KOR
 > Messages > Fr. Stephen Shin’s Reflections on the Messages
Fr. Stephen Shin’s Reflections on the Messages
  2025   2024   2023   2022   2021   2020   2019   2018   2017   2016   2015   2014   2013   2012   2011  
 
 2010   2009   2008   2007                         
December 25, 2014
"Dear children! Also today, in my arms I am carrying my Son Jesus to you and I am asking from Him peace for you and peace among you. Pray to and adore my Son for His peace and joy to enter into your hearts. I am praying for you to be all the more open to prayer. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Also today, in my arms I am carrying my Son Jesus to you and I am asking from Him peace for you and peace among you. 

On Christmas morning, I had breakfast at a restaurant. A server greeted me in English, saying, “Happy Holidays!” and I responded with “Merry Christmas!” When I finished my meal and left the restaurant, the same server once again said, “Happy Holidays!” Perhaps they were combining Christmas and New Year’s into one greeting, but it left me feeling a bit sad, as it seemed to reflect today’s Christmas culture without Jesus.
      Here in the U.S., starting as early as mid-November, one radio station plays Christmas carols all day long, and TV advertisements bombard us with “Happy Holidays,” targeting Christmas and the New Year. Many people get caught up in shopping and gift-giving, wondering how to best enjoy the holidays. It is unfortunate that, though Christmas exists because of Jesus and is meant to be a holy time remembering His coming and its significance, the world’s Christmas often excludes Jesus altogether.
      On the first Christmas when Jesus, who is God, came into the world as a human, there was no room for Him in the inns of Bethlehem. Mary, who carried Him in her womb, and Saint Joseph searched for a place but were met with closed doors. Watching this, a shepherd, feeling sorry for them, helped guide them to a cave meant for animals, where Mary gave birth to Jesus, and He was laid in a manger.
      Just as then, even now, Jesus is rejected amidst human indifference and unkindness. Christmas exists because of Jesus, but the people of the world do not seek Him during this time. They do not even mention His name, treating Christmas merely as a holiday for human enjoyment.
      In this month’s message, Our Lady says that she is bringing Jesus to us in her arms. This Christmas, the one we must look upon with all our strength, heart, and mind is the Baby Jesus whom Mary is bringing to us. Without Him, Christmas has no meaning. While Our Lady offers her Son, the Savior Jesus, to all humanity, there are few who open their arms and hearts to receive Him. We must open wide our hearts and arms and receive the Baby Jesus from Our Lady.
      Christmas is not a time meant for exchanging gifts, having parties, or spending time with family. Of course, those things can be part of the celebration, but ultimately, Christmas is a time to open our hearts and lives completely to Jesus so that He may be born within us, and to accept the peace and joy He offers. As one bumper sticker reads, “Let’s keep Christ in Christmas.”

Pray to and adore my Son for His peace and joy to enter into your hearts. I am praying for you to be all the more open to prayer. Thank you for having responded to my call.

We pray because we love God and want to receive His love. Prayer is an act of love. Love is something that comes from the heart, so prayer, too, must come from the heart. Just as we must open our hearts to love and be loved, we must open our hearts to God in prayer. And to ensure that our hearts continuously expand without limits, we must pray unceasingly. It is through the expanded heart created by prayer that God enters, and the peace and joy of Jesus flow into us.
       When we pray, the first thing we must be mindful of is God’s presence. Prayer involves God as the object, and though we cannot see Him, He is alive and a personal being. Thus, when we pray, we must consciously recognize that He, who loves us and desires to receive our love, is fully and completely present before, beside, behind, and around us. With this awareness of His presence, we should begin our prayer by offering Him infinite adoration and praise.
       Our Lady tells us to pray to Jesus so that His peace and joy may enter our hearts and to adore Him. The best place to do this is in front of the tabernacle where Jesus’ Body is present. Go before the tabernacle. Kneel there and adore Jesus, the King of the universe, the King of all people, and God, who is enclosed in the small tabernacle. Especially during this season, it would also be wonderful to go before the nativity scene, where Baby Jesus lies with Mary and Saint Joseph by His side. If you don’t have time or the opportunity for this, you can also go before the crucifix and pray as you look directly upon Jesus hanging on the cross, adoring Him.
       It is worth remembering that Our Lady often calls us “little children” in her messages. Although we might think of ourselves as mature, in Our Lady’s eyes, we are still small and childlike. However, since we are her children, she always wants to guide us on the right path and protect us with her love. This also applies to prayer. While we may strive to pray, our own efforts are not enough. We need Our Lady’s help. When prayer becomes difficult, or when we feel reluctant to pray, let us recall her words from today’s message: “I am praying for you so that you may become even more open to prayer.”
   
