THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE P.O. BOX 6614 ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA

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1 THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE P.O. BOX 6614 ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA SUBSCRIPTION RATE - FREE WILL OFFERING - PLEASE SEE PAGE 8 If this is the first time you have received this newsletter, and you would like a Beginner s Guide, please contact us for one. EDITOR: JUNE KLINS PHONE: (814) jklins1981@verizon.net EDITOR EMERITUS: JOAN WIESZCZYK SPIRITUAL ADVISOR FR. WILLIAM KIEL VOL. 29, NO. 4 PUBLISHED MONTHLY April 2016 CURRENT MONThLY MESSAGE OF MARCH 25, 2016 ON THE 25TH DAY OF EACH MONTH, THE BLESSED VIRGIN GIVES A MESSAGE TO THE VISIONARY, MARIJA, THAT IS TO BE GIVEN TO THE WORLD. Dear children! Today I am carrying my love to you. God permitted me to love you and, out of love, to call you to conversion. You, little children, are poor in love and you still have not comprehended that my Son Jesus, out of love, gave His life to save you and to give you eternal life. Therefore pray, little children, pray so that in prayer you may comprehend God s love. Thank you for having responded to my call. This picture of the Annunciation is one of the stained glass window panels in St. James Church in Medjugorje. Good Friday fell on March 25th this year, so the Annunciation (which is normally celebrated on March 25th) was moved to April 4th.

2 February was a quiet, prayerful month with very few pilgrims in Medjugorje. Many of the shops were closed, along with some of the restaurants. Saint James Church and the Blessed Sacrament chapel were open and available for prayer. Our Fr. Bill Kiel group of 14 seemed to be the only English speaking group in the village; very few pilgrims were walking the streets, and traffic was extremely light a great contrast to Medjugorje in June. This trip was truly a retreat experience, away from crowds and the world. Distractions were minimal no news casts, newspapers or TVs. Each morning our group began the day with Morning Prayer in the meeting room of our pansion, then English speaking Mass followed in the Blessed Sacrament chapel. Members of our group were involved in the ministries of Masses when I was the presider. In the off season, there are no speakers scheduled in the village, so our time was truly our retreat time. We were able to celebrate Mass at a few churches outside Medjugorje; it was only our group in each church, and every one had an opportunity to participate in ministries. One of our special Masses was Sunday Mass at the Cenacolo Community. The gentlemen prayed and sang As of March 25, 2016, the number of Masses reported for Our Lady s intentions was 13, 321. Mirjana s Message on March 2, 2016 Dear children, my coming to you is a gift from the Heavenly Father for you. Through His love I am coming to help you to find the way to the truth, to find the way to my Son. I am coming to confirm the truth to you. I desire to remind you of the words of my Son. He pronounced words of salvation for the entire world, the words of love for everyone - that love which He proved by His sacrifice. But even today, many of my children do not know Him, they do not want to come to know Him, they are indifferent. Because of their indifference my heart suffers painfully. My Son has always been in the Father. By being born on earth He brought the divine and from me received the human. With Him the word came among us. With Him came the light of the world which penetrates hearts, illuminates them and fills them with love and consolation. My children, all those who love my Son can see Him, because His face can be seen through the souls which are filled with love for Him. Therefore, my children, my apostles, listen to me. Leave vanity and selfishness. Do not live only for what is earthly and material. Love my Son and make it so that others may see His face through your love for Him. I will help you to come to know Him all the more. I will speak to you about Him. Thank you. Medjugorje in February By Fr. Bill Kiel Fr. Bill blessing a child on his pilgrimage very devoutly, truly from the heart! It was a memorable Mass for all of us. Italian is the language of Cenacolo, so the readings were read in Italian, and English for us. Also, a member from the United States translated my homily into Italian for members of the community. The following day I had the opportunity to spend more than three hours with the members for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and talking briefly with several members. The respect they had for the sacrament was magnificent. Work and prayer are the core of the life for the community, and they live on God s Providence! They have trust in