March 27, 2008

“Prepare yourselves to receive the New Pentecost”

Reading: John 20:19-23

Dear friends,

“Jesus stood in their midst and said to them (the Apostles), ‘Peace be with you.’” Luke 24:36

I spent a half-hour with Jesus, Our Lord, this morning in contemplative prayer. He said, “Melvin, My brother and sharer in My priesthood, I love you and I love all My brothers and sisters living in every part of the earth. I give you all My peace and joy, these great Easter gifts.

You will begin now to look forward to Pentecost, the great day during which the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles in the Upper Room. He came with great power upon them to strengthen their faith, to take away any fear, to be able to preach boldly the message I had given them and to begin My Church I had promised to build on Peter. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in various tongues as the Spirit prompted them. It was the Father and I who sent the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and we still send today the Holy Spirit upon all those who are open to receive Him.

There is need of a New Pentecost in the world. Through the New Pentecost, the Holy Spirit will come with power to revive My Church and bring to her unity, which is lacking among many. The Church must not be afraid to preach the truth, even if it hurts, to all the people of the world. She must work in the power of the Holy Spirit to foster holiness among all her members. Pray that the New Pentecost, which has already started in the world, may spread everywhere. Prepare yourselves to receive the New Pentecost. I bless you all.”

Father Melvin

Beautiful & awesome short prayer given by Jesus ,,,IN 1874

This prayer is in the awesome book He and i..

JESUS SAID THIS PRAYER TO GABRIELLE BOSSIS BORN IN NANTES IN 1874 ,

" SAY,
HOLY FATHER, I OFFER YOU JESUS LIVING IN MY LIFE AND DYING IN MY DEATH. AND I OFFER YOU THE HEART OF JESUS IN EACH ONE OF MY HEARTBEATS.

PRAYER FOR PROTECTION AGAINST DEMONS

http://maryshelper.tripod.com/
by Saint John Bosco

O Mary, powerful Virgin,You are the mighty and glorious Protector of
the Church. You are the Marvelous Help of Christians. You are
Terrible as an Army set in Battle Array. You alone have destroyed
every heresy in the entire Church.

In the midst of my anguish, my struggles and my distress, Defend me from the power of the enemy, and at the hour of my death, Receive my soul into Paradise. Amen

Message to Eileen Renders March 30,2008

Mercy Sunday, March 30, 2008

Jesus' Mercy ~ Heavenly Treasures!

At the 8:00 A.M. Mass I made humble offerings to Jesus and Mary and prayed for all with special needs and intentions. In preparation of receiving the most precious body and blood of Christ in the sacrament of Holy Communion, I made an Act of Contrition.

After receiving the body and blood of Christ, I knelt in silent commune with Jesus and prayed that I may only hear His words or see only visions that come directly from Him. And I prayed, speak Lord, Your servant listens.

Jesus responded to my prayer saying, My child Eileen, it has been some time since I have said these words to you and I want to affirm them once again to you now that all might know. Whatever you suffer for Me in My name will be the only treasures you take with you when you leave this life to meet Me in the next life. Those treasures will become the basis of how you will be rewarded in heaven.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Continue to pray for your brothers and sisters. Amen.

Reflections: From this message from Jesus we are reminded that following god's Commandments are what is expected of the least of us. However giving of our lives over to Jesus even to the extent of enduring pain (emotion or physical) for His namesake is a sacrifice that Jesus Himself appreciates and will respond to when we go to meet Him.

Message from Mary via Henri of Belgium - Jan 15, 2008 (3 of 3)

A priest from France is guiding the new messengers, Henri and Dominique; and thus far, four priests have approved their messages. - Rita Doucet

3rd of 3 Messages of January 15
(Translated from French)

MESSAGE FROM MARY
via Henri of Belgium

January 15, 2008

MARY:

My tiny little Henri, dear little child, this evening my mother's heart comes to find you to speak to all my dear little children.

Yes, you're surprised at the speed with which these messages are being spread, as those of your brother Dominique; it's when you abandon yourself totally and place your heart in my Immaculate Heart that I can act.

Times are here, my little one, and there's not one second to lose. That's why, and many times this has been told you, all will be happening faster and faster. Therefore you must be ready, my little ones, my loved ones. It's not the time to be dozing nor daydreaming. You must get under way! Wake up!

Take your rosary in your hand and pray it with love. Be soldiers of Love. Your indispensable arm is the prayer of the heart! You also have the Eucharist, the Confession, the Holy Bible, and the fast; but if it's not done with the heart, it serves no purpose. Motivate yourselves, get up; call on your guardian angels! Place yourselves under my Immaculate Mantle and take Saint Michael as your shield.

My children, I tell you again -- and the Holy Spirit shakes you and enlightens your hearts at this instant -- you must wake up! Come out of that stupor and get going! It's the hour! You must be ready! Are you?

My dear little children of Canada and Quebec, are you ready? Support and pray for your country! My Church is corrupt from within, eaten up by worm; you must be strong in the faith! Teach and spread my words! Be examples by your life. Assemble and pray! Organize now into prayerful little communities! Protect my holy sites! And where are your flags with our two United Hearts? Pray for France, Italy and the USA, for they are the ones who will be more profoundly shaken. Don't be afraid, and pray. I am speaking to your hearts.

My little Henri, write a little more. You are tired today and tomorrow we will continue this message. But write still that many hearts will be touched by these messages and will feel themselves called in different ways according to what I will have placed in their heart.

Thus, some will call you later on to come witness and speak before your brothers and sisters. Others will come toward you, inspired by the Holy Spirit! Yes, all is quietly falling into place.

Be small, simple, poor and remain in my Immaculate Heart.

Go, my dear children: pray! I'm lavishing numerous graces on you this evening.

LESSONS, Divine Mercy Sunday, St. Faustina Diary Excerpts, Fr. O'Connor,
Prayers...

LESSON from Our Lord on "Mercy"

A link to a LESSON from Our Lord from the I AM your Jesus of Mercy series is:

Volume IV, Lesson 92 - Mercy...

(
http://www.centeroftheimmaculateheart.org/foundation/singlenews.asp?item_ID=1359\
&comm=0&list_code_int=NEW02-INT )

Divine Mercy Sunday - March 30, 2008

About Divine Mercy Sunday...

( http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/feast.htm )

LESSON from Our Lord - Volume I, Lesson 47 - Divine Mercy...

(
http://www.centeroftheimmaculateheart.org/foundation/singlenews.asp?item_ID=687&\
comm=0&list_code_int=NEW02-INT )

The Litany of the Mercy of God...

( http://www.catholictradition.org/Litanies/litany94.htm )

Pope John Paul II - First Feast of Divine Mercy Homily...

(http://www.divinemercysunday.com/popes-homily.htm )

Excerpts from Diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul

Add the link below to your internet browser "Favorites" to receive a new excerpt
from the Diary of St. Faustina, "Divine Mercy in My Soul". Each time you reload
the page you get a different excerpt.

http://saint-faustina.com/diarytxt.shtml

Abbe Rene Laurentin On Prophecy

World-renowned Marian theologian, Fr. Rene Laurentin, comments on the timely new
book of Fr. Edward OConnor, CSC, I Am Sending You PROPHETS - The Role of
Apparitions in the History of the Church. Fr. OConnor will be speaking at the
Marian Prayer Group near Emmitsburg, MD, on April 6, 2008.

What Father OConnor dares to take up here is the eternal problem of
prophecy....(He) recalls the important place that women held among the early
prophets....Why is it that our world, in which scientific and technical progress
advance more and more rapidly, has so little room for authentic prophecy, called
to create a civilization of love? How can we awaken a receptivity - but one that
is likewise discriminating - to this source so little appreciated?...The account
offered here.... invites us to reawaken in the Church the spiritual factor,
which has been marginalized by technical and bureaucratic totalitarianism. (Fr.
Laurentin, July 7, 2004)

Fr. O'Connor?s book? ( http://www.queenship.org/ )

Pope Benedict XVI Monthly Prayer Intentions - April 2008

Join in praying daily for the April 2008 monthly intentions of our Holy Father:

The Proclamation of the Resurrection: That all Christians may not tire of
proclaiming with their lives that Christ's Resurrection is the source of hope
and peace.

Future Priests: That the future priests of the young Churches may be formed to
evangelize their nations and the whole world.

DAILY OFFERING PRAYER - O Jesus, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of
Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union
with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all
the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin,
and the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our
bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended
by our Holy Father this month.

