MEDJUGORJE, Bosnia and Herzegovina

BLUE LETTER, June 1995


The BLUE LETTER is published monthly. It includes the latest message from Medjugorje and other updated information, along with religious writings, with the hope of keeping us all better informed and more aware of our faith, our God, and our reason for being.

MESSAGE FROM OUR LADY AT MEDJUGORJE: June 25, 1995

"Dear Children! Today I am happy to see you in such great numbers, that you have responded and have come to live my messages. I invite you, little children, to be my joyful carriers of peace in this troubled world. Pray for peace so that as soon as possible a time of peace, which my heart waits impatiently for, may reign. I am near to you, little children, and I intercede for every one of you before the Most High. I bless you with my Motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call."

COMMENTARY by Bill Reck

The Handmaid of the Lord, the Queen of Peace, issues yet another cry for peace. She again asks each of us to be the "joyful" carriers of peace. She acknowledges that, indeed, we live in a very troubled world and that being a carrier of peace also includes the responsibility of offering prayer for the peace sought.

Please note that in the above message, the next sentence is rather startling. She tells us that a "time of peace" is somewhere in our future, indicating her Son will again reign as "King of kings and Lord of lords." She, like we, yearns for that peace. But then, she adds another rather surprising word. She waits "impatiently." If the Handmaid of the Lord is impatiently awaiting an era of peace, does that denote a certain urgency, or immediacy? Is that a reflection of the Father's growing impatience with the current state of His creation? Or is she referring to the urgent need for peace in the land where she is appearing?

Our spiritual history shows us that we often understand it better after the fact. When we can look back, so many more things become clear. As a look into our future, we often get it wrong. For example, we have been trying for over 1,000 years to get the Gospels into our present and future world. Our Lady comes to remind us, we still haven't gotten it right. As has been said of the Heavenly Court - it is writing straight with crooked lines. Regardless, those critical words are again most obvious in the above message: The world is in trouble; we need to be instruments of peace and pray ardently for that peace; it will be our future; and, there is growing impatience in the Heavens.

Perhaps it is not important to determine whether her growing impatience for peace specifically refers to Bosnia and Croatia. Maybe it is more important to simply respond to her call and live her messages as requested. Admittedly, there is an over-abundance of claimed apparitions today, and many need to be looked at with a very skeptical eye. Still, those apparitions that have generally garnered support in the Church show that Our Lady has a very good track record, and Medjugorje should be included in that list. She foretold our future and outlined our needs at La Salette and again at Lourdes. Her messages and prophecies at Fatima were exact and we are still living the throes of those prophecies. She spelled out what would happen in Rwanda with pinpoint accuracy, and yes, many of her messages at Medjugorje can be traced back to foretell the evil and devastation that has now overtaken the former country of Yugoslavia.

Still, in all of those messages, over so many centuries, whether addressed to a specific country or to all of the world, the theme has always been the need for peace in the world, and "love" and "prayer" have always been the answer to achieve it. It is still so. Isn't she still echoing the teachings of Her Son?

It is now summer. A time of lazy days, sunshine, heat and humidity. A time of recreation and vacations, and outdoor activity (at least for parts of the world). Will it also be a time of prayer - for peace?

THE YEARLY VISIT OF OUR LADY WITH IVANKA: June 25, 1995
MEDJUGORJE, BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA
Received from Helen Sarcevic

Since she has already received all 10 secret messages from Our Lady, the visionary, Ivanka Ivankovic Elez, receives a yearly visit from Our Lady, as promised, on the Feast of St. John the Baptist, which is also Ivanka's name day and that of the visionary Ivan. Ivanka just celebrated her birthday on June 21.

At 4:00 p.m., June 25, 1995, some of our Mir/Peace pilgrims were still there when people were already coming into Ivanka's home asking to be present for the apparition. By about 5:00 p.m. the house was full, especially with Italians and French. A few were Americans. At this point the prayer of the Rosary was started: Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious mysteries were prayed in the Croatian tongue (language). Everyone responded in their own language. The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary was sung (as is customary) in Croatian.

