THE SPIRIT of MEDJUGORJE CURRENT Monthly MESSAGE
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
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 December 2014 VOL. 27, NO. 12 PUBLISHED MONTHLY CURRENT MONThly MESSAGE OF NOVEMBER 25, 2014 ON ThE 25Th DAY OF EACh MONTh, ThE BLESSED VIRGIN GIVES A MESSAGE TO ThE VISIONARY, MARIJA, hT AT IS TO BE GIVEN TO ThE WORLD. The icon above was painted by a member of the Cenacolo Community. It was hanging in their chapel when this photograph was taken in 2001. Medjugorje Pilgrimage – November 2014 By Fr. Bill Kiel Often the question, “Why make the Luminous Mystery path behind Saint James Church, sat a pilgrimage?” is asked. One will at the Risen Christ, on the bus, or whenever walking around say, “I can pray at home just as well the village. Prayer was an integral part of each day of the as I can at a pilgrimage site.” A pilgrimage. pilgrimage gives the added dimension The Sacrament of Penance was readily available, and many of experiencing a spirituality of the pilgrims took advantage of the many priests present for the site where supernatural happenings sacrament. The inner peace many pilgrims seek comes from are supposedly taking place. People a thorough examination of conscience and Confession. gather from many areas of the On this pilgrimage, many in our group experienced world, and the spirituality of various meeting and visiting three very poor families of gypsies. Fr. Bill Kiel cultures is observed. The universality Food, clothing, and various items were taken for the families. of the Catholic Church is evident by the numerous countries There was a warm interaction with the families, since we had represented by the pilgrims. Even though one may attend a local translator with us. A few of us visited and prayed for a Mass celebrated in a foreign language, participation still two elderly Bosnian women who lived in an outlying area occurs because the Mass is the same throughout the world. of Medjugorje. One of the sisters was near death and passed This pilgrimage was the thirty-second time I was able to away a few days after our visit. These sisters lived in a one- be a spiritual director for a group. Each pilgrimage has been room block building without utilities, but did have a water different. Each trip has a different group of people of different source outside the building. I was given the opportunity to spiritual levels, and I am a different person spiritually, speak to a group of Vietnamese pilgrims from the United hopefully. We continue to grow in our spiritual lives – as States. These pilgrims were very faith-filled, prayerful and the saying goes, “The only evidence of life is growth.” If we pious. The songs they sang were so beautiful, even though are not growing spiritually, are we spiritually alive? I did not understand the language. This group of pilgrims consisted of individuals who were The Chirdon family and I had the opportunity to be returning in thanksgiving for miracles received; others interviewed by staff members of the National Geographic were seeking the peace that one finds in Medjugorje; still Magazine, working on the December 2015 issue that will others were seeking and asking for special intentions for include a section on Mary. They are visiting sites around themselves or family members or friends. the world where Mary has appeared or allegedly appeared. Each day began with the group praying Morning Prayer Our November pilgrimage of prayer, sacraments, before breakfast. Daily Mass participation was the focus of spiritual experiences and human experiences would not each day, whether it was in Medjugorje or a nearby village. have occurred at home. A pilgrimage is a special encounter Each pilgrim had the opportunity to serve in some capacity with God! at a Mass in Saint James Church or one of the other churches Editor’s note: The story of the healing of Cathy Chirdon’s when Mass was celebrated. Saints Peter and Paul Church in granddaughter, Kiera, was in our June, 2014 issue, and can be Mostar and a church dedicated to the Divine Mercy were read online. The Chirdons and Father Keil were interviewed by sites of experiencing and participating in Mass. The Rosary MaryTV.tv for an episode (#140) of Fruit of Medjugorje that aired was prayed as we ascended Apparition Hill, walked along on November 17th and will be posted in the archives. November 2, 2014 Message to Mirjana “Dear children, I am with you with the blessing of my me means to pray for those who have Son, with you who love me and who strive to follow me. I not come to know the love of my Son. also desire to be with you who do not accept me. To all of In praying for them you are showing to you I am opening my heart full of love and I am blessing you my Son that you love Him and follow with my motherly hands. I am a mother who understands Him. My Son promised me that evil will you. I lived your life and lived through your sufferings never win, because you, the souls of and joys. You who are living in pain understand my pain the just, are here; you who strive to say Picture taken at and suffering because of those of my children who do not your prayers with the heart; you who Our Lady of Sinj permit the light of my Son to illuminate them; those of my offer your pain and suffering to my Son; Shrine in Croatia children who are living in darkness. This is why I need you who comprehend that life is only a you – you who have been illuminated by the light and have blink; you who yearn for the Kingdom of Heaven. All of this comprehended the truth. I am calling you to adore my Son makes you my apostles and leads you towards the victory so that your soul may grow and reach true spirituality. My of my heart. Therefore, my children, purify your hearts and apostles, it is then that you will be able to help me. To help adore my Son. Thank you.” Our thanks to Joanne Warren, Mary Tirak, Rose Leach, Kathy Luschini, Marge Spase, Irene and Dan Zuba, Prayer Intentions of Pope Francis for December Dianne Yochim, Anne O’Leary, Louise Lotze, Rita Kiter, Christmas hope for humanity: That the birth of the and Cindy Bielanin for help with the November mailing. Redeemer may bring peace and hope to all people of good will. We thank Mike Golovich and Fr. Milton Process for Parents: That parents may be true evangelizers, passing on their photos. And as always, we thank Pat Berrier, our to their children the precious gift of faith. proofreader, and Jason Klins, our webmaster. December 2014 - 2 - THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE Mother and Child By D.S. In the seat in front of me at Mass one the priest, “a very wonderful and beautiful morning sat the parents of a baby boy who was miracle but with a difference!” six months old. The baby had a round chubby “What happened,” said the priest, “was face, big bright blue eyes and all signs of its first that the previous evening the parents sat in teeth beginning to cut through. It gurgled and the church praying over the child. And then played, let the odd scream out of it (probably something happened. A Franciscan priest who bought on due to teething). His mother tried had known of their plight was walking from to comfort him so as not to disturb the other the altar when he noticed the couple crying. people during Mass, but to no avail. I didn’t Thinking the child had worsened, he made help much. Every time the baby looked back at his way over to the couple, but could see the me I kept pulling funny faces at it and making child was fine. The parents were still crying, it laugh. The baby’s father just sat and stared a yet their faces were glowing as if they had seen very deep loving and caring stare, occasionally something beautiful or something glorious had holding his finger out so the child would grip it. just happened. They turned to the priest and Mass ended, I smiled over at the baby and left. the mother with tears streaming down her face The next day, a few friends that I had met said that they had spoken with Our Lady. She were talking outside the church to a priest who came down from the altar, picked up the baby happened to mention about the child in Mass and said to the parents, ‘Do not worry for your the previous morning, and asked if anyone child will be with me in Heaven.’ Then [the had seen its performance. I acknowledged mother said], ‘She turned and we could see that I helped it along by making funny faces the vision of Our Lady carrying our child back at the baby. The priest told us that the parents towards the altar and slowly fade away. We are had brought the baby to Medjugorje because crying because we know now that when our it was dying from an incurable disease. I was child dies he will be in Heaven with Our Lady, absolutely stunned by the news.