Topic: Prophecy Meditation
Monthly message as given to Anne, a lay apostle. On the first of every month, Our Lord gives Anne a new message about His call to service. June 1, 2008 Jesus I am here, with you at all times. I watch you struggle for holiness and I encourage you to continue along on the path you have chosen. When you are discouraged, you sometimes look to other paths, chosen by other people. From where you are looking, their path might look smooth and easy,Happy and fulfilling. Perhaps their path does not include the sacrifices that you find are necessary to travel along the path I have marked out for you. Perhaps their path does not appear to be as steep, as filled withobstacles, and perhaps their path appears to include more worldlyacclaim and acceptance. Poor little apostles. Here is what you cannot see when you admire the apparent easiness of the paths of others who are not chosen as you are chosen. You do not see that others, who have not made the same level of commitment, are not enjoying the same level of unity with heaven. Yes, their struggle seems less. Yes, their rewards seem immediate and plentiful. But you have something that nobody else has in the same way and that is Me. Nobody has the same relationship with Me that you have. You are My beloved apostle and I love all of My apostles. But the love I have for you and the plan I have for you is unique. It will never be repeated. I need you to continue on in your service to Me. I need you to remember that you are called to live differently, that your life, which may not be proceeding exactly as you planned, is proceeding exactly as I planned. Can you accept this? Can you remind yourself that you have allowed your Saviour to navigate your earthly journey? Can you rejoice in the path that I have marked out for you, even if it includes suffering? Please, My beloved apostle, try. I will help you with this. Rejoice in your apostolic commitment to Me. I will send you graces in each moment. These graces are unrepeatable, meaning that if a person rejects My grace in this moment, that grace moment cannot be recaptured. Time passes while you are on earth. Opportunities also pass. You are taking advantage of your time on earth for the family of God and for your loved ones and for you, yourself. You are so precious to Me. I am caring for you, I promise.
When you are tempted to discouragement, remember that I am with you in each moment, sending perfect graces and blessings to you and through you. Be at peace in My will for you and I will protect My plan for you. You are loved by all of heaven and you are loved by Me. Medjugorje Day By Day June 01 - TO BECOME PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS "Were it not for the constant presence of our divine Master in our humble chapel I would have found it possible to persevere in sharing the lot of the lepers in Molokai ... The Eucharist is the bread that gives strength ... It is at once the most eloquent proof of his love and the most powerful means of fostering his love in us" (Bl. Damien of Molokai, Apostle of the Lepers).Mother Teresa We all need time for silence, to reflect and pray. Meditations by Padre Pio - May the Heart of Jesus be the goal of all your inspirations (ASN,44) Archbishop Fulton Sheen The separation of state from man's soul"The stubborn worship of a theory has had most appalling consequences in our day. To the theorist, it does not seem to matter that whole nations are deprived of liberty, that millions starve, that thousands are purged - so long as the theory is maintained in power. Instead of making the hat of governmental policy fit the head of man, the modern tendency is to cut off the head if it does not fit the hat - to demand that institutions, political schemes and social theories must prevail, no matter if their cost proves to be the destruction of man himself." St. Faustina's diary http://www.marian.org/directory_flash.html -May You be adored, O merciful God of ours,
O All-powerful Lord and Creator.
In deepest humility, we give You praise,
Plunging ourselves into the ocean of Your Godhead.But man did not persevere in the hour of trial.
At the instigation of the evil one, he became unfaithful to You.
He lost Your grace and gifts; only misery was left him,
And tears, suffering, sorrow and bitterness, until he would
rest in the grave.But you, O merciful God, did not let humanity perish,
And gave it the promise of a Redeemer.
You did not let us despair, despite our grave offenses,
And You sent Your prophets to Israel.Still, day and night, mankind cries out to You,
From the abyss of misery, sin and all pain.
Hear the moaning and the tears, You who reign in heaven,
God of great mercy, God of compassion....Humanity calls out to You unceasingly, O Lord of Lords,
Calls out to Your unfathomable mercy, to Your compassion.
