J.M.J.
November 23, 2016
St. Clement I
St. Columban
Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro
Dear Family of Mary!
Our Lady was leading the parish in the early 80’s. She was building up the parish to be a center of prayer and faith, so that she could then reach out to the entire world from Medjugorje. I discovered these three messages that were given in three successive weeks to the parish. They tell a story.
First, Our Lady spoke to the parish about the value of trials:
August 22, 1985 “Dear children! Today I wish to tell you that God wants to send you trials which you can overcome by prayer. God is testing you through daily chores. Now pray to peacefully withstand every trial. From everything through which God tests you come out more open to God and approach Him with love. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
Our Lady wanted the people to be able to endure trials with constancy and faith. She told them that God allows trials in order to strengthen them. The key is to keep the peace they have in prayer and in faith. With that peace, they can withstand the trail and come out of it stronger and more in love with God. This is very important advice for all of us.
But the next week Our Lady made it clear that satan is often in the trials that the parishioners endured. The enemy wants to use the trials they face to rob them of their peace and to insert his own plan into their lives:
August 29, 1985 “Dear children! I am calling you to prayer! Especially since satan wishes to take advantage of the yield of your vineyards. Pray that satan does not succeed in his plan. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
It is good to recognize the temptations that satan inflicts upon us. If we are aware of his influence, we can renounce him, and turn everything over to Jesus. If we pray for protection and strength to resist the enemy, he will flee. God’s plan will then move forward.
But what do we do when we succeed in defeating the enemy’s plan?
September 5, 1985 “Dear children! Today I thank you for all the prayers. Keep on praying all the more so that satan will be far away from this place. Dear children, satan’s plan has failed. Pray for fulfillment of what God plans in this parish. I especially thank the young people for the sacrifices they have offered up. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
Clearly, we don’t stop praying, and we don’t take a vacation! Our Lady instructs us to keep on praying!! To pray for the fulfillment of God’s plan for us, and to also pray that satan stays away. We must remain vigilant, and grow in our love of God through prayer.
So as we find ourselves at the end of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, in which many victories have been won, we don’t want to take a vacation from prayer. Now is the time to move forward, take more ground, move ahead in faith, and never give up!!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2016
