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                         
January 25, 2022
"Dear children! Today I am calling you to return to personal prayer. Little children, do not forget that Satan is strong and that he wants to attract all the more souls to himself. That is why, you be vigilant in prayer and resolute in the good. I am with you and am blessing all of you with my motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Today I am calling you to return to personal prayer.

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle. While the Catholic Church does not commemorate the conversion of any other saint with a feast day, St. Paul's conversion is an exception. Why? Because his conversion had an immense impact on Christianity. He was the apostle who, more than anyone else, spread the Gospel to the Gentiles and established the foundations of Christian faith and theology, greatly solidifying the structure of Christianity.
      Now, let us revisit his conversion story. Paul, originally named Saul, was a fervent Jew, educated under the great rabbi Gamaliel, and was destined to become a prominent Jewish religious leader. He led the persecution of Christians with zeal, even setting out for Damascus to arrest Christians and bring them to Jerusalem. But on the way, something extraordinary happened. As he neared Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Saul asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The voice replied, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
      Saul got up but was blind, so his companions led him into Damascus. For three days, he was blind and did not eat or drink. During this time, he prayed in solitude. Meanwhile, the Lord appeared in a vision to a disciple named Ananias, instructing him to go to Saul and lay hands on him so he could regain his sight. Ananias initially hesitated, knowing Saul's reputation for persecuting Christians, but the Lord reassured him, saying, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel."
      Ananias obeyed, went to Saul, laid hands on him, and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road—has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He was baptized, ate, and regained his strength (cf. Acts 9:1-18).
      St. Paul's dramatic conversion teaches many lessons, but in connection with this month's message from the Virgin Mary—calling us to return to personal prayer—it is important to reflect on the role of personal prayer in his conversion. After encountering the risen Jesus, Paul was blinded and utterly dependent on others for help. For three days, in his blindness, he dedicated himself to personal prayer. He fasted and spent those days in deep prayer, communing directly with Jesus. Though we do not know the content of his prayer, we can be certain that it came from the depths of his heart. He prayed earnestly, and only Jesus was before him. During this time, he had a vision of Ananias coming to lay hands on him, and it happened exactly as he saw.
      Those three days of personal prayer marked Paul's first true encounter with Jesus. In that time, he likely reflected deeply on his past and present, repented for his sins, and entrusted his future to Jesus. He must have expressed immense gratitude for the mercy Jesus showed him, knowing that Jesus was fully aware of his past persecutions but still extended forgiveness.
      The Virgin Mary, in this month’s message, calls us to return to personal prayer, which means nurturing a deeply personal and intimate relationship with Jesus. If we do not have such a relationship, like Paul, we need to spend time alone with Jesus, listening to His words, and laying bare all that is in our hearts in prayer.
      Whether before the Blessed Sacrament or the crucifix, we should kneel, gaze upon Jesus, and call upon His name, saying, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening" (1 Sm 3:9). Even if we are not in a place or time where this is possible, we can still close our eyes, quietly recognize the presence of the Lord, open our hearts to Him, and engage in a conversation of love in the silence of our hearts.

Little children, do not forget that Satan is strong and that he wants to attract all the more souls to himself. That is why, you be vigilant in prayer and resolute in the good. I am with you and am blessing all of you with my motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call.

The Virgin Mary frequently speaks of Satan in her messages, and this month is no exception. She reminds us, “Little children, do not forget that Satan is strong and that he wants to attract all the more souls to himself.” Even after 40 years of apparitions in Medjugorje, the Virgin Mary continues to warn us of Satan's presence and supernatural power. As she says, Satan is real and stronger than we often imagine. Since his time is running out, he is working more intensely than ever, seeking to draw souls away from God and into sin, leading them to destruction.
      But the Virgin Mary doesn’t just warn us; she also offers the solution to protect ourselves from Satan’s attacks: prayer. Prayer heightens our spiritual sensitivity, enabling us to discern between good and evil, and it keeps us close to God, helping us to pursue goodness and avoid evil. Those who remain vigilant in prayer are attuned to Satan's attacks and can resist them with God's strength. Like Jesus, they can say, "Get away, Satan! It is written: ‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.’" (Mt 4:10).
      Even though Satan is strong, if we stand firm in prayer and say "No" to his temptations with kindness and determination, he cannot harm us. Moreover, with the Virgin Mary by our side, offering us her motherly blessing, Satan cannot claim victory over us. Just as a child feels safe in the presence of their mother, we should entrust ourselves completely to the Virgin Mary and, with her blessing, confidently face and resist Satan’s attacks.
   
 
 
December 25, 2021
“Dear children! Today I am carrying my Son Jesus to you, for Him to give you His peace. Little children, without peace you do not have a future or blessing; therefore return to prayer, because the fruit of prayer is joy and faith, without which you cannot live. Today's blessing which we give you, carry to your families and enrich all those whom you meet, that they may feel the grace which you are receiving. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

Dear children! Today I am carrying my Son Jesus to you, for Him to give you His peace. Little children, without peace you do not have a future or blessing.

