS ENDING 

As I have written before, the age of ministries is ending. The old ways of "working for God" which are based on worldly ideas and models are being removed. Divisions which have disjointed the Body of Christ will vanish, and there will be but one Body, moving fluidly like an athlete.

Christ is permitting the old wells we once drew water from to go stale. He is drying them up altogether so as to draw His beloved to Himself alone.

So I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart. From there I will give her the vineyards she had… (Hos 2:16)

He is moving His sheep to the source, the Living Artesian Spring flowing from the center of the New Jerusalem.

And only the humble of heart will find it.

They will find it welling up within their souls, the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. This is why we must run to the Bastion, this place of prayer, fasting, and conversion. God is ready to pour out a Pentecost upon His sheep, but we must be purified as much as possible of the brackish waters of self so that the pure and powerful waters of the Spirit can flow through us.

At last those governments which are founded upon a lust for power, the economic systems which oppress the poor, the food chain which is corrupted by chemicals and genetic manipulation, the technology which holds man in slavery and distorts his reality—all will collapse in a great cloud of dust which will rise to the Heavens, obscuring the sun and turning the moon blood red. 

Yes, it begins.  

 

THE NEW HOUSE 

The second trumpet upon my lips is this:

Unless the LORD build the house, they labor in vain who build. (Psalm 127:1)

Through this outpouring of the Spirit, Jesus is going to do a new work among us. It will be Christ, the Rider upon the white horse, galloping throughout the world with His children, bringing about great victories of healing and liberation. Strongholds will be broken, captives will be set free, and the blind will begin to see… as Babylon collapses around them. Yes, do you think we are being sent to the Bastion to preserve only our own souls? No, we are being preserved for the salvation of others, kept for that great day when Christ will scatter us like salt upon the earth. We will be poured out like a libation, an offering to the Father that will conquer and claim a multitude of souls who were otherwise heading for the fires of Hell. And we will confront the armies of Hell, but we will not be afraid. For we will see the Great Rider leading us, and we will follow Him, the Lamb who was slain. 

So listen now. Lay down your plans. Lay down your schemes. And set your heart to listening. For Jesus is going to instruct you Himself. I sense now, that all the labor pains of the Blessed Virgin Mary, all her roles which are crucial for the bringing to birth of souls for Paradise and the times foretold in Scripture, will come to fruition. As she has always done, and always will do, she directs us to her Son, the Rider on the White Horse, He who is Faithful and True. She says to us now, as she said at Cana, "Do whatever he tells you."

Yes, the time has come. You see, her plan has always been to glorify Jesus—to bring about the Triumph of the Cross. For Jesus is not only her Son, but her Savior too.

 

"I WILL FEED MY SHEEP"

No longer will Christ allow His sheep to eat the mixed grain of flesh and Spirit. The Good Shepherd is going to give His sheep pure Milk and rich Grain. He is going to feed His sheep with Himself, and anything less will leave the soul famished and thirsting.

O dear Protestant brothers and sisters! I am so happy for you this day! For when you come to believe the words Jesus spoke of Himself, your joy will overwhelm your Catholic brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep at the Banquet table:

Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. (John 7:53, 55-56)

For 2000 years, the Christian Church—-yes, from the earliest Apostles—has always believed that Jesus is truly Present in the Eucharist. More than a symbol. More than a sign. More than a memorial. He is truly there, present, among us. His flesh is real food, and His blood real drink. He is calling His beloved now to the pure Source of Life.

I am with you always, until the end of the age. (Matt 28:20)

He meant it literally! The day is coming soon when the Eucharist will be all we Christians have. And even then, the Prince of Babylon will try to take it away. But He will not prevail. He will never prevail.

 

MAKE NO MISTAKE 

Yes, Christ is the Rock. He is Lord and God, and there is no other. Jesus Christ is the gateway to Heaven, the Prince of Salvation, the King of all kings. And so, let us listen carefully to what He says:

You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom. (Matt 16:18)

And again,

You are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.

And once more,

God's household, which is the church of the living God, [is] the pillar and foundation of the truth. (1 Tim 3:15) 

Christ is the Rock, composed of two parts: His head, and His Body. Is the Rock not on earth then also, if we are His Body? Then where is it? The answer lies in His words: "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church." The call to the Bastion is not a call to an abstract conglomeration of souls. It is a call to the pillar and foundation of truth, with Christ Jesus Himself the capstone. It is a gathering with Peter—he, whom Jesus entrusted with the keys of the Kingdom. It is a gathering just like the upper room, where all the foundation stones of the Church waited for the coming of the Holy Spirit… just as now, Christ's remnant awaits a new outpouring.

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth. (John 4:23-23)

It is a gathering, not just in spirit, but in truth as well. Yes, the truth revealed in Christ to the Apostles and passed on to their successors will remain. For Jesus said He was the truth. And He is also the Rock (Psalm 31:3-4). The truth, then, is Rock.

Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever, that your truth is firmly established in the heavens. (Psalm 89:3)  

Yes… all that is ungodly, all that is complicated, all that is dead, and dying, and rotting in the Catholic Church—all that is built on sand—will crumble. And the Lord will rebuild His House, His Church, into a beautiful, simplified, and holy Bride.  

And standing at the center will be her Shepherd, Jesus, the "source and summit" of life, feeding His Sheep with His very Self.
 

Awake My sleeping people, wake up My slumbering nation!! I have work for you !! Without Me you will fail, all your dreams and ambitions will fall into dust, unless you come under My rule. You are powerless in this age. Forces are arrayed against you that you do not comprehend. In Me you can be powerful. Allow Me to lead you and you can do great things; without Me you will be crushed. Stay near little flock, that I may shepherd you and lead you to safe paths, There is much work to do:  I require your hearts, your feet, your voices. Healing is needed in these days, victory is near, yet the darkness is now near it's worst. Remember, I am the Light. Train your eyes to see Me for I will not fail you!"  —a prophetic word given on September 25th, 2007 from a colleague of mine with a tested prophetic gift.

FOURTH CONVERSATION

The manner of going to God. * Hearty renunciation. * Prayer and praise prevent discouragement. * Sanctification in common business. * Prayer and the presence of God. * The whole substance of religion. * Self-estimation * Further personal experience.

He discoursed with me very frequently, and with great openness of heart, concerning his manner of going to GOD, whereof some part is related already. He told me, that all consists in one hearty renunciation of everything which we are sensible does not lead to GOD; that we might accustom ourselves to a continual conversation with Him, with freedom and in simplicity.

That we need only to recognize GOD intimately present with us, to address ourselves to Him every moment, that we may beg His assistance for knowing His will in things doubtful, and for rightly performing those which we plainly see He requires of us, offering them to Him before we do them, and giving Him thanks when we have done.

That in this conversation with GOD, we are also employed in praising, adoring, and loving him incessantly, for His infinite goodness and perfection. That, without being discouraged on account of our sins, we should pray for His grace with a perfect confidence, as relying upon the infinite merits of our LORD. That GOD never failed offering us His grace at each action; that he distinctly perceived it, and never failed of it, unless when his thoughts had wandered from a sense of GOD's Presence, or he had forgot to ask His assistance.

That GOD always gave us light in our doubts, when we had no other design but to please Him. That our sanctification did not depend upon changing our works, but in doing that for GOD's sake, which we commonly do for our own. That it was lamentable to see how many people mistook the means for the end, addicting themselves to certain works, which they performed very imperfectly, by reason of their human or selfish regards. That the most excellent method he had found of going to GOD, was that of doing our common business without any view of pleasing men, [Gal. i. 10; Eph. vi. 5, 6.] and (as far as we are capable) purely for the love of GOD.

That it was a great delusion to think that the times of prayer ought to differ from other times. that we are as strictly obliged to adhere to GOD by action in the time of action, as by prayer in its season. That his prayer was nothing else but a sense of the presence of GOD, his soul being at that time insensible to everything but Divine love: and that when the appointed times of prayer were past, he found no difference, because he still continued with GOD, praising and blessing Him with all his might, so that he passed his life in continual joy; yet hoped that GOD would give him somewhat to suffer, when he should grow stronger.

That we ought, once for all, heartily to put our whole trust in GOD, and make a total surrender of ourselves to Him, secure that He would not deceive us. That we ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of GOD, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed. That we should not wonder if, in the beginning, we often failed in our endeavours, but that at last we should gain a habit, which will naturally produce its acts in us, without our care, and to our exceeding great delight.

That the whole substance of religion was faith, hope, and charity; by the practice of which we become united to the will of GOD: that all beside is indifferent and to be used as a means, that we may arrive at our end, and be swallowed up therein, by faith and charity. That all things are possible to him who believes, that they are less difficult to him who hopes, they are more easy to him who loves, and still more easy to him who perseveres in the practice of these three virtues. That the end we ought to propose to ourselves is to become, in this life, the most perfect worshippers of GOD we can possibly be, as we hope to be through all eternity.

That when we enter upon the spiritual we should consider, and examine to the bottom, what we are. And then we should find ourselves worthy of all contempt, and such as do not deserve the name of Christians, subject to all kinds of misery, and numberless accidents, which trouble us, and cause perpetual vicissitudes in our health, in our humours, in our internal and external dispositions: in fine, persons whom GOD would humble by many pains and labours, as well within as without. After this, we should not wonder that troubles, temptations, oppositions and contradictions, happen to us from men. We ought, on the contrary, to submit ourselves to them, and bear them as long as GOD pleases, as things highly advantageous to us.

