DEAR FAMILY NEWSLETTER

***AUGUST/SEPTEMBER, 1996***

from Ginny Lopez in APPARITIONS LIST ARCHIVES


CONTENTS:

MEDJUGORJE MESSAGE & COMMENTARY, August 25, 1996

"Dear Children, listen, because I wish to speak to you and to invite you to have more faith and trust in God, Who loves you immeasurably, little children. You do not know how to live in the Grace of God. That is why I call you all anew, to carry the word of God in your heart and in thoughts. Little Children, place the Sacred Scripture in a visible place in your family, and read and live it. Teach your children, because if you are not an example to them, children depart into godlessness. Reflect and pray and God will be born in your heart and your heart will be joyous. Thank you for having responded to my call."

COMMENTARY: As a mother, I recognize the sense of frustration when our kids complain that church and religion are "boring." They'd rather be out with their friends, going to movies or to the mall anything but church. Mary is a mother, too. She's our mother and she understands what we are up against as parents. She suggests that we keep the Bible in plain view in our homes. But it's not enough simply to place the book on a table we need to read it and put into action what it teaches. Digesting what is written, coupled with prayerful reflection, strengthens our faith and our trust in the Good God Our Father and provides us with a plan for leading our families to Him. Every situation we could ever encounter in a lifetime is contained in those pages. Faithfully living the word of God in our own hearts, thoughts and actions, as an example to them, is the secret for successfully raising our children, who are God's precious gift to us.

MEDJUGORJE MESSAGE & COMMENTARY, September, 1996

"Dear children! Today I invite you to offer your crosses and suffering for my intentions. Little children, I am your mother and I wish to help you by seeking for you the grace from God. Little children, offer your sufferings as a gift to God so they become a most beautiful flower of joy. That is why, little children, pray so that you may understand that suffering can become joy, and the cross, the way of joy. Thank you for having responded to my call."

COMMENTARY: This message is about embracing the cross. It is one thing to recognize suffering and pain. It's another thing to willingly accept it. Embracing that cross, whatever it is, and uniting it with the eternal Sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, transforms it into a beautiful, powerful prayer a prayer that unselfishly is requested by Blessed Mother as an offering for her own intentions. For she is our mother, and as such, she has our everlasting good in her mind at all times. She prays for us and with us we are her intentions.

May we not ask for an alleviation of suffering? Of course. The Father desires that we come to Him in all things. He does not wish us to suffer. But, if we are to say to Him, "Look, I wouldn't go out and look for a cross to carry, but since this one has landed on my shoulders, I am willing to carry this cross and unite it to Your Son's," then we are turning ourselves over to His Divine Will and accepting His care for us in trust and faith. We are making of ourselves and our lives, beautiful prayers. We are growing spiritually and with this spiritual growth comes joy.

PRAYERS & PETITIONS Please pray for healings for: pray for the repose of the souls of: pray for the special intentions of: pray for: