My mother, a Registered Dietitian, made a good point about my last post on fasting. Here's what you should know:
While it was requested by Our Lady, for the conversion of sinners and unbelievers, it is not for everyone. If you are sick, physically infirm, or have a medical condition requiring important nutritional balances, you should not in any way feel guilty for not fasting.
Read here to see what Our Lady said about fasting.
If you're unsure if fasting is for you, I think the obvious answer is pray about it and you will know!
Thanks, Mom!
Showing posts with label Our Lady. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Our Lady. Show all posts
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Fasting: It's Not Easy
Our Lady, through the visionaries, has requested each of us fast strictly on bread and water every Wednesday and Friday. I'm doing it, and it's not easy.
Why am I having such a difficult time with it?
I actually found the answer while reading a book about the Medjugorje apparitions. But I'll start with the background on why I'm fasting.
Our Lady has told the Medjugorje visionaries fasting is a means of giving yourself to God and showing Him we are in control of our bodies. It's apparently important to God that we exhibit control over cravings, addictions, and the like because a separation from the things of Earth is important in our spiritual growth.
That makes perfect sense. If we can gain control over our bodies, we get more in touch with the spirit we really are and understand more closely how much we rely on God for what we have.
But I've got to tell you...I am really struggling with it.
I'm typically fine for most of the day. The nature of my job (I'm a technical support representative for an email marketing company) means I'm constantly busy all day and that the day goes by quickly. My workplace offers free Dasani bottled water and I bring bread with me to work, so it's not a big deal.
It's usually the ride home that starts to get me. We're allowed to eat as much bread as we need to, but it's not very satisfying. It becomes tougher when I'm driving home from work and see billboards showing enormous steak and cheese sandwiches or French fries. I typically cave somewhere between my Waltham, Massachusetts office and my Allston home.
But if this is something we're supposed to be doing for God, why is it so incredibly difficult? The answer, claim the visionaries, lies in the foundation we lay for ourselves in our daily lives.
In interviews in The Visions of the Children, by Janice T. Connell, the visionaries state fasting is not only difficult but practically impossible without deep prayer in preparation for it. While some fasting, such as giving up meat on Fridays, is possible without such dedication, the strict fasting Our Lady requests of us is meant to be a serious sacrifice not only for our own spiritual betterment but also for that of unbelievers, the souls in Purgatory, peace in our world, and for the sins of mankind.
These are grave concerns and, thus, require quality time with the Rosary and deep prayer in the days leading up to fasting.
It's something I will continue to work at and, for those who do achieve this sense of spirituality, something that should be rewarding not only in the depths of one's own soul but also for all of humankind.
Erik Haan
Why am I having such a difficult time with it?
I actually found the answer while reading a book about the Medjugorje apparitions. But I'll start with the background on why I'm fasting.
Our Lady has told the Medjugorje visionaries fasting is a means of giving yourself to God and showing Him we are in control of our bodies. It's apparently important to God that we exhibit control over cravings, addictions, and the like because a separation from the things of Earth is important in our spiritual growth.
That makes perfect sense. If we can gain control over our bodies, we get more in touch with the spirit we really are and understand more closely how much we rely on God for what we have.
But I've got to tell you...I am really struggling with it.
I'm typically fine for most of the day. The nature of my job (I'm a technical support representative for an email marketing company) means I'm constantly busy all day and that the day goes by quickly. My workplace offers free Dasani bottled water and I bring bread with me to work, so it's not a big deal.
It's usually the ride home that starts to get me. We're allowed to eat as much bread as we need to, but it's not very satisfying. It becomes tougher when I'm driving home from work and see billboards showing enormous steak and cheese sandwiches or French fries. I typically cave somewhere between my Waltham, Massachusetts office and my Allston home.
But if this is something we're supposed to be doing for God, why is it so incredibly difficult? The answer, claim the visionaries, lies in the foundation we lay for ourselves in our daily lives.
In interviews in The Visions of the Children, by Janice T. Connell, the visionaries state fasting is not only difficult but practically impossible without deep prayer in preparation for it. While some fasting, such as giving up meat on Fridays, is possible without such dedication, the strict fasting Our Lady requests of us is meant to be a serious sacrifice not only for our own spiritual betterment but also for that of unbelievers, the souls in Purgatory, peace in our world, and for the sins of mankind.
