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. RAY DONOHUE VOL. 33, NO. 6 PUBLISHED MONTHLY JUNE 2020

MONTHLY MESSAGE OF MAY 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! Pray with me for a new life for all of you. In your hearts , little children, you know what needs to be changed. Return to God and His Commandments, so that the Holy Spirit may change your lives and the face of this earth, which is in need of renewal in the Spirit. Little children, be prayer for all those who do not pray; be joy for all those who do not see the way out; be carriers of light in the darkness of this peaceless time. Pray and seek the help and protection of the saints so that you On June 25th, we will celebrate the 39th anniversary of Our Lady’s apparitions in Medjugorje. Pictured above is a scene from the early days also could yearn for Heaven and of Medjugorje. Anniversary time is a good time to do a self-evaluation to see if we are doing what Our Lady asks. Are we living the “five stones”– Heavenly realities. I am with you praying daily with the heart, especially the , reading the Bible daily, fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, going to Confession once a and am protecting and blessing all month, and making the the center of our lives? We always try to incorporate mention of each of the five stones into every issue, but of you with my motherly blessing. in this issue there is an article or story about each one to inspire you. Hopefully by the time you read this, most of us will at least be able to go Thank you for having responded to Confession again and make visitations to the Blessed Sacrament, even if Mass is not available yet. to my call.” Praying in the Month of the of Jesus By Fr. Ray Donohue Hard to believe it is already Psalms, Holy Scripture readings of all kinds, meditations, June! It has been a very rough works of the Holy Fathers and Saints, and all kinds of various year for most of us, but we look prayers. I pray my breviary for Morning Prayer, Mid-day forward and know God has this. Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Night Prayer (Compline). Our Faith sustains us even in the I also have many favorite prayers I pray every day. I darkest hours. The month of June am a morning person, so most of these prayers I pray in is dedicated to the Sacred Heart the morning. I start with the Sign of the Cross, slowly and of Jesus. This Heart loves us with reverently. Then, every single day, I pray in this order: 3 an incomprehensible Love. I have Hail Mary’s in Honor of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. been present a few times in my I then have a little book I put my loose prayers in. I pray holy priesthood when a baby has for the canonization of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, for the been born, and the look on the canonization of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, Father Slavko, and mother’s face and in her eyes to a local priest Father Nelson Baker, to Saint Raphael, to Saint see that child she has carried for Gabriel, Saint , my Guardian Angel (whose name the past 9 months, and dreamed about for so long, is beyond is George), to Padre Pio, Saint Theresa the Little Flower, an words. It is a love so deep, so beautiful, so perfect, one old prayer to “My Mother, My Confidence”, many prayers cannot put it into words. for the unborn children, and Jesus has this love for us. He gives us a daily prayer for all the everything! Yes, everything. I am not talking visionaries of Medjugorje, by about giving us a million dollars, or a huge name. Then, I pray the prayer house or anything like that; I am talking about of Saint Gertrude the Great for EVERYTHING! The Lord gave us all life. It is a all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, daily gift, and in that life, He surrounds us with many times. Love – Love from His Sacred Heart and the love I want to share with you the of others, the love we feel for Him and the love next prayer I pray, to the Holy we give to others. He gives us breath, family, Spirit. “Come, O Holy Spirit, friends, Faith, and Himself. Jesus did not hold fill me with your love. May I live back on anything when it comes to us. He left out of Your abundant riches and the beauty and awe of Heaven to come to earth draw from the storehouse of Your as a human being, a human just like you and wisdom. Help me to hear what You me. He knew poverty, He knew sadness. He want me to hear, to say what You danced at weddings, and consoled those who want me to say, to be where You were lost and overburdened and abandoned by want me to be, and do what You others. He, Himself, was abandoned by others, want me to do. May I know that including His own disciples. His Love had no Your power at work in me can do limits, even on His Cross, as He was about to infinitely more than I could ever utter His last words, Jesus forgave those who Fr. Ray’s chapel ask or imagine. I commit myself tortured Him and mocked Him and hated Him. joyfully to Your work. Don’t let We pray: “O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in Thee.” me get in Your way, and don’t let me die ‘til my work is done”. I As of this writing, we are still homebound, wearing masks, love this prayer. It is simple and says it all! and Churches are not open for Holy Mass or Confessions, at