God providing for all their needs, and God does! Our group bought food items and donated them to the Cenacolo community, a small community of Sisters, and a small cluster of destitute families. Lent and almsgiving took on a special significance with these activities. Part of our retreat was discussions on Divine Mercy and the Jubilee year of Mercy, and one evening we spoke of the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Even though Medjugorje was nearly free of pilgrims, it was a retreat village for us quiet for prayer, and time for humanitarian activities. Lent for us began in this prayerful and inviting village. Prayer Intentions of Pope Francis for April: Small Farmers: That small farmers may receive a just reward for their precious labor. African Christians: That Christians in Africa may give witness to love and faith in Jesus Christ amid political-religious conflicts. Every day He humbles Himself just as He did when from His heavenly throne into the Virgin s womb; every day He comes to us and lets us see Him in lowliness, when He descends from the bosom of the Father into the hands of the priest at the altar. ~ St. Francis of Assisi (our patron saint this year) Our thanks to Pat Weller, Sue Taccone, Diane Niebauer, Fran Stadler, Sue Kirby, Chris Falk, Mary Tirak, Barb Cesare, Cindy Bielanin, Peggy Chludzinski, Georgia Chludzinski, Celeste Migneault, Louise Lotze, and Barb Sirianni, and the people who want to remain anonymous for their help with the March mailing. We thank Allison Shipley, Louise Lotze, Mike Golovich, and Fr. Bill Zimmer for their photos in this issue. We also thank our proofreader, Pat Berrier, and our webmaster, Jason Klins THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE APRIL 2016

3 As we approach the 35 th anniversary of Our Lady s apparitions in Medjugorje, we will publish some of the early messages which can now be read online at org/messagesall.htm. (Our Lady s words are in italics.) Tuesday, February 9, 1982 At the fourth Our Father, the Blessed Virgin arrived. We always ask questions with respect to the sick: Pray for all the sick. Believe firmly. I will come to help, according to that which is in my power. I will ask my Son, Jesus, to help them. The most important thing, in the meantime, is a strong faith. Numerous sick persons think that it is sufficient to come here in order to be quickly healed. Some of them do not even believe in God, and even less, in the apparitions, and then they ask for help from the Gospa! Wednesday, February 10, 1982 Vicka: Jakov and I were alone. Just as every evening, we prayed, conversed with the Blessed Virgin, and asked many questions. To them She responded: Pray, Pray! It is necessary to believe firmly, to go to confession regularly, and likewise receive Holy Communion. It is the only salvation. Her preferred prayer is the Creed. When we recite it, the Blessed Virgin does not cease to smile. I think that no one has seen Her happier than during this prayer. Early Messages Photo from the early days displayed behind St. James in Medjugorje Friday, February 12, 1982 Be more calm, more poised. Do not take sides with other children. Be agreeable, well mannered, pious! When Our Lady prays, She joins Her hands. When She speaks She opens them and raises them toward Heaven, Her palms turned upwards. Friday, March 5, 1982 I questioned the Blessed Virgin on the matter of an Italian, who was very sick, and about another man who acquired cancer. She responded: Tell them to pray and to put themselves in the hands of God. I too, will call on the mercy of my Son. I will do everything in my power to help them. But it will be necessary to believe completely. Without a strong faith, nothing is possible. Goodbye my angels. Thursday, April 22, 1982 Are the luminous signs at the cross on Krizevac natural, or do they come from God? What does the letter S and the letter T, which appear on the cross mean? They are signs of God, and not of natural phenomena. S and T are signs of salvation. Saturday, April 24, 1982 What must one do in order to have more cures? Pray! Pray and believe firmly. Say the prayers which have already been requested. (7 Our Fathers, Hail Marys, Glory Be s, and the Creed.) Do more penance. St. Faustina Prayer Book for the Holy Souls in Purgatory By June Klins The day after the mailing of our March newsletter felt like Christmas to me. I received a number of gifts, one of which was Susan Tassone s newest book, St. Faustina Prayer Book for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. I was really excited because I had planned to order this book after having watched Fr. Mitch Pacwa s interview of Susan on EWTN. The Saint Faustina Prayer Book, which has an Imprimatur and a Nihil Obstat, is a compilation of prayers, meditations and