These are grave concerns and, thus, require quality time with the Rosary and deep prayer in the days leading up to fasting.
It's something I will continue to work at and, for those who do achieve this sense of spirituality, something that should be rewarding not only in the depths of one's own soul but also for all of humankind.
Erik Haan
Friday, January 18, 2008
A SPECIAL MESSAGE ABOUT THE MEDJUGORJE WEB
PURCHASE A ROSARY BLESSED BY OUR LADY DURING AN APPARITION IN MEDJUGORJE!
If you can offer something, Steve and Ana certainly welcome any amount. If not, they ask that you please pray to Our Lady for financial support in their endeavor.
Steve and Ana Shawl, the site administrators for The Medjugorje Web, have made their annual appeal for prayers and donations for their site.
Steve and Ana do God's work by operating all of this without a revenue source. They rely on prayers and donations to allow them to keep spreading Our Lady's messages around the world.
If you can offer something, Steve and Ana certainly welcome any amount. If not, they ask that you please pray to Our Lady for financial support in their endeavor.
You can make donations through the official Medjugorje Web donation page. Here are some suggested amounts (though all amounts are welcome):
$25 - receive a wooden Rosary blessed by Our Lady during an apparition in Medjugorje
$50 - receive a Rosary crafted from stones on Apparition Hill
$100 - a Mass in Medjugorje will be send for your intention
For more information, please contact Steve and Ana through The Medjugorje Web. Steve can also be reached at sshawl@medjweb.com
Sincerely,
Erik Haan
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Medjugorje - Commentary on Our Lady's December 25, 2007 Message
Peace and Happy New Year to all! Below please find the official English translation of Fr. Danko's commentary on Our Lady's December 25, 2007 as provided by the Information Center in Medjugorje.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE KING OF OUR HEARTS
"Dear children! With great joy I bring you the King of Peace for Him to bless you with His blessing. Adore Him and give time to the Creator for whom your heart yearns. Do not forget that you are passers-by on this earth and that things can give you small joys, while through my Son, eternal life is given to you. That is why I am with you, to lead you towards what your heart yearns for. Thank you for having responded to my call." Message of December 25, 2007
On this day, on Christmas, Our Lady tells us in her message how joyfully she brings us the King of Peace, who will give us his blessing. Christmas is surely one of the most beautiful days of the year, even for the people who perceive it in their own, different way. It is the most beautiful day in the history of mankind, because the King of Peace was born.
The life agenda of Jesus, and our life agenda, is summarized in the angel song which was sung at His birth: "Glory be to God in the highest Heavens, And on earth peace among men who please Him!" (Lk 2, 14). Every time we speak to God in our prayers, God comes to us and fills our heart with peace. We can spread peace around us only if we are filled with the God's peace. Human heart becomes reckless if it is infested with the sin, or if it turns away from God. The sin corrupts the man, who is made on God’s image, and he/she spreads dissatisfaction. For the man, the only way to convert, change and return to the original state of the son is the sacrament of confession, which many took these days, making their peace with God. Every time when Jesus comes to us, into our heart, He makes it beautiful, because this is why He came to earth.
Our Lady invites us to give more time to the Creator for whom our hearts yearn. To give more time to the Creator means to pray more. If we expand our daily prayers only a little bit, our friendship with Jesus grows, He enters our life, blesses our day and everything we do, enlightens our mind and warms our heart.
On this earth, we are only passing by, we are only pilgrims. They who came before will leave earlier. Small things of this world can sometimes prevent us from reaching greater good. In Jesus, the doors of eternal life are opened for us. Through all these years of appearances, Our Lady teaches us in her school of love how to reach the eternal life and how to pray.
Our Lady also reveals us the true meaning of Christmas We can understand it better by watching Her, who was from the beginning present in the mystery of Christ’s salvation, full of virtues like faith, hope, love, humility, silence and joy. Humility is the key which helps us to open our hearts to God, so He can enter and transform it. Only by complete dedication to God can we find a way from the heart filled with the false pride or vanity to the heart filled with true humility and love.