Next is a prayer to Saint Joseph, and then a special prayer least where I am living. I pray, by the time we read this, to our Blessed Mother. This, too I wish to share with you: things will be more open or at least getting there. We do all “O Blessed Mother, heart of love, heart of mercy, ever listening, these things because we are supposed to do it, but also for caring, consoling, hear our prayer. As Your children, we implore our families, we do it out of love. We can unite our hearts Your intercession with Jesus Your Son. Receive with understanding with that of the very Heart of Jesus. We can offer so much and compassion the petitions we place before You today, especially up. We can freely give this love. (mention request). We are comforted in knowing Your Heart is Many people have asked me what do I do when I pray. I ever open to those who ask for Your prayer. We entrust to Your thought that was a very interesting question. I was asked, gentle care and intercession, those whom we love and who are “Do you just make up prayers, or what?” When I pray, I sick or lonely or hurting. Help all of us, Holy Mother, to bear our prepare myself for prayer. I quiet myself; I go out to either burdens in this life until we may share eternal life and peace with my Chapel or in my “Prayer-chair” in my cabin. I open my God forever. Amen.” heart to Jesus, and I ask Him to come to me, and I ask Him Another favorite I pray every day is the “ Prayer”. to help me be open. I begin prayer, as I told you once before, I am sure many of you pray this prayer also: with the prayer: “Almighty Father, I place the Precious Blood of “Lord Jesus, I come before You, just as I am. I am sorry for Jesus before my lips before I pray, that my prayers may be purified my sins; I repent of my sins; please forgive me. In Your Name, I before they ascend to Your Divine Altar.” forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce My favorite prayer, aside from the Ultimate prayer, which satan and all the evil spirits and all their works. I give You my is the Holy Mass, and the Holy Rosary, is my breviary. As entire self, Lord Jesus, now and forever. I invite You into my life, a priest, I pray every day my holy breviary, consisting of Jesus. I accept You as my Lord and Savior. Heal me, change me,

JUNE 2020 - 2 - THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE strengthen me, in body, soul, mind and spirit. Come, Lord Jesus; I know we have been through and are going through very cover me with Your Precious Blood and fill me with Your Holy difficult times. I share a little bit about my prayer lifeto Spirit. I love You, Lord Jesus; I praise You, Jesus; I thank You, remind us all that praying is beautiful. Prayer brings peace Jesus. I shall follow You every day of my life. Amen. Mary, my and holiness. Prayer brings strength in times of temptation. Mother, Queen of Peace, St. Peregrine, the cancer Saint, and all Prayer sends the devil running away and brings us ever You Angels and Saints, please pray for me. Amen.” closer to God and our Mother and the Saints and Angels. In A danger I have is that these prayers are just a few of the doing yard work around my cabin, I am always praying. I many prayers I pray each day, for strength, for love of God, am always asking my Guardian Angel, George, to help me our dear Blessed Mother, and the beautiful Saints in Heaven, and keep me safe. “Don’t let me fall,” when I am on a ladder. and I have gotten to know them all by heart, so sometimes as “Help me get this project done.” He is my best friend and I am praying my mind wanders and I have to think to myself, always there for me. (Someday I will tell you how I found “Did I just pray this or not?” It can become easy to just rattle out my Guardian Angel’s name. I can thank Ivan and Marija, off a prayer without praying it from my heart. When that the visionaries, for helping me with this.) happens, I simply go back and take my time praying them Remember, even the “Sign of the Cross” is a beautiful slowly and out loud, from my heart to God and to whomever prayer. Saying, “Jesus, I love You,” is music to our Lord’s I am addressing my prayer. If that happens to you, again, ears! No prayer is too simple; just pray! The Holy Spirit will smile, look up to God, and then begin the prayer again, from inspire you. God knows. He sees what is in your heart; He your heart. Praying is something that takes time, patience, knows what you are thinking and going through, so don’t love, and wanting to meet God and our hold back! Bring everything to Mother and the Saints and Angels from God: the good, the bad and the our hearts to theirs. Don’t be afraid to start ugly. Tell Him, put it into words, again, and as our Heavenly Mother asks and those words become prayer! us so many times, to pray with our hearts In this month of the Most and mean each word. I make up many Sacred Heart of Jesus, I would prayers just to talk with God, Our Lady, like to end with another prayer or a Saint or Angel. I just talk with them I pray, and I hope you will pray and they come to me. I pray when I mow it, too. This prayer really has no the lawn. I pray when I feed my reindeer. title, but I especially pray it to I pray when I walk my dog, Dublin, and I the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. pray whenever I can throughout the day. “Lord Jesus, I love You very much. I I look forward to prayer like I am about to am so grateful that You love me and meet my best friend! It is never a chore…it that You have called me to serve You is a joy and a gift! and to share your love with others. I have had many friends who have Sacred Heart statue in Medjugorje Forgive me, but I don’t always feel suffered from cancer, so I always pray the so loving. Often I hurt my family prayer to Saint Peregrine. Make sure you become good and and my friends; yes, even myself. I confess that I can even be mean close friends with all the Saints! They are all here to help and cruel in my words and actions. At times, I also use silence as a you and love you, and they make powerful intercession for weapon to hurt others. Forgive me. My Jesus, I even find it difficult you. I talk to them as I would talk to you, and I feel a strong to love You all the time. Help me! I am sorry. Forgive me for being bond, and even more, a friendship with them. They know unloving and touch my heart with the love that fills Your Sacred me, and I know them. That is how they want it. That is how Heart. Then I will be more like You. Please bless my family and we are blessed. I am very blessed, and I can never thank God friends. Bless people everywhere, especially those who are lonely and the Saints and all of Heaven enough for feeling them and feel unloved. Make me and all of those dear to me warm and so close to me and hearing them speak to my heart. They forgiving and teach us how to care. Thank You, dear Jesus, for all inspire, they love, and they care. They are our friends and Your gifts. You always answer my prayers. You are always in my love us so much. heart. I love You. Amen.” Prayer is our life-blood! Without prayer, we will wither I pray we all keep each other in Holy Prayer. This is one and die. We need to feed our soul with prayer, good works, of the 5 stones Our Lady gave us to protect us from evil forgiveness of others and our self, the Holy Sacraments, and help us grow in love and grace before God and others. and patience. If we neglect our bodies, if we only eat junk I want you all to know I pray for you every day – in my food, our bodies are not getting what they need to function prayers, in my Holy , and especially in my daily properly and begin to break down and we get sick, and Holy Masses. I have always felt a special calling to pray for eventually die. If we fail to pray, we are not nourishing our the unborn babies and for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. I soul, and it becomes ill. We need to feed our soul with the feel a strong need to pray and fast for them, and I ask our above-mentioned, and with great care and love; otherwise, Mother in Heaven to show me what I need to do to help it too, will die. Nourish your soul in Holy Prayer, Fasting, them. Jesus tells us: “Ask, and you will receive, Seek, and you peace, Sacraments, and kindness and generosity. Your soul will find, Knock and the door will be open to you.” May the will flourish. Can you just imagine how beautiful our Blessed Sacred Heart of Jesus open your minds and hearts to what Mother’s soul is? Stay away from gossip, bad company, HE is asking from you. negativity, hopelessness. These are NOT from God. Ask God bless you! Feel the prayers and the love! Welcome God in Holy Prayer for peace, holiness, and all the Graces Summer! God can bestow on you. They are there for the asking! Love and prayers..~Father Ray J

THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE - 3 - JUNE 2020 “Eat This Bread” By Mary Tirak Mary’s children are aided by Her in their conversion. come to Me and never be hungry. Eat this Bread, drink A close friend named Sue told me one this Cup, come to Me and you will day on the phone years ago that she was no not thirst.” Sue realized then that longer Catholic. She was so disheartened she was hungry for the Eucharist. by the clergy abuses that she turned away. This hunger persisted until finally, She even withdrew her children from the as Sue awoke one day, she was no Catholic school. longer just hungry – she was actually The next time I visited Sue, I noticed starving for Jesus in the Eucharist. that her rocking chair had her rosary She got in her car and drove, looking hanging on the back, as it always was. I intensely for a remarked about her rosary there, and she where she could receive His Body answered that she still prayed the Rosary and Blood. She passed her local just about every day. In the meantime, church, but she knew it wasn’t the Sue became active in a Protestant church, right time to enter. She kept driving which celebrated symbolically the Last past other churches until she found Supper with bread or crackers and grape Holy Communion in Medjugorje herself parking in front of the church juice. She also joined a bi-weekly Catholic she grew up in. Opening the door, prayer group. the only person she saw was a woman she recognized. They A few years passed. Whenever Sue’s service was needed, shared a loving hug. she was always ready to help. One day I needed someone Soon Sue was able to receive the sacraments of Penance to substitute for me at the mailing meeting for The Spirit and Holy Eucharist. She felt so happy to be as close to the of Medjugorje newsletter. I remembered Sue’s devotion to Lord as He intended. Her joy spilled out to the children of Our Lady and the Rosary, so I asked her if she would be there that church when she prepared them for First Communion as a favor for me. When she responded her “yes” to me, she during the Children’s Liturgy at Sunday Mass. burst out that she was now a practicing Catholic again! Sue has since passed away. At her funeral Mass, her pastor Sue continued to help with the monthly newsletter remarked that no other homebound parishioner he has ever mailings and one month shared her story. What happened visited expressed more reverence and gratitude for receiving was that one day Sue began hearing a dim inner melody in the Eucharist than she did. And by the way, the song at the her heart. She started to hear it growing. One day the words time of Communion at her funeral was “Eat this Bread, Drink of the song spoke to her: “Eat this Bread, drink this Cup, this Cup…” Suspending Natural Laws The following story is from the book Freed and Healed Through to bed, expecting to die. But in the morning, she awoke in Fasting by Sr. Emmanuel. perfect health. She felt no negative effects from the pills! It In every school we have fire extinguishers to put out fires, was as if she drank milk before going to bed. She was so and in every home we have aspirin for headaches. Fasting is shocked to still be alive that the thought immediately came like a fire extinguisher or an aspirin. We can use it to fight to her, “Somebody wants me to live.” She considered, against the evil that is developing within us, within our “Maybe it’s God who wants me to live?” So she reflected on family, within our society, and within the Church. Our Lady God and wondered, “Why does God want me to live?” And said, “Through fasting and prayer you can stop wars and suspend then she came to the point, “Maybe He loves me.” natural laws.” We don’t pay enough attention to this message. She returned to work and felt compelled to tell the story This means that disasters such as avalanches, earthquakes, to the doctor. Only then did the doctor realize the effect of landslides, can be avoided if someone in a threatened village his fasting. Through his fasting, he allowed God to work would only fast. in the nurse’s life. So he spoke to her about God. This message also applies to the natural laws of our body. Before the incident, she would reject everything he said I know an American nurse. She was stuck in a very sinful related to God. But after this event, her heart was open to life. She would go with any man that came across her path. hear about God’s mercy. She immediately understood that Even though she was baptized, she had no faith. She went the doctor’s fasting had prevented the natural chemical laws to catechism as a child, but forgot everything. There was no of medicine from acting in her body. God in her life. In the hospital where she worked, there was The doctor told her, “Go to Medjugorje.” She came to a doctor who came to Medjugorje and converted radically. Medjugorje and Our Lady showed immense love for her When he returned home, he started to live the messages and even appeared to her! She couldn’t believe the Mother with his heart. He recognized that the poor woman needed of God would manifest herself to such an impure person. his help. He decided to fast for her conversion. He fasted The nurse fell deeply in love with Our Lady and went to four years on her behalf! Confession. She confessed all of her sins, and from that day One day, in deep despair, she decided to commit suicide. forward changed her life. Now she is an apostle of Our Lady As a nurse, she knew exactly the quantity of pills it would in America. She says, “I was born in Medjugorje.” take to ensure her death. She swallowed the pills and went

JUNE 2020 - 4 - THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE Confession the Remedy By Ana Shawl To Jakov, Our Lady said that to be saved it is NECESSARY “Peace, peace, peace! Be reconciled...make peace with God and to believe and to go to Confession regularly. Our Lady among yourselves. For that, it is necessary to believe, to pray and specified this as monthly Confession. On August 6, 1982, the fast, and to go to Confession monthly.” (6/26/81) Mother of God gave us this astounding piece of good news: There are a lot of different things going on in the Church “Monthly Confession will be the remedy for the Church in the these days, and not all of them good. I was complaining a West. One must convey this message to the West.” couple of days ago about different things that I didn’t like And in 1983, She said again, “Monthly Confession will be a to see going on, and then I opened up my little book to this, remedy for the Church in the West. Whole sections of the Church regarding Confession. could be cured, if the believers would go to Confession once a I’m not sure if Our Lady’s message of “spread this message month.” of Confession to the West” has been done sufficiently. Such a simple solution to such complex problems – Hmmm. Maybe we can do something about this, those of monthly Confession!! There is no peace, because there is sin – us who are in the West. sin unforgiven. This is why from the very beginning of the Editor’s note: Ana is from DeKalb, IL. She wrote this in apparitions at Medjugorje, Our Lady, in tears, told Marija: September of 1999.

