APPARITIONS
OF JESUS AND MARY


DEAR FAMILY NEWSLETTER

***SEPTEMBER, 1995***

from Ginny Lopez
in APPARITIONS LIST ARCHIVES


CONTENTS:

MEDJUGORJE MESSAGE & COMMENTARY, September 25, 1995

"Dear Children, today I invite you to fall in love with the most Holy Sacrament of the altar. Adore Him, little children, in your parishes, and in this way you will be united with the entire world. Jesus will become your friend and you will not talk of Him like someone whom you barely know. Unity with Him will be a joy for you and you will become witnesses to the love of Jesus that He has for every creature. Little children, when you adore Jesus, you are also close to me. Thank you for having responded to my call."

COMMENTARY:

Blessed Mother is so eloquent. By way of commentary, I offer the 9/28/95 message given by Our Lord through Fr. Jack Spaulding at St. Maria Goretti Church, Scottsdale, Arizona:

"My dear ones, I come this night to tell you once again that I am with you always. I am with you in each moment of your day. I am with you in the most silent moments of your heart. You are never alone. There is nothing to fear for I am with you. At times, My dear ones, you lose track of Who I am. Come to Me in My Most Blessed Sacrament and listen as I tell your heart, once again, who I am. I am the One who died for you. I am the One who was nailed to the cross and hung there for you. I love you and I tell each of you this night as I speak to your heart, I would do it again to save you. I love you. Allow Me to love you. I am here. I bless you this night with the mercy of My love and I take each of you as you are this night in My embrace as I bring you into My heart. [Long Pause] Be healed, My dear ones. I will it. Be healed!"

MESSAGE GIVEN BY OUR LADY TO JOSEPH REINHOLTZ OF HILLSIDE, ILLINOIS: August 25, 1995

"Praise Jesus, praise Jesus! My children, this is my `Mother's Monthly Message To The World.' Today I call you to prayer. I am with you, and I love you all. I am your Mother, and I wish that your hearts be similar to my heart. Little children, without prayer you cannot live. Prayer is joy; prayers with the human heart. Therefore, let the children get closer to my Immaculate Heart. You will discover God. Thank you very much for listening to my prayer. Today I am joyful with you, and I pray with you for peace-- peace in your hearts--peace in your families--peace in your desires--peace in the whole world. May the King of Peace bless you today and give you peace, and I carry each of you in my heart. I invite you to open the door to your heart to Jesus, as the flower opens itself to the sun. My Son Jesus desires to fill your heart with peace and joy. You cannot, little children, realize peace if you are not at peace with Jesus. I invite you to confession, so Jesus may be your truth and peace. So, little children, pray to have strength to realize what I am telling you, and I love you. Thank you for responding to my messages. I am your Mother, the Queen of Peace--Queen of all my children--Queen of the Most Holy Rosary."

MESSAGE GIVEN BY OUR LADY TO JOSEPH REINHOLTZ OF HILLSIDE, ILLINOIS: August 14, 1995

"Praise Jesus, praise Jesus! My children, accept what God offers. I am the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Peace, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary. I, your Mother, have asked you many times to accept my messages with seriousness. And my messages always call to accept Jesus in a deeper way into our lives--through increased prayer, fasting and conversion. In other words, accept God's Will for us. Why is it that it seems easier to accept Jesus into our lives than God's Will? Do you have that secret will inside you to think that `if He whispers, I will accept His Will' something bad will happen? Why do we have this `idea' that God wills something bad for us? I am your Mother, the Queen of Peace."

PRAYERS & PETITIONS

Please pray for healings for:

  • Felicia,
  • Julie,
  • Father Martin,
  • Father Francis,
  • Mary Anne,
  • Sarah (thyroiditis),
  • Wentzel (cancer),
  • Annie Marie,
  • Paul,
  • E's friends, found to have large tumor,
  • Pam (cystic fibrosis),
  • Lisa (brain tumor),
  • Rose (Graves Disease),
  • Mary Ann,
  • Melissa,
  • Jennifer,
  • Jim,
  • Robert,
  • John (nonHodgkins lymphoma; his wife credits his recent improvement to prayer from the heart before the Blessed Sacrament and the Divine Mercy Chaplet,
  • Debra,
  • Louie,
  • Eric,
  • William,
  • Katya,
  • Katie,
  • Luke (leukemia)
pray for:

  • all government and religious leaders; especially, our Holy Father,
  • Joan (special intention),
  • Father Martin (special intention),
  • Father John (special intention),
  • Meg (special intention),
  • Joel (special intention),
  • Sarah and her mom (special intention);
pray for the repose of the souls of:

  • Samantha (7--traffic accident),
  • Johnny Nickel,
  • Al Budd,
  • Cynthia (ovarian cancer--survived by husband and son),
  • Willy (burns suffered in plane crash--survived by wife and infant son),
  • Stephanie (17--on pilgrimage to Conyers, Georgia with family, a grave marker was dropped on their car from an overpass),
  • Rose Zweier (our Felicia's mom). Father of us all, in our sorrow and in our joy, we give you praise and thanksgiving. You know our needs; we entrust them to you. Amen.

TIDBITS

CARDINAL SALDARINI OF TURIN, ITALY has announced that the Shroud of Turin will be on public display during 1998 and 2000. "The image that looks at us from that sheet reproduces the sufferings of the passion of Christ, as narrated in the four gospels, above all by St. John," he said. Over the centuries, exhibition of the shroud has produced numerous conversions and holiness, he added. "We ask the Lord to give us the same fruits in abundance during the next public displays," he said. "Many think that the religious value of the shroud is conditioned on the fact that it historically contained the body of Christ," therefore a scientific negation of this means that veneration should be stopped, he said. "But this is not so," he added. "The formation of the image continues today to be inexplicable."

CONCERNING RUTH ANN WADE, an alleged locutionist from Bloomington, Indiana, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis recently wrote: "The Wades have placed themselves under the spiritual direction of an archdiocesan pastor. We are not aware of anything occurring at their farm that requires the approval or disapproval of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The gatherings seem to be an indication of the desire of some Catholics to grow closer to their own faith in Jesus Christ, His mother, and the Catholic Church". (Courtesy APAR-L)

A LETTER FROM OUR FRIEND IN CROATIA:

Now, when it seems that peace is finally, but slowly, coming in this, for you very far and remote place, I thought I should write this letter. I wish to thank to each one of you for all your prayers for the peace here, for understanding for suffering of people in Bosnia and Croatia, and for every other way you helped. There's no other way, except prayers, to thank you and to make it up to you for all the help, humanitarian and in any other means, and even more for prayers and thoughts that all good people in the world shared with us. But Lord, Our Father, who knows everything, will reward you hundredfold.

In the beginning of this war, when almost the whole world was, openly or hidden, against us, the friends of Medjugorje were our only and best emissaries in the world. They were people who knew that this is not a civil or, even worse, religious war, and with their good will and humble hearts they helped us even when the world stayed behind.

I think that the prayers of each one of you have the place in this coming of peace here. Croatia is finally, almost completely free and peaceful, situation in Bosnia slowly goes better, cease fire is signed, and I really hope it is a start of real and lasting peace.

Now, I have some sad news. According to Official Messenger of Zagreb Archdiocese, numbers 3 and 4/1995, three Franciscan priests from Hercegovina Province are forbidden to do pastoral work, confessions, etc. in Mostar diocese, but also in Zagreb and other Bosnian and Croatian dioceses. Among these priests are Fr. Jozo Zovko, OFM (who you all know) and Fr. Leonard Orec, also from Medjugorje. Whatever you think about obedience and about rights and rightness, or whatever was the real reason for this, I think we should all pray for our bishops, to be the real shepherds for their faithful. Almost all bishops in Croatia are, in my words, against Medjugorje, and it's very sad thing having in mind everything [that] is heard about our Pope's thoughts on Medjugorje. I have the original text for this statement, but I don't think I can actually translate it correctly to English, so this passage above is written in my words, but nevertheless, it's not a gossip but a real statement from Diocese Ordinary.

I'll think and pray for all of you. Please, sometimes remember our small and very distant country. God bless you all. Mir i Dobro! (Peace and all well!) Ivan

MIRJANA IN LOS ANGELES by Annemarie Yeseta:

I spent the September 1-3, 1995 with Mirjana [Medjugorje visionary] and her husband Marco and I want to share some of the things I've learned this last weekend.

I picked them up from the airport and went directly to the Hilton in Anaheim, right next to Disneyland. Mirjana is such a wonderful girl, mild and humble, with a wonderful sense of humor. The next morning at 10:30 she gave her first lecture. Some of the things we've all probably heard before, such as how many secrets and what the Blessed Mother looks like. But there are a few things that were new. She says that the Blessed Mother or "Gospa" is a little taller than she is (Mirjana is about 5'4") and she has a little curl of black hair, always on the right side of her cheek. Her hair is long. It comes at her waist underneath her veil.

Mirjana has an apparition with the Gospa on March 18th every year, and she has a longer apparition with Gospa on the 2nd of every month. This second apparition is longer and different than the rest of the apparitions because Mirjana never knows when the Blessed Mother will come. Therefore, Mirjana stays in prayer the WHOLE day. This started in 1987. When the Blessed Mother comes, they either talk about things or they pray. This Saturday was the 2nd of the Month, so everyone left her alone to pray. Marco asked me if I could take him around so he could give Mirjana the privacy that she needs. I took him to Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Hollywood Boulevard, and I even showed him where the O.J. Simpson and Nicole tragedy took place. He wanted to see as much as we had time for. He couldn't get over the houses, of course, in Beverly hills.

I asked Marco how they met and was he scared to start dating Mirjana, knowing to whom she was speaking. He laughed. He told me that they have known each other since they were children, and they always stayed in contact. He lived in Sarajevo. She was going back and forth from Medjugorje to Sarajevo where she went to the University after the Blessed Mother told her it would be good for her. Marko said he had heard that in Medjugorje the Gospa was coming to six children. Then he found out that his friend Mirjana was one of them. His eyes got really big. He asked Mirjana if this was true and she told him it was. Mirjana said that Marko was always a church-going Catholic who prayed the Rosary daily, went to Confession and just was a really good person. So he didn't have to go through a big conversion like most people would think. They started dating off and on. I asked if Mirjana ever thought she wanted to become a nun. Mirjana always said that the Blessed Mother would bless any decision they [the visionaries] made. But if Mirjana got married, it should be a marriage that would be an example for others on how a marriage should be. They were married and now have two children, four and one and a half. Mirjana wants to have more. She said the Blessed Mother says that it is wonderful to have children.

Marko is a wonderful, gentle man who seems to me to be taking on a role similar to that of St. Joseph. He protects Mirjana and is always is thinking of her. Mirjana has so many responsibilities. He never interferes with what she is doing because he knows it needs to be done. She speaks to pilgrims wherever she goes and he is usually taking care of the kids and helping with the housework. Whatever she needs, he's there for her. He loves his wife with all his heart. They always pray together as a family. This impression of St. Joseph always sprang in my head whenever I saw them and it was wonderful.

Like I said, Mirjana likes to joke around a little too. She didn't mention that she sees Gospa to her then two-year-old little girl because she thought she was too young. They still prayed together always. One day, her little daughter was playing with a friend in the front room of their house. The girls started to have a little argument. The one girl said, "My mom's better than your mom because my mom can drive a car." Mirjana's little girl said, "Well, that's nothing, my mom sees the Blessed Mother." Mirjana finally realized that it was about time to explain, because her daughter figured out what was going on.

Mirjana is the visionary who was given the parchment containing the ten secrets. It used to be with her in Sarajevo, but then when she moved, it went with her back to Medjugorje. Many people wanted to know this because of the craziness that is going on in Sarajevo. Twenty of Mirjana's relatives were massacred there (I'll find out more on this later). She doesn't have to hide the parchment because no one can read what is on it. She took it out once to show a couple of her cousins. One girl saw a prayer on it. Another girl saw something else, and they were shown it at the same time. So Mirjana's not worried that anyone will "break the code."

Mirjana also said that people are saying that the first secret of Medjugorje has come to pass. Mirjana says this is nonsense. She has to tell Father Petar Ljubicic in Medjugorje ten days before the secret is to happen. Both she and Father are supposed to fast and pray for seven days. Then the three days before the secret is supposed to happen, the priest will announce it to the whole world for all to see. Mirjana said she has never told her priest that any secret happened yet and she has never spoken to any one about them. NO secrets have come to pass. She jokes and says that her confessor, Father Petar, tells her to come to Confession and just tell him one. She always laughs at this.

The reason she chose Father Peter Ljubicic is because from the first time she met him, he always was kind to the very poor people and the orphans, and she loves this about him. Speaking of orphans, besides visiting with pilgrims everyday when she is in Medjugorje, she also helps out and takes care of many children in the orphanage. She wants to build another orphanage there in Medjugorje because there are so many Croatian refugees without [parents] from other villages. The people in Medjugorje, even Father Jozo and the visionaries, personally take medicine, food, clothing to all the poor they can find.

Mirjana asked me some questions that were cute like "How do the girls in American get such shiny hair?" "Is there something they use?" They also said that to live here you must really like to drive!

Marko works as an auto repair man in a body shop near Medjugorje. He works hard. Mirjana works mostly with the children and orphans and speaks with pilgrims.

I asked her what she feels like before the Gospa comes; what are her emotions like. She said that she feels so excited, nervous and full of anticipation because for however long the Blessed Mother is with her, she feels no pain, sorrow or fear, only happiness, love. She feels like she's in Heaven. She has never hugged the Blessed Mother or vice versa, but she says that just being so close to her like that, you almost want to burst with love. You feel sooooo loved by her. Never has the Blessed Mother told her,"come to me and I will give you . . .." It has always been, "Come to me and I will lead you to my Son and He will give you . . .." Mirjana says that when she prays all day to the Blessed Mother, she prays a special prayer that only she and Vicka know. But we will learn it, also [one day]. God bless everyone. Hvaljen Isus I Marija.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD:

ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES MURDERED IN BURUNDI (Central Africa): Two Italian missionaries and a female aid worker were found bayonetted to death in south-west Burundi near a church where they were to celebrate morning Mass, quoting a Catholic aid agency. The motive for the slaying was not immediately known, but conflict between rival ethnic groups has been on the rise in the small nation. The bodies were found in a house owned by the priests'order, the Saveriani Brothers, in the southern city of Buyengero. The Rev. Aldo Marchiol, 65, had been in Burundi since 1978, and the Rev. Ottorino Maule, 53, returned to the country in 1991, the AGI news agency reported. Both were from the northern Italian city of Udine. The third victim, Katina/Caterina Gubert, was from near Trento. The deaths were confirmed by Italy's foreign ministry in a statement. It said it was sending the ambassador from Uganda to Bujumbura to demand an immediate inquiry. The bodies were discovered by an Argentine nun, in Buyengero in the province of Bururi about two hours south of Bujumbura by car. the three Italians were late for Mass, the nun had gone to the home of two missionaries and found the three bodies there. No details of who killed them. The Italian foreign ministry said its consul in Bujumbura and the Papal Nuncio were travelling to the scene under escort provided by the Belgian embassy. All three missionaries were actively involved in dialog between Burundi's warring Tutsi and Hutu tribes. (STN 10-2-95)

FROM ALL SAINTS CHAPEL: This little lady sat in the back pew with her mommy, she was about three years old. She hugged her two dolls that were in her arms. Oh how she loved them! In the pews, the worshippers had been troubled of late. There was much talk in the news of divisions between the races. There were some folks divided by opinion over justice and equality. Why even the preacher spoke about God being color blind, because he knew his people needed to be reminded of it. While the pastor spoke, the little girl hugged her dolls. She loved them equally. No sermon could ever match the sight of this little girl with the two dolls. One doll was white, the other black. (STN 10-17-95)

IN CLOSING:

I apologize for getting this issue out so late. As you know, last month I had surgery--an hysterectomy--and I'm still recuperating. The surgery went well and with the exception of a minor infection that set in, I'm doing fine and feeling wonderful. I thank all of you for your prayers. The morning of the surgery, I met a lady who was having the same operation that day. The poor woman was so nervous. I told her that many people were praying for me and I would ask God to let her share in those prayers. She was touched and God heard my request because she got to go home the day before I did! May the Good God Our Father bless you and yours this day. God bless :-)

DEAR FAMILY, is an independent ministry. It subsists solely on God, free-will donations, which are gratefully accepted, and the generosity of my family. Please copy and pass this newsletter on to others. My thanks to all who make this ministry possible.

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.

DEAR FAMILY NEWSLETTER
This monthly publication covers various apparitions.
Ginny Lopez(lagin@aol.com)


mbd@piedre.f rontier.net