You may contact Brother Craig through his community's web site at www.monksofadoration.org

Make frequent visits to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and the devil will be powerless against you.” ~St. John Bosco

 

You can visit http://spiritofadoration.home.comcast.net/~spiritofadoration/ to download our Adoration newsletter and a booklet for Adoration.

Mirjana’s Talk at the Medjugorje Peace Conference in Irvine, CA

By Mary Kemper

    I was able to hear Mirjana Soldo speak at the Medjugorje Peace Conference in Irvine, CA the last weekend of October.  I transcribed part of her talk because I found it interesting.  There is certainly no shortage of gloomy news, but Mirjana presented hopeful thoughts when she spoke about the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart. 

   On October 24, 2008, Mirjana Soldo said through her interpreter, Miki Musa: “…We are all the same before Our Heavenly Mother.  But if there is anybody… if we could still speak about the privileged ones…then we would speak about the priests.  Our Lady has never said what they should do, but She always says what we should do for them.  She says, they do not need you to judge and criticize them. They need your prayers and your love because God will judge them the way they were as priests, but God will judge you, the way you treated your priests.  Our Lady says if you lose respect for your priests, after that you will lose respect for the Church, and in the end with dear God, as well.  During the apparitions on the 2^nd of every month Our Lady always emphasizes the importance of the priests.  For example, during the apparition when She gives us Her blessing, She always says ‘I am giving you my motherly blessing, but the greatest blessing that you can receive on earth is the blessing coming from your priests because when they bless you, it is my Son Himself blessing you.’  Our Lady puts a priestly blessing above Her own blessing.  Then She says, ‘Do not forget to pray for your Shepherds, their priestly hands are blessed by my Son.’ 

   “Lately all of you have been following Our Lady’s messages on every 2^nd of the month…they are going in a direction that Our Lady has been preparing us for something.  I can tell you something the way I understand it.  We live in this time that we live in, it is the way it is…we are waiting for the Triumph of Mother’s Heart.  From the time we live in right now until the moment of Her triumph, there is a bridge…and the way I understood that bridge are priests.  Our Lady desires that we pray for them a lot so that this bridge can be firm and strong so that we all could cross that bridge in order to reach the Triumph of Our Mother’s Heart.  She says that we should not judge.  In this time that we live in, there is so much judgment and so little of love, but Our Lady desires that we are recognized through and by love.  Only dear God is supposed to be the Judge, but His judgment is completely different from ours because He does it through love.  Every one of us knows how we judge.  In Medjugorje where we come from, thanks be to God, we still have respect for our priests.  If a priest enters into the home, every member of the family will stand up and nobody will start to talk before he does because we know that through this priest, we have Jesus entering our home.  It is not our assignment or task to judge whether he truly represents Jesus or not.  Dear God will do it.  But if you look around a little, everybody is complaining about that we have a lack of vocations.  Imagine who would decide to become a priest when you hear that people only judge and criticize priests.  That is the reason why we have responsibility.  That is the reason why Our Lady says, ‘Do not judge and do not criticize.  Pray for them, love them because that is the way to help them’ and I am saying that today to you as well.” 

   Someone questioned Mirjana about the ten ‘secrets’ she was given by Our Lady.  Here is Mirjana’s response:  “Everything I was allowed to say about the secrets, I’ve already said. But Our Lady doesn’t want us to be fearful, to be afraid, because the true faith does not come from fear. The true faith comes from the heart. But I never said to anybody whether the secrets are good or bad. If Our Lady says Her heart will triumph, then what should we be afraid of?”   

      The next day Mirjana said, “I am not touching upon the secrets, but what I’m allowed to tell you is, be not afraid.  Do not trust those…do not believe those people who want to frighten you, who talk about the darkness in the future…that is not true.  That is not what Our Lady desires for us.  She doesn’t want us to have fear in our hearts.  No mother wants her child to fear.  The true faith is not the faith that comes out of fear.  The true faith is the faith that comes out of love.  Our Lady said, ‘What I started at Fatima, I will finish, accomplish in Medjugorje.  My Heart will triumph.’  So if Our Heavenly Mother’s heart will triumph and win at the end, what should we fear?”

