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 uURRENT MONThly MESSAes 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 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. Someone then the Mother of God.’” Not one of us could speak. asked if there had been miracle to reverse the The child has since died. Statue in the Cathedral situation. “Yes, there has been a miracle,” said The Medjugorje Herald, Ireland in Mostar A Christmas to Remember By Fran Pinizzotto This is not your ordinary Christmas tradition, but it is one little things to wrap for him. We all scurried about looking that will stick with me all through my life. My dear mother, for things! We came up with a little grooming set with nail who was born and raised a very strict Catholic, raised all clippers, a file and a comb that one of my sisters had bought of her six children the very same way. My father, who was for my dad, and another one came up with some aftershave. an alcoholic, was not much help to her. He was wounded in Someone came up with the idea that we could box up some WWII, and everyone said he was never the same after that. Christmas cookies, and I even contributed a small box of She had to take a job as a waitress to help support all of us, candy that I had bought for my mother. and she always tried to make sure we had what we needed. When they arrived, we all got together and ate our We didn’t always get what we needed, but she did the best Christmas Eve fare, and he shyly joined us. Afterward, we she could. all sat on the floor and distributed our gifts, and began the The restaurant where she worked was one of those grand Christmas present opening. When he saw gifts for greasy-spoon diners that was open 24 hours, and all kinds him, he began to cry and said, “NO! You shouldn’t have of people would stop in there. Drunks after the bars closed, given me anything, because I don’t have anything to give a lot of truckers passing through, and local poor who just back.” We all assured him that he had given us more than had nowhere to go at times would stop and drink coffee and he knew. We really got the meaning of Christmas that year. chat with her. She often bought dinner or lunch for some of Just about every year after that we had someone who was those poor people and gave away a lot of coffee. alone, who really made Christmas special just by being a One year after working all night, she brought one of these part of it. people home for Christmas Eve. He was a little alcoholic God Bless you all! Invite someone, who has nowhere to man who had no family, and lived alone in an old run-down go, for Christmas this year. It will be like entertaining Jesus hotel next to the restaurant. He sat with her in an empty himself. restaurant, drinking coffee and talking. He obviously had Editor’s note: Fran is from Indiana, PA. She is a member of the no place to go to spend the holiday. She had called ahead Internet Prayer Group associated with Ivan’s prayer group in and let us know he was coming, and asked us to find some Medjugorje. Did you know that the Davidic lineage of the Messiah is mentioned in 2 Sam 7:12-14, Is 9:6-7, Jer 23:5, and Ezek 34:23-24, and that his birthplace in Bethlehem is noted in Mic 5:2.? St. Augustine said, “The New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New.”

THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE - 3 - December 2014 Pray for Priests By Dianne Yochim support. The Second Vatican Council states: “The Christian faithful, for their part, should realize their obligations to their priests…Sharing their cares, they should help their priests by prayer, and work insofar as possible so that their priests might more readily overcome difficulties and be able to fulfill their duties more fruitfully” (Presbyterorum Ordinis, 9). Along with the call to pray for priests, the Congregation of the Clergy, on Dec. 8, 2007, sent letters to all diocesan bishops in the world, asking for “Eucharistic Adoration for the sanctification of priests and spiritual Priests concelebrating Mass in Medjugorje maternity after the example of Mary, Mother of the Eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ.” We My husband and I have been blessed to know some very do well to take Mary as our model in this endeavor. She holy priests over the years, but one stands out among the is a powerful intercessor with our dear Lord. She knows rest. I’ll call him Father G. He was particularly close to exactly what each of Her priest-sons needs to fulfill his call our family. As Mom lay dying in the hospital, this priest to holiness and succeed in his mission to gain souls for God knelt down on the hard tile floor beside her bed and led the and His Church. God cannot refuse Mary’s requests for family around her in the Rosary and then in the Litany of anything. All graces come through Her. Let us also become the Blessed Mother. What was so remarkable was the fact spiritual mothers for our beloved priests, interceding that not only did he recite the entire Litany completely from through Mary for their sanctification and work on earth. We memory, but that he was 93 years old! can do this by our prayers and sacrifices, by offering all our Years earlier, we had been invited to a special dinner sufferings and sorrows for them, by offering Masses and celebrating Father G.’s 50th Anniversary as a priest. He told Eucharistic hours of Adoration for them. us how grateful he was for all the people who prayed for The Opus Sanctorum Angelorum (Order of the Holy him over the years. He assured