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. 8 PUBLISHED MONTHLY AUGUST 2020

MONTHLY MESSAGE OF JULY 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! In this peaceless time in which the devil is harvesting souls to draw them to himself, I am calling you to persevering prayer, so that in prayer you discover the God of love and hope. Little children, take the Cross in your hands. May it be your encouragement for love to always win, in a special way now when the Cross and faith are rejected. You be a reflection and an example with your lives that faith and hope are still alive and a new world of peace is possible. In August we have three beautiful celebrations of Our Lady. Our Lady told the visionaries that August 5 was Her “real birthday” I am with you and intercede for (even though we celebrate again with the official Church feast day on September 8). We also celebrate Our Lady’s Assumption on August 15 and Her Coronation on August 22. The picture shown you before my Son, Jesus. Thank above was taken in St. Francis Xavier Church in Metairie, Louisiana. This statue of was a gift from visionary you for having responded to my Ivan, whom this church has hosted on a number of occasions. You can read on page 6 about Ivan’s visit there on February 1, 2020. call.” The Way to True Peace and the Joy in Getting There By Fr. Ray Donohue I cannot believe it is already for us and our intentions in Holy Prayer to Her Divine Son, August! This is like the year that Jesus. We look to our Mother for peace, guidance, help, for never happened, and if it did, it patience, and for so many things. was, in many ways, nightmarish! Last month, Vicka, the visionary, had serious back But better days are coming, and surgery. We all know that Vicka in some cases, it is better now has been infirmed in many ways than even 2 months ago. We for many years. I have prayed with look to the Lord and He gives her, and her with me, one-on-one us strength! We walk by Faith many times. When I see her and and not by sight! We walk in she is talking to other pilgrims, she the Light of the Lord Jesus! We always asks me to lead the Holy Trust in Jesus! Rosary in English for the pilgrims; Recently, after a morning and when she prays over me or Mass in town, a lady asked me: “Father, you really love others, Vicka takes her time, holds Mary, the Mother of Jesus, don’t you?” I replied: “Yes, her hands so tight and powerfully indeed, I have great devotion to Her, and I love Her very on your head, and she prays, and much, with all my heart and the soles of my feet!” (My prays, and prays. A person knows mother would say that to me when I was a child.) J She that they have been prayed for then said to me, “But aren’t you only supposed to worship when they have been prayed for God and God alone?” Vicka and over by Vicka! She is humble, I was quite taken aback from this statement, and I holy, compassionate, and kind and saw a great deal of misunderstanding in her question, so I loving. Vicka has never complained about her pain, the true asked her a question. “Let me ask you, do you love your agony she experiences every single day and night. When husband?” “Why…yes, I do, very much so,” she replied. So you see Vicka, she is always smiling and joyful and loving! I continued, “Well, do you worship him?” “Worship him? Why? How can this be? Why? I will tell you. Because she Why, no, I don’t worship him,” was her answer. knows God. Because she is a pray-er, and pray-ers PRAY. I changed the line of my question to her: “Well then, tell They are devoted to prayer, and through prayer, they get to me, have you ever asked him to do anything for you, a favor know God. Through pain and suffering, they get to know or for some help in any way?” “Why, yes of course I have. God. They share in HIS suffering! In doing so, they share in I do that all the time!” Then, I continued, “Do you ever His LIFE! just think about him, reflect on him and your relationship, Jesus knew prayer. He was always in Communion with His on your love, how you met and how that love grew and Father though Holy Prayer. In the garden of Gethsemane, blossomed?” She replied, kind of confused and with a bit Jesus poured out His Heart to God in Holy Prayer – true of frustration, “I fail to see what my relationship with my Devotion to His Father and His God! He prayed for strength husband has to do with anything!” “Ah!” I said. “It has a in His humanness, and for others. What He was about to do, great deal to do with everything!” in His passion – what Jesus did all His life on earth – was for You see, worshipping anything others. Never about Himself; always for others. Jesus was a “For or anyone other than God is wrong pray-er! the worship of and sinful. Some people worship Vicka can endure the pain and agony