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Are We Living Our Lady's Messages?
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Medjugorje Update:
(Excerpts from the Information Center “Mir” Medjugorje, www.medjugorje.hr )
++ Vienna Cardinal dr. Christoph Schonborn arrived in Medjugorje on his private visit on Monday, December 28, 2009 and he will stay here for couple of days. Cardinal, amongst other things, wants to visit Cenacolo, the community of former drug addicts and their house in Medjugorje, since one of their houses exists in Austria as well. He emphasized that he, above other things, wants to be person who prays in this famous place of prayer. Cardinal Schonborn from 1975 to 1991 is professor of Dogmatic Theology and Theology of Christian East in Freiburg , Switzerland , and from 1987 to 1992 he was selected to serve as the Editing Secretary for the pontifical commission charged with drafting the new Catechism of the Catholic Church. In 1991 Schönborn was appointed as the Auxiliary Bishop of Vienna , and from 1995 he has been the Archbishop of Vienna. In 1998 he was appointed as Cardinal and elected as president of Austrian Bishop's Conference. Today, Cardinal Schonborn is one of the most eminent experts for theology of Christian East , and member of Vatican Congregation on the Doctrine of Faith.
++ 1/2/10...New Year's Eve of Prayer in Medjugorje...This year, as in previous years, more than ten thousand young people came to Medjugorje for New Year's Eve from all over the world. Holy Mass of Thanksgiving took place at 6 p.m. and Fr. Svetozar Kraljevic was the main celebrant. Live Nativity scene followed and members of Cenacolo community recited parts from Gospel, sang and performed the events from Bethlehem . Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament followed from 10 to 11 p.m. and was led by Fr. Miljenko Steko . Holy Mass began at
11.15 p.m. in Latin language and Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Dr. Christopher Schonborn was the main celebrant, while Fr. Ivan Sesar , Provincial of Herzegovinan Franciscan Province, concelebrated along with 120 priests. International Choir and Orchestra accompanied the whole programme with their music and singing. Prayer programme was held in the parish
church and image and tone were transmitted to the Yellow Hall, green tent and at the White Dome at the back of the church. Programme was simultaneously translated in many world languages. Radio station “Mir” Medjugorje broadcasted whole programme and many other radio and network stations and satellite portals took over the whole evening programme.
As it was already announced, Cardinal Dr. Christopher Schonborn came to Medjugorje on Monday, December 28, 2009 in his private visit and stayed until January 2, 2010. During his stay in Medjugorje, he gave couple of statements to the press members. In his conversation with Max Domej, representative of Austrian media, when asked what has made him come to Medjugorje, amongst other things, said: “I know about Medjugorje for many years, not personally because I have never been here before, but in our Diocese and even farther, I do experience the fruits of Medjugorje. I always used to say what Jesus has said in the Gospel: ‘ You will recognize the tree by its fruits.' ” When I see the fruits of Medjugorje back at home I can only say that the tree is surely good”.
Speaking, furthermore, about Medjugorje in the Church, Cardinal added: “Supreme authority in the Church is the Holy See, Holy Father and his Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and that is the highest authority in all of the issues of faith and morality. Supreme authority of the Church gave us clear guidelines, not directly from Holy Father himself, but from Congregation on the Doctrine of the Faith that had clearly confirmed what once bishops from Yugoslavia said, and that doubtlessly is applicable in Medjugorje. I have always repeated that, those texts are very much known, there are three elements that are valid still today, and I can place my visit to Medjugorje within those guidelines. In that sense, my visit is not something that is unusual at all. Holy See, in accordance with the Statement of Bishops from 1991, says the following:
“First: Non constat de supernaturalitatae. That is the expression that is rarely used, and means that supernaturality of the events has not been confirmed, and that is classical formulation of the church doctrine. It is not said that supernaturality was excluded, but has not, or still is not finally confirmed, and all because of one simple reason that I fully support. I am a member of the Congregation on the Doctrine of the Faith, and it is understandable that I support that, if we were to discuss it. Namely, as long as the phenomenon is still ongoing, it is normal that the final decision of the Church is not going to take place yet, because something like that was never done in the past before. Both in Lourdes and Fatima the events first ceased and the Church had its decision about that. It's final decision. Sooner or later that will take place here as well, but in this case we let Mother of God the freedom of choice.
“Second, no official pilgrimages are to be organized, which means that I cannot organize pilgrimage of my diocese to Medjugorje. That is logically related to what was mentioned in the previous point. So, there is no official recognition yet, but in that formulation it is also said that supernaturality is not excluded. Church has clearly said it is not excluded. It is not confirmed, but it is not excluded.
Third thing that church doctrine clearly states is, also in accordance to statement of Yugoslavian Bishops, that the faithful journeying to Medjugorje require attention and pastoral care. That means that indeed pastoral care of pilgrims needs to exist, and that is the matter that many are trying to serve. Gebesaktion Wien , amongst others who take care of pilgrims, follows them and helps them even after pilgrimages. I think that in that way, Medjugorje can continue well on their journey, with full trust that Church, Mother and Teacher, in this case, is going to continue to monitor their journey. I would advise for patience. Mother of God is so patient with us that for nearly 29 years here, in a very direct way. She is showing Her vicinity and care for parish of Medjugorje and numerous pilgrims. We can peacefully wait and have patience! Twenty nine years is a long period of time for us, but not such a long period to our God!”
Interview with Cardinal Schonborn
in the Vercernji List Newspaper 01/04/2010
From Vecernji List daily newspaper for Croatia , Bosnia and Herzegovina . “Medjugorje is again in the center of
of attention, church and public as well. Though the visit of Cardinal Shonborn is private, it did not leave anybody indifferent because he is the member of Congregation for Doctrine of Faith. We talked to Cardinal while he was visiting Medjugorje.
Interviewer: “We came here to be close to the Lord's mother”, you said during the Christmas Eve Mass, Your Eminence. These words had a great echo. We would like you to explain them?”
Cardinal: “We cannot deny that pilgrims have been coming over here for the past 20 years, as we cannot deny what they experience in Medjugorje and how close they feel to the Blessed Mother. This is my first visit, but since I've been a Bishop since 1991. I have simply noticed the fruits of Medjugorje”.
Interviewer: “What kind of fruits are you talking about?”
Cardinal: “I will give you couple of examples: vocation calls for priesthood. Lots of our young priests have received their vocation call here, but not strictly in Medjugorje but because of Medjugorje. The second thing is conversions. I am impressed that that happens in every level of society, from noble families, industrials down to the common little people. Flying from Vienna , via Zagreb to Split I was asked by a security guard where I was going and I told him I was going to Medjugorje. All of sudden his face started shining and he told me that he had his conversion in Medjugorje as well. Couple of weeks ago on one small railway station one worker told me his story. His wife died of cancer and he was desperate and his friends brought him to Medjugorje. He has received the strong and living faith over here. The third evidence is the healings. A young man who was addicted to drugs told me that he was almost forced by his friends over here. He told me while the bus was entering Medjugorje something happened with him. Especially he was healed immediately and all of us know how long that healing lasts. The fourth evidence is the prayer groups. I've known this Medjugorje Prayer Group from Vienna since the period when I wasn't the Bishop. I've known them since 1980's. To us Dominicans it was very meaningful that these people pray for hours and their church is always full. The Dominican churches in Vienna are rarely so full, on Thursday nights the church was always full. They stayed faithful to the prayer till today. Jesus said that the bad tree doesn't bear any fruits. Which means: if the fruits are good then the tree is good as well.”
Interviewer: “For pilgrims Medjugorje is a miracle and they expect a message from the Holy See until Official Church would approve the supernatural events of Medjugorje. It has been speculated a period of time about the movements of Holy See. What do you know about this and what is your opinion about the demands to recognize Medjugorje?”
Cardinal: “I do not have detailed information about this matter and that is not my assignment. But I am standing to the statement made by Bishop's Conference of Yugoslavia and Congregation for Doctrine of Faith of the Holy See. That statement for me has always been reasonable and smart. I will remind you about three statements made about Medjugorje. The first of all are phenomena. I am dogmatist and I was a professor of theological dogma. “Non constat de supernaturalitate.”- which means that the Church hasn't given the final judgment about supernaturality of phenomena and hasn't given any statements. So it has never denied or confirmed.”
Interviewer: “This sounds as diplomatic answer, what this really means in the practice?”
Cardinal: “It simply means that the Church hasn't given its final judgment and decision. I am personally convinced that this is correct. While these phenomena are still going on, the Church is hardly going to give or make its final judgment and decision. These phenomena are the center of Medjugorje. It has started with the children who said that they saw Our Lady and the messages she gave through them. What has developed from that is second phenomena which will be studied by the church on the second level. From the very beginning a huge number of pilgrims have been coming to Medjugorje. The intensive prayer life has developed here and many humanitarian organizations have been born here.”
Interviewer: “The Church has divided the matter of Medjugorje from the pastoral work. But still a large number of pilgrims come over here. What position we should take about this matter?”
Cardinal: “The concrete ways of pilgrimages have been over here and that is a practical challenge for the church. That's why the bishops from ex Yugoslavia said in 1991 that the official pilgrimages shouldn't exist. I do not want and I cannot organize official pilgrimages to Medjugorje in my diocese as we did to Rome or Holy Land . But the Bishops Conference or Rome have never forbidden to pilgrims to come to Medjugorje, which is the main part of the third statement. For us Bishops, for me this is very important. The believers must get the pastoral care. As the Archbishop I see my homework in that. If I, as a bishop, see that in my diocese hundreds, thousands of believers convert, pray, and are healed then I, as a Bishop, must take care that all of them get that pastoral care. That's why I supported all these things as for example community of the “Oasis of Peace,” which was started because of Medjugorje. I think that all of this has influence on us bishops, especially those dioceses which pilgrims do come to Medjugorje and they need to get good pastoral care. So in all of those conversations I had with other bishops about Medjugorje I encouraged them to support their pilgrims.”
Interviewer: “You had a meeting with a visionary, you climbed to the Apparition Hill. What were you talking about?”
Cardinal: “I would say ironically that Our Lady did not choose the simple hills. I am fascinated with the coherence of Medjugorje with other Marian shrines, apparition sites. I always say that there is a grammar of Mary 's apparitions. That style has something special with Our Lady.”
Interviewer: “In what way is this connected?”
Cardinal: “There are 3 elements which are connected with this phenomenon. Almost always Our Lady appears to children. Those were not especially intelligent children or holy children but normal. Bernadette did not know how to write. She was 14 almost as children over here. Secondly, Mary gives the messages through the children. It is insulting for one bishop. Why Our Lady does not come to bishop's house? Why does she come to the hill filled with stones or by the river? This is not practical. In Fatima she appeared in the bushes. She gives the messages through children because children are not complicated. The third element: it looks like that Our Lady has her own program. In Fatima she had appeared before Russian Revolution and she gave a message. When rationalism was on its highest level she appeared in Lourdes . She appeared in Yugoslavia in the moment when we did not have an idea that Yugoslavia would fall apart in the time when the Catholics, Muslims and Orthodox were living together. She appears with the name Queen of Peace. 10 years after that the first of 4 wars on Balkan Peninsula brakes out. And her first message was peace through conversion, prayer and this first message has its weight, strength, credibility. Maybe we could go further to Guadalupe , Mexico . When Europe started invasion of America , Our Lady appeared to one Indian who had to go to his bishop to tell him what to do. I think that theologians have to study the syntax of Mary 's apparitions and in that context to study the phenomena of Medjugorje.”
Interviewer: “It is prayed for peace in Medjugorje all the time but the political peace is not correct, the state is in problems and the Croats Catholics are in the worst position. What would you suggest to the International Community which is run now in this country by your co-citizen Valentin Inzko ?”
Cardinal: “ The problem over here is that too many countries are involved in this such a small country which that way cannot overcome these problems. The long lasting peace can be formed only if everything is just for everybody. This is a challenge for European policy. I am happy that Valentin Inxko is now in charge of Bosnia and Herzegovina and I expect that he gets a bigger support from European community. I am sure that (this) what is going on Medjugorje supports that peace. And people from all over the world do come to this small village Herzegovina which has never been known in the world, if I want to speak ironically. Look, how many Koreans come to Medjugorje! This is a hope that these people will be apostles of peace in their countries, peace which comes from Medjugorje. If it is prayed for peace in the world on one place, than that is a special blessing for one country. And Our Lady respects all three religions. Orthodox believers honor Our Lady, Islam doesn't respect any other person that much, but Mary . For Croats Catholics who are minority in this country the apparitions among them are the great comfort.”
WHAT IS PEACE?
Fr. Gabriel M. Weber , O.S.M.
What is peace and where does it come from? Jesus . Mother Mary , is our Queen of Peace and all peace comes from God. What is Mary 's part in bringing peace to us? She is leading us to peace by telling us to pray, pray, pray. Did not Jesus say: “Ask and you shall receive”? What are we asking for? Again, what is peace?
We well know that Jesus is the Prince of Peace and He came into the world to all mankind, and to make satisfaction for the sins of all of us, and thus to return us to God and that is peace—reconciliation with God.
From the very time when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, He promised that He would send a woman whose offspring would overcome Satan . (Genesis 3:5). That woman was Mary and she brought Christ into the world. That was the beginning of her vocation to bring us to Jesus , Who is peace and He gives Himself TO US in the Eucharist.
Through Holy Communion we are united with Jesus in a very special way. He loves us and we “live in Him and have our being.” He gives us the gift of faith to believe in this great mystery of the Eucharist and He wishes us to share Him with others, beginning with our families, to the point that He Who is Peace, becomes the greatest treasure we could ever have. Without Him, we are nothing. Prayer helps us to draw to Him and makes us aware of His presence within us all day long.
Do you take time to speak to Him and to thank Him and tell Him how much you love Him? Silence is His language, but He listens and makes love grow in us. “The seed of emptiness concerning life's meaning and the meaning of suffering and our destiney can be filled only by Christ ”, according to good Pope John Paul II . Is his message any different from Mary 's? Make her happy by responding to her message.
Sacred Heart of Jesus and
Immaculate Heart of Mary
pray for us.
If angels could be jealous of men,
they would be so for one reason :
Holy Communion.
St. Maximilian Kolbe
~~~~~~~
YEAR FOR PRIESTS
June 19, 2009 – June 19, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI is proclaiming a Year for Priests on the occasion of the 150 th anniversary of the death of St. Jean Marie Vianney, the Cure' of Ars. The theme for the priestly year is “Faithfulness of Christ , Faithfulness of Priests.” The Pope is scheduled to open the year with a celebration of vespers June 19, the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in the presence of the relic of the Cure' of Ars to be brought to Rome by Bishop Guy Bagnard of Belley-Ars. During the jubilee year, Holy Father will proclaim St. John Vianney to be patron saint of all the world's priests. At present he is considered the patron saint of parish priests. The closing ceremony will take place exactly one year later, with a World Meeting of Priests in St. Peter 's Square.
The Vatican is offering a plenary indulgence for all faithful on the opening and closing days of the Year of the Priests, on the 150 th anniversary of the death of St. Jean-Marie Vianney, on the first Thursday of the month or on any other day established by the ordinaries of particular places for the good of the faithful.
To obtain the indulgence, the faithful (different for priests) must attend Mass in an oratory or Church and offer prayers to “ Jesus Christ , supreme and eternal Priest, for the priests of the Church, or perform any good work to sanctify and mould them to His heart.”
The conditions for the faithful for earning a plenary indulgence are to have gone to confession and prayed for the intentions of the Pope. The elderly, the sick and all those, who for any legitimate reason are unable to leave their homes, may obtain the indulgence if, with the intentions of observing the usual three conditions as soon as they can, “on the days concerned, they pray for the sanctification of priests and offer their sickness and suffering to God through Mary, Queen of the Apostles.”
A partial indulgence is offered to the faithful when they repeat 5 times the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be, or any other duly approved prayer “in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to ask that priests maintain purity and sanctity of life.”
APOSTLES OF PEACE AND LOVE
Our Lady concludes each one of her messages by the words: “Thank you for having responded to my call.” With her gratitude, she seems to want to motivate and wake up our hearts, so that we listen to her and walk on the way of conversion and of holiness. Today, she is thanking us for every sacrifice that we have offered for her intentions. In preceding messages for the anniversary of her apparitions, she was saying: “Today I desire to thank you for all your sacrifices and for all your prayers.” (25.6.1990). “Today I am happy, even if in my heart there is still a little sadness for all those who have started on this path and then have left it.” (25.6.1992). Although she knows that all her children will not accept her motherly words, she is not giving up, she believes and she hopes. This is why she was saying: “There are many people who do not desire to understand my messages and to accept with seriousness what I am saying. But you I therefore call and ask that by your lives and by your daily living you witness my presence.” (25.6.1991).
Our Lady's messages reveal to us the heart of Mary and they speak to us about it. It is the heart of the mother who loves her children. This heart is grateful for every sacrifice, which we offered for her intentions. We need to pray and, from day to day, to offer our hearts to the Heart of Mary, so that we also become grateful.
Only a blind man does not see that all in life is given to us, and that nothing belongs to us: neither the earth, nor people, nor our body, nor life that God gave us. Everything is a gift of God. Only a humble, pure and simple heart discovers the greatness of the love of God and of the gift of God. Only a heart filled with the Holy Spirit, like the heart of St. Elisabeth , exclaims: “And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk 1,43). The heart of Elisabeth is grateful because, in the Visitation of Mary, it recognizes the gift and the blessing.
God has created everything for us, and not for any reason and not anyhow, but magnificently, marvelously, and out of love. We should relearn the alphabet of the language and of the conversation with God. We need to learn how to say thank you not only superficially, with our lips, our mouth, or our reason, but with our whole being and with our whole life.
God gave us more than life and all that He has created for us; he gave Himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ . Jesus Christ , in the fullness of life and love, gave Himself in the Church and through the Church in the sacraments, especially in the Eucharist.
In these days and in this time, God sends to us also the Mother of His Son, Jesus , and our Mother, so that we become her apostles of peace and love in our families and in the world. Our families and the world need people who will spread peace and love, because there is too much disorder, too much fear, too much darkness and too much wickedness among us. Gospa, who dwells in the glory of Heaven, and who comes and speaks from this glory, knows that love and peace are stronger, and that it is worthwhile to love and to spread peace. Mary , our Mother, knows that we cannot do it by our own forces, and this is why she is advising us to pray to the Holy Spirit by Whom she conceived Jesus . She is encouraging us to pray to the Holy Spirit, whose force and power made it possible for the apostles to become fearless witnesses of Jesus , until shedding of blood. We cannot do it, but the Holy Spirit in us, He can do it. We are called to holiness and to sanctification of our life. Saint Paul reminds us: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” (1 Thess 4,3) Only on this way of sanctification and holiness we can experience the joy and the truth of the words of the Scripture: “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thes 5,16) We are neither alone nor abandoned. Mary , our Mother, is with us and she is giving us her motherly blessing. Fr. Ljubo Kurtovic 6/26/05
You cannot please both God and the world at the same time. They are utterly opposed to each other in their thoughts, their desires and their actions. St. John Vianney
CENTER FOR PEACE – WEST
UPDATE
From a pilgrim : I have felt “pulled” to do something for Our Lady to respond to her call. I just completed a 10 week Bible Study...”Becoming a Woman of Prayer” sponsored by many of the churches in our small town. I was the only Catholic. It was a great group of women...all ages...from 20-78 yrs. After much prayer, I sent out the following invitation:
Month of May invitation from Patsy !
I will be at Holy Name Catholic Church every Tuesday from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm. If you need a quiet place to pray and meditate I would love for you to join me.
Four women showed up the first Tuesday. What a beautiful response for Our Lady.
Is Our Lady calling you to Medjugorje??
MEDJUGORJE PILGRIMAGE
May 18 - May 28, 2010
Spiritual Director:
Fr. Jeff Meeuwsen
Price: $2,725
10 day pilgrimage includes air (from Portland , OR ), land transportation, airport taxes, English speaking guide, accommodations with 2 meals a day in Medjugorje, and more.
Final payment due April 10, 2010.
Limited number of single rooms available for an additional $250.
Two meetings will be scheduled prior to departure to discuss valuable information to help you prepare for your pilgrimage.
Center for Peace - West
(503) 646-4435
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Please join us for our
Annual Peace Mass
June 25,2010
Celebrating the 29 th Anniversary of Our Lady's Apparitions in Medjugorje “I have come to tell the world that God exists. He is the fullness of life, and to enjoy this fullness you must return to God.”
6:00 PM
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, Confession & Benediction
7:00 PM
Holy Mass
Bishop Kenneth Steiner ,
Main celebrant
Reception following in the Parish Center .
St. Cecilia Catholic Church
5105 SW Franklin Street
Beaverton , OR
Directions: Proceed to OR-217 (toward Tigard/Beaverton). Take the Allen Blvd. Exit #2B. Go West to Lombard Ave. Turn right on Lombard and go to 5 th Street . Turn left on 5 th and go 1 block to Franklin . Call with questions...
Center for Peace – West
503-646-4435
PEACE
O God, you will
not permit the faithful who believe in You to be shaken by the threat
of danger. Accept the prayers and offerings of the people dedicated to
You, and mercifully grant Christian communities peace and security
against all their enemies. Amen.
So
Many Ways To Reach God
By Fr. Petar Ljubicic, O.F.M.
There are
many ways to reach God. Each man, as a free and open being with his
hopes and expectations, is searching for the only one in which he can
find fulfilment. This is the yearning for God. With our yearning for
love and happiness there is also in each of us a yearning to be good.
Each man knows very well that he is not allowed to do everything he
wants. He is not allowed to grasp all the happiness away from others.
The strength and guidance for putting that in order, within each man,
is called conscience. My conscience speaks to me even when nobody sees
the evil that I am doing, and even when it does not bother anybody
directly. My conscience is warning, accusing and bothering me and also
forcing and guiding me to do what is good and right.
Who lies behind the voice of our conscience? Along, with our
yearning to be good we have an innate sense to foresee what is
infinitely good. If we listen to the voice of our conscience then we
will realise there is someone greater at the heart of everything in
human life. God allows us to find Him in the centre of our life. We
are finding him everywhere and we can even meet him at the extreme
situations in our life – in the hurt and loneliness, in the moments of
fate and of death.
~~~~~~~
“Pray,
pray, pray. When I tell you this you do not understand it. Every grace
is yours and you can receive them through prayer.” August 12,
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