That the greater perfection a soul aspires after, the more dependent it is upon Divine grace. Being questioned by one of his own society (to whom he was obliged to open himself) by what means he had attained such an habitual sense of GOD? he told him that, since his first coming to the monastery, he had considered GOD as the end of all his thoughts and desires, as the mark to which they should tend, and in which they should terminate. That in the beginning of his novitiate he spent the hours appointed for private prayer in thinking of GOD, so as to convince his mind of, and to impress deeply upon his heart, the Divine existence, rather by devout sentiments, and submission to the lights of faith, than by studied reasonings and elaborate meditations.

That by this short and sure method, he exercised himself in the knowledge and love of GOD, resolving to use his utmost endeavour to live in a continual sense of His Presence, and, if possible, never to forget Him more. That when he had thus in prayer filled his mind with great sentiments of that infinite Being, he went to his work appointed in the kitchen (for he was cook to the society); there having first considered severally the things his office required, and when and how each thing was to be done, he spent all the intervals of his time, as well before as after his work, in prayer.

That, when he began his business, he said to GOD, with a filial trust in Him, "O my GOD, since Thou art with me, and I must now, in obedience to Thy commands, apply my mind to these outward things, I beseech Thee to grant me the grace to continue in Thy Presence; and to this end do Thou prosper me with Thy assistance, receive all my works, and possess all my affections." As he proceeded in his work, he continued his familiar conversation with his Maker, imploring His grace, and offering to Him all his actions. When he had finished, he examined himself how he had discharged his duty; if he found well, he returned thanks to GOD; if otherwise, he asked pardon; and without being discouraged, he set his mind right again, and continued his exercise of the presence of GOD, as if he had never deviated from it. "Thus," said he, "by rising after my falls, and by frequently renewed acts of faith and love, I am come to a state, wherein it would be as difficult for me not to think of GOD, as it was at first to accustom myself to it." As Bro. Lawrence had found such an advantage in walking in the presence of GOD, it was natural for him to recommend it earnestly to others; but his example was a stronger inducement than any arguments he could propose. His very countenance was edifying; such a sweet and calm devotion appearing in it, as could not but affect the beholders. And it was observed, that in the greatest hurry of business in the kitchen, he still preserved his recollection and heavenly-mindedness. He was never hasty nor loitering, but did each thing in its season, with an even uninterrupted composure and tranquillity of spirit. "The time of business," said he, "does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clutter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess GOD in as great tranquillity as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Sacrament."

Creator: Lawrence, Brother (Nicholas Herman, c. 1605-1691)

FROM MARK MALLETT:

To The Bastion!

 

 

BASTION: part of a fortification built into a rock or castle which allows defensive fire in several directions.

 

IT BEGINS

These words came to a dear friend of ours during prayer, through a soft voice which spoke to her:

Tell Mark it is time to write about the bastion.

I have spent the past several days soaking in the meaning of this. It is a word which has overwhelmed me and filled me with great joy and anticipation. Accompanying that word were these in my own heart:

It begins.  

Yes, Christ is the Rock upon which we are built—that mighty fortress of salvation. The bastion is its upper room. It is the place where the little ones are now to gather and to pray with intensity. It is the watchtower of prayer, fasting, and waiting—and to do so with commitment, intensity, and all seriousness. For it is coming. The great changes I have spoken about over the course of a year are now here. Those who are entering this upper room, that is, responding to the Gospel call to simplicity, child-like trust, and prayer can hear it: distant drums and an advancing army. 

I wish to shout it to the Church this day:

THE CHANGE OF SEASONS IS AT THE THRESHOLD!

It is time to run to the bastion, to the upper room where Mary awaits you, to pray as she did 2000 years ago with the Apostles for the coming of the Holy Spirit. As Pentecost arrived then with a great wind, so too a great wind will precede this outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The winds of change are already blowing. The winds of war. I hear a soft voice riding aloft the gusts—the voice of a Lady:

Prepare! The Great Battle is here.

 

THE GREAT BATTLE

Yes, I see in my soul an advancing army, arrogant, violent, and rebellious. The call to the bastion, then, is also a call to preparation.

Prepare your soul for persecution. Prepare for martyrdom. 

But friends, I sense an incredible joy in this word. It is as though we will experience within our beings a great anticipation of the crown which awaits us. That we will, through supernatural graces, even desire martyrdom. And so we must prepare by leaving behind this world, so to speak:

Christians must imitate Christ's sufferings, not set their hearts on pleasures. —Liturgy of the Hours, Vol IV, P. 276

We must expect persecution, expect to be hated, expect spiritual warfare and difficulties. It is the narrow road. For in denying ourselves, we will find the will of God, which is our food, our sustenance, our life, and the Royal Road which leads to an everlasting crown of glory. Embrace your suffering…

All who desire to live a holy life in Christ will suffer persecution. (2 Tim 3:12)

The call to the bastion is a defensive maneuver of Heaven. We have been asked to voluntarily dispossess ourselves of those things we do not need—a state of the heart which is fixed on Heaven, rather than on things. The reason is that now it is time to run to the bastion. We must travel light. Our hearts must be able to fly above the material possessions and cares of this world.