because she knows infamous idols is the money, and make that their god. Jesus’ pain and agony, through love and through Holy reason and source and Some, their material wealth and Prayer. Vicka offers up that pain for you and for me and extremity of all evil” possessions, their position in life, all the pilgrims and all in need. She offers up her pain for (Wisdom 14:27). their goal in life – these become all people in pain, pain of all sorts: physical, emotional, and their “gods” and this is so wrong every other kind of pain. She does that because she loves. and evil. These things are material things that pass, objects And Vicka loves because she knows Our Lady and she we make idols over time. That is why this is evil. knows Jesus. We may be devoted to another, like a spouse or a vocation, My rheumatoid arthritis is nothing. I offer up any pain be devoted to our families and to other good things, but and suffering for all in need, and all those who have we do not worship them. That is indeed reserved for God asked me to pray for them. My pain is nothing. I ask the alone. But we have devotion, respect, love, charity, and joy Blessed Mother to pray to Jesus to use any pain, as little as in others, or in other things. This is good, and it brings about it is, the things I can’t do anymore that I enjoyed in the past, goodness and happiness, which shows on our faces and in for those who are ill or suffering in any way, and in need our hearts, and especially in our actions! of any kind of healing. I surround them in Holy Prayer, as I have great devotion to our dear Blessed Mother. Vicka does, only she does it so much more than I could ever Our Lady’s “YES” changed the world and the hereafter! do or even imagine. I learn from those who pray. I see the That one “YES” of Mary opened Heaven for us through Her fruits of the labors of those who pray. Son, Jesus. We ask our Mother for many things: for help in Our Lady once said to us through the visionary Marija: problems, for safety for children and family, to intercede “Dear Children, Today I am calling you to pray even more, until

AUGUST 2020 - 2 - THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE you feel the holiness of forgiveness in your heart. There must be they have a “blanketed dispensation”. We are NOT doing holiness in the families, little children, because there is no future ALL we can do. We are letting evil win and not doing enough, for the world without love and holiness—because in holiness and and in some cases, we are doing nothing at all! “PRAY PRAY joy, you give yourselves to God the Creator Who loves you with PRAY” were and ARE the words of our Blessed Mother from immeasurable love. This is why He sends me to you.” (1/25/2020) the beginning of Her apparitions in Medjugorje and right up Our Mother comes to us, because She is devoted to us as to this day! Our Mother is not coming for Herself. She is here our Mother! I want you to stop, and think of that! Pray that for you and for me and the world. She is giving us a lifeline, sentence. Put it in your heart! and that lifeline is Prayer from the Heart! Our Holy God sends our Blessed Mother to us and allows Our Blessed Mother is showing us the way. If you are ill, if Her to tell us what we need to do for peace in our world and you are confined in any way, if you cannot get to Holy Mass hearts! Please, I want you to stop, and think about that! Put because of illness or no way to get there, you can offer up that into your heart! that cross as a gift to Our Lady and Our Lord God! THAT The various evil movements that are in America and also will destroy evil! Forgiving someone who has greatly sinned throughout the world, causing hate, racial unrest, arsons, against you and giving that all to God – that will destroy evil. murders, divisions, family breakdowns – these are all from Evil feeds on evil. It cannot digest Goodness! The sacrifices the devil, all evil; and yet, you and I, through what our we make for our Mother’s request and intentions will make Mother is asking us, can overcome it with good and holiness all the difference in the world, and in our souls. Channel and happiness, offering up our prayers, works, joys and your Holy Prayers through our Blessed Mother to Jesus. sufferings! “I call you to PRAY EVEN MORE,” our Mother is I pray for all of you, and I fast for all of you. I ask Our Lady begging Her children. She knows what to do and shows us to protect you and keep you close to Her and Her Divine the way to Her son, Jesus, and the way to peace in Him! Son. Pray from your heart. Get to Confession and purify Why is there so much hate and violence? So much unrest your body and soul. Offer all this for reparation of all sinners, and murders and evil? Because we do NOT pray as we and try each day to be