insights from St. Faustina s Diary intertwined with Catholic prayers and devotions and teachings. Susan noted that her purpose in writing this book was twofold. We are on a mercy mission with St. Faustina to help obtain relief and release for the Souls in Purgatory, and to also help those of us on earth to avoid Purgatory. Susan s wonderful book covers the seven pillars that God provides to help the Holy Souls: doing the will of God in all things, Mass, Scripture, Rosary, Eucharistic Adoration, Stations of the Cross, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. There is a section called Purgatory in the Eyes of St. Faustina with twelve daily meditations. It is fascinating to read about St. Faustina s encounters with the Holy Souls. Susan also included an examination of conscience based on the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy a very good addition in this Year of Mercy. There is a section on supplications to Our Lady for the Holy Souls. Did you know that Our Lady told St. Faustina that the three virtues dearest to Her are humility, purity, and love of God? Also included are prayers for the dying and for a happy death. One of my favorite parts of the book was the last section entitled Frequently Asked Questions About Purgatory. There are 16 questions, such as Where is Purgatory in the Bible? and Is Purgatory a Place or a State? I don t think Susan will mind if I share the answer to one of the questions I am often asked: Can the Holy Souls Intercede for Us? Most people are under the impression that the Souls cannot pray for us until they are released to Heaven. Susan s answer was: The Holy Souls are unable to pray for themselves, but they can intercede and pray for us while they re in Purgatory.The Catechism of the Catholic Church (958) states: Our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective. The more we pray for them, the more powerful their intercession is for us! Editor s note: Susan will be speaking at the Totally Yours Marian Conference in St. Charles, IL on April For more information about the conference, call Susan s book can be ordered from any bookstore, or visit her website at APRIL THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE

4 Greetings! I would like to share a little bit of my Medjugorje story with you. I first went to Medjugorje in 1990, right after graduating from eighth grade. Though we were distracted with each other, with the pretty girls, and all-around childish behavior that pervaded our youth group, we still managed to have a powerful encounter with Our Lady and with visible signs of Her presence in Medjugorje. Everyone in our group saw the miracle of the sun. We literally stared directly into the noon-day sun for 20 minutes without it hurting our eyes. In fact, when I looked at the sun, a white disc sprang from the side of my view and covered the sun, greatly reducing its intensity. If I looked away, and looked back, the white disc which was like a Host, but was translucent, leapt back to cover the sun. Over and over I tested it. After 20 minutes or so, we left for our next engagement. Before that, and for the rest of the trip, we couldn t even look in the direction of the sun because the daytime sky was so bright. We were greatly impressed with the miracle that we had experienced. I also had an encounter of Our Lady by the statue in front of the church. I felt Her deeply calling to me, and I gave myself to Her, at least to the capacity that I was able as a 14 year old. These experiences deeply influenced my faith. When my friends in high school were doubting the faith, I had those experiences in Medjugorje to stand on. So I always believed, but I had plenty of distractions and confusion which caused me to fall in a number of ways during high school and college. Because of Medjugorje, I knew where to come to for healing and forgiveness the sacraments. I had a big conversion experience in 1996 as a junior in college when I heard Jesus call me by name while playing in a band in a bar. I resisted the call for six months and went through a hellish breakdown. Finally, I had the grace to surrender, and I told God I wanted what He wants 100%, no matter what it is. The weight left my shoulders, I could breathe freely, and joy slowly grew in my heart again. I immediately met my vocation, Annie, and we were married in August She has been a physical sign of God s presence ever since, and continues to be my deepest confidant, my fellow pilgrim, my best friend. We now have seven children and busily go about the task of living out what God started back in 97. However, back when I had said yes to God and set out on the Via Dolorosa, I was still filled with residual anxieties, fears, immaturities, and a host of other problems that poor Annie has been patiently