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Fr. Stephen Shin’s Reflections on the Messages
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December 25, 2024
“Dear children! Pray, pray, pray that peace may begin to reign in every heart and prevail over every evil and peacelessness. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (With Ecclesiastical approval)

      Whenever Our Lady emphasizes the importance of prayer, she often repeats, "Pray, pray, pray." She could just as easily say it four, five, or even more times, so why does she specifically repeat it three times?
       Curious about the meaning of the number 3, I asked ChatGPT, and it provided the following response. Here is the explanation:

      The number 3 holds special meaning and symbolism in many cultures and religions. Below is a summary of its key significance:

1. In Christianity
The Holy Trinity: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—three persons in one God.
Jesus' Resurrection: Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after being crucified.
Theological Virtues: Faith, hope, and love (1 Cor 13:13).
Times of Prayer: Jesus prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt 26:44).
Completeness and Fulfillment: In scripture, the number 3 symbolizes completeness and perfection. For example, the prophet Jonah spent three days in the belly of the great fish (Jon 1:17).

2. In Philosophy and Nature
Threefold Structure: Beginning (origin), middle (process), and end (result) represent the fundamental structure of time and storytelling.
Balance and Harmony: Three points form a triangle, symbolizing stability and balance.
Life Cycle: Birth, life, and death represent the natural flow of existence.

3. In Other Religions and Traditions
Hinduism: The Trimurti symbolizes creation (Brahma), preservation (Vishnu), and destruction (Shiva).
Buddhism: The "Three Jewels" (Triratna) represent the Buddha, the Dharma (teachings), and the Sangha (community).
Eastern Philosophy: The "Three Powers" (Heaven, Earth, and Humanity) signify the fundamental harmony in the universe.

4. In Everyday Life
A Complete Set: The saying "Good things come in threes" reflects how the number 3 brings a sense of wholeness and satisfaction.
Effective Communication: The structure of introduction, body, and conclusion is a universal format for conveying ideas effectively.

      The number 3, therefore, is a special symbol of harmony and completeness in biblical, philosophical, and everyday contexts.

      Understanding the profound symbolism of the number 3 helps us grasp why Our Lady often repeats, "Pray, pray, pray."
     When she tells us to "pray, pray, pray," she is urging us to pray unceasingly, with all our hearts, until our intentions are fulfilled. This repetition also carries the assurance that if we persist in prayer with unwavering faith, our intentions will indeed be realized.
      In moments when we are striving to achieve something significant, we often say, "Give it everything you've got." The same applies to our prayers. We must devote all our energy and effort to prayer, as if we are using every ounce of our strength.
      This month, Our Lady has given us a clear intention for our prayers: that peace may take root in every heart and overcome all evil and discord. The tool that can establish peace in every heart, home, church, and the world while driving out evil and discord is none other than prayer.
      Remember that prayer brings peace, and peace drives away all evil. If we pray with faith and unceasing dedication, we will become faithful servants of Jesus, the King of Peace, and proud apostles of Our Lady, the Queen of Peace.

   
 
 
November 25, 2024
“Dear children! In this time of the grace of expectation, I desire to call you to prayer for Advent to be prayer of the family. In a special way, little children whom I tenderly embrace, I encourage you to prayer for peace in the world; for peace to prevail over peacelessness and hatred.Thank you for having responded to my call.” (With Ecclesiastical approval)

Dear children! In this time of the grace of expectation, I desire to call you to prayer for Advent to be prayer of the family.

    Yesterday was the final Sunday of the Church's liturgical year, celebrated as the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Today, Our Lady describes this moment as a "time of grace of expectation." Why? Because it ushers in the Advent season, marking the beginning of a new liturgical year in the Church.
    Advent is a time of expectation—of anticipating Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe, who came to save us and will come again to complete our salvation. It is a season of grace, a period of anticipation overflowing with divine blessings.
    During this sacred time, we prayerfully await the coming of the Lord with all our hearts, anticipating the moment when Our Lady, "full of grace," brings forth the Lord of grace, Jesus Christ, into the world. But consider for a moment: what if Our Lady, "full of grace," had not said "yes" to the angel’s invitation to conceive the Son of the Most High, the Savior of the world? Or what if Jesus, the eternal Word and Second Person of the Holy Trinity, had not declared, "Behold, I come to do Your will," choosing to become man and dwell among us? Without their obedience and love, where would we be today? Words like "grace" and "expectation" would hold no meaning for us.
    Through the perfect obedience of Jesus and Mary to the will of God the Father, and through their boundless love for humanity, the mystery of the Incarnation was fulfilled. In this great act, humanity was granted the profound grace of welcoming God made man into the world.
    The Evangelist John beautifully expresses this truth: 
    “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. […] From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace. […] Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (Jn 1:14, 16, 17b).

    Waiting for Him, who became fully human out of love for us and to save us, is undoubtedly one of the most profound and meaningful acts we can undertake. This waiting must not be passive or aimless but intentional and wholehearted—rooted in prayer, focused entirely on Him, and filled with joyful and expectant hope. How could we prepare to welcome Him, who comes to pour out grace upon grace, with anything less than our utmost devotion?
    Even the Blessed Virgin Mary, who carried the Infant Jesus in her womb, deeply longed to behold the face of her divine Son. At last, as the mystery of His birth unfolded and the Christ Child was placed in her arms, she gazed upon His face with tears of overwhelming joy and gratitude. We too are called to long for the face of Jesus, just as Mary did. At Christmas, as we contemplate the Christ Child lying in the manger, and especially during Holy Communion, when we receive the Eucharistic Jesus into our hands, let us gaze upon His face with profound joy and heartfelt thanksgiving.
    The Nativity of Jesus was a unique and singular historical event, yet He is born anew among us each day in the Holy Mass. Therefore, this time of grace-filled waiting is not limited to Advent but extends throughout our entire lives. We are continually called to wait for the Lord, who comes to bring us grace and salvation, to offer Him our heartfelt gratitude, and to orient every step of our journey toward Him.
    May the words of the Psalmist always spring forth from our lips:
    “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).

