MESSAGE OF THE MESSED VIRGIN MARY
November 25, 2019
Medjugorje—Bosnia, Hercegovina
“Little Children, may this time be a time of prayer for you. Without God you do not have peace. Therefore, little children, pray for peace in your hearts and families, so that Jesus can be born in you and give you His love and blessing. The world is at war because hearts are full of hatred and jealousy. In the eyes, little children, peacelessness is seen because you have not permitted Jesus to be born in your lives. Seek Him, pray, and He will give Himself to you in the Child who is joy and peace. I am with you and I pray for you. Thank you for having responded to my call."
With Advent and Christmas upon us, let’s stop to remember that there are more than 170,000 active-duty US military personnel serving outside the United States and its territories.
While we need to pray for those who are deployed, it's also important to think about the loved ones they've left behind during this most beautiful season.
It's a difficult experience, especially for spouses and children I understand it first-hand. My husband, Luke, was active duty in the U.S. Air Force from 2010-16. And now serves in the Air National Guard. Since joining the military, he has deployed four times: to Kyrgyzstan, to Kuwait and twice to Qatar The first Qatar deployment was over the Christmas season.
Luke's current service in the Air National Guard requires drill weekends once a month. Although another deployment is always a possibility, I have acquired some basic tools of faith and spirituality that will get me, my husband and our five young children through anything.
I want other families experiencing a deployment over the holidays to know that I understand the constant concern for their loved one's safety. Being apart during Christmastime was probably one of the worst things my family experienced. It was especially hard on our young children.
During Luke's Christmas deployment, we had four little boys. They are now 7, 5 (twins), and 3. We have since had a baby girl, now age 1.
But God has proven time and time again, good comes from trials. We learned some beautiful truths about marriage and God that really helped us embrace the suffering of being apart.
Here are five things that helped rescue me spiritually and mentally during the holiday while my husband was deployed. If you have a spouse, significant other or a child who serves in the military, maybe these practices could help you, too.
1. Pray specifically for your spouse every day.
During the third deployment, I experienced a brand new intimacy with my husband when I began praying for him and our marriage every day. As I drew closer to God with the help of a marriage devotional, ("Wife After God: Drawing Closer to God & Your Husband"), I began to feel closer to my husband than I ever had in our marriage -- and he was 6,000 miles away!
At the beginning of his deployment, I felt depressed and exhausted with four young boys and a newborn. To numb the intense loneliness, I started to overeat and watch trashy TV shows. I also shopped online way too much. I started little fights with Luke for absolutely no reason because I was desperate to feel some connection to my husband. I was desperately searching for.
2. Receive the sacraments.
Regularly attending confession made a huge spiritual and physical difference for me when my husband was gone. When he left for his fourth deployment, I was six weeks pregnant with our fifth child. Suddenly, I struggled to sleep at night. I also stopped talking to God. I was hurting and wouldn't let the Lord into that suffering; I wanted to deal with it on my own. For four months, I had never been so exhausted in my life. I was rough on my poor boys, always impatient and quick-tempered. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit whispered to me one evening, saying, "Go to confession: I went the next day and sleep was never an issue again. And receiving the Eucharist every week kept me connected to the Body of Christ, the same Body my husband was physically connected to by receiving the Eucharist every week at Mass in Qatar. We were both taking part in that "communion of saints" and there was a great consolation in knowing we were in it together despite the distance between us.
3. Spend time in Eucharistic Adoration.
This was the absolute best place for me to sit and just cry when I felt overwhelmed and lonely. I would get a babysitter every now and then to be able to spend one-on-one time with my Lord. His presence was so healing! I never felt that loneliness while sitting with Jesus. Through this, the Lord gently taught me that I was relying on my husband's presence and not enough on Jesus' presence to make me happy. Eucharistic Adoration was one of the greatest consolations I had during the latest deployment.
4. Pray with the children/talk to them about how they are feeling.
I prayed with my boys every night before bed and asked; them daily how they felt or if there was anything they wanted to tell their daddy. They felt great comfort doing this. Prayer bridged the gap again! Even if you do not have children, this advice can apply to you. Talk and pray with your close friends and family and share how you are feeling.
