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Fr. Stephen Shin’s Reflections on the Messages
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December 25, 2010
"Dear children! Today, I and my Son desire to give you an abundance of joy and peace so that each of you may be a joyful carrier and witness of peace and joy in the places where you live. Little children, be a blessing and be peace. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Today, I and my Son desire to give you an abundance of joy and peace so that each of you may be a joyful carrier and witness of peace and joy in the places where you live.

In this month’s message, Jesus and the Blessed Mother express their wish for us to become bearers of peace and joy, witnessing to these gifts in the places where we actually live. Where are the specific places we live? First and foremost, it is within our families. The Blessed Mother and Jesus want us to be the primary bearers of peace and joy within our own homes. This requires a few essential elements: love, respect, and forgiveness among family members. Without these, peace and joy cannot truly reside in any family. If we aspire to be apostles of peace and joy as Jesus and the Blessed Mother desire, we must first examine whether we genuinely harbor love, respect, and forgiveness for our family members.
       Secondly, we must be filled with the joy and peace of Jesus and the Blessed Mother. This is not something we can achieve through our own efforts alone; it is a gift given to us by their grace. However, our cooperation is necessary to receive this gift. The third element involves our personal prayer life and the prayer life of our family. When we pray personally, we should remember each family member in our prayers. Additionally, if we can gather our family together to pray the Rosary at least once a week, if not daily, and offer prayers for one another while dedicating our family to Jesus and the Blessed Mother, they will surely bestow abundant peace and joy upon our family.
        Beyond the family, the places where we live extend to schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, parishes, and the entire world. Although we must first become people who bring and witness peace and joy to our families, our apostolic zeal should extend beyond the family circle. Relationships outside the home—such as those with friends, colleagues, parish members, neighbors, and even people we encounter in our daily activities—are all significant. Each of us has received a mission from Jesus and the Blessed Mother to bring and witness peace and joy to everyone we meet. Even before this mission, we must recognize that every person, like us, is created in the image of our Father, God, making them our brothers and sisters. Therefore, what is required of us is not hostility, competition, or hatred toward others, but rather hospitality, cooperation, and love. If we strive to live with this mindset and attitude, we will become people who bring and witness peace and joy in the places where we live.

Little children, be a blessing and be peace. Thank you for having responded to my call.

At the end of each Mass, God the Father, through the priest, blesses us in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We are sent out into the world as blessed people, as apostles of Jesus’ peace. Therefore, we carry the mission of being blessings and peace to others wherever we live. How can we concretely live out this mission? Just as God blesses us and shares His peace with us through the priest’s words, we too can do the same through our words. Every time we see someone—whether family members or anyone we meet—silently say in your heart, "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I bless you. May the Lord’s peace be with you." When you meet someone, pray, "Lord, bless this person. Grant them Your peace."  Then, in our daily lives, we should act in ways that allow us to be a source of blessing and peace to those we encounter. When our words and actions become a source of blessing and peace for others, we are responding to the Blessed Mother’s call. If we become a source of blessing and peace to others, someone else will also be a source of blessing and peace to us, and the Lord and the Blessed Mother will ensure that this fountain of blessings and peace never runs dry.

Jesus, you are the source of peace and joy. I believe that only You can bring true peace and joy into my life. Jesus, I open my heart and ask You to fill it with Your peace and joy. Through me, may my family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and all the people in the world experience Your peace and joy.

Blessed Mother, wherever I am and whoever I meet, guide me so that I may always be a source of blessing and peace as You have asked. As Your child, may I bring You joy by doing only what You desire.
   
 
 
November 25, 2010
"Dear children! I look at you and I see in your heart death without hope, restlessness and hunger. There is no prayer or trust in God, that is why the Most High permits me to bring you hope and joy. Open yourselves. Open your hearts to God's mercy and He will give you everything you need and will fill your hearts with peace, because He is peace and your hope. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! I look at you and I see in your heart death without hope, restlessness and hunger. 

In this month’s message, the Blessed Mother speaks with a tone of deep concern about the state of our hearts. Yet, if we think about it, her words are filled with immense gratitude. Her merciful heart wants to dispel the shadow of death cast over our hearts by sin and unbelief and breathe new life into us. What has caused us to lose hope and carry a heart empty of peace? The answer lies in our attachment to things other than God. Our hearts have been consumed by the pursuit of money, honor, power, pleasure, and an obsession with people, work, or success. As our attention is focused on worldly things, our hearts become restless, we lose true hope, and our spirits become impoverished. Even if we achieve much and appear successful in human eyes, it is all just a shell when viewed through the eyes of heaven, and our souls are on a path leading to death.
      We might deceive ourselves and others, but we cannot deceive God or the Blessed Mother. Unlike us, who see only the surface, the heavenly Mother sees into the deepest parts of our hearts. Therefore, we need to take her words seriously. At the same time, we must remember that the Blessed Mother is not here to condemn us but to heal our hearts, which are gravely ill, so that we may be freed from the grip of spiritual death.
      I once had the opportunity to observe a sobriety meeting of AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), a group for alcoholics, at a parish where I had been ministering long ago, in order to learn more about how their sessions were conducted. The program consisted of 12 steps, and although the first step, which was introducing oneself, seemed very simple, it left a profound impression on me. At the beginning of the meeting, participants didn’t just say their names; they always introduced themselves by saying, "I am an alcoholic, [name]." They understood that the first step toward healing from alcoholism begins with acknowledging that they are alcoholics. Just as the healing for alcoholics starts with acknowledging their alcoholism, our repentance also begins with recognizing our sins, and God’s forgiveness starts with our contrition and confession of sins. Likewise, the healing of our hearts begins when we acknowledge, as the Blessed Mother diagnoses, that our hearts are in such a condition.

