Shepherds of Christ Publications
P.O. Box 627
Madison, IN 47250
Shepherds of Christ
Apostle's Manual
Shepherds of Christ Publications
P.O. Box 627
Madison, IN 47250
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This manual was compiled at the direction of Jesus for the 13th gatherings. We encourage you to copy and share this book with all who are interested. If copied, materials in this book cannot be changed or edited in any way.
All messages were discerned for theological errors by Father Edward J. Carter, S.J., Professor of Theology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio and Spiritual Director of the Shepherds of Christ Ministries.
In conformity with the decrees of Pope Urban VIII, we recognize and accept that the final authority regarding these messages rest with the Holy See of Rome, to whose judgment we willingly submit.
- Shepherds of Christ Ministries
©Copyright 1997 Shepherds of Christ
Publications
First Printing: August 1997
February 6, 1997
My Dear Companions in the Shepherds of Christ Movement,
We have purchased a new International Center for the Shepherds of Christ Ministries. Our new P.O. Box, address, fax and phone numbers are shown below:
Please contact us for these materials from the new Center. If you call the new Center, there will be other apostles there to help you with any problems you have encountered circulating the materials and spreading the Movement.
In Their Hearts, Shepherds of Christ Ministries
[ < Contents ]
Prayer for
Union with Jesus Come to me, Lord, and possess my soul. Come into my heart and permeate my soul. Help me to sit in silence with You and let You work in my heart.
I am Yours to possess. I am Yours to use. I want to be selfless and only exist in You. Help me to spoon out all that is me and be an empty vessel ready to be filled by You. Help me to die to myself and live only for You. Use me as You will. Let me never draw my attention back to myself. I only want to operate as You do, dwelling within me.
I am Yours, Lord. I want to have my life in You. I want to do the will of the Father. Give me the strength to put aside the world and let You operate my very being. Help me to act as You desire. Strengthen me against the distractions of the devil to take me from Your work.
When I worry, I have taken my focus off of You and placed it on myself. Help me not to give in to the promptings of others to change what in my heart You are making very clear to me. I worship You. I adore You, and I love You. Come and dwell in me now.
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Shepherds of Christ
Apostles Manual
Contents
An Overview of Shepherds of Christ Ministries
Prayer for Union with Jesus
Chapter Meeting Prayer Format
Intentions
- for Apostles of the Eucharistic
Heart of Jesus
- for the Rosary Novena
Chapter 1:
Introductory Material by Father Carter and Apostles on
Mission
The Birth of the Full Ministries
of the Shepherds of Christ
Ministries at a Glance
January 30, 1997 - Jesus' Directions for Apostles
Apostles in Florida
Letter from Very Rev. Joseph F. Schaedel
The Role of Private Revelation in the Life of the
Church
The Spirituality Handbook
- Words of Jesus
to Members of Shepherds of Christ Associates
- Introduction:
How It All Began
- Chapter
Guidelines for Shepherds of Christ Associates
- A Way of
Spiritual Life
Message about the Infant of Prague
Chapter 2:
Important Messages given before October 13, 1996 and
Messages Concerning Satan
May 26, 1996 - Pentecost Sunday -
Jesus' Directions for Apostles
March 26, 1996 - The Presence of God and a Message to Fr.
Carter
August 1, 1995 - Message from Jesus and Mary for Shepherds
of Christ Associates
September 26, 1996 - Division, the Devil, and Talking About Others
November 26, 1996 - Satan is Prowling This Earth
Chapter 3:
Important Messages given after October 13, 1996
1st Major Message from God the
Father - January 11, 1997
2nd Major Message from God the Father - January 18, 1997
December 19, 1996 - Message from Jesus
December 19, 1996 - Message from Mary
February 8, 1997 - There will be a Great Era in which the
King will Reign
February 1, 1997 - My Gift is My Heart: A Tool for Greater
Intimacy with Jesus
February 19, 1997 - Intimacy with Jesus and Others
February 6, 1997 - Candlelight Rosary
November 14, 1996 - Directions from Jesus
March 18, 1997 - Directions from Jesus
Chapter 4:
Mary's Image in Florida
Press Release
Instructions for Florida Apostles
Messages Pertaining to This Image
- December 19, 1996
- December 12,
1996 - Mary's Message
- January 18,
1997
- January 16, 1997
- March 31,
1997
- A Message
from Florida
Chapter 5:
From October 13, 1917 - October 13, 1997
Sample 13th Meeting Format as Given by Jesus
On October 13, 1917:
The Birth of the Full Ministries of the Shepherds of
Christ
For Apostles Today From Jesus
Mary's Peace Plan as given to Lucia
Song: Song from Jesus
October 11, 1996 - Study the Rosaries
Holy Spirit Prayer
Prayer to St. Michael
Act of Consecration to the Sacred and Immaculate
Hearts
Petitions
Song: The Rosary
Song: I Love You, Jesus
Song: Here I am Lord
January 25, 1997 - Mary's Rosary
Novena Intentions
February 26, 1997 - A Live Rosary
February 6, 1997 - Candlelight Rosary
The Glorious Mysteries of May 11, 1996
The Sorrowful Mysteries of September 10, 1996
The Glorious Mysteries of October 13, 1996
The Sorrowful Mysteries of November 13, 1996
The Joyful Mysteries of December 13, 1996
The Joyful Mysteries of January 13, 1997
The Sorrowful Mysteries of February 13, 1997
Chapter 7: The
Shepherds of Christ Movement and the Completion of the
Fatima Message
Chart: The Completion of the
Fatima Message
December 13, 1996 - The Vision, the Plan Unfolds
December 29, 1996
- Mary's
Message from the Rosary of August 27, 1996
- October 5,
1996 - Message from Mary
- Excerpts from
Urgent Messages
- December 6,
1996 - First Friday
- December 27, 1996 - The Mass and Fatima
- December 7, 1996 - Revelations
on the Light
- December 27, 1996 - Conclusion
- December 19,
1996
- December 22, 1996
- December 19, 1996 -
Urgent Message
- December 22, 1996 -
Urgent Message
August 11, 1996
March 20, 1994 - before the end of the building collapsed
at the Holy Spirit Center
July 23, 1996 - Love is Giving
Vision as seen by Mary Rettig on the February 13, 1997
Visions as seen by Ellen Sartori and Mary Rettig
March 20, 1997 - Our Lady of Fatima
Chapter 9: The
Ministries of Shepherds of Christ and the 13th Gatherings
October 21, 1996 - Importance of
the 13th
Chart: The Shepherds of Christ Plan
October 27, 1996 - Message for Chart
The Birth of the Full Ministries of the Shepherds of
Christ
Ministries at a Glance
Table Chart for the 13th -
Materials
Table Descriptions and Material Descriptions
- Priestly
Newsletters, Books, Tapes by Father Carter
- Shepherds of
Christ Associates Materials
- Apostles of
the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus
- Junior Shepherds
of Christ Associates
- Books
- Audio Tapes
- Video Tapes
- Printed
Rosary Messages
- Rosaries in
the School
- Nursing Home
and Prison Ministry
- Pictures of
the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts
Chapter 11:
Messages and Revelations given after October 13, 1996
February 23, 1997 - Sacrifice
February 27, 1997 - After the Death, There is the
Resurrection
February 28, 1997 - Our Wounds are Glorified When We Die in
Him
February 28, 1997 - A Love Letter to Jesus
February 9, 1997
January 25, 1997 - Jesus' Directions for Apostles
Chapter 12:
Contact Priest, Contact School, Contact Family
Priests
- Priest Newsletter
and Prayer Manual are the Heart of our Material
- What should be said to the Priests
- January 17, 1997 - I Want My Priests to Come Back
- Benefits of
Consecration
- Introduction
for the Mass Book
- Priestly Newsletters
- September - October
1996 Issue
- November - December
1996 Issue
- July - August 1997
Issue
- Come Follow Me
(Newsletter for the Religious)
- Volume 2 Issue 1 -
Spring 1996
- Volume 2 Issue 3 - Fall
1996
Schools
- Letter to Principals
- Consecration
to Jesus and Mary (for duplication)
- Children's
Morning Offering and Consecration to the Holy Spirit (for duplication)
- Imprimatur
Letter from Most Rev. Carl K. Moeddel for Children's Prayers
- Meditating on
the Rosary Aves (All 15 Mysteries)
- Children's
Rosary - April 25, 1996 (Glorious)
- March 18, 1996 - Mary wants Children to Pray the Rosary
- Junior
Shepherds of Christ Associates
- A Letter from
a Teacher
Families
- Letter
from Mary Rettig
- Consecration
to Jesus and Mary (for duplication)
- Shepherds of Christ Associates
- Questions on Forming a
Prayer Chapter
- Membership Form
- Chapter Guidelines
- Letter from John
Weickert
- Spanish
Chapter Meeting Prayer Format
- Ministering to the
Elderly
Chapter 13:
Prayers, Promises, and Devotions
Enthronement of the Sacred Heart
- Program
- The Two Hearts
and the Mass
- Enthronement
of My Sacred Heart
- Images of the
Hearts of Jesus and Mary
- Find Refuge in My
Most Sacred Heart
- Consecrate
Your Churches, Homes, and Workplace to Our Hearts
- Certificate
- Promises of
Our Lord to Those Devoted to His Sacred Heart
Morning Offering (for Shepherds of Christ Members)
Morning Offering for Children
Short Prayer of Consecration Before Mass
Prayer Before the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Prayer to Say When Working for Jesus and Mary
Family Consecration
Consecration of an Unborn Child to Jesus and Mary
Chaplet of St. Michael
Promises of Mary Given to Those Who Pray the Rosary
Five First Saturday Devotion
Daily Prayers
Chapter 14:
Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus
Letter
Letter without Message (it can be passed out in churches)
Membership Form
Newsletter - Vol. 1 Issue 1 - October 1996
Chapter 15:
Excerpts from God's Blue Books for His Children of Light
Cling to Me
You Are the Light in the Darkness
Angels Will Read the Message
A City on a Hill Shines to the World
I Died For You
I Wake You, Knocking
About the Songs
The Rosary Song
A Song from Jesus
I Love You Jesus
Little Child
Teach Me to Love With Your Heart
God's Love
I Am Your Sacred Heart
See the Eyes That Look At Mary
Little Baby Hands and Feet
Come to My Heart
Your Presence Pervades My Soul
Glory, Glory, Glory Lord
My Open Heart
Chapter
17: Jesus' Urgent Messages
May 25, 1995 - I Am Alive!
June 26, 1995 - The Pain
[ ^Table
of Contents || Next chapter > | SofC Home ]
Introduction
An Overview of Shepherds of Christ Ministries
Prayer for Union with Jesus
Chapter Meeting Prayer Format
Intentions
- for Apostles of the Eucharistic
Heart of Jesus
- for the Rosary Novena
[ < Contents ]
An Overview of
Shepherds of Christ Ministries
Our movement is a Catholic apostolate which strongly supports our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. As you explore this manual, you will find there are three main levels of commitment in Shepherds of Christ Ministries. All three levels are important to the functioning of the ministry. To assist you in exploring this manual, this brief overview may help. All three commitment levels were defined by Jesus in messages either given through Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. or through the visionary/locutionist Rita Ring.
Jesus revealed these levels over a period of three years as He built the ministry. The three levels were given by Him in order of increasing personal commitment. The three levels are: Shepherds of Christ Associates, Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, and Shepherds of Christ Apostles. At any level, there are no vows taken which bind a member under penalty of sin when ending your commitment. Our hope is that you will be led by the Holy Spirit to the proper place to help you in your journey closer to God. Jesus has promised many graces to anyone who participates in the movement.
Shepherds of Christ Associates: These are prayer groups of two or more people which meet at least monthly. Many groups meet weekly before the Blessed Sacrament. These groups follow the format outlined in the Prayer Manual found on pages iii to x. Meetings normally last about an hour. See pages twelve through fourteen for additional information.
Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus: This prayer movement within Shepherds of Christ Ministries is a personal commitment to pray twice weekly for one hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus gives the instructions for this movement on pages 396 to 405 of this manual.
Shepherds of Christ Apostles: The highest level of commitment in the movement at this time is to be a Shepherds of Christ Apostle. It is truly a serious commitment, for we live in very serious times. An apostle is one who is sent to help lead people to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Jesus gives the details of this calling on pages four through six.
This book has many goals which are difficult to meet all at once. Jesus spent three years carefully revealing His plan step by step. He led us along into ever increasing levels of commitment. So as you read this manual, know that it will take even the fervent of heart some time to live the messages. You must also realize that the manual covers many different ministries. Many people are called to help out with one of these ministries. We hope and pray you will find a home in the Shepherds of Christ family. May God bless you and your loved ones now and into eternity!
In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Shepherds of Christ Ministries
[ < Contents ]
Meeting Format
The following format should be followed at chapter meetings of Shepherds
of Christ Associates.
Prayers
All of the following, not just the prayer which is said specifically for priests,
should include the intention of praying for all the needs of priests the world over.
Hymns. Hymns may be sung at any point of the prayer part of the meeting.
Holy Spirit Prayer. Come, Holy Spirit, almighty Sanctifier, God of love, who filled the Virgin Mary with grace, who wonderfully changed the hearts of the apostles, who endowed all Your martyrs with miraculous courage, come and sanctify us. Enlighten our minds, strengthen our wills, purify our consciences, rectify our judgment, set our hearts on fire, and preserve us from the misfortunes of resisting Your inspirations. Amen.
The Rosary.
Salve Regina. "Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, our mourning, our weeping in this vale of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus, O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary."
The Memorare. "Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but, in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen."
Seven Hail Marys in honor of the
Seven Sorrows of Mary. Mary has promised very special graces to those who do this
on a daily basis. Included in the promises of Our Lady for those who practice this
devotion is her pledge to give special assistance at the hour of death, including the
sight of her face. The seven sorrows are:
(1) The first sorrow: the prophecy of Simeon (Hail Mary).
(2) The second sorrow: the flight into Egypt (Hail Mary).
(3) The third sorrow: the loss of the Child Jesus in the temple (Hail Mary).
(4) The fourth sorrow: Jesus and Mary meet on the way to the cross (Hail Mary).
(5) The fifth sorrow: Jesus dies on the cross (Hail Mary).
(6) The sixth sorrow: Jesus is taken down from the cross and laid in Mary's arms (Hail
Mary).
(7) The seventh sorrow: the burial of Jesus (Hail Mary).
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven,
have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us (repeat after each invocation).
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of the Church,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Savior,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the Covenant,
Gate of heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of angels,
Queen of patriarchs,
Queen of prophets,
Queen of apostles,
Queen of martyrs,
Queen of confessors,
Queen of virgins,
Queen of all saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy rosary,
Queen of the families,
Queen of peace,
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray: Grant, we beseech You, O Lord God, that we Your servants may enjoy
perpetual health of mind and body and, by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary,
ever virgin, be delivered from present sorrow, and obtain eternal joy. Through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
We fly to your patronage, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our
necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and Blessed Virgin.
Prayer to St. Joseph. St. Joseph, guardian of Jesus and chaste spouse of Mary, you passed your life in perfect fulfillment of duty. You supported the Holy Family of Nazareth with the work of your hands. Kindly protect those who trustingly turn to you. You know their aspirations, their hardships, their hopes; and they turn to you because they know you will understand and protect them. You too have known trial, labor, and weariness. But, even amid the worries of material life, your soul was filled with deep peace and sang out in true joy through intimacy with the Son of God entrusted to you, and with Mary, His tender Mother. Amen. -(Pope John XXIII)
Litany of the Sacred Heart, Promises
of the Sacred Heart.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven,
have mercy on us (repeat after each invocation).
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Heart of Jesus, Son of the eternal Father,
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother,
Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God,
Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty,
Heart of Jesus, sacred temple of God,
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High,
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven,
Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of charity,
Heart of Jesus, abode of justice and love,
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love,
Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues,
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise,
Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts,
Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,
Heart of Jesus, in whom dwells the fullness of divinity,
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased,
Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received,
Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills,
Heart of Jesus, patient and most merciful,
Heart of Jesus, enriching all who invoke You,
Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness,
Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, loaded down with opprobrium,
Heart of Jesus, bruised for our offenses,
Heart of Jesus, obedient even to death,
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance,
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation,
Heart of Jesus, our life and reconciliation,
Heart of Jesus, victim of sin,
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in You,
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in You,
Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints,
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
make our hearts like unto Yours.
Let us pray: O almighty and eternal God, look upon the Heart of Your dearly beloved
Son and upon the praise and satisfaction He offers You in behalf of sinners and, being
appeased, grant pardon to those who seek Your mercy, in the name of the same Jesus Christ,
Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without
end. Amen.
Promises of Our Lord to those devoted to His Sacred Heart (these should
be read by the prayer leader):
(1) I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
(2) I will establish peace in their homes.
(3) I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
(4) I will be their refuge during life and above all in death.
(5) I will bestow a large blessing on all their undertakings.
(6) Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy.
(7) Tepid souls shall grow fervent.
(8) Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
(9) I will bless every place where a picture of My Heart shall be set up and honored.
(10) I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
(11) Those who promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to
be blotted out.
(12) I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant
to all those who communicate on the first Friday in nine consecutive months the grace of
final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their sacraments;
My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
Prayer for Priests. "Lord Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the Flock, we pray that in the great love and mercy of Your Sacred Heart You attend to all the needs of Your priest-shepherds throughout the world. We ask that You draw back to Your Heart all those priests who have seriously strayed from Your path, that You rekindle the desire for holiness in the hearts of those priests who have become lukewarm, and that You continue to give Your fervent priests the desire for the highest holiness. United with Your Heart and Mary's Heart, we ask that You take this petition to Your heavenly Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Prayer for all members of the Shepherds of Christ Associates. "Dear Jesus, we ask Your special blessings on all members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. Continue to enlighten them regarding the very special privilege and responsibility you have given them as members of Your movement, Shepherds of Christ Associates. Draw them ever closer to Your Heart and to Your Mother's Heart. Allow them to more and more realize the great and special love of Your Hearts for each of them as unique individuals. Give them the grace to respond to Your love and Mary's love with an increased love of their own. As they dwell in Your Heart and Mary's Heart, abundantly care for all their needs and those of their loved ones. We make our prayer through You to the Father, in the Holy Spirit, with Mary our Mother at our side. Amen."
Prayer for the spiritual and financial success of the priestly newsletter. "Father, we ask Your special blessings upon the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ. We ask that You open the priest-readers to the graces You wish to give them through this chosen instrument of Your Son. We also ask that You provide for the financial needs of the newsletter and the Shepherds of Christ Associates. We make our prayer through Jesus, in the Holy Spirit, with Mary at our side. Amen."
Prayer for all members of the human family. "Heavenly Father, we ask Your blessings on all Your children the world over. Attend to all their needs. We ask Your special assistance for all those marginalized people, all those who are so neglected and forgotten. United with our Mother Mary, we make this petition to You through Jesus and in the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Prayer to St. Michael and our
Guardian Angels.
"St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the
wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O
prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the other
evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen."
7
"Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day be
at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen."
Pause for silent, personal prayer. This should last at least five minutes.
Act of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
"Lord Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock, I consecrate myself to Your most
Sacred Heart. From Your pierced Heart the Church was born, the Church You have called me,
as a member of Shepherds of Christ Associates, to serve in a most special way. You reveal
Your Heart as a symbol of Your love in all its aspects, including Your most special love
for me, whom You have chosen as Your companion in this most important work. Help me to
always love You in return. Help me to give myself entirely to You. Help me always to pour
out my life in love of God and neighbor! Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You! Amen.
"Dear Blessed Virgin Mary, I consecrate myself to your maternal and Immaculate Heart,
this Heart which is symbol of your life of love. You are the Mother of my Savior. You are
also my Mother. You love me with a most special love as a member of Shepherds of Christ
Associates, a movement created by your Son as a powerful instrument for the renewal of the
Church and the world. In a return of love, I give myself entirely to your motherly love
and protection. You followed Jesus perfectly. You are His first and perfect disciple.
Teach me to imitate you in the putting on of Christ. Be my motherly intercessor so that,
through your Immaculate Heart, I may be guided to an ever closer union with the pierced
Heart of Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock. Amen."
The Shepherds of Christ prayers above, one through sixteen, have the following ecclesiastiea approval:
Imprimi Potest: Rev. Bradley M. Schaeffer, S.J.
Provincial
Chicago Province, The Society of Jesus
Imprimatur: Most Rev. Carl K. Moeddel
Auxiliary Bishop
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
[ < Contents ]
Intentions for Apostles
of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus
Jesus is calling special apostles to join a new division of the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Here is a message from Jesus given to Father Carter:
"My beloved priest-companion, I am requesting that a new prayer movement be started under the direction of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. I am asking for volunteers who are willing to pray before the Blessed Sacrament for one hour, twice-weekly. Members of the Shepherds of Christ prayer chapters, as well as others, are to be invited to join this movement.
"These apostles are to pray for the intentions I am giving you. For part of the hour they are to use the prayers of the Shepherds of Christ Associates Handbook. They may spend the rest of the hour as they so choose.
"I will use this new prayer movement within My Shepherds of Christ Ministries in a powerful way to help in the renewal of My Church and the world. I will give great graces to those who join this movement. The name, Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, is to be given to this movement.
"I am inviting My beloved Rita Ring to be coordinator for this activity.
"I pour out the great love of My Sacred Heart to all. I am Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock."
This is indeed a special calling for us to unite in one heart with His Eucharistic Heart and pray for the following intentions:
[ < Contents ]
Intentions
for the Rosary Novena
Given by Mary on January 25, 1997:
Mary: I am Mary. I am requesting that you continue to pray the rosary novena daily for the following intentions:
1) For the spread of the rosary, circulation and publication of these rosary meditations, for the Rosary Book and Children's Rosary Books, for the Rosary Aves and consecrations to be distributed and used by school children, for the Priestly Newsletter Books, for the Mass Book, for all materials receiving the imprimatur, for its publication and quick distribution, for the distribution of Mary's Message tape and the Rosary Book and the connection with the Shepherds of Christ Movement and the apparition in Florida;
2) For Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center, that the Father's plan will unfold there as He intended;
3) For the new Center, for the new chapel, for the right to reserve the Blessed Sacrament there, for the funding, for the circulation of materials from there, for the beginning of new prayer chapters.
[ ^Table of Contents
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Chapter 1
Introductory Material
by Father Carter
and
Apostles on Mission
The Birth of the Full Ministries of the Shepherds of
Christ
Ministries at a Glance
January 30, 1997 - Jesus' Directions for Apostles
Apostles in Florida
Letter from Very Rev. Joseph F. Schaedel
The Role of Private Revelation in the Life of the
Church
The Spirituality Handbook
- Words of Jesus
to Members of Shepherds of Christ Associates
- Introduction:
How It All Began
- Chapter
Guidelines for Shepherds of Christ Associates
- A Way of
Spiritual Life
Message about the Infant of Prague
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The Birth of the Full Ministries of the Shepherds of Christ
"I wish to share with you part of a message which Jesus gave us on October 13, 1994. The message tells us about the expansion of the Shepherds of Christ movement:
'My beloved priest-companion, today I come to you with another mission. I am asking you to establish Shepherds of Christ Ministries. At My request you have already begun the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ, and the prayer chapters, Shepherds of Christ Associates...
'I am giving you this message on this day, the 77th Anniversary of the Great Apparition at Fatima, because of the close connection between the Shepherds of Christ movement and the Fatima message. The Fatima message is centered in devotion to My Heart and My Mother's Heart, especially in consecration to Our Hearts. Shepherds of Christ Ministries is also centered in devotion to Our Hearts. I will use Shepherds of Christ Ministries as a great instrument in helping to bring about the triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the reign of My Sacred Heart. When this occurs, My Church and the world will be experiencing the great era of peace promised by My Mother at Fatima.
'Today, then, October 13, 1994, the 77th Anniversary of the Great Apparition at Fatima, marks the birth of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. I pour forth the great love of My Sacred Heart to all. I am Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock.'
Jesus has told us that Shepherds of Christ Ministries includes: the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ, Shepherds of Christ Associates prayer chapters, various publications, including books, whatever else Our Lord directs us to undertake.
As members of Shepherds of Christ Associates, you are an extremely important part of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. You have given great joy to the Heart of Jesus by responding to His invitation to become members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. As He draws you closer to His Heart and to His Mother's Heart as Associates members, He will fill you with an ever-increasing experience of His love, peace, and joy."
- From In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Newsletter of
Shepherds of Christ Associates
by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J., Volume 1, No. 1, 1995. p. 2.
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Ministries at a Glance
Since its formation, Shepherds of Christ Ministries has grown rapidly in both scope and function. The ministries outlined below are defined in further detail inside this manual, at the tables set up on the 13th of every month or at the Shepherds of Christ Internet site.
Shepherds of Christ Newsletter
Shepherds of Christ Publications
Shepherds of Christ Associates
Junior Shepherds of Christ Associates
Shepherds of Christ Audio/Video
Come Follow Me Newsletter (for religious)
Shepherds of Christ International
Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus
World-Wide-Web Site (Internet)
Retirement/Nursing Home Prayer Groups
Rosary in Schools, Homes
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January 30, 1997
Jesus' Directions for Apostles
Message given through Rita Ring
Jesus: My Dear Beloved Apostles,
How tenderly I caress you and hold you to My Heart. Do not be afraid. I have taught you these long months. I am forming you for your mission as My apostles. I am telling you, you must study the messages I have given to you in God's Blue Book and Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. I am giving to you my directions to bring about My Father's plan for the completion of the Fatima message which will culminate in the reign of My Sacred Heart and triumph of My Mother's heart. The directions I am giving to you, My beloved apostles, on the 13th of the month must be studied. You must see the Father's plan as unfolding and your work as My apostle is crucial to the unfolding of His plan. His directions are given to you in the messages. Today I am asking that a book be compiled with the messages given in the 17th Blue Book Meetings. The apostles must study this book in addition to the other messages given and study the Apostle's Manual. I am calling you an apostle in these last times. You must study My direction given. I ask you to read the message "The Carpenter" June 12, 1994 in Blue Book III. I ask you to study all messages with reference to the Father's plan and the Father's will.
When traveling to Florida or as My apostles, you must spend time daily alone with Me. As an apostle, I am asking you to spend one hour with Me that day, especially when on duty in Florida or elsewhere. This is very important. I will give you great graces in this hour. I will sort out all the debris in your heart. I will instruct you on your Father's will for you and I will saturate you with My divine love. In this hour, we will share intimately in our love for each other.
I am telling you that when you are on a mission, an assignment in Florida and elsewhere, you must go to daily Mass and Communion and spend twenty minutes after Communion. I will give you My intimate love in these moments after Communion.
I am telling you, My apostles, to pray the consecration to My Heart and My Mother's heart and the Holy Spirit Prayer all through your day. Whenever you gather together, begin with the Holy Spirit Prayer, St. Michael Prayer, Guardian Angel Prayer, and Consecration prayers as listed on the prayer card. This will bind you in one mind and one heart and you will work together in harmony according to the Father's will.
You will be protected greatly from the evil one when you pray these prayers on the prayer card.
Your mission is a holy mission to spread My love and the love of My Mother. Your mission is a mission of love. You are working for Me and My Mother. You are the apostles of Our Hearts.
You must realize if you do not follow the directions I give to you, you will tend to do your own will and not the Father's will and the devil will taunt you and make headway because you are not properly protected.
See My Mother crushing the head of the serpent. When you give your heart to her, the Holy Spirit works within her heart and fills your heart, and she crushes the head of the devil.
You are in a spiritual battle with the evil one. You must realize he is cunning and sly. He comes in a smooth talking person to trick you. You must stick to the directions I am giving to you. You are there to spread the messages given in God's Blue Book, Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Tell My People, all Fr. Carter's publications, and all publications of the Shepherds of Christ Movement.
Any material not discerned or approved of by Fr. Carter is not to be distributed under the title of Shepherds of Christ or in connection with Shepherds of Christ.
Nothing is to be distributed without his approval.
So I am summarizing. These are My requirements when on mission as an apostle to Florida or other locations spreading the Shepherds of Christ Movement:
The Apostles Prayer Schedule:
1. The Morning Offering
2. Daily Mass and Communion
3. One hour of private adoration, preferably before the tabernacle.
4. Consecration Prayers
5. Rosary, the prayers in the Handbook (Prayer Manual)
should be recited daily when on mission and several times a week when not on mission.
The Morning Offering will bind all members of the Shepherds of Christ Movement in union with each other, in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass all day. You will be one flock with one Shepherd all dwelling within My Heart which is your home. Oh, how I love you! You must obey these directions I give to My apostles.
Beware of the workings of Satan to distract you and lead you away from this mission.
I am asking all members in the Shepherds of Christ Movement to be apostles. Some will be able to give more time than others. When traveling to Florida, I am asking you to follow the Apostles Prayer Schedule.
I am asking all members to circulate the Mary's Message tape, the short message sheet, and the Rosary of December 13, 1996 and January 13, 1997 to connect Mary's Message to her apparition in Florida. I love you. I am your beloved Jesus.
Mary said on December 19, 1996:
"I am Mary, your Mother. I do not appear as I once appeared to you. I am asking you today to circulate my message given on a tape on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12, 1996. Please circulate this tape now. Give it to as many people as you can. I am Mary your Mother. Please circulate my Rosary Book."
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Apostles in Florida
Message given through Rita Ring
Jesus: My Dear Apostles in Florida,
I am Jesus, your Savior. The Florida site will help with the completion of the Fatima mission. In addition to all material being distributed there, you are asked to spread the Shepherds of Christ Associates Prayer Manuals, rosaries, and consecration cards. Many will be reached from this site with rosary and consecration. This will aid greatly in bringing about the completion of the Fatima mission.
I am Jesus. Please help to bring about the reign of My Heart and the triumph of My Mother's heart by spreading this material.
I love you, My apostles. Please tell all priests that come to the Florida site about the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ.
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The Role of Private Revelation in the Life of the Church
In these our times there have been numerous reports from around the world of events regarding alleged private revelations. Messages from alleged visionaries and locutionists abound. Many people are at least somewhat confused regarding how one should react to all this.
It seems appropriate, therefore, to offer some thoughts concerning the role of private revelation in the life of the Church.
First of all, we must realize the Church recognizes that private revelation has a role to play in the life of the Church. The Catechism says:
Throughout the ages, there have been so-called 'private revelations,' some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ's definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history.1
We would now like to offer the thoughts of some contemporary theologians regarding this role of private revelation: Harvey Egan, S.J., says:
Private revelations often presuppose the gift of prophecy. Prophetic revelations commission the mystic to address the entire Church, or a significant portion. He must deliver a message, plead for a particular devotion, call for conversion and penance, warn against certain aberrations in Church life...suggest new styles of life or spiritual doctrine, or foretell the future. Those post-apostolic, prophetic revelations, therefore, apply the faith in a practical way to daily Christian living.2
Jordan Aumann, O.P., observes:
There have always been persons gifted with prophecy, as is testified by Scripture and the processes of canonization of the servants of God. Nevertheless, private revelations do not pertain to the deposit of faith, which consists of the truths contained in Scripture and Tradition under the vigilance of the Church.3
Karl Rahner, S.J., offers the following regarding private revelation:
A private revelation as a mission to the Church signifies...an imperative which within the context of a particular historical situation of the Church, points out a particular course of action from among the many possible according to the universal and public revelation as the one most urgently needing to be realized. The new feature in such a private revelation consists therefore not in its particular material elements but in the imperative marking and shifting of accentuation within the possibilities of Christianity...Hence the private revelation as a mission to the Church can be conceived as a heavenly imperative interpretation of the particular situation of the Church at this time; it answers the question as to what is most urgently to be done here and now in accordance with the general principles of the faith.4
It would be wrong, consequently, to deny the existence and proportionate importance of private revelation in the life of the Church. Such an attitude would be in opposition to the teaching of the Church and that of reputable theologians. Private revelation is yet another sign of God's overwhelming love towards us. In His great love He has given us the truths of faith as contained in public revelation. In His ongoing love for us He gives us private revelation to aid us in the living of public revelation. We should not, therefore, be indifferent to the role God has assigned to private revelation in the life of the Church.
It might be well at this point to offer a description of what occurs when a person receives an apparition and/or locution (message). Joseph de Guibert, S.J., one of the most eminent mystical theologians of this century, says:
A distinction is made between corporeal, imaginative, and intellectual visions. This distinction can also be applied to locutions. In corporeal visions and locutions there is a real perception by the external senses; the person who is seen or heard may be really present, or (in corporeal visions) the body which appears may be formed in the air, or a change may be affected at the moment the light-rays impinge on the eye, or (in corporeal locutions) a real acoustical vibration may be produced in the ears. In imaginative visions and locutions there is no perception by the external senses, but, rather, a Divine action on the imagination or the internal senses...In intellectual visions and locutions the Divine action directly affects the intellect.5
What should one's attitude be regarding alleged instances of private revelation which have not yet been the subject of official Church investigation- and perhaps never will be? First, one should always recognize that the final authority regarding private revelations rests with the Holy See of Rome, to whose judgment we should willingly submit. Secondly, one may personally act upon these messages of private revelation if a person observes that they contain nothing contrary to faith and morals and that they help bring one closer to God. Our Lord has said: "...a sound tree produces good fruit but a rotten tree bad fruit. A sound tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a rotten tree bear good fruit." (Mt 7:17-18).
A good example of what we have just said is the situation regarding the alleged apparitions and messages at Medjugorje. The Church's investigation of this site is ongoing. No definitive decision has been made. In the meantime, the Church is not forbidding the faithful to go to Medjugorje. She is not forbidding them to personally accept the messages, presuming, again, they contain nothing contrary to faith and morals. Millions of pilgrims have gone to Medjugorje, including thousands of priests and hundreds of bishops.
An outstanding example of the importance of the role of private revelation in the life of the Church is that of Fatima. The Church has formally approved the message of Fatima as being worthy of belief. In her July 13, 1917, message, Our Blessed Mother said:
The war (World War I, then raging) is going to end. But if people do not stop offending God, another and worse one will begin in the reign of Pius XI. When you shall see a night illuminated by an unknown light (January 2, 1938), know that this is the great sign that God gives you that He is going to punish the world for its many crimes by means of war, hunger, and persecution of the Church and the Holy Father.
To prevent this, I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart and the Communion of Reparation on the five first Saturdays. If my requests are granted, Russia will be converted and there will be peace. If not, she will scatter her errors throughout the world, provoking wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, and various nations will be destroyed...
But in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph, the Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, Russia will be converted, and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world.6
There is more to the requests of Our Lady of Fatima besides those elements contained in the above message. But these aspects of the Fatima message are obviously critical ones.
Because enough people did not respond to Mary's requests made at Fatima, we did have World War II and all the horrors connected with the rise of Russian dominated Communism. Again, Fatima is a prime example of the importance the role of private revelation can assume in the life of the Church. Popes Pius XII and Paul VI made visits to Fatima, as has Pope John Paul II.
- From Shepherds of Christ, A Spirituality Newsletter
for Priests by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J.
May/June 1995 Issue. pp. 3-5.
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Words of Jesus to Members of
Shepherds of Christ Associates:
"My beloved priest-companion, I intend to use the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ, and the movement, Shepherds of Christ Associates, in a powerful way for the renewal of My Church and the world.
"I will use the newsletter and the chapters of Shepherds of Christ Associates as a powerful instrument for spreading devotion to My Heart and My Mother's Heart.
"I am calling many to become members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. To all of them I will give great blessings. I will use them as instruments to help bring about the triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the reign of My Sacred Heart. I will give great graces to the members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. I will call them to be deeply united to My Heart and to Mary's Heart as I lead them ever closer to My Father in the Holy Spirit."
- Message from Jesus to Father Edward J. Carter, S.J., as
given on July 31, 1994,
feast of Saint Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus (The
Jesuits).
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Introduction:
How It All Began
During the summer of 1993, Father Edward J. Carter, S.J., Professor of Theology at Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, began to receive mystical locutions (messages) from Jesus and Mary on a regular basis.
In a message given on May 31, 1994, Jesus asked Father Carter to begin the publication of a spirituality newsletter for priests. To be sent to more than 45,000 priests in the U.S.A., and also to priests in other countries, the newsletter is published by Shepherds of Christ Publications, and is distributed bi-monthly. The title of the newsletter is Shepherds of Christ.
Jesus has asked that chapters be formed to pray for the needs of priests and religious around the world. The chapters are to pray in a special way for the spiritual success of the priestly newsletter, as well as to aid in the financial support of this publication. The chapters and members are to be called Shepherds of Christ Associates.
Our Lord has stressed that Shepherds of Christ Associates become an international movement.
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Chapter Guidelines for
Shepherds of Christ Associates
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A Way of Spiritual Life
The way of spiritual life proposed to the members of Shepherds of Christ Associates is centered in consecration to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. All aspects of the spiritual life discussed below should be viewed as means to help members develop their lives in consecration to Christ, the Sacred Heart, and to Mary, the Immaculate Heart.
An Overview of the Spiritual Life
The Christian life is rooted in the great event of the Incarnation. We must consequently always focus our gaze upon Christ, realizing that everything the Father wishes to tell us has been summed up in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It only remains for us, then, to strive to understand with greater insight the inexhaustible truth of the Word Incarnate: "In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days He has spoken to us by a Son, Whom He appointed the heir of all things, through Whom also He created the world." (Heb. 1: 1-2)7
What was the condition of the human race at the time of Christ's coming? In some ways, people were much the same as we are today. There were those just being born into this world of human drama. There were those who, in death, were leaving it, some of whom had grasped but little of life's meaning. There were those who were healthy and vigorous. There were those who were sick and lame. Some especially felt the burdens, the grief, the suffering of the human condition. Others were ebullient and desired all the pleasures life could provide. There was some good being accomplished. Immorality, however, was rampant. What St. Paul tells us concerning the time that immediately followed Christ's existence certainly could also be applied to the time of His entrance into the world. It is, in short, an ugly picture that St. Paul depicts for us (Rom. 1: 22-32).
Into such a depraved condition Jesus entered, with a full and generous Heart, to lead the human race from the depths of sinfulness to the vibrant richness of a new life in Himself. Through His enfleshment, this Christ became the focal point of all history. The authentic hopes and dreams of the human family, now so overshadowed by the ugliness of sin, came converging upon this Christ. He would gather them up in Himself, give them a new luster and brilliance and dynamism, and would lead the human family back to the Father in the Holy Spirit.
Christ was radically to release us from the dominion of sin and elevate us to a new level of existence. This life Christ has given us is not a type of superstructure which is erected atop human existence. Although nature and grace are distinct, they do not lie side by side as separate entities. Rather, grace permeates nature. The Christian is one graced person. The Christian is one who has been raised up, caught up, into a deeper form of life in Christ Jesus. Nothing that is authentically human in the life of the Christian has been excluded from this new existence. Whatever is really human in the life of the Christian is meant to be an expression of the Christ-life. The simple but deep joys of family life, the wonderment at nature's beauty, the warm embrace of a mother for her child, the agony of crucial decision making, the success or frustration that is experienced in one's work, the joy of being well received by others, and the heartache of being misunderstood-all these experiences are intended to be caught up in Christ and made more deeply human because of Him.
Jesus has come, then, not to destroy anything that is authentically human, but to perfect it by leading it to a graced fulfillment. This is the meaning of the Word's becoming flesh, the meaning of the Incarnation. The more God-like we become through Christ, the more human we become.
We, through our incorporation into Christ which occurs at Baptism, are meant to relive the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In doing so, we are not only accomplishing our own salvation, but we are assisting in the salvation of others also. The Incarnation continues all the time. Christ, of course, is the one Who fundamentally continues the Incarnation. But He enlists our help. The world no longer sees Jesus, no longer is able to reach out and touch Him. We are the ones who now, in some way, make Christ visible and tangible. In union with the invisible, glorified Christ, and depending on Him as our source of life, we continue the Incarnation in its visible and temporal dimensions. This is our great privilege. This is our great responsibility.
The Christian is initiated into the mystery of Christ, into his or her role in prolonging the Incarnation, through Baptism. In the words of St. Paul: "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by Baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." (Rom. 6: 3-4).
It is not sufficient, however, that we be incorporated into Christ through Baptism. All forms of life require nourishment. So, too, our life in Christ must be continually nourished. How can we continually keep in contact with Christ? There are various ways. We contact Christ in a most special way through the liturgy, above all in the Eucharistic liturgy. Here the entire course of salvation history, as centered in Jesus, is sacramentally renewed and continued. Through our most special and most personal meeting with Jesus in the Mass, we are more deeply incorporated into Christ. Also, we should remember that all the sacraments make up part of the Church's liturgy.
The reading of Scripture provides another special opportunity for meeting Jesus. This is true for both Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament prefigures the New Testament and leads to it. It is obvious, however, that we meet Christ especially in the pages of the New Testament. How true it is to say that not to be familiar with Scripture is not to know Jesus properly. We should resolve to read from Scripture daily.
We also meet Jesus in our interaction with others. Everyone we meet, everyone we serve, is in the image of Jesus. We have to take the means to grow in this awareness. If I truly believe that everyone has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, how should I treat everyone?
These, then, are some of the ways we keep in contact with Jesus. Common to the various ways of meeting Jesus is a certain degree of prayerful reflection. Our contact with Jesus in the liturgy, in Scripture, and in our interaction with others, and so forth, will not be all that it should be unless we are persons of prayer. The light and strength of prayer enables us to keep in contact with Jesus as we should.
We live out our Christ-life in an atmosphere of love. Indeed, the life Jesus has given us is centered in love. It has its origins in the mysterious love of God: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (Jn 3: 16).
Our new life in Jesus has arisen out of God's fathomless love. Christ, in His descent into human flesh, has established a milieu of love. The life He came to give can flourish only in the framework of love. Indeed, we can summarize the meaning of the Christian life by stating that it is our loving response to God's love. The pierced Heart of Jesus, this Heart which shed its last drop of blood in the greatest love for each one of us, is the symbol of God's tremendous love for us. Christ's Heart also calls us to respond by giving ourselves in love to God and neighbor. Yes, Jesus invites us to respond to God's love by giving ourselves in love to Him in an ever closer union. The more closely we are united to Him, the greater is our capacity to love God and neighbor. The more closely we are united with Jesus, the more closely He unites us to the Father in the Holy Spirit, with Mary our Mother at our side.
Consecration to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary
We have already spoken of how we are incorporated into Christ at Baptism. Now we shall speak of the life which comes to us in Baptism in terms of consecration:
To consecrate means to make sacred, to make holy. Only God can make a being holy. So to speak of our consecration is to speak of God's activity in making us holy, His activity of giving us a share in His own holiness. At Baptism we receive a share in God's life, a share in His holiness. Christ is the Mediator of this grace life. We are baptized into Christ, into His death and resurrection. In Baptism we become holy by sharing in the holiness of Christ. We become consecrated, sealed with the divine holiness. We belong to the Father, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit.
On our part, we must respond to God's consecration of us. We must live out the consecration of Baptism. We must realize what God has done for us in Christ and live according to this awareness. We need to live the life of holiness and grow in it. In other words, we must develop the life of grace, the Christ-life.
What God has done for us in Christ involves Mary. God has given us a Christ-life, our life of grace, and Mary is the Mother of this Christ-life. Consequently, living out our life of consecration to God-living out the Christ-life-includes allowing Mary to increasingly be the Mother of our Christ-life.
Consecration to Mary, therefore, is an aspect of our consecration to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is entrusting ourselves entirely to her maternal love so that she can bring us ever closer to Jesus, so that we can increasingly live out our consecration to God in Christ.
At Fatima, Our Lady asked that we consecrate ourselves to her Immaculate Heart. Mary shows us her heart as a symbol of her love for God and us. She asks us to make a return of love to her, to consecrate ourselves to her, to give ourselves to her completely. She wants us to entrust ourselves to her completely so that she may help us love God and neighbor.
As stated above, consecration to Mary is an aspect of our consecration to God in Christ and she has asked for consecration to her Heart so that she may assist us. Christ, in turn, invites us to live out this consecration to Him through consecration to His Sacred Heart. We see the divine symmetry: consecration to the Immaculate Heart helps us to live out consecration to Christ Who reveals His Heart as symbol of His life of love in all its aspects, including His tremendous love for each of us individually. His Heart also asks for our love in return, a return which ideally is summed up in consecration to Jesus' Heart. Through this consecration we give ourselves completely to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart. In this consecration to Jesus, we promise to strive to live according to His Father's will in all things.8
Our Personal Relationship With Jesus
He hung upon a cross on a hill called Calvary. Death was near. How much Jesus had already suffered! He had been brutally scourged. Much of His sacred body was a bloody, open wound. He had been derisively crowned with thorns. In a terribly weakened condition, He carried the heavy cross to the hill of Golgotha. There He was stripped of His garments and mercilessly nailed to the cross. Try to imagine the excruciating pain Jesus suffered as the nails penetrated His sacred hands and feet! After all this brutal and agonizing suffering-of body and spirit-Jesus finally died.
And He did it all for you! Yes, you can truly say that Jesus did it all for you. I can say that Jesus did it all for me. He suffered and died for the whole human race, but He did it in a way which makes it true to say He also did it for each individual. When He was undergoing all the brutal and horrible suffering, He knew you and He knew me by name. He was loving each of us with the most tender, and tremendous, and unique love! He gave the last drop of His precious blood for you individually and for me individually!
What should be our return to this magnificent Heart of Jesus which gave until there was no more to give? No less than our entire selves. No less than a total consecration to this tremendous Lover, to this magnificent and tender Heart! No less than a day-by-day resolve to strive to live our consecration with the deepest faith, hope, and love. No less than the deepest desire to develop the most intimate, personal relationship with Jesus. The total and the most tender love of Jesus' magnificent Heart for you and for me deserves nothing less!
Mary Our Mother
As Jesus hung upon the cross in His excruciating suffering, He gave Mary to us as our spiritual Mother:
...standing by the cross of Jesus were His Mother, and His Mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His Mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing near, He said to His Mother, 'Woman, behold, your son!' Then He said to the disciple, 'Behold, your Mother!' (Jn 19: 25-26).
Yes, John, the disciple, represented all of us. Jesus, in giving Mary to John as His Mother, was giving her to all of us as our spiritual Mother. We can never thank Jesus sufficiently for this great gift. Mary is your Mother and she is my Mother. Pope John Paul II tells us how Mary is Mother to each of us according to each one's uniqueness:
Of the essence of motherhood is the fact that it concerns the person. Motherhood always establishes a unique and unrepeatable relationship between two people: between mother and child and between child and mother. Even when the same woman is the mother of many children, her personal relationship with each one of them is of the very essence of motherhood...
It can be said that motherhood 'in the order of grace' preserves the analogy with what 'in the order of nature' characterizes the union between mother and child.9
Let us always thank Mary that she is the Mother of each of us according to each one's uniqueness. I can truly say that Mary is my Mother in an unrepeatable way, and you can truly say that she is your Mother in an unrepeatable way. Realizing what a great and unique love Mary has for each of us, what reason could we ever have for not always going to her? What reason could we ever have for not asking her to take us as her beloved children and to hold us close to her maternal and Immaculate Heart where we always experience the love, the warmth, the tenderness of this magnificent Mother?
Mass and the Sacraments
The best way to return love to Jesus is through participation in the Mass. Indeed, the Mass is the chief source for growth in our life of consecration. Everything in the life of the Church-including the sacraments-centers around the Eucharistic Sacrifice.
All the faithful are privileged to be able to enter into the offering of the Mass:
The sacrifice of the Mass, as we well know, makes truly present the sacrifice of Calvary. At His sacrifice on Calvary, Christ was Priest and Victim. We obviously did not offer together with Him. At the Mass, however, Christ, although He is the chief Priest and Victim, does not act alone. Through God's gracious design, at Mass all the members of the Church are priests and victims together with Christ. To be sure, there is a very significant difference between the priesthood of bishops and priests and the priesthood of the faithful. The point we wish to stress, however, is that the universal priesthood, given in Baptism to all the faithful, is a real participation in Christ's priesthood.
Vatican II has stressed this concept of the priesthood of all the Church's members. Speaking of the Mass, the Council says: 'The Church, therefore, earnestly desires that Christ's faithful, when present at this mystery of faith, should not be there as strangers or silent spectators. On the contrary, through a proper appreciation of the rites and prayers, they should participate knowingly, devoutly, and actively. They should be instructed by God's word and be refreshed at the table of the Lord's body; they should give thanks to God; by offering the Immaculate Victim, not only through the hands of the priest, but also with him, they should learn to offer themselves too. Through Christ the Mediator, they should be drawn, day-by-day, into ever closer union with God and with each other, so that finally God may be all in all.'
During all our Christ-like activities, we are living the Mass. Working, recreating, laughing, weeping, enjoying success but also experiencing failure, enjoying the beauties of nature-through all such activities, we are living the Mass. We are continually offering ourselves in loving conformity to the Father's will. From time to time during the day, we should make a conscious act of uniting ourselves and our activities with the sacrifice of Calvary as it is made present throughout the world through the Mass.
A very precious time during the Mass is, of course, our reception of Jesus in Holy Communion. We should make the most of these special moments. Let's properly thank Jesus for coming to us with His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Let's thank Jesus for the tremendous suffering He experienced in order to be able to give us the Eucharist. As Jesus dwells within us in this precious way at Communion time, the very Heart of Christ-this Heart which is symbol of His great love-dwells within. This Heart cries out for our love in return.
One of the great means God has given us to help prepare ourselves for better participation in the Mass is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Our Lady of Medjugorje asks us to go to Confession at least once a month.
Indeed, we should use all available means to prepare ourselves for a more fruitful participation in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. It is a great privilege to be able to be present at, and to participate in, the Mass. We should show Jesus our appreciation for such a great gift by preparing ourselves as best we can, and in this way we will gain the greatest possible benefit from the Mass, both for ourselves and for others.
Included in our devotion to the Eucharist should be our desire to make Eucharistic reparation. One way to do this is to say often the following Fatima prayer: 'Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly. I offer You the most precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges, and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and (the intercession of) the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of sinners.10
Besides saying the above prayer, there are other acts of Eucharistic reparation we can make. One of these is to be sure we make adequate thanksgiving after Mass. One of the intentions we should have at this time is to help make reparation for the lack of proper thanksgiving on the part of many. Pope Pius XII speaks about the duty of spending the proper time in thanksgiving:
When at Mass, which is subject to special rules of the liturgy, is over, the person who has received Holy Communion is not thereby freed from his duty of thanksgiving; rather, it is most becoming that, when the Mass is finished, the person who has received the Eucharist should recollect himself and, in intimate union with the Divine Master, hold loving and fruitful converse with Him. Hence they have departed from the straight way of truth who, adhering to the letter rather than the sense, assert and teach that, when Mass has ended, no such thanksgiving should be added, not only because the Mass is itself a thanksgiving, but also because this pertains to a private and personal act of piety and not to the good of the community.11
Life in the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is given to us to transform us in the likeness of Christ. This is an ongoing process. Here is a message of Jesus which speaks to the issue:
My beloved friend, tell My people to pray daily to the Holy Spirit. They are to pray for an increase in His gifts. My people must realize that the Holy Spirit comes to transform them. The Spirit desires to transform you more and more according to My image. Those who are docile to His touch become increasingly shaped in my likeness. He performs this marvel within My Mother's Heart. The more one dwells in My Mother's Heart, the more active are the workings of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit leads Mary to place you within My Heart. In both of Our Hearts, then, your transformation continues. The more you are formed after My own Heart, the more I lead you to the bosom of My Father. Tell My people all this. Tell them to pray daily for a greater appreciation of these wondrous gifts. I am Lord and Master! All who come to My Heart will be on fire to receive the gifts of the Spirit in ever greater measure! I love and bless My people! (Message of Jesus given to Father Carter).12
Life Within the Church
God calls us to live Christian existence, the spiritual life, within the Church-the Church which Christ has established. This Church is a many splendored reality. It has many different names, images and dimensions that variously attest to and manifest this multifaceted richness. All of them, however, speak of the one, same reality. Here is a message of Jesus which speaks of His Church:
My beloved priest-companion, remind My people that the Church was born from My Heart, pierced with the soldier's lance on Calvary. From My pierced Heart the Church and her sacraments were born. Two of these sacraments, the Eucharist and Baptism, were symbolized by the blood and water which flowed from My pierced side.
As the Church was born from My pierced Heart, so does the Church's life grow from the graces I continually give to her from My pierced Heart, this Heart which is now glorified.
I call all the members of My Church to help build up My Body, the Church, by coming to My pierced Heart. United to My Heart and dwelling within It, I will give to each the light and strength to carry out My Father's will in the building up of My Church.
Mary is Mother and Model of the Church. As Mother of the Church, she intercedes for all the graces the members need to contribute to the building up of My Church. As Model of the Church, as perfect imitator of Me, she shows the children of the Church how all, individually and collectively, are to be increasingly formed in My image. As all come to My Heart for the building up of My Church, let them do so united in the Heart of Mary.
My Church is experiencing critical and difficult times. There are many divisions within My Church. There are many false teachings, including some put forth by certain theologians. These false teachings occur because those responsible for such are not in proper union with My vicar, the Pope, and the Church's Magisterium. I want all My children to pray daily for the cure of the many and serious ills of the Church. With the increase of prayers and sacrifices for the health of the Church, that day will soon come when the Church will be purified and revitalized. When that day comes, the renewed Church will be characterized by the triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the reign of My Sacred Heart. Thus the message of Fatima will have reached its completion.
I am Lord and Master. I request that all My people listen to My words and respond to them. I love My people with a tremendous love and, in this great love, I give them this message! (Message from Jesus given to Fr. Carter).13
The Spiritual Life and the Christian Virtues
The life of sanctifying grace expresses itself through the various Christian virtues. Let us take a brief look at this life:
The Persons of the Blessed Trinity have communicated Themselves to us in lavish love. When a person is in the state of grace, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit dwell within that person in an extraordinary fashion.
Such is the intimacy of this Trinitarian communication that the Persons of the Trinity imprint Their image upon us. This image is our life of grace, our created participation in the life of the Trinity. We receive this life at Baptism, and our privilege and responsibility are to develop it as fully as possible during our earthly journey before experiencing its culmination in eternal life.
"Because Christ in His humanity is Mediator of our life of grace, it possesses not only a Trinitarian dimension, but a Christic aspect as well. We can readily understand, then, why our grace-life is very appropriately also called the Christ-life.
Our Christ-life is centered in faith and love. Christian faith gives us an extraordinary capacity to know realities about God and the things of God. The virtue of Christian love allows us to accompany this faith-knowledge with an appropriate love-response. Christian hope is the chief support of faith and love. Finally, all the other Christian virtues are variously connected with these three main Christian capacities.14
We hear much about faith and love, the two main Christian virtues. However, hope is also extremely important. One of the aspects of the virtue of hope is trust. Let's listen to a message of Jesus regarding trust:
My beloved priest-companion, tell my people to trust Me unreservedly. I am Lord and Master. I am God. So many fail to trust Me as they should. I love all My people much more than they love themselves! The great love I have for each person should encourage all to trust Me! The more you realize how much a friend loves you, the more you place your trust in that person. I am your perfect Friend. I love you much, much more than your best earthly friend! Tell My people to trust Me completely. Tell them to say often, 'Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You.' (Message of Jesus as given to Father Carter).15
Prayer
Here is a message from Mary on prayer. She tells us of the great importance of prayer regarding the spiritual life:
My beloved priest-son, many times I have taught you the great importance of prayer. I have obtained for you the grace so that you love to pray, not only during your set periods of prayer, but also during the day in a way which permits you to perform your daily duties. I have taught you to always be aware that all prayer should be made in union with the Mass. Indeed, the Eucharistic sacrifice is itself the greatest prayer. All other prayer should be consciously united with the Mass which is constantly being offered throughout the world. I have taught you the great importance of praying before the tabernacle. My Son is present there in the Eucharist-Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Special graces are given to those who pray before the tabernacle.
