THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE 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. WILLIAM KIEL VOL. 31, NO. 10 PUBLISHED MONTHLY OCTOBER 2018

MONTHLY MESSAGE OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 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! Also nature extends signs of its love to you through the fruits which it gives you. Also, you, by my coming, have received an abundance of gifts and fruits. Little children, how much you have answered to my call, God knows. I am calling you – it is not late – decide for holiness and a life with God, in grace and in peace. God will bless you and give to you a hundred- fold, if you trust in Him. The statue above is called Our Lady Queen of Peace. This picture was taken inside the at Edsa Square in Manila. To read the story about this Thank you for having shrine, please see page 7. We thank Mary Asis for traveling to the shrine to take this picture and the picture on page 7 for us. responded to my call.” Called to Jesus — the Light and Truth By Fr. Bill Kiel “…all the more the shadows of darkness the life of the world. The more that you come to know Him – the and deception are being cast over you, and more that you come close to Him – all the more you will love Him, I am calling you to the light and truth – I because my Son is love.” (9/2/18) am calling you to my Son. Only He can There are many prayers written for us to approach Jesus transform despair and suffering into peace in prayer: litanies, novenas, prayers for special occasions, and clarity; only He can give hope in the preparation for the sacraments, prayers to offer for others, deepest pain.” (9/2/18) prayers for His mercy and to understand His written words Fr. Bill Kiel Truth and light – Jesus. In these in Scripture. It is important to remember, each time we times of much confusion, lack of respect for the leaders approach Jesus, to pray from our heart; do not read the of the Church, compassion for injured individuals, and words of a prayer or recite the words of a prayer without the question “To whom do we turn to bring peace within thinking of each word as a personal prayer to Jesus. As our ourselves and the Church?”, we words are going to His heart, we are given the answer – we turn to need also to spend time listening Jesus. Many people are suffering to Him. Jesus is loving enough to in diverse ways; our hope through listen to our words; why should this pain is Jesus. we not listen to His all-powerful There are many ways to words to us? approach Jesus in our prayers As faithful people, we know seeking His peace, hope and love. the source of our help to attain The most powerful of all prayers is inner peace, develop a deeper the celebration of the , as hope in God’s graces and love you express your gratitude to God for Jesus – it is Jesus Himself. for all your blessings and receive As our relationship grows more Jesus in the most Holy Eucharist. profound, then it becomes easier Engage in an intimate conversation to reach out to others and be with Him following receiving the Adoration in St. James in Medjugorje Christ-like to them, share His Eucharist. Express your love for peace and love. Love and peace Him, ask to be more and more like Him in all you think, say should be an integral part of our life. Have we not heard and do; ask Jesus for the help you need in living His love. the words – “let there be peace on earth and let it begin with Imitate Jesus in your daily living. me”? Our Lady is encouraging us to “Be true apostles of my We are called to be Christ to one another, but first, do we love; spread the love of my Son to everyone.” (9/2/18) have the peace of Christ within us? Can we give to others During the month of October, “the month of the ,” something we do not have? What have we been doing to remember the power of the Rosary as a source of blessings. get to know Jesus, draw closer to Him and get to develop a Mary Queen of peace, pray for us. deeper love for Jesus? Words given to help us: “My Son is Message to Mirjana on September 2, 2018 “Dear children, my words are simple but are filled with motherly love and care. My children, all the more the shadows of darkness and deception are being cast over you, and I am calling you to the light and truth – I am calling you to my Son. Only He can transform despair and suffering into peace and clarity; only He can give hope in the deepest pain. My Son is the life of the world. The more that you come to know Him – the more that you come close to Him – all the more you will love Him, because my Son is love. Love changes everything; it makes most beautiful also that which, without love, seems insignificant to you. That is why, anew, I am saying to you that you must love a lot if you desire to grow spiritually. I know, apostles of my love, that it is not always easy, but, my children, also the painful paths are paths which lead to spiritual growth, to faith, and to my Son. My children, pray – think of my Son. In all the moments of the day, raise your soul to Him, and I will gather your prayers as flowers from the most beautiful garden and give them as a gift to my Son. Be true apostles of my love; spread the love of my Son to everyone. Be gardens of the most beautiful flowers. With your prayers help your shepherds that they may be spiritual fathers filled with love for all people. Thank you.”