There is no prayer or trust in God, that is why the Most High permits me to bring you hope and joy.

We call the ability to cleanse oneself "self-purification." When we or any organization loses this self-purification ability, external intervention becomes necessary. Similarly, humanity, including ourselves, has lost its spiritual self-purification ability. We are on the path of spiritual death because we do not pray or entrust ourselves to God. Therefore, Heaven intervenes to save us from death. God’s great mercy is shown in sending the Blessed Mother to us. The very fact that the Blessed Mother is being sent to us through Medjugorje is a profound sign of God’s mercy. The Blessed Mother herself and her coming to us are clear signs of God’s mercy toward us. Our Father in Heaven permits us to receive hope and joy through the Blessed Mother.

Open your hearts to God's mercy and He will give you everything you need and will fill your hearts with peace, because He is peace and your hope. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Opening ourselves to someone means inviting them to be part of our lives. It also implies that we are prepared to accept whatever may happen, even if it is beyond our control. The Blessed Mother's invitation to open ourselves is a call to invite God into our lives and surrender control to Him. Just as we must open windows or doors to let in fresh air, and draw back curtains to let in sunlight, we must open the doors of our hearts through prayer and surrender to let God’s mercy enter.
       Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, [then] I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me" (Rev 3:20). The Lord is always knocking at the door of our hearts, calling us by name to let Him in. When do we hear His voice? When we pray. Only those who pray can open the door to the Lord. Opening the door to the Lord means entrusting ourselves to Him. When we pray and entrust ourselves to Him, He will enter our hearts and lives, and He will give us everything we need—peace. The one thing we truly need is the Lord Himself, who is peace and hope.

Jesus, you said, "If your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be!" (Mt 6:23). By Your grace, help me to recognize the darkness in my heart that I have mistaken for light. Illuminate my heart so that I do not justify my own evil to satisfy my human desires, nor speak falsehoods while pretending to do good. Like the tax collector who could not even look up to heaven but beat his breast in true humility and repentance, may I also pray, ‘‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner” (cf. Lk 18:13).

Blessed Mother, you are the Star of Hope, leading us to Jesus, the Lord of peace and hope. As I open myself and my heart to God’s mercy, according to your words, intercede for me so that I may truly pray and trust. I entrust all my time and steps in the coming year to your hands, asking for your blessing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
   
 
 
october 25, 2010
"Dear children! May this time be a time of prayer for you. My call, little children, desires to be for you a call to decide to follow the way of conversion; therefore, pray and seek the intercession of all the saints. May they be for you an example, an incentive and a joy towards eternal life. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! May this time be a time of prayer for you. My call, little children, desires to be for you a call to decide to follow the way of conversion. 

In August, the Blessed Mother told us, "May this time be a time of personal prayer for you." Now, two months later, on October 25, she gives us the same message: "May this time be a time of prayer for you." When the Blessed Mother repeats the same message, it emphasizes its importance and also reflects that we may not yet be fully living it. When she says, "May this time be a time of prayer for you," we should consider her thoughts, heart, and gaze toward us. She knows that we have ample reasons to pray. She is fully aware of our situations, the state of our lives, hearts, and souls. Through this message, we should feel the concern and loving gaze of a mother who is deeply worried for her children in danger.
      The reasons why this time should be a period of prayer for us are very clear. Prayer is the key that opens our hearts to God, and without prayer, true conversion is impossible. The Blessed Mother says, "I want to call you to make a decision to follow the path of conversion," making it clear why we must pray during this period: we need to pray in order to convert. And why must we convert? The reason is simple: because we are sinners. 
       To recognize how sinful we are, we first need to stop and look within ourselves. This "stopping and looking within," is prayer. To remove the darkness of death that sin has cast within us, the Blessed Mother brings us Christ, the light of life. To cooperate with the Blessed Mother in this mission, we must pray. Through prayer, we recognize our sinfulness, sincerely repent, and receive the sacrament of reconciliation from a priest, which cleanses our hearts and souls once again. Prayer is the prerequisite for conversion, and confession is the first step in the process.

