Message December 25, 2020

Message of The Blessed Virgin Mary

December 25, 2020

"Dear children! I am carrying to you little Jesus who brings you peace, Him who is the past, present and future of your existence. Little children, do not permit for your faith and hope in a better future to be extinguished, because you are chosen to be witnesses of hope in every situation. That is why I am here with Jesus that He may bless you with His peace. Thank you for having responded to my call."

A Child is Born

A Child is Born to us both in time past and into this our time and age. This will be ever before us until that day when the Little Babe of Bethlehem will come to this His Old Worn and Torn world to draw unto Himself and to His Father's Heavenly Eternal Embrace all those who have seen that Star.

That glorious Star was seen by only those who had faith to look up. The Shepherds saw that Star. Wisemen from afar saw that Star. Simple people who know the value and the meaning of life, of love will always look up; they will always find from their eyes the factual fulfillment of faith, a Savior who came to this earth.

Not only did they see The Star, but they also heard that tiny Baby Cry. It was a cry that echoed over the white chalked hills of Bethlehem. It sounded from a little town of Bethlehem to every shore of human land. That echoed cry offered "Peace" - Peace of Soul, Peace of Spirit, Peace to nasty destructive human persons who reject the only and the best opportunity to have God change their lives. Peace be to those who look up to the Star of Bethlehem.

Everyone who looks up and not down will inevitably find the Child of that Star offering each human the "wisdom of His crib" which will and can lead to the strength of every human daily Cross. At Christmas we see whom God sent to us; at Good Friday into Easter Sunday we realize whom God sent fulfilling the "why." It was God — who never fades away His Love.

What shall we bring Him this time of life? Maybe we can bring Him the best of our weaknesses, our wayward fickleness. Just maybe someone can look up to the Star: he or she will find a telltale of revelation. That revelation nothing more than each human heart — drastically once a prisoner of search — now finding true, honest, and authentic love. God loves you — each and all. May I your friend and priest extend to you special Christmas. Blessings to you and family.  Reverend Father Ralph Anthony DiOrio

Mary Notices Everything

In the early Church, four different manifestations of the Lord were celebrated as one feast day on January 6- the birth of Jesus, the visit of the Magi, the baptism of the Lord, and the Miracle at Cana. This feast day was named "Epiphany" which means "manifestation". The Miracle at Cana is one of the Luminous Mystery Rosary Stations behind St. James in Medjugorje. In one of her reflections, Cathy Nolan of Mary TV wrote. "We need Mary's intercession and mediation. Like the young couple at Cana, we probably don't even know what we lack! They didn't know the wine was running out, but Mary noticed. She notices everything. And so She will intercede for us according to what we really need, not just what we think we need." May we be receptive to Mary's intercession throughout 2021.

"From Mary we learn to surrender to God's will in all things. From Mary we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary we learn to love Christ her Son and the Son of God!"   St. John Paul II

December 25, 2020 - Annual apparition to Jakov

At the last daily apparition to Jakov Colo on September 12th, 1998, Our Lady told him that henceforth he would have one apparition a year, every December 25th, on Christmas Day. This is also how it was this year. Through Jakov, Our Lady gave the following message:

"Dear children. Also today Jesus is here beside you, even when you think that you are alone and that light does not exist in your life. He is here and has never left you or distanced Himself from you. The light of His birth illuminates this world and your life. His Heart is always open towards you, to receive your every pain, every trial, fear and need. His arms are extended towards you, that as a father, He may embrace you and tell you how important you are for Him, how much He loves you and cares for His children. Children, is your heart open towards Jesus? Have you completely surrendered your life into His hands? Have you accepted Jesus as your father, to whom you can always turn and in Him find consolation and everything you need to live true faith? That is why, my children, surrender your hearts to Jesus and permit Him to begin to rule your lives, because only in this way, will you accept the present and be able to face the world in which you live today. With Jesus, every fear, suffering and pain disappear, because your heart accepts His will and everything that comes into your life. Jesus will give you the faith to accept everything and nothing will distance you from Him -- because He firmly holds you by the hand and does not permit for you to distance and lose yourselves in difficult moments -- because He has become the Lord of your life. I bless you with my motherly blessing."

