August 6, 2003 - Feast of the Transfiguration

  
Shepherds of Christ Ministries
P.O. Box 193
Morrow, OH 45152

1-888-211-3041

A Prayer for Intimacy with the Lamb
the Bridegroom of the soul

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Genesis 1: 27 

    God created man in the image of himself, 
    in the image of God he created him, 
    male and female he created them.

August 6, 2003 message continues

Jesus speaks:     And I took them up the mountain —

                                I give you My Body and My Blood in the Eucharist —

                                Pray to be holy —

                                Pray to do God's will —

                                Follow the way of life —

                                Do the directions I give to help promote this mission —

                            Beg to be changed, more and more to be likened to Me.

I am the Way; I am Truth and Life. John 14:6

August 6, 2003 message continues

Messenger:             I went to Mass and the priest talked about our top

                            of the mountain experiences.

                                We must live in the moment —

Fr. Carter had a dream

    Today’s Gospel in its story certainly points ahead to Jesus in His Passion and death. And as we read passages such as this during the Lenten season, we are reminded once again that the Church in her Liturgy of the Word gives us an opportunity to undergo a purification, an ever deepening cleansing of ourselves so that we may be a more fit instrument for receiving the great graces which are to be given to us at the time of the Resurrection memorial on Easter. And so all in all, Lent is a time of purification to prepare us for ever-greater gifts of the Lord. It’s a time of self-discipline, a time to renew our efforts to be self-disciplined in the service of the Lord. Self-discipline is an aspect of purification. And I suggest that one of the most difficult acts of self-discipline in the spiritual journey is to concentrate on the present moment. We have a very strong tendency to disregard the importance of the present moment by focusing in a wrong way on the past or in a wrong way on the future. There are proper occasions for thinking of the past and the future. For example, we have to learn from the past and we have to prepare for the future, but our great emphasis has to be upon the present. There is a Latin axiom which says, age quod agis, age quod agis, which means: do what you are doing, concentrate on the present. And of course we are familiar with that term in the history of spirituality: the sacrament of the present moment. And so the discipline of Lent certainly encourages us to include in a deeper self-discipline a greater determination to get as much as we can out of the present moment. People with a terminal illness have an opportunity as they prepare for death for increased prayer, contrition, love of God. However, some are taken very, very quickly. But for those who have the opportunity of knowing with some certainty the time of their death, I’m sure as they look back on their lives, they are saddened by the many times they did not use time and opportunities for the service of the Lord properly, and are overjoyed at those times in which they did use the present opportunity properly. A great means we have of living in the present properly is a greater focus upon our Lord. For if I have that awareness of the fact I am united with Jesus here and now, why should I be concerned so much about the future or the past? Yes, a great help in living in the present and deriving all the good we can from it for ourselves and others is an ever greater focus upon Jesus, because the more I focus upon Jesus and the more I live with Him in the present moment, the more I am satisfied with the present moment. And so let us in our Lenten activity resolve to grow in that self-discipline - which is very difficult at times - to really live in the presence with the fullness of our being as much as is possible, with the help of God’s grace. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the day of salvation.

end of Father Carter's homily

            

Fr. Carter & Rita Ring at the Virgin Mary Building
Building of the Two Hearts

4 days before Fr. Carter death
December 14, 2000

August 6, 2003 message continues

Messenger:     A top of the mountain experience

    written by Rita Ring December 18, 1995 — 5 years before
    Fr. Carter's death December 18, 2000

    

December 18, 1995

August 6, 2003 message continues

Messenger:        We must let go of some frustration and rely on His Might.

                            We need to quit playing negative thoughts in our minds

                                like tapes.

                            Smile — breathe in the clean air, be thankful for God's gifts.

Excerpt from Priestly Newsletter 1998 - ISSUE FOUR

    Shortly before he was to die from cancer, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin left us these inspiring words about peace: "It is the first day of November, and fall is giving way to winter. Soon the trees will lose the vibrant colors of their leaves and snow will cover the ground. The earth will shut down, and people will race to and from their destinations bundled up for warmth. Chicago winters are harsh. It is a time of dying.