us that it was through those ), under the guidance of the Order of Canons Regular prayers that he was able to remain faithful to the priesthood of the Holy Cross, has sponsored a spiritual Crusade of that God had chosen him for. Then he shared a personal Prayer and Reparation for Priests for many years. They story with us that he said not many people knew. He said offer free bi-annual meditations on the priesthood and ask that when he was a young priest, he went through a very for commitment to pray on behalf of priests, remembering dark and troubling time. For months he contemplated them especially on Thursdays, the day of the institution of leaving the priesthood. He didn’t tell anyone, but prayed the priesthood. and prayed for guidance. One day, he found his answer in a They also offer a program in which you can spiritually painting that he would never forget. In the foreground of the adopt a specific bishop, priest, seminarian, or young man painting, a poorly dressed man sat on a park bench looking discerning a vocation. Upon request, they will send a free forlorn and dejected. On his shoulder sat a devil. Then in Crusade packet with a suggested daily prayer for priests, the background, high up on a hill, the artist had painted a the Litany of Jesus Christ, Priest and Victim, and a copy of monastery. All around and in the monastery, the monks the booklet, “Chalice of Strength,” containing many prayers were busy about their chores. There were many devils for priests. hovering over the monastery, and each monk had several For more detailed information, or to sign up to join this devils attacking him individually. When Father G. saw this Crusade, you can visit their website at opusangelorum.org painting, he understood why he had become so confused or email them at [email protected]. about the priesthood; he was being severely tempted by As we pray for our beloved priests, may we also remember many devils. At this understanding, his darkness vanished. to thank God for this precious gift of priesthood! On When Father G. shared this personal story with us, I October 2, 2014, Our Lady said, “My dear children, as your remembered hearing before that, when we are tempted, we shepherds offer you the Body of my Son with their blessed have one devil on our back, but when a priest is tempted, he hands, always in your hearts give thanks to my Son for the has ten devils on his back. sacrifice and for the shepherds that He always gives you Why are priests under such heavy attack? They are God’s anew.” Mary Immaculate, Mother of Priests, intercede for ministers to us. Through them, we receive the sacraments, us! especially the Holy and the forgiveness of our sins. Editor’s note: Dianne is from Erie, PA and is on our mailing We receive God’s grace and, hopefully, one day salvation staff. I was touched when she told Father G.’s story at one of our and union with Him. Through the ministry of one priest, mailings and asked her to write it up to share. What a great gift thousands of souls can be saved. We need priests. this would be to give Baby Jesus – to spiritually adopt a priest, As much as we need priests, they need our prayers and bishop, seminarian, or young man discerning the priesthood.

December 2014 - 4 - THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE A Pure and Humble Heart By Sr. Emmanuel Ivona, 49, a florist, is a mother of two grown children and a widow. Last November, she came to Medjugorje for the third time, and we were greatly amazed by her deep fervor. She would go up and down Krizevac, barefoot, not minding the cold, the wind, the rain and the mud. Married since 1984, she lived in a small 2-bedroom apartment in Ukraine. Igor, her husband, quickly showed himself to be mean. He often drank and mistreated her verbally, and sometimes beat her. Ivona also realized one day that he had a mistress, a married woman and mother of three children. Although Igor was born a Catholic, he spoke badly of the priests and refused to go to church, except for feast days. But Ivona loved her husband dearly and she was praying for him. One day, he became seriously ill and he had to stop working. He needed constant care. His lover abandoned him. A barefoot pilgrim climbing Apparition Hill Seeing that Igor was going to die soon, Ivona worried there?” She answered him, “You are going to your home; do about his eternal fate. Out of love, not only did she pray, not be afraid! Jesus is enlightening the way before you to go but she would also fast a lot for him. In August, 2009, she to Him, and you have the Three Kings to escort you!” When went to Medjugorje to obtain his reconciliation with God. she saw that he was suffering, she told him, “Remember Even though the heat was terrible, she went up and down that Jesus also suffered before going to his Father.” She Krizevac, barefoot on the burning stones. She was begging asked him to forgive her for the times she had made him God: “May he not die without Confession!” suffer, and she expressed that, for her part, she had forgiven Since Igor was yelling at the children all the time, she was him EVERYTHING. Already Igor could no longer speak, praying for the unity of the family. “Even if Igor should hate but he shed tears as a response to her. She thanked him for me”, she said to the Lord, “give me the strength to bear it!” the years they lived together, then with a big smile, she said Indeed, Igor insulted her despite her good caring for him to him, “Now you can leave in peace for the House of the day and night. Nevertheless, Ivona was always feeling Lord!” Upon these words, his eyes became motionless. He peace in her heart because her prayer kept her in unity with was dead. God. One day, Igor was hospitalized, and Ivona did not let Ivona had persevered in prayer and fasting, and him down. She spent hours at his bedside. Three times Igor everything she had asked God had come true! Igor had refused to let the Catholic chaplain, who was a priest, see been to Confession at the last moment, just six hours before him and hear his Confession. Ivona kept silent and did not dying, before losing his speech. After Igor’s death, during give in to discouragement. She prayed with all her heart the following Lent, Ivona fasted on bread and water for near her husband, confident that God was listening to her. 40 days in order to thank God for having converted her Rosaries and Chaplets of Divine Mercy alternated between husband. medical treatments. Ivona has not stopped working for her family’s salvation On January 6, the morning of his death, oh what a miracle since Igor’s death. Her son Boris is very sick. She came back took place! Igor stroked his wife’s hair saying, “Even when to Medjugorje for him in November (that’s when I met her), I am mean to you, you keep on loving me and taking care and she intends to bend the heart of God for his healing of me!” His legs were becoming black, but he was still and especially for his conversion. He left the Church and conscious. That day, Ivona had to leave the hospital for a put up with a very difficult person. So, Ivona made a deal few hours to attend her daughter’s first Holy Communion. with God, “Lord, you take care of my son, Boris, and I will When she came back, she ran into the priest in the hall take care of Your sons, the priests!” On November 25, after and suggested that he make another try at hearing Igor’s climbing both mountains up and down (Krizevac and Confession. It was now a question of hours before his death! Podbrdo) barefoot on a freezing cold afternoon, she spent But – second miracle – the priest answered her that he was all night in St. James Church before the Blessed Sacrament just coming back from Igor’s room and that Igor had made a exposed on the altar, praying for priests! good Confession, after 20 years without any Sacrament! She Our Lady told us last October, “Do not stop praying for was overwhelmed with joy! When she entered the room, she the gift of love.” And this month She said, “You must have placed a picture of the Merciful Christ in Igor’s hands and, pure and humble hearts.” Ivona is such an inspiration for us! to her great surprise, he put it between his fingers, raised it She is one of those “violent” ones who takes the Kingdom of up to his face and gazed at it with serenity. Heaven by storm. She will not be disappointed! Then he told his wife, “How shall I manage going up www.childrenofMedjugorje.com, January 2014 report.

“The Virgin Mary perfectly incarnates the spirit of Advent; this spirit is one of listening to God, of profound desire to do His will, of joyous service to our neighbor. Letting ourselves be guided by Her, so that the God who comes does not find us closed and distracted, but can, in each one of us, extend a part of His kingdom of love, of justice and of peace.” ~ Pope Benedict XVI

THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE - 5 - December 2014 Praying with the Heart By Cathy Nolan Praying with the heart is one of the fundamental calls of minutes, in silence, with all the pilgrims. She just dives into Our Lady of Medjugorje. The visionaries always mention prayer, and she can’t seem to quit! prayer with the heart as one of the most important messages; I had a little teaching from the Lord about prayer with the and yet, they cannot tell us how to pray with the heart. At heart the other day. I had a restless night’s sleep. It seemed most, they tell us that to pray with the heart we must begin that I was worrying about many things, and so my sleep was to pray – just do it. Here is what Vicka fitful. I could hear myself speaking to the says about prayer: Lord, but I was mostly just spouting off “When Our Lady asks us to pray, my worries. “Lord, do this. Lord, don’t She does not wish us to pray only with let this happen. Lord, don’t forget this words; She wants us to open our hearts person.....” It wasn’t really prayer – it was more and more every day, so that prayer more like a worry session. will truly become joy. Our Lady also says As I was getting up, I felt the Lord that, before we start to pray, we should gently speak in my heart. He said, “You get rid of all thoughts that bother us, by know, if you would just really talk to Me praying an Our Father. She also says, about these things, I could help you.” ‘Pray to your almighty Father in Heaven, That was all. But I got the message. Jesus who is full of immeasurable love, who wants to help me. But when I worry-pray, loves us so much, and give Him all your I don’t give Him a chance to help me. I wishes and all your problems. Allow just keep throwing my worries His way, Him to transform everything for the Vicka praying with people hoping He will catch them. It seems like best, that His will may be done, not ours.