Since Christ therefore suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same thought… (1 Pt 4:1)

We must be ready to move. The commands will come swiftly, and we must be listening.  The call to the bastion is a call to intense daily prayer . We need to be very attentive now, leaving human wisdom and devices at the door. Mary is about to give each of her children their mission papers.

Yes, the bastion is the place of prayer, fasting, and listening, awaiting your set of orders.

So quickly, run to the bastion!

 

VOICE OF THE PAST AND PRESENT 

By way of confirmation of this call to battle, my companion in Christ, Fr. Kyle Dave—unaware of this word I received above—sent me this at the same time. It is from Our Lady of La Salette, a message from September 19th, 1846:

I'm sending out an SOS. I'm calling all true disciples of the Living God who reigns in Heaven. I'm calling all true imitators of Christ made man, the only and true Savior of mankind. I'm calling all my children, all those who are truly devout, all those who have abandoned themselves to me so that I may lead them to my divine Son. I'm calling all those who I carry in my arms, so to speak, those who have lived in my spirit. Finally, I'm calling all the Apostles of the end of time, all the faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, who have lived in contempt for the world and themselves, in poverty and in scorn, in a life of silence, prayer and mortification, chaste and united to God, in suffering and unknown to the world.

It is time for them to go out and light up the earth.

Go and show yourselves as my dear children should go. I'm with you and in you, provided that your faith is the Light which lights you in these times of sadness. May your zeal make you famished for the glory and the honor of Jesus Christ.

Go into battle, Children of the Light, in just the small number that you are; because the time has come, the end is near. —Excerpt from the last manuscript of the secret of La Salette written by Melanie on 21 November 1878 and told by Fr Laurentin and Fr Corteville in The Secret of La Salette Discovered - Fayard 2002 ("Découverte du Secret de La Salette")

 

…live for the rest of your earthly life, no longer by human passions, but by the will of God. (1 Pt 4:2)

THIRD CONVERSATION

    Faith working by love. * Outward business no detriment. * Perfect
    resignation the sure way.

  He told me, that the foundation of the spiritual life in him had been a high
  notion and esteem of GOD in faith; which when he had once well conceived, he
  had no other care at first, but faithfully to reject every other thought,
  that he might perform all his actions for the love of GOD. That when
  sometimes he had not thought of GOD for a good while, he did not disquiet
  himself for it; but after having acknowledged his wretchedness to GOD, he
  returned to Him with so much the greater trust in Him, by how much he found
  himself more wretched to have forgot Him.

  That the trust we put in GOD honors Him much, and draws down great graces.

  That it was impossible, not only that GOD should deceive, but also that He
  should long let a soul suffer which is perfectly resigned to Him, and
  resolved to endure everything for His sake.

  That he had so often experienced the ready succors of Divine Grace upon all
  occasions, that from the same experience, when he had business to do, he did
  not think of it beforehand; but when it was time to do it, he found in GOD,
  as in a clear mirror, all that was fit for him to do. That of late he had
  acted thus, without anticipating care; but before the experience above
  mentioned, he had used it in his affairs.

  When outward business diverted him a little from the thought of GOD, a fresh
  remembrance coming from GOD invested his soul, and so inflamed and
  transported him that it was difficult for him to contain himself.

  That he was more united to GOD in his outward employments, than when he left
  them for devotion in retirement.

  That he expected hereafter some great pain of body or mind; that the worst
  that could happen to him was, to lose that sense of GOD, which he had
  enjoyed so long; but that the goodness of GOD assured him He would not
  forsake him utterly, and that He would give him strength to bear whatever
  evil He permitted to happen to him; and therefore that he feared nothing,
  and had no occasion to consult with anybody about his state. That when he
  had attempted to do it, he had always come away more perplexed; and that as
  he was conscious of his readiness to lay down his life for the love of GOD,
  he had no apprehension of danger. That perfect resignation to GOD was a sure
  way to heaven, a way in which we had always sufficient light for our
  conduct.

  That in the beginning of the spiritual life, we ought to be faithful in
  doing our duty and denying ourselves; but after that unspeakable pleasures
  followed: that in difficulties we need only have recourse to JESUS CHRIST,
  and beg His grace, with which everything became easy.

  That many do not advance in the Christian progress, because they stick in
  penances, and particular exercises, while they neglect the love of GOD,
  which is the end. That this appeared plainly by their works, and was the
  reason why we see so little solid virtue.