The Visionaries

Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic - Vicka is the oldest of the visionaries. She was born September 3, 1964, in Bijakovici, and comes from a family of 8 children. Her prayer mission given by Our Lady is to pray for the sick. Vicka, her husband Mario, and young daughter live in the small village of Gruda, a few kilometers north of Medjugorje. In January of 1983, Our Lady began to tell Vicka Her life story. The information Our Lady dictated to Vicka these two years is contained in two hand written notebooks and will be published when Our Lady tells Vicka it is time. Vicka: "The only way to peace and love is prayer and fasting."

Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo - Mirjana was born March 18, 1965 in Sarajevo. Her prayer mission from Our Lady is to pray for all unbelievers. Miriam graduated from the University of Sarajevo where her family lived. Mirjana, her husband Marco, and their two daughters live in Medjugorje. On August 2, 1987, Our Lady started appearing to Mirjana on the 2nd day of each month to pray with Mirjana for all unbelievers. Mirjana tells us that Our Lady defines "unbelievers" as those who have not yet felt God's love. She tells us that if we only once saw the tears in Our Lady's eyes for all unbelievers, that we would all begin praying intensely for this intention. Mirjana: "The Mass, the Rosary, and fasting, especially on bread and water only, can stop war, can change the natural law, particularly if they are done with great faith and great trust and great love."

Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti - Marija was born on April 1, 1965, in Bijakovici. Her prayer mission given by Our Lady is to pray for all the souls in purgatory. She has three brothers and two sisters. When the apparitions started, she was studying in Mostar, about eighteen miles away. She is the visionary to whom Our Lady gives the public message to the world on the 25th of each month. Marija, her husband Paulo and their four children live in Italy She visits Medjugorje a number of times each year. Marija: "Fear comes from Satan. Those who trust the Lord do not experience fear".

 Ivanka Ivankovic-Elez - Ivanka was born on July 21, 1966, in Bijakovici. Ivanka's prayer mission from Our Lady is to pray for families. Ivanka has one brother and one sister. Her Mother Jagoda, died in May 1981. When the apparitions first began, Ivanka asked the Blessed Mother about her mother. God has allowed Ivanka to see and speak to her mother, who is in Heaven, five times over the years. Ivanka and her husband Raico their three children live in Medjugorje. Ivanka: "People know whether they are living in God's will or not by how much peace they have. If they don't feel peace in their hearts, they know they are not doing the right thing. Those who are doing God's will have peace."

Ivan Dragicevic - Ivan was born on May 25th, 1965 in Bijakovici. His prayer mission given by Our Lady is to pray for priests and the youth of the world. There are three younger children in his family and although Ivan and Mirjana share the same last name, they are not related. Ivan, his wife Laureen and their three children reside half the year in Medjugorje, and half the year in Boston, MA. Ivan: "All prayer is pleasing to God. It is Satan who always tells us our prayer is not good enough, that we are not good enough. The least prayer is very much."

 Jakov Colo- Jakov is the youngest of the seers. He was born on March 6, 1971 in Sarajevo, and was only 10 years old when the apparitions started. His prayer mission given by Our Lady is to pray for the sick. Jakov, his wife Armalisa and three children live in Medjugorje. In the early years, the presence of the young fidgety boy among the group of seers is significant in terms of the authenticity of the apparitions. It was highly improbable that he would come to church for two to three hours of prayer every single day, in winter as well as in summer, year after year, simply to make believe that he is seeing the Blessed Virgin. Jakov: "We need to learn how to thank God because He gave us too much, and we do not understand that. We are constantly asking for more."

Locutionists 

Besides the 6 visionaries in Medjugorje, there are two Locutionists (people to whom God speaks "with the heart," an experience which is known in the history of the Church as "locutio cordis" or inner locution). In December, 1982, Jelena Vasili, 9 years old, began to hear Our Lady speak to her. In March of 1983, Marijana Vasili (no relation), age 11, began to also have inner locutions of Our Lady.  The messages to these girls were similar to the visionaries. In March of 1983, Our Lady established and led a prayer group through Jelena. Our Lady dictated to Jelena consecration prayers and a prayer for the sick and recommended the reading of Matthew 6:24-34 every Thursday.

