St. Martin of Tours
Dear Family of Mary!
Let’s review the basis of our novena as we move into day 3:
On the day of the Assumption of the Mother of God, I did not assist at Holy Mass. The woman doctor did not allow me; but I prayed fervently in my cell. After a short time, I saw the Mother of God, unspeakably beautiful. She said to me, My daughter, what I demand from you is prayer, prayer, and once again prayer, for the world and especially for your country. For nine days receive Holy Communion in atonement and unite yourself closely to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. During these nine days you will stand before God as an offering; always and everywhere, at all times and places, day or night, whenever you wake up, pray in the spirit. In spirit, one can always remain in prayer. (St. Faustina’s Diary 325)
We are trying to stand before God as an offering. I think this standing before God is very important. We can live our lives in many ways as if we have forgotten about God, as if He is far away and uninterested in us. But as St. Faustina learned, this was not so. And I believe the visionaries in Medjugorje also became very aware of the nearness of God. Seeing Our Lady and peeking into Heaven must have made the reality of God paramount in their lives. We now are being given an opportunity to “peek into Heaven” in a little way by making ourselves present to God all day and all night!
I have compiled some of Our Lady’s messages in which she called us to pray, pray, pray. I think they convey a bit of this reality, that we can stand before God and just stay there…
“When I say pray, pray, pray, I do not want to say to only increase the number of hours of prayer, but also to reinforce the desire for prayer, and to be in contact with God. Place yourself permanently in a state of spirit bathed in prayer.” (June 26, 1984)
“Dear children! You are a chosen people and God has given you great graces. You are not conscious of every message which I am giving you. Now I just want to say pray, pray, pray! I don’t know what else to tell you because I love you and I want you to comprehend my love and God’s love through prayer. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (November 15, 1984)
“Dear children! Today I wish to call you to pray, pray, pray! In prayer you shall perceive the greatest joy and the way out of every situation that has no exit. Thank you for starting up prayer. Each individual is dear to my heart. And I thank all who have urged prayer in their families. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (March 28, 1985)
“Dear children! Today I invite you to open yourselves to God by means of prayer so the Holy Spirit may begin to work miracles in you and through you. I am with you and I intercede before God for each one of you because, dear children, each one of you is important in my plan of salvation. I invite you to be carriers of good and peace. God can give you peace only if you convert and pray. Therefore, my dear little children, pray, pray, pray and do that which the Holy Spirit inspires you. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (May 25, 1993)
“Dear children! I rejoice with you and I invite you to prayer. Little children, pray for my intention. Your prayers are necessary to me, through which I desire to bring you closer to God. He is your salvation. God sends me to help you and to guide you towards paradise, which is your goal. Therefore, little children, pray, pray, pray. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (September 25, 1994 )
“Dear children! Today I am with you in a special way and I bring you my motherly blessing of peace. I pray for you and I intercede for you before God, so that you may comprehend that each of you is a carrier of peace. You cannot have peace if your heart is not at peace with God. That is why, little children, pray, pray, pray, because prayer is the foundation of your peace. Open your heart and give time to God so that He will be your friend. When true friendship with God is realized, no storm can destroy it. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (June 25, 1997)
“Dear children! Do not forget: this is a time of grace; that is why, pray, pray, pray! Thank you for having responded to my call.” (October 25, 1999)
May we respond to Our Lady’s call to pray, pray, pray…It is our call. God is calling us to remain with Him, in a loving and constant communication. The Lord needs our intercession, and we need to be with the Lord.
Let’s pray, pray, pray!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
© Mary TV 2020