better than the day before. If you fall, should. Many would rather watch “nothing” on the TV get up and try again and again. Don’t let the devil deceive instead of taking out our Holy Rosary and praying. Many you and discourage you. Walk in Light, Holiness and Joy! can go back to Church, but I know personally that many are A person who prays is a person of Joy! Let others see your staying home and maybe listening to it on the radio or TV, prayers on your face! When you pray from your heart, your even though they can go back to Holy Mass and receive Jesus face shines with Joy! God bless you; feel His love! in the Most Holy Eucharist, yet they choose not to because In Jesus and Mary, ~Father Ray Prayer for the Intercession of St. Rose of Lima On August 23, we celebrate the feast day St. Rose of Lima, who is the patron saint of The Spirit of Medjugorje this year. We thank St. Rose for her help so far with this year’s newsletters. Since Our Lady has asked us to“seek the intercession of all the saints” (10/25/10), we present here a prayer found on the back of a prayer card of St. Rose. Admirable St. Rose, you were truly a sweet flower blooming on the rugged soil; you were indeed a rose among the thorns, bearing with meekness and patience the stings of envious tongues, and preserving perfect purity and modesty amid the alluring blandishments of a deceitful world. By the merits which you have thus gained with our divine Lord, obtain for me the grace to bear my afflictions with patience, to remain pure and modest, to be meek and humble, and to be faithful to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, so that I may be ever more pleasing and acceptable in the sight of my dear Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Touched and Blessed by the Lord The following was written by Canon Dominic Golding VG for stay away from. his parish newsletter (dated May 29, 2016) on return from his I was again and again touched by the honesty of those second pilgrimage to Medjugorje. Canon Dominic is Dean of confessing their sins. They knew they were confessing them St. John’s Cathedral in Portsmouth, UK. We thank Judy Pellatt for not to me, but to the Lord. Some of those who came had getting permission for us to print it. been away from this sacrament for a very long time; one One evening last week I celebrated the Sacrament of person told me they had sat watching the queues for five Penance for three hours and 20 minutes. I might add this was days before plucking up the courage to come. All of those not one person’s confession but the confessions of many. I whose confessions I heard went away, I hope, knowing heard them in Medjugorje, the town in Bosnia- themselves to have received the gift of God’s pardon and where it is claimed the Virgin Mary has been appearing since peace. Most went away having readily accepted from me 1981. She has certainly inspired countless Catholics to go on the same penance: identify two people who have helped pilgrimage there, and [with] all the devotional practices the you to get to know God well and lift them up to the Lord pilgrim undertakes, one’s faith is certainly enriched. The in prayer. Why? Because as I told them all, what those two town is sometimes called the ‘confessional of the world’ and people have been for you – a teacher of faith – you must now it was easy to see why. People queued in large [numbers] to be for others. celebrate a sacrament which we in the UK often choose to

THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE - 3 - AUGUST 2020 “You Order the Planes…and Leave the Rest to Me” By June Klins In our March 2020 issue, we featured the powerful was concerned about him because he was not eating on testimony of Jim Browne, an abuse victim who turned to Wednesdays and Fridays [days Our Lady asks us to fast] and alcoholism and then had a conversion in Medjugorje. Jim he had heavy lifting to do at his job. Jim suggested, “Give began leading pilgrimages to Medjugorje with a priest him steak on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Build him up.” named Fr. Benny in 2004 and has witnessed many miraculous Soon after, Keith wanted to meet with Jim. He asked the conversions. He shared just a few of them in his testimony cost of the next pilgrimage. He said, “I know Jesus and Mary in Episode #29 of the Fruit of Medjugorje program on want to tell me something.” He gave Jim extra money for the marytv.tv. trip with the condition, “You have to Jim recalled meeting a woman named Liz bring some lunatic, some guy like me. at an AA meeting one time. Liz had been You have to bring a drug addict, some separated from her 13 year-old daughter guy who does not believe. You have a because at the time she had not been able tough job.” to be a good mother to her. She was crying