  That there needed neither art nor science for going to GOD, but only a heart
  resolutely determined to apply itself to nothing but Him, or for His sake,
  and to love Him only.

From 'The Practice of the Presence of God: The Best Rule of Holy Life'

   Creator: Lawrence, Brother (Nicholas Herman, c. 1605-1691)

FEAST DAY OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI

Humility and Charity

 St. Francis of Assisi

This excerpt from a letter by St. Francis of Assisi (Opuscula, edit. Quaracchi 1949, 87-94) is used in the Roman Office of Readings for the feast (liturgical memorial) of St. Francis on October 4.  Francesco di Bernadone was born in the Italian city of Assisi in 1182 to a merchant family.  After a carefree youth, he renounced his father's wealth in response to God's call to follow him in a new form of religious life.  St. Francis' desire was to live the Gospel lifestyle of our Lord and the apostles, and so embraces a life evangelical poverty and itinerant preaching.  He established a rule for his growing band of disciples, called the Friars Minor or "little brothers," which was approved by Pope Innocent III.  St. Francis then went on to found an order of cloistered nuns, known as the Poor Clares, and the "third order" of laypersons who practiced penance while living in the secular world.  St. Francis died in 1226.

 It was through his archangel, Saint Gabriel, that the Father above made known to the holy and glorious Virgin Mary that the worthy, holy and glorious Word of the Father would come from heaven and take from her womb the real flesh of our human frailty. Though he was wealthy beyond reckoning, he still willingly chose to be poor with his blessed mother. And shortly before his passion he celebrated the Passover with his disciples. Then he prayed to his Father saying: Father, if it be possible, let this cup be taken from me.

Nevertheless, he reposed his will in the will of his Father. The Father willed that his blessed and glorious Son, whom he gave to us and who was born for us, should through his own blood offer himself as a sacrificial victim on the altar of the cross. This was to be done not for himself through whom all things were made, but for our sins. It was intended to leave us an example of how to follow in his footsteps.

 And he desires all of us to be saved through him, and to receive him with pure heart and chaste body.

O how happy and blessed are those who love the Lord and do as the Lord himself said in the gospel: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and your whole soul; and your neighbor as yourself. Therefore, let us love God and adore him with pure heart and mind. This is his particular desire when he says: True worshipers adore the Father in spirit and truth. For all who adore him must do so in the spirit of truth. Let us also direct to him our praises and prayers saying: Our Father, who art in heaven, since we must always pray and never grow slack.

Furthermore, let us produce worthy fruits of penance. Let us also love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us have charity and humility. Let us give alms because these cleanse our souls from the stains of sin. Men lose all the material things they leave behind them in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these they will receive from the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve. We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh. Rather we must be simple, humble and pure. We should never desire to be over others. Instead, we ought to be servants who are submissive to every human being for God's sake. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on all who live in this way and persevere in it to the end. He will permanently dwell in them. They will be the Father's children who do his work. They are the spouses, brothers and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 For more Catholic resources to feed your faith, visit the Crossroads Initiative Homepage .

"In Cordibus Jesu et Mariae"

SECOND CONVERSATION

   Love the motive of all. * Once in fear, now in joy. * Diligence and love.
   Simplicity the key to Divine assistance. * Business abroad as at home. *
   times of prayer and self-mortification not essential for the practice. *
   All scruples brought to God.

 That he had always been governed by love, without selfish views; and that
 having resolved to make the love of GOD the end of all his actions, he had
 found reasons to be well satisfied with his method. That he was pleased when
 he could take up a straw from the ground for the love of GOD, seeking Him
 only, and nothing else, not even His gifts.

 That he had been long troubled in mind from a certain belief that he should
 be damned; that all the men in the world could not have persuaded him to the
 contrary; but that he had thus reasoned with himself about it: I did not
 engage in a religious life but for the love of GOD, and I have endeavored
 to act only for Him; whatever becomes of me, whether I be lost or saved, I
 will always continue to act purely for the love of GOD. I shall have this
 good at least, that till death I shall have done all that is in me to love
 Him. That this trouble of mind had lasted four years; during which time he
 had suffered much.

 That since that time he had passed his life in perfect liberty and continual
 joy. That he placed his sins betwixt him and GOD, as it were, to tell Him
 that he did not deserve His favors, but that GOD still continued to bestow
 them in abundance.

 That in order to form a habit of conversing with GOD continually, and
 referring all we do to Him; we must at first apply to Him with some
 diligence: but that after a little care we should find His love inwardly
 excite us to it without any difficulty.

 That he expected after the pleasant days GOD had given him, he should have
 his turn of pain and suffering; but that he was not uneasy about it, knowing
 very well, that as he could do nothing of himself, GOD would not fail to
 give him the strength to bear them.