O great Yahweh, grant that we may make atonement,
Remember Your goodness, and forgive us our sins. (1744) MEDJUGORJE DAY BY DAYThese 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. JUNE 1 - TO BECOME PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUSOur Lady expresses her high regard for the priesthood and religious life, and for our free will:I would like all of you to become priests and religious, but only if you desire it. You are free. It is up to you to choose (First Years December 8, 1981).And in his letter to Timothy, Paul calls for appreciation and support of the local church leaders (elders):Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of the double honor especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. Never accept any accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses (1 Tm 5:17,19).Reflection:In answering questions from the visionaries about their futures, it is significant that the Virgin would first recommend the priesthood and religious life. Her esteem for these vocations is shared by St. Paul, who called on the early church to support and encourage their leaders.It's not surprising, then, that the priesthood is a special target of the Evil One. No greater damage can be done to the church than to injure its shepherds. Add to this the apathy and secularism of many Catholics, and it is not hard to understand the discouragement of some priests and the subsequent clergy shortage.But there are reasons for hope. Medjugorje and the Marian and charismatic movement s have been producing scores of vocations and deepening the spiritual lives of many Catholics, brightening the horizon of the church as she enter the 21st century.Application:Here are a few ways you can buoy the priesthood in your own area through the support and encouragement of your parish priest:--Simply befriend your local priest; be positive and supportive rather than critical and discouraging.--Greet your parish priest after Mass; if you liked his homily, be sure to tell him so.--Send him a little note or greeting card at Christmas and Easter, perhaps with a gift.--Our Lady once said, "Do not judge the priest." Gossip or slander, like any other sin, should be avoided.--Remember that priests are human beings. Like everyone they have strengths and weaknesses, virtues and foibles. Be as accepting and supportive of them as you would of any friend.Medjugorje Day By Day June 02 - PRAY AND FAST Holy Folly!For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18
Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die. Still, you can't get there from here apart from the cross. A whole world system has been erected in order to avoid that simple fact and it has looked for salvation in a thousand forms, all predicated on building heaven on earth by being rich enough, smart enough, socialist enough, white enough, black enough, German enough, religious enough, etc. The goal has always been the same: don't lose. Be a winner. Crosses are for suckers and saps and losers. And so, God made this ultimately foolish thing the ultimate wisdom. He made the ultimate sign of weakness the ultimate sign of strength. "The bread and wine, by the action of the Holy Spirit, really become the body and blood of Christ, who gives himself to be man's nourishment in his journey on earth." "The same logic of love precedes the Incarnation of the Word in the womb of Mary and his making himself present in the Eucharist. It is `agape,' charity, love in the most beautiful and pure sense" (From Pope John Paul II's, April 8, 2004 homily). Mother Teresa -God is everywhere and in everything and without Him we cannot exist. Meditations by Padre Pio - Let us look with profound gratitude at that sublime mystery which attracted the Heart of Jesus to His creature with such force; let us look at the great condescension with which He put on our own flesh to live the miserable life of this earth in our midst; let us muster up all the forces of our intellect to consider worthily the tenacious fervour and hardship of His apostolate, to recall the horror of His passion and martyrdom and to adore His Blood… royally offered to the last drop for the redemption of mankind; then with humble faith and the same ardent love with which He surrounds and pursues our soul, let us bow our impure foreheads at His feet (GF,170). Archbishop Fulton Sheen - The sign of character is in the little things"Faithfulness in great things is not uncommon; faithfulness in little things is rare but most indicative of true character." St. Faustina's diary http://www.marian.org/directory_flash.html One day during Holy Mass, the Lord gave me a deeper knowledge of His holiness and His majesty, and at the same time I saw my own misery. This knowledge made me happy, and my soul drowned itself completely in His mercy. I felt enormously happy. (1801)One day, when I was preparing for Holy Communion and noticed that I had nothing to offer Him, I fell at His feet, calling down all His mercy upon my poor soul: "May Your grace, which flows down upon me from Your Compassionate Heart, strengthen me for the struggle and sufferings, that I may remain faithful to You. And, although I am such misery, I do not fear You, because I know Your mercy well. Nothing will frighten me away from You, O God, because everything is so much less than what I know [Your mercy to be]-I see that clearly. (1803)Today, I am not forcing myself to make any special preparation. I cannot think of anything, though I feel many things. I long for the time when God will come to my heart. I throw myself in His arms and tell Him about my inability and my misery. I pour out all the pain of my heart, for not being able to love Him as much as I want. I arouse within myself acts of faith, hope and charity and live on that throughout the day. (1813) MEDJUGORJE DAY BY DAYThese 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. JUNE 2 - PRAY AND FASTIn January of 1984, Jelena received the following locution:Pray and fast. For those who want to make a special sacrifice, fast up to three times a week at the most, but do not prolong it further (Locutionist Jelena & Mirijana January 22, 1984).Jesus also advises his followers on fasting:And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Mt 6:16-18).Reflection:A fruitful fast often depends on the right attitude at the beginning. Here, then, is a condensed version of a prayer for just that purpose, written by Fr. Slavko Barbaric, spiritual director to the visionaries. Loving Father, today I have decided to fast. I can remember that your prophets of old fasted, that Jesus our Lord fasted, as did his disciples. The Blessed Virgin also fasted and has called me as well. Eternal Father, I offer this day of fasting to you. May it draw me closer to you, teach me your ways, and open my eyes to see your many gifts. May love for you and for my neighbor fill my heart to overflowing.Lord, may this fast help me to grow in understanding the hungry, the deprived, the poor. Let me see my possessions as gifts for the journey meant to be shared. Grant also to me the grace of humility and the strength to do your will.Lord, may this fast cleanse me of bad habits, calm my passions, and increase your virtues within me. And may you, Mother Mary, obtain for me the grace of a joyful fast, that my heart may sing with you a song of thanksgiving. I place my decision to fast firmly in your hands. Teach me through fasting to be more and more like your Son, Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit. Amen.Application:Use Fr. Salvo's prayer on the morning of your next several fast days