April
6
Sun
Our Lady of Emmitsburg Monthly Marian Prayer Service
Lynfield Event Complex, April 6, 2008

Come pray the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy at the Our Lady of Emmitsburg
Monthly Marian Prayer Service from 3PM-5PM. All are welcome. (Our Lady has been
giving her monthly message to the world at this service.)

Fr. Edward O'Connor, CSC, author of the new bestselling I Am Sending You
Prophets will speak at this Prayer service. His new book will be available
afterwards and he will do a booksigning.

PLEASE NOTE: NO MONTHLY MARIAN PRAYER SERVICE WILL BE HELD IN MARCH. (Please
pass the word around).

More Info...

May
11
Sun
Our Lady of Emmitsburg Monthly Marian Prayer Service
Lynfield Event Complex, May 11, 2008

Come pray the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy at the Our Lady of Emmitsburg
Monthly Marian Prayer Service from 3PM-5PM. All are welcome. (Our Lady has been
giving her monthly message to the world at this service.)

More Info...

( http://www.centeroftheimmaculateheart.org/messages/messages_current_events.asp

Message From Mother Mary Thru Lec- March 29, 2008

Message From Mother Mary March 29, 2008
6:40 AM

Son, my role as the Mother of the Savior, my son Jesus, is a role that was ordained by the Father even before conception in my mother's womb. God will never allow that His beloved son Jesus be born in sin, hence, His Divine Order that I was born immaculately.
It is my predestination conceived by the Father even before the creation of the first man, Adam. I am Mary, conceived without sin.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception in my remembrance testifies to the truth I revealed to you. But my role is not over yet as the Father saw fit to entrust me with certain tasks in these days before my son Jesus comes again for the second time, hence my appearing at various places of apparitions to convey heaven's messages.

I speak thru messengers to help me in the delicate task assigned to me to facilitate the spreading of these messages with the full approval, consent and specific directions of the Father, without whose permission this communication will never be possible.

Be encouraged therefore, all of you who help inform people of what they must know to prepare them for what is coming ? for there is no other way than this manner thru which we can help them.

Message Reception Ended: 6:55 AM Duration: 15 Minutes

Further Readings:

Feast of the Immaculate Conception From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Immaculate Conception by Francisco Zurbarï¿½n.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception celebrates the Roman Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is celebrated on 8 December, nine months before the Nativity of Mary, which is celebrated on 8 September.

History A feast called the Conception of Mary arose in the Eastern Church in the seventh century (prior to the Great Schism of 1054). It spread to the West in the eighth century. In the eighteenth century it became a feast of the Roman Catholic Church. It is the only one of Mary's feasts that came to the Western Church not by way of Rome, but instead spread from the Byzantine area to Naples, and then to Normandy during their period of dominance over southern Italy. From there it spread into England, France, Germany, and eventually Rome.

[1] Prior to Pope Pius IX's definition of the Immaculate Conception as Church dogma in 1854, most missals referred to it as the Feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The festal texts of this period focused more on the action of her conception than on the theological question of her preservation from original sin. A missal published in England in 1806 indicates the same collect for the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was used for this feast as well.[2] The first move towards describing Mary's conception as "immaculate"
came in the eleventh century. In the fifteenth century Pope Sixtus IV, while promoting the festival, explicitly tolerated those who promoted it as the Immaculate Conception and those who challenged such a description, a position later endorsed by the Council of Trent.

The proper for the feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Medieval Sarum Missal, perhaps the most famous in England, merely addresses the action of her conception.

The collect for the feast reads:
O God, mercifully hear the supplication of thy servants who are assembled together on the Conception of the Virgin Mother of God, may at her intercession be delivered by Thee from dangers which beset us.[3] In 1854, Pius IX made the infallible statement Ineffabilis Deus: "The most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin." [4] [edit]

Cultural impact It is a public holiday in Austria, Nicaragua, Chile, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Macau, Malta, Peru, and Paraguay. It is also a public holiday in the Philippines and is a Holy Day of Obligation, as it is in the United States and Ireland.
December 8th is also celebrated as mother's day in Panama in honor of this holiday and is therefore a national holiday.
[edit] Anglican Communion In the Anglican Communion, the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary may be observed as a Lesser Festival on 8 December, and many Anglo- Catholic parishes do so. Some parishes use the Roman Catholic nomenclature of "Immaculate Conception".