Answering the Call The following is excerpted with permission from the book My Heart Will Triumph by visionary, Mirjana Soldo. Our Lady showed me microphone. “Each of us should ask ourselves, ‘Am I worthy something during that apparition of this?’ I’m saying this because it’s difficult for me to see [10/2/11] which I cannot speak her in pain. Each of us is looking for a miracle, but we don’t about, but what shook me the want to work a miracle in ourselves.” most was the intense sadness I was ill for three days after that apparition. Our Lady’s on her face. I’ve seen women on sorrowful face remained before my eyes. I thought I was Earth who were suffering, but going to die. Through prayer, however, God gradually nothing compares to the pain eased my mind. I emerged believing that with perseverance on Our Lady’s face. In a way, we could wipe away Our Lady’s tears and lessen her pain. I envy those who have never Our Lady doesn’t always appear sad, though. If she tells witnessed her sorrow. It hurts me something of great importance, for example, she does her most when she sees that we so with a look of determination. My favorite moments are haven’t even tried to change, when she is joyful. Anytime she speaks about her Son, she when our hearts remain hard and has the most beautiful smile on her face. Her joy affects me Mirjana at the apparition indifferent, when we’ve chosen a deeply and I feel less pain when the apparition ends. But of October 2, 2011. path of ruin rather than salvation. seeing her sad stays with me the longest. She has so much love and patience, and she does so much When I described Our Lady’s sorrow to a group of for us, but we are often deaf to her call and reluctant to take pilgrims, one woman shook her head and said, “When will even the slightest step forward. the world change? When will people understand?” Imagine a mother here on Earth whose son has fallen “That’s not what we should be asking,” I said. “Instead, into the wrong crowd and lives in darkness. He doesn’t we need to ask ourselves, ‘When will I change? When will I talk to his mother anymore because he knows how much understand?’ We cannot put the blame on others. We need he’s disappointed her. Think of that mother’s pain. Now, to start with ourselves and only then can we help others.” multiply that pain by a billion and imagine looking into her The only soul I need to scrutinize is my own. When it’s my eyes. That’s what it’s like to see Our Lady when she prays time to stand before God, he won’t ask me about you. He’ll for her countless children who have gone astray. Or consider only ask how well I answered His call. that indescribable grief of a mother who has lost a child. Our Editor’s note: We have limited copies of Mirjana’s book that we Mother in Heaven grieves for every child she loses. will send out to priests and religious and those who cannot afford After the October 2, 2011 apparition, I collapsed in tears. a copy. This was made possible by a donation from an anonymous The image of Our Lady suffering was burned into my mind. donor. Looking at all the people around me, I felt like the apparitions were in danger of being taken for granted. People were Our thanks to Gina Adams, Diane Niebauer, Sue Taccone, chatting and snapping photographs. Some were there just Joan Peterson, Julie Hansen, Rose Heintzel, Peggy Smith, to look for visible signs and would only talk about what Peggy Chludzinski, Laura and Kevin Di Bacco, Kathy Wayman, they saw. Others would hear the message but forget it just and those who want to remain anonymous for their help with as quickly. I usually never gave my own comments after an the May mailing. We thank Mike Golovich, Helen Bell, and apparition, but this time I had to say something. Louise Lotze for their photos in this issue. We also thank our “Are you aware, brothers and sisters, that the Mother proofreader, Pat Berrier, our webmaster, Jason Klins, and our of God was with us?” I said. Miki relayed it through the prayer group administrator, Patti Millar.

THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE - 5 - JUNE 2020 A Medjugorje Moment By Veronica Somatosi Recently, our sixth grandchild entered the world. Our flower girl in a wedding the year before. Then she went to son, and his wife named their son Jonathan, which means Jonathan’s room, lay down next to him and gazed at him. “Gift of God”. And that he is, as are all children. Our son quickly took a picture to capture this “Kodak We presumed that Jonathan’s sister, moment”. When he sent us this Clara, would not be too excited about picture, it melted my heart. sharing the limelight with her little After looking at this beautiful brother when he was born, as she had picture repeatedly, later that day, been an only child for three years. In fact, something occurred to me as I was a month before he was born, when she reading an article about Fr. Leon. had pulled up some carpeting on the Gazing at this picture, I thought about Fr. Leon’s encounter with basement steps and our son asked her Our Lady, and the love of Our Lady what happened, she replied that for us. Fr. Leon had said: “Our Lady Jonathan had done it! Poor Jonathan had loves you. She loves you like you’re been blamed and he was still in the the only child She has, like She has womb! I shared this story with almost no one else, like there’s absolutely everyone who called me the following no one else in the whole world. month, to make them laugh during the When She looks at you, there’s only dark times of the pandemic. you. And also She looks at you like When our son sent us the video of you are utterly wonderful and Clara’s introduction to Jonathan, we marvelous and beautiful and were pleasantly surprised at how excited amazing. Like She’s delighted to see Clara was. She ran to her room to gather up some of her you, as if she’d been waiting all Her life for this...” toys for him, and would not let him out of her sight. The visionaries always say that no artist can come close When Jonathan was a few days old, Clara gave our son a to capturing the beauty and love of Our Lady, but for me blanket to put on his bedroom floor and asked him to lay this picture is a tiny glimpse of Heaven. It was a Jonathan there. She went to her bedroom, and with a little “Medjugorje moment” for me. help, put on the dress that she had worn when she was a News from Medjugorje (as of April 30, 2020) The evening prayer program from St. James’ church is Wednesdays, Prayer for the healing of body and the soul. On live streamed every day, also broadcasted on Radio Mir Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, there is also Adoration Medjugorje, and available on our YouTube channel and of the Blessed Sacrament, while on Saturdays, Fr. Marinko Facebook page. The prayer program starts every night at Sakota will give his catechesis after the Adoration and on 5 pm with the Rosary, followed by the Prayer to the Sundays, the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary follow the Holy Spirit and Holy Mass at 6 pm. The prayer program Holy Mass. We would like to remind you that on Thursday, continues after Holy Mass, both in the church and our video after the evening prayer program, we bring you our new links on web site, Facebook page and YouTube channel. On project ‘News from Medjugorje’, available on our Facebook Mondays, we pray the Rosary after Holy Mass, Tuesday page, YouTube channel and live streaming service, first time we have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and on broadcasted last Thursday. www.medjugorje.hr Do Not Fear or Worry By June Klins The following article was published in our November 2008 scripture verses as we walked into the chapel. issue. I have tried to read both of these readings every day since I That same week, a lady called me to request a prayer first wrote this article. They are needed even more now than they cloth, and in our conversation, she told me that she was told “Can any of were then! by someone at the in Stockbridge, MA, you by worrying add One day, as I was walking into to read Psalm 91 every day. I knew that Psalm 91 is the a single moment to your Mass, the lady who parked behind Psalm that the song “On Eagle’s Wings” is based on, but life-span?” (Mt. 6:27) me said, “I like your bumper sticker.” after we hung up, I went and read it. I “Say to the My bumper “magnet,” which was a might dub this the “Don’t Fear Psalm”. LORD, ‘My refuge and gift, says “Prayer, not despair.” The lady continued with I have been reading it every day since. I fortress, my God in whom worry in her voice, “Boy, we really need that right now, recall someone once telling me that we I trust’” (Ps 91:2) with the economy the way it is.” I told her that this is why are supposed to have our Bibles open has been telling us all these years to that Psalm in our homes as protection. that we should read Matthew 6:24-34 every Thursday. I went So between these two readings, we are told by Almighty on, that I call it the “Don’t Worry Gospel” and that maybe God Himself not to fear and not to worry. What comforting we should read it every day now. The lady took note of the words in these times of turmoil. Jesus, I trust in Thee!

