November Newsletter Overview:
Life can make you feel like a broken pot sometimes. Difficult relationships, sin, illness, setbacks, and the everyday challenges of modern life take a toll on each one of us. Find out how Jesus works through the “twin sacraments” of Reconciliation and the Eucharist to glue the pieces of our “broken pot” together and heal your deepest wounds. This month’s “freebie” is a CD from the Mary Foundation called Healing and Holiness. The speaker is Vinny Flynn who also did the Seven Secrets of the Eucharist. To get your free copy click here. There was a great response to last month’s CD, The Mass Explained. If you are one of those who didn’t get your requested copy, it will come soon. I had to place another order.
A friend of mine gave me a terrific article from a Catholic magazine - “Love One Another” about the Mass that “blew me away”! It is called The Eucharist Rediscovered. It is the mystical testimony by a Bolivian stigmatist named Catalina Rivas. In it, Jesus and Mary describe to her that which we can’t see happening during each part of the Mass. I promise you, you will not look at the Mass in the same way ever again! It is of course private revelation and therefore you are not compelled to accept it at all.
A group of six of us went last week on what I can only describe as a pilgrimage to “America’s Little Medjugorje” located in the tri-state area of Ohio, Indiana and northwest Kentucky. Very few outside of the local area are aware of it strangely, yet Our Lady appeared in 6 different locations between 1991 through 1999. The events were nothing short of astonishing! Everyone we spoke with had amazing stories and photographs of miraculous events from that time that have changed their lives forever. If you ever go there, you will understand why Mary has called it “Her place of refuge and peace.” The first, of this two part article can be found below.
Lastly, we conclude with Part 2 of the story The Pancake Café from last month. I hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter!
THE EUCHARIST REDISCOVERED
Here is the mystical testimony on the Holy Mass by Bolivian stigmatist and visionary Catalina Rivas. Through these mystical experiences, Jesus and Our Blessed Mother desire to teach us how we may enjoy the fruits of that greatest event of our salvation, which is made present at every celebration of the Holy Mass. The church authorities of Cochabamba, to whom Catalina is in obedience, wish to spread the message that she has been receiving since 1997. Here are some excerpts from Catalina’s notes:
When I arrived at church on the feast of the Annunciation, the Archbishop and priests had already processed out of the sacristy. The Virgin Mary said in her soft, sweet, feminine voice: “Today is a day of learning for you. I want you to pay close attention to what you experience today, for you will be sharing it with all of mankind.”
The first thing I noticed was the distant sound of beautiful choir voices. The music seemed to draw nearer, then recede like the sound of the wind. The Archbishop began Mass. When he reached the penitential rite, the Blessed Virgin said: “Now ask the Lord from the bottom of your heart to forgive you your sins, for they are offensive to Him. This way you will be able to participate worthily in the privilege of attending Holy Mass.” I thought, “Surely I am in a state of sanctifying grace. Didn’t I go to confession last night?” But the Blessed Mother answered: “You think you have not offended God since last night? Let Me remind you of a couple of instances… And you say you have not hurt the Lord? You arrived here at the last minute, when the celebrants were processing to the altar to say Mass. You were going to take part without preparing yourself… Why do you come at the last minute? Come earlier to pray and ask the Lord to send His Holy Spirit, that He may grant you His peace and cleanse you of the spirit of the work, your worries, problems, and distractions. It is He who disposes you tot the proper experience of so sacred a moment… This is the greatest of all Miracles. You are about to experience the moment when God the Most High bestows His supreme gift upon you, yet you are unable to appreciate it.”
Since this was a feast day and the Gloria was to be recited, Our Lady said: “Glorify and bless the Holy Trinity with all your love. Acknowledge yourself as one of its creatures.”
Now came the Liturgy of the Word. The Virgin Mary bade me repeat: “Lord, today I desire to listen to Your Word and yield abundant fruit. May Your Holy Spirit clean the interior of my heart so that Your Word may grow and mature in it…” Then Our Lady said: “I want you to attend to the readings and homily. Remember Holy Scriptures say that the Word of God does not return to His mouth without bearing fruit. If you are attentive, something of what you have heard will remain in you. Try all day long to recall the words that made an impression on you. It may be two verses, or the entire Gospel reading, or perhaps only a single word. Whatever it is, savor it for the rest of the day. It will become a part of you. That is the way to change your life, by allowing God’s Word to transform you.”
