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June 15, 2010

June 16th Holy Spirit Novena
Scripture selection is Day 8 Period I.

The Novena Rosary Mysteries  
for June 16th are Luminous.

       

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Given June 10, 2010
 

 
Today is the anniversary of Fr. Carter's ordination.

 

   

        June 10, 2010

        Today's Readings

1 Kings 18: 41-46

Elijah said to Ahab, 'Go back now, eat and drink; for I hear the approaching sound of rain.' While Ahab went back to eat and drink, Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel and bowed down to the ground, putting his face between his knees. 'Now go up', he told his servant, 'and look out to sea.' He went up and looked. 'There is nothing at all,' he said. Seven times Elijah told him to go back. The seventh time, the servant said, 'Now there is a cloud, small as a man's hand, rising from the sea.' Elijah said, 'Go and say to Ahab, "Harness the chariot and go down before the rain stops you." ' And with that the sky grew dark with cloud and storm, and rain fell in torrents. Ahab mounted his chariot and made for Jezreel. But the hand of Yahweh had come on Elijah and, hitching up his clothes, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

 

Matthew 5: 20-26

‘For I tell you, if your uprightness does not surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of Heaven.

    ‘You have heard how it was said to our ancestors, You shall not kill; and if anyone  does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you, anyone who is  angry with a brother will answer for it before the court; anyone who calls a brother "Fool"  will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and anyone who calls him "Traitor" will answer for it in hell fire. So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. In truth I tell you, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.

     

                Sins we commit are really against us —

                What have we done to offend God —
                by not using His love and His grace
                    to return to God the love He
                    has showed to us

                Help us to have love and compassion
                    to others —

                How can we say we love God whom
                    we do not see when we don't
                    love our brothers who we see —

                If we are unloving we are not like God —
                When we wish harm to another we are
                sinning — we can stop sinning —
                we have a free will —
                God gives us grace to do good if we
                    ask Him for it — we must cooperate
                    with the grace —
                We operate through Him, with Him
                    in Him

 

                When we are feeling hateful toward our
                    brothers it is wrong if we act on those feelings —

                We can develop vices, habits of acting
                    in hateful ways of wishing harm
                    toward others and even punishing
                    them, provoking them — trying to anger
                    another for our own bitter and revengeful
                    heart — We have a choice to stop
                    sinning and acting hatefully

                God tells us to love others and work with
                    others —
                    Example is the best teacher —
                    A parent, wishing well for their children —
                        should try to be pure in their actions —
                        being pure means — we want our
                        children to see how God wants
                        us to conduct ourselves likened to Him —

                We are accountable before others —

                A religious has a calling, especially from
                    God to show holiness to all others —
                    to be disciplined in controlling oneself
                    to be obedient, chaste, and live
                    according to God's will —

                It is scandalous for a religious to dress
                    as a religious and to be provoking —
                    revengeful, disobedient and other
                    even more serious sins —

                The sign of the religious clothing says:
                    I live for heaven —
                    I want to be a sign of goodness —
                    I am obedient, loving, chaste
                        and live without riches —
                        I live a life of prayer and serving
                        others for God's Kingdom —

                When one engages in sin, hatefulness
                    toward their brothers and are
                    not accountable for it —

                They become more and more blinded to
                    their sin and
                    their habits can be vices from
                    their actions —

                Where one loves and is hopeful
                    walking in faith — practice
                    the virtues of faith, hope and
                    love and live virtuously —
                    habits of loving
                    where one engaging in sin — has habits of hating —

                We are here to love

                Here is the greatest commandment —   

Matthew 22: 36-40

'Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?' Jesus said to him, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets too.'

 

                To have virtuous living
                    to prepare us for loving for eternity —

                The Sacred Heart —
   

                    is the Heart of pure and perfect love —

                Our mission in the Shepherds of Christ is
                    to help bring this Reign of Sacred Heart,
                    triumph of Mary's Heart

     

December 17, 1991

His Burning HeartPicture of Jesus' Heart on fire.

R. I was alone in All Saints Church after Mass and Communion, in front of the tabernacle, when I saw the Sacred Heart. It was red around the outside, then a layer of yellow and then the brightest light in the center. I felt heat and it looked like an open furnace.

    I thought about it all day and it instantly gave me peace and warmth in my heart. This is the purpose of these lettersto draw hearts to the ardent on-fire love of Jesus. I received the following message that day:

    "Open your heart to the fire of God's love. He is ablaze in your heart. He wants to dwell in you and love you and others through you. Love God, yourself and one another and experience the fire set aglow in your heart and experience the warmth of His love."

end of writing

 

                Mary appeared in Clearwater December 17, 1996
                    3 years later —

 

                 

                Jesus showed me His Heart December 17, 1991

                Mary appeared at Clearwater December 17, 1996

                The Two Hearts

 

Excerpt from the beginning of the October 13, 1996 Rosary

Jesus:
    I am calling you, My special apostles, to this farm on this day of October 13th, 1996. I will fill your hearts with the fire of My love, and the fire of this love will spread across the earth and many hearts will know My love and be touched through you. Open wide your heart during this rosary that I may speak to you and tell you of My burning love for you. I am giving to you an abundant sharing in My life. Open your heart. I am knocking at the door of your heart. You must not close your heart. Open wide that I can come in and fill you with My divine love.

end of excerpt

 

October 13, 1994

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.