 That when an occasion of practicing some virtue offered, he addressed
 himself to GOD, saying, LORD, I cannot do this unless Thou enablest me; and
 that then he received strength more than sufficient.

 That when he had failed in his duty, he only confessed his fault, saying to
 GOD, I shall never do otherwise, if You leave me to myself; ’tis You must
 hinder my falling, and mend what is amiss. That after this, he gave himself
 no further uneasiness about it.

 That we ought to act with GOD in the greatest simplicity, speaking to Him
 frankly and plainly, and imploring His assistance in our affairs, just as
 they happen. That GOD never failed to grant it, as he had often experienced.

 That he had been lately sent into Burgundy, to buy the provision of wine for
 the society, which was a very unwelcome task for him, because he had no turn
 for business and because he was lame, and could not go about the boat but by
 rolling himself over the casks. That however he gave himself no uneasiness
 about it, nor about the purchase of the wine. That he said to GOD, It was
 His business he was about, and that he afterwards found it very well
 performed. That he had been sent into Auvergne the year before upon the same
 account; that he could not tell how the matter passed, but that it proved
 very well.

 So, likewise, in his business in the kitchen (to which he had naturally a
 great aversion), having accustomed himself to do everything there for the
 love of GOD, and with prayer, upon all occasions, for His grace to do his
 work well, he had found everything easy, during the fifteen years that he
 had been employed there.

 That he was very well pleased with the post he was now in; but that he was
 as ready to quit that as the former, since he was always pleasing himself in
 every condition, by doing little things for the love of GOD.

 That with him the set times of prayer were not different from other times:
 that he retired to pray, according to the directions of his Superior, but
 that he did not want such retirement. nor ask for it, because his greatest
 business did not divert him from GOD.

 That as he knew his obligation to love GOD in all things, and as he
 endeavored so to do, he had no need of a director to advise him, but that
 he needed much a confessor to absolve him. That he was very sensible of his
 faults, but not discouraged by them; that he confessed them to GOD, and did
 not plead against Him to excuse them. When he had so done, he peaceably
 resumed his usual practice of love and adoration.

 That in his trouble of mind, he had consulted nobody, but knowing only by
 the light of faith that GOD was present, he contented himself with directing
 all his actions to Him, i.e., doing them with a desire to please Him, let
 what would come of it.

 That useless thoughts spoil all: that the mischief began there; but that we
 ought to reject them, as soon as we perceived their impertinence to the
 matter in hand, or our salvation; and return to our communion with GOD.

 That at the beginning he had often passed his time appointed for prayer, in
 rejecting wandering thoughts, and falling back into them. That he could
 never regulate his devotion by certain methods as some do. That
 nevertheless, at first he had meditated for some time, but afterwards that
 went off, in a manner that he could give no account of.

 That all bodily mortifications and other exercises are useless, but as they
 serve to arrive at the union with GOD by love; that he had well considered
 this, and found it the shortest way to go straight to Him by a continual
 exercise of love, and doing all things for His sake.

 That we ought to make a great difference between the acts of the
 understanding and those of the will; that the first were comparatively of
 little value, and the others all.

 That our only business was to love and delight ourselves in GOD.

 That all possible kinds of mortification, if they were void of the love of
 GOD, could not efface a single sin. That we ought, without anxiety, to
 expect the pardon of our sins from the Blood of JESUS CHRIST, only
 endeavoring to love Him with all our hearts. That GOD seemed to have
 granted the greatest favors to the greatest sinners, as more signal
 monuments of His mercy.

 That the greatest pains or pleasures, of this world, were not to be compared
 with what he had experienced of both kinds in a spiritual state: so that he
 was careful for nothing and feared nothing, desiring but one only thing of
 GOD, viz., that he might not offend Him.

 That he had no scruples; for, said he, when I fail in my duty, I readily
 acknowledge it, saying, I am used to do so: I shall never do otherwise, if I
 am left to myself. If I fail not, then I give GOD thanks, acknowledging that
 it comes from Him.

    [From 'THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD']

FROM MEJ.COM

Tuesday	October 2, 2007

The Way I Lead You Is Difficult

Queen of Peace October 2, 2007

Mirjana, the visionary of Medjugorje, as she enters into the building where she will be receiving her 2nd of the month apparition of Our Lady.

In the early morning hours this morning, many pilgrims began to make their way to the spot where Mirjana Soldo, one of the six visionaries of Medjugorje, would have her second of the month apparition for nonbelievers. Pilgrims were arriving before 4:00 a.m. in the morning, to claim a spot that they could spend the next several hours preparing through prayer to be before the Queen of Peace and Mother of all during Mirjana's apparition today. By 6:00 a.m. the building was full and pilgrims began spilling out into the surrounding outside area, though many still continued to press inside in the hopes of getting a glimpse of the woman who was soon to have an encounter with the Mother of God on behalf of all nonbelievers.