    The first Advent was announced immediately after humanity's first ancestors, Adam and Eve, committed original sin (cf. Genesis 3:15). As such, Adam and Eve were the first to observe Advent, becoming the first to wait for the promised Savior. They were also the first couple united by God, forming the first family. From its very beginning, Advent has been a celebration deeply rooted in the family, initiated for the salvation of families.
    The Blessed Virgin Mary invites us to make Advent a time of family prayer. Sin entered the first family through disobedience to God’s word, breaking the relationship between God and humanity. Yet, in His infinite mercy, God sent Jesus, the Lord of grace, into the Holy Family of Mary and St. Joseph, restoring reconciliation between God and humankind. For this reason, Advent is naturally a time for families to come together in prayer, strengthening their bond with one another and with God.
    What our families need most today is not material possessions or worldly comforts but Jesus Christ, true God and true man, our Savior. For this reason, families must come together in prayer, inviting Jesus to be born in their homes and to dwell with them forever. Prayer is the only way to make this a reality, fostering His presence and grace within our families.
    Jesus Himself 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).
    As we enter the season of Advent, it is essential to rekindle and strengthen family prayer. During this special time, as families unite in prayer, the presence of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Joseph will fill our homes. The Holy Family will dwell among us, transforming our families into holy families. This transformation occurs when we commit to prayer and resolve to live lives of holiness.
    This Advent, let us dedicate ourselves to making our families prayerful and holy. May God’s love and peace fill our homes abundantly, and may this love and peace overflow to our neighbors, inspiring their families to become holy as well. In this way, we fulfill our mission to be the salt and light of the world, sharing God’s grace and goodness with all.
    May this Advent season, rooted in prayer, turn our homes into channels of blessing, spreading God’s grace to countless families and bringing His light into the world.

In a special way, little children whom I tenderly embrace, I encourage you to prayer for peace in the world; for peace to prevail over peacelessness and hatred.Thank you for having responded to my call.

    "In a special way, little children whom I tenderly embrace,” this expression of the Blessed Virgin Mary beautifully reveals the warmth and tenderness of her boundless love for us. Mary does not merely hold us in her arms; she embraces us with a love overflowing with tenderness and affection. Her embrace is a place of infinite love, unlike anything else in this world.
    Mary welcomes us just as we are, accepting us despite our flaws and weaknesses. In her unwavering love, she holds us close. Imagine yourself resting in the arms of the Blessed Mother—releasing all your worries and anxieties, entrusting everything to her care, and allowing her to guide your life completely.
    In Mary’s embrace, there is a peace beyond measure. Yet, the world we live in is marked by discord and hatred. Having experienced the profound peace that comes from Our Lady, we are called to pray fervently for peace in the world. We must pray with all our hearts for peace to overcome discord and hatred.
    Peace is not a gift meant for us alone—it is a gift for all humanity. Every person is a beloved child of Mary and our sibling in Christ. By imitating Mary’s love, praying for peace, and living as instruments of peace, we can share the peace of Mary’s embrace with the world.
    Let us strive to be peacemakers, so that the peace of the Blessed Mother may fill not only our hearts but also the entire world, transforming it into a place of harmony and love.


 
   
 
 
October 25, 2024
“Dear children, At this time, when you are celebrating the day of All Saints, seek their intercession and prayers so that in union with them, you may find peace. May the Saints be your intercessors and example, that you imitate them and live holily. I am with you and intercede before God for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (With Ecclesiastical approval)

Dear children, At this time, when you are celebrating the day of All Saints, seek their intercession and prayers so that in union with them, you may find peace.

      The Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints each year on November 1. However, in her message on October 25, Our Lady did not specify this date, instead saying, “At this time, when you are celebrating the day of All Saints.” With this phrasing, Our Lady invites us to observe a week of preparation for the Solemnity and encourages us to continue the celebration even beyond that day. She calls us not to limit our observance to one day but to extend it, giving ourselves time to fully absorb its significance, deeply imprint it in our hearts, and live out its meaning in our daily lives.
      The Catholic Church is filled with countless saints. Some have been officially canonized, while others, having led holy lives on earth, entered heaven without formal recognition. Thus, we do not know the exact number of saints within the Catholic Church.
     The word “saint” (聖人) literally means “holy person.” Saints lived on this earth as we do, yet they attained heaven by living more holily than anyone else. Following the words, “I, the Lord, am your God. You shall make and keep yourselves holy, because I am holy” (Lv 11:44), they devoted themselves to holiness throughout their lives, ultimately becoming saints.
     So, who are these holy ones, the saints? Above all, they were people who loved and served God wholeheartedly, striving to live solely according to His will. They desired a life that belonged to God alone, free from attachment to anything worldly, living in this world as if already beyond it.
     The saints’ ultimate purpose was to live with God and yearn constantly for Him and His heavenly kingdom. They diligently avoided any opportunity for sin, striving to live blamelessly before God. If they did falter due to human weakness, they immediately sought forgiveness through the sacrament of confession.
     Saints pursued spiritual growth over earthly desires. Their lives were filled with efforts to satisfy a longing for God. They devoted all the time they could to spiritual practices—Sunday Mass, daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, the Rosary, the Way of the Cross, Bible reading, frequent confession, meditation, contemplation, and brief but fervent prayers. Until their final breath, they focused on sanctifying themselves through these devotions.
     As a result, the saints now live eternally in heaven, gazing upon the face of God, whom they so longed for on earth. In the joy and peace God grants them, they unceasingly praise Him and pray for us on earth.
    The Catholic Church believes in the “communion of saints.” This means that, in God, those of us journeying in faith on earth, the souls being purified in purgatory, and the saints already triumphant in heaven are all united. We share communion with one another, and the saints in heaven form the greatest support team God has prepared for us. Even now, they intercede and pray for us from heaven.
      For this reason, Our Lady said, “Dear children, At this time, when you are celebrating the day of All Saints, seek their intercession and prayers so that in union with them, you may find peace..” True peace on earth can only come from God, a grace that is given when our prayers and the saints’ intercession join in strength. We have the privilege of trusting in and asking for the power of their intercession and prayers. Why hesitate?