   

 

Joyful Mysteries 

 

                Annunciation

                (1) Luke 1: 26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, you who enjoy God’s favour! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. And I tell you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.’ Mary said, ‘You see before you the Lord’s servant, let it happen to me as you have said.’ And the angel left her. 

                (2) From the Spirituality of Fatima

                    Lucia (now Sr. Lucia) describes the springtime apparition of the angel:

"My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You! I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You."

Then, rising he said: "Pray thus. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications." (3)

3. Louis Kondar, SVD, editor, Fatima in Lucia's Own Words (Fatima: Postulation Center, 1976), p.62. Distributed in the U.S.A. by the Ravengate Press, Cambridge, MA.
 

                (3) During the summer of 1916, the angel again appeared to the three visionaries. He said to them:

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. Bring peace to our country in this way.... I am the Guardian Angel of Portugal Accept and bear with submission all the sufferings the Lord will send you. (4)

4. Our Lady's Peace Plan, op cit., pp.1-2.

                (4) 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." (5)

    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." (6)

5. Our Lady's Peace Plan, op cit., p.2.  (The words in brackets are my own-added for clarification).
6. Fatima in Lucia's Own Words, op cit., pp.64-65.
  

 

                (5) Genesis Chapter 3

Now, the snake was the most subtle of all the wild animals that Yahweh God had made. It asked the woman, 'Did God really say you were not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?' The woman answered the snake, 'We may eat the fruit of the trees in the garden. But of the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, "You must not eat it, nor touch it, under pain of death." ' Then the snake said to the woman, 'No! You will not die! God knows in fact that the day you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, knowing good from evil.' The woman saw that the tree was good to eat and pleasing to the eye, and that it was enticing for the wisdom that it could give. So she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they realised that they were naked. So they sewed fig-leaves together to make themselves loin-cloths.

The man and his wife heard the sound of Yahweh God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from Yahweh God among the trees of the garden. But Yahweh God called to the man. 'Where are you?' he asked. 'I heard the sound of you in the garden,' he replied. 'I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.' 'Who told you that you were naked?' he asked. 'Have you been eating from the tree I forbade you to eat?' The man replied, 'It was the woman you put with me; she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.' Then Yahweh God said to the woman, 'Why did you do that?' The woman replied, 'The snake tempted me and I ate.'

Then Yahweh God said to the snake, 'Because you have done this,

    Accursed be you
    of all animals wild and tame!
    On your belly you will go
    and on dust you will feed
    as long as you live.
    I shall put enmity
    between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and hers;
    it will bruise your head
    and you will strike its heel.'

    To the woman he said:

    I shall give you intense pain
        in childbearing,
    you will give birth to your children
        in pain.
    Your yearning will be for your husband,
    and he will dominate you.

To the man he said, 'Because you listened to the voice of your wife and ate from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat,

    Accursed be the soil because of you!
    Painfully will you get your food from it
    as long as you live.
    It will yield you brambles and thistles,
    as you eat the produce of the land.
    By the sweat of your face

    will you earn you food,
    until you return to the ground,
    as you were taken from it.
    For dust you are
    and to dust you shall return.

The man named his wife 'Eve' because she was the mother of all those who live. Yahweh God made tunics of skins for the man and his wife and clothed them. Then Yahweh God said, 'Now that the man has become like one of us in knowing good from evil, he must not be allowed to reach out his hand and pick from the tree of life too, and eat and live for ever!' So Yahweh God expelled him from the garden of Eden, to till the soil from which he had been taken. He banished the man, and in front of the garden of Eden he posted the great winged creatures and the fiery flashing sword, to guard the way to the tree of life.

                (6) Excerpt from Response to God's Love, by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. pp. 1-2

    The Father, in a perfect act of self-expression, in a perfect act of knowing, generates his son. The Son, the Word, is, then, the immanent expression of God's fullness, the reflection of the Father. Likewise, from all eternity, the Father and the Son bring forth the Holy Spirit in a perfect act of loving.

    At the destined moment in human history, God's self-expression, the Word, immersed himself into man's world. God's inner self-expression now had also become God's outer self-expression. Consequently, the mystery of God becomes the mystery of Christ. In Christ, God tells us about himself, about his inner life, about his plan of creation and redemption. He tells us how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit desire to dwell within us in the most intimate fashion, how they wish to share with us their own life through grace. All this he has accomplished and does accomplish through Christ. St. Paul tells us: "I became a minister of this Church through the commission God gave me to preach among you his word in its fullness, that mystery hidden from ages and generations past but now revealed to his holy ones. God has willed to make known to them the glory beyond price which this mystery brings to the Gentiles—the mystery of Christ in you, your hope of glory. This is the Christ we proclaim while we admonish all men and teach them in the full measure of wisdom, hoping to make every man complete in Christ" (Col 1:25-28).