When we love someone, we give them the best we have and are willing to sacrifice for them. The Virgin Mary, who loves us as her children, desires to give us the most precious gift: Jesus. There is nothing more valuable or essential for us than Jesus. He is both true God and true man, and those who have God possess everything. If we have Jesus, we lack nothing. Therefore, we should open our hearts and arms wide to receive Him, thanking the Virgin Mary for bringing Him to us.
      We should also reflect deeply on the sacrifice the Virgin Mary made to bring us Jesus. She conceived Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, but according to the law of the time, an unmarried woman found pregnant could be stoned to death. Despite knowing this, the Virgin Mary accepted the risk of death to fulfill God's will and bring salvation to humanity. She loved us so much that she was willing to sacrifice her life for our salvation.
      Now, the Virgin Mary, who is in heaven with Jesus, continues to visit the earth through her apparitions in Medjugorje. Why? Because of her deep love for her children and her desire for the salvation of all humanity. As the Mother of all, she sees that her children are on the path of destruction, and for over 40 years, she has been appearing in Medjugorje, giving countless messages to awaken and guide the world back to God and to Jesus for peace and salvation. These apparitions are a profound expression of her love for us, and this love is always active, which is why she calls us her beloved children.
      This Christmas, the Virgin Mary brings us the greatest gift of love: Jesus. Only He can give us peace. Jesus is the one who reconciled us with God and brought peace between people. When we welcome Jesus into our hearts and lives, we experience true peace, unlike anything the world can offer. Jesus is the King of Peace, and He is peace itself. By placing Him at the center of our lives, we live in true peace. Without Jesus, there is no peace, no future, and no blessing for us, because He is the one who opens the way to our future and blesses us.

Therefore return to prayer, because the fruit of prayer is joy and faith, without which you cannot live. 

The Virgin Mary clearly tells us what we must do to welcome Jesus, the source of peace and blessing: prayer. She says, "Therefore, return to prayer." If there were another way, she would have told us. But by urging us to return to prayer, she reveals that prayer is the only path. She also reminds us that "the fruit of prayer is joy and faith, without which you cannot live," emphasizing that without prayer, we cannot truly live.
      Yet, how often do we prioritize prayer in our lives? Many people spend countless hours and effort on everything but prayer. We dedicate time to many things, but when it comes to prayer, we are often reluctant. And yet, prayer is the most essential and fundamental aspect of our lives, our salvation, and our well-being. Now is the time to take prayer seriously. Our lives are short, like flowers that bloom in the morning and wither by evening. We must wake up and begin to pray. Those who already pray should intensify their efforts. Those who pray only for themselves and their families should begin to pray for the conversion of sinners, for peace in the world, and for the salvation of all humanity.

Today's blessing which we give you, carry to your families and enrich all those whom you meet, that they may feel the grace which you are receiving. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Through the words "today's blessing which we give you," the Virgin Mary reveals that both she and Jesus are blessing us together—an abundant, double blessing. She desires to give us as much blessing as possible, and she encourages us to share this blessing with our families and everyone we encounter.
      We cannot bless others without love in our hearts. Jesus and the Virgin Mary bless us because they love us, and they want us to carry this love in our hearts as we bless our families and everyone we meet. In the morning, we can pray for each member of our family, whether they are near or far, blessing them individually. As we leave our homes, we can offer silent prayers of blessing for everyone we meet, even strangers. By doing this, our hearts will overflow with love and peace.
   
 
 
November 25, 2021

"Dear children! I am with you in this time of mercy and I am calling all of you to be carriers of peace and love in this world where, through me, little children, God is calling you to be prayer and love, and an expression of Heaven here on earth. May your hearts be filled with joy and faith in God; that, little children, you may have complete trust in His holy will. That is why I am with you, because He, the Most High, is sending me among you to encourage you to the hope; and you will be peacemakers in this peaceless world. Thank you for having responded to my call.”


Dear children! I am with you in this time of mercy and I am calling all of you to be carriers of peace and love in this world where, through me, little children, God is calling you to be prayer and love, and an expression of Heaven here on earth. May your hearts be filled with joy and faith in God.


The Virgin Mary describes the present moment as a "time of mercy," bringing us great joy and consolation. However, this also makes us aware that this time may not last forever and that there could come a day when God's mercy may no longer be available in the same way. Therefore, if we feel that we are living in a time of God's mercy, it is essential to reflect seriously on how we should respond. This time of mercy calls us to conversion, to deepen our faith in God, to pray more fervently, and to give thanks to God, who, in His love, has sent the Virgin Mary to us so that we might receive peace and salvation through her guidance. The presence of the Virgin Mary among us, leading us to Jesus, is itself a profound expression of God's mercy.

      We are living in this world, but one day we will leave it. Though we do not know when that time will come, we know that our time on earth is limited. During this brief period on earth, God is teaching us through the Virgin Mary what we should do. He calls us to become not just people who pray and love, but to become prayer and love itself—a reflection of heaven on earth. Even while living here, God desires that we long for heaven and live in union with Him as if we were already there. By doing so, we will naturally bring peace and love to others, filling our hearts with joy and faith in God.


That, little children, you may have complete trust in His holy will. That is why I am with you, because He, the Most High, is sending me among you to encourage you to the hope; and you will be peacemakers in this peaceless world. Thank you for having responded to my call.


God's holy will is clear: He desires that we love Him and our neighbors, and that through this love, we may attain peace and salvation. As we become people of prayer, love, and a reflection of heaven, and as we spread peace and love, we experience God's will being fulfilled in us. When we experience this, we develop complete trust in God's holy will and are eager to continue living in accordance with it, knowing how good it is. Our desire to live within God's will grows stronger as we see the fruits of peace and love manifest in our lives.

      Soon, the season of Advent will begin—a time of hope. Advent is a period of anticipation and reflection, as we remember that God the Father sent Jesus as our Savior through the Virgin Mary, and we await His return to complete our salvation. As Christians, we are always a people of hope, but during Advent, our hope in God the Father increases, as we focus on the gift of His only Son for our salvation.

      The Virgin Mary is the woman of Advent. Though she never imagined that she would be the mother of the Savior, she prayed fervently for His coming. God the Father chose Mary of Nazareth to be the mother of the Savior, and through her, Jesus came into the world. Just as God once chose Mary, He now sends her to us through Medjugorje, encouraging us to have hope. Together with the Virgin Mary, we remember the coming of Jesus as our Savior, we await His return, and we fix our hearts and gaze on the Jesus who is already present among us, filling us with hope.

      When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, and a great host of heavenly beings praised God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Lk 2:14). They sang of peace on earth for those who please God because Jesus, the Prince of Peace, had been born.

      Jesus is our peace. We are those on whom His favor rests, and His peace is with us. Our mission is to bring peace to this world, which lacks peace. How is this possible? It becomes possible when we fully welcome Jesus into our hearts. If we fix our hearts and gaze on Jesus, and place all our hope in Him, we will become bearers of peace in this world.
   
 
 
October 25, 2021
"Dear children! Return to prayer because who prays is not afraid of the future; who prays is open to life and respects the life of others; who prays, little children, feels the freedom of the children of God and in joy of heart serves for the good for his brother-man. Because God is love and freedom, therefore, little children, when they want to put you in bonds and to use you, it is not from God. Because God loves and gives His peace to every creature; and that is why He sent me to you to help you to grow in holiness. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Return to prayer because who prays is not afraid of the future; who prays is open to life and respects the life of others; who prays, little children, feels the freedom of the children of God and in joy of heart serves for the good for his brother-man. 

Most people worry about the future because they do not know what will happen, which can cause fear and anxiety. To prepare for the future, they save money, buy insurance, and take other precautions. While these actions are understandable, the Virgin Mary teaches us a different way to prepare for the future. She says that those who pray do not fear what lies ahead.  Why is it that those who pray do not fear the future? It is because they firmly trust in the mercy and providence of the good God. They know they are in God's hands and that the future is not in their control but a gift that comes from God’s power and will.
       Life is a precious gift that only God can give. Those who pray are open to life because they love God, the source of life, and open their hearts to Him. They also respect the lives of others, knowing that God is the giver of life, and that each person's life is valuable beyond measure.
Prayer reveals to us who God is and who we are in relation to Him. Through prayer, we come to realize a simple yet profound truth: God is our Father, and we are His children. As Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer, God provides for us, forgives our sins, and saves us from evil. We live as beloved children under the care and protection of our merciful Father. Because of this relationship, we feel the freedom that comes from being God's children. Moreover, this relationship enables us to see all people not just as strangers but as our brothers and sisters, since God is the Father of all. This understanding calls us to love others and serve them with joy, just as we would do for our family members.
      Since all of this is only possible through prayer, the Virgin Mary urges us to return to prayer. Prayer is not reserved for specific people like priests, religious, or believers—it is for everyone. The Virgin Mary calls all her children, all people, to return to prayer.

Because God is love and freedom, therefore, little children, when they want to put you in bonds and to use you, it is not from God. 

Here, "they" likely refers to people who do not see others as their brothers and sisters but instead as objects to be exploited and controlled. Some people treat others with love and respect, while others view them as enemies or as mere tools for their personal gain, using them for their own benefit without regard for their dignity.
      This exploitation does not only happen among those who do not know or believe in God. It can also happen among those who consider themselves devout believers. How is this possible? It occurs because they do not truly know who God is. These individuals are like the scribes and Pharisees mentioned in the New Testament (cf. Mt 23:1-33). Since they do not understand that God is love and freedom, they cannot practice love and freedom in their relationships with others. Instead, they seek to control and manipulate others for their own benefit.  The Virgin Mary warns that such behavior does not come from God. Often, these actions are disguised as good or spiritual, which is why we need to discern carefully through prayer and respond firmly. "God is love and freedom" is the key to this discernment. Any relationship that lacks love and freedom is not God.

God loves you and gives peace to all His creatures, which is why He has sent me to help you grow in holiness. Thank you for responding to my call.

The central figure of the Medjugorje apparitions is not the Virgin Mary, but God. The Virgin Mary comes to us not by her own will but because God has sent her. Out of His love for all creation and His desire to give peace to all creatures, God has sent the Virgin Mary to help us grow in holiness. God desires our growth in holiness but knows that we cannot achieve it on our own. That is why He has sent the Virgin Mary as our helper.
      The first step we must take is to acknowledge that we cannot grow in holiness by our own strength. With gratitude to God for sending us the Virgin Mary as our guide, we should reach out to her for help.
      To respond to the Virgin Mary's call, we need to listen to her messages. By reading her messages daily, we can hear her call. Then, we should ask for her help to live according to her guidance. As we strive to follow her words, we will grow in holiness, slowly but surely, becoming holier without even realizing it.
   
 
 
September 25, 2021

"Dear children! Pray, witness and rejoice with me because the Most High continues to send me to lead you on the way of holiness. Be aware, little children, that life is short and eternity is waiting for you to give glory to God with your being, with all the saints. Little children, do not worry about earthly things, but long for Heaven. Heaven will be your goal and joy will begin to reign in your heart. I am with you and bless all of you with my motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call."


Dear children! Pray, witness and rejoice with me because the Most High continues to send me to lead you on the way of holiness. 


The Lord said to Moses: Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy” (Lv 19:1-2). This command from God to the Israelites calls them to holiness, not merely by their own merit, but because God Himself is holy. Walking the path of holiness means becoming like God, reflecting His image. To continue on this path, we must focus solely on God and live according to His Word. Yet, this is not an easy task. Just as Peter began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus while walking on water due to the stormy winds, so too do we face many challenges in life that make it difficult to remain focused on holiness.

       However, just as God sent the Virgin Mary as the "Star of the Sea" to guide us, He continues to send her to lead us through the trials of life. She helps us keep our gaze on God, reminding us to pray constantly and bear witness to our belonging to a holy God, even amidst the storms of life. We are not alone. The Virgin Mary is with us, journeying alongside us on the path to holiness, and with her, we can move forward with joy.


Be aware, little children, that life is short and eternity is waiting for you to give glory to God with your being, with all the saints. 


As children, time often seemed to pass slowly as we waited to grow older. However, as adults, we realize how quickly time seems to fly. Though life may seem long, as the Virgin Mary reminds us, it is actually quite short. The Psalmist expresses this truth by saying, “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). The Virgin Mary has even referred to our lives as "the blink of an eye," emphasizing how brief our time on earth truly is.

      Despite the shortness of our earthly life, our existence does not end here. There is another life waiting for us beyond death—eternal life. In eternity, time no longer has any meaning, and we will no longer count the years. There, all the saints who have gone before us await us, ready to glorify God together with us. The Virgin Mary urges us to remain conscious of this reality.  Without preparing for eternal life, we will not be able to enter into the glory of heaven. Recognizing the fleeting nature of earthly life and keeping our minds focused on eternity, we can begin here and now to live in a way that glorifies God. Then, one day, we will join the saints in glorifying God in eternity.


Little children, do not worry about earthly things, but long for Heaven. Heaven will be your goal and joy will begin to reign in your heart. I am with you and bless all of you with my motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call.


A long time ago, during a month-long retreat in preparation for ordination, a priest once said, “Our heart is a factory of worries.” This phrase struck a chord with me. Our hearts are indeed filled with endless worries about all kinds of things, even about the future that has not yet come. In this restless state, the Virgin Mary tells us, “Do not worry about earthly things, but long for heaven.” Most of our worries stem from concerns about earthly matters—things necessary for living in this world. Yet the Virgin Mary calls us to shift our focus from these concerns to longing for heaven.

      We may wonder, “Can we really live without worrying about earthly things?” The answer is yes. Even if we worry, have our concerns always been resolved as we hoped? Not necessarily. God does not want us to waste time worrying about earthly matters. Instead, we should pray, entrust everything to God, and lift our hearts toward heaven. Jesus teaches us, “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life,* which the Son of Man will give you” (Jn 6:27).

      The more we worry about earthly matters, the more our hearts become entangled in them, pulling us away from God and heaven. The Virgin Mary knows this all too well, which is why she advises us not to worry about earthly things. She reminds us that life on earth is fleeting, and everything in it will pass away. There is nothing we can take with us from this world. Therefore, nothing in this life should become our ultimate goal. Heaven, where eternal life awaits, must be our goal. Everything we have—our time, money, ideas, hearts, and more—should be directed toward entering heaven. Only then will we experience true joy, the joy that reigns in our hearts and is the fruit of living with heaven as our ultimate goal.
   
 
 
August 25, 2021

"Dear children! With joy I am calling all of you, little children, who have responded to my call: be joy and peace. Witness with your lives Heaven, which I am bringing to you. It is time, little children, that you be a reflection of my love for all those who do not love and whose hearts hatred has conquered. Do not forget: I am with you and intercede for all of you before my Son Jesus, that He may give you His peace. Thank you for having responded to my call."


Dear children! With joy I am calling all of you, little children, who have responded to my call: be joy and peace. 


The Apostle Paul tells us that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are the fruits of the Holy Spirit (cf. Gal 5:22-23). These virtues are not achieved by our own power but are gifts that come from the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot receive these gifts. Paul advises us: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit” (Gal 5:25).

      In this month’s message, the Virgin Mary calls us to be joy and peace. If we connect this to Paul’s advice, it means that to become joy and peace, we must first walk by the Spirit. For this, the Holy Spirit must dwell within us, guiding our lives with His power and presence. We should therefore pray daily for the Holy Spirit to come, remain with us, and grant us the gift of becoming joy and peace. A simple yet powerful prayer taught by the Virgin Mary in To the Priests, Our Lady’s Beloved Sons, through Father Stefano Gobbi, can serve as our petition for the Holy Spirit: “Come, Holy Spirit, through the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Your beloved spouse!”


