Medjugorje Day By Day Mar 23 - Renounce those things which are hurting you

"Aside from the Blessed Virgin, Saint Joseph was the first and most perfect adorer of our Lord." "Among the graces which Jesus gave to His foster-father—and He flooded him with graces attached to every one of His mysteries—is that special to an adorer of the Blessed Sacrament. That is the one we must ask of Saint Joseph.

Have confidence, strong confidence in him. Take him as the patron and the model of your life of adoration." "Saint Joseph, first and most perfect of adorers, obtain for me the grace to love, adore, and serve Christ Eucharistic as you did." (St. Peter Julian Eymard)  

"Before whom am I?  You are, Holy Church answers me, in the presence of Jesus Christ, your King, your Savior, and your God . . . .  Adore Him therefore, O  my soul, with the faith of the kings of Bethlehem. 

Offer Him the incense of your adoration, as to your God; the myrrh of your mortification, as to your Savior; the gold of your love and the tribute of dependence, as to your King!" (St. Peter Julian Eymard).
Pope John Paul II -

Bishop Murilo Kreiger - "We three bishops and 31 priests will travel tomorrow from Medjugorje to Rome. Coming from Brazil to Rome we had but one desire, to go to Medjugorje and to stay there for two weeks at the school of Mary…

We never dreamed that so many and such beautiful graces were awaiting us…" (homily at Medjugorje Jan 21 1988). Medjugorje and the Church, Sr Emmanuel & Denis Nolan P 21

Mother Teresa -

Who Is Jesus to Me?
Jesus is the Hungry to be fed.
Jesus is the Thirsty to be satiated.
Jesus is the Naked to be clothed.
Jesus is the Homeless to be taken in.
Jesus is the Sick to be healed.
Jesus is the Lonely to be loved.

Who Is Jesus to Me?
Jesus is the Love to be loved.
Jesus is the Joy to be shared.
Jesus is the Sacrifice to be offered.
Jesus is the Peace to be given.

Who Is Jesus to Me?
Jesus is the Word to be spoken.
Jesus is the Truth to be told.
Jesus is the Way to be walked.
Jesus is the Light to be lit.
Jesus is the Life to be lived.
Meditations by Padre Pio -

The lot of chosen souls is to suffer. God, the author of all grace and of every gift leading to salvation, has decreed that glory will be ours on condition that we endure suffering in a Christian spirit (Letters II, p. 262).
 
Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Without the Face of Love you have the mask of evil

"If there is not one great Face of Love that bends over mankind, its troubled mind will fill it with a thousand horrible masks."
St. Faustina's diary  http://www.marian.org/directory_flash.html  -
 

Seventh Day

Today bring to me the souls who especially venerate and glorify My mercy, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over My Passion and entered most deeply into My Spirit.

They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.       (1224)

Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy.

These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy. These souls are united to Jesus and carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

      A soul who praises the goodness of her Lord
      Is especially loved by Him.
      She is always close to the living fountain
      And draws graces from Mercy Divine.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their spirit, overflowing with joy, sings a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High!

I beg You O God: Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them, I Myself will defend as My own glory, during their lifetime, and especially at the hour of their death, those souls who will venerate My fathomless mercy.      (1225)
 
MEDJUGORJE DAY BY DAY
These thoughts for a day are taken from a daily meditation book based on the Messages of Our Lady of Medjugorje by Father Richard J. Beyer, Ave Maria Press.

MARCH 23 - RENOUNCE THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE HURTING YOU

During Lent of 1990 Our Lady spoke of attachments:

"Dear Children, I invite you to surrender to God. In this season of Lent, I ask you to especially renounce those things to which your are attached but which are hurting you and your spiritual life. Therefore, little children, decide completely for God, and do not allow Satan into your life through those things that hurt both you and your spiritual life.

Little Children, God is offering himself totally to you, but you can discover and recognize him only in prayer. Therefore, make a decision for prayer! (Monthly Message Feb. 25, 1990).

St. Paul also warns of worldly attachments:

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil 3:17-20).

Reflection:

St. Paul criticizes the self-indulgent Christians of his day, for although they claim allegiance to Christ, they ignore his model of servanthood and sacrifice.

They seem to satisfy their own desires even before thinking about the needs of others; to their detriment, they are "set upon the things of this world."

Our Lady of Medjugorje points to the same danger:«I ask you to especially renounce," she says, "those things to which you are attached, but which are hurting you and your spiritual life."