                (7) Excerpt from Response to God's Love, by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. p. 2

    The Christian life, then, 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 of Jesus of Nazareth. It only remains for us, then, to fathom ever more deeply the inexhaustible truth of the Word Incarnate: "In times past, God spoke in fragmentary and varied ways to our fathers through the prophets; in this, the final age, he has spoken to us through his Son, whom he has made heir of all things and through whom he first created the universe" (Heb 1:1-2).

    What was the condition of man and his world at the time of Christ's coming? In some ways, people were much the same as we are today. There were those who were 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 that life could provide. There was some good being accomplished: there was Rome, for example, with her genius for government and architecture; there was Athens with her philosophers, writers, sculptors, and artists. The moral condition of those times, however, was at a very low ebb. What St. Paul tells us concerning the time that immediately followed Christ's earthly existence certainly could also be applied to the time of his entrance into the world. It is, in short, an ugly picture that Paul depicts for us (Rm 1:22-32).

                (8) Excerpt from Response to God's Love, by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. pp. 2-4

    Into such a depraved condition of mankind Jesus entered, with a full and generous heart, to lead man from the depths of sinfulness to the vibrant richness of a new life in himself. Through his enfleshment, this Christ had become the focal point of all history. The authentic hopes and dreams of the human family, now so deeply 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 race back to the Father in the Spirit.

    Christ came, then, for a double purpose, or rather for a single purpose that has two facets. He was radically to release us from the dominion of sin and elevate us to a new level of existence. This life that Christ has given us is not a type of superstructure that is erected atop man's 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. In his entirety he has been raised up, caught up, into a deeper form of life in Christ Jesus. Nothing that is authentically human 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 kiss that unites lovers, 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 human experiences are intended to be caught up in Christ and made more deeply human because of him. As Karl Rahner has put it: "The basic and ultimate thrust of Christian life consists not so much in the fact that a Christian is a special instance of mankind in general, but rather in the fact that a Christian is simply man as he is. But he is a person who accepts without reservations the whole of concrete human life with all of its adventures, its absurdities, and its incomprehensibilities" (Foundations of Christian Faith, p. 402).

    Christ 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 Incarnation. The more God-like we become through Christ, the more human we become.

    As Christians, then, we live in Christ. We have been incorporated into his life, into the mystery of Christ. The mystery of Christ is the Christ event, that is, all the happenings or events of Christ's life, death, and resurrection. We may speak, consequently, not only of the total, unified mystery of Christ, but also of the individual events or mysteries. Christ's mysteries of death and resurrection are central and, in some way, they contain all the other mysteries; but these other mysteries or events also have their own importance.

                (9)

17 Years Ago

Picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Cling to Me

May 13, 1993

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.

end of May 13, 1993

                (10) Excerpt from Response to God's Love, by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. pp. 5-6

    By reliving and reincarnating the mysteries of Christ, we are not only accomplishing our own redemption, but assisting in the continued application of Christ's redemption to all mankind. The Incarnation continues for all 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 upon him as our source of strength, we continue the Incarnation in its visible and temporal dimensions. The fact that, at times, we do this poorly because of our human weakness and sinfulness does not change the great privilege and responsibility that is ours: we do, in fact, help continue the Incarnation. We are the Body of Christ. We must strive ever more perfectly to reincarnate the mystery and mysteries of Christ.

    The Christian is initiated into the mystery of Christ, into his or her role of prolonging the Incarnation, through baptism. In the words of St. Paul: "Are you not aware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Through baptism into his death we were buried with him, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life" (Rm 6:3-5).

    It is not sufficient, however, that we be incorporated into Christ and his mysteries through baptism. All forms of life require nourishment; so too, our life in Christ must be continually nourished; we must continually keep in contact with Christ and his mysteries. How can we continually encounter Christ? There are various ways. We contact Christ in a special manner 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 this Eucharistic encounter we become more deeply incorporated into Christ and his mysteries.

    The reading of Scripture provides another special opportunity for encounter with Jesus. This is true for both the Old and New Testaments; the Old Testament prefigures the New Testament and leads to it. It is obvious, however, that we meet Christ especially through the pages of the New Testament. How true it is to say that not to be familiar with Scripture is not to know Christ properly.

    There is yet another way in which we encounter the mysteries of Christ; we make renewed contact with Jesus and his mysteries as these are present within ourselves and others. The mysteries of Christ that are to be relived by us are structured into our life of grace. One of the best ways, then, to encounter the mysteries of Christ is to experience them personally in our own Christian living. To personally relive the mysteries of Christ is to more perfectly understand them; what is more, this deeper penetration of their truth allows for their still greater assimilation in our lives. To see the truth of Christ, the Christ-event, reincarnated to a marked degree in another person—is a wonderful gift from God. To see the selflessness of Jesus, his love, his kindness, his willingness to suffer and endure the difficult, his joy and peace despite the pain and anguish of life—to see all this reflected in the lives of at least some of the people we meet is indeed a significant encounter with Christ.
 

  

                The Visitation

                (1) Luke 1: 39-45

Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hill country to a town in Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’

                (2) Jude 17, 20-25

But remember, my dear friends, what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.

But you, my dear friends, must build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves within the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you eternal life. To some you must be compassionate because they are wavering; others you must save by snatching them from the fire; to others again you must be compassionate but wary, hating even the tunic stained by their bodies.

To him who can keep you from falling and bring you safe to his glorious presence, innocent and joyful, to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, authority and power, before all ages, now and for ever. Amen.

                (3) Mary's visit at Fatima.
 

Excerpts from The Spirituality of Fatima by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.

May 13, 1917 

    "Do not be afraid, I will do you no harm..... I am from Heaven.

    "I have come to ask you to come here for six months in succession, on the 13th day, at the same hour. Later on, I will tell you who I am and what I want

    "Are you willing to offer yourselves to God and bear all the sufferings He wills to send you, as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners?

    "Pray the Rosary every day in order to obtain peace for the world, and the end of the war." (8)

____________________________

8. Frere Michael de la Trinite', The Whole Truth about Fatima 
   
(Buffalo: Immaculate Heart Publications, 1989), pp.112-114.

                (4) Excerpts from The Spirituality of Fatima by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.

June 13, 1917

    "God wishes you to remain in the world for some time because He wants to use you to establish in the world the devotion to my Immaculate Heart. I promise salvation to those who embrace it, and their souls will be loved by God as flowers placed by myself to adorn His throne." (10)

10. For background material on Fatima, I am particularly indebted to 
    Our Lady of Fatima's Peace Plan from Heaven
(Rockford: TAN 
    Books and Publishers, Inc., 1983). p.3.

 

                (5) From Fatima Peace Plan — Tan Books p.4-5. 

July 13, 1917

THE CHILDREN SEE HELL

    "During her appearance in July, Our Lady, in answer to Lucia's plea, promised that in October she would work a great public miracle so that all might believe and know who she was. Again the Mother of God told the children to sacrifice themselves for sinners and to say many times, especially when making a sacrifice, this prayer: "O my Jesus, I offer this for love of Thee, for the conversion of poor sinners, and in reparation for all the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

    As she spoke these words, Our Lady stretched out her hands, and bright rays came forth which seemed to penetrate into the earth. All at once the ground vanished, and the children found themselves standing on the brink of a sea of fire. As they peered into this dreadful place, the terrified youngsters saw huge numbers of devils and damned souls. The devils resembled hideous black animals, each filling the air with despairing shrieks. The damned souls were in their human bodies and seemed to be brown in color, tumbling about constantly in the flames and screaming with terror. All were on fire within and without their bodies, and neither devils nor damned souls seemed able to control their movements. They were tossing about in the flames like fiery coals in a furnace. There was never an instant's peace or freedom from pain.

    Looking with compassion at the pale and trembling little ones, the vision spoke to them: "You have seen Hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish, in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If people do what I tell you, many souls will be saved and there will be peace."

THE VISION FORETELLS
WORLD WAR II AND COMMUNISM

    "The war (First World War, 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 25, 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." The Lady asked that this message be kept secret until she gave permission to reveal it.

                                end of excerpt 

 

                (6) Excerpts from The Spirituality of Fatima by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.

August 13, 1917

"Because of the excitement caused by the apparitions, the civil authorities were so alarmed that they kidnapped the three young visionaries and put them in jail. The incarceration period included the day of August 13. Consequently, Our Lady did not appear to the children on this particular 13th. The authorities, fearing reaction on the part of the people, quickly released the children.

 

August 19, 1917

    She told them she was greatly displeased by the action of the mayor. As a result, the miracle promised for October would not be as impressive as originally planned. (15)

 

                (7) Excerpts from The Spirituality of Fatima by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.

September 13, 1917

    More than 30,000 people were present in September, and saw a shower of mysterious white petals fall to within 10 feet of the ground before dissolving into the air. Many also saw the globe of light bearing the Lady come to rest atop the tree, and the branches bend as though someone were standing on them. Later, they saw the cloud depart into the east, from whence it had come.(16)

 

                (8) Excerpts from The Spirituality of Fatima by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.

October 13, 1917

    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 any more, for He is already too grievously offended by the sins of men. People must say the Rosary. Let them continue saying it every day.(17)

    While the people in attendance were beholding the great Miracle of the Sun, the three young visionaries, and they alone, were privileged to see striking visions in the heavens:

    As Our Lady had promised, St. Joseph had come with the Holy Family and had blessed the world. Then, Our Lady appeared as the Mother of Sorrows, accompanied by her Divine Son, Who also blessed the world. Finally, Lucy had seen the Blessed Virgin, dressed in the brown robes of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth, holding a brown Scapular in her hand, with her infant Son upon her knee. However, in none of these visions had any of the figures spoken to the children. (18)

   

Excerpt from the Spirituality of Fatima

by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.
 

October 13, 1917

    On October 13, 1917, there were more than 70,000 people gathered in the Cova da Iria in Fatima, Portugal. They had come to observe a miracle which had been foretold by the Blessed Virgin to three young visionaries: Lucia dos Santos, and her two cousins, Jacinta and Francisco Marto. (1) Shortly after noon, Our Lady appeared to the three visionaries:

    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 a few moments the wonder stopped, but 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.... 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. (2)


NOTE:

2. For background material on Fatima, I am particularly indebted to 
        Our Lady of Fatima's Peace Plan from Heaven
(Rockford: 
        TAN Books and Publishers, Inc., 1983). pp.7-8.
 

                (9) 77 Years Later

October 13, 1994

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.

 

                (10) December 19, 1996

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.

end of December 19, 1996

  

                Birth of Jesus

                (1) Luke 2: 15-20

Now it happened that when the angels had gone from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go to Bethlehem and see this event which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they hurried away and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him, and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds said to them. As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as they had been told.

                (2) From Tell My People

The Holy Spirit

Jesus: "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 Mary's Immaculate Heart. The more one dwells in My Mother's Heart, the more active are the workings of the Spirit. The Spirit leads Mary to place you within My own Heart. In both 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!"

Reflection: The Holy Spirit is given to us to fashion us ever more according to the likeness of Jesus. And the more we are like Jesus, the more Jesus leads us to the Father. Do we, each day, pray to the Holy Spirit to be more open to His transforming influence? Do we strive each day to grow in union with Mary? The greater our union with our Mother, the spouse of the Holy Spirit, the greater is the transforming action of the Holy Spirit within us.

                (3) From Blue Book I - December 24, 1993 6:10 a.m.

God-Made-Man is Born

R. Dear Jesus, Your day is slowly approaching. Praise You, Jesus. I love You. You are great in heaven and on earth. Praise You. Oh Jesus, help us this Christmas to sow Your love.

Jesus: I am the way, the truth and the life. He who abides in Me will have the light of life. Make your ways straight and follow in My paths that you will know all My ways and I will be your Master. May you know a peace that only I can give and may your days be spent in spreading My love, for I am worthy of all honor and glory. Holy is My name. Alleluia, Alleluia.

I am Jesus, Son of the Living God. I am the God-child. Do you comprehend this? You search a barren desert for My love and I am by your side. My heart is ever present to you. Your search should be avid for Me and My ways for I am truly your God and I am ever attentive to your needs. Come and let Me lead you on your way. Let Me lead you down your path and your foot will not falter. Your steps will be made light, light in the ways of the Lord. Holy is His name and all blessings are His. Alleluia.

This is the day of the Lord, rejoice in it and be glad. Make straight your path, make ready a way for Him and open yourself up to His promptings deep in the hearts of those who serve Him.

He is so good. He is so holy. He is indeed God, little ones, your God Who comes and is full of love for you, little creatures of this world. He raises you up and you are brought to new heights in His love. You are honored in Him and He is worthy of such praise.

I am the Savior. I was born of Mary. I came for you, little ones. I come to this earth as God to show My intense love for you. I lived as a human man. I walked like you, a human creature. I then died a brutal death for you. Alleluia. Praise the Lord! In His Love we have been saved. It is through Him that we are saved and holy is His name. Praise Him. Worship Him. He will give you the Light of Life. His star burned bright in the east and the world did not even know what might come on that night! People were numbed to His coming and all were dazed. Behold, a star glowed in the east and the glory of the Lord was with us.

R. Jesus, God-made-man, Son of Mary is born in Bethlehem in a stable, under the eyes of beasts. Such poverty for a mighty King! He is not a king of riches. He is not a king that comes to flaunt His wealth. He is a King for the kingdom that is The Kingdom. All other kingdoms are of no account when compared to His kingdom, yet He comes as a baby in such poverty.

Sound the trumpet, blow the horn, roll the drums! The angels are all that declare His coming-and a few shepherds. Nonetheless He comes in His glory and His might, worthy of all honor and all praise! At His presence we must bow in awe and know what a King is in our midst. It is Jesus, Son of God, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. It is He by Whom we are saved. No other king can claim to such a feat. No other king can compare to this one.

Jesus: Remember, people. He is a King. Remember He is in your midst. Do you realize His might or do you go about your busy lives ignoring a King in your midst? How foolish, you say, to be in the presence of a King and ignore him and I say to you, "How foolish indeed, My little ones." Make your lives attentive to the greatness that you possess. Be eager with an anxious heart and a holy life. Be prepared, for a true King is with you. Honor Him and Praise Him. He is worthy of all praise. Alleluia. Praise the Lord and know His name.

Bow, My children, to this King Who walks among His people. All honor is yours today for a Savior is born and He will come as a baby. But He will save all from their sins and they will be heirs of His Kingdom. Alleluia. Alleluia.

end of excerpt

                (4) Sing: A Song from Jesus

                (5) From the Rosary of August 27, 1996

Mary's Message
 

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.

end of Mary's Message

 

                (6) December 17, 1991

His Burning HeartPicture of Jesus' Heart on fire.

R. I was alone in All Saints Church after Mass and Communion, in front of the tabernacle, when I saw the Sacred Heart. It was red around the outside, then a layer of yellow and then the brightest light in the center. I felt heat and it looked like an open furnace.

    I thought about it all day and it instantly gave me peace and warmth in my heart. This is the purpose of these lettersto draw hearts to the ardent on-fire love of Jesus. I received the following message that day:

    "Open your heart to the fire of God's love. He is ablaze in your heart. He wants to dwell in you and love you and others through you. Love God, yourself and one another and experience the fire set aglow in your heart and experience the warmth of His love."

end of writing

 

                (7) December 5, 1996

R. Mary had appeared almost every 5th for two and 1/2 years beginning July 5, 1994.

On December 5, 1996, instead of Mary appearing Jesus appeared on the cross in utter anguish at the point of death at Holy Cross-Immaculata Church.

He spoke not a word, but His mouth moved profusely. I was horrified by the apparition.

He hung, all battered, greatly weakened. His mouth moved very clearly. It seems that a man in His condition could not move His mouth to that extent.

Later in the rosary that night, He gave messages and said: "No one was listening."

end of excerpt

 

Excerpt from Rosary on December 5, 1996:

Jesus:  I am alive, I am alive. I am alive. My beloved ones, I show you My face. Do you see the body of a man? Do you see Me alive on the cross? I am speaking to you but the world does not hear. They do not hear the message that I deliver to them. You must pray fervently. You must come to Me that I can be one in you and that I can operate through you as you go into the world this day. I love you. I love you with the most tender love. I am Jesus. I am alive. You are My main soldiers that I will send into the world to lead the strayed ones to My Heart.

The days ahead will be dark days. You must come to My Heart and take shelter in My Heart. It is there that you will be rooted on a firm rock. For My Heart is your home. You will not know the terrors of the night if you stay rooted in My Heart.

Division is blackness in the heart. You must not be divided, divided from anyone. You must remain in union with all men. You must see yourselves as part of the Father's family. Each one of you is so important to the Father's plan.

end of rosary excerpt

 

                (8) From the Apostles Manual p. 174-176

Excerpt from 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."

                (9) Excerpt from December 29, 1996 - continues

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.

                (10) Excerpt from December 29, 1996 - continues

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."

end of December 29, 1996

 

                Sing: The King of Glory

  

                Presentation

                (1) Luke 2: 25-35

Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to the restoration of Israel and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:

    Now, Master, you are letting 
        your servant go in peace 
    as you promised; 
    for my eyes have seen the salvation 
    which you have made ready 
        in the sight of the nations; 
    a light of revelation for the gentiles 
    and glory for your people Israel.

As the child’s father and mother were wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Look, he is destined for the fall and for the rise of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is opposed—and a sword will pierce your soul too—so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’

                (2) The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the Red Rosary Book

February 22, 1995

1. The Prophecy of Simeon
Mary, Joseph and the child Jesus went to the temple. Simeon, the prophet, inspired by the Holy Spirit, met them and told Joseph and Mary of the great sufferings of Jesus and Mary. He told Mary that a sword would pierce her heart. From that point on, Mary ever remembered the prophecy of Simeon whenever she beheld her child. When she looked at His little body, even as an infant, she knew He would suffer. Every time she clothed Him and watched Him at play, her heart was torn in her chest as she knew what He would suffer. And a sword, too, shall pierce your Heart, O Mary!

                (3)

2. The Flight into Egypt
Joseph was told by the angel to flee. Joseph, Mary and the child Jesus had to flee because of what might happen to Jesus. They had to pack for a long stay. The child Jesus was so small! They left on their journey, hearts full of fear, trying to protect Jesus. They were forced to flee into Egypt.

                (4)

3. Jesus Is Lost, In the Temple
Imagine the sufferings in Mary's heart when she realized the child Jesus was not with them. Think of how it would be to lose your child and not know where he was or if anything happened to him. With sorrow in their hearts, Mary and Joseph returned to Jerusalem to look for the child Jesus. And a sword, too, shall pierce your heart, O Mary!

 

                (5)

4. Jesus Carries His Cross
Song: See the eyes that look at Mary, her tender infant child. See the child's Heart beat so tenderly, the Savior of the world!
See the eyes of Jesus and Mary as they met on Calvary. Mary's Heart knew Jesus' Heart so well! From the first moment of conception and throughout His life, Mary was so connected with Jesus and now she peered into His eyes. The crown of thorns adorned His Head! Blood ran down His face! A heavy cross on His back! Wounded, His whole body covered with bleeding wounds! And her whole life flashed before her, the life that she had spent with Jesus. This was the beloved child that she had held in her arms when Simeon told Mary that 'a sword, too, shall pierce your Heart, O Mary!'

                (6)

5. Jesus Dies on the Cross
Mary stood under Jesus' cross as He was put to death. The child that she had held in her arms as Simeon prophesied, And a sword, too, shall pierce your Heart, O Mary! Now Jesus is dead on the cross! He gave His flesh, He gave His blood so that we might be with Him forever in heaven. He held not back. He gave His all. He calls out to us this day to see through the eyes of His mother as she appears and calls out with a Heart of great love, "Return to the love of my Son! He is with you this day. He remains with you, no less present than the day that He hung on the cross, in the Eucharist. He longs for you to come and be with Him. He is in your brother. How can you not love your brother when Jesus died for your brother?"

Her Heart was pierced with a sword. His Heart was pierced with a lance. What came forth was blood and water, the sacramental life of the church. He lives with us this day in the Church. He gives to us His sacraments, the source of His life! He gives to us the Sacrament of Penance whereby any sin that we commit can be taken away through the priest. He wants us to be so close to Him! He gives us everything to be close to Him. But we see with such limited vision only those things that are right before our face, when the true reality is that which we don't see with our eyes, the reality of the invisible divinity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in the consecrated Host! This is reality! This is our life! This is our power! This is God! And a sword, too, shall pierce your Heart, O Mary!

                (7)

6. Jesus Is Taken Down from the Cross
If we ever doubted for one second that we were loved, we could visualize the picture of Mary as she sat beneath the cross with the lifeless, battered, bruised and bloodied body of her Son in her arms, the same child that she held when Simeon prophesied her suffering. He gave His last breath. He gave the last beat of His Heart. He gave His all! This is the way He complied with the Will of the Father. He came to show us the way. He died in perfect peace. To His death He was in peace because He knew the Father's love. The Father loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son for love of us! The Spirit descended upon the Virgin Mary and the Word was made flesh! The love of the Two Hearts! Such immense love beating for us!

In all love there is suffering. Her Heart was pierced with a sword. His Heart was pierced with a lance. And a sword, too, shall pierce your Heart, O Mary!

                (8)

7. Jesus Is Locked in the Tomb
And now Jesus, His body lifeless, is locked in a tomb! What cold reality for Mary to realize that His body is now gone! A stone separated her from her Son!

He gave His last breath! He gave the last beat of His Heart for love of each one of us! And she comes to us this day with her sweet, beautiful voice and she asks us to go to her Son and love Him! How can we refuse Jesus who spread His arms and gave His life for each and every one of us? How can we not trust Him when He loved us so much that He allowed them to tear His flesh, to crown Him with piercing thorns and, lastly, to hang Him on a cross? He truly gave His life for us! He, truly God, is with us this day, the same as the day He died on the cross, in the tabernacle! And we take it so lightly! Death has no power over Him! Locked in the tomb for three days, He rose triumphant on the third day as He had foretold. He comes to give us life. He gives us the sacrament of Baptism that initiates us into His life, that makes us children of God and heirs of heaven if we remain in the state of grace. He asks two things: love of God and love of one another! He came to show us the way and His way is love. To His death on the cross He loved each one of us! He calls out to each one of us here today to be His soldiers, to march on a world that has forgotten God, that has forgotten what it is like to love! It is a battle to live in this world. But the battle is won with hearts that are filled with His love, empowered by the grace and might that He pours out in the Eucharist. He calls out for us to come to the Eucharist and to the tabernacle and be fed with His very flesh and blood. To feed on Divine Life, the greatest nourishment, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God! This is the love He gives. This is the love He asks us to share.

end of seven sorrows

 

                (9)      

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  From Tell My People

"What I say to you in the dark, tell in the day-
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(Matthew 10:27)
  

Jesus Has Come to Give Us Life

Jesus: "This is the day celebrating My Resurrection (Easter). The day of newness of life. I am Lord and Master. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Tell My people to come to Me if they wish to experience life in abundance. I want to give all an ever greater share in the life of My Resurrection. Without Me you cannot be happy, nor have peace, nor have real joy. Tell My people to surrender to Me more and more. The more they do so, the more they will experience My love, wisdom, power, peace, joy, happiness, mercy, and goodness. Within My Heart My people will find these riches. I am Lord and Master! Please listen to My words."

Reflection: Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has come to give us life, and to give us this life in abundance.

When we were baptized, we were incorporated into Christ and His Church. When we were baptized, we received the life of sanctifying grace. This life is a created sharing in the life of the Trinity. Truly, we are called to live a God-like existence according to the teaching and example of Jesus! It is our duty and our privilege to develop our life of grace—our Christ-life—through our participation in the Mass, through the reception of the sacraments, through prayer, and through all other good works. Indeed, we are called to love God and neighbor more and more.

What a glorious life has been given to us! In a spirit of thanksgiving, and together with Mary our Mother, let us always strive to know Christ more intimately, to love Him more ardently, and to follow Him more closely, so that He will always bring us to a closer union with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Father, we are profoundly grateful for the life You have given to us through Jesus and in the Holy Spirit. Through the constant intercession of Mary our Mother, we ask for the grace to always be Your worthy sons and daughters.

 

                (10) From Tell My People

Reparation for Sin

Jesus: "My beloved priest-companion, tell My people that the ugly face of sin covers the earth as never before in the history of the human race. My image, which should shine forth brilliantly over the whole earth, is seriously marred by the hideousness of sin. My Father's justice demands reparation. Tell My people to offer their actions in reparation for all the sins whereby the Triune God is so much offended. My Heart cries out for reparation, especially for sins committed against My Eucharistic presence. My Heart hates sin, but loves the sinner. All who are sorry for their sins will find in My Heart overflowing graces of mercy.

"My people should receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation often, even if they have no serious sins to confess. The graces of this Sacrament give powerful graces for the fight against temptation. I am Lord and Master. Please do as I request!"

Reflection: In our determination to avoid sin, let us often recall the terrible sufferings which sin caused Our Loving Savior: the cruel crowning with thorns, the tearing of His sacred flesh by the soldiers' merciless scourging, the heartless hammering of nails through His sacred hands and feet, and all the rest. Who can prayerfully look upon the suffering Christ and not be repulsed by the hideousness of sin?

 

  

                The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

                (1) From October 13, 1996 -The Coronation of Our Lady

Mary speaks:
I am Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. I am asking you this day to carry these rosaries into this world. It is through the rosary that you will have peace in your hearts. My little children, you must learn to discipline your thoughts. You must come to Our Hearts and meditate on Our lives. Our lives will live in your life as you meditate on the mysteries of the rosary.

                (2) Mary speaks:

There is a time, a time of struggle. There is a time of joy. There is a time when the Sacred Heart of Jesus will reign. The time for these things is near at hand. My little children, I have called you on this October 13th, 1996. I have called you to go into this world and to carry the rosary as your weapon against Satan. It is through the rosary and the scapular that I will save this world. I am Mary, your Mother. I am Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

                (3)

R. We see the angel appear to Mary and ask her to be the Mother of God. This is the Father's plan-that Mary would be the Mother of God, and we see Mary as crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth. Do we see the plan of the Father unfold in our lives? That our lives are so important to help in the salvation of many? That He is truly calling us to be apostles to carry His love, His light, into the dark world?

                (4) Jesus speaks:

I am with you in a special way, My beloved apostles. I am calling you this day. This is an urgent call. You must go into the world and carry My messages of love to the souls that are hungry and suffering and in pain.

                (5)

R. Think vividly of the moment of death. There is a soul at this moment on the edge of death. How did they live their life? Think of the world today. Is the world living according to the way that God has told us that we must live? He told us that we must love God and love one another. There is a soul at this moment on the edge of death. Where will this soul go? Did the soul love God? Did it matter about his clothes and his house and all his riches? I heard Mary, Our Mother, call out time and time and time again about the souls that were going into hell. It is like the Fatima documentary-she called and people did not heed what she said and there was World War II. Mary does not appear as she once appeared and she has ceased giving messages as she once did. She still gives messages but they are not as many. She says that we are not listening to the messages that she has given and that she cannot hold back the hand of her Son any longer.

                (6)

R. This is the good news: if we do what Mary tells us at Fatima, we will have peace. There will be the reign of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of her Immaculate Heart in which souls will fervently love Jesus with the greatest love. Her plan is so simple but Satan has blocked this plan. Satan has blocked these rosary messages and meditations. We must pray that we can circulate the messages of Jesus and Mary to the world that is hungry and in need of help.

                (7)

R. One day soon we will be with God in heaven, forever and ever.

                (8)

R. Wrapped in the embrace of the Almighty God for all eternity. Heaven is a place of love for the Almighty God is love. We will be satisfied. We will know love. We will be at peace.
But, hell is a place where there is no love, there is no community, there is isolation, there is longing for God for all eternity.
He is alive, He is alive and He is with us this day. You must spread this message to the ends of the earth.

                (9) Mary speaks:

My little children, I call you children because you are My children, willful in your ways. I have called to you to pray My rosary and to spread the rosary to the hurting children in this world. I am asking you on this special day that you carry the rosary to as many souls as possible. I will aid you in all efforts to spread the rosaries to the world. Read these meditations to the elderly in the Nursing Homes, teach them about the power of the rosary, bring the rosary to the children, tell them about our lives, about our love for them.
I am Mary, your Mother, I am Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

                (10) Song: The Rosary

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

4. Scripture quotations are taken from The New Jerusalem Bible, Catholic Edition, Doubleday and Co.

     

 

 

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July 31, 1994

Words of Jesus to Members of
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"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., Founder, as given on July 31, 1994,
feast of Saint Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits)

 

  

 

  


 

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