There is much to pray for in these most critical times. The Church and the world exist in most difficult times. I desire that all my children pray daily for all the needs of the Church and the world. I ask for special prayer for the conversion of sinners.
I ask that my children pray the rosary each day. Very special graces are given to those who do so. During these days of great purification, I promise special protection to those who regularly pray the rosary. I also promise protection to their loved ones.
Whatever form of prayer my children use, it should always be made in union with my Immaculate Heart. The more my children are united to me, the more I lead them to make their prayer in the Heart of my Son, Jesus. He, in turn, places all prayers in the bosom of the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit.
My dear son, keep reminding all my little ones of the great importance of prayer for their own needs and the needs of all others. Keep telling them of the great necessity of prayer for growth in love of God and neighbor. I love all my children with the most tender love. I desire that all listen to my words and live them in their daily lives! (Message of Mary as given to Father Carter).16
The Cross Leads to Life
Our incorporation into Christ at Baptism, and the gradual nurturing in that life, is centered in the pattern of death-resurrection. Indeed, the theme of death-resurrection is at the heart of salvation history. Let us briefly consider its place in the Old Testament, in the New Testament, and in our own lives, always remembering that any form of death-that is, any form of suffering-is meant to lead to greater life, greater peace, greater happiness.
The theme of death-resurrection is at the heart of Old Testament history. The Jewish people, under the leadership of Moses, experienced death-resurrection as they were formed into the people of the covenant, God's people. In the great Exodus event, they escaped Egyptian slavery, went on to Mt. Sinai where the covenant was ratified, and then progressed to the Promised Land. As members of the Mosaic covenant, as God's people, the Jews experienced religious transition. They passed over to a higher level of religious existence, to a more intimate union with God.
This religious transition contained death-resurrection. For the Jews to become people of the covenant, to remain so, and to grow in the life of the covenant, it was necessary that they undergo a mystical or spiritual death. In short, the Jewish people had to be willing to bear that which was difficult in covenant life. They had to be willing to die to that which was not according to God's will. This mystical death, however, had a very positive purpose. It was directed at life in the covenant and at growth in that life. This spiritual death, in other words, was aimed at resurrection.
Christ perfectly fulfilled the Old Testament theme of death-resurrection. In doing so, He, too, was experiencing a religious transition. He was passing over-gradually at first, then definitively in His death-to a new kind of existence, to the life of His resurrection, which He achieved not only for Himself, but for the entire human race. To achieve this newness of life, Jesus was willing to pay the price. Jesus was willing to suffer, even unto death. That it had to be that way, that the only way Christ could have achieved resurrection was through suffering and death, was pointed out by Jesus Himself to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus: "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His Glory?" (Lk 24: 25-26).
Christ has structured the Christian life by the way He lived, died, and rose from the dead. It is obvious, then, that the pattern of death-resurrection must be at the heart of the Church's life. Individually and collectively, we continually die with Christ so that we may continually rise with Him. Thus we pass over, in a process of continued religious transition, to a greater participation in Jesus' resurrection. It is true that our participation in Jesus' resurrection will reach its completion only in eternal life. Nevertheless, we begin the life of resurrection here on earth, in the here and now of human life, in the midst of joy and pain, in the experience of success and failure, in the sweat of our brow, in the enjoyment of all of God's gifts. As Christians, we should have a sense of growth concerning our here-and-now life of resurrection. Some seem to have a rather static view of the Christian life. They do not seem to have a vital and efficacious realization that the spiritual life, centered in death-resurrection, should become more conscious, more experiential, more dynamically relative to daily existence.
We cannot maintain the life of resurrection-our newness of life in Christ-without a willingness to suffer, a willingness to follow Jesus in the carrying of the cross. This does not mean that we need to feel overwhelmed and heavily burdened by the suffering in our lives. The greater portion of suffering for most Christians seems to be an accumulation of ordinary hardships, difficulties, and pains. At times, however, deep suffering, even suffering of agonizing proportions, can enter one's life. Whether our sufferings are of either the ordinary variety or the extreme and rare type, we must convince ourselves that to properly relate to the cross is to grow in resurrection. And to grow in resurrection ourselves means that we have an increased capacity to help give resurrection to others.
The pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary are the great symbols reminding us that to love God and neighbor requires a willingness to suffer. How much Jesus and Mary suffered for love of you and me! Our consecration to Their Hearts includes a willingness to carry the cross, not as an end in itself, but as a means to greater life. As we bear the cross in loving conformity to the Father's will, we grow in the Christ-life. With Mary at our side we come closer to Christ. Jesus, in turn, leads us closer to the Father in the Holy Spirit. And as we ourselves grow in the Christ-life, we become more apt instruments in helping to channel this life to others. Yes, the cross of Christ always points to life!
Relationships with Others and the World-at-large
The true Christian is imbued with a proper consciousness of others. That is to say, the true Christian is keenly aware that a great part of God's plan for us tells us that we must, according to His will, relate in various ways to our fellow human beings. Indeed, the Christian imperative tells us that we are to walk life's path, not in isolation, but hand in hand with our brothers and sisters of the human family.
To relate to others according to God's will, we must be properly aware of who they really are. We must, in short, be able to go beneath surface appearances, which may or may not be appealing to us, and contact others in their core existence. When we are truly in touch with others at the core of their beings, we are aware of their awesome dignity. We are conscious that these persons are created and redeemed by God's love. We are conscious that our merciful and loving Jesus shed His last drop of blood for each of them, that His Heart was pierced on the cross because He loved each of them without measure! We are conscious that this magnificent, pierced Heart, now in Its glorified state, still beats with the most special love for each individual upon this earth. Realizing all this, and doing so consistently, gives us the basis and the motivation to try to relate to all-both those we directly contact and those billions we never physically meet-with the greatest love.
In order to be in touch with the inner self of others, we must be aware of, or in touch with, our own true self. This awareness is a realization that our self is likewise made in the image of God, that we have been redeemed by Christ, and that we can only find true happiness through the constant effort to grow in love of God and neighbor. Here, then, we can see the profound interaction among the three awarenesses and loves-awareness and love of God, neighbor, and self. As Christians, consequently, we should have a maturing sense of how our existence is, in varied ways, profoundly linked with the existence of others. Again, this feeling of union with others is not limited to those we directly meet, but, in various ways, is directed to all members of the human family.
The world in which we live is an amazing mixture of that which is good and beautiful and brilliant and that which is sinful and ugly and dreadful. We have the privilege and responsibility of shaping this contemporary world according to its Christological imprint. Jesus put this image of Himself upon the world order by the way He lived and died and rose. We have to help in directing our fellow humans and their values along the path which has been made by the footprints of Jesus of Nazareth-a task that is not always easy. There are so many forces in today's world that work against Christ, His message, and the order He came to establish! But are we going to allow the forces of evil to discourage us from doing all we possibly can to make this a better world according to the designs of Christ? Jesus paid a terrible price to redeem the world. His Heart, which was pierced on the cross for our redemption, cries out to us in His great love for us. He asks us to do our part in helping make the world better reflect His image. In response to the great love which the Heart of Jesus has for each of us, let us, in union with Mary our Mother, often ask ourselves, "What have I done for Christ, what am I now doing for Christ, what am I going to do for Christ?"
Devotion to St. Joseph, Other Saints and the Angels
St. Joseph is Patron of the Universal Church. His power of intercession is indeed great. Joseph, while on earth, enjoyed extraordinary closeness to Jesus and Mary. And His union with them in heaven is even greater. Let us each day pray to St. Joseph to obtain for us the grace to come ever closer to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
We should also pray to the other saints in heaven, especially our favorite saints. The saints are members of the Church triumphant. We should also pray for the souls in purgatory and to them (they can help us). The souls in purgatory are members of the Church suffering. We, who are members of the Church militant here on earth, make up one Church with the saints in heaven and the souls in purgatory. We should be aware of the common bond which unites us in Christ.
We should also pray to the angels for help, especially to the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, and to our own guardian angels.
Summary
We have given a proposed way of spiritual life for members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. All aspects of this way of life center in the living out of the act of consecration to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Making and living out this consecration is our return of love to Jesus and Mary and, through them, our return of love to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Indeed, our consecration to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary is also consecration to the Father and the Holy Spirit. We should always remember that our consecration to the Sacred Heart and to the Immaculate Heart is the way according to which Jesus and Mary invite us to live out our baptismal consecration, the consecration which originally made us belong to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Let us always remember that we go to the Father through Christ, in the Holy Spirit, with Mary our Mother at our side.
We strongly encourage members of Shepherds of Christ Associates to reread regularly all of the above in a prayerful manner. This will provide an ongoing aid to help members grow in their consecration to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
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We have been given the following message from Our Lord. The message is meant for all members of Shepherds of Christ:
"...I will aid the Shepherds of Christ Ministries through honor and praise to Me as the Infant of Prague. Begin a true devotion to the Infant of Prague and watch as the Ministry begins to flourish, and the funds needed come to rest in the till. Ask all members to participate in this devotion. Request all religious involved to begin or renew a devotion to Me through the Infant of Prague. The more you honor Me the more I will help you. Trust and you will see. Open your hearts children and pray as a child, and I will respond to the needs of the Movement."
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Chapter 2
Important Messages given Before October 13,
1996
and
Messages Concerning Satan
May 26, 1996 - Pentecost Sunday - Jesus' Directions for
Apostles
March 26, 1996 - The Presence of God and a Message to Fr.
Carter
August 1, 1995 - Message from Jesus and Mary for Shepherds
of Christ Associates
September 26, 1996 - Division, the Devil, and Talking About Others
November 26, 1996 - Satan is Prowling This Earth
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May 26, 1996
Message given through Rita Ring
Pentecost Sunday
7:45 a.m.
Jesus: I am writing to each member in the Shepherds of Christ chapters, each member in the movement, each apostle in the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Movement.
On this great feast of Pentecost, I have chosen to deliver the following message to each of you: The Apostles proceeded fearlessly ahead in one mind, in one heart, and thousands were converted. The Church has grown to its size this day from the love and the fervor of the apostles, led by the Holy Spirit.
You are My apostles for the renewal of the Church and the world and for future generations to come. This is not a little task. I am giving to you abundant graces that you will proceed fearlessly ahead.
The Holy Spirit will descend upon you. You must pray fervently for His grace and direction. Before every gathering, business meeting, any time that you are called to meet, I am asking you to pray the following prayers from the Handbook:
Pray always the Holy Spirit Prayer,
Pray always the consecration prayers,
To be joined in one mind and one heart, you must take the consecration to your heart. Praying the consecration prayers together will bind you in one mind and one heart, in Our Hearts.
Pray the consecration prayers as a family. Pray the consecration prayers before the Mass. I am asking that prayer cards be published with the consecration prayers. I am asking that some laminated prayer cards be made available.
The Movement will proceed in one mind, in one heart, led by the Holy Spirit as the plan of the Father unfolds.
I am asking that you circulate the Morning Offering, in which all members offer every prayer, work, joy, and suffering to the Father in union with Me in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in the Holy Spirit.
You will unite in one mind and one heart in this offering of your lives to the Father, united to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in the Holy Spirit. You will be one in all the Masses offered around the world. The graces will flow and many souls will be saved through this offering.
I am asking you to continue fervently to publish the Mass Book.
I am asking that you pray the rosary fervently, and from the heart, that you circulate the rosary meditations given to you from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. You will be joined in one mind and one heart, in Our Hearts. Our lives will live in your lives from praying the rosary.
I am asking you to publish the Rosary Book and the Children's Rosary Book as soon as possible. I am asking you to publish the Children's Rosary Book with meditations and to receive an imprimatur. The book should not be referred to as children's rosaries only, it is rosaries for children and their parents, given through the Junior Shepherds of Christ's meetings. In the beginning of this book, the messages of Fatima from Fr. Carter's book on Fatima, are to be included.
It is through the Shepherds of Christ Movement that I will greatly renew the Church and the world. You, the members. must unite in one mind and one heart and offer your lives, united to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Then, grace will speedily spread across the earth and souls will be saved through your prayers. You are My apostles this day. I am sending you into the darkness to light the world with the fire of My love.
All members in the Movement are encouraged to read the Blue Books. These are messages of My on-fire love for you. This Movement will flourish with burning hearts filled with My love when you circulate these messages. All members should read the second Blue Book, if possible before the tabernacle. I am talking to you and giving you My tender love letters.
The earth will be lighted and hearts, filled with My love, will sing the Song of Jesus across the land. I beg you to sing to Me the song, I Love You, Jesus. I long to hear you tell Me of your love for Me.
I am waiting for you to unite in deeper and deeper union with Me. There will be one flock and one Shepherd. Hearts united as one in the Shepherds of Christ Movement will spread the fire of My love on this earth.
I am Jesus. I am begging you to publish sheets with the Handbook prayers, to make available the red prayer books with the imprimatur, to circulate tapes with the prayers on them.
The prayers in the Handbook are a key to spreading the Movement. All must have access to these prayers. The prayers should be recited daily by the members.
Encourage apostles in the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus to continue their commitment to pray before the tabernacle twice a week.
When the apostles proceeded fervently ahead in one mind and one heart there was no bumping of heads and many were converted because of the burning love of God in their hearts. Millions and millions of souls are at stake. Millions and millions of souls will fervently love Me and adore My Heart with greatest love because of the work you do.
You are the apostles this day. This is the feast of Pentecost. This is My message for each one of you.
You do not know how I suffered for the loss of one precious soul. Your Mother is calling you in a special way on this feast of Pentecost to help to save her children from going into hell. As you join in one mind and one heart and unite every action to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, many souls will be converted--many souls will be saved and many souls will fervently love Me.
I am Jesus. Please publish the message of March 26 (1996) to Father Carter telling him how the fire of My love will spread across the earth when hearts fervently love Me.
I love you, I love you, I love you. I show you My Heart - My Mother shows you her heart--this is a symbol of Our love for you. I gave My life that you would have life. I want to live in you. Many will be converted as I become one in you. I no longer walk this earth-you are My apostles that I am sending into the world to spread the fire of My love.
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March 26, 1996
Message given through Rita Ring
R. I came to All Saints Church before a beautiful Monstrance of gold that contained Our beloved Savior. He was adorned in light, the altar beneath shone with the brightest light and the cross behind was entirely silhouetted with the same celestial light. I was overwhelmed with the presence of God and cried deeply from the awe of it all.
To be so aware of the Almighty God truly present in His splendor and glory--to know the presence of God, to see the glistening of the gold and the light and reflection of the cross behind Him--my beauteous love--words do not exist to describe the rapture of a heavenly embrace! I cry because of the immense awe within my being to know Him. God truly present in His majesty and glory and oh, God, I behold the presence of a heavenly court. You opened wide the heavens and lifted up the veil and I knew You in Your splendor and glory. I behold God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." He is the Almighty God. He shows us the celestial lights with which He will light this earth. Many must surrender their hearts to His Heart and Mary's heart. It is in surrendering, the Spirit will move in the hearts of men and the light of God will shine on the darkened earth. Not with a light that you comprehend, but a light that is divinely granted--a light beyond all lights, a vision beyond all visions. It takes the surrender of minds and hearts to God. The Spirit cannot move in us when we are in control. Surrender and give Him our heart and He will make us fishers of men.
We are His apostles in the Shepherds of Christ Movement. He is sending us out into the world to light the hearts with His burning love. We are chosen by Him and He is giving us abundant graces to grow in our union with Him. He will light this world with His burning love. Our hearts must be open. We must surrender and let go and reach beyond the senses, reach with our hearts. Pray for faith, pray for the vision of God.
Note: I cried all through this writing, having the presence of God and being in great ecstasy to behold Him. May God touch your heart and may His Spirit move within you. May you be filled with the grace of God to surrender and let Him accomplish a great work within you.
And I was filled on high with His miraculous light and He reached down and spoke within me. I was filled as never before and knew the presence of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Note: As I finished, the bells at All Saints Church rang at 9:00 A.M. As I began to experience the immense splendor, the bells of 8:00 rang. Words do not express anything that I saw or experienced or know from this ecstasy. This was the greatest and the first of three visions, which defined clearly to me our role in the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Jesus defines clearly the role of Fr. Carter in this great mission given to him by the Father.
For Fr. Carter from Jesus:
To him who has eyes to see, they will see - not with earthly vision, but with the eyes of faith, and to him who has ears to hear, he will hear with the fluttering of the Spirit moving within him.
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I am the Almighty God. I say to the rocks to fall and they fall and to the grass, grow, and it grows, and to the sun, shine, and it shines. I give to you My love in these letters. Filled with My love, you will conquer this earth, not with weapons and powder or force, but with fires of My love. The fire will wipe out the hatred in the cold hearts and the earth will be covered with My celestial light. The earth will rock and I will appear in the heavens adorned in power and glory and the contrite hearts will be saved. I came to separate the sheep from the goats, the light from the darkness. I come and no one pays Me heed.
To you, My beloved son, Father Carter, I have sent you on a mission to spread this fire that will cover this earth. The hearts of men will turn from their sick and desolate ways to hearts gentle as a little lamb.
There will be one flock and one Shepherd and My staff will rule over all. Hearts consecrated to Our Hearts will lead the light across the earth. This light will be a light of intense brightness, brighter and hotter than any light from a flame. It will be the fire of God's love. The Spirit will move in the hearts of all consecrated to My Heart, and you will know how fire truly spreads, for the love of God is a fire. It is vibrant. It is encompassing. It is smoldering, burning deep within and speedily spreading on the outside. No fire on this earth can ever describe the burning embers that burn from the Sacred Heart of Jesus. No fire burns like the fires coming from My Heart and hearts filled with the love from the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
I have written your name, Fr. Carter, in My Heart, never ever to be blotted out and this earth will be renewed with the fire of God's love through you. You are My beloved priest-son, forever, according to the order of Melchizedek. Most holy and most sacred are your hands that consecrate the Host and write My precious newsletter for My beloved priest-sons. You are never unguarded. You are held within the deepest chamber of My Heart, and you will spread My love to the priest-sons of this earth.
I am Jesus. You will spread My love to all souls on this earth. I love you with the tenderest burning love. I am Jesus, your beloved Savior.
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Messages from Jesus and Mary for Shepherds of Christ Associates
Jesus: My Dear Shepherds of Christ Chapters:
I am Jesus, your beloved Savior. Satan is pressing on My beloved members causing much confusion and doubt. It is in moving steadfastly ahead that this Movement will turn many hearts that have turned from God's love back to His love.
You are My chosen ones. I am sending you into the fields. You will plant the seeds in the hearts of all you touch. I will provide the water and the sunlight and many hearts will be united to the Immaculate Heart and Sacred Heart throughout this world.
I am molding you. I am shaping you. I am drawing you more and more closely to My Heart. Pray every day the Prayer for Union for union with Jesus.
My special ones, you are chosen and called by My Father for the plan of salvation. You are My special apostles to spread the love of the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart across the land. I am giving you abundant graces to carry out the plan of the Father. As you proceed steadfastly ahead, the plan is unfolding.
You are commissioned in Baptism to carry out My life, death, and resurrection in your lives. Meditating on the mysteries of the rosary helps you to do this.
As you are in your hearts, so shall you be to this world. I am Jesus, your beloved Savior. I am filling you with My life. As you come more and more to the Eucharistic Sacrifice and receive Me in Holy Communion, as you come and spend time with Me in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, you are more and more saturated with My life. My life I give to you. You partake in My divine life and I live in you and minister to hurting souls.
I have chosen the Shepherds of Christ Movement as a powerful instrument for renewing My Church and My world. You are the instruments I have chosen to help in this renewal. You have been called, hand-picked by My Father, to be apostles spreading Our love to the world. Through this network of Shepherds of Christ Associates chapters I will reach many starved souls.
I am calling you to the deepest union with Me. As you unite more and more with My Heart, as you live in Me, through Me, and with Me, I will spread My burning love to the world.
I am Jesus. The seeds of time work exceedingly slow. The hearts of many men have turned to stone. I am applying abundant graces to all you touch. Pray each prayer in the Handbook every day. As you unite more and more to My Heart, your intercessory prayer is greater and greater.
Pray always with Me to the Father, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in the Holy Spirit, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, and with all the angels and saints and souls in purgatory.
Come and dwell in the heart of My Mother. Let her cradle you in her abundant love. As you dwell in her heart, you will dwell ever more deeply in My Heart. I will bathe you continually in My tender and gentle love. This world will know the fire of My love through you!
When the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles, the Apostles were transformed from fear to fearlessness. Pray to the Holy Spirit to transform you in the heart of My beloved Mother. Your hearts will be filled, burning with love for God. You will proceed fearlessly into the world and spread My love to hurting souls.
The love of God within, His life within, is a power too mighty to be contained. It radiates from your eyes and your face. It is heard in your voice. Let the vibrancy of the Divine Love and the Divine Life be transmitted to the world. Surrender, unite ever closer to My Heart.
I am using the Shepherds of Christ Movement to renew My beautiful souls in this world. It is through this movement that I am reaching the nursing homes and will contact the hurting souls of this world-prisons, hospitals, etc. I am using the Shepherds of Christ Junior Movement to renew the children of America."17
Mary: My children are hurting and in pain. It is through the tender and pure hearts of children that many will be led back to the Heart of my Son.
Each moment souls are going more deeply into darkness. Through the Shepherds of Christ Movement my Son will reach so many hurting souls in the world. I am Mary, your Mother. We are teaching adults and children alike through the rosary. Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary are gifts we are giving to this world. As you meditate more and more on the mysteries of Our lives, you will live more and more according to the Father's will. I am giving you these rosaries to enkindle this burning love in your hearts. Pray the rosary with these meditations and messages and Our lives will fill your whole being.
Pray, my little children, with your whole heart, your whole soul, and your whole being. My Son, Jesus, loves you so much. I am Mary, your Mother. I am begging you to pray for my little lost children of this world. Many of my precious children will be lost to the fires of hell. I am calling out to you to come to Our Hearts. You will be the light that shines in the dark night when you are filled with burning love of my Son, Jesus.
I am Mary, your Mother, and thank you for responding to my request.18
- From "In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Newsletter
of Shepherds of Christ Associates"
Volume 1, No. 2, 1995. pp. 1-2.
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September 26, 1996
Message given through Rita Ring
R. When we go to confession our souls are made clean and we can unite in deepest union with Jesus.
It is wrong to slander, to talk about one another. The devil is attempting to pry us apart and rip us apart at the seems.
The way of God is peace and oneness. The way of the devil is disruption and division.
His grace permeates my soul. After confession I am cleansed and I can be so close to Jesus.
The devil tries immediately after confession to get us to sin.
It is in the purity I can unite deeply to Him.
Confession is a new beginning. Acting as Jesus, the priest has the power to take away our sins.
The moment I begin to talk about or engage in conversation against others, my purity falls and I am less able to be one with Jesus, who is love.
Jesus is not divided against any soul. He showed us how He suffered persecution to His death and He did not talk about them.
He accepted Mary Magdalene despite all her sin. He did not talk about her, He loved her.
Do we want to follow Jesus? Could we see Jesus talking about others?
The devil is stealing our hearts. He is trying to get us to talk about one another. When we talk about others, we sacrifice the purity of our soul.
There is a negative spirit moving in the Movement. The spirit wants to divide us. We will undergo horrendous testing. Do not give into the bad spirit, to pry us apart and make us sin.
When one person, who has not spent time with Jesus, begins to complain about others, we must not give in to them. There is an energy that comes forth from a person talking about others that is negative and wounding. It zaps the energy of the person listening. They must be holy to withstand this attack from Satan. There is division, created by a divided heart and fed by Satan's evil hand.
The devil is using this to divide the Movement, this energy created by a few of his souls who refuse to do as Jesus told us.
Jesus: Leaders in the Movement must pray one hour before the tabernacle daily. If you do not, Satan will work on the weakest link and create great problems in the Movement.
No one is exempt. I am telling you once and for all, your Movement is a movement of love. There is division among you. You will not proceed ahead as I wish with such divided hearts.
Some continue to discuss one another in hatred and pass a negative energy from one to another where there should be love and peace.
Satan is working on the tongues that lash out at others. Satan is in the hearts of those who make themselves better than others. You are to be in one heart.
To make yourself right and other wrong is NOT from God. My way is peace and love!
The negative energy is being passed through your Movement and wounding the hearts of many. You sacrifice your purity when you discuss others angrily.
I say to you, woe to those who harbor anger in their hearts. I am watching every move you make and I know your every thought and word you utter. DO NOT GIVE INTO SATAN! He is permeating your Movement with a negative energy of people who continue to give into his tauntings. I do not want you to angrily discuss one another. It is indeed a sin and divides your heart from Me.
Please publish this letter to all members of the Shepherds of Christ Movement.
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November 26, 1996
Messages given through Rita Ring
Mike Arlinghaus' Home
Excerpts from Joyful Mysteries, The Visitation
Jesus: My beloved ones, Satan is prowling this earth like a roaring lion looking for My beloved shepherds to devour. You are the shepherds that I am sending into the world to lead the stray ones to My Heart. He aims to stop you, to create confusion, doubt and division in your life, to make you feel fearful. I am giving to you My abundant grace that your hearts will be filled with immense love. You must not give into Satan, but you must be aware of his working in your life. He is near to you--the fallen angel wants to stop you. I am telling you that you will experience so much confusion, so much pressure in your life--but you must be calm, you must come to Me, you must move steadfastly ahead despite the distractions and trouble that you are feeling in your life. All through the day, you will be taunted and pressed on. You must spend time in private prayer with Me, preferably before the tabernacle. If you cannot come to the tabernacle, you must take time each day to come to Me that I can fill your hearts with My messages of My love. I will tell you what you need to know to face the troubles in your life. If you do not spend this time alone with Me each day, you will not be able to handle the pressure of the evil one that is pressing hard on you, My beloved ones. You will be distracted and you will lose your way. Time is of the utmost importance in your life each day. If you come to Me in the night, if you come to Me in the early morning, I will spend this time helping you to understand the problems in your life. Do not try to go through the day without coming to Me. You will experience the difficulties that will be impossible to handle. I am giving to you the grace of My love in this time that you come to Me to help you handle the difficulties in your life. You are My chosen shepherds, he will press on you, will make you want to run away--you must not give in. The more you are tempted and say you cannot take the pressure, the more he will press on you. You must realize his presence, that he is working on you all through the day, but know I am with you. Come to Me. You will receive grace when you go through these trials. You must know that this is happening in your life. You must not close your eyes to the workings of Satan for he aims to stop My beloved shepherds. It is in time spent alone with Me that you will withstand the trials in your life.
I am sending St. Michael to your aid. You must pray for the strength. You must pray all through the day to the Father, in the name of Jesus, in union with Jesus in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in the Holy Spirit, with all the angels and saints, and the souls in purgatory, to the powerful intercession of Our Lady. You must pray, for you do not understand the power of a heartfelt prayer. It is through prayer that this Movement will move ahead across this earth. It is only in prayer, through Me, that My Movement will move ahead. You must not overestimate your power. Your power must come through Me. You must be entirely rooted in Me. You must become one in Me. Pray the Prayer for Union with Me. I am Jesus. I have spoken to you, My beloved apostles, for you will be pressed on but I am your strength for I am guarding you. You are precious to Me.
Satan will create division between you and the ones you love. You will have confusion, you will have doubt, you will have trouble, you will have misunderstandings. You must always remember how you love one another and operate according to My love.
He will divide you from the ones that you are closest to, the one that you must love, the one that will give you the strength to proceed ahead in this Movement. Do not give into his tauntings to divide you. He will trick you. You will not even understand how your heart has turned to negativism and to division. I am Jesus. You must pray for the grace to be able to withstand the tauntings of Satan.
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Chapter 3
Important Messages given After
October 13, 1996
1st Major Message from God the Father - January 11,
1997
2nd Major Message from God the Father - January 18, 1997
December 19, 1996 - Message from Jesus
December 19, 1996 - Message from Mary
February 8, 1997 - There will be a Great Era in which the
King will Reign
February 1, 1997 - My Gift is My Heart: A Tool for Greater
Intimacy with Jesus
February 19, 1997 - Intimacy with Jesus and Others
February 6, 1997 - Candlelight Rosary
November 14, 1996 - Directions from Jesus
March 18, 1997 - Directions from Jesus
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January 11, 1997
Message given through Rita Ring
God the Father: My plan will unfold despite the willfulness of any of My children. I am the Father. I have guided you in all of your activities.
I am telling you that the members of the Shepherds of Christ must be made aware of the importance of living the Blue Book messages.
Planning is up to Me. This is My plan and it will unfold. Men plan for the future. I AM.
I am directing the Shepherds of Christ Movement through these messages.
I am angered at the lack of response on the part of some to back these messages. You must support these messages so they are lived by man.
These messages are given from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary to bring about the reign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the triumph of My beloved Mary's Immaculate Heart.
You are given all you need. You must adhere to My plan.
I am the Father. I AM WHO AM. I was in the beginning, I am now and I will be forever.
I am telling you to obey the directions given by Jesus in these messages.
My plan will unfold. The completion of the Fatima message will greatly come through the Shepherds of Christ Movement.
You must circulate the tape, Mary's Message. You must circulate the messages given to you in God's Blue Books and Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
The renewal in the Church will greatly come through the newsletter and the books published with the imprimatur. You must publish all books on the Mass with the imprimatur. Prayer chapters must be started in the churches.
The instructions for the priests will come from doing as I have requested. I beg you to circulate the Priestly Newsletter Book to the priests as soon as possible. The priests must be made aware of the Mass Books.
The Children's Rosary Book must be published immediately. Your work, Fr. Carter and Rita, is to publish this material.
Heaven has contacted the earth primarily in these messages to bring about the reign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the triumph of Mary's Immaculate Heart.
The plan will unfold. It is My plan. You must be obedient to the directions I give to you here. The Movement is a great star of light to this world. From the Movement the earth will be covered with stars of light and the earth will be lighted through your efforts, Fr. Carter.
I will give you all you need. The plan will unfold. It is My plan to turn sinful men into obedient, loving children.
I have delivered this message that you will know My plan is unfolding. Many will be lost because of their willfulness. I demand obedience to My requests. The plan will unfold. It pleases Me greatly that you obey My messenger. She is delivering these messages to you from the Son, My beloved Son, God-made-Man.
The messages of the love of God will be written on the hearts of men through the writings of Fr. Carter and Rita to bring about the reign of His Most Sacred Heart.
I am displeased with those who have blocked these messages. Anyone continuing to block My messages given through the Hearts of Jesus and Mary will receive a shock that will envelope them.
The time is very urgent. The time has run out for sinful man. I am angered at the way the world has treated their Mother. Willful children must be punished. I demand obedience. Mary gave to her children her peace plan and she was ignored by the Church and her children. Mary is Mother of the Church and Mother of her children. Willful children must be admonished. Children must obey their Mother.
Mary appeared on the building in Florida as Mother of all. You have made money your god. You have ignored God and made this world your end.
I am God. I AM WHO AM, without a beginning, without an end. I am today, tomorrow and always. You do not comprehend My ways with your feeble minds. You must obey the messages given by My Son and His Mother. These messages I give to you as a gift and a great revelation from heaven. You must be thankful and cherish this gift given. I will not remove My gift to you for I know you will obey Me. I will admonish you when you do not respond as you should.
I have called you and anointed you, My holy priest (Fr. Carter), to lead this world to the light. The Light of the world is My Son, Jesus. His Heart will reign and the heart of your Mother will triumph. I beg you to surrender and obey and watch My plan unfold. There will be a great era of peace very soon, My little children. All you do today will help to save many souls. Many souls will know the love of God through the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Many souls will love God with burning love.
I give you this gift. Your writings, Fr. Carter, and the writings of My messenger, Rita, will help greatly to bring about the reign of the Sacred Heart.
I am the Father. I am the Almighty God. You must believe I have chosen you. I have called each member here this day to hear this message. I have called you to be the apostles of the new era of peace. I have called you by name. You will lead men to the Heart of My Son. You must listen and focus all of your attention to this mission I have given to you.
I am the Father. From the day you were conceived, I formed you in your mother's womb, knowing the great mission I would call you to today. My children, My children, do not be distracted by the evil one to lead you astray. I am counting on you, My beloved shepherds. You must not be led astray by doing other good works. I have called you, this is My plan, it is unfolding. You are a major part of the success of this plan for the renewal of the Church and the world.
Your work in the Shepherds of Christ Movement greatly pleases Me.
I AM, WHO AM. I am the Alpha and the Omega. I am the Almighty God. You must be obedient children. It is through your obedience that the consecration will spread to many souls on the earth.
It is through your obedience to help spread the priestly newsletter and start prayer chapters in churches that many priests will love God with the greatest love in the Mass. I am asking you to spread the Mass Book to priests and sisters. Please pray for the priestly newsletter, the quick spread of the material given in the newsletter and for the priests reading the newsletter.
Heaven has contacted the earth. The light will shine in the dark corners of the world. Men will respond to the Shepherds of Christ Movement. You must not be afraid. You must do as I have asked you.
I have called you by name, My chosen ones, from the beginning I formed you and I gave to you the talents needed to accomplish this mission on the earth.
Your talents are gifts from Me to be used for this purpose. You are the Shepherds of Christ. You are the apostles of the new era.
There will be a new earth, there will be love on this earth as I intend it to be. My children will love one another, you will walk hand in hand, loving God and one another in harmony and peace.
R. ...Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven...
Jn 1:1-18 (From The New Jerusalem Bible):
In the beginning was the Word:
the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through Him all things came into being,
not one thing came into being except through Him.
What has come into being in Him was life,
life that was the light of men;
and light shines in darkness,
and darkness could not overpower it.
A man came, sent by God.
His name was John.
He came as a witness,
to bear witness to the light,
so that everyone might believe through him.
He was not the light,
he was to bear witness to the light.
The Word was the real light
that gives light to everyone;
he was coming into the world.
He was in the world
that had come into being through him,
and the world did not recognize him.
He came to his own
and his own people did not accept Him.
But to those who did accept Him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name
who were born not from human stalk
or human desire
or human will
but from God himself.
The Word became flesh,
He lived among us,
and we saw His glory,
the glory that he has from the Father as only Son of the Father,
full of grace and truth.
John witness to him. He proclaims:
'This is the one of whom I said:
He who comes after me
has passed ahead of me
because he existed before me.'
Indeed, from his fullness we have, all of us,
received--
one gift replacing another,
for the Law was given through Moses,
grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God;
it is the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart,
who has made him known.
R. We do not even see Our Father as so important to us.
A little child is always aware of their father. A little child knows how dependent he is on his father, always wanting to please his father.
A little child is always aware of his mother and obeying her. A little child loves his mother. Look at how unloving we are to Mary.
We are children of God, with God the Father as Our Father and Mary as our heavenly Mother.
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January 18, 1997
Message given through Rita Ring
God the Father: My Dear Children,
I am the Father. My plan is unfolding through you, My beloved priest, Fr. Carter, and Rita and the core group in the Shepherds of Christ Movement.
I tell you all to read the accounts concerning Noah. Nowhere in history has God been offended as He is this day by this sinful world. You will suffer a fate for the offenses against God.
Mary appeared at Fatima to warn you, the sinful children, how they were offending God, but you did not listen. The war did not change the hearts of many evil men.
I warn you through My beloved daughter, Mary. You did not heed her warnings. Disobedience against the Mother I gave you displeases Me greatly. Mary is the Mother of all children. Mary is a gift from Me, but you are willful and abuse the gift I send you.
You do not make reparation to her Immaculate Heart; you continue to offend her. I will not tolerate the deeds of evil men any longer.
My plan will unfold. Any disobedience to these messages given by Me, My Son, or your Mother Mary will cause Me great displeasure.
I am the Father, the Almighty God, the Alpha, the Omega; you are a sinful people, a chosen race sinning against a loving God.
I am angered at your ways for they are not My ways, you have run amuck, you have offended your God, you have disobeyed your Mother and My beloved Son who died to save you.
I will act on all who continue in such sin. The sheep will be separated from the goats; the goats will receive punishment for their deed. Heaven and earth will kiss, there will be love in all hearts, justice will prevail and My children will be children of light, children that obey as I intended from the beginning.
Oh indeed My sweet messenger, I look to the earth and see the darkness, I see the disobedience of men against their Mother. I know the deeds committed and the evil in the hearts of so many. Justice will prevail and I will wipe out the earth. Only the children of light will remain, those who have given their hearts to their Mother Mary.
Do you think I send your Mother Mary as a messenger to be disobeyed by willful children? What do you think about at night, the cat, the dog, the fish? You don't know love. You don't love God or one another. This is My command to you, to love. You are a sinful, willful race, and the devil will vanish from the hearts of the children of light for they will be under the protection of her Immaculate Heart, the other children will be wiped off the face of the earth.
Disobey My messenger, ignore your Mother, ignore the Son in these messages. Ignore My Son who died for you.
Oh you sinful people filled with pride and disobedience, I give you the directions here to turn your hearts to love.
My Son has revealed Himself as never before in history into His tremendous love for men and you treat Our gift with such indifference.
I am angered at the lack of support to spread the messages of My Son's love for all.
You worry for funds, worry more, I am God the Father, the Almighty God. You disobeyed Mary, you disobeyed Jesus, now you will disobey Me?
You must obey My directions, the directions given through My Son, Jesus for the unfolding of the Father's plan.
No longer will I wait while willful men check and deliberate and disobey.
My plan will unfold through the Shepherds of Christ Movement.
I am talking through these messages given by My Son and Mary to tell you how to accomplish this task of carrying out My plan.
You must obey. The directions are given in these messages to spread the fire of God's love across this earth, to renew the Church and the world.
Because of willful men these messages have been held in check.
I am God, the maker of all things. You have made money your god. I want obedience, the funds will come when you obey all of the directions I have given to you.
Anyone who interferes with these messages will be removed.
These are the messages I give to the world. Fr. Carter's newsletter will teach the priests, all they need to know to be holy, loving priests.
Many priests are not loving, they are cold in their hearts. I will instruct the clergy through the newsletter.
My Son is the Chief Priest and Teacher. He has taught the world the secrets of His Heart through the writings of Fr. Carter and Rita, to go to men to check the value of these writings displeases Me.
You must have faith, you must study the entire revelations given here. You are not valuing My great gift to you.
I am the power, I am God, to the ends of the earth, I will be with you. My plan will unfold. You must think big, not on a human level. You must come to Me.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
I am telling you to circulate the tape of January 13 (1997) as soon as possible. This tape must be released to the world. It is the message to go with the apparition on the building in Florida.
You must make every connection with Mary's message given December 12 (1996) and the messages given by Mary with the apparition of her on the building in Florida.
Time is very short and My patience is very thin. I will strike the earth and the evil men will scatter and there will be a reign of peace where men will love God as I intended. The evil men will be chastised for I sent your Mother to warn you and you disobeyed. I gave My Son as a sacrifice and you treated Him with indifference. I am angry at the creatures on this earth. I will lessen the chastisement if you make reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Oh willful children, you disobey your Mother, you are unloving and willful and your ways are evil. You are a sinful race.
I am sending water, rain to quench your thirst, My beloved children of light; I am sending fire to burn the fields for the sinful children, they will suffer drought and will fall to the ground dead, they will know fire, they will know the wrath of God. For I speak and I am ignored.
I am using the Shepherds of Christ Movement to majorly carry out the plan begun at Fatima. Every day lost is a lost day. I give to you Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary as your directions to help the plan unfold. Circulate these rosaries to all chapters and stress their importance.
The tape of January 13 (1997) is important to the world. The tape must be circulated with the apparition in Florida and the messages typed and put on the Internet with the rest of the messages I have given. The connection must be made between the apparition and the Shepherds of Christ Movement.
Satan will attack you strongly, he will create division and give messages through other visionaries to get you off coarse. You must obey My directions given in these messages to help bring about the completion of the Fatima message.
I will weed out anyone interfering with My plan.
I will tell you when you have deviated from My plan, do not taunt My messenger, this displeases Me. Read the messages for direction and obey them.
The directions given are strong to correct a sick world. You must quit focusing on the messenger and obey Me.
I am the Father, these are My messages to bring about the reign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the triumph of Mary's Immaculate Heart.
You think of money and miss the gift given. You are men bolted to the earth. You must obey Me. I have all the power.
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December 19, 1996
Message given through Rita Ring
Jesus: My Children,
I am Jesus. I am calling you on the l3th of each month. I will give you, My apostles, My special messages to light the world with My love. You are My lights. I send you into the darkness. Please study My messages. I am operating through you. You must live your consecration to Our Hearts. You will lead the strayed ones home to My Heart. I want your tender love. Oh, please give your hearts to My Mother and Me. I want your hearts. I love you.
I am the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
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December 19, 1996
Message given through Rita Ring
A Christmas Message for the Shepherds of Christ Associates,
Mary: My little Children in the Shepherds of Christ Movement,
My Son and I give you this gift this Christmas, Rosaries from Our Hearts. We will write the messages of Our love on your hearts. You will hear Us speak to you in your hearts whenever you read the rosaries in this book or listen to any tapes recorded from Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
I am your Mother. My Son is giving to you abundant graces to dwell in Our Hearts when you read, study or pray these Rosaries from Our Hearts.
I appeared at Fatima on the 13th of the month.
My Son, Jesus, has called you on the 13th of the month to hear His messages.
My Son, Jesus, is asking you to help in the completion of the Fatima message. These messages, given from Him on the 13th, are of major importance to the completion of my mission given at Fatima.
You are His shepherds He is sending into the world to lead the strayed ones to His Heart through the consecration.
The Ministries in the Shepherds of Christ Movement must spread to all souls on the earth.
You are His apostles to spread the consecration to the world. You must contact the Church, the schools, and the family as we have instructed in the Shepherds of Christ Apostles Manual.
Please, my beloved shepherds, let go of other distractions in your life and focus on what my Son, Jesus, is asking you today.
Will you commit yourself to His Movement to renew the Church and the world? Will you be His apostles to lead the strayed ones to His Heart?
You were given a special calling from Him to be an apostle. Oh, the world needs His light. You will make ready a pathway for Him. Carry His light into the darkness.
My Son is majorly communicating to you in this Movement in the Blue Book messages. We are communicating to you in the Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Please help Us. Please come on the 13th of the month.
This is a major part of the completion of the Fatima message.
My Son, Jesus, calls you now. Will you say 'no' to Him? The rosaries, with messages from my Son, are available on live tapes, discerned by Fr. Carter. Please listen each day to a small amount of the tape. Advance the tape to any place and listen for at least five minutes. He will talk to you. He will speak in your heart.
Included is my message on tape for you, titled Mary's Message. I have requested and My Son, Jesus, has requested you spread my message and this the tape to the world. I have requested the tape be made on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Please pray to me under this title and pray to the Infant of Prague for the funds to circulate these messages to the world.
This is the gift I ask you to give my Son this Christmas. Commit yourself to serving Him in this Movement and live the messages you are given in God's Blue Books and Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
I am your Mother. The Child Jesus gives you Himself. Will you give Him yourself?
[ < Contents ]
February 8, 1997
Message given through Rita Ring
There will be a great era in which the King will reign on His throne as never before. He will reign in their hearts.
Men will fervently love God and each other. Now the world is living in a dim light. Oh, it is there, the Mass, the sacraments, the priests. Oh, they are a people walking in darkness, they are blind, they do not see, they do not know.
And so the Lady appeared at Fatima and she told them what would bring about this great era and promised that it would come. She told to them the secret to bring it about. The Father sent her, the messenger, the woman clothed as the sun, and men did not listen. And the streets are dark and dingy, and the men on the earth will remain in a half-lighted fog when the day could be bright.
Only in giving themselves in consecration will they see the light. Only in giving themselves to Mary will they be brought forth, the children of light. Only in going to her pure and sinless heart will we be able to unite in such depth to the Heart of Christ that we will know Him and His love and He will live in us in a profound union.
She is the key. She unlocks the treasure - the treasure promised and foretold in all the books in the Bible: ...Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
And they walked hand in hand, the children of light, and the children of darkness. The Lady appeared and coaxed them to come to her heart. They said 'no', my Lady, I don't need you and your motherly ways. I need only my world. And they went down a road that led to the destruction of their souls. And you could hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth as they fell into the pit of darkness.
And the children of light marched into the new era. They were living as one, holy, happy family as the Father intended according to His will and relishing the great gifts of the era.
The light reigned in their hearts. We spread the light when we encourage priests, religious, men, women and children, to consecrate their hearts. We are walking hand in hand.
The veil will be removed and people will know God so much more. To know Him as we should only comes in immense love and adoration given to Him. The Mass and sacraments will be the fountain in which His divine life will flow copiously and feed the people. They will feast on His life, they will know His love and live His Word. His Word will penetrate their heart and soul and they will cry because they will be in awe of God. They will have this profound oneness with the Divine God, knowing and being united to all Three Persons and they will be one with each other, united in such love, according to His will.
And now the Church is walking in darkness. They do not know how it will be when He is the King on His throne. He has been moved from His throne in many churches and His reign appears weak. Men see themselves as the authority, when in fact there is no authority or power except His. Men have become haughty, arrogant and domineering.
He will reign, He must be accepted as the King with power. Men have tried to take control of His power.
When the King reigns in full power in the Church and the hearts of men, the lights will shine, the grace will flow, the earth will be bright and beautiful as the Father intended.
In the Shepherds of Christ Movement He is giving us great grace to live as the Father intends us to be. We truly are the light shinning in the dark night. We will be one family, as a small Church, loving God with the love He deserves. He is reigning in the hearts of His apostles and in the Shepherds of Christ Movement.
He is the King. He has given His instructions through these writings to help bring His reign into fullness. He has lifted the veil and we are living as it will be during this new era.
Jesus: I urgently request that the rosaries be prayed in the chapters. I will give to them the great grace I have granted in your core chapter when you received the rosary. I promised, and Mary promised to be with you when you prayed the rosary and give great graces to bring you into Our Hearts.
I now promise that when the rosary is prayed, preferably in candlelight as My Mother requested, with the tape, the chapters will receive extraordinary graces that will draw them into My Heart. I will be there and My Mother will be there in the live rosary. This is called a live rosary for I am there, reigning in a special way in their hearts. Men's hearts will burn for love of Me with these rosaries. I am giving abundant grace in these live rosaries to help bring about the reign of My Sacred Heart and triumph of My Mother's Immaculate Heart.
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February 1, 1997
Message given through Rita Ring
First Saturday
Title: My Gift is My Heart: A Tool for Greater Intimacy with Jesus
Jesus: My Dear Beloved Ones,
I am asking you for greater intimacy with Me in order to accomplish this task. I am asking you daily in the hour that you spend with Me, preferably before the tabernacle, or in your room, in this intimate hour, that you write to Me a love letter. For 10 minutes of the hour, I am asking you to answer the question--how do I feel in my heart about My beloved Jesus? In this love letter you will talk to Me as your most intimate friend. You will share with Me the sores you feel in your heart. You will share with Me your joy, your praise, your sorrow, your weak points, your strong points. You will focus on Me, as your Divine Healer. You will keep these letters to Me in a notebook entitled, "My Love Letters to Jesus." I then will ask you to open up the Blue Book messages which are My love letters to you. You will then read My love letters to you. You will continue talking to Me for l0 minutes about your letter to Me and My letter to you. At the same time I ask you to continue publishing all the love letters I have given to man.
This is the tool that I give to you that you will become My most intimate lover and I say to you, "To be an intimate lover, you must spend time being intimately involved. This time will become a most cherished half hour daily."
When you go to Mass and Holy Communion, always pray the Prayer Before the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Mass is the greatest love affair between God and man. I ask you during the Mass to continue your love affair with Me as you give yourself to Me in complete love. It is in the time after Communion, in the 20 minutes spent alone with Me, that we will share the most intimate love secrets of our hearts. We will be joined in such oneness with each other. I am calling you to circulate this letter immediately for you will soon see how urgent the situation in the world has become. The Father will not tolerate the sinfulness of men. Your day will be turned to more days of prayer because of this situation.
I am Jesus.
R. We do not want to give deeply within ourselves because we may get hurt, so we remain closed because we are afraid.
Jesus: This will teach you to give yourself deeply to Me. I was wounded with the deepest wounds and I continued to love.
R. He was opened up raw, jabbed in the wounds and He still loved We are wounded by so many love relationships, parents, children, relatives, friends. We carry around in our hearts a life of disappointments, we know pain. We think, if we do not open ourselves, we will not be wounded. If the flower does not open, it remains a bud, to be in full bloom, it must open.
Jesus: I will be the King and center of your heart. Before writing the letter to Me, pray the Holy Spirit Prayer and the consecration prayers.
This method of communication with Me will help heal the wounds in your heart. I am giving to you several Mass Books. Study these books so you will participate in this celebration and receive the greatest outpouring of My grace.
I give Myself to you in Communion and I am not recognized or even talked to by many souls. How this wounds My Heart. I give you Myself completely and I am treated as if My gift is nothing. How would you like to open yourself up to the deepest part of your heart, give yourself as a gift to others and be rejected? How would it feel to share yourself as you have never shared before, give yourself completely and be ignored? I give you Myself and you treat it as if it is nothing.
R. The sun is covered with the clouds many times. Every day is a sunny day when our hearts are one with Him. Our days must be spend in oneness with Him. We must always be living with His light shining in our hearts. Writing an intimate letter to Jesus every day and following this procedure, will make Him our most intimate lover. We must be intimate with Him to have an intimate relationship with Him. We must give ourselves to Him.
Jesus: I am calling you to a deep, intimate relationship with Me. All of you will not be able to do all I have listed. The more you follow this plan, the deeper your relationship will become with Me.
1) Morning Offering
2) Daily Mass and Communion
3) One hour of private time with Me
4) Praying the Rosary
5) Continual consecration, praying the Holy Spirit Prayer and the
Consecration Prayer from the prayer cards.
My beloved shepherds, you will give Me the burning love I desire. You will lead others to this great gift of My Heart. Many will be led home to My Heart. My Heart will reign. I will be King and center of many hearts through this message and the letters I write to you in God's Blue Book. The Father is giving to you His plan through these messages in God's Blue Book and Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. I am the Teacher. I am the Word. I have spoken to you in plain talk. My Heart will reign and My Mother's heart will triumph. This is the beginning. I give to you this message on first Saturday as a great gift to My Mother.
You must circulate this message. It is My plan for greater intimacy with your most loving God.
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February 19, 1997
Intimacy with Jesus and Others
R. We can only become as intimate with Jesus and with others in the degree we open ourselves up and are accepted by the other.
If we open ourselves totally to another and speak from the depth of our heart, and are accepted by the other, we are in the depth of intimacy.
The very depth of intimacy occurs when we can freely express the feelings in our heart.
If we freely express the feelings in our heart and are rejected, then we must back up, be less open, and hence are not intimately involved with them.
Intimacy occurs when we can freely discuss the depth of the feelings in our heart and they are accepted.
Jesus wants greatest intimacy with Him. He wants the feelings we feel in the deepest part of our hearts.
He wants our deep pain and suffering. He wants our ecstatic joy. He wants us to pour out our deepest love for Him.
He never, never, never rejects us! He accepts us with an open Heart on fire for love of us.
He is waiting for this deep, deep intimate sharing. He wants us to tell Him of our sins, our failings, our struggles. He wants it all. He wants the deepest feelings in our heart and He won't reject us.
This is what He wants in our letter to Him. When we cannot be intimate with any soul, we can be most intimate with Jesus. He wants to share everything in our heart. He wants to be one in our every thought. He wants us to be entirely open with Him.
I tell my best friend how I love him. Can I share the very depth of my heart with him? To the degree I can open up to another, this determines the degree of my intimacy. If they do not accept the deepest feelings in my heart they tell me, "You shouldn't feel that way". They are not accepting me and I cannot be intimate with them.
There are levels of intimacy. With Jesus we can be most intimate. With others we can only be as intimate as the other person allows. Intimacy is an exchange of give and take. I give myself to you, you accept me as I am, you give yourself to me, I accept you. When there are imperfections, there are problems. To be extremely intimate with another, to merge toward oneness, the parties must work against imperfections. I will unite in the deepest oneness the more I am like Christ. The more we intimately give ourselves to one another, the more our imperfections come to the surface. When imperfections arise between two people they cause tremendous pain.
To grow and lessen our imperfections we must be willing to change. It takes a dying process, a dying to the imperfection so a more perfect way can be developed as part of our personality.
It is painful to change. It takes great grace to die to our old pattern ways that are imperfect.
The greatest way to change is at the Mass. Jesus gives Himself as a Sacrifice in the Mass to the Father. We offer ourselves, all our imperfections, and tell God we want to die to them.
The all perfect God loves me. It is relatively easy uniting to Him. So, He sends me another holy person to love and I begin to grow in my relationship with that person. As we grow in greater intimacy, we unite in great oneness in Jesus. But, problems arise. I give myself and it gets scary, as that person doesn't always act like he accepts me. I want to pull back but then I am not acting according to my heart. I can love Jesus with an unguarded heart. I want to love this person in deep love but when I give him the feelings deep in my heart, I feel I expose myself too much to him and I want to pull back to feel more comfortable. When I do this, I am not freely acting from my heart.
To have the greatest intimacy, I must be able to freely expose the greatest desires of my heart to him and be accepted. If he rejects me and tells me I am too close, we will back up rather than grow in intimacy and I will be forced to operate with him with a guarded heart.
The intimacy Jesus wants is the gift of myself, all of myself, faults and all. He is the all-perfect God.
The more we can give ourselves totally to another and be accepted, the more we will grow in intimacy. Intimacy requires a freedom to express feelings. If feelings are held in check, then intimacy cannot be achieved. When feelings are expressed from the depths of our hearts, the imperfections begin to surface.
Two people who love each other are willing to suffer with one another in this dying process as they both die to imperfections. It is a painful process, so painful is this process that in today's world a great amount of people give up the relationship and give up the opportunity to grow. To work in relationships with others helps us grow to be more like Jesus, if we are willing to admit our imperfections and take them to the altar. The Mass is the greatest opportunity to die to the false self and grow more according to the ideal self.
How deep is your love affair with God and others? We recommend writing love letters. In the letters we express the deepest feelings in our heart. We do not hold back our feelings, we express them with tender love. Sharing your feelings in a love letter to Jesus, sharing your feelings in a love letter with another, helps us to grow in deeper intimate relationships.
We must be humble and admit our faults. No one is perfect. God gives us Himself and His sinless Mother as a model. We must give ourselves to Their pure and sinless Hearts and unite to Them. This is the greatest road to holiness: to unite to the pure Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
I gave myself and He loved me. He accepted me with all my faults and He loved me. I grew in greater intimacy with Our Divine Lord. I consecrated my heart to Mary and Jesus' Hearts all through the day. I was immersed in her sinless heart and united in a deep union with Him. I love you, my all-perfect God. I thank you for the gift of Yourself and I give myself to You.
Many men do not naturally share their feelings. Jesus' Heart is the most tender, feeling Heart. His Heart longs to share feelings with us. Women tend to talk about feelings continually.
He made them male and female. He told the women to obey the man--He told the man to love her.
She is the key to helping men grow in greater intimacy with God and with others. She cares for the sharing of feelings. Jesus' Heart contains all the emotions in the human hearts of men and women.
As men and women unite and learn from each other, they grow more and more towards the all-perfect Heart of Christ.
Men's hearts must be tender and filled with emotion and love. Women's hearts must be submissive and patient.
Why did God make men and women so different? We are imperfect. We must grow in His ways. We cannot be prideful and domineering. We must be humble and loving.
We are never finished learning. As the hearts merge in love, male and female, our hearts come forth more like His.
Haughty hearts are not like the Heart of Christ. Hearts cannot be prideful--they must be meek and open.
His Heart is open. It is when they opened His Heart that the blood and water poured out - pointing to the sacramental life of the Church.
When people open their hearts and unite to His Heart, He will outpour His grace. He wants heartfelt love. Our hearts must unite to His.
The world is not ready for the inside of the Sacred Heart of Jesus--they want noise, video games and television. They want pleasures.