Link:
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Feast_of_ the_Immaculate_ Conception

__._,_._ Medjugorje Day By Day Mar 30 - REFLECT ON JESUS' PASSION

"The privileged place where we can find this Jesus 'in agony until the end of the world' is the Eucharist. Jesus instituted it immediately before going to the Garden of Olives so that his disciples would be able, in every age, to make themselves 'contemporary' with his Passion. If the Spirit inspires in us the desire to be one hour at the side of Jesus in Gethsemane this Lent, the simplest way to achieve it is to spend, on Thursday afternoon, one hour before the Blessed Sacrament" (Father Raniero
Cantalamessa, March 17, 2006).

Let people know about Medjugorje through
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"This practice of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, repeatedly praised and recommended by the Magisterium, is supported by the example of many saints. Particularly outstanding in this regard was Saint Alphonsus Liguori, who wrote: `Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us'. The Eucharist is a priceless treasure: by not only celebrating it but also by praying before it outside of Mass we are enabled to make contact with the very wellspring of grace. A Christian community desirous of contemplating the face of Christ . . . cannot fail also to develop this aspect of Eucharistic worship, which prolongs and increases the fruits of our communion in the body and blood of the Lord." "Like the woman who anointed Jesus in Bethany, the Church has feared no `extravagance' , devoting the best of her resources to expressing her wonder and adoration before the unsurpassable gift of the Eucharist" (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Pope John Paul II, 25 and 48).

Pope John Paul II

Cardinal Siri to Bishop Hnilica 1989
"I have noticed that the people who come from Medjugorje become apostles... They renew the Church." Medjugorje and the Church, Sr Emmanuel & Denis Nolan p 9

Mother Teresa -
Our yes to God is without any reservations.

We are at Jesus' disposal.
If He wants you to be sick in bed,
if He wants you to proclaim His word in the street,
that's all right, everything is all right.

Meditations by Padre Pio -

. I am extremely pleased to hear that the Lord is always generous with His caresses towards your souls. I know you are suffering, but isn't this suffering a sure sign that God loves you? (Letters III, p. 707).

Archbishop Fulton Sheen
Passion is blind without knowledge

"Passion is not a reflex like the watering of a dog's mouth in the presence of food. It is true that there are many similarities between passion in animals and passion in man, but it must never be forgotten that in man, passion cannot operate unless something is known."

St. Faustina's diary http://www.marian. org/directory_ flash.html -

When I entered the chapel for a moment in the evening, I felt a terrible thorn in my head. This lasted for a short time, but the pricking was so painful that in an instant my head dropped onto the communion rail. It seemed to me that the thorn had thrust itself into my brain. But all this is nothing; it is all for the sake of souls, to obtain God's mercy for them. (1399)

Christ, give me souls. Let anything You like happen to me, but give me souls in return. I want the salvation of souls. I want souls to know Your mercy. I have nothing left for myself, because I have given everything away to souls, with the result that on the day of judgment I will stand before You empty-handed, since I have given everything away to souls. Thus You will have nothing on which to judge me, and we shall meet on that day: Love and mercy... (1426)

Today during confession, breaking the wafer with me spiritually, he [my confessor] gave me the following wishes: "Be as faithful as you can to the grace of God; secondly, beg God's mercy for yourself and for the whole world, because we are all in great need of God's mercy." (1432)

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 30 - REFLECT ON JESUS' PASSION

The Blessed Virgin speaks of the cross and prayer today:

Dear children, here is my second message for Lent. Renew your prayer before the cross. Dear children, I offer you special graces and Jesus offers you the extraordinary merits of the cross. Accept them and live! Reflect on Jesus ` passion. Unite your life to his (Weekly Message February 20, 1986).

Scripture and Reflection:

In view of Our Lady's message today, it might be well for us to simple meditate on the Passion of her Son, rather than engage in commentary St. Thomas a Kempis emphasized this as well when he wrote, "Take comfort in the Passion of Christ, and dwell willingly in his sacred wounds. Endure with Christ, suffer for him, if you wish to reign with him."

As you meditate on the passion narrative of St. Mark, read the lines unhurriedly, and pause in silent prayer if a phrase or word strikes you, for this is the Holy Spirit at work.

Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters) ; and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

Then they brought Jesus to the placed called Golgotha (which means the place of the skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them. Casting lots to decide what each should take.