Be joy and peace. Witness with your lives Heaven, which I am bringing to you. 


The Virgin Mary tells us that she is bringing heaven to us. What is this heaven? It is God Himself, and more specifically, Jesus Christ, true God and true man. The Virgin Mary assures us that God exists and that Jesus lives among us, calling us to place Him at the center of our lives. Wherever God is, wherever Jesus is present, there is heaven. Those who firmly believe in God’s existence and in Jesus’ presence already begin to experience the life of heaven here on earth.

      Through her apparitions and messages, the Virgin Mary continually teaches us how, through prayer, fasting, faith, and repentance, we can be born as citizens of heaven and live the life of heaven, even in this world. Although our feet may be on the ground, our heads are in the heavens. Our lives, as citizens of heaven, must be different from those who do not yet know heaven, not to look down on them, but to set a good example and help them taste heaven and live the life of heaven from this world onward. We can bear witness to heaven by trusting in God, placing Him at the center of everything, and living according to His will. We must live free from worldly attachments, demonstrate unconditional love, and selflessly serve others for God’s sake. Finally, we can bear witness to heaven by leading a spiritual life of constant prayer.


It is time, little children, that you be a reflection of my love for all those who do not love and whose hearts hatred has conquered. Do not forget: I am with you and intercede for all of you before my Son Jesus, that He may give you His peace. Thank you for having responded to my call.


The Virgin Mary, conceived without sin, lived a life free from sin because her heart was filled with love for God and for humanity. Even when she witnessed the greed, violence, and hatred of those around her, she did not condemn them but prayed for their conversion and salvation. Before His death on the cross, Jesus gave this sinless mother to all humanity as our mother (cf. Jn 19:26).

      It is this same Virgin Mary who now comes to us, calling us “Dear children!” without distinction between good or bad, transcending race, religion, language, gender, age, and culture. She loves each and every person on this earth just as they are. That is why she can call out to all of humanity, “My dear children, my beloved children, my little children!” She tells us that now is the time to show her love to all those whose hearts have been conquered by hatred. Those who do not love and whose hearts are filled with hatred are not to be met with our hatred or judgment, but with love and mercy. They are our brothers and sisters whom we must embrace with open arms.

      However, it is not possible for us to show the Virgin Mary’s love to those whose hearts are ruled by hatred on our own strength. We need Jesus and the Virgin Mary to be with us and empower us. That is why the Virgin Mary assures us that she is with us and that she is interceding for us before her Son, Jesus, so that we may receive His peace. She reminds us not to forget this. Let us never forget that we are not alone, that the Virgin Mary is always with us, interceding for us before Jesus. Let us always remember that Jesus, through the Virgin Mary’s intercession, gives us the strength to fill our hearts with love and peace.
   
 
 
July 25, 2021

"Dear children! I am calling you to be prayer for all those who do not pray. Little children, witness with your lives the joy that you are mine and God will heed your prayers and give you peace in this peaceless world where pride and selfishness reign. Little children, you be generous and be the love of my love, so that pagans can feel that you are mine and convert to my Immaculate Heart. Thank you for having responded to my call."


Dear children! I am calling you to be prayer for all those who do not pray. 


Prayer is the tool that opens our hearts to God and allows God's heart to be opened to us. Without prayer, we cannot repent, know who God is, have faith in Him, or experience the salvation and peace He offers. Through prayer, we can lead happy and peaceful lives in this world and enter into eternal life. Therefore, for us, prayer is more important than anything else—it is a matter of life and death. If we pray, we live; if we don’t, we die. For this reason, over the past 40 years, the Virgin Mary has consistently appeared in Medjugorje, urging us repeatedly to "pray, pray, pray." She has said that she will never tire of speaking about prayer because she knows all too well what happens when we neglect it. With deep concern for the present and future of her children, she calls us to pray until prayer becomes life itself.

      Despite the Virgin Mary’s concern and invitation, how many of us truly pray until prayer becomes our life and place it at the forefront of our daily lives? We are not in a position to judge those who neglect or do not pray. Instead, we should devote ourselves even more to prayer, becoming prayer for all those who do not pray, as the Virgin Mary asks this month. If we not only pray for the salvation and peace of those who do not pray but also become prayer itself, we will be fulfilling God’s love and neighborly love. This will also bring great grace and holiness to ourselves.


Little children, witness with your lives the joy that you are mine and God will heed your prayers and give you peace in this peaceless world where pride and selfishness reign. 


The Virgin Mary calls us her beloved children and declares herself to be our mother. We belong to the Virgin Mary, and she belongs to us—this is the relationship of mother and child, a family bond. What greater honor could there be? The Mother of God and Queen of Heaven calls us her children. Is there any greater joy than this? We could sing songs of gratitude and dance with joy every day, and it would not be enough. Indeed, knowing that we are the Virgin Mary's people brings immense joy. The Virgin Mary asks us to bear witness to this joy through our lives. By living lives of love, humility, faith, prayer, and sacrifice—just as the Virgin Mary did—we can testify that we belong to her. A particularly visible way to express the joy of being hers is by holding the Rosary in our hands, constantly calling on her name in prayer, as if holding her hand in love. If you want to know if someone loves the Virgin Mary and rejoices in being hers, look at how devoted they are to praying the Rosary with all their heart.