Therefore, pray and seek the intercession of all the saints. May they be for you an example, an incentive and a joy towards eternal life. Thank you for having responded to my call.

All the saints who once lived in this world and are now in heaven were people who devoted themselves to prayer above all else. They longed to be in constant union with God, and thus prayer became their way of life. They prayed to seek God’s will, to avoid sin, to do good, and to carry out God’s will in their lives. Although they too had human weaknesses and sometimes fell into sin, they walked the path of conversion through deep repentance and prayer, humbly seeking God’s forgiveness. Despite all their trials and sufferings, they became strong and great by doing God’s will and now enjoy eternal happiness in heaven.
      The saints, who are now part of the heavenly Church, form one body with us, the members of the pilgrim Church on earth, in Christ. Even though we cannot see them, they are our spiritual brothers and sisters, concerned for our salvation. In this month’s message, the Blessed Mother asks us to seek the intercession of all the saints. If we ask for their help in our sanctification and salvation, they are always ready to offer prayers of intercession for us. It would be good to pray the Litany of the Saints daily, asking for their intercession. If this is difficult, we can simply call upon our patron saints and other saints we feel close to, asking them to intercede for us. Whether we speak their names aloud or in our hearts, they will intercede for us before God. Through this process, we will inevitably feel a stronger longing for eternal life. Let us thank God for giving us the saints as our spiritual family, along with the earthly family, friends, and collaborators we need in this life, and for their guidance in leading us to the joy of eternal life.

God, I thank You for the grace of teaching me, through Mother Mary, that now more than ever is a time for me to pray and convert. In prayer, as Mother Mary has said, help me to look into my heart and soul and recognize how sinful I am. Send Your Holy Spirit, the light of Your Son, to guide me. God, I confess all my sins to You and entrust myself entirely to Your mercy. Remove the darkness of death that sin has cast within me.

Blessed Mother, as You have asked, I will pray for my conversion and sanctification, seeking the intercession of all the saints. Queen of all saints, I will meditate deeply on the holy lives of the saints, strive to follow their example, and work to become holy during my time on earth. Mother, please continue to guide me so that I may enjoy eternal life in heaven with You and all the saints.
   
 
 
September 25, 2010
"Dear children! Today I am with you and bless you all with my motherly blessing of peace, and I urge you to live your life of faith even more, because you are still weak and are not humble. I urge you, little children, to speak less and to work more on your personal conversion so that your witness may be fruitful. And may your life be unceasing prayer. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Today I am with you and bless you all with my motherly blessing of peace.

On my desk, I have a framed picture of the Blessed Mother embracing the late Pope John Paul II. The image depicts the Pope resting in the arms of the Blessed Mother, who holds him tenderly. Though this is an imaginative representation, it beautifully expresses the deep love the Blessed Mother has for her children, even when they are not visible to her. Just like the seers of Medjugorje, we may not see her with our eyes, but that does not mean she is not with us. The Blessed Mother is our mother, and like any mother, she is always with us, loving us even more than earthly mothers can.
      The Blessed Mother assures us, " Dear children! Today I am with you." We should take this to heart and strive to feel her love and presence through the Rosary, which allows us to call upon her name continuously. If you have an image or statue of the Blessed Mother, hold it close and pray, "You are my mother. Mother, I love you. I believe you are here with me today. Please open my heart to believe more deeply that you love me and are with me today." Such prayer will help you feel her love and presence more powerfully.
Since June 24, 1981, the Blessed Mother has been appearing in Medjugorje, introducing herself as the "Queen of Peace." She is truly the Queen of Peace. In Isaiah 7-9, the prophet speaks of Emmanuel, God born of a virgin, who will be called the "Prince of Peace." Alongside this prophecy of the birth of the King of Peace, the Blessed Mother was already called the Queen of Peace by God the Father.
      In this month's message, the Queen of Peace blesses us with her motherly blessing of peace. This blessing ensures that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the source of peace, will always be with us in our lives and hearts. The Queen of Peace wishes to give us what is most important: God, who is peace itself, and the peace He gives us.

And I urge you to live your life of faith even more, because you are still weak and are not humble. 

When the angel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive the Son of the Most High, Mary asked how this could be since she had no relations with a man. Gabriel responded, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God… for nothing will be impossible for God” (Lk 1:35,37). Mary’s response was one of faith and humility: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word" (Lk 1:38). She entrusted her weakness to the almighty power of God. Those who humbly trust in God's omnipotence will be strengthened by His power. To truly gain strength and humility in God, we must believe in His existence and almighty power.

I urge you, little children, to speak less and to work more on your personal conversion so that your witness may be fruitful. And may your life be unceasing prayer. Thank you for having responded to my call.

We cannot live without speaking. Necessary words must be said. However, how much time do we spend on unnecessary words? For example, gossip, boasting, or adding exaggerations, distortions, or even lies. We make many mistakes because of our words. This is why the Apostle James says, "We all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also… but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison" (Jas 3:2, 8).
      So how can we tame and control our tongues? There is a simple but difficult way: speak less, as the Blessed Mother advises. Another way to put it is to choose silence instead of words. Silence leads us deep within ourselves and facilitates our dialogue with God. In silence, personal conversion becomes easier. Conversion is about turning our hearts and lives toward the direction God desires, and for that, we need the conditions that allow us to delve deeply into our hearts and immerse ourselves in God. Silence provides those conditions. Silent prayer and personal conversion do not happen automatically; they require effort. This is why the Blessed Mother urges us, "I urge you, little children, to speak less and to work more on your personal conversion."
      When someone who speaks less, prays in silence, and strives for personal conversion testifies to God and faith through their words and example, what will be the result? They will have a positive spiritual impact on those around them, and as those influenced by this example change, they will, in turn, influence others positively. As this process and its results continue to repeat, one will find that their life has become a continuous prayer without them even realizing it.
   
 
 
August 25, 2010
"Dear children! With great joy, also today, I desire to call you anew: pray, pray, pray. May this time be a time of personal prayer for you. During the day, find a place where you will pray joyfully in a recollected way. I love you and bless you all. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! With great joy, also today, I desire to call you anew: pray, pray, pray. 

In many of her messages, the Blessed Mother has said, "I am interceding for each one of you before God." This reveals that the Blessed Mother herself is constantly in prayer. Since prayer unites those who pray with God, the Blessed Mother is always one with God through her prayer, and because she is united with the source of all joy—God—she experiences a profound joy beyond human expression.
      As the Woman of Prayer, the Blessed Mother calls us once again in this month's message to pray. Not just once, but three times she calls us to "pray, pray, and pray." Although she repeats this command three times, the emphasis is so strong it cannot be quantified. Why does the Blessed Mother continue to urge us so persistently to pray? It is to help us find God, become one with Him, and experience true joy in Him.

May this time be a time of personal prayer for you. During the day, find a place where you will pray joyfully in a recollected way. I love you and bless you all. Thank you for having responded to my call.

In Psalm 139, David prays: "Lord, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways." As in this prayer, God knows everything about our existence. When we engage in personal prayer, we stand before God, who knows everything about us. How much time and effort do we devote to obtaining the things we desire or to sustaining our physical lives? What is the ultimate purpose of all these efforts? If our goals are not aligned with God and the eternal life He offers, we need to reconsider our priorities.
       This message reminds us of the importance of personal prayer and the need to create a space of peace and joy where we can connect with God daily. The Blessed Mother's call to "pray, pray, and pray" is not just a reminder but a profound invitation to deepen our relationship with God, to find joy in that communion, and to align our lives with His eternal purpose.
   
 
 
July 25, 2010
"Dear children! Anew I call you to follow me with joy. I desire to lead all of you to my Son, your Savior. You are not aware that without Him you do not have joy and peace, nor a future or eternal life. Therefore, little children, make good use of this time of joyful prayer and surrender. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Anew I call you to follow me with joy. I desire to lead all of you to my Son, your Savior. 

In this month's message, the Blessed Mother calls us to follow her with joy. This invitation leads us to reflect on how much we trust the Blessed Mother. After all, when we follow someone, the extent to which we trust them is crucial. The relationship between following and trust can manifest in three ways. First, if we have no trust at all, we would never follow the person inviting us. Second, if our trust is incomplete, we might follow hesitantly and reluctantly, always looking for a chance to turn back if things don’t go as we wish. Finally, if we completely trust someone, we will follow them wholeheartedly, regardless of the direction they take us, because we believe in their goodness. The Blessed Mother desires us to be in the last category. She wants us to follow her joyfully, which reflects our willingness and gratitude. We follow her path not out of obligation or coercion, but with joy, knowing that she leads us for our salvation.
      When we follow the Blessed Mother joyfully, our destination is Jesus. The reason she calls us to follow her with joy is to lead us all to our Savior, Jesus. The ultimate goal of all Marian apparitions, past and present, including those in Medjugorje, is to guide humanity to Jesus, the only Savior. Some people worry that excessive devotion to the Blessed Mother might overshadow Jesus, but this is a misconception. No saint in the history of the Church has reached holiness without honoring the Blessed Mother. Through her, they became true disciples of Jesus. If we desire to be saints and to be led to our Savior, Jesus, our only choice is to respond to the Blessed Mother’s call to follow her with joy.

