June 8, 2021 Reflection – In thanksgiving for 40 years!

 

June 8, 2021

Dear Family of Mary!

As we approach the 40th Anniversary of Our Lady’s coming to Medjugorje, I thought that we might review the messages we received from Our Lady on June 25 throughout the years. I am excited to review these messages. As I think about how blessed we have been to have Our Lady with us, I grow in amazement that she has been speaking to us through the visionaries regularly. Who would have guessed that Our Lady would stay with us for this long, and continue to speak to us her words of life?

We begin with a message given in 1982. This was the 1st anniversary. The children and the villagers had suffered a great deal at the hands of the communists. But they had persevered, staying faithful to Our Lady. Mother Mary thanked them for their faithfulness:

Thursday, June 24 or Friday, June 25, 1982

Before the evening Mass, during the apparition, the Virgin told the priests, through the intermediary of the visionaries:

“Thank the people in my name for the prayers, the sacrifices and the penance. Have them persevere in prayer, fasting and conversion, and have them wait with patience the realization of my promise. Everything is unfolding according to God’s plan.”

Our Lady was grateful for the prayers, sacrifices and penances that the people of the area had given to her. The Catholics of Medjugorje and the surrounding villages had lived for hundreds of years in adverse circumstances, being persecuted for their faith. They never gave up. And they would not give up now. Our Lady could count on them! Let’s pray that we can remain steadfast as well, faithful to her call.

In 1985 Our Lady gave us this powerful message:

June 25, 1985 (Tuesday) “I invite you to call on everyone to pray the Rosary. With the rosary you shall overcome all the adversities which satan is trying to inflict on the Catholic Church. All you priests, pray the Rosary! Dedicate your time to the Rosary!”

In this message Our Lady gave her children the weapon for battle, the Rosary! She made it clear that their real enemy is Satan, and that the Rosary will defeat him. All of us, Priests and lay people need to pray the Rosary well and often throughout the day. We are Rosary warriors now!!

In 1987 Our Lady called us to live her way and to make her intentions our own:

June 25, 1987 “Dear children! Today I thank you and I want to invite you all to God’s peace. I want each one of you to experience in your heart that peace which God gives. I want to bless you all today. I am blessing you with God’s blessing and I beseech you, dear children, to follow and to live my way. I love you, dear children, and so not even counting the number of times, I go on calling you and I thank you for all that you are doing for my intentions. I beg you, help me to present you to God and to save you. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

Our Lady invited the people of Medjugorje and the pilgrims who had begun to gather in large numbers to be part of God’s plan, to live her way and work for her intentions. This was a watershed moment, when Our Lady began her plan for the salvation of souls. A plan that continues to this day. She wants to save us all. May we support her plan with willing and loving hearts! This is the plan from Heaven.

Let us pray:

How to Give Oneself to Mary

(Given by Our Lady to Jelena Vasilj, 4/19/1984)

Oh my Mother!
Mother of goodness, love and mercy!
I love you immensely, and I offer myself to you.
Through your goodness, your love,
And your mercy, save me!
I wish to be yours.
I love you immensely
And I wish that you protect me.
In my heart, oh mother of goodness,
Give me your goodness,
So that I go to Heaven.
I ask you for your immense love
That you may give me the grace
That I will be able to love each one
Just like you loved Jesus Christ.
I ask you in grace
That I be able to be merciful* to you.
I offer myself completely to you
And I wish that you will be with me at each step,
Because you are full of grace.
I wish never to forget your grace,
And if I should lose it,
I will ask, make me find it again. Amen.

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
(c) Mary TV 2021