May the Saints be your intercessors and example, that you imitate them and live holily. I am with you and intercede before God for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call.

    The saints exemplify holiness not only through words but through actions, living lives where word and deed are united. Their lives were filled with prayer, fasting, charity, and sacrifice, offering everything to God and their neighbors. For them, Jesus Christ—true God and true man—was their everything. Though they lived in this world, they longed for heaven, living as though they belonged to another realm.
      In many icons of saints, we see them holding a cross or with a skull beside them. This symbolizes their imitation of Jesus, who became man out of love for us and sacrificed Himself on the cross. It also reflects their detachment from worldly things and their yearning for the eternal life of heaven. They are the holy examples we are called to follow.
    If we follow their exemplary lives, we too will walk the path of sainthood. In doing so, we will guide others toward the path of holiness and become models on the journey to sainthood.
     The saints are our intercessors. They joyfully praise the Lord in His presence, praying for us. This is their primary mission. Saints earnestly desire for us to love the Lord above all else, to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to live a pure and spiritual life, free from worldly desires, in a way that pleases the Lord. With these intentions, they intercede and pray for us.
     Whether we know their names or not, all saints are our examples and powerful intercessors. By following their example and seeking their intercession, we, too, can strive to become living saints on earth.
   
 
 
September 25, 2024
“Dear children, Out of love towards you, God has sent me among you, to love you and encourage you to prayer and conversion, for peace in you and in your families and in the world. Little children, do not forget that true peace comes only through prayer, from God Who is your peace. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

Dear children, out of love towards you, God has sent me among you, to love you and encourage you to prayer and conversion, for peace in you and in your families and in the world.

In this month’s message, the Blessed Mother clearly stated once again that she is not the main figure of the Medjugorje apparitions, but God is. She is merely the messenger and prophet sent by God. Since God has sent the Blessed Mother to Medjugorje and allowed her to appear there for such a long time, it is unimaginable to have the Medjugorje apparitions without God.
    God sent the Blessed Mother for the peace of ourselves, our families, and the world. He loves us and wants to encourage us through prayer and repentance. To understand this amazing love and mercy of God, we need one thing: to open our hearts fully to God. We need to welcome God into our hearts. And for this, we need only one thing—the word we have heard countless times: ‘prayer.’
    For the past 43 years, the Blessed Mother has tirelessly repeated, “Pray, pray, and pray.” Why does she say this? It’s because this is what we need most and what is most important for us right now. Despite her long-standing call to prayer, we often do everything we want except praying.
    Only through prayer can our hearts be opened, and when our hearts are open, repentance can occur. Repentance allows us to place God at the center of our lives. If this process does not happen, it is solely our responsibility.
    There will come a day when the Medjugorje apparitions will end. No one on this earth knows when that will be, but considering various circumstances, it feels like the end is drawing closer. Time is running out. We must accept the Medjugorje apparitions and their messages with the urgency of not missing even the last moment.
    Like the good thief who, hanging right side of Jesus on the cross, recognized Him as the Savior and confessed, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Le 23:42), we must respond with a sense of urgency to God’s earnest plea through the Blessed Mother to return to Him before it’s too late.

Little children, do not forget that true peace comes only through prayer, from God Who is your peace. Thank you for having responded to my call.

The Blessed Mother tells us that true peace comes only through prayer. If there were any other way, she would have told us. Her words, “True peace comes only through prayer,” remind us once again that prayer is the only path to true peace.
    Since God Himself is peace and our peace, the only way for that peace to come to us is by completely surrendering ourselves to God in prayer. Through prayer, we can ask God to grant us peace, but we cannot attain that peace through our human strength or abilities. Moreover, where God is not present, peace cannot exist.
    Humanity is forgetting this simple yet most fundamental truth. This is the root cause of all the difficulties humanity is facing today. Even if it is only us who believe that God alone is our peace and that He alone can grant us true peace, let us not forget that true peace comes only from God through prayer.
   
 
 
August 25, 2024

“Dear children! Today, my prayer with you is for peace. Good and evil are fighting and want to prevail in the world and in the hearts of people. You be people of hope and prayer and of great trust in God the Creator to Whom everything is possible. Little children, may peace prevail in you and around you. I am blessing you with my motherly blessing that you, little children, may be joy for all those whom you meet. Thank you for having responded to my call.”


Dear children! Today, my prayer with you is for peace. Good and evil are fighting and want to prevail in the world and in the hearts of people. 


With the words "Dear children! Today, my prayer with you is for peace." the Blessed Mother lets us know what our common prayer intention should be—peace. There are countless other prayer intentions, but above all, she asks us to pray for peace. Why should we pray for peace? Because it is the most urgent and important issue for us, and as she mentioned in her message on June 25, peace is in danger. Furthermore, the battle between good and evil is being fought in the world and in the hearts of people. We must fight against Satan, who seeks to steal peace from the world and from people’s hearts, by praying for peace.