 
 
November 25, 2014
"Dear children! In a special way, today I am calling you to prayer. Pray, little children, so that you may comprehend who you are and where you need to go. Be carriers of the good news and be people of hope. Be love for all those who are without love. Little children, you will be everything and will achieve everything only if you pray and are open to God's will - to God who desires to lead you towards eternal life. I am with you and intercede for you from day to day before my Son Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! In a special way, today I am calling you to prayer. Pray, little children, so that you may comprehend who you are and where you need to go.

We continue to breathe to live. For us to keep breathing, new air must constantly enter our bodies. However, since we repeat this action unconsciously, we are unaware of the new air entering our bodies. Every breath we take brings new air, completely different from the previous one.
      Just as breathing is necessary to maintain physical life, we must also breathe to maintain the life of our soul. We must breathe the breath of the soul, which is achieved through prayer. This is why the definition that "prayer is the breath of the soul" was formed. Indeed, a soul that does not pray is like a soul that has ceased to breathe—it is dead. Therefore, we must not stop praying.
      Every day, every moment, we must pray, as prayer is the breath of the soul. Just as new air enters with each physical breath, the breath of the soul, which is prayer, is new each time it is offered. The prayers offered yesterday, today, and tomorrow are completely different. Even though the same words are used, they cannot be the same. Each "Hail Mary" prayed in the Rosary is a completely new prayer.
      In this month's message, Our Lady tells us that she is calling us to pray in a special way. In saying this, we can easily sense how important Our Lady considers prayer. We can feel her great care, guiding us to realize how vital prayer is to our life and soul. We must reflect on whether we truly think of prayer as something special. We must deeply ask ourselves whether we seriously feel that if we stop praying, our souls will die. Every day, every moment, we must prioritize prayer above everything else, regarding it as special and offering it with a special heart and attitude.
      Who are the direct beneficiaries of the prayers we offer? It is ourselves. When we pray, good things happen to us. Our Lady tells us that through prayer, we can realize who we are and where we must go. Prayer helps us discover our identity. It reveals to us that we are creatures made in the image of God, His children, and His people. Moreover, prayer helps us realize that we are sinners before God, always in need of His forgiveness and mercy. Through prayer, we also come to understand that although we are weak, when we are with God, we can become strong through His strength, receiving the power not to fall into Satan's temptations. In other words, prayer helps us realize that although we are finite beings, there is nothing to fear when we are with God and that we are beloved children of His. This is why prayer always clearly shows us where we must go, leading us to God, His will, and the salvation and eternal life He offers.

Be carriers of the good news and be people of hope. Be love for all those who are without love.

We cannot give to others what we do not have. Therefore, to become people who spread the Gospel, we must first read, live, and experience the Gospel and keep it within us. Otherwise, we cannot genuinely become people who spread the Gospel. If we are not first evangelized, how can we evangelize others?
       Apostles who spread the Gospel are rooted in God, and thus, they never lose hope, no matter the situation. Even in desperate circumstances, like facing the cross, they never stop hoping because they believe in the resurrected Jesus.
      The core of the Gospel is love. God loved this world so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, and Jesus showed us that God the Father is love itself, even to the point of sacrificing His life. Therefore, people who spread the Gospel must first realize this love and become people who practice it. A person who does not love does not know the Gospel, and someone who claims to spread the Gospel but does not love is a liar.

Little children, you will be everything and will achieve everything only if you pray and are open to God's will - to God who desires to lead you towards eternal life. I am with you and intercede for you from day to day before my Son Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call.

One of the consistent themes from the beginning to the end of the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, is that if humans follow God's word, they receive life, blessings, and rewards, but if not, they face death, curses, and punishment. Many stories in the Bible show the miserable fate of those who walked the opposite path when they did not follow God's word. Particularly, the books of Kings and Chronicles detail what happened when many kings obeyed or disobeyed God's commands.
      In 2 Chronicles, starting from chapter 17, we see the story of Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, who prayed to God and opened himself to His will. He sought the Lord, walked in His commandments, and did not seek the Canaanite god Baal. He removed the high places and the Asherah poles. He also sent officials and priests to teach the people in all the cities of Judah with the Book of the Law of the Lord. Since Jehoshaphat was devoted to following only God and His will, the Lord was with him. The Lord established his kingdom firmly in his hand and made his wealth and glory great.
      One day, the Moabites and Ammonites, along with the Meunites, formed a great army and came to fight against Jehoshaphat. Since it seemed impossible to win against such a large force, Jehoshaphat was afraid. He immediately sought the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all of Judah. Then, he gathered with the people and prayed to God, saying, “Lord, God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Look at the Ammonites, Moabites, and those from Mount Seir, how they are coming to attack us. We have no power to face this vast army. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
      As soon as the prayer ended, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, who said, “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow, march down against them. You will not have to fight this battle. Take your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. The Lord will be with you.’”
      The next morning, King Jehoshaphat told the people, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God, and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets, and you will be successful.” After this, he appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness, as they went out at the head of the army, saying, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.” At that moment, the Lord set ambushes against the enemy, and they were destroyed. King Jehoshaphat simply watched the scene without fighting at all.
      With God, nothing is impossible. For those who trust Him with all their hearts, pray, and believe, nothing is impossible. For those who only desire that His will be done, the hand and response of Almighty God will be with them, making everything possible. Those who pray and open themselves to God and His will can become everything and achieve everything. God will accomplish everything.
   
 
 
October 25, 2014
"Dear children! Pray in this time of grace and seek the intercession of all the saints who are already in the light. From day to day may they be an example and encouragement to you on the way of your conversion. Little children, be aware that your life is short and passing. Therefore, yearn for eternity and keep preparing your hearts in prayer. I am with you and intercede before my Son for each of you, especially for those who have consecrated themselves to me and to my Son. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Pray in this time of grace and seek the intercession of all the saints who are already in the light. From day to day may they be an example and encouragement to you on the way of your conversion. 

November 1 is the Feast of All Saints. As this feast approaches, the Blessed Mother reminds us to "seek the intercession of all the saints who are already in the light." These saints, who have walked in the light of Christ during their earthly lives, now dwell in eternal light. While on earth, their faith, holiness, prayer, and sacrificial lives set an example for many, inspiring others to lead lives of conversion. Now, in heaven, they continue to help us by interceding for us, praying to Jesus on our behalf.
      However, this intercession does not happen automatically; we must ask for it. A great example of seeking intercession is during the prayers for the deceased (requiem prayers), where we invoke the litany of saints, asking each saint to pray for the deceased. This is a beautiful tradition unique to the Catholic Church. However, this tradition of invoking the saints' intercession should also be extended to the living. Just as God is the God of both the living and the dead, so too can the saints intercede for the living as well as the dead.
      You can pray the 'Litany of the Saints' daily, as it is found in Catholic prayer books. Alternatively, you can create your own litany by selecting saints you feel a special devotion to and asking for their intercession.
      By seeking the intercession of all the saints, we gain powerful spiritual allies. Although we cannot see them, the saints hear us when we call their names and pray for us before God. How reassuring this is! But we should not stop at just asking for their intercession. Since they led such holy lives on earth, we should also strive to learn about their lives and follow their example. Reading biographies of the saints or learning about the saint of the day can help us integrate their examples into our own lives.

Little children, be aware that your life is short and passing. Therefore, yearn for eternity and keep preparing your hearts in prayer. 

November is the month of the deceased, and December marks the end of the year 2014. This is a time to remember those who have gone before us, pray for them, and reflect on how we have lived this past year. Just as the beginning of the year has its end, so too does our earthly life. None of us are exempt from death, and between the birth of life and the finality of death, our time here is much shorter than we often realize. Each day brings us closer to the end, yet many people live as though this life will last forever, becoming too attached to the things of this world.
      The Blessed Mother reminds us once again that life on earth is short and passing, urging us instead to long for eternity. Our true home is not here, but in heaven, which we can only reach after passing through death. Therefore, as she advises, we must always long for eternity and prepare our hearts through constant prayer, never becoming too attached to this transient world.

I am with you and intercede before my Son for each of you, especially for those who have consecrated themselves to me and to my Son. Thank you for having responded to my call.

At the beginning of this message, the Blessed Mother referred to "this time of grace." Who could deny that this time, when the Blessed Mother continues to appear in Medjugorje, is a time of grace? She is with us, teaching, guiding, and interceding for us, all to lead us to salvation and eternal life.
      We are on the path of conversion, and the Blessed Mother, full of grace, assists and guides us. To fully receive the grace God gives us through her, we must consecrate ourselves to both her and Jesus. Consecration means handing over the control of our lives to them. When we entrust everything to them—our lives, sins, mistakes, and problems—they guide us toward lives filled with grace and peace here on earth and lead us to eternal life in heaven with the saints.
   
 
 
September 25, 2014
"Dear children! Also today I call you to also be like the stars, which by their light give light and beauty to others so they may rejoice. Little children, also you be the radiance, beauty, joy and peace - and especially prayer - for all those who are far from my love and the love of my Son Jesus. Little children, witness your faith and prayer in joy, in the joy of faith that is in your hearts; and pray for peace, which is a precious gift from God. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Also today I call you to also be like the stars, which by their light give light and beauty to others so they may rejoice. Little children, also you be the radiance, beauty, joy and peace - and especially prayer - for all those who are far from my love and the love of my Son Jesus. 

In June, I led a retreat for 51 Korean sisters working in the United States and Canada. It was a ten-day silent retreat, and seeing the sisters pray so fervently during those ten days made me deeply feel the living presence of prayer within the Church. I was particularly moved by the sight of sisters praying with the rosary in their hands while walking or spending long hours in Eucharistic Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Their commitment to loving God with all their hearts and striving for union with Him through prayer reached its peak towards the end of the retreat. Their faces shone with peace and joy, exuding a beauty that was not artificial but radiated from their spiritual depth. The light and beauty emanating from within made even me, the observer, feel joy. I prayed that they would continue to retain that beautiful glow even after returning to their missions.
      I have the same experience every time I go on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje with fellow pilgrims. In Medjugorje, the pilgrims immerse themselves in prayer by participating in Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, praying the rosary, walking the Way of the Cross, venerating the Cross, engaging in personal prayer, and receiving the sacrament of Confession. By the end of the pilgrimage, their faces shine with beauty, and even without saying a word, those around them can see the radiance and beauty shining from their faces, inspiring admiration and joy.
      The common thread in both the retreat and the Medjugorje pilgrimage is wholehearted prayer. It is only through prayer that the light of God can enter us, and it is through this divine light that our souls are illuminated, with the radiance shining through even our outward appearance, naturally affecting those around us in a positive way.
      The Blessed Mother specifically calls us to become a radiant light, beauty, joy, peace, and above all, prayer, for those who have strayed from her love and the love of her Son. Instead of condemning or trying to convince them with words, the Blessed Mother asks us to show, through our example, how loving her and Jesus transforms a person. She also reminds us that we have a mission and responsibility to lead those who are far from the love of Jesus and the Blessed Mother back to that love.

Little children, witness your faith and prayer in joy, in the joy of faith that is in your hearts; and pray for peace, which is a precious gift from God. Thank you for having responded to my call.

St. Paul said, "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thes 5:16-18). But carrying this out in daily life is never easy. Life is not always rosy. Just as everything seems to be going well, unforeseen problems and difficulties arise, and at times, we are faced with trials and hardships that seem unbearable. Most people, when confronted with difficulties and trials, feel discouraged, worried, and saddened. This is only natural.
       However, for us Christians who believe in the loving providence of God, we always have a reason to rejoice, no matter the circumstances. We believe that our Lord Jesus suffered, died on the cross, and rose again, and that He is always with us, helping us to overcome everything in the end. True Christians are those who believe in the truth of Jesus’ words: “In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world” (Jn 16:33). This is why we can always rejoice. The joy of faith is unlike any joy the world can give; it is a joy that surpasses all comparison. As the psalmist says, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad" (Ps 118:22-24).
   
 
 
August 25, 2014
"Dear children! Pray for my intentions, because Satan wants to destroy my plan which I have here and to steal your peace. Therefore, little children, pray, pray, pray that God can act through each of you. May your hearts be open to God's will. I love you and bless you with my motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Pray for my intentions, because Satan wants to destroy my plan which I have here and to steal your peace. 

The Blessed Mother, who introduced herself as the Queen of Peace, has been appearing daily for 33 years and two months in the small village of Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The ultimate goal of these apparitions is to lead all humanity back to God so they can receive peace, salvation, and eternal life from Him. This is the plan the Blessed Mother has for Medjugorje, and to fulfill it, she chose the village, the parish, and the visionaries, continually giving messages. She has asked not only them but all who hear her messages to live according to them. As a result, many people worldwide have followed her messages, and spiritual fruits have been abundant.
      Jesus said, "I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Lk 15:10). The angels rejoice over a sinner who repents because God, whom they worship and honor, rejoices. God does not desire the destruction of sinners but their repentance, for they are His beloved children. It is for the repentance and salvation of His children that God continues to send the Blessed Mother to Medjugorje today.
      But there is one who most opposes and resents this. That is Satan. Although invisible to us, Satan is a living supernatural being. Jesus spoke about him in many places in the New Testament, and the Blessed Mother in Medjugorje has mentioned Satan in her messages 86 times now. As St. Peter wrote, “Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour” (1 Pt 5:8).
      Where does Satan work most actively? In Medjugorje itself. While it is a place of abundant grace and strong presence of the Blessed Mother, how can Satan be so active there? Because it is where the things he hates most are happening most powerfully. The Blessed Mother appears daily, people pray fervently, they repent, and deepen their faith, accepting Jesus as their Savior and God. Satan despises all of this and actively tries to prevent it. That's why he despises Medjugorje more than any other place and does everything in his power to destroy the Blessed Mother's plans for it. Though we cannot fully see his actions, the Blessed Mother, who witnesses it all, asks us to pray for her intentions.
      Whether we realize it or not, Satan sneaks into our daily lives, trying to steal our peace. Peace is a gift from God, and Satan does not want us to remain in it—that is, to remain in God. How does he try to steal our peace? He subtly stirs feelings of hatred, anger, fear, doubt, worry, envy, jealousy, and greed in our hearts without us noticing. When we sense these negative emotions arising, we should recognize that Satan is at work, trying to steal our peace. That’s when we need to start praying immediately. Prayer has the power to protect us from evil and drive it away. When Jesus cast out a demon that the disciples could not, they asked why they couldn't do it. Jesus replied, “This kind can only come out through prayer” (Mk 9:29). Only prayer can overcome evil.

