Pope Francis will consecrate his pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima on Her feast day, May 13. Our Lady of Medjugorje said on August 25, 1991, “I invite you to self-renunciation for nine days so that, with your help, everything that I desire to realize through the secrets I began in Fatima, may be fulfilled.”  The picture above was taken at a Gospa Missions retreat in Fombell, PA.

 

If you would like a pdf of the printed copy we send out, email June at jklins1981@verizon.net and put "May pdf" in the subject line. Permission is given to reprint original articles in our newsletters, provided that no wording is changed and that "The Spirit of Medjugorje" is credited. To reprint articles from other sources we have used, permission must be obtained from that particular source. (Sometimes permission is granted only to us for our use.)

 

Patrick Latta

 

The Fruit of Faithful Prayer of Two Mothers

By June Klins

     In June of 2012, our pilgrimage group visited the “castle” in Medjugorje to hear the testimony of Patrick Latta. Patrick began his testimony by introducing himself as a businessman from Canada. He began, “I quit going to school when I was 16 to go wash cars in a car lot….10 years later I bought the company. I was a super salesman. I bought my own Honda dealership. I bought my own BMW dealership. We were the top gun in Western Canada. Nobody could outsell us.”   

   Patrick’s wife, Nancy, popped in as he was speaking. “This is my wife, Nancy –  this is my treasure."  Nancy says the story he is telling is not s not their story, but the fruit of 48 years of prayer by Patrick’s mother – an orphan raised by sisters of St. Joseph – and the faithful prayer and perseverance of her own mother, who was praying for her for 30 years. “The story you are about to hear is a story of God's mercy and grace. We have never seen Our Lady. We have had no mystical experiences. We have no special gifts. This story is a result of the faithful prayer of two mothers.”

   Patrick continued his story. “I had nothing to do with God, church, marriage, sacraments, school. I had a horrible time in Catholic school." One day, when Patrick was on the football field, the head coach yelled in front of everyone, “Hey, Latta, you can't play because you don't pay to come here." Patrick did not know he did not pay. "That was the end of my school – that was the end in believing in God."

    "I have four children [from two previous marriages]. My children never saw the inside of the church – ever."  He used to say to his children, "This is god," and would hold up money. “When you have enough of this, you have all the god you want." Patrick lamented, “That's a father speaking to his children.” He said that one day his youngest son came home from school and announced he had been baptized Anglican. Patrick said to his son, “You're supposed to be Catholic." "Dad, you never took me inside a church." Patrick again lamented, “Wasn't I a great father? And that's how I lived – no God, no prayer, no church. But my business was fantastic, so I have a huge successful business and I don't need God. It was I, I, I …”

   After his second divorce, Patrick met Nancy. Within two months they were living together. “No God, no prayer, no church, no marriage, no sacrament – nothing – living in mortal sin. We lived together six years.”  One day, Nancy said that they should get married. Patrick agreed, and they got married the next day in a helicopter on top of a mountain. He hired a JP and asked the pilot to be the best man. He didn't even know his name. When he came home from work the next day, Nancy was crying. She said, "I don't feel married." She wanted to get married in a church. Patrick said, “Nancy, do you know how much that helicopter cost?" She said, “I don't care about your helicopter. We have to get married in a church." Patrick reminded her that he had two previous divorces.

   Nancy went to see the bishop, who had documentation on Patrick's annulment from his first marriage. Patrick did not even know the marriage was annulled! The second document said that Patrick’s second marriage was never valid. The next day Nancy went to a church called “Immaculate Heart of Mary” to ask the priest to marry them. The priest agreed, but said to Nancy, “You’re out of your mind to marry this guy in church. He'll never change. He's the worst case I've ever seen. You are not going to make a success of this marriage –  there's no chance." Patrick agreed to attend marriage preparation classes and he made many promises – go to Mass, Confession, etc. – but admits he is a “professional promiser” since he is a car dealer. They did get married in the church, but Patrick said it didn't mean anything, and he broke every promise he made. That's how they lived… until one day when Nancy's brother sent them a book of messages of Our Lady of Medjugorje.