Our thanks to Joanne Warren, Sue Taccone, Diane Niebauer, Vickie DeCoursey, Prayer Intention of Pope Rose Heintzel, Pat Berrier, Chris Falk, Dianne Yochim, Marge Burchard, Elaine and John Brady, Marge Spase, Kathy Wayman, Joan Peterson, Peggy Smith, Chris Opron, Francis for October Peggy Chludzinski, Barb Sirianni, Estrella Igras, Georgia Chludzinski, Tom McIntire, The Mission of Religious: That Irene and Dan Zuba, Cindy Bielanin, and those who want to remain anonymous for consecrated religious men and their help with the September mailing. We thank Susannah Klins, Johannes Dittrich, women may bestir themselves, Mary Asis, and Mike Golovich for their photos in this issue. We thank Dorothy Cavanaugh and be present among the poor, and Mary Stumpp for making us more prayer cloths. We also thank our proofreader, the marginalized, and those who have no voice. Pat Berrier, our webmaster, Jason Klins, and our prayer group administrator, Patti Millar.

THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE - 2 - OCTOBER 2018 Be a Light in the Darkness By June Klins One evening after the infamous grand jury report in my Eastern time (3:00 pm central time, etc.) for the purpose of state of Pennsylvania was made public, the power went out healing our country and returning it to holiness. The initiative right before my committed hour at our Perpetual Adoration is called “Rosary Coast to Coast.” At this writing there are over Chapel. It had been a particularly difficult week for me 900 groups signed up to encircle the border of our country personally, as well as for the Church, and I really, really with the Rosary. It is sponsored by the new Holy League, needed to be with Jesus that night. I was heart-broken that under the spiritual guidance of Cardinal Raymond Burke. I might not be able to get in. After what seemed like a long Many other bishops and priests have endorsed this. We, wait, but was probably minutes, two adorers in the chapel here in Erie, PA, are blessed to be on the northern coast of heard my knocking and let me in. I entered and knelt in the U.S., and so we will be gathering to pray at Presque Isle, front of the Monstrance in candle light. After pouring my Beach 1. If you are interested in joining us, you are asked heart out, I heard these words in my heart: “Be a light in the to come at 3:30 PM. The group is called “Erie PA Rosary darkness.” This was a confirmation of a message I posted Warriors”. If you need more information, please call to The Spirit of Medjugorje Facebook 814-722-1548. You do not need to be on the coast page earlier in the week. t o be a part of this special day. You That week, people had posted do not even need to have hundreds some negative news on our of people (although that would Facebook page. Although the be nice). “Where two are three are news was true, it had nothing gathered…” You can visit the main to do with our mission, which website at rosarycoasttocoast.com to is the same as the mission of this see if there is a group in your area. newsletter – to instruct people “I invite you to call on everyone as to what Our Lady’s messages to pray the Rosary. With the Rosary are, and to inspire people to live them. you shall overcome all the adversities I quickly posted a message stating that our which Satan is trying to inflict site is specifically to share Our Lady’s messages and on the . All you priests, things related to Her messages of peace, prayer, fasting, pray the Rosary! Dedicate your time to the Rosary!” conversion, etc., and that any posts unrelated to the (Our Lady, 6/25/85) messages would be removed. I added, “I am not denying “Today I call you especially now to advance against Satan by anything that is going on, but just reiterating, as it says in means of prayer. Satan wants to work still more now that you our welcome, that our mission is exclusively Our Lady’s know he is at work. Dear children, put on the armor for battle, and messages.” with the Rosary in your hand defeat him! Thank you for having I have heard the visionary Ivan speak many times and he responded to my call.” (Our Lady, 8/8/85) almost always says that Our Lady comes as the Mother of “Even the Rosary alone can work in the world and in Hope. When Ivan spoke in Brunswick, Ohio, on 4/22/2007, your lives.” (Our Lady, 1/25/91) he said, “The Mother is coming to us, and She wants to Be a light in the darkness! lead us away from darkness and into the path of light. She wishes to show us hope to lead us on the way of hope…She is bringing us Godly healing, and this medicine is coming to us to heal our wounds… and She is concerned for our salvation… She is coming as the Mother of Hope. She wants to bring this hope within our families. And She wants to bring hope within our Church. And Our Lady says: ‘Dear children, if you will be strong, the Church will be strong. If you are weak, the Church will be weak. You are the living Church, dear children. You are the light of the Church.’” So how do we become a “light in the darkness”? We try our very best to live Our Lady’s messages – the five stones: prayer (especially the Rosary), daily Bible reading, monthly Confession, fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, and Presque Isle where the Rosary will be prayed on Oct. 7 at 4 PM making the Eucharist the center of our lives. Our Lady asked us in the August 25, 2018 message to pray Editor’s note: Since October is the month of the Rosary, there more. There is power in praying with a group, and there is will be other Rosary marches throughout the month. Check your great power in praying the Rosary. This October 7, the Rosary areas for information. The Erie Diocesan Rosary March will be on will be prayed by people all over the country at 4:00 pm October 14 at St. Peter Cathedral starting at 2:00 PM.