Around 6:30 a.m., the large group of pilgrims, assembled together, was led in song for about an hour. The Rosary was begun around 7:45 a.m., with singing in-between each decade and each mystery. There were thousands of pilgrims gathered inside and outside the building. Intermingled among all the pilgrims who were singing, there were many pilgrims on their knees or sitting on a rock, quietly praying the Rosary, or in silent meditation, preparing their hearts and their spirits to be with Our Lady.

Mirjana arrived about 8:50 a.m. Many more family, friends, and pilgrims pressed tightly close to her. As Mirjana was in her last moments before Our Lady would appear to her, she was in silent prayer, softly crying. Our Lady appeared to Mirjana a little after 9:00 a.m. and stayed for about 5 minutes. The following is the message that Our Lady gave to Mirjana:

The top of Mirjana's head is visible during her ecstasy as the crowds pressed around her to be as close as possible to this woman who is conversing with the Mother of God.

"Dear children, I call you to accompany me in my mission of God with an open heart and complete trust. The way on which I lead you, through God, is difficult but persevering and in the end we will all rejoice through God. Therefore, my children, do not stop praying for the gift of faith. Only through faith will the Word of God be light in this darkness which desires to envelop us. Do not be afraid, I am with you. Thank you."

Mirjana also stated that Our Lady blessed all of our religious articles.

For Our Lady to be given a special mission of God upon the earth is extraordinary. For us to be given a special mission of God through Our Lady, our Queen, is incomprehensible. It can only be comprehended through prayer, of which our understanding then boggles the mind, heart and soul of the poor creatures we are, to be commissioned with so great a task as to accompany Our Lady in Her commission. "My mission of God," becomes your mission. It is a mission which is difficult. Nonetheless, we are encouraged to hold the line in complete trust of being led, by Our Lady, in this special mission of God. Therefore, we will be the most happy in the end, seeing the fulfillment of Our Lady's plans, which will for us, be an exuberant joy through God.

The scene outside on the streets as pilgrims begin to leave after being before Our Lady as She prayed with Mirjana for nonbelievers.

Our Lady wants us to go beyond the four hours of prayer each day. Some may think it's too much. Family, friends, or others may say, "You are too much." Our Lady would answer those, "you are not enough." The visionaries complained to Our Lady, when She asked for four hours of prayer a day, that the people would think four hours is too much, too difficult. Our Lady responded back,

May 1984

"Don't you understand, that it is only one-sixth of the day?"

So Our Lady tells us today in this message, "do not stop praying." Pray more, unceasing.

Our Lady's wisdom "genius-ly" makes a play on words, beautifully telling us the light wants and "desires to envelop us" in the Word of God. But with the same words, Our Lady says darkness "desires to envelop us". A sentence of two meanings clearly showing the battle we are in, through accompanying Our Lady, of which we will ultimately be enveloped by. As Our Lady said on August 2, 1981, in the beginning of Her/our mission of God upon the earth:

"…A great struggle is about to unfold. A struggle between my Son and satan. Human souls are at stake."

It is a battle, a mission, a calling filled with such difficulty that increases as the future comes to us. This difficulty strikes fear in the hearts of some of the participants just as anyone feels, who given an impossible task, becomes fearful they will not be able to persevere and fulfill the mission. Or they become frightful of the multiple engagements of darkness, which wear them down and tempt them to believe that all is falling apart while bleakness continues to cover the earth. Yet, nonetheless, we are rallied by our Queen to have faith, "Do not be afraid" and defeat darkness so that Light will reign. We must go blindly with Our Lady in confidence in that which we cannot see, so that the actions we take which seem to be destructive, will lead to a constructive culture, giving peace to man. Our Lady can already see what we cannot. We only have to have faith and confidence that "I am with you."

As to emphasize these extraordinary words for this October 2, 2007 message, Our Lady gave to Mirjana a vision of an unusually heavenly sight. Mirjana relayed after the apparition something extraordinary when Our Lady left to go back to Heaven. Putting into a physical image the words, "envelope in light", Our Lady showed Mirjana an intense, very strong light opening up in Heaven as She, its Queen re-entered, enveloped in the unimaginable light, light that Our Lady wishes us to accompany Her into. Reflect on this message. Hold the course and persevere.

With Love,
A Friend of Medjugorje

P.S. Tonight, a 2-hour live Radio Wave broadcast will be aired for you to tune into and call to comment about Our Lady's October 2nd message or any other topic you wish to discuss. The time will be 7:00 p.m. central time. Check the chart below for your time to listen.

