Dear children! A fire of hatred and wars is spreading in the hearts of people who do not want peace but their own weak interests.

Although humanity still has a tendency to commit sin and easily fall into evil because of the effects of original sin, all human beings were created in the image of our good God and therefore fundamentally desire love, mercy, goodness, and peace. That is why most people choose and long for love rather than hatred, and peace rather than war. Yet some people sow the seeds of hatred in the world and incite war. Why do they choose hatred and war instead of love and peace? In this month's message, Our Lady tells us that it is because they pursue their own petty interests rather than peace.

Who, then, are those who pursue their own petty interests? They are people who always put themselves first. They are self-centered and selfish, showing no consideration for others. Moreover, because they believe themselves to be better than others and think that they must always be above them, they become arrogant and authoritarian, looking down upon others and harboring hatred toward them. Consequently, they pursue nothing but their own interests.

The problem is that, even though the interests they pursue are petty and insignificant in the eyes of Our Lady, who represents Heaven, there are still people who follow them. Not only is their number increasing, but the situation is also becoming increasingly serious. We can recognize this situation in Our Lady's message, for she tells us that the flames of hatred and war are spreading in the hearts of such people.

What particularly deserves our attention here is the expression "the flames are spreading." This expression describes a dangerous situation in which flames are burning fiercely and spreading uncontrollably, making them extremely difficult to extinguish. Such a fire cannot be put out by one person or a small group of people alone. Only when many people, including firefighters, join forces and use various kinds of equipment and tools can they bring the flames under control and eventually extinguish the fire.

How, then, can we bring under control and extinguish the flames of hatred and war that are spreading in the hearts of those throughout the world who pursue their own petty interests rather than peace? Our Lady offers us the solution in the following words:

That is why, little children, you be prayer and my extended hands of love and peace for all those who are far from my motherly heart.

Our Lady tells us to become prayer for all those who are far from her motherly heart and to become her outstretched hands of love and peace. Through these words, we come to realize that, in order to extinguish the flames of hatred and war spreading in the hearts of those who pursue their own petty interests rather than peace, we need to bring them to Our Lady's motherly heart.

Our Lady desires that they no longer live in pursuit of their own petty interests, but instead escape from the flames of hatred and war and be born anew in her heart, which is like a spring from which the pure water of life flows. Our Lady, who gave herself completely not for herself or her own interests, but for the glory of God and the salvation and peace of humanity, desires to help them live with hearts resembling her own. Here we can sense the boundless depth of her motherly love.

And it is precisely in this work that Our Lady asks for our cooperation. First, she tells us to become prayer for all those who are far from her motherly heart. Prayer is the key that opens every door of our lives so that God may enter into every part of them. Therefore, we must pray fervently that God may pour the refreshing waters of the Holy Spirit's love and peace upon those who are far from Our Lady's heart, who are captivated by material and worldly things, and who live with the flames of hatred and war burning within their hearts.

Our Lady also tells us to become her outstretched hands of love and peace. If, through prayer, we fill our hearts not with hatred and war but with love and peace, and if we live seeking peace rather than our own petty interests, love and peace will overflow not only within us but also into the world around us. This is precisely what we are called to do on behalf of Our Lady, together with her, and out of love for her.

Pray more strongly and more for the peace that God desires to give you, but you do not want it. I am with you and I am praying that peace may prevail and begin to reign in every heart. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Our Lady appeared in Medjugorje and introduced herself as the Queen of Peace. This title itself reveals the purpose of her coming into the world through Medjugorje. Our Lady came for peace. She came to tell us that we can attain true peace only when we accept the peace that God gives us—or rather, when we accept God Himself, who is Peace.

Since the first apparition on June 24, 1981, forty-five years and four months have passed, and even today, Our Lady continues to appear daily as the Queen of Peace, speaking to us about peace. Yet, despite all these years, Our Lady still tells us, "God desires to give you peace, but you do not want that peace." How much sorrow and frustration must Our Lady feel as she looks upon her children who continue to reject the peace God offers them, even though she has spoken about peace for so many years and repeatedly urged them to accept it? And all of this is not for her own sake, but entirely for ours.

Therefore, from today onward—or rather, from this very moment—we must say to Our Lady:

"Mother, Queen of Peace, I sincerely repent and ask your forgiveness for having closed my ears and heart to the messages of peace you have given us. I also deeply repent for having caused you such great sorrow that your heart bleeds. From now on, I will no longer offer selfish, self-serving prayers for my own petty and insignificant interests. Instead, I will ask God only for peace and open my heart wide to receive the peace He desires to give me. And I promise you, dear Mother, that with all my heart, I will pray for peace every day with greater fervor, greater devotion, and greater perseverance, devoting more and more time to prayer."

We are not orphans, because Our Lady, our Mother, is with us. She is praying that peace may triumph and reign not only in our hearts but also in the hearts of all people. If our prayers for peace are united with hers, their power will be truly extraordinary. May peace, peace, and peace alone dwell in the hearts of all people throughout the world and reign over their hearts.