    "But we know that spring will soon come with all its new life and wonder.

    "It is quite clear that I will not be alive in the spring. But I will soon experience new life in a different way...

    "What I would like to leave behind is a simple prayer that each of you may find what I have found—God's special gift to us all: the gift of peace. When we are at peace, we find the freedom to be most fully who we are, even in the worst of times. We let go of what is non-essential and embrace what is essential. We empty ourselves so that God may more fully work within us. And we become instruments in the hands of the Lord."³

---

Notes:

3. Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, The Gift of Peace, Loyola University Press, pp. 151-153.
    

end of excerpt from Priestly Newsletter 1998 - ISSUE FOUR

August 6, 2003 message continues

Messenger:        We must train our minds, not to give into negative

                                thinking, that constant thinking "what is wrong"

                                "what would make me feel better", "who need's

                                fixing — to make me feel better."

                            Focus on the gifts God has given.

                            Write the letter to God the Father daily and thank Him and

                                review all the Good Things.

                            Fr. Carter said he had a constant vision of Jesus inside

                                and he relied on His Might —

                            So much can be accomplished with His Might —

                            We may not be able to do it, but He can.

                        Prayer list

                            God the Father wants us to own the Virgin Mary building —
                                pray for a donor.

                            Pray for all we do, Rosary program, nursing home etc.

                            Pray for a very special mailing and all involved.

                            Pray for special people.

                            Pray for funds.

                            Pray for all servants, handmaids, apostles, associates and
                                all our needs.

                            Pray for the priests that help us and all involved.

                            Pray for the Bishops over us.

                            Pray for an audience for Rita with the Pope.

                            Pray for 5 very urgent intentions.

                            Pray all our prayers, morning offering etc, for the priests,
                                the Church and the world.

                            Pray for vocations to all 7 categories.

                            Pray for conventions and our stores.

Excerpt from the Rosary of Light
from October 31, 2002

Transfiguration

1. Here are the words of scripture about the 
        transfiguration.

Matthew 17:2-3

There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as dazzling as light. And suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him

2. Immaculata - Holy Cross is a Catholic Church
        in Cincinnati. They have many steps
        to climb. People go there on Good Friday
        and pray on every step. Here is a picture 
        from outside.
  

  

3. I saw Jesus transfigured in the statue several
        times in January, 1996 before Mary appeared
        at the end of 1996 on the building in Clearwater,
                                                                  Florida.

4. Here is a picture where Jesus appeared in
        the Sacred Heart statue.
  

  

5. Here is what I wrote-

Excerpt from the Daily Messages December 22, 1998

Messenger:  On January 9, 1996, I went to pray. The snow was so bad the street was blocked to Holy Cross-Immaculata. I finally managed to find a place to park and trudged through the snow, panting with joy to be with Our Lord in the tabernacle there. When I arrived all I could do was kneel before the Sacred Heart statue and pour out myself to Him.

From my writings of January 9, 1996, I write:

"I was engulfed again in my love of God and cried so hard because I love Him so much. In this intimate act of giving myself totally to Him, my whole act was in emptying myself, wanting only to be lost in Him and united forever to Him in this most blissful moment. I turned myself over and was lost in Him, knowing His presence with me and knowing His deep love. The world stopped and I existed in Him, longing to forever stay there, so this moment would never end."

"I touched you, God and in this embrace I knew your unending love. I saw Your Body as if it was transfigured and glowing in light and I was lost in Thee."

This is how it began. I would see a great reflective light, as if from a mirror, on the eaves of the church in the front of Holy Cross-Immaculata and His Body was changed in the most brilliant light before my eyes. I cannot describe what I saw, nor have I ever seen it except in this vision and two that would follow the next two days. Jesus was transfigured before my eyes.

The date of January 9, 1996, when it first happened, was the same date January 9, 1994, when I genuflected before the crucifix and the altar at St. Gertrude's and the Father spoke; Blue Book II-page 18, January 9, 1994: "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

On January 9, 1996, I would see Jesus transfigured before me in the statue.
  