5. Participate in Advent.
Getting out the Advent wreath and sticking to the simple task of lighting it each Sunday with my children helped all of us feel connected to the Lord. It also gave the kids to be excited about and look forward to.
Elaine Sinnott is a 30-year-old stay-at-home mom of five who' writes a regular blog at www.militarywifeafterGod.com and contributes to Catholicmom.com. She and her husband, Luke, of McKean, are members of St. Joseph Parish/Bread of Life Community, Erie.
Dec. 7, 1941 — "A date which will live in infamy — The United States of America... attacked by...the Empire of Japan. No matter how long it may take us...the American people in their righteous might will win ... absolute victory."
President Franklin D. Roosevelt - Dec. 8, 1941.
Over 2,300 killed. Ships lost: USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, USS Utah. Eighteen ships badly damaged but returned to service. The 'West Virginia' sunk, raised, repaired and present at Tokyo Bay during Japan's surrender, September 2, 1945.
Father Aloysius Schmitt Was the First Chaplain to Die in World War II; Dubuque, Iowa — When Archbishop Michael Jackels lifted the chalice during the consecration at a memorial Mass on Oct. 8 in Dubuque, Iowa, many hearts were filled with emotion.
It was the first time this chalice had been used since the 7am Mass aboard the battleship USS Oklahoma in Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
The chalice belonged to Navy chaplain Father Aloysius Schmitt. The Mass at Christ the King chapel at Loras College was being held in memory of this heroic chaplain, who died saving others during the attack on Pearl Harbor 75 Years Ago.
Father Schmitt had just finished celebrating the 7am Mass when the first wave of Japanese planes swooped into the harbor at 7:48am. They hit the Oklahoma with eight torpedoes, then later a ninth. The commanding officer reported the initial five explosions happened within about 70 seconds — and within eight to 10 minutes, the ship rapidly rolled over about 135 degrees.
During those frantic minutes, as men scrambled to escape the capsizing ship, 32-year-old Father Schmitt began pushing men through a small porthole to safety. One was sailor Bob Burns.
Interviewed years ago for a documentary called For God and Country, Burns vividly remembered that Father Schmitt "recognized my voice and said, 'Over here!' There were two gentleman topside pulling, and he was pushing people through — he pushed me out." Burns had served at Mass that morning.
"He was one of the finest men I had ever known," Burns said of the chaplain. "It was an honor knowing him."
Once Chaplain Schmitt got the 12 out safely, the dozen men tried pulling him through the porthole. He was partly through when he heard men behind him and insisted the freed men push him back into the ship so that he could help the trapped men.
He never got out.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, concelebrated the memorial Mass. He told the Register that Father Schmitt's witness continues to reverberate: 'The burial of the earthly remains of Father Al Schmitt, whose heroism is so typical of Catholic chaplains' commitment to be men for others, reminds us of his valor immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor 75 years ago. Just like the Lord, whom he loved and served, Father Schmitt gave up his life, so that others might live. I pray that his selflessness might inspire all people to imitate his concern for others and his commitment to life.
Excerpts from: National Catholic Register, November, 2016
Latest Medjugorje Message, November 2, 2019 - Apparitions to Mirjana
"Dear children, my beloved Son always prayed and glorified the Heavenly Father. He always said everything to Him and trusted in His will. This is what you, my children, should also do, because the Heavenly Father always listens to His children. One heart in one heart — love, light and life.
The Heavenly Father gave Himself through a human face, and this face is the face of my Son. You, apostles of my love, you should always carry the face of my Son in your hearts and your thoughts. You should always think of His love and His sacrifice. You should pray to always feel His presence, because, apostles of my love, that is the way for you to help all those who do not know my Son, who have not come to know His love.
My children, read the book of the Gospel. It is always something new; it is what binds you to my Son who was born to bring the words of life to all of my children and to sacrifice Himself for all. Apostles of my love, carried by the love for my Son, bring love and peace to all of your brothers. Judge no one. Love everyone according to the love for my Son. In this way, you will also be caring for your soul, and it [your soul] is that which is most precious, which truly belongs to you. Thank you.”
October 2, 2019
"Dear children, the will and the love of the Heavenly Father make it so that I am among you, that I, with a motherly love, may help the growth of faith in your heart, for you to be able to truly comprehend the purpose of earthly life and the greatness of the heavenly one.
My children, the earthly life is the way to eternity, to truth, and to life-to my Son. I desire to lead you on that way. You, my children-you who always thirst for more love, truth, and faith-need to know that there is only one spring from which you can drink. It is trust in the Heavenly Father; it is trust in His love.
Abandon yourselves completely to His will and do not be afraid. Everything that is best for you, everything that leads you to eternal life, will be given to you. You will comprehend that the purpose of life is not always to want and take, but to love and give. You will have true peace and true love. You will be apostles of love.
By your example, you will make it so that my children who do not know my Son and His love may desire to come to know Him. My children, apostles of my love, adore my Son with me and love Him above all. Always strive to live in His truth. Thank you.
Do Not Be Afraid!
Open the doors to Christ
God works I the concrete and personal affairs
Of each of us
Don’t let the time that the Lord gives you
Run on as if everything were due to chance.
With this expression of my hope, I send you all,
From the depth of my heart, my blessings.
Tounnes Paulus V
October 25, 2019
Dear children! Today I call you to prayer. May prayer be a balm to your soul, because the fruit of prayer is joy, giving and witnessing God to others - through your life. Little children, in complete surrender to God, He will take care of everything and will bless you; and your sacrifices will have meaning. I am with you and bless all of you with my motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call."
"Spiritual Warfare is the most deadly Warfare!"
St. Gemma Galgani
Please pray for our President and his family for protection from all evil.
"The Rosary has accompanied me in moments of joy and in moments of difficulty. To it I have entrusted any number of concerns; in it I have always found comfort."
Pope John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae
Our Blessed Mother asks us to pray a special Rosary with her and Mirjana on the 2nd of each month for those who are far from God's love or never came to know Him.
You can watch her apparitions live 8-9 AM, the Second of every month on the net at: marytv.tv.
St. Andrew was a native of Bethsaida in Galilee, a fisherman by trade, and a former disciple of John the Baptist. He was the one who introduced his brother Peter to Jesus, saying, "We have found the Messiah." Overshadowed henceforth by his brother, Andrew nevertheless appears again in the Gospels as introducing souls to Christ. After Pentecost, Andrew took up the apostolate on a much wider scale, and is said to have been martyred at Patras in southern Greece on a cross which was in the form of an "X". This type of cross has long been known as "St. Andrew's cross."
Beginning today the following beautiful prayer is traditionally recited fifteen times a day until Christmas. This is a very meditative prayer that helps us increase our awareness of the real focus of Christmas and helps us prepare ourselves spiritually for His coming.
+Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold, In that hour vouchsafe, 0 my God! To hear my prayer and grant my desires, [here mention your request] through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.
Patron: unmarried women; women who wish to become mothers.
Bethany Retreat Center: The heart of Young People Who Care Ministries is located in Frenchville, PA 16836 P.O. Box 129. Phone #: 814-263-4855. Web: ypwcministries.org. This is truly a Christian outreach to the poor. Many volunteers come by way of youth & adult retreats / permanent and temporary volunteers.
"Even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God's creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect." Pope Francis
To hear Our Lady's Message, very early by phone, call 1-814-787-5683 (LOVE). Usually available the 26th of each month. Prayer requests at this number are given to the visionary, Vicka, so that she may offer them to Our Lady. Prayer petitions can also be hand written and sent in a sealed envelope to: The Holy Family, Inc., PO Box 442, St. Marys, PA 15857-0442. They are forwarded to Vicka who presents them to Our Lady.
"He who wears the Purple Heart has given of his blood in the defense of his homeland and shall forever be revered by his fellow countrymen." George Washington
Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas (Christ — Mass) and a Blessed New Year 2020