watching transform over the years through the power of the cross. And Medjugorje has played a continued, important part. I was graced to go on my second pilgrimage to Medjugorje Fear Nothing By Mike Nolan Mike and Annie in March of The prayer, the presence of God and Our Lady, the heartfelt encounter, the sense of community with the group, all affected me deeply. But the crowning moment came at the end of the trip at Mirjana s March 18 apparition. For me it was part pilgrimage, part work trip, as I was filming the pilgrimage to make videos promoting Our Lady s call in Medjugorje. I brought a HUGE, heavy video camera to the apparition, hoping to get a good shot. Sr. Emmanuel, whom we were working with at the time, led me toward the tent where Mirjana would receive Our Lady. As we entered the Cenacolo Community s property where the apparition was to take place, it became evident that we were far too late to get anywhere near Mirjana. Nevertheless, Sister led me through the crowd, squeezing between, stepping over, sneaking past thousands of pilgrims, with thousands of excuse me, pardon me apologies along the way. She managed to get me and my enormous camera all the way up to the tent. Inside you could hear the crowd singing songs of praise and reciting the Rosary with great enthusiasm. All of a sudden, Sister disappeared through a tear in the side of the tent. Her arm shot back out, took my camera, then shot out again and pulled me through the hole by the scruff of my neck! I found myself underneath bleacher stands on which the crowds of pilgrims were sitting. There were a few other pilgrims underneath the bleachers who had climbed through the hole with the same idea. As I crouched under the stands wondering what we could possibly do next, Sister tapped the legs of someone sitting on the bleachers, who promptly stretched their legs out to make an opening between the bench seats. She slithered through, reached back in and took my camera, and again reached back through to pull me through the bleachers by the scruff of my neck. I remember thinking, This woman is crazy! I found myself standing awkwardly with my camera in the middle of the large meeting tent packed with pilgrims, with every eye focused on the man with the big camera who somehow manifested through the bleachers with a nun. The Cenacolo boys, seeing my big camera, led me to the very front, right where Our Lady would appear. They placed me directly in front of where Mirjana would kneel to receive Our Lady. Our Lady would appear right between us! I had the absolute best spot, with unobstructed view, and Our Lady would literally be an arm s reach away! I felt overwhelmed, exhilarated, and terrified all at once. After 20 minutes or so, Mirjana came in and knelt down, joining the crowd in prayer. For the next 15 minutes or so, she peacefully prayed on her knees while silently weeping. Then her face changed to a look of wonder, her eyes looked THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE APRIL 2016

5 up, and she dropped the tissue she had been using to wipe her tears. Our Lady had appeared and the two of them were conversing. As I was an inexperienced camera man, I became more and more afraid that I would somehow fail at capturing this incredible moment. There were no retakes. This was a one-shot deal, a once-ina-lifetime opportunity, and I started to panic. A few minutes into the apparition my state of panic had worsened! I closed my eyes, and turned my heart toward Our Lady, not knowing whom else to turn to for help. Immediately, I lost my awareness of everything around me, and was caught up into the presence of Our Lady. All around Our Lady and eternally beyond was the presence of God. A joyful, enrapturing peace coursed through my body and my heart. I felt the power of God s and Our Lady s love for me. Then Our Lady spoke two words to me. Fear nothing. I felt immersed in the truth! Joy, love, fullness of life! But more so, when She spoke these two words, fear nothing, an accompanying understanding resounded in my whole being. I had heard Her messages before, instructing us not to fear. But this was completely different. My whole body, my whole soul, my whole mind received the power and weight of what She was saying. The only way I can explain it is like this. If I was tied to the railroad tracks and a freight train was speeding towards me, fear was the silliest reaction I should ever have. If an avalanche was smashing down a mountainside moments away from engulfing me, to respond with fear would be the most childish and ridiculous reaction. While in the presence of the infinite power of God who loved me eternally, the very idea of fear seemed laughable! This is what accompanied Our Lady s words. She really meant fear NOTHING. I became aware