Author: Cathy Nolan

  September 18, 2023 Dear Family of Mary! Our Lady told us in her last message that we need to “feel the God of love”. She knows how easy it is for us to fall into habits of prayer that are routine and done out of duty rather than out of love. We are human! We get used to things and do them almost mechanically. But our relationship with God cannot be routine and mechanical. It is an insult to the Lord to approach Him in any way but with our hearts wide open and ready to receive Him! Here is the August 25, Message: Dear children! In this time of grace, I am calling you to prayer with the heart. May your hearts, little children, be raised in prayer towards Heaven, so that your heart may feel the God of love who heals you and loves you with immeasurable love. That is why I am with you, to lead you on the way of conversion of heart. Thank you for having responded to my call. (August 25, 2023) So how do we pray with the heart? How do we raise our hearts towards Heaven? How do we convert continually? Fr. Albert Shamon wrote a little pamphlet in 1988 in which he gave very good advice on prayer with the heart, according to Our Lady of Medjugorje!I would like to share a few things from it with you. Fr. Shamon wrote: Chapter 1, Teaching One: In every apparition at Medjugorje, Our Lady asks for prayer. “Pray, pray, pray.” On April 25, 1987, she begged the children (and that includes each of us) to pray, pray, pray with our hearts. To pray, we must first remove the two obstacles to prayer; sin and worry. (a) SIN To sin is to turn your back on God; to pray is to turn your countenance to Him. But you can’t face two directions at the same time. Therefore, to pray well, you have to get rid of sin. On April 26, 1985, Our Lady said: “Dear children. Today…begin to cultivate your hearts in the way you cultivate your fields…” Cultivating a field not only takes time, but great effort. If what you plant is to bear fruit, you have to pull out the weeds that can choke the plant. The weeds are sin. You must root out sin. The way to uproot sin is by confession. Confession is one of the forgotten truths in the Church today. One of the purposes of apparitions is to recall forgotten truths. On August 2, 1981, the visionaries of Medjugorje were praying in a woods with forty or fifty other people. Our Lady appeared. At one point the seers said; “Our Lady allows those who wish to do so to come and touch her.” One after the other drew near and some really felt the presence of a being. When Our Lady disappeared, Marija started to cry. A man asked her why. She answered, “Because people have made Our Lady dirty. When some of them touched her, they soiled her garments.” Later, Marija asked Our Lady why this had happened. She replied; “Those who live in sin have dirtied me. Tell people to go to confession and to make amends for their sins.” In the summer of ’82, Our Lady asked that we go to monthly confession. If a person is very sick, it is often necessary to operate, to cut one open to see what is the matter inside. So it is necessary, Our Lady says, monthly to open up in confession in order to discover what is wrong inside ourselves. Sin is a terrible ailment. And it gets inside us. In fact, the vowel in the middle of the word “sin” is “I”. Confession means to discover our egoism, our attitudes toward others, toward our problems, difficulties, crosses, happenings – and to change them. Thus on the eve of the Feast of the Annunciation (March 24, 1985) Our Lady said: “Today I want to invite you to confession, even if you have already been only a few days ago…I invite you to be reconciled to the Lord…” The closer you come to God, the more unbearable becomes even the smallest neglect or failure that might separate you from Him. To lovers, the smallest neglect is big! Confession helps you to know yourself. Furthermore, confession offers opportunity for spiritual guidance, increases grace, unites you more closely to God, and preserves you from sin and from Satan! Ah if we really knew the true value of confession, we would be fighting to get into the confessional. (From “Our Lady teaches about Prayer at Medjugorje”, by Rev. Albert J.M. Shamon) I will share about worry tomorrow!! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan (c) Mary TV 2023      

