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Fr. Stephen Shin’s Reflections on the Messages
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February 25, 2019
"Dear children! Today, I am calling you to a new life. It is not important how old you are, open your heart to Jesus who will transform you in this time of grace and, like nature, you will be born into a new life in God’s love, and you will open your heart to Heaven and the things of Heaven. I am still with you, because God permitted me out of love for you. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Today, I am calling you to a new life. It is not important how old you are, open your heart to Jesus who will transform you in this time of grace. 

In this month’s message, there is something new, something we have never encountered before: “It is not important how old you are." I found myself pondering why Our Lady would say such a thing. From this message, two interpretations come to mind. On a positive note, Our Lady wants us to know that there is always hope, regardless of our age. As people age, they often think, "What can I achieve at this age?" and lose their willingness to challenge themselves, giving up before they even try. Our Lady is urging us not to worry or feel defeated, even if we feel too old to bring about change in our lives. Instead, she asks us to respond to her call for new life. No matter our age, we must approach this moment with hope and a desire to grow spiritually.
      On the negative side, I sense that when Our Lady says, "It is not important how old you are," she is also pointing out our stubbornness. As people get older, they often become more set in their ways. We see this all around us: people who are rigid in their opinions, believing that others are always wrong and that only their viewpoint is correct. Many such people believe that, because they are older and more experienced, their opinions are always right, demanding that others follow them. This kind of rigidity is not inspiring to younger generations. Viewing age as a mark of superiority in relationships is not desirable. As we grow older, we must be more open, humble, and willing to listen to others, recognizing that we still have much to learn.
      In the presence of Our Lady, our age does not matter at all. In her eyes, we are always her beloved children. We must not let our age make us rigid. Rigidity prevents us from opening our hearts to Our Lady and Jesus. When we are trapped in our own opinions and judgments, we become like the stubborn Jews in the Gospel of John. For instance, in John 6, when Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. The bread I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world," the rigid Jews responded, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat? This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" and eventually, they all turned away from Jesus.
      Jesus also said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 18:3). No matter how old we are, we must constantly be reborn as children before Jesus. Not childish in our ways, but pure and receptive. While we must strive to become like children, more importantly, we need the grace of Jesus to help us. Without His grace, we can never truly become like children. That is why Our Lady says, "Open your heart to Jesus who will transform you in this time of grace."

And, like nature, you will be born into a new life in God’s love, and you will open your heart to Heaven and the things of Heaven. 

The Apostle John never mentions his own name in his Gospel, referring to himself instead as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." Why did he use this expression? Though other disciples also felt the love of Jesus, John felt it the most intensely and believed firmly that Jesus, as God incarnate, loved him. John saw the ultimate expression of God's love in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and realized that through this love, he and all humanity had received new life. That is why John could say in his letters:
      "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another” (1 Jn 4:7-11).
      Nothing and no one in this world can give us new life. Only God and His love can give us new life, and He does so, provided we fully open our hearts to Jesus. A person who has experienced new life through God no longer belongs to this world, even though they live in it. Their body may be on earth, but their heart, mind, and soul are always yearning for heaven and heavenly things, already living heaven on earth. Such a person can say to those who have not yet realized this:
      "For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven. For in this tent we groan, longing to be further clothed with our heavenly habitation” (2 Cor 5:1-2). "If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth” (Col 3:1-2).

I am still with you, because God permitted me out of love for you. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Our Lady is filled with God's grace, yet she calls herself the "handmaid of the Lord" and says, "May it be done to me according to your word" (Lk 1:38). For her, the most important thing is not her own will or plans, but God's will and plans. She desires that everything be done according to God's will, and she does nothing without His permission. Just as she did when she received the Annunciation, she continues to see herself as the handmaid of the Lord, faithfully following His commands.
      This aspect of Our Lady is evident in this month's message: "I am still with you, because God permitted me out of love for you." God commanded Our Lady to appear in Medjugorje, a small village in what was then Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina), on June 24, 1981, and to deliver His messages. Since then, she has appeared daily in Medjugorje in obedience to God's command. How long these apparitions will continue is entirely up to God's will, and when He tells her to stop appearing, she will obey.
      God has sent Our Lady as His apostle of love to Medjugorje. The apparitions of Our Lady in Medjugorje are a visible sign of God's love for humanity. Out of His love for us, He gives us messages of prayer, conversion, faith, penance, and peace through Our Lady. Let us be thankful to God for sending us Our Lady and say, like her, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Let us respond to God's call through Our Lady in this way.
   
 
 
January 25, 2019
"Dear children! Today, as a mother, I am calling you to conversion. This time is for you, little children, a time of silence and prayer. Therefore, in the warmth of your heart, may a grain of hope and faith grow and you, little children, will from day to day feel the need to pray more. Your life will become orderly and responsible. You will comprehend, little children, that you are passing here on earth and you will feel the need to be closer to God, and with love you will witness the experience of your encounter with God, which you will share with others. I am with you and am praying for you but I cannot without your 'yes'. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Today, as a mother, I am calling you to conversion.

