Daily Writing
| Shepherds of Christ Daily Writing |
|
July 26, 2007
|
July 27th Holy
Spirit Novena |
The Novena Rosary
Mysteries |
August 5, 2007 FloridaPlease come and pray!!Retreat in ChinaAugust 10th - 13thRetreat in FloridaAugust 19th - 22nd
August 19th is the 90th anniversary
of Mary's apparition at Fatima
after the children were jailed.
August 22nd is the Queenship of Mary.
Rita will be here to sign books.
July 26, 2007
Exodus 19: 1-2, 9-11, 16-20
Three months to the day after leaving Egypt, the Israelites reached the desert of Sinai. Setting out from Rephidim, they reached the desert of Sinai and pitched camp in the desert; there, facing the mountain, Israel pitched camp.
Yahweh then said to Moses, 'Look, I shall come to you in a dense cloud so that the people will hear when I speak to you and believe you ever after.' Moses then told Yahweh what the people had said.
Yahweh then said to Moses, 'Go to the people and tell them to sanctify themselves today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes and be ready for the day after tomorrow; for the day after tomorrow, in the sight of all the people, Yahweh will descend on Mount Sinai.
Now at daybreak two days later, there were peals of thunder and flashes of lightning, dense cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast; and, in the camp, all the people trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they took their stand at the bottom of the mountain. Mount Sinai was entirely wrapped in smoke, because Yahweh had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke rose like smoke from a furnace and the whole mountain shook violently. Louder and louder grew the trumpeting. Moses spoke, and God answered him in the thunder. Yahweh descended on Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain, and Yahweh called Moses to the top of the mountain; and Moses went up.
Daniel 3: 52-56
May you be blessed,
Lord, God of our ancestors,
be praised and extolled for ever.
Blessed be your glorious and holy name,
praised and extolled for ever.
May you be blessed in the Temple
of your sacred glory,
exalted and glorified above all for ever:
blessed on the throne of your kingdom,
exalted above all, glorified for ever:
blessed are you who fathom the abyss,
enthroned on the winged creatures,
praised and exalted above all for ever:
blessed in the expanse of the heavens,
exalted and glorified for ever.
Matthew 13: 11-17
In answer, he said, ‘Because to you is granted to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not granted. Anyone who has will be given more and will have more than enough; but anyone who has not will be deprived even of what he has. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So in their case what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah is being fulfilled:
Listen and listen, but never understand!
Look and look, but never perceive!
This people’s heart has grown coarse,
their ears dulled,
they have shut their eyes tight
to avoid using their eyes to see,
their ears to hear,
their heart to understand,
changing their ways
and being healed by me.‘But blessed are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! In truth I tell you, many prophets and upright people longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.
God help us we pray
For I was hungry and You gave me to eat
The hunger is the spiritual hunger
in the world today
For we know the people in the United States
many are starving spiritually.
Jesus: Do you hunger My child?
Is the pain inside so real, but
the awareness of why you hurt
hidden from your heart.
You were created with the thirsting
for My love and only My love
can fill the longing of your soul.
So you think you find it — what you
most desire in a boat, a car —
in money —
you want to be filled —
you have it all — the new boat —
a new sport
people admire you more than
ever before in your lives
you have money to do all you want
you can travel — your daughter
works for an airline
Ah sweet mystery of life and yet you are
empty
You wanted to be filled
You sought to be filled
You achieved your goal
And where are you
EMPTY
R. When Fr. Carter began the Shepherds of Christ
Movement he was 64 years
old.
He could have thought of himself —
he could have retired —
He took on the job because God
had called him.
He sacrificed when he was tired —
He taught us about love
He wrote the Newsletter with drive
He discerned the daily writings and
the Blue Books daily
because he said they were as much
his as mine
Fr. Carter gave and gave and at the
end when he was so sick —
He cared and cared for the mission —
He wanted the mission to go on —
He wanted us to teach what
God told him to teach through
the newsletter
He loved his mail
He loved his correspondence with
hierarchy
He wanted to serve the Church —
he wanted to spread the devotion
of the 2 Hearts
On July 31, 1994 — Fr. Carter
got this message from Jesus.