Editor’s note: Mary is from Temecula, CA. Mirjana will be speaking in Pittsburgh, PA, on 4/19 at the Palumbo Center at Duquesne University. For more information go to www.mothershope.org. For those in the Erie area interested in a bus trip to see Mirjana, call Dean Rose at 814-868-8690.

Praying for our Shepherds

This idea came from a member of my internet prayer group (www.iipg.org).The author wanted the credit to go to Our Lady. Although Lent has already started, this is still a great idea. It could be continued throughout the year.

   Our Lady tells us to take care of our shepherds. Here is an idea that you can initiate in your parish during Lent. Print up postcards with each of your parish priest’s name and address on the front. On the reverse side print the following:
Dear Father (his name):
   Thank you for choosing to be a priest. We appreciate all the sacrifices that you make. We are thankful for the many opportunities to receive the sacraments that you and the other priests of the parish provide. Thank you for being such a good shepherd. We are praying for you today and every day. We thank God for the gift of your service.
God bless you, Father
(Leave room here for a signature)
   Make these cards available for people. Tell them to sign them, put a stamp on the card and mail it sometime during Lent. That way the priest will regularly receive cards from parishioners during the Lenten season.
   Anyone with a laserjet printer can make these postcards up. Or you can buy the blank postcards at an office supply store.

My Miracle

By Kathy Cook

   In December, 2006, I made an appointment with one of our local ENT’s for what I thought was a blocked left ear.  I assumed it was blocked with ear wax and had to be flushed, as I have had this procedure in the past and was told that I would be “prone to this.”  I was surprised when one of the “young maverick” doctors, after looking into my ear, told me I had fluid behind my eardrum and he would have to “drain” it.  I was moved to a different location in the office and he performed a myringotomy on my ear (which hurt beyond belief) and told me I would be fine in a couple days and my hearing would return in full.  Post surgery, my ear starting “leaking” during the night when I was asleep and I would find my pillow and nightgown soaked in fluid.  I called the MD who performed the surgery and they saw me right away and told me I had developed a “post-op” infection, which would require antibiotics and steroids.  This continued for two years total and 5 surgical procedures later in addition to 9 courses of the “top of the line” antibiotics and steroids to heal my ear over the next 18 months.  The expenses incurred trying to fix my ear is immeasurable.

   Needless to say, the “leaking” continued, and a new horror – it was also leaking during the day while I was at work.  I am a local hospital customer phone representative and my daily duties included the answering of phones all day long for customer disputes with their bills.  Not only could I not hear the patients complaints and respond accordingly, my clothes were now dotted with wet spots from my leaking ear.  In March, 2008, I was officially discharged from my ENT with the 2^nd doctor of the particular group of specialists, stating “I am officially out of options.”  I made an appointment in April, 2008 with the head of our ENT’s at the hospital that  I work for, thinking he could help me.  He also prescribed meds and told me to call him if I needed to.

   In August of 2008, I was referred to one of our “oldest” ENT specialists in my area.  He was a down-to-earth, “old-school” Jewish doctor in practice for over 40 years and, who pulled no punches.  He, also, performed another myringotomy on my ear, and when yet another post op infection developed, he brought me and my husband into his office on a Sunday afternoon, and prefaced the consult saying “I don’t want you to worry, I will be with you every step of the way for what I am about to tell you.”  He went on to say that he thought I was suffering from a “Cerebral Spinal Fluid Leak” and he was referring me to specialist at HUP immediately, due to the fact that I had an open pathway to my brain and could contract meningitis which could be fatal, if not taken care of immediately.  He went on to say that the only way to “fix” this problem was a dual surgery by an ENT and a neurologist simultaneously to patch the leak in the dura of my brain. 