In a talk given on September 12, 1998, Miliaria recounted the first days:

  And that day, June 24, 1981, I went out for a walk with Ivanka. It was the Feast of St. John the Baptist, and so that day no one was working. The two of us went for a walk below the hill that is now called the Hill of Apparitions, and we talked about ordinary things, the kinds of things young girls talk about. And in one moment Ivanka said to me, "I think Our Lady is on the hill." She said that very matter-of-factly. I said, "Well, She has nothing better to do than come to the two of us."

Because I thought that was [an] impossible thing. And I returned home and left Ivanka there. And when I came to the first houses of the village, I felt a need to return to the place. I needed to see what she was doing. And when I returned, I saw Ivanka in the same place. And she said to me, "Look, please, l am begging you." And I looked and I saw a woman with a long grey dress and she was holding a child in Her arms. It was very strange because on that hill nobody ever went up there, especially with a child in their arms. The two of us just stared because all of our emotions were all confused within us. And in that moment, Ivan, one of the other visionaries, came also because that was the way he would normally walk to get to his home. I remember it like it was today. He was carrying apples in his arms and when he saw what the two of us were looking at, like every brave man, he dropped everything and ran. And then I said to Ivanka, "Who knows what this is; maybe it is better we leave also."

We returned home right away, and we told everyone that we have seen Our Lady but nobody believed us. My grandmother said, "Take a Rosary and pray and leave Our Lady alone." I had the desire within me to be alone to pray. And so that entire night we spent in prayer, so that God could help us understand what was happening to us.

 And the next day Jakov and Marija were the only ones who said, "How lucky you are, we wish we could have seen Our Lady also." And the next day we all found ourselves at the Hill of Apparitions without having called one another there. And with us came our parents or our uncles. I could say to you that it was probably the entire village gathered there because everyone wanted to see what was happening to the children. And we saw Our Lady in the same place, but this time She didn't have a child in Her arms. And that second day, June 25, 1981, is the first time we went to Our Lady, and that day many people from the village saw many signs from Our Lady, so they believed us because without them we could not have endured some of the stuff we endured later.

I think that might have been Our Lady's plan, to help them understand that it was true. And in the former Yugoslavia it was not easy to be a believer but especially not easy to be a visionary.

After a few days, the army immediately encircled the hill, and they said anyone would go up on the hill, they would go to jail immediately. And  so, we had to have the apparitions in secret places, and many of the people in our village helped with this. And so, I think it was Our Lady who truly helped them to understand and believe we were speaking the truth because we needed their help. My parents at that time were in Sarajevo. My aunt felt a responsibility, and she called my parents. My aunt said, "Something is happening to her." And my mother got very scared and she said, "Well, what is it?" 

 And my aunt said, "Well, she is saying she is seeing Our Lady." And my mother asked, "Is she normal?" And my aunt said, "Well, she looks the same as she looked before." And then my mom said, "Well, then she is speaking the truth."

According to the visionaries, the Lady, known in Croatian as Gospa, has been giving messages to the seers and to the world ever since that day. To date She has given thousands of messages. At first the messages were almost daily, later they were just on Thursdays. In January of 1987, Our Lady told the seers She would begin to give messages to the world on a monthly basis, on the 25th of each month.

 As in the First Days

"By reading the Sacred Scripters, you will discover Jesus' birth and joy, as in the first days which Medjugorje gave to humanity. History will be truth which, also today, is being repeated in you and around you.") 11/25/2020).

 Our Lady spoke to us about history, about the truth that is found in history, in her message of November 25th. She told us that we can find the same joy that was discovered at Jesus' birth and that was also displayed in the first days of her coming to Medjugorje.  She  tells us it will be repeated in or and around us in these times as well. Because these are times in which God is revealing Himself to us as He did at Jesus' Birth and at Our Lady's first coming to Medjugorje. And that revelation will change us forever!

 I have transcribed below Franco's opening comments during the "Jesus Rosary" for December 2, 2020. You can watch the video here:  https://marytv.tv/jesus-rosary/

Frano's memory of the first days in Medjugorje for "Jesus Rosary" for December 2, 2020:

I would like to tell you a little bit about the history of Hercegovina before the apparitions in Medjugorje took place and shortly after the apparitions took place. I would like to tell you the way in Hercegovina we who lived here survived and lived just before the apparitions.

The people produced tobacco and in Yugoslavia it was well known as Yellow Gold — Tobaccos of Hercegovina. It was a yellow color, yellow gold. And everybody was involved in the production of tobacco. Every square inch of earth in Hercegovina was covered with tobacco plants and grapes (wine) too. The children of this region, school children, everybody was involved, particularly in summer, picking the leaves of tobacco, taking it home and putting it up to dry, exposed to the sun. It was left up until Christmas time when the tobacco company would take it and give us some money.

It wasn't enough money for the families, particularly the big families with many children. So, you could say that every second man of this region left the country, went to Germany and other western countries to work as laborers, to earn the money needed to raise their families and educate them.

My father went to Germany when I was the age of nine, my brother was five. We were waiting and waiting for him to come home. Vicka's father, who had eight children, went to Germany and worked there thirty years, in order to raise them up, educate them. The mother and grandmother were here, and everybody raised tobacco.

Now I would like to tell you something I remember about Christmas trees. I told my children that in my childhood we  could not cut down fresh Christmas trees, but we could only use a bush. It was only when my father brought back from Germany a plastic Christmas tree, that we had a tree in our house.

It was because the Communist Government was strictly against the cutting of Christmas trees, and against the celebration of Christmas in public, or the decorations in stores for Christmas.  No, during that time here, nobody had any decorations, or preparations for Christmas in the public places, because the Communists ruled the state. Christmas doesn't exist. They made sure that the children on Christmas Day were coming to school. In case someone was missing, they would send for the parents to come to the school, and they would shout at them.

That was the ideology of the society and the communist ruled.  In 1981, Our Lady appeared.  

Just before I talk about the time of the apparitions, I would like to talk about Vicka and her family. I knew Vicka before the apparitions took place. As a young girl of 15 or 16, we laughed and joked together with her younger brothers and sisters, and she talked about (this was before the apparitions began) "Dynamo" — a football club. She was a great supporter of  Dynamo, and I was, too. And she said, "Tomorrow is Sunday, we are going to win! We will beat them!" (You know the Croatian football club, Dynamo.) And you can even see Jakov in a Dynamo shirt, supporting Dynamo at that time. Everybody supported Dynamo in this region.

So why do I mention that? Because they were just ordinary children.

And another thing she said, which I remember clearly, "Tomorrow is Sunday, and all these young people are going to have a Mass for the school children. And we have a new parish priest, pastor of Medjugorje. And he has Mass for one hour! That's too long. One whole hour!!" That was Fr. Jozo, the new pastor of Medjugorje. And that was her comment about Mass. She never, ever, talked about Our Lady, never, never mentioned the faith or anything like that. She was just an ordinary girl.

When the apparition took place, I met her afterwards and she was talking about the message, the first message, that really broke through the Communist State, and shook everyone: "I have come to tell you God exists!"

In the whole ideology that the Communists had, God did not fit. Now you see the six children saying that Our Lady gave the message, "God exists!" That is why the Communists stood up to destroy Medjugorje, block it, to stop it, because the children were giving testimony that they were meeting the Mother of God and they were giving testimony that God exists!

That was something that they could not easily gloss over, because for years and years they had been teaching at school that God does not exist The Communist ideology. Now the combat started on the ground. But the Joy! This is what I want to say.. .the Joy that we felt, the Happiness, the Joy... it was felt by those people who accepted the apparition. For sure there would be obstacles from the people who didn't accept or believe.