He opens up His Heart. He gives us letters from the depth of His Heart.
I want to talk about the Eucharist, Jesus and the Mass, and the depth of His mysteries. I want to talk about "love", deep love so I can unite as one. I know the depth of the Heart of Christ.
I know heaven. I know hell. I will write my love letters to Him.
I can hear Jesus say this about His intimate letters: I opened Myself raw. I gave you the inside of My Heart. I gave you My burning love and they say, "Jesus, I don't want the depth of your Heart. Jesus, I don't want to feel the emotion."
Many priests do not want heartfelt love at the Mass. They want words spoken from the lips--they want lip service love. How this offends the Heart of Jesus when He opens Himself raw and pours out His blood and water. He poured it out from the depth of His Heart--all the way to the last drop, and we say, "I want words, I don't want to be deeply involved in the depth of your heart!"
I speak of the depth of my soul. We do not share the depth of our soul with Jesus and with one another. We are sharing on the surface.
So where can we go with intimacy--we can't go at all.
Jesus: I open myself raw in My love letters. Many do not comprehend. Many do not listen because they will not open their hearts to love. Many are closed in their hearts. Their greatest possession is cold, hard money, it is not burning love, it is paper and ink and money and things. They utter words from their lips that do not come from their hearts. Their lips speak the hollow love in their hearts. Many offer sacrifice at the Mass that is not from the depth of their souls, it is hollow words spoken. It is time many spend going through a ritual. It is not a gift to Me where they give themselves. I give Myself to you in the Eucharist and many run from the church. How this offends Me, when I give Myself completely. The Divine God gives Himself and many do not accept His gift, they run for money and cars. Many have made everything god but God. Many take My gift and abuse it. I am sorry to open My Heart in these letters and be rejected.
R. I know the feeling Heart of Jesus. I have cried over knowing what He wants when He wants oneness in the Mass. I have been taken to the heights of ecstasy in the Mass and been taken to the pits of hell. I have united to the feeling part of the Heart of Christ. He has allowed me to experience His most intimate feeling when He is united with a soul in the Mass. He takes a soul to heaven in the Mass.
I write about the love of Jesus. I know deep in my heart. When I share this with you, it reaches an immense fullness. When I keep it locked and hidden, it is not anything like the intenseness when I share it. He has written His feelings on my heart to share with the world. When I share it, I am rewarded with a greater depth of union with Him. When I share it with others, some are jealous, except the people that are deeply united to Jesus in their heart. Many do not comprehend because they are not opening their heart. They want to be the messenger so they miss the gift that God is giving to them in these revelations.
When a person opens his heart, I share this most intimate feeling of love He has shared with me--secrets into His Heart. When a person is closed, I cannot share what I know. I have been in the depth of the Heart of Christ with ecstasies and sufferings. He has opened Himself raw and exposed His most intimate love.
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February 6, 1997
Message given through Rita Ring
Jesus: My Dear Beloved Ones,
I have given to you the messages on the 13th of the month that will greatly bring about the reign of My Sacred Heart. I am asking you to gather at least once a month with your group in a private home or non-church related center and listen to the tape of the 13th as a group, as you pray the rosary, with the tape. I am giving to you special graces when you gather and pray the rosary from the tape. It will be very pleasing to My Mother if you pray the rosary with candlelight and a picture of My Sacred Heart and her Immaculate Heart. We will teach you the secrets of Our Hearts in this time. We will be with you and great graces will be granted.
Please listen and pray the entire rosary from the live, recorded tapes of October 13, 1996, November 13, 1996, December 13, 1996, January 13, 1997 and any further live tapes. Also included may be the tape of September 10, 1996. I will bless your group in a special way during the rosary. This is a special gift from My Most Sacred Heart and the heart of My Mother, Mary. Your group will grow in great holiness from the graces you will receive.
I love you. Jesus
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November 14, 1996
Message given through Rita Ring
Message to All Members in the Shepherds of Christ Chapters and to Apostles
of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus
Jesus: I am Jesus, your beloved Savior. You have been called to the Shepherds of Christ Movement to be My chosen apostles. You are called by Me. I beg you to answer this call. You are My apostles I am sending into the world to light up the darkness with the fire of My love. It is through the consecration to My Heart and Mary's heart that hearts will be turned to hearts of love.
I am sending you two tapes of live rosaries, one received at the October 13th, 1996 gathering at Tom's Farm and the other from September 10th, 1996, also given at Tom's Farm at a weekly Shepherds of Christ meeting. These are My directions for you. Also included is the written copy of each rosary. You are asked to play a tape for five minutes daily. Put the tape in the tape recorder, advance it forward to any spot and listen for five minutes. Then reflect through the day on the message I have delivered to you.
I am directing you, My apostles, in these live rosaries. Each day, read a message from God's Blue Book, Volume 1, 2, or 3. Reflect on this message through the day. Pick the message at random.
Always begin your day with the Morning Offering for the members of Shepherds of Christ chapters, the Holy Spirit Prayer, and the consecration prayers...(The Morning Offering, Holy Spirit Prayer, and consecration prayers are in this manual and on separate prayer cards for your convenience).
When you pray the Holy Spirit Prayer and the consecration prayers with your family and others, it binds you in one heart.
There is a Morning Offering prayer for Children (which can be found in this manual). There are very short consecration prayers for children and Rosary Aves (which can be found in this manual).
I am calling you, My apostles, this day, to help in the renewal of the Church and the world.
Please study the booklet provided and order any materials you wish for your groups.
I am Jesus, I am begging you to let Me live in you and do My work through you.
The work you do will lead millions of souls to heaven. As you consecrate your hearts each day and fervently attend your Shepherds of Christ meetings, I will work in your hearts and draw you ever closer to Me.
Oh, how I love you! Please read My love letters and messages. Read My love letters as a love letter from Me to you. Know that every word I speak I am speaking to you. These are My love letters to you to help strengthen you and grow more and more in love with Me. Oh, I love you, I love you, I love you, My chosen one. Come to Me. I will never abandon you. I kiss you and hold you in My Divine Heart.
I am giving to you a leader apostle from the core group in Cincinnati. He will tell you of My weekly messages for you. You must pray for each other.
The 13th is a special day for the Shepherds of Christ Movement. I am giving special messages in a rosary at 12:00 noon on the 13th of each month. I am asking you to attend if at all possible. You will hear My messages and be given talks from Fr. Carter, Rita Ring, John Weickert and Bonnie Kaelin. These are special meetings for My apostles.
If you cannot attend, join with us during that time offering up whatever you are doing as a sacrifice for the Shepherds of Christ Movement that you will be one in your hearts with My Heart and the heart of My Mother.
There will be days of recollection in the future at Centers near Cincinnati. All materials are available at these meetings or they can be obtained through the leader apostle. [Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus can obtain materials by calling our Center at (513) 932-4451.]
You will soon be able to order these items from My main center in Cincinnati.
I am telling you to be leery of Satan who wants to stop you. You must try to pray as often as possible before the tabernacle and go to Mass and Communion as often as possible, daily if you can. Pray the rosary every day as mentioned in the booklet, under the title, October 1, 1996, Continued.
You are My apostles. The booklet is My guide for you. Study the messages and its contents.
Oh, sweet loved ones, I am so pleased with your efforts to comply with these requests.
The fire of My love will spread on this earth through you, My chosen apostle. Come to Me and I will bathe you in My burning love. I love you, I love you, I love you,
Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the Flock
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March 18, 1997
Message given through Rita Ring
Directions from Jesus
Subject: What You Must Say to My Coordinator:
Jesus: My Dear Apostle,
I am writing to you and communicating to you through My Apostle Coordinators. The coordinators will try to call you weekly to tell you the directions the Father wishes you to follow as His apostles.
As Paul contacted the first Apostles, you will be contacted with directions to tell you the instructions I wish you to follow.
1. Only, only in prayer will the Movement spread to the far corners of the earth.
a) All apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus are asked to spend two hours each week before the tabernacle. Many apostles have become busy. Please, you must try to live up to this commitment. Try to encourage others you know to join the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Movement. Give them a Prayer Manual.
b) Be faithful to your Shepherds of Christ meeting. This meeting should be weekly, if possible. You need to gather for the support and love you will receive there. If you have been led away by the devil, come back to the meeting. This will be your little family, rooted in God's love. It will be little families all over the world as the Father intends His family to be. All Shepherds of Christ chapters will be united in a special way as one family through the Morning Offering and the consecration prayers.
As you go deeper into Our Hearts, you will become further away from the world. You will need this intense family love for support and nurturing.
Encourage others to begin prayer chapters.
c) I am requesting that you pray for Fr. Carter daily.
I am giving the greatest graces as I promised to Fr. Carter in the message of July 31, 1994.
Only, only in prayer will you accomplish the plan the Father intends. God is the might and the power. You are entirely dependent on His might and His grace.
You must pray the Prayer for Union with Jesus, the Morning Offering and the consecration prayers.
2. I am asking you to have a candlelight rosary monthly. You will be the lights in the dark world. I am with you in these rosaries. When you play the live tapes I will be with you and My Mother will be with you. You will receive special graces to be My most fervent apostles when you listen to the live rosary tapes. You will be strengthened and taught by Me. I am giving crucial messages in these live rosary tapes to bring about the completion of the Fatima message. Please, I am stressing the importance of a monthly rosary. Candles must be placed before the pictures of My Sacred Heart and My Mother's heart.
All rooms used for this rosary should be consecrated to Our Hearts.
Say, before the rosary:
We consecrate this place to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary. We consecrate our hearts to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Come, Holy Spirit, enkindle in us the fire of God's love.
Unless the Pastor gives permission to play the live rosary tapes in the church, the rosary tapes should be played in a private place.
3. Listen to the tape of February 13 (1997). The rosaries of February 13 (1997) and March 13 (1997) were rosaries for greater intimacy with Me. There were full houses at the Holy Spirit Center. These were very grace-filled days with Fr. Carter's Mass, the Rosary and talks. I am asking that you listen to these rosaries and circulate them to the members. Also, the talk given by Fr. Carter on February 13 (1997) is now included on the Mary's Message tape.
In Summary:
1. I am asking for prayer:
(a) Apostles of Eucharistic Heart,
(b) Prayer Meetings,
(c) Father Carter.
2. I am asking for monthly candlelight rosaries.
I love you, My beloved apostles. Do not feel overwhelmed with these directions, try to study them at your own pace. Stay close to one another and pray the consecration prayers whenever you gather. This will protect you from Satan. I love you, My sweet Apostles,
I am Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the Flock
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Chapter 4
Mary's Image in Florida
Press Release
Instructions for Florida Apostles
Messages Pertaining to This Image
- December 19, 1996
- December 12,
1996 - Mary's Message
- January 18,
1997
- January 16, 1997
- March 31,
1997
- A Message
from Florida
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Instructions for Florida Apostles
Message given through Rita Ring
God the Father: To All Florida Apostles,
I have asked Joe Lee to be the Apostle Coordinator in Florida. He is in charge of this mission. Therefore, he acts in My authority. I am the Father. I have sent Mary, your Mother, to you to change the hearts of men.
Please, I beg you, if you do not follow the instructions in the apostles message given on January 30, 1997, you will have serious problems. You must use the Apostle's Manual. Study it and pray the consecration often when on the site with each other. You must remain in one mind and one heart.
I am with you in this mission. Many, many souls throughout the world will be reached through your efforts there. You must love God and love each other. Pray to the Holy Spirit and take your mission with the greatest seriousness.
This is My plan for the renewal of the world. I am the Father.
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December 19, 1996
Message from Mary, Received by Rita Ring.
Mary: My dear children, I give to you, my Son, Jesus, born in a stable in Bethlehem on Christmas morn. He is the Almighty God, the Light of the World.
I appear to you, my children, on a (former) bank in Florida. You have made money your god! Do you know how cold are your hearts? You turn away from my Son, Jesus, for your money. Your money is your god.
I am Mary, your Mother. I do not appear as I once appeared to you. I am asking you today to circulate my message given on a tape on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12, 1996. Please circulate this tape now. Give it to as many people as you can. I am Mary, your Mother. Please circulate my Rosary Book.
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The Message from the tape Mary's Message December 12, 1996:
Mary: I stood beneath the cross of my Son, and my heart was in such pain for I saw Him before my eyes. I saw Him covered with blood. I saw Him die. My heart, my children, my heart to watch my Son, but my heart, my heart, how I suffered for my little children of the world that give in to this world and give up the love of my Son. O my little children of light, I give you this message. Carry this light into the darkness for your Mother Mary, for I stood beneath the cross and I cried. I cried for the little ones. I cried for the young ones, the ones that do not care and will lose their souls. How do I make you see for you will not listen to me? What can I do? I come. I appear. I beg. I plead. I give you these gifts from my Son, and you reject me. I do not deliver messages very often anymore for I have been ignored. The message is the same. You do not read the messages I have given to you. Please help me. Help the little children. I appear. I appear. I appear, and I am ignored. I stood beneath the cross, and I cried. I cried, and my heart was in such anguish for my little children, for I am searching for them this day as I searched for the Child Jesus. Please, please help me. I cannot hold back the hand of my Son any longer. I am Mary, your Mother. I ask you to help my children. You are my children of light.
Song: O Lady of Light, shining so bright, be with us this day, guiding our way, O Lady...
Mary: I appear to you as Our Mother of Sorrows.
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January 18, 1997
Message given through Rita Ring
God the Father: My Dear Children,
I am telling you to circulate the tape of January 13, 1997 as soon as possible. This tape must be released to the world. It is the message to go with the apparition on the building in Florida.
You must make every connection with Mary's message given December 12 (1996) and the messages given by Mary with the apparition of her on the building in Florida.
I am using the Shepherds of Christ Movement to majorly carry out the plan begun at Fatima. Every day lost is a lost day. I give to you Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary as your directions to help the plan unfold. Circulate these rosaries to all chapters and stress their importance.
The tape of January 13, 1997 is important to the world. The tape must be circulated with the apparition in Florida and the messages typed and put on the Internet with the rest of the messages I have given. The connection must be made between the apparition and the Shepherds of Christ Movement.
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January 16, 1997
Message given through Rita Ring
Jesus: Mary appeared on the building in Florida and has asked that you circulate the tape of Mary's Message.
This message, the Rosary of December 13, 1996 and the messages given on December 19 (2) and December 22, and from the Father, must be circulated with pictures of the apparition of Mary.
It is very important that the messages in God's Blue Books and Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary reach the people. Children must consecrate their hearts and pray the rosary. I am teaching them in the Children's Rosary Book.
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March 31, 1997
Message from Mary given through Rita Ring
Mary: I am Mary, your Mother. I will continue to talk to you...as Our Lady of Fatima from my Florida apparition site.
I give you my Son, Jesus, born in the town of Bethlehem. I appear on a former bank to bring about the reign of His Heart. These are His messages of love given to all.
...I am your Mother. I hold you in my arms and press you as a tender child to my breast...I love you so much.
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A Message from Florida
Message given through Rita Ring
Jesus: You are the leader. There will be no one in line behind you. You may be on the hill and look around and no one will appear to be near, but I am there in the silence of that moment. Know I am with you. The Father and the Holy Spirit are with you. You are one with My Mother and are surrounded by angels and saints.
The world is blind and they do not see. You must see with spiritual vision. See the world beyond. It is real. You are not alone. I am with you at every second, watching you and controlling your breath.
If you cease to believe, who will be the leader? All I have called through you must realize they are the leaders. No one may appear to be near, no one is in line behind you.
You must be constantly motivated by faith. It comes down to this--it is your belief. For, if I call you and you do not hear Me, then My work will not get done. For I am calling you and you can plug up your ears, but souls are being lost at this very moment that you can be helping through your faith. You must have fervor in your prayers.
Satan attacks you all day, in prayer and in work. Will you listen to him or to Me?
I am begging you to see Me alive before you as I came forth from the tomb, glistening and all white. I am here. I have called you by name. You are the apostles I am calling. If you say 'no' the work will not get done.
Read this letter over and over and when you are alone and feel as if you are standing on the hill by yourself see the heavens open up. See Me in celestial light as you saw Me transfigured on the altar. See the great vision of March 26, 1996. Read that message. See Me almost dead on the cross as I was on December 5, 1996 at Immaculata. See My lips move and hear Me speak. No one is listening. They will hear you speak. They will respond to you.
If you give into Satan, they will not hear and they will not know for his whole attempt is to silence you.
So you go to the hilltop. You are close to Me. You look around and you see no one. Below the hill is a throng of people. They have forgotten I exist. The heavens open and I appear and the sky is filled with saints and angels. They continue talking and laughing at the bottom of the hill. The celestial light falls upon them and they continue as in a fog and as blind men to focus on the rocks and the things of this earth.
And you speak. The voice they hear is your voice from the top of the mountain. You appear to be alone by these blind men, but the heavenly court has surrounded you and you see not with earthly vision but with the eyes of faith and you speak in My Name...
"Glory and Praise to God! Hear the words of your Savior. Listen from the mountain top for He has risen and we are His witnesses."
He calls you from the mountain and you say nay for your foolish whims. Come to the mountain top with Me and you will taste of milk sweeter than honey. You will run and not get weary, you will be His faithful witnesses. You will be the children of light shining from the mountain top on the dark world below.
Oh, do not say no, My chosen ones, you are My children of light. I have called and you have responded. Do not be discouraged, but encouraged for (she) appears, the Lady of Light, the Lady of Fatima, the Lady of the Holy Rosary. She appears Our Lady in Clearwater to bring about the completion of the Fatima message there. If you do not believe, who will I send to do the work for I have chosen you!
The Fatima mission will greatly unfold there through the Shepherds of Christ Movement. She appears Our Lady of Light in all the splendor to call her children to her Son, Jesus. She appears as Our Lady of Fatima, 80 years later, to call to the world, to deliver the same message she delivered then. Come to the water and drink and you will not be thirsty for God has visited His people. He has risen. He sends great gifts in the woman clothed as the sun on your building. Some look and they do not see. Some are touched for their hearts are open to the graces that are pouring out there.
Mary: I appear to you, the woman clothed as the sun, Our Lady of Fatima, in splendor and glory to lead a sick race to holiness, to lead them to healing in the Heart of my Son.
For His Heart will reign despite all the actions of men. I appear Our Lady of Fatima on the (former) bank in Florida to you this day. This is my message. This is my little Fatima in the Americas. A permanent sign I give to you this day on the building, a sign for the world and for you.
And you, my chosen one, have faith for it is faith that will save you. The devil wants you stopped. If you listen to him, who will lead the people to my Son? You have been called and chosen by me, Our Lady of Fatima, the woman clothed as the sun and there will be the weeping and gnashing of teeth for many will be lost forever. I send you in the darkness as a beacon light to the world.
I love you. I am your Mother Mary.
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Chapter 5
From October 13, 1917 - October 13, 1997
Sample 13th Meeting Format as Given by Jesus
On October 13, 1917:
The Birth of the Full Ministries of the Shepherds of
Christ
For Apostles Today From Jesus
Mary's Peace Plan as given to Lucia
Song: Song from Jesus
October 11, 1996 - Study the Rosaries
Holy Spirit Prayer
Prayer to St. Michael
Act of Consecration to the Sacred and Immaculate
Hearts
Petitions
Song: The Rosary
Song: I Love You, Jesus
Song: Here I am Lord
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On October 13, 1917:
" 'As the Lady was about to leave, she pointed to the sun. Lucy excitedly repeated the gesture, and the people looked into the sky. The rain had ceased, the clouds parted, and the sun shone forth, but not in its usual brilliance. Instead, it appeared like a silver disc, pale as the moon, at which all could gaze without straining their eyes. Suddenly, impelled by some mysterious force, the disc began to whirl in the sky, casting off great shafts of multicolored light. Red, green, blue, yellow, violet - the enormous rays shot across the sky at all angles, lighting up the entire countryside for many miles around, but particularly the upturned faces of those 70,000 spellbound people. After three minutes the wonder stopped, but was resumed again a second and a third time - three times in all - within about 12 minutes. It seemed that the whole world was on fire, with the sun spinning at a greater speed each time.
Then a gasp of terror rose from the crowd, for the sun seemed to tear itself from the heavens and come crashing down upon the horrified multitude. 'It's the end of the world!' shrieked one woman. 'Dear God, don't let me die in my sins!' implored another. 'Holy Virgin, protect us!' cried a third. All were on their knees in terror, asking pardon for their sins. Just when it seemed that the ball of fire would fall upon and destroy them, the miracle ceased and the sun resumed its normal place in the sky, shining forth as peacefully as ever.
When the people arose from the ground, cries of astonishment were heard on all sides. Their clothes, which had been soaking wet and muddy, now were clean and dry. Many of the sick and crippled had been cured of their afflictions.'
The above describes the great miracle which brought to conclusion the series of apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima which took place six times, from May to October 1917. The Miracle of the Sun was the sign God gave to the world in proof of the authenticity of the apparitions. The event was reported in newspapers around the world.
With one exception, Mary always appeared on the 13th of the month, above an holm oak tree in the valley named Cova da Iria. The only deviation from the 13th was the August 19. The children were in jail on the 13th of that particular month. The mayor, in an attempt to stop the events, had had the young visionaries kidnapped and imprisoned, but fearing violence on the part of the people, he soon released them."
-- From Fr. Carter's book, The Spirituality of Fatima and Medjugorje pp. 3-4.
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The Birth of the Full Ministries of the Shepherds of Christ
"I wish to share with you part of a message which Jesus gave us on October 13, 1994. The message tells us about the expansion of the Shepherds of Christ movement:
'My beloved priest-companion, today I come to you with another mission. I am asking you to establish Shepherds of Christ Ministries. At My request you have already begun the priestly newsletter, "Shepherds of Christ", and the prayer chapters, Shepherds of Christ Associates...
'I am giving you this message on this day, the 77th Anniversary of the Great Apparition at Fatima, because of the close connection between the Shepherds of Christ movement and the Fatima message. The Fatima message is centered in devotion to My Heart and My Mother's Heart, especially in consecration to Our Hearts. Shepherds of Christ Ministries is also centered in devotion to Our Hearts. I will use Shepherds of Christ Ministries as a great instrument in helping to bring about the triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the reign of My Sacred Heart. When this occurs, My Church and the world will be experiencing the great era of peace promised by My Mother at Fatima.
'Today, then, October 13, 1994, the 77th Anniversary of the Great Apparition at Fatima, marks the birth of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. I pour forth the great love of My Sacred Heart to all. I am Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock.'
"Jesus has told us that Shepherds of Christ Ministries includes: the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ, Shepherds of Christ Associates prayer chapters, various publications, including books, whatever else Our Lord directs us to undertake.
"As members of Shepherds of Christ Associates, you are an extremely important part of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. You have given great joy to the Heart of Jesus by responding to His invitation to become members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. As He draws you closer to His Heart and to His Mother's Heart as Associates members, He will fill you with an ever-increasing experience of His love, peace, and joy."
- From In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Newsletter of
Shepherds of Christ Associates
by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J., Volume 1, No. 1, 1995. p. 2.
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For Apostles Today From Jesus
October 1, 1996
Message given through Rita Ring
Jesus: My Beloved Ones Gathered Here Today,
I have called you, each one, here this day. You are My special apostles. I called the Apostles to go out to spread the good news and the Church. I am calling you, My apostles this day, to go forth to help bring about the renewal of the Church and the world culminating in the reign of My Sacred Heart and the triumph of My Mother's Immaculate Heart.
"When Pentecost day came round, they had all met together, when suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of a violent wind which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and there appeared to them tongues as of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak different languages as the Spirit gave them power to express themselves." (Acts 2:1-4)19
I beg you to study the Rosary of May 11, 1996. There will be available a live tape of this rosary. Please listen to this tape five to ten minutes daily and reflect on your mission. It is through the Shepherds of Christ Movement, I will greatly renew the Church and the world.
You are My apostles. This is a calling from Me to you on this October 13, 1996. I am Jesus. I called the Apostles. I am calling you My apostles today. I am giving to you abundant graces to carry out this great mission that will lead to the new era.
I love you with the greatest love, My apostles, and I am guarding you.
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September 24, 1996
R. And He reached down and lifted me up and I was enveloped in His rapture. I knew nothing but God.
We see with a veil over our eyes and He is there, behind that veil. If He but lifted this veil, we would fall on our faces. In our bodies we cannot take His overwhelming presence--we could not see because of His splendor and brightness.
We are but feeble creatures, living here with faith - but He could show us His splendor and glory and give us a touch of His overwhelming presence.
And a symbol of grace danced on the altar and the whole area surrounding the Eucharist had a celestial aura of glistening grace and it was awesome. Truly, I was awe struck. He gave me the following instructions:
Jesus wants a chapel with the Sacred Heart statue and the Immaculate Heart of Mary statue. Until this is possible, whenever we pray the rosary He would like an area designated, with those two statues for the purpose of holy prayer.
Jesus: I would like you to gather on the 13th of each month, My beloved shepherds, at the time of 12:00 noon to venerate My Sacred Heart and My Mother's Immaculate Heart. People are requested to bring chairs and to gather at this time.
The Shepherds of Christ Movement is a main part of the completion of the Fatima message. It is crucial to the renewal of the Church and the world. I will continue to give messages to the apostles on the 13th of the month. You will continue to gather on the 5th of the month as requested by My Mother.
I am requesting you to gather on the 13th of the month and to invite all chapter members to this special rosary. It is there on the 13th of the month. I will talk to the apostles and teach them about My love. They will go into the world and spread this love to the far ends of the earth. This rosary will be taped and the messages published and sent to you. Please study these messages during the month and listen to the tape. The fire of My love with spread across the earth and many will be saved. I am Jesus. I am asking this message be distributed on October 13, 1996.
The location of this rosary will be determined by Fr. Carter. It is through the Shepherds of Christ Movement, I will greatly renew the Church and the world. It is through him, the fire of My love will be spread to the far corners of the earth. He is My special anointed priest-son. You must obey him for I am directing him in this mission.
I will direct John as the president of this organization. All must remain humble. The Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary need to be circulated and distributed to the apostles. These are My directions for the apostles.
Please join on this date. It is important to carry out this mission I have imparted to you.
The messages in God's Blue Book and Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary must be lived by all members of the Movement.
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October 1, 1996 continued...
Jesus: The Shepherds of Christ Movement will have centers of renewal.
As requested by My Mother, I am asking you to pray the rosary as a continued novena for the Movement. Pray beginning this day, 27 days in petition, 27 days in thanksgiving for these requests given by My Mother:
The new intentions for the rosary novena given by Mary on January 25, 1997:
Mary: I am Mary. I am requesting that you continue to pray the rosary novena daily for the following intentions:
1) For the spread of the rosary, circulation and publication of these rosary meditations, for the Rosary Book and Children's Rosary books, for the Rosary Aves and consecrations to be distributed and used by school children, for the Priestly Newsletter books, for the Mass Book, for all materials receiving the imprimatur, for its publication and quick distribution. For the distribution of Mary's Message tape and the Rosary Book and the connection with the Shepherds of Christ Movement and the apparition in Florida;
2) For Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center, that the Father's plan will unfold there as He intended;
3) For the new Center, for the new chapel, for the right to reserve the Blessed Sacrament there, for the funding, for the circulation of materials from there, for the beginning of new prayer chapters.
I am asking each of you to spread the messages I have given connecting My apparition in Florida with the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Please circulate the Mary's Message tape.
Please help circulate the love letters of my Son found in God's Blue Books and Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Please circulate the live rosary tapes.
Jesus is asking that you spread the Ministry. It is through this ministry the Fatima message will greatly unfold. Please support the Ministry. You are pleasing Jesus and pleasing me. The Father's plan will greatly unfold through this ministry. Jesus has asked you to obey His and my messages to bring about the reign of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of my Immaculate Heart."
Jesus: I am requesting that you continually pray this rosary novena from this day forth for these intentions. I am Jesus. I am giving My directions to you, My apostles, in these Rosaries from Our Hearts. Please study the rosaries.
I am here and My Mother is here in a special way on the 13th of each month. I am giving to you abundant graces to grow closer to Our Hearts during this rosary. Whenever you use these rosaries, I will give you special graces to help you in this mission, My apostles. Open your hearts and let Me fill your soul with My love. I am alive. I am alive. I am alive, and I live in you. I am Jesus. I come to you with greatest love. Please read the message of Pentecost 1996 and March 26, 1996 found in this book.
R. For the rosary novena as requested by Jesus and Mary, we begin on the first day with the Joyful Mysteries, on the second day the Sorrowful Mysteries, on the third day the Glorious Mysteries. Pray the rosary this way for 27 days in petition, and continue praying the rosary for 27 more days in thanksgiving. Jesus and Mary want us to continue this novena perpetually, 27 days in petition, 27 days in thanksgiving. Please tell all members of the Shepherds of Christ Movement about this request of Jesus and Mary and circulate the prayer charts with the above message.
God has entrusted the peace of the world to Mary, she is the Queen of Peace. Mary appeared at Fatima in 1917.
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Mary's peace plan was given at Fatima:
Refrain: I come to you with greatest love. I am your loving Savior. I am your God. I died for you. I come to you this day.
You are My precious little one. I love you, oh, so dearly. Come close to Me, My little one. I loved you to My death.
Reach out to Me and do not fear. I want to be so close to you. You are My child, My precious one, I love you tenderly.
Directions from Jesus: Pass out the live rosary from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and the live tape. Read this message and distribute the tapes. This is the continuation of circulating the live rosaries. These will greatly help in bringing about the reign of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart.
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October 11, 1996
Message given through Rita Ring
Jesus: My Dear Chosen Shepherds,
I am asking you to study and circulate the rosaries of May 11, 1996 and September 10, 1996. Please listen to the live tape of September 10, 1996. It is in this recording you will hear Me speak deep in your heart. I am giving to you my chosen Shepherds great graces in the Shepherds of Christ Movement that you may be one in Our Hearts. It is through you many will know the love of Our Hearts. I am begging you to listen to these rosaries daily. In these live rosaries, I will live more and more in your lives. Listen to small segments of the rosary of September 10, 1996. (Also available is the written copy). Study the content of the rosaries. They are My teachings for you My chosen apostles. You will receive a live rosary monthly. The fire of My love will spread across this earth. You are key to spreading this Movement. I give Myself to you. I love you, I love you, I love you.
These rosaries are key to helping bring about the completion of the Fatima message. I beg you to circulate the Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. I am Jesus, please answer this urgent request.
Mary: I am Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. I will appear and be present in a special way this day which is the anniversary of my 6th apparition at Fatima.
The Rosaries given from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary are key in helping with the completion of the Fatima message. I am asking you to study and circulate these rosaries and publish all rosary books.
Please spread the Rosary Aves and consecration cards to the children in the school. Please put the Rosary Aves with the imprimatur in churches.
I am Our Lady of the Rosary, I appear and am present this day.
Holy Spirit Prayer.
Come, Holy Spirit, almighty Sanctifier, God of love, who filled the Virgin
Mary with grace, who wonderfully changed the hearts of the apostles, who endowed all Your
martyrs with miraculous courage, come and sanctify us. Enlighten our minds, strengthen our
wills, purify our consciences, rectify our judgment, set our hearts on fire, and preserve
us from the misfortunes of resisting Your inspirations. Amen.
Prayer to St. Michael.
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard
against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do
thou, O prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the
other evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Act of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Lord Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock, I consecrate myself to Your most
Sacred Heart. From Your pierced Heart the Church was born, the Church You have called me,
as a member of Shepherds of Christ Associates, to serve in a most special way. You reveal
Your Heart as a symbol of Your love in all its aspects, including Your most special love
for me, whom You have chosen as Your companion in this most important work. Help me to
always love You in return. Help me to give myself entirely to You. Help me always to pour
out my life in love of God and neighbor! Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You!
Dear Blessed Virgin Mary, I consecrate myself to your maternal and Immaculate Heart, this Heart which is symbol of your life of love. You are the Mother of my Savior. You are also my Mother. You love me with a most special love as a member of Shepherds of Christ Associates, a movement created by your Son as a powerful instrument for the renewal of the Church and the world. In a return of love, I give myself entirely to your motherly love and protection. You followed Jesus perfectly. You are His first and perfect disciple. Teach me to imitate you in the putting on of Christ. Be my motherly intercessor so that, through your Immaculate Heart, I may be guided to an ever closer union with the pierced Heart of Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock.
Petitions
We offer these prayers to the Father, in the Holy Spirit, in union
with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.
We ask Jesus and Mary to be so united with us and to pray with us each prayer. We ask all the angels and saints and the souls in purgatory to pray with us. We offer this rosary for the spread of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and for Their intentions. We pray for priests the world over, for the success of the priestly newsletter, the chapters, and for the finances needed for the newsletter.
Refrain: O the Rosary, the Rosary, is the love of Their two Hearts.
O the Rosary, the
Rosary, is the love of Their two Hearts.
[Begin the Rosary]
Refrain: I know Your love a little now. So dear You are to me. Come give me life, abundant life. I thirst to be with thee.
Refrain: Here I am Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
Copyright 1981 by Daniel L. Schutte, S.J., and
NALR, 10802 N. 23rd Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85029
Reprinted with permission.
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Chapter 6
Rosaries
January 25, 1997 - Mary's Rosary Novena Intentions
February 26, 1997 - A Live Rosary
February 6, 1997 - Candlelight Rosary
The Glorious Mysteries of May 11, 1996
The Sorrowful Mysteries of September 10, 1996
The Glorious Mysteries of October 13, 1996
The Sorrowful Mysteries of November 13, 1996
The Joyful Mysteries of December 13, 1996
The Joyful Mysteries of January 13, 1997
The Sorrowful Mysteries of February 13, 1997
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Intentions for the Rosary Novena,
Given by Mary on January 25, 1997:
Mary: I am Mary. I am requesting that you continue to pray the rosary novena daily for the following intentions:
1) For the spread of the rosary, circulation and publication of these rosary meditations, for the Rosary Book and Children's Rosary books, for the Rosary Aves and consecrations to be distributed and used by school children, for the Priestly Newsletter books, for the Mass Book, for all materials receiving the imprimatur, for its publication and quick distribution. For the distribution of Mary's Message tape and the Rosary Book and the connection with the Shepherds of Christ Movement and the apparition in Florida;
2) For Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center, that the Father's plan will unfold there as He intended;
3) For the new Center, for the new chapel, for the right to reserve the Blessed Sacrament there, for the funding, for the circulation of materials from there, for the beginning of new prayer chapters.
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February 26, 1997
A Live Rosary.
Mary began to appear on July 5, 1994. She told me to pray a meditation of the rosary on every Hail Mary. As we prayed the rosary, Fr. Carter leading, my children Cathy and Joe and I would be told insights into Their lives and the words would come from my mouth. I did not hear the words, they came from my mouth as I spoke them. There was no idea what I would say, They would speak Their teachings and messages through my mouth.
Today this is a great gift of teaching God has given to us. They are called Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Jesus and Mary have revealed in these rosaries great insights into the love They have for us in Their Hearts. Jesus has revealed secrets into His most intimate love, never revealed before.
Jesus has asked Fr. Carter to lead the rosary and promised whenever he does that He will grant special graces. Fr. Carter is the founder of the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Jesus and Mary have promised that They are present, in a special way, at every live rosary and when a live rosary tape is played. They have promised that when we open our hearts, They will flood our hearts with grace that will turn our hearts on fire for love of Him.
It is hard to explain what happens in the rosary. Mary appeared almost daily for 14 months when I was given the live rosaries and I focused on her. Now I close my eyes and I am removed from the world around me and share a very special dialogue with God. It is Jesus and Mary and me.
I have the presence of the Holy Trinity and am united to Them in a special way. I feel Them and then I hear a word or two and speak it, the rest comes out of my mouth as I speak. These are special messages and teachings that They are using to teach the world about the secrets into Their Hearts.
I cherish this great gift He gives to us. The messages are for everyone. Jesus wants all to use the live rosary tapes and printed Rosary Aves. He has promised when you use the live tape with candlelight, if possible, and pray the entire rosary with the tape, He and Mary will be there and you will receive the same graces as when the rosary was originally delivered. So gather in a candle-lighted room and hear Jesus, and sometimes Mary, speak to you.
He has also promised great grace for praying the rosary with the printed sheets. This great promise includes the children's rosary aves we circulate in the schools. Mary has asked us to circulate these rosary aves to the children and they will receive great grace.
Jesus and Mary have called you the messengers. They will give great grace when the rosary is prayed with these meditations. Please pray the rosary with an open heart and circulate these live tapes and printed rosaries as They have requested.
Soon we will have a Children's Rosary Book with rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, given at the Junior Shepherds of Christ meetings.
Jesus said they are not just for children. They are short and will have the imprimatur.
Mary has requested we pray the rosary daily for the success of spreading the rosary and to help in the publication and circulation of these rosaries and tapes. Will you answer both Jesus and Mary's requests to pray and circulate these rosaries?
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February 6, 1997
Message given through Rita Ring
Jesus: My Dear Beloved Ones,
I have given to you the messages on the 13th of the month that will greatly bring about the reign of My Sacred Heart. I am asking you to gather at least once a month with your group in a private home or non-church related center and listen to the tape of the 13th as a group, as you pray the rosary, with the tape. I am giving to you special graces when you gather and pray the rosary from the tape. It will be very pleasing to My Mother if you pray the rosary with candlelight and a picture of My Sacred Heart and her Immaculate Heart. We will teach you the secrets of Our Hearts in this time. We will be with you and great graces will be granted.
Please listen and pray the entire rosary from the live, recorded tapes of October 13, 1996, November 13, 1996, December 13, 1996, January 13, 1997 and any further live tapes. Also included may be the tape of September 10, 1996. I will bless your group in a special way during the rosary. This is a special gift from My Most Sacred Heart and the heart of My Mother Mary. Your group will grow in great holiness from the graces you will receive.
I love you. Jesus
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Rosaries from the
Hearts of Jesus and Mary
This rosary was received in Toledo, Ohio on Saturday, May 11, 1996, the feast of Mary, Queen of the Apostles. The meditations and messages were given to Rita Ring during the rosary. This rosary was received live and transcribed from the recording. This live recording can be obtained by writing Shepherds of Christ Publications. All of these meditations have been discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES
The Resurrection
The Ascension
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Assumption
The Coronation
Notes:
1. Scripture quotations are taken from The New American Bible,
Saint Joseph Edition, Catholic Book Publishing Co.
2. Edward J. Carter, S.J., Spirituality of Fatima and Medjugorje,
Faith Publishing Co. p. 16.
3. Edward J. Carter, S.J., Spirituality of Fatima and Medjugorje,
Faith Publishing Co. pp. 3-4
4. Edward J. Carter, S.J., Spirituality of Fatima and Medjugorje,
Faith Publishing Co. pp. 12-13.
5. Edward J. Carter, S.J., Spirituality of Fatima and Medjugorje,
Faith Publishing Co. pp. 14-15.
6. Scripture quotations are taken from The New American Bible,
Saint Joseph Edition, Catholic Book Publishing Co.
7. Scripture quotations are taken from The New American Bible,
Saint Joseph Edition, Catholic Book Publishing Co.
8. Scripture quotations are taken from The New American Bible,
Saint Joseph Edition, Catholic Book Publishing Co.
[ < Contents ]
Rosaries from the
Hearts of Jesus and Mary
This rosary was received on Tuesday, September 10, 1996 at a Shepherds of Christ Associates Meeting at Tom Arlinghaus's farm in Kentucky. The meditations and messages were given to Rita Ring during the rosary. This rosary was received live and transcribed from the recording. This live recording can be obtained by writing Shepherds of Christ Publications. All of these meditations have been discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
The Agony in the Garden
The Scourging at the Pillar
The Crowning With Thorns
The Carrying of the Cross
The Crucifixion
[ < Contents ]
Rosaries from the
Hearts of Jesus and Mary
This rosary was received on Sunday, October the 13th, 1996 at a International Shepherds of Christ Associates Meeting at Tom Arlinghaus's farm in Kentucky. The rosary was led by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J., spiritual director of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. The meditations and messages were given to Rita Ring during the rosary. This rosary was received live and transcribed from the recording. This live recording can be obtained by writing Shepherds of Christ Publications. All of these meditations have been discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES
The Resurrection
Our Lord Ascends Into Heaven
The Descent of the Holy Spirit Upon the Apostles
The Assumption of Our Lady Into Heaven
The Coronation of Our Lady
Ending Message:
Jesus speaks:
How tenderly I love you, My beloved ones. I am Jesus. I have called you this day for this
special meeting. I have called you, My apostles. Will you go into the darkness? Will you
spread the message of My love? Will you carry the rosary into the world? Will you touch
the hearts of those that are hurting and in pain? Will you be My apostles of love? I am
calling you to love God and to love one another, to be one in your hearts, to put aside
all hatred and bitterness within your heart, to not give into the tauntings of Satan to
divide you, to always operate in love, to focus on God. Let your hearts be filled with
love.
Glory be...
"My dear friends, let us love each other, since love is from God and everyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. Whoever fails to love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4: 7-8)4
Notes:
1. Edward J. Carter, S.J., Spirituality of Fatima and Medjugorje, Faith
Publishing Co. p. 14.
2. Scripture quotations are taken from The New Jerusalem Bible,
Catholic Edition, Doubleday and Co.
3. Edward J. Carter, S.J., Spirituality of Fatima and Medjugorje,
Faith Publishing Co. p. 16.
4. Scripture quotations are taken from The New Jerusalem Bible,
Catholic Edition, Doubleday and Co.
[ < Contents ]
Rosaries from the
Hearts of Jesus and Mary
This rosary was received on Wednesday, November 13, 1996 at a International Shepherds of Christ Associates Meeting at Tom Arlinghaus's farm in Kentucky. The rosary was led by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J., spiritual director of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. The meditations and messages were given to Rita Ring during the rosary. This rosary was received live and transcribed from the recording. This live recording can be obtained by writing Shepherds of Christ Publications. All of these meditations have been discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
The Agony in the Garden
The Scourging at the Pillar
The Crowning with Thorns
The Carrying of the Cross
The Crucifixion
[ < Contents ]
Rosaries from the
Hearts of Jesus and Mary
This rosary was received on Friday, December the 13th, 1996 at a International Shepherds of Christ Associates Meeting at Tom Arlinghaus's farm in Kentucky. The rosary was led by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J., spiritual director of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. The meditations and messages were given to Rita Ring during the rosary. This rosary was received live and transcribed from the recording. This live recording can be obtained by writing Shepherds of Christ Publications. All of these meditations have been discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES
The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Nativity
The Presentation in the Temple
The Finding in the Temple
Notes:
1. Scripture quotations are taken from The New Jerusalem Bible, Catholic
Edition, Doubleday and Co.
[ < Contents ]
Rosaries from the
Hearts of Jesus and Mary
This rosary was received on Monday, January the 13th, 1997 at an International Shepherds of Christ Associates Meeting at Tom Arlinghaus's farm in Kentucky. The rosary was led by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J., spiritual director of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. The meditations and messages were given to Rita Ring during the rosary. This rosary was received live and transcribed from the recording. This live recording can be obtained by writing Shepherds of Christ Publications. All of these meditations have been discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES
The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Nativity
The Presentation in the Temple
The Finding in the Temple
Notes:
1. Scripture quotations are taken from The New Jerusalem Bible, Catholic Edition,
Doubleday and Co.
[ < Contents ]
Rosaries from the
Hearts of Jesus and Mary
This rosary was received on Thursday, February the 13th, 1997 at an International Shepherds of Christ Associates Meeting at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center. The rosary was led by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J., spiritual director of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. The meditations and messages were given to Rita Ring during the rosary. This rosary was received live and transcribed from the recording. This live recording can be obtained by writing Shepherds of Christ Publications. All of these meditations have been discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
The Agony in the Garden
The Scourging at the Pillar
The Crowning With Thorns
The Carrying of the Cross
Jesus Dies on the Cross
Notes:
1. Rita Ring, God's Blue Book Vol. 3, Shepherds of Christ Publications p. 122.
2. Rita Ring, God's Blue Book Vol. 2, Shepherds of Christ
Publications p. 159.
3. Scripture quotations are taken from The New Jerusalem Bible,
Catholic Edition, Doubleday and Co.
4. Scripture quotations are taken from The New Jerusalem Bible,
Catholic Edition, Doubleday and Co.
5. Scripture quotations are taken from The New Jerusalem Bible,
Catholic Edition, Doubleday and Co.
[ ^Table
of Contents || < Previous chapter || Next
chapter > || SofC Home ]
Chapter 7
The Shepherds of Christ Movement
and
the Completion of the Fatima Message
Chart: The Completion of the Fatima Message
December 13, 1996 - The Vision, the Plan Unfolds
December 29, 1996
- Mary's
Message from the Rosary of August 27, 1996
- October 5,
1996 - Message from Mary
- Excerpts from
Urgent Messages
- December 6,
1996 - First Friday
- December 27, 1996 - The Mass and Fatima
- December 7, 1996 - Revelations
on the Light
- December 27, 1996 - Conclusion
- December 19,
1996
- December 22, 1996
- December 19, 1996 -
Urgent Message
- December 22, 1996 -
Urgent Message
August 11, 1996
March 20, 1994 - before the end of the building collapsed
at the Holy Spirit Center
[ < Contents ]
[ < Contents ]
December 13, 1996 - the Vision, the Plan Unfolds
September- October, 1991: |
"Feed the Hungry" for six weeks
|
|
October, 1991:
|
Jesus:
"Go to the ends of the earth, I have all |
|
December 17, 1991
|
Shows
me His Heart, tells me the mission to |
|
May 13, 1993: |
First message for God's Blue Book I | |
May 13, 1993 -March 31, 1994: |
God's Blue Book I and II
|
|
March 22, 1994:
|
He is
ignored - Building at Center, wing fell |
|
July 5, 1994 - Sept. 5, 1995: |
Mary
appears almost daily. We receive |
|
July 5, 1994 - Oct. 5, 1996: |
Mary
appeared every 5th of the month. |
|
August 13, 1996:
|
St.
Michael appears at the Farm. There is a |
|
August 27, 1996:
|
Mary
pleads - she cries out. She is so |
|
October 5, 1996:
|
Mary
says she cannot hold back the hand of |
|
October 13, 1996: |
Mary appears as Our Lady of the Rosary. | |
October 13, 1996: |
Jesus calls us to the Farm at 12:00 noon. | |
Oct. 16, Oct. 21, Oct. 30, Nov. 3:
|
Strong
messages from Jesus. Tell us He is |
|
October 30, 1996:
|
Jesus:
"I have spoken. You are not dealing |
|
December 5, 1996:
|
Jesus
appears on the crucifix. His mouth |
|
December 6, 1996 First Friday:
|
Message
from Jesus how the Shepherds of |
|
December 7, 1996 First Saturday |
Revelation
on light |
|
December 19, 1996: |
Strong message from Jesus and Mary | |
December 22, 1996: |
Strong message from Jesus | |
December 29, 1996:
|
Very
strong message from Jesus - Jesus |
|
January 5, 1997 |
Neither Jesus nor Mary appeared | |
January 11, 1997: |
Message from God the Father | |
January 18, 1997: |
Message from God the Father | |
February 5, 1997:
|
After
receiving rosaries for two years and |
|
February 6, 1997:
|
Jesus
wants the chapters to gather for a |
[ < Contents ]
January 9, 1997:
Message given through Rita Ring
Jesus: I am Jesus, I am requesting My beloved apostles to study the entire message given on December 29, 1996. In this message, I have tied together the Shepherds of Christ Movement with the completion of the Fatima message. You are to study all of the enclosed messages given as My teaching for this purpose.
The Father's plan will unfold. I have given you special insights into His plan in this teaching.
Continue to pray the Morning Offering daily. Pray the consecration prayers and the Holy Spirit prayers often during the day with your family and friends this will bind you in one mind and one heart, and protect you from the evil one.
Comment by Rita Ring:
On December 29, 1996, Jesus woke me at 1:30 A.M. and continued to teach
me for six hours. At this time, He gave to me the directions to organize the following
revelations given in December in the following order. It is important to understand the
connection of the Shepherds of Christ Movement and the completion of the Fatima message.
Jesus requested at this time that the apostles study the following revelations. The
understanding of this material is crucial to help bring about the reign of the Sacred
Heart and triumph of her Immaculate Heart.
All quotes from the Bible taken from:
The New Jerusalem Bible (Doubleday, 1985).
[ < Contents ]
December 29, 1996
Message given through Rita Ring
R. "...he who is your teacher will hide no longer, and you will see your teacher with your own eyes." (Isaiah 30:20)
Jesus: Yes, I am the Teacher of whom they speak and I will reveal to them the secrets of My Heart through these writings and the teacher will be brought to light as the children of light are conceived and brought forth from the womb of the woman.
She is the woman clothed as the sun. She is Our Lady of Light bringing forth her children into the world and the devil's deadly influence will be no more for, as children are conceived and dwelling within the Immaculate Heart of My Mother, she will smite the dragon and they will be protected, My children of light.
And they marched together, children of light and children of darkness and in the darkness you could hear the wailing cries go forth and the gnashing of teeth. They cried forth a brutal cry of death as they fell into the everlasting abyss of destruction and doom.
Oh, I warned them all. The Lady appeared, adorned in light. She coaxed
them to come to her heart, the womb in which they would be transformed and know the light
and they said, "No, my Lady, we need not your Immaculate Heart. We are tainted in our
souls and we will remain children of darkness enveloped in our sins, for we wanted our
world and your demands for purity were too high."
R. How could we think Christ's last words on the cross were not important to us? In His dying moments, He gave us His Mother.
He came, our Savior, our King, our Almighty God. He took flesh in her womb, through the power of the Spirit, He was carried in her arms as a helpless baby, He went to the temple and there Simeon said..."Now Master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you promised; because my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared for all the nations to see, a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of your people, Israel." (Luke 2:29-32), and "..You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected--and a sword will pierce your own soul too--so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare." (Luke 2:35).
Israel, being the holy city in which He built His temple, in which He lived, in which the Blessed Virgin walked and talked and carried the Son of God in her womb.
For nine long months she carried Him within her womb. Oh children of Mary, some of you listen to His dying words on the cross, some of you do not hear. And darkness covered the earth. For as Simeon predicted, this child is destined for the rise and fall of many in Israel. Many would reject their Mother. The Lady, clothed as the sun, the woman that carried the Light within her womb for those long nine months while He was formed within her body through the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Counselor, the One who is forming the Church into all it is to be.
Christ showed us the way.
Jesus: I came in this woman. The Holy Spirit sanctifies and makes holy. I, who am God Almighty, perfect holiness, comes in this holy womb and I am born the Light of the World. My Light shines on that night, the day of My birth. I lived and I was carried and I was so close to this woman of light, the one chosen by the Father. I stuck close to her. So important were those years I walked the earth for I showed you, I walked hand-in-hand with you, My creatures, always by the side of Our Mother, your Mother and Mine.
So you think you needn't heed her warnings and her call for purity and prayers? You think she appears over and over again and the Father, Myself, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are pleased with your pride and the audacity found in your hearts? Do you think that you can ignore your Mother and Mine--a gift I gave you at My death? Do you think you can ignore the spouse of the Holy Spirit, the temple in which He dwelt to bring forth the Son of God? Do you think, oh wicked men, that you can ignore Mary, your Mother, the gift I give you on My death bed, the throne they hung Me on? You think, oh audacious men, that My hand will not strike you and smite your pleasure-seeking bodies, when I gave you the greatest riches, the greatest treasures and you spit on Me and walked away!
You have now ignored My Mother and Me. Oh, sinful world, and you will suffer a fate far worse than any chastisement I once planned, to turn you around. She came, the Lady of Light for 14 months, every day and you ignored her and said, "Not I, my Lady, I am wanting for the world."
You did not see her stand at the foot of My cross and see her weep for in her heart she knew from the prophecy of Simeon that some of her children would rise and some would fall and she knew, under the cross, before I officially gave you My Mother in My dying words, that many of her beloved children would be lost forever and she knew the fate to come.
For the hell you will have, oh children of darkness, those who refused the grace-filled womb of My Mother and yours, the hell you will experience is forever! For a few pleasures in the world below you said 'no' to the Lady clothed as the sun and the dragon came and he wiped you off the face of the earth and he took you home with him. You did not go to the heavenly home I had planned for you where there is eternal light and life. You went to the anguishing pit of darkness and she heard your cries, anguishing cries under the cross--her little children--and she cried, "I stood beneath the cross of My son and I cried."
[ < Contents ]
Mary's Message from the Rosary of August 27, 1996
Mary: I stood beneath the cross of my Son, and my heart was in such pain for I saw Him before my eyes. I saw Him covered with blood. I saw Him die. My heart, my children, my heart to watch my Son, but my heart, my heart, how I suffered for my little children of the world that give in to this world and give up the love of my Son. O my little children of light, I give you this message. Carry this light into the darkness for your Mother Mary, for I stood beneath the cross and I cried. I cried for the little ones. I cried for the young ones, the ones that do not care and will lose their souls. How do I make you see for you will not listen to me? What can I do? I come. I appear. I beg. I plead. I give you these gifts from my Son, and you reject me. I do not deliver messages very often anymore for I have been ignored. The message is the same. You do not read the messages I have given to you. Please help me. Help the little children. I appear. I appear. I appear, and I am ignored. I stood beneath the cross, and I cried. I cried, and my heart was in such anguish for my little children, for I am searching for them this day as I searched for the Child Jesus. Please, please help me. I cannot hold back the hand of my Son any longer. I am Mary, your Mother. I ask you to help my children. You are my children of light.
Song: O Lady of Light, shining so bright, be with us this day, guiding our way, O Lady, O Lady of Light.
Mary: I appear to you as Our Mother of Sorrows.
[ < Contents ]
October 5, 1996
Mary: I am Our Lady of the Rosary. The Fatima message will unfold around the Shepherds of Christ Movement. I am begging you, please, publish these Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. I appeared daily for 14 months and delivered rosaries for the world. Why have these rosaries been held back from this world? Souls are dropping into hell. Do you comprehend the importance of these rosaries to the Fatima message?
I have appeared as Our Lady of Light and Our Lady of Sorrows delivering these rosaries.
I am now delivering this message as Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.
A great mission I give to you, my beloved apostles in the Shepherds of Christ Movement is to live these rosaries and spread the messages to the world. You must reach the world with these teachings I am giving in the rosary.
On this October 5, 1996, I beg you as your heavenly Mother to not ignore the importance of these rosaries. I have appeared, I have begged, I have warned you. I cannot hold back the hand of my Son any longer. His hand is struck with power.
Today is the 5th of the month, first Saturday. I beg all to study this message and to tell all that come on October 13th, 1996 the importance of these live rosaries and the completion of the Fatima message.
I am Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. This is the key to watching the Movement spread. I am assisting you in publishing and circulating these rosaries. Anyone who stops the rosary messages and meditations will deal with my Son, Jesus!
Souls are at stake and souls have been lost because of the delays to hold back the messages in God's Blue Book and Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Any negative references in the Movement to these messages displeases my Son for you have been given the greatest gifts in these revelations. I am asking all to help in the circulation of these rosaries and messages. We are communicating to the world majorly in these messages. The completion of the Fatima message is greatly dependent on these messages. Do not give into Satan any longer to block these messages. You are dealing with my Son, Jesus. This is a great gift given to the world. It would please my Son greatly if you expressed to Him your great thanks for the gifts He has given to you. Your answers are found in these messages. They must be studied and recognized for the great gift they are. You were chosen by God to deliver this message to the world. The ingratitude of many displeases my Son greatly. It is now time for the leaders of the Movement and all apostles to support these messages. It is now time to study the content in its entirety. You are missing the key directions because you do not even read the messages.
I am Mary, your Mother. You will be rewarded with the funds needed when you publish these messages and rosaries.
[ < Contents ]
November 9, 1996
Messages given through Rita Ring
Jesus gave four very strong messages concerning these gathering on the 13th. The messages given were on: Oct. 16, 1996, feast of St. Margaret Mary, Oct. 21, 1996, Oct. 30, 1996, and Nov. 3, 1996.
