Mary has requested that the daily message be given each day to the world. It is read nightly at the prayer service from her Image Building in Clearwater, Florida, U.S.A. This is according to her request. All attempts will be made to publish this daily message to the world at 11 p.m. Eastern time, U.S.A. We acknowledge that the final authority regarding these messages rests with the Holy See of Rome.

August 23, 1999

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.

There are seven levels of commitment in the Shepherds of Christ Movement.

1. There are Associates who gather and pray at least once monthly as a group and also help with donations to support the Shepherds of Christ priestly newsletter. They can be tremendously involved. They give as they feel they are able.
2. Apostles are member who have restricted their apostolic activity to the Shepherds of Christ. They literally act as a body of lay people who have given their lives in their present living situation to do all that they can to bring about the Reign of the Sacred Heart and triumph of Mary's Immaculate Heart.
3. Prayer Apostles are often shut-ins, some are able to go to church and pray. They spend much of their lives praying for the Movement.
4. Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus are those who spend at least two separate hours weekly before the Blessed Sacrament praying for the following:
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.

In that hour before the Eucharist they spend part of the time praying the Shepherds of Christ prayers and the rosary. The time can be spent with spouse or others, but most spend the time alone before the Eucharist.

5. Handmaids of the Good Shepherd are young and older women who have given their lives in community primarily to pray for the Shepherds of Christ Movement and intentions and to be special spouses of Jesus. Some have more duties than others. All have the primary duty of prayer and the desire to be a special spouse of Our Lord. One of the functions of the handmaids is their involvement in praying for and helping to circulate the priestly newsletter. The handmaids are not members of a religious order.
6. Servants of the Good Shepherd are men who live in community with a lifestyle and purpose similar to that of the handmaids. The servants are not members of a religious order.
7. We wish to form a special congregation of priests who will realize their great oneness with Christ. They will be consecrated deeply to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and support the Shepherds of Christ Movement as holy priests.

Whatever one's level of commitment in the Shepherds of Christ Movement, all share in promoting the overall goal of the Movement. This goal is to help in the spiritual renewal of the Church and the world. All the varied ministries of the Movement are directed toward this purpose. The spirituality which the Shepherds of Christ Movement presents to its members and to those outside the Movement through its various ministries is very basic. This spirituality is explicitly Trinitarian and Christocentric. Our spirituality helps others, especially priests, to develop a very deep union with Jesus, this Jesus who leads us to the Father in the Holy Spirit with Mary at our side. Our spirituality is deeply Eucharistic. We stress very much participation in the Mass and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. We also emphasize the extremely important role of prayer in the spiritual life. Devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, especially consecration to Their Hearts, is also a most important and central element. We are very much interested in helping to bring the Fatima message to completion, a message which has consecration to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary at its very core.

Jesus speaks: Shepherds of Christ apostles are to adhere to these teachings and are in this community, even though they may go to other places to pray and hold Shepherds of Christ prayer meetings.

The Shepherds of Christ handmaids, servants and apostles form a community. At some future date there is hope for a Shepherds of Christ priests’ congregation. The teachings that I give here are very directed to take men into a deep spousal relationship with Me as their Bridegroom, the Lamb of God. This will lead the soul into union with the Triune God.

The Shepherds of Christ Movement is My Movement. The apostles must be trained for this mission which is a mission of renewal for the Church and the world. They must be trained in this mission always adhering to the absolute truth. If a person commits oneself to be an apostle, he takes this mission as his way of life.

Jesus speaks: An excerpt from a previous daily message that explains Shepherds of Christ apostles and associates will follow these messages at the end.

Associates are not restricted to Shepherds of Christ materials as are apostles.

Apostles include servants and handmaids and those others who fulfill the duties required of members on the apostles-level of commitment.

Apostles of the Shepherds of Christ

Apostles of the Shepherds of Christ in other towns that need to go to other communities for Mass and Adoration should still restrict themselves to Shepherds of Christ material, the Bible, and the teaching of the Church found in Church Documents, Catechism, etc.