Soon it was time for the Offertory, and the Blessed Virgin said: “Pray in this manner: ‘Lord, I offer You all that I am, all that I have, all that I am able to do. I entrust everything to Your Hands… Almighty God, transform me by the merits of Your Son. I beg You on behalf of my family, my benefactors… all those who struggle against us, and those who have commended themselves to my poor prayers.’ ”
Suddenly, figures I had not noticed before began rising out of the pews. It was as if another person were coming out of the side of each person sitting in the Cathedral. Before long, the building was full of beautiful young beings clad in snow-white robes. They moved to the center aisle and processed toward the altar.
Our Blessed Mother said: “Observe. They are the Guardian Angels of everyone present here. This is the moment when your Guardian Angel brings your offerings and petitions before the Lord’s Altar.”
I was utterly astonished. These beings had beautiful faces, radiant beyond imagining. Despite the feminine-like beauty of their faces, their bodies, hands, and stature were clearly masculine. Their bare feet seemed to glide over the floor. Some of them carried golden, bowl-like objects that gleamed with a golden-white light. The Virgin Mary said to me: “These are the Guardian Angels of those who are offering up this Holy Mass for many intentions. They have something to offer to the Lord… Avail yourself of this moment to make an offering of yourself. Offer your sorrows, your pains, your hopes, your sadness, your joys, and your petitions. Remember the Mass has infinite value. Therefore, be generous with our offerings and petitions.”
Behind the first group of angels came others who had nothing in their hands… The Virgin Mary said: “These are the angels of those present here who never have anything to offer. They have no interest in experiencing each liturgical moment of the Mass. They have no gifts to bring to the Lord’s Altar.”
At the end of the procession came other angels with sad-looking expressions. They walked with their hands joined in prayer, their eyes downcast. “These are the Guardian Angels of those who are present here but who do not wish to be: that is, those who have been forced to come, who out of a sense of obligation but without any real desire to take part in the Holy Mass. The angels walk sadly because they have nothing to bring to the Altar, except their own prayers…Do not sadden your Guardian Angel. Ask for much; ask for the conversion of sinners, for peace in the world, for your families, your neighbors, for those who ask for your prayers. Ask; ask for much, not only for yourselves, but for others as well. Remember the offering that most pleases the Lord is the one in which you offer yourself as a holocaust, so that upo His descent Jesus may transform you by His own merits. What do we have to offer the Father on our own? Nothing but sin. But the offering of ourselves united to the merits of Jesus, that offering is pleasing to the Father.” Continue reading
"Our Lady of Light" Pilgrimage
One of my friends had an idea to go to the Holy Spirit Center where Our Blessed Mother appeared as "Our Lady of Light". She called me, I called my sister, who called Mary who called... well... and you get the idea. Suddenly we have a six-passenger van filled to overflowing with six ladies, rosaries, food, snacks, CD’s and with our Guardian angels on the top of the car, we headed south on a road trip to the Holy Spirit Center. Ten hours later, three rosaries, three Chaplets of Divine Mercy and lots of prayers to every Saint we could think of and there we were, finally pulling into the Center. What an impressive place!
The first thing that strikes you when you arrive is the kindness and hospitality of the people at the Center. They patiently answered our nonstop questions, gave us an extended tour of the facility and shared how they came to be involved with Our Blessed Mother's work. Everyone had an interesting and inspiring story on how She appeared and transformed their lives forever. It turns out that the Holy Spirit Center is only one of 6 places she appeared in the tri-state area of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky between 1991 and 1997. After the fact, someone noticed that the apparition sites form a cross on a map. (Interesting huh?)
In the past, the building now known as The Holy Spirit Center, used to be a seminary for as many as 180 young men. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been used in that way for many years due to our priest shortage. At Our Lady direction, two priests approached the Diocese of Cincinnati asking to buy this old building to make it a place where priests and lay people could come for retreat. She said that it would be "Her place of refuge and peace." An army of volunteers have worked for years to repair ceilings that had fallen down, tear down and rebuild walls and install new windows, create gardens, clean up the vandalism that occurred while the building was empty. The work is endless. But to our eyes, it was obviously a sanctuary built out of love and obedience to our Blessed Mother. There is a profound feeling of peace that envelops you as you walk the halls, visit the gardens, go to the 24 hour Adoration Chapel or the larger chapel to pray. It is a place that you must experience!