July 31, 1994
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., Founder, as given on July 31, 1994,
feast of Saint Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits)
He took the messages seriously
He cared only to spread the Newsletter
he saw the global picture —
He saw the prayers in the red prayer
manual was translated in 6
languages — right away
He loved the daily messages
He loved the Blue Books
He withstood any ridicule he got
because of me (the private revelation)
he owned my writings too
He said we all had to live by the
Blue Books in the Movement —
He spent his life discerning my
writings
He stood behind me — always
He stood behind the Newsletter being
circulated all over the world and
prayer chapters started
A friend of mine has a birthday
today
We all have a birthday and a death day —
our birthday must remind us
how short our life really
is
Every birthday we should be
more solid in a spiritual
life and we grow older
in body while we hopefully
grow wiser —
This should be a sign —
God has the body on a timer —
We have a limited amount of
time here below
God wants us doing what
we are supposed to
My message I heard in
1991 for 6 weeks was
"Feed the hungry"
over and over again I heard
"Feed the hungry"
God wants His Blue Books out there
Jesus told me to print
50,000 Blue Books IV's
40,000 Blue Books V's
Those are important Blue Books
We can all spread them —
We have been able to sell
them at $5 for Jesus
wants them to circulated
Jesus: Send My people My
letters of love.
Jesus wants to share His love with you. He comes in these letters to tell you how you can be in intimate union with Him.
All of us possess everything we need to have an intimate union with Him. He has written to me since October of 1991. For at least a year I sat in front of the tabernacle and begged him to talk to me. I wanted words. I prayed to the Holy Spirit and begged and begged Him to baptize me. After a long and seemingly endless search, trying to hear God, He told me to "feed the hungry." For six weeks this was all I heard. I thought maybe I wasn't feeding my children well or eating well enough myself. What a long wait for three words! At long last one day, as I was writing to Jesus, I received a letter back. He told me, "I am Jesus, Son of the Living God." I did not want to write this but it kept coming-and so many other messages. I knew nothing of anyone getting messages. I wrote them, reluctantly, and hid my notebooks. The letters kept coming-a lot in the night-and I would be awakened by long letters which I felt compelled to get up and write down. I read these letters privately and my life began to change. I felt a new life within me.
He taught me of His fervent love and how truly present He was. He taught me how precious I was to Him. Over and over again He would call me His precious child and tell me how He loved me, how He clothed me with dignity and honor. He told me over and over how He was right by my side always. He is teaching me to give up all fear and to trust in Him. He is teaching me to let go of myself and let Him run my life. I am trying every day to do His will.
He is also telling you in your heart all you need to know. He has all the answers for you there in your heart. You must be silent and go to Him so you can hear His words for you.
Sit in front of the tabernacle and be with Him. Sit and be open and just be with Him. Read these letters there. These are Jesus' love letters to you. Sit in front of the tabernacle and let Him talk to you. Sit silent awhile. Read these letters part of the time. Open any page and He will talk to you. Do not read this like a book, cover to cover. Just open to a page and read that page. That is the way He speaks to you.
Jesus: This is the picture I want in My messages. When you read these messages, look at My picture and know I love you. These messages are My words of love for each of you.
Here are comments from Blue Books.
GOD’S BLUE BOOKS COMMENTS
Here are some comments from over “a half a million” people who have received the Blue Books. Many have called the “Shepherds of Christ Ministries” to thank us for the Blue Books and to tell us how they have been touched and how their lives have been changed by reading God’s Blue Books!
From Rita Ring
Discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S. J. - Founder
1) Monroe - MI
To read the Blue Books is what I need. Jesus’ words of love make me feel so good!
2) Niles - IL
They are so beautiful and I am so happy in becoming more united to Jesus! These books are so powerful! And I want everyone to have them! I will buy many of the Blue Books and give them out!
3) Salem - OR
The Blue Book has helped me immensely and I want to thank the Shepherds of Christ for these great books!
4) Inglewood - FL
I love the Blue Books! I feel so comforted and full of hope! These books are worthy to give thanks for.
5) Montrose - MI
I love the Blue Books and they have helped me a lot!
6) Steubenville - OH
These books are just so beautiful and so comforting. I will give one to each of my friends!
7) Coral Springs - FL
I was in church begging Jesus to speak to me! Then, came a lady and gave me a Blue Book and I opened it at a page and it said exactly what I needed to hear! Jesus truly speaks to me in the Blue Books!
8) Forth Worth - TX
I got a Blue Book from my sister and I put it on the shelf without opening it, but for some reason I could not get that book out of my mind until I opened it and, all I can say is that; the words were very powerful and I felt in my heart that Jesus was speaking to me!
9) Pittsburgh - PA
I love the Blue Books and I live by them! My life has changed! I am so happy! This is all I can say!
10) Midland - TX
I love the Blue Books! I can feel in my heart that Jesus is speaking to Me! They brought me back to church after 5 years!
11) Denver - CO
I love the Blue Books! I will spread the good news to all I meet!
12) Orange Park - FL
The messages are so beautiful! I would never stop reading them!
13) Niles - IL
I love the Blue Book so much that I can no longer live without it!
14) Chicago - IL
This is what I need! I want to grow spiritually and get closer to God! I open it all the time, it lifts me up and gives me the answers I need! I will help many people to have these books!
15) South Paris - ME
This is what I need! Nobody loves us as God does! These love letters are real joy and happiness! That is what I need in my life! I am so touched by these books…I have no words to express myself…
16) Delray Beach - FL
I will promote the Blue Books and help others to grow in their relationship with God!
17) Maryville - TN
All my family use the Blue Books and I have given them to many people! The Blue Books are a gift from God! I make sure, I tell everyone about them! I carry the book with me wherever I go! I love to meditate in what Jesus tells me!
18) Sarasota - FL
Jesus' love letters have changed my life! I just love them!
19) Mesa - AZ
I found a Blue Book in the adoration chapel. I love it! It changed my life!
20) Rockville - NY
I find my answers in the Blue Books and I will share this great gift with others!
21) Bronx - NY
I have no words to express how the Blue Books has helped me! I am feeling much better now!
22) Tampa - FL
My friend was reading the Blue Book and said that Jesus was speaking to her! All right I said and laughing I added; Jesus will talk to me too and He did! I could not contain my emotion, for Jesus spoke to me exactly of what I was joking about! YES! Jesus really speaks to us in the Blue Books!
23) Staten Island - NY
I live by the Blue Books! Jesus tells me what I need to know! I love it!
24) Chaparral - NM
One day I was organizing my books and I found a Blue Book and I don’t know where it came from! I opened the book and I was touched1 I use the book all the time ever since!
25) Denver - CO
Jesus called me back to church in His Blue Books! I have been away for several years! Now I know God loves me! He is guiding and directing me…How blessed I am!
26) Saucier - MS
I use the Blue Books all day long and I love it!
27) Kendall Park - NJ
The Blue Books are so powerful! I can’t live without them! I am buying 2 boxes to give out and I know everybody will love it!
28) Hollywood - CA
His love is so intense! I am so happy to know God loves me so much! I want all to know how precious everyone is to God! The Blue Books tell me what I need to know!
29) Atlanta - GA
The Blue Books have helped me greatly and all my family! It is a treasure!
30) Detroit - MI
I went on your web site and I found the Blue Books! Thanks to God!
31) St. Mary’s - PA
I lost my Blue Book! I am so anguished! Please send me the book as soon as you can! I need these words!
32) Exeter - PA
I feel like giving the Blue Books to the youth! They are searching for something to satisfy their hunger!
33) Whippany - NJ
I gave a Blue Book to a friend four years ago and she paid no heed. She opened recently and it changed her life! It opened her eyes to see that God really speaks to us in the Blue Books!
34) Cincinnati - OH
I grew in relationship with God since I began to read the Blue Books! God is becoming more and more personal to me! I love it and I want all to know about it! I just can’t keep secret of such joy! Thank you Jesus!
35) San Antonio - TX
We have a great supply of books at our house! Since we have the Blue Books we dropped all the rest! We don’t want to read anything else! We are so happy to have the Blue Books and to follow Jesus' directions!