   I could ramble on and on about the horrors incurred by me personally, as I met with the ENT and the neurosurgeon in Philadelphia, however I will tell you that during my Nov. 3, 2008 visit with Dr. Kevin Judy and after an MRI at that facility, I signed the OR consents with many, many risks which could occur during the surgery which included:  a heart attack on the table, a stroke on the table, inability to speak after severing my facial cranial nerves, inability to close my left eye, inability to walk, blood loss requiring blood transfusions, which included its own set of risks, inability to hear, chronic infections, and the fact that there were no guarantees associated with this surgery, etc, etc, etc.  The reality was if I did not allow the surgery, I could die within days due to many types of brain infections and brain abscesses.  I felt I had no choice but to undergo this risky surgery to plug up the hole in my head.  For the sake of my husband and children, I signed all forms.  Surgery date was to be in December sometime.

   About Nov. 5, 2008, my aunt Kay (no blood relative-my mother’s best friend) called me and told me she wanted to see me.  My husband and I went to her house and she presented me with “the cloth of Medjugorje” and explained to me what it was and what she wanted me to do with it.  She advised me to keep it as long as necessary, but when I was finished, I was to return the cloth to her for the next person that needed it.  I went home immediately and read over all the material she included with the cloth and commenced using it that day.  My next visit to Philadelphia was Dec. 3 with the surgical ENT who would be performing my surgery.  I had used my prayer cloth every morning. On my knees I would pray to Jesus and the Blessed Virgin to please release me from this suffering and pending surgery. I developed a renewed deepening of my faith, which I had lost after the death of my beloved mother in the year 2000 - the usual selfish feeling of “why did God have to take my mother at age 69, when she had so much more love to give us and her grandchildren.”

    To my complete surprise, and also my family’s complete relief (my sisters are all in the medical field and knew full well the risks of the surgery),  Dr. Bigelow told me that day, following his examination and many tests, that my CSF Leak had spontaneously sealed over and there was no need for the surgery at this time.  He was not promising, however, that this leak would not re-occur, but that at this time, and without his surgical intervention, my “leak” had healed over and he would not have to see me until March, 2009, for follow-up. Dr. Bigelow also revealed to us that day, that this had “never” happened to one of his patients and he could not medically explain how this occurred. He seemed completely stumped.  I asked him at the end of the visit if he was a religious believer and went on to explain what I had been doing the past month (my prayer cloth) and he just shook his head and responded –he believed in whatever worked for me.

   I have recently been back to my “old-school” doctor, Dr. David Barras, and he too, could not believe that the hole in my head had sealed on his own.  I also advised him of what I had been doing (my prayer cloth) and he was astounded to say the least.  I just had a follow-up visit with him, and his examination revealed no leaking and my left ear looked perfectly “normal.”  I do have a slight hearing impairment and have some headaches at times, but other than that, feel great.  I also need to use my ear drops everyday due to the multiple tubes put in my ear.

   I have continued to use my prayer cloth every day since, and during the course of thanking Jesus and Mary for favors granted, I also include other people I know in my daily prayer and ask for relief of their suffering also.  I know of quite a few successes and, of course, I attribute their healing to my “prayer cloth” prayers.

    I eventually returned the cloth to my aunt and obtained one of my own.  Due to this “miracle” of mine, I have felt compelled to share my “medical secret” with as many people as I possibly can, and I feel that God wants me to tell my story, so that others will also have this very deep spiritual healing and renewed faith.

   I find it ironic that my “leak” stopped thanks to another “leak” –  the liquid coming from the Risen Jesus statue in Medjugorje. I hope to travel there someday in thanksgiving.  Blessed be God and the Virgin Mary.

Editor’s note:  Kathy is from Wilkes-Barre, PA. 

