A Prayer for Intimacy with the Lamb,
the Bridegroom of the Soul

    Oh Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, come and act on my soul most intimately. I surrender myself, as I ask for the grace to let go, to just be as I exist in You and You act most intimately on my soul. You are the Initiator. I am the soul waiting Your favors as You act in me. I love You. I adore You. I worship You. Come and possess my soul with Your Divine Grace, as I experience You most intimately.

         

   
Messenger:        Oh my dear people, I write as a

                                messenger from God.

                            Fr. Carter was given a tremendous

                                mission by God to reach

                                God's beloved priest through

                                the Newsletter.

                            Oh we get the most beautiful

                                letters daily from the

                                Bishops and Archbishops

                                praising Fr. Carter's book

                                and asking for our prayers.
  

                                
August 14, 2002 message continues

Messenger:        It takes so much money to send

                                the prayers manuals and

                                books they request for their

                                dioceses.

                            Please help us with your donations.

                            Now we have orders for Bishops

                                that we cannot send because

                                of funds and our bills are in

                                need of payment.

                            One Bishop can reach so

                                very many people.
    

    
                                                                             India
                                                                            June 3, 2002

Dear Rev. Father,

I have received copies of the book Shepherds of Christ Spirituality 2 Newsletters by Father Edward Carter S.J. Thank you very much. I have gone through the book. I am happy say that it is good book to grow in devotion to Jesus, the Good Shepherd. The scriptural reflections, theological insights and spiritual thoughts given in the book are much inspiring. The book is a scholarly and devotional presentation on many subjects like of love of God, Eucharist, consecration etc. The love and mercy of God are beautifully treated in the book. I congratulate the editor and publishers of this devotional book.

I have given the copies of the book as compliments to different seminaries in the diocese so that the coming generation may read and get inspired of the book.

I wish you all the best in all your apostolate there. May Jesus bless you abundantly!

Yours in Jesus Christ,

Bishop of ______

                                                                                                    April 25, 2002

                       Dear Fr. John,

    Thank you very much for your kind letters dated April 7 and 16 last together with the many enclosures concerning initiatives started by Fr. Edward J. Carter.

    I am pleased to inform you that the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary is widespread in this Archdiocese, as also the Divine Mercy devotion. In fact, our Archdiocese has been solemnly consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on August 15, 1997, Feast of Our Lady's Assumption and the 50th Anniversary of _____'s independence. This consecration is renewed every year in all our parishes. I do it officially in our Cathedral. Besides, all families are encouraged to consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and this year we are going to make a special drive so that the image of the Sacred Heart can be enthroned in those homes where it is still not done in our Archdiocese.

    It might interest you to know that in the 80 of the 113 parishes in this Archdiocese, we have daily adoration to the Blessed Sacrament from early morning till late in the evening. The practice of having all night adoration in parishes once a month is growing steadily.

    I was deeply impressed by the photographs you sent me of the image of Our Blessed Mother in the Church of Our Lady of Clearwater. It is touching to note the tender love and concern of our Heavenly Queen.

    I recommend the Archdiocese of _____ and my pastoral ministry to your special prayers. Thank you very much in anticipation. Rest assured of a regular memento at Holy Mass.

                            With cordial regards and sincere good wishes, I remain

                                                            Yours fraternally in Corde Mariae                                                              + _________
       

August 14, 2002 message continues

Mary speaks:         Oh my dear little children,

                        my Son Jesus has given you

                        this movement Shepherds of

                        Christ.

                            It is His Movement.

                                            4th anniversary of Mary on the building
  

                                                            December 17, 2000
                                                                day before Fr. Carter's death
  

February 5, 2001

August 14, 2002 message continues

Mary speaks:      He asks you to circulate 

                            the prayer manuals so

                            people will pray them

                            and to spread the Priestly

                            Newsletter to the priests.

                       Oh my children, look at

                            your earth. Many of my

                            little ones are living in sin.

                            Oh please my children.

  
Mary's Message 
from the Rosary of August 27, 1996

Mary speaks: 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

  
August 14, 2002 message continues

Mary speaks:     Oh my children,

                            My Son Jesus loves the

                                souls so much.
    

August 14, 2002 message continues

Mary speaks:     Oh my children, God has given

                            you great gifts.

                       God gives you His holy

                            priest.

                       They are a gift.
  
    

August 14, 2002 message continues

Mary speaks:     Pray for your Bishops.

                       Pray for your priests.

                       Pray the prayers my Son

                            gave to Fr. Carter—
    

  
August 14, 2002 message continues

Mary speaks:     My Son gives this message
  

Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus

  
My dear fellow Associate Members,

Jesus is calling special apostles to join a new division of the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Here is a message from Jesus given to Father Carter:

My beloved priest-companion, I am requesting that a new prayer movement be started under the direction of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. I am asking for volunteers who are willing to pray before the Blessed Sacrament for one hour, twice-weekly. Members of the Shepherds of Christ prayer chapters, as well as others, are to be invited to join this movement.

These apostles are to pray for the intentions I am giving you. For part of the hour they are to use the prayers of the Shepherds of Christ Associates Handbook. They may spend the rest of the hour as they so choose.

I will use this new prayer movement within My Shepherds of Christ Ministries in a powerful way to help in the renewal of My Church and the world. I will give great graces to those who join this movement. The name, Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, is to be given to this movement.

I am inviting My beloved Rita Ring to be coordinator for this activity.

I pour out the great love of My Sacred Heart to all. I am Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock.

    This is indeed a special calling for us to unite in one heart with His Eucharistic Heart and pray for the following intentions:

1. For the spread of the devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary culminating in the reign of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart.
2. For the Pope.
3. For all bishops of the world.
4. For all priests.
5. For all sisters and brothers in the religious life.
6. For all members of the Shepherds of Christ Movement, and for the spread of this movement to the world.
7. For all members of the Catholic Church.
8. For all members of the human family.
9. For all souls in purgatory.