Therefore, little children, pray, pray, pray that God can act through each of you. May your hearts be open to God's will. I love you and bless you with my motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Prayer not only drives away evil but also opens our hearts to God’s will. It is through prayer that our hearts open to God, allowing Him to work through us. God, our Father, wants to work with us and through us because He is a personal God, and we are His children. It is truly a tremendous honor that God Himself desires to work through us!
      Prayer clears the obstacles preventing God from working in and through us. Prayer removes everything that is not of God—everything unworthy in His eyes and everything that hinders us from following His will. Prayer is the process of laying a highway for God to enter our hearts and work through us. It is through prayer that we allow God to be the sole ruler of our hearts and open our hearts fully to His will.
   
 
 
July 25, 2014
"Dear children! You are not aware of the graces that you are living at this time in which the Most High is giving you signs for you to open and convert. Return to God and to prayer, and may prayer begin to reign in your hearts, families and communities, so that the Holy Spirit may lead and inspire you to every day be more open to God's will and to His plan for each of you. I am with you and with the saints and angels intercede for you. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! You are not aware of the graces that you are living at this time in which the Most High is giving you signs for you to open and convert.

Jesus taught His disciples the "Lord's Prayer," showing them that our relationship with God is that of a father and His children. Every time we pray the Lord's Prayer, we call God our Father and acknowledge ourselves as His children. What a great privilege it is to be able to call the Creator of the universe our Father! With such a Father, our dignity reaches unimaginable heights. However, in contrast, the Most High God humbles Himself infinitely to become our Father. Despite this humbling, His dignity is not diminished; rather, He deserves even greater praise and adoration.
      The Most High God, as our Father, will never abandon us. He says, “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you” (Is 49:15). How could He forget or abandon us? Just as earthly parents prioritize the well-being of their children, our heavenly Father holds our salvation and well-being above all.
To help us open our hearts to Him and repent, God continuously gives us signs. These signs can be found in nature, historical events, miraculous occurrences, and even the small moments of daily life. But like the passage in Isaiah, “You see many things but do not observe; ears open, but do not hear” (Is 42:20), we often fail to recognize the many signs that heaven sends for our conversion. Like Pharaoh, who saw numerous wonders and miracles through Moses and Aaron but still hardened his heart, we often witness many signs but refuse to acknowledge God and repent.
      One of the greatest signs that the Most High God has given us today is the Blessed Virgin Mary and her apparitions in Medjugorje. Since the 19th century, God has sent the Virgin Mary to the world many times. Through these numerous apparitions, the Blessed Mother brings a consistent message: God is alive, and we must pray, open our hearts to Him, repent, avoid sin, and walk the path of holiness toward salvation. Yet, despite these countless apparitions and messages, humanity has not taken them seriously.
      Now, God has chosen the small village of Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina to invite humanity to return to Him through the Blessed Mother. The Medjugorje apparitions, possibly the last of Mary's appearances on earth, are themselves a great gift and a sign. Over the past 33 years, more than 40 million people have visited Medjugorje, and the fruits are astounding. However, many still oppose these apparitions. What prevents people from accepting Medjugorje as one of the greatest signs of our times? It is unbelief. Unlike the shepherds near Bethlehem, who believed the angel’s message—“Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Lk 2:10-12)—many today lack that simple faith.
      We have already been given many signs; we don’t need more. What we need is to open our hearts and accept the signs already given, trusting in faith to see God working in them and turning our hearts toward repentance.

Return to God and to prayer, and may prayer begin to reign in your hearts, families and communities, so that the Holy Spirit may lead and inspire you to every day be more open to God's will and to His plan for each of you. I am with you and with the saints and angels intercede for you. Thank you for having responded to my call.

The Blessed Mother knows what we need most. She urges us to return to God and to prayer. If anything else were more important, she would have told us. But in her wisdom, she sees that nothing is more necessary for us than God and prayer.
      What rules our hearts shapes the content of our lives. When prayer rules our hearts, our families, and our communities, everything transforms spiritually. As we change, the Holy Spirit will be able to work more powerfully, guiding and inspiring us daily to understand God's will and plan for each of us. Imagine the peace and richness of life when the Holy Spirit leads us, when prayer governs our hearts, and when we are interceded for by the Blessed Mother, saints, and angels!
      What more could we ask for? The only thing left for us to do is to return to God and let prayer rule our hearts, our lives, our families, and our churches. We must pray daily, together, and continually until our lives are fully shaped by prayer.
   