again of where I was. Sister must have noticed that I was completely neglecting the camera because she was looking at me with a perplexed look. I slowly framed up my shot of Mirjana, as I had let the camera drift during my encounter with Our Lady. I felt overwhelmed with peace, and a little embarrassed, as I had no idea how I acted during those moments! I finished filming the apparition and the singing and praying and buzz of the crowd after, but now with a solid sense of joyful peace. I returned to the pansion that evening, but told no one of my experience. It was too personal, too fresh. I needed to let it be metabolized. Someone brought over a translation of the message that Mirjana had received as I was filming her that Mike s pilgrims with Medjugorje smiles morning. I almost fell over when I read the first line. Dear Children! As a mother I implore you, open your heart and offer it to me, and FEAR NOTHING. I realized, that as Our Lady was speaking these words to Mirjana, She spoke them to me, as I opened my heart to Her! Here is the message in its entirety: March 18, 2002 Dear Children! As a mother I implore you, open your heart and offer it to me, and fear nothing. I will be with you and will teach you how to put Jesus in the first place. I will teach you to love Him and to belong to Him completely. Comprehend, dear children, that without my Son there is no salvation. You should become aware that He is your beginning and your end. Only with this awareness can you be happy and merit eternal life. As your mother I desire this for you. Thank you for having responded to my call. I have been back to Medjugorje 30 times since. I now bring groups! And each trip s encounter with Our Lady s oasis of peace and prayer in Medjugorje has brought new miracles in my heart, enfleshing in me what Our Lady began with that message from that amazing encounter. Fear nothing... He (Jesus) is your beginning and your end. Our Lady of Medjugorje has been molding these two truths in those who are responding to Her call. Jesus is my beginning. I am GOOD, desired by, created by, loved by God. I can accept myself exactly as I am. I can make my peace with my past, and with my weaknesses and failures. Jesus is my end. I can accept the suffering and confusion in my life, because I know Jesus is transforming me in Christian perfection through His providence. When climbing the difficult path up Krizevac, I gladly embrace the discomforts, because I know the path is leading me to encounter God at the top!!! So also I can joyfully embrace the cross, because Jesus is the end of the Via Dolorosa; Jesus is my end. This year I have a pilgrim group traveling to Medjugorje, Assisi, and finally the Holy Door in Rome! We leave August 10 and return August 23. Most of our time is spent in Medjugorje with our Mother. We will carry the grace with us to the Holy Door with great enthusiasm and prayer. I also have a group going just to Medjugorje in October. Please visit pilgrim-medj.com for info, and come with us!!!! God s peace. Editor s note: You can view Mike s testimony, including his video of Mirjana s apparition on March 18, 2002, in the Fruit of Medjugorje archive at episode #203. You can contact him at Mnolan6@me.com or Message to Mirjana on March 18, 2016 Dear children, with a motherly heart filled with love for you, my children, I desire to teach you complete trust in God the Father. I desire for you to learn by an internal gaze and internal listening to follow God s will. I desire for you to learn to boundlessly trust in His mercy and His love, as I always trusted. Therefore, my children, cleanse your hearts. Free yourselves from everything that binds you to only what is earthly and permit what is of God to form your life by your prayer and sacrifice so that God s Kingdom may be in your heart; that you may begin to live proceeding from God the Father; that you may always strive to walk with my Son. But for all of this, my children, you must be poor in spirit and filled with love and mercy. You must have pure and simple hearts and always be ready to serve. My children, listen to me, I speak for your salvation. Thank you THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE APRIL 2016