Fasting and Renunciation Will Make You Stronger in Faith

    By Fr. Ljubo Kurtovic

   "Dear children! I desire to thank you from my heart for your Lenten renunciations. I desire to inspire you to continue to live fasting with an open heart. By fasting and renunciation, little children, you will be stronger in faith. In God you will find true peace through daily prayer. I am with you and I am not tired. I desire to take you all with me to Heaven, therefore, decide daily for holiness. Thank you for having responded to my call." (3/25/07)
   As a mother, Mary, the Queen of Peace, thanks us for our Lenten renunciations. Mother Mary thanks us because She loves us. Only a heart filled with love can be a grateful heart. We should be thanking Her for Her encouragement, Her call and love, Her interceding with Her son Jesus for us. She calls us because it is Her desire that we continue to live fasting. She speaks to us about it and calls us to fast and make renunciations for ourselves and because of us, for our happiness and joy.
   "By fasting and renunciation, little children you will be stronger in faith," - Heavenly Mother says to us. Fasting and renunciation are necessary in order for us to earn God's mercy. Our renunciation is like a bowl into which God pours His mercy. Blessed Mother Teresa said: "We need to be emptied before God can fill us."  Fasting and renunciation are our part of the job in faith. Saint Augustine teaches us: "God created us without our aid; but he did not choose to save us without our aid." In Lent we should practice self-renunciation and do penance as if our salvation depends solely on us, but pray as if our salvation and everything else depends solely on God. Praying without self-renunciation is just like stopping halfway. It is as if you were rowing in a boat tied to the shore. We shall never move until the boat is untied. We cannot empty our body of sins nor eliminate sins from the world we live in. But we can die to sin and then He no longer has  authority over us. Renunciation is dying to sin.
   When Our Lady speaks to us about renunciation, She does not have in mind the mere physical penance and renunciation, but the spiritual side of it. The mere physical penance and fasting are not enough. They may lead us to arrogance, pharisaism and formalism.  They may make us want to display our strength, not to subdue our will to God's will. Therefore in one of Her messages Our Lady says to us: "Little children, fasting has become a custom which no one wants to stop. Fast with the heart." Fasting and love are indivisible. One cannot fast without love, nor can one love without fasting in its broadest sense. Prayer is also our answer to God's love. That is why fasting and prayer are inseparable. Fasting without prayer is a mere slimming diet. By fasting without prayer we in fact just revolve around ourselves. Fasting turns all our spiritual forces and powers of the heart, all of our inner being towards God.
   Our Lent should not finish with Easter. Setting our mind on fasting and living it means to struggle for freedom. It will not mean much if we renounce some of our bad habits only during the time of Lent, whereas we continue pursuing them afterwards. If this is the case, our renunciation can become self-deceit. One may indulge in arrogance and self-sufficiency and say to oneself: "I am strong, I can do that."  Lent then becomes just another break of this habit, while there has been no change in the man himself. Fasting and renunciation is not proving your strength, but subduing your will to God's will. The best and the most fruitful renunciation is denying one's own self. Even Jesus will say: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself." (Mark 8: 34).
   The Virgin Mary comes and speaks to us not to steal something from us or to deprive us of our joys of life. She comes because She wants us to be happy, normal and free in God. Let us thank Mary from the bottom of our hearts because She has not become weary with us.  Let us not become tired of everyday responding to the call of our Heavenly Mother.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Information Center “Mir” Međugorje  www.medjugorje.hr (3/2007)

   A Pilgrim From China

                          By Louise Lotze                        

    In Father Jozo's book, Observe the Fruits, he relates, as if it were today, when on the 18th of February, 1983, a pilgrim knocked on his door in the parish-church where he was carrying out his ministry.  The pilgrim said, “Father, I come from China.  I heard at three different times a voice saying: ‘Go to Medjugorje.’  So, here I am at last!”

    The pilgrim did not know where Medjugorje was or even how to get there.  One day his brother, who lives in Australia, called him to ask how he was. The pilgrim told his brother about the voice he had heard and his dilemma.  He asked his brother for help.  The brother inquired and was told  where Medjugorje was and that Our Lady is appearing there.  The man who informed him then told him: “I'm a Catholic Bishop here in China and I have been there.” 

    After the pilgrim had received all the necessary information from his brother, he prepared his passport and came with his video camera.  After spending ten days in Medjugorje, he was arrested by the Communist police and put into jail.  In those days it was forbidden to take pictures.  They confiscated his camera and his used film and called it propaganda!  They then gave him a choice -  be brought to trial or go back to his country.  He chose to go back home.  With regret he left, but took his rosary beads with him.

    He began to pray the Rosary every day.  After fifteen years, a missionary who knew him came to Medjugorje and was able to tell Father what that man did.  The man had been imprisoned 5 times, but thousands of people in cities in China have learned from him how to pray the Rosary.  The missionary said that this man had prepared them with prayer for Baptism and every year thousands are baptized.  This is the reason why the missionary had come to Medjugorje, to thank Our Lady for this great apostle and this immense gift we have received in this century.

    If you ask now, Father Jozo relates why this Chinese man come to Medjugorje. The Church will explain the reason.  He has become a sign for many of his fellow citizens and for all the Christian world!

   In another chapter, Father Jozo writes about Buddhists and Anglicans who have become Catholic.  Father Jozo relates that five years ago a bishop from Korea held an inquiry in his diocese of 74 parishes.  The bishop was telling the people that in that year there had been more Baptisms than through the century, because the Buddhists had started coming to Medjugorje. It was in Medjugorje they had found the Church that prays together hours and hours, in peace and joy. In Medjugorje they came to know God, Our Lady, and the Catholic Church

    Father Jozo continues that many Anglicans have also turned Catholic.  There are also many Anglican clergymen who have become priests in the Catholic Church.  One of these priests came to Father Jozo and said:  “I have decided to become a priest, and I have already sent my application to Rome, because in Medjugorje I saw the Church that believes that God is present in the Eucharist;  I saw the Church kneeling before the most Blessed Sacrament;  I saw the Church that forgives sin.  I was bestowed with the grace and my only wish is: to become a Catholic priest.”

Editor’s note:  Louise is from Ashtabula, Ohio. Please keep Fr. Jozo in your prayers. Fr. Neil Buchlein from WV wrote, “I received a forwarded e-mail from Fr.'s office which says that he has cancelled his retreats and all activities with pilgrims so that he could rest. If you have ever spent any time around him, you would realize that he does not know what the word ‘stop or rest’ means.   Fr. Jozo is a ‘walking saint’ and certainly can use all of our  prayers."

An Ancient Prayer to Saint Joseph

    O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power I may offer my Thanksgiving and Homage to the most Loving of Fathers. O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen

   This novena to Saint Joseph, the foster father of Christ, is often distributed on prayer cards with the following text: "This prayer was found in the 50th year of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1505, it was sent from the pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle. Whoever shall read this prayer or hear it or keep it about themselves shall never die a sudden death or be drowned, nor shall poison take effect on them—neither shall they fall into the hands of the enemy or be burned in any fire or be overpowered in battle. Say for nine mornings for anything you desire. It has never been known to fail, provided that the request is for one's spiritual benefit or for those whom we are praying for."

It has the Imprimatur of Most Rev. George W. Ahr, Bishop of Trenton

Is Medjugorje Real? (Part 4)

   The following is a transcription of a talk given by Dr. Mark Miravalle at the Medjugorje Conference at Notre Dame University in May, 2008.  It is continued from previous issues and will conclude in the next issue. The Conference at Notre Dame University this year will be held on May 29-31.  For more information call 574-288-8777.

   The fourth question or objection: This concerns potential false ecumenical teaching. The question: “Do the messages reported by the visionaries contain false teachings regarding ecumenism which contradicts the official teachings of the Catholic Church’s magisterium? I’ve heard that one reported message calls for a type of religious indifferentism, where one religion is as good as another.”