      The Blessed Mother not only asks us to pray for peace, but she also tells us that she herself is praying with us for peace. How reassuring it is to know that the Queen of Peace is praying with us for peace! When our weak prayers are joined with her powerful intercession, those prayers gain tremendous strength. We must never forget that when we pray for peace, the Blessed Mother is always praying with us.

      Each of us faces different situations, and thus we all have different prayer intentions. Of course, it is necessary to pray for our personal intentions. However, before our individual intentions, we should always place peace and the conversion of sinners as our primary intentions in prayer. This is what God and the Blessed Mother desire most. By adjusting the priority of our prayer intentions in this way, we can help God, the Blessed Mother, and our neighbors, ultimately contributing to our own peace and salvation.


You be people of hope and prayer and of great trust in God the Creator to Whom everything is possible. Little children, may peace prevail in you and around you. 


The Blessed Mother wants us to be people of hope and prayer. A person who hopes and prays is someone who has faith in God and a positive outlook on life. Such a person never despairs because, although they cannot see God, they firmly believe that He exists and that He will always rescue them from despair and sorrow. This is why they constantly view, think, and accept everything from a positive perspective. Even in seemingly hopeless situations where no solution or way out appears humanly possible, they do not despair but maintain hope. They believe that, despite the great difficulties or despair they are facing, everything will turn out well. Instead of worrying, even in situations where humanly speaking there seems to be no possibility, they choose to pray. With absolute trust in God, they entrust everything to Him and pray. At this point, the words of St. Padre Pio naturally come to mind: “Pray, hope, and don't worry.”

      With God, all things are possible. He is the one who created something out of nothing by His word. Everything in the world, indeed the entire universe, was created by God's word. The phrase “God said, and it was so” is repeated throughout Genesis 1. Everything happens as He commands. "For nothing will be impossible for God" (Lk 1:37). Our Creator God, who makes all things possible, asks only one thing from us. The Blessed Mother teaches us that it is deep trust in the Creator God—faith. If we trust deeply in the Creator God, who makes all things possible, and firmly believe in Him, we will experience the fulfillment of Jesus' words, “Everything is possible for one who has faith” (Mk 9:23). This faith will give us life, even after death (cf. Jn 11:25), and bring us eternal life (cf. Jn 6:47).


I am blessing you with my motherly blessing that you, little children, may be joy for all those whom you meet. Thank you for having responded to my call.


Satan sows seeds of hatred in the hearts of people and tries to divide every relationship. However, the Queen of Peace desires that peace fill us and surround us. The reason the Blessed Mother has been coming to us for such a long time is because of her desire for peace in us and in the world. She wants our hearts and the world to be filled with peace. As the Queen of Peace, when she appeared in Medjugorje on June 26, 1981, the third day of the apparitions, she said, "Peace, peace, only peace!" while descending from Apparition Hill. Afterward, she appeared again to Marija while they were descending the hill and, with tears in her eyes, said, "Peace must reign between God and man, and between men." Forty-three years later, in her message on August 25, 2024, she continues to speak about peace: "Dear children! Today, my prayer with you is for peace... May peace prevail in you and around you."

      If we do not have peace within ourselves, we cannot bring peace to those around us. Nor can we bring joy to everyone we meet. The peace of this world starts with the peace within us. First and foremost, let us pray with the Blessed Mother for peace to be abundant within us and around us, and continually seek her motherly blessing.


 

 
   
 
 
July 25, 2024
“My dear children, with joy I have chosen you and am leading you, because in you, little children, I see people of faith, hope and prayer. May you, little children, be led by the pride that you are mine, and I am leading you to Him, Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. And I am with you so that peace may win in you and around you, because it is with this intention God has sent me to you. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

My dear children, with joy I have chosen you and am leading you, because in you, little children, I see people of faith, hope and prayer. 

Whenever the Blessed Mother gives a message, she almost always begins with the words “Dear children.” Every time we hear that we are beloved children of the Blessed Mother, we cannot help but feel our hearts warm and swell with emotion. However, in this month's message, she added the possessive "my" in front of it. When I first heard the words "my dear children," I immediately thought of St. Mary Magdalene, whose feast day was celebrated three days earlier on July 22. This was because of her response to the two angels who asked her why she was weeping at the empty tomb on the first day of the week after Jesus had died. The Bible records it as follows: “They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him” (Jn 20:13). She could have simply said, “They have taken the Lord away.” But she replied, “They have taken my Lord away.” The part that catches my attention here is the possessive "my." She wasn't claiming ownership of Jesus, but she was expressing the depth of her absolute love and devotion to Him. To Mary Magdalene, Jesus wasn’t a distant Lord, but someone who had captured her whole heart, a personal and intimate figure whom she could never exchange for anything else in the world.
     Indeed, we are the beloved children of the Blessed Mother. However, in this month's message, by calling us “my beloved children,” she expresses how personally she treats us and how deep her love for us truly is.
      Love works with joy, never abandoning or giving up, and willingly sacrifices. The Blessed Mother, who calls us her beloved children, has joyfully chosen us and is leading us. She says the reason is that she sees in us people of faith, hope, and prayer. We may not know how much faith and hope we possess or how much we pray, but the Blessed Mother says we have these qualities. It is fortunate that we have such things within us, but they are probably insufficient. Otherwise, why would the Blessed Mother choose us and seek to guide us? We must always confess our lack of faith, hope, and prayer, seek the Blessed Mother's guidance and help, and walk holding her hand.

May you, little children, be led by the pride that you are mine, and I am leading you to Him, Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. 

The Blessed Mother tells us that we are hers. This doesn't mean we are simply her possessions but rather precious people who belong to her. This fact that we belong to the Blessed Mother elevates our dignity to its highest. The sense of belonging to the Blessed Mother fills our hearts with pride. How can we not feel proud when the Mother of God, the Queen of the Universe, the Queen of Peace, joyfully chooses and leads us, calling us her own?
      Moreover, the Blessed Mother tells us to take pride in the fact that she is leading us to Him who is the way, the truth, and the life. Who is this One who is the way, the truth, and the life? It is none other than Jesus. Because we are the beloved children of the Blessed Mother, we belong entirely to her, and she wants to give us the very best portion. What is the best portion? It is Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life. When Jesus visited the house of Martha and Mary, He said to Mary, who sat at His feet listening intently to His words, “There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her” (Lk 10:42).
      The Blessed Mother does not want us to stray from the path of salvation. She wants us to discover the truth that sets us free. She desires that we not perish or die but live forever. Therefore, she seeks to lead us to her Son Jesus, who makes all this possible—the One who is our way, our truth, and our life.

And I am with you so that peace may win in you and around you, because it is with this intention God has sent me to you. Thank you for having responded to my call.

The one who plans and executes the apparitions of the Blessed Mother in Medjugorje is God Himself. The Blessed Mother comes to us living on this earth by God’s command through Medjugorje. As a messenger delivering God’s message, the Blessed Mother once again reminds us why she is coming to this world: “Because it is God's intention in sending me to you, I am with you so that peace may triumph within you and around you.”
      God wants peace to triumph within us and around us. To make this peace possible, the Blessed Mother stays with us, teaching, inviting, and calling us through numerous messages to pray with our hearts, have firm faith, repent, and live lives of sacrifice and penance. Only we can respond to this invitation and call. No one else can do it for us. What will happen when we respond to this call? We will receive the one and only thing we truly need—the best portion. We will be led to Jesus, who is our way, our truth, and our life, and we will experience peace triumphing within us and around us.
   
 
 
June 25, 2024

"Dear children! I rejoice with you and thank God for permitting me to be with you, to lead you and love you. Little children, peace is in danger and the family is under attack. I am calling you, little children: return to prayer in the family. Put Sacred scripture in a visible place and read it every day. Love God above all that it may be good for you on earth. Thank you for having responded to my call."


Dear children! I rejoice with you and thank God for permitting me to be with you, to lead you and love you.


Today marks the 43rd anniversary of Our Lady’s apparitions in Medjugorje. Forty-three years is a significant span of time. During these years, Our Lady has appeared daily, and the apparitions continue today through three visionaries—Marija, Ivan, and Vicka. This long and ongoing presence of Our Lady is an extraordinary event in history, and such a prolonged apparition is unlikely to happen again on earth.

   The Medjugorje apparitions are part of God’s plan, and they continue because He has permitted Our Lady to appear for this extended period. Why has God allowed these apparitions for 43 years? Because of His love for us. God wants all of humanity, His beloved children, to receive salvation and peace through Jesus. Thus, the Medjugorje apparitions are a profound expression of God’s love for all humanity.

    Among all of God’s creations, Our Lady is the one who understands His will and plan the most perfectly and obeys it completely. Nothing is more important to her than God’s will. That is why God has sent her as His messenger to reveal His plan and guide its fulfillment.

   Though Our Lady comes to us as God’s messenger, there is also her own willingness involved. As the Mother of all humanity, she deeply loves her children and desires that they all attain salvation and peace. Her concern for her children never ceases, and that is why she continues to visit us, responding to God’s call for so many years.

   On this 43rd anniversary of her apparitions, Our Lady once again addresses us as “dear children.” For her, the Mother of all nations, it does not matter what race, language, religion, skin color, or status her children have. Even those who have committed grave sins and distanced themselves from God are not excluded from her love. Her love mirrors God’s love, “who causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Mt 5:45).

   Today, Our Lady says, "I rejoice with you." We experience joy for many reasons in life, but the fact that Our Lady is with us and rejoices with us is a joy beyond compare. As the Mother of God, the Mother of Jesus, the Mother of the Church, and the Mother of all humanity, she rejoices with us—how could we not feel immense joy in return? We should say to her, "Dear Mother, I rejoice with you too."

    Because Our Lady is with us, guiding and loving us, we cannot help but rejoice with her. She is with us, so we are not abandoned like orphans. She leads us on the path of holiness, salvation, and peace, and we will never lose our way to God. Through her love, we are empowered to love God, our neighbors, and ourselves even more. All of this is possible because God the Father has allowed Our Lady to be with us, guide us, and love us. Just as Our Lady gives thanks to God, we too must offer our deepest gratitude to Him for allowing her to be with us.


Little children, peace is in danger and the family is under attack. I am calling you, little children: return to prayer in the family. Put Sacred scripture in a visible place and read it every day. 


Our Lady tells us that "peace is in danger and the family is under attack." Who is threatening peace and attacking families? It is Satan and his servants, who incite war, hatred, and destruction, leading us toward ruin. The only way to counter their plans and actions is through prayer and fasting. Today, Our Lady emphasizes the importance of returning to prayer within the family. When families that live, eat, and sleep together also pray together, it fortifies the family as a spiritual fortress. When a family prays together, Satan cannot penetrate or attack that family. A family that prays together becomes a house of love and peace, a small domestic church.

   Just as the tabernacle is the center of the church, the Bible should be the center of the home, which is another small church. If we place the Bible in a visible place where all family members can see it daily, it serves as a constant reminder that God is the center of the family. Reading the Bible together as a family each day transforms our hearts, minds, and lives. The Bible teaches us who God is, what He has done for us, how He wants us to live, and how we can become holy and walk the path of salvation and peace. It contains all the truth and the words of eternal life we need—what more could we ask for? Our Lady simply tells us, “Put Sacred scripture in a visible place and read it every day.” Reading the Bible is a way of listening to God’s Word with the heart, and all we need is love and faith in God. We don’t need deep theological knowledge; we just need the intention to listen to God’s Word and live by it.

   Let us open the Bible every day, both with our families and individually, and ask the Holy Spirit to help Jesus, the Word made flesh, be born in our hearts and souls. Just as the Holy Spirit conceived Jesus in Our Lady’s womb, we can ask for the Holy Spirit’s grace to imprint the image of Jesus in our hearts and souls as we read the scriptures.


Love God above all that it may be good for you on earth. Thank you for having responded to my call.


Our earthly life is much shorter than we often think. Our Lady has said that our life on earth passes in the blink of an eye. We will not live on this earth forever. One day, we will face death and leave this world, but no one knows when that day will come. It could be today, tomorrow, or any day. Therefore, we must live each day as though it were our last.

   If we were to live as though today were our last day, what would be the most important thing for us to do? It would be to love God, the Lord of our lives and the Giver of eternal life. Nothing else matters. From the moment we wake up, we should give thanks to God for allowing us to live another day, and as we go about our daily activities, we should find ways to love God—whether through attending Mass, praying the rosary, reading the Bible, meditating, praying the Stations of the Cross, adoring the Blessed Sacrament, or engaging in charitable service. In the evening, we can kneel in gratitude for the day God has given us. Such a life is truly beautiful in the eyes of God, and it is the most meaningful and successful way to live.

   As mentioned earlier, our lives are like flowers or grass that bloom in the morning and wither by evening. Everything in this world is passing away. Only God remains, and the love we have for Him, as well as the actions we perform out of that love, will endure. Our Lady calls and invites us to believe in this simple yet profound truth and to live it out in our lives. Let us not delay or wait for another time or opportunity. Let us respond to her call and invitation today, at this very moment.

"Dear children! I rejoice with you and thank God for permitting me to be with you, to lead you and love you. Little children, peace is in danger and the family is under attack. I am calling you, little children: return to prayer in the family. Put Sacred scripture in a visible place and read it every day. Love God above all that it may be good for you on earth. Thank you for having responded to my call."
   
 
 
May 25, 2024

 "Dear children! In this time of grace, I am calling you to prayer with the heart. Little children, create prayer groups where you will encourage each other to the good and grow in joy. Little children, you are still far away. That is why continue to convert anew and choose the way of holiness and hope so that God may give you peace in abundance. Thank you for having responded to my call."


Dear children! In this time of grace, I am calling you to prayer with the heart. 


As Our Lady says, this is indeed a "time of grace." Although we cannot see it with our eyes, God is living among us, and through His grace, we are able to live, glorify, give thanks, praise, and pray to Him. What greater grace could there be than the fact that the Lord is with us at this moment and that we can pray, expressing our love for Him and our desire to be with Him? Our Lady calls us to recognize that we are living within this grace and that the most important task we have is to pray with our hearts. She invites us to give everything we have to God, loving Him alone with all our hearts and calling upon His name.

      God alone must be our priority. Our hearts must belong solely to Him. Nothing and no one else should occupy that space in our hearts. When our hearts belong fully to God, we can live as His children, and God can dwell within us.

      When we offer our hearts to God, He takes first place in them. At that moment, we become free, unattached to anything, and we can pray to God with all our hearts. This is how we can put into practice Our Lady’s call to make prayer the first priority in our lives.


Little children, create prayer groups where you will encourage each other to the good and grow in joy. 


While calling each of us to personal prayer from the heart, Our Lady also wants us to pray together with others. She says, "Dear children, create prayer groups that encourage you to do good for each other and grow in joy." The first unit of such a prayer group is the family. When a husband and wife pray together, when parents and children pray together, that is the beginning of a prayer group. Through this family prayer group, family members encourage each other to do good, love and forgive one another, and grow in joy with God and Our Lady. Although this is the ideal, some families may not be able to pray together for various reasons. What should be done in such cases? Even if they cannot physically pray together, they can still pray for one another. Believing that prayer has a positive effect on the family, family members can pray for each other, especially for those facing the most challenging situations. Such prayer, offered with love, will have a greater effect than we can imagine.

      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). This shows that the size of the prayer group does not matter. Two or three people praying together is enough. However, it is essential that even two or three people pray with one heart for their request to be accepted by God. To pray with one heart, we must let go of selfishness and embrace selfless love. The most important requirement for members of a prayer group is selfless love—respecting one another and putting the other person first. Without this, a prayer group cannot thrive.


Little children, you are still far away. That is why continue to convert anew and choose the way of holiness and hope so that God may give you peace in abundance. Thank you for having responded to my call.


Our Lady tells us, "You are still far away." What are we far away from? We are likely far from God and His commandments. To close the distance between ourselves and God, conversion is necessary. Conversion is not a one-time event but something that must happen continuously, every day and every moment. Since we are easily distracted, we need to keep turning our gaze back to God through ongoing conversion. Daily examination of conscience and monthly confession are the minimum requirements for maintaining this continual conversion.

      To draw near to God and live according to His commandments, we must choose the path of holiness and hope, as Our Lady advises. To grow in holiness, we must pray with our hearts, love God with undivided hearts, and avoid sin. We must place our hope not in the transient things of this world but in God, who is unchanging and eternal. By living this way, we will eventually find ourselves closer to God and living according to His commandments without even realizing it.
   
 
 
April 25, 2024
"Dear children! I am with you to tell you that I love you and to encourage you to prayer; because Satan is strong and every day his strength is stronger through those who have chosen death and hatred. You, little children, be prayer and my extended hands of love for all those who are in darkness and seek the light of our God. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! I am with you to tell you that I love you and to encourage you to prayer; because Satan is strong and every day his strength is stronger through those who have chosen death and hatred. 

There is a saying, "Know your enemy, know yourself, and you will win every battle." To win any battle, we must first know our enemy. If we don’t know who the enemy is or what power they have, how can we fight, let alone win?
      In life, we face various battles, but particularly, we engage in a spiritual battle every day. Our spiritual adversary, Satan, is real, even though we cannot see him. He exerts tremendous influence over us and the world, even trying with all his might to destroy humanity and the earth itself. Despite this, Satan deceives us into thinking he doesn't exist, disguising himself in ways that seem appealing, so we often fail to recognize his presence and influence. Satan is real, and his power is far stronger than we often realize. We must never forget this.
      In this month’s message and throughout other messages, Our Lady has reminded us that Satan is strong. However, she also reassures us that if we do not allow him, he has no power over us. Yet some people, by choosing death and hatred, unknowingly surrender themselves to Satan and fall under his control. Satan grows stronger through those who become his servants, spreading his evil influence.
      If Satan strengthens himself through those who serve him, we too need a strong ally. Our ally is Our Lady. Just as some choose death and hatred to join Satan’s army, we must choose life and love to join Our Lady’s army. Out of her love for us, Our Lady invites us to join her army voluntarily. As our commander, she encourages us with love and prayer to help us win the spiritual war against Satan and his forces.
      The saying "Know your enemy, know yourself, and you will win every battle" applies here. To win the spiritual battle against Satan, we must first know ourselves. Above all, we need to remember that we are children of God. Even if we are tempted by Satan, fall into sin, or lose our faith in God, He remains our Father, and we are His children. This truth never changes, no matter what happens. Whether we recognize it or not, God created us in His image. Moreover, God loves us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to be our Savior. Jesus died on the cross to forgive our sins and open the gates of eternal life for us. Saint Paul beautifully expresses God's love for us through Jesus:
      “What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ [Jesus] who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? As it is written: “For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:31-39).
      We are children of God, created in His image. God gave His only Son, Jesus, for our sake, and Jesus, seated at the right hand of the Father, intercedes for us. Therefore, we have nothing to fear. However, the greatest danger lies in forgetting this truth and acting with arrogance, believing we are capable of everything on our own. This is when we are most vulnerable, as Satan, who waits for such moments, is ready to exploit our weaknesses and separate us from God. That’s why Saint Peter warns us: “Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour” (1 Pt 5:8).
      Although we are children of God, created in His image, we are also beings made from dust. Every year, on Ash Wednesday, the priest reminds us of this when he places ashes on our heads and says, "Remember, man, you are dust, and to dust you shall return." We are fragile beings, far weaker than we realize. We often misuse our free will to satisfy our uncontrolled desires, choosing evil over good and committing sin. Therefore, we must always remember that, although free will is a precious gift from God, it can also be a source of weakness.

You, little children, be prayer and my extended hands of love for all those who are in darkness and seek the light of our God. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Upon hearing Our Lady’s message, “Pray for all those who are searching for the light of our God in the darkness and extend my loving hand to them,” a story from the Gospel of Luke came to mind. Let me share it with you:
      “A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Lk 7:36-50).
      In this story, the sinful woman, despite living in sin, longed to escape the darkness of her sins and sought God’s light. Her great fortune was that Jesus had come to her town. Although the invitation to dine came from Simon the Pharisee, it almost seems as if Jesus went to the house for the sake of the woman. Having heard about how Jesus forgave sinners and even dined with them, she mustered the courage to enter the Pharisee’s house. She didn’t say a word, but through her tears, the washing of Jesus’ feet, and the pouring of perfume, she demonstrated her repentance and asked for His love, forgiveness, and mercy. Jesus, knowing she was genuinely seeking God’s light, forgave her sins and extended His mercy to her.
      Simon the Pharisee, on the other hand, remained judgmental, even while witnessing her tearful repentance. He saw her but failed to truly see her heart. Spiritually, he was blind. Though he had invited Jesus into his home to share a meal, he didn’t recognize who Jesus truly was or understand how God worked. He didn’t grasp God’s nature.
      People living in darkness are those living in sin. Do they want to remain in that darkness? No. Even though they live in sin, they also wish to escape it because the light of conscience God planted in them still flickers. Therefore, we must not condemn them for their sin. They are God’s beloved children, as precious as we are. We must look upon them with mercy and compassion and help them, both humanly and spiritually, to escape the darkness. This is why Our Lady calls us to “pray for all those who are searching for the light of our God in the darkness and extend my loving hand to them."
   
 
 
March 25, 2024
"Dear children! In this time of grace, pray with me for the good to win in you and around you. In a special way, little children, pray united with Jesus on His Way of the Cross. Into your prayers put this humanity, which wanders without God and without His love. Be prayer, be light, and be witnesses to all those whom you meet, little children, so that the merciful God may have mercy toward you. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! In this time of grace, pray with me for the good to win in you and around you. In a special way, little children, pray united with Jesus on His Way of the Cross. Into your prayers put this humanity, which wanders without God and without His love.