You are not aware that without Him you do not have joy and peace, nor a future or eternal life. Therefore, little children, make good use of this time of joyful prayer and surrender. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Two weeks ago, after Sunday Mass at the parish in the U.S. where I serve, I was greeting parishioners when I met a little boy who had come with his mother and younger sister. I asked for his name, and he responded, “Father, you’ve asked me this last week and several times before, but you still don’t remember my name?” He gently teased me. I laughed and said, “Father’s memory isn’t the best, so please remind me again.” The boy replied, “My name is Luke.” Throughout the week, I made a conscious effort to remember his name and face. When I saw him again after this week's Sunday Mass, I smiled and said, “Your name is Luke, right?” The boy smiled back and responded, “Father Stephen!” Although this is a common occurrence, this experience reminded me that truly understanding something requires taking the time to engrave it in one’s heart.
      We know well that without Jesus, we cannot have joy, peace, a future, or eternal life. However, we often forget this fundamental truth in our daily lives. We might feel Jesus’ presence deeply during Sunday Mass and Communion, but as soon as we return to our routines, we tend to forget His presence and existence. How can we remain constantly aware that only Jesus brings us joy, peace, a future, and eternal life? We need time to engrave this truth in our hearts. This is why the Blessed Mother once again urges us to "make good use of this time by praying joyfully and entrusting yourselves to Him."

God, I sincerely thank You for the grace of sending Your only Son, Jesus, as our Savior. Please help us to firmly believe that only Jesus can give us true joy, peace, a future, and eternal life.

Blessed Mother, despite your continuous teachings, we often forget Jesus and seek joy and peace in other things or people. Please guide us once again to draw closer to Jesus by following your words. We resolve to make good use of the time given to us for prayer and trust, and we ask that you continue to intercede for us before God.
   
 
 
June 25, 2010
"Dear children! With joy, I call you all to live my messages with joy; only in this way, little children, will you be able to be closer to my Son. I desire to lead you all only to Him, and in Him you will find true peace and the joy of your heart. I bless you all and love you with immeasurable love. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! With joy, I call you all to live my messages with joy.

On this 29th anniversary of the Medjugorje apparitions, the Blessed Mother has used the word "joy" three times in her message, twice in the opening sentence. First, she says that she "with joy" calls all of us, which conveys an image of a holy Mother with a warm smile, loving eyes, and a gentle voice, inviting her children. This image contrasts with that of a mother who, angered by our sins or shortcomings, would scold us harshly. Instead, the Blessed Mother knows everything about us yet still embraces us with compassion, inviting us to live a more spiritually enriched life. As the Mother of all humanity, she calls "you all" without exception.
      Secondly, the Blessed Mother uses the word "joy" when she urges us to "live my messages with joy." The messages she gives us, which are from God through her, are meant to sanctify us and lead us to salvation. Her messages are not meant to burden or constrain us but to free us from sin and evil and bring us closer to Jesus. Therefore, there is no reason for us to live according to these heavenly messages with reluctance or a sense of obligation, frowning as we do so.

Only in this way, little children, will you be able to be closer to my Son.

While driving on the road, we often see signs for "detours" when a road is blocked, offering alternative routes. But is there a detour for getting closer to Jesus? Unfortunately—or rather, fortunately—there is no other path but to live according to the Blessed Mother's messages. Although we should live joyfully according to her messages, from a human perspective, this is not easy. Many people find it more enjoyable to spend time in front of the television than in prayer or are more inclined to pick up a newspaper, magazine, book, or browse the internet than to read the Bible. Therefore, living according to the Blessed Mother's messages is like entering through a narrow gate. However, there is no other way for us to draw closer to Jesus.

I desire to lead you all only to Him, and in Him you will find true peace and the joy of your heart. 

For 29 years, since June 24, 1981, the Blessed Mother has been appearing daily in Medjugorje, continuously delivering messages to the world. She does this for one singular purpose: to lead us to Jesus. She is a mother with tremendous determination. As she has expressed, the Blessed Mother is tireless and never feels weary in her desire to bring us to Jesus. It would be wonderful if her intense desire to lead us to Jesus resonated deeply in our hearts and if we, in turn, sought only to go to Him. In doing so, we would find true peace in Jesus and our hearts would be filled with boundless joy.

I bless you all and love you with immeasurable love. Thank you for having responded to my call.

The God we believe in "makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust" (Mt 5:45). No one is excluded from His love. "For God is love." (1 Jn 4:8). The Blessed Mother, as the daughter of the Father, the mother of the Son, and the spouse of the Holy Spirit, is always united with this God of love. Therefore, the love she shows us is also infinite and immeasurable. No matter what our circumstances, the Blessed Mother blesses all of us and loves us with endless love. Let us, with the help of her love, live joyfully according to her messages and respond to her call.

God, I sincerely thank You for the grace of sending the Queen of Peace, the Blessed Mother, to teach us that there must be peace between You and humanity and among all people. Just as the Blessed Mother responded to Your word when she heard it from the angel Gabriel, saying, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; May it be to me according to Your word” (Lk 1: 38), help us to respond willingly to Your messages and words that we hear through her.