We only had one full day to see everything, something that I seriously recommend you don’t try. You just can’t fully experience the Center, Our Lady’s Farm, and visit all the apparition sites all in one day. More importantly, when you are rushing from place to place you aren’t able to experience the peace and tranquility that Mary wants to give you. Nevertheless we tried. Saturday morning we were up early, excited to begin our exploration of the Center. Since my sister and I had just lost three members of our family recently, our first stop was the courtyard where a very large steel cross has been erected. Inside of it is an actual sliver of The True Cross!!  You are invited to leave your sorrows at the foot of the cross by leaving rosaries or crucifixes which will be hung up on it for you. We wrote the names of our relatives on our wooden crosses, shed some tears and prayed. Eventually, we moved to the Chapel and saw their fascinating display of first class relics and magnificent statues. Then, we hit the gift shop. It was wonderful. It has a large variety of books, CD’s, videos and other Catholic gifts. When we finally left, our pocketbooks were definitely lighter! On the bright side, you can stay right there on site where the young seminarians use to. The rooms are simple and comfortable with shared showers and washrooms. Donations are gratefully accepted to cover their costs.
After finally rounding up the ladies (my sister says it is like herding cats) we drove to Our Lady's Farm, located about 60 miles southeast of the Center. The scenery alone was well worth the trip... rolling hills, red, yellow and gold colored trees, cattle grazing in the fields, absolutely beautiful. The map and directions we got from the Center were good; we made it to the Farm with no problem.
When we arrived, we were struck by the Farm’s simplicity. It is a humble place, which is located on the top of a hill. The entire farm is about 100 acres in size. We drove in through the gates and down the hill, past the Grotto to the Chapel. That’s where we met the caretaker, Jerry. For those of you who haven’t met Jerry, he’s terrific. He is a humble man who has wisdom and insights that could only come from spending a lot of time with God. He shared his wisdom with us over the following hours as he gave us a tour of the farm, and the history of Our Lady's visits, the miracles that occurred. The untouched photos of those events are astonishing! Now you may be wondering what Our Lady wanted a farm for. In 1992, Our Lady requested a Grotto be built there for people to gather and pray. In 1994, Our Lady requested that a chapel be built there. In succeeding messages, she asked that the chapel be a modest structure, using as many materials as possible from the original, dilapidated barn so as to form a simple place of prayer where all her children might come and meditate on her Son. Our Lady asked that the chapel be called The Chapel of the Good Shepherd because of the many sheep who have been lost and who will slowly find their way back to the Good Shepherd. We were spellbound by the stories and photographs of Our Lady’s visits to the farm. Our Lady foretold in March of 1994 that special waters would be forthcoming near the chapel, waters which would bring about spiritual as well as physical healings. During a dry spell that lasted 22 days a puddle formed near the chapel. The visionary through whom Our Blessed Mother spoke, instructed that a pump should be installed. A natural spring was discovered. They were told by those installing the pump, that the water would be limited and may not exceed 300 gallons. They advised that a cistern should also be built. The next day 1500 gallons appeared in the cistern. The healing water continues to flow and is available to all.
If you are interested in learning more or planning a pilgrimage here is some information for you.
Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center
5440 Moeller Avenue
Norwood, Ohio 45212
Phone: 513.351.9800
For the 5 vol. set of books of the messages
Call Ken Hinchey: 859.341.5232
Ask for: Personal Revelations of Our Lady of Light
October 25, 2007 – MEDJUGORJE MESSAGE
“Dear children!
God sent me among you out of love that I may lead you towards the way of salvation. Many of you opened your hearts and accepted my messages, but many have become lost on this way and have never come to know the God of love with the fullness of heart. Therefore, I call you to be love and light where there is darkness and sin. I am with you and bless you all. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
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November 1, 2007 – “ANNE” – DIRECTION FOR OUR TIMES
Jesus
My beloved apostle, I understand your struggles. You are becoming holier and yet you do not think you are making progress. Dear one, can you accept that the holier you become, the more holiness you crave? Can you accept that the more you become aware of your own flaws, the more willing you are to accept flaws in others? I am at peace that you are coming to know Me better. Each day brings growth of some kind for you, even if that growth originates in mistakes acknowledged and corrected. I understand you, dear apostle. I know that on some days you are ready for the battle of holiness and that on some days you feel you are not strong enough for the battle. This is what I want to tell you. You rise each day and pledge your allegiance to the Father. This commitment of your day insures that your Father takes you each day in the condition He finds you. Each weakness is used to increase your humility and illuminate for you the path to transformation. Do not become discouraged by the need for improvement. If you but continue on the path you have embarked upon, you will experience greater holiness. It can be no other way because those who pledgeallegiance to the Father are cared for in every detail. Our greatest goal for you is holiness because only in holiness will you find peace and joy. Look around you. How many have committed themselves to holiness as you have committed yourself to holiness? If you look at others, you will see that the Saviour can count only a few as His committed apostles. And yet, every person, regardless of their condition, longs for the holiness you seek, even if their longing is denied and ignored. My heart is moved to such pity for those who do not seek Me. Let your heart also be moved to pity. Show constant compassion, never judgement, to those who do not understand what they lack. I am trying to show you, My beloved apostle, that you have begun a journey that must be taken by each person who will spend eternity in the family of God. If others delay the journey, that is their affair. My beloved apostles understand that this journey, the journey to holiness, is the most important journey they will ever take. This is your first priority, My friends. Continue to make your pledge and I will see to it that you become holier. |
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THIS IS A TRUE AND HEARTWARMING STORY - COURTESY OF THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE:
Our dog, Abbey, died August 23, and the day after Abbey died, my 4 year old, Meredith, was so upset. She wanted to write a letter to God so that He would recognize Abbey in heaven. She told me what to write, and I did.
Then she put 2 pictures of Abbey in the envelope. We addressed it to God in Heaven, put two stamps on it because, as she said, it could be a long way to heaven. We put our return address on it, and I let her put it in the drop box at the post office that afternoon. She was absolutely sure that letter would get to heaven, and I wasn't about to disillusion her.
So today is Labor Day. We took the kids to the museum in Austin, and when we came home, there was a package wrapped in gold on our front porch. It was addressed to Meredith. So... she took it inside and opened it. Inside was a book, When Your Pet Dies by Mr. Rogers (Fred Rogers). Inside the front cover was the letter we had written to God, in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was one of the pictures of Abbey taped on the page. On the back
page was the other picture of Abbey, and this handwritten note on pink paper:
"Dear Meredith,
I know that you will be happy to find out that Abbey arrived safely and soundly in heaven. Having the pictures you sent to me was a big help! I recognized Abbey right away! You know, Meredith, she isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me, just like it stays in your heart... young and running and playing. Abbey loved being your dog, you know.
Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep things in. So... I am sending you your beautiful letter back with the pictures so that you will have this little memory book to keep. One of my angels is taking care of this for me. I hope this little book will help. Thank you for your beautiful letter. Thank your mother for sending it. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.”
Signed,
God |
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This Pancake Café Serves “Soul
Food” (Part 2)
Medjugorje Magazine
This is the conversion story of Ann P., whose messages from Jesus we feature each month.
In that same year, 1994, Frank, Ann’s son, decided to open a Pancake Café in Naperville, Illinois, a Chicago western suburb. Trouble was, Frank needed his mother’s house, along with his own, as collateral. She made a deal with him. He could have her house if he promised to open the restaurant on a feast day of the Blessed Mother. They planned to open on September 8, 1994. But trouble came. Frank told his mother it was costing more money than he’d planned to change some of the plumbing and he was out of money. Ann told her son to take the 50 miraculous medals she’d given him and place the all around in the floor and everything would work out. Frank scattered the medals in the cement as the workers laid the floor.
September 8th came and the work wasn’t all done. Sara, the inspector who just happened to be Catholic, was coming for the final inspection. Ann was on her way to the restaurant when she got the call from a worried Frank. Ann told Frank that it was getting close to three o’clock and she saw the nails in the crucifix had turned gold.