   When they received the book, Patrick was not interested, so he handed the book to Nancy, but she gave it back to him and said, "Here, my pagan husband, you throw them away and it's on your conscience." The word “conscience” wouldn't let Patrick throw the book away. He opened it and looked for the shortest message in the book. It said, “I call you to conversion for the last time." Then something happened. The tears just started and they wouldn't stop. He asked Nancy, "Why didn't you tell me about these messages? Why didn't you tell me they were true?"  Patrick confessed, “I saw myself for the first time – I'm Catholic and lived in mortal sin for 30 years. And it came back to me in one second – boom! In one minute everything changed in my life.”  He warned, “The day you see yourself as you live on this earth and you are Catholic and you are living in mortal sin – it's the worst day of your life, because reality hits you so hard and it's the truth."  

   Patrick began to read the messages – they became his whole life. He and Nancy even traveled to Oregon to attend a conference about the messages. Patrick was very touched when a priest at the conference suggested that everyone consecrate their children to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

   At this point in the talk, Patrick decided to do some audience participation. There was a group of high school boys there from Boston, so he chose three of them to role-play as his sons. He said to the first boy that the school called and said he was expelled for using drugs and possibly dealing drugs. Patrick said – as he held up some money – that the principal had told him that this was the problem. “Your kids have too much." Patrick said that his son, who had dreadlocks at the time, replied, “This is my life. Leave me alone." Then Patrick called over the boy who was to play another of his sons, and said this kid was a super rugby player, but had a drinking problem. He mentioned the time that this son could not find his yellow Barracuda in a parking lot because he was so drunk.

   Then Patrick called over a young woman from our group to play his 17 year-old daughter who wanted to get married. When she was divorced at age 19, Patrick gave her his car and his credit card and told her to go to California and find someone else. That's exactly what she did, and two years later she was divorced again.

   “Drugs, alcohol, divorce – a fourth kid I can't even talk about. His immorality is so off-the-wall. Why that lifestyle?” His son told him, “Because I never had a father.” Patrick looked at the young people who were playing his kids. “These are my four children that I never baptized. I never said a prayer with you from the day you were born. I never took you inside a church… You had everything money could buy. Your cars were $70,000.”

   Referring to the priest at the conference, Patrick said, “And the priest said to consecrate these kids to the Mother of God. Well, they’re the most helpless situation you could have with four children. These words ‘consecrate them to the Mother of God’ hit me so hard.” Patrick didn't know how to do the consecration. So he looked at the statue of Our Lady at the conference and said, "Blessed Mother, take my kids, and, Blessed Mother, You be the parent that I never was, because I'm a total failure.” 

  Patrick and Nancy spent two days at this conference and learned all about the messages. He said the number one message of Our Lady is to pray the Rosary, because when you do, you’ll see miracles in your family. The second message of Our Lady is to go to Mass – minimum of Sunday. Patrick started to say the Rosary and go to Mass.

   The third message Patrick said is the most difficult. Our Lady said She wants us to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. Patrick looked up all the messages on fasting, and found that Our lady said, "When you pray and fast you can stop wars."  Patrick thought, “What war am I going to stop?”  Then the light went on – “I got a war on drugs, I got a war on alcohol, I got a war with divorces, I got a war on immorality you can't even talk about. My house is a war zone!”  He repeated, “Fasting stops wars." So they learned to fast every Wednesday and Friday. “When you fast you have no fear of the future.” Patrick admitted he had a hard time fasting. “It's the hardest message because we think fasting is for somebody else, but if you don't listen to the coach he can’t help you.”

   The next message is reading the Bible. They didn't even own a Bible, so Nancy had to buy one. Patrick said the fifth message is the big message of Medjugorje. “You can't start conversion without Confession.” Patrick had not been to Confession for 30 years and had lots to confess." You know what the priest did? He said, ‘I absolve you.’ I broke into tears. ‘I absolve you.’ Who can say that? Nobody has that power – only a priest. I'm shocked at the mercy of God and I'm shocked at the power the priest has in Confession. 30 years of mortal sin went down the drain in one Confession!”

   Speaking about the “castle” Patrick and Nancy built, Patrick said, “This is why this is a house of prayer for priests –  because the priest in Confession saved my life. Everything changed with that Confession.”  They have 300-400 priests a year come there, and also look after the religious, sisters, and seminarians and young men looking for vocations.  

    Patrick went back to talking about his kids. He asked the youngest son if he’d like to pray a Rosary with them and he declined for months before he finally agreed. Today, 19 years later, that son is a Catholic, married, with two beautiful kids. He is a teacher at a Catholic high school, and one year he even took 52 kids from his school to Medjugorje.

   The second son went to Medjugorje once, and Patrick gave him a rosary. He went back to Canada and later called Patrick to tell him he quit drinking, quit rugby, and became a fireman.  Patrick said, “How is that possible?” And the son said, "The rosary you gave me in Medjugorje." Today he is married and has two beautiful kids. Patrick paraphrased, “Our Lady said if you do this (holding up the rosary), I'll show you miracles in your family.”

   For 10 years, Patrick did not hear from his daughter. In February of 2012, he got a phone call from her. She said she was in Canada and wanted to come to Medjugorje."Daddy, I want to start again. Daddy, I don't want to be separated from the family anymore."  At this point, she had been through three divorces.  She came for two weeks to Medjugorje. She got a healing of her problem with alcohol and went back to the University for a nursing degree. Her life completely changed. “The divorce is gone – the alcohol is gone – the drugs are gone – from someone who started to pray.”  Patrick asked for prayers for his oldest son who still lives an immoral lifestyle. Our Lady said that when you consecrate your kids to the Immaculate Heart, they will be saved. For 48 years, as Patrick's mother prayed, she saw nothing; but then he went home to Canada one time, and took his mother to Mass. She cried, "The black sheep is home; the prodigal son has come home!"  

   This year Patrick and Nancy will celebrate their 25th anniversary. Patrick held up his rosary as he recalled how the priest said their marriage would not work. Patrick sold his car dealerships, boat, house, cars, and everything to move to Medjugorje without even knowing where it was. Why? He quipped, “The Mother of God lives here and I want to be Her neighbor.” Patrick said that Our lady appeared 17 times on their property, since Marija lives next door. During an apparition, Marija consecrated their property to Our Lady and Her Son. Our Lady smiled and said, "I'm joyful that you consecrated this place to me. Those who come here I will bless and protect." Patrick beams, “A real message from the Mother of God to a guy who did everything wrong – 30 years of mortal sin. Can you imagine the mercy of God?”  Holding up a rosary, he concluded, “This is the answer to every problem. This is the answer to your marriage. This is the answer to your kids."

God Exists

By Ann

 

Well written book! Very interesting stories of the AWESOME power of God! Hard to put down! Enjoyed reading this and passing it along to others. I would like to read the other volumes as well. Recommend to everyone!

Editor’s note: I felt Our Lady prompting me to reprint the following which was originally published in our May, 2002 issue. It is also in Volume II of  The Best of "The Spirit of Medjugorje."  If you would like to share a story of how the swap worked for you, contact June at jklins1981@verizon.net for possible publication on our website.

 

The Swap

   By June Klins    

   “Keep making the swap with Our Lady.  She’ll take care of everything.  I made the swap about my job last week.   Today I got a promotion. Wahooooooooo!  It works!”   After reading this note from my friend, Christine, I wrote back to her and asked, “Did I miss something?  What is ‘the swap’?”  Christine wrote back and told me that the “swap” is giving your troubles, worries and intentions to our Heavenly Mother, while you pray for Her intentions – the conversion of unbelievers, peace in the world, priests, youth, healing of the sick, etc.  Christine told me that she had three “swaps” taken care of in two days.  “I can’t believe how fast She handles things,” Christine said.  “Sister Emmanuel taught this to me.  It’s so easy and it works!”

   Christine gave me permission to share another of the “swaps” she made with Our Lady that week.  This one involved her husband, who she said had been displaying a grouchy and mean temperament at the time.  She said, “Thankfully he has a spiritual life, and that is what kept me from digging a hole out back and throwing him into it.  I gave him to Mary and really wished Her the best of luck!”  Not long after she made the swap, Christine and her husband went to a talk about  Padre Pio and had the opportunity to have religious items blessed with Padre Pio’s glove.  Christine’s husband surprised her by taking off his wedding ring and laying it on the glove. Then he asked the priest to give their marriage a special blessing.  He was transformed!