Blessed Mother, just as you were filled with joy in contemplating our Savior, God, I too wish to be filled with joy as I contemplate my only Savior, God. Blessed Mother, I resolve to meditate deeply on your messages and to practice them with joy. Please continue to lead me to Jesus.
   
 
 
May 25, 2010
"Dear children! God gave you the grace to live and to defend all the good that is in you and around you, and to inspire others to be better and holier; but Satan, too, does not sleep and through modernism diverts you and leads you to his way. Therefore, little children, in the love for my Immaculate Heart, love God above everything and live His commandments. In this way, your life will have meaning and peace will rule on earth. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! God gave you the grace to live and to defend all the good that is in you and around you, and to inspire others to be better and holier.

According to the dictionary, grace is defined as "the favor and love received from a higher being," which aligns with the biblical understanding of grace. It is the pure favor, mercy, grace, love, and even the very essence of God Himself, given to us by the highest of all—God. Divine grace is not a reward for human effort or good deeds; it is a free gift from God, who is mercy and love itself.
      But why does God grant grace to humanity? The Blessed Mother provides the answer: " Dear children! God gave you the grace to live and to defend all the good that is in you and around you, and to inspire others to be better and holier.” The first reason God grants us His grace is so that we can live and preserve all the good within us and around us. What are the good things within us? We can name many, but first and foremost are faith, hope, and love for God. Next are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (cf. Gal 5:22-23). Lastly, we have prayer, holiness, and the desire for eternal life. All these good things must be alive within our hearts, must be realized in our lives, and must not be destroyed by anything.
      God has also provided good things around us to help us live and preserve all these good things. Above all, He has established the Catholic Church through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Within the Church, He has given us the scriptures, which contain His word, the seven sacraments, various sacramentals, and devotions that help us continue to live and preserve all the good things given to us.
      The second reason God grants us grace is to encourage others to become more good and holy through us. Divine grace never allows us to become selfish. Just as grace flows from the highest place to us, the lowly, it must also flow through us to others. We must inspire others to live more good and holy lives by showing them how we live virtuously and holily with the power of that grace. St. Francis of Assisi once told the friars, "If you have no peace within you, do not preach peace. Preach not with words but with actions."

But Satan, too, does not sleep and through modernism diverts you and leads you to his way.

The Blessed Mother, who is the Woman clothed with the sun, engaged in a fierce spiritual battle with the "red dragon" of the Apocalypse for our salvation, speaks of the grace given to us by God and, at the same time, reminds us to stay vigilant against Satan. As St. Peter warns, "Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings" (1 Pt 5:8-9). As the Blessed Mother says, Satan does not sleep; he roams the world with his demons, seeking to destroy the Church and the souls of people. While Satan uses various tools to achieve this, in this month's message, the Blessed Mother specifically mentions modernism as a means by which Satan leads us astray and towards his path.
      Modernism, as mentioned by the Blessed Mother, began in the 14th century with humanism, was officially launched in the 18th century with the French Revolution, and continues to exert its influence today. Modernism aims to radically transform human thought regarding God, humanity, the world, and life on earth and beyond. Although it may seem plausible at first glance, modernism elevates human subjective consciousness above all else, rejecting anything that cannot be understood by this consciousness. As a result, it denies doctrines to be believed, revealed truths, supernatural and mystical faith, miracles, and prophecy as signs of God's word. Moreover, modernism relies solely on one's own mind and conscience, rejecting the need for a teacher, and thus, does not recognize the Magisterium of the Church and its authority. Pope Pius X condemned modernism in his 1907 encyclical Pascendi, declaring that "modernism is the synthesis of all heresies," and subsequent popes have emphasized its dangers. Although it may go by different names, modernism is synonymous with progressivism, liberalism, and secularization, which are centered on humanity and human consciousness.
      "The snake said to the woman: “You certainly will not die! God knows well that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, who know* good and evil” (Gn 3:4-5). Just as Satan tempted Eve to sin and led her astray, causing her to disobey God, Satan continues his assault today. He leads humanity to reject God, His word and revelation, the Church, the sacraments, and the infallibility of the Pope and the Magisterium, encouraging people to judge and act according to their own consciousness, leading them down the path of sin and destruction. Satan is the adversary of human salvation, deceiving people into believing that their own minds and consciousness are absolute, preventing them from following God, His commandments, and the teachings of the Church.

Therefore, little children, in the love for my Immaculate Heart, love God above everything and live His commandments. In this way, your life will have meaning and peace will rule on earth. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Unlike Adam and Eve, who listened to Satan's distorted voice, accepted it as truth, and followed his path, causing original sin to enter humanity, the Blessed Mother entrusted everything to God by saying, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). Her mind and heart were filled only with love and obedience to God, and they were utterly spotless. To love God above all things and live according to His commandments, we must follow the example of the Blessed Mother and entrust our hearts, minds, and entire being to her Immaculate Heart. The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Mother is one of the greatest graces God has given us. Let us love the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Mother and daily, even every moment, consecrate ourselves and our lives to that Heart. Then the Blessed Mother will help us love God above all things and live according to His commandments.