36) West Chester - OH
I find the answers in the Blue Books! I love it! I now spend an hour with Jesus everyday! I want to have this love relationship with God!
37) Columbus - OHAll my life I have searched for answers and now I find them in the Blue Books! They have helped me so much!
38) Rochester - MA
I borrowed my friend's Blue Books just out of curiosity! I learned that God is truly speaking to us in these messages! It touched me! I can no longer live without the book!
39) Jackson - TN
I saw a lady with the Blue Book and I had no peace until I went to talk to her. She gave me your toll free phone number! I know I need this book! Please send it to me as soon as possible!
40) Framington - MA
I am a priest. Please send me 2 sets of the Blue Books to put in my Adoration Chapel!
41) Jacksonville - FL
I have three youth children and they say that Jesus speaks in the Blue Books! They want to have all the books. They go to their friends house and read the Blue Books and they love them!
42) Los Angeles - CA
My friend was away from the Catholic faith but now, all she wants is to be with Jesus before the Blessed Sacrament! She is in great love with Jesus through the Blue Books!
43) Missouri City - TX
I open the Blue Book and Jesus said to me: “Come to Me my little one, be with me in silence. I have all you ever need”. This message touched me so much and opened my eyes to see that I have been too busy with other things. Now I know that Jesus wants me to take time to be with Him and to love Him in return!
44) Des Moines - IA
I gave a Blue Book to the priest at my parish and he begun to spend an hour with Jesus every day!
45) Khartoun - SUDAN
I am a priest and a nun friend of mine told me about the wonders of the Blue Books, please send me all the volumes!
46) Pittsburgh - PA
I saw a lady reading a book and she never took her eyes off of it and, when I finally could read the cover of it, I read “God’s Blue Book”. From there I went to see the doctor and when I walked into his office, there was the Blue Book! I opened it and what I read was so beautiful and I could not take my eyes off the book either then, I could understand why the lady was so focused on what she was reading.
47) West Indies
The Blue Books are working wonders in my life! Please send my order out soon! I will share the books with all my friends!
48) Boston - MA
I went to confession and the priest gave me a Blue Book! He said that the book would help me! The book has helped me so much! I feel I am a new person! Thank you Jesus!
49) New York - NY
God led my hand in the adoration chapel and I picked up the Blue Book! I am so blessed to have opened it, now I can order my own!
50) Orland Park - IL
I found a Blue Book in the church and I love it! Please send me all the other volumes!
51) England
I found the Blue Books on the internet and I would like to purchase all the volumes for myself and also some for my friends to whom I already told about the Blue Books!
52) Broomall - PA
The Blue Books are wonderful! They make me feel so loved and so special to God!
53) Jacksonville - FL
The Blue Book brought me to life in Him. Jesus is in my heart and I totally rely and depend on Jesus for everything! I would never stop thanking your Ministry for the Blue Books! Please let me know when the next volume will be published!
54) Nyika - Zimbabwe
I am a priest! Please send me your Blue Books! I have heard so much about them!
55) Gary - SD
A friend of mine showed me the Blue Book and I read a sentence! It was the exact answer I was waiting for!
56) Grand Rapids - MI
The Blue Book VI is so powerful! My husband and I have grown so much in our spiritual life by using the rosary meditations from that book! Thank you Shepherds of Christ!
57) Ghana - West Africa
I am a priest and I thank God for providing us the Blue Books through your ministry! May God continue to bless all your wonderful works!
58) New Zealand
I am spreading the Blue Books in my Country! They have made my life much better!
59) Smithfield - NC
I had a Blue Book sitting on the shelf for a couple of years and suddenly my children began to use it and leave it everywhere in the house! Wherever I went or was looking for something, there was that Blue Book! It was like the book was following me around! So, I finally decided to open it today and the message I got was so important to me and it made me cry…my life has changed the last minutes!
60) Morgan City - LA
I was in the chapel and a lady had a Blue Book and was reading it! I knew I had to have that book! That is why I am calling you today!
61) Mobile - AL
I had my Blue Book since 1999 and I use it all the time! It is a treasure! I want to order some to give out!
62) North Haven - CT
I would like to have my own copy of the Blue Book! Sometimes it is not available at the chapel when I want it! This book is so great!
63) Chicago - IL
I know the Blue Books are very powerful! Please send them to me! I know I need to have them!
64) Moville - IA
I love the Blue Books and the people to whom I give them love them too! My daughter was pregnant and she wanted to have an abortion! After she used the Blue Books a few times she changed her mind and did not have the abortion!
65) Corwith - IA
I got a Blue Book from a priest and I just love it! Jesus really speaks to me in that book and I want to give some out to my friend and to the priest who gave his own book to me!!
66) Spring Ballew - CA
A friend of mine gave me a Blue Book and I love it! It is so comforting to me to know that God loves me and is always with me!
67) Miramar - FL
My daughter and I found a Blue Book in the adoration chapel and we love it! We took it home with us and we would not return it until we would have our own!
68) Fairborn - OH
I found a Blue Book in the adoration chapel and I love it! I want my own and I want to follow what Jesus is teaching in it!
69) Atlanta - GA
I love the Blue Books and I know Jesus is really speaking to me in them!
70) Whippany - NJ
I gave a Blue Book to a friend whose family was all divided and there was so much sufferings! She opened the Blue Book and she kept getting the same message every time she opened it! The Divine Mercy! She began to pray that prayer and things began to change and from there on she always looks for her answers in the Blue Books!
71) Glastonbury - CT
A friend of mine gave me a Blue Book and I use it all day long. I cry of joy because I know Jesus is speaking to me! Jesus’ love letters changed my life and my heart! My heart is on fire for love of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament! I am so grateful and I will thank Jesus forever for the Blue Books! I am giving them out. I want all to have these books!
72) Kendall Park - NJ
I give out the Blue Books and I have the permission of two priests to put the Blue Books in the churches so people can help themselves. Please send me two more boxes of books, volume IV and V. I will help you “Shepherds of Christ” until you have done what God wants you to do!
73) Holyoke - MA
I am Sister ______ and I got two Blue Books from a friend! Oh! How good is God to us! These books are so beautiful! I will share them with all the other 75 nuns and we will be ordering more, I am sure! Thank you Shepherds of Christ!
74) Plainfield - NY
I got a Blue Book from a friend and I love it! I believe if everyone would live by these messages, they would change their lives and their hearts!
75) Boston - MA
I got a Blue Book from a friend and I love it! I have my own ministry but, the Blue Books are what the world needs, really!! They are the food for the hungry souls on this earth!
76) Maywood - NJ
I went to my daughter’s house and I found a Blue Book there on the table. I opened it and I was deeply touched! Please send me all the volumes!
77) Ft. Walton Beach - FL
I need to order more books for they go fast, just like hot cakes! I believe in the Blue Books and so does everyone else who opens them! It is amazing! God is so good to us! Thank you Rita for the Blue Books and for being God’s messenger!
78) Brazil
I gave a Blue Book to a friend of mine who was the most bitter person I ever met! She was snarley, angry and had no respect for anyone! She had no friends and nobody wanted to be around her either! She was a smart person and knew eight languages but, did not work at any place for a long time until I gave her a Blue Book and she began to change overnight! Today she is a new person and is successful in many ways!
79)
My daughter and I love the Blue Books! We let Jesus guide and direct us on our ways! We totally depend on Him! Now my daughter needs another Blue Book to send to her boyfriend in Maryland! He needs it!
80) Belgium
I am a priest. Please send me the Blue Books! I am looking forward to have them! May Our Heavenly Mother protect you and all your work!
81) Middleburg - FL
I love to read the Blue Book when I go to the Adoration Chapel! It is so great! Now, my mother passed away a few days ago and I decided to go through her stuff and I found a Blue Book! What Joy to know my mother also used the Blue Books! I am calling today to order 30 books and give them to my family as a Christmas present!
82) Sylmar - CA
My wife and I love the Blue Books! A friend of mine borrowed one from us but he never gave it back! So now, I would like to order that same volume so we have all of them!