Saint Monica prayed relentlessly for 29 years for her son Augustine’s conversion, and her prayers, filled with tears and sacrifices, were eventually answered. As a result, Augustine was baptized, became a Christian, and later a priest, bishop, and one of the greatest Catholic theologians. Because she truly loved her son, she prioritized praying for his conversion above all else, and through her son, many others were led to the path of salvation. In this month’s message, the Blessed Mother says, “Dear children! Today, as a mother, I am calling you to conversion.” The Blessed Mother loves us even more than our earthly mothers. She knows who we are and how we are living. Therefore, we must take her words of calling us to conversion seriously. Some may say, “I have already converted, so there’s nothing more to convert.” However, even that person is included in the ‘you’ when the Blessed Mother says, “I am calling you to conversion.” In other words, no one is exempt from the Mother’s call to conversion. The Blessed Mother calls us to conversion not to condemn us for our sins and faults but to lead us to salvation. She awakens us, who often live in sin and error without recognizing it, sometimes without any sense of guilt, or trapped in justifying or rationalizing our sins. Moreover, she helps us to escape from sin and evil, leading us to Jesus for life and salvation. The Blessed Mother always calls us “Dear children!” out of her motherly love. Her call to conversion comes from that very love.

This time is for you, little children, a time of silence and prayer.

Children are pure but lack discernment, which is why they need the guidance and direction of adults. Even though we may feel grown up, in the eyes of the Blessed Mother, we are still her little children. Therefore, we absolutely need her guidance and direction. The Blessed Mother says, “This time is for you, little children, a time of silence and prayer.” She teaches us how we should accept and live in this moment. When we recognize that the time we are living in is for us, we begin to realize how precious it is. We start to feel the importance of using this time wisely. How can we make the best use of this time to truly make it ours? The answer is silence and prayer. We understand the need for prayer, but why is silence so essential? It is because silence is the birthplace of prayer. To truly pray with the heart, there must be silence in our hearts. Modern people live in a noisy world, both inwardly and outwardly. Our hearts are distracted by the many sounds of the world and the clever whisperings of Satan, instead of hearing God’s voice. As a result, our desire to pray fades, and we become distant from listening to God’s voice. Furthermore, we often talk too much, leaving little room for silence in our hearts and continuously missing opportunities to pray. That’s why the Blessed Mother said, “You talk and talk but do not pray. Therefore, little children, decide for prayer” (December 25, 1993). Let’s resolve to make silence and prayer a regular part of our lives starting today.

Therefore, in the warmth of your heart, may a grain of hope and faith grow and you, little children, will from day to day feel the need to pray more. Your life will become orderly and responsible. 

What warms and fills our hearts with warmth is love. When God’s love, the greatest love, enters our hearts through prayer, our hearts not only become warm but also blaze like fire. Only those who hold God’s love in their hearts will hope for and believe in Him. Even if the hope and faith are as small as seeds at first, if God’s love is in us and our hearts are warm, that warmth will cause the seeds to sprout, grow, and eventually bear fruit. When we begin to feel the seeds of hope and faith sprouting and growing in our warm hearts, it is only natural to want to nourish and water them. Prayer is what feeds and waters our hearts and souls, and so we feel the need to pray more each day. Those who hold God’s love in their hearts, hope and believe in Him, and pray daily, strive to rid their lives of unnecessary things and keep only what is essential. Naturally, their lives become more orderly, and they approach even the smallest things with sincerity and responsibility.

You will comprehend, little children, that you are passing here on earth and you will feel the need to be closer to God, and with love you will witness the experience of your encounter with God, which you will share with others. 

Those whose hearts burn with God’s love, who hope for and believe in Him, who thirst for prayer daily and actually pray, understand that they do not belong to this world but only to God. They know that their true home is not on this earth but in the eternal kingdom of heaven. Therefore, they can live as pilgrims in this world. They do not cling to worldly things because they know that everything on this earth is passing away. Like St. Teresa of Avila’s prayer, “All things are passing; only God does not change. Those who possess God possess all things. Only God is enough,” they realize that only God is to be desired, and they try to draw closer to Him. Moreover, they practice true love by sharing their experience of encountering God with others, so that others, too, may yearn for Him and draw closer to Him.

I am with you and am praying for you but I cannot without your 'yes'. Thank you for having responded to my call.

The Blessed Mother is doing her utmost for us. She is with us and praying for us. How do we compare to her? Are we always grateful to her and trying to live according to her messages? Do we feel her earnestness when she says, “Without your ‘yes,’ I cannot do anything”? An old proverb says, “Heaven helps those who help themselves.” Let us respond with a ‘yes’ to the Blessed Mother so that she can help us. Let us fully entrust ourselves to her and try to live according to her messages. Even now, we can still say ‘yes.’ This time is for us, but it is passing. No matter how many times we say ‘yes’ after the time has passed, it will be too late then.
   
 
 
December 25, 2018
"Dear children! I am carrying to you my Son Jesus who is the King of Peace. He gives you peace and may it not be only for you but, little children, carry it to others in joy and humility. I am with you and am praying for you in this time of grace which God desires to give you. My presence is a sign of love here while I am with you to protect you and lead you towards eternity. Thank you for having responded to my call." 

Dear children! I am carrying to you my Son Jesus who is the King of Peace. He gives you peace and may it not be only for you but, little children, carry it to others in joy and humility.

