Message June 25, 2020

Message of the Blessed Virgin Mary

June 25 2020

"Dear children! I am listening to your cries and prayers, and am interceding for you before my Son, Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Return, little children, to prayer and open your hearts in this time of grace and set out on the way of conversion. Your life is passing and, without God, does not have meaning. This is why I am with you to lead you towards holiness of life, so that each of you may discover the joy of living. I love you all, little children, and am blessing you with my motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call."

'He Never Once Let Go of My Hand...'

Excerpts from 'The Golden Dream' by Gerry Faust

I know without reservation which personal journey during the Akron years left an imprint on my life. It was a trip to Europe with Ken Schneider, my good friend. Ken loves to travel.

Marlene and Ken's wife, Jan, don't care for these trips. So Ken and I headed off to visit three important religious sites: Lourdes in France, Fatima in Portugal and Medjugorje, a town in the former Yugoslavia at which an apparition of the Blessed Mother is said to still be appearing at the Catholic Church.

We flew first to Lisbon, Portugal and drove to Fatima, arriving one day after The Feast of Fatima. When we went to the basilica, the first thing I saw was a woman crawling on the concrete courtyard, carrying her baby. I'm convinced that something was wrong with her baby and that I was witnessing a great act of faith.

Though we could not speak Portuguese, we had a religious bond that I think allowed us to help a family of peasants who invited us to share their picnic lunch that day. In return we gave them $20 and were able to make them understand that our money was like the food they had willingly shared with us: Not a handout but a small gift of friendship.

At Lourdes, we encountered some Irish priests from Dublin and asked if we might accompany the priests for Mass with the sick. After Mass, people helped to take patients from huge hospital wards in wheelchairs and even beds to the Grotto each night. There were maybe 80 male patients, ranging in age from 4 to 80. Ken and I got to talking to one man with an Irish brogue. I told him I was from Akron, Ohio.

"Where's Akron? He asked.

I explained and he wanted to know what I did for a living.

"I'm an American football coach," I explained.

Then Kenny, my promotion manger, blurts out "He was head coach at Notre Dame for five years."

"What's Note Dame?' the man asked.

I said to myself, "Boy, it isn't that important, is it? Then I explained about Note Dame. It still didn't mean anything to the man.

"What are you doing here, Gerry?" the man asked.

"I'm on vacation. A holiday. We've been to Fatima and we're going to Medjugorje."

"That's great," he said.

"What are you doing here? I asked. "Are you here to help the sick?

"No, Gerry," he said I've got four months to live. I have lymphoma." "You know," I said, "so many miracles happen here at Lourdes. Maybe one of those miracles will happen to you.

"Gerry, I'm 48 years old. I have four children. Two are out of high school and two are almost out. Four boys. I've lived my life."

Then he pointed to a group of children in wheelchairs.

If a miracle is going to happen," he said, "let it happen to one of them. They haven't lived their lives."

I had to turn away. I couldn't say a word. All I could do was shed a silent tear and think:

What a man of devotion. What a man of God. Here I am praying all these years to win a football game. That's so insignificant. To prove how insignificant, this man didn't even know what Notre Dame was.

I think the Good Lord was telling me that there had been a purpose for my having been at Notre Dame, a purpose other than winning football games. At that moment, a peace came over me that I had never known before, and it has remained with me ever since. From that point on, I never prayed to win a football game, and there were more than a few I needed to win. I just prayed for my family and for others. I didn't witness any miracles at Lourdes, but maybe the miracle was an Irishman who made me understand more fully what I had always known. There are more important things than winning football games.

At Medjugorje, we stayed with some peasants, went to St James Church for Mass and then into the mountains to pray the Stations of the Cross. I even got to see Vicka Ivankovic, one of the visionaries to whom the Blessed Mother is appearing. It happened in a roundabout way, for she had burned herself with some grease from a hot skillet and she wasn't seeing anyone. But when Ken and I happened upon a crew shooting a film on the miracle of Medjugorje, they allowed me to accompany them when they visited Vicka, who had agreed to keep her appointment with the crew. It was my birthday. This must have been the Lord's present to me. I sat and listened as she told the film crew of a vision in which the Blessed Mother came to Medjugorje and with the four children set off to visit heaven, hell and purgatory. Two other children did not wish to see these places.

I didn't know if this could be true. Believing someone has been permitted to see heaven; hell and purgatory stretch my faith. But the more I listened, the more I began to believe. At the end of the session, I asked the interpreter if I could ask Vicka a question. Vicka agreed.

"What does a person do who is continually tempted in life, which I am?" I wondered. "What do you do to stop that?

Vicka looked at me and spoke one word. "Prayer," she said through the interpreter.

After our pilgrimage, I asked Ken Schneider, who had been skeptical about the Blessed Mother's appearance in Medjugorje. If he had come to believe.

"I'm not much on miracles and happenings," Ken said now. "I went as a Doubting Thomas."

Ken had decided, however, that the Blessed Mother had appeared at Medjugorje but that she was not appearing there when we visited. Back in America, Ken flew from Atlanta to Cincinnati and I came home to Akron. Then he called. I wasn't home, but he told Marlene that some of the links between the beads on the rosary he had taken to Medjugorje had turned to gold.

When I called to say hello to my parents, I told than the story of Kenny's rosary and my mom said: "Did your rosary change?

"No," I said

"Why didn't it?"

"Mom," I said, "my rosary doesn't need to change. I believe. Kenny is the one who didn't believe."

The next day when Marlene and I were going to Mass, I reached over to my turn-signal bar where I keep my rosary and took it in my hand to pray and I noticed something different. The silver links around each Our Father had turned gold. I couldn't believe it. I called Kenny and asked where his rosary had changed color. It was the same place.

"Gerry went over there a true believer," Ken says, "but I came back as one. He had the knowledge and took us to the right places to change me."

The odd thing was that my rosary wasn't the one I had taken to Medjugorje. My dad showed the change to people after I had taken it to Dayton for him to see. I wanted him to have it, but he insisted that I keep this sign of faith.

Epilogue

The only short cut I ever took in my life was to Notre Dame. (From Moeller High school to head coach of Notre Dame Football, most prestigious program in the land) How can that have been a mistake? It gave me a chance to walk the path I believe God intended me to take. I know he never once let go of my hand along the way. And one day, He will let me know how our walk went. I can live with that.

Gerry Faust: 'The Golden Dream'

(His Notre Dame Record was over 500%-30-26-1)

In over thirty one years of coaching, Gerry Faust has positively influenced thousands of students, student athletes and adults. His former high school player Marty Klotz joined the Marines, got his bachelors and masters degrees, served in five combat actions over 17 years, is married with two children.

'Sir', Marty wrote, 'you were a huge part of my success as a person. There are things much more important than winning a game. You taught and personified character building, you taught me priceless concepts; team building, honesty, integrity, sincerity, compassion, tenacity and a solid work ethic…things that turned me around from being a punk kid into a man. You make boys into men, turn losers into winners — model citizens. Those are concepts few people in the world can lay claim to, much less turn concepts into concrete results.

I am trying to instill those qualities in my children. Semper Fi (Always Faithful)

My Heart Will Triumph

Mirjana Soldo-visionary

On July 2, 2012, Our Lady said, “I implore you to stop for a moment and to reflect on yourselves and on the transience of this your earthly life.”

In many ways, it's nice to be a visionary now. Sure, there are hardships—people always stare, and it's impossible to go outside when there are many pilgrims in town. But I'm used to living this way now, and I'm never bored. I've always preferred curling up with a good book instead of going to parties, and when people ask if I have a favorite type of music, I say "silence." I enjoy spending time with family and friends, and every ten days or so, Marko and I have coffee together in Mostar. That's enough for me.

Still, I always make time to share my testimony. When I talk to pilgrims, I feel an immense love for them, and I'm often moved to tears. Perhaps it's no surprise that my friends have nicknamed me "the crybaby." Meeting with pilgrims, many of home traveled long distances to come here—is a beautiful union in front of the Mother we all share in common. I did not choose my role as a transmitter of the message; for whatever reason, I was chosen. But Ifeel incredibly blessed every time I get to share what I know about the love of God.

The parish trains local guides to make sure visiting pilgrims are given correct information.

Mornings begin with Mass in different languages at St. James Church, and during the day pilgrims might listen to a talk from a visionary or a priest, or they may climb Apparition Hill or Cross Mountain. I always encourage pilgrims to stay on the hill after they climb with the group, or to go alone later—find a nice, flat rock to sit on, I tell them, and talk to Our Lady about everything in your heart. Leave your pain and suffering behind or pray for the strength to carry your cross back down.

begins around sunset. The first hour is reserved for the rosary. In nice weather, a priest leads it from the outside altar, and pilgrims pray along from benches. At the same time, priests gather in and around the confessionals on both sides of the church and it’s common for each priest to have a line of ten or more people waiting to confess. Many priests have told me that hearing confessions is the highlight of their pilgrimage here, and that they’ve never experienced confessions of such magnitude or beauty anywhere else. Some refer to Medjugorje as “confessional of the world”, and Cardinal Schonborn called it a “Superpower of mercy”.

Still, I always make time to share my testimony. When I talk to pilgrims, I feel an immense love for them, and I'm often moved to tears. Perhaps it's no surprise that my friends have nicknamed me "the crybaby." Meeting with pilgrims, many of whom traveled long distances to come here—is a beautiful union in front of the Mother we all share in common. I did not choose my role as a transmitter of the message; for whatever reason, I was chosen. But I feel incredibly blessed every time I get to share what I know about the love of God.

The parish trains local guides to make sure visiting pilgrims are given correct information.

Late afternoon in Medjugorje is wonderful. The Evening Prayers Program—established by Fr. Jozo in the first days of the apparitions and developed further by Fr. Slavko—has evolved into one of the main highlights for many pilgrims. It begins around sunset. The first hour is reserved for the rosary. In nice weather, a priest leads it from the outside altar, and pilgrims pray along from benches. At the same time, priests gather in and around the confessionals on both sides of the church and it’s common for each priest to have a line of ten or more people waiting to confess. Many priests have told me that hearing confessions is the highlight of their pilgrimage here, and that they’ve never experienced confessions of such magnitude or beauty anywhere else. Some refer to Medjugorje as “confessional of the world”, and Cardinal Schonborn called it a “Superpower of mercy”.

After the rosary comes the international Mass. Although it's celebrated in Croatian, pilgrims use headset radios to listen to live translations in their own languages. Broadcasts include English, Italian, Polish, German, French, Spanish, Arabic, Korean, and more, depending on the pilgrims in town at the time. Seeing priests of different nationalities together on the altar shows the message of Medjugorje has spread throughout the world. On alternating nights, Mass is followed by a holy hour of gentle music and reflection with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament or Veneration of the Cross. By then, the sky is full of stars.

Many initiatives have developed into annual traditions. The Peace March from Humac to Medjugorje, established during the war, still takes place every year on June 24th. Thousands of pilgrims and locals take part. Every Christmas, the Cenacolo Community puts on a live Nativity play in front of St. James Church, complete with real farm animals and a life-size crèche. Throughout the year, the parish hosts seminars for married couples, doctors, and nurses, priest, disabled people, and others.

The widespread fruits of Medjugorje shows how Our Lady's plan to "renew the Church" is developing. Over the years, countless people who came here with lukewarm faith, or no faith at all, depart with a newfound belief in God. People who had never prayed before discovered how to pray with their hearts, and those suffering from addictions conquered them here.

Many terminally ill people look for healings in Medjugorje and some are always near me during the apparitions. I cry when I see them suffering, especially the youngest ones, I pray for them. When God intervenes, I usually only hear about it later, because Our Lady is my only focus during the apparition.

A few years ago, an Italian doctor and his wife brought their ten year old son, who was dying of stomach cancer, to Medjugorje. Every specialist at home told them nothing could be done to save the boy's life. The boy and his family came to an apparition and kneeled near me. They prayed intensely.

The parents told me later that when Our Lady came, the boy held his stomach and winced.

"Mommy, Daddy," he said. "My stomach is burning."

When the family returned to Italy, the specialists discovered no traces of cancer.

I know many similar stories, but most ailing people who come to Medjugorje return home with the same illness. Why some get healed and others do not is a mystery of God. Perhaps the most difficult thing to understand is the passing of a child. How can a loving God allow such misery? It's natural to ask that question. Living in a temporal world, we're conditioned to think in terms of years and lifetimes. When people die "too young," we wonder why God couldn't have let them live full lives.

But remember--we do not die.

Our Lady knows what it feels like to lose a child, but she was reunited with Him in Heaven and has been with Him ever since. We're destined to see our departed loved ones again, but it's not always easy to understand God's will.

Who's to say that a short life is less valuable than a long one? If "a day is like a thousand years" to our eternal God, the difference between a decade and a century is infinitesimal. Why can't a person fulfill his mission and learn all he needs to know—or teach others what they need to learn—in a short time?

Our Lady has shown me that Heaven is devoid of suffering. I see abundant truth in the statement heard so often at funerals: 'They're in a better place now." Our true home is with God. We are his pilgrims on Earth, here for a brief sojourn on our way to an eternal reality that transcends time, space and death. Your pilgrimage might end today, tomorrow, or in twenty years, but you are going to meet God, whether you’re aware of that or not. Was your walk guided by humility and sacrifice, or arrogance and greed? It’s better to contemplate this question now instead of at the end of your journey.

People who think that the existence of suffering disproves the existence of God misunderstand their own existence. If the world were devoid of sorrow, could we recognize joy? If sickness did not exist, would we cherish good health? In many ways, a pilgrimage to Medjugorje is a metaphor for life. The pilgrim endures the pain of long-distance travel and the exhaustion of climbing the hills, but in the end he realizes that all the suffering opens a doorway to love.

I always tell people who come to Medjugorje that a spiritual healing is infinitely more valuable than a physical one. Only one kind of healing leads to eternal life. A man can enter Heaven without an arm or a leg but not with sin in his soul. Still, Our Lady cannot heal people; only God can. But she does intercede for us. She prays with us—and for us—if we ask her to. If you suffer physically, the most important step is to ask God to help you. Jesus showed by example that the person who tries to carry his cross alone will fall down under its weight. I went to St. James Church for mass one morning and sat in a pew near the statue of the Blessed Mother. Moments later, an Italian woman came in and knelt in front of the statue. She started crying and I heard her whisper, "Why, God? Why me?"

She cried throughout the entire Mass and kept repeating those words. I didn't know why she suffered so terrible, but I cried along with her.

As Mass ended, she suddenly stopped crying. Her look of sorrow changed to joy. "Why not me?" she said. "Yes! Why not me?

I went to her after the final blessing. "Hello," I said.

The woman seemed embarrassed. "Pardon me," she said. "I hope I didn't disturb you during the Mass."

Don't worry. If anything, you made me pray harder."

She smiled and looked up at the ceiling of the church. "Oh, this place! I think this is the best day of my life. May I tell you?"

"You don't have to ask permission. Tell me."

"Well, I have three handicapped children back home.

I came to Medjugorje to beg God to heal them, and I wanted to know why He gave me this cross. But now I understand! It hit me when I was praying. Why shouldn't God give me this cross? It means He sees that I can carry it! He trusts me and I have to trust Him.

He'll help me when it gets too heavy. I can't wait to go home and kiss my children. I'm so blessed to have them."

I started crying again. "And they're blessed to have you."

The woman looked at the statue of the Blessed Mother. "You know, it's funny, I didn't even ask God to heal them like I planned on doing. And guess what? I don't think I need to anymore."

Excerpts from "My Heart Will Triumph"

You can purchase her book at: Catholic Shop Publishing, 317 Riveredge Blvd. Ste. 208, Cocoa, FL 32922 Or Ph. 1-800-565-9176 www.catholicshop.com

Also see: MyHeartwilltriumph.com This site includes additional photos, videos, free eBooks, enewsletter, discussion group, bulk discounts and social media pages.

What Does Our Lady Say About The Apparitions.

She indicates that this is the end of times as we know them, but, not the end of the world.

After the chastisements, satan's power will be taken away, the world will live as in ancient times, a long period of peace will prevail. Over the years Our Lady has said:

"I have a great plan for the salvation of mankind." (Jan. 25, 1987)

"I wish to give you messages as it has never been in history from the beginning of the world." (April 4, 1985)

"After Medjugorje apparitions I will not appear any more on earth." (May 2, 1982)

"Pray that you may comprehend the greatness of the message."

"Your family must be the place where holiness is born. Help everyone to live in holiness." (July 24, 1986)

"Live my messages!" "pray, pray, pray."

"This is a time of great grace from God!" Convert now. Pray often, confess and attend Mass often.

To received Our Blessed Mother's message by phone call 814-787-5683 (LOVE). Usually available by the 26th of each month. Contact us at The Holy Family, Inc. P.0. 442 St. Marys, PA 15857.