So, Jim brought a guy named Con. because the girl’s father would not allow After going to the Blue Cross, Con Liz to see her at all. Jim suggested that Liz told Jim he was probably going to die go to Medjugorje, but she protested, saying, because he couldn’t stop the drugs. “But that’s a holy place. I’m not Catholic. I’m But he continued, “At least when I die, not a Protestant…” She fell into Jim’s arms I’ll know that I’m loved by Jesus and saying, “Jim Browne, I’m nothing.” Jim knew Mary.” her feelings because he had felt exactly the A year later, at the age of 19, Keith same way before his conversion. He replied, asked Jim to show him how to bring “If anyone can change that feeling, it is the groups to Medjugorje. The following Blessed Virgin Mary. Come to Medjugorje.” Jim Browne planning a program with a year, he wanted to learn how to bring So Liz went to Medjugorje with Jim, and on the Medjugorje guide bigger groups. A year after that, third day, she got a text from her daughter’s Keith’s family invited Jim to dinner. father saying that this girl needed a mother! Liz cried tears When he arrived, he noticed they were having a celebration of joy the whole week. After the pilgrimage, the mother and and asked what the occasion was. They replied, “It’s Keith. daughter were re-united. At the Easter Vigil a year later, at He’s joining the priesthood!” Jim said it was not surprising the age of 51, Liz made her First Holy Communion! that Keith was joining the Twin Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Jim testified that many alcoholics he has taken to Jim lamented, “This is the guy I could have left behind. Medjugorje have become sober, one of them being a man This is the guy I was prepared to leave in Ireland. This is named Paddy. After his healing, Paddy wanted to bring the guy that I was prepared to [allow to] live out his drug his wife and five children to Medjugorje. Jim told him he addiction. And I heard very strongly in my own heart a little would take them all except for Paddy’s 18 year-old son, chastisement from Jesus and Mary. They said, ‘The Trinity is Keith. When Paddy questioned why not Keith, Jim replied, all full. There is no room for a fourth person.’ Our Lady said “Because he’s always in trouble. He takes drugs, he sells very strongly in my heart, ‘Please don’t make the judgments. drugs. He is violent.” Jim said that Paddy would get calls You just fill out the forms, get them over here to me. It is from the police about Keith almost every day. “What will my job to bring them to Jesus. It is my job to bring them to I do with a guy like this in Medjugorje?” Paddy started to conversion. You order the planes, you order the food, you cry. “What will I do with him if you don’t give him the order the houses, and leave the rest to me.’ So this has been same chance that you got and that I got? Please give him a the greatest lesson that I have ever learned in Medjugorje.” chance.” Jim agreed. Jim said that he has seen “thousands of miracles” including The morning they were leaving for Medjugorje, Jim had one he had seen the very day of his testimony. A man who to go into the airport bar three times to drag Keith out – and was not able to do a full day’s work because of physical that was before 10:00 a.m.! But Jim noticed that when they disabilities was able to climb Mt. Krizevac. “The miracles got to Medjugorje, Keith did attend the talk on Confession that I see on every trip give me the encouragement and the that Fr. Benny always gave early in the pilgrimage. The graces to put the next trip together.” next day, Jim noticed Keith in line for Confession and then Editor’s note: At the end of Jim’s testimony, he spoke climbing the hills! about the crucifixes that he gets blessed by Baby Jesus andby When they got home, a lady approached Jim after Our Lady during the apparition to Vicka on Christmas Day. You Mass and said, “Jim Browne, you know I don’t believe in can read about this in our March 2020 issue. To send for a crucifix Medjugorje. I spoke against it and I even spoke against (ONE only per order), include your name and address, typed or you.” Jim answered, “I know.” She continued, “Today I printed legibly, and a minimum of a $5.00 donation for postage to believe.” Jim questioned her change of heart and she replied, Barbara Kleaveland, 822 Moulton Ave., North Muskegon, MI “Keith Kelly was in there at Mass. He was in Medjugorje 49445. Any donation beyond the postage helps to purchase with you. There must be something. My children crossed crucifixes for next year. If you have had a miracle or blessing with the street when this guy used to come down.” one of these crucifixes, please let us know. We will publish these One day Jim got a call from Keith’s mother. She said she stories in a future issue.

