The 38th Anniversary Novena, Day 5
(c) Mateo Ivankovic 2018 J.M.J. June 19, 2019 38th Anniversary Novena Day 5 Dear Family of Mary! “Dear children! I want you to surrender your hearts to me so that I may take you on the way, which leads to the light and to eternal life. I do not want your hearts to wander in today’s darkness. I will help you. I will be with you on this way of discovery of the love and the mercy of God. As a mother, I ask you to permit me to do this. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (March 18, 1999 Mirjana) Today is Day Five of our Novena for the 38th Anniversary of Our Lady’s coming to Medjugorje. As we see in this message from March 18, 1999, Our Lady speaks of surrender. She longs that we surrender our hearts, our very lives into her hands. What does surrender mean? In the Oxford English Dictionary one of the meanings of surrender is “To abandon oneself entirely to…” This means to let go control of my life, and place it entirely in another’s hands. It is an act of utter trust. It is the kind of abandonment that a baby has in his mother’s arms, a trust that is complete. There is no fear or worry involved, only a trusting repose. To abandon oneself entirely to another means to place all one’s hope and trust in that person, knowing that it is the best possible thing to do. To abandon oneself entirely to Our Lady and thus to Jesus, is truly the best thing we can do for ourselves. This is total consecration! Our Lady asks us surrender ourselves to her and through her to God. She says that she needs this surrender in order to work in us and through us. Today we will meditate on surrender, in the words of Our Lady! The Annunciation “Dear children! Today also I call each one of you to decide to surrender again everything completely to me. Only that way will I be able to present each of you to God. Dear children, you know that I love you immeasurably and that I desire each of you for myself, but God has given to all a freedom which I lovingly respect and humbly submit to. I desire, dear children that you help so that everything God has planned in this parish shall be realized. If you do not pray, you shall not be able to recognize my love and the plans which God has for this parish and for each individual. Pray that Satan does not entice you with his pride and deceptive strength. I am with you and I want you to believe me, that I love you. Thank you for having responded to my call.”(November 25, 1987) The Visitation “Dear children! Today also I am inviting you to a complete surrender to God. Dear children, you are not conscious of how God loves you with such a great love because He permits me to be with you so I can instruct you and help you to find the way of peace. This way, however, you cannot discover if you do not pray. Therefore, dear children, forsake everything and consecrate your time to God and God will bestow gifts upon you and bless you. Little children, don’t forget that your life is fleeting like a spring flower which today is wondrously beautiful but tomorrow has vanished. Therefore, pray in such a way that your prayer, your surrender to God, may become like a road sign. That way, your witness will not only have value for yourselves but for all eternity. Thank you for having responded to my call.”(March 25, 1988) The Birth of Jesus “Dear children! I am inviting you to a complete surrender to God. Pray, little children, that Satan may not carry you about like the branches in the wind. Be strong in God. I desire that through you the whole world may get to know the God of joy. By your life bear witness for God’s joy. Do not be anxious nor worried. God himself will help you and show you the way. I desire that you love all men with my love. Only in that way can love reign over the world. Little children, you are mine. I love you and want you to surrender to me so that I can lead you to God. Never cease praying so that Satan cannot take advantage of you. Pray for the knowledge that you are mine. I bless you with blessings of joy. Thank you for having responded to my call.”(May 25, 1988) The Presentation “Dear children! Today I am calling you to a complete surrender to God. Everything you do and everything you possess give over to God so that He can take control in your life as the King of all that you possess. That way, through me, God can lead you into the depths of the spiritual life. Little children, do not be afraid, because I am with you even if you think there is no way out and that Satan is in control. I am bringing peace to you I am your mother, the Queen of Peace. I am blessing you with the blessings of joy so that for you God may be everything in your life. Thank you for having responded to my call.”(July 25, 1988) The Finding in the Temple “Dear children, on this day of grace, I am calling you to love. Little children, God loves you immeasurably and that is why, little children, full of trust and without looking back and without fear, completely surrender your hearts to Him so that God may fill them with His love. Do not be afraid to believe in His love and mercy, because His love is stronger than every one of your weaknesses and fears. Therefore, my children, full of love in your hearts, trust in Jesus and say your ‘yes’ to Him, because He is the only way which leads you to the Eternal Father.” (Jakov Annual Message 2018) Dear Mother Mary, we gather together to pray this novena, with deep gratitude for your presence in our midst. You have come to show us the way to heaven. The Heavenly Father has sent you to us to help us to repent and return to Him. You are coming to be the bond between us and the Heavenly Father, and to help us to love and serve His Son. You pray with us for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, because you have told us that when we have the Holy Spirit, we have everything. Therefore we ask that during this Novena you will help us to bond with you and through you with our Triune God who loves us so much. We ask that every grace can be poured out upon our shepherds, especially Pope Francis, during these nine days that they will be strengthened and purified for the days ahead, these most triumphant days of the Triumph of your Immaculate Heart! Thank you, dearest Mother!!! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2019