       God the Father chose the Virgin Mary as the spouse of the Holy Spirit and the mother of His Son, Jesus. Therefore, if we embrace being part of the Virgin Mary's family as our greatest joy and bear witness to it through our lives, God the Father will be pleased with our prayers and fulfill our petitions with goodness.

      The Virgin Mary joyfully accepted the role of the Lord’s servant for the salvation of the world, offering herself completely. In her, there was no pride or selfishness—only humility and selflessness. As her children, we too are called to live lives of humility and selflessness, just like the Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary promises that God will grant peace to those who live such lives.


Little children, you be generous and be the love of my love, so that pagans can feel that you are mine and convert to my Immaculate Heart. Thank you for having responded to my call.


Generosity means being charitable and forgiving. A generous person, moved by love, can empathize with others' difficulties, share their resources with love, and forgive others’ faults. The Virgin Mary calls us to become such generous people. She also calls us to become "love itself"—her love. This means loving all people without distinction, just as the Virgin Mary does. This is no easy task, but the Virgin Mary set the example for us, practicing this kind of love more than anyone else when she lived on earth. She strove to resemble God, who “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). Now, the Virgin Mary asks us to follow that path. If we live like this, those who do not believe in God—strangers—will recognize that we belong to the Virgin Mary, and they may turn their hearts toward her Immaculate Heart.

       Let us take to heart the truth that one act of love is more important and powerful than a hundred words. Let us live as the Virgin Mary’s people by following her message and responding to her call.
   
 
 
June 25, 2021
"Dear children! My heart is joyful because through these years I see your love and openness to my call. Today I am calling all of you: pray with me for peace and freedom, because Satan is strong and by his deception, wants to lead away all the more hearts from my motherly heart. That is why decide for God so that it may be good for you on the earth which God gave you. Thank you for having responded to my call."

"Dear children! My heart is joyful because through these years I see your love and openness to my call. 

Today is the 40th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje. Forty years is a truly long time. Throughout those many years, the Virgin Mary has appeared daily, calling us, and she now reflects on our response: “My dear children, my heart is joyful because I have witnessed your love and response to my call throughout these years.” Even though our love and response to her call may still be lacking, the Virgin Mary tells us that she is happy with what she has seen. We can feel the compassionate heart of a mother who patiently endures her children’s shortcomings, encourages their small efforts, and gently nudges them to strive even more. With gratitude for her motherly heart, we should continue to love her call and respond to it with open hearts.
       The Virgin Mary has called us for the past 40 years—and continues to do so—for our own sake. She calls us out of love to warn us that we are heading toward destruction. She also calls to guide us toward Jesus, the only Lord who can grant us salvation, peace, and eternal life. No one knows how much longer the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje will continue, but the 40th anniversary certainly marks a significant milestone. We must take her calls and messages seriously, implementing them in our lives with the awareness that these apparitions could conclude at any moment.

Today I am calling all of you: pray with me for peace and freedom, because Satan is strong and by his deception, wants to lead away all the more hearts from my motherly heart. 

We are currently living in a time of the final great battle between the Virgin Mary and Satan. Although the Virgin Mary will ultimately triumph, Satan's influence is still strong. This is why the Virgin Mary once again says, " I am calling all of you: pray with me for peace and freedom, because Satan is strong and by his deception, wants to lead away all the more hearts from my motherly heart.” must recognize that we are much weaker than we think, and we cannot overcome Satan or his deceptions through our own strength. Therefore, we must heed the Virgin Mary’s warnings and remain constantly vigilant against Satan’s tricks and supernatural power.
      While we cannot defeat Satan with our own strength, we can resist him and avoid falling into his deceptions with the power of God. To allow God's power to work within us, our hearts must be open to Him, and this is only possible through prayer. The Virgin Mary invites us to pray with her. Although we can pray with her in every prayer, the Rosary is a special way to pray with the Virgin Mary, constantly invoking her name. The Rosary is a weapon that binds Satan, rendering him powerless, and it is a sacred tool that brings our hearts closer to the Virgin Mary's heart and ultimately unites us with it.
      The Virgin Mary especially invites us to pray with her for peace and freedom. Satan seeks to take away our peace and freedom through all kinds of deceit, so we must resist him and stand with God. To do this, we must take the Rosary in our hands and walk with the Virgin Mary, moving continuously toward God and away from Satan. In doing so, we will be protected by God, and we will preserve the peace and freedom He has given us, continually receiving even greater gifts of peace and freedom.

That is why decide for God so that it may be good for you on the earth which God gave you. Thank you for having responded to my call.

In Genesis 1, after creating all things, God made humans in His image as His final act of creation, just as parents prepare for their child's arrival before the child is born. In other words, this world and everything in it are the foundational environment that God created for human life. This world is a great gift of love from God, designed for humans, made in His image, to live within. As such, we must never forget God, who gave us everything, as we live in this world. We must always choose God, the one who has provided us with all things. By doing so, we will experience the truth of what the Apostle Paul said: “We know that all things work for good for those who love God,* who are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).
   