August 14, 2002 message continues

Mary speaks:     Oh my children—

                            Please be Apostles of

                       the Eucharistic Heart

                       of Jesus.

                       Oh my children—

                            help me.

                        Here is a message a young 

                            girl wrote to Jesus.

  
  Excerpt from February 3, 2002

Jesus speaks:    Another letter.
  

 end of excerpt from February 3, 2002

    Oh my children—

 

August 14, 2002 message continues

Mary speaks:     Look at your youth.

                        The devil is tempting them.

                        Look at your world.

                        Oh my children, please

                            help me reach

                            the bishops,

                            the priests

                            with my Son's

                            Movement.
  

August 14, 2002 message continues

Mary speaks:     My children,

                                what is the world

                            teaching your children.

                            Please help me—
    

Excerpt from Newsletter 2001 - Issue 1
   

Relationship with Members of the Church

e) Relationship with Members of the Church

There is but one true Church of Christ. Yet this one Church has three different states of existence. There is the pilgrim Church, the Church of this world, composed of members who have received the grace of Christ and strive for its development. They have not yet obtained the goal of their efforts, as have the members of the heavenly Church, who enjoy God in eternal happiness. The Church suffering is an intermediate state of existence necessary for those who had not achieved the required purification as members of the pilgrim Church. Although there are these three phases of the Church’s existence, there is a profound union existing between all the members. All these members possess the same basic life of grace in Christ, and this common life establishes the most intimate bonds of love. In our preceding chapter, we discussed the pilgrim Church. Let us now consider the Church suffering and the heavenly Church.

The members of the Church suffering are those who have departed from this life in an incomplete state of Christian development. Their development is incomplete in the sense that grace has not fully taken possession of them, and, as a result, they are yet closed in upon themselves to a greater or lesser degree. They as yet cannot open themselves out in complete love to the Triune God in the beatific vision. They must undergo a further purification, a purification which could have been achieved upon earth with merit. Now the purification must be achieved with no merit attached. The pain of this purification is mixed with the certain expectation of achieving the vision of God. We can hasten the advent of this vision for this people by the offering of prayers and other good works. Scripture itself refers to our action on behalf of those in purgatory in Chapter 12 of the Second Book of Maccabees beginning with verse 38.

The members of the heavenly Church are those in whom the life of grace has taken full possession and has reached its completion in the life of glory. Faith now is unnecessary, as the light of glory gives the human intellect a new strength and capacity for seeing God face-to-face. While the Christian was a wayfarer, he received the imprint of the indwelling Trinity as he shared in God’s own life. Now in heaven that grace-life and possession of God reaches its completion—the absolute completion is not achieved, however, until the resurrection of the body. The divine persons give Themselves to the beatified in a profound union far surpassing that of the indwelling of the Trinity experienced here below.

This life of heaven is still the Christ-life, for just as we possess a share in Trinitarian life here below as mediated by Christ, and exercise this grace-life as structured by Him, so also in heaven is the mediation of Christ present. In the words of Rahner, "One always sees the Father through Jesus. Just as immediately as this, for the directness of the vision of God is not a denial of the mediatorship of Christ as man."¹⁴ And not only does the humanity of Christ unite the blessed to God, but also, in some way, to the whole of creation. This is merely a completion of what is begun here below, namely, the union with Christ in His humanity establishing the Christian in a special relationship with God, with other men, and with the whole of creation. We have a glimpse, therefore, of the fullness of life which members of the heavenly Church possess.

The heavenly Church, as St. Thomas says, is the true Church.¹⁵ The Church of this earth and the Church of purgatory are, each in its own way, reaching out in loving hope for the heavenly Jerusalem. Vatican II puts it very simply: "The Church, to which we are called in Christ Jesus, and in which we acquire sanctity through the grace of God, will attain her full perfection only in the glory of heaven."¹⁶

The members of the heavenly Church can help us in living our life of grace until we too share its fullness with them. Their power of intercession on our behalf is but another ramification of the communal aspect of Christianity. We are meant to help others grow in Christ. We, in turn, are intended by God to receive aid from others—yes, from members of the heavenly Church, as well as from those with whom we dwell here below.

Not only can we be aided by the saints’ intercession, but the example of the canonized saints can also be of great value to us. They have concretely proved that full holiness is possible. Such an inspiration is of real worth when we are tempted to think that Christian sanctity in its higher degrees is impossible of attainment. Moreover, the canonized saints, in their diversity, teach us that there are many authentic versions of Christian holiness. They can be innovators in showing us that there are numerous possibilities in assimilating the mystery of Christ, although the basic assimilation remains the same for all Christians of all times. In the opinion of Rahner this is one of the chief roles the canonized saints exert in the life of the Church.¹⁷

 

---

NOTES:

16. Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Church, No. 48.
17. Cf. Karl Rahner, Op. cit., pp. 100-101.

end of excerpt from Newsletter 2001 - Issue 1

          
        Pray for 4 very urgent intentions.

        Pray for 1 personal intention.

        Pray for a particular bishop and cardinal.

        Pray for the pope.

        Pray for all the bishops of the world.

          Pray for Sarah.

  
We desperately need fund.

Please help us if you can!

We have very many orders from Bishops for Priestly Newsletters  and prayer manuals and we need 
funds for the postage. 

  Shepherds of Christ Ministries
P. O. Box 193
Morrow, Ohio 45152
1-888-211-3041
    

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Shepherds of Christ Ministries
PO Box 193
Morrow, Ohio 45152-0193

Telephone: (toll free) 1-888-211-3041 or (513) 932-4451
FAX: (513) 932-6791