A Pilgrim People
January 27, 2021
St. Angela Merici
Dear Family of Mary!
“Dear children! I am calling you at this time to prayer, fasting and renunciation, that you may be stronger in faith. This is a time of awakening and of giving birth. As nature which gives itself, you also, little children, ponder how much you have received. Be joyful bearers of peace and love that it may be good for you on earth. Yearn for Heaven; and in Heaven there is no sorrow or hatred. That is why, little children, decide anew for conversion and let holiness begin to reign in your life. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (January 25, 2021)
“Dear children! I am calling you at this time to prayer, fasting and renunciation, that you may be stronger in faith…”
Our Lady speaks to us about a time of prayer, fasting, and renunciation. These are familiar topics to us, as she has been speaking about them for all of these nearly 40 years. But they are as timely now as they were in 1981.
Why? Because these three practices are the way of a pilgrim. And Our Lady has been teaching us to be pilgrims.
She appeared in Medjugorje, where the parish church was dedicated to St. James, the patron of pilgrims.
She immediately began to build a prayer program in the parish that would suit the needs of pilgrims, with daily evening Mass, the prayer of the Rosary, the 7-7-7, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, daily possibilities for Confession, fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, and the penitential climbing of the mountains for prayer. She created a place for pilgrims.
Then she drew the pilgrims from around the world by her living presence in Medjugorje. Word spread of her apparitions to the 6 young people, and souls hungry for God began to make the journey from far and wide, to experience the Mother.
Our Lady has been building a pilgrim people through Medjugorje. And now the world needs those pilgrim people very much. The world needs people who pray. Indeed people who love to pray, who never neglect a moment to pray, who pray out of joy and love for God. The world needs people who fast, who take two days a week and dedicate themselves to God alone, through fasting. The world needs people who know how to deny themselves for the sake of other, to renounce what they can and sacrifice for others.
The world needs true pilgrims to show the way back to God. And that is who we are being formed to be. If we live this pilgrim life, we will be stronger in faith. And that strong faith will open the way to heaven for many.
May we live our call to be pilgrim people, with all our strength and love. Our Lady is calling us to help her.
In Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2021