According to the Church’s liturgical calendar, March 25 is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. However, today, March 25, the Church has moved this celebration to April 8, because Holy Week began yesterday with Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.
      Today, the second day of Holy Week 2024, Our Lady uses the phrase "this time of grace." Although every moment is a time of grace, it seems that Our Lady is particularly referring to this Holy Week as a special time of grace. Holy Week is the most grace-filled time, as it contains the central mysteries of our faith.
      Yesterday, on Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week, our Lord Jesus entered Jerusalem to suffer for us. Riding humbly on a donkey, He was met with great excitement from the crowd. Many spread their cloaks on the road, and others laid down leafy branches they had cut from the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Hosanna in the highest!" (Mk 11:9-10). "Hosanna" means "Save us!" The people recognized Jesus as the Savior and asked for deliverance. However, they expected Him to save them through worldly means, such as by using power and authority to free them from Roman oppression. Even the twelve apostles and Jesus' disciples had similar expectations. But Jesus came to save them in a way they did not understand—through His suffering and death on the cross. His entry into Jerusalem was not to ascend to a worldly throne, but to be crucified. Only through this path could He atone for humanity's sins and offer salvation.
      On Holy Thursday, Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Holy Orders during the Last Supper with His apostles in an upper room on Mount Zion, just outside Jerusalem's city walls. Jesus took bread and wine, consecrating them as His body and blood, and gave them to the apostles, thus instituting the Eucharist. After blessing the oils, He anointed Peter and John as priests, establishing the sacrament of Holy Orders. The other apostles were not immediately ordained, likely because of Judas' impending betrayal. Jesus did not ordain Judas, who was destined to betray Him and take his own life.
      After Jesus’ ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit, Peter and John ordained the other apostles as priests, following Jesus' command. The entire Church, united under Peter, the first pope, celebrated the first Mass, thus fully instituting the Eucharist. The Eucharist, which commemorates Jesus' suffering, death, resurrection, and all that He is, and the sacrament of Holy Orders, which ordains those who celebrate the Eucharist, are two of the most important pillars of the Church. As St. Augustine said, "The Eucharist makes the Church, and the Church makes the Eucharist." Since the Eucharist cannot exist without the priest, and the Church cannot exist without the Eucharist, the priesthood is essential to the Church.
      On Holy Thursday night, after establishing the Eucharist and Holy Orders, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives to pray in agony, sweating blood. He prayed, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will" (Mk 14:36). Soon after, a mob sent by the chief priests and elders, led by the traitor Judas, arrived with swords and clubs to arrest Him. Jesus was taken to the house of the high priest, where He was falsely tried, beaten, and mocked throughout the night. Early the next morning, He was sent to Pontius Pilate’s residence for trial.
      Good Friday came. After an unjust trial before Pilate, Jesus was severely scourged, His flesh torn, and His bones exposed. A crown of thorns was placed on His head, and He was subjected to mockery. Finally, Jesus was given the cross to carry. Upon seeing the cross, Jesus embraced it, offering a prayer of gratitude: "Father, thank You for allowing me to carry this cross to fulfill Your will."
      Jesus carried His cross to Golgotha, where He was crucified. From the cross, He prayed, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do" (Lk 23:34.) This prayer was initially directed at the Roman soldiers who nailed Him to the cross, the chief priests, scribes, Pharisees, and elders who mocked Him, but in reality, it was a prayer for all humanity, from the past, present, and future. We must remember that this prayer includes each one of us.
      One more thing to emphasize is that Jesus did not offer this prayer just once. He prayed it continuously during His trial before the chief priests and Pilate, while carrying the cross, and throughout His crucifixion.
      Another key point to remember is that Our Lady, united with Jesus in spirit, prayed this prayer with Him. This is why, in this month’s message, Our Lady says, "Dear children! In this time of grace, pray with me for the good to win in you and around you. In a special way, little children, pray united with Jesus on His Way of the Cross." Jesus and Mary triumphed over all evil with goodness. They kept only goodness in their hearts and prayed for its victory, even in the face of the greatest evil. Having personally experienced this, Our Lady invites us to unite with Jesus on His way of the cross and pray for humanity, which lives without God and His love, lost in sin.
      On Good Friday evening, Jesus' body was laid in the tomb, and the scattered apostles, along with other disciples and holy women, gathered in the upper room where the Eucharist had been instituted. But Our Lady went out alone. She retraced the way of the cross, starting from Pilate's residence, where Jesus had received His sentence, and slowly walked the path Jesus took, stopping at the places where He had fallen and bled, kissing the ground. She eventually made her way to Golgotha.
      Holy Saturday arrived. Our Lady once again walked the way of the cross, just as she had done the day before. As Jesus had foretold before His passion, Our Lady met the resurrected Jesus at 11 p.m. on Golgotha.
      Even though Our Lady experienced Jesus' resurrection, ascension, and the descent of the Holy Spirit, she continued to walk the way of the cross every day, starting from Good Friday. Although we now follow the 14 stations of the way of the cross, Our Lady established a path of 12 stations behind her house in Ephesus, Turkey, where she lived for nine years before her Assumption, and she prayed the way of the cross daily. Our Catholic Church has inherited this tradition, praying the way of the cross not only during Lent but whenever the opportunity arises. If we, like Our Lady, pray the way of the cross every day, especially in union with Jesus, it will help us live out Jesus' words: "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mk 8:34).

Be prayer, be light, and be witnesses to all those whom you meet, little children, so that the merciful God may have mercy toward you. Thank you for having responded to my call.

In the earlier part of this message, Our Lady said, "Pray." But in the latter part, she goes further, saying, "Become prayer." She also calls us to "become light." There is only one thing necessary for us to become prayer and light: unity with Jesus. To be united with Jesus, we must entrust ourselves entirely to Him. We must entrust everything to Jesus and let the prayer He offered in Gethsemane flow continuously from our hearts: "Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you" (Mk 14:36). By constantly praying to live according to God’s will rather than our own, and by seeking and following His will in even the smallest matters, we will fulfill this call.
      Seeing us live in this way, the merciful God will pour out His mercy upon us, and we will naturally become witnesses of our faith and God’s mercy to those who observe us.
   
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