Our Lady of Sorrows   September 15, 2023 Our Lady of Sorrows Dear Family of Mary! On this beautiful Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, we are given a great gift.  We can compassionate with Our Lady.  We can think about her life, and all that she sacrificed and suffered for our sake, and we can thank her.  On this day we can stop thinking about ourselves for a moment and think about Our Lady.  We can wonder at her patience and humility, her constant selfless service to Jesus, Joseph, and all those who entered their lives.  We can ache with her as Jesus was rejected and misunderstood.  We can cry with her when Jesus was condemned by the leaders of the Jews, mistreated and reviled, scourged, crowned with thorns, and forced to carry the Cross.  We can remain silent with her underneath the Cross as Jesus died for our sins.  And we can weep with her  at His tomb. We may wonder how we could ever be like Mary, so able to suffer with love.  In this message she gave us some advice that will help us: February 2, 2016  “Dear children, I have called you and am calling you anew to come to know my Son, to come to know the truth. I am with you and am praying for you to succeed. My children, you must pray much in order to have all the more love and patience; to know how to endure sacrifice and to be poor in spirit. Through the Holy Spirit, my Son is always with you… His Church is born in every heart that comes to know Him. Pray that you can come to know my Son; pray that your soul may be one with Him. That is the prayer and the love which draws others and makes you my apostles. I am looking at you with love, with a motherly love. I know you; I know your pain and sorrows, because I also suffered in silence. My faith gave me love and hope. I repeat, the Resurrection of my Son and my Assumption into Heaven  are hope and love for you. Therefore, my children, pray to come to know the truth; to have firm faith which will lead your heart and which will transform your pain and sufferings into love and hope. Thank you.” If you have time today, pray this litany.  May Our Lady’s Sorrows teach us how to love. Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows V. Lord, have mercy on us. R. Christ, have mercy on us. V. Lord, have mercy on us. V. Christ, hear us. R. Christ, graciously hear us. God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. Holy Virgin of virgins, Mother of the Crucified, Mother most sorrowful, Mother most tearful, Mother afflicted, Mother forsaken, Mother bereft of thy Son, Mother pierced with the sword, Mother consumed with grief, Mother filled with anguish, Mirror of patience, Rock of constancy, Joy of the afflicted, Ark of the desolate, Refuge of the abandoned, Shield of the oppressed, Conqueror of the incredulous, Solace of the wretched, Medicine of the sick, Help of the faint, Strength of the weak, Haven of the shipwrecked, Calmer of tempests, Companion of the sorrowful, Treasure of the Faithful, Theme of Prophets, Staff of the Apostles, Queen of Martyrs, Light of Confessors, Pearl of Virgins, Comfort of Widows, Joy of all Saints, Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world. Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world. Hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world. Have mercy upon us. Let us pray. Imprint, O Lord, thy wounds upon our hearts, that we may read therein sorrow and love; sorrow to endure all suffering for thee; love to despise all love but thine; who lives and reigns, world without end, Amen. In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan (c) Mary TV 2023

  The Exaltation of the Holy Cross September 14, 2023 The Exaltation of the Holy Cross Dear Family of Mary! Our Lady encouraged us to venerate her Son on the Cross from the early days of her presence in Medjugorje. Along with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursdays, she began the practice of venerating the Holy Cross every Friday evening after the Mass in Medjugorje. Here is a message in which she encouraged this veneration; Saturday, May 28, 1983 (To Jelena): “It is very beautiful to remain Thursdays, for the Adoration of my Son in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. It is likewise beautiful to venerate the Cross each Friday. I wish that every Saturday, which is the day that the Church had dedicated to me, you will consecrate to me at least a quarter of an hour. Meditate during this time, on my life, my messages, and pray.” Our Lady has built this Veneration of the Holy Cross into the weekly schedule of St. James Parish. And it has become a beautiful time of prayer for all of us. Jesus speaks eloquently from the Cross. It is His pulpit! From the Cross all graces flow! In the following message Our Lady gives us beautiful direction for our spiritual life, which culminates in the Cross: February 2, 2020 “Dear children, by the act of the decision and love of God, I am chosen to be the Mother of God and your mother. But also by my will and my immeasurable love for the Heavenly Father and my complete trust in Him, my body was the chalice of the God-man. I was in the service of truth, love and salvation, as I am now among you to call you, my children, apostles of my love, to be carriers of truth; to call you to spread His words, the words of salvation, by your will and love for my Son: that with