“Dear children, I am coming to you as a mother and I desire that in me, as in a mother, you may find your abode, consolation and rest. Therefore, my children, apostles of my love, pray. Pray with humble devotion, obedience and complete trust in the Heavenly Father. Trust as I have trusted when it was said to me that I will bring the blessing of the promise. May out of your hearts, from your lips, always come forth ‘May your will be done!’ Therefore, trust and pray so that I can intercede for you before the Lord, for him to give you the Heavenly Blessing and fill you with the Holy Spirit. Then he will be able to help all those who do not know the Lord – you, apostles of my love, will help them to call him ‘Father’ with complete trust. Pray for your shepherds and place your trust in their blessed hands. Thank you.” This is a beautiful, inspiring word from Our Lady who twice in this message highlights the coming blessing of promise. Originally, she referred to this promise in her Magnificat prayer: Luke 1: 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” Yes, this was the treasured promise of a messiah of whom she was the mother. Because of that fulfillment, today we are sanctuaries of the Spirit, crying out, “Abba, Father!” to none other than God Himself! Yet, the next stage of this Heavenly Blessing is that of which Mary now speaks. Likewise, Peter spoke of this in Acts: 3: 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. I’m profoundly touched - Our Lady asks us to completely trust the Father as she was asked to at the Annunciation. At that moment, Gabriel made no mention of the Cross, only of the Kingdom. In this message, Mary points to the Heavenly Blessing, but not the trial that proceeds it. Before her Triumph is the Chastisement. In my humble opinion, Mary’s above emphasis on trust is for the trial, not the Triumph. I sense in my heart that this indicates the Tribulation/Chastisement will soon be upon us. The timing of this message doesn’t surprise me, as we are just entering the Lenten season. So what does Our Lady ask of us? Two things. First, abide in her Immaculate Heart. We will find consolation, protection, and rest in the midst of the desert. Second, desire an obedient heart to live in the Divine Will and act accordingly. In other words, let us be signposts of light, apostles in the encroaching darkness, pointing the way to the coming blessing of promise. Our period of training is at an end. The race is before us. Let us pray, trust, and strive for holiness as we await the Heavenly Blessing and the fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will accompany it. Safe in the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart!