God, I sincerely thank You for all the good within me and around me. You are truly good, and all good things come only from You. By living according to Your word, Your commandments, and the teachings of the Church, I want to preserve all the good You have given me and, through my exemplary life, inspire others around me to live more good and holy lives. God, guide every step I take so that I may love You above all things and discover the true meaning of life by living according to Your commandments.

Blessed Mother, I sincerely love your Immaculate Heart, and I consecrate my entire life and being to that Heart. Please help me to love God above all things and live according to His commandments. Amen.
   
 
 
April 25, 2010
"Dear children! At this time, when in a special way you are praying and seeking my intercession, I call you, little children, to pray so that through your prayers I can help you to have all the more hearts be opened to my messages. Pray for my intentions. I am with you and I intercede before my Son for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! At this time, when in a special way you are praying and seeking my intercession, I call you, little children, to pray so that through your prayers I can help you to have all the more hearts be opened to my messages. 

Even with the same ingredients, some people can create a unique and special taste that others cannot. This is because they have a special recipe. The same applies to prayer. Those who pray well have their own special methods. The Blessed Mother has taught us a special way to pray: to pray daily, from the heart, and together with others. Praying only when something special happens or when we feel like it is not enough; those who pray daily have a special way of praying. The Blessed Mother has said, "Fill your day with short and fervent prayers." A person who prays at the beginning and end of the day and also throughout the day, making their entire day filled with the atmosphere of prayer and striving to live a holy life in God, is someone who prays in a special way.
      Secondly, those who pray from the heart pray in a special way. Saints are those who did ordinary things in extraordinary ways. They prayed with their lips but always with their hearts as well. Prayers offered out of obligation or habit can never be special. Prayers offered with a heart full of love for God, a desire to follow His will, and a complete trust in Him will always be special. Lastly, our prayers become special when we pray together as a community. Jesus said, "Again, [amen,] I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18:19-20). While personal prayer is important, community prayer, offered with one heart, is more effective in moving the heart of God.
      At the wedding at Cana in Galilee, when the Blessed Mother told Jesus that the wine had run out, He replied that His time had not yet come. However, she instructed the servants to do whatever He told them, and Jesus performed the miracle of turning water into wine. This clearly shows that Jesus never refuses His Mother's requests. Although the Blessed Mother knows what is lacking or missing in each of our lives, we must specifically ask her to intercede with Jesus on our behalf.
       We should always ask for the intercession of the Blessed Mother, our Mediatrix of grace, but at the same time, we should also intercede and pray for others. Especially, we should pray for those who have not yet opened their hearts to the messages of the Blessed Mother, so that they may accept and live by these messages, leading them on the path of salvation and sanctification. What could be more valuable than leading more souls to the path of salvation through our prayers? This holy work is impossible without the intercession of the Blessed Mother. That is why she says, “I call you, little children, to pray so that through your prayers I can help you to have all the more hearts be opened to my messages."

Pray for my intentions. I am with you and I intercede before my Son for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call.

The Blessed Mother does not specify what her intentions are, but she asks us to pray for them. So, what are the intentions of the Blessed Mother? Perhaps they include the conversion and salvation of all humanity, the renewal of the Church, the sanctification of priests and religious, and the sanctification of families. Ultimately, the Blessed Mother desires that God's peace and salvation fill the earth. She longs for all humanity to believe in the living God and return to Him. Praying for her intentions is, in essence, praying for ourselves. Therefore, we need to prioritize her intentions over our own and reorder the priorities of our prayers. When we pray primarily for her intentions, she is already interceding before Jesus for each of our intentions.

Jesus, I sincerely thank You for the grace of making Your Mother Mary also our Mother. Jesus, since You never refuse Your Mother's requests, please grant all the petitions we offer through her.

Blessed Mother, we are grateful that You are always interceding for us before the Lord Jesus. In return for Your intercession, we pray that through our prayers, more people may open their hearts to Your messages. Blessed Mother, we pray with all our hearts that all Your intentions may be fulfilled on this earth.
   
 
 
March 25, 2010
"Dear children! Also today I desire to call you all to be strong in prayer and in the moments when trials attack you. Live your Christian vocation in joy and humility and witness to everyone. I am with you and I carry you all before my Son Jesus, and He will be your strength and support. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Also today I desire to call you all to be strong in prayer and in the moments when trials attack you. 