When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi. Lema sabachtani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, «Listen, he calling for Elijah." And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down."

Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last breath. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way be breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was God's Son!" (Mk 15:16-20, 22-24, 33-39).

Application:
Today, spend five minutes in meditation before the cross.

See our website at http://ollo. sasktelwebsite. net/

Medjugorje Day By Day Apr 01 - May you be the hope and joy of mankind

"Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy," Jesus

told St. Maria Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament,

"Adore, in the Blessed

Sacrament, My Heart, which is full of mercy." "I want Adoration to take place . . .

for the intention of imploring Mercy for the world."

(Divine Mercy Diary,

300, 1572, & 1070)

Mother Teresa

"The cross is the proof that He loved us and the Tabernacle is the proof that He loves us now with tender compassion".

The Cross is a thorny fruit which outside is most pungent. After the thorns and bark are removed, one finds a precious and savory fruit, that only she who has the patience to endure the annoyance of the punctures, can come to discover the secret of the preciousness and the taste of that fruit.

And only she who has come to discover this secret keeps it with love. And all the others look at it with contempt and despise it.

Meditations by Padre Pio -

Apr 1 Doesn't the Holy Spirit tells us that when the soul approaches God it must be prepared for temptations?

Courage, therefore, courage my good daughter. Fight valiantly and you will receive the prize of strong souls (Letters III, p. 427).

Archbishop Fulton Sheen

The Passion of Love and Hate

"The root of all passions are love and its opposite, hate.

Hence our passions are either for the pursuit of what we love, or escape from what we hate."

St. Faustina's diary http://www.marian.org/directory_flash.html -

Jesus, lover of human salvation, draw all souls to the divine life. May the greatness of Your mercy be praised here on earth and in eternity.

O great lover of souls, who in Your boundless compassion opened the salutary fountains of mercy so that weak souls may be fortified in this life's pilgrimage, Your mercy runs through our life like a golden thread and maintains in good order the contact of our being with God.

For He does not need anything to make Him happy; so everything is solely the work of His mercy.

My senses are transfixed with joy when God grants me a deeper awareness of that great attribute of His; namely, His unfathomable mercy. (1466)

Jesus, hide me in Your mercy and shield me against everything that might terrify my soul.

Do not let my trust in Your mercy be disappointed. Shield me with the omnipotence of Your mercy, and judge me leniently as well. (1480)

Message From Mother Mary Thru Lec- March 29, 2008

Message From Mother Mary March 29, 2008
6:40 AM

Son, my role as the Mother of the Savior, my son Jesus, is a role that was
ordained by the Father even before conception in my mother's womb. God will
never allow that His beloved son Jesus be born in sin, hence, His Divine Order
that I was born immaculately.
It is my predestination conceived by the Father even before the creation of the
first man, Adam. I am Mary, conceived without sin.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception in my remembrance testifies to the truth
I revealed to you. But my role is not over yet as the Father saw fit to entrust
me with certain tasks in these days before my son Jesus comes again for the
second time, hence my appearing at various places of apparitions to convey
heaven's messages.

I speak thru messengers to help me in the delicate task assigned to me to
facilitate the spreading of these messages with the full approval, consent and
specific directions of the Father, without whose permission this communication
will never be possible.

Be encouraged therefore, all of you who help inform people of what they must
know to prepare them for what is coming ? for there is no other way than this
manner thru which we can help them.

Message Reception Ended: 6:55 AM Duration: 15 Minutes

Further Readings:

Feast of the Immaculate Conception From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The
Immaculate Conception by Francisco Zurbarï¿½n.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception celebrates the Roman Catholic dogma of
the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is celebrated on 8
December, nine months before the Nativity of Mary, which is celebrated on 8
September.

History A feast called the Conception of Mary arose in the Eastern Church in the
seventh century (prior to the Great Schism of 1054). It spread to the West in
the eighth century. In the eighteenth century it became a feast of the Roman
Catholic Church. It is the only one of Mary's feasts that came to the Western
Church not by way of Rome, but instead spread from the Byzantine area to Naples,
and then to Normandy during their period of dominance over southern Italy. From
there it spread into England, France, Germany, and eventually Rome.