83) Romania
I heard about the Blue Books and I want to order them! I heard the Blue Books are awesome! I will spread it all over my Country! God Bless you!
84) Shelton - CT
I got your phone number from a Blue Book I found in the Adoration Chapel! I am on fire with love of Jesus and His love letters! God is so good to us! What love He has for us! I did not know that God loved me so much until I opened the Blue Books! Thank You Jesus!
85) Canada
I used the Blue Books since 1999 and I love them! I am having some health problems and the Blue Books are helping me greatly! When I am having a difficult time, the Blue Book comes to my mind as a mighty medicine and I always read what I need to hear! Thank You Jesus!
86) Springfield - NJ
I give out many of the Blue Books! The other day I was at my church and a priest from India was there and I opened the book and I read; Jesus speaks “Give My Blue books to the priests” and so I did and the priest was so happy with it!
87) Chicago - IL
I got the Blue Book a long time ago! I study it I read the messages over and over again! My heart burns for the desire of spreading these Blue Books! I want all people to know these powerful and beautiful love letters! They need to get to all God’s children!
88) St. Mary’s - PA
I gave the Blue Books to the priest at our parish! He loves them and has the books with him all the time and underlines many parts of the books!
89) Kansas City - MO
I have a book store and would like to know if you have a special price for bookstores, for I would like to order several boxes. I have heard wonders about this book and that everyone loves them!
90) Wethersfield - CT
My husband and I read the Blue Books at the Adoration chapel and they have been so helpful to us! We would like to have our own books from here on! Please send us all the volumes!
91) Woodstock - GA
I have the Blue Books for many years and would like to order a new set because mine are falling apart for I use them all the time! I love them! I don’t want to live without them! Thank you Shepherds of Christ!
92) New York - NY
Thank you for sending me the Blue Book! I am old and have no money to pay for it! I was so sad someone took my Blue Book and thanks to your generosity I have a new one now! Thank you Shepherds of Christ!
93) Hot Springs - SD
I am a priest and I would like to have your Blue Books! Could you please send me all the volumes you have, I will send you the payment.
94) Stow - OH
I am a father of 8 children and we all love the Blue Books but we need some more to make everybody happy!
95) Antioch - TN
I got a Blue Book from a lady and I just love it! The messages are so beautiful! Please send me all the volumes you have!
96) Santa Maria - CA
I received a Blue Book from Rita days ago! I am reading it! I love it! Please send me 5 more so I can give them to some of my friends!
97) Clearwater - FL
I was in the chapel searching for an answer for a long time then, I opened a book and there was the answer! Oh my God! That book talks to me! I looked at the cover and it said; God’s Blue Book! I took it home with me and wanted to find out where I could get that book! Then, I found you! “Shepherds of Christ Ministries” Thank you all!
98) Norwood - OH
I called you a few weeks ago and I bought a Blue Book. Today I am calling to thank you, for the Blue Book took me back to church! I now realize that Jesus is waiting for us to come to Him. He is really speaking to us in His Blue Books!
99) Middlesex - NJ
I was at church this morning and I saw a lady with the Blue Book. I went to her and asked her about the book and the lady with great emotion told that the Blue Book has changed her life and that Jesus wants us to open the book all day long at any page and He gives us our answers! So, I opened the book and I was touched and I would like to order all the volumes and I will promote them to all the people I meet!
100) Dayton - OH
I am a 78 year old man and I have given out many Blue Books! All people need these books, they are very powerful. I will help to spread these books as long as I can afford it!
THE CALLS WE HAVE RECEIVED ABOUT THE BLUE BOOKS ARE ENDLESS. THESE ARE JUST A FEW COMMENTS WE ARE SHARING WITH YOU, FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT THE BLUE BOOKS ARE A GIFT FROM GOD!
Mary G.
How has being a member of Shepherds of Christ has changed my life?
When I was a baby, we lived next door to a convent and I had 12 years of Catholic education. I married and lived Cincinnati eventually. After my civil divorce, my three younger children and I moved back to Price Hill in Cincinnati where I grew up. This time brought me the Catholic Charismatic experience.