Apostles of the Shepherds of Christ should try to make Shepherds of Christ retreats as I have defined in the message that follows.

I will give you more information concerning this.

Some speakers and retreats and Bible studies are very damaging and will lead you from the mission I have called you to follow in the Shepherds of Christ.

Jesus speaks: I wish retreats given in which people pray these prayers and use this material.

Retreats for priests can include the tapes of Father Carter reading the newsletter, all newsletters, (Tell My People if messages are permitted), the basic messages of Fatima from The Spirituality of Fatima and Medjugorje Book, the tape of the Spirituality of Fatima can be used, the Spirituality section of the handbook, (the tape can be used, this should be made available in the best quality with Father Carter reading it), Response to God’s Love when this is possible and Response in Christ.

When the Mass Book gets the Imprimatur it too must be used.

I wish that the Parents and Children Rosary Book be used with Imprimatur and the Rosary Aves.

For others, I wish for retreats in churches that all Imprimatur material be used. There is a chart available in the Apostles Manual. I will provide you with a new chart for retreats.

For other retreats where it is possible to study messages all material of My two messengers can be used.

I wish retreats for My Shepherds apostles and members to include the writings of My two messengers.

Silent retreats can be made by anyone using tapes and materials. China, Indiana, is a good place for your retreats. Every 12, 13, 14th, unless otherwise indicated, China, Indiana, will hold retreats.

You can take a retreat anywhere with the material granted. It will be helpful to have a place where you can study before the tabernacle and go to Mass. Hospital chapels are sometimes open 24 hours with the tabernacle.

I wish Shepherds of Christ apostles and members all over the world making such retreats focusing on this material.

Materials are available without charge upon request.

Live to bring about the reign of My Heart and to be holy.

I beg you to use the gifts I have given you and to live to help save souls.

Help Me, I need you to answer My call. I am your beloved Jesus.

Messenger: Jesus said: Sing song, Here I am Lord.

Mary speaks: My beloved Shepherds apostles,

My Son Jesus has instructed you to follow only the messages of Father Carter and Rita at this time.

All messages coming from God are totally consistent. At this time, my Son Jesus wishes Shepherds of Christ apostles to follow only the messages from His two messengers for this Movement.

You must restrict yourselves as my Son has requested. I have requested that you pray the 6:20 p.m. Prayer Novena at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center daily before the Sorrowful Mother statue and the exposed Eucharist if possible.

I am sending my Shepherd apostles there to pray. TO PRAY for Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center in addition to the Shepherds of Christ Movement, the priests, the Church and the world.

I wish all apostles who can, without affecting their mission from my Son, to come to the prayers if it is convenient and follow this with the Mass celebrated at 7:15 p.m. in the Sorrowful Mother Chapel.

On some evenings there are special Masses, speakers, healing services etc. I do not wish Shepherds of Christ apostles to partake in other services as such, especially where there are teachings, etc.

My Son has requested all Shepherd apostles to restrict themselves to Shepherds of Christ Prayer Services and materials. I do not wish to interfere in any way with this request of my Son. It is most important you follow His directions. You are Shepherds of Christ apostles with a mission very directed by Him. I am sending you there to pray, to pray the Holy Spirit Novena and the Shepherds of Christ Prayers and the other introductory prayers given by my Son.

Shepherds of Christ apostles are permitted to go to Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center for private Eucharistic devotion, always, when praying there, to pray for Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center also and its people and mission. I request this especially so that there is fervent prayer before August 31, 1999. Please pray intently now.

I beg you all to walk in the absolute truth. My Son is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

You must pray for Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center when you are at the Center. This is not in any way to alter your intense prayers for the Shepherds of Christ Movement.

I ask you to continue the Rosary Novena for my intentions, Shepherds of Christ intentions, Father Carter and the Jesuits.

Excerpt from Daily Message - August 7, 1999:

Mary speaks: I ask all to pray the rosary as never before for my intentions which include the intentions of the Shepherds of christ. I ask this for my birthday present. Help me, my children, help me.

I ask all to pray for my beloved priest-son, Father Edward Carter, and the Jesuits. On the Feast of the Holy Rosary, October 7, 1999, I will grant great graces if you pray the rosary for the next two months more fervently than ever before for my intentions which include the intentions of teh Shepherds of Christ, for Father Carter and the Jesuits.

Mary speaks: I love you so much. Your prayers for Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center as Shepherds of Christ apostles while you are there, will help my Son’s Movement Shepherds of Christ, when you pray together for the Shepherds of Christ Movement, and will help Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center.

I DO NOT WISH THIS TO INTERFERE with any of your duties to the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Do not do this if it will interfere. On many nights you will not be able to attend Mass because of restrictions. Some can pray in another place in Our Lady of Holy Spirit Center.

Associates are permitted to follow other ministries.

Associates do not have to follow the restrictions placed on apostles.

Associates, however, when engaging or conducting Shepherds of Christ Prayer Meetings, must never mix this with other ministries, as requested by my Son -- unless He would direct this. He does not wish other messages mixed with the messages given for the Shepherds of Christ Movement.

I wish a Shepherds of Christ apostle to conduct the meeting at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center, or at least be there present at the Wednesday meeting.

This is my request. I love you very much. I am Mary your Mother.

Donations should be given for using this facility for prayer.

Jesus speaks: You are Shepherds of Christ apostles. You are in training, you are forming a new community, Shepherds of Christ. You will teach for the times to come about My ways.

You pray for priests, the renewal of the Church and the world. When going to Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center as an apostle, you are going there to pray as I have instructed as a Shepherds of Christ apostle. I want you to adhere to all directions given for apostles. Anyone that is at this level of an apostle belongs to the Shepherds of Christ Community as a lay person, a handmaid, a servant and soon a priest. All are apostles who must obey the rules for apostles concerning other communities. I am forming you. I am teaching you My ways of My Movement to help bring about the reign of the Sacred Heart and triumph of Mary’s Heart, to help bring about the renewal of the Church and the world.

I state that when going to Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center, you are not to argue and take sides. Observe silence when one comes to argue. Do not listen to one who wants to criticize My messengers and My Movement. They are criticizing Me. Tell them to read the newsletter and the material and pray the prayers. Ask them if they themselves have studied the material. You are here at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center to pray because My Mother has requested this.

Do not talk about anyone. Do not use names and criticize, know that Satan wants you to get in heated discussions to cause problems. It wounds My Heart when people do not stay after Communion and leave the room to talk about another. Be holy, stay holy. Pray for new life and unity. Pray that God will handle the big problems that exist. I want you to pray as requested.

You are in training. Attending Mass is the greatest form of unity.

I will give you further directions.

I want you to come to Me at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center at this time because your Mother, under the title of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit, has requested it for prayer at 6:20 p.m. and some Masses in the Sorrowful Mother Chapel.

You are a community of Shepherds of Christ apostles. Some priests may not understand the Movement. Go to confession often. Go to confess your sins, not to discuss the Movement.

I give you My writings. My Movement cannot be judged on one imperfect apostle as you cannot judge My Church by one imperfect priest.

Read the writings, you will see what I am saying.

I love you so much.

Messenger: Jesus said to quote from the daily message the writing about the difference between apostles and associates.

Excerpt from Daily Message of 7/28/1999:

Messenger: Jesus defines:

APOSTLES - This includes handmaids and servants of the Good Shepherd. "Apostles in the Shepherds of Christ Movement adhere strictly to the Shepherds of Christ Movement. They see their calling and commit totally to this."

ASSOCIATES - "Associates are members that pray the prayers, but have other commitments as their duties. They may follow other messengers."

Jesus does not wish other messages mixed with Shepherds of Christ messages at Shepherds of Christ meetings.

Jesus wishes those speaking in the name of Shepherds of Christ to restrict themselves to our material and not mix it with other visionaries’ materials or personal theories.

Question for married couples and others in intimate relationships:

Q: How do I feel when you do support me in front of others and our children?