‘ I don’t want a relationship with Him, in “The next day, we shall add a Hail Mary; let us greet our which He can help me with my burdens; I just want to get Mother, whom we see with the eyes of our heart, who is rid of my worries. I want Jesus to be my problem solver, but always close to us and who loves us so much. The day after He really wants to be my friend. tomorrow, we shall add a Glory Be and so honor our Father. I received so much peace from those few words from We should be grateful for everything that He gives us, for Jesus. “You know, if you would just really talk to me about the good and the bad, so that we can comprehend that these things, I could help you.” Jesus was showing me how everything comes from Him. to pray with the heart. I think it means to just really talk to “In this way, our heart will open more every day and we Jesus, to talk to Him as a friend. I suspect the Father would will think about the words we speak; this is how we will like it if I would just really talk to Him as my father. And the learn the meaning of these words and how to live them... Holy Spirit would like it if I would just really talk to Him She teaches us that praying with the heart cannot be learned as my counselor and help. Just to really talk to Them is all by studying, but only through prayer, by taking one step it takes. forward each day” (Kresimir Sego, A Conversation with the Well, with Vicka as an example, and with my little word Visionaries, pp. 113-114). from Jesus, maybe I can learn to pray with the heart. It still Vicka has certainly learned to pray with the heart! When blows me away that Jesus would like to help me. One step she gives her talk to the pilgrims in Medjugorje, she will forward, day by day!!! speak for maybe 20 minutes, and then she prays for 30 or 40 www.marytv.tv Vicka’s Unusual Gift By June Klins On my 2012 pilgrimage to Medjugorje, I bought a book copy of a story about Vicka’s gift of bilocation, written by called Vicka…Her Story by Finbar O’Leary. This book is Jakob Marschner of MedjugorjeToday.tv. I wondered how I an extensive interview with Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic, missed it, since it was on a website I check often and in a Medjugorje visionary. At the very end of the book, Finbar newspaper I receive. When I read the article, I was surprised addresses something that is not very well-known about to recognize the name of the woman reporting her story. Vicka – including herself! Finbar asked Vicka about her Barb Lannin, who lives in Howell, Michigan, is not only “most recent gift of bilocation.” (Bilocation means being in in my internet prayer group associated with Ivan’s prayer two places at once. St. Padre Pio had this gift.) Finbar said group in Medjugorje, but she is also one of my Facebook he had heard that Vicka has been seen in other places in friends! I wrote to her and asked for permission to use her the world and had been an instrument of healing of cancer story. She replied, “Go for it!” So here is Barb’s story: and other illnesses. Vicka acknowledged that pilgrims “While in the hospital, either in May or June of 2008, [my visiting Medjugorje have told her that they experienced her husband] Scott was in the hospital for either his knee or his presence in their homes, but she was not aware of it. She hip replacement. He has had over 20 surgeries since 1994. said she prays about this. He has received The Last Rites many times. Although this was really incredible and I wanted to share “On this particular night, the people who took us to this with our readers, for some reason I put it “on the back Medjugorje in 2006 came to visit Scott. When it was time for burner.” Then, several months ago, my friend gave me a them to leave, I walked with them to the elevators and then

December 2014 - 6 - THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE came back to his room. It was very strange because there Barb said that her husband was not Catholic and she should have been several nurses at the nurses’ station which herself had fallen away from the Church at the time of was right at Scott’s door, but there was no one around.” their pilgrimage to Medjugorje in 2006. She added, “The “I went back into his room and sat in the chair next to experience changed both of our lives forever. I came back him. He said to me, ‘Did you see her?’ I said, ‘Who?’ He to the Catholic Church and he became a Catholic. Today I said, ‘Vicka’ and I said, ‘What are you talking about?’ And belong to two Medjugorje prayer groups, and we spread the again he said, ‘Vicka, the visionary from Medjugorje! She word about Medjugorje every time we get the chance.” was right here in the doorway of the room smiling at me. Editor’s note: Vicka has been photographed wearing a pink golf She had on a pink golf shirt and she was smiling at me. She shirt, but I was unable to find a photo in time for printing. didn’t say a word; she just kept smiling at me.’” Rest in the Sleep of Peace By June Klins A few months ago, my friend had expressed to me that she just opening at random), I could not put it down. did not understand what is meant when we pray at Mass for On each page, there is a Bible quote and then a story or those who “rest in the sleep of peace.” She wondered how quote from or about a saint (including our patron saint they could be sleeping or at peace if they were in Purgatory. this year, St. Jerome), pope, priest or others regarding the Not long after that, I was pleasantly surprised to find the doctrine of Purgatory. There is a suggestion on each page answer to her question in Susan Tassone’s wonderful new for something practical to do to help the Holy Souls. Most, book, Day by Day for the Holy Souls in if not all, of them are very simple Purgatory, 365 Reflections. things that anyone can do. Each page In the entry for July 10, Susan quoted ends with the