[1] Prior to Pope Pius IX's definition of the Immaculate Conception as Church
dogma in 1854, most missals referred to it as the Feast of the Conception of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. The festal texts of this period focused more on the action
of her conception than on the theological question of her preservation from
original sin. A missal published in England in 1806 indicates the same collect
for the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was used for this feast
as well.[2] The first move towards describing Mary's conception as "immaculate"
came in the eleventh century. In the fifteenth century Pope Sixtus IV, while
promoting the festival, explicitly tolerated those who promoted it as the
Immaculate Conception and those who challenged such a description, a position
later endorsed by the Council of Trent.

The proper for the feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the
Medieval Sarum Missal, perhaps the most famous in England, merely addresses the
action of her conception.

The collect for the feast reads:
O God, mercifully hear the supplication of thy servants who are assembled
together on the Conception of the Virgin Mother of God, may at her intercession
be delivered by Thee from dangers which beset us.[3] In 1854, Pius IX made the
infallible statement Ineffabilis Deus: "The most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the
first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by
almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the savior of the human
race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin." [4] [edit]

Cultural impact It is a public holiday in Austria, Nicaragua, Chile, Spain,
Portugal, Italy, Macau, Malta, Peru, and Paraguay. It is also a public holiday
in the Philippines and is a Holy Day of Obligation, as it is in the United
States and Ireland.
December 8th is also celebrated as mother's day in Panama in honor of this
holiday and is therefore a national holiday.
[edit] Anglican Communion In the Anglican Communion, the Conception of the
Blessed Virgin Mary may be observed as a Lesser Festival on 8 December, and many
Anglo- Catholic parishes do so. Some parishes use the Roman Catholic
nomenclature of "Immaculate Conception".

Link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_Immaculate_Conception

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.

APRIL 1 - MAY YOU BE THE JOY OF MANKIND

The Blessed Virgin speaks of joy today:

"Dear Children, persevere in prayer so that your hearts may be filled with joy. Dear children, may you be the hope and joy of mankind, But you can only achieve this through prayer.

Pray, pray! (Visionary Prayer Group May 3rd, 1986).

In his prayer to the Father, Jesus speaks of conveying his joy to his disciples:

While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded the, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled.

But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves (Jn17:12-13)

Reflection:

Joy is a unique quality of the Christian life. It seems to be born of trust in God's love for us and for all aspects of our lives.

Fr. Slavko Barbaric, spiritual director to the visionaries, recently gave a sermon on Our Lady's messages of prayer and joy.

Here, in part, is what he said:

Normally, after meeting someone, you need time to get to know him, tell him about yourself, exchange views, and so forth.

However, if our prayer only consists of an occasional "hello" to someone who only occupies a corner of our lives, then we probably aren't going to experience great joy.

The problem is that we all want joy but we're not willing to follow the path that leads to its source: prayer from the heart.

That is why Our Lady asks us so urgently to, "pray, pray!" It is the means to happiness.

Application:

Today the Mother of God asks that we make our hearts, "joyful through the means of prayer."

To this end, try to extend and deepen your prayer so that you will more fully experience that joy.

Medjugorje Day By Day Mar 31 - Open your hearts to the Holy Spirit

"Whenever we are shaken by the sight of evil spreading in the universe . . .

we should not forget that such unleashing of the forces of sin is overcome by the saving power of Christ.

Whenever the words of consecration are uttered in the Mass and the Body and Blood of Christ become present in the act of the sacrifice, the triumph of love over hatred, of holiness over sin, is also present.

Every Eucharistic Celebration is stronger than all the evil in the universe; it means real, concrete accomplishment of the redemption" (Pope John Paul II).

Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity, Carmelite Nun (1880-1906) France:

Bl. Elizabeth wrote, "When Our Lord was on earth, the Gospel says `a secret power went out from Him,' at His touch the sick recovered their health, the dead were restored to life.

Well, He is still living! living in the tabernacle in His adorable Sacrament."

"When you are close to the tabernacle in which love incarnate dwells, there is no distance."

Pope John Paul II -

Mother Teresa -

We must say, " I belong to you. You can do whatever you like. "

And this is our strength and this is the joy of the Lord.

Meditations by Padre Pio -

Accept all the suffering and incomprehension that comes from Above.

In this way you will perfect and sanctity yourself (FSP, 119).

Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Passion is not unconscious!

"The eye has a reflex action when someone is about to thrust his finger into it, but passion is a conscious affair; it is something that happens to a creature endowed with reason and free will."