   As we mentioned, the first criteria the Church looks at in terms of any reported apparitions, ”Is the message doctrinely in conformity with the faith and moral teachings of the Church?” The message of Medjugorje has been examined thoroughly by a great number of recognized scholars, In fact, well over 20 years ago there was a doctoral dissertation on the subject of the message of Medjugorje, the thesis of which was simply to say, “The message of Medjugorje as reported is in conformity with Scripture, the Fathers of the Church, the Second Vatican Council, and the messages of Lourdes and Fatima, on the basis of private revelation.” And that thesis was accepted as a legitimate thesis at the Pontifical University in Rome. Since that time, there has been a great score of theologians and bishops and priests and religious who have examined the message and have not found a single doctrinal error.

   But let’s get right to the point. The posed objection is the issue of ecumenism, so let’s be as fair as we can to the objection. There have been two messages reportedly from the Mother of God in Medjugorje on the issue of ecumenism, and I want to read both of them to you.

   The first one, somewhere in between 1981 and 1983, goes as follows:” In God’s eyes there are no divisions and there are no religions. You in the world have made the divisions. The one Mediator is Jesus Christ. Which religion you belong to cannot be a matter of indifference. The presence of the Holy Spirit is not the same in every church.”

   The second message was relayed by Mirjana in approximately the same time period. Mirjana summarizes or reports the message of Our Lady: “The Madonna deplores the lack of religious unity, especially in the villages. She said that everybody’s religion should be respected and of course, one’s own.” So what does the message reportedly say? Number one, man has made the divisions. Number two, all religions do not have equal presence of the Holy Spirit, and number three, the dimension of respecting religions, even if it’s not your particular religion.

   Let me read you the words of the Second Vatican Council regarding religious respect and the relationship between the Catholic Church and other religions. And I quote from the document:” The Catholic Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy in other religions. She has a high regard for their manner of life and conduct, precepts and doctrine, which although different in many from her own teachings, nevertheless often reflect a ray of that truth which enlightens all men. Yet, she is in duty, bound to proclaim without fail Christ, Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. In Him, in Whom God reconciled all things to Himself, men find the fullness of their religious life.” 

   The documents of the Second Vatican Council, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the Pontifical Magisterium tell us that there is only one true Church. It is one, holy, Catholic and apostolic in its fullness. And yet elements of truth can be found in certain degrees in other religions. But ultimately we’re also called to respect the religions of other individuals, even if there’s a disagreement about the truth that’s being posed or the theological position that’s being posed.

   My friends, the Medjugorje message as it’s relayed is a complete capsule of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council and the Catholic Catechism. Fullness of Catholic truth, respect for other religions, and that is indeed the Medjugorje message regarding ecumenism. I would also add that not only does the Medjugorje message reflect the traditional concept of the one true Church, in terms of Catholic Church, but it as well reflects the newer emphasis of the Second Vatican Council, with at least an accentuation to a deeper dialogue in respect with other religions. So I’m saying that the messages not only reflect Catholic teaching, but contemporary authentic post-conciliar Catholic teaching.

  

Additions to Ivan’s Schedule

Mar. 16 – St. Peter and Paul Parish, 220 N Terry St., Spring Valley, Il 61362 Contact: 815-663-3041 Rectory 6-9:00 PM

Apr. 22 – St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church,1051 Robinson Ave., Barberton, OH 44203 Contact: Peggy Golden 440-350-9217, mepgoldie@aol.com 6-9:00 PM

Apr. 23 – St. Columbkille Church 6740 Broadview Rd.,Parma, OH 44134 Contact: Peggy Golden 440-350-9217,mepgoldie@aol.com 6-9:00 PM

May 2 - Holy Cross Church 23 Sycamore St. Holyoke, MA 01040 Contact: Scott/Cathy 413-536-1259

Thanks to Cindy Bielanin, Ruth Burick, Jeanette Burick, Ann Wingerter and Helen Rawa for help with the February mailing. Thanks to Doris Murray and Nancy Zapotosky for making more prayer cloths. And thanks to Diana Stillwell, Louise Lotze, Mike Golovich  and Joel Vidonish for their photos this month.