 
 
June 25, 2014
"Dear children! The Most High is giving me the grace that I can still be with you and to lead you in prayer towards the way of peace. Your heart and soul thirst for peace and love, for God and His joy. Therefore, little children, pray, pray, pray and in prayer you will discover the wisdom of living. I bless you all and intercede for each of you before my Son Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! The Most High is giving me the grace that I can still be with you and to lead you in prayer towards the way of peace.

This message was given on the 33rd anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Mother in Medjugorje. Just as Jesus lived on earth for 33 years, the Blessed Mother's apparitions have continued for that length of time in Medjugorje, and they are ongoing. No one knows when these apparitions will end, only the Blessed Mother and the Most High Triune God who sends her to this world.
      The Blessed Mother tells us that her continued presence among us through the apparitions is a great grace from the Most High God. Why is her presence and these apparitions a grace from God? It is because God, in His mercy, is still keeping the door of salvation open for us. God is sending the Blessed Mother among us to call us to return to Him, giving humanity more time to repent.
      Therefore, we still have hope. However, the fruits of this hope will depend on the attitude we take. If we respond willingly to God's call to return to Him through the Blessed Mother, this hope can bring us salvation and peace. The Blessed Mother emphasizes that our response can only come through prayer, urging us again to pray and reminding us of her intercession for us. She knows all too well that only through prayer can we walk the path of peace and salvation.

Your heart and soul thirst for peace and love, for God and His joy. Therefore, little children, pray, pray, pray and in prayer you will discover the wisdom of living. I bless you all and intercede for each of you before my Son Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call.

The psalmist sings: "As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I enter and see the face of God?" (Ps 42:2-3).
This spiritual longing for God is something that all humans experience. Since we are made in the image of God, we naturally long for Him. As St. Augustine says in his Confessions, "You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You." The peace, love, and joy that our hearts and souls thirst for can only be found when we turn to God. As St. Augustine stated, it is only by seeking rest in God—through prayer—that we can find true peace. This is why the Blessed Mother repeatedly urges us: "Pray, pray, pray."
      Through prayer, we also receive unexpected gifts—such as wisdom for life. When we pray, the Holy Spirit comes to us, filling us with divine wisdom. The Bible tells us that wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. When we pray to God with reverence, He fills us with wisdom through the power of the Holy Spirit.
      To live a fuller life, we do not need more wealth, but more prayer and the wisdom that God provides. With the help of the Blessed Mother, who blesses us and intercedes for each one of us before Jesus, let us pray, pray, and pray again until prayer becomes our joy and way of life. In this way, we will respond to her call.
   
 
 
May 25, 2014
"Dear children! Pray and be aware that without God you are dust. Therefore, turn your thoughts and heart to God and to prayer. Trust in His love. In God's spirit, little children, you are all called to be witnesses. You are precious and I call you, little children, to holiness, to eternal life. Therefore, be aware that this life is passing. I love you and call you to a new life of conversion. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Pray and be aware that without God you are dust. Therefore, turn your thoughts and heart to God and to prayer. Trust in His love. 

When we pray, we not only come to know who God is, but also who we are. The more we understand God's greatness, the more we recognize our own insignificance and limitations. When we pray with our whole heart, we come to realize how truly insignificant we are and how nothing we are without God.
      The Bible says, "The Lord God formed the man out of dust of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being" (Gn 2:7). Humans are nothing but dust until God breathes the breath of life into us. It is God's breath that gives us life, and when He takes it back, we become lifeless bodies. The psalm also reminds us, "Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty, if we are strong; most of them are toil and sorrow; they pass quickly, and we are gone" (Ps 90:10). Our lives are finite.
      However, if God is with us and we live in Him, even though our lives on this earth are limited, we can live a life that extends into eternity from this very earth. If our thoughts and hearts are directed toward God and prayer, we can begin living the life of heaven even here on earth.
      The God we believe in is Immanuel—the God who is with us. The apostle John, who experienced this God through Jesus, confessed, "God is love" (1 Jn 4:16). The God of love never withdraws His love from us. He desires that we all come to know this love and receive eternal life through it. Therefore, we must pray and trust in His love.

In God's spirit, little children, you are all called to be witnesses. 