“Honor our mother the Virgin Mary, and arm yourselves with the Rosary, because the name of the Virgin Mary drives away darkness and crushes evil.” ~ St. Charbel (our patron saint this year)

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Every Hail Mary Counts The following is a transcription of a homily given in Medjugorje up very early to visit one of the visionaries, Vicka, and we at the English Mass on July 24, 2017. Although the priest did not were there maybe at 7:00 in the morning. She arrived and introduce himself, we know from the homily on the following day she gave a very short talk, and then for maybe over an hour, that this priest’s name is “Fr. Johnny”. she prayed in silence with all of us. I really love St. Peter and he’s one of the main protagonists As she came to begin her talk, I met her very, very briefly. I in our Gospel today. There was a movie out a number of looked at her and I said. “How are you?” And she said, “I’m years ago about a pope, called The Shoes of the Fisherman OK.” But I knew the way she said it, that she was actually a (referring to St. Peter). And I always think that St. Peter little weary. And I said to her, “Well, I’ll be praying for you must have had huge feet – size 12 – because he was always and we are all praying for you.” putting his big feet in the middle of it. And he’s very honest By the time she finished her talk and her time of prayer, and very blunt in his questions to Jesus this morning. He is it was 9:40, and I wanted to get back here to celebrate Mass saying, “What’s in it for me? I’m following you. I am trying at 10:00. We had gotten a bus up, and I decided to geta to be one of your disciples. The going is tough. What’s in taxi down. I arrived in time for Mass, celebrated Mass, and it for me?” And Jesus’s answer is full of patience. He said, afterwards went back to the house. Our guide said to me, “Whatever you have given up, you will receive 100 times “Father, where did you go? Where did you disappear to?” more in this life and in eternal life.” So Jesus isn’t just talking I explained that I wanted to get back for Mass. “But Vicka about the eternal life that He has prepared for each one of us wanted to talk to you.” I said she must be a very special in Heaven; He’s talking about this life. Following Jesus in person. She must know I was a really hard case and that this life brings blessings and graces in this life. I needed a special blessing. “She was looking for you I can only speak on my own behalf, but I have seen the after her talk and her time of prayer, and when you were reality and promise of Jesus fulfilled in my life. Whatever gone, she gave me a gift for you. She presented this gift to I have given up, I have received a hundredfold back. With Our Lady for a blessing. This gift has been blessed by a the help of God, I’ll be a priest 15 years in August, and I’ve priest and Vicka prayed, with this gift, God’s blessing upon been so blessed in my life. I have received a hundredfold. you and upon your life. And here it is.” And what do you I have no wife or children of my own, but I am blessed to think the gift was? Rosary beads! I was very touched by that. be welcomed into so many families. I have no house or In the afternoon, I went to the Adoration Chapel, and I property of my own, but I am blessed was sitting down with my new to be welcomed into so many homes. I beads and I asked the Lord, don’t have millions in the bank – then “What message do You have again banks might not be the safest for me by giving me these new place to have your millions anymore – beads?” Almost immediately, the but I have all of that I need and more. words that came into my heart And if I had money, I’d only spend it. were, “Every Hail Mary counts.” I But most precious of all of the gifts I was missing one [bead], and the have received is that I have Jesus in my message that I was receiving from life. And I have the privilege of being a the Lord was “Every Hail Mary priest. I can offer the Holy Sacrifice of counts.“ I was silenced, and I was the Mass. I can reconcile people with bowled over by this awesome God through the gift of Reconciliation. reality. I have meditated on that I can welcome people into the family of awesome reality very often. God through Baptism. I can witness to And finally, I’d like to share people’s marriages and commitment to with you about my last trip to one another, and help people prepare Medjugorje, last year, and one of for their final journey home. And I have my best friends, Fr. Seamus (we Mary, my Mother, praying for me. were in seminary together; we were I’d like to share with you this morning Vicka praying very good friends and confidants). about my last trip to Medjugorje before I’m working in Argentina and he I moved to Argentina two years ago. And any of you who was working in England. We had planned to meet when I have ever had to move – especially have to move a long was home on holidays, but the dates got mixed up, so I was distance – know that you spend a lot of time throwing out arriving home to Ireland from Argentina on the day that he stuff that you don’t need. I realized the week before I came was leaving to go back to his parish in England. But then I to Medjugorje that my rosary beads, which I had got in the heard that he was coming to Medjugorje for a week, and I Holy Land, were missing a bead. And I was in Medjugorje wanted to go to Medjugorje, so I said we’ll go out the same and I was saying, “Well if there is one place in the world week, meet there, and have a visit together, in Medjugorje. where it would be easy to get a set of rosary beads, it’s And that’s what we did. Medjugorje. But I said to myself, ”No – I have a set of beads. We had some great laughs. We had the opportunity to I don’t want any more stuff to be carrying to Argentina and offer Mass together. We shared some beautiful experiences I’ll stick with what I have.” together of prayer, of fellowship and of grace. And Seamus And while I was here in Medjugorje, one morning we got was a man who had experienced cancer twice in his young

THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE - 4 - OCTOBER 2018 life. He had different problems with his health. He was Mary assures us, that She prays for us, especially at the hour awaiting an operation on his knee. But I can honestly say of our death. And when we go from this world to the next, that I hadn’t seen him looking as well in a long, long time. She prays for us. And She prays for us now. We don’t know So we said goodbye to each other here in Medjugorje. what tomorrow holds. We leave the past to God’s mercy. About six weeks later, I got a phone call. He had celebrated She prays for us now. Every Hail Mary counts! the 10:00 Mass in the morning in his parish, and after Mass So I ask you to repeat with me, “Every Hail Mary counts.” they always have a cup of tea. And they ran out of milk. So [They repeat.] And when you are in difficulty and you can’t Seamus said, “I have milk upstairs,” and he went. And the pray, remember all the prayers you have prayed to Mary, time came for 11:30 Mass and there was no sign of Seamus, and remember, “Every Hail Mary counts.” [They say this and they began to get a little worried. They found him dead in unison with him.] And when you worry about people in his kitchen. And the phone call was telling me this terrible who have died, remember that we have a great intercessor thing. in Mary, who prays for us at the hour of our death. And I don’t know why God called him at that time. I miss him. we trust in the great mercy of God. And... “Every Hail Mary His mother misses him. His parishioners miss him. But God counts.” [They say this in unison with him] called him home. And I was thinking of him, dying alone And this awesome reality, I pray that it will sustain us in that kitchen. And the awesome reality, “Every Hail Mary now, this day, and always. In the name of the Father, and of counts,” came into my heart. All the Hail Marys he prayed the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. made sure that Mary was with him on his final journey. Editor’s note: When I looked up the Gospel reading for Indeed, I have met so many people, particularly this week, July 24, 2017, it was not the one mentioned above. I am not sure who have lost loved ones, suddenly, tragically, in difficult if it was a special feast day and they had permission to read a circumstances. And I can assure you, but more importantly, different Gospel, or if he just made a mistake.