When she arrived, she showed the crucifix to her son. He was amazed. Then Ann sat down with the Catholic inspector. “Sara,” she said, “We have to open today. It’s our Mother’s birthday.” “Whose mother, ours?” Sara asked. “No, Mary’s birthday, in Heaven. We’ve dedicated this place to her.” Sara promised to see what she could do. She checked everything, pronounced the place ready, and they opened the doors at exactly three o’clock, the Hour of Divine Mercy. September 8, 2003 marks their ninth anniversary.
Not only are there medals in the floor, but one wall in the kitchen contains Medjugorje rosaries as well as green and brown scapulars. The word spread about this place dedicated to Mary and some people say they feel a peace as they walk through the door.
Ann told us the story of one of their customers. “I had a customer who was Protestant and I’d always talk to him about religion. We’d go back and forth about his religion and my religion. He’d tell me, ‘I like I when we get this debate going.’ One day a young priest I hadn’t seen for a long time came in and I spent time talking with him at his table. This customer, Jim was at another table and as I gave him his food he seemed grumpy. When he got up to leave he told me, ‘I’m really upset with you today. You didn’t pay any attention to me.’ I explained why I was talking to father but he said, ‘I don’t come here just for your food. I come in for your spiritual
Food.’ Now he’s become my coffee pourer every Sunday. He loves being here. He stays around and we talk about religion – this is how this restaurant is, every single day.”
Ann and her daughter, Mary Kay fast every Wednesday and Friday, not easy when you’re inhaling the aroma and serving delicious food all day. Ann talked about one of the waitresses who worked there for many years. She couldn’t understand Ann’s
quest to fast in Medjugorje. The poor lady just couldn’t understand, so Mary Kay began giving her books to read on the Catholic faith and soon she joined RCIA and became a Catholic. Then her two children came into the Church. Ann concluded, “She moved away when her husband was transferred but she calls me periodically to say she’s still going to Church and that she regards me as her mother. Mary Kay as her sister and mother as her grandmother. We are really like one, big, happy family here.
When Ann’s daughter, Mary Kay, graduated from DuPaul University, instead of getting a job in her field of study, she came to work at the Pancake Café. “I knew it was more important for me to be part of this family ministry.” Soon, she began passing out Bibles, rosaries and Mary’s messages. And that leads us to Mary Kay’s conversion story.
Mary Kay Cumino’s Conversion
My father abandoned us when my brother and I were little but my dad, my mother’s second husband adopted us. We never went to Church but I always had a desire to receive Holy Communion. As a young teenager, I’d go to different churches and sit in the back. I didn’t understand what was going on but I knew I wanted Communion.
Then a friend of mine was converting to Catholicism and she asked me to go to RCIA classes with her. She knew I had the desire to receive Communion. I was then a sophomore in high school. I didn’t tell anyone until the time came to be received into the Church. I’d been baptized but that was it. For my confirmation name I took Ann, my mother’s name. I sent out invitations to my family and that was the first they knew I was now a Catholic.”
Mary Kay admits today that she learned very little about the Catholic faith from RCIA. Throughout high school she only went to Mass on Sundays during the summer. Even then, she still sat in the back of church. Once, someone asked her to join in the rosary but Mary Kay didn’t know how to say a rosary so she simply left. She’d come and she’d go. Things began to change after her mother went to Medjugorje. Now in her twenties, Mary Kay didn’t understand it but she saw a big change in her mother. “Her heart was always good,” she insists. “She was a giving, loving person but now she was different. It was as if all those years she’d tried to be someone she wasn’t”
As people who believed in Medjugorje came to their home, like Guy Murphy, Mary Kay listened to their stories. On day Guy asked her to go with is group on a pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes and Medjugorje. Mary Kay had a friend who was a drug addict. Her mother suggested she take him along on the pilgrimage. “I didn’t go there so much for me as for Jeff. But things changed for me. I started to learn my faith. Guy taught me more on that trip than I learned in any of the classes I’d been in. The rosary seemed to open doors for me. I also went to confession there. I’ve been to Medjugorje now three times. That first time was in 1994. I didn’t seem myself as different when I cam home. I just finally understood my faith.”
Did she begin going to Mass every Sunday? “No, I started going to Mass every day, to receive the Eucharist, which I now understood. I also went to the prayer group.” Continue reading
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