After the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, Jesus told His disciples that the Father would send them the Holy Spirit (cf. Jn 14:15-27). Before His Ascension, He said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And [behold] I am sending the promise of my Father* upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Lk 24:46-49).
      On the day of Pentecost, while the disciples were gathered in prayer with the Blessed Mother in the upper room, this promise was fulfilled. Just as Jesus had promised, the Holy Spirit descended upon them. The Spirit of God drove out the fear in their hearts and filled them with courage and wisdom. Peter stood up with the eleven apostles and proclaimed that Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, was the true Savior, and as a result, about three thousand people were baptized and became Christians that day (cf. Acts 2).
       The same Spirit that descended upon the apostles and the Blessed Mother on Pentecost continues to dwell in the Church, sanctifying it and breathing life into it. Through the sacrament of Confirmation, which is conferred through the laying on of hands by bishops in apostolic succession, the Holy Spirit comes to every believer, calling them to be strong witnesses to Jesus Christ. In this month’s message, the Blessed Mother confirms this once again by saying, "In God's spirit, little children, you are all called to be witnesses." We must remember that it is not by our own strength, but only in the Spirit of God, that we can be true witnesses of Jesus.

You are precious and I call you, little children, to holiness, to eternal life. Therefore, be aware that this life is passing. I love you and call you to a new life of conversion. Thank you for having responded to my call.

The psalmist, reflecting on how precious humanity is to God, sings, "What is man that you are mindful of him, and a son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him little less than a god, crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him rule over the works of your hands, put all things at his feet" (Ps 8:5-7).
      Jesus expressed this even more clearly when He said, "Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows" (Mt 10:29-31).
      Just as God holds all humanity in such high regard, so does the Blessed Mother. She sees us as precious in the eyes of God, and because of that, she desires for us to become holy and to live forever with her and Jesus in heaven.
       The Blessed Mother reminds us to recognize that our earthly life is passing. She does not want us to be so attached to this life that we fall into sin and lose eternal life. Now is the time to turn our hearts back to God and to renew our lives according to His will. In other words, we need conversion. Through conversion, our lives will be renewed, and we will be able to live again in God's grace. The time for conversion is now.
   
 
 
April 25, 2014
"Dear children! Open your hearts to the grace which God is giving you through me, as a flower that opens to the warm rays of the sun. Be prayer and love for all those who are far from God and His love... I am with you and I intercede for all of you before my Son Jesus, and I love you with immeasurable love. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Open your hearts to the grace which God is giving you through me, as a flower that opens to the warm rays of the sun. 

This past winter was particularly cold and long, making it seem like spring might never come. However, according to God's plan for nature, spring has arrived as always. The trees are budding with fresh green leaves, and flowers are blooming, bringing us joy. All of nature follows the order that God has set.
      In this month’s message, the Blessed Mother calls us to open our hearts to the grace God is giving us through her, just as flowers open themselves to the sun. Only those who open their hearts fully and gratefully to God’s grace, without resistance, can receive His grace and, through its power, allow the flower of their soul to blossom. To allow our souls to bloom and become holy, God’s grace is absolutely necessary.
      Let me give you a simple example: Even after seeing the resurrected Jesus, the eleven apostles were still gripped by fear and doubt. However, when the Holy Spirit descended upon them, they were transformed, casting off their fears and boldly proclaiming Jesus’ resurrection with unwavering faith. Saul, who had been zealous in persecuting Christians, became the Apostle Paul, unafraid even of death, after encountering the risen Christ. Countless martyrs, witnesses, and saints have also bloomed in holiness through the grace of God. All of them fully opened their hearts to the grace God was pouring upon them, and through this grace, they were transformed and allowed the flower of their souls to bloom.
      The Book of Psalms says that the righteous are "like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers." (Ps 1:3). Just as a tree planted by water receives the necessary moisture to bear fruit and remain healthy, the righteous receive blessings in all they do, thanks to the grace that flows from God. Without God's grace, no one can enjoy such blessings. We must be like a tree planted by streams of water, always open to God’s grace.
      The key point in this month’s message is that God is giving us His grace through the Blessed Mother. She is presented to us as the mediator of all God’s graces. Just as God gave us His only Son through the Blessed Mother, He now gives us His grace through her. Therefore, if God’s grace comes to us through the Blessed Mother, we must trust and rely on her. As our Mother, she calls us her children, and if we ask her, she will give us all that she has—God’s gifts of grace. The Blessed Mother, as the mediator of all grace, gives us these gifts from God.
       As the psalm says, "The eyes of all look hopefully to you; you give them their food in due season. You open wide your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing” (Ps 145:15-16). God provides for those who look to Him, and just as God’s generosity is important, so is our openness to Him. When we turn our eyes to God, it shows that our hearts are already open to Him. That is why the Blessed Mother says, "Dear children! Open your hearts to the grace which God is giving you through me, as a flower that opens to the warm rays of the sun.”

Be prayer and love for all those who are far from God and His love. I am with you and I intercede for all of you before my Son Jesus, and I love you with immeasurable love. Thank you for having responded to my call.

The Blessed Mother tells us not to just “pray for and love those who are far from God and His love,” but rather to become prayer and love for them. Why does she use the words "be prayer and love," instead of simply saying "pray and love"? It is because she wants to emphasize the need for us to be fully united with those who are far from God and His love. While we can pray for and love someone from a distance, sometimes we do so with limits, offering only as much as we can without becoming too involved. However, if we truly consider the other person as part of ourselves and unite with them, then our hearts will be filled with prayer and love for them, 24 hours a day. We will fully take on their situation as our own. This is why the Blessed Mother calls us to become prayer and love for all those who are far from God and His love.
      Who best exemplifies this kind of love and prayer for us? The Blessed Mother herself. She tells us that she is not distant from us but rather with us. United with us, she intercedes for us before Jesus and loves us with immeasurable love. Our response to this should be to do the same for others, especially for those who are far from God and His love.
   
 
 
March 25, 2014
"Dear children! I am calling you anew: begin the battle against sin as in the first days, go to confession and decide for holiness. The love of God will begin to flow through you into the world, peace will begin to rule in your hearts and God's blessing will fill you. I am with you and intercede for all of you before my Son Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! I am calling you anew: begin the battle against sin as in the first days, go to confession and decide for holiness.

The phrase "as in the first days" refers to the initial days of the Blessed Mother's apparitions in Medjugorje in 1981. Although many conversions still happen in Medjugorje today, they may not be as intense as they were in the early days of the apparitions. During those early times, the parishioners of Medjugorje took the messages of the Blessed Mother to heart. For example, when Father Jozo, the parish priest, asked the people to fast and pray for three days, they did so, and the result was profound reconciliation among neighbors who had been in conflict for a long time. Additionally, when the youngest of the visionaries, 10-year-old Jakov Colo, announced to a gathering of parishioners and pilgrims that the Blessed Mother wanted them to pray the Rosary, everyone was moved to tears and immediately began praying with Father Jozo. These are just a few examples of how open the people were to the messages of the Blessed Mother in the early days.
      In this month’s message, the Blessed Mother invites us to return to the mindset of those early days. She desires that we open our hearts and receive her messages with the same readiness as the people did back then. Therefore, she says, "Dear children! I am calling you anew: begin the battle against sin as in the first days, go to confession and decide for holiness.” 
As we see in Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve sinned, their relationship with God and with each other was broken, leading them to hide from God and ultimately to death. To live in peace with God, receive the fullness of life from Him, and live in harmony with others, we must not sin. However, avoiding sin is not easy because Satan is always behind it. Satan knows our weaknesses and how to tempt us into sin, so we must be vigilant. As St. Peter says, "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).
      To resist Satan, we must first acknowledge our weakness and practice humility. Then, we must close the door of our hearts to Satan’s temptations. The Blessed Mother has said that, although Satan has great powers, he cannot harm us if we do not allow it. When any thought or temptation leading us to sin enters our minds, we must recognize that Satan is at work and, like Jesus, who said "No" to every temptation in the desert, we too must firmly say "No" to Satan’s temptations. With God’s strength, nothing is impossible, and we must pray with this faith. This is the way to fight against sin.
      Even if we lose a battle with sin, we must not be discouraged. We can always rise again through confession. Confession strengthens us spiritually, for through it, God forgives our sins, cleanses our souls, and fills us with His mercy. Confession also has the power to drive out Satan, as Satan cannot remain in a heart where God’s grace and mercy dwell.
      We must choose the path of holiness, not sin. We must choose life over death, God over Satan. Only those who choose God can win the spiritual battle against Satan.

The love of God will begin to flow through you into the world, peace will begin to rule in your hearts and God's blessing will fill you. I am with you and intercede for all of you before my Son Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call.

St. Teresa of Calcutta, known as Mother Teresa, was revered not only by Catholics but also by people around the world. This humble Catholic nun, despite her small stature, moved the hearts of many. People were deeply touched as they witnessed God’s love flowing through her to the most abandoned and forgotten.
      Mother Teresa often described herself as a "little pencil in God’s hands." Just as a pencil cannot write on its own but only when someone holds it, we are like small pencils in God’s hands. He wishes to write the story of His invisible love through us in this world. Just as the prophet Isaiah responded to God’s call, "Here am I; send me!" (Is 6:8), we too should say, "God, here I am. Send me as a bearer of Your love to the world."
      When we avoid sin, go to confession, and live a holy life as bearers of God’s love, He will grant us peace and blessings. These are the true rewards from God, not something that anyone or anything in the world can offer. God’s peace and blessings are the greatest gifts we can receive. What more could we want?
      The Blessed Mother is with us, caring for us as a mother and guiding us as a teacher toward God’s life, peace, love, and salvation. She also intercedes for us before her Son, Jesus. With the Blessed Mother by our side, what is there to fear?
   
 1  2  

USA : 6100A Hoskins Hollow Circle, Centreville, VA. 20121

TEL : 703-383-0113

E-mail : aqopmr@gmail.com

Copyrightⓒ 2013 Apostles of Queen of Peace All rights reserved.