One day, St. Mechtilde (who was the patron saint for The Spirit of Medjugorje in 2005) was endeavoring to compose a beautiful prayer in honor of Our Lady, to show her great love for our Blessed Mother. Our Lady appeared to her, beautifully adorned, with “Hail Mary, Full of Grace” in gold across her breast. “Desist, dear child, from your labor,” Our Lady told St. Mechtilde, “for no prayer you could possibly compose would give me the joy and delight of the Hail Mary.” A Rosary Prayer The following prayer was sent by Beverley Ann Price from Australia, who found it in an old prayer book from Ireland that belonged to her mother. She said that no author was listed for this prayer. Beverley wrote, “It speaks of the mysteries of the Rosary in such a beautiful prayer.” ROSARY PRAYER O Mary Mother of the Church, teach us to accept God’s will, in the Spirit of the Annunciation; Visit us in our need, as you visited Elizabeth; Bring us forth in grace, as you brought forth Jesus in the flesh; Present us in the temple of the Father; And take us, after this life’s journey, to find Jesus in His Father’s house. Obtain for us the courage to be one with Jesus in His agony, and to say “Father your will be done”; Grant that “through His wounds” we may be healed; Teach us the meekness of our King crowned with thorns, and how to carry our cross daily, that we may “Know the fellowship of His sufferings” on Mount Calvary.

And when the hour comes to leave this world, grant that we may “5 stones rosary” with the words pray, fast, confess, know the power of His resurrection, Bible, and Eucharist for each of the decades and ascend to that home prepared for us; O Mary, sweet spouse of the Spirit, grant that we may share in the out-pouring of the Holy Ghost; And after this our exile, rejoice in the glory of your Assumption, and Coronation in Heaven. Amen.

Editor’s note: This prayer was written before the Luminous Mysteries were added in 2002. If you would like to write an addition to this prayer using the Luminous Mysteries, we would consider publishing it in a future issue. If there is more than one entry, we will ask our spiritual director, Fr. Bill Kiel, to choose.

THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE - 5 - OCTOBER 2018 A Spiritual Sword The following is an excerpt from a talk given on 7/14/18 by She even worked out the exchange rate. She even worked Fr. Ronan Murphy at the Carmelite Days of Prayer in Erie, PA. out the Canadian dollars into American dollars! Fr. Ronan has been to Medjugorje nine times. His incredible And as true as I stand here today, I went back up to that story of an encounter with Vicka was in our September 2018 same hotel, the same casino, the following year, and I went issue and can be read at www.spiritofmedjugorje.org/issues/ up to the same exact machine and I said, “Mother, thank you September2018pdf.pdf. for that beautiful kiss on my heart last year. I wouldn’t mind After the Mass, Padre Pio loved the Rosary the most. It is another one.” I pressed the button and guess what came out? the prayer that Our Lady emphasized at $240 exactly. And She even worked all Her apparitions at Fatima, appearing out the exchange rate at that time, under the title of Our Lady of the Holy which was a different exchange Rosary. Now Padre Pio would often refer rate than it was the year before. So to the Rosary as his “weapon”. Brothers Our Lady – She’s fantastic. She and sisters, the Rosary is a weapon. In really is. fact it is a sword, a spiritual sword. The Rosary is a double edged Now I personally bought a sword sword used to slay dragons, namely of Saint the Archangel (that’s Satan, the proud Leviathan of the what it’s called). It is a Vatican collectible Old Testament, and a weapon to and I got it dirt cheap. It is a beautiful be used to destroy his strongholds sword. I got it for $240. I wanted to buy in these times. The prophet Isaiah this because I like swords, but, second says [paraphrasing Is 27:1], “In of all, I wanted to buy it to use it as a that day, the Lord will punish with prop to speak about the sword of the His sword, His fierce, great and Holy Rosary. And I bring it to my little powerful sword – Leviathan, that children cenacles. They love to hold it crooked serpent, and He’ll slay that (without stabbing each other with it). dragon. “ This is from the book of The week after I bought the sword, the prophet Isaiah. I was up in Niagara Falls giving a retreat. Now again, in the Old Testament, I ended the retreat in the afternoon, David running from King Saul so they put me up in a hotel. As I was and his army, slipped into the checking in, they said, “Father, that temple and said to the high priest will be $30, please.” “$30 for what?” [paraphrasing 1Sam 21:9-10], “Do “Parking.” “$30 for parking?” They said, St. Michael statue in Medjugorje you have on hand a spear or a “Father, if you go upstairs to the casino and you get a card sword?” And the high priest said, “Here is the sword of and you put $30 on it, it’s free.” I said, “That’s not free. I am Goliath the Philistine that you killed with your sling. If you paying $30.” “But at least you have the opportunity to win want it, take it. It’s the only one we have.” And David smiled your money back.” So I know nothing about casinos. I go and said, “There is no sword like unto it. Give it to me.” out and get my card and put $30 on the card and I went to Now this Old Testament narrative can also be applied to the simplest machine you can find – one bar, two bars, three the Rosary. Like King David fleeing for his life from Saul bars. And I thought about my sword, and I said, “Mother and his men, we are not fleeing from the king or an army, Mary, you know I bought a sword last week, the sword of but we are fleeing from a more deadly enemy, Satan and Saint Michael the Archangel. And you know, show me that his enticements. Truly David’s words apply to us. We run you are happy with me buying this sword. I know I bought to the Church and we cry, “Have you at hand a spear or a it for myself, too. Show me that you’re happy with me sword?” And Holy Mother Church answers us, “Here is the speaking about your Holy Rosary. Win me my money back. Rosary, the sword of the Woman who crushes the head of Give me a little kiss on my heart.” So I said a Hail Mary, and Satan with Her heel.” And well can we smile and say like I pressed the button, and guess what? I won $240 exactly!!! David, “There is no sword like unto this. Give it to me.” The Power of the Rosary through History Joe McNamara We all know the power of the Rosary. But do we really know Our Blessed Mother and Child Jesus) which was called the the specific stories to tell others to evangelize and get them to Vladimir Icon. Their prayers were quickly answered. The huge say the Rosary? For your memory refreshment, here are some Turkish Army saw Our Blessed Mother in the sky with a huge specific examples: army. This frightened them so much that the entire huge army In the mid-centuries, Russia was invaded by a huge army ran home to Turkey. from Turkey, and the city of Moscow was about to be overrun During the end of World War II, Austria was about to be by them. The Turks were waiting for Moscow to surrender invaded by the Russians. Austria would have become a jewel to save a bloody invasion. The Russian people prayed before in the network of nations that belonged to the old Soviet Union. the most powerful and most loved icon (a gold picture of Even though only 10% of the people in Austria prayed the