your actions you may show, to all those who have not come to know my Son, His love. You will find strength in the Eucharist – my Son who feeds you with His Body and strengthens you with His Blood. My children, fold your hands [in prayer] and look at the Cross in silence. In this way, you are drawing faith to be able to transmit it; you are drawing truth to be able to discern; you are drawing love that you may know to love truly. My children, apostles of my love, fold your hands [in prayer], look at the Cross. Only in the Cross is salvation. Thank you.” Thank you, Dearest Mother, for teaching us to venerate your Son’s Cross. It is through that Cross, that Jesus saved us all. We humbly thank Him, and praise Him for His love. And we thank you, Mother, for drawing us ever closer to Jesus. Amen In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan (c) Mary TV 2023

Seek what is above…   September 13, 2023 Dear Family of Mary! I believe that one of the most important things Our Lady has come to teach us is the reality of Heaven and the Kingdom of God. And I believe that this reality is the key to surviving in these most desperate of times. Without a deep conviction that God is real, that Heaven and eternal life is real, and that we are called to that life, we could be swept away by the false doctrines that are swirling around us today. In the first reading today, St. Paul gives very concrete advice on how to walk through this life with the truth before our eyes: Brothers and sisters: If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4) Constantly think of what is above, in the Heavenly places. Let Heaven be our reality, and this life be the passing thing it is. All that is good and beautiful here only points to the perfect goodness and beauty of Heaven. We are on a journey, and our eyes must be on God. Our Lady has given us so many messages in which she calls us to think of Heaven and the things of Heaven. She relentlessly calls us to look up, to look to God in Heaven, to yearn for Heaven, to long for eternal life. Here is one such message: January 25, 2018 “Dear children! May this time be for you a time of prayer, so that the Holy Spirit, through prayer, may descend upon you and give you conversion. Open your hearts and read the Sacred Scripture, that through the testimonies you also may be closer to God. Above everything, little children, seek God and the things of God and leave earthly ones to the earth, because Satan is attracting you to the dust and sin. You are called to holiness and created for Heaven; therefore, seek Heaven and the things of Heaven. Thank you for having responded to my call.” It is very important that we retrain our eyes to seek God and the things of God. Our Lady is here with us to help us. Her messages are designed to keep us looking above. May we receive the Holy Spirit who will give us conversion of heart. May we seek Heaven and the things of Heaven! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan (c) Mary TV 2023    

  The Most Holy Name of Mary September 12, 2023 Dear Family of Mary! Today we honor the Name of Mary! We know that God has raised Our Mother, Mary, to the highest heaven, where she sights beside her Son, and intercedes for us! She is the Woman, clothed with the Sun! She is Immaculate and Holy! And she is our mother! We can join the Church today in honoring her name, and calling upon her to intercede for us as we gratefully cling to her motherly love. Here is a message in which she asked us to call upon her: May 2, 2009 -Our Lady was very sad. She blessed us and gave this message: “Dear children! Already for a long time I am giving you my motherly heart and offering my Son to you. You are rejecting me. You are permitting sin to overcome you more and more. You are permitting it to master you and to take away your power of discernment. My poor children, look around you and look at the signs of the times. Do you think that you can do without God’s blessing? Do not allow darkness to envelop you. From the depth of your hearts cry out for my Son. His Name disperses even the greatest darkness… I will be with you, just call on me: ‘Here we are Mother, lead us.’ Thank you.” Our Lady’s words are serious, but she assures us that if we call upon her Son, Jesus, and call upon her name as well, we will have all the support and strength we need in these difficult days! Let’s call upon the Name of Mary with this Litany!! Litany of the Holy Name of Mary For private use only. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Son of Mary, hear us. Son of Mary, graciously hear us. Heavenly Father, of Whom Mary is the Daughter, Have mercy on us. Eternal Word, of Whom Mary is the Mother, Have mercy on us. Holy Spirit, of Whom Mary is the spouse, Have mercy on us. Divine Trinity, of Whom Mary is the Handmaid, Have mercy on us. Mary , Mother of the Living God, pray for us. Mary, daughter of the Light Eternal, pray for us. Mary, our light, etc. Mary, our sister, Mary, flower of Jesse, Mary, issue of kings, Mary, chief work of God, Mary, the beloved of God, Mary, Immaculate Virgin, Mary, all fair, Mary, light in darkness, Mary, our sure rest, Mary, house of God, Mary, sanctuary of the Lord, Mary, altar of the Divinity, Mary, Virgin Mother, Mary, embracing thy Infant God, Mary, reposing with Eternal Wisdom, Mary, ocean of bitterness, Mary, Star of the Sea, Mary, suffering with thine only Son, Mary, pierced with a sword of sorrow, Mary, torn with a cruel wound, Mary, sorrowful even to death , Mary, bereft of all consolation, Mary, submissive to the law of God, Mary, standing by the Cross of Jesus, Mary, Our Lady, Mary, Our Queen, Mary, Queen of glory , Mary, glory of the Church Triumphant, Mary, Blessed Queen, Mary, advocate of the Church Militant, Mary, Queen of Mercy, Mary, consoler of the Church Suffering, Mary, exalted above the Angels, Mary, crowned with twelve stars, Mary, fair as the moon, Mary, bright as the sun, Mary, distinguished above all, Mary, seated at the right hand of Jesus, Mary, our hope, Mary, our sweetness, Mary, glory of Jerusalem , Mary, joy of Israel, Mary, honor of our people, Mary, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Mary, Our Lady of the Assumption, Mary, Our Lady of Loreto, Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, Mary, Our Lady of Fatima, Mary, Our Lady of Czestochowa, Mary, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mary, Our Lady of the Angels, Mary, Our Lady of Dolors, Mary, Our Lady of Mercy, Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, Mary, Our Lady of Victory , Mary, Our Lady of La Trappe, Mary, Our Lady of Divine Providence, Mary, Our Lady of Medjugorje, Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord Jesus. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord Jesus. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us, O Lord Jesus. Son of Mary , hear us. Son of Mary, graciously hear us. V. I will declare thy name unto my brethren. R. I will praise thee in the assembly of the faithful. Let Us Pray. O Almighty God, Who beholdest Thy servants earnestly desirous of placing themselves under the shadow of the name and protection of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, that by her charitable intercession, we may be delivered from all evil on earth, and may arrive at everlasting joys in Heaven, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. R. Amen. In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan (c) Mary TV 2023    

Begin again to love…   September 11, 2023 Dear Family of Mary! In our Gospel for today, Jesus makes fools out of the scribes and Pharisees. He knows what they are thinking, brings it into the lights, and then shows them the truth. It couldn’t be clearer. But do they get it? NO! They simply are blind to the good. See for yourselves: On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Looking around at them all, he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus. (Luke 6: 6-11) The idiotic response of the Scribes and Pharisees is so saddening. But before we throw any stones, it is important that we review our own lives to be sure we haven’t done something similar. Our Lady has called us to repent, to love, to listen to her Son, over and over. She sees things from a much better perspective than we do. We are in need of the same kind of awakening that the Scribes and Pharisees needed. Mother teach us: November 25, 1995 “Dear Children! Today I invite you that each of you begin again to love, in the first place, God who saved and redeemed each of you, and then brothers and sisters in your proximity. Without love, little children, you cannot grow in holiness and cannot do good deeds. Therefore, little children, pray without ceasing that God reveals His love to you. I have invited all of you to unite yourselves with me and to love. Today I am with you and invite you to discover love in your hearts and in the families. For God to live in your hearts, you must love. Thank you for having responded to my call.” In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan Mary TV  