Application:

Today, take the time to identify those attachments or addictions that hurt your spiritually. They could include alcohol, drugs, shopping, television, status seeking, power games, manipulation of others, and materialism in many forms. After you identify your own harmful attachments, isolate one and consciously work on moderating or even eliminating it for one week. At the same time, pray to the Blessed Mother for the special grace you will need; she will generously provide it.

Medjugorje Day By Day Mar 22 - I have been appealing for renewal

 
"We all have in him [St. Joseph] a model and a protector.  As adorers of the Sacramental Jesus, we continue near the Blessed Sacrament his service, his adoration and his love.  He will watch over us and give us his spirit and virtues.  Leading us to Jesus, he will say to Him: 'I cannot be on earth any longer to watch over You and serve You, but bless these adorers who are replacing me; give them the graces You gave me, so that their service may recall and replace mine.'  How happy St. Joseph is to see us crowding about Jesus in His Sacrament, feeble, abandoned, persecuted, more in need of defenders and servants than in His Infancy . . . .  Saint Joseph, be my protector, my model, and my father in my service of Jesus Eucharistic"  (St. Peter Julian Eymard).     
L

"Our Eucharistic faith tells us that Christ the King is himself here present, the tabernacle serving equivalently as his throne of grace.  In this context, then, we may aptly apply the inspired and inspiring words: 'Let us come boldly before the throne of grace, to meet with mercy and win that grace which will help us in our needs'" (Heb. 4:16).  (Fr. Richard  Foley, S.J.)
Pope John Paul II -

Bishop John Magee - former secretary to the Holy Father:
"Without question these apparitions [in Medjugorje] are entirely true."
(Medjugorje Reflections, Bedard, p 85) Medjugorje and the Church, Sr Emmanuel & Denis Nolan p 21

Mother Teresa -

Our ideal is no one but Jesus.
We must think as He thinks,
love as He loves,
wish as He wishes;
we must permit Him to use us to the full.
 
Meditations by Padre Pio -
True servants of God have always preferred adversity as being more in conformity with the way taken by our Head, Who worked out our salvation by means of the cross and humiliations (Epist. IV, p. 148).
 
Archbishop Fulton Sheen

The empty soul feeds Satan's needs

"Whence came the millions to accept the superstition of Nazism, Fascism, and Communism if it were not from an emptiness of soul brought about by a loss of faith? The essence of political superstition is the identification of the laboring class and Messianism."
St. Faustina's diary  http://www.marian.org/directory_flash.html  -
 

Sixth Day

Today bring to me the meek and humble souls and the souls of little children, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who would keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. Only the humble soul is able to receive My grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence.      (1220)

Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.       (1221)

      A truly gentle and humble soul
      Already here on earth the air of paradise breathes,
      And in the fragrance of her humble heart
      The Creator Himself delights.       (1222)

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon the souls of little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.       (1223)
 
MEDJUGORJE DAY BY DAY
These thoughts for a day are taken from a daily meditation book based on the Messages of Our Lady of Medjugorje by Father Richard J. Beyer, Ave Maria Press.
 

Mar 22  -  I HAVE BEEN APPEALING FOR RENEWAL

The Madonna is firm in her call to Lenten renewal and prayer :

" Dear Children, day after day I have been appealing to you for renewal and prayer in the parish, but you are not responding. Today I am calling you for the last time. This is the season of Lent, and you as a parish should out of love, be moved to live my messages. If you do not, I do not wish to continue giving them. God is permitting me that. Thank you for responding to my call." Weekly Message Feb. 21, 1985

Psalm 38 is a repentant call to God :

For I am ready to fall, And my pain is ever with me. I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.

Those who are my foes without cause are mighty. And many are those who hate me wrongfully.

Those who render me evil for good Are my adversaries because I follow after good. Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, do not be far from me; Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation. ---Psalm 38 ;17-22

Reflection :

Both Our Lady and the psalmist today call us to repentance, to acknowledge our sin, neglect, or indifference in the sight of God.

Because we have a tendency to sin or to be spiritually lethargic, repentance is the true measure of spiritual sensitivity. It means asking the Lord to forgive us and then abandoning our sinful or lethargic ways. But we cannot do this sincerely unless we are truly sorry for our misdeeds and then commit ourselves to positive action.

This is the Virgin's wish today, that we take to heart her call to renewal and prayer. It is a serious matter for all of us.

Application :

Review your spiritual life today. Has Lent been a time of prayer and renewal for you? If not, make a fresh start today.