6 In the homily for English Mass on October 26, 2015, the celebrant [Fr. Bill Zimmer] shared about his experience of the love of Our Lady in Medjugorje on his first pilgrimage, four years ago. The love of Our Lady opened his eyes to something wonderful in Medjugorje. He shared about that wonderful sight in this homily. It is a beautiful witness to the gifts which God is giving to us through Our Lady s presence. Homily from English Mass on Monday, October 26, 2015: Yesterday, Fr. Leon in his homily posed a question: If we experience a miracle in Medjugorje, when we go home are we different? Or do we live the same? Well, that spoke to me, because on my first pilgrimage in November of 2011, I had an experience of the love of the Mother of God that changed my life and my priestly ministry forever. In fact, I had that same experience two other times in that pilgrimage. And upon reflecting on those experiences when I returned to Chicago, it occurred to me that the love of God that comes to us through Mary is real. And I was prompted, I was driven, to share that with all the people I celebrate the Mass with in the Chicago area. So, since then, in the four years since that experience, I have shared it about 150 times, in over 50 parishes in the Chicago area, a conference, many groups and individuals. It was on the radio last June, and it is going to be on Mary TV; it is being recorded this Wednesday. As part of that experience, I recount what happened after the first experience of the love of Mary that morning. When we walked through the vineyards of Medjugorje, the majestic mountain range in the distance...mountains are a privileged place of encounter with God...and we came to St. James Church in Medjugorje, I was amazed at what I saw. This was a Wednesday morning, a weekday. And the whole church was full of people all the pews were filled, with people sitting in front of the front pew, on the sides, in the back, and everyone was participating in the Mass with all of their heart! We sang four stanzas of Amazing Grace as the entrance hymn. That was the first time in my life I had ever done that!! All the people were participating in the prayers and the songs, listening attentively to the Word of God in the Scripture readings and the homily, and going to Communion reverently. I said to myself, That is the vision of Liturgical renewal from the Second Vatican Council as expressed in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy full, conscious and active participation in the Liturgy [editor emphasis]. I say to them in Chicago, Friends, that is not only possible it is happening, every day in Medjugorje at 10 o clock in the morning! And it s for good reason, because in the Mass, the celebration of the Eucharist, the most important thing in human history occurs. That is the Paschal Mystery, the very purpose of human history, its culmination and fulfillment, when God suffered the most horrible death imaginable. It is the most definitive expression of the love that God has for all of us when God s mercy was spilled over the world like an immense ocean. And a short time later, He passed over from death to life, conquering sin and death. That Paschal Mystery will be present throughout all the ages of human history until the Second Coming of Christ. What Father Saw in Medjugorje By Cathy Nolan It will be made present through the Catholic Mass, because the Mass is the perpetual memorial of the Paschal Mystery. But it is not just an historic memory, like when you go to an historic place like the 15th century castle outside of town, and you say, Oh, how interesting it is to see how people lived in the 15th Century. That is not what the Mass is. The Mass is a memory that makes that reality present again. When we celebrate the Mass, it doesn t matter if it Fr. Bill Zimmer in Medjugorje is in a humble church with 14 people present or a Papal Eucharist with over a million people present. The Paschal Mystery the death and resurrection of Jesus becomes present again, it becomes a living reality in human history at that Mass. When that happens, the graces of the Paschal Mystery are flooded into the whole world not just the church where it is being celebrated because the Mass is offered for the salvation of the whole world, and not just for the Universal Church, but for all humanity. We join in Christ s work in saving all of humanity. And so in the words of St. Maria Faustina, in her inspiring Diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul, she says, I feel like a drop in the ocean of God s mercy. The same outpouring of graces that happens in the Mass, the Paschal Mystery of Christ, floods the world with God s love and mercy. And it gives us the grace to do something of utmost importance. As Paul says in the first reading from Romans today, we are heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with Him, so we may also be glorified with Him. Here we see the Paschal Mystery as present in the Word of God. The Scriptures, in many ways, make the Paschal Mystery present, just like the Sacrament of the Eucharist does. And it gives us the grace to respond to this exhortation by St. Paul to the Romans, which is an exhortation to Christians down through the ages to follow Christ s example, to share his Paschal Mystery, to willingly suffer so that we may be glorified with Him. And it is