When Our Lady has said that history will be true, and she compares the apparitions with the Birth of Jesus, I read the Scripture about the Birth of Jesus, and similar things really happened there. The people who didn't accept the Birth of Jesus were very nasty. Even Herod tried to kill the Baby Jesus. So similar things happened here. Those people who accepted the apparition were full of joy and tried to share the news with others, without cost, with love and joy and happiness.

And others tried to squash it down and threaten them like a dog for what they did.

I remember when I came from Germany and it was September, they told me that this evening there will be a meeting in the county hall; the Communists were organizing a meeting. Everybody was supposed to come. You had to go. So, I thought, Ok I want to see what they are about. Four or five "comrades", the communist leaders (two who I knew, they were younger, and three of them older), were giving a talk about Medjugorje. They were saying that Fr. Jozo was trying to manipulate the children. They were saying it was dangerous to send the girls to the church because the priests would rape them. They said awful, awful things. What were they talking about??

They spread propaganda - that this was part of Croatian Nationalism. This would make the people poorer, unless we extinguished what was happening in Medjugorje. The Communists will never built a factory in that area, so we would be even more poor and treated like dogs. And nobody will support us. And no jobs for the young. It will be a catastrophe. It will be a financial catastrophe for Hercegovina. Nobody should go to Medjugorje. You must not go there. You must not support what is happening. You must not go to church.

Then one man from the village, who was working in Germany, stood up.  Of course, if you oppose them, you would be put in jail. But Elia stood up and said, "You can't stop the people from going to church. It is in the constitution, it is the law that everyone is allowed to go to church. How can you stop them?" And straight away they were asking who he was. And they found out that that man had married a Serbian lady and had been going to church in Germany every Sunday. But they  couldn't label him as a "nationalist" and they couldn't do anything against him.

Then my young friends called the two younger "comrades" to come over and they started to sing a church song "there is one long road of faith and hope and peace". And that was the answer of the young people to what the comrades were trying to impose on them, saying don't go to Medjugorje. These Communists threw everything nasty under the sky at the apparitions, the visionaries. They said they are stupid, no one will ever marry the girls, they will never get married. They will never be employed. Forget it, they will never finish school because the schools belong to us. Whoever supports Medjugorje will have no jobs. No future here.

But Our Lady poured joy into the hearts of the people, and the people would walk to Medjugorje's church through the fields, singing! Singing! Full of joy and happiness. And you couldn't stop it. And slowly, slowly it started moving the way Our Lady wanted it. And slowly, slowly, through the messages that Our Lady is giving us, all of us even today, every month, she is trying to lead us and guide us. Prepare us.

It is now almost the 40th anniversary, and history is repeating itself. That story we heard long ago we compare it to when Moses took Israel from slavery in Egypt to the promised land. Forty years through the desert. Conversion, conversion, conversion through the desert. And Moses brought them to Mt. Sinai and gave them the 10 commandments, the 10 pillars of our faith. And in a similar way, Our Lady is coming and bringing us messages of hope, messages of joy, the message that she is with us, that Heaven is with us. What Our Lady said, to feel the Heavenly Joy, we have to remember Jesus' birth. What we prepare during this Advent is ourselves, through confession and through loving each other, so that peace will dwell in our hearts. rounp.maryty.tv

Culture of Life vs. Culture of Death

Denver World Youth Day

Pope John Paul II ended his visit with a Mass for multitude of admirers. "Do Not Be Afraid", he said. ...go into the city streets and preach fearlessly against a culture of Death... like the first Apostles who preached Christ and the good news of salvation in the squares of cities, towns and villages."

"Following wherever God leads may involve great sacrifice. Paradoxically, it is also the path to freedom and joy."

St. John Paul II

 To hear Our Lady's Message, very early, by phone call 1-814-787-5683 (LOVE). Normally on the 26th of each month. Prayer petitions can be sent in a sealed envelope to:  The Holy Family, Inc. P.O. Box 442 St. Marys, PA 15857-0442. They are presented to Mary Queen of Peace for her intercession with Jesus her son.