I believe that, too, Padraig. The words from John's Gospel have been ringing in my ears today as well - the world hated me and it will also hate you. I speak a great deal about Medjugorje in my work. Usually without looking for chances= they arise spontaneously. This week we have lit a candle each evening that I bought there some years ago and that Fr Slavko blessed and we have prayed around it. This week has been very testing for different reasons - I won't bore everyone as we all have our problems - but this is relevant. And this is why I think a positive judgement is imminent. Someone on here wrote very powerfully recently about being goaded into fights with co-workers and an incident where she was being drawn into a fight in which she told the person exactly what she thought of him. he won, she lost. Satan won. That was a very timely warning for me. Every day this week, even despite praying protection, there has been incident after incident involving different individuals in which I had to exercise so such self-control into not losing my temper and saying what I thought, that I am drained tonight. Drained, but peace intact. False accusations, verbal abuse, manipulation, lies. The usual stuff that satan does to get us to fight each other and fight God. Be on our guard, friends, because I sense that the fight is hotting up and that it might feel like all is lost and the light is fading, but this is not true. Pray for our shepherds, including our Pope. Fra Slavko always said that he who prays is not afraid of the future.
Yes I notice these little storms around me at work myself ,Bella and often like you I wonder, how much of this comes from just human sinfulness and how much is actually stoked up by the devil himself? I think one of the signs something is Satanic is when there is an element of, 'Spookery ' about it; I mean weird, errie, strange , out of the ordinary ect. One of the best examples of such spookery was in the life St Margaret Mary Alocque where her fellow nuns for no good reason at all pulled her out of bed one night and gave her a good kicking. Every time I encounter spookery I think of St Margaret Mary.
So what is the opinion of most here. If the Pope comes forward and says it is not legit will you believe anyway and wait for it to play out since the church has prolonged approving in the past or changed their mind or agree with the church? I have mentioned before on this site but will again. I don't know much about Medj to state whether it is true or not. What I do know or have heard is how people have been changed for the better after visiting Medj. This for me though would not make it valid because I have always felt that there could be visions and seers that are truly hearing from Stan but because of this deception, heaven could also step in and try to help out and counter the deception with good fruits. The visions in Medj could truly be a deception but the outcome and results of the mass conversions, fasting, prayer, etc could all be because of grace from God to counter the deception. I am sure the Pope wants to tread lighly here but what if he knows for sure that they are false? I am sure he knows a heck of a lot more then us. You never know. What if Pope Benedict is having visions in private and counseling Pope Francis for example. If Pope Francis truly knows that the visions are false but the fruits are good then can you even imagine the burden he must be under? He knows the outcry from making a declaration against would be huge but at the same time if he knows the truth then how could he not tell us? I am not saying that this is what is happening or going to happen just the thoughts in my head right now about all of this.
For me, Andy, obedience to our Pope is what is important. Like the Apostles at Pentecost we cannot refrain from speaking of what we have seen and heard. Since the messages of Medjugorje are calling us to live that Pentecost anew, it will not matter, temporally, if our Pope asks us to forget Medjugorje. The Gospel message still requires us to witness that same message. The challenge will be to do it, knowing that our heavenly mother was allowed to visit us personally to help us for so long, but without alluding to this. But we will do it: rosary, fasting, Mass often, reconciliation, prayer from the heart, love of neighbour. Everyone wins. And, one day, we will all know the truth of it.
It's true. You cannot change what you believe. But you can change how you act. When Mary Magdalen rushed to tell Peter, the first Pope that Christ had risen he did not believe her. This could not change what Mary believed since she had met him Him in the Garden, whereas Pope Peter had not. But it did not change the duty of Mary's obedience to Peter as head of the Church. We cannot change the truth that burns in our hearts for something that is a lie.
I am beginning to think one or more of the secrets/times have been given to the Vatican and the Vatican is just protecting itself in case things don't happen as/when predicted.
THAT is a lot of 'what if's...." I know at least 50 priests who were converted at Medjugorje and give our Lady great love and glory for their priesthood. I know there are 100's if not thousands more. Lets all just consider this a test of obedience. The Vatican did NOT say we could not go there, or have prayer meetings or pray our Medjugorje rosary...we must just be joyful and say, "Mary will take care of it." Personally, I think this is a test within the Vatican (circles or hierarchy) to 'push or test' the Holy Father. I know he believes in Medjugorje, but will he follow protocol or step out in faith and do something different? We will see. One way or another it will not be wrong, cause the boss can say what he wants!
I do not think it will happen, I think that the disclosure of the secret by the alleged seer will never happen. The mood in Medjugorje is terribly fallen since the Pope Francis hinted that he is preparing a negative decision on Medjugorje. If it is determined that Medjugorje is the fruit of lies, then Medjugorje should be buried and not to look at the positive side of that is allegedly brought. The lie has nothing to do with God, and if the path is built of lies, that path does not lead us to the truth and to God.
We don't want to end up casing our tails in circles again over this, do we? The arguments are well rehearsed on both sides. If the Vatican decides against this phenomena I will be perfectly obedient to it. I am curious, Rino, if the Vatican decides in favour, will you accept this?
I do not think the mood in Medjugorje is terribly fallen.... In the contrary. I do not know if you ever have been in Medjugorje..... but the faith there is so profound because people there have their peace since many years build in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and that makes them strong. Human decisions will never change that. BUT, they will be obedient as they always have been. What brings true peace, true joy and true conversion into the hearts, is for me a very decisive criterion. God will not allow that confusion will take over the hearts of so many people who returned to Him and His blessed Mother. If a negative decision would be made by the Commission, then we know that God Himself will intervene, probably via the given secrets. O no, Our Father will not abandon us. He is already loosing too much other souls who never go to Church and even openly attack His Son and His Mother....
View