The city of Jerusalem, meaning "City of Peace," was the capital of Israel and the center of everything. Humanly speaking, it seemed that the "King of Peace" should have been born there. However, Jesus was not born in Jerusalem but in Bethlehem, a small village 8 kilometers away with a population of only 300 people. Why was Jesus born in this tiny village? One reason was that it was the hometown of Joseph, the descendant of David, who was chosen to be Mary’s husband and Jesus’ foster father. But is there another reason?
      Bethlehem means "House of Bread." Jesus was born in the “House of Bread” because this aligns perfectly with His identity. Bread symbolizes life, and Jesus came to give life to the world. As He said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world" (John 6:51). Jesus, the Bread of Life, demonstrated through His crucifixion and resurrection that He is the bread that gives life. He continues to come to us daily as the Bread of Life through the Eucharist. Thus, the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem already foreshadowed the mysteries of the Eucharist, the Cross, and the Resurrection.
      St. Paul speaks of the peace Jesus brought by offering His life as the Bread of Life through His death on the cross: “For He is our peace, He who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through His flesh... reconciling both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it” (Eph 2:14-17).
      Today, Medjugorje is like a new Bethlehem. Our Lady is bringing Jesus to us again, reminding us that the King of Peace is alive. She emphasizes that because Jesus is alive in the Eucharist, we should not only attend Sunday Mass but also try to participate in daily Mass as often as possible. She also urges us to come before the exposed Eucharist on the altar, worship Him who is alive in the Eucharist, and entrust ourselves completely to Him, accepting the peace He offers.
      Just as 2,000 years ago, when people’s homes were not open to welcome Jesus at His birth in Bethlehem, today many hearts remain closed to Jesus despite Our Lady’s continued pleas over the past 38 years. As the Lord said to the prophet Ezekiel, "Son of man, you live in the midst of a rebellious house; they have eyes to see, but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear. They are such a rebellious house!" (Ez 12:2).
      We are among those who have received Jesus as the King of Peace, opening our hearts and homes to Him, allowing His peace to overflow. But the peace we have received as a precious gift is not meant to stay with us alone; it must be shared with others, especially with those around us who have yet to experience His peace. Our Lady urges us to be her extended hands, her apostles, spreading the peace of Jesus to others.
      When we hold onto the peace of Jesus within us, we cannot help but feel joyful. Joy is the fruit of peace. Our faces will naturally radiate happiness, and others will be drawn to that joy. Moreover, those who carry the peace of Jesus have a humble heart, like Jesus, not seeking to dominate others but lowering themselves to serve. It is in this humility that the peace of Jesus can be shared with others. We must always remember that humility is the foundation of peace, and joy is its fruit.

I am with you and am praying for you in this time of grace which God desires to give you. My presence is a sign of love here while I am with you to protect you and lead you towards eternity. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Jesus is Emmanuel, meaning "God with us." Why is this? Because God is love. Wherever Jesus is, Our Lady is also present. As our loving Mother, she is always with her children, praying for us, protecting us, and leading us to eternity. However, because we often fail to recognize or feel her presence, she comes to Medjugorje to remind us.
      The presence of Our Lady in Medjugorje is a sign of her love, a profound experience unique to that place. Medjugorje is like our spiritual home, our Mother’s village. Many pilgrims who visit Medjugorje and experience her love firsthand feel a deep desire to return. But some may visit Medjugorje and feel no change or inspiration, even seeing their time there as a waste. Why is this? Primarily because they approached the pilgrimage more as tourists than as pilgrims. Instead of focusing on prayer, they were distracted by human comforts or external phenomena like the sun spinning—seeking signs rather than spiritual renewal.
       Since her first appearance on June 24, 1981, Our Lady has tirelessly called us to prayer. Mass, the rosary, adoration, the Stations of the Cross, reading scripture, and confession are central to Medjugorje, from morning to night. A Medjugorje pilgrimage is centered on prayer. The evening program at St. James Church, which includes rosary, international Mass, healing prayers, and adoration, is the heart of the pilgrimage. Pilgrims ascend Apparition Hill and Cross Mountain, pray the rosary, and participate in spiritual testimonies and teachings.
      In this atmosphere of constant prayer, pilgrims naturally open their hearts to Jesus, experience conversion, and encounter peace and joy that the world cannot give. Therefore, if your goal is tourism, Medjugorje is not the place to go. But if your goal is prayer, it is the pilgrimage you must make. Just as athletes go on intensive training retreats to improve their skills, those who seek to become spiritual "athletes of prayer" should make a pilgrimage to Medjugorje. If you want to see the dazzling lights of the world, you should go on a tour. But if you want to meet the Light of Christ in prayer, you should embark on a pilgrimage. And the Medjugorje pilgrimage offers the most profound spiritual experience of all.
   
 
 
November 25, 2018
"Dear children! This is a time of grace and prayer, a time of waiting and giving. God is giving Himself to you that we may love Him above everything. Therefore, little children, open your hearts and families, so that this waiting may become prayer and love and, especially, giving. I am with you, little children, and encourage you not to give up from what is good, because the fruits are seen and heard of afar. That is why the enemy is angry and uses everything to lead you away from prayer. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! This is a time of grace and prayer, a time of waiting and giving. 

Today is the Feast of Christ the King, marking the end of the liturgical year. This feast reminds us that all human history ultimately leads to Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment and pinnacle of salvation history. Christ the King will complete the work of salvation, and our salvation is found only in Him. This makes the present time a time of grace, as our Lord Jesus is with us in history, guiding us toward salvation. Moreover, since Jesus will return in glory as the King of the Universe and the Just Judge, we must now, more than ever, fervently live the Gospel and pray in preparation for His return and the judgment that will follow.
      Next week, we enter the season of Advent, a time of grace and prayer, but as Our Lady says, also a time of waiting and giving. Advent, in a sense, began immediately after the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve. When they committed original sin, God made a promise to Satan, symbolized by the serpent: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel" (Gn 3:15). While Advent as we know it wasn't observed then, the waiting for the Savior began from that moment.
      Those who believed in God's promise to send the Savior through a virgin continuously waited and prayed for His coming. And finally, two thousand years ago, Jesus, the Savior, was born into the world through the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary herself lived in Advent. She did not expect to be the chosen virgin, the Mother of the Savior. Like those who had come before her, she prayed every day, lifting her hands to heaven, waiting for the Messiah. When the angel Gabriel announced that she would conceive the Son of God, Mary responded, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word" (Lk 1:38), offering her entire life to God. Through Mary, God gave us His only Son, Jesus.
      With this experience in mind, Our Lady tells us that now is a time of waiting and giving. Those who prioritize God's will and timing can wait with patience, trusting in Him. Those who pray know how to wait for God's time and are willing to give themselves to God when He calls for sacrifice and offering.

God is giving Himself to you that we may love Him above everything. Therefore, little children, open your hearts and families, so that this waiting may become prayer and love and, especially, giving. 

As we experience through the Incarnation, the Passion, and the Resurrection of Jesus, as well as through the Eucharist, God gives Himself to us daily. Especially through the Mass, we encounter God who comes to us and gives Himself fully. Because God loves us so completely, He offers His whole self to us every day. There is no love that compares to His, and thus, we are called to love Him above all else.
      God desires that His love overflows into our hearts and homes. He wants our hearts and homes to be filled with His love and peace. When our hearts are filled with God’s love, we are able to love Him above all things and love His creations genuinely. When our homes are filled with His love, family members can love and forgive one another sincerely, becoming a light to other families. This is why Our Lady urges us to open our hearts and homes to God’s love.
      However, our hearts and homes will not open on their own. Without continual personal and family prayer, we cannot open our hearts and homes to God. Only through prayer, accompanied by patience and waiting, can we make this possible. Along with prayer, we must have the attitude of offering ourselves, our love, and our families to God.

I am with you, little children, and encourage you not to give up from what is good, because the fruits are seen and heard of afar.

Our Lady reassures us not to give up on doing good because "the fruits are seen and heard of afar." In this context, "doing good" seems to refer primarily to prayer. Why should we not give up on prayer? Because even if we cannot see it, the fruits of our prayers are growing, and God hears every one of them.
      First, while we may have specific intentions when we pray, we cannot ensure the outcome. The fruits of our prayers are in God's hands. If our intentions are pure and aligned with God’s will, the prayers will undoubtedly bear fruit. However, only God knows when, how, and to what extent those fruits will manifest. Even if the fruits seem distant or small in our eyes, we must not be discouraged or stop praying. Prayer requires patience and confidence in God's goodness.
      Secondly, our prayers are always heard. From the moment we pray, our words reach God. He listens to every single prayer without exception, even the ones that briefly pass through our thoughts or hearts. He responds to them, but in His time and according to His will, not ours. Therefore, we must trust in God's goodness and entrust all our prayers to His care.

That is why the enemy is angry and uses everything to lead you away from prayer. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Who is Our Lady’s enemy? Satan. Since we are her children, Satan is also our enemy. He is angry because Our Lady encourages us not to give up on prayer. He is especially furious with those who were tempted to stop praying but resumed their prayer life due to Our Lady's encouragement. When we pray, our hearts belong to God, leaving no room for Satan, and as we grow stronger in prayer, Satan's influence over us weakens. This is why he does everything he can to keep us away from prayer.
      What tools does Satan use to distance us from prayer? It depends on the individual. He will use whatever tempts each person most easily, whatever occupies their time and attention. Whether it’s television, movies, internet, video games, gambling, drugs, alcohol, indulgent entertainment, shopping, gossip, or pride, Satan has countless means of distraction.
     We know what we tend to spend too much time on. Satan knows it too. Before he can distract us, we must examine ourselves and give up whatever is taking us away from prayer. Instead, we must replace it with prayer. Even things that seem good on the surface can be traps if they draw us away from prayer. Behind such distractions, Satan is always lurking. Let us remember that we are in the midst of a great spiritual battle between Our Lady and Satan, between us, her children, and Satan.
   
 
 
October 25, 2018
"Dear children! You have a great grace of being called to a new life through the messages which I am giving you. This, little children, is a time of grace, a time and a call to conversion for you and the future generations. Therefore, I am calling you, little children, pray more and open your heart to my Son Jesus. I am with you and love you all and bless you with my motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! You have a great grace of being called to a new life through the messages which I am giving you.

Since June 24, 1981, following the will of the Heavenly Father, Our Lady has been appearing in Medjugorje. Although her apparitions began in 1981, it was only from March 1, 1984, that she started giving regular messages. From that time until January 8, 1987, she gave messages every Thursday, and since January 25, 1987, she has been giving messages once a month, on the 25th. Additionally, since December 2, 2004, she has been appearing to Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo on the 2nd of every month. Furthermore, Our Lady gives messages on March 18 to Mirjana, on June 25 to Ivanka Ivankovic-Elez, and on December 25 to Jakov Colo. She also gives public messages during special apparitions on Apparition Hill to Ivan Dragicevic. While all these messages are important and meaningful, the monthly messages given on the 25th through Marija are officially shared with the world.
      God sends Our Lady as His prophet, so the messages she conveys to us are, in fact, messages from God. Through the Bible and public revelations, God has already provided us with numerous messages. Public revelation concluded with the death of the Apostle John. The reason God continues to give us messages through Our Lady is that, despite the fact that we already have all the teachings we need in public revelation, we have not been living them. The private revelations given through Our Lady are meant to encourage us to live out the teachings we have already received in the Bible.
      Through her messages, Our Lady reminds us to recognize God's existence and to place Him first in our lives to experience His peace and salvation. She emphasizes the importance of constant prayer, repentance, strong faith, and making sacrifices through penance and fasting. These are not new teachings; they are already contained in scripture. Our Lady’s goal is to remind us of God’s word and call us to a new life by bringing us out of spiritual slumber and into a life of grace.
      There is an old saying: "Even if you have a string of precious beads, they are worthless unless strung together." Similarly, although Our Lady has been giving us messages for over 37 years, they are only powerful if we take them seriously, meditate on them, and put them into practice. If we respond to Our Lady’s call with gratitude and commit to living her messages, we will experience great blessings from the moment we begin. For example, if we take seriously the message, "Pray until prayer becomes a joy," and fill our day with brief, heartfelt prayers as she asks, we will surely experience conversion, a deepening of faith, and the joy of living in God’s presence.

This, little children, is a time of grace, a time and a call to conversion for you and the future generations.

God is sending Our Lady into this world through Jesus. The apparitions in Medjugorje are ongoing, but no one knows when they will end. Some visionaries, like Mirjana, Ivanka, and Jakov, have already received the ten secrets, and their daily apparitions have ceased. The three other visionaries—Vicka, Marija, and Ivan—have received nine secrets so far, and when they receive the tenth, their daily apparitions will also end. This means that Our Lady’s apparitions on earth will come to an end, and the secrets will be revealed within the lifetimes of these visionaries.
      Considering this, it seems that there is not much time left. This makes the present time all the more precious and urgent. As Our Lady says, "this, is a time of grace, a time and a call to conversion for you and the future generations." We must not make the mistake of realizing too late how great a grace this time is or how important it is to respond to her messages. We should act now—today, at this very moment, in this place—by praying, repenting, and preparing for the future and for our salvation.

Therefore, I am calling you, little children, pray more and open your heart to my Son Jesus. I am with you and love you all and bless you with my motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call.

The time we are given is precious. Our Lady urges us to spend it in more prayer. Even if we think we are already praying enough, we must not be complacent. We should always consider our prayers insufficient and strive to pray more. We must add more prayers to those we already offer, seizing every opportunity to pray as much as possible.
      What we need for our current happiness and future salvation is not more money, a bigger house, or a better car. What we need is more prayer and an open heart to welcome Jesus. Through prayer, we open our hearts wider and allow Jesus to enter, live within us, and rule over our hearts and lives. There is no greater blessing than this. Just as we long to be united with those we love, we should open our hearts to Jesus, who is our one true love, and become one with Him.
      Jesus tells us: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, [then] I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me" (Rev 3:20).
   
 
 
September 25, 2018
"Dear children! Also nature extends signs of its love to you through the fruits which it gives you. Also, you, by my coming, have received an abundance of gifts and fruits. Little children, how much you have answered to my call, God knows. I am calling you - it is not late - decide for holiness and a life with God, in grace and in peace. God will bless you and give to you a hundred-fold, if you trust in Him. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Also nature extends signs of its love to you through the fruits which it gives you. Also, you, by my coming, have received an abundance of gifts and fruits.

It is now the season of harvest. During this time, we gather the fruits from various trees. These fruits delight our taste buds and provide our bodies with essential nutrients and freshness. These are the blessings that nature bestows upon us. However, in this month's message, Our Lady goes further by saying, " Also nature extends signs of its love to you through the fruits which it gives you." This statement might be a bit difficult to understand.
      How does nature love humans? How does nature, by giving its fruits, express its love for us? In Genesis 1, before God created humanity, He created everything necessary for life. He designed an optimal environment for humans to live in. After creating everything in nature, God created humans and said: “See, I give you every seed-bearing plant on all the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food” (Gn 1:29). Nature was created for humans, and God commanded it to produce fruits to be their nourishment. Nature, by following God’s command, bears fruits faithfully and offers them to humans, serving humanity. By giving its fruits without asking for anything in return, nature and the fruits it produces are expressions of God’s love for humanity. Nature, through its fruits, communicates this love and follows God's example by freely giving its bounty to humanity.
      God promised that even though the first humans, Adam and Eve, lost eternal life due to original sin, He would send a Savior and the Savior’s Mother to open the gates of eternal life again. He created the most perfect creature, Mary, and through her, sent Jesus, the Savior, into the world, reopening the gates of eternal life. However, after more than 2,000 years, many people have forgotten about Jesus and do not believe in Him, walking the path of destruction. Therefore, through Medjugorje, God is sending Mary once again into the world.
      Since June 24, 1981, Our Lady’s apparitions in Medjugorje have continued daily, and through them, God has been bestowing countless graces upon humanity. Millions of people have visited Medjugorje, and countless fruits of conversion and faith have resulted from putting Our Lady’s messages into practice. The fact that Our Lady continues to visit us on earth through Medjugorje, guiding us with her messages and leading us to Jesus, who grants eternal life, is itself a tremendous gift from God.

Little children, how much you have answered to my call, God knows. I am calling you - it is not late - decide for holiness and a life with God, in grace and in peace. God will bless you and give to you a hundred-fold, if you trust in Him. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Through her messages in Medjugorje, Our Lady has been urging us to pray, repent, believe, and live in peace. At the end of each message, she always says, "Thank you for having responded to my call." In this month’s message, she adds, "How much you have answered to my call, God knows," reminding us that our response to her call is ultimately a response to God’s call. Since Our Lady is God’s messenger, her messages are God’s words to us, and God Himself is calling us through her. Therefore, she says, "How much you have answered to my call, God knows."
      Our Lady is still calling us because many have yet to respond, and even some who did respond have returned to their old ways. She reassures us that it is not too late. Just as Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to this house... For the Son of Man has come to seek and save what was lost” (Lk 19:9-10), we too must respond to Our Lady’s call at this very moment. She says, "Decide for holiness and a life with God, in grace and in peace. God will bless you and give to you a hundred-fold, if you trust in Him.”
   
 
 
August 25, 2018
"Dear children! This is a time of grace. Little children, pray more, speak less and permit God to lead you on the way of conversion. I am with you and love you with my motherly love. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! This is a time of grace. 

When Our Lady speaks of this being a "time of grace," it reminds me of the moment when Jesus wept over Jerusalem, foretelling its destruction. The Gospel describes it as follows: "As he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation'" (Lk 19:41-44).
      Why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem? Because they did not recognize the time of grace, failing to accept it, choosing instead the path of destruction. As Jesus predicted, Jerusalem was utterly destroyed by the Roman Empire in 70 AD.
      Only God and Our Lady know how long this time of grace we have been given will last. First, we must thank God for this time of grace and for Our Lady, who reminds us of it. Then, we must deeply reflect on why this time of grace has been granted and how we should use it to prepare for our salvation. Our Lady shows us how to make the best use of this time of grace, which is directly linked to our salvation and peace.

Little children, pray more, speak less and permit God to lead you on the way of conversion. 

First, we need to recognize that we are "little children." A child needs the help and protection of adults. We are not beings capable of everything on our own; we can only live with God's help and protection. Therefore, we must humble ourselves before God, entrust ourselves to Him, and seek His help and protection. We are also children of God, not belonging to the world or Satan but to God and His kingdom. We must live with God and lead lives worthy of our status as His children. God is the Father and center of the family we belong to, and we should live centered around Him.
      Secondly, since we belong to God as His children, we must constantly communicate with Him and maintain a loving relationship. This requires prayer. Prayer is a conversation with God; it is the key that opens the hearts of God and us. It is the bond that sustains our relationship of love with God. That is why Our Lady urges us to pray more. The more we pray, the better. Prayer should not be minimal, nor should we merely create the atmosphere of prayer without actually praying. Each person’s daily life circumstances are different, but we must create as much time and space as possible for prayer. And our prayers must be heartfelt, not mechanical or routine.
      Thirdly, we must speak less. While communication is necessary for relationships, many people waste time with unnecessary words. Besides being a waste of time, excessive talking often leads to gossip or mistakes. In his letter, the Apostle James says:
      "We all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies. It is the same with ships: even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination wishes. In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze. The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my brothers” (Jas 3:2-10).
       We are created for God's glory, and everything we do finds its true meaning in being used for His glory. Our mouths were created not only for eating, drinking, and speaking but, above all, for giving thanks, praising God, and glorifying Him. Let us restrain our speech about ourselves, others, and the world and direct it toward prayer. Let God take the first place in our mouths, hearts, time, and space, allowing Him to be the center of everything.
      Finally, as John the Baptist said, "He must increase, and I must decrease" (John 3:30). God must become greater, and we must become smaller so that He can take the lead in our lives and we can fully surrender to His guidance. This is the beginning of allowing God to lead us on the path of conversion. The journey of conversion is a lifelong process, requiring us to humble ourselves before God continually. Humility is the essential foundation for conversion, which is why Jesus said, "Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 18:3).

I am with you and love you with my motherly love. Thank you for having responded to my call.

As our Mother, Our Lady does not leave her children alone. Just as a physical mother always wants to be near her young child, so too does Our Lady want to be with us, and she assures us that she is. We can find peace and reassurance in the knowledge that Our Lady is by our side, just as a child feels safe and secure with their mother nearby.
       A symbol of motherhood is devotion. A mother with a maternal heart dedicates everything to her children, making sacrifices and caring for them. This devotion defines Our Lady. She is the Mother who cherishes her children's lives more than her own and who dedicates herself entirely to us.
   
 
 
July 25, 2018
"Dear children! God called me to lead you to Him because He is your strength. That is why I am calling you to pray to Him and to trust in Him, because He is your refuge from every evil that lurks and carries souls far from the grace and joy to which you are all called. Little children, live Heaven here on earth so that it will be good for you; and may the commandments of God be a light on your way. I am with you and I love you all with my motherly love. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! God called me to lead you to Him because He is your strength. That is why I am calling you to pray to Him and to trust in Him, because He is your refuge from every evil that lurks and carries souls far from the grace and joy to which you are all called. 