Your Time Zone	Air Time
Eastern Time	8:00 PM - Tuesday (October 2)
Central Time	7:00 PM - Tuesday
Mountain Time	6:00 PM - Tuesday
Pacific Time	5:00 PM - Tuesday
Hawaii Time	3:00 PM - Tuesday
Sydney, Australia	12:00 PM - Wednesday(October 3)
Seoul	9:00 AM - Wednesday
Beijing, Singapore	8:00 AM - Wednesday
Calcutta	7:30 AM - Wednesday
Baghdad, Moscow	4:00 AM - Wednesday
Jerusalem, Athens, Cairo	3:00 AM - Wednesday
Warsaw, Paris, Prague, Rome, Berlin	2:00 AM - Wednesday
London, Dublin	1:00 AM - Wednesday

Prayer for Nonbelievers Come Mary, Come tomorrow again and again. We will pray with You. Bring back our loved ones Who have left the Church, Those who have left God. We will join You on the second of each month. We will pray for greater graces To be attached to Your intention. We will pray that the dam of love, Of God's mercy, will break forth, That Your new prayer be released soon. We will pray that it will flow out As a river to all the nations, That as the rivers fill the oceans, Your love of God will fill the earth. We wait. We anticipate that great day, And we call You as You have called us, To add our prayers, fasting, and sacrifices To Mirjana's in order that You may Obtain all Your wishes for the world. O loving Mother, Thank You for the gift That the world is on the brink of receiving! - A Friend of Medjugorje ©SJP Lic. Caritas of Birmingham

To Make Your Comment Click Here

---

Encourage all you know to sign up for MejList in order to be kept updated on the latest and crucial information on Medjugorje.

Mej.com must have your donation to stay online.
Who is behind mej.com?
What is mej.com?

©SJP Lic. mej.com/Caritas • This may be reproduced and redistributed provided that the content is copied in its entirety, including graphics, pictures, captions, etc. and credit given to mej.com and Caritas of Birmingham. Also, permission is granted to quote from blogs, news sources, or other websites as long as it is referenced to mej.com/Caritas of Birmingham.

--
"In Cordibus Jesu et Mariae"

FIRST CONVERSATION

    Conversion and previous employment. * Satisfaction in God’s presence. *
     Faith our duty. * Resignation the fruit of watchfulness.

   THE first time I saw Brother Lawrence was upon the 3rd of August, 1666. He
   told me that GOD had done him a singular favor, in his conversion at the
   age of eighteen.

   That in the winter, seeing a tree stripped of its leaves, and considering
   that within a little time, the leaves would be renewed, and after that the
   flowers and fruit appear, he received a high view of the Providence and
   Power of GOD, which has never since been effaced from his soul. That this
   view had perfectly set him loose from the world, and kindled in him such a
   love for GOD, that he could not tell whether it had increased in above forty
   years that he had lived since.

   That he had been footman to M. Fieubert, the treasurer, and that he was a
   great awkward fellow who broke everything.

   That he had desired to be received into a monastery, thinking that he would
   there be made to smart for his awkwardness and the faults he should commit,
   and so he should sacrifice to GOD his life, with its pleasures: but that GOD
   had disappointed him, he having met with nothing but satisfaction in that
   state.

   That we should establish ourselves in a sense of GOD’s Presence, by
   continually conversing with Him. That it was a shameful thing to quit His
   conversation, to think of trifles and fooleries.

   That we should feed and nourish our souls with high notions of GOD; which
   would yield us great joy in being devoted to Him.

   That we ought to quicken, i.e., to enliven, our faith. That it was
   lamentable we had so little; and that instead of taking faith for the rule
   of their conduct, men amused themselves with trivial devotions, which
   changed daily. That the way of Faith was the spirit of the Church, and that
   it was sufficient to bring us to a high degree of perfection.

   That we ought to give ourselves up to GOD, with regard both to things
   temporal and spiritual, and seek our satisfaction only in the fulfilling His
   will, whether He lead us by suffering or by consolation, for all would be
   equal to a soul truly resigned. That there needed fidelity in those
   drynesses, or insensibilities and irksomenesses in prayer, by which GOD
   tries our love to Him; that then was the time for us to make good and
   effectual acts of resignation, whereof one alone would oftentimes very much
   promote our spiritual advancement.

   That as for the miseries and sins he heard of daily in the world, he was so
   far from wondering at them, that, on the contrary, he was surprised there
   were not more, considering the malice sinners were capable of: that for his
   part, he prayed for them; but knowing that GOD could remedy the mischiefs
   they did, when He pleased, he gave himself no farther trouble.

   That to arrive at such resignation as GOD requires, we should watch
   attentively over all the passions which mingle as well in spiritual things
   as those of a grosser nature: that GOD would give light concerning those
   passions to those who truly desire to serve Him. That if this was my design,
   viz., sincerely to serve GOD, I might come to him (Bro. Lawrence) as often
   as I pleased, without any fear of being troublesome; but if not, that I
   ought no more to visit him.
[From 'THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD']