THE SPIRIT OF P.O. BOX 6614 • ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA 16512 www.spiritofmedjugorje.org SUBSCRIPTION RATE - FREE WILL OFFERING - PLEASE SEE PAGE 8 If this is the first time you have received this newsletter, and you would like a “Beginner’s Guide,” please contact us for one. EDITOR: JUNE KLINS EDITOR EMERITUS: JOAN WIESZCZYK PHONE: (814) 898-2143 SPIRITUAL ADVISOR E-MAIL: [email protected] FR. RAY DONOHUE VOL. 33, NO. 11 PUBLISHED MONTHLY NOVEMBER 2020

MONTHLY MESSAGE OF OCTOBER 25, 2020 ON THE 25TH DAY OF EACH MONTH, THE BLESSED VIRGIN GIVES A MESSAGE TO THE VISIONARY, MARIJA, THAT IS TO BE GIVEN TO THE WORLD. ‘’Dear children, At this time, I am calling you to return to God and to prayer. Invoke the help of all the saints, for them to be an example and a help to you. Satan is strong and is fighting to draw all the more hearts to himself. He wants war and hatred. That is why I am with you for this long, to lead you to the way of salvation, to Him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Little children, return to the love for God and The above picture shows Fr. Slavko Barbarić’s grave in the cemetery behind St. James Church in Medjugorje. November 24 is the 20th anniversary of Fr. Slavko’s death. Fr. Slavko died on He will be your strength and November 24, 2000, after praying the Stations of the Cross on Mt. Krizevac. His last words on earth to those who had climbed refuge. Thank you for having up with him were: “May the Gospa pray for us at the time of death.” The next day, in Her message to the world, Our Lady confirmed that he was in Heaven! responded to my call.’’ Timeless By Fr. Ray Donohue I have met countless priests in have ever heard (and never heard a holier one since), was my life. I grew up in a parish that praying. Father Slavko could speak so many languages. He was home to me. I thought it was wanted to let the pilgrims know they were important, and the biggest church in the world! that God and our Mother were calling us there, and to feel We had at least 30 statues in the at home. He spoke Croatian, of course, his native language, sanctuary, candles in front of them Italian, Spanish, German, English, French, Polish, and all; it felt holy and “Churchy”. The dialects from all over, and before he died, he was learning doors were always open and never Korean and Chinese because pilgrims were coming from locked. As a young boy, I would these countries too! make many visits to the church I will never forget (and some people say this phrase often, to pray and talk things over with but I, for one, mean it with my heart and soul), this one God. evening just listening to Father Slavko praying for us TO the One of our priests taught me a Lord Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament through Mary. His little poem when I was 9 years old: “For when you pass a voice was soft and filled with love. His kneeling was holy church, stop in, and make a visit, lest when you’re carried and humble. His words were coming from his heart and in, the Lord asks: ‘Who is it?’” I took this to heart. It was a his very soul, and it touched me so deeply. I never wanted priest who told me he thought I had a vocation to the Holy to leave that moment. I knew, right then and there, that I Priesthood and gave me a prayer book with a prayer he wanted to be a good and holy priest like Father Slavko – made me promise I would pray every day. It was a prayer: sincere, genuine, compassionate, and a holy priest in every “To know one’s Vocation”. I still have that little book! I pray way a priest could be holy. I am still trying to do this every for all the priests who were in my life, so many of them, day. Father Slavko’s prayer was so gentle; he spoke softly and they were good and holy. They helped bring what I into the microphone which was on the altar where he was experienced in my young faith-life with my parents and kneeling with his eyes shut tight as the Holy Spirit spoke parish and friends to a maturity. I loved my priests, and I through him and right to my heart. thank God for them! “Father, I thank You. We kneel before Your beloved Son, In the mid 1980s, when I went to Medjugorje for my first Who came to call us to You and to the Truth. We thank You, pilgrimage as a newly ordained priest, I was amazed and dear Mother, for bringing us here to Jesus, Your Son, for in awe. I met Father Pavich, who was the priest for the teaching us the right way, for guiding us, Your children, English-speaking people. We became fast friends. I met to Jesus. Mother, thank You. Open our hearts to Your way Father Svet, a living saint if ever I met one, who took me and to Jesus. Teach us to pray, to listen, and to act. Show us under his wing. He gave me his own personal rosary as a how to put our faith into action and to live it each day, each gift for my anniversary to the Holy Priesthood. We would moment. You are compassion. You are love. Help us to say have long talks and he would talk to my group. I met ‘Yes’ to the Father in the Holy Spirit as You did, dear Mother, Father Jozo, and I knew I was in the company of a saint. I and continue to do. Show us the way and open our hearts wouldn’t leave the Church after his talk until he blessed me, and minds and souls to You, dear Mother.” which he came back in and did for me. Father Slavko prayed that in about 5 different languages. The one priest I met, and I was reduced to silence, (and As he prayed, I couldn’t wait to hear the English so I would those of you who know me also know that is quite a miracle know what he was praying, but his prayers in all the in itself), was a humble, very active priest by the name of languages were what was in my heart all along and needed Father Slavko Barbarić. I first met him at the evening prayers to be spoken and heard by me. It was as if Father Slavko was and Benediction inside Saint James Church. There was no speaking just to me, and in reality, he was doing just that in backyard then behind the Church; it was all vineyards. his prayers to our Mother and our Father in Heaven. The There were no confessionals outside, only dirt and some Holy Spirit touched me deeply that night, and I can honestly trees and 2 picnic tables. All of us priests sat where we say, for the rest of my life. could, and people would kneel in the dirt and dust and mud My life changed that evening. It was never the same. My to go to confession. It was amazing. It was holy; God was Holy Priesthood, that awesome Gift from God, was so much there. It was silent; Our Blessed Mother was there. It was, more alive and almost too real! I cried tears of joy, tears of and remains, the Holiest place on this earth. Heaven touches humility, tears of repentance, and I heard the very Voice of earth, God touches our hearts, and our Blessed Mother takes God through Father Slavko. us by the hand and leads us to Her Son, Jesus, the Lord! I went every night to Adoration. I knelt on that stone Father Slavko was behind the Main Altar of Sacrifice in floor like it was plush carpet. There was no room forour the middle of the Sanctuary inside Saint James. He knelt group to stay in Medjugorje, so we traveled back and forth behind the Monstrance which held the Lord Jesus in the each day and night from Dubrovnik, the new city, not the Most Blessed Sacrament. There were countless people in old one, over a five-hour trip each way, by way of the high that Church. The Church had no side doors, just those in mountains and hills – the roads NOT having any guard rails front; the Church was dark, but the sanctuary was lit and and looking down to see smashed cars way down below that there was a light on Jesus in the Monstrance. Father Slavko, didn’t make the turn! (Things are so much better now… a kneeling and holding on to the Monstrance, silently but very new highway and guard rails, but now we always stay right audibly, slowly, and lovingly and in the most holy voice I in Medjugorje and walk to everything.) But back then, it was

NOVEMBER 2020 - 2 - THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE a true pilgrimage… we got up at 3:00 a.m., had breakfast, his accomplishments, but if I were to go into detail, I would got on the bus, and they would drop me off at the church so have to write a book! I could run and vest for the 10:00 a.m. Mass, amid thousands Father Slavko’s sister, Sofa, is a cherished and dear friend of people and hundreds of priests. We left Medjugorje after whom I love as if she was my own sister. I see her every the evening Benediction and healing service and got back day when I come to Medjugorje, and Sofa goes every place to our Inn in Dubrovnik about 1:00 a.m. and had a bite to with us and also our mutual friend, Marija, whom we stay eat. We mostly slept on the buses. It was a true pilgrimage, with in her pansion. They LIVE the message of Medjugorje, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. It is so easy now. We just as Father Slavko did. They teach me so much not by are right there, and everything is so close words, but by their example. They are and in walking distance. 100% committed, as was Father Slavko, In any case, I felt in my heart I needed to living the messages and the spirit of to speak to Father Slavko personally. Medjugorje. Sofa has told me so much He was so busy, everyone wanted to see about her brother, and they are kindred him, touch him, listen to him. I didn’t spirits. To see and know Sofa, is to see and think I would ever get to talk to him love and know Father Slavko. I am truly with so many people surrounding him. blessed to have such wonderful and good So, I prayed. friends. Guess what? Father came to me! I was Father Slavko was only 54 years old when praying near a rock, (which, if you have he died on Mount Krizevac, at the top of the ever been to Medjugorje, you know mountain, as he finished the Holy Stations there are quite a few), and who touches of the Cross. He died of simply being worn my back but Father Slavko! He asked me out from all he was accomplishing for the where I was from, was this my first time Mother of God and Her children! He died there, and he wanted to know how long the 24th of November, 2000, three months I was ordained a priest. At that time, I Fr. Ray and Sofa after my own mother died. was only 2 years ordained. He asked I have no doubt Father Slavko will me what I thought of Medjugorje. I was speechless, as how someday be declared a saint in the holy Church. I know could you put into words the experience of Medjugorje? he already is. I pray to him every day, and talk to him, as (After 30 pilgrimages to Medjugorje, I still cannot put into I would my best friend. He helps me through his example words the feeling, the awesomeness, the holiness, and the and his intercession. I made up my mind in 1987, I wanted to humility.) Father Slavko put his hands on me, one on my be like him. I wanted to emulate his holiness. I fall so short, head, one on my shoulder, and prayed for me and over me. constantly, but I keep trying and with his help, I pray I can I felt his humility and holiness go throughout my entire self, be a good and holy priest as I embrace with the deepest love body, soul, mind, the very essence of my humanity. I knew my Holy Priesthood. He is an example to all of us, priests, I was in the Presence of a Saint of God and our Mother. His deacons, religious and lay people. holiness and humility spoke for him and through him. Lastly, the day after Father Slavko died, in the apparition He was always so busy, yet he took the time to go out of of our Blessed Mother, She said, “Your brother Slavko is his way; but why me? Why did he pray for me? Why does here in Heaven.” Note the word: “brother”. This means, God do anything for us through others? Because God loves Blessed Mary is telling us we are all ONE Family in Her Son, us, and He sends us holy people to remind us of that. Jesus. Our Mother did not tell us “Father Slavko”, but our I bought and read almost everything Father Slavko wrote. “brother Slavko”, showing us that She is our Mother, and I have an original “Pray with the Heart”, his Medjugorje we are ALL brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. manual of prayer. I try so hard to live this. Father Slavko The Church is our Home. Father Slavko is timeless in our lived it. He was human like us, yet he hardly ever ate; he time, as is Medjugorje. He always referred to Our Lady as fasted constantly. He went up Mount Krizevac every single “MOTHER”. To Jesus through Mary, our Mother! Mary is day, praying the Holy Stations of the Cross and also cleaning YOUR Mother and my Mother. Put your heart in Her Heart! up the litter that the pilgrims would leave behind – papers, May our Mother hold you all close to Her heart and may food stuffs, trash. He did this early in the morning, then Father Slavko intercede for all of us and open our minds and had a full day. His brother Franciscans would tell me later hearts to what our Mother is teaching us. As Father Slavko he would get maybe 4 hours of sleep a day; he was always said: “Medjugorje is not only a call for prayer and fasting, thinking, praying, and doing. but Mary’s life school that empowers all of us for fighting Father Slavko could see needs, and he responded to against the evil and sin, and is a courageous commitment to them: for the orphaned children and young adults during life. Whoever would do this way will be a person of peace, and after the war, building and creating Mother’s Village, and will be Holy.” a place like none other, a true and real home for the young; Pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory always, but especially for those who were addicted to drugs and/or alcohol, he was in November, the month of All Souls. Offer up your sorrows, involved in Cenacolo, a place so that they could get clean difficulties and worries, as Father Slavko taught us. again and off the dependency by using hard work, prayer, In Jesus and Mary, and all the Saints, your humble servant, and community love and support. Without these things, ~Father Ray the people would have starved and died. He has saved Editor’s note: You can listen to Fr. Slavko’s reflections at thousands of lives by his love of God in every human being. Adoration by going to youtube.com and searching on his name I know so much about these places, to name just a few of and the word “Adoration”.

THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE - 3 - NOVEMBER 2020 My Mother’s Wink in China By Sr. Emmanuel In November 2015, I visited several Chinese villages, and go to the entrance ramp of the highway. As a matter of because I had good contacts there who wanted me to fact, long lines of trucks were stuck in front of the barrier to meet some friends. When leaving Bosnia, I had asked the highway, their drivers were ready to spend the night in God not to take my little 94-year-old mom, Odile, the cold and with no certainty about the next day. home to Him during my absence. But on November 23, Secretly I continued to talk to my mom: “You can do it! three days before my return to Europe, my brother called: Come on, open the highway!” Hearing the impossibility “Mom is not doing well at all; she’s having lots of respiratory confirmed, our car started back to the home of our hosts. distress. Her passing is imminent.” So I prayed But then, out of the blue, our driver declared: to Father Slavko Barbarić, a Croatian Franciscan “I know a way! We’ll try it!” Since everything saint I had known well [not canonized, but in was spoken in Chinese, I didn’t catch it all, but Heaven, according to Our Lady], to intercede I understood that this man had more than one on my mom’s behalf and have her taken to trick up his sleeve, and that he wanted to make Heaven as soon as possible. My mom loved one last try. We soon found ourselves in the this priest very much, so I knew that he would middle of nowhere, and in less than 10 minutes, take care of her. The next day, November 24, in a deserted place, we found a tiny access road, the anniversary of Father Slavko’s birth into which – oh miraculously – was open! The driver Heaven, Mom went off to the Father in peace. took this road without any fear or speaking She simply stopped breathing in her sleep. about it, and before long we were making Getting such news when you’re on the other our way down the highway, almost alone, side of the world really shakes a person! The Sr. Emmanuel slowly but surely, speechless in the face of this following day, November 25, I was scheduled to meet two incredible miracle! Then Mom even managed to give us groups of friends in two different cities. In the morning, all another little sign: At that exact moment, when thick clouds went well for the first group, but, because of snow and ice, were covering the sky, the sun broke out for several minutes the highway to the second city was closed. And the region between two dark gray masses. I took it as a of China where I was, not far from Beijing, the capital, it wink from mom, who seemed to say to “What was horribly cold, less than 30°F, without taking the wind me: “You see? We succeeded!” is impossible chill into account. We were, without a doubt, trapped. Now, Glory be to God, who allows for human beings is this last meeting was very important to me. I just couldn’t Himself to be touched through His possible for God” swallow the news that we might not make it, and I said to Divine Providence! It would be myself: “To come this far and get stuck… No, there must futile to try to describe to you the joy (Lk 18:27) be a way!” I didn’t want to surrender, even though my little flowing from my heart. The immense joy team had already given up on the trip, in the face of the of knowing that my mom was really living with God and incontrovertible evidence: the roads were blocked by snow! capable of answering my somewhat audacious prayer. The Of course I was thinking a lot about my mother and her joy, also, of being able to meet with this group of friends going to the Father and I was praying for her soul. who were resolutely waiting for me that night. We were Then, a luminous thought came to my mind. Silently, I definitely not disappointed by that marvelous time together! spoke to my mother from the heart and said to her: “Mom, if My mother was a woman of great prayer. She was a you’re already in Heaven, give me a sign! Open up the road! consecrated widow, and for a long time, she had Saint Joseph I know I’m asking the impossible, but in Heaven nothing wrapped around her little finger. And I dare say… he and is impossible for God. Would He, who knows how to calm his wife Mary certainly seemed influential in the business of the most violent storm, be suddenly paralyzed by snow? the highway with her, in their own inimitable way! Would tons of ice be able to render the right hand of God Why not make a symbolic interpretation of the event? I ineffective?” now have reason to rejoice even more: if one day, I find in During the noon meal, my Chinese friend, who had my neighbor a block of ice instead of a heart, I will not be invited us, suddenly spoke up: “Come to think of it, I know discouraged. I know that prayer is capable of melting that someone who works for the highway department. I’m going ice and opening up an unexpected way into the treasures of to call him!” Outside, it was snowing heavily, and everyone tenderness that have, up until now, been hidden inside him. could see the situation deteriorating more and more, to the Editor’s note: The story above is excerpted from the wonderful point that even my access to the airport the next day was book Scandalous Mercy by Sr. Emmanuel Maillard, the founder of being threatened. On the telephone, the information was Children of Medjugorje, a lay missionary organization dedicated confirmed and the employee of the highway department to spreading the messages of . You can told us: “Come over here and see for yourselves, there is visit Sister’s website, https://sremmanuel.org to sign up for her nothing we can do.” We decided to take him up on his offer monthly reports or to watch her excellent videos.

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NOVEMBER 2020 - 4 - THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE 20th Anniversary of Fr. Slavko’s Death By June Klins When I went to Medjugorje the first time in June of 1998, a that message was given, the war broke out. Father said that man I did not know walked up to me when I was at a talk by even though the current message was short, there were three visionary Mirjana and asked me why I was not taking notes. main themes. They were: He told me that, since I was a teacher, I should be taking 1. Thanksgiving notes. When I asked him how he knew I was a teacher, he 2. A motherly blessing replied, “You look like a teacher.” (I was a math teacher at 3. Presentation of us to Her Son Jesus the time.) I took this man’s suggestion to heart, and from Father said that thanksgiving is a that point on, I took notes at every talk I attended. Little condition for peace. Negative “In did I know, at the time, that I would end up writing for and feelings come from missing that all circumstances later becoming editor of a Medjugorje newsletter called The feeling of thanksgiving. To be at give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Spirit of Medjugorje, delivered to every state and about 40 peace with ourselves, we need Christ Jesus” foreign countries. God works in to see positive things in (1 Thes 5:18). mysterious ways! other people. With negativity, One of my first articles for The we are more inclined to do evil Spirit of Medjugorje came from the things. He speculated that if Eve would have given notes I took on June 27, 1998, at thanks for all that she had instead of wanting the only a talk by Fr. Slavko Barbarić. It thing she could not have, she would have never sinned was printed in the December 1998 in the first place! Lots of people lose their faith when issue. As I read over it recently there are problems, but they do not give thanks when for possible use in this issue, I everything is going well. We often say, “Why me?” when noticed it did not flow as well I bad things happen, but when things are going well, do would like. So I decided to re- we ever say, “Why me?” write it because the content was Fr. Slavko said that sometimes we cause our own very good and perfect for our suffering by our pride, jealousy and selfishness. When November issue this year, the 20th we do experience suffering and crosses in our lives, anniversary of Fr. Slavko’s death. we should give thanks for them as well, because they Fr. Slavko was a brilliant writer can help us to change our hearts and turn for the good. and speaker, so I pray he helps In summary, he said that the Blessed Mother, in this me with this re-write. message, is thanking us so to encourage us. It is positive Father Slavko Barbarić was reinforcement. a Franciscan priest who was Father then spoke of the special blessing everyone in a spiritual director for the Medjugorje received on the day of the anniversary – it visionaries in the early days. He is a motherly blessing. The Blessed Mother loves us and was an uncle of the husband of presents us to God. She says, “If you knew how much I love Fr. Slavko visionary Mirjana. Father, who you, you would weep for joy.” She does not judge us at all. was fluent in at least seven languages, spoke that dayin That is for God to do. She is our mother and our teacher, too. English without an interpreter at the summer altar behind She is also a pilgrim like us, but She is a pilgrim from the church. Heaven. What She is asking of us is nothing new. We are Fr. Slavko began his talk by speaking about Ivanka, the still called to prayer and all the other things She asks of us. most private of the visionaries. She gets an annual message Father then talked about the use of sacramentals. on June 25th, which is why he spoke about her. He said that He warned that blessed objects should not be used in she is married, has three children, and does not receive daily superstitious ways. They should be used to help change messages anymore, but only once a year on the 25th of June. our hearts, not to keep us from having any problems. He Ivanka told Father Slavko that in her apparition two gave the example of a man he knew who was driving drunk. days before, the Blessed Mother was joyful. She said that, When Father said something to him about this, the man said with this last vision, she had never experienced such joy! that he was safe because of the blessed statue he had in his Our Lady spoke of the secrets, but Ivanka could not talk car. Father said that this was wrong because the statue was about them. Our Lady said that we should pray for families, to help him change his ways, rather than protect him when especially for the families of sick people and sick children. he was doing wrong. (Ivanka’s special prayer intention from Our Lady is to pray Father also spoke of the conversions that have taken place for families.) in Medjugorje when people have seen the sun spin. He posed Fr. Slavko read the monthly message that visionary Marija the question, “Isn’t it a bigger miracle that the sun rises and received on June 25th: “Dear children! Today I desire to thank sets every day, and isn’t just life itself a bigger miracle?” you for living my messages. I bless you all with my motherly He said that the sun is spinning here and rosaries turn gold blessing and I bring you all before my Son Jesus. Thank you for because God wants to touch us in a special way. He said that having responded to my call.” He said this message was short, we should not ask for special signs of God’s love, that they but not as short as the shortest one, which was in 1991. That will come when God wills it. message was, “Dear children, pray, pray, pray.” Shortly after He ended his talk by giving us a blessing.

THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE - 5 - NOVEMBER 2020 Jesus Speaks to St. Faustina and You By June Klins How thrilled I was to receive as a gift Susan How to Give Thanks Tassone’s latest book, Jesus Speaks to St. Faustina and “I desire to unite Myself with human You. Since I know Susan’s books are all very well done, souls; My great delight is to unite Myself I decided to “cheat” and read this book ahead, instead with souls. Know … that when I come to of reading a reflection each day, the way the book is a human heart in Holy Communion, My set up. Of course, I plan to read it the way it is meant hands are full of all kinds of graces which to be read, or maybe even open the book at random I want to give to the soul. But souls do not each day and see where the Holy Spirit takes me. This even pay any attention to Me; they leave Me to Myself and busy awesome book – which contains a catchy title for each themselves with other things. Oh, how sad I am that souls do not day’s quote from St. Faustina’s Diary, followed by a recognize Love! They treat me as a dead object.” (Diary, 1385) brief reflection on how to apply it to daily life, and a short prayer which ends in “Jesus, have mercy on us Reflection and on the whole world” – is so anointed! Besides How often do we receive Communion as if we were on auto the main themes of mercy and trust from the Diary, pilot? We take the Precious Body and Blood and then go back to I jotted down other themes that seemed to speak to our pew and watch as others receive. Instead of spending the next my heart, especially during this year of 2020 and the few minutes with Jesus, we read the bulletin! Sometimes we may pandemic: fear and worry, suffering and sacrifice, even dash out the door before the Final Blessing. Jesus wants our humility and simplicity, gratitude and joy, prayer and attention. He wants to give our souls all kinds of graces. We need fasting, silence and intimacy with God. to make a proper Thanksgiving for receiving Jesus. St. Paul VI in I smiled when I read that Jesus told St. Faustina, “I his Apostolic Exhortation Marialis Cultus, stated that an excellent want you to stay home.” The title for another of the way to express thanksgiving after Mass could be the recitation of reflections is “Everything is Under Control”. How the Most Holy Rosary. Don’t treat Him like a dead object. Graces perfect and consoling is that? I am sure Susan had to are waiting for you. have been working on this well-researched book long Prayer before we ever imagined this pandemic, but it is so Dear Lord, You come to me Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. perfect that it came out at this time. Thank you for this great gift of Yourself in the Eucharist. When Susan gave me permission to share an excerpt Jesus, have mercy on us and on the whole world. from the book, I found it very difficult to choose. They Editor’s note: Susan is the author of other best-selling books about are all so good. I narrowed it down and then finally St. Faustina’s Diary and about Purgatory. They make great Christmas chose the following after taking it to Adoration. presents! Fr. Slavko’s Prayer for “Unbelievers” By June Klins In 1987, Our Lady began appearing to Mirjana Soldo on publish and make copies or put them on your refrigerator, the second of each month and together they would pray for so this is a good one to share. It was excerpted from the “unbelievers”. By “unbelievers” this does not mean those book Pray Together with a Joyful Heart by Fr. Slavko Barbarić, who do not believe in God or those who do not believe in the published by The Information Center, Mir Medjugorje. apparitions of Our Lady in Medjugorje. And Mirjana always insists that Our Lady does not call them “unbelievers”; She Prayer to Experience God’s Love Lord God, Father of Love, together with Mary, Your describes them as those who do not yet know God’s love. faithful servant and Mother of Love, I adore You today. We are called as well to pray for “unbelievers”. Father, together with Her, I have decided to pray to You for On March 18, 2020, Our Lady told Mirjana that She would all those who have not yet discovered Your Fatherly Love no longer appear to her on the second of the month. Does and for those who do not believe in Your mercy. I pray to that mean we should stop praying for “unbelievers”? Of You for those who have distanced themselves from You. And course not! It does not take much to realize the world is full I pray for all those who believe in You but live as unbelievers of “unbelievers” and in need of much prayer and fasting. because they have not experienced Your Fatherly Love. Mirjana always says that all the bad things in the world – Together with Mary, I ask You to send Your Holy Spirit upon wars, abortions, divorce, etc. – are caused by “unbelievers”. me. May He lead me in prayer and reveal His love to me so The need is probably greater than it has ever been to pray that my heart and my soul may be completely immersed in for them. Your love. Grant that I may be purified and healed in Your Recently I came across a prayer written by Fr. Slavko love. Grant that I may be able to offer all of my prayers, with Barbarić that we could use to pray for “unbelievers”. Many love, for my brothers and sisters who have not experienced of you have mentioned to me that you like the prayers we Your love.

As of October 25, 2020, the number of Masses reported for Our Lady’s intentions was 29,381. Remember, our goal is 40,000 by June 25, 2021. What a great Christmas gift it would be for Baby Jesus to have a Mass said for His Mother’s intentions!

NOVEMBER 2020 - 6 - THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE Ashes, Ashes… By June Klins Several months ago, one of our subscribers who had been competent ecclesial authority.” The reason for this is that to Medjugorje mentioned to me that his wife had recently “The reservation of the ashes of the departed in a sacred died and that he wanted to go back to Medjugorje and scatter place ensures that they are not excluded from the prayers and her ashes on Apparition Hill. I knew right away that this remembrance of their family or the Christian community. was not permissible by the Catholic Church, and explained It prevents the faithful departed from being forgotten, or that to him. I told him that my father, who had been an their remains from being shown a lack of respect, which avid fisherman until the last few years, always said that he eventuality is possible, most especially once the immediately wanted to be cremated and his ashes subsequent generation has too scattered in Lake Erie so that “the passed away. Also it prevents fish could enjoy him as much as he any unfitting or superstitious enjoyed them”. But everyone who practices.” knows my father knows he is joking, The document continues and that he will be interred next to to explain: “For the reasons my mother in a Catholic Cemetery. given above, the conservation However, those who do not know of the ashes of the departed him may think this is a good idea. in a domestic residence is not I also wondered how many people permitted. Only in grave and have already scattered ashes in exceptional cases dependent Medjugorje, unaware that it was on cultural conditions of a wrong. So I felt some research was localized nature, may the in order to find the documentation Ordinary, in agreement with about the spreading of the ashes of a Apparition Hill the Episcopal Conference or Catholic. the Synod of Bishops of the Oriental Churches, concede It did not take me long to find my answer in a Vatican permission for the conservation of the ashes of the departed document called “Instruction Ad resurgendum cum Christo in a domestic residence. Nonetheless, the ashes may not be regarding the burial of the deceased and the conservation divided among various family members and due respect of the ashes in the case of cremation,” published in Rome must be maintained regarding the circumstances of such a on August 15, 2016. This was a clarification of the teaching conservation.” of the Church that needed to be documented because of the And finally, in answer to the original idea about scattering increase in the number of cremations in recent years. human ashes on Apparition Hill or anywhere else for that Regarding cremation, this document states that “The matter, the document states: “In order that every appearance Church raises no doctrinal objections to this practice, since of pantheism, naturalism or nihilism be avoided, it is not cremation of the deceased’s body does not affect his or her permitted to scatter the ashes of the faithful departed soul, nor does it prevent God, in his omnipotence, from in the air, on land, at sea or in some other way, nor may raising up the deceased body to new life. Thus cremation, they be preserved in mementos, pieces of jewelry or other in and of itself, objectively negates neither the Christian objects.” I remember one time at a talk about Purgatory, doctrine of the soul’s immortality nor that of the resurrection someone asked about retaining the ashes and the priest who of the body.” However it goes on to say, “The Church was present said, “No, and for instance, you cannot wear continues to prefer the practice of burying the bodies of the Aunt Millie in a necklace around your neck.” deceased, because this shows a greater esteem towards the The well-meaning man who told me about his wishes to deceased.” scatter his wife’s ashes was very grateful to me that I told As for the handling of the ashes, it states, “The ashes of him the Church’s position on this, and I am equally grateful the faithful must be laid to rest in a sacred place, that is, in to him for sharing this with me, so I could, in turn, educate a cemetery or, in certain cases, in a church or an area, which all of our readers about this. The document can be read in its has been set aside for this purpose, and so dedicated by the entirety on the Vatican website, Vatican.va. Please Note! Action Printing, the company who prints our newsletters, asked that we alert you to the fact that the December and January issues may be a little later than usual because of the holidays and vacation days of their employees. Thank you for your patience and understanding. We are very grateful to the employees at Action Printing who are always so dedicated to getting us our newsletters as soon as possible, even in the midst of a pandemic.

Our thanks to Fr. Ray Donohue, Carol Bleck, Louise Lotze, Betsy Truran, Sue Taccone, Prayer Intention of Pope Marge (Hummel) Burchard, Diane Niebauer, Zack Niebauer, Marlene Figurski, Francis for November Joan Peterson, Rose Heintzel, Peggy Chludzinski, Kathy Luschini, Darleen Wilkinson, Artificial Intelligence: Laura and Kevin Di Bacco, Cindy Bielanin, Barb Cesare, Marge Spase, Irene and Dan Zuba, We pray that the progress Chris Falk, and those who want to remain anonymous for their help with the October of robotics and artificial mailing. We thank Mike Golovich and Carol Bleck for their photos in this issue. We also intelligence may always thank our proofreader, Pat Berrier, our webmaster, Jason Klins, and our prayer group serve humankind. administrator, Patti Millar.

THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE - 7 - NOVEMBER 2020 The Spirit of Medjugorje NON-PROFIT Information Center ORGANIZATION P.O. Box 6614 U.S. POSTAGE PAID Erie, PA 16512 ERIE, PA U.S.A. PERMIT NO. 685 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

DATED MATERIAL

MARY IS CALLING YOU On June 24, 1981 in Medjugorje, Our Lady began appearing to six the original site of the apparitions in Medjugorje, for all humanity. In children. She identified Herself as the Blessed Virgin, Queen of Peace. the meantime, this period of grace is for conversion and a deepening Her words to the visionaries: “I have come to tell the world that God of faith. exists. He is the fullness of life, and to enjoy this fullness and obtain Father Jozo Zovko, who was the pastor of St. James when the peace, you must return to God.” apparitions began, has spoken about what he calls “the weapons” Today, the Blessed Mother still appears daily to three of the or “the five stones” of Our Lady (as in the story of Goliath). They are visionaries, and monthly or annually to the others. They are all now PRAYER with the heart, especially the Rosary; EUCHARIST; BIBLE; adults. During the apparitions, the visionaries do not react to light, monthly CONFESSION; and FASTING. don’t hear any sound, or react to being touched; they feel that they are The publisher recognizes and accepts that the final authority outside of time and space. They declare to see the Blessed Virgin as they regarding the apparitions at Medjugorje rests with the . see other people — three dimensional. They pray and speak with Her. The Blessed Mother granted to confide ten secrets to each visionary If you want a prayer cloth we made to keep, send a self- (some are chastisements for the world). Some of the visionaries have 1 1 addressed stamped business size (4 /8” x 9 /2”) envelope with received all ten secrets. Our Lady promised to leave a visible sign at $.70 postage on it.

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