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Rosary daily, asking Our Blessed Mother to protect them from came back to their airbases without firing a shot. All together, the Russians, Austria was saved. Even today, modern historians this confrontation took five days and during this, what is called cannot explain why Russia, although ready to invade Austria, today “Edsa I Revolution”, not a shot was fired, and no one was did not invade Austria. injured. Marcos lost control of the In the Philippines where I live, on military and the American CIA flew February 25, 1986, a powerful dictator him and his cronies to Hawaii. by the name of Ferdinard Marcos And in 2001, the people in Manila ignored the elections and claimed he got together in Edsa Square, and won even though it was evident he millions prayed the Rosary. They did not. The people were so disgusted were confronting another corrupt with all the corruption of the Marcos dictator by the name of Joseph regime, that even some of the Estrada. He made a mockery of military revolted, including General running the country with his many Ramos. Marcos gave the order to kill wives, terrible corruption, which General Ramos. The Archbishop of robbed the people, and was also Manila, Cardinal Sin, went in front making a mockery of the judicial of the Eucharist and prayed for two system by bribing many officials. hours. He then went on the radio and Again, this time is called Edsa II, told the people to “pray for the souls the time was shorter; and also this of General Ramos and his associates” time, no one was injured; and also as Marcos ordered his military to this time, the people again prayed invade the barracks where they were the Rosary in Edsa Square and their at and kill them. The people came out prayers were answered. In January in huge numbers. First thousands, of 2001 , President Gloria M. Arroyo and then hundreds of thousands, was inaugurated President. and then millions came to the area Our Lady of Edsa – the quote under the statue says, “If If you come to Manila, you will in Manila called Edsa. Here they my people, which are called by my name, shall humble find a 50-foot statue of Our Blessed blocked the path for the Philippine themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from Mother at Edsa Square. WHERE army and tanks and confronted them their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will ELSE WOULD YOU FIND A STATUE by praying the Rosary. Marcos then forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chron 7:14). OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER IN ordered his military to fire gas at the THE MIDDLE OF A LARGE CITY? people in Edsa and disperse them, and they did. However, Editor’s note: Joe McNamara passed away on 6/4/02. He was in the whenever they fired the gas grenades, the wind changed, midst of setting up a TV program in the Philippines called “Mama blowing the gas back into the faces of those who fired them. Mary is Calling Us.” He wrote a booklet called Prayer Groups about Then Marcos told his air force to strafe and bomb the people the first prayer group that Our Lady started in Medjugorje. It has in Edsa. And this was elitist of the air force pilots. However, been translated into seven languages. Joe mentioned the statue in when the pilots were about ready to shoot at the people or Edsa and the information I found stated that it is called The Shrine bomb them, they saw Our Blessed Mother in the sky or saw their of Mary, Queen of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA, or more popularly, wives with the people in Edsa (they really weren’t there) and the EDSA Shrine.