Eternal Rest prayer. In Father Hubert, O.F.M., Cap.: “Since the the back are prayers for the Souls, Holy Souls possess through perfect pictures from “The Little Museum of charity the tranquility of order – Purgatory” in Rome, and some other the order of perfect union with the helpful information for helping the Divine Will – they are in profound Souls. peace. Their happiness never fails; Remember that Our Lady of rather it increases as the time of their Medjugorje said that more souls are exile draws to a close. That is why the released from Purgatory on Christmas Church refers to her departed children Day than any other day. What a great as resting ‘in the sleep of peace.’” Christmas gift this book would make You may wonder why I was reading Handprint of a Holy Soul – to help the Holy Souls! Editor’s an entry for July at this time of the one of many pictures in Susan’s book note: You can visit Susan’s website, year. I have to admit that I “cheated” susantassone.com for more information on and read the whole book over a period of days! Although this book and her other books about Purgatory. Susan’s Medjugorje Susan suggests using this book in a number of ways (such story was featured in our November, 2009 issue, which is in the as one day at a time, as the title suggests, or as a novena, or archives on our website, www.spiritofmedjugorje.org. Messages through Ivan Bits and “Peaces” and Vicka • The January issue may be delivered a little later than On November 15, visionary Ivan Dragicevic was invited usual due to the printing company being closed during to an evening of prayer at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Christmas and New Year’s Day. . Ivan said that two days prior, a message was given • As of mid-November, more than 50 of our overseas through him for the whole world. That was very unusual for subscribers have not been renewed. Please prayerfully Ivan to have a message for the whole world. On Nov. 13, 2014, consider sponsoring one of these people so that they can Our Lady said: “Dear children, also today I am inviting you to pray. continue to receive Our Lady’s messages. Only once before My dear children, pray in a special way for all who still do not know did I need to make a plea like this and our wonderful God’s love. Pray that their hearts open to my Son and to the Heart subscribers came through. Thank you in advance. of my Son. Only in that way is it possible to convert. Thank you, my • One of our subscribers shared that the Rosary and Altar dear children, that you have responded to my call.” Society at her church has a Mass said once a month, and On November 9, visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic the intentions alternate between “The Intentions of the received a message while in Fiuggi, , in which Our Lady Blessed Mother” and “Respect for All Life.” She said they called people to pray for the Church. Our Lady said that have been doing this for about 10 years. She suggested the Church is “much in need of your prayers.” According that maybe prayer groups or other organizations may to Medjugorje Today News Agency, this is the first time want to adopt that practice. As of November 25, 2014, the Our Lady has ever asked for prayers for the Church in over number of Masses reported for Our Lady’s intentions is 33 years of apparitions. 11,939. May the Lord bless you with Peace, Love and Joy during this Christmas season and New Year!

THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE - 7 - December 2014 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 humanity. This time, this period of grace, is for CONVERSION children. She identified Herself as the Blessed Virgin, Queen of and a DEEPENING OF FAITH. After the visible sign, those still Peace, and has continued to appear daily. Her message is PEACE, living will have little time for conversion. peace with God and man. Her words to the visionaries, “I have The Blessed Mother invites us to PRAYER and FASTING and come to tell the world that God exists. He is the fullness of life, and PEACE. “You have forgotten that with prayer and fasting you can to enjoy this fullness and obtain peace, you must return to God.” stop a war from happening. You can suspend natural laws.” Today, all but three of the visionaries have daily apparitions of The publisher recognizes and accepts that the final authority the Blessed Mother. During the apparitions, the visionaries do not regarding the apparitions at Medjugorje rest with the in react to light, don’t hear any sound or react to being touched. They Rome. feel that they are outside of time and space. All the visionaries 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 prayer cloth we made to keep, send a self-addressed stamped (some are chastisements for the world) and promises to leave a 1 1 visible sign at the place of the apparitions in Medjugorje for all 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,” please fill out the form below and return to: P.O. Box 6614, Erie, PA 16512 with your donation to help spread Mary’s messages. Thank you for your goodwill offering. May GOD BLESS YOU. Sponsor a subscription Distribute Please check one: New Renew for someone overseas “Beginner’s Guides” Distribute Adoration Newsletters (suggested donation: $13 to ( ) Issue #1 or Issue #2 (please circle) # of guides cover postage) (# of newsletters) (Please, no foreign checks or money orders, except postal money orders. U.S. funds only)

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City, State and Zip Code VOL. 27, NO. 12