 
 
May 25, 2021
"Dear children! Today I am looking at you and calling: return to God because He is love and out of love has sent me to you to lead you on the way of conversion. Leave sin and evil, decide for holiness and joy will begin to reign; and you will be my extended hands in this lost world. I desire that you be prayer and hope to those who have not come to know the God of love. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Today I am looking at you and calling: return to God because He is love and out of love has sent me to you to lead you on the way of conversion. 

The Virgin Mary's eyes, as she looks at her beloved children, are full of love. Just as earthly parents feel joy and happiness simply by gazing at their children, so too does the Virgin Mary feel joy and happiness just by looking at us, her children. As the Virgin Mary lovingly watches over us, we also need to meet her gaze and express our love for her. How much more joyful would a mother's heart be if her children recognized her love and responded with love?
      In the Virgin Mary's eyes, there is no judgment or condemnation. She loves us as we are, yet she also encourages us to become better and holier, and so at times, she gazes at us with concern and calls us to conversion. What is most necessary for us to walk the path of conversion? It is knowing who God is—knowing that God is love. Here, to “know” means not merely intellectual knowledge, but experiencing God with our whole being—our mind, heart, and soul. It is the biblical sense of knowing. Our conversion begins when we realize that God is love and that we are recipients of His love. Only those who recognize that they are sinners, unworthy of God's love, yet still loved by God, can embark on the path of conversion.
      The Bible says: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him” (Jn 3:16-17).
      Just as God once sent His only Son out of immense love for the world, now He is sending the Virgin Mary, the mother of His Son, into the world. If God had given up on His love for the world, the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje would never have begun. These apparitions are a concrete sign that God’s love persists, despite humanity’s rebellion and unbelief.  Therefore, with gratitude for this love, the Church and all humanity should accept the truth of the Medjugorje apparitions and respond to God's love. Like the prodigal son in Luke 15, we must come to our senses, repent, and turn back toward the Father’s house. At this moment, nothing is more important than recognizing God's love, repenting, and returning to Him.

Leave sin and evil, decide for holiness and joy will begin to reign; and you will be my extended hands in this lost world. 

When we were baptized, we were asked the following questions by the minister of the baptismal rite: “Do you renounce sin so as to live in the freedom of the children of God? Do you renounce the lure of evil, so that sin may have no mastery over you? Do you renounce Satan, the author and prince of sin?” We answered these questions firmly: “Yes, I do renounce them.”  And each year, during the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Mass, we renew these baptismal promises by answering the same questions again. Through this ritual of renouncing sin, evil, and Satan, we publicly pledge ourselves to God, the Church, and our own souls. By making this pledge, we commit to keeping sin and evil, as well as Satan, at a great distance from our lives.
      To help make this pledge a daily habit, it may be a good practice to start each day by asking ourselves these questions aloud and answering them aloud as well. Instead of “you” in the original questions, substitute your name and baptismal name, and respond aloud. For example, “Peter Hong, do you renounce sin to live in the freedom of the children of God?” “Yes, I do renounce it.”
       Sin and evil bring us no benefit and only lead us to unhappiness and destruction. There is no reason to keep them close. They only hinder our journey toward the Lord and the eternal life He offers. That is why the Virgin Mary tells us to turn away from sin and evil and to choose holiness. She promises that if we choose holiness, joy will reign, and we will become her outstretched hand in this lost world. This means we will become apostles of the Virgin Mary. Through us, the Virgin Mary will be able to reach out to the lost people of this world. Our own holiness is the key to helping the Virgin Mary. Not only will we gain joy, but we will also assist the Virgin Mary as her apostles. There is no reason to refuse this invitation.

I desire that you be prayer and hope to those who have not come to know the God of love. Thank you for having responded to my call.

The Virgin Mary wants us to be a prayer and hope for those who still do not know God’s love. To fulfill her desire, we must first ask ourselves, “Do I truly know God’s love?” If we do not know God’s love, how can we become a prayer and hope for those who also do not know it?
      To know God’s love, or to deepen our knowledge of it if we already do, we must pray. We pray in order to love God. Through prayer, we gradually come to love God more, and as we grow in love for God, we come to know Him with our whole heart, body, and soul. Hope, in turn, is the fruit of prayer. When we pray, we place all our hope in God alone, for He alone is our salvation.
      The Virgin Mary does not want only us to know God's love. She wants all people to come to know God's love. To achieve this, she desires that we become her outstretched hand, her apostles. Let us engrave in our hearts that the Virgin Mary’s call to us is not only for our own sake but also for the sake of all her beloved children in the world.
   
 
 
April 25, 2021
"Dear children! Today I am calling you to witness your faith in the colors of spring. May this be a faith of hope and courage. May your faith, little children, not waver in any situation, not even in this time of trial. Go courageously with the risen Christ towards Heaven, which is your goal. I am accompanying you on this way of holiness and am placing all of you in my Immaculate Heart. Thank you for having responded to my call." 

Dear children! Today I am calling you to witness your faith in the colors of spring. 

Behind the church where I serve in the U.S., there is a long bicycle path on a hill. Although it is a bicycle path, I do not ride a bike but walk along it almost daily to pray the Rosary. Even during the past winter, if the weather was good, I would walk that path, gazing at the bare winter trees and the withered, yellow grass. As the weather warmed and spring gradually arrived, the landscape of the path slowly began to change. The trees that seemed dead began to sprout new leaves, the grass turned green, and tiny, unnamed wildflowers began to bloom one by one. I could fully sense the breath of God, who awakens and gives life to all these things once more.
      In this month’s message, the Virgin Mary tells us to bear witness to our faith amidst the colors of spring. While the colors of spring are many and hard to list, if I had to pick some representative ones, they would be light green, green, yellow, white, and pink. The overall feeling these colors convey is vitality or liveliness, warmth, purity, and love. These are sensations you can only encounter where life blossoms. Therefore, the faith we bear witness to amidst these colors of spring would be one full of life, love, warmth, and purity. To have such faith, we must be like a tree planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither (cf. Ps 1:3). In other words, our faith must be deeply rooted in God and founded on Him. Then our faith will be filled with the vitality, warmth, purity, and love that God gives, and that faith, filling our souls, minds, and hearts, will manifest outwardly through our faces, eyes, voices, posture, and entire being.

May this be a faith of hope and courage. May your faith, little children, not waver in any situation, not even in this time of trial. 

The Bible tells us that Jesus foretold His passion and resurrection three times to His apostles. Even though they did not understand or accept it, Jesus naturally had to inform them in advance. So, did the Virgin Mary, who accompanied Jesus and assisted in His ministry with holy women, hear about His passion and resurrection? Of course, she did. While the Bible does not record it, another book reveals this. That book is The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, written by Sister Anne Catherine Emmerich, a 19th-century Augustinian nun, based on revelations she received from heaven about Jesus’ passion and resurrection. It was from this book that Mel Gibson’s 2003 film, The Passion of the Christ, was made. Unfortunately, this book has not been translated into Korean Catholic literature.
      In this book, Jesus foretells His passion and resurrection to the Virgin Mary. He told her that He would be arrested on the day of Passover, crucified on Good Friday, and would rise again, meeting her on Golgotha at 11 p.m. on Holy Saturday night. The Virgin Mary fully believed and accepted Jesus’ words. As foretold, His passion and death took place. The Virgin Mary, on the evening of Good Friday and Holy Saturday, walked the Way of the Cross that Jesus had traveled, and finally, at 11 p.m. on that night, she met the Risen Christ at the top of Golgotha. It is deeply moving, though completely fitting, that the Risen Jesus first appeared to His most faithful follower, the Virgin Mary.
      The faith that the Virgin Mary possessed was one of hope and courage. Even though she witnessed and experienced Jesus’ passion and death firsthand, she never lost hope. While Jesus’ disciples were overwhelmed with remorse, despair, and fear, the Virgin Mary courageously walked the path of Jesus’ passion and death again, praying and reflecting, while waiting for Jesus’ resurrection and victory. Though she faced the greatest trial, her faith never wavered. Such faith is true faith. The Virgin Mary wants us to have the same unwavering faith, even in the face of trials. That is why she says to us, “I pray that your faith may be one of hope and courage. Dear children, in any situation, even in this time of trial, I hope that your faith will not waver.”

Go courageously with the risen Christ towards Heaven, which is your goal. I am accompanying you on this way of holiness and am placing all of you in my Immaculate Heart. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Jesus’ resurrection was an incredible event that was hard to believe. The apostles and other disciples who heard the story of Jesus’ resurrection from Mary Magdalene, who had visited the empty tomb, could not believe it. Among them, two disciples, in complete despair, left for Emmaus, a town about 13 km from Jerusalem. As they walked with downcast faces, sharing their despair, the Risen Jesus appeared and walked with them. Of course, they did not recognize Him as the Risen Jesus. As they walked, Jesus asked them what they were discussing. They told Him about Jesus’ suffering and death in Jerusalem and how they had hoped He was a great prophet and liberator. Jesus then opened their hearts and explained the scriptures about Himself.  When they arrived near their destination in the evening, they invited Jesus to stay with them, and He accepted. As He broke bread and shared it with them at the table, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him as the Risen Jesus. However, at that moment, Jesus disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked to us on the road and opened the scriptures to us?” And they immediately returned to Jerusalem to share the story of the Risen Jesus with the apostles and disciples (cf. Lk 24:13-35).
      The two disciples walking to Emmaus were walking in despair at first. However, as the Risen Jesus walked with them and spoke with them, without their realizing it, the flame of hope began to rekindle in their hearts. When He broke the bread and shared it with them, they recognized Him as the Risen Jesus. The journey without the Risen Jesus and the journey with Him were vastly different, like moving from hell to heaven.
      The Risen Lord walks with us on our journey, even if we do not recognize His presence. To recognize His presence, we must pray, read the scriptures, and participate in the Mass. Just as the two disciples on the road to Emmaus recognized the Risen Jesus through prayer, conversation, and the breaking of bread, we too can walk boldly toward heaven, our destination, with the Risen Jesus, through prayer, scripture reading, and Mass attendance. These practices themselves allow us to begin living the life of heaven here and now.
      The Virgin Mary tells us that she walks with us on this path of holiness. She is with us as we walk boldly toward our heavenly destination with the Risen Jesus. How joyful would it be to walk hand in hand with Jesus in one hand and the Virgin Mary in the other? This joy is only possible through our complete trust, involving our body, mind, and soul. This is how the Virgin Mary can place us in her Immaculate Heart.
   
 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10    

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.