In this month’s message, Our Lady emphasizes once again that the true source behind the apparitions in Medjugorje is God. She comes to this world not by her own will, but by God’s will. It is not her choice to come, but God who sends her to guide us. Therefore, we must give endless thanks to God for sending Our Lady to us, for remembering and loving us.
      Our Lady knows and follows God's will better than anyone. Even now, she obeys His will and comes to be with us. She has fully immersed herself in God, putting His work first above all else. To her, God is the only Lord, the only love, and her everything. This is why she is like God's echo. When we call on "Our Lady," she responds with "God."
      Our Lady has experienced God’s immense power more than anyone. She conceived Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit and could sing, “The Mighty One has done great things for me” (Lk 1:49). She lived with Jesus, witnessing God the Father’s and the Holy Spirit’s power through Him countless times, pondering everything in her heart.
      Now, she has been called by God to guide us to Him, who is our strength. In this dangerous time, when humanity is prideful and believes it can do everything through its own power, Our Lady comes to remind us of the truth. She offers the remedy to heal this serious illness—prayer and trust in God. "That is why I am calling you to pray to Him and to trust in Him,” Our Lady says.
       The devil is very cunning. He never openly reveals himself but works in secret, hiding his actions. Evil creeps into people’s hearts, leading them to focus on worldly pleasures, pulling their lives and hearts away from God and spiritual matters. In this way, evil robs them of the grace and joy that God has placed in their souls. In severe cases, evil can blind people to the fact that they are even sinning.
      The only one who can protect us from all evil is God. He alone is our refuge. To protect ourselves from evil and find refuge, we must pray to God and entrust ourselves to Him. The psalmist sings:
“Had not the Lord been with us, let Israel say, Had not the Lord been with us, when people rose against us, Then they would have swallowed us alive, for their fury blazed against us. Then the waters would have engulfed us, the torrent overwhelmed us; then seething water would have drowned us. Blessed is the LORD, who did not leave us to be torn by their teeth. We escaped with our lives like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare was broken, and we escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth” (Ps 124).

Little children, live Heaven here on earth so that it will be good for you; and may the commandments of God be a light on your way.

Many who have visited Medjugorje long to return because they experienced something there that they cannot find elsewhere—an encounter with heaven. Some describe Medjugorje as a place where "heaven touches earth." Through daily Masses, rosary prayers, confessions, and spiritual talks, pilgrims experience conversion, draw closer to God, and taste heaven on earth. This profound spiritual experience is possible through the guidance and presence of Our Lady.
      For those who cannot travel to Medjugorje, does that mean they cannot live heaven on earth? Not at all. While the experience may differ, you can live the spirit of Medjugorje wherever you are. By making Jesus the center of your life, praying at least 20 decades of the rosary daily, attending Mass regularly, reading the Bible, offering sacrifices, and going to confession at least once a month, you can live heaven in your daily life.
      Just as we use GPS to guide us when driving to unfamiliar places, God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments as a spiritual GPS after their exodus from Egypt. These commandments served as guidelines for the Israelites to live a life in accordance with God's will. When they obeyed His commandments, they walked in the light and received blessings; when they disobeyed, they fell into darkness.
      God's commandments still guide us today, illuminating our path and leading us toward His salvation.

I am with you and I love you all with my motherly love. Thank you for having responded to my call.

On our journey through life, we are never alone. Just as a mother carries or holds her child’s hand, Our Lady walks with us, guiding us to God, peace, and salvation. She is our true mother, and she loves us with her motherly heart.
Our Lady once said, "Again I say to you, if you knew how much I love you, you would cry with happiness. Thank you." (Message to Mirjana, March 18, 2009) Let us be grateful for her constant love and presence.
   
 
 
June 25, 2018
"Dear children! This is the day that the Lord gave me to give Him thanks for each of you, for those who have converted and have accepted my messages and have set out on the way of conversion and holiness. Rejoice, little children, because God is merciful and loves you all with His immeasurable love and leads you to the way of salvation through my coming here. I love you all and give you my Son that He may give you peace. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! This is the day that the Lord gave me to give Him thanks for each of you, for those who have converted and have accepted my messages and have set out on the way of conversion and holiness.

Today marks the 37th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady in Medjugorje. In this message, she begins by telling us that this day has been given to her by the Lord as a day of thanksgiving—for each one of us who has repented and accepted her messages. She gives thanks to the Lord not based on our achievements or circumstances but simply because we are her beloved children. She thanks the Lord for entrusting us to her care and for allowing her to guide us to Him. Her words reflect the love of a mother who never gives up on her children, always trusting in them until the very end.
      When she says, "for each of you," it shows that her relationship with each of us is personal and intimate. Our relationship with her is not general or distant; it is deeply individual and personal, and she recognizes each one of us in a unique way.
      She goes on to say that she gives thanks to the Lord for those who have begun to walk the path of conversion and holiness after accepting her messages. This is because those who repent and embrace a life of holiness have entered the door to salvation. For a mother to witness her child turning away from destruction and towards a path of holiness must bring unimaginable joy. If an earthly mother feels such joy over her child's transformation, how much more would our Heavenly Mother, who cares for our eternal souls, rejoice? This joy is beyond words, and it is only natural that she would give thanks to the Lord for it.
      This reminds us of the parable of the prodigal son (cf. Lk 15:11-32), where the father rejoices and holds a great feast for his son who has returned. Similarly, Our Lady reflects the heart of our Heavenly Father, who does not desire the destruction of sinners but rather rejoices in their conversion.
      Today, as Our Lady gives thanks for us, we should also give thanks to her. Let us show her that we have repented by changing our hearts and lives and turning entirely to God. Let us accept her messages and strive for holiness every day, and let us thank both Our Lady and the Lord for sending her as our spiritual guide.