St. Faustina's diary http://www.marian.org/directory_flash.html -

After I had gone into the refectory, during the reading, my whole being found itself plunged in God. Interiorly, I saw God looking at us with great pleasure.

I remained alone with the Heavenly Father. At that moment, I had a deeper knowledge of the Three Divine Persons, whom we shall contemplate for all eternity and, after millions of years, shall discover that we have just barely begun our contemplation.

Oh, how great is the mercy of God, who allows man to participate in such a high degree in His divine happiness!

At the same time, what great pain pierces my heart [at the thought] that so many souls have spurned this happiness. (1439)

Write, speak of My mercy. Tell souls where they are to look for solace; that is, in the Tribunal of Mercy [the Sacrament of Reconciliation]

There the greatest miracles take place [and] are incessantly repeated. To avail oneself of this miracle, it is not necessary to go on a great pilgrimage or to carry out some external ceremony; it suffices to come with faith to the feet of My representative and to reveal to him one's misery, and the miracle of Divine Mercy will be fully demonstrated.

Were a soul like a decaying corpse so that from a human standpoint, there would be no [hope of] restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God.

The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full. Oh, how miserable are those who do not take advantage of the miracle of God's mercy!... (1448)

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 31 - OPEN YOUR HEARTS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is the topic of Our Lady's message today:

"Dear Children, during these days I call you to especially open your hearts to the Holy Spirit, who is working through you. Open your hearts and surrender your lives to Jesus so that he can work through your hearts and strengthen you in faith (Weekly Message May 23, 1985).

And from Acts:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon yon; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Reflections:

Jesus wishes to give us the power of the Holy Spirit, and the Blessed Mother asks us to be open to receive his power.

With faith and openness, then let us pray to the Spirit using The Sequence of the Holy Spirit, one of the loveliest prayer-poems of the church:

Holy Spirit, Lord of light, from the clear celestial height Thy pure beaming radiance give. Come, thou Father of the poor, Come, with treasures which endure; Come, thou light of all that live!

Thou, of all consolers best, Thou, the soul's delightful guest, Dost refreshing peace bestow; Thou in toil art comfort sweet; Pleasant coolness in the heat; Solace in the midst of woe.

Light immortal, light divine, Visit thou these hearts of thine, And our inmost being fill: If thou take thy grace away, Nothing pure in man will stay; All his good is turned to ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew; On our dryness pour thy dew; Wash the stains of guilt away; Bend the stubborn heart and will; Melt the frozen, warm the chill; Guide the steps that go astray.

Thou, on us who evermore Thee confess and thee adore, With thy sevenfold gifts descend: Give us comfort when we die; Give us life with thee on high; Give us joys that never end.

Application:

Make it a habit to pray to the Holy Spirit each day, as the Virgin asks of us.

Litany of Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy, gushing forth from the bosom of the Father, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, greatest attribute of GOD, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, incomprehensible mystery, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, fountain gushing forth from the mystery of the Most Blessed
Trinity, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, unfathomed by any intellect, human or angelic, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, from which wells forth all life and happiness, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, better than the heavens, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, source of miracles and wonders, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, encompassing the whole universe, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, descending to earth in the Person of the Incarnate Word, I trust
in You.
Divine Mercy, which flowed out from the open wound of the Heart of JESUS, I
trust in You.
Divine Mercy, enclosed in the Heart of JESUS for us, and especially for sinners,
I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in the institution of the Sacred Host, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in the founding of Holy Church, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in our justification through JESUS CHRIST, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, accompanying us through our whole life, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, embracing us especially at the hour of death, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, endowing us with immortal life, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, accompanying us every moment of our life, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, shielding us from the fire of hell, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in the conversion of hardened sinners, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, astonishment for Angels, incomprehensible to Saints, I trust in
You.
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in all the mysteries of GOD, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, lifting us out of every misery, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, source of our happiness and joy, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in calling us forth from nothingness to existence, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, embracing all the works of His hands, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, crown of all of god's handiwork, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in which we are all immersed, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, sweet relief for anguished hearts, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, only hope of despairing souls, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, repose of hearts, peace amidst fear, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, delight and ecstasy of holy souls, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, inspiring hope against all hope, I trust in You.

Eternal GOD, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion
inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in
difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great
confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.
Amen.

Posted by realm/blackcatholics at 10:54 AM PDT
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