Fra Danko Perutina
Medugorje, December 12th, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
ANNUAL APPARITION TO JAKOV ON DECEMBER 25TH 2007
ANNUAL APPARITION TO JAKOV ON DECEMBER 25TH 2007
At the last daily apparition to Jakov Colo on September 12th, 1998, Our Lady told him that henceforth he would have one apparition a year, every December 25th, on Christmas Day. This is also how it was this year. The apparition began at 2:29 pm and lasted 6 minutes. Our Lady gave the following message:
"Dear children! Today, in a special way I call you to become open to God and for each of your hearts today to become a place of Jesus' birth. Little children, through all this time that God permits me to be with you, I desire to lead you to the joy of your life. Little children, the only true joy of your life is God. Therefore, dear children, do not seek joy in things of this earth but open your hearts and accept God. Little children, everything passes, only God remains in your heart. Thank you for having responded to my call."
At the last daily apparition to Jakov Colo on September 12th, 1998, Our Lady told him that henceforth he would have one apparition a year, every December 25th, on Christmas Day. This is also how it was this year. The apparition began at 2:29 pm and lasted 6 minutes. Our Lady gave the following message:
"Dear children! Today, in a special way I call you to become open to God and for each of your hearts today to become a place of Jesus' birth. Little children, through all this time that God permits me to be with you, I desire to lead you to the joy of your life. Little children, the only true joy of your life is God. Therefore, dear children, do not seek joy in things of this earth but open your hearts and accept God. Little children, everything passes, only God remains in your heart. Thank you for having responded to my call."
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Medjugorje - Commentary on Our Lady's November 25, 2007 Message
Peace to All! Below please find the official English translation of Fr. Danko's commentary on Our Lady's November 25, 2007 message to the world as provided by the Information Center in Medjugorje. Fr. Danko is a local priest serving in the parish of Medjugorje.
God Bless!
Steve and Ana Shawl
The Medjugorje Web
http://www.medjugorje.org
--------------------------------
JESUS – THE KING OF OUR LIVES
"Dear children! Today, when you celebrate Christ, the King of all that is created, I desire for Him to be the King of your lives. Only through giving, little children, can you comprehend the gift of Jesus´ sacrifice on the Cross for each of you. Little children, give time to God that He may transform you and fill you with His grace, so that you may be a grace for others. For you, little children, I am a gift of grace and love, which comes from God for this peaceless world. Thank you for having responded to my call." Message of November 25, 2007
In her last message, Our Lady invites us to decide in favour of Christ the King of all creation so that he can become the king in our lives. Christ is not a king like other kings who dressed in crimson and robes, wore crowns and wanted to rule over other people. Christ the King with his life is completely different to worldly kings. He surpasses and exceeds them by far by establishing a kingdom of peace, love and forgiveness. It is constantly expanding, it is a reality, but also at the same time an ideal to which we aspire. Jesus is the real and true kind who came to the world to serve in his humility. Only he who serves other may truly be king, following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. True humility consists of seeing ourselves as we truly are: to recognise our gifts and thank the God for these, but also to recognise our weaknesses and accept ourselves, knowing that in spite of everything God loves us. This knowledge gives us great joy but at the same time calls us to accept great responsibility in servitude and humility.
Our Lady further teaches us, but at the same time also calls us to receive gifts as only in this way can be understand the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross which we can rightly call a victory of love. He, who taught men to love each other, and what’s more even their enemies, remained true to his words to the end: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15, 13). It is because of this the Jesus even suffered his traitor in his midst and did not reveal him, he did not allow Peter defend him with his sword, and graciously forgave him even when he denied him. Those who in Jesus’ name were led by love in their own life most contributed to the achievement of God’s kingdom on earth.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son (John 3, 16). Our Lady calls us to understand the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross which is the greatest gift among all gifts. In Jesus, God gave us his heart, all the depth of his love. It is the most beautiful and greatest gift. Jesus loved us until the end giving us all of himself completely. Coming into this world he became an unceasing gift to us all. He came to bless us with his love. We can accept this gift properly if we surrender ourselves to him completely so that he may transform us with his grace. So transformed, we can openly say converted, we too can then we can be a grace for others. We can be eyes for the blind, ears for the deaf, tongues for the mute, and hands and legs for those in need.
Jesus is the King of the world and the greatest gift. He sent his and our Mother here to us in Medugorje, Our Lady who is a merciful gift of love for all of us. The voice of Our Lady the Queen of Peace throughout all these 26 years is a call for peace in men’s hearts, a call to peace in the world. Let the one, whom God has chooses in a special way and joined the Kingdom of his Son, help us to accept Jesus as the Ruler of our lives, so that we may faithfully cooperate in the spreading of his Kingdom of love, justice and peace.
Fr. Danko Perutina
Medugorje 26.11.2007
God Bless!
Steve and Ana Shawl
The Medjugorje Web
http://www.medjugorje.org
------------------------------
JESUS – THE KING OF OUR LIVES
"Dear children! Today, when you celebrate Christ, the King of all that is created, I desire for Him to be the King of your lives. Only through giving, little children, can you comprehend the gift of Jesus´ sacrifice on the Cross for each of you. Little children, give time to God that He may transform you and fill you with His grace, so that you may be a grace for others. For you, little children, I am a gift of grace and love, which comes from God for this peaceless world. Thank you for having responded to my call." Message of November 25, 2007
In her last message, Our Lady invites us to decide in favour of Christ the King of all creation so that he can become the king in our lives. Christ is not a king like other kings who dressed in crimson and robes, wore crowns and wanted to rule over other people. Christ the King with his life is completely different to worldly kings. He surpasses and exceeds them by far by establishing a kingdom of peace, love and forgiveness. It is constantly expanding, it is a reality, but also at the same time an ideal to which we aspire. Jesus is the real and true kind who came to the world to serve in his humility. Only he who serves other may truly be king, following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. True humility consists of seeing ourselves as we truly are: to recognise our gifts and thank the God for these, but also to recognise our weaknesses and accept ourselves, knowing that in spite of everything God loves us. This knowledge gives us great joy but at the same time calls us to accept great responsibility in servitude and humility.
Our Lady further teaches us, but at the same time also calls us to receive gifts as only in this way can be understand the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross which we can rightly call a victory of love. He, who taught men to love each other, and what’s more even their enemies, remained true to his words to the end: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15, 13). It is because of this the Jesus even suffered his traitor in his midst and did not reveal him, he did not allow Peter defend him with his sword, and graciously forgave him even when he denied him. Those who in Jesus’ name were led by love in their own life most contributed to the achievement of God’s kingdom on earth.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son (John 3, 16). Our Lady calls us to understand the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross which is the greatest gift among all gifts. In Jesus, God gave us his heart, all the depth of his love. It is the most beautiful and greatest gift. Jesus loved us until the end giving us all of himself completely. Coming into this world he became an unceasing gift to us all. He came to bless us with his love. We can accept this gift properly if we surrender ourselves to him completely so that he may transform us with his grace. So transformed, we can openly say converted, we too can then we can be a grace for others. We can be eyes for the blind, ears for the deaf, tongues for the mute, and hands and legs for those in need.
Jesus is the King of the world and the greatest gift. He sent his and our Mother here to us in Medugorje, Our Lady who is a merciful gift of love for all of us. The voice of Our Lady the Queen of Peace throughout all these 26 years is a call for peace in men’s hearts, a call to peace in the world. Let the one, whom God has chooses in a special way and joined the Kingdom of his Son, help us to accept Jesus as the Ruler of our lives, so that we may faithfully cooperate in the spreading of his Kingdom of love, justice and peace.
Fr. Danko Perutina
Medugorje 26.11.2007
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Ivan Dragicevic in Medway, Massachusetts - 11/03/07
From someone who was present for Ivan Dragicevic's Saturday apparition:
"There was an apparition to Ivan. The message, he shared, is a private conversation. He did say that Our Lady appeared and prayed over all the people who were present. She and Ivan prayed together in praise of God.
In Ivan's talk he stressed the importance of not just hearing the messages of Our Lady but of making a commitment ot live them in our daily lives. If there was two words that he stressed they were, "Peace" and "Pray." We are to be people who live peace in our families and with every person. We are to be people who pray, seeking to turn our entire day into prayer."
In the Peace of Christ,
David Thorp
Assistant Director
Spiritual Life Center of Marian Community
"There was an apparition to Ivan. The message, he shared, is a private conversation. He did say that Our Lady appeared and prayed over all the people who were present. She and Ivan prayed together in praise of God.
In Ivan's talk he stressed the importance of not just hearing the messages of Our Lady but of making a commitment ot live them in our daily lives. If there was two words that he stressed they were, "Peace" and "Pray." We are to be people who live peace in our families and with every person. We are to be people who pray, seeking to turn our entire day into prayer."
In the Peace of Christ,
David Thorp
Assistant Director
Spiritual Life Center of Marian Community
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Medjugorje - Commentary on Our Lady's October 25, 2007 Message
Peace to All!
Below please find the official English translation of Fr. Danko's commentary on Our Lady's October 25, 2007 message as provided by the Information Center in Medjugorje.
God Bless!
Steve and Ana Shawl
The Medjugorje Web
http://www.medjugorje.org
-----------------------------------------------------------
BE THE LOVE AND THE LIGHT
“Dear children! God sent me among you out of love that I may lead you towards the way of salvation. Many of you opened your hearts and accepted my messages, but many have become lost on this way and have never come to know the God of love with the fullness of heart. Therefore, I call you to be love and light where there is darkness and sin. I am with you and bless you all. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
(Message of October 25, 2007)
At the beginning of her message, our Lady repeats the main goal of her mission – our salvation. Not once did she place herself in the first place. The words she uttered two thousand years ago at the wedding feast in Canaan in Galilee : Do whatever my son Jesus tells you (comp. John 2:5), are still relevant for us. To do whatever Jesus want, that is, to do God’s will - there lies the salvation.
As a true mother, our Lady wants for all her children to be saved. Therefore she constantly calls us, but she also warns us, like she did in the message of November 25th 1998, when she said: My children, I invite you all to the road of salvation and I want to show you the way to the heaven. There is only one way which leads to the eternal life, which leads to paradise, and that is Jesus Christ. He said of himself: "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". (John 14:6).
Our Lady says that many people have opened their hearts. To open our heart means to give our whole being to the God who is love, but also to the messages which invite us to such giving. The heart is the most precious, most beautiful possession of a human being. The heart is a symbol of life and love, of all good things which humans have. Our Lady has already asked of us to dedicate ourselves again to her heart and the heart of her Son Jesus. In her message of October 25th 2003 she said: Do not hesitate, my children, but say with all your heart: I want to help Jesus and Mary to introduce more brothers and sisters to the way of holiness. She reminds us that there are those who became lost on this road of dedication, because they never did give their hearts to the God. In the Gospel, Jesus often reminded his listeners that they have closed hearts, hearts of stone. And the people who have such hearts have inverted systems of value, in which the first place does not belong to the God, but to some person, wealth, honor, human considerations or something else. To have pure heart, heart of flesh, religious heart, means to turn completely to the God, who awaits us in secrecy and in silence.
Our Lady encourages us to be the love and the light. To be love means to be a witness of the pure Christ’s love which was given for us. This love is unconditional; it does not ask for anything, it just gives. It always thinks of others before it thinks of self. We learn such love from Jesus if we give ourselves to Him with our whole hearts, because he invites us to love not just our friends, but also our enemies. People were always ready to love their neighbors and hate their enemies (Mt 5:43) because it was easier. Jesus has gone beyond that. His disciple, believer, Christian, cannot be fastidious with his/her love. He/she has to love all people, including the enemies, in the spirit of the Lord. That means to be the love. What does it mean to be the light? To be the light means to shine for the others, so they do not stumble and wander in the dark. We should be the light which Christ has ignited, so people can see the truth and the face of His heavenly Father, instead of wandering and stumbling in misconceptions. In this light, people can recognize all men as their own brothers and sisters. As a true mother, our Lady follows us and blesses us on this road.
Fr. Danko Perutina
Meðugorje 26.10.2007
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