   I was intrigued.  I wanted to know more.  So I wrote to “Children of Medjugorje,” the organization with which Sister Emmanuel is affiliated, and asked how I could learn more about the “swap.”  I was informed that I could learn more about it on one of Sister’s audio tapes, “True Consecration to Mary.”  I immediately ordered the tape.  

   Sister Emmanuel reveals on the tape how the idea of the “swap” originated.  She was with Ivan’s prayer group on the mountain one night when Our Lady’s message was, “Dear children, give me all your worries, all your problems.  Then your heart will be free to pray. And pray for My intentions.”   As Sister reflected on this message, she thought Our Lady was suggesting that we make a trade with Her.  We give Her our worries and we pick up Her worries. A similar message was given to Mirjana in March of 1991 when  Our Lady said to her, “Help Me, and I will pray to My Son for you.”   The idea of a “swap” is hardly a new one though. Over 600 years ago, Jesus said to St. Catherine of Sienna, “You take care of  My business; I’ll handle yours.” 

   Sister Emmanuel tried the swap herself and said it worked perfectly. Soon after, Sister met a man named Albert who came to Medjugorje and had a conversion.  On his last day there, he was very dejected and Sister asked him why.  He said that he was sad because he would not be able to live the message Our Lady gave about praying in the family.  His wife, at home in France, was an atheist, and had even threatened him when he left for Medjugorje.  He also had hoped to return to Medjugorje, but said he would have to save for many years for that.  Sister Emmanuel suggested to Albert, “Let’s make a deal with Our Lady.”  So Albert did.  He said, “I give You my wife, and I wish You all the best. And I will pray for Your intentions instead of worrying about my wife.” Three months later, Albert was back in Medjugorje, but this time his wife was with him!  He said, “She forced me to come to Medjugorje.  That deal works tremendously.”  Albert said that now he had a new problem though – his wife prays so much that he can’t keep up with her!

   In a later note, Christine told me that there was also a reference to the “swap” in Sister Emmanuel’s book, Medjugorje in the ‘90’s, which my son had bought in Medjugorje last summer.  It was easy to find the story because it was titled, “Theresa’s Swap.”  This story was about a woman named Theresa, who was worried about her daughter Vera’s family.  Her son-in-law, an atheist, was constantly fighting with and criticizing Vera.  On the same day that Theresa left for Medjugorje, Vera made an appointment to file for divorce.  In Medjugorje, Theresa heard about the “swap,” and decided to try it.  She went to the Blue Cross and prayed for unbelievers, young people, families, priests, those without peace in their hearts, etc.  On that very night she found out that Vera canceled her meeting with the lawyer. Theresa returned each night to the Blue Cross to pray.  When she returned home she found that her son-in-law was a totally changed man.  Vera and her husband have converted and with their daughter Harmony (no coincidence in that name!), the family began to pray together every day. 

  In further explaining the “swap,” Sister Emmanuel said that Mary, in the role of our Heavenly Mother, wants to help you –  to make your life peaceful and joyful.  She wants to take all the pressures and crosses in your life.  She wants to pick up your problems, all those things that prevent you from being peaceful with God and peaceful with other people.  She wants you to give the problems to Her, so that She can take care of them. She knows much better than you do how to take care of your problems. After all, She has been a Mother for a very long time! So once She picks up that problem, you will be free of it. Instead of your heart being focused on a problem which will obsess you all the time, you will be able to open up your heart to the whole world. For instance, if you are praying for the conversion of one of your children, and make the “swap” with Her, then instead of your heart being focused on your child alone, your heart will become like Her Motherly heart, taking care of all the children of God. You enlarge your heart to the dimensions of God’s heart!  But it is not as if you have stopped praying for your own intention either, because your intention will be included in Our Lady’s intentions.  If you think about it, almost every intention that you pray for can be included in any one of Our Lady’s intentions.  Perhaps you are praying for a friend who is very ill. Our Lady’s intentions include prayers for the sick. So when you pray for Her intentions of the sick, you are praying for your friend as well. Maybe you are praying for your teen-agers. Our Lady’s intentions include prayers for young people. Maybe you are praying for a job situation. Chances are that the people causing you grief at your job are unbelievers, so when you pray for unbelievers, you are in essence, praying for your own job situation. The list goes on.    

   In my Medjugorje prayer group, when we state our intentions before we start our Rosaries, one of our members always says, “I pray for Mary’s intentions, which covers every good thing.”  And she is right.  Sister Emmanuel says that when you enlarge your heart to the dimensions of God’s heart, you feel the love of God penetrate you in a new way – a deep and strong way.  You become like Mother Teresa, whose heart was open to the whole world.  Everybody you meet becomes very dear to you, because you have God’s heart in your heart instead of being focused on your own problems.   Not only does this freedom alleviate you of your worries, but it also frees you up for deeper prayer of adoration, contrition and thanksgiving. It frees you up to listen to what God wants to say to you too. That is an important part of prayer often overlooked. 

   A few months ago, I decided to try a “swap.”  This may seem like a trivial intention, but I was having trouble with my computer. It looked like it was a lost cause, so I told Our Lady, “You get my computer fixed so I can continue to do Your work, and I will pray for Your intentions.”  Every time I would start to think about my problem with the computer, I would say a ”Hail Mary” for Our Lady’s intentions. That night, my husband worked diligently on the computer and was able to fix it.  As of this writing, it is working better than it has ever worked before!  Our Lady is a powerful intercessor! So you can bet I will be giving Her some more challenging projects in the future. 

   An added benefit of the “swap” that Sister Emmanuel did not mention is that you become more youthful looking and also healthier. Think about it.  It makes sense.  It is no secret that stress causes lines in your face and causes damage to your body. So if you give your problems to our Heavenly Mother, it’s OK, because Her glorified body can handle it. The visionaries say that She is so beautiful because She loves, and She would love to have your problem.  Don’t be surprised if your problem is solved in a way different than what you had planned though, because She and Her Son always know what is best.

   As my friend Christine says, “Imagine if we were all praying for Blessed Mother's intentions instead of worrying about our own problems!  Imagine what could be accomplished!“  We could change the world!

“Why, dearest daughter, do you waste time in sadness when time is so precious for the salvation of poor sinners?” ~ St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (our patron saint this year)

 

Conversation with Vicka

 

The following was excerpted with permission from the book, A Conversation with the Visionaries, by Kresimir Sego.

 

Q: What significance does Medjugorje have in the world?

A: Medjugorje is of great importance. Not as a place, but Medjugorje as a message. It is something that man cannot comprehend. The messages of Our Lady have spread all over the world, to all corners of the earth. Considering the messages and letters I receive from all over the world, people are enthusiastic. This place has become an oasis of peace. Nowhere else can one find more peace than here under the safeguard of Our Lady, in Her presence under Her mantle. This is why this is so. Medjugorje is of great importance because of the messages of Our Lady, because She is still here and because Her presence can be expected daily. Lourdes, Fatima and other places of apparitions are beautiful and it is wonderful to be there, but it is a different feeling when the Gospa is present and not a thing of the past. Medjugorje is important because people feel that here Heaven is on earth, because the Gospa is here every day.

   One cannot compare this with anything, one cannot describe in words the meaning of Medjugorje. For those who come to Medjugorje, Medjugorje is holy ground.

 

Q: Do you think that people are living the messages?

A: On one occasion, the Gospa said that there are people who accept the messages and who start living them, but then, suddenly, they seem to get tired. The Gospa says that She would prefer if we accepted one message with our heart and took one step at a time, without stopping. People quickly accept everything, and then they come to a sudden stop. We need to slowly accept the messages and take them into our life and pray; in this way, we shall not get tired so quickly, of course, only if we accept them with the heart.

 

Gamaliel and Medjugorje

By Michael Ripple

   With the election of Pope Francis, much has been speculated about what the Holy Father’s response will be concerning Our Lady of Medjugorje, especially in light of the Vatican’s recent investigation.

   While my ‘faith’ does not depend on my experience of Medjugorje, it certainly has been deepened, and I have witnessed many return to God through the intervention of Our Lady of Medjugorje.

   If the Church would issue a decision opposing Medjugorje’s recognition as a God-given time of apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, then the consequences could be rather disheartening. 

   What of the fruits over thirty years?  What of the early sufferings and agonies under communism? What of the many pilgrims who returned to their God?  What of all the hands Mary took and placed in Her Son’s?  What of all the clergy, bishops and cardinals who made a pilgrimage? Would it all be for naught?

   What would happen not only to the empirical, but the spiritual evidence, of the countless healings and conversions?

How could one argue against what Our Lady reiterated to the visionaries throughout the years – that we are to receive Holy Eucharist, pray the Rosary, go to Confession, read Scripture, and fast?

   I am reminded of the Pharisee, Gamaliel who spoke to the Sanhedrin concerning the Apostles’ witnessing and proclaiming the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. “So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go.  For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself.  But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God” (Acts 5:38ff).

   It’s a difficult decision the Church is trying to make.  Ultimately it has to do with man’s interpretation of how God reveals Himself.  For many, we believe, He has chosen Mary as our Mother to reveal His deep desire for each and every soul, no matter what race or creed, to return to His creative love.  For others, the belief is that God is not revealing anything to us in any way.  Some have even taken to saying that Medjugorje is of demonic origins.  As my friend and our guide from Medjugorje says; “So Satan wants us to go Holy Eucharist and Confession?  It seems Satan has converted!”

Editor’s note:  Michael Ripple is the author of A Lost Shepherd, An Ex-Priest’s Journey from Sin to Salvation.  Together with his wife, Wendy, they lead pilgrimages throughout the year to Italy and Medjugorje.  www.alostshepherdmedjugorje.blogspot.com

 

PREACH

   When I was in Medjugorje in June of 2012, an Irish priest gave an unusual homily. I recorded the homily so I could share it with our readers. Sometimes it was a bit hard to hear due to background noise, but I did my best to transcribe it. 

  Father began by saying he wanted to use a different style of preaching while he was in Medjugorje. He said everyone asked him what he was going to preach about, and that sometimes we forget that Jesus spoke with simplicity when He preached. He began:

   There are only six letters in the word “PREACH.” I desire to do a word-play on the word “PREACH” that can teach us a lot.  When we are preaching, we must drop the letter “P” and then you get “REACH,” so that in our preaching we can “REACH” others. When we leave here, we are all called by our Baptism to “REACH” others. When you drop the letter “R,”  you get “EACH” – “EACH” one of us has a duty and a calling to go out from here and be Christ-like to each other and to spread the Gospel.

   Of course, there are fruits there in that word – like “PEACH” and “PEAR” that remind us of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that each of us receives in Confirmation, and of course, trying to get kids to eat their “PEAS” to grow up strong.

   We are reminded in scripture of running a “RACE,” so we have “RACE.” But we must go at our own “PACE.” Jesus points us in His direction in His own way. And of course, when we arrive, we will be “ACE.” 

   Then there is “REAP.”  We are reminded of all the parables Jesus spoke about, where the sower went out to sow. Therefore, we’re reminded today that you “REAP” what you sow.

   “HEAP” [Father made same comment about Ireland here that I could not catch.] We have a “HEAP” of sins. We can be angry; we can be rude; we can be racist. The things that have heaped upon us can be removed with Reconciliation. In Reconciliation, you’ll find a listening “EAR.”

    “ACHE” – when we “ACHE” we want to come to the Divine “EAR.” When we are sick we go to the doctor’s office, but when we “ACHE” spiritually, we come to Reconciliation. Christ shows us in Reconciliation that He really does “CARE” for each one of us like a shepherd cares for each one of his sheep. In that way, we “PARE” away our sins with the grace that is made available to us in Reconciliation.

   What I like the most, because it is witty, is “CAR.” You wonder why? Remember, Jesus was driven out to the wilderness. [laughter] He was driven. [Father said a car was a symbol of something, but I could not catch it.]