Dad died in '86, and I moved away to a small town. Though I tried, I thought no Catholic church or prayer group met my needs so I attended Protestant prayer meetings and services. I found ministers and prayer groups that deeply love the Lord Jesus, and I would still be in these circles except that I went back to Cincinnati to visit. I hadn't told my old friends that I was no longer a practicing Catholic so I joined them when they attended charismatic functions. At one of these I was given Blue Book I.
Actually, someone tried to give it to me and I wouldn't take it saying, I had too much to read , so it was given to the friend I was staying with. When we got home and she was out of the room, I opened the book so I could congratulate myself for not accepting it.
That's Jesus! Jesus is speaking in this book! I read almost the whole book that night, then I ate humble pie and phoned the lady who had pressed me to accept it. I received it in a few days.
Back home I read and reread it. Jesus was speaking loud and clear and I went to the nearest church and made a confession and resumed my long neglected practice of daily Mass. I also began to go to the Shepherds of Christ chapter meetings in Morrow, Ohio, where I heard the call for volunteers to come to the Virgin Mary Site in Clearwater, Florida.
How well I understand God's words, "Your thoughts are not My thoughts!".
Changing my thoughts and my ways comes more slowly than changing my address, which is now Clearwater, Florida.
Though retirement isn't at all what I thought it would be, I wouldn't trade places with anyone at all.
Mary G. has been a live in apostle for 10 years
I am an apostle in China and feel very blessed to be here.
Truly, I can't imagine life anywhere else. When I think about
that, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the great privilege of
being with Shepherds of Christ and I thank the Dear Lord
for allowing me to be here.What keeps me going is the hope that everyone in
whole world will have access to the Blue Books in their own
language, and just yesterday I added the prayer that they'll
also be in Braille. I know that some day they'll "catch on" and
people will tell other people about them and they'll go like wild-fire.I had been given a Blue Book I to my granddaughters and sister in
'97. My granddaughters laid them aside somewhere until maybe a year
ago when trouble struck one of them and she "just happened to open the
Blue Book and wrote me to tell me what was going on. Her answer was in
the Blue Book and she told her younger sister who is one of those people
that everyone comes to with their troubles. Now, the younger one says
"Just open up this book and see what Jesus says."My sister called me to say she has cancer and I sent her a
Blue Book immediately. (She had given her copy to St. Vincent de Paul).I prayed for her to have peace and it really worked. She
keeps the Blue Book handy and flips it open often. I don't know how
often, but she assures me that she uses it and it's always in reach.Mary G.
Kathleen W.
I give my heart to Jesus and Mary with you in love! I write this for the honor and glory of God and in thanksgiving to Jesus for calling me to this Movement.Jesus says in St. John's Gospel, "You did not choose me, no, I chose you…" Jn 15:16.
What a calling! To be chosen to be a Handmaid of the Good Shepherd! His special spouse! The spouse of THE KING & CREATOR of the Universe!
WOW! And a Movement personally directed by Jesus! Thank you, Jesus!
Words cannot express all I would like to say. Since 1st grade I wanted to be a nun. I saw the nuns at my school and I wanted to be like them. Unfortunately growing up... all the peer pressure in school and the struggles of young adulthood took away any hope of being a nun. I followed the ways of the world and left Jesus out of my life.
During my senior year of nursing, the seed of pursuing a religious vocation sprang up again in my heart. I started attending daily Mass as often as I could, and Mary our Mother was bringing me closer to Jesus. My 1st choice was Mother Teresa's Order, however, that didn't happen for me.
After graduation from nursing school I went to a Bible Institute Retreat at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. While there, I attended a Baptism of the Spirit Seminar and felt a strong presence of the Holy Spirit.
That fall, in 1996, I went back to Ohio for another retreat, and while I was in the chapel one evening, I picked up God's Blue Book II and read a message on Communion from Jesus. I almost fell out of my pew! The message touched me deep in my heart. Thankfully, I was able to take the book home. the messages were awesome! I never knew of having such an intimate relationship with Jesus!
I started spending an hour everyday after Mass. I joined the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart and later started a Shepherds of Christ Prayer Chapter. I got the other Blue Books, the rosary book and rosary tapes. I felt so committed to praying the prayers and the rosary mediations were so powerful! I thank Jesus and Mary for all these revelations!