Whatever you do, if you do it half-heartedly, you will never achieve good results. If you truly want to achieve good results, you must give it your all. This principle applies equally to spiritual matters. As Jesus said, quoting Deuteronomy 6, when we love God, we must love Him with all our strength. The same applies to prayer. Prayers offered with all our strength increase our faith and make miracles possible.
      When Jesus went to the region of Tyre and Sidon, a Canaanite woman came to Him and cried out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." But Jesus did not answer a word. His disciples urged Him to send her away. However, the woman did not give up and knelt before Jesus, pleading for help. Jesus replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." But the woman said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." Moved by her faith, Jesus said, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed at that moment (cf. Mt 15:21-28).
      Despite being ignored and insulted, the Canaanite woman continued her dialogue with Jesus. She humbled herself entirely, asking for His mercy and clinging to Him until the end. In this woman's perseverance in prayer, we see what it means to "pray with all your strength." The Canaanite woman, suffering through the trial of her daughter being possessed, continued her conversation with Jesus, her prayer, with all her strength, and her prayer was answered. Jesus praised her for her great faith. We can easily imagine how much more her faith grew after this experience.
      The Blessed Mother tells us to "pray with all your strength." When we pray with all our strength, not just half-heartedly, we are truly praying with power. A person who prays with all their strength believes in Jesus' mercy and entrusts everything to Him. Prayer is a matter of life and death. If we desire true life in this world and eternal life in the next, we must pray with all our strength. As we saw in the story of the Canaanite woman, prayers offered with all our strength move the heart of Jesus and enable us to overcome all the trials we face.
      Though she did not enumerate them, the Blessed Mother knows well the trials we are facing. She does not merely know of them; she shares them with us, making them her own. Her love is one that participates in our sufferings and trials. While trials can strengthen us, they often cause our hearts to shrink. That is why the Blessed Mother encourages us to be strong. She walked the way of the cross with Jesus during His greatest trial and stood at the foot of the cross on Calvary, sharing in His suffering and death. Though scripture does not record her words at that moment, we can imagine her saying, "My Son, be strong. Persevere to the end to save the world and fulfill the will of the Father." Whatever trials we face, the Blessed Mother knows them, shares in them, and encourages us to be strong.

Live your Christian vocation in joy and humility and witness to everyone.

We are called to follow Christ, and it is Christ, our Savior, who calls us to be Christians. Jesus clearly stated that He chose us: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you” (Jn 15:16). Jesus Christ, who called us to be His disciples, His people, desires to continue His work through us. And He works with us. This is clearly expressed in scripture: "But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs" (Mk 16:20).
      Some are called to be priests, others to be religious, and still others to be laypeople. The call we receive may differ, but all vocations share the common task of witnessing to Christ through words, actions, and lives in our given positions and circumstances. In other words, we are to reveal to the world that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. What a precious task this is! The fact that Jesus, who is God, has chosen us, works with us, and allows us to share in the fruits of salvation is the greatest joy. There is no greater joy in the world. We should rejoice in being called Christians, and as instruments of Jesus Christ, we should always be humble, allowing Him to be seen in everything we do. In this sense, the words of John the Baptist resonate deeply: "He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30).

I am with you and I carry you all before my Son Jesus, and He will be your strength and support. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Every mother is always with her children, no matter what their circumstances are. A mother shares in all her children's joys and sorrows, pains, and trials, making them her own. In the same way, our spiritual Mother, the Blessed Mother, is always with us. Especially when we face trials, she is with us and leads us to Jesus. This brings us back to why the Blessed Mother has been appearing in Medjugorje for such a long time. It is to guide all humanity on the path of conversion and sanctification, bringing everyone to Jesus. As Jesus said, "Apart from me, you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5). Human beings can do nothing without Jesus because our help is only in His name (cf. Ps 124:8).
      When Jesus entered Capernaum, the news spread that He was home, and so many people gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door. Some men brought to Him a paralyzed man, but they could not get through because of the crowd. They went up on the roof, made an opening, and lowered the mat the man was lying on down to Jesus. Impressed by their faith, Jesus healed the man, who got up, took his mat, and walked out in full view of them all (cf. Mk 2:1-12).
      Jesus answered the prayers of those who brought the paralyzed man to Him with devotion and faith. So, what will happen when His Mother, the Blessed Mother, brings all of us to Jesus and asks Him to make us whole? Jesus will never refuse the Blessed Mother's request. The Blessed Mother says, "I am with you, and I am bringing all of you to my Son, Jesus. He will be your strength and will support you." Whatever situation we are in, let us entrust ourselves to the Blessed Mother. She will bring us to Jesus, and He will give us strength and support.

Jesus, thank You for calling me to be Yours through baptism and for giving me the grace to live as a Christian. You desire that I, as one who follows You, bear witness to You in word and deed to everyone. Jesus, I know that without You, I can do nothing. Please help me to place all my hope in Your name alone. Jesus, whatever situation I may be in, help me to faithfully fulfill the vocation You have given me as a Christian.

Blessed Mother, you see with your own eyes the trials I am enduring, and you feel with your heart the pain of these trials. Blessed Mother, help me to overcome these trials not with human strength but with the strength of Jesus. As you said, I will pray with even more strength. I offer all my trials, sufferings, sorrows, and pains to you, so please bring me to Jesus.
   
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