   “APE” reminds us of Creation. We are told we evolved from the apes. Whether we like it or not, it is still part of the word “PREACH.” [laughter] “ARCH” reminds us that there is a bridge between Christ and ourselves; there is a bridge between Heaven and earth. We choose whether we want to cross that bridge or not. Also remember “ARCH” is part of the word archangel, and at every Eucharist we are surrounded by angels and archangels. We need to remember that on a daily basis.

   “CAPE” reminds us of Our Lady’s mantle. She wraps Her “CAPE” around us as we go through our daily lives.

   “CARP” – first of all, you think of the fish. The apostles were fishermen and Jesus said, “Follow Me and I’ll make you fishers of men.”

   Finally, to “PREACH” by action is more important than with words. And you know what that is?  “CHEAP” – you can “PREACH” without saying a word. Daily Mass and coming close to Jesus in the Eucharist will become “PAR” for us.

                                                            

Our Lady in the Rain

   The following is an excerpt from a talk by Fr. Slavko Barbaric on March 22, 1985. Prior to his death on November 24, 2000, Fr. Slavko had been the spiritual director of the visionaries.   

   One day a group came, I do not know from where; there were about 25 children. I invited Marija to speak to them a little, and I said to the grown-ups, “Please be silent so that the little ones can ask questions." They were very interesting questions. A child asked, “Does Our Lady come when it rains?" Marija replied, “Yes, of course, She comes." "So is She wet when it rains?" Marija laughed and said, "No, no, She is not." And I added: “Our Lady does not only come when it is sunny in our hearts, but even when it is raining, even when we are in trouble. We are the ones who sometimes come only when it is sunny. Our Lady is always with us. Do not wait for the rain, but be always with Our Lady."

Mother’s Day Carnations

   The official flower of Mother’s Day is the carnation. Over time, the custom arose of wearing a white carnation on Mother’s Day if your mother has died, and a red one if she is still living.

   In fact, many carnation colors have special meanings. Pink carries the richest Christian symbolism.  According to legend, carnations first appeared on earth as Mary wept while watching Jesus carry His cross. Where Her tears fell, there appeared pink carnations, symbolizing a mother’s undying love.

   According to one theory, the English word for carnation comes from carnis, Latin for flesh.  From the same root comes the word Incarnation – God’s coming to earth in the flesh. Thus, carnations remind us of our loving mothers as well as our loving Savior.

Editor’s note: We thank Diana Englund for sending us this little article which was in a church newsletter.

 

Mirjana’s Message on April 2, 2013

   "Dear children, I am calling you to be one with my Son in spirit. I am calling you, through prayer, and the Holy Mass when my Son unites Himself with you in a special way, to try to be like Him; that, like Him, you may always be ready to carry out God's will and not seek the fulfillment of your own. Because, my children, it is according to God's will that you are and that you exist, and without God's will you are nothing. As a mother, I am asking you to speak about the glory of God with your life because, in that way, you will also glorify yourself in accordance to His will. Show humility and love for your neighbor to everyone. Through such humility and love, my Son saved you and opened the way for you to the Heavenly Father. I implore you to keep opening the way to the Heavenly Father for all those who have not come to know Him and have not opened their hearts to His love. By your life, open the way to all those who still wander in search of the truth. My children, be my apostles who have not lived in vain. Do not forget that you will come before the Heavenly Father and tell Him about yourself. Be ready! Again I am warning you, pray for those whom my Son called, whose hands He blessed and whom He gave as a gift to you. Pray, pray, pray for your shepherds. Thank you."

 

 

Bits and “Peaces”

Our thanks to Vickie DeCoursey, Marge Spase, Kathy Luschini, Cindy Bielanin, Agnes Trott, Dianne Yochim, Barb Sirianni, Diane Niebauer, Estrella Igras, Joanne McIntire, Alicia Italiani, and Shelly, Jessica, and Veronica Kibbe for their help with the April mailing and Mike Golovich and Wendy Ripple for the use of their photos in this issue. We also thank Pat Berrier, our proofreader, and Michael K. Jones, our webmaster.