JUNE 2020 - 6 - THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE The Two Precious Vessels in 2020 By June Klins The following is an adaptation from an article from our at this moment receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually August 2005 issue: into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite Our Lady, in Her messages, tells us that we should make myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. the Eucharist the center of our lives. When I first began to Amen.” follow the messages of Medjugorje, I The Cure of Ars said, “A mistakenly interpreted this to mean that Spiritual Communion acts Our Lady says we should go to Mass on the soul as blowing does every day. Nancy Latta, who translated on a cinder-covered fire for Fr. Jozo, explained that Our Lady which was about to go out. would never say that because some Whenever you feel your people cannot go to Mass every day, and love of God growing cold, Our Lady would not want these people quickly make a Spiritual to feel guilty that they are not living Communion.” the messages. Who would have ever How awesome our God is, guessed that there would come a time to provide us with Spiritual when almost the whole world would Communion. Of course, not have access to public Mass? For Sacramental Communion, those who cannot get to Mass, the Lord is the preferred means to has provided an alternative. receive Our Lord. I can’t That alternative is called “Spiritual help but see the similarity of Communion.” St. Alphonsus Liguori, Painting at the Divine Mercy Shrine in Surmanci the silver and gold vessels in his book The Holy Eucharist wrote: to the silver rosaries which “A Spiritual Communion, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, turn gold in Medjugorje and elsewhere. Could the message consists in an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most here be that frequent reception of Spiritual Communion will Holy Sacrament, and in lovingly embracing Him as if we eventually lead to a more frequent reception of Sacramental had actually received Him.” St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Communion? St. John Bosco once said, “There are two Alphonsus both taught that Spiritual Communion produces things the devil is deadly afraid of – frequent Communions effects similar to Sacramental Communion, according to and frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament.” May we take the dispositions with which it is made, the greater or less advantage of all the Eucharistic treasures Our Lord has earnestness with which Jesus is desired, and the greater provided for us. “Let holy Mass be your life.” (Our Lady of or less love with which Jesus is welcomed and given due Medjugorje, 4/25/98) attention. “How pleasing these Spiritual Communions are to God,“ St. Alphonsus wrote, “and the many graces which Our Lady Gave a Message on He bestows through their means, was manifested by May 4, 2020 through Ivan Dragicevic! Our Lord Himself to Sister Paula Maresca, the foundress of the convent of St. Catherine of Sienna in Naples, when (as This is a special grace for us in these days... “Dear children, it is related in her life) He showed her two precious vessels, this is a time of gratitude. Today I ask love from you. Don’t look for the one of gold, the other of silver. He then told her that in faults in others and don’t judge others. I expect you to love and to the gold vessel He preserved her Sacramental Communions, spread the truth because the truth is eternal, constant and always and in the silver one her Spiritual Communions.” up to date. Bring the light of my Son. Drive out the darkness “All those who desire to advance in the love of that wants to seize you more and take you far away from my Son, Jesus Christ,” St. Alphonsus continued, “are exhorted to Jesus. Don’t worry, I am with you. Thank you for responding to make a Spiritual Communion at least once in every visit my call.” that they pay to the Most Blessed Sacrament...This devotion www.marytv.tv is far more profitable than some suppose, and at the same time nothing can be easier to practice. Blessed Jane of the Cross used to say that a Spiritual Communion can be made without anyone remarking it, without fasting, without the Prayer Intention of Pope permission of our director, and we can make it at any time Francis for June The Way we please; an act of love does all.” Isn’t that an awesome of the Heart: We pray that all those thought?! Although any prayer from the heart will suffice, a common who suffer may find their way in life, prayer used for Spiritual Communion is: “My Jesus, I believe allowing themselves to be touched by that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above the Heart of Jesus. all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot

As of May 25, 2020, the number of Masses reported for Our Lady’s intentions was 28,889. Thank you.

THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE - 7 - JUNE 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 meantime, this period of grace is for conversion and a deepening children. She identified Herself as the Blessed Virgin, Queen of Peace. of faith. After the visible sign, those still living will have little time for Her words to the visionaries: “I have come to tell the world that God conversion. exists. He is the fullness of life, and to enjoy this fullness and obtain Father , 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. To borrow an original prayer cloth from Medjugorje for a The Blessed Mother granted to confide ten secrets to each visionary week, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the address (some are chastisements for the world). Some of the visionaries have below. You must include your phone number. If you want a received all ten secrets. Our Lady promised to leave a visible sign at prayer cloth we made to keep, send a self-addressed stamped the original site of the apparitions in Medjugorje, for all humanity. In 1 1 business size (4 /8” x 9 /2”) envelope with $.70 postage on it.

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. Street Address U.S. FUNDS ONLY)

City, State and Zip Code VOL. 33, NO. 6