AUGUST 2020 - 4 - THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE Living the Messages The following is Cathy Nolan’s reflection from Medjugorje. How many of us February 10, 2020. You can sign up to receive Cathy’s have been coming for years and reflections at www.marytv.tv. years to Medjugorje? How many Our Lady has asked us many times to live Her people have come here and messages. She gives them to us to help us through heard the messages? But, how these very important and difficult times. But She few of us put them into practice? even gets a little disappointed in us, because Now, I’m not here, I don’t we are so easily distracted from Her messages. delight in, pointing fingers Like all children, we lose our concentration, and and saying, “Oh, you have resolve. And so, She continues to call us to live failed to live the message of Her messages. Medjugorje.” I remember even On Friday, February 7, Fr. Leon gave a homily before speaking about The Five about living the messages that was very helpful. Stones, I thought, before I even Our shipmate, Stephanie, transcribed it for us!! speak about them, I must live Fr. Leon has a way of saying things that makes them. No one is going to listen it all quite clear! Here is the Homily by Fr. Leon to a fat priest talk about fasting. during English Mass – Friday, February 7, 2020: Okay, and that’s paraphrasing. Fr. Leon The family of Herod is very complicated. St. John Chrysostom actually King Herod the Great, so called “the Great,” – the one who says that… if you’re fat and greedy, who’s ever going to tried to kill Jesus when He was an infant – had a number listen to you when you talk about fasting? of sons. One of them is Herod Antipas – the one you hear We must live the messages. Our Lady doesn’t come here of in the gospel today. Now, Herod, let me see, first of all, and just give messages just to titillate us, to delight us. And his niece, Herodias, had been married to one of his brothers we think, “Oh isn’t it marvelous She’s here!” And then we called Herod Philip, by whom she had a daughter called go off and forget about Her messages. If we don’t live them, Salome. Later she divorced her uncle, and married another we are like Herod. Herod loved listening to John but didn’t uncle, Philip (also called Philip). This is very confusing. And want to act on anything he said. And it didn’t do him any then she divorces Philip and marries Herod Antipas. And good; it didn’t do him any favors! Herod ended up in a then John the Baptist comes on the scene and says to him, “It worse place because to his adultery, he adds murder. And is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” then lust – he lusts after his own great niece, Salome. Then, Now, telling the truth to people is a difficult thing, and yet he adds to that – he adds cowardice, because he is afraid of we are duty-bound to this. It is one of the Acts of Mercy, to looking bad in front of his friends. instruct the ignorant – to tell them, for the sake of their souls. None of this does us any good, if we don’t live Our Lady’s But we have to do this with charity. John the Baptist, notice, messages. Every day in the news you can see how – I’m not doesn’t come to Herod and say, “Oh, let me accompany going to comment on any one thing – but lots and lots of you in your journey of adultery, and, things are taking place in the world that show us things are “If your you know, slowly, hopefully moving in a certain direction. And if we are not constant in brother sins [against before you die, it will all work the faith, if we don’t actually live our faith, what good does you], go and tell him his out and you’ll repent.” No, he it do us? fault between you and him says to him, “It is not lawful,” What good does it do us if we say that we are here in alone. If he listens to you, because John the Baptist loves Medjugorje and then we fight with each other, provoke Herod. He cares for his soul. quarrels, maybe deliberately misunderstand each other – or you have won over your He cares too much to lie to him. not deliberately misunderstand each other – but still, revel brother” (Mt 18:15). On the other hand, we have in fighting and quarreling and anger? What good does this Herod. Herod is a very confusing do any of us? We are then like Herod – not living God’s will, character, because he seems to believe but our own, our own will, our own stubbornness. And this certain things about the faith. He believes in the resurrection. certainly does not make for peace. This is not being a child When he hears about Jesus, he says, “This is John, whom I of the Queen of Peace. beheaded, and he has risen from the dead.” So, he actually (You can listen to the homily here: https://marytv.tv/ believes in resurrection, which is a curious thing. But at the english-mass-in-medjugorje/ – remember it is 020720) same time, it says he kept him in prison, and he was very Let’s pray for one another that we can all grow in living much perplexed by John, and yet he liked to listen to him. Our Lady’s messages! Whenever I hear these words, especially, I think about www.marytv.tv

“In order that you may know at least some of My pain, imagine the most tender of mothers who has great love for her children, while those children spurn her love. Consider her pain. No one is in a position to console her. This is but a feeble image and likeness of My love.” (Jesus to St. Faustina. Diary, #1447).

THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE - 5 - AUGUST 2020 Visionary Ivan in New Orleans By Kay Mule It has been several years since Ivan has had a public should ever come down to a choice between Her apparition appearance in New Orleans. On February 1, 2020, he attended and Holy Mass, we should choose Mass. She recommended the 4:00 pm vigil Mass with over 1,000 people at St. Francis daily Mass to all who are able to attend. Xavier Church in Metairie, Louisiana. We left early, but heavy “Our Lady is calling for forgiveness – forgive yourself, traffic made us arrive just in time for the Rosary. The church forgive others. If you can’t forgive, how can you heal was packed, but the usher led us to vacant front spiritually and physically? Only through row seats for a beautiful Mass presided over by prayer can you give forgiveness. Pray Fr. Joe Palermo. Ivan spoke in English before and with love and pray with the heart, then after Mass. It was the first time we heard him you will have more peace.” speak without an interpreter. The following are He said that “Every day when some of the thoughts he shared. She comes, I see the Mother’s love. “This is like Christmas Mass,” Ivan said as he Our Lady radiates love.” He is impressed began his talk. “Every Mass should be like this. at how beautiful She is and asked Her, For the last 38 years Our Lady has come to lead “Why are you so beautiful?” She replied, us to Her Son, Jesus, because only in Jesus can we “I am beautiful because I love.” Her find peace, life and love.” He shared how hard message is one of peace and conversion, it is for him to see Our Lady every day, listen to turning back to God, more family prayer. Her and then live life back on earth. She is more With Lent coming, he suggests more beautiful than any statue that he has ever seen. sacrifice, penance, and fasting. Then we He says She is the mother who is coming to teach will have more love in our hearts. Ivan us. “I am coming because my Son sends me.” Ivan in New Orleans said, “I invite you to be a good ‘mother’ And She says. “Peace, peace, peace.” Our Church to your family, to your community. Use needs peace, society needs peace. She speaks simply and this time, for it is a time of grace.” repeats many times like we do to our children. At 6:40 Our Lady appeared to Ivan. After the apparition, Many pilgrims ask Ivan why Our Lady is coming so long. he said that “It is not easy to talk” when She leaves. “Words He said that Our Lady has a plan and especially invites all of do not exist to describe Her heavenly appearance.” When us, saying, “I need you; decide for good, fight against evil.” She comes, he does not feel space or time. She says, “Praise She is very concerned for peace in the world and for peace be Jesus!” He said She was very happy to see so many for in families, calling us to return to prayer in the family. The Mass and the Rosary. He offered intentions for all present breakup of families and acceptance of abortion makes Her and all the sick. Our Lady blessed everyone and prayed for sad. The family is a small church, and She says that for our all our intentions. She urged everyone to pray for religious children to be strong we need to pray every day and read vocations and for “peace, peace, peace.” And She intercedes the Bible. He says that She is coming for 38 years because the to Jesus for all of us. Then She spoke privately with Ivan. family and the world are in crisis. She needs us to find time When She left, She said, “Go in peace, my little children.” for our family because if you love them, you find time to be Then Ivan invited Fr. Palermo to give us his priestly blessing. with them. No time means no love. He also shared Mary’s The Medjugorje Star, Vol. 34, No. 1 revelation that the Mass is the greatest prayer of all; and if it Medjugorje Moments on the Fourth of July! By June Klins At our mailing on July 3rd, one of our mailing helpers water. I told her that we just happened requested that I sign up a friend of hers to receive The Spirit to have a recipe in our July 2020 issue of Medjugorje. The next night, as I was entering his name that we just mailed the previous day, into the records, I was munching on some Chex Mix at the and I had a few copies in my car. She same time. All of a sudden, the shape of a perfect little cross followed me to the car and told me seemed to jump out of the Chex Mix and onto my finger. I that she had “Holy Spirit” bumps as quickly took a picture to show my friend who had signed I handed it to her. We had not used a the man up. What is interesting is that this man who would fasting bread recipe in this newsletter in years. So what are be receiving the newsletter carries a very, very heavy cross the odds that someone would ask me for a recipe the day and that is why she signed him up. She said he needs after we mailed those newsletters? She had not seen a copy, something like this in his life. I love it when things like this as there was no mail that day, nor was it posted online yet happen! Such a confirmation! This was actually the second either. Another “Medjugorje Moment” and a confirmation “Medjugorje Moment” I had that day, which just happened about this fasting bread recipe. to be the Fourth of July. I love to watch fireworks displays and there were many After Mass that morning, a lady approached me wanting to this year for the Fourth of July, but they only last for seconds. know if I had any good recipes for fasting bread, because her What I love even more are the “fireworks” I experience when daughter and family wanted to begin fasting on bread and I see Our Lady and the Hand of God at work!