Ivanka, accompanied by her husband Rajko (who was carrying their youngest son Ivan), their daughter Tina, and son Josip, entered the room. Ivanka prayed the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Already at the second Our Father, Ivanka fell to her knees when she saw Our Lady appear. All knelt and were quietly praying as she spoke with Our Lady. Then Ivanka prayed the Our Father and Glory Be with Our Lady as everyone joined in. She talked with Our Lady again, then said, "Ode!" signalling that Our Lady was leaving. She prayed three Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be's, and a Hail Holy Queen. Then Ivanka stood and said:

"Our Lady thanked all of us for our prayers (also of those not present), and asked us to pray for families at this time. Families are in danger because Satan wants to destroy families. Our Lady is asking us to be a voice for peace (messengers of peace). Then Our Lady explained more about the secret messages to me. She blessed all of us."

Our Lady was very joyful and dressed in gold.

This was translated into English and Italian. The visit lasted 7 to 10 minutes. Helen Sarcevic was able to see the most divine and happy expression on Ivanka's face during the apparition. Ivanka and everyone went to Mass, which took a long time since the streets were jammed with people going to Mass. A great number of them were Croatian citizens and refugees, many of whom walked three days or more, some barefoot. There were also pilgrims from as far away as Brazil and Australia (including an Australian bishop).

The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Rupcic, and on the Feast of St. John the Baptist, it was celebrated by Fr. Slavko Barbaric.

14TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR LADY AT MEDJUGORJE

Again this year, as in the past, a peace march was made from Humac to Medjugorje, and, as is the custom, many people walked in their bare feet.

JUST A MOMENT'S THOUGHT by Fr. Albert Shamon

For 30 years Mother Teresa has worked in the slums of Calcutta, India. She has worked among the most forsaken people on earth. You and I would recoil from the people she touches every day: the leper, the dispossessed, the desperate. And yet, everybody who meets Mother Teresa remarks on her warm smile. How, after 30 years of working in conditions like that, does she keep a warm smile on her face?

When she was 18 and had left home in Yugoslavia to become a religious, her mother said to her: "You go and put your hand in Jesus' hand and walk along with Him." That is her secret. She walks with Jesus. She sees Him in everyone she meets. She believes what she does to the least she does to Him. Simple, isn't it? But tough, also, to see Jesus in our "enemies." Yet we must, for God acts that way.

FEAST OF ST. BENEDICT: July 11

St. Benedict had great love for the liturgy. Even to this day, the Benedictine Order is noted for its devotion to the liturgy. Benedict always taught, "Prefer nothing to the work of God" (Opus Dei). His twin sister was St. Scholastica. Benedict died March 21 around 542.

St. Benedict often used the Sign of the Cross to ward off demons and protect himself from being poisoned. His medal has exceptional power against the demons of Hell and against physical evils. It also has great power in obtaining exceptional graces.

This highly indulgenced medal can be worn around the neck or attached to one's Rosary or simply carried in one's pocket. One's personal devotion, together with the powerful blessing and prayers of the Church, make it a formidable weapon against the evil spirits and a mighty help in keeping pure, in bringing about conversions, and in guarding against contagious diseases.

[Excerpts taken from "Our Lady Teaches About Sacramentals and Blessed Objects" by Fr. Albert Shamon.]

THANK YOU, FR. SHAMON

We at The Riehle Foundation have been blessed to work with some truly inspirational authors. One of the best is Fr. Albert Shamon. He has been gifted with the ability to take complex Church teachings and present them in an easily understandable manner. His profound devotion to the Blessed Mother and Jesus, her Son, is clearly shown in his work. Fr. Shamon's books are among the most highly acclaimed of all the items we distribute.

The following letters were sent to Fr. Shamon in appreciation of his most recent book "Behind the Mass". Fr. Shamon lovingly dedicated this work to the memory of Frances Riehle Reck. He shared these letters with us, and we have received permission to share them with you.

"Dear Father Shamon:

"I just finished reading your book entitled, "Behind the Mass." This book serves a critical teaching need within our faith. It is a wonderful book where God - and, I'm sure, quite probably the Queen of Heaven and Earth, must have been speaking to you loudly and clearly about the form and, more importantly, the content of this wonderful document. What you said and how you said so many coherent and beautiful things about the Mass made being a Catholic seem so much more precious. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I also now have a much clearer appreciation of the loving way of life we have in and through Jesus Christ and His universal Church. You have been given a wonderful gift from God, and I thank you for saying, "Yes," to His will and for being His loving instrument to so many.