certainly worth it, as St. Maria Faustina reveals in her diary the most compelling spiritual literature I have ever read, for many reasons one reason being that she tells of many personal experiences of Heaven. She tells what it is like to be in Heaven. Here is one stunning statement in that regard. It is a prayer. I think her whole diary is just a prayer. She says, Lord, I would gladly toil laboriously for my whole life, and bear all the sufferings of the world, for just one moment in eternity with You. Just think of that. She is willing to bear all the labor and suffering of the whole world, for just one moment with the Lord in Heaven. What a stunning revelation of the eternal glory in Heaven that awaits us. That inspires us to share in the Paschal Mystery of Christ. It inspires us to APRIL THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE

7 come to Mass as often as we can, and to bring the children. Even if they can t understand it, which of course they don t, there is such an outpouring of graces from the Paschal Mystery of Christ, that those children are blessed lovingly, and they are given the grace to become great Catholics. That is what we are all called to be. We turn now to celebrate the Eucharist, where the bread and wine are transformed by the grace of Christ, through the Holy Spirit into His Body and Blood, which gives us the grace to imitate Him, responding to the words of St. Paul, If only we suffer with Him, so that we may be glorified with Him. [Fr. Bill Zimmer, 10/26/15] Mass at Saint James in Medjugorje work God is doing in Medjugorje!! Permanently Laid Off By June Klins Barbara Repasy loved to help with the mailing of The Spirit of Medjugorje. That is why I was surprised that she never returned my call or showed up for our November, 2015 mailing. I assumed she was out of town visiting her grandchildren. The next day, I was sickened to hear the news that Barbara was in intensive care and that both of her legs had been amputated to prevent an infection from spreading through her whole body. Barbara was in the hospital for a long time, before she was finally released to a nursing and rehabilitation facility. We heard that she wanted visitors, so my friend, Pat, and I decided to visit her. Little did we know what an adventure this would turn out to be! There is not enough space here to tell what happened that day, but suffice it to say, we thought we had entered the Twilight Zone as we were directed to multiple nursing homes and hospitals all over town searching for her. After hours of getting the run-around, we finally found Barbara, but the scene we came upon was not at all what we expected poor Barbara had her IV pole lying on top of her and her arms were flailing in panic. We soon realized that Barbara was suffering much more than we could have ever imagined. Besides losing her legs, she was not able to talk because of a tracheotomy. I could read her lips as she mouthed my name and reached out to hug me. It was hard to hold back the tears. We tried to read her lips as she pointed to the shelves in her room. Then we discovered a tablet that had some words on it that she could point to May your suffering be united in His suffering and love will win (Our Lady, 3/25/03) Little children, offer your sufferings as a gift to God so they become a most beautiful flower of joy (Our Lady 9/25/96) in order to communicate her needs. I noticed that the first word on the tablet was pain and the last word was rosary such opposite words! Barbara pointed to the word rosary, so Pat retrieved the rosary from the shelf and tried to place it in her hands. She had trouble holding it. We asked if she wanted us to pray the Rosary and she shook her head yes. As we prayed, she moved her lips to the prayers, and when we were done, she managed a little smile. It was obvious that she was in agonizing pain, and I felt as if I was looking at Jesus on the cross, especially when she seemed to gasp for air and indicated she was thirsty. What a powerful explosion of faith came to this priest, and comes to all of us through Our Lady. Medjugorje really is a Eucharistic Village, as Olga told us on Tea with Rosie. This is the great Editor s note: Fr. Zimmer will be speaking at the Notre Dame Marian Conference, May 20-22, For more information, go to or call Next month we will publish Fr. Zimmer s witness of his experience of the love of the Mother of God in Medjugorje on his first pilgrimage. The following two months, Barbara was moved back and forth between the hospital and a different nursing home. I was reminded of how Jesus was moved from place to place on Holy Thursday. The second week of Lent, when a few of us went to visit her, we were told that she was back in the hospital for the umpteenth time. This poor woman! After she was transferred back to the nursing home, I went to visit her with friends multiple times, but she did not seem to acknowledge us. The last time I went to visit, I was alone. I knew she was near the end, so I prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet. She died later that week on the first Friday of March. How appropriate that she died on a First Friday and in Lent! She sure did her share of penance! Most people would have said from the beginning of Barbara s ordeal that it would have been better for her to die so she would be out of her misery. I found myself thinking that way at first, but then realized that if she was still alive, then God must have had a purpose for her life. Who are we to judge? St. Faustina wrote in her Diary, Suffering is the greatest treasure on earth (Diary, #342) and If the angels were capable of envy, they would envy us for two things: one is the receiving of Holy Communion, and the other is suffering (Diary, #1804). Barbara was a very holy woman and would have known to offer up her suffering. Perhaps she was suffering for her family. Or maybe she was suffering for priests or vocations, or maybe the conversion of ISIS members. Maybe she was suffering for YOU!!! Who knows? Or maybe she was even going through a final purification so to avoid any Purgatory time. Who are we to judge? God s ways are not our ways Our Lady once told St. Bernadette that her job was to suffer. If Barbara s job here on earth these last four and a half months has been to suffer, she has now been permanently laid off. Well done, good and faithful servant. A group of us contributed for Gregorian Masses (30 Masses in a row) for Barbara. We were thrilled when we learned that they they would start on Easter Sunday! APRIL THE SPIRIT OF MEDJUGORJE

8 The Spirit of Medjugorje Information Center P.O. Box 6614 Erie, PA U.S.A. RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID ERIE, PA PERMIT NO. 685 DATED MATERIAL On June 24, 1981 in Medjugorje, Our Lady appeared to six children. She identified Herself as the Blessed Virgin, Queen of Peace, and has continued to appear daily. Her message is PEACE, peace with God and man. Her words to the visionaries, I have come to tell the world that God exists. He is the fullness of life, and to enjoy this fullness and obtain peace, you must return to God. Today, all but three of the visionaries have daily apparitions of the Blessed Mother. During the apparitions, the visionaries do not react to light, don t hear any sound or react to being touched. They feel that they are outside of time and space. All the visionaries declare to see the Blessed Virgin as they see other people - in three dimension. They pray and speak with Her. The Blessed Mother is confiding ten secrets to each visionary (some are chastisements for the world) and promises to leave a visible sign at the place of the apparitions in Medjugorje for all humanity. This time, this period of grace, is for CONVERSION Permission is given to spread the text of any original works and may be used with the following conditions: 1) No words are changed; 2) Spirit of Medjugorje is cited. For articles by other sources, permission must be obtained from the original source. If you want to receive The Spirit of Medjugorje monthly newsletter, please fill out the form below and return to: P.O. Box 6614, Erie, PA If you are able to send a donation to help spread Mary s messages, it would be greatly appreciated. We request that you renew your subscription annually to remain on our mailing list. May God bless you. Please check one: New Renew Distribute Adoration Newsletters Issue #1 or Issue #2 (please circle) (# of newsletters) Name Street Address MARY IS CALLING YOU and a DEEPENING OF FAITH. After the visible sign, those still living will have little time for conversion. Father Jozo Zovko, who was the pastor of St. James when the apparitions began, has spoken about what he calls the weapons or the the five stones of Our Lady. They are: prayer with the heart, especially the Rosary; Eucharist; Holy Bible; monthly Confession; and fasting. The publisher recognizes and accepts that the final authority regarding the apparitions at Medjugorje rest with the Holy See in Rome. To borrow an original prayer cloth from Medjugorje for a week, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the address below. You must include your phone number. If you want a prayer cloth we made to keep, send a self-addressed stamped business size (4 1 / 8 x 9 1 / 2 ) envelope with $.71 postage on it. Sponsor a subscription for someone overseas (suggested donation: $13 to cover postage) Distribute Beginner s Guides (# of guides) (Please, no foreign checks or money orders, except postal money orders. U.S. FUNDS ONLY) City, State and Zip Code VOL. 29, NO.4