I heard about the handmaids in 1998, while ordering through the Shepherds of Christ. I was really interested in them. I thought maybe this is where God is calling me. I kept praying to do His will.
Jesus, in His time, made it all work out. When we give our lives to Jesus, He can do more than we could ever ask for or imagine! Jesus loves us!
I feel so blessed and privileged to be in the formation of being a handmaid! Thank you, my Father, for this Movement and all the beautiful people in it! Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your tremendous work in my soul! Thank you, Jesus, for choosing me for this special calling. And like Mary, my life is a continuous FIAT. "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." and "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."
Kathleen Handmaid for 7 years
Rosie R.
How has Shepherds of Christ changed my life?
The first time I opened God's Blue Book, I knew that Jesus was speaking to me! The message was just what I needed that day!
I had not attended daily Mass since Catholic High School, approximately 30 years previous. MY PRAYER LIFE had been practically non-existent -- attending Sunday Mass and calling on God during trials. In fact, the threat of my husband dying of cancer took me back to praying the rosary and praying novenas to the Blessed Mother. After he died I was at a loss, for I considered him my "rock". For the first time ever in my life, I began praying to do God's will. I had a career, but I felt in my heart that I didn't want to do that for the rest of my working life.
I was invited by a friend to make a Cursillo weekend and without hesitation, said yes. Following the grace-filled weekend, I entered the chapel for adoration and picked up the Blue Book, which I had ignored for weeks. I immediately fell in love with Jesus and my life began to change! With the help of Jesus through the Blue Book, along with daily Mass and Holy Communion and spending time after Communion with Jesus and time in prayer, I was able to work through my depression, which I had even denied existed.
After giving out many Blue Books to relatives and friends, I received an invitation to attend the first monthly Shepherds of Christ national prayer meeting at Tom A's farm held on October 13, 1996, with Rita leading a Live Rosary. I felt drawn to every meeting after that, and soon found myself in the core group at Morrow, Ohio, attending weekly prayer meetings with Live Rosaries. Through the use of the Blue Books, mostly in front of the tabernacle, weekly prayer meetings, and rosaries at Morrow, I have grown closer to Jesus than I ever thought possible.
I thank Jesus every day for His many graces and the deep love that He gives me to draw me closer and closer to Him. I also thank my spiritual Mother, Mary, with all my heart for her help when I turned to her in desperation and for the help she's given me throughout my life.
As an apostle working in Florida at Our Lady's Image Site, I have a great opportunity to spread the light and love of Christ to all I meet!!!
From Betty G. Handmaid for 10 years
What does my vocation in Shepherds of Christ mean to me?
I am a Handmaid of the Good Shepherd for nearly nine years.
During this time I have grown so close to Jesus, far more than I
ever thought possible for me. The hours I have spent before the
tabernacle and now the exposed Eucharist have filled me with
such peace, joy, happiness as I have never known before.It all began in the fall of 1995 when someone gave me my first
copy of God's Blue Book. After a time I began to read it. I was soon
drawn back to attending daily Mass and Holy Communion. It wasn't
long until I was drawn to the tabernacle for an hour a day which
soon went from an hour to more than an hour a day.I cannot physically do much labor any more, but I can and
do pray. My desire is to help support the Church in its labors by
praying for the priests and all religious and for the renewal of the
Church and the world.By living from the God's Blue Books my whole life has
changed from one of turmoil and wondering is this all there
is to life? to one of peace and joy. God is back in my life as
the center of my life. I have found all I have ever wanted as a
Handmaid of the Good Shepherd. Like St. Therese of Lisieux
who never left her convent but did much for the missions I may
not travel around the world but I can do much for the Church
and the world through prayer. I thank God for my vocation in
the Shepherds of Christ for here I feel I am fulfilling the
purpose for which I was created.
Fatima/Clearwater Glass Statues available.Call Glaci or go to China or Clearwater.
1-888-211-3041
Crucifix — hand carved by Felix
who carved the crucifix 22'
at the Virgin Mary building.
Available for $750.00