Included are a few excerpts from these urgent messages.
October 16, 1996
Jesus: ...This is a crucial rosary on the 13th of each month to help in the completion of the Fatima message...The 13th is a time to draw you together in harmony...These are My messages, given through Rita, for the Shepherds of Christ Movement. These messages are for you...I tell you of the urgency of these messages. The dark times are at hand...The Rosary from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary is a crucial part of the completion of the Fatima message...
October 21, 1996
Jesus: I Am, Who Am, I am God. These messages are My messages...I am telling you of the importance of the 13th of the month to this world...The 13th is a major part of the completion of the Fatima message...The 13th is of the utmost importance. The tape from October 13 (1996) must be circulated on November 13 (1996)...The time is very short and many will not know because of the delays. I beg you to please circulate this letter immediately.
November 9, 1996
Jesus has requested we...tell you about the importance of the 13th for the spread of the Movement. If at all possible, please attend. These meetings will take place every 13th at 12:00 noon. You will be notified of the location.
Jesus: My dear beloved ones, I am asking you to spend 5-10 minutes daily listening to the live tapes sent to you. These live tapes of the rosaries will instruct you as My apostles. I am pleased with your efforts to obey these directions. You will help many souls to be saved by your effort to listen and act on these live tapes. I am giving to you abundant grace for listening and meditating on the rosaries. I am Jesus. I thank you for answering this urgent message.
[ < Contents ]
First Friday - December 6, 1996
Jesus: I am calling you as a family. You will be joined in one heart, acting as My Heart beating in this world. All the apostles in the Shepherds of Christ Movement are joined in one Heart.
R. The core leaders will contact the coordinators. The coordinators will contact the individual apostles. All are apostles with a job directed by Jesus to do. Her peace plan was given at Fatima:
His plan centers around this.
We have heads functioning in the individual ministries. Everything we do leads to consecration of hearts. As the apostles press on the three institutions, the Church, family, and school to help spread the consecration, the strayed ones will be led home to His Heart.
Mary said at Fatima until a sufficient number of people have consecrated their hearts to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, we will not have peace in the world.
The present condition of the world
Peace will come when hearts are hearts of love. The scales must shift. It will happen through the consecration. Mary's peace plan: until a sufficient amount of people consecrate their hearts to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, we will not have peace.
The Father looks to the earth; He sees much darkness.
The Father looks to the earth. There are few hearts fervently in love with God. The hearts of love light up the earth. It is as lights on a Christmas tree. It is sparsely lighted by a few hearts. Therefore, the tree looks dark.
As the Shepherds of Christ Movement spreads (as well as other movements focused on spreading consecration to Their Hearts) the tree is covered with more hearts and the earth becomes more lighted.
The tree is covered with hearts consecrated to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The tree is illuminated.
As the Shepherds of Christ apostles spread the consecration to the Church, the family, and the school, the tree is covered with lights and the earth is covered with the fire of His love.
The Father looks to the earth now. He is displeased with the hearts of men. The Father wants us to love God and love each other. He wants us to live according to His will in love.
Mary appears at Fatima. She tells us that we are offending God. She tells us what we must do. Mary's peace plan:
Mary said there will be an era of peace, no matter what we do, in which the Sacred Heart of Jesus will reign and the Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph.
Man disobeys, the devil blocks the Fatima message. World War II happens just as Mary said.
Mary appeared to me for 14 months daily. She gives us the same message as Fatima. Jesus and Mary give us God's Blue Book and Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He writes His message of love on our hearts. His life lives in our hearts. The Scripture and the Mass live in our hearts.
In the Shepherds of Christ Movement, our focus is on the priest.
[ < Contents ]
I saw today, our home is the Heart of Christ. Mary is the gate-keeper of this most sacred place. The Lord, the Good Shepherd, is leading us home to His Heart. We are fed on His life. The graces flow abundantly in the Mass and the sacraments through the priest. Christ has chosen them to be special, the chosen ones, anointed, through which His life flows. The priest is another Christ to the world.
Jesus is angered. Mary is the gate-way to the Heart of Christ. She is the key for the priest to have such oneness with Christ. Many priests are bitter in their hearts toward Mary. They do not honor her, respect her, or love her. The Holy Spirit is espoused to Mary. The priest must love Mary to be united to God.
The life flows from the Father, in the Holy Spirit through the pierced Heart of Christ. The fountain of Divine life flows through Mary, through the priest to us. The priest celebrates the Mass, acting as another Christ and administers the sacraments. The more he is one with Christ, the more grace flows through him, the more the people are fed.
Jesus picked the priest. He chose them. He gave them this great gift. The priest is given the highest honor to be another Christ, to celebrate Mass, to consecrate bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, to baptize, to forgive sins, to administer other sacraments.
Jesus is wounded by his ungrateful priests. Many do not treasure this great gift given to them. Jesus laments. He is angered. He cries out, "Many priests do not love My Mother; they do not love Me. They are the Shepherds to lead the stray ones back home (back to His Heart)."
John 10: 2-3:
"The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the
flock; the gatekeeper lets him in..."
Mary is the gate-keeper; there is not another pure and sinless human person. We cannot enter any other way because we are sinners. He gave us the sinless one as the way we enter into His most Sacred Heart. The fountain of life flows from His Heart through the pierced wound.
Mary is the gate-keeper. Satan is trying to separate the priest from Mary. Satan does not want the priest to be one with Christ for he is the one who celebrates the Mass and administers the sacraments. So Satan vehemently attacks the priest who is the main administrator of this fountain of life. So Satan has waged a war against the priest and Mary.
Mary is the key to oneness with Christ. Only in going through the pure and sinless one will we be one with Christ. It is in this oneness with Christ that the graces flow.
Many priests are like a clogged pipe. The grace does not flow as freely as Christ wants, because they are divided from Mary and attached to the world.
Consecration to Mary and Jesus is the way home to the depth of His Heart, our little heaven on earth. We are barely scratching the surface of His Heart. We must enter deeply into His Heart for the grace to flow as fire across the earth. The fire of His love will cover the earth when priests' hearts are consecrated to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and celebrating the Mass.
Oh fountain of life! The lance pierced His Heart deeply. The thorns surrounding His Heart, press in deeply. Many today love Him with a shallow love.
The words in the Mass and Scriptures are not tasted deep within. The depth is not there. We must love Him with our whole heart, our whole soul, and our whole being.
We must pray for the priests as Jesus has instructed us. It is through the priestly newsletter that Jesus will lead the priests to dwell deeply in His Heart. It is our job in the Shepherds of Christ Movement to be His Shepherds to help lead the strayed ones back to His Heart.
We become one in His Heart, through the great grace He is giving to us in the Movement as promised to Fr. Carter July 31, 1994:
...I will give great graces to the members of the Shepherds of Christ Associates. I will call them to be deeply united to My Heart and to Mary's Heart as I lead them ever closer to My Father in the Holy Spirit.
As we become one in His Heart we are leading the strayed ones home to His Heart through the consecration. There will be one flock and one Shepherd as hearts are led home to His Heart through the consecration. We are shepherding His flock as we spread the consecration to the churches, schools, and families.
We are richly fed with the Eucharist. We encourage the priests to read the priestly newsletter. We ask them to start prayer chapters in the churches centered in consecration, and we beg them to leave the church open so people can spend time with Jesus before the tabernacle.
The institutions are intact, we must encourage them to consecrate their hearts. We are attempting to reach the school children with the consecration and the rosary. We are trying to reach the family with starting prayer chapters in their homes and daily praying the consecration and rosary together.
Mary has asked us to observe the first Saturday devotion. If many did this, many, many souls would be saved. It is all in the spirit of reparation, we give our love to God. For Mary's and Jesus' Heart have greatly been offended. We must make reparation to our God.
The Father looks to the earth. He wants one happy family in which we are loving each other as real brothers. He showed us the depth of His love that he laid down His life for us. This is the love He wants from us.
He wants us to be one happy family in the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Deeply loving one another, deeply united in love that we would love as He showed us how to love, that we would lay down our lives for our brother.
We are the leaders to lead men into this new era. This is the good news as we spread the consecration and the Shepherds of Christ Movement across the earth. Our heavenly Mother has promised peace to the world.
There is not another way. This is Jesus' instrument to help renew the Church and the world. It is through the Shepherds of Christ Movement and Fr. Carter the fire of His love will spread across the earth.
An immense amount of grace will be outpoured. Hearts will fervently love God. We will be one body in Him. We will be one, happy family as the Father intends - loving God and one another.
December 29, 1996 Continued...
Jesus: "Yahweh has said: Because this people approaches me only in words, honors me only with lip service while its heart is far from me, and my religion, as far as it is concerned, is nothing but human commandment, a lesson memorized..." (Isaiah 29:13)
I will write the messages of My love on their hearts through you, Fr. Carter and Rita. I will renew the Church and the world greatly through these writings.
My Mother appears and they ignore My Mother. I am talking to you, Fr. Carter. I must make you understand the importance of these revelations to the church and the world.
I beg you to focus all your attention on releasing these writings for the world in their entirety.
I am the Teacher, "He who is your teacher will hide no longer and you will see your teacher with your own eyes." (Isaiah 30:20)
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December 27, 1996
Title: The Mass and Fatima
Can I tell you what it is like, for all eternity, to want God so much and to know you will never have Him? This is the fate of the souls in hell.
I plead and I beg to circulate this book (The Mass Book) that all may fervently love God through the Mass, that His life will flow copiously through the hands of consecrated priests.
This is the center of it all: holy, consecrated priests celebrating the Mass.
We have disobeyed the Fatima message. In Lucia's vision of 1929 we see how the life, His divine life, is flowing from the Father, in the Holy Spirit, through the pierced Heart of Jesus, through Mary's heart--held in her left hand--offering this to Lucia. We see the drops of blood pouring forth from His wounds.
It is through the hands of consecrated priests the grace will flow copiously. Oh, God, have mercy on men for they have sinned. They will die a death far worse than any fate on this earth. They will die the death of the soul.
Lucia saw this vision: Our Lady of Fatima stood beneath the right arm of her Son. Mary appeared at Fatima. She gave her peace plan to the world. Mary was sent by the Father to tell men they are sinning and offending God and they must repent.
Lucia said she received lights into the mystery of the Trinity. The lights I have received into the mystery of God's love were received in the Mass. His burning, undying love for us. When priests are holy priests and consecrated to the heart of Mary and the Heart of Jesus, the grace will flow and the light will cover the earth. The light will be the fire coming forth from the pierced Heart of Jesus, adored and loved in the Sacrifice of the Mass.
Then the light will steal across the sky and the dark hearts will be turned to light. This will only happen when priests and the faithful consecrate their hearts to Jesus and Mary as she requested at Fatima.
We become one in this Sacrifice of the Mass. We must unite all of our activities all through the day to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We are one with Jesus and Mary when we consecrate our hearts to Them and we are one with each other, for if I am in Their Hearts and you are in Their Hearts, we are one in Their Hearts.
We are now a people walking in darkness for we have disobeyed Our Lady.
All of the great gifts of God are in place and grace is coming forth from the Mass and from our prayers but the day of the deluge is at hand, when the flood gates will be open and grace will pour forth from the pierced Heart of Christ as in Sr. Faustina's Divine Mercy picture.
When hearts are consecrated to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and the holy priests are celebrating the Mass and are united at every moment to that sacrifice, we will be immensely united and the fountain of God's life will flow on the earth and with this, His great mercy.
There will be this great era of peace in which the Sacred Heart of Jesus will reign and the Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph.
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December 7, 1996 First Saturday -
Revelations on the Light
Isaiah 30: 19-26:
Yes, people of Zion living in Jerusalem,
you will weep no more.
He will be gracious to you when your cry for help rings out;
as soon as he hears it, he will answer you.
When the Lord has given you the bread of suffering
and the water of distress,
he who is your teacher will hide no longer,
and you will see your teacher with your own eyes.
Your ears will hear these words behind you,
'This is the way, keep to it,' whether you turn to right or left.
You will hold unclean the silverplating of your idols
and goldplating of your images.
You will throw them away like the polluted things they are,
shouting after them, 'Good riddance!'
He will send rain for the seed you sow in the ground,
and the bread that the ground provides will be rich and nourishing.
That day, your cattle will graze in wide pastures.
Oxen and donkeys that work the land
will eat for fodder wild sorrel,
spread by the shovel-load and fork-load.
On every lofty mountain, on every high hill
there will be streams and water-courses, on the day of the great slaughter
when the strongholds fall.
Then moonlight will be bright as sunlight
and sunlight itself be seven times brighter
-like the light of seven days in one-
on the day Yahweh dresses his people's wound
and heals the scars of the blows they have received."
Isaiah 40:1-8:
'Console my people, console them,'
says your God.
'Speak to the heart of Jerusalem
and cry to her
that her period of service is ended,
that her guilt has been atoned for,
that, from the hand of Yahweh, she has received
double punishment for all her sins.'
A voice cries, 'Prepare in the desert
a way for Yahweh.
Make a straight highway for our God
across the wastelands.
Let every valley be filled in,
every mountain and hill be levelled,
every cliff become a plateau,
every escarpment a plain;
then the glory of Yahweh will be revealed
and all humanity will see it together,
for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.'
A voice said, 'Cry aloud!' and I said, 'What shall I cry?'
-'All humanity is grass
and all its beauty like the wild flower's.
The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of Yahweh blows on them.
(The grass is surely the people.)
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God remains for ever.'
Song: A Voice Cries Out in the Wilderness
Adam and Eve are given great gifts and insights into God. They sin, the light of knowing God is dimmed because of their sin. They do not know God as they did before the sin.
Christ comes, He is the Light of the World. He dies, He gives Himself. He shares His life with us through sanctifying grace.
Through Baptism we receive this sharing in His divine life. The more He shares His life, the more we are saturated with His life, the more we know Him. He reveals Himself to us--we see the light.
The Kingdom of God is at hand. It is all here: the Mass, the Eucharist, God giving Himself.
To partake more in His life we must give ourselves to Him.
Mary appears to Bernadette. She tells her she is the "Immaculate Conception." We are sinners, but through Mary, the pure and sinless one, we can unite deeply in Him.
We are in darkness in varying degrees. The more we are saturated with His life, the more we see.
The reign of God is at hand. Since He came to the earth, everything is in place to see the light.
God is giving to us great graces to see the light now. He is lifting the veil.
There will be the era of peace.
Isaiah 30:26:
"Then moonlight will be bright as sunlight
and sunlight itself be seven times brighter
-like the light of seven days in one-..."
We see the darkness. As at night, we do not see the colorful leaves, they are there, we do not see them.
In the morning light, we see the glory of the beautiful day, the colorful leaves.
As the light steals across the sky, we see more and more. As the sun gradually comes up, we see more clearly the beauty of the leaves.
At first, our vision is not so clear because the light does not show in
its deepest intensity. As the sun comes up we see more and more vividly until finally we
see clearly the beauty of the colorful leaves.
Isaiah 30:26:
"Then moonlight will be bright as sunlight
and sunlight itself be seven times brighter
-like the light of seven days in one-..."
In a message to Fr. Carter on July 31, 1994, Jesus has promised us: "I will give great graces to the members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. I will call them to be deeply united to My Heart and to Mary's heart as I lead them ever closer to My Father in the Holy Spirit."
As stated above, the more we are saturated with his life, the more we are one in Him, the more clearly we see. It is in this union, in the depth of His Heart, that we receive such life, that we know Him with great clarity, that we are given this vision of God.
It is not with "eyes" that we see, but the illumination is in the knowing power that He gives to us. He reveals insights into the divine mysteries. We share most intimately with Him when we are one with Him in the Mass and after Communion. These are treasured moments in which He gives us a special sharing to know Him, our Divine Lover.
We see clearly when our hearts are hearts of love. We see vividly when our hearts are filled with love and peace. We were created to love, to love God and love each other.
Adam and Eve sinned. They lost the great gift given to them. The light of knowing God was dimmed because of their sin.
Christ comes into the world. He is the Word. He is the light of the world. He comes to save man from his sin. He comes in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Mary is the pure and sinless one. Jesus comes to pay the price for the sin of Adam and for our sins. We are all tainted by this sin of our first father and mother. Mary is the Immaculate and pure one, the highest human person. Divinity unites with humanity in the womb of Mary. They are one. Jesus is carried within the body of His mother. Such unity from the beginning, for His life is formed within her body. Is it surprising to us, then, if Christ comes within the womb of the Virgin Mary, that we too must go through Mary to unite to Him? Where is the pride in the hearts of men that think they do not have to go through their Mother Mary? If Christ comes in the womb of Mary to pay the price for man's sins, and we are tainted by the sin, in order to unite to the Almighty God who is all holy, we must go through the pure and sinless one.
Adam and Eve sinned. The Father sends His Son into the world to pay the price for man's sins. Jesus is the New Adam; Mary is the New Eve. Man continues to sin, greatly displeasing God. The Father allows Mary to appear to Bernadette at Lourdes as the Immaculate Conception, as having been conceived without original sin. The Father then allows Mary to appear to the children of Fatima as the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
We are sinners, we cannot unite closely to Him unless we go through Mary.
Mary is the pure and sinless one. We can unite deeply to Him. We are in darkness in varying degrees. The more we are saturated with His life, the more we see.
The reign of God is at hand. He came to the earth, He died, He rose on the third day. He gave to the Apostles the power to change bread and wine into His Body and Blood. He gave to them the power to forgive sins. He established His Church pouring forth from His pierced side. We do not see the great gifts that He has given to us. He is giving to us great insights into these gifts. God is giving to us great graces to see the light now. He is lifting the veil.
There will be an era of peace and all will see with such light as Isaiah speaks of in chapter 30, verse 26:
"Then moonlight will be bright as sunlight
and sunlight itself be seven times brighter
-like the light of seven days in one-..."
Man sinned. Jesus came to redeem us. Man is still so sinful. Mary appears at Fatima. She tells us that we are offending God, that we must make reparation to her heart and the heart of her Son.
She gives us the peace plan for the world. She tells us that the Sacred Heart of Jesus will reign and her Immaculate Heart will triumph but we must do what she says. The Church has approved Fatima. The devil has blocked the message. How can we disobey our Mother? How can we ignore her? Mary appeared at Fatima and was ignored. Mary appeared to me almost daily for 14 months--she does not appear as she once did. Jesus has told me that He will handle these messages, that He is in charge, that the plan of the Father will unfold despite any person's willfulness.
In August 1996, Mary spoke in the rosary: she said she could not hold back the hand of her Son any longer. On the 5th of this month, instead of Mary appearing as she had in the past, Jesus appeared alive on the crucifix with His mouth moving for twenty minutes. We are not listening to Mary or to Jesus. Man has sinned. Jesus came to redeem us. Mary tells us what we must do. Men are disobedient. They disobeyed their Mother. They do not do what she told them what they must do at Fatima. When hearts are consecrated to Jesus and Mary they become holy hearts, deeply one with God. The reign of the Sacred Heart is at hand for He has given to us abundant grace that we are seeing with such clarity this vision of God. He has imparted to us understanding into His divine mysteries.
The more we focus on what Jesus and Mary have told us, the more we will have peace. He is angered by the willfulness of man. He will get their attention. We are spreading the good news when we spread the consecration.
We must heed the words of our Mother. She will not go away because of willful men. We have angered God more by ignoring her. There is only one way: it is the plan that Mary has given to us at Fatima. He is lifting the veil for those whose hearts are consecrated to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Many in the Shepherds of Christ Movement are fervently loving Him. In the Shepherds of Christ Movement, as the apostles spread the consecration to the Church, the family, and the school, the fire of His love will cover the earth and it will be lighted with this love coming from the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Sacred Heart of Jesus will reign and the Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph.
We, in the Shepherds of Christ Movement, are spreading the fire of His love across the earth through the consecration.
The hearts of men will turn from their sick and desolate ways to hearts gentle as a little lamb. There will be one flock and one Shepherd and His staff will rule over all. Hearts consecrated to Their Hearts will lead the light across the earth. This light will be a light of intense brightness, brighter and hotter than any light from a flame. It will be the fire of God's love. The Spirit will move in all hearts consecrated to His Heart, and we will know how fire truly spreads, for the love of God is a fire, it is vibrant, it is encompassing, it is smoldering, burning deep within and speedily spreading on the outside. No fires on this earth can ever describe the burning embers that burn from the Sacred Heart of Jesus. No fire burns like the fires coming from His Heart and hearts filled with the love from the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
On October 13, 1917 Our Lady gave to Lucia and 70,000 spellbound people, a great vision: the sun spun in the sky, casting off great lights. This happened three times in about 12 minutes. As quoted from Our Lady of Fatima's Peace Plan from Heaven:
It seemed that the whole world was on fire with the sun spinning at a greater speed each time. Then a gasp of terror rose from the crowd for the sun seemed to tear itself from the heavens and come crashing down upon the horrified multitudes...just when it seemed that the ball of fire would fall upon and destroy them, the miracle ceased, and the sun resumed its normal place in the sky, shining forth as peacefully as ever.
Mary gave this tremendous sign at Fatima and people did not listen. The events that followed were as she had predicted since we disobeyed her. There was a brutal war, WWII. Mary appeared to me (Rita Ring) almost daily - very few have listened. She told me over and over again of the souls going to hell. She told me in August she could not hold back the hand of her Son anymore. Adam and Eve sinned. God, the Father, sent His Son. Man continues to sin--the Father sends Mary but she is ignored!
On July 2, 1996, my son, Joseph, was taking pictures of all of the Shepherds of Christ members at Tom Arlinghaus' farm. He took one picture of each person. Jesus told me to tell him to take two pictures of Fr. Carter. The first picture was a normal picture. The second picture was of Fr. Carter covered with a pillar of light.
In front of a statue of Our Sorrowful Mother, Mary was alive in the statue.
Jesus: "Peace will abound when nations, churches, families, and individuals are consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Shepherds of Christ Movement...is a pillar of light in the darkness."
R. We must encourage all to consecrate their hearts to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to join the Shepherds of Christ chapters, and the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Movement, to pray for our Church and our world.
Jesus: This is My Movement for renewal of the Church and the world, based in consecration, joining your every act to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, praying the rosary, and making reparation to Our Hearts, especially on first Fridays and first Saturday. It is through your prayers and sacrifices many souls will be saved. Grace will flow from those whose hearts are consecrated to Our Hearts and the fire of My love will light up this darkened world.
R. Many are living in darkness because they are not obeying Our Lady. The people will see the light when they obey her and consecrate their hearts to her heart and the Heart of Jesus.
To have this intense union with Jesus, with God, we must give ourselves to Our Lady. It is there in the intimacy with Him that we are saturated with His life and that He reveals to us great lights, great insights into His divine mysteries. Yes, indeed, the light will steal across the earth and the hearts of men will be hearts filled with His love. They will know their God with great light imparted to them by the Holy Spirit given to them because of the deep union that they have with Jesus. The reign of the Sacred Heart is at hand. He is giving to us these great lights at this time for He has lifted the veil and we see many things and the light steals across the sky and we see with clear vision.
Isaiah 30: 26:
"Then moonlight will be bright as sunlight
and sunlight itself be seven times brighter
-like the light of seven days in one-..."
Isaiah 30: 25:
"On every lofty mountain, on every high hill
there will be streams and water-courses, on the day of the great slaughter
when the strongholds fall."
Truly His Heart is the fountain of divine life. It flows through the Church, through the hands of His holy priests. When priests are consecrated to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and celebrating the Mass, and administering the sacraments, an immense amount of His grace will be outpoured on the earth.
A people in darkness have seen a great light. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, the Light of the World!
Our Father...thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We will all love as the Father intends, for now He looks to the earth and He sees it covered with darkness. As hearts are consecrated to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the earth will be covered with His light.
Revelation 12:1-12:
Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, robed with the sun, standing on the moon, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant, and in labor, crying aloud in the pangs of childbirth. Then a second sign appeared in the sky: there was a huge red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and each of the seven heads crowned with a coronet. Its tail swept a third of the stars from the sky and hurled them to the ground, and the dragon stopped in front of the woman as she was at the point of giving birth, so that he could eat the child as soon as it was born. The woman was delivered of a boy, the Son who was to rule all the nations with an iron scepter, and the child was taken straight up to God and to his throne, while the woman escaped into the desert, where God had prepared a place for her to be looked after for twelve hundred and sixty days.
And now war broke out in heaven, when Michael with his angels attacked the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels, but they were defeated and driven out of heaven. The great dragon, the primeval serpent, known as the devil or Satan, who had led all the world astray, was hurled down to the earth and his angels were hurled down with him. Then I heard a voice shout from heaven, 'Salvation and power and empire for ever have been won by our God, and all authority for his Christ, now that the accuser, who accused our brothers day and night before our God, has been brought down. They have triumphed over him by the blood of the lamb and by the word to which they bore witness, because even in the face of death they did not cling to life. So let the heavens rejoice and all who live there; but for you, earth and sea, disaster is coming-because the devil has gone down to you in a rage, knowing that he has little time left.'
We are in her spiritual womb (heart). She is pregnant, bringing forth her children of light. As we go to her heart, she crushes the head of the serpent. Some of the brightest stars that will light up the earth are in the Shepherds of Christ Movement. We are the children of light. We are being sent forth as she brings us forth her children of light to stamp out the darkness. We must give ourselves to Mary.
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December 27, 1996 Conclusion
In Lucia's vision of 1929, Lucia saw Our Lady of Fatima under Jesus' right arm. He will put her peace plan into action. We have ignored her.
On October 13, 1917 Mary gave the following message:
I am the Lady of the Rosary. I have come to warn the faithful to amend their lives and to ask pardon for their sins. They must not offend Our Lord anymore for He is already too grievously offended by the sins of men. People must say the Rosary. Let them continue praying it everyday.20
Mary told Jacinta:
Priests must be pure, very pure. They should not busy themselves with anything except what concerns the Church and souls. The disobedience of priests to their superiors and to the Holy Father is very displeasing to Our Lord.
I can no longer restrain the hand of my Divine Son from striking the world with just punishments for its many crimes.21
God allowed the world to suffer the brutal war after Mary was ignored. God is angry with the world. He is all just.
The second message of the angel says:
Pray, Pray a great deal. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary have merciful designs on you. Offer prayers and sacrifices continually to the Most High. Make everything you do a sacrifice and offer it as an act of reparation for the sins by which God is offended and as a petition for the conversion of sinners.22
We must unite our every action as a sacrifice to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass all over the world.
In the fall of the same year, the angel visited the visionaries a final time:
The angel came...bearing a golden chalice in one hand and a Host above it in the other. The amazed children noticed that drops of blood were falling from the Host into the chalice. Presently, the angel left both suspended in mid-air and prostrated himself on the ground, saying this beautiful prayer: "Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly. I offer you the most precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges, and indifference by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred heart of Jesus and the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners.23
"Sr. Lucia relates how the angel gave them Communion:
Then, rising, he took the chalice and the Host in his hand. He gave the Sacred Host to me and shared the Blood from the chalice between Jacinta and Francisco, saying as he did so:
'Take and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, horribly outraged by ungrateful men! Make reparation for their crimes and console your God.'24 "25
"The Angel also reminded us that the Eucharist is at the center of the Church's life. And, very importantly, in each of his three messages, the angel drew attention to the critical role which the Hearts of Jesus and Mary play in our Christian lives:
Another remarkable fact is that in each of the three apparitions, the Angel already mentions the Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary, as though linked to one another by an indissoluble union. The account of the first apparition even presents a striking phrase which seems to have been hardly noticed. After having taught this completely God-centered prayer, "My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love you," the angel added: "Pray thus, The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications." We pray to God and it is the Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary that hear and answer our prayers! How could it better express the truth that we can only go to God, and it is the Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary that hear and answer our prayers! How could it better express the truth that we can only go to God and please Him by this unique and universal meditation?
Similarly, in the summer of 1916, when the Angel announces to the three seers their future vocations, it is the Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary that appear in the foreground as the inseparable mediators of the "Father of Mercies." "The Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary," he tells them, "have designs of mercy on you."
Finally, the third time, in the prayer of Eucharistic offering, it is by "the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and [the intercession of] the Immaculate Heart of Mary," that the Angel begs "the conversion of poor sinners" of the Trinity.
With this constant thought of the mediation of the Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary, we are already at the very center of the Message of Fatima.26"27
The key to bringing about the reign of the Sacred Heart and triumph of Mary's Immaculate Heart, centers in consecration. It is through consecrated hearts joining as one, united at every second to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass being offered around the world, that grace will be spilled out in abundant proportions on the earth. We need His life!
December 29, 1996 Continued...
Jesus: I am teaching the world through these writings. The secrets of My Heart I reveal in these messages.
I have revealed Myself in these writings as never before. I will form their hearts and make them whole as they read the writings I write on their hearts.
I have revealed the secrets of My Heart to My beloved ones.
My last words under the cross were words in which I gave you My Mother.
I am speechless. I am the man on the cross that is not heard. I beg you to study My messages for the souls of the faithful will turn to the light through these writings.
I am the Light of the World. My Mother is Our Lady of Light. We are leading the children deeply into Our Hearts with these writings.
The reign of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart will come about. These writings are major to the completion of My Mother's work begun at Fatima.
You must let go of other distractions in your life and study these messages. I will teach the world the secrets of My Heart through your two hearts.
The Mass Book must be published immediately. I have given to you the deadline of January 15 to have the book to the censor for the imprimatur. Pray for the success of these writings. The devil will do everything to stop you.
My directions are clear. Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary will draw many hearts to the woman clothed with the sun.
R. We are not working separately, we are working harmoniously as the beating Heart of Christ to the world.
Jesus: You must focus on the Mass in your writings. I ask Fr. Carter to work with Rita on the Mass section of the book in the beginning and to include this in your newsletter. Your writings will lead the world to My Heart, which is their home.
Holy priests celebrating the Mass will light the world with the fire of My love.
They must be priests loving their Mother and celebrating the Mass with hearts consecrated to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
This consecration will bring about the unity of hearts. All will be united throughout the world in one mind and one heart in the Mass.
I beg you to listen to these revelations and to use them in your newsletter.
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From the Message of December 19, 1996:
Jesus: And the light shone in the darkness and the darkness grasped it not, but to as many as responded, they became the children of the light and from them His life flowed into the hearts that were cold and dark and slowly, very slowly, the light began to steal across the darkened sky and the moon was covered with blood. The blood was the blood of the Lamb. The blood represented the blood He shed to give us life.
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From the Message of December 22, 1996:
Jesus: And the moon will be covered with blood. It was the blood of the Lamb and it poured forth on a sinful world to cleanse them of their sin, and I give you My Body and Blood in the Mass and I am ignored.
R. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us...
John talks about the light. John was given Mary as his Mother. He knew she was the Lady of Light and he was a son of the light.
John 1:1-10:
In the beginning was the Word:
The Word was with God
And the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through Him all things came into being,
Not one thing came into being except through Him.
What has come into being in Him was life,
Life that was the light of men;
And light shines in darkness,
And darkness could not overpower it.
A man came, sent by God.
His name was John.
He came as a witness,
To bear witness to the light,
So that everyone might believe through him.
He was not the light,
He was to bear witness to the light.
The Word was the real light
That gives light to everyone;
He was coming into the world.
He was in the world
That had come into being through him,
And the world did not recognize him.
R. Jesus is alive in the Holy Eucharist this day. He is ignored. He is treated with great indifference.
Many are not even aware that God is truly present. Many do not even know what is going on. This is His lamenting cry from the tabernacle.
John 1:11-14:
He came to his own
And his own people did not accept Him.
But to those who did accept Him
He gave power to become children of God,
To those who believe in his name
Who were born not from human stalk
Or human desire
Or human will
But from God himself.
The Word became flesh,
He lived among us,
And we saw His glory,
The glory that he has from the Father as only Son of the Father,
Full of grace and truth.
We, His people, have not yet seen His glory in its fullness.
Until we go to the womb of Mary, we will not be children of light to the degree God desires. We are walking in partial darkness. She told us at Fatima what we must do to bring about the reign of the Sacred Heart, when men will see with the light that will be brighter than seven suns.
The two messages that follow are very strong messages received from Jesus (December 19, 1996 and December 22, 1996).
Mary also delivered a short, urgent message on December 19, 1996.
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December 19, 1996
Message given through Rita Ring
Received in a few minutes after Communion
St. Gertrude Church
Jesus: My Beloved Ones,
You will know a great time of trial and darkness. I have written to you of the great sufferings to come. The sinfulness of this world greatly displeases Me. I beg you to pray for forgiveness and turn your hearts to love.
And darkness covered the earth and the light was cast in little corners of the earth. Those who were willful remained in intense darkness, those who were rooted in God, and giving themselves to consecration, were the children of the light.
And the light shown in the darkness and the darkness grasped it not, but to as many as responded, they became the children of the light and from them His life flowed into the hearts that were cold and dark and slowly, very slowly, the light began to steal across the darkened sky and the moon was covered with blood. The blood was the blood of the Lamb. The blood represented the blood He shed to give us life. But the blind just saw ordinary blood and were scared to death. They responded with the greatest fright and lacked peace, but those rooted in God, those whose hearts were consecrated to Mary and Jesus, knew the sign was from God--that the time of reckoning was at hand. Many were punished and suffered a great chastisement. Many were left to death, but the children of light prayed the rosary and trusted in God.
And the night was no more for the light of day came stealing across the sky and myriads of angels filled the sky and the heavens. Sing Alleluia, Praise the Lord, you saints and angels, show yourselves to the survivors for they walked in darkness and could not see, but the light was alive in their hearts and they dwelt within the furnace of His Heart.
Have no fear now, My people, for you are the children of the light and My hand is forever upon you. You may suffer now a little, but it is nothing compared to the splendor to come.
R. Oh, reign of peace, reign of the Sacred Heart, triumph of her Immaculate Heart, we wait for you anxiously for the nights have been cold and dark and we cried a bitter cry in the darkness but we knew of the glories to come for we forever trusted in You and Your mighty hand.
Your hand is struck with power. The Virgin Mary warned the poor children that died an eternal death to mind their ways and they cried out, "Not me, oh, no, God -- your ways are stiff necked and cruel. I want for foolish pleasure now and tomorrow will care for itself."
And the Lord called and called and they marched into the darkness with cold hearts, telling the Almighty God, 'no'.
Mary: Oh, my children, my little children of light, the time is nigh and many will be lost forever. I appeared and warned and told all to mind their ways and come to the Heart of my Son and they said "No, my Lady, not for you or any mother. We are children of darkness and that we remain, for we seek our pleasure by day and feast on sin all night and when you called, mother, we laughed at your Son and ignored Him and His ways." And He called and His call fell on deaf ears.
Please, my children of light, come to my heart now for although you walked next to the children of darkness. I smite the dragon that whirled around you and protected you in my heart and you will now feast on the glories of His Kingdom, my little children of light.
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December 22, 1996:
Jesus: Brace yourselves in the Shepherds of Christ. You want to be Christ-like. Is this the true desire in your heart or is it just words like the other words you give to Me?
Brace yourselves. I will lead the way with My rod and My staff, but you must be strong to follow for the way is rocky and the rocks are sharp. They cut through to the soul. They cut through to your heart.
You will be brought to your knees, you will beg for Me, you will be molded and helped with in the abundant grace flowing from My Heart. My little shepherd, so willful and so stupid in your ways, but I love you just the same to My death, child. I love you and you do not see that all I give to you is for your good.
I am not angry with you, My messenger. You must suffer now to write My messages for the world. How could you write had you not experienced My pain in your soul? You are My hand, that I am using to write the messages of My Heart for the world. My Heart was crowned with thorns. So, too, will your heart be pierced and wanting to bleed. Bleed, little heart, My Heart bled for you.
And the moon will be covered with blood. It was the blood of the Lamb and it poured forth on a sinful world to cleanse them of their sin, and I give you My Body and Blood in the Mass and I am ignored.
He slapped their hands and He smite their cheeks and they laughed in their pain and continued their willful ways. But the day of reckoning is at hand and I will separate the sheep from the goats and the sheep I will take home with Me. The goats will know a day as they never knew before for My justice will prevail.
When I warned they would not turn from their evil ways and I could not reach them. They walked as blind men down the path of destruction and who would have thought that the end of the road was so near. And at the end of the road they continued to walk for in the darkness they could not see and they fell into an everlasting pit of doom and suffering.
Justice will prevail. I am a good God. Justice and truth will kiss. When I gave to them My warning they said, "Oh no, Lord," and continued their sinful ways.
The time is at hand. My efforts and yours were in vain. I will wipe their sick smiles from their evil mouths and they will suffer forever the death of the soul.
I will not have mercy on these hard-necked cowards who thought, in their pride, they could smite Me. I will throw the book at them and they will suffer for their sinful ways.
Woe to them who led My children astray. Woe to them. They will burn the eternal death of intense suffering for the murder of My young. And who will help them then? They will know a death beyond all deaths and suffering beyond all suffering. For a few moments of pleasure, they lost their souls forever.
I am a just and merciful God. I give water to quench your thirst, I bathe you in My divine love, but to the evil doers, I will curse their name and wipe them from the face of the earth. I have spoken. Justice will prevail. My hand is struck with power. The senseless ones will know My might.
Who will you call? You said 'no' to God and He struck you for your sinful ways.
All honor and glory be to God for He has visited His people and they cast Him aside. I will light the earth with My love and the dark hearts will curse the night for they will be no more.
And justice will flourish in His time and fullness of peace forever.
I have spoken. The deaf will not hear. My hand is the hand of God and it is struck with power.
I say to the grass to grow and it grows, to the sun to shine and it shines and to you I say, "Be ready for you know not the day nor the hour. I come as a thief in the night to take your soul home to Me. Will you be ready or will you be caught unprepared?"
Prepare ye a way to the Lord. Make ready His steps, My shepherds. I guard you but you will suffer. You must be strong and not caught off guard.
Purify your souls for I am coming and the earth will know My light this Christmas for I will shine in the hearts of the just. I will shine on My shepherds this Christmas. My light will shine in the hearts of those consecrated to My Heart and the heart of My Mother.
Alleluia, a King is born this day. Put aside your silly ways, your bows and tinsel, and praise God. He is in your midst. He reigns this day. You are ignoring the King of Glory. Oh, sinful world, you are in for a weird awakening.
And the light stole across the sky and the light of day shown brighter than seven suns, not to the eye but in the hearts of His faithful ones, the hearts consecrated to God.
December 29, 1996 Continued...
R. He is still with us, we are walking in partial darkness. In order to see the light more fully, to comprehend this glory which John speaks of, we must do as Mary said at Fatima--we must go through her heart and be born more and more as children of the light - then we will see.
On December 22 (1996), Jesus said: "And the moon will be covered with blood. It was the blood of the Lamb and it poured forth on a sinful world to cleanse them of their sin and I give you My Body and My Blood in the Mass and I am ignored."
Revelations 12:1-12:
Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, robed with the sun, standing on the moon, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant, and in labor, crying aloud in the pangs of childbirth. Then a second sign appeared in the sky: there was a huge red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and each of the seven heads crowned with a coronet. Its tail swept a third of the stars from the sky and hurled them to the ground, and the dragon stopped in front of the woman as she was at the point of giving birth, so that he could eat the child as soon as it was born. The woman was delivered of a boy, the Son who was to rule all the nations with an iron scepter, and the child was taken straight up to God and to his throne, while the woman escaped into the desert, where God had prepared a place for her to be looked after for twelve hundred and sixty days.
And now war broke out in heaven, when Michael with his angels attacked the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels, but they were defeated and driven out of heaven. The great dragon, the primeval serpent, known as the devil or Satan, who had led all the world astray, was hurled down to the earth and his angels were hurled down with him. Then I heard a voice shout from heaven, 'Salvation and power and empire for ever have been won by our God, and all authority for his Christ, now that the accuser, who accused our brothers day and night before our God, has been brought down. They have triumphed over him by the blood of the lamb and by the word to which they bore witness, because even in the face of death they did not cling to life. So let the heavens rejoice and all who live there; but for you, earth and sea, disaster is coming-because the devil has gone down to you in a rage, knowing that he has little time left.'
We are in her spiritual womb (heart). She is pregnant, bringing forth her children of light. As we go to her heart she crushes the head of the serpent. Some of the brightest stars that will light up the earth are in the Shepherds of Christ Movement. We are the children of light. We are being sent forth as she brings us forth her children of light to stamp out the darkness. We must give ourselves to Mary.
Jesus: Only when priests' hearts are consecrated to My Heart and Mary's heart will grace flow from the Mass as it should.
Now a trickle of grace is pouring out compared to what it will be when the priests give their hearts to Mary and Jesus.
This is the importance of the newsletter and these revelations: to lead the priests home to the Sacred Heart. Through consecration to the heart of Mary they increasingly become children of light and the light shines in the darkness. They see the Mass, the Scriptures, the sacraments as a fountain of His life. They see, they see, they see the glory of God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Now many priests are hiding the tabernacle and act as partially blind men in celebrating the Mass.
The Marian Movement of Priests led some priests to the heart of Our Lady that transformed them into children of light. It was not enough but Jesus will turn the priests' hearts to hearts of love.
If the priests in the Marian Movement of Priests read the newsletter they will hear the Heart of Jesus speak to them.
Our Lady called her children to Falmouth and called her children at Cold Springs and to the Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center. She called through Sandy, through the Batavia visionary and through Rita. They were here to pave the way to get children to give their hearts to Mary. When Jesus' messages came, the devil knew he had to block them for they would bring about the reign of the Sacred Heart.
Mary called her priests. They gave their hearts to her. Jesus called these same priests to feed them and to reveal the secrets of His Heart through Fr. Carter's newsletters which are influenced by these revelations received by Rita.
The devil was trying to block the flow of the Father's plan to lead the Marian Movement of Priests to the newsletter.
Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. has been given a special mission from Our Lord. He has authored 14 books. He has been molded and taught by Our Lord. His books are not the ordinary insights of other authors. His training was to prepare him to write the newsletter for the priests and the Spirituality Handbook, which is from Our Lord.
It is through the newsletter and the revelations He has given to Fr. Carter and Rita that the teacher will to a great extent further reveal Himself to the world.
The blood of the Lamb was shed for our sins. It is given to us this day "...The Word became flesh, he lived among us, (...and we saw His glory, the glory that he has from the Father as only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.)" (John 1:14).
Jesus told me in the summer of '95 in the rosary how the stars would fall from the sky and how the sun would cease to shine.
Mary said over and over again when she appeared to me as Our Lady of Light, "Souls are dropping into hell like rain."
Revelations 6:12-14:
In my vision, when he broke the sixth seal, there was a violent earthquake and the sun went as black as coarse sackcloth; the moon turned red as blood all over, and the stars of the sky fell onto the earth like figs dropping from a fig tree when a high wind shakes it; the sky disappeared like a scroll rolling up and all the mountains and islands were shaken from their places.
Revelations 12:3,4:
...Then a second sign appeared in the sky there was a huge, red dragon seven heads...Its tail swept a third of the stars from the sky and hurled them to the ground and the dragon stopped in front of the woman as she was at the point of giving birth, so that he could eat the child as soon as it was born.
Mary said on December 19, 1996:
Oh, my children, my little children of light, the time is nigh and many will be lost forever. I appeared and warned and told all to mind their ways and come to the Heart of my Son and they said "No, my Lady, not for you or any mother. We are children of darkness and that we remain, for we seek our pleasure by day and feast on sin all night and when you called, mother, we laughed at your Son and ignored Him and His ways." And He called and His call fell on deaf ears.
Please, my children of light, come to my heart now for although you walked next to the children of darkness, I smite the dragon that whirled around you and protected you in my heart and you will now feast on the glories of His Kingdom, my little children of light.
We must spread the consecration. All forces in hell are against us, for the children of light will be saved.
Very many are not giving glory to God--the reign is at hand when hearts will give glory to God.
Jesus: I am the teacher, it is through Fr. Carter and Rita I am revealing the secrets of My Heart that will bring about the reign of the Sacred Heart and greatly renew the Church and the world. I beg, beg you to study these messages in their entirety, I am revealing your directions in these messages for the completion of the Fatima message. My hand is struck with power. The more you spread the Movement, the more souls will be saved and I will give to this world My mercy. I beg you to circulate the tape, Mary's Message, and the messages of December 19, 1996 and December 22, 1996 together. I am Jesus. You must focus on what I am telling you.
I am counting on you, Fr. Carter. I have chosen you and I will guard you. It is through you I will greatly renew the Church and the world. My directions are given here to spread the consecration to the world. You must obey or souls will be lost. I am calling My apostles to days of instruction to spread the consecration. Please emphasize the tapes and the importance of the 13th.
I love you with the tenderest love. I am ONE with you. I operate through you.
Jesus: I ask you to take My messages seriously. PLEASE read them as from God. I am counting on you, Fr. Carter. You will light the dark earth through the Shepherds of Christ Movement. The rosary of July 16, 1995 is important.
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August 11, 1996
Jesus: I have given permanent signs of the authenticity of these messages. Time is urgent and the messages need to be supported and circulated by the leaders in the Shepherds of Christ Movement.
Over and over again, I have told you what would happen if you ignore the messages. I am asking you to see that each and every person involved in the Shepherds of Christ Movement read the message of March 7, 1994 and March 13, 1994. Please discern and circulate the message of March 20, 1994, before the end of the building collapsed.
I am asking all to help circulate the video of April 17, 1994. I have given several permanent signs in this video. The sun spins in the beginning: the sun spins when Rita is reading a message from God's Blue Book 1. These are permanent signs I have given to prove that I am delivering these messages.
I ask you to circulate the video from September 15, 1995. The mist received around the Sorrowful Mother is her sign given that she truly appeared daily from July 5, 1994 until September 5, 1995. This is your sign to help in circulating the Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
You do not realize the importance of these rosaries and messages to help bring about the completion of the Fatima message.
The rosaries given are teaching tools to help bring about the reign of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart.
This is the plan of the Father to help bring about the era of peace. Hearts will fervently love My Heart and that of My Mother's heart when you help in circulating the rosaries and messages.
I have given three permanent signs to be used to help circulate these messages which are a main source of communication for the completion of the Fatima message.
Time is urgent. I am asking again that a special gathering be held on October 13, 1996 and the chapters from Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio be made aware that I am strongly encouraging them to come to the gathering.
At this time, I am requesting you have available these three signs: the video of April 17, 1994, the video of Sept. 5, 1995, and Fr. Carter's picture of July 2, 1996.
I am requesting that you circulate as many live rosaries as possible and that these and all three Blue Books be made available. I am asking you to please publish the Rosary Book as soon as possible.
The funds will come when you circulate the messages and rosaries. The live rosaries on tapes will help move many hearts and teach them about their role as My apostles.
I am Jesus. This is the mighty medicine I am sending to you to help move the hearts to My love. These messages are of great importance in the completion of the Fatima message.
This is the Father's plan. These are My messages I am sending to you to help bring about the reign of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart.
I am Jesus. I thank you for all of your work in spreading the movement. I am giving to you great grace and financial assistance when you help spread these messages.
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March 20, 1994 -
before the end of the building collapsed
at the Holy Spirit Center.
Jesus: You don't have to prove the authenticity of these letters. You know they are true. If they doubt, let them get their proof. You don't have to give them signs. If they want the love of God, they will search and know the letters are from Me. Everything else is everybody else's responsibility.
I want you to speak always. I speak through you. I want you to circulate the letters. You do not prove the letters to any man. You write, you talk. Their doubt is their problem. You answer no more than I tell you to. They can turn their backs and lose the true treasure here.
I am Jesus, the Son of God. Say little in your defense. You know they are the fools if they question you. They miss My divine treasure here. I love each child ardently to write to them. Silly to not listen when I speak to you!
You are My messenger. You must only do the delivering. You owe no man any valid reasons why it is true. Publish these messages. I want the book published. What happened to Volume II? I, Son of God, am talking to you and who listens? Now they are holding it up because of the priests. I am Jesus I want all these messages published. If the devil creates enough doubt and confusion as he did, then you deal with that instead of the messages.
I am God. I am so tired with you to publish these letters. You are going to suffer for the souls will be lost while you tarry. Tarry more and do your own thing. Why should I give you any messages? You have not published any that I gave you. If you do not do this work, I will give them to someone who will. I am so tired with you. You are not doing My will and this world is suffering for your delays.
You check, you tarry, and I am God and I am talking to you. You test My messenger. You try her. You want proof. I give you messages, so many messages, and you want a sure thing. You test them on man. Does man know why God tells you here? Why is the world in this state if man is so smart? Why did he not cure it by now? All those you ask, ask them, why are you not curing the world!
I am God. I have spoken. I am so upset with these delays. What do I do to shake you into listening? You want proof. You lack faith. No human being has this knowledge. She is a math teacher and has not even studied theology or the Scriptures. She doesn't even know the books in the Bible. She only loves Me dearly. You test and waste My valuable time. I grow very tired of this.
I am Jesus Christ. I am the Son of God. You are all afraid or you would listen. You are afraid of the priests, afraid of the people, afraid. l have all the power, I am God. I can turn the world upside down. I have all the power. I am tired to give you more messages. You are not publishing anything. You want to be safe. The world is suffering and sick.
You want what you want in the way you want it. I am God and I do things the way I, God, know best. If I did things your way you would have no faith. Man gives into himself. I teach you to reach within your souls to the things and ways of God. You want Me to act like you. I am God and I do not act like the way you want. I am tired!
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Chapter 8
Visions
July 23, 1996 - Love is Giving
Vision as seen by Mary Rettig on the February 13, 1997
Visions as seen by Ellen Sartori and Mary Rettig
March 20, 1997 - Our Lady of Fatima
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July 23, 1996
R. Last week during Tuesday's rosary at the Farm, (July 16, 1996) instead of receiving a meditation or message on the last Hail Mary, I saw a miracle of the sun. It began as Fr. Carter prayed the second last Hail Mary. I was in such awe and detached from my surroundings that I could not pray this last meditation or message. It continued for 10 to 15 minutes. I looked at it without any discomfort to my eyes.
The sun looked like heart tissue. It was dark reddish. It kept dividing. There were red and yellow rays of light coming forth from this heart. It looked as cells dividing. It was pulsating.
He told me, that it was His beating Heart. That as we in the Shepherds of Christ Movement give our hearts to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, though we are many, we are one in Their Hearts and rapidly growing in His beating Heart, pulsating in this world as He lives in us with His burning love.
I did not say anything later, because if you look at the sun you can damage your eyes. We are not encouraging anyone to look at the sun, and we are not responsible if you do look at the sun.
Love is Giving
Message given through Rita Ring
R. This is transcribed from a tape at 5:00 A.M. Jesus wished this message passed out at the Farm.
Jesus: My dear child, I ask you to surrender. When will you come to the womb of My Mother and surrender? It is there that you will receive My life. It is there that the Holy Spirit works in you to sanctify you, to change you from your willful and controlling ways. Love is the gift of self to one another. You must give yourselves. I gave Myself on the cross. Your life is a constant learning process of how to love more perfectly. Your ways of love are imperfect ways. You are molded. You are shaped by the Spirit within the heart of My Mother to My ways of love. As you dwell in her heart and My Heart, you are My work of art, for you are formed and molded into My image through the Holy Spirit. You must die to yourself child, die to yourself that I can live in you. You are resistant to change. You want to hold on to those things that are familiar to you. Many times those things that are familiar to you are not My ways. I am calling you to surrender, that the Holy Spirit can work within you and form you in the womb of My Mother more to My image and likeness. I am Jesus. I come to you to make you holy and loving. I live in you. I minister to this hurting world through you. You are transformed more and more into My image and likeness through the Holy Spirit. The incarnation continues, and you are formed and molded into My image and likeness. I live in this world in you, My beloved ones. You must surrender and let Me possess your soul. Let Me live in you. You are afraid. You are afraid in your hearts that you will be left out. Love is the gift of self to another. You will not give as long as you hold on to your selfish ways. It is in giving that you receive. It is in loving that you will be loved, I loved you first, and I give to you Myself. You must focus on how I love you. You act lovingly when you feel loved. I love you so much. Will you listen to Me and realize that I love you? You are saturated with My love, but your hearts must be open that I can fill you and mold you into My ways. Within the heart of My Mother, the Holy Spirit works to make you holy. It is in dwelling in Our Hearts, the Hearts of greatest love, that you will be saturated with My life and My love. The more I live in you, the more I act in you. You must surrender. It is an act of your will to love one another. I loved to My death. I loved when I was persecuted. I loved when I was beaten. I loved you so much. I came into this world a helpless baby to show you how to love. You must surrender and give yourself. Love is giving of yourself. The key is to focus on the giving and not the receiving. Surrender to Me, and I will give to you My divine love. And you, My child, will have enough, I provide for all your needs. You act selfishly when you are afraid. It is in fear that you punish yourself and punish all those you touch. My life will flow through you when you are an instrument of love.
R. When I give of myself, I am happy. When I am selfish, I am unhappy. Happiness is a loving heart.
Prayer: I love You, Jesus. I love you, Mary. It is for the sake of the reign of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart I am working. God, come and strengthen me, I want to be one in Thee. Come and live in my soul.
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Vision as seen by Mary Rettig on February 13, 1997
Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center
11:30 AM After Mass
"On the way to the Holy Spirit Center, I could see Our Lady in the sun. (Jesus said in a message to me that she appears in the sun to me to remind me of her Fatima Peace Plan that she wants to spread to the schools.)
Upon arriving at the Holy Spirit Center, Mary Ann Henry and I were carrying materials into the Social Hall where the tables were set up. The scent of roses was very strong near the School Rosary table where stood the Our Lady of Fatima statue. Mary Ann Henry, Cathy Ring and Mary Ann Mackey smelled the roses also.
During the Mass, it seemed as though lightning was flashing around the altar. There was a bright light around Fr. Carter as he read the Gospel and gave the Homily. The light was so bright that my eyes began to water. During the Homily, I saw another flash of light and I was aware of the Holy Spirit going into Fr. Carter. At the same time, Mary's statue at the altar lit up and I saw her hand with the scapular in it move. I could see Mary in her statue.
During the Consecration, Fr. Carter's fingers lit up as he picked up the Host. His fingers remained that way during the Consecration. I could feel a very strong presence during the Mass and I knew it was the presence of the Almighty God because I had never felt anything as strong as that. It was incredible. I felt tears coming down my cheeks. I couldn't control my tears.
As Rita started the Rosary at noon, we all entered the Chapel. I could see Jesus, Mary, and Joseph standing at the bottom step of the altar. I was just a few feet from the Holy Family. I was in awe of them. I couldn't move. Jesus had me close my eyes and I couldn't open them until the Rosary was half-over. When I was finally able to open my eyes I could see Jesus and St. Joseph in the statue of St. Joseph and the Infant Jesus. Mary was present in Our Lady of Grace statue.
I could still feel the strong presence of Our Lord. It was incredible. I could tell that other people were being touched by Our Lord during the Rosary. I saw many crying and wiping their eyes. Many sat there with their eyes closed unable to move."
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Vision as seen by Ellen Sartori, August 13, 1996
Arlinghaus' Farm, Shepherds of Christ meeting
"I had a profound experience this evening. As soon as the rosary started, I looked up towards the sun and I couldn't turn away. I realized there was a covering over the sun and that I would perhaps witness the miracle of the sun. Instead, after a few rotations, I began to see clear pictures: first, I saw the cross, Mary and Joseph holding our baby Jesus, and then what seemed to be a large Host, the Monstrance, and an angel holding up the Host, but I wasn't sure so I closed my eyes and said to myself, 'Dear Lord, I would love to see an angel as I have never seen one.' And with that within a split second a huge figure appeared, bigger than life, and came crashing to the earth, right before our group and returned. It was St. Michael! I recognized him immediately - his short, curly blond hair, his armor, which was brownish, but the whole figure of Michael was orange. His presence filled the whole area with bright light. It is difficult to describe, but I see St. Michael before me now as he appeared and want to share this with everyone because, surely, he has appeared to assure us of his protection for the Shepherds of Christ."
* Warning: Eye damage can occur from staring at the sun.
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Vision as seen by Mary Rettig, August 13, 1996
Arlinghaus' Farm, Shepherds of Christ meeting
"On August 13, 1996 during the Shepherds of Christ prayer meeting, I saw the miracle of the sun.
When John started the Seven Sorrows of Mary, the sun appeared to be spinning through the trees. There was a disk in front of the sun. The disk was turning different colors including "Virgin Mary Blue". Different colored lasers also appeared to be coming from the sun.
The sun started growing brighter than normal that I had to close my eyes. When I opened them, the tree below the sun had turned to a brilliant light. The Angel of the Lord was in the tree.
I then noticed a very blue line coming down the middle of the river towards our side of the shore. After the blue line reached the shore, I felt a drop of water on my forehead. I looked up and saw nothing. I proceeded to pray when, I felt another drop of water fall on my forehead. One more time I looked up and saw nothing. When I looked towards the river again there was a brilliant golden light standing on the river. The brilliant golden light, which was the Angel of the Lord, ascended from the river and disappeared over the state of Kentucky.
I then looked straight ahead towards the deck, and when I did, I noticed more brilliant lights in the bushes and trees surrounding the deck and us. *There appeared to be angels encamped all around us.
Next I noticed the bottom branches of the tree directly in front of the deck moving and bending, it is then that I saw the brilliant outlines of Jesus and Mary in the tree. They were standing side by side in the tree during the entire rosary."
*Footnote~ On Monday night I kept waking up from my sleep hearing myself say, "The angel of Yahweh pitches camp round those who fear him; and he keeps them safe."
Psalm 34: 7 (The Jerusalem Bible, Doubleday & Co.)
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Vision as seen by Mary Rettig August 20, 1996
Arlinghaus' Farm, Shepherds of Christ meeting
"Upon arriving at Tom Arlinghaus' farm, the miracle of the sun started right away. The members of the Shepherds of Christ were in front of Tom's house. The sun was spinning very fast and different rays of colors were shooting from the sun. A blue light came out of the sun and started coming towards us. The blue light grew bigger as it got closer to us. The blue light turned out to be Our Holy Mother Mary.
She stood in the tree right above the house. She was clothed with the sun and light rays were all around her. Mary remained in the tree for several minutes.
We could also see about a dozen angels all around us. They were in the trees, in the air, and standing on the river. They appeared as large pillars of light.
The rosary was said inside Tom's house. At the start of the Sorrowful Mysteries, Rita was sitting near the large window facing the river. The large picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was above the window. I saw a flash of light at the window and Jesus entered the room through His picture and within seconds, Rita was delivering the first message from Jesus.
The Blessed Mother entered in the room through the ceiling right over Anne Araya's and Ellen Sartori's heads. She came in the form of her "blue light" again. I could smell roses in the room. She was invisible to the rest of the members, but she was there and had even kissed my forehead during the rosary. (In my own private moments with Jesus and Mary, I often blow Them a kiss towards heaven, and I received a kiss on the forehead from Them.)
There was another flash of light during the start of the rosary. This light was outside in the large tree to the left of the deck. There Michael, the Archangel, stood guard during the entire rosary. Even when the sun went down, I could see his brilliance shining from the tree.
There was another angel standing in mid-air to the left of the house until we were finished with our prayer meeting."
Vision as seen by Mary Rettig September 24, 1996
Arlinghaus' Farm, Shepherds of Christ meeting
"I was late in getting to the Shepherds of Christ prayer meeting that night. While riding in the van with my friends, we could see the miracle of the sun. The Eucharist was indeed in front of the sun.
The rosary was starting just as my friends and I arrived. Rita was saying the Joyful Mysteries that night. The rosary was said outside. The sun was setting behind the trees to the right of me. I could no longer see it.
Rita was sitting on the deck facing the river. We were sitting in chairs facing Rita. She began the rosary. I saw the familiar blue line of the water appear in the middle of the river. It came towards us. When the blue line came to our shore, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were there in the tree by the deck. I could see Their outlines and feel Their presence with my soul.
The first message from Jesus was given to Rita. The Holy Family remained in the tree, in front of the deck, during the entire rosary. St. Michael, the Archangel, was also present in the tree left of the deck. There were other angels around us in the trees.
Because of the cold, Rita moved the reading of the Handbook into Tom's garage. The large picture of Jesus was placed in front of Rita during the prayers. I sat in back of Rita and I could see the light on Jesus' face change. The structure of His face changed as if the picture had turned into His real presence. It remained that way until the end of the prayer meeting."
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Vision as seen by Mary Rettig, October 13, 1996
Arlinghaus' Farm, Shepherds of Christ meeting
"Upon leaving my home that morning, before getting into my car, I saw the miracle of the sun. An angel came out of the sun and was standing in the tree above my car.
I believe he was there for me because I was carrying in my car the "live rosaries" that were printed up and were to be distributed at the rosary that day.
During the rosary I could see the miracle of the sun. In fact, it really hadn't stopped since I left home. While we were praying, the Holy Spirit appeared in the air across the river. The Holy Spirit was huge (probably the length of a football field) and white. It was then that I saw Our Lady and she stood just as tall. She wore a pink veil, a light blue mantle, and a pink dress. She appeared as Our Lady of Grace and she appeared to be standing over the river.
There were many angels standing shoulder to shoulder around us. There were so many that day, I believe because of all the people there to honor Our Holy Mother.
After Mary disappeared from the river, Jesus, Mary and St. Joseph stood by the deck where Rita Ring and Fr. Carter were saying the rosary.
When the people were leaving, Dorothy, Emily and I walked toward the deck because the Miracle of the Sun was still taking place. Little Emily, Chris, and Cathy were on the deck (they seemed to be praying). John Weickert was close by and we all saw the miracle together and for the first time, even through the rosary had ended and the people were leaving, Mary, Jesus, and Joseph were still in front of the deck."
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Vision as seen by Mary Rettig, November 13, 1996
Arlinghaus' Farm, Shepherds of Christ meeting
"It was very gloomy this day. We were expecting snow later in the afternoon. Even though it was so cloudy the sun came out as I was traveling to Tom Arlinghaus' farm. I could see that an angel was once again escorting me to Tom's farm. When I arrived at the farm it was very cold and cloudy. I could not longer see the sun. The rosary was said inside Tom's house. Rita Ring, Fr. Carter, and John Weickert were in the main living room with the members from out of town. I was sitting in the sitting room, off the hallway, with other members of the Shepherds of Christ. I was talking to Mary Ann Henry when Rita started singing. As I looked around, I saw a very large angel standing in the room with us. He stood right in front of Melanie Noe and I wondered if she felt his presence. As we continued to sing and pray I saw a flash of lightning in the dreary sky. I knew that the Holy Family had arrived. I decided to go into the room with Rita and Fr. Carter and the others. I saw our Holy Mother's blue light enter through the huge window (the window covers the entire wall) and there stood Jesus, Mary, and Joseph and many angels. Mary stood above her statue. Jesus was standing to the right of His Mother and St. Joseph was on her left. When Fr. Carter started the Apostles Creed, I saw JESUS ENTER INTO THE STATUE OF HIS SACRED HEART."
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Vision as seen by Rita Ring, March 20, 1997
Junior Shepherds of Christ Meeting
Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center
Mary appeared as Our Lady of Fatima for one hour and l5 minutes. Mary appeared in the Sorrowful Mother statue at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center.
I was at Our Lady's House for the Junior Shepherds of Christ meeting. I cannot remember any great apparition of Mary in the Sorrowful Mother statue since August l2 and l3, l996. She appeared all night and two times on August l3, l996, once right before I went to the rosary at Tom's farm about 5:30 p.m. (the night John was there and St. Michael came out of the water). Mary comes when you least expect her.
Tonight I went to the Holy Spirit Center for the rosary with the Junior Shepherds of Christ. We could not pray in the Rosary chapel because Fr. Smith was going to say Mass. We could not pray in the Sorrowful Mother's chapel because the pews were draped with work clothes. We could not pray in the social hall because the band was playing. The only place left was in the hall on the other side of the wall from the band. The youth in the Shepherds of Christ chapter decided this was the place and moved pews in front of the statue.
As we began the rosary I began to see Mary, covered with a mist. Then I saw light around her. She got bigger than the statue, her face softened to that of the most beautiful woman--the same as the picture I took on Mother's Day l995 when she told me to buy film and take her picture. She was all adorned in light. She changed, around her head and she became a young, beautiful girl. She then changed into a lady of immense light, all white, beautiful and young. I wanted to cry in awe looking at her. I wanted to stop the rosary and just see the apparition, but I continued to speak as she spoke through me.
The whole rosary was on Our Lady of Fatima. She turned into Our Lady of Fatima, so white, so beautiful, young in her face. I have seen many statues of Our Lady of Fatima. I have seen her all white and adorned in light before--Our Lady of Light, that is what she called herself.
On October 5, l996 I saw her at Immaculata in the grotto. She had told me earlier that day she was Our Lady of the Rosary and gave a very strong message.
I do not recall seeing her in an apparition in the Sorrowful Mother's statue since August l3, l996.
She was clearly, clearly, "Our Lady of Fatima" - LIVE. I saw her. I am in awe and wanted more, it was so beautiful!
She may have appeared as Our Lady of Fatima the first time. She was covered with the greatest light - a light as from a fire and all white, but on July 5, l994 when she first appeared,
I did not know what Our Lady of Fatima looked like.
I know tonight she was like every statue I have ever seen of Our Lady of Fatima, glistening,, and all white. She had beads or embroidery around her cloak. I know she looked like the Lady of Fatima statues but LIVE.
Every time we sang A Song From Jesus she would shine with the brightest light and her face would fill with the greatest joy.
are, even a lighted hall, Mary would appear to us.
There was no place for Jesus to be born--He was born the Light of the World in a stable in Bethlehem and the brightest star shone above His bed.
This rosary on Fatima needs to circulate to the youth. Mary appeared to tell us to tell the youth this rosary. It does not have any message from Mary, only information from her for the youth.
Mary's message for the youth: a rosary on Fatima--as she appeared to deliver it.
This is a great comfort to me. She appeared, Our Lady of Fatima, to tell us that this is truly a major part of the completion of the Fatima message.
The youth told me they could not hear the rosary, only the loud music of the band. I did not hear the band at all - but was in awe with Mary's appearing and the rosary!
At one point I saw a little blond hair sticking out from under her veil at the top of her head.
At least three times I saw this immense Lady of Light turn into Our Lady of Fatima. It was as if she was transformed from the Lady of Light into the Lady of Fatima.
The room was a brightly lighted hallway with big balls of light that came down from the ceiling.
She was adorned in light, brighter than the hallway, light as bright as seven suns, the Lady of Light.
It is in her womb we see the light, the light of knowing God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Chapter 9
The Ministries of Shepherds of Christ
and
the 13th Gatherings
October 21, 1996 - Importance of the 13th
Chart: The Shepherds of Christ Plan
October 27, 1996 - Message for Chart
The Birth of the Full Ministries of the Shepherds of
Christ
Ministries at a Glance
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October 21, 1996
Message given through Rita Ring
Jesus: On the 13th of each month I will give special messages concerning the spread of the devotion to My Sacred Heart. I beg you to come if at all possible. The time is short and it is urgent that you comply with the requests of Our Lady at Fatima.
The rosaries and consecrations must be taken to the school children. The apostles must go to the churches and try to establish prayer chapters in the churches with the Prayer Manual. You must publish the letter concerning the benefits of consecration in parishes and churches. You are focusing on the devil's distractions and missing My messages. You are to encourage the family to consecrate their hearts to My Heart and My Mother's heart.
I am operating in the Shepherds Movement for the renewal of the Church and the world. I beg you to circulate the monthly tapes of the 13th and to encourage attendance on each 13th. Please, the time is urgent. All members of the Shepherds of Christ Associates must encourage the priests to study the newsletters. I am communicating to the priests and sisters and brothers in the newsletters.
You will be one flock and their will be peace when you follow the requests of Our Lady at Fatima. She is the Queen of Peace. She is Mother of the Church. She is not honored and loved by many of her beloved priests sons. She is your Mother. Without properly recognizing her, the Church will not be as she should be. You must, My beloved apostles, spread the consecration to the following institutions: The schools, the Church, and the family.
You are My shepherds. You are shepherds of Christ! You are carrying My messages into the world. Oh, how Satan will attempt to stop you. He has attempted to block the Fatima message.
I beg you to come on all 13ths, if possible, and to listen daily to the live rosaries. A few moments each day will keep you focused on this mission. Please, the souls of many are dependent on your fervor and love.
Come to Me and I will refresh you and I will give you rest. I am the Lord, your God. There will be one flock and one Shepherd. I am calling you to lead the stray ones home. It is in consecration that hearts will be holy hearts. Please, this is an urgent message. This is to you, My beloved shepherds.
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October 27, 1996
Message given through Rita Ring
Jesus: I am sending you, My apostles, to spread the consecration in the churches, the schools, and the family. Go to the churches and try to set up Shepherds of Christ Prayer chapters. Encourage as many as possible to join the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart. It is in fervent prayer that the Shepherds of Christ Movement will spread and many hearts will give themselves to Our Hearts.
Dear apostles, you must reach the children in the schools with the rosary. Use the aves and give them the consecration cards and the letter that I will dictate to you.
Please encourage members in the chapters to pray the prayers with their families, especially the Holy Spirit Prayer and the consecration prayers. These should be prayed aloud daily with the family, either before meals or with the family rosary. The family that prays these prayers will be united in a strong way and will withstand the attacks of the devil.
The Church is the good grazing ground. This is My sign to you. I am Jesus. My sign is these revelations I am giving. From studying these revelations, you will know I am truly speaking here. I am directing you as My apostles, to help bring about the renewal of the Church and the world. When the stray sheep are lead back to the Church, they will be fed with My Body. They will feast on rich pastures. They will be fed with the Bread of Life.
The prayer chapters that form in the church will influence the priest. They will fervently come to the tabernacle and pray for their parish. It is absolutely essential that the associates encourage the priest to read the priestly newsletter. When priests are living the consecration to Our Hearts the people will be richly fed by the Eucharist and will be receiving the great benefits given through the sacraments administered through the holy priests. You have not tapped into the fountain of grace that pours when a holy priest is administering the sacrament.
My grace will pour copiously and they will feast on My life flowing through the sacraments.
R. Oh, fountain of life that flows upon the people. Give them the grace to consecrate their hearts to Thee. And there will be one flock and one Shepherd.
Jesus: They will be one in Our Hearts and feasting on the Bread of Life with the greatest fervor and love.
R. Oh, Holy Mother, the Church, we long for the reign of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart. There will be holy, holy priests and His Heart will reign in all hearts of both priests and people and the world will know the fire of His love.
It will spread like wild fire across the earth and souls will be filled with love and His life.
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The Birth of the Full Ministries of the Shepherds of Christ
"I wish to share with you part of a message which Jesus gave us on October 13, 1994. The message tells us about the expansion of the Shepherds of Christ Movement:
'My beloved priest-companion, today I come to you with another mission. I am asking you to establish Shepherds of Christ Ministries. At My request you have already begun the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ, and the prayer chapters, Shepherds of Christ Associates...
'I am giving you this message on this day, the 77th Anniversary of the Great Apparition at Fatima, because of the close connection between the Shepherds of Christ movement and the Fatima message. The Fatima message is centered in devotion to My Heart and My Mother's Heart, especially in consecration to Our Hearts. Shepherds of Christ Ministries is also centered in devotion to Our Hearts. I will use Shepherds of Christ Ministries as a great instrument in helping to bring about the triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the reign of My Sacred Heart. When this occurs, My Church and the world will be experiencing the great era of peace promised by My Mother at Fatima.
'Today, then, October 13, 1994, the 77th Anniversary of the Great Apparition at Fatima, marks the birth of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. I pour forth the great love of My Sacred Heart to all. I am Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock.'
Jesus has told us that Shepherds of Christ Ministries includes: the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ, Shepherds of Christ Associates prayer chapters, various publications, including books, whatever else Our Lord directs us to undertake.
As members of Shepherds of Christ Associates, you are an extremely important part of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. You have given great joy to the Heart of Jesus by responding to His invitation to become members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. As He draws you closer to His Heart and to His Mother's Heart as Associates members, He will fill you with an ever-increasing experience of His love, peace, and joy."
- From In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Newsletter of Shepherds of Christ Associates
by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J., Volume 1, No. 1, 1995. Page 2.
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Ministries at a Glance
Since its formation, Shepherds of Christ Ministries has grown rapidly in both scope and function. The ministries outlined below are defined in further detail inside this manual, at the tables set up on the 13th of every month or at the Shepherds of Christ Internet site.
Shepherds of Christ Newsletter
Shepherds of Christ Publications
Shepherds of Christ Associates
Junior Shepherds of Christ Associates
Shepherds of Christ Audio/Video
Come Follow Me Newsletter (for religious)
Shepherds of Christ International
Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus
World-Wide-Web Site (Internet)
Retirement/Nursing Home Prayer Groups
Rosary in Schools, Homes
Prison Ministry
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Chapter 10
Materials
Table Chart for the 13th - Materials
Table Descriptions and Material Descriptions
- Priestly
Newsletters, Books, Tapes by Father Carter
- Shepherds of
Christ Associates Materials
- Apostles of
the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus
- Junior Shepherds
of Christ Associates
- Books
- Audio Tapes
- Video Tapes
- Printed
Rosary Messages
- Rosaries in
the School
- Nursing Home
and Prison Ministry
- Pictures of
the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts
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Table #1 Newsletters, books, and tapes
Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J.
1. |
Priestly Newsletter - Shepherds
of Christ Newsletter First published in July, 1994, this newsletter marked the beginning of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. It is mailed, personally and at no charge, every two months to all priests in the United States and now to a growing number of English-speaking priests throughout the world. It will soon be available in various world languages first in Spanish, Portuguese and Ukrainian, later in Italian, French, German, Russian, etc... A book is published with the first twelve newsletters to the priests. |
| 2. | Books by Fr. Carter |
|
|
| 3. | Miraculous pictures of Father Carter |
| 4. | Tapes by Fr. Carter |
|
|
| 5. | Brochures about Shepherds of Christ Ministries |
Rita Ring
1. God's Blue Book vol. 1 - messages given by Jesus to Rita Ring. Jesus tells us how precious we are to Him and how He loves us. He is with us this day, so close. He is a Person who longs and waits for our love. He wants such union with us. These are His teachings to lift you up! Tapes are available with messages and songs given from Jesus.
2. God's Blue Book vol. 2 - messages given by Jesus to Rita Ring. Jesus is on fire for us. The Heart on the cover is a vision received on December 17, 1991. The power is in the Eucharist. The power is released when hearts are consecrated to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Jesus wants His beloved souls to pray before the tabernacle and after Communion. It is in praying to Him at these times that we become very close to Him. His Heart is an endless furnace of burning love on fire for each of His precious souls. He wants union with us. Only in surrendering ourselves to the will of God can we be close to Him. Tapes are available with messages and songs given from Jesus.
3. God's Blue Book vol. 3 - messages given by Jesus to Rita Ring. Love God, love one another. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. How can we say that we love Him when we do not love one another? Each person was divinely created by the Father. If we do not love our brother, we are not loving His creation. We are the lights that shine in this world. Jesus loves us so much, He gives Himself to us in the Eucharist. He remains with us in the tabernacle, and we take His gift so lightly. In this book, He tells us about His immense love. He ask us to rid ourselves of hate and anger and to love our brothers. He talks about Mary. Two rosaries are included.
4. Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary
5. Mass Book, A Journey Into the Heart ot Jesus
6. Rosary Meditations for Parents and Children
7. Prayer Cards
8. Pictures of Mary's image in Clearwater, Florida
Table #2 Future Centers
Jesus has indicated to Fr. Carter that He would like four Shepherds of Christ Centers in the Tri-State area. These Centers will be places to bring priests, religious, and associates for instruction. We need overnight facilities and funds. The first of these properties has been purchased. You can help by contributing your time, talent, or treasure to this effort.
Table #3 Internet and International
1. Brochures about Shepherds of Christ Ministries
2. Overview of Internet efforts
3. Plans for future overseas expansion
4. Spanish material
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Table #4 Shepherds of Christ Associates
The prayers of the chapters are critical for the success of the priestly newsletter and offer an opportunity to grow in personal holiness.
1. Spirituality Handbooks and Prayer Manuals
2. Shepherds of Christ Associates Packets - packet to form a prayer chapter
3. Associates Newsletter
4. Brochures about Shepherds of Christ Ministries
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Table #5 Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus
1. Letter explaining and inviting people to join Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus - people volunteer to spend one hour, twice a week, before the tabernacle and pray the Shepherds of Christ prayers in the Handbook for listed intentions. Letter includes the message given to Fr. Carter to form the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.
Note: Included in the back of the book is the letter sent to the Shepherds of Christ chapters in which Jesus invites the Associates to join the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.
Also in the back of the book is a letter describing the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus without the original message from Jesus. We have removed the private revelation from this set of forms to encourage all to join us in praying for the Church and the world.
2. Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus red prayer cards they list the intentions and the message given to Fr. Carter to form this new movement. Also, when the membership form is sent to the address indicated on letter, a laminated card will be sent with the prayer volunteer's name on it.
3. Membership Forms
4. Shepherds of Christ Prayer Sheets
5. Apostles of Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Newsletter
6. The letter, red prayer cards, and membership forms without the message given to Fr. Carter. This is available so that it can be distributed in the parish churches.
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Table #6 Junior Shepherds of Christ Associates
Junior Shepherds of Christ Associates packets - all the materials needed to form a prayer chapter, which includes: Letter explaining and instructing how to form a chapter, membership forms, an example flyer, Shepherds of Christ prayer sheets, a Shepherds of Christ Prayer Manual, a Rosary Ave sheet, and a children's rosary tape.
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Table #7 Books
1. Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary
2. God's Blue Book vol. 1 - messages given by Jesus to Rita Ring. Jesus tells us how precious we are to Him and how He loves us. He is with us this day, so close. He is a Person who longs and waits for our love. He wants such union with us. These are His teachings to lift you up! Tapes are available with messages and songs given from Jesus.
3. God's Blue Book vol. 2 - messages given by Jesus to Rita Ring. Jesus is on fire for us. The Heart on the cover is a vision received on December 17, 1991. The power is in the Eucharist. The power is released when hearts are consecrated to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Jesus wants His beloved souls to pray before the tabernacle and after Communion. It is in praying to Him at these times that we become very close to Him. His Heart is an endless furnace of burning love on fire for each of His precious souls. He wants union with us. Only in surrendering ourselves to the will of God can we be close to Him. Tapes are available with messages and songs given from Jesus.
4. God's Blue Book vol. 3 - messages given by Jesus to Rita Ring. Love God, love one another. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. How can we say that we love Him when we do not love one another? Each person was divinely created by the Father. If we do not love our brother, we are not loving His creation. We are the lights that shine in this world. Jesus loves us so much, He gives Himself to us in the Eucharist. He remains with us in the tabernacle, and we take His gift so lightly. In this book, He tells us about His immense love. He ask us to rid ourselves of hate and anger and to love our brothers. He talks about Mary. Two rosaries are included.
5. The Spirituality of Fatima and Medjugorje - by Father Edward J. Carter, S.J. God has entrusted to Mary the peace of the world. She gave to us her peace plan at Fatima. It is a simple message: 1. Until a sufficient number of people have consecrated their hearts to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, we will not have peace in the world. 2. Mary has requested all to pray the daily rosary. 3. We must observe the First Saturday devotion. 4. We must make reparation to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. This book tells about this message and it's connection with Medjugorje. The Shepherds of Christ Movement is a great part of the completion of the Fatima message. All members of the Movement should read this book and study the messages given by the angel to Lucia and the children. All members must become familiar with the Fatima message. The messages in this book, given at Fatima, need to be studied by all members.
6. Tell My People - messages given to Fr. Carter from Jesus and Mary since August, 1993. Messages, reflections, and prayers for growing in holiness through devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This book is available on tape. The messages are read by Fr. Carter.
7. Personal Revelations of Our Lady of Light vol. 3 - Edited by Gerald Ross. Accounts of appearances of Our Lady of Light at Cold Spring, Kentucky since 1992 and at other locations in the Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio areas. Messages from Our Lady and Our Lord through a Batavia, OH visionary.
8. I Am Your Jesus of the Cross - messages given to Charlene Huber from Jesus and Mary. Powerful lessons in living in today's world and in loving His people, especially His clergy and religious, in these trying times.
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Table #8 Tapes
| 1. | Audio |
|
|
| 2. | Video |
|
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Table #9 Rosary Meditations
1. Rosary May 11, 1996 - A rosary from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, received in Toledo, Ohio. It was the feast of Mary, Queen of the Apostles. These Glorious Mysteries are strongly urged by Jesus to be circulated and read each day, if only 5 or 10 minutes a day. The meditations and messages were given to Rita Ring during the rosary. This rosary was recorded live and transcribed from the recording.
2. Rosary July 9, 1996 - A rosary from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, these Sorrowful Mysteries were led by Father Carter on Tuesday during the Shepherds of Christ Associates Meeting at Tom Arlinghaus' farm. The meditations and messages were given to Rita Ring during the rosary. This rosary was recorded live and transcribed from the recording.
3. The Sorrowful Mysteries, September 10, 1996 LIVE
4. The Glorious Mysteries, October 13, 1996 LIVE
5. The Sorrowful Mysteries, November 13, 1996 LIVE
6. The Joyful Mysteries, December 13, 1996 LIVE
7. The Joyful Mysteries, January 13, 1997 LIVE
8. The Sorrowful Mysteries, February 13, 1997 LIVE
9. All future rosaries on the 13ths of each month
10. Rosary Meditations and Aves - short meditations and/or messages on the mysteries of the rosaries. They have the imprimatur.
11. The Stations of the Cross - messages and meditations for each station, given to Rita Ring from Jesus.
12. The Seven Sorrows of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - messages and meditations for each sorrow given to Rita Ring.
13. Rosary Meditations and Messages for Children - all mysteries available
14. Rosary Meditations and Messages for All - published sheets of messages and meditations to be used in praying Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries. They are published in a book called Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary which is discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
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Table #10 Rosaries in School
1. Meditating on the Rosary Aves
- short meditations for each Hail Mary of the rosary, for all 15 decades of the rosary. It
has the imprimatur from Most Rev. Carl K. Moeddel.
2. Consecrations for Children -
short and easy consecrations for children to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate
Heart of Mary, with the imprimatur from Most Rev. Carl K. Moeddel.
3. Morning Offering / Holy Spirit Consecration cards for children
September 24, 1996
At the continued request of Our Lady we are attempting to get the children in the schools to pray the rosary and to consecrate their hearts to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Mary has requested that we circulate the Rosary Aves and consecration cards to the schools. We have sent a letter to all pastors in the archdiocese of Cincinnati. Several individuals are circulating these rosary aves and consecration cards to schools--both have the imprimatur from Bishop Carl Moeddel.
To accomplish this task for Our Lady we need the funds to print this material.
Any donation you can contribute to this cause would help get the rosaries and the consecrations to the children. Please make checks payable to:
Shepherds of Christ Ministries, and designate on the check, "for the rosaries in the schools."
Thank you,
Rita Ring
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Table #11 Nursing Homes and Prison Ministry
1. Book for Nursing Home Ministry Leaders - this book will guide a person who wishes to lead a prayer chapter in a nursing home.
2. Songs and Prayers for Members - this book is in large print for the members of the nursing home prayer chapters.
3. Jesus' Messages - for prayer chapter members in rest homes, (in large print).
4. Large print Shepherds of Christ Handbooks
5. Large print prayer cards
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Table #12 Pictures of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary
1. Pictures of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary as on the front cover of this manual.
2. Pictures of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the inside front cover.
3. Holy Cards of Sacred Heart of Jesus on the inside front cover with the Prayer for Union with Jesus.
4. Pictures of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - with the promises of the Sacred Heart on the back.
5. Pictures of the Immaculate Heart - with the promises of the rosary on the back.
6. Large pictures of the Sacred Heart for candlelight rosaries.
7. Large picture of the Pope.
8. Other pictures.
Table #13 Registration
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Chapter 11
Messages and Revelations given After
October 13, 1996
February 23, 1997 - Sacrifice
February 27, 1997 - After the Death, There is the
Resurrection
February 28, 1997 - Our Wounds are Glorified When We Die in
Him
February 28, 1997 - A Love Letter to Jesus
February 9, 1997
January 25, 1997 - Jesus' Directions for Apostles
[ < Contents ]
February 23, 1997
Rita Ring
Sacrifice
When I go to Mass I offer a sacrifice. God wants our all. He wants to be first in our life. He asked Abraham to sacrifice his son.
Gen. 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18:
It happened some time later that God put Abraham to the test. "Abraham, Abraham!" he called. "Here I am," he replied. God said, "Take your son, your only son, your beloved Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, where you are to offer him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I shall point out to you.
When they arrived at the place which God had indicated to him, Abraham built an altar there, and arranged the wood. Then he bound his son and put him on the altar on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to kill his son.
But the angel of Yahweh called to him from heaven. "Abraham, Abraham!" he said. "Here I am," he replied. Do not raise your hand against the boy," the angel said. "Do not harm him, for now I know you fear God. You have not refused me your own beloved son." Then looking up, Abraham saw a ram caught by its horns in a bush. Abraham took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.
The angel of Yahweh called Abraham a second time from heaven. "I swear by my own self, Yahweh declares, that because you have done this, because you have not refused me your own beloved son, I will shower blessings on you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will gain possession of the gates of their enemies. All nations on earth will bless themselves by your descendants, because you have obeyed my command.
The Father gave His Son for us. This is how great the Father's love is for us.
When we go to the altar many times we are suffering. We want something really bad, but we know we love God the most. What the Father asks for us is to offer that which we are so attached to as a sacrifice, united to the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. If we offer this sacrifice to Him, the Father will pour out blessings that will be divine blessings, greater than anything we could have here on earth.
The Mass is the perfect sacrifice we offer to the Father, in which God pours out His blessings and we are one with Him and with all others in a profound expression of love. God shares His divine love with us and we partake in an intense way in His divine loving capacity. In order to become one in Him and to feel His love like this, we must surrender ourselves and be open.
He told Abraham to offer his son. God gave him his son back. He wanted Abraham to love God above all things and people.
Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice to the Father. This is the most pleasing sacrifice to the Father. If He gave His Son Who died for love of us, will He deny us when we unite our petitions with Jesus and offer these at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?
He took them to the highest mountain and He was transfigured before them in the greatest light.
Mark 9:2-10:
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain on their own by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became brilliantly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus, "Rabbi," he said, "it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him." Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.
As they were coming down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what 'rising from the dead' could mean.
We go to the altar of sacrifice. The mountain to come, in which so many graces will flow, is the altar of sacrifice where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered through the hands of consecrated priests.
We hear the Father say, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, listen to Him." He is speaking to us. He is the Word. He is speaking in these messages. He is unveiling the Scriptures and speaking to us in plain talk. This is a great gift He is giving to us.
We are transformed in the Mass. We unite with the greatest sacrifice offered in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We have the most perfect sacrifice to offer to the Father when we offer this sacrifice. He gives us great blessings. We die to ourselves, we become white.
We must unite all of our sacrifices to this Holy Sacrifice of the Mass being said all over the world. This is the greatest way to magnify all of our offerings - by uniting everything we do as an offering, a sacrifice to the Father in union with His Son.
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February 27, 1997
Rita Ring
After the Death, There is the Resurrection
My love affair is with You, my crucified Lord. I kiss Your cross and caress You tenderly. I smoother You with kisses and I know Your love.
This is love - to kiss the cross of Christ. I cursed the darkness and the light came across the sky, ever so gently as if it grew in intensity to a bright brilliant shade of glistening light. And in this I beheld my Beloved. I saw His glory in the wonders of the earth and I embraced Him, the divine, all-powerful, all Almighty Lord!
He took away those things I was attached to. I held on with a gripping hand. Oh, I cried out in pain and I heard the words in my heart: beyond the surrender is the real gift.
Is it not after the death there is the resurrection, after the dying, there is the glory?
Oh, my Divine Lord, I feel as if my eyes have crusted over. I laid down on the floor and pounded my fists to the earth. I did not see the miracle in the grass that touched my hand. I did not see the power and the might behind the work of endless beauty. A blade of grass, you say? Oh, yes indeed, for it lives and is not life the real miracle? For I am not a rock, but a living creature, created in the image and likeness of God and oh, you say, how much do you share in the life of the Divine Being? And I say, "I share through Baptism. He, God, gives me a sharing in His divine life!"
I pounded the earth and I cursed the darkness. I scoffed and I complained and beyond the horizon the sun slowly stole across the sky and the light appeared in glistening glory. The darkness was black and the night was cold. I heard the clamor of fear in my heart. I felt like screaming in that night and oh, I beheld the crucified Lord. He spoke no words to me, the Holy Spirit filled my heart with light and I saw the glory. I saw the resurrection, not with my earthly eyes, but with the awakening of a joyous heart within.
I saw the glorified wounds, the wounds once covered with blood, inflamed and red, gushing with deep, red blood. I saw the glistening wounds in the hands and feet and I knew behind His robe was the most tender of all wounds, the piercing wound to His side. It was there, the pierced wound of His most precious Heart. It was the wound of glory, from which His divine life would pour forth to a hungry Church. It would rain and fall as gently as the new fallen snow. It would go across the sky like the light and the souls would be transformed into the whitest light. The graced soul, oh, the glory of this soul, the soul that is filled with His divine life!
Oh, need I say more, my Lord? I see the life in a blade of grass. I see the tiniest potato bug with its dots and beauty and I behold the face of God. I behold life, His life, alive in us and in the world.
Well, the night was black, as black as black could be and the cold pierced my bones. I felt its chill go through my entire body and I wanted to scream and it happened--He gave me an outpouring of His life in my soul and my darkness was truly turned to light, another light, not the light of the eyes, a light of knowing God, the joy of beholding His heavenly embrace, the great illumination of another mystery. Oh, sweet gifts He gives when He gives me new knowledge of Himself. Sweet gifts He gives when, in an instant, I pray my rosary and the Holy Spirit fills my heart with lights and the mystery lights up and I know, I just know and I experience a great insight into God.
This is the reason for this letter, for I laid in my bed and I wanted to cry and I was deeply afraid for the devils pressed in as rocks poking at me and hurting my precious skin. I laid in bed and I went into the womb of my Mother and I asked for the Holy Spirit to flood me with His light and it came. I speak His words to you, they are the words He gives: death-resurrection, darkness-light, sorrow-joy, suffering and pain, but oh, the joy of His light, the joy of His glory, the sacrifice I offer to Him that He turns into blessings and I experience His glory. It is in the death there is the resurrection. It is in the anguishing days of lent we come to the glory of Easter.
So, my dear brothers, I walk the road to Calvary. I mount the cross and I die. I offer sacrifice and in the morning when the night is done I see the glory of the resurrection. I experience His joy in my heart.
So I went to bed and went into the womb of my Mother and the Holy Spirit flooded me with light and I united deeply to my precious Jesus on the cross. I knew Him and His love. I reminisced on all the places of deepest intimacy I had shared with Him and my heart burned. I wanted Him so close and I loved Him so much. I cried out, "I love You, I love You, I love You." In that moment I knew and wanted only Him. He had removed my bonds and set me free to be engulfed by His divine love. I then knew Him as never before, the most Holy One, in this union with Jesus.
I felt my great love for God the Father. I have been experiencing my littleness as a child and knowing my Father, seeing myself real little and knowing my Father and wanting, as a little child, to please Him. Then tonight I realized more His Fatherly love. I see myself depending on Him, needing Him, crying to Him, loving Him and then I realized His power and might and love coming to me.
So I knew in an instant. He just gives you a light and you know, you experience--I knew, I experienced the Trinity. I loved Them, all three Persons, so much and I loved Them as one, my heart, being consumed with the presence of God and sharing the love of each Person--love beyond all love, and I stopped to be in this embrace, wanting it to never end, for in this embrace I felt peace, a peace I had not felt before, so different from the days that proceeded this moment, the days of suffering and trial.
I mounted the cross. I felt the nails press deeply into my hands and feet. I felt the crown of thorns on my head. I said to Him, "Oh, why, my God, if You love me, do You make it so hard?"
And then I saw Him on the cross. I saw His mouth with blood running from the corner of it. I saw the body of a man, close to death. I saw His wounds, blistery and red, pouring out His precious blood. I saw the hollowness of His cheeks and the exhaustion of a body ready to expire in death. I saw the anguishing Lord who came to show us His way. His way is death and resurrection. His way is pain and glory. His way is the way to eternal life.
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February 28, 1997
Rita Ring
Our Wounds are Glorified When We Die in Him
He heals our wounds. His were glorified. So too, are our wounds glorified when we die in Him.
I mount the altar of sacrifice, I die with Him. I die more to all my imperfections that I may be raised in glory.
I must die to my imperfections to be raised to greater glory. In the Mass, I offer myself as a sacrifice with all my imperfections. I give myself and die to myself that I will be raised up and share in His glory.
In order to have oneness, we must be willing to recognize our imperfections with humility and die to them. It is in the dying there is the new life.
It is in dying to ourselves, our selfish imperfections, at every moment, being united at every moment to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, that we die to our will and live only according to the Father's will, as a little child, pleasing his Father at every second, offering ourselves as a sacrifice to Him.
Not our will, but Thy will.
That is what Jesus teaches us in His life. He lived according to the Father's will to His death. At every second, we unite to this great sacrifice, being sacramentally made present in the Mass. We die to ourselves to rise to greater life. The bell tolls--it is in that moment that we participate in the act of helping to save souls. The bell tolls. How are our moments spent in helping to save souls? We offer up all we suffer for His greater glory. We are one with each other in this sacrifice.
If everyone lived this way there would be no "bumping of heads."
I spent time blaming others and Jesus showed me His body bruised and bloodied! He died giving Himself for love of us. I must die to myself, it is the only way to new life.
My wounds become glorified in dying on the cross.
(Also on February 28, 1997):
Greatest intimacy takes the giving of ourselves. God wants our all. We mount the altar of sacrifice in humility. We give Him all of ourselves. I cannot change another person. I am responsible for being like Christ. Christ can change others, I cannot.
For years I made my job the job of changing you. For years we fought and hurt one another. From studying Our Lord, I learned His ways are gentle and kind. He walked the walk to Calvary. He loved His attackers. They spit on Him and He was silent. But, I say, "Oh, I cannot be silent, the suffering is so great." He tells me I must be silent and suffer for souls.
I am responsible for myself. The devil comes as a gentle lamb and wants to devour us.
Many times others tell us their problems. They tell us how others are talking about us and hurting us. We become angry and try to control the people around us.
We cannot, cannot, change another person. Only the grace of God can change them. We must surrender and give our problems to Him.
The devil aims to trip us up. His way is division. God's way is the only way. When I give in to division in my heart, it hurts me in my relationship with God - this is hell. I cannot be divided from others, I suffer when I am.
We are imperfect. The devil is working through many in the Movement that want to be first. There is a plan. It is His plan. We must do His will or we will not have peace.
Anyone complaining about others must stop and turn their hearts to love. God will take care of the troublemakers. God is unveiling the workings of Satan in the Movement. We must be in constant prayer. As these people identify themselves through their willfulness and lack of love, they will be divided by their own actions. We must try to work with people who encourage us and keep us on track. The devil will work through the mouths of the willful people to create negative feelings in our hearts. We are better working with those who are focused on Jesus. We must be loving to all, but it is easier for us to work with someone who is focused on their consecration and spends one hour in front of the tabernacle.
The devil has less of a chance to attack us if we work with those who are one in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
We will work as a family, in one mind and one heart. Our whole function must be to operate in love and oneness.
The devil works through the willful parties to cause division. By staying united to each other and operating with people who are consecrated firmly in their hearts to Jesus and Mary and have a steady prayer life (Mass, Communion, one hour of intimacy with Jesus, preferably before the tabernacle) we will be able to accomplish more work.
I am not telling you to ignore others. I am telling you how it is easiest to accomplish the most work. People who are constantly complaining drag us down. We must spend time with each other talking about Jesus. We must spend time keeping our focus on Him...
(Also on February 28, 1997):
I am truly to be more like Christ. I can be more like Jesus if I am constantly dying to myself with Him in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
So why do I operate? I operate for the honor and glory of God. I give myself as a sacrifice for His honor and glory.
I will meet with people with so many imperfections who think they are perfect, but God will love through me if I am so one with Him.
I love others as He loves through me. His love is perfect. He loved us so much He gave Himself to death on the cross! This is perfect loving.
He said we must die to ourselves.
Oh, I do not love you, my brother, when you hurt me. My wounds are glorified wounds when I die to my way of loving and love as He did. He loved to His death on the cross.
It is easiest to love those who are like Christ. I strive to be like Christ. I am the most imperfect of all.
The only answer to dealing with other's imperfections is to grow to be more like Christ ourselves.
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February 28, 1997
Message given through Rita Ring
A Love Letter to Jesus
My Beloved Jesus,
How tenderly I love Thee. I love Thee to the greatest heights. I love You in the Eucharist. I want You now, my God. I want You to love me and I want to be wise and loving like You.
My whole life is to be like You, but I am so imperfect. Dying to myself is such a struggle because I want to get down from the cross and hold on to my old ways.
I see You on the cross, Jesus, with Your hands opened wide and the way You hung. You endured it until the end. Three agonizing hours. You did not get down and You gave Your all. In humbleness, I will admit my faults and grow to be more like You. Oh, God, I can't get down from the cross and put the old imperfections back on.
When You light the way and show me how evil I am, I have to go all the way to the death of the imperfections as much as possible. I cannot get off the cross and keep any of them. I want to be like You, but I fall so short of true holiness. I only know I really, really love You and I want to be like You. When You were beaten raw, You loved those who hated You. Oh, our way is so hard. I don't want to open myself up to those who have hurt me, but I know I should.
Jesus: I tell you, you must die to your selfish ways and love. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. Admit your failings so you can die to them.
R. I talked about a friend and I was so sorry. I was sorry I demanded perfection. We are all imperfect in our ways. No matter how holy we think we are, we must admit our faults. To become more like Jesus we must die to ourselves. Division with others closes up our relationship with them. In order to open myself up to them, I must be willing to admit my faults to them and tell them I am sorry. I cannot change you. I can only change myself. My way must be love. I must give myself in love to you and others.
Division is the poison of the soul for it separates not only friends but far worse than any separation between human persons, it hurts our relationship with God.
I cannot have a divided heart and love God as I should. I cannot be condemning and hateful. I cannot create division with others because I hurt them and others.
There are two kinds of holes in the heart. Both cause bleeding and pain. One hole is caused from wounds of rejection when we are genuinely loving. The other is the wounds we inflict on our own hearts by giving in to division. We wound our own heart when we are divided and we make ourselves bleed, for it hurts our relationship with Jesus.
January message from Jesus: Bleed little heart. I am teaching you the most intimate secrets of My Heart, never taught before. In order to have intimacy with Me and others, you must die to imperfections.
R. Pure hearts are the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The more we grow in purity, the more our hearts will be one with Theirs. To be one in our hearts, we must die to imperfections.
My Jesus, this is my love letter to You, but You have instead answered my letter with the secret of a pure heart. I thank You, Jesus, for Your love and I beg You to forgive me and help me to be like You.
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February 9, 1997
Message given through Rita Ring
Jesus: I am promising the greatest graces to anyone praying the rosary this way. That is why it is important that the Rosary Aves reach the children as well as the Children's Rosary Book.
Ask Ellen to please continue working on the Children's Rosary Book. The book needs to be published immediately. Ask Sheila to work on all rosaries for publication with the imprimatur.
Abundant graces will be given, overwhelming experiences when these rosaries and the stations, the seven sorrows are prayed on the sheets or from the tape.
Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary will change many hearts. Abundant graces are given to take them to Our Hearts and permanent experiences will happen in their hearts.
These are My writings to help bring about the reign of My Sacred Heart. When they are used, I will draw them ever closer to My Heart. Anyone living the Blue Book messages and Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary will know My life alive in them. The Scriptures will live in their lives, they will know Me and My Mother in their very being. I am writing the messages of My love on their hearts. I am giving them insights into the mysteries of My love when they fervently use these writings and live them. They will become My apostles for the new era when they live and meditate on these writings.
I have unveiled the Scriptures in these writings. I have lifted the veil between you and Me. I have given you insights into My most intimate love I have never revealed before. I have given you the greatest love of the Mass. As others use this Mass Book, I will give them the grace to love the Mass, to see it with eyes unveiled.
These are My writings to help bring about the reign of My Sacred Heart. The devil has blocked these writings. The grace I give with My words and Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary are so great that anyone using My words given here will develop the most intimate love affair with Me.
These are the writings I give to bring about the greatest era where men will most intimately love Me. I have revealed the most intimate secrets of My Heart here and I have been treated with hatred by some men. This wounds Me. Will you take this great gift to the far ends of the earth for Me? It is greatly through these writings, the writings of Fr. Carter and Rita, that My Most Sacred Heart will reign and the heart of My Mother will triumph.
Oh, listen to Me, listen to Mary, listen to My Father. Give these books to all souls and I will give them the grace to have an intimate love affair with Me. Every book should include a consecration and morning offering card. Ask Don to print as many as possible. Each book must include a donation envelope to help the Ministry to continue. The hearts of men will be changed through these writings. They are My writings to change men's hearts to hearts of love. Please circulate God's Blue Books and Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary to a hungry soul. I will write the messages of My love on their hearts. Please circulate the Priestly Newsletter Book, priestly newsletters, and Tell My People, to the priests. Include the Prayer Manual and brochure. You must contact the Church, the family, and the schools with the consecration.
Please, I beg you, My shepherds, it is through your work that many will come to My Heart and My Mother's Heart. There will be one flock and one Shepherd. Pray for the support, both financially and prayfully, from all members. Oh, how I love you. I love you, My shepherds, I love you, My apostles of love for the new era. You are My apostles of My Eucharistic Heart. My Heart will reign and I will be King and Center of the hearts of men. I will be the King in all churches and all families and schools. You will help greatly to bring this about. I love you. Jesus
Read God's Blue Book II, p. 68:
I am the Good Shepherd. I know Mine and they follow Me. I am truly there directing you. The littlest detail in your life is tended to by Me. You do not have to worry for one thing. I will take care of you. Let go and surrender to Him Whose love for you surpasses all your desires on this earth. It is in spiritual bankruptcy, you will feel a new closeness and intense love with Me.
I am Jesus, your God. I care for you like a doting mother. I never leave your side. I watch you. I wait for you. I am the most tender of hearts. Bring your cares to Me and I will tuck you into My Sacred Heart. You will be made whole in Me. My Blood I drip on you and you are cleansed by My Blood. You are engulfed in a sea of love. This is true love, come down from the Father and with the Holy Spirit. You know Mary was with you all day yesterday. She is always with Me and I am with you. She loves you so much!
I am feeding the flock the messages of My love in these love letters in God's Blue Book. I ask you now to feed the hungry with My words. Feed the hungry and I will give them the grace to know and love Me with the most intimate love.
People will beg for Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary for they will receive great graces and experiences when they pray them.
See page 25, God's Blue Book II. "Do not worry", August 25, 1995 noon:
You think that you know suffering. Look at Me as I knelt in the Garden. I saw before Me all of the sufferings that I would undergo, but My greatest sufferings were not the sufferings that I would experience to My body, even to My death on the cross, but the sufferings of My Heart, the rejection of those that I loved, I loved so dearly that I gave My life and they rejected me. This was to their own detriment. They would lose their souls to the fires of hell, despite all that I was about to undergo.
I love you to My death!
I am Jesus, My life lives in the Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. It lives in your hearts when you use the messages I have given to you, My gift of love to you, Jesus.
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January 25, 1997
Message given through Rita Ring
Mary: I am asking each of you to spread the messages I have given connecting my apparition in Florida with the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Please circulate the Mary's Message tape.
Please help circulate the love letters of my Son found in God's Blue Books and Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Please circulate the live rosary tapes.
Jesus is asking that you spread the Ministry. It is through this
Ministry, the Fatima message will greatly unfold. Please support the Ministry. You are
pleasing Jesus and pleasing me. The Father's plan will greatly unfold through this
Ministry. Jesus has asked you to obey His and my messages to bring about the reign of the
Sacred Heart and the triumph of my Immaculate Heart.
Jesus: My chosen ones, I have called you as apostles in the Shepherds of Christ Movement. This is My Ministry. I have given to you messages for the Church and the world to bring about the reign of My Sacred Heart. I am asking you to support this Ministry with your donations and time. It is through your prayers and support that the Ministry will spread. This is My Ministry to bring about the reign of My Sacred Heart. I thank you and I love you. I am Jesus.
I am asking you, My beloved apostles, to pray the Morning Offering every day. This will unite you in one mind and one heart with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
I am asking you to continually pray the Holy Spirit Prayer and the consecration prayers when you gather. These prayer cards must be duplicated and circular. Prayer cards with the Morning Offering for children and the Holy Spirit consecration for children, must be circulated in the schools with the children's consecration prayers.
Your organization will rapidly increase because of the Florida apparition. You must see that you are circulating many tapes of Mary's Message. You must ask coordinators to ask all members to duplicate and circulate Mary's Message.
I thank you for all of your work and support. I ask that you realize that millions of souls are at stake. I ask you please to help spread the movement and publish the Apostles Manual soon.
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Chapter 12
Contact Priest, Contact School, Contact Family
Priests
- Priest Newsletter
and Prayer Manual are the Heart of our Material
- What should be said to the Priests
- January 17, 1997 - I Want My Priests to Come Back
- Benefits of
Consecration
- Introduction
for the Mass Book
- Priestly Newsletters
- September - October
1996 Issue
- November - December
1996 Issue
- January - February 1997
Issue
- Come Follow Me
(Newsletter for the Religious)
- Volume 2 Issue 1 -
Spring 1996
- Volume 2 Issue 3 - Fall
1996
Schools
- Letter to Principals
- Consecration
to Jesus and Mary (for duplication)
- Children's
Morning Offering and Consecration to the Holy Spirit (for duplication)
- Imprimatur
Letter from Most Rev. Carl K. Moeddel for Children's Prayers
- Meditating on
the Rosary Aves (All 15 Mysteries)
- Children's
Rosary - April 25, 1996 (Glorious)
- March 18, 1996 - Mary wants Children to Pray the Rosary
- Junior
Shepherds of Christ Associates
- A Letter from
a Teacher
Families
- Letter
from Mary Rettig
- Consecration
to Jesus and Mary (for duplication)
- Shepherds of Christ Associates
- Questions on Forming a
Prayer Chapter
- Membership Form
- Chapter Guidelines
- Letter from John
Weickert
- Spanish
Chapter Meeting Prayer Format
- Ministering to the
Elderly
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[ < Contents ]
Contact Priest
Do we want peace? Then we must do as Mary said at Fatima: we must consecrate our hearts to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
When the priest gives his heart to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, he becomes one in Their Hearts and he offers a most holy sacrifice. He becomes one in Their Hearts.
When the people give their hearts to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, they become one in Their Hearts and they offer a most holy sacrifice.
The priest and people are united in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, they become one with Christ in a very deep way and an immense amount of grace is poured out on the priest and people, the Church and the world.
Do you want peace and unity in your parish? Do you want the most abundant grace to flow in the Mass? Then say this simple consecration before Mass with the people:
Jesus and Mary, we love You. We give ourselves to You. We consecrate our hearts to Your Hearts. Dear Holy Spirit, enlighten and strengthen us. We give You ourselves.
Contact School
Do you want peace in your school? The Blessed Mother said at Fatima that until a sufficient number of people give their hearts to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, we will not have peace!
How do we give our hearts to Jesus and Mary? Before school each day, say the small prayer to the Holy Spirit, the small consecration prayers to Jesus and Mary, and the morning offering (all available from Shepherds of Christ at no cost). Each time the children enter a classroom, say the consecration and Holy Spirit prayers. This binds the children in one heart with Jesus and Mary and there is less disharmony.
Contact Family
Do you want peace in your family? Then you should do as our heavenly Mother said at Fatima. Mary said until a sufficient number of people consecrate their hearts to Jesus and Mary, we will not have peace.
If we consecrate our hearts to Jesus and Mary, we are in one heart and there is not discord. We must do what Mary says if we want peace.
Family Consecration: We consecrate our family to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. We give ourselves to Them. We love You, Jesus. We love you, Mary. We give our hearts to You. We pray our family is a family of love, modeled after the Holy Family.
[ < Contents ]
Contacting
Priests
with the
Consecration,
the Priestly Newsletters,
and the Prayer Manual
[ < Contents ]
The Priest Newsletter and Prayer Manual are the heart of our material.
Jesus gave the following message on November 3, 1996:
Title: Contact the Priests
This is what you should say when you speak to the priests:
"Do you receive the Shepherds of Christ Newsletter for priests?" (if
not) "Would you like to receive it? It is published six times a year.
Many priests have replied telling how much it helps them in their spiritual lives
and their ministry as well."
(Both for those who are receiving newsletters and those who are not)
"Here is a brochure explaining all the various activities of Shepherds of Christ
Ministries."
(Send to us the names and addresses of the priests who wish to be added to the
mailing list)
Jesus: It is through the holy priest celebrating the Mass and administering the sacraments that immense grace will be outpoured on the earth and the fire of my love will cover the earth.
The Newsletter for the Priests and the Prayer Manual are the heart of all materials distributed by the Shepherds of Christ Ministries.
It is your responsibility as a Shepherd of Christ to contact the priest and tell them about this. I am Jesus. It is through the Shepherds of Christ Movement I will greatly renew the Church. I am writing this newsletter through Fr. Carter to reach My beloved priests. Your personal contact with the priest will encourage them to study the newsletter.
My priests will be led to My Sacred Heart and the heart of My Mother through the Newsletter. My people will be fed through My holy priests.
This is an urgent message to you, My apostles.
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January 17, 1997
Message given to Rita Ring
Jesus: My Dear Beloved Ones,
On January 17, 1994, At 3:40 A.M. I
delivered the following message to My beloved world:
The message is recorded in God's Blue Book - vol. II p. 33.
The title: I Want My Priests to Come Back
In this message, I stated, "...I want My priests to come back...When they are led back to Jesus, they will lead the flock home...Pray for your priests...Read the messages at prayer meetings. There is no secret here. They are from Me and I want them out. I want you to speak...Lead the priests back to adoration and the people will follow...This is the key, the key to unlock the doors to the world's problems. It is found in front of the tabernacle, at daily Mass and Communion. Do the priests ever preach any of this? You have forgotten your Center, Jesus, in the Eucharist! All power is found in Jesus...Spread the messages on the tabernacle, I what them out!
I am requesting that you read this message.
R. At 10:00 in the morning of the 17th, in one minute, Jesus gave to me the Prayer for Union with Jesus. The Shepherds of Christ Movement was begun several months later. The next year on January 17, 1995, it was a special day for the Shepherds of Christ Ministries. Three years later, Jesus delivers this message to you:
Jesus: My Beloved Ones,
I am asking you to contact two priests with the priestly newsletter, the Prayer Manual, and the brochure. I am asking you to use the format outlined (on pg. 289) to ask the priest if he receives the priestly newsletter and if he reads it. You are My special apostles. This is an urgent request from your beloved Jesus to reach the priests with the newsletter and the Prayer Manual. (The Prayer Manual has the imprimatur) I will bless you in a special way when you contact the priests in love and tell them about the newsletter and the Shepherds of Christ Movement.
The priest must be aware of his great gift. I am the Chief Shepherd. You are beloved apostles leading the strayed ones to My Heart. You must contact the priests with the priestly newsletter. I am writing the messages of My love on their hearts through this newsletter. I am teaching them insights into the mysteries of My most Sacred Heart, never revealed before, through the newsletter. I am writing the newsletter for My beloved priest-sons to help renew the Church. I have chosen Fr. Carter, and I am speaking to you, My beloved priest-sons, through the newsletter.
My dear apostles, I am asking you to personally contact two priests, pray for them, and love them in a special way. Give them My gift. Tell them about the Shepherds of Christ Movement. I am giving you abundant grace for any of the work that you do to help spread this Movement to the world. The gift I ask you to give to Me on this January 17, 1997 is the gift of yourself. I want to unite and be so close to you. I am asking you to please contact the priests for Me. Pray especially for these priests, the ones you have chosen to contact. Pray that they will cooperate with the grace I am giving to them to respond favorably to you.
I am further asking you to support the messages I give to you by obeying them.
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Benefits of Consecration
October 28, 1996
R. The priest is another Christ. It is through the priest that Christ administers to the people.
Priests must be one in their hearts with Christ. The more priests are one with Christ, the more the graces flow to the people, to the Church, and to the world.
In order to have deep union with the Heart of Christ, we must give ourselves to the heart of Mary.
We are sinners. How can we, in our sinfulness, unite deeply to Christ? God has given us the pure, sinless one, the one human person conceived without sin with an Immaculate Heart, totally pure. We go to this Immaculate Heart, we give ourselves to her. Although we are sinners, we can tell God we are sorry and go to her heart and unite in deep union with God. She is the pure and sinless one. She is the gateway to the Heart of Christ. Jesus told Lucia, the main visionary from Fatima, that He wants His Heart venerated next to the heart of His Mother.
We encounter Christ in the sacraments, through His priests. When a priest offers sacrifice or administers the sacraments, the graces flow.
The Church is the fountain of life. The Church is the sacrament whereby Christ actively gives Himself to us and outpours His life to us.
The priest gives his heart to Jesus and Mary and he is one in Their Hearts. It is there, in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, we are made holy, as the Holy Spirit works in Mary's heart to sanctify us.
The people give their hearts to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. They become one in Their Hearts. The priest and people are then joined in this oneness in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and this is a most powerful and pleasing sacrifice to the Father.
Life (His divine grace) flows from the Father, in the Holy Spirit, through the pierced Heart of Jesus, through the heart of Mary, to us, and we act as channels of His life in the world today.
The devil has waged a war against the hearts of many priests. The devil has separated many priests from the heart of their Mother.
To go to the deepest chamber of Christ's Heart, to unite in deep love with God, we must go through the pure and sinless one - Mary. It is through our oneness in our hearts that we connect. We need to be one in the sacrifice, one in our hearts with the priest, one in our hearts with Jesus and Mary.
There is such division in the Church. There is separateness in those attending Mass. This should be the time of greatest unity- when we are one in Him.
Mary said at Fatima that until a sufficient number of people have consecrated their hearts to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary we won't have peace in the world. Do we want peace? We must do as our heavenly Mother has told us at Fatima. We must do as Jesus told Lucia-venerate Mary's heart next to His. Consecration of priest and people brings peace. Consecration of priest and people brings unity.
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Introduction for the Mass Book by Rita Ring
Note: Jesus has requested that several books be published with the teachings He gave to me during the Mass. These teachings are meant to help us grow in union with Him during the Mass and also outside the Mass.
We wish to obtain the imprimatur for these writings.
Enclosed is the introduction to the first book about the Mass.
Jesus has asked me to ask you to pray daily in your prayers and rosary novena for the success of the publication of these books and the success of obtaining the imprimatur on these books.
This is not a complete study on the Mass. I am not a theologian. I am accounting here my personal experiences on my journey into the Heart of Jesus. I am accounting my experiences in the Mass and before the tabernacle. Many experiences in this particular book were received at Immaculata-Holy Cross Church in Mt. Adams and during holy Mass.
Under the guidance of my spiritual director, Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J., I have accounted my experiences here. He is a major part of all of my enlightenments. I am most grateful for all his gifts and time he has shared with me. This book, which contains my daily journal experiences, is a joint effort of his guidance and my accounting these experiences.
This book, I hope, will lead you deeper into the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary, Our Mother, through her pure and Immaculate Heart. I hope it will help you to love God more and more through the Mass and the Eucharist, I love you. Rita.
This is the first of a series of books:
January 2, 1997:
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen."
"The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
God pours out His grace in this Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is the greatest gift when God gives Himself to us.
We share with God His life, given to us abundantly in the Mass.
He gives Himself to us, and we give ourselves to Him. The great love affair between God and man: His Holy Mass.
The priest is another Christ to us. It is Christ present, through the priest, celebrating the Mass. We must see Christ in the priest, see Him celebrate the Mass, see His beautiful brown hair, His gentle face, see Him, Our Savior. This Jesus Christ that came was born an infant and gave Himself to His death on the cross that we would share His life. See Him now in the Mass, giving Himself in the greatest gift of all. He gives us His divine love and His divine life.
Oh, we thank You for Your life. We know He died and rose and gave us a sharing in His holy life. His life is now abundantly poured, as a fountain to us, especially in the Mass.
Then we hear His Word. Let the Word of God penetrate our being. Let us feel this Living Word of God. As a two-edged sword, it comes forth with such conviction and love and it penetrates the souls of the faithful with such love. It is food indeed, food for our soul.
He is the Good Shepherd. He speaks to us. He gives us all we want. "There is nothing I shall want." (The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. Ps. 23:1).
He gives us green pastures, and His water pours out and refreshes us. He outpours His grace as a fountain to feed us with His life.
He is a just God, good and kind, all loving, for He is love. We want for nothing for He outpours His love and His life to us in the Mass. We feast on His Body and Blood and are fed with His Word. We become one in Him and He shares Himself with us.
It is through the Mass celebrated by the hands of a holy pries that we will experience the Mass the way Christ intends. These writings are insights which hopefully will help lead you to the spring of life-giving water, the fountain of love and life He outpours in the Mass.
There will be a new earth when men will see with the light of seven suns. They will know God. A people walking in darkness will see a great light. They will no longer be blind, they will be enlightened, they will love God with the greatest love in the Mass. They will feast on His Body and Blood and will be united as one body in His holy Church through His life given to us in the Eucharist.
We will drink copiously from the fountain of grace which He pours out in the Mass. We will be filled with His love, absorbed with the love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and feasting on His divine life.
We see with the vision of God. We partake in such a union with God. We see with the light the Spirit gives to us. The priest celebrates the Mass and we know God with such an intense knowing in this union. We are saturated with His life flowing from the hands of His consecrated priest.
And I look at Him, the priest, and I see Jesus there. I see Him giving Himself to me. I see the new and Holy City. I see with such clarity the great gift that God gives to us in the Mass!
We learn how to love in the Mass, for we unite to God. He gives us such an intimate sharing in His divine love that we carry His love out to the world. In this union we know His loving to an intense degree and we carry this love out to others. We share in an intense way in His divine act of loving. He, Who is Love, gives Himself to us and we are absorbed in His love and we know intensely how God loves. We are filled with love for God and for each other, for, in the oneness He is loving through us. He gives us lights into His loving capacity and we know His loving power in an intensity we did not know before.
We then pray. We offer up our intentions for this Mass. It is now we who intercede to Him to outpour His grace on us and help us with these intentions.
We pray for this reign of peace when the Sacred Heart of Jesus will reign and the Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph and men will fervently love and adore God with burning love. We pray for all souls and the Church and we beg for His help, His love, His grace.
We offer ourselves as a sacrifice. We offer the bread that will become the Bread of Life.
The priest mixes the water and the wine and we realize how His Divinity mixes with our humanity.
We offer the wine that will become our spiritual drink--His Blood.
I give myself to Him and I beg to be cleansed of my sins with the washing of the hands.
"May the Lord accept the sacrifice of your hands for the praise and glory of His name, for our good and the good of all His Church."
We ask Him to accept the gifts we want to give Him, we give Him thanks, we lift up our hearts in thanks and praise and we sing out:
"Holy, Holy God, of power and might..." we sing Him praise and thank Him, "Oh, God we love thee so much."
My heart is so filled with such awe. I cry because I love Him so much.
Every word in the Mass, I love. The priest consecrates the Host and changes it into the Body and Blood of Christ. Hear Christ say to us: "This is My Body", "This is My Blood".
Oh, it makes me cry for I am so struck with awe at what happens at the Consecration. I unite in the oneness with the priest, with Christ and with all present, with heaven and earth. I am one in that moment, united in the sacrifice of Christ giving Himself to the Father.
This is the moment when I unite in such oneness with Christ in the purity of Mary's heart. I give myself as a sacrifice. I offer myself to the Father.
The Father looks down and He sees us united to His Son's Sacrifice. It is in this oneness that His grace is outpoured on us, that we die to that which is not like Him and that the Holy Spirit works in the heart of Mary and fills us with His life.
I am in ecstasy as I realize more and more the great gift of love that God gives us in His holy Mass. I am taken to such heights, being wrapped in the presence of God. It is rapture, this Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
It is a great gift, experiencing this intense presence of the Almighty God: Through Him, With Him, and In Him.
We pray to the Father the prayer as Jesus taught us and beg, "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
We pray: "For the Kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours, now and forever."
We beg for peace in our hearts. We share this peace with one another. Then we beg of the Lamb of God. I want to get down to the ground and beg for His grace, mercy, and forgiveness for our sins.
Please, God, I see us as a sinful people. I want the grace and mercy to flow abundantly.
He raises the Host and says: "This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, happy are those who are called to His supper."
We respond: "Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word and I shall be healed."
I receive the Almighty God in Communion. All I want is Him. Oh, God, I want You, I adore You, I worship You, I love You.
Oh, for this moment when God gives Himself to me. Oh, God, words do not express this time--this intense presence of You within my being. Oh, sweet Savior, I love You!
You share Yourself so intimately with me. You imprint on my soul a knowing of Your Divine Being that is so intimate in this Communion when You give Yourself to me.
Oh, let our hearts be open to His grace that we may know this great gift more, that we will partake more fully in this greatest act of love with Divinity.
He shares Himself with us, the Almighty God, in such oneness. This is the greatest way to bind us with each other, to unite with each other in the Mass and Communion.
And so I sing the love of God, the love of His Mass. I beg you to pray for the grace that He can teach you in these writings about His most intimate love affair with man, the gift of Himself--the gift He gives us in the Mass.
The Holy Sacrifice, the sacrifice of Calvary, sacramentally-made-present in the Mass when He gives Himself to us with the greatest love!
And what does He ask in return? He asks that we love one another, that we give Him the glory, the thanksgiving, the adoration that is His due as the Almighty God.
He sends us forth with His blessing to share His most intimate love with all. We go forth as other Christs in the world. For He is alive this day and He lives in us and He gives His love to others through us. We act as channels of His life to one another.
The Mass is the richest source of His life. His life flows through the body, the Church, especially through the sacraments and the Mass.
Oh Jesus, from the fountain of life that pours forth from your pierced Heart, give us holy priests whose hearts are consecrated to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary to celebrate the Mass--that there is such oneness between the priest and Christ that His grace will flow copiously.
We thirst for the fountain of life pouring forth from the pierced Heart of Christ. It is His life we seek and find in the Church. It is His love we want and we experience the greatest love affair with God in the Mass.
These books on the Mass are accounts of my intimate love affair with our Almighty God. Many experiences were enlightenments I received in the Mass.
I strongly advise all to pray, to say the Holy Spirit Prayer, the consecration prayers, and the Prayer before the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, before Mass.
This book is the journey into the red room, the inner chamber of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, through the gateway, the pure and Immaculate Heart of His Mother.
It is in the Mass we give ourselves in such love to our Holy God. He gives Himself to us and we give ourselves to Him.
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"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him, abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep; this is because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep." (Jn 10:11-151)
He hung upon a cross on a hill called Calvary. Death was near. How much Jesus had already suffered! He had been brutally scourged. Much of His sacred body was a bloody, open wound. He had been derisively crowned with thorns. In a terribly weakened condition, He carried the heavy cross to the hill of Golgotha. There He was stripped of His garments and mercilessly nailed to the cross.
Truly the Good Shepherd had laid down His life for His sheep. That magnificent Heart, overflowing with love for His Father and all of us, had beat its last.
Jesus' life was a life of love. He mightily loved His Father and all of us. The poverty, the hiddenness, the disappointments, the accomplishments, the weariness, the joy and the happiness, the pain and the agony-all that constituted the earthly life of the Incarnate Son of the Father, was experienced within the framework of love. Jesus, Who is divine and human, was the great man that He was as He walked this earth because He loved tremendously. He loved in everything He did-tenderly, manfully, with understanding and sympathy. He loved with complete devotedness and a deep concern for the individual. He loved with a passion for that which was true and beautiful and good. He loved with a complete conformity to the Father's Will. He loved always and completely. He loved with the gift of Himself, always pouring Himself out, even to the point of death. He gave Himself in love to His Father and to us until there was no more to give.This was the poignant beauty of Christ's life. He was a giant of greatness because He was one Who loved tremendously.
We can be tempted to reject this marvelous example of Christ. We can seek our greatness and fulfillment in a manner that necessarily results in disappointment. We can strive after greatness in ways that God does not intend. These wayward wanderings, however, result in a feeling of dissatisfaction and frustration. If we follow these false leads, we will eventually come to realize that they have betrayed us. Indeed, these wayward wanderings possess the potential for nothing but betrayal, because they are not rooted in Christ and His way of life-which is the way to true greatness.
We must incessantly remind ourselves of the example that Jesus has given us. We must deepen our realization that our fundamental greatness consists in what we are, and we are to the extent we love God and others. St. Paul, in his own inimitable way, tells us of this: "If I had all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. If I have the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there are, and knowing everything, and if I have faith in all its fullness, to move mountains, but without love, then I am nothing at all. If I give away all that I possess, piece by piece, and if I even let them take my body to burn it, but am without love, it will do me no good whatever." (1 Cor 13: 1-3)
Our greatness, then, lies in our relating in love to both God and others-yes, even to that vast majority whom we will never see or know directly, but whom our love can nevertheless reach out and touch because of our union with Christ. With Christ, there are no space barriers, and, therefore, uniting our love to His can unite us to people the world over.
We grow as Christians through a life that is centered in love within the milieu of the human condition. This is the only framework we have for achieving our greatness, our true personhood, and, consequently, we must not shirk the human condition. Jesus did not shirk it, but rather accepted it and manifested His greatness within it, despite the pain and agony that the human condition at times heaped upon Him. It is true that Jesus rejoiced during the course of His life because of the goodness, sincerity, and response of some of those with whom He dealt. The love that Mary and Joseph showered on Jesus, for instance, gave Him great joy. During His life, however, Jesus often suffered because of the evil side of others-their pettiness, cowardice, insensitivity, selfishness, egotism. In other words, Jesus suffered at the hands of others because they were not what they should have been. However, these experiences did not thwart the greatness of Jesus. He was always what He should have been. Jesus was always the tremendous lover, and He loved even at those times when it was very painful to do so.
Our own greatness in Christ, our growth as Christians, can develop smoothly and joyfully because we, in a special way, experience the goodness and love within the hearts of others, and this makes it easy for us to love as we should. Sometimes, however, the less wholesome side of others crowds in upon us, and we find it difficult to go on loving as we should. In the same way that Christ suffered because of others, we, too, as we try to love, suffer because of others. We suffer because others do not always understand us-this can be true even of those who dearly love us. We suffer because some do not appreciate what we do for them, and sometimes what we do exacts great personal cost. We suffer because others either reject us or make us the objects of their meanness and selfishness. We suffer because there are some who ignore us. At times we suffer so much that we are tempted to withdraw from the pain of giving ourselves in love into an egotistic enclosure of self-seeking, where, we think, we will no longer suffer at the hands of others, or at least will not suffer so much. To surrender to such a temptation, however, is to forget what Christian greatness really is, namely, a life of love for God and others, a love that does not shrink from the pain that results from loving in an imperfect world, a love that is meant to become greater and more selfless regardless of the way other might treat us. Love, then, accepts both the joy and the pain of life and carries on under both conditions. Yes, we are made for love.
The first letter of John tells us: "God is love and anyone who lives in love lives
in God, and God lives in him. Love will come to its perfection in us when we can face the
day of judgment without fear; because even in this world we have become as he is.
"In love there can be no fear, but fear is driven out by perfect love: because to
fear is to expect punishment, and anyone who is afraid is still imperfect in love.
"We are to love, then, because he loved us first. Anyone who says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, is a liar, since a man who does not love the brother that he can see, cannot love God, whom he has never seen.
"So this is the commandment that he has given us, that anyone who loves God must also love his brother." (1 Jn 4:16-21)
The more love matures, the more it concentrates on the present. Love welcomes each day with a fresh joy and a renewed gratitude to God for the opportunity to once again be and become for Him and others. Love realizes that it does not fully possess the past or the future-it can only fully grasp the present, and it loathes to waste any of the preciousness which "the now" offers.
Love is gentle, love is tender. Love is sensitive to the gentleness in nature. It is moved by the softness of the freshly fallen snow, the coolness of an autumn breeze tenderly stroking the brow, and the softness of the grass in May-time greenness. Much more important, love is sensitive to the need for gentleness, for tenderness, in human affairs. Consequently, love gently comforts the grief-stricken parents of a child so tragically and suddenly snatched away in death. Love gently encourages those to whom life seems hopeless. Love sensitively tends to the needs of those who are so often and so easily forgotten. Yes, the gentleness of love manifests itself in these and in many other ways, and, in so doing, imitates the gentleness, the tenderness of Jesus Himself: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you refused!" (Mat 23:37)
The fact that love is gentle does not mean that it is not strong. It is precisely this, and the blend between its tenderness and its strength constitutes one of love's most attractive traits. Love is strong in many ways. It is not discouraged by the evil in the world that threatens to thwart the accomplishments of love's goals. It realizes that the strength of goodness is mightier than the force of evil and that ultimately love wins out. Love is also strong in bearing with the temporary failures that are experienced in the pursuit of its purpose. Although love may be disappointed, it nevertheless realizes that the only failure it cannot conquer would be love's refusal-love's failure to go on loving-and true love will never quit. Love is strong in its willingness to take the necessary means to achieve its goals, even though this might entail great personal cost or cause misunderstanding, or even cause pain to those who are the recipients of this love.
Love is secure. A person who properly loves is in touch with one's true self and realizes that he or she is tremendously loved by God. Such a person feels secure in the exercise of love towards others. He or she feels secure enough to extend love towards others in various ways, even when little or no love is returned.
Closely allied to love's feeling secure is love's intuition in realizing the evils of possessiveness. Love does not try to possess the person one loves, but leaves the other free. In fact, authentic love for the other makes the other more free and helps the other to grow in all ways, including growth along the paths of real freedom. The one who loves authentically leaves the other free to grow in all sorts of ways, for example, to relate to other people and to undertake new things, activities which might well make the loved one less accessible.
Love is reconciliatory and integrative. Loves hates divisiveness. It knows the difference between diversity and divisiveness. It knows that healthy diversity reflects the varied richness of human existence and is something to be desired. It knows, too, that divisiveness is the sworn enemy of community. Divisiveness perniciously eats away at those bonds of love and union that are meant to unite the members of God's human family. Love, consequently, works to promote the integrative process which unites us and human events according to God's holistic plan, a plan in which the numerous and richly diversified parts become increasingly beautiful the more they contribute to the health and functioning of the whole.
Love is trusting. Regarding a person's relationship with God, this attitude grows in proportion to the atmosphere of love. As one grows in the realization of how much God loves him or her, and responds with a love of his or her own, trust in God matures and is a dominant facet of one's daily existence. A serenity of spirit becomes more obvious as the person grows in the awareness of both how much God cares and how supportive His loving embrace is, come what may.
This attitude of trust also characterizes one's relationships with others. One who is exercising true love is not naive or oblivious to the fact that one can be needlessly hurt by this: that one's trust can be betrayed. On the contrary, one who loves realizes that there is certainly an evil side to human nature, but, nevertheless, prefers to concentrate on the basic goodness of the human heart. This positive focus allows a person to trust that people not only will frequently act according to this goodness, but, as a matter of fact, will actually be encouraged to do so when they themselves are the recipients of a true and sincere love.
Love is affirming. By the very fact that one loves another, the other is encouraged to be and to become according to his or her uniqueness. Being loved enhances a person's sense of worthwhileness. A person who is loved is encouraged to develop his or her uniqueness, to feel more at home with oneself, and to accomplish further the special mission in life that only he or she can fulfill.
Love is patient. Love realizes that, for the most part, the growth of God's kingdom occurs at a very gradual pace. Sometimes this growth process seems exceedingly slow, and a person is tempted to wonder if the efforts of love are actually producing any effects. Patience conquers this temptation, however, and enables love's work to continue. Patience consequently helps prevent the waste of talent in the work of the kingdom. It seems that certain talented people have never realized their potential in promoting Christ's cause precisely because they were not patient enough with others and themselves. Patience is a virtue that is not much discussed, but is nevertheless extremely necessary.
Love is not proud, is not egotistical. Love is interested, of course, in the self and the good of the self. One who loves authentically, however, realizes that the love of one's true self is based on the awareness that one has been created and redeemed by God's love, that one has been endowed with various gifts by the Creator, and that these gifts are to be exercised in the loving service of God and others. Love, then, does not become selfishly proud in its accomplishments. Rather, love realizes that God is the ultimate source of personal accomplishments, that one can achieve only what God helps a person to accomplish. Love is very much aware of Jesus' words that without Him we can do nothing.
Love is both universal and specific. Love is universal in that it excludes no one. For example, love includes all members of the human family in its prayer. Love is very much aware, however, that one can say he or she loves everybody, but be sadly lacking when it comes to manifesting love in various ways according to the concrete setting of every day. True love, then, does not shy away from the painful aspects of loving specific individuals in definite, concrete circumstances. Admittedly, such a service of love can be difficult, demanding, and unattractive in certain ways. Personality flaws in others, or particular personalities that are not attractive to the one who is trying to be of help, or indifference, or even hostility on the part of those one strives to serve-these and other realities are a true test of a person's willingness to concretely implement one's avowal that one does indeed love his or her neighbor as the Lord commands, even when it is difficult to do so.
The Christian's fundamental relationship is his or her union with God in Christ. The more one realizes how much God loves him or her as this unique individual, and the more the person responds to this love, the greater the happiness. If this basic love relationship with God in Christ is alive and healthy, everything else in life falls into place. There may be problems, at times very severe problems. There may be great suffering. But all of this becomes bearable for the one who feels reasonably secure in God's love. A poll has been taken which finds that unhappiness is about five times greater among non-religious people than among people who would be classified as being very religious.
The saints' progress in holiness was accompanied by their conviction that God loved them mightily. We also have to allow the realization of how much God loves us to accomplish our ongoing transformation in Christ. Since it's true that God loves each of us so uniquely, so intimately, why don't we take greater effort to arrive at the existential assent to this consoling truth? By an existential assent we mean one which reaches deep down, an assent which permeates our being so thoroughly that it erases and makes repugnant the thought of compromising for a life of spiritual mediocrity. At times we foolishly shy away from God's love. We foolishly think that to give ourselves ever more to this love, to allow it to possess us more radically, will mean that our lives will be too much hemmed in, too much cut off from the pursuit of our self-designed ideas of happiness. If we succumb to such a temptation, we become similar to the prodigal son who thought happiness existed elsewhere than in his father's house. His pursuit of this false happiness ultimately ended up in his willingness to eat the food given to pigs. We ourselves are not totally blameless. To the extent we refuse to be more possessed by God's love, and choose to be directed by it, to that degree we also are willing to settle for food which is unworthy, food which can never satisfy our true cravings.
Love is contemplative. It realizes it must sustain and develop a contemplative awareness of reality if it is to love properly. To relate in love to reality as we should means that first we must view reality according to its true nature, that is, we must see things according to our faith vision. Jesus has left us with the proper view of God and creation. Jesus has told us how to relate to God and His creation, how to love. This faith vision must be consistently actualized through a contemplative or prayerful awareness of the people, events, and circumstances that are part of our daily lives. If we fail, for example, to see people as they really are in their core existence, namely, as created and redeemed by God's love, and instead allow ourselves to be absorbed by more superficial aspects of their persons, then we will not love them as we should.
Love seeks, therefore, a certain degree of solitude in order to nourish this contemplative attitude. A person cannot hope to exercise a contemplative awareness throughout the myriad and often complex happenings of daily existence unless there are periods of withdrawal during which one can drink more deeply of the wisdom which contemplation offers. A person must conquer the temptation that deceitfully suggests that the seeking of solitude is a selfish desire to flee the pain of human encounter. Authentic solitude is never selfish; rather, it is a renewed opportunity for refurbishing both one's contemplative vision and one's determination to love more maturely according to this perspective.
Love knows what love really is, and this awareness is a result of love's contemplative thrust. One of the truths that emanates from the act of contemplation is the realization of what actually constitutes true love. This is no small accomplishment, for, despite the numberless volumes that have been written about love, one can still have only a blurred idea of what it really is. Giving love is the gift of self to promote the authentic good of the other loved. Being loved is receiving the other's gift of self as a help in achieving one's real good.
The manner in which the gift of self is made is commensurate with the type of relationship. A doctor gives himself or herself to one's spouse in one way, to one's children in another, to one's patients in yet another way, and to his or her friends in a way that is still further differentiated. Whatever way the gift of self is made, however, it has the same basic goal in mind, namely, to promote the real good of the other. Love realizes that it is not always easy to discern what really promotes the true good of the other. However, despite this difficulty, love is aware of its true identity. Love, in short, knows what love really is.
When we experience love-hurt in abundant measure, we can be tempted to think that it may be better not to love at all. But a moment's mature reflection tells us otherwise. We are made for love. We are to love God and human persons. The only way we can grow is to love. Despite the pain, we have to love if we want to grow, if we want to be happy, if we want to be what God destines us to be. At times, and especially when the love-pain is particularly keen, we should look at the example Jesus has left us. He came upon the earth to love. He did not flinch, He did not renege. He did not quit loving when it was painful to do so-even when it became agonizingly painful to do so. This is the poignant beauty of His life.
"After saying this, what can we add? With God on our side who can be against us? Since God did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up to benefit us all, we may be certain, after such a gift, that He will not refuse anything He can give. Could anyone accuse those that God has chosen? When God acquits, could anyone condemn? Could Christ Jesus? No! He not only died for us-He rose from the dead, and there at God's right hand He stands and pleads for us.
"Nothing therefore can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked'
"For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus Our Lord." (Rom 8:31-39)
From the spiritual classic, The Imitation of Christ, we read: "Make room for Christ. When you possess Christ you are a rich man, for he is sufficient for you. He himself shall provide for you and faithfully administer all your cares. You will not have to place your hope in man. Put all your trust in God, let him be both your fear and your love. He will respond on your behalf and will do whatever is in your best interest.
"You have here no lasting city. For wherever you find yourself, you will always be a pilgrim from another city. Until you are united intimately with Christ, you will never find your true rest.
"Let your thoughts be with the Most High and direct your prayers continually to Christ. If you do not know how to contemplate the glory of heaven, take comfort in the passion of Christ, and dwell willingly in his sacred wounds. Endure with Christ, suffer for him, if you wish to reign with him.
"Once you have entered completely into the depths of Jesus, and have a taste of powerful love, then you will not care about your own convenience or inconvenience. Rather, you will rejoice all the more in insults and injuries, for the love of Jesus makes a man scorn his own needs."2
Fr. Paul de Jaeger, S.J., writes: "Why do we not once and for all spread wide the sails of the ship of our trust? Did we but do this, how utterly our lives would be changed! How this would enable us to ride before the wind, to ride fast towards the greatly desired anchorage of perfect union with Jesus! Only when she had made strong her trust did St. Teresa of the Child Jesus, trust's great Saint, set out to walk the ways of divine love. From that day on her life was changed. Is that not our need also? Would that for us too this change could be made without delay, could be made this very day! Would that, making a supreme effort to respond to the full to the infinite goodness of Jesus in the Eucharist, we could bid a final farewell to all our cowardice, to all our vain fears, to all things conducive of faulty trust'"3
Fr. Peter van Breeman, S.J., observes: "The matter of joy in the risen Lord has a great deal to do with faith, for a sad Christian is really not an authentic Christian. In this regard the words of Mother Teresa of Calcutta are impressive. She has devoted her life to the lowest form of human misery; her days are wholly taken up with the sufferings and the sorrows of the most forsaken. And, yet, her words are unqualified: 'Never let anything fill your heart with so much grief that you forget the joys of the risen Lord.' These are the words of a woman of faith'Mother Teresa can work with the poor because she has Christ's own intense joy and gladness in her heart. It is this which makes her so radiant, so appealing. For this reason people flock to her, and she is able to console them truly, not just with money or medication-she has too little of these-but above all with the true consolation that comes from faith, the faith embodied in her own life."4
The Catechism states: "By calling God 'Father,' the language of faith indicates two main things: that God is the first origin of everything and transcendent authority; and that He is at the same time goodness and loving care for all His children. God's parental tenderness can also be expressed by the image of motherhood, which emphasizes God's imminence, the intimacy between Creator and creature. The language of faith thus draws on the human experience of parents, who are in a way the first representatives of God for man. But this experience also tells us that human parents are fallible and can disfigure the face of fatherhood and motherhood. We ought therefore to recall that God transcends the human distinction between the sexes. He is neither man nor woman: He is God. He also transcends human fatherhood and motherhood, although He is their origin and standard: no one is father as God is Father."5
The Catechism succinctly explains the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives: "Jesus is Christ, 'anointed,' because the Spirit is his anointing, and everything that occurs from the Incarnation on derives from this fullness. When Christ is finally glorified, He can in turn send the Spirit from his place with the Father to those who believe in him: he communicates to them his glory, that is, the Holy Spirit who glorifies him. From that time on, this joint mission will be manifested in the children adopted by the Father in the Body of his Son: the mission of the Spirit of adoption is to unite them to Christ and make them live in him."6
Rita Ring writes: "Mary is always desiring to bring forth her children to a greater Christ likeness. It is through Mary that we join in deepest intimacy with Jesus' Heart. Jesus came into this world in the womb of His Mother through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is today, in the womb of Mary, in the heart of Mary, that we are transformed through the Holy Spirit more and more to the likeness of Jesus. Let us go to the heart of our Mother and ask the Holy Spirit to increasingly sanctify us that we may go ever more deeply into the Heart of Jesus, the Heart of endless love. We do not fully comprehend the love of God. We are so limited in our vision. We do not fully know how Jesus' Heart is truly burning and on fire. Do we know what it is to feel love burning in our heart? This is what Jesus felt when He allowed Himself to suffer during His Passion and to die on the cross. His Heart was on fire."7
St. Thomas Aquinas has left us these inspirational words on the Eucharist, the source and summit of the Christian life: "Since it was the will of God's only begotten Son that men should share in his divinity, he assumed our nature in order that by becoming man he might make men gods. Moreover, when he took our flesh he dedicated the whole of its substance to our salvation. He shed his blood for our ransom and purification, so that we might be redeemed from our wretched state of bondage and cleansed from all sin. But to ensure that the memory of so great a gift would abide with us forever, he left his body as food and his blood as drink for the faithful to consume in the form of bread and wine.
"O precious and wonderful banquet, that brings us salvation and contains all sweetness! Could anything be of more intrinsic value. Under the old law it was the flesh of calves and goats that was offered, but here Christ himself, the true God, is set before us as our food. What could be more wonderful than this? No other sacrament has greater healing power; through it sins are purged away, virtues are increased, and the soul is enriched with an abundance of every spiritual gift. It is offered in the Church for the living and the dead, so that what was instituted for the salvation of all may be for the benefit of all. Yet, in the end, no one can fully express the sweetness of this sacrament, in which the spiritual delight is tasted at its very source, and in which we renew the memory of that surpassing love for us which Christ revealed in his passion.
"It was to impress the vastness of this love more firmly upon the hearts of the faithful that our Lord instituted this sacrament at the Last Supper. As he was on the point of leaving the world to go to the Father, after celebrating the Passover with his disciples, he left it as a perpetual memorial of his passion. It was the fulfillment of ancient figures and the greatest of all miracles, while for those who were to experience the sorrow of his departure, it was destined to be a unique and abiding consolation."8
Pope John Paul II speaks on the relationship of the hierarchical priesthood and the common priesthood of the faithful: "We must consider down to the smallest detail not only the theoretical meaning but also the existential meaning of the mutual 'relation' that exists between the hierarchical priesthood and the common priesthood of the faithful. The fact that they differ not only in degree but also in essence is a fruit of a particular aspect of the richness of the very priesthood of Christ which is the one center and the one source, both of that participation which belongs to all the baptized and of that other participation which is reached through a distinct sacrament, which is precisely the sacrament of Orders. This sacrament, dear brothers, which is specific for us, which is the fruit of the special grace of vocation and the basis of our identity, by virtue of its very nature and of everything that it produces in our life and activity, serves to make the faithful aware of their common priesthood and to activate it: the sacrament reminds them that they are the People of God and enables them 'to offer spiritual sacrifices' through which Christ Himself makes us an everlasting gift to the Father. This takes place, above all, when the priest 'by the sacred power that he has'in the person of Christ (in persona Christi) effects the Eucharistic Sacrifice and offers to God in the name of all the people,' as we read in the conciliary text quoted above.
"Our sacramental priesthood, therefore, is a 'hierarchical' and at the same time 'ministerial' priesthood. It constitutes a special ministerium, that is to say, 'source,' in relation to the community of believers. It does not, however, take its origin from that community, as though it were the community that 'called' or 'delegated'. The sacramental priesthood is truly a gift for the community and comes from Christ Himself, from the fullness of His priesthood. This fullness finds its expression in the fact that Christ, while making everyone capable of offering the spiritual sacrifice, calls some and enables them to be ministers of his own sacramental Sacrifice, at the Eucharist-in the offering of which all the faithful share-in which are taken up all the spiritual sacrifices of the People of God.
"Conscious of this reality, we understand how our priesthood is 'hierarchical', that is to say, connected with the power of forming and governing the priestly people and precisely for this reason 'ministerial.' We carry out this office, through which Christ Himself unceasingly 'serves' the Father in the work of our salvation. Our whole priestly existence is and must be deeply involved with this service, if we wish to effect in an adequate way the Eucharistic Sacrifice in persona Christi.
"This priesthood calls for a particular integrity of life and service, and precisely such integrity is supremely fitting for our priestly identity. In that identity, there are expressed, at the same time, the greatness of our dignity and the 'availability' proportionate to it. It is a question of the humble readiness to accept the gifts of the Holy Spirit and to transmit to others the fruits of love and peace, to give them that certainty of faith from which derive the profound understanding of the meaning of human existence and the capacity to introduce the moral order into the life of individuals and of the human setting.
"Since the priesthood is given so that we can unceasingly serve others, after the example of Christ, the Lord, the priesthood cannot be renounced because of the difficulties that we meet and the sacrifices asked of us. Like the apostles, we have left everything to follow Christ: therefore we must persevere beside Him also through the cross."9
Thomas Merton speaks to us about the place of love in prayer: "The instinctive characteristic of religious meditation is that it is a search for truth which springs from love and which seeks to pursue the truth not only by knowledge but also by love. It is, therefore, an intellectual activity which is inseparable from an intense consecration of spirit and application of the will. The presence of love in our meditation intensifies our thought by giving it a deeply affective quality. Our meditation becomes charged with a loving appreciation of the value hidden in the supreme truth which the intelligence is seeking. The affective drive of the will'raises the soul above the level of speculation and makes our quest for truth a prayer full of reverential love and adoration striving to pierce the dark cloud which stands between us and the throne of God. We beat against this cloud with supplications, we lament our poverty, our helplessness, we adore the mercy of God and His supreme perfections, we dedicate ourselves entirely to His worship."10
Sr. Judith Wessels, SNDN, gives us these spiritual thoughts:
It comes into my mind
as if it were yesterday.
It's been so many years now
since that day.
His friends told Him
to send us away-
but He didn't.
In fact, he brought
us closer.
He picked me up
and sat me on
His knee.
His hands were strong
and sure-
and what a smile!
I felt so special,
And I still remember
Him!11
Lord Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the Flock, I consecrate my priestly life to your Heart, pierced on Calvary for love of us. From your pierced Heart the Church was born, the Church you have called me, as a priest to serve in a most special way. You reveal Your Heart as symbol of Your love in all its aspects, including Your most special love for me, whom You have chosen as Your priest-companion. Help me always to pour out my life in love of God and neighbor. Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in you!
Dear Blessed Virgin Mary, I consecrate myself to your maternal and Immaculate heart, this Heart which is symbol of your life of love. You are the Mother of my Savior and you are also my Mother. You love me with the most special love as this unique priest-son. In a return of love I give myself entirely to your motherly love and protection. You followed Jesus perfectly. You are His first and perfect disciple. Teach me to imitate you in the putting on of Christ. Be my motherly intercessor so that, through your Immaculate Heart, I may be guided to an ever closer union with the pierced Heart of Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the Flock, who leads me to the Father in the Holy Spirit.
We thank all those who have taken the time to write to us. We very much appreciate your letters. Space limitations permit us to publish only a few of these.
Dear Fr. Carter,
Deo Gratias and also to you for your Shepherds of Christ
newsletter-a gem. Your articles always have solid meditation material and an inviting way
of leading us priests on that path of holiness to which we are called.
May your work be graced by the Lord.
Sincerely in Jesus and Mary,
Fr. Eugene Golas,
Grand Rapids, Michigan
My dear Fr. Carter:
Many thanks for the March-April issue of Shepherds of Christ. That is
the first issue I ever saw or received. May the good Lord bless you. It is a wonderful
newsletter. I am enclosing a small donation. May God love you.
Sincerely,
Fr. Charles Jirik,
Minneapolis MN
Note: If you know of other priests who have not been receiving the Newsletter, please
tell them we would be very glad to add them to our mailing list upon receiving their names
and addresses.
-Editor
Dear Ed,
I recently ran across your publication. As a newly ordained priest, I
found it most refreshing and affirming. Please subscribe me at the above address. We are
all grateful to people like you who help people like us.
Gratefully,
Fr. John Kennedy,
Monroe, Louisiana
website: http://www.SofC.org
E-Mail: info@SofC.org
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1996 ISSUE
Shepherds of Christ
Shepherds of Christ Ministries
P.O. Box 193
Morrow, Ohio 45152-0193
U.S.A.
Shepherds of Christ, a spirituality newsletter for priests, is published bi-monthly by Shepherds of Christ Ministries, P.O. Box 193, Morrow, Ohio 45152-0193. While distribution is free of charge to all priests in the U.S., and growing internationally, donations are still very much appreciated. Inquiries and comments are welcome, as are address changes and addresses of the newly ordained. Permission to reproduce intact is granted for non-commercial use. Editor Father Edward Carter S.J. is Professor of Theology at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. John Weickert is President. Good Shepherd illustration is by Brother Jerome Pryor, S.J. Layout and design are by Cathy Ring. Also dedicated to the spiritual advancement of priests is a worldwide network of lay/religious prayer chapters, Shepherds of Christ Associates, headquartered at 2919 Shawhan Road, Morrow, Ohio 45152, telephone toll free 1-888-211-3041, fax 513-932-6791.
[ < Contents ]
"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him, abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep; this is because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep." (Jn 10:11-151)
A faithful shepherd takes care of his sheep in all their needs. This includes providing them with the proper food. Jesus, the perfect Shepherd, abundantly provides for the nourishment of His flock. In the Eucharist, He gives Himself in His body, blood, soul, and divinity, for our spiritual growth. He also feeds us through His word, through His teaching. The gospel of John, in Chapter 6:35-59, combines both of these ways, Christ nourishing us through His teaching and through the Eucharist. This particular section of John's gospel gives us Jesus' great discourse on the Bread of Life. The first part, verses 35-50, speaks of the teaching of Jesus as nourishment. This first part contains, therefore, the so-called sapiential theme. The second part, versus 51-59, speaks of the Eucharist as our heavenly nourishment. This part, therefore, contains the sacramental theme.
Concerning the teaching of Jesus which has been left to His Church, the Second Vatican Council states: "But in order to keep the gospel forever whole and alive within the Church, the apostles left bishops as their successors, 'handing over their own teaching role' to them. This sacred tradition, therefore, and sacred Scripture of both the Old and the New Testament are like a mirror in which the pilgrim Church on earth looks at God, from whom she has received everything, until she is brought finally to see Him as He is, face to face."2
We priests have a special privilege and responsibility to nourish ourselves with the teachings of Jesus. The more we meditate on this teaching, the more we love it, the more we ourselves live it, the more apt instruments we become in assisting the Good Shepherd in the feeding of His flock.
"Philip said, 'Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.' 'Have I been with you all this time, Philip,' said Jesus to him, 'and you still do not know me?'"(Jn 14:8-9)
We can come to know Jesus in various ways. To hear about Jesus during the Scriptural readings of the liturgy, or to hear about him in a homily, or to experience Jesus in other ways through life within the Christian community-these are all means by which we can meet Jesus and come to know Him better.
We should also realize that prayer is a very effective and necessary means for growing in knowledge and love of Jesus. Some apparently think that, if they meet Jesus by experiencing Him in and with their neighbor in various ways, this is sufficient. We should not underestimate this communitarian manner of experiencing Jesus. It is extremely important, and we cannot do without it. But in order to know and love Jesus as we should, we also need the one-to-one situation which prayerful quiet offers. At times we need to be alone with Jesus.
We can see the necessity of this by considering how a friendship with a human person develops and grows. We can certainly grow in knowledge and live with a friend as we experience him or her in the company of others. But I think we all admit that at times we must also be alone with the other if the friendship is properly to be and to grow. I can never get to know a friend as I should merely by being with him or her in the company of other people. I also need the one-to-one experience so that I and my friend can share on a more personal and intimate basis. If this holds true for my personal relationship with a human person friend, it also holds true for my friendship with Jesus. And it is especially as I receive Jesus in the Eucharist and pray before the tabernacle at other times that the one-to-one, intimate experience of Jesus is greatly nourished. It is at such moments that Jesus offers me a supreme opportunity to grow in knowledge and love of Him-this Jesus who is God, my teacher, my friend, my Savior, who died a brutal death for love of me.
"God, you are my God, I am seeking you, my soul is thirsting for you." (Ps 63:1)
God is the one who gives ultimate meaning to our lives. He reveals to us how the laughter and the tears, the work and the play, the pain and the joy, all fit together. As we live in Him, He gathers up what would otherwise be the all-too-fragmented pieces of our lives and arranges them into a harmonious unity. This unity emanates from our living according to His plan, a plan embodying a way of existence that leads us to an ever greater experience of the true, the good, and the beautiful.
As we long for God and draw nearer to Him, we may possibly experience a certain fear. We realize that the closer we come to Him, the more He will ask of us, gently but firmly. We fear the white heat of His love. Such episodes along the spiritual journey are crucial. If we keep pulling back from the intensity of His love, if we keep refusing what this love wants to accomplish in us and through us, then we live on a rather superficial level. We can still be friends with our God but we are refusing to live deeper down where the really real is more intensely experienced. We have to resist this fear which, if succumbed to, prevents us from achieving a closer union with God. God's love for us wants our happiness; God's love for us also brings about our happiness-if we are open to what He wants to do for us.
When we experience a greater yearning and thirst for God, we should, then, abandon ourselves to this desire. In doing so we will experience in greater measure the warmth and security of God's love,this God Who is the ground of our being, the goal of our existence, the source of our happiness.
"The word of Yahweh was addressed to me, saying,
'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
before you came to birth I consecrated you;
I have appointed you as prophet to the
nations.'
I said, 'ah, Lord Yahweh; look, I do not know
how to speak; I am a child!'
"But Yahweh replied,
'Do not say, "I am a child."
Go now to those to whom I send you
and say whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to protect you-
it is Yahweh who speaks!'" (Jer
1:4-8)
At certain points along the journey of life, we become rather overwhelmed with a certain kind of fear. It is a fear emanating from the realization that God is asking something very special of us. We are afraid because of the effort required, or because we feel that we have only mediocre talent for the task to which we are being summoned.
Whatever the case may be, we can all profit by reflecting on the above scripture passage dealing with God's call to Jeremiah. Jeremiah told God, in so many words, that he was not capable of the task he was being asked to accomplish. God replied, telling Jeremiah that he surely could perform the task he was being assigned-not because of what he was in himself, but because He, God, would be with Jeremiah.
To live the Christian calling in all its myriad aspects certainly demands our own effort. But this is an effort assisted mightily by God's grace. God calls, invites, inspires. We are meant to respond, to cooperate, to open ourselves to the Spirit's touch and guidance. We have a part, obviously, in accomplishing our Christian destiny. Yet God has the greater part. Whatever He asks of us, we can accomplish. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is beyond us if God calls us to it. Why, then, at times, do we tend to think and feel and act differently?
"If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other's feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you." (Jn 13:14-15)
There are two basic ways according to which we can go about the performance of work. One way focuses attention on the self; the other directs attention outward toward the God-appointed service of others.
A person who assumes the first attitude is being driven by a basic selfishness. During
the years of formal education, such a person studies to acquire knowledge primarily so
that his or her intellectual acquisition will later make possible various kinds of
personal benefits and aggrandizements. Such a person works primarily to make money, or for
the personal satisfaction involved. Such a person seeks out positions of authority, power,
and status, primarily in order to be looked up to and to be ministered to.
A person who performs according to the other attitude projects a different image. If one
pursues knowledge, it is not only for one's personal benefits. It is that he or she might
also be variously capable of greater service to God and one's fellow human beings. When
one works, it is not only for the money and personal satisfaction involved. It is that he
or she might also be of service to others. If one attains positions of authority and
influence, the person is motivated, not by illusions of grandeur, but rather by the desire
to labor for others, to be for others, to serve others.
The attitude the true Christian should assume is obvious. The true Christian may sometimes find it difficult and wearisome to live according to such an attitude. But he or she has no doubt it is the correct attitude. He or she has no doubt it is Jesus' attitude, this Jesus who girt Himself with a towel and washed and dried His disciples' feet.
"So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it." (Mat 16:18)
The Church is experiencing trying times. Over the ages the Church has always received various kinds of criticism from those outside her fold. Currently she is also experiencing much criticism from within. Some of this criticism is bad-negative and unrealistic. During this period of the Church's transition, a time which has seen more than its share of pain, turmoil, confusion, and anguish, the question, "why the institutional Church?" has been raised more than once. The ultimate answer, of course, is because this is the way God wants it. God has established the Church through Christ, and, as we say, that's the way it is and that's the way it's going to be.
We help one another in the Church in many different ways, in many different circumstances. We do this not sporadically, but consistently. We live the Gospel, not as isolated individuals, but as the People of God whose members are meant to be united through the closest bonds of love.
Yes, there are many good things about the Church. But there are also things which should not be. There is jealously and pettiness. Such attitudes, unbecoming people who claim to be followers of Jesus, consistently hinder the Church's work. There is also on the part of some the exercise of power politics which makes one want to cry out that this is the Christian community, not a ruthless political machine. There are also injustices perpetrated against innocent individuals, impersonalism, mediocrity. These are some of the faults existent within the Church. We should do all we can to lessen these. We should labor at diminishing these failings so that the Church's Christic image may be more apparent. Yet we also have to realize that there will always be things wrong with the Church. We are a Pilgrim Church. This means we have not yet arrived at perfection-this is the state of the heavenly Jerusalem, the Church of heaven. Here below the Church will always be marred with blemishes even as she reaches out in a spirit of ongoing conversion for a greater assimilation of the Gospel ideal.
We should, then, view the Church realistically. We should remind ourselves that it was established by God, not by any human person or persons. We should rejoice over the Church's good points, sorrow over her failings. We should contribute our share to making the Church's goodness more dynamic, more evident, more sensitive to the needs of the times, while being consumed with a holy dissatisfaction which allows us no respite concerning the evils which plague the Church, and which should not be. And, very importantly, we should mightily love the Church despite her failings. We should love the Church deeply, consistently, tenderly. The Church belongs to Jesus; it is His body. It was born from His pierced side as He hung upon the cross. The Church is Jesus' great gift to us, a gift born of the magnificent love of His Heart.
"We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body." (2 Cor 4:8-10)
"I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness. Let your tolerance be evident to everyone: the Lord is very near. There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:4-7)
Certain people look upon religion as a type of enslavement. Religion, claim these people, puts shackles on one's desires for full living, pleasure, and happiness.Religion, they continue, makes one fearful, forces one into a rigid pattern of do's and don'ts which restricts and even suffocates a person's thrust toward full personality development. Whatever the causes may be for arriving at this view, such an attitude grossly misrepresents the nature of true religion.
Jesus has come to make us happy, not to make us participate in a religion which destroys the joy-dimension of human life. Jesus has come to increase our capacity for true self-fulfillment, not to restrict us with a religion which, while encouraging morbid self-enclosements, destroys possibilities for healthy self-expansiveness. Jesus has come to show us the way to real pleasures, not to prevent us with a religion which looks askance at such. And the happiness and fulfillment Jesus has come to give us is meant for this life, not only for eternal life. Christianity is a religion which gives a here-and-now happiness which develops into a future and eternal happiness which satisfies our deepest desires to be fully alive.
Jesus has not promised us that the process of achieving happiness is without pain and suffering. Jesus was the happiest man who ever walked this earth. He was also the man who suffered the most. Observing the life of Jesus Himself, then, we come face to face with this undeniable Christian truth: suffering, even deep suffering, is not incompatible with deep happiness. On the contrary, whether we experience suffering or whatever, such an encounter is a means to further happiness, providing we are living in Christ Jesus.
The Christian who is not fundamentally happy presents, then, a contradiction. He or she claims to be a follower of the Jesus who has promised more abundant life and happiness. To remove the contradiction, such a Christian must look to himself or herself. Such a person does not lack a basic happiness because there is anything wanting in Jesus' message. This person lacks happiness because there is something wanting in the self. In some way or another, for some reason or another, this person has failed to assimilate properly the Gospel message. The Gospel is the good news. Jesus invites us to listen to His Gospel, to respond to it, to live it ever more fully and dynamically. Jesus tells us that, if we do, we will experience a peace and happiness beyond comprehension. We know that Jesus does not lie, that Jesus does not deceive, that Jesus does not cruelly excite the expectations of His followers and then fail to fulfill them. Again, then, if a Christian is unhappy, he or she has to look at the self and ask why. But such a person should not ask the question in isolation. It should be asked in the company of Jesus. Jesus will help the person find the answer. Jesus will help remedy the situation.
"If I have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. If I have the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there are, and knowing everything, and if I have faith in all its fullness, to move mountains, but without love, then I am nothing at all. If I give away all that I possess, piece by piece, and if I even let them take my body to burn it, but am without love, it will do me no good whatever." (1 Cor 13:1-3)
Jesus has told us love is what it's all about. Christianity, the religion of Jesus, is a religion of love. This is what Jesus wants us to realize. This is what we must realize. We understand the work of the Incarnation when we consider it in terms of love. We ourselves live Jesus when we live the love ethic He came to preach. Love marks the beginning of a truly Christian life. Love is also its main inspiration and motivation. Love is no less its goal. To be a Christian is to be a follower of Jesus. To be a follower of Jesus is to assimilate His message of love. To be a Christian, then, is to be a lover-in imitation of Jesus Who is the tremendous lover.
Jesus shows us His Heart as symbol of His life of love, including His mighty and tender love for each of us individually. His Heart calls for our return of love. His Heart invites us to pour out our lives in love of God and neighbor.
As we do so, love expands us, makes us grow, develops our capacity to be authentically and to become authentically. Love brings to mature expression the various potentialities of Christian personhood. It makes us what Jesus wants us to be. Christian love is meant to express itself at all times in all kinds of circumstances. It is truly a virtue for all seasons. Whether it is a time to laugh or a time to cry, it is a time to love. Whether it is a time to rejoice or a time to be sorrowful, it is a time to love. Whether it is a time to experience exhilarating success or to suffer the anguish of crushing failure, it is still a time to love. Whether it is a time to work on despite boredom, monotony, and lethargy, or a time to be carried along riding the crest of enthusiasm, it is a time for love. Love's labor is never done; there is no day which is not meant to be a love-day. Love should be as constant and as certain as the never-failing cycle of night following day and and day following night.
"Then he took some bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body which will be given for you; do this as a memorial of me.' He did the same with the cup after supper, and said, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood which will be poured out for you.'" (Lk 22:19-20)
In the Eucharist, through the humanity of Jesus, Father, Son and Holy Spirit communicate themselves to us anew. Through the intimate gift of the Eucharist, they strikingly manifest their love for us and ask for our response of love. In, with, and through Jesus we respond. Each experience of the Eucharist is meant to strengthen our love-bond with Jesus, so that we can say with increased meaning along with St. Paul, "For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 8:38-39)
The Eucharist not only deepens our union with God in Christ. In receiving the Eucharist we pledge ourselves to deepen our love-union with all members of the Body which is the Church. We pledge to use those means which foster union. We determine to avoid that which causes selfish divisiveness.
The Eucharist also reminds us of our relationship with all members of the human family. Jesus died and rose for all. The Eucharistic making present of this paschal mystery nourishes our determination to assist in the work of ongoing redemption. The light we receive from the Eucharist points to what we should be doing. The strength of the Eucharist assists us to act according to the light we receive.
The Eucharist, then, possesses the rich capacity to help us maintain and develop our personal relationship with God, with members of the Church, and with all other members of the human family. And it will do just this-if we so allow it.
"Then Jesus said to the Twelve, 'What about you, do you want to go away too?' Simon Peter answered, 'Lord, who shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God.'" (Jn 6:67-69)
Even after years of close friendship with Jesus, a Christian can decide to make a radical break and go his or her way. In the mysterious depths of one's free will, a person decides, for whatever reason, no longer to walk side by side with Jesus. This Jesus, who was once such an inspiration, who so often manifested His mercy, who offered a challenging goal to achieve the true, the good, and the beautiful, who whispered His loving and tender concern-this Jesus is now rejected.
On a lesser scale, a Christian can variously reject a deep intimacy with Jesus while still fundamentally maintaining the friendship. It may be a case of superficial living in general. Jesus keeps calling to a more dynamic Christian existence, but the person keeps resisting, because he or she is fearful, or perhaps just too lazy, or whatever. Or it may be the barrier between the person and Jesus is more pin-pointed: Jesus is asking a very definite something, and He is refused. Such a Christian presents a paradox. The person knows there is no other way but Jesus, and, therefore, he or she basically commits one's life to Christ. On the other hand, the person does not commit oneself as fully as one could, and thus seems to be saying, "You are the only one, Jesus, who can lead me to real happiness here and hereafter-but I don't want to follow you too closely."
The only mature Christian attitude, we know, is to choose Jesus once and for all, and to live out the full implications of this choice. Of course, there will be failings on the part of the Christian who makes this option for Jesus. But he or she will strive to avoid developing that attitude which says, "I will go so far with you, Jesus, but no farther. I want to come close to you, Jesus, but not too close." To choose Jesus, then, and to live this choice consistently, dynamically, lovingly, and without reserve, is true Christian logic. It is to realize with Peter that Jesus is the one and the only one.
At this Christmas season, these words of Fr. Edward Leen, C.S.Sp., are particularly appropriate:
"The swaddling bands in which Mary wrapped the Infant afforded but an imperfect shelter against the chilliness of the icy draughts. There is no doubt but that the straw was rough and course in spite of all Mary's efforts to make of it a clean and smooth bed for the tender Infant limbs. The manger, to be sure, was a sorry cradle for a King, and that the august King of heaven and earth. Doubtless, it was all very comfortless, but that is only one aspect of the birth of Jesus in the stable. It was not all wretchedness and misery. In this life of the God-Man loveliness and greatness, obscurity and splendor, weakness and power ever go hand in hand, and it is the splendor and power and greatness that dominate. They are but enhanced by the dark shadows of poverty, isolation and suffering. The shadows of the life of Jesus but serve to throw the splendors into stronger relief. The stable was a wretched abode, but in it was a sanctuary as worthy of God as it is possible for a created thing to be worthy of Him. That sanctuary was Mary's soul. In it the Child-God could nestle to His Heart's content and find delight. He is God and for Him, therefore, spiritual realities are more real than material realities. In His eyes the splendors of His Mother's soul transformed the cavern into an abode of palatial splendour and beauty. The mother love of Mary wrapped the soul and heart of Jesus in a mantle of warmth that was grateful in the extreme. God had never before experienced the like from a human person. Mary lavishes tenderness mingled with adoration on the Child. She ministers to Him the warmth, the light, the comfort, denied by the cavern. Joseph's affection and adoration were a pale but still a true reflex of the love and worship of Mary. It is not easy to satisfy God. The saints, even great ones, find Him exacting in His requirements. Yet here God was satisfied. He could ask no more from the two than they had given. For they had given without niggardliness. They had given all that their hearts and souls were capable of. The hostelry in which the new-born God found shelter was not, after all, such a mean one. It was the greatest and the most beautiful that our earth has ever seen or ever will see. It was not all lowliness and sordidness that surrounded the nativity of the Saviour. Man could not take from Him His greatness, nor could the humble circumstances to which their blindness condemned Him obscure it. He was great, in spite of all that man could say or do or judge and His greatness burst in splendour through the lowly conditions of the Nativity. Trumpets proclaim the birth of princes. Never did earth re-echo to strains comparable to those that announced the birth of the Great Prince of Heaven, Mary's Son. Never was such a radiance diffused through the palaces of kings as flooded the wide spaces in the center of which was the manger. Men may not, but God always does recognize true greatness, and He sets His seal upon it."3
The recent death of Fr. Henri Nouwen, one of the most widely read of contemporary spiritual writers, offers us a special occasion to share with you the following excerpts from his voluminous writings:
During his stay in the monastery, Nouwen derived this insight concerning the life of contemplation, a life all are called to share according to their state of life and particular occupation: "Contemplative life is a human response to the fundamental fact that the central things in life, although spiritually perceptible, remain invisible in large measure and can very easily be overlooked by the inattentive, busy, distracted person that each of us can so readily become. The contemplative looks, not so much around things, but through them into their center."9
Here are some excerpts from the writings of Fr. John Welch, O. Carm., a contemporary commentator on Carmelite Spirituality:
Shepherds of Christ Ministries is expanding, including the increased mailing of the newsletter to priests in various parts of the world. The more we expand the circulation of the newsletter, the more it needs to be translated into other languages. We have begun a Spanish edition. We need help regarding all other languages.
We need culturally sensitive priests to review translations for theological correctness, and also to possibly help in the translations themselves. If you are able and willing to help in the ministry to priests around the world, please contact me (Edward Carter, S.J.) at the Shepherds of Christ mailing address which you will find on the back of the newsletter.
If you yourself are not able to help us, perhaps you could suggest names of others-clergy and/or laity-who could possibly be of assistance. Thank you very, very much for your prayerful consideration of this important request.
Pope John-Paul II gives us these inspiring words: "Be blessed above all things, Handmaid of the Lord, who obeyed the Divine Call in the fullest way! Be greeted, you who united yourself entirely with your Son's redemptive consecration! Mother of the Church! Enlighten the People of God on the way of faith, hope and charity! Help us to live with all the truth of the consecration of Christ for the entire human family in the contemporary world. By entrusting, O Mother, the world, all individuals and all peoples to you, we also entrust to you the very consecration of the world, putting it in your Maternal Heart.
"O, Immaculate Heart! Help us to overcome the threat of evil, which so easily takes root in the hearts of men today and, with the incommensurable effects, already weighs upon our contemporary existence and seems to close the way toward the future.
"Free us from hunger and war! From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from every kind of war, free us! From the sin against the life of man at its dawning, free us! From the hatred and debasement of the children of God, free us! From every kind of injustice, national and international, free us! From the ease treading down God's commandments, free us! From sins against the Holy Spirit, free us! Free us!
Receive, O Mother of Christ, this cry charged with the sufferings of all mankind!
Charged with the suffering of entire societies. Reveal yourself once again, in the story
of the world, to be merciful! May this cry halt evil! May it transform consciences!
May the light of hope, reveal itself to all in your Immaculate Heart! Amen".14
Lord Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the Flock, I consecrate my priestly life to Your Heart, pierced on Calvary for love of us. From Your pierced heart the Church was born, the Church You have called me as a priest, to serve in a most special way. You reveal Your Heart as symbol of Your love in all its aspects, including Your most special love for me, whom you have chosen as Your priest-companion. Help me always to pour out my life in love of God and neighbor. Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You!
Dear Blessed Virgin Mary, I consecrate myself to your maternal and Immaculate Heart, this Heart which is symbol of your life of love. You are the Mother of my Savior. You are also my Mother. You love me with the most special love as this unique priest-son. In a return of love I give myself entirely to your motherly love and protection. You followed Jesus perfectly. You are His first and perfect disciple. Teach me to imitate you in the putting on of Christ. Be my motherly intercessor so that, through your Immaculate Heart, I may be guided to an ever closer union with the pierced Heart of Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the Flock, Who leads me to the Father in the Holy Spirit.
We thank all those who have taken the time to write to us. We very much appreciate your letters. Space limitations permit us to publish only a few of them:
Dear Fr. Carter,
Thanks so much for the spirituality newsletter. I'll be using the Sept.-Oct. issue for
meditations for the rest of the year and beyond.
I was a little down due to the fact that there are four terminal cancer patients in the parish and it is hard to cope-with them, their families, and oneself. Then your lovely newsletter came and truly lifted my spirits.
Please accept the enclosed to support your grace-filled ministry.
In Christ,
Fr. Walter E. Heinz
Pomeroy, Ohio
Dear Father,
Using your reflections is like making a retreat-great for reviewing.
God bless you,
Fr. Edmund Schreiber
Franklin Park, Illinois
Dear Friend,
I want to thank you for publishing Shepherds of Christ. I really do appreciate your
thoughtfulness of helping us pastors to keep our mind's focus on Jesus.
Thank you,
Rev. Gerald Cernoch
Shiver, Texas
"Go now to those to whom I send you
and say whatever
I command you."
-Jer 1:7
website: http://www.SofC.org
E-Mail: info@SofC.org
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1996 ISSUE
Shepherds of Christ
Shepherds of Christ Ministries
P.O. Box 193
Morrow, Ohio 45152-0193
U.S.A.
Shepherds of Christ, a spirituality newsletter for priests, is published bi-monthly by Shepherds of Christ Ministries, P.O. Box 193, Morrow, Ohio 45152-0193. While distribution is free of charge to all priests in the U.S., and growing internationally, donations are still very much appreciated. Inquiries and comments are welcome, as are address changes and addresses of the newly ordained. Permission to reproduce intact is granted for non-commercial use. Editor Father Edward Carter S.J. is Professor of Theology at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. John Weickert is President. Good Shepherd illustration is by Brother Jerome Pryor, S.J. Layout and design are by Cathy Ring. Also dedicated to the spiritual advancement of priests is a worldwide network of lay/religious prayer chapters, Shepherds of Christ Associates, headquartered at 2919 Shawhan Road, Morrow, Ohio 45152, telephone toll free 1-888-211-3041, fax 513-932-6791.
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"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him, abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep; this is because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep." (Jn 10:11-151)
A faithful shepherd takes care of his sheep in all their needs. This includes providing them with the proper food. Jesus, the perfect Shepherd, abundantly provides for the nourishment of His flock. In the Eucharist He gives Himself in His body, blood, soul and divinity for our spiritual growth. He also feeds us through His word, through His teaching. The gospel of John, in Chapter 6:35-59 combines both of these ways-Christ nourishing us through His teaching and through the Eucharist. This particular section of John's gospel gives us Jesus' great discourse on the Bread of Life. The first part, verses 35-50, speaks of the teaching of Jesus as nourishment, as the bread of life. This first part contains, therefore, the so-called sapiential theme. The second part, verses 51-59, speaks of the Eucharist as our heavenly nourishment. This part, therefore, contains the sacramental theme. The Mass, of course, contains both aspects of John's Bread of Life theme. In the Mass we have the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist-and they are profoundly connected.
Both aspects of the Bread of Life theme reveal God's tremendous love for us. The Eucharist is the sacrament of Jesus' great love for us, and His teaching is summed up in terms of love-God's overwhelming love for us and our duty to love God and neighbor. Each day we should pray for an increased realization of how much God, in Christ Jesus Our Lord, loves each of us with a most special, unique love. Growing in this awareness and living according to this awareness are keys to growth in the spiritual life. The more we are convinced of how much Jesus loves us as unique individuals, the more able are we to enter into a deep love relationship with Jesus. And, if we have the proper love relationship with Jesus, everything else falls into place. Yes, as our union with Jesus grows, He leads us, amid all the pain and all the joy, to an ever closer union with the Father in the Holy Spirit with Mary, our Mother, at our side.
The following words are from a paper prepared by Fr. Stephen J. Rossetti for the National Conference of Catholic Bishop's Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry. This paper was later published in the quarterly Human Development, from which we quote. Fr. Rossetti is president and chief executive officer of Saint Luke Institute in Silver Spring, Maryland. We here quote from various sections of his paper:
Augustine, one of the greatest intellects in the history of the Church, was also a man of deep feeling, of deep passion. After his conversion, his passionate nature was turned from a life of sin to a life of marvelous dedication to Christ. He is an outstanding example of how the human emotions, human feelings, are to be used in the service of God. There follow excerpts from some of Augustine's writings.
Here are words from St. Claude de la Columbiere, one of the great apostles of devotion to the Heart of Christ. Speaking to Jesus, Claude says:
You share my burdens,
You take them upon yourself.
You listen to me fondly when I tell you my troubles.
You never fail to lighten them.
I find You at all times and in all places.
You never leave me.
I will always find You wherever I go.
Old age or misfortune will not cause You to abandon me.
You will never be closer to me than
When all seems to go against me.
No matter how miserable I may be,
You will never cease to be my friend.
You tolerate my faults with admirable patience.
You are always ready to come to me, if I so desire it.
Jesus, may I die praising you!
May I die loving you!
May I die for the love of you.12
Bernard, saint and doctor of the Church, and one greatly devoted to Mary, offers us these inspiring words:
"If you will not be submerged by tempests, do not turn away your eyes from the splendor of this star. If the storms of temptation arise, if you crash against the rocks of tribulation, look to the star, call upon Mary. If you are tossed about on the waves of pride, of ambition, of slander, of hostility, look to the star, call upon Mary. If wrath or avarice or the enticements of the flesh upset the boat of your mind, look to Mary. If you are disturbed by the immensity of your crimes'if you begin to be swallowed up by the abyss of depression and despair, think of Mary! In danger, in anxieties, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let her name not leave your lips, nor your heart, and that you may receive the help of her prayer, do not cease to follow the example of her conduct'If she holds you, you will not fall, if she protects you, you need not fear."13
Our growth according to Jesus' pattern of death-resurrection is impossible without a life of prayer. Growth in prayer not only increases our love of God, but also enhances our loving concern for others.
A great example of this is seen in the study of the prayer life of Catherine of Sienna, saint and doctor of the Church. Sr. Mary O'Driscolll, O.P., tells us:
"Twenty-six of Catherine of Sienna's prayers have been preserved for us. With one possible exception, they are not prayers that she herself wrote or even dictated to others. Rather, they were transcribed by her followers who were present as she prayed aloud. All of these prayers belong to the last four years of her life. They impress us by their simplicity, their intense concentration on God, who is repeatedly praised and thanked, and their constant desire for the salvation of others'
"As her prayers make evident, Catherine of Sienna was a great intercessor. In them we find her pleading with God persistently and urgently for mercy for all the world, the Church, the pope, her friends and followers, all in need. It is obvious that she doe not regard intercession as merely a passing prayer to God on behalf of one or other persons in time of crisis, but rather as an expression of her deep, loving, permanent commitment both to God and to her neighbors. In Catherine's own life, the importance and intensity of her intercession increased according as her union with God and her concern for others increased. This observation tells us something very significant about the prayer of intercession in the Christian life, namely, that it is not, as is sometimes thought, a type of prayer which one passes on the way to the heights of mystical prayer, as though intercession were for beginners and mysticism for those who are advanced in the spiritual life, but as a type of prayer which belongs most particularly to the life of contemplative union with God." 14
Lord Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the Flock, I consecrate my priestly life to Your Heart, pierced on Calvary for love of us. From Your pierced Heart the Church was born, the Church You have called me, as a priest to serve in a most special way. You reveal Your Heart as symbol of Your love in all its aspects, including Your most special love for me, whom You have chosen as Your priest-companion. Help me always to pour out my life in love of God and neighbor. Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You!
Dear Blessed Virgin Mary, I consecrate myself to your maternal and Immaculate heart, this Heart which is symbol of your life of love. You are the Mother of my Savior and you are also my Mother. You love me with the most special love as this unique priest-son. In a return of love I give myself entirely to your motherly love and protection. You followed Jesus perfectly. You are His first and perfect disciple. Teach me to imitate you in the putting on of Christ. Be my motherly intercessor so that, through your Immaculate Heart, I may be guided to an ever closer union with the pierced Heart of Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the Flock, who leads me to the Father in the Holy Spirit.
We thank all those who have taken the time to write to us. We very much appreciate your letters. Space limitations permit us to publish only a few of these.
Dear Rev. Fr. Ed Carter, S.J.,
Thank you very much for providing us with rich
spiritual literature.
The Shepherds of Christ Newsletter has been
very useful to us and I have received positive response from a good number of priests.
Thank you for the good work and we shall be happy if you continue sending them to us.
Fr. John Bazimenyera, St. Augustine's Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
Dear Fr. Carter,
It took me such a long time to answer your
letter of over a month ago. I am sorry for this delay. I have just received your issue of
SHEPHERDS OF CHRIST for March/April 1997 for which I heartily thank you. I have already
distributed quite a lot to our Gozitan priests, and they want to thank you as they find
your newsletter very enriching spiritually. I am sending some copies to the Seminarians in
Malta and to other priests there.
By the way, I have some good news for you, I
think. A little over a month ago His Lordship, the bishop of Baton Rouge was our guest at
Manresa Retreat House. He came over to visit the families of three Gozitan priests who
work in his diocese. I have introduced the SHEPHERDS OF CHRIST newsletter to him, which he
appreciated greatly. I also passed over some copies to the Spiritual Father of the
American College in Rome who was accompanying His Lordship.
God bless you with His love and peace. Rev. Joseph M. Galdes, S.J., Gozo, Malta.
website: http://www.SofC.org
E-Mail: info@SofC.org
JULY/AUGUST 1997 ISSUE
Shepherds of Christ
Shepherds of Christ Ministries
P.O. Box 193
Morrow, Ohio 45152-0193
U.S.A.
Shepherds of Christ, a spirituality newsletter for priests, is published bi-monthly by Shepherds of Christ Ministries, P.O. Box 193, Morrow, Ohio 45152-0193. While distribution is free of charge to all priests in the U.S., and growing internationally, donations are still very much appreciated. Inquiries and comments are welcome, as are address changes and addresses of the newly ordained. Permission to reproduce intact is granted for non-commercial use. Editor Father Edward Carter S.J. is Professor of Theology at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. John Weickert is President. Good Shepherd illustration is by Brother Jerome Pryor, S.J. Layout and design are by Cathy Ring. Also dedicated to the spiritual advancement of priests is a worldwide network of lay/religious prayer chapters, Shepherds of Christ Associates, headquartered at 2919 Shawhan Road, Morrow, Ohio 45152, telephone toll free 1-888-211-3041, fax 513-932-6791.
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Come Follow Me (Newsletter for the Religious), Vol. 2, Issue 1 - Spring 1996
Sorry! This page is under construction. This newsletter will
be included as soon as possible.
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Come Follow Me (Newsletter for the Religious), Vol. 2, Issue 3 - Fall 1996
Sorry! This page is under construction. This newsletter will
be included as soon as possible.
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Contacting
Schools
with the
Consecration
and
Rosary Aves
*The two pages with the "Consecration to Jesus" and "Consecration to Mary" prayers are for duplication. They are intended to be run off on 'card stock' paper and cut out. These pages soon follow.
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Meditating on the
Rosary Aves
This bead-by-bead commentary on the mysteries of the Rosary serves to enhance our awareness of the powerful events involving Our Lord and Our Lady during His mission of salvation among us. Reciting one thought before each Hail Mary in every decade gives just another small aid in concentrating on the great wonder of the Messianic story.
THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES
The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Birth of Jesus
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
The Agony in the Garden
The Scourging at the Pillar
The Crowning with Thorns
The Carrying of the Cross
The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES
The Resurrection
The Ascension
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven
The Coronation of Our Lady
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Children's Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary
April 25, 1996
RESURRECTION
THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD INTO HEAVEN
THE DESCENT UPON THE APOSTLES AND THE VIRGIN MARY
THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR BLESSED LADY INTO HEAVEN
MARY IS CROWNED QUEEN OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
Mary: I am Mary your Mother, this is a special rosary for you. I have not given very many messages in a long time. But, I have spoken to you for this is an urgent call to you, my sweet children. Thank you for your faithfulness to the Heart of my Son, Jesus. He loves you with a most burning love. I am Mary your Mother, and thank you for responding to my call.
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March 18, 1996
Message given through Rita Ring
Message from Mary
R. Mary wants the children to pray the rosary. She wants us to spread the rosary meditations to the children.
Included in the Children's Rosary Book are the windows at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center.
Mary: Reach the children with these rosaries and the consecration prayers. We need to encourage children to join the Junior Shepherds of Christ Movement. They should be told to pray the rosary daily and to consecrate their little hearts to Jesus and Mary.
Please encourage all to use these meditations and circulate the rosaries. Please encourage the chapters in the Shepherds of Christ Movement to pray the rosary with these meditations. The windows in the Rosary Book, ready to be published, must be in color. Many will grow in their relationship to the Heart of Jesus through the rosary.
All are to pray the rosary daily and consecrate their hearts to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Please tell all Associate members to pray the rosary and consecration prayers daily. I ask that each member pray the prayers in the Handbook every day.
Please circulate tapes with the Handbook prayers and encourage all to pray them every day.
Our world is suffering far more than we know. We must reach the children with the rosary and consecration prayers. Tell children about the love of Jesus. Spread messages of His love to children in the Movement.
We must pray before the tabernacle. We must give children messages about Jesus in the Eucharist. Children should pray before Jesus in the tabernacle. Jesus loves the little children. Bring your children to Jesus. He will give them special graces is this troubled world.
We must take our children to Mass and Communion whenever possible. Children need Jesus in their lives.
Please, I beg you to tell the children to pray. The children need Jesus in their lives.
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Junior
Shepherds of Christ Associates
Calling the Youth of the World to come
together to pray for priests
and other young people, to help each other through these
hard times to grow in our faith and love of God,
and to realize that we are not alone
in our struggles, that God is
always by our side
guiding and
loving
us.
This is the purpose and goal of Junior Shepherds of Christ Associates. This Junior Youth group of Shepherds of Christ Associates, hopefully will grow and spread rapidly to help many youth come closer to Jesus and Mary.
How to start a Junior Shepherds of Christ Associates:
*(everything is done, led, & organized by youth)
National Coordinator: Cathy Ring
Any Questions? write to:
Junior Shepherds of Christ Associate
P.O. Box 193
Morrow, OH 45152
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Contacting
Families
with the
Consecration
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Shepherds of Christ Associates
Frequently Asked Questions about forming a Shepherds of Christ Associates Prayer Chapter:
1.) How many people need to be in a chapter?
The minimum number of people required to form a chapter is two. Our Lord
has promised us that whenever two or more are gathered in His name, He is in our midst.
2.) I do not have any one to pray with, what should I do?
In this situation, consider becoming an Apostle of the Eucharistic
Heart of Jesus. This ministry is for individuals who can commit to spending one hour
in front of the Blessed Sacrament twice a week. The first part of the hour is spent
praying the Shepherds of Christ Prayers. The remaining time can be spent in silent
meditation or praying/reading other materials. For more information about this ministry,
call or write us using the information on the front of this form.
3.) Do we have to meet in Church?
There is no requirement to meet in Church. It would be a great blessing to
be able to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament, but this is not a requirement. A simple
shrine at home with a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of
Mary can help us be close to their hearts. Also appropriate are any religious statues you
may have, especially the Infant Jesus of Prague. We have materials which can help create a
prayerful environment, please contact us.
4.) How often should we meet?
Chapters should meet at least monthly. Many chapters meet weekly. In
special situations where there is a community which is together everyday for mass or due
to their living situation, it would be very beneficial for the Church and our priests to
say the prayers everyday.
5.) Why is it important that we return our membership form?
It is important that you return your membership form so that we (the core group in
Cincinnati) can be in close contact by phone and through the mail with you. This ministry
is an important work of the Lord, and we need to support each other against the
distractions of the world and the assaults of the evil one.
Also, additional SofC Spirituality Handbooks and Prayer Manuals will be sent to you based on the number of members in your chapter. You will also receive mailings with important information on the direction of the movement.
Here are the steps for forming a SofC Associates Prayer chapter:
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Chapter Guidelines for Shepherds of Christ Associates
A primary purpose of the chapters of Shepherds of Christ Associates is to pray for all priests throughout the world in all their needs. A coequal purpose is to provide a spiritual way of life for members of the chapters. The chapters are to pray in a special way for the spiritual success of the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ. Prayer for the acquisition of monetary funds to publish the letter is also in order. The chapters are to meet on a regular basis, with the members of each chapter to determine the exact frequency of meetings. All chapters are encouraged to meet on a weekly basis. If for various other reasons certain chapters cannot meet weekly, they should meet at least once a month.
All persons--lay persons, diocesan clergy, and priests, brothers, and sisters in religious life--are invited to become members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. Those who are already committed to a certain way of spiritual life may adapt the spirituality of the Shepherds of Christ Associates to their own particular activity.
In addition to the purpose of the chapters as put forth above, the members of each chapter are encouraged to help raise money to defray some of the newsletter publication costs and some of the financial needs of the Shepherds of Christ Associates movement. One way for chapters to financially aid the newsletter is to pledge to pay for a certain number of newsletters each year. Our Lord has asked that the newsletter be sent to the priests free of charge, although donations may be requested in the newsletter itself.
A further purpose of the chapters is to undertake those activities which Jesus, through the Spiritual Director, further reveals to be His will.
The formation of as many chapters as is reasonably possible is to be encouraged. Multiple chapters may exist in the same city or area. Each chapter is to have its own local coordinator, and each country its own national coordinator.
A periodic newsletter for associates will be published to help establish the desired bond or union between all chapters and all members.
Members of Shepherds of Christ Associates pledge their loyal support to the Holy Father, the Pope, and to the teaching authority of the Church.
Shepherds of Christ Associates exists under Church law as provided in canons 298 and 299.
The existence and activity of all chapters is to be placed under the special protection and guidance of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Chapters exist so that they may, according to the mission of Shepherds of Christ Associates, help to establish the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the reign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. All chapter members are strongly encouraged to consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
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Spanish
Formato para la Oración en las Reuniones de los Grupos
El siguiente es el formato de oración que se deberá seguir en las reuniones de los capítulos de los de los Asociados de los Pastores de Cristo. Todas las oraciones-y no solo las que se hacen específicamente por los sacerdotes-deberán hacerse con la intención de orar por todas las necesidades de los sacerdotes del mundo entero.
1. Himnos. Los himnos podrán ser cantados en cualquier momento del tiempo dedicado a la oración en la reunión.
2. Oración al Espíritu Santo. "Ven, Espíritu Santo, Santificador todopoderoso, Dios de amor, que llenaste a la Virgen María de gracias, que cambiaste admirablemente los corazones de los apóstoles, que le comunicaste a tus mártires un milagroso valor, ven y santifícanos. Ilumina nuestras mentes, fortalece nuestras voluntades, purifica nuestras conciencias, rectifica nuestro juicio, pon fuego en nuestros corazones, y presérvanos de la desgracia de no hacerle caso a tus inspiraciones. Amén."
3. El Rosario.
4. La Salve. "Dios te salve, Reina y Madre, Madre de Misericordia, Vida y dulzura y esperanza nuestra. Dios te salve, a ti llamamos los desterrados hijos de Eva. A Ti suplicamos gimiendo y llorando en este valle de lágrimas. Ea, pues, Seńora y abogada nuestra. Vuelve a nosotros Tus ojos misericordiosos, y después de este destierro muéstranos a Jesús, fruto bendito de Tu vientre. ˇOh clemente! ˇOh piadosa! ˇOh dulce Virgen María! Ruega por nosotros, santa Madre de Dios. No desprecies las súplicas que te dirigimos en nuestras necesidades. Antes bien, líbranos de todo peligro, Virgen gloriosa y bendita. Ruega por nosotros, santa Madre de Dios para que seamos dignos de alcanzar las promesas de nuestro Seńor Jesucristo. Amén."
5. El Acordados. "Acordaos, oh piadosísima Virgen María, que jamás se ha oído decir que ninguno de los que han acudido a vuestra protección, implorando vuestro auxilio, reclamando vuestra asistencia, haya sido desamparado. Animado por esta confianza, a vos acudo oh Madre Virgen de las Vírgenes, y gimiendo bajo el peso de mis pecados me atrevo a comparecer ante Vos, Madre de Dios. No desechéis mis súplicas, antes bien escuchádlas y acogedlas benignamente. Amén."
6. Siete Avemarías en honor de los siete dolores de María. María ha prometido gracias muy especiales para aquellos que la honran de esta manera diariamente. Incluida entre estas promesas de Nuestra Seńora para aquellos que practican esta devoción, está su compromiso de otorgar especial asistencia a la hora de la muerte, incluso de ver su faz. Los siete dolores son:
(1) Primer dolor: La profecía de Simeón (Ave María).
(2) Segundo dolor: La huida a Egipto (Ave María).
(3) Tercer dolor: La perdida del nińo Dios en el Templo (Ave María).
(4) Cuarto dolor: Jesús y María se encuentran en el camino a la Cruz (Ave María).
(5) Quinto dolor: Jesús muere en la Cruz (Ave María).
(6) Sexto dolor: Jesús es bajado de la Cruz y puesto en los brazos de María (Ave Maria).
(7) Séptimo dolor: Jesús es enterrado (Ave María).
7. Letanías de la Santísima Virgen.
Seńor, ten piedad de nosotros. Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros.
Seńor, ten piedad de nosotros. Cristo, óyenos.Cristo, escúchanos.
Padre Celestial, ten piedad de nosotros.
Dios Hijo, Redentor del mundo, ten piedad de nosotros.
Dios Espíritu Santo, ten piedad de nosotros.
Santísima Trinidad, que eres un solo Dios, ten piedad de nosotros.
Santa María, ruega por nosotros (se repite despuéde cada invocación).
Santa Madre de Dios,
Santa Virgen de las vírgenes,
Madre de Cristo,
Madre de la Iglesia
Madre de la divina gracia,
Madre Purísima,
Madre castísima,
Madre siempre virgen,
Madre inmaculada,
Madre amable,
Madre admirable,
Madre del Buen Consejo,
Madre del Creador,
Madre del Salvador,
Madre de la Iglesia,
Virgen prudentísima,
Virgen digna de veneración,
Virgen digna de alabanza,
Virgen poderosa,
Virgen clemente,
Virgen fiel,
Espejo de justicia,
Trono sabiduría,
Causa de nuestra alegría,
Templo del Espíritu Santo,
Templo lleno de gloria,
Modelo de entrega a Dios,
Rosa mística,
Torre de David,
Torre de marfil,
Casa de oro,
Arca de la Nueva Alianza,
Puerta del cielo,
Estrella de la mańana,
Salud de los enfermos,
Refugio de los pecadores,
Consoladora de los afligidos,
Auxilio de los cristianos,
Reina de los ángeles,
Reina de los patriarcas,
Reina de los profetas,
Reina de los apóstoles,
Reina de los mártires,
Reina de los confesores,
Reina de las vírgenes,
Reina de los santos,
Reina concebida sin pecado original,
Reina elevada a los cielos,
Reina del Santísimo Rosario,
Reina de familias
Reina de la paz,
Cordero de Dios, que quitas el pecado del mundo, perdónanos, Seńor.
Cordero de Dios, que quitas el pecado del mundo, ten piedad de nosotros.
Ruega por nosotros, Santa Madre de Dios, para que nos hagamos dignos de las promesas de Cristo.
Oración: Concede, Seńor y Dios nuestro, a tus siervos gozar de perpetua salud de alma y cuerpo; y por la gloriosa intercesión de la bienaventurada siempre Virgen María, líbranos de las tristezas presentes y llévanos a gozar de las alegrías eternas. Te lo pedimos por Cristo Nuestro Seńor. Amén.
Bajo tu amparo nos acogemos, oh Santa Madre de Dios, no desprecies las súplicas que te dirigimos en nuestras necesidades, antes bien, líbranos siempre de todos los peligros, oh Virgen gloriosa y bendita. Amén.
8. Invocación a San José. "San José, guardián de Jesús y casto esposo de María, tu empleaste toda tu vida en el perfecto cumplimiento de tu deber. Tu mantuviste a la Sagrada Familia de Nazaret con el trabajo de tus manos. Protege bondadosamente a los que se vuelven confiadamente a ti. Tu conoces sus aspiraciones y sus esperanzas. Ellos se dirigen a ti porque saben que tu los comprendes y proteges. Tu también supiste de pruebas, cansancio y trabajo. Pero, aun dentro de las preocupaciones materiales de la vida, tu alma estaba llena de profunda paz y cantó llena de verdadera alegría debido al íntimo trato que gozaste con el Hijo de Dios que te fue confiado a ti a la vez a María, su tierna Madre. Amén." -- El Papa Juan XXIII
9. Letanías al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, Promesas del Sagrado Corazón.
Seńor, ten piedad de nosotros. Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros.
Seńor, ten piedad de nosotros. Cristo, óyenos. Cristo, escúchanos.
Dios, Padre Celestial, ten piedad de nosotros (se repite despué de cada invocación).
Dios Hijo, Redentor del mundo,
Dios, Espíritu Santo,
Santísima Trinidad, que eres un solo Dios,
Corazón de Jesús, Hijo del Eterno Padre,
Corazón de Jesús, formado en el seno de la Virgen Madre por el Espíritu Santo,
Corazón de Jesús, unido sustancialmente al Verbo de Dios,
Corazón de Jesús, templo santo de Dios,
Corazón de Jesús, tabernáculo del Altísimo,
Corazón de Jesús, casa de Dios y puerta del cielo,
Corazón de Jesús, horno ardiente de caridad,
Corazón de Jesús, santuario de la justicia y del amor,
Corazón de Jesús, lleno de bondad y de amor,
Corazón de Jesús, abismo de todas las virtudes,
Corazón de Jesús, digno de toda alabanza,
Corazón de Jesús, formado en el seno de la Virgen Madre por el Espíritu Santo,
Corazón de Jesús, unido sustancialmente al Verbo de Dios,
Corazón de Jesús, templo santo de Dios,
Corazón de Jesús, tabernáculo del Altísimo,
Corazón de Jesús, casa de Dios y puerta del cielo,
Corazón de Jesús, horno ardiente de caridad,
Corazón de Jesús, santuario de la justicia y del amor,
Corazón de Jesús, lleno de bondad y de amor,
Corazón de Jesús, abismo de todas las virtudes,
Corazón de Jesús, digno de toda alabanza,
Corazón de Jesús, Rey y centro de todos los corazones,
Corazón de Jesús, en quien se hallan todos los tesoros de la sabiduría, y de la ciencia,
Corazón de Jesús, en quien reside toda la plenitud de la divinidad,
Corazón de Jesús, en quien el Padre se complace,
Corazón de Jesús, de cuya plenitud todos hemos recibido,
Corazón de Jesús, deseado de los eternos collados,
Corazón de Jesús, paciente y lleno de misericordia,
Corazón de Jesús, generosos para todos los que te invocan,
Corazón de Jesús, fuente de vida y santidad,
Corazón de Jesús, propiciación por nuestros pecados,
Corazón de Jesús, triturado por nuestros pecados,
Corazón de Jesús, hecho obediente hasta la muerte,
Corazón de Jesús, traspasado por una lanza,
Corazón de Jesús, fuente de todo consuelo,
Corazón de Jesús, vida y resurrección nuestra,
Corazón de Jesús, paz y reconciliación nuestra,
Corazón de Jesús, víctima por los pecadores,
Corazón de Jesús, salvación de los que en ti esperan,
Corazón de Jesús, esperanza de los que en ti mueren,
Corazón de Jesús, delicia de todos los santos,
Cordero de Dios, que quitas el pecado del mundo, perdónanos Seńor.
Cordero de Dios, que quitas el pecado del mundo, ten piedad de nosotros.
Jesús, manso y humilde de Corazón, haz nuestro corazón semejante al tuyo.
Oración: Oh Dios todopoderoso y eterno, mira el Corazón de tu amantísimo Hijo, las alabanzas y satisfacciones que en nombre de los pecadores te ofrece y concede el perdón a éstos que piden misericordia en el nombre de tu mismo Hijo, Jesucristo, el cual vive y reina contigo por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.
Promesas de Nuestro Seńor para los devotos de su Sagrado Corazón
(deberán ser leídas por el que guía la oración):
(1) Les daré todas las gracias necesarias en su estado de vida.
(2) Estableceré la paz en sus hogares.
(3) Los consolaré en todas sus aflicciones.
(4) Seré su refugio en su vida y sobre todo en la muerte.
(5) Bendeciré grandemente todas sus empresas.
(6) Los pecadores encontrarán en Mi Corazón la fuente y el océano infinito de misericordia.
(7) Las almas tibias crecerán en fervor.
(8) Las almas fervorosas alcanzarán mayor perfección.
(9) Bendeciré el hogar o sitio donde esté expuesto Mi Corazón y sea honrado.
(10) Daré a los sacerdotes el don de tocar a los corazones más empedernidos.
(11) Los que propaguen esta devoción, tendrán sus nombres escritos en Mi Corazón, y de El, nunca serán borrados.
(12) Yo les prometo, en el exceso de la infinita misericordia de mi Corazón, que Mi amor todopoderoso le concederá a todos aquellos que comulguen nueve primeros viernes de mes seguidos, la gracia de la penitencia final; no morirán, en Mi desgracia ni sin recibir los sacramentos; Mi divino Corazón será su refugio seguro en este último momento.
10. Oración por los Sacerdotes. "Seńor Jesús, Pastor Supremo del rebańo, te rogamos que por el inmenso amor y misericordia de Tu Sagrado Corazón, atiendas todas las necesidades de tus sacerdotes, pastores del mundo entero. Te pedimos que retomes en Tu Corazón todos aquellos sacerdotes que se han alejado de tu camino, que enciendas de nuevo el deseo de santidad en los corazones de aquellos sacerdotes que han caído en la tibieza, y que continúes otorgando a Tus sacerdotes fervientes el deseo de una mayor santidad. Unidos a tu Corazón y el Corazón de María, te pedimos que envíes esta petición a Tu Padre celestial en la unidad del Espíritu Santo. Amén."
11. Oración por todos los Asociados de los Pastores de Cristo. "Amado Jesús, Te pedimos tus bendiciones especiales sobre todos los Asociados de los Pastores de Cristo. Continua iluminándolos sobre el privilegio y responsabilidad tan especial que les has otorgado a los miembros de este movimiento tuyo: Asociados de los Pastores de Cristo. Atráelos todavía más cerca de Tu Corazón y del de tu Madre. Permíteles que comprendan más y más el gran y especial amor de Sus Corazones por cada uno de ellos como individuos únicos. Concédeles la gracia de corresponder a tu amor y al amor de María con un mayor amor de parte suya. Al habitar en tu Corazón y en el Corazón de María, atiende abundantemente todas sus necesidades y las de sus seres queridos. Hacemos esta plegaria por Ti al Padre, en el Espíritu Santo, con María nuestra Madre a nuestro lado. Amén."
12. Oración por el éxito espiritual y financiero del Boletín Sacerdotal. "Padre, te pedimos tu bendición especial sobre el Boletín Sacerdotal, Pastores de Cristo. Te pedimos que abras los corazones de los sacerdotes que lo lean a las gracias que deseas concederles a través de este instrumento escogido de Tu Hijo. También te pedimos que nos proporciones los medios económicos necesarios para editar el boletín y Asociados de los Pastores de Cristo. Hacemos nuestra oración por Jesús, en el Espíritu Santo con María a nuestro lado. Amén."
13. Oración por todos los miembros de la familia humana. "Padre Celestial, te pedimos tus bendiciones sobre todos los nińos del mundo entero. Atiende todas sus necesidades. Te pedimos tu especial asistencia para todos los marginados, los que están descuidados y olvidados. Unidos con nuestra Madre María, te hacemos esta petición a Ti, por Jesús, en el Espíritu Santo. Amén."
14. Oración a San Miguel y nuestros Angeles de la Guardia:
"San Miguel Arcángel, defiéndenos en la lucha. Sé nuestro amparo contra las asechanza y perversidad del demonio. Reprímale Dios, pedimos suplicantes, y tu príncipe de la milicia celestial arroja al infierno a Satanás y a demás espíritus malignos que vagan por el mundo para la perdición de las almas. Amén."
"Ángel de mi Guardia, mi dulce compańía, no de desampares ni de noche ni de día. Amén."
15. Pausa para oración personal y en silencio. Que tenga una duración de al menos cinco minutos.
16. Acto de consagración al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús y al Inmaculado Corazón de María.
"Seńor Jesús, Supremo Pastor, yo me consagro a tu Sagrado Corazón. De tu Corazón traspasado nació la Iglesia, la Iglesia a la cual me has llamado, como miembro de los Asociados de los Pastores de Cristo, a servir en una forma muy especial. Tú revelas Tu Corazón como un símbolo de Tu amor en todos los aspectos, incluyendo Tu amor muy especial hacia mi, a quien has escogido como Tu compańero en éste tan importante trabajo. Ayúdame a corresponder siempre a Tu amor. Ayúdame a entregarme totalmente a Ti. Ayúdame siempre a derramar mi vida en amar a Dios y mi prójimo! Corazón de Jesús, pongo mi confianza en Ti!
"Amada y bendita Virgen María, yo me consagro a tu maternal e inmaculado Corazón, este Corazón que es símbolo de tu vida de amor. Tú eres la Madre de mi Salvador. Tú eres también mi Madre. Tú me amas con amor muy especial como miembro de Asociados de los Pastores de Cristo, una cruzada creada por Tu Hijo, como un instrumento poderoso para la renovación de la Iglesia y el mundo. Correspondiendo al amor, yo me entrego totalmente a tu amor maternal y protección. Tú seguiste a Jesús perfectamente. Tú eres Su primer y perfecto discípulo. Enséńame a imitar en ante poner a Cristo. Sé mi maternal intercesora, para que, a través de tu Corazón Inmaculado, sea conducida a una unión más cercana al Corazón herido de Jesús, Pastor Supremo del rebańo."
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Chapter 13
Prayers
Enthronement of the Sacred Heart
- Program
- The Two Hearts
and the Mass
- Enthronement
of My Sacred Heart
- Images of the
Hearts of Jesus and Mary
- Find Refuge in My
Most Sacred Heart
- Consecrate
Your Churches, Homes, and Workplace to Our Hearts
- Certificate
- Promises of
Our Lord to Those Devoted to His Sacred Heart
Morning Offering (for Shepherds of Christ Members)
Morning Offering for Children
Short Prayer of Consecration Before Mass
Prayer Before the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Prayer to Say When Working for Jesus and Mary
Family Consecration
Consecration of an Unborn Child to Jesus and Mary
Chaplet of St. Michael
Promises of Mary Given to Those Who Pray the Rosary
Five First Saturday Devotion
Daily Prayers
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Program for the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart
Message: The Two Hearts and The Mass
Song: I Love You, Jesus
Procession - to the enthroning of the picture of the Sacred Heart
Song: To Jesus Heart All Burning (or Oh Burning Heart)
Prayer: Apostles Creed
Message: Enthronement of My Sacred Heart (10/19/94)
Message: Images of Our Hearts
Message: Find Refuge in My Most Sacred Heart (9/29/94)
Message: Consecrate Your Churches, Home, Workplace to Our Hearts (5/5/95)
Songs (see chapter16) Suggested songs: A Song from Jesus, Teach Me to Love with Your Heart, I am Your Sacred Heart.
Signing of the Enthronement papers
Promises of the Sacred Heart to Families who honor His Sacred Heart and renewal of the Consecration of the Family
Song: Immaculate Mary
Rosary (optional)
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The Two Hearts and the Mass
Jesus: My beloved friend, tell My people that they are living in the Age of the Two Hearts - that of My Heart and Mary's heart. My people live in the initial stages of this great era. I call My people to take up their refuge in My Heart and My Mother's heart. In Our Hearts they will become more and more transformed into My likeness.
The greatest source for growth in devotion to Our Hearts is the Eucharist. I wish My people to attend Mass often, daily if possible. What a great gift I have given to My people in the Eucharist! Yet many of My people are indifferent to the treasures contained in the Mass. Think of it! My people are privileged to offer the Sacrifice of the Mass together with Me! And yet how many prefer to do other things rather than attend Mass. How this attitude offends My Sacred Heart!
I long for My people to participate in the Mass and to receive Me worthily! Think of it! I, Who am your God, long to come to you each day! In the Eucharist I come to you in My Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Present within you. I long to take you close to My Sacred Heart- this Heart which is truly within you. The more you allow Me to do so, the more closely I press you to this Heart. I shower you with its riches. I abundantly give you great graces which increasingly form you in My likeness.
I am Lord and Master! Please listen to My words. Pray, pray for a deeper understanding of the Mass. In union with Mary, approach Me daily in the Eucharist. I, your God, long to come to you. How much do you long to receive Me?27
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Enthronement of My Sacred Heart
We are gathered here to honor our King, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is our most honored guest. He loves us so ardently and wants to be King of our home and King of our hearts. We all join together and most graciously welcome Him in our midst. We love You, dear Sacred Heart of Jesus. We honor You this day and are privileged that You, God, love us so much.
Please help us all grow in our knowledge and love of You. We honor You. We praise You. We adore You, and we love You.
We ask You to come and dwell in our hearts. As our King and the center of our lives, we forever want to be with You, most Sacred Heart of Jesus, we love You so much.
Come and be with every member of this family in a special way. Guard us in our undertakings. Dear Holy Spirit, lead us to the on-fire love of Jesus' Heart.
Mary, our most loving Mother, as you carried Jesus in your womb, you who cared for Him as a child, you who forever stood by Him and walked with Him on Calvary, you, dear Mary, as you stood under His cross and suffered so for love of Him and us, you who held His lifeless body under the cross, you who saw His glorified body after the resurrection and watched Him ascend into heaven, you, dear Mary, you who know this most Sacred, tender, loving Heart, place us so gently into His most Sacred Heart.
Protect and lead every person present and their families to this intense union with your Son. We pray for the priests the world over, Your special anointed sons, to lead all children to the love of Your most Sacred Heart.
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus forever reign in the hearts of all people through the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
We praise You, we honor You, our beloved Jesus. We tenderly love Your heart so!
Dear Father, thank You for Your beloved Son. Thank You for Your gifts to us. We thank You for giving us a sharing in Your divine life through baptism. We are Your beloved children. Draw us ever closer to union with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and Mary, in communion with the angels and saints. Amen.28
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Images of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Jesus: My beloved friend, tell My people that I desire them to have pictures or statues of the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart in their homes. This will greatly help them to give honor to Our Hearts. All My churches and chapels should also have these images. I will bestow great blessings on all who heed My request. I am your Lord and Master. Please do as I ask.29
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Find Refuge in My Most Sacred Heart
Jesus: My Dear Child,
I bless your home in a special way. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary ever reign in your hearts. I am the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Please spread devotion to My most Sacred Heart. Tell people to hang pictures of My Sacred Heart and My Mother's heart throughout their homes. I will bless in a special way any home that hangs My picture and that of My Mother, her Immaculate Heart and My Sacred Heart.
Read the promises of the Sacred Heart to people and circulate them among your friends. Tell them to pray to us all through the day. Such devotion will be the key to your happiness now and in your everlasting life to come.
Tell people to carry pictures of My Sacred Heart and Mary's Immaculate Heart in their pockets and purses and to look at our pictures when praying to us. When you are having a difficult day, reach for our pictures and find refuge in My most Sacred Heart.
How deep is the love I and My Mother have for you? Our love is deeper than any human mind can imagine. Come into My Heart and be protected from all kinds of weather. The wind may blow and the fire of love may grow dim in your hearts, but it forever burns brightly when you are sheltered by My most Sacred Heart. If the wind blows and the rain comes, you will never lose the flame of My love if you have taken refuge in My most Sacred Heart.
Mary leads you to the closest union with Me. Go to Mary, see her, let her lead you deeply into My Heart. She loves you so. She is your most loving Mother. She is pure and tender of heart. It is through her you will experience such intimacy with Me. It is through her heart that you are lead to the deepest union with the one, triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I am your most Sacred Heart. I am Jesus, Son of God. I am a burning furnace of endless love, waiting to shelter you in My Heart. Come to Me, My beloved ones. I love you so.30
(Song: I Am Your Sacred Heart)
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Consecrate Your Churches, Home, and Workplace
to Our Hearts
Message given through to Rita Ring
Jesus: I want you to consecrate the human race to Sacred Heart of Jesus. I want to be enthroned in all homes, churches, and businesses.
June is the month of the Sacred Heart. I want to be king and center of all hearts. I will keep My promises given to St. Margaret Mary of Alacoque. I promise all this from My most Sacred Heart. Consecrate your chapter to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Consecrate the church or room in which you hold your meeting.
Today is First Friday. I want you to circulate the message I gave to you on consecrating your homes to My Sacred Heart. Make booklets available for people to be able to consecrate their homes and businesses easily. Use the message I gave to you when you consecrated your home.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus will reign and the Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph. Consecrate all homes and businesses to Our Two Hearts. Tell all to have displayed and honored, pictures of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. May and June are the months of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Tell all to consecrate their homes to Our Two Hearts. I am the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On this day, the 5th of May, 1995, First Friday, I request that you spend the next two months encouraging all to do this consecration.
Gather your friends and say the prayers I have instructed you to say. Sing "To Jesus Heart All Burning" and "Immaculate Mary." May these Two Hearts of love give all members of the human race peace, joy and love in their hearts.
R. Jesus said He desires to be honored by men in the Blessed Sacrament.
Jesus: Circulate the Blue Book messages. They promote this devotion. How My Heart is filled with happiness by the souls who come to the tabernacle and sit with Me. I am Jesus Christ, I wait and long and thirst for My precious souls to come. The souls of men have turned cold. I want souls to come to daily communion and be with Me in front of the tabernacle.
Men's hearts have turned cold. They do not know what love really means. I want hearts that are filled with fire for love of God. Men's hearts have turned to stone.
You are to promote devotion to My most Sacred Heart. I want hearts that burn with love for My Heart. It is through Me that you will know the Father's love. I am the Way, I am the Truth, I am the Life.
Offer a holy hour for the indifference, ingratitude, and sacrileges committed against Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the Sacrament of His greatest love.
R. He promises great graces to those who give reparation to His Sacred Heart and who tell others about offering reparation to Him.
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Promises of Our Lord to those devoted to His Sacred Heart
1. I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
2. I will establish peace in their homes.
3. I will comfort them in their afflictions.
4. I will be their refuge during life and above all in death.
5. I will bestow a large blessing on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall grow fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
9. I will bless every place where a picture of My Heart shall be set up and honored.
10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened of hearts.
11. Those who promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out.
12. I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who communicate on the first Friday in nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their sacraments; My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
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December 21, 1996
Message given through Rita Ring
Jesus: My Children in the Shepherds of Christ Movement,
I am instructing you this day, December 21, 1996, to pray the Morning Offering, Holy Spirit Prayer, and consecration prayers. You will be joined, My shepherds, as one in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass all day. Praying these prayers will be a key to unite the Movement.
June 8, 1995 - Morning Offering (for Shepherds of Christ Members)
My dear Father, I offer You this day all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings, my every breath, my every heartbeat, my every thought, all my actions, in union with Jesus in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in the Holy Spirit. I pray the Holy Spirit is with me every second today, enlightening me to do the will of the Father and filling me with the fire of God's love.
I ask Jesus and Mary to be one in me in all that I do and I unite with all the angels and saints and souls in purgatory to pray continually to the Father for these intercessions, in this prayer, for this day.
For myself, I pray for grace-abundant grace, to know and love God more and more and to follow the will of the Father. I pray to the Holy Spirit to transform me in the heart of Mary to be more and more like Jesus. I pray that I can forever dwell in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. I pray for conversion of all those I hold dear who need conversion. I pray for each member of my family that they will be filled with Your abundant grace to grow in their knowledge and love of God.
I pray for all my friends that they will receive abundant grace to carry out the great plan of the Father, that they will grow forever closer to Jesus' Heart through Mary's heart, that we will all be led by the Holy Spirit to do His work, that we will, together, carry out the plan of the Father as He intends us to, to spread the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary's heart to this world.
Jesus, I pray for myself so the Holy Spirit descends upon me and opens my heart to Your love so I will grow more and more deeply in union with You. I pray that I do not worry what other people think but try always to please the Father and do His will. I pray that I may help lead many to Your burning love.
I pray for the following people in particular that they will be filled with the Spirit and grow deeply in their union with You, that they will receive abundant graces to know, love and serve You more. (Include special friends by name...)
I pray for priests the world over, for the success of the priestly newsletter, the Chapters and for the finances needed for the newsletter. I pray for the circulation of the Blue Book messages, rosary meditations and tapes. I pray for all those involved in the publication of these messages.
I pray that You will shower Your abundant graces onto the priests reading the newsletter the people reading and hearing the Blue Book messages and Rosary Meditations and all of Fr. Carter's publications.
We pray for the intentions we hold deep within our hearts, for our families and friends, for those requesting our prayers. We pray for children the world over and for the souls in purgatory. We ask God to shower His abundant grace on us and the members of our Shepherds of Christ chapter so that we may grow more and more in our knowledge and love of God.
We consecrate ourselves to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. We pray for Father Carter, for Father Smith, for Rita Ring, and for John Weickert, for all leaders and helpers in the Shepherds of Christ Movement, for Shepherds of Christ Ministries, and Our Lady of Light Ministry. We pray for all those who are working in these ministries.
We bind ourselves and our children and our friends to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We place the precious blood of Jesus on ourselves, and all we touch, so that we will be protected from the evil one. We pray to St. Michael to cast the devil into hell. We love You, God, we love You, we love You. We beg that we may receive the grace to love You more and more deeply. We adore You, we praise You, our beloved Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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Morning Offering for Children
My dear Father, I offer you this day all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings in union with Jesus in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in the Holy Spirit.
I unite with our Mother Mary, all the angels and saints, and souls in purgatory, to pray to the Father for myself, for each member of my family, for my friends, for all people throughout the world, for all the souls in purgatory, and for all other intentions of the Sacred Heart.
I love You, Jesus, and I give You my heart. I love you, Mary, and I give you my heart.
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Short prayer of Consecration before the Mass
Jesus and Mary, we love You. We give ourselves to You. We consecrate our hearts to Your Hearts. Dear Holy Spirit, enlighten and strengthen us. We give You ourselves.
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Prayer Before the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass*
Let me be a holy sacrifice and unite with God in the sacrament of His greatest love. I want to be one in Him in this act of love, where He gives Himself to me and I give myself as a sacrifice to Him. Let me be a holy sacrifice as I become one with Him in this my act of greatest love to Him.
Let me unite with Him more, that I may more deeply love Him. May I help make reparation to His adorable Heart and the heart of His Mother, Mary. With greatest love, I offer myself to You and pray that You will accept my sacrifice of greatest love. I give myself to You and unite in Your gift of Yourself to me. Come and possess my soul.
Cleanse me, strengthen me, heal me. Dear Holy Spirit act in the heart of Mary to make me more and more like Jesus.
Father, I offer this my sacrifice, myself united to Jesus in the Holy Spirit to You. Help me to love God more deeply in this act of my greatest love.
Give me the grace to grow in my knowledge, love and service of You and for this to be my greatest participation in the Mass. Give me the greatest graces to love You so deeply in this Mass, You who are so worthy of my love.
-God's Blue Book, December 27, 1995
*Imprimatur: Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel
Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
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Prayer to say when working for Jesus and Mary
I love you, Jesus. I love you, Mary. It is for the sake of the reign of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart I am working. God, come and strengthen me, I want to be one in Thee. Come and live in my soul.
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Family Consecration
We consecrate our family to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. We give ourselves to Them. We love You, Jesus. We love you, Mary. We give our hearts to You. We pray our family is a family of love, modeled after the Holy Family.
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Consecration of an Unborn Child to Jesus and Mary
Dear Blessed Mother, we gather here in your presence and in the presence of your Son, the Almighty God, here present in the tabernacle and in our hearts. We ask you, Blessed Mother, in union with your Spouse, the Holy Spirit, to be the safeguard of this little child at birth and throughout its life. We ask you, dear Lady, to keep your mantle over this little one as well as (name), the mother. We come to you to consecrate this child to your Immaculate Heart and to the Heart of your Son. Please give this child your special blessing now and for eternity, and guard it from all the evils of the world.
In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, Amen.
- This Consecration of an Unborn Child is by Harold Kellner
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Chaplet of St. Michael
Saint Michael appearing one day to Antonia d'Astonac, a most devout Servant of God, told her that he wished to be honored by nine salutations corresponding to the nine Choirs of Angels, which should consist of one Our Father and three Hail Marys in honor of each of the angelic choirs.
Promises of St. Michael
Whosoever would practice this devotion in his honor would have, when approaching the Holy Table, an escort of nine angels chosen from each one of the nine choirs. In addition, for the daily recital of these nine salutations, he promised his continual assistance and that of all the holy angels during life, and after death deliverance from purgatory for themselves and their relations.
Method of Reciting the Chaplet
The chaplet is begun by saying the following invocation on the medal: O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, etc.
Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after each of the following nine salutations in honor of the nine choirs of angels.
1. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Seraphim, may the Lord make us worthy to burn with the fire of perfect charity. Amen.
2. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim, may the Lord vouchsafe to grant us grace to leave the ways of wickedness to run in the paths of Christian perfection. Amen.
3. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Thrones, may the Lord infuse into our hearts a true and sincere spirit of humility. Amen.
4. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Dominions, may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and subdue our unruly passions. Amen.
5. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers, may the Lord vouchsafe to protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil. Amen.
6. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues may the Lord preserve us from evil and suffer us not to fall into temptation. Amen.
7. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities, may God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience. Amen.
8. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels, may the Lord give us perseverance in faith and in all good works, in order that we gain the glory of Paradise. Amen.
9. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Angels, may the Lord grant us to be protected by them in this mortal life and conducted hereafter to eternal glory. Amen.
Say one Our Father in honor of each of the following leading angels: 10 St Michael; 11 St Gabriel; 12 St. Raphael; 13 our Guardian Angel.
The chaplet is concluded with the following prayers:
O glorious Prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King, and our admirable conductor, thou who dost shine with excellence and superhuman virtue, vouchsafe to deliver us from all evil, who turn to thee with confidence, and enable us by thy gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.
V. Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ.
R. That we may be made worthy of His promises.
Almighty and Everlasting God, who by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, hast appointed the most glorious Archangel, St. Michael, Prince of Thy Church, make us worthy, we beseech Thee, to be delivered from all our enemies that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be conducted by him into the august presence of Thy Divine Majesty. This we beg through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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The Promises of Mary given to those who pray the Rosary.
Over the years, in various apparitions, Mary has stressed the importance of the rosary. She has promised great blessings to those who pray the rosary. To St. Dominic and to Blessed Alan she stated:
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Five First Saturdays
Mary speaks of the five first Saturdays. Here is what the practice involves:
1) |
Go to confession, which may be done from eight days before to eight days after the first Saturday. Of course, if a person is in the state of serious sin, the confession must be made before receiving Communion. |
2) |
Receive Holy Communion. |
3) |
Recite five decades of the rosary. |
4) |
Meditate for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the rosary.32 |
All of the above (except confession) must be done on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart. For those who make the five first Saturdays, Our Lady of Fatima has promised to assist them at the hour of death, with all the graces necessary for salvation.33
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Chapter 14
Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus
Letter
Letter without Message (it can be passed out in churches)
Membership Form
Newsletter - Vol. 1 Issue 1 - October 1996
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Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of
Jesus
My dear fellow Associate Members,
Jesus is calling special apostles to join a new division of the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Here is a message from Jesus given to Father Carter:
My beloved priest-companion, I am requesting that a new prayer movement be started under the direction of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. I am asking for volunteers who are willing to pray before the Blessed Sacrament for one hour, twice-weekly. Members of the Shepherds of Christ prayer chapters, as well as others, are to be invited to join this movement.
These apostles are to pray for the intentions I am giving you. For part of the hour they are to use the prayers of the Shepherds of Christ Associates Handbook. They may spend the rest of the hour as they so choose.
I will use this new prayer movement within My Shepherds of Christ Ministries in a powerful way to help in the renewal of My Church and the world. I will give great graces to those who join this movement. The name, Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, is to be given to this movement.
I am inviting My beloved Rita Ring to be coordinator for this activity.
I pour out the great love of My Sacred Heart to all. I am Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock.
This is indeed a special calling for us to unite in one heart with His Eucharistic Heart and pray for the following intentions:
Jesus wants so much for us to come and be with Him. He is no less present in the tabernacle than the day He walked the earth. He will listen to our heartfelt prayers as Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus. His Heart beats in deepest love for us. How He loves His beloved priests and religious. He wants us to come to the Blessed Sacrament and pray to Him for them. Our prayers are especially powerful when we are before the tabernacle.
If you feel Jesus is calling you to be an apostle of His Eucharistic Heart, please sign on the enclosed form. Please send the forms to Shepherds of Christ Ministries, Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, P.O. Box 193, Morrow, OH 45152-0193.
Please circulate this letter and the sign-up forms. This is a call to priests, sisters, laity, including children. The Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus do not have to be a member of the Shepherds of Christ chapters.
There is such power in His Eucharistic Heart. Let us join one another and answer His call today. Adoration should begin as soon as possible.
Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus will receive a newsletter. It is very important to send in the membership as soon as possible so we can send you the newsletter and any information about the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.
As apostles, we will receive abundant graces from God and help bring about the renewal of the Church and the world.
May you know the burning love of His Heart.
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Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus
My dear fellow Associate Members,
There is a new prayer movement which has been started under the direction of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. We are asking for volunteers who are willing to pray before the Blessed Sacrament for one hour, twice-weekly. Members of the Shepherds of Christ prayer chapters, as well as others, are to be invited to join this movement.
These apostles are to pray for the intentions given. For part of the hour they are to use the prayers of the Shepherds of Christ Associates Handbook. They may spend the rest of the hour as they so choose.
This new prayer movement within the Shepherds of Christ Ministries is a powerful way to help in the renewal of the Church and the world. The name, Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, has been given to this movement.
Rita Ring is the coordinator for this activity.
This is indeed a special calling for us to unite in one heart with His Eucharistic Heart and pray for the following intentions:
Jesus wants so much for us to come and be with Him. He is no less present in the tabernacle than the day He walked the earth. He will listen to our heartfelt prayers as Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus. His Heart beats in deepest love for us. How He loves His beloved priests and religious. He wants us to come to the Blessed Sacrament and pray to Him for them. Our prayers are especially powerful when we are before the tabernacle.
If you feel Jesus is calling you to be an apostle of His Eucharistic Heart, please sign on the following form. Please send the form to Shepherds of Christ Ministries, Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, P.O. Box 193, Morrow, OH 45152-0193.
Please circulate this letter and the sign-up forms. This is a call to priests, sisters, laity, including children. The Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus do not have to be a member of the Shepherds of Christ chapters.
There is such power in His Eucharistic Heart. Let us join one another and answer His call today. Adoration should begin as soon as possible.
Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus will receive a newsletter. It is very important to send in the membership as soon as possible so we can send you the newsletter and any information about the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.
As apostles, we will receive abundant graces from God and help bring about the renewal of the Church and the world.
May you know the burning love of His Heart.
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Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus
| VOL 1 ISSUE 1 | A NEWSLETTER FOR WORSHIPERS OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT | OCTOBER, 1996 |
Welcome to the inaugural issue of Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus! Each article is meant to pique the reader's awareness, light upon flashing light, of the great gift Jesus gave us, and continues to give us every day, in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. May they put you at east and may they help you to grow in your love and appreciation of Him Who loves us so much. Praise God!
Bread of Life
(John 6:32-35)1 Jesus answered them:
"In all truth I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, it was my Father who gives you the bread from heaven, the true bread; for the bread of God is the bread which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
"Sir," they said, "give us this bread always." Jesus answered them:
"I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever hunger; no one who believes in me will ever thirst."
The New Manna
(John 6: 48-58)1 "I am the bread
of life. Your fathers ate manna in the desert, and they are dead; but this is the bread
which comes down from heaven, so that a person may eat it and not die. I am the living
bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and
the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world."
Then the Jews started arguing among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus replied to them:
"In all truth I tell you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise that person up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in that person. As the living Father sent me and I draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will also draw life from me. This is the bread which has come down from heaven; it is not like the bread our ancestors ate: they are dead, but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever."
Many Graces Will Be Granted
Jesus: My beloved Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, I
have called you to a special apostleship, My beloved ones. I am crying out to you from My
Eucharistic Heart to pray as you have never prayed before. The power, My dear chosen ones,
is in the Eucharist. Your world is in a very serious state. The Church, the pope, the
bishops, the priests, the Sisters and Brothers are all in need of tremendous prayer power.
You have been called to the quiet of the tabernacle to take your prayer petitions to My Eucharistic Heart. The renewal of the Church and the world is at hand. From the prayers you pray here, many graces will be granted.
I am calling all in this Movement as well as all others in the Shepherds of Christ Movement to consecrate their hearts to My Heart and the heart of My Mother. All through the day I am calling you, priests, sisters and brothers in the religious life, laity, including children, to give your hearts to Me and to My beloved Mother. As you dwell in Our Hearts you will be one with each other.
Come to Me with your petitions. I am truly present in the tabernacle, no less present than the day I walked the earth. I wait for you to come and to pray for your Church and your world. Many graces will be given there for the priesthood and those in the religious life. I have chosen each priest and sister and brother in the religious life to help spread My love to this world. The highest calling is to be called to the priesthood. The calling I give to My beloved priests, sisters and brothers is a special spousalship to Me. How My Heart is wounded by the priests and sisters and brothers in the religious life who have turned worldly. I, the almighty God, call them to such a deep intimate love affair with Me and they go to the world for their love.
When the religious are fixed in My Heart many will be fed by My burning love.
The world is in a state of urgency. The Church in part has become worldly. The medicine for the hurting world is My burning love. Nothing, nothing will feed the starved soul but the love of God. I am calling you to pray for My holy priests, to pray that all priests come to a state of deep holiness.
I have called you as part of the Shepherds of Christ Movement to join in prayer before Me and to beg for graces for your Church and your world.
The renewal of My Church and My world will be helped greatly through many giving themselves to this movement.
At Fatima My Mother said that, until a sufficient number of faithful are consecrating their hearts to My Heart and the heart of My Mother, there will not be peace in this world.
In the Shepherds of Christ Movement including the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Movement, I am reaching the priests, sisters and brothers in the religious life, laity, including the children - with this Consecration.
As you dwell in Our hearts you are one with us. As you give yourselves to our Hearts, you are one in our Hearts. These movements will prosper for all are joined in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. You will proceed ahead in one heart and one mind. You will be more joined as a true family, brothers and sisters, living according to the will of your heavenly Father and dwelling in the heart of your heavenly Mother.
Oh, beloved children, in these movements you have been hand-picked and chosen for this mission by Me. I am giving to you such graces to unite more and more deeply to My Heart. You will be one with each other and one with God. As you dwell in My Mother's heart and My Heart, you unite with the Father in the Holy Spirit.
You are especially chosen, my apostles, to help carry My love to this world. As you join in this oneness with Me, I live in you and you in Me and I am alive in this world in a special way through this union.
I have called you to this apostleship, I am guarding your every breath, I am giving you abundant graces to help carry out the plan of the Father. "Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28)1
Bring the cares of the Church and the world to Me. I am waiting to give you all you need. I am Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God. I live this day in the world. I am truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. Come to Me and I will live in you.
I love you, I love you, I love you. I am your beloved Savior, Jesus.
- Message from Jesus to Rita Ring, March 8, 1996
We Are Children of God
(Rom 8: 14-17)1 All who are guided by the
Spirit of God are sons of God; for what you received was not the spirit of slavery to
bring you back into fear; you received the spirit of adoption, enabling us to cry out,
"Abba, Father!" The Spirit himself joins with our spirit to bear witness that we
are children of God. And if we are children, then we are heirs, heirs of God and joint
heirs with Christ, provided that we share his suffering, so as to share his glory.
He Remains with Us, Truly Present
God sees us as one family, His beloved creatures. He loves us each with the
deepest personal love. He sees us united. It is our love for one another that pleases Him.
There is not division in God. He loves each of us and knows our uniqueness. He loves all
of us as His creatures. We are all members of His holy family. He wants all His children
to inherit the Kingdom of God.
I find refuge by dwelling within His most precious Heart. I feel the inner glow, the heat. I feel the calm beating of His heart. It is there I am wrapped in His burning love. It is there I am united deeply to my most beloved Father. It is there I am joined with the permeating, moving action of the Holy Spirit.
It is my refuge, in this dark and troubled world. It is my heaven on earth, to be joined in love with all He has created, to have perfect peace and know God's chamber of peace and love.
I see the darkness, the vileness of this world, and I go to His Heart. I see, with rose-colored glasses. I see as He wants us to see with eyes of love. I want to love and see as He sees. It is in this deepest chamber of His Heart that I have found the Kingdom of God on earth, for He has said, the Kingdom of God is within you. The Kingdom of God, our little heaven on earth, is in dwelling deeply within Their Hearts. In His Heart is love and in His Heart is peace, in His Heart we are all one as He intends us to be. "But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, 'Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?' And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." (Matt: 12:48-50)1 We draw in our beloved sisters and brothers by the love that radiates from our eyes, our gentle touch, our loving concern.
Strip yourself of the attachments to this world. Find peace in the freedom of living according to His will, living *In Him, *in this magnificent Heart.
He came, He walked the earth, for love of us. He took on a human body. He gave His adorable Heart that we could live *In Him. He no longer walks this earth, He gives us Himself in the Holy Eucharist. He gives us a human *heart, pierced with a lance, crowned with thorns and holding the cross. The way to this fiery furnace, the way to life in Him, is through much suffering and pain. We identify with Him in all our actions, all our joys and sufferings, united to Him as we live our lives in Him. We walk the Passion, we feel the joys, the deep love in His Heart for His Mother, for all His beloved creatures. We carry out His life in our life.
I am Yours, my Lord. I love You with my whole heart, my whole soul, my whole being. I have found the Kingdom of God on this earth. I have found life in You. When I see the darkness in this troubled world, I go to the deepest, hottest chamber of Your Heart and I am bathed in your abundant love. I take with me my troubled brothers in my heart and I plead for their return to their God who is all worthy of all honor and love and adoration.
I am Yours, Lord, I consecrate my heart to You to live forever in this holy place. I want to die to all that is not of You, that I can be united in the deepest way to You, that my heart will know Your love, that as I live in this world I can truly say, "It is no longer I who live, but He who lives in me."
O, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I give You my all. I come to You surrounded by the pure and loving heart of Your Mother. I know You won't refuse me in my wretchedness when I come to You in the heart of Your beloved Mother.
The Holy Spirit permeates the very depth of my soul and I enter into the deepest chamber of His fiery Heart. It is there I feel so little, as a little child, and I unite to my most beloved Father. I feel in Your fiery heart the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in the deepest, whitest chamber, in the center of the deepest love. I unite with God and I know my dwelling in You is truly a little heaven on earth.
The Kingdom of God is at hand. There will be an era of peace. We will all be one in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. We will be one happy family where there will only be love: love of God and love of one another.
And the city shone with the brightest light for within their hearts they knew the love of God and it radiated into the world. There was no longer darkness that covered the earth, but light, radiating from those dwelling within the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. And the star shone over His bed at Bethlehem. He is truly the light of the world and the light shone in the darkness and all who came to this light lived in the light and lived according to the light.
It is in this that we trust, that in all the darkness of the world that the light will shine when men are dwelling in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
And, He says: I am the way, the truth and the life. He who abides in me will have the light of life. He came, He was born a baby, He died on a cross, but as He hung on that cross on Calvary, He was the light that shone as the brightest light to the world, withered, beaten and bloodied. He was the brightest light in the darkened sky. It was through His death all men were promised a chance for real life, for eternal salvation.
And the light came forth from the tomb in power and glory, adorned in bright, glistening light. He stood before them with His glorified wounds: His pierced Heart of endless love and He gave them the newness of life-life in Him. The light shone in the darkness. He gave them a sharing in His Divine Life through Baptism and ascended into heaven to prepare a place for us, but He remained with us, truly present, in His Eucharistic Heart. He feeds us with His own Body and Blood. He gives us the Bread of Life. He is the Savior of the World and we live in newness of life because God first loved us!
- Rita Ring, February 23, 1996
Hearts One with Jesus and Mary
I feel His love in the hearts of holy priests. He has anointed them and
they represent Christ to me. My soul is fed by all His holy priests. I feel fed when a
priest loves Jesus so much. I must see the hearts of all and join with them in one heart,
love them deeply in my heart.
There will be an era of peace when hearts are one with the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Jesus and Mary, I give You my heart.
Per Fr. Carter's Message2
This is your special calling from Jesus to pray for the Church and the
world. The power is in Him. He is truly present in the Eucharist. He ascended into heaven,
but He remains with us in greatest love. He calls out to us, "I am alive, I am alive,
I am alive. Come to me and I will give you rest. Can you not watch one hour with Me?
"I am Jesus. I call you My beloved ones to be Apostles of the
Eucharistic Heart of Jesus. I love you, I love you, I love you."
______________
Notes:
1. Scripture references are taken from The New Jerusalem Bible,
Catholic Edition, Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc., New York.
2. Message from Jesus to Father Edward Carter, S.J., February, 1996.
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Chapter 15
Excerpts from God's Blue Books
for His Children of Light
Cling to Me
You Are the Light in the Darkness
Angels Will Read the Message
A City on a Hill Shines to the World
I Died For You
I Wake You, Knocking
[ < Contents ]
May 13, 1993
Title: Cling to Me
Jesus: My dear child, if you stay close to Me, then I live in you and you live in Me. I am He Who created you and I love you with such an intensity that you will never know. My words are your truth. You must abide in My heart in all things. There is no room for doubt. My ways are steadfast, direct, and without error.
You must stay rooted in Me to ward off the power of the evil one. His grip is paralyzing and crippling. His power is stronger every day.
When you live in Me, I am in your heart and he has no power over Me. I am your God. I am your true lover. I want to protect you. I want to guard you from this force. Stay rooted firmly in Me and he will have no power.
I am He Who comforts you. My hand is upon you. Hold tight to Me, My child. My eyes are fixed right on you. You are My most precious child. I love you as no other can. My arms are about you. My tenderness surrounds you. My love is in your heart. You go not alone. I walk with you.
I share every aspect of your life with you. Cling to Me, feel My presence. It is warm and secure within your chest. There is no room for fear, for I cast out fear and bring you comfort and joy.
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September 18, 1993
Title: You Are the Light in the Darkness
Jesus: Little child, come and be filled. It is here, with Me, that you are nourished and set free. Your love is made whole here. I give you joy in your soul. I sanctify you and you are made holy by Me. Yes, child, you are holy-I make you so. Respect yourself and the gift you are to this world. I shine from your eyes and I smile with your lips. I hug My hugs with your arms. Do you not know how I need you, so holy and pure?
Don't let Satan plant his little ugly words in your heart. He tries to bring you down. Shut him up, little one. Listen to Me proclaim your dignity and honor. See yourself beautiful, loving, smiling, being, spontaneous. Satan has no power over you. My light shines from your temple to your toes.
Do not let others affect your moods at all. No one can alter the way you are filled with My light. Your light shines in the darkness if you do not let them affect you. You must stay very fixed to Me to do this. Look at them and pray for them. Pray for all you talk to. They need your prayers. They need My grace to wake them to My love. You are My preacher of love. My love is ever abounding. It is not for a few, or some. It extends to all My children. I love every little one. I want to reach all. I want to give each My unbounded love, as they reject Me Whom they do not see. You know what they do to you they do more to Me. Pray for My little ones your life touches. This is the most important thing you can do.
Your power radiates from within or it is squelched by the devil and does not radiate at all. I create an energy in you. Stay focused in Me. You are not affected by those around you. When I died on the cross, nothing they said or did affected the way I was. My light was fixed. It shone on them who nailed Me to the cross. It shone in the darkness and many were saved who watched Me. Let your light shine for all the world to see. It is I Who am your generator. Like the houses in Medjugorje, only the houses with generators lit up the night. Others were pitch black. When the generator kicked in, the lights shone so bright in the darkness. You shine more when you are surrounded by darkness if you stay fixed in Me. I shone brightly at My death. In such brutality My light shone as the brightest light. In the night you must shine. Many are living in darkness. You do not go there.
No one need to affect your behavior. You are rooted in Me. I generate a power in you. I am God and My power is very powerful. You must ward off Satan's weak pull. Others want to draw you into their darkness. Do not go there. Shine as the brightest star, shine in the night, shine as a beacon light. You saw darkness in Medjugorje. You know this concept. When it is dark, a light shines so bright.
Many of your brothers are in darkness. You must stay fixed in Me that your light shine bright as the light on the dark night. I give you this message, My lights of the world. Many lights light up the darkness and it shows in the dark night as if there is no darkness at all. Be the light to the darkness. Shine bright with a generator that is supplied by Me. Do not let your brothers pull you in. You remain in Me and you will never thirst. You will run and not get weary. You will fly on eagles' wings and your days will be joyous in the troubled world. Alleluia. I am your power.
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December 20, 1993, 2:40 a.m.
Title: Angels Will Read the Message
Jesus: Who will read the message? Angels will read the message. I will be by their side. I want the messages out. I want them out, I tell you. I want My people to hear all I am telling you. I want, not a few, but all to hear these words. They are private revelations given by Me to My people. The souls are, oh, so hungry for this one. They need to get these messages.
I am one crying in the desert. Make ready the way of the Lord. Prepare ye a path for the Master. He comes as a child in a stable. His people are asleep. Where are they and what are they doing with their busy lives? The angels will read the messages. They will rock the heavens and all will know My love and My might. From the housetops, shout this. Proclaim, "The day of the Lord is approaching. Make ready a path for Him." Will you comply with this demand to deliver a message to My people?
Time, child, is so short. You must ready all with My words of love. They are half asleep and dazed. They walk this earth with blinders on their eyes. My day will rock them off their rockers and they will know it is I with Whom they deal. No mistake will be made as to what is happening. All will see My power and My might. From the heavens shall come a sign and all will know from whence it comes. And the days that follow will be days to prepare men's hearts for My coming. I will not come unannounced. I will come with My power and My might and you will know what you will behold. Men will turn their hearts to Me with these messages. Get them out, I tell you, for their need is very great. I am patient and yet I am demanding. Ready yourself for this day of the Lord. I come as a baby into your midst, the angels sing, the choirs of heaven rejoice and you will know soon that I am very close to you all. Indeed you will know!
What awaits those in their feeble hearts! They run after such useless things when I, God, am talking in these letters. They think their world is their end. What an awakening they will have-a wide awakening!
I knock to make ready for My coming. You hear Me knock on your door in the night. Make ready this path so My people will read these letters of love. I am mighty and worthy of such praise. My people must realize My love in My intense might. What sign do you need? Do you think these messages were for your ears alone? Such power and wisdom in Rita's purse? This is not the idea. They are for all! My ease goes with you in all your undertakings to get these messages out.
Slow, too slow, I tell you. Shout My message from the housetops, that I am Lord and I am coming in your midst as a baby, but, with such might! My time is at hand. You tarry too long, My little ones. Time you do not have. This world is crazy! People are so busy at the malls. Oh, what foolish ones. I come as a baby into your midst. This is My birthday and whom do you worship? You worship idols! It is all such a sick world. Make ready My path, My little ones. Time is so short and you must not tarry any longer for into your hands I place My words for the world. They are mighty, little ones. Read them! What do you do with these words? Do you want proof? Look at Me hanging on the cross. It is out of this love of you I died a brutal death! Do you think I would not go to this extent to save the souls of My loved ones? Why would I come to this earth, give My life for all My beautiful creatures, and then, at this stage of the game, not send some mighty medicine to cure My sick little ones? You possess the mighty medicine. I mixed it with such love and I hand-deliver each message to shake My people to My love. The heavens will rock and the Son of Man will appear on a cloud and the glory of the Lord will be shown on high!
Get busy, you little people. The angels declare My words are given here. This is My gift to My people-distinct, clear letters pro claiming My love. Are you listening? Do you think I would not try everything to save My beloved ones?
Oh, I will go to any extent to save these little ones, so ornery and so stupid in their ways, so sinful in this evil world, but so precious to Me. I will come in My glory and I want every last soul.
I am God. Why would I not speak to you? I wait for you. I wait, I wait, but you are all so blind and dense. What you do is so silly. Your ways here have become sick and your hearts have become hard. But shout it from the housetops! I loved you to My death! I love you all in your sickness. I want you united under the mantle of My mother, praying and honoring God.
America, turn yourselves around before it is too late. Come and heed My harkening. Come, come, My children. Time is so short and a lot of mending must be done in your hearts. You have hardened them and now they must come back to life. Only I can give you this life in your hearts.
Heed My words here. I am gentle and kind in heart. My heart is a heart of love. I have hand-delivered these messages to My people and you are My delivery boys. Get them going, little ones. You tarry too much.
My gift to My people is My love this Christmas. I am showering all at this Center with grace this season. The devotion there pleases Me, but more must flock and they will be changed from hardened hearts to hearts for God. I am God, little ones. I came and I died a brutal death. I am calling to you all to deliver this now. Make this your top priority so they will hear My message of love and know the love I have for them. Do not tarry. Do this today, little ones.
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February 23, 1994, 5:30 a.m.
Title: A City on a Hill Shines to the World
Jesus: I am the light of the world. A city on a hill will shine to the world. You at the Center will be this city when you are filled to the brim with the love of Jesus. What power, what might, to have each person a personal spouse of Jesus Christ! This is the light to the darkened world. The love of Jesus radiates from the very being of those who love Him. What light when all together are lifted by His love abounding deep within their breasts!
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. My life is the life inside that cannot be contained. It is bursting and budding forth. My life is the real life. To possess the life of Christ within your breast! Such power! I am the city set on a hill that will stand united and shine to this world. You at this Center will be this city. You will be the true Center that places the mark on this world.
The love of Christ, abounding deep within the breasts of all, will be the power and the might. Pray the Prayer for Union with Jesus. I will operate in the hearts of all there and minister to My sick world. I am the Heart of Jesus. I am on fire with love of each and every soul. When My love is found in all the hearts there, the light of God will shine to this world!
You are the city, set on a hill, that shines to the darkened world. I will light the world with the love of Jesus that shines in the hearts of those who are fed there. My light is so bright. My power is endless. You are the light to the dark world. You contain the mighty medicine to bring My sick ones to Me. You will bring so many back to Me and My intense love, burning so brightly for all!
I am the power. I am the might. He who abides in Me will have the light of life. I give Myself to you that you will live. You will radiate My presence from your very being. My light is the brightest light. I will live in the hearts of all who come to you for their feeding. Enkindle in them the love for My most Sacred Heart. It is on fire for love of you. It cannot be contained. It will live in all hearts who come to you to be fed.
You are the key to enkindle this burning love of Jesus in the hearts of so many. Many will know Jesus through your love of Me. Read these letters every day for I am truly speaking to you here. I love each child so dearly and want to have an intimate union with that child. Teach all about the burning love of Jesus. Read My messages with your heart on fire so you can tell all of My ardent love for them.
I long to be close to them. I am a person. I am God, on fire for love of My people. Bring all to the ardent love of Jesus. Mary is by My side constantly. Where I am, she is there. She wants all to be led to My ardent, longing love. Teach all about My love. Fill them so they are overflowing in their hearts. This is the mighty medicine. It is My letter of intense, ardent love for My people.
I am truly here, little ones. I am Jesus, Son of the Living God. I will live strongly in the hearts of all who come to you. You will be the key. Focus on your intense love of Me. Read My letters as a cookbook for intimacy with Me. My love waits for each person and I tell you here how to be close to Me. I am the Sacred Heart of Jesus on fire for love of you. I am longing for you to come and be with Me in silence. I will give you all you need.
I am the Alpha. I am the Omega. I am your all. I am God, one, true and magnificent, and I come to you with ardent love in Holy Communion and in the tabernacle. I am present, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. I am waiting. Our love affair waits and it depends on you. I am there and I am waiting. You keep us apart.
Tell them how I long for them and have all they need. The love of Christ will light their city. You will stand as the lighted city in darkness. My love will be that by which you light this dark world. Oh, such power, such might! The love of God will reign in the hearts of all you touch. You are My vessel to draw this world to the love of Jesus.
Read and study My letters and be taught about My ardent love. I am Jesus Christ and I am teaching you about My love on fire for all. Come and be powered by the hand of God. My love will rock the world off its rocker when it reigns in the hearts of those who come to you. I love you so! You are My beloved. I will use you to light My dark world. You will shine as candles in the darkest night and you will be the instruments I use to light their wicks. I am God and I love them so dearly!
This is My love for all. Power and might will shine forth on the land. I am the brightest light. Look into the light for the light. Look into the arms of Jesus. I will light this world through you. Alleluia. And the angels sang and the choirs of heaven were heard for the earth proclaimed the Love of Jesus. Alleluia.
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February 23, 1994
Title: I Died For You
Jesus: I am God. I am God. I died. Spread My love now! Now! Now! Now! Now! I am begging you not to hold back! Read these letters now, read and learn about My love. I beckon you to speak of My love. Shout it from the high roof. Proclaim it in the cities. Jesus Christ died for love of you and He is risen! I am He Who is God and I died for you!
Listen and preach My love and emotion here. Priests will create little cities, little cities in each church to spread the light of Christ to this sick world. Each priest can create his own little city, a powerhouse of God's love. God has all the power. His power is endless. It never runs out. It is might. You have no power except through Him. Churches filled with the intimate love of Jesus will be powerhouses.
I am God, My little ones. God can do all things. I can make your cities light up the darkness. I am the Way, the Truth, the Life. I am the light of life. I am God! I can do all things. I want to act in you. You need to be in constant union with Me. My priests, you need to be selfless. My soul and yours are one. I want to act in you.
Hold not back. Pray the Prayer for Union with Me.
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March 1, 1994, 3:57a.m.
Title: I Wake You, Knocking
Note: I was awakened by noise that sounded like soft knocking. It continued until I got up.
Jesus: I am Jesus, little one. I have awakened you to deliver this message. Your days seem to go by so swiftly and you feel as though you do not get anything accomplished. You are feeling as if you follow yourself around. This is all the frustration of this end time. It seems that you and the world are totally disconnected. It seems as if you are compelled to do only My work.
When you pray the Prayer for Union with Jesus, I act through you as I desire. Your days are moving so swiftly and you are compelled to live only for the love of Me.
What else can you do and know Me as you do? You are following My way. I need you at this very moment to act for Me. Tell all to come and be with Me and pray the prayer for union with Me. I want to use each person to do My work. You are in a state of action. Things need to get done. All need to know My intimate love and know I am truly alive and dwelling in your midst. Listen to My commands to do My will.
You passed your test today. Do as I command even when you do not want to. I need your strict obedience. I will continue to prompt you and I need you to obey immediately. Do not tarry when I give you a command. All I tell you to do is crucial to My work. I am teaching you strict obedience. It is by your obedience, and the obedience of all who are fixed to Me, that My work will be done.
I come, I knock. I want these messages out, and now. Time is short. Do not tarry. I am giving you the mighty medicine. I do not care how, but I want My letters read by all. Do not spare the cost. Pass them out at the Center. The people there are My soldiers. I need them in a state of readiness to do all I command. You must obey everything I tell you. The senseless things I commanded you to do this day are not senseless. They are part of My plan.
My intimate love and the fire of My love, the union I have with each person at the Center, will light the dark world. They need to have their arms to fight the battle that is coming. Your arms are hearts filled with My love. This is only obtained from Me after Communion and in front of the tabernacle. Each person has an important role to play. Each person is a mighty force when that person is equipped with My love. Each person will be called to strict obedience. Preach doing My will.
These messages are My calls to action. I want all to respond with action. They need to be called to union with Me and compliance with My will. All need to be involved in the work at hand. Circulate My messages. They need My messages. I am talking to them personally in these messages.
My time is short. Each day lost is a large amount of time. I wake you, knocking, so you will do as I tell you here. Do not question. I want My messages out. This is the mighty medicine. You are the dispensers.
I am Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God. I am here to call all to a state of action, so sit up in your seats and focus entirely on Me and My work here. I am telling you all you need to know. These letters will change men's hearts. You must get these letters into the hands of the beloved ones.
I want union with Me. This is the force that will fight the cold war. This is what will change the hardened hearts.
Preach the love of Jesus to your flock. They will carry the light to the world. Their hearts will shine the brightest light in the darkness. This light is powered by My intense love enkindled in their hearts when they are busy about their union with Me.
I need all selfless and unattached to this world and totally in love with My Sacred Heart. My heart is the power you plug into when you come to Me. I have all the power. I am the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I am on fire for love of you. My love affair waits for My beloved. You hold the key to unlock this source of power. Preach about My love. Tell them about doing My will. Tell them about listening in the silence to My promptings in their hearts. Listen to all I tell you in the silence. Develop an intense love affair with the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
I am calling you to action and only I have your supplies. You are My soldiers in a cold war. Your supplies are your hearts, powered by My love. You must come and sit with Me to be charged. Sit in silence and read My letters of love in front of the tabernacle. I am the Almighty God. I have all you need. Come to Me and I will make you fishers of men. I will weave a blanket with all My beloved ones to cover the cold, scared earth.
My Sacred Heart is on fire with power and love. Nothing compares to the power of Jesus. I am God. I am mighty. I have all you need. Come and receive your supplies. So simple, you say? I, God, can say in a few words what others cannot say in volumes. I can do in a second what you cannot do in years. I am the Almighty God. When you stay fixed in Me, you have all the answers. Plug into My Sacred Heart. Come to Me for your power and your love.
I am alive this very day and I am in your midst. You tarry too long. You wander down roads and look for more answers when I am God and I am speaking to you here and now. I know all things. I give you all you need. Your answers are found in the quiet moments in front of the tabernacle and after Communion.
I am the Lord your God. I gave My life for love of you. All I give you is out of greatest love from Him Who laid down His life for love of You. If you come to Me, I give You this same love this very day! My heart is on fire with love of you. Come and let Me fill you. You will be powered by the mightiest force and your light will shine the brightest, for I am the Lord, God.
Why do you go to a barren desert when I give you all you need? Why search after idle pursuits when I, God, talk to you? Do you not trust that I have all the power? Do you think that I, God, need your help? I am the same Jesus Who came to earth and gave My life for you. What makes you think I would not send you letters this very day? If I, God, came and was born a human being for great love of you, do you not think I would send you a mighty medicine to heal My sick ones?
I am Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God. I live this day. I am in your midst. I died a brutal death and I come to you. I am Almighty. I can do all things and I am here, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, in Communion. What more could heal you than the Body of Christ in your breast? I, God, come to you present in Holy Communion! I am God and I come to you and you run from My church to do what? I am so upset for the indifference for Communion.
You are receiving Jesus, the Son of God, and that where I am, so is God, for we are Three-in-One, and where Jesus is, so is Mary-and you leave with your rattling tongues when I, the Divine Healer, come to you? God comes to you. God sits in the tabernacle and waits for you. Jesus, Who died a brutal death for love of you, sits in the tabernacle and waits for you and He sits all alone. I have all you need. I am God. I am almighty. I have all the power. You search endless paths. You look for answers from people who know no more than you, while I, God, wait with all the power and might!
So simple, so simple! You are making it all so hard. My love affair waits for you. That is all you need. I have all the power. Come to Me and be filled with everything! I am Jesus, Son of God. I come and dwell in your hearts in Communion and you run away when God is in your breasts. You are willful. You want to do things your way. You do not want to surrender. You think you have to be busy about your tasks. You want to do it your way, in your time. You want to think and deliberate. You want what you want.
I am God. I am telling you where all your answers are. They are found from God. Your vision is so limited. I know all things. I come, I dwell in your midst. You receive Me, God, in Communion and you wander around like blind men!
Come to God. I have all the power. I have the brightest light to light your path. You want to do it yourself. You do not know the ways of God. When you do it, you do it. When I do it, I am God and it is a success! Your job is to enkindle a strong love affair with Me and operate from what I prompt you to do. Such insights I give you. You will never figure them out without Me. Come to Me, My little ones. I furnish your starved souls. I give you all the insights you need. Pray to the Holy Spirit daily for His gifts. Pray the Our Father. Come to Jesus in Communion. Here is the powerhouse.
It all comes down to one thing, union with Jesus, love from the heart. Action, love, an ardent, on-fire, love affair with Jesus, the Son of God, your bridegroom, awaits and you keep us apart. Come and get your supplies. You are going into war without your ammunition if you do not come to Me. You are at war in this world and your arms are hearts filled with My love.
Surrender your willful ways and heed My direction here. Become selfless, trust in Me and obey My commands to let go. Be with Me after Communion and in front of the tabernacle. Not five minutes, for I give you 24 hours each day, but will you not sit one hour with Me? Be silent. Read My messages part of the time. I am speaking to you! Such power in front of the tabernacle! Carry My picture in your pocket. I am your lover. Look at Me. Your lover waits. Look at the picture during the day. Stay in constant union with Me. Pray the prayer for union with Jesus. I love you.
You hold the key to opening men's hearts to My love. Will you comply with My message here? Read each message and be busy about our love affair. I love you so much. You have pleased Me to speak of My love. I am your loving Jesus and My heart is on fire for love of You!
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Chapter 16
Songs from Jesus
The Rosary Song
A Song from Jesus
I Love You Jesus
Little Child
Teach Me to Love With Your Heart
God's Love
I Am Your Sacred Heart
See the Eyes That Look At Mary
Little Baby Hands and Feet
Come to My Heart
Your Presence Pervades My Soul
Glory, Glory, Glory Lord
My Open Heart
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About the Songs
Jesus has written these love songs to you.
On January 26, 1994, Jesus said, "When you live in Me, your life is a song and you play for the world the song of Jesus." (God's Blue Book, Volume II).
More than nine months later, He gave me A Song from Jesus.
On October 7, 1994, Jesus told me to write a song to be sung after Communion for a Mass at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center on October 8, 1994. I told Him I couldn't write music. He said, "You will not do it, I will." My daughter and I sat at the piano bench and in five minutes Jesus gave me the words and music to A Song from Jesus. This is His love song to you.
In early October, 1994, after Communion, I felt very close to Jesus and went to the Adoration Chapel at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center. Jesus was exposed in the monstrance. He told me to write this love song to Him. In fifteen minutes, without a piano, in the silence of the chapel, I wrote the words and the music in my notebook. Later I played the song on the piano-it was so beautiful! This is the love song He wants us to sing to Him, I Love You, Jesus.
One night at 10:30 P.M. I was feeling very sad and Jesus told me to go to the piano and write a song. He gave me the song, Little Child.
These are love songs from Jesus to us. He wants us to sing them and to hear Him sing them to us. Singing all through the day love songs to Jesus will keep Him in our hearts. When negative thoughts come into our mind, Jesus wants us to sing these love songs. This will keep us connected to the Heart of Jesus. Let us discipline our thoughts by praying the rosary, meditating on the lives of Jesus and Mary, and singing love songs to Jesus. Please circulate these songs to all: to the children, to the elderly, to all His souls.
Songs published in this book are also available on tape from Shepherds of Christ Ministries. Audio and video recordings (and selected messages) available from the Shepherds of Christ Ministries.
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Chapter 17
Jesus' Urgent Messages
May 25, 1995 - I Am Alive!
June 26, 1995 - The Pain
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May 25, 1995
I Am Alive!
R: Prayer is a lifting up of our minds and hearts to God. Who am I that I can change any event that is occurring in the lives of another, that I can affect the outcome of any event? I am a child of my Father. My Father is the Almighty God. How I love my dear Father. He is God and He has created me in His own image and likeness. My beloved, dear Father, how I love You that You give me such gifts - that You allow me to share in Your life!
You are the Father of Jesus and You are My Father. Thank You, My Father, for all Your gifts and for Your life. Who am I that I can affect the life of any person?
I am a child of God. I call on my dear Father and He loves me so, He listens to me. I lift my heart to You, my dear beloved Father and You listen to little me and You care for me so much. I call upon God and the Almighty God cares for me with such love that He listens.
Jesus: Such truths have been given to you from My Father because of His great love for you. You are far more precious than the finest pearls, My beloved child. The Father so loved you He gave His Son so that you would have life. He gave His Son as a sacrifice for you. The Father gives to you His life through Jesus, His Son. You partake in His divine life.
I am Jesus, Son of the Living God. My life I give to you, I live in your being, My beloved, I impart to you My divine life.
How many turn their backs on the great gift of this life given from the Father. To know this life and to know all those who have rejected this great gift!
I am the Almighty God, My power is endless. The power and might you felt within yourself is only a small sampling of My immense power.
I am God and I am allowing you to experience what you are experiencing to spread My love to others. Your immense understanding into these mysteries will help you speak and write them for others.
I have chosen you as an instrument to touch many hearts and bring them to My divine love. Great gifts and understandings into these mysteries I am giving to you. You will lead many priests to the love of God.
I am alive. I am God. I long to be loved by man and many have turned
their backs on Me and forgotten Me. You must tell them all I am allowing you to experience, these sufferings and understandings into My deep love.
This is the beginning of many days when I will allow you to experience the rejection I felt from those I loved. Your heart is in immense pain for the souls who reject Me despite My love for them.
I beg you to speak and write. Make reparation for souls that have forgotten My love. Spread the love of My Sacred Heart and My Mother's heart, throughout the world.
I love, I love, I love My beloved souls. I beg you to tell them. I beg Fr. Carter to tell every soul on this earth of My love. You will continue to suffer such pain and anguish in your heart. Suffer in silence for souls. I love so deeply and am so gravelly offended!
I am Jesus, My dear, little child. I am alive and in this world. I live in the hearts of men, I live in the consecrated Host, I am forgotten and ignored and treated with such dishonor.
Speak for Me, I beg you to spread this love throughout this earth. I am sending you as missionaries into this world.
On this Ascension Thursday, I have given you great sufferings and great joy. I have allowed you to experience the highest ecstasies in My love and plunge you into deep pain in your heart for those who reject Me.
You, I send as missionaries to carry out the work I have begun. Be fearless and pray to the Spirit. This day I am giving you abundant graces to speak, and through this speaking, others are sent into this world as My apostles.
It is through the Shepherds of Christ Movement My love will be spread. Circulate My messages and rosary meditations. The love of the two Hearts will be known throughout this world through these messages and rosary meditations.
You will be fearless, everyone I send to you is a messenger to carry out My love. Circulate these letters with FIRE for I am delivering them to you in FIRE.
I am Jesus Christ, the Living God. I am allowing you to experience My life, alive in you and giving you these emotions to spread My love.
On this Ascension Thursday, I beg you to carry out the message to this world. Live My life in your life, every moment My life living within you.
I am the Way, I am the Truth, I am the Life. I have commissioned you to go out and to carry this message - the message of My immense love for ALL mankind, including My burning love for My priests and religious. Souls will turn their hearts to Me from these letters. This is the mighty medicine to turn a sick, cold world to hearts filled with the love of God.
Prayer, My beloved ones, is the lifting up of your minds and hearts to God. When you intercede to Me through My Mother's heart, I will pour out My greatest mercy.
I will not refuse hearts begging for grace for their loved ones. Pray from your whole being. Let My life live in you.
You can pray and ask God to send help. You do not know the power of a heartfelt prayer. I listen to your prayers. The Father and Holy Spirit are listening to your prayers. The more you unite with God, the greater you intercessory prayer. I am Jesus. I am alive this day. I ask you to spread My messages to the world. I am crying out in your heart on this Ascension Thursday. I ascended into heaven and I have left behind you to carry out what I began. I am with you. I am alive this day. I will unite
with you and the earth will know the power of the Almighty God. I am Jesus Christ, Chief Shepherd of the flock. Lead My little ones home - home to the burning members of My Most Sacred Heart, through My Mother's heart.
R: I cried so hard, I have never been so immersed in heartache. I heard Him shout, "I Am Alive, I Am Alive." I cried so hard, I could hardly write.
I know Him. He is alive in my being. My soul is filled with His love. I live the life of Jesus and Mary in my life. I love His life, her life - their presence forever with me. From this great gift, these rosary meditations, His life has become one with mine. I feel His life in the Mass. I hear Mary under the cross. I hear the cries for the souls going to hell for their willfulness and sins. I hear the laments of Jesus in the tabernacle - how He longs and thirsts for souls and is neglected and ignored. I hear Him tell of the sacrileges committed against the Holy Eucharist.
I heard Him this day. I felt His presence and the presence of the Almighty God as He cries out, "I am alive, I am alive, I am alive."
He is alive. We have the Mass. He gives us Himself in the Eucharist. Mary is appearing, we are given this rosary. We are sent as soldiers by Him in the Shepherds of Christ. We are thirsting for union with Him, sent by Him, apostles to go out to this world and spread His love, one with the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, one with the Trinity. He will light this earth with hearts on fire for love of Him.
I come to you with greatest love, I am your loving Savior, I am your God, I died for you, I come to you this day.
The earth shakes and the Son of Man appears. He lives in the hearts of all. I want hearts on FIRE for love of Me. I want vibrancy and love from My beloved ones. Hold not back My love from this world.
I adore you, Oh Lord, I praise you, I worship you, I bless Him with
my whole soul. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and holy, holy is His name! Jesus wants souls that are holy, on fire with the love of Jesus. Make novenas to the Holy Spirit to have hearts on FIRE with the love of God. Sound the trumpet, sound the gong - Jesus LIVES - He lives this day! Alleluia.
Sunday is a special day to praise Him, to love Him, to pray to Him - His day to be honored and worshipped in a special way. Pray from a pure and holy heart, a heart that sings for love of the Lord. Pray from your whole being.
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June 26, 1995
The Pain - Naples, Florida
R: He spread His arms, He gave His all, Jesus, the Son of God, the greatest sacrifice, He gave Himself entirely for the good of all men. He opened His arms, He died on the cross.
His arms were covered with blood, His arms so weak and filled with pain, wounded. His arms, the pain shot up His arms and the final blow to each arm a nail through each precious hand.
All the agony He experienced, all the pain, and the crown, to each arm, a nail hammered into the hand.
All the nerves cut and severed by the nail, the pain shooting up His precious arms, the final blow given to His most precious members.
The legs that carried Him, that carried the heavy cross, the legs that were forced and cajoled, that continues to Calvary - the legs weakened, skinned, bleeding, beaten, burned, the legs that knew patience and perseverance, the legs connected to a sore foot that was rubbed and gashed and bleeding, the members of Jesus, filled with such pain and exhaustion, now is crowned with the final glory. The nail that was driven into the foot, the pain shot up this already weakened leg, covered with blood and wounds and pain, the final blow, the nerves severed by the hammered nail.
A blow to each hand, a blow to each foot, a blow to the head, a stamping that pressed down and continued in excruciating pain.
Jesus: They numbered all My bones. They gave Me vinegar and gall to drink. They gave Me a cloth to wipe My blood-covered flesh.
What did they give to Me? Love is giving, My dear ones. How many of you are wounded when you are not given things by your brothers you love?
My members were in such pain, the pain shot up My arms. My legs were so weak I could scarce move them. I was filled with pain within them.
To all who watched, they saw a man, weakened and covered with blood and wounds. They did not see the pain inside that shot up My legs and arms, the nerves inside My body that sent signals of deep pain to My central nervous system. They did not see the nerves inside sending pain signals everywhere.
The final blow being to each hand and foot, the severing of My nerves by the blunt and rusted nails.
An arm extended. A final blow. I beheld a nail pounded into My hand and the pain shot up My arms, unbearable to a human mind.
Do you know of the pain within My body? Signals sending messages of deep pain everywhere. I knew all of these sufferings in the garden. So great were the sufferings to My mind, I sweat blood.
My flesh was covered with wounds. My arms were stretched from their sockets. My body was beaten and bleeding, every inch of My body covered with deep wounds. But, My loved ones, you miss the depth of My love. My wounds were so deep, but the final wound, the pounding of the nails in My hands and feet, a severing of the nerves, an ending of the deepest pain, to experience even deeper pain, beyond your human comprehension, it was done to the Almighty God, a Divine Person, I suffered the final blow to each member.
The pounding in the hands and feet, the crown to each member, and they numbered all My bones. My nerves a network of pain running throughout My entire body.
The pain within the body, the pain recorded in My loving head, the pain sent by a network of nerves in My body, now records the final blows, the nails in the hands and feet, the pain being recorded from every thorn that pierced My skull, every gash to My body, the pain, the pain, the pain - a network of signals and pain, running through My body and the final hour, the pains recorded on the cross, arms outstretched - a surrendering to all pain. I surrendered to a body laden with pain.
You focus on your little problems, your little aches and pains. You discuss them and show the world your pin pricks and sufferings.
Do you want to know holiness and love? They gave Me vinegar mixed with gall. This was their offering. They gave Me a cross. They crowned My head with a crown of thorns.
This, My dear ones, is suffering, My beloved souls, I gave My life for and this is their return.
A severing of My nerves, the final blows to all the aches and pains recorded in My nervous system. This was one of the final blows - the rusted nails pounded into My hands.
You will feel little aches and pains in your hands and feet to remind you of this message. Your understanding of the immense pain within will deepen. What was visible to the eye on My battered body was nothing compared to the pains within. I gave My all. I gave My insides, My mind, My Heart, wounded for the love of men.
All functions in the body were stopped.
The final curtain, blood and water pouring out from My Heart, show that all functions of the body had ended.
R: All signals that carried messages of immense pain had ended, the final act of surrender for God to die to this human body and surrender His flesh.
Jesus: And end, a beginning, the water and blood flowed from My Heart, the beginning of My life in the Church, life flowing into your spirit.
R: Come give me life, abundant life. I thirst to be with Thee.
Jesus: My blood was spent. My human flesh and blood offered as the sacrifice, the sacrifice of Calvary is now made present at every Mass.
An end, a beginning, and the grace and life flow through the sacraments in the Church. My life flows to you in the Mass. Mary, the Mediatrix of all grace, stands by the side of the altar and the grace flows from the Father, through My body offered up as a sacrifice in the Holy Spirit, given through the Mothership of Mary to you in the Church.
You stand under the cross with My Mother and you receive the gift given, My Body, My Blood.
R: Man is reconciled with the Father through the Divine Person, Jesus Christ, and you receive His life poured out to you as Calvary is made present in the unbloody sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Do you feel the graces poured out to you at this sacrifice of the Son of God at every Mass? Do you feel the presence of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and Mary, all the angels and saints, and the souls in purgatory? Do you feel united as one at the sacrifice of Calvary sacramentally made present upon the altar through the priest? The priest who now puts on Christ and through Him the dispenser of this life given to man.
Jesus: Oh, My beloved ones, love so dearly your priest. Give him such reverence. He is the chosen instrument of God and you treat him with such ordinariness. You are so blind and so dumb in your ways.
And they numbered all My bones. Each nerve carrying a message of My love of mankind, each member in My Church carrying a special message, all united as one working in harmony according to the Father's will, each carrying a message of love to one another.
The body is many members, you are the messengers of My love. Christ is the head. The message does not flow as it should when some are cut off from the Head.
They nailed My hands and feet and My nerves were severed by the nails, such pain, undescribable in words, the severing of My nerves from the body, the severing of many members from the body of Christ.
My Body given for all on the cross, the network of nerves within carrying the messages of My love to all mankind. My body covered on the outside with blood and wounded, the pain recorded within.
Your Church, covered with blood on the outside, the slaughter of innocent babies, the homosexuality, the sins of the flesh, the members that have severed themselves from the source by their sins, but the pain is carried in the nerves inside. The blood of the Lamb shed for each and every soul, the real pain carried within. The life is weakened in your Church because the love of God is so weak in many members. The messages of love are not being transmitted as they should be. Your body shows the wounds, but your pain within is the root of the problems. The pain is from the messages of love that are not being transmitted.
Unless you seek to fill your priests and sisters with the fire of God's love, fill their hearts with burning love for God, your Church will continue to show the marks of the blood shed without. I give to you these letters as a mighty medicine for this world, directed to make men's hearts burn with love of God and love of one another. The rosaries are meditations and messages given from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
These messages will make men's hearts burn with fire for love of God.
You have ignored the importance of these letters.
I send to you the mighty medicine to heal a hurting world.
My priests and religious need these messages. The love of God will be transmitted to the Church from these messages when you circulate these letters.
The devil has blocked the minds of men involved in these messages because of their importance to the world and the Church.
I am speaking to you Fr. Carter to help to get these messages published and circulated as soon as possible. I give to you a mighty medicine for a sick world.
Read St. Thomas Aquinas about the medicine for the sick Church.
You know what these messages have done for you. I am Jesus. I give to you the mighty medicine for a sick world, for a sick Church, rosaries and letters from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Your Church shows the wounds of bloodshed, abortion, homosexuality, sins of the flesh, murder of little children's minds with sex education in Catholic schools and you hold back the gifts of God's love I am giving to the Church and this world.
My arms were weak and wounded but the final blow as the nail put in My hand. It severed the nerves.
The final blow is the bloodshed in the Church, the slaughtering of children's minds in Catholic schools. My children are pure and innocent. They are not being taught messages of God's love, they are being taught messages of sick sex and coldness.
Men's hearts have turned cold. They have been severed from the life of the body. The body is decaying from within. Only with the love of God enkindled in men's hearts will this bloodshed stop.
I beg you to publish and circulate these messages in the Church. I am Jesus. I am giving you the mighty medicine for the world. Your body wears the marks of the bloodshed, only with messages of My on-fire love will it stop.
Mary leads you to Jesus. Never is she the end. The Father has a plan. Mary's messages have led men and will lead men to Jesus. Satan has tried to stop all efforts to publish and circulate these messages. I am the Almighty God. The funds will come when you circulate and publish these messages and rosaries under the Shepherds of Christ Publishing. I am working with Fr. Carter and Rita as messenger to renew the Church and the world. Each messenger has a very vital role in the Father's plan. The significance of these messages are being overlooked. You are not studying the messages as a whole and their content. There are five unpublished Blue Books and more than four Rosary Books which I and My Mother have given to this world in the last 14 months. I have also given 15 songs of My love. I am begging you to see to the recording and publishing of this music. I beg you to listen. This is the mighty medicine for the Church and the world to draw men to the burning love of Jesus. Please harken to My call. I will send you the money. You must study and read these messages. This is a fulfillment of Fatima - these messages were given to bring priests to the burning love of Jesus. I am Jesus, your beloved Savior.
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Notes:
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Audio/Video Tape Description
Audio
Video
| V1. | Talk given by Fr. Edward J. Carter S. J. at Denver,
Colorado, January 4, 1996 This talk, given by Fr. Carter, is about the Fatima message and it's connection to the Shepherds of Christ Movement. He talks about consecrating our hearts to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and having a close union with Jesus. |
| V2. | Messages from Jesus, An Interview with Rita Ring
4/17/94 Rita sings songs and reads messages. The messages are message from God's Blue Book - vol. 1. They are messages about Jesus' love for us. They are messages about visiting Jesus in the tabernacle. Rita talks about how she started to receive messages. |
| V3. | A Mist Around Mary, September 5, 1995 Mary appeared almost everyday from July 5, 1994 until September 5, 1995 at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center. A video taken at the last rosary revealed a pink mist over the statue during key meditations of the rosary. This video is part of a live rosary. A live rosary is a rosary in which Rita Ring receives messages directly from Jesus and Mary. Most rosaries last about one hour. They are taped and these meditations and messages are transcribed from this tape. Mary has requested that we circulate this video of the mist and the messages given. These messages are the messages Jesus and Mary want you to hear. An audio tape is available on dated October 1, 1995. |
| V4. | Mary's Message and Witnesses given in Clearwater, Florida |
Shepherds of Christ Ministries is a non-profit, charitable, religious organization. We operate on donations. Jesus and Mary have asked you, if possible, to help us to spread these messages to the world. They have told us that if we circulate these messages, the funds will come. Thank you for helping us spread Jesus' and Mary's messages.
Tax deductible donations may be sent to:
Shepherds of Christ Ministries
P.O. Box 193
Morrow, OH 45152-0193
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
(To be recited daily at the end of the day)
O God, on behalf of Shepherds of Christ Ministries and Our Lady of Light Ministry, we offer up these prayers of thanksgiving:
Thank You Father for Your love, patience, and understanding. We know we are not worthy of such gifts, but that You give them anyway - because of Your great love for souls.
Thank You Jesus for the many gifts and graces You give us as members of Your Movement - Shepherds of Christ. We offer You our love and gratitude through Your Mother's Immaculate Heart.
Thank You Holy Spirit for Your special gifts. Please inspire us to be grateful for what we have been given. Please help us to give ourselves in love to You and all we meet.
Thank You Holy Trinity for Your boundless love and mercy. Please help us to nurture Your presence within us. Help us to be obedient to Your commands and give all the glory to You - Our loving God. We especially thank You for the gift of our Heavenly Mother, Mary.
Thank you Mary for your example while on earth, and for your constant intercession today. Please help us to grow in holiness and put into action all that your Son Jesus asks of us.
We thank St. Michael and the Holy Angels for their prayers, help, and protection. Finally, we thank the saints in heaven and the souls in purgatory for their prayers. We ask them to unite with us in giving thanks and praise to the most Holy Trinity - Our Heavenly Father, Our Lord Jesus, and our Comforter- the Holy Spirit.
We love You! We love You! We love You! Amen.
Prayer Before the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass*
Let me be a holy sacrifice and unite with God in the sacrament of His greatest love. I want to be one in Him in this act of love, where He gives Himself to me and I give myself as a sacrifice to Him. Let me be a holy sacrifice as I become one with Him in this my act of greatest love to Him.
Let me unite with Him more, that I may more deeply love Him. May I help make reparation to His adorable Heart and the heart of His Mother, Mary. With greatest love, I offer myself to You and pray that You will accept my sacrifice of greatest love. I give myself to You and unite in Your gift of Yourself to me. Come and possess my soul.
Cleanse me, strengthen me, heal me. Dear Holy Spirit act in the heart of Mary to make me more and more like Jesus.
Father, I offer this my sacrifice, myself united to Jesus in the Holy Spirit to You. Help me to love God more deeply in this act of my greatest love.
Give me the grace to grow in my knowledge, love and service of You and for this to be my greatest participation in the Mass. Give me the greatest graces to love You so deeply in this Mass, You who are so worthy of my love.
-God's Blue Book, December 27, 1995
*Imprimatur: Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel
Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
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First Printing: August, 1997
