“I am with you…”
Dear Family of Mary!
It has become more and more evident to me that Our Lady speaks to us quite literally. At least in this one way, she has been telling us the literal truth. Our Lady has told us “I am with you,” at least 233 times in her messages. And she has said it in other ways as well: I am coming to you, or I am by your side, or I am here… She wants us to know that she is with us.
I used to think this was only true when she appeared to the visionaries. Of course she is with us then!! And yes, her presence during the apparitions is quite tangible. There is a peace that surrounds you when she comes, and sense of fresh air, of deep contentment, etc. These visits from Our Lady are amazing!
But more and more I have become aware that Our Lady is not with us just at apparition time, but all the time! Recently I knelt down to pray during an apparition, connected by internet, and as I got down on my knees, I heard a very sweet voice remind me, “Don’t forget the rice on the stove!” I jumped up to turn off the rice before it burned, and then came back to the computer, and that was when I realized that the voice was not mine. I had completely forgotten the rice. It was Our Lady’s voice. She is with me!
Since then, I have felt her very near. I think she wanted me to know she is near. She is with us all I believe, all of us who are living her call from Medjugorje. She is with us! Our Lady needs us to be her extended hands, her helpers in these days. She is ready to work through us for the conversion of souls, so much in need of God’s love.
Well, I want to share with you a little litany consisting of some of the things Our Lady has said to us over the years about her presence among us. It won’t be exhaustive, because there are hundreds of times she has spoken of her presence. But it may give us peace and a sense of security to know that she is with us, each one of us!
A litany of Our Lady’s Presence:
This message sets the stage for us. Our Lady is with us for this reason:
January 25, 1987 The first apparition of the 25th of the month, given to Marija, for the parish:
“Today I want to appeal to all of you to start living a new life from this day on. Dear children, I wish that you would understand that God has chosen each one of you to have a part in the great plan for the salvation of mankind. You cannot fully understand how great your role is in God’s design. For that reason, pray, dear children, so that through prayer, you may be able to know your role in God’s plan. I am with you, so that you may be able to realize it fully.
The Litany of Our Lady’s Presence.
You can respond “Thank you for being with me!”:
I am with you and I want you to believe me, that I love you.
I am with you and I am rejoicing because of your conversion and I am protecting you with my motherly mantle.
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 with you and I intercede for you in front of God, so watch in vigil, so that every encounter in prayer be the joy of your contact with God.
I am with you and unceasingly keep watch over every heart which is given to me.
I am with you and I intercede for you every day before God.
Children, I am with you and I want to introduce you continuously to the joy of life.
I am with you and I wish to teach you to pray with the heart.
I am with you even if you are not conscious of it. I want to protect you from everything that satan offers you and through which he wants to destroy you.
I am with you and I desire, dear children, that each one of you be ever closer to my heart.
I am with you and I desire to help you to grow in renunciation and mortification, that you may be able to understand the beauty of the life of people who go on giving themselves to me in special way.
I am with you and I desire to lead you along the same path to heaven, which is beautiful for those who discover it in prayer.
I am with you and I am protecting you even though satan wishes to destroy my plans and to hinder the desires which the Heavenly Father wants to realize here.
I am with you and I desire to help you with my prayers and I desire to guide you on the path of peace.
I am with you and day after day I offer your sacrifices and prayers to God for the salvation of the world.
I am with you and I accompany you with my blessing and my prayers.
I am with you and I am grateful to God for every moment spent with you.
Dear children, I am with you and I desire to help each of you to live and by living, to witness the good news. I am here, dear children, to help you and to lead you to heaven, and in heaven is the joy through which you can already live heaven now.
Dearest Mother, our lives have been changed by your presence with us. We are your children, now, in a very real way. Please do not leave us. Help us to grow in our awareness of your presence in our everyday lives. We want to help you in the great plan for the salvation of mankind that the Father has given to you and through you, to us. May your heart be our guide and your motherly presence be our strength! Amen
(I will continue this litany tomorrow…We need to really understand that Our Lady is here with us!)
In Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!
