(c)Mary TV 2017
October 5, 2017
St. Faustina Kowalska – The Saint of Divine Mercy
Dear Family of Mary!
Yesterday was a wonderful day in Medjugorje! The air was fresh and warm, and there were smiles everywhere! At English Mass, Fr. Leon gave a wonderful homily about St. Francis. Fr. Leon has a way of communicating the essentials without embellishment, that still leaves you in awe about the topic. It was so with his homily of St. Francis. You can listen to it at this link: https://marytv.tv/?page_id=192
Fr. Leon said that St. Francis was very worldly, until his conversion:
“What brought St. Francis out of his depression, what converted him, was his encounter with lepers. In his own words he said: ‘God allowed me to begin my repentance in this way. When I lived in sin, seeing lepers was a very bitter experience. God guided me into their midst and among them I performed acts of charity. What appeared bitter to me became sweetness of the soul and body.’ In the lepers that Francis embraced and kissed, Francis saw that what is the more despised becomes more and more to resemble Jesus in His last agony, when Jesus was abandoned by practically everyone He had come to save. To comfort and embrace Jesus, Francis came to see that you have to embrace those who are abandoned.”
We can learn so much from St. Francis. He learned to see things according to God and not according to human standards. May we learn from him!
Rosie and guests at the Mary TV Tea House!
After English Mass, I spent some time at the Mary TV Tea House! It was like a family reunion, with shipmates from many countries. In one hour I met people from Canada, England, Ireland, Columbia and Arizona USA. We all felt like family because we are family! The Tea House is a place to gather and share our experiences, our conversions, our histories. Rosie Zubac is the hostess, and she makes everyone feel at home. If you come to Medjugorje, please stop by and say hello and have a cupper!
The Adoration Chapel in Medjugorje
I then went to the Adoration Chapel near church, and spent some time with Jesus. Adoration usually goes from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm every day. Graces flowing from the Eucharist!! I was so happy to be there.
After Denis and I did our Hour of Mercy and Daily Rosary in the studio, we went to the evening program behind the church. I can’t tell you how peaceful it is to just soak in the prayer of the Rosary, attend Holy Mass and receive Jesus in Communion. Everyone is so still, so at peace together outside under the big sky, loving God.
Denis deep in prayer during the Evening Program!
Now here I am at our pansion, trying to recollect the day for you. Know that Denis and I prayed for you very much, especially at apparition time, 5:40 pm.
Now back to St. Faustina! Today is her Feast! She has become very dear to me and Denis. We are privileged to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy every day at 3:00 pm Medjugorje time, with the live feeds from Medjugorje. We read from St. Faustina’s Diary each day. And we are overwhelmed at the timeliness of this devotion to Divine Mercy, seeing how very much our world needs mercy in our day. It is part of Our Lady’s mission, to save souls.
St. Faustina on her Feast day!!
St. Faustina lived her life for souls, and fought bravely. Here are some of her last words in her diary:
1654 O truth, O thorny life,
In order to pass through you victoriously
It is necessary to lean on You, O Christ,
And to be always close to You.
I would not know how to suffer without You, O Christ.
Of myself I would not be able to brave adversities.
Alone, I would not have the courage to drink from Your cup;
But You, Lord, are always with me,
and You lead me along mysterious paths.
A weak child, I have begun the battle in Your Name.
I have fought bravely, though often without success,
And I know that my efforts have pleased You,
And I know that it is the effort alone which You eternally reward.
O truth, O life-and-death struggle,
When I rose to do battle, an inexperienced knight,
I felt I had a knight’s blood, though still a child,
And therefore, O Christ, I needed Your help and protection.
My heart will not rest from its efforts and struggle
Until You Yourself call me from the field of battle.
I will stand before You, not to receive a reward,
But to be drowned in You, in peace forever.
We all may feel like weak children, but we can begin the battle in Jesus’ Name, fight bravely for souls, and know that it is our effort that pleases God, not our success or brilliance. Our Lady is with us to help us!
She told us on October 2: “May your only concern be how to live well every moment according to my Son. And there it is – peace for you!”
If we do this, we will have peace and help Our Lady in her mission!
Jesus, I trust in you!
Well, I am off to bed, with more to follow!
God bless you all!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
(c)Mary TV 2017