AUGUST 2020 - 6 - THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE Medjugorje Romance By Sr. Dolores Ryan Medjugorje is a place of surprises, new friendships, deep Becky if she was the American woman who was writing to prayer, contemplation and trust. Matthew. When Becky said, “Yes”, Nancy decided to call My niece Becky and I traveled from New York to Matthew in New Zealand to let him know that he would be Medjugorje. We hoped to deepen our faith by being on the foolish to miss out on Becky. Nancy had been with us for a holy ground where Our Blessed Mother was appearing. week at our evening meal. She had been very impressed with Becky’s intention for this pilgrimage was Becky. So, she phoned Matthew to let him to discern her vocation in life. Was she being know that Becky was a very special person. called to religious life or to the married state? That very day Matthew called Becky from This was the first trip we made to this area. New Zealand. He had ended their friendship It was on this trip that Becky met Matthew. because he felt that no American woman They enjoyed each other’s company until the would ever care for him. So, the letters began time came for them to go to their respective again, and they discovered that they really countries, Becky to the U.S. and Mathew to cared for each other. They continued their New Zealand. In order to keep in touch, the friendship which blossomed into a beautiful letters began. However, the last letter wasa courtship and finally marriage. good-by letter. Matthew had met someone in I believe that Our Blessed Mother graced New Zealand. He would not be writing again. Becky with the answer to her discernment. Becky was heartbroken. So, she asked me to Becky felt her call to the married state in a accompany her back to Medjugorje. She was very grace-filled way. Becky, Matthew and hoping to meet Matthew again. So, the two Sr. Dolores their children are happily living together in of us found ourselves setting out for Yaklan Texas. Their devotion to Our Blessed Mother Island to care for the children orphaned by the Bosnian war. is enhanced by their praying the family Rosary. Their Fr. Jozo had adopted this caring concern for his ministry. trust in our Mother Mary grows daily as they realize that One evening we were at dinner with Nancy [Fr. Jozo’s Medjugorje was a grace-filled place for meeting one another. English translator at the time]. Nancy knew Matthew as Editor’s note: Sr. Dolores lives in Buffalo, NY. he had done some architectural work for her. Nancy asked

News from Medjugorje Our thanks to Mary Tirak, Gina Adams, Diane Niebauer, • On July 8, Fr. Marinko Šakota, OFM, parish priest Sue Taccone, Joan Peterson, Rose Heintzel, Peggy Smith, in Medjugorje, confirmed that the Youth Festival in Barb Sirianni, Peggy, David and Mike Chludzinski, Laura Medjugorje would be held from August 1- 6, 2020, and Kevin Di Bacco, Kathy Wayman, Darleen Wilkinson, the theme being “Come, and you will see” (Jn 1:39). Barb Cesare, Marge Spase, Chris Falk, and those who want This event would be live-streamed. According to to remain anonymous for their help with the July mailing. Fr. Marinko, “Depending on the development of virus, We thank Terry Creel, Jr., Mike Golovich, and Louise Lotze all gatherings would be according to the instructions for their photos in this issue. We also thank our proofreader, of the institutions in charge.” Fr. Marinko stated, Pat Berrier, our webmaster, Jason Klins, and our prayer “Let us continue to be united in the same spirit in the group administrator, Patti Millar. school of Our Lady and let us rejoice that we would be connected together in Medjugorje, both in our hearts and in our spirit.” • On July 11, the Vatican announced the appointment of a new bishop for Mostar, which includes the parish in Medjugorje. The Bishop of Hvar, Petar Palić, is the successor of the Bishop of Mostar and Duvanj, Ratko Perić. He was born in Pristina on July 3, 1972, to a Janjevac Croat family. At the age of 48, he is a young bishop, and he is expected to be a bishop in Mostar for a long time. Masks and social distancing at the July mailing • Pope Francis added 3 new titles of Our Lady to the Litany of Loreto. This Litany is sung every night in Medjugorje. Prayer Intention of Pope Francis for Mother of Mercy will follow Mother of the Church. August The Maritime World: We pray for all Mother of Hope will follow Mother of Divine Grace. those who work and live from the sea, among them Comfort of Migrants will follow Refuge of Sinners. sailors, fishermen and their families.

As of July 25, 2020, the number of Masses reported for Our Lady’s intentions was 28,954. Thank you.

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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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