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary September 8, 2023 Dear Family of Mary! Happy Birthday, Dearest Mother Mary! We love you so much and want to honor you on this Feast Day!! Your birthday is so very important! God had a plan for your life from the moment of your Immaculate Conception. But that great gift was not the end of the story! You were carried in your mother’s womb for 9 months, and then born, just like all of us! We are so excited to honor you in your birth! Today, let’s pray this lovely litany to Our Lady: “The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Life!” Mary is indeed the Mother of Life because she bore the Author of Life in her womb! She received Him in purity and sheltered Him for 9 months, giving Him sustenance from her pure body, and then Jesus was born in a stable, our Savior and Lord. Mary knows about accepting life, nurturing life, and protecting life! We honor you, Mother, as the Mother of Life for us today. Your life is a miracle and so are all of our lives!! We thank God for the miracle of our lives! Here is the Litany: Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Life! The Response is: Mary, pray for us. Mary, Mother of all Life, help us to respect human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. R. Mary, Mother of Compassion, You showed us how valuable a single life can be; Help us to guard and protect the lives of all people entrusted to our care. R. Mary, Mother of the Child Jesus, with St. Joseph you formed the Holy Family. Guard and protect all families in this earthly life; R. Mary, Mother Most Holy, You sanctified the vocation of motherhood; Pour out your heavenly aid on all mothers and help them to be holy. R. Mary, Mother of Sorrows, Simeon’s prophecy foretold that a sword of suffering would pierce your heart; Bring comfort and hope to all mothers who suffer over their children. R. Mary, Full of Grace, You had a choice in responding to God’s call; Help us always to say “Yes” to the will of God in our lives, And strive always to do whatever he tells us. R. Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted, Pour forth your heavenly grace on all who are in need of God’s healing, Especially those involved in abortion; Help them to experience the love and mercy of Christ, your Son. R. Mary, Intercessor and Advocate, We lift up the poor, the displaced, the marginalized and vulnerable members of society; Help them to never abandon hope, but to place their trust in the God who gave them life. R. Mary, Mother of the Word Incarnate, you bore in your womb him whom the heavens cannot contain; Help us to bear witness to Christ by the example of our lives And show the world the extravagant love of God. R. All: Remember, o most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you do we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen (https://www.usccb.org/prayers/litany-blessed-virgin-mary-mother-life) Once again: Happy Birthday, Dearest Mother Mary!! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan Mary TV

“I call you to spiritual renewal!”   September 7, 2023 Dear Family of Mary! St. Paul wrote to the Colossians to encourage them. He knew that living the life of a Christian in a world not yet converted was difficult. But he also knew that God would give them all the gifts they needed to not only persist, but to grow in holiness! I love to hear the way St. Paul described these gifts and graces. Here is the first reading for today’s Mass. Think about our present world as you read it. We need these same gifts today: Colossians 1:9-14: Brothers and sisters: From the day we heard about you, we do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light. He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. The word of the Lord. There is so much packed into two sentences!! It is hard to receive it all at once!! Here is a list of the gifts that St. Paul prays for: Knowledge of God’s will Spiritual Wisdom and Understanding Ability to please the Lord Good works Fruitfulness Knowledge of God Himself God’s power and might, Endurance Patience Joy Thanksgiving Deliverance from darkness Experience of the Kingdom of Jesus Redemption Forgiveness of sins God wants to give us these very gifts and so many more!! They are the fruit of our union with Jesus. They come through the Holy Spirit. Our Lady has come to us to help us to grow in these very gifts. Her program of holiness is all encompassing and she never stops trying to help us progress. Take this message from 2015: May 25, 2000 “Dear children! I rejoice with you and in this time of grace I call you to spiritual renewal. Pray, little children, that the Holy Spirit may come to dwell in you in fullness, so that you may be able to witness in joy to all those who are far from faith. Especially, little children, pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that in the spirit of love, every day and in each situation, you may be closer to your fellow-man; and that in wisdom and love you may overcome every difficulty. I am with you and I intercede for each of you before Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call.” Our Lady tells us that the Father wants to fill us with the Holy Spirit, through the grace of His Son! Then we will have all the gifts St. Paul listed, and many more! They will be used for the sake of all our brothers and sisters who do not yet know Jesus! Praise God! Come Holy Spirit!!! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan Mary TV

Lord, give us holy priests!   September 6, 2023 Dear Family of Mary! Our Lady loves priests! They are very special to her. In her messages through Mirjana, Our Lady always asked for prayers for priests. It was something we expected with each message! In this message below, Our Lady shared from her heart her deep love for our priests: December 2, 2019 “Dear children, as I am looking at you who love my Son, my heart is being filled with tenderness. I am blessing you with a motherly blessing. With a motherly blessing, I am also blessing your shepherds – you who speak the words of my Son, who bless with His hands and who love Him so much that you are ready to make every sacrifice for Him with joy. You are following Him, who was the first shepherd, the first missionary. My children, apostles of my love, to live and work for others, for all those whom you love through my Son, is the joy and comfort of earthly life. If through prayer, love and sacrifice the Kingdom of God is in your hearts, then your life is joyful and bright…” Our Lady cherishes her priests! And she teaches us to love them and pray for them! Yesterday during Divine Mercy, I stumbled upon entry 1520 in St. Faustina’s Diary. There I found a beautiful prayer that St. Faustina wrote to Jesus for Priests! It is so personal and simple. I love it. Let’s pray it today for our priests who provide for us all the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist and who guide us on the road to eternity with such selfless love. Here is the prayer: “O my Jesus, I beg You on behalf of the whole Church: Grant it love and the light of Your Spirit, and give power to the words of priests so that hardened hearts might be brought to repentance and return to You, O Lord. Lord, give us holy priests; You yourself maintain them in holiness. O Divine and Great High Priest, may the power of your mercy accompany them everywhere and protect them from the devil’s traps and snares which are continually being set for the souls of priests. May the power of Your mercy, O Lord, shatter and bring to naught all that might tarnish the sanctity of priests, for You can do all things.” (Dairy 1520) Amen!!! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan Mary TV

“Live what I am telling you…” September 5, 2023 St. Teresa of Calcutta Dear Family of Mary! The first reading today for Mass is again from 1 Thessalonians 5. St. Paul continues to talk about the coming of the Lord and what it means for those who are following Jesus. His words are very timely for us as well: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11 Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night. When people are saying, “Peace and security,” then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.  But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief. For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober. For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11) St. Paul assured his fellow Christians that they were not “in darkness, for the day to overtake you like a thief…” Their lives had been given to Christ, and they awaited Him in peace and trust! They were “children of the light and children of the day!” We, in turn, have been called into that same light through our Baptism! And Our Lady is with us to keep us surrounded by the light. Her presence in Medjugorje is an extraordinary gift for us in these days, which seem so confusing. She is keeping us in the light and in the day. She told us: We, in turn, have been called into that same light through our Baptism! And Our Lady is with us to keep us surrounded by the light. Her presence in Medjugorje is an extraordinary gift for us in these days, which seem so confusing. She is keeping us in the light and in the day. She told us: August 25, 1993 “Dear children! I want you to understand that I am your Mother, that I want to help you and call you to prayer. Only by prayer can you understand and accept my messages and practice them in your life. Read Sacred Scripture, live it, and pray to understand the signs of the times. This is a special time, therefore, I am with you to draw you close to my heart and the heart of my Son, Jesus. Dear little children, I want you to be children of the light and not of the darkness. Therefore, live what I am telling you. Thank you for having responded to my call.” Mother Mary wants us to be children of the light! Her presence and her messages are meant to keep us in the light! Our part of the bargain is to “Live what I am telling you!” Our Lady’s messages are light for us! They will ensure that we are not overtaken by the darkness of our time. May we live her messages!! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan Mary TV