Rejoice, little children, because God is merciful and loves you all with His immeasurable love and leads you to the way of salvation through my coming here. 

The fact that God has sent His beloved daughter, Our Lady, to Medjugorje for 37 years to serve as a messenger of His mercy and love reveals the depth of His compassion. The apparitions of Our Lady in Medjugorje are a great sign of God's mercy and love for us. God has not forgotten us. He does not want us to walk the path of destruction but desires our repentance so that we may experience His mercy. God wants us to recognize the immeasurable love that He has shown us through the incarnation and sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus Christ. He desires that all of us be saved. Our Lady's continuous apparitions in Medjugorje are a reminder of this great truth.
       How can we not rejoice at this? God is a merciful Father who continues to send Our Lady to guide us along the path of salvation. As St. Paul says, "Rejoice always" (1 Thes 5:16), so we too must live in joy, knowing that God is with us and continually offering us the way to salvation through Our Lady.

I love you all and give you my Son that He may give you peace. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Jesus once said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). We are happy when we love, because love naturally desires to give. Love seeks to offer precious and meaningful gifts. Because Our Lady loves us all, she offers us the most precious gift—her Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus, in turn, gives us something the world cannot: peace. Before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid" (Jn 14:27). After His resurrection, when He appeared to His disciples who were hiding behind locked doors out of fear, He said, "Peace be with you" (Jn 20:19). Peace is a gift that only Jesus can give, and it is the greatest gift for our souls.
      If we find ourselves lacking peace in our lives, let us ask Our Lady to bring Jesus to us so that He may grant us His peace. By responding to Our Lady’s call and living according to her messages, we invite Jesus into our hearts and lives, and in doing so, we receive the peace that only He can offer.
   
 
 
May 25, 2018
"Dear children! In this peaceless time, I am calling you to have more trust in God who is your Father in Heaven and who has sent me to lead you to Him. You, open your hearts to the gifts which He desires to give you and, in the silence of your heart, adore my Son Jesus who has given His life so that you may live in eternity - where He desires to lead you. May your hope be the joy of a meeting with the Most High in everyday life. Therefore, I am calling you: do not neglect prayer because prayer works miracles. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! In this peaceless time, I am calling you to have more trust in God who is your Father in Heaven and who has sent me to lead you to Him. 

At the wedding feast in Cana, there was a shortage of wine, and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, approached Him, saying, “They have no wine.” This led to Jesus performing His first miracle—turning water into wine (cf. Jn 2:1-11).
      In Jesus' time, a wedding feast in Israel lasted seven days at the groom’s house. Wine was essential, symbolizing joy and celebration. Running out of wine during the festivities would ruin the event. Mary, though just a guest, noticed the shortage before the host did and brought the matter to Jesus. Her action, though she was a guest, shows her sense of responsibility for the joy and well-being of others at the feast.
      In this month’s message, Our Lady similarly expresses her deep concern for us, her children, living in a world without peace. Just as she acted at Cana, she now points out that peace is lacking in our time. But her words are not just observations; they reflect her deep concern and desire for us to find peace. She does not stop at expressing her concern—she provides the way to find peace: trust more in God, your Heavenly Father, who sent her to guide us to Him.
      The peace that God gives is different from worldly peace, and true peace can only come from Him. As our mother, Mary longs for us to live in peace, and she is here to guide us towards that peace, just as she once guided those at the wedding in Cana.

You, open your hearts to the gifts which He desires to give you and, in the silence of your heart, adore my Son Jesus who has given His life so that you may live in eternity - where He desires to lead you. May your hope be the joy of a meeting with the Most High in everyday life. 

“Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as Sheol, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!” (Is 7:10-12). Ahaz’s response seemed humble, as if he was showing faith in God, but it was not genuine. He had already sought military support from Egypt, relying on human strength rather than God's power. God wanted to help Ahaz and the people of Judah, but Ahaz closed his heart to God’s gifts, and his reign ended in tragedy.
      Mary calls us to open our hearts to the gifts that God wishes to give us. God, our loving Father, wants to bestow good gifts upon us, as Jesus reminds us in Luke 11:11-13: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
     We must trust in God completely, open our hearts to Him, and gratefully accept the gifts He offers. Only an empty vessel can be filled with new water; similarly, we must empty our hearts of worldly distractions to receive the divine gifts God wishes to pour into us. Mary invites us to a pure and silent heart focused solely on Jesus, to adore Him who gave His life for us.
      Jesus desires to lead us to eternal life, a hope that is meant for all of us. If we sincerely respond to this invitation with faith and action, we will surely be led to eternity. St. Paul tells us, “Rejoice in hope” (Rom 12:12). Hope allows us to look forward to a better future, and as Christians, we know that Christ is alive and desires to bring us to eternal life.

Therefore, I am calling you: do not neglect prayer because prayer works miracles. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Mary is constantly calling us, reminding us of her care and guidance. Even though we may forget or neglect this relationship, she never forgets. Her call is rooted in love and concern for our salvation and eternal life. For 37 years and 11 months, through her apparitions in Medjugorje, she has consistently urged us to “pray, pray, and pray.” In this month’s message, she assures us that "prayer works miracles."
      Prayer has the power to change hearts and move God to act. Wherever God moves, miracles happen. Therefore, we must not neglect prayer but embrace it as the key to the peace, joy, and miracles that God desires for us. This is the best way to respond to Mary’s call and to live in union with God’s plan for our salvation.
   
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