“Who is going to save the Church? Do not look to the priests. Do not look to the bishops. It’s up to you.” ~ Ven. Fulton Sheen Mirjana Writes about Praying the Rosary The following is an excerpt, used with permission from the book then put the rosary aside and speak directly to Our Lady as My Heart Will Triumph by Mirjana Soldo. a child talks to his mother. Tell her why you can’t be still. A short prayer from the heart is more powerful than a Tell her what’s burdening you. Give her whatever you have long one comprised of words with no feeling. God speaks in your heart and she will give you what’s in hers – the peace to us through love, so love is the language He understands. of God. Having seen Our Lady over 700 times since 1981, I never After having to hide my faith from the communists, I still get bored while praying the rosary because I can envision pray the rosary on my fingers. Even when I have a rosary, I her every time I say a Hail Mary. Still, I remember being usually end up giving it to someone I meet, and if I’m asked a little girl and feeling impatient whenever Grandma Jela to lead the rosary in a group, I prefer to use my fingers led the evening prayers. It’s not always easy to focus, but because I’m afraid of miscounting the beads. Our Lady says that nothing unites a family better than Editor’s note: Mirjana’s book is available through most praying the rosary together. bookstores. If your thoughts begin to wander when you are praying,

As of September 25, 2018, the number of Masses reported for Our Lady’s intentions was 26,334. Thank you.

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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

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MARY IS CALLING YOU On June 24, 1981 in Medjugorje, Our Lady appeared to six and a DEEPENING OF FAITH. After the visible sign, those still children. She identified Herself as the Blessed Virgin, Queen of living will have little time for conversion. Peace, and has continued to appear daily. Her message is PEACE, Father , who was the pastor of St. James when peace with God and man. Her words to the visionaries, “I have the apparitions began, has spoken about what he calls “the come to tell the world that God exists. He is the fullness of life, and weapons” or the “the five stones” of Our Lady. They are: prayer to enjoy this fullness and obtain peace, you must return to God.” with the heart, especially the Rosary; Eucharist; Holy Bible; Today, all but three of the visionaries have daily apparitions of monthly Confession; and fasting. the Blessed Mother. During the apparitions, the visionaries do not The publisher recognizes and accepts that the final authority react to light, don’t hear any sound or react to being touched. They regarding the apparitions at Medjugorje rest with the in feel that they are outside of time and space. All the visionaries Rome. declare to see the Blessed Virgin as they see other people - in three To borrow an original prayer cloth from Medjugorje for a dimension. They pray and speak with Her. week, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the address The Blessed Mother is confiding ten secrets to each visionary below. You must include your phone number. If you want a (some are chastisements for the world) and promises to leave a prayer cloth we made to keep, send a self-addressed stamped visible sign at the place of the apparitions in Medjugorje for all business size (4 1/ ” x 9 1/ ”) envelope with $.71 postage on it. humanity. This time, this period of grace, is for CONVERSION 8 2 Permission is given to spread the text of any original works and may be used with the following conditions: 1) No words are changed; 2) “Spirit of Medjugorje” is cited. For articles by other sources, permission must be obtained from the original source. If you want to receive “The Spirit of Medjugorje” monthly newsletter, please fill out the form below and return to: P.O. Box 6614, Erie, PA 16512. If you are able to send a donation to help spread Mary’s messages, it would be greatly appreciated. We request that you renew your subscription annually to remain on our mailing list. May God bless you. Please check one: New Renew Sponsor a subscription Distribute for someone in a foreign “Beginner’s Guides” Distribute Adoration Newsletters country (suggested donation: ( ) Issue #1 or Issue #2 (please circle) # of guides $13 to cover postage) (# of newsletters) (Please, no foreign checks or money Name orders, except postal money orders.

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