6. When Jesus appeared the light was so awesome I
        cannot describe, sometimes I see the light
        like that at Mary's image site.

7. Jesus appeared transfigured below
        Mary's image when we opened the
        Rosary factory February 5, 2000.
        Our Founder Fr. Carter was there. He
        blessed the rosary factory.

8. Mary and Jesus want us to pray the rosary.

9. The pope is the person on earth in the highest place
        in the Church.

10. The pope told us to meditate on these Mysteries of light.
        These mysteries help draw us closer to
        our beloved Jesus, the Sacred Heart,
        He loves us so much.

end of excerpt from October 31, 2002 rosary

Jiffy Sheet: 108 day Novena beginning August 3, 2003 to November 18, 2003

You will need:          1. This sheet
                                2. Holy Spirit Novena Book
                                3. Shepherds of Christ Prayer Manual

I. Begin at 6:20 p.m. by singing, "Come Holy Ghost" (verse 1).

1. Say, "I want to make a Spiritual Communion." 
2. "I give my heart to Jesus and Mary with you in love." (This will unite us in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.) 
3. Cast out Satan: "We cast Satan into the fires of hell, far from us, our families, our Movement, Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center, the Church and the world in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

4. Pray the Holy Spirit Novena using the Holy Spirit Novena Booklet.
5. After the novena, read the appropriate meditation. For example: period 1, day 1; period 1, day 2; etc. This will continue until further indicated.
   • It is enormously important that you feel as a body praying together, asking for the special coming of the Holy Spirit.
6. After the meditation say: "We consecrate the Movement, Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center, the Church and the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary."
7. Ask that the Blood of Jesus be spread on the Movement, Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center, the Church and the world.
8. Begin the 6:30 p.m. prayer service as usual.

II. Begin the 6:30 prayer service

1. Begin praying:  Dear Father in the name of Your Son Jesus, in the Holy Spirit, through the powerful intercession of the Virgin Mary, with all the angels and the saints and the souls in purgatory, we join in one mind and one heart and ask the Holy Spirit to come to all the world in a special way, especially to our priests. We pray all prayers for the priests and the renewal of the Church and the world and for the Shepherds of Christ intentions. By the precious Body and Blood of Jesus we cast out Satan far from this place, our families, the Shepherds of Christ Movement, Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center, the Church and the world. We ask the Blood of Jesus be spread on us, the Shepherds of Christ Movement, Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center, the Church and the world. We beg for grace and mercy for the world and wish to make reparation to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. We give our hearts to Jesus and Mary with all gathered here in love. We wish to be forgiven for offending one another. We love You God, help us.
2. Sing A Song from Jesus.   Refrain:  "I come to you with greatest love, I am your loving Savior.  I am your God, I died for you, I come to you this day."
3. Then begin the prayers of the Good Shepherd (Shepherds of Christ Prayer Manual).
4. Sing The Rosary song   Refrain:  "Oh the rosary, the rosary is the love of Their two Hearts,   Oh the rosary, the rosary is the love of Their two Hearts."
         1) Ave Maria, Ave Maria.
         2) Jesus we love You, Mary we love you.
         3) This is her peace plan, Children must pray it.
         4) We turn to Mary, She is the Queen of Peace.
         5) Oh Sacred Heart Divine, Oh Heart of Mary pure, Ave Maria, We love to pray it!
5. Begin the rosary. Please use the Rosary Books and the Rosary Aves.  The important thing is to pray the prayers and the rosary at 6:30 p.m., if possible. (Rosary mysteries need to be according to the Rosary Novena.)
6. Read the Ten Commandments.
     
   1.   I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.
   2.   You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
   3.   Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
   4.   Honor your father and your mother.
   5.   You shall not kill.
   6.   You shall not commit adultery.
   7.   You shall not steal.
   8.   You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
   9.   You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
   10.   You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
         
7. Pray A Prayer of Thanksgiving then read the Daily Message for the day.

We need money for the

English speaking priestly mailing.

Shepherds of Christ Ministries
P.O. Box 193
Morrow, Ohio 45152-0193

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