"I am a retired military officer who, for most of his life, lived in opposition to the love and will of God. It is in large part because of books like yours that I now hope and pray to live the rest of my life not in opposition but in union with the love and will of God. Thank you." [GBM of Puyallup, WA]

Another writer to Fr. Shamon had this to say:

"Right or wrong, it seems to me that only a very few people today believe that Jesus is truly present under the form of bread and wine - after reading your book Behind the Mass, They will believe! [Fr. Bartholomew O'Brien, another gifted author and inspirational priest]

We ask our readers to join us in prayers of guidance and encouragement for Fr. Shamon, Fr. O'Brien, Fr. George Kosicki, Fr. Frederick Farace S.T.L., Fr. Edward Carter S.J., Fr. Jack Spaulding, Fr. Robert Faricy, Fr. Ren Laurentin, Fr. Slavko Barbaric, Fr. Charles Mangan, Sr. Rosena Marie, Sr. Lucy Rooney, Sr. Isabel Bettwy, and all the wonderful priests and religious with whom we have been blessed to work.

REFLECTIONS by Mary Constant-Wilhelmy

Reflecting on yet another book of messages given to yet another new seer/locutionist/visionary, the immediate thought was: If I take time out to study all of these new messages, I may not have time to go to Mass, say my Rosary or special novenas, read the Bible, continue the biography of St. Theresa of Avila, care for my family and friends, or visit the Blessed Sacrament. The question arose: If, in fact, all the messages are authentically from Our Lord or Our Lady, are they meant for those already active in prayer, living the Gospel and the teachings of the Church? Are they perhaps for those whose hearts have not yet been "touched"? Would, in fact, these volumes of ever new messages serve as a distraction? Is not the distraction of keeping us so busy one of Satan's goals? having no real time left to: worship and adore Our Lord, avail ourselves of the Sacraments, and be charitable to our neighbor? Is there a possibility that the interest in apparitions can go to extremes?

Where is our time most wisely spent if we truly desire to serve Our Lord for His honor and glory? Perhaps that is the question we need to ask ourselves when discerning the Lord's will in our lives.

We at The Riehle Foundation try to come together daily during the work day to give praise to the Lord. It is not always convenient. Rest assured we all have many tasks to keep us from doing just that. We then ask ourselves -whose work are we doing anyway ours or the Lord's?

AN HOUR WITH JESUS, Volume II

Parishes, prayer groups, or cenacles which are involved with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and who wish to obtain copies of this new book to have available or hand out, please let us know. We will be happy to supply the book in quantities for 90 per copy.

A NEW BOOK ABOUT THE POPE!

Author and journalist Michael Parker of New Zealand has succeeded in putting together a verbal portrait of Pope John Paul II, this great man who is so human, yet so much the Vicar (face) of Christ - a holy pope. In "Priest of the World's Destiny: John Paul II", Mr. Parker has woven a rich tapestry of love and war, personal biography and world history, secular philosophy and Catholic theology, warmth and intrigue, which is sure to swell the hearts of all people who love our present Pontiff. We are proud to publish this work as a testimony to our devotion to our Holy Father and his teachings.

"Priest of the World's Destiny: John Paul II" by Michael Parker is a scholarly, well researched book, but the crescendos of high drama - especially as documented through the Holy Father's experiences in his native Poland - are extraordinary. This beautiful book will be available soon. (192 pages, color pictures, $8.00.)

The following excerpt from the book covers some of the intrigue surrounding the collapse of communism. Michael Parker writes:

"On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell. Ukraine declared independence on July 16, 1990. The Communist flag of the hammer and sickle was lowered from the Kremlin masthead at midnight, Christmas 1991.

"And how peacefully these Soviet-modeled, east European regimes had been put aside, falling like dominoes, and then the leviathan Soviet Union itself. These were subjugated peoples numbering in excess of 300 million, over whom were legions of secret police, huge armies, and vast conventional and nuclear armaments. And against men who had long stood in dictatorship . And Gorbachev, for all the perestroika of his personality, did not intend the break-up of the Soviet Union ..

"'We give thanks to Our Lady of Jasna Gora for the gifts received, thanks for the gift of historic change, or rather the very numerous changes,' the Pope told a General Audience in Rome on February 21, 1990 .

"From the West there had been a perception of the 1980s' Polish and east European history that was special. The leaders of the four main national props of Western democracy and Christianity, who had looked upon poor Poland in 1982 - Britain's Margaret Thatcher, West Germany's Helmut Kohl, France's Francois Mitterrand, and America's George Bush, as Vice-President and then President - witnessed the events of 1989. What did this concentration bring forth in explanation of the events? Their comments were shallow and self congratulatory. The 'Cold War' had been won by the West. The Warsaw Pact had not been able to withstand the arms race with the West, they said.

"The hand of the living God was unseen by these Western leaders. The valor and vitality of the Poles in the trials and tribulations of their difficult decade was unappreciated. A plenary place for the Polish and Slav Pope was unacknowledged."

This is one of the short anecdotes in the new book:

"In 1969, shortly after his difficult book, 'The Acting Person,' had been published in Poland, Cardinal Wojtyla had had to sit through an overly long sermon by one of his priests. Afterward, the cardinal teased the priest: 'Your loquacious tongue will get you into Purgatory.' The priest retorted: 'And when I get there part of my penance will be to read through your book.' Wojtyla doubled up, and it say

s a fair bit about him that he loved telling that story against himself."

SOME MATERIALS AVAILABLE - (Write for a complete list.):

Priest of the World's Destiny: John Paul II by Michael Parker
[See description above.] 192 pages, color pictures. ($8)

An Hour with Jesus, Volume II.
Meditation thoughts and prayers before Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. 64 pages. ($1.50)

A Catholic Handbook for Engaged and Newly Married Couples by Frederick Marks, Ph.D.
This book addresses virtually every facet of engagement and married life, not merely detailing what is expected by the Church of married couples, but why. 128 pages. ($5)

Behind the Mass by Father Albert Shamon.
The true meaning of the Mass and the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist are key elements of this book which helps the reader develop a deeper understanding of God's great love for us. 86 pages. ($3.50)

Our Lady Teaches about Sacramentals and Blessed Objects. by Fr. Albert Shamon.
An easy to read explanation of the sacramentals our Church provides for our benefit. 72 pages. ($1)

Witness - Apparitions and Persecution in the USSR
-- Autobiography of Josyp Terelya with author Michael Brown
Many of Mr. Terelya's prophecies have come true with regard to the Soviet Union and Ukraine. In Colorado in 1991, Josyp said he saw thousands of young people gathered there - a true prophecy of the many youth who journeyed there for the Pope's visit to Denver in August 1993. 344 pgs. ($10)

[VIDEO] Betania - Land of Grace.
Apparitions of Our Blessed Mother to Maria Esperanza at Betania, Venezuela. ($25)

[VIDEO] The Message of Garabandal. by The Workers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The spectacular nature of the phenomena and prophecies of the Garabandal apparitions point to the urgency of the Message. ($25)

[VIDEO] Fourteen Flowers of Pardon.
This video is excellently done and can be a great motivator for youth today. The story of St. Maria Goretti's canonization proceedings is extraordinary. 60 minutes. ($20)

[ ] Please place my name on the mailing list for the monthly BLUE LETTER. Enclosed is my donation in the amount of $__________ to help with printing and distribution of these materials, and to help The Riehle Foundation continue its apostolate of distributing Catholic materials around the world. Donations are accepted for materials, though not required (suggested values are indicated). Cost of postage is appreciated. Donations are tax-deductible.

c Copyright 1995. The Riehle Foundation. Permission to reproduce this BLUE LETTER intact is granted for non-commercial use.

The BLUE LETTER is published by THE RIEHLE FOUNDATION
In the service of Jesus and Mary.
Editor: Bill Reck

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JUNE 1995

APPARITIONS LIST ARCHIVES
Apparitions List (Apar-l)is an internet mailing list dedicated to sharing information of all approved apparitions by the Catholic Church, and all reputable on-going apparitions, that are not contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church.
THE RIEHLE FOUNDATION
n the service of Jesus and Mary.
If you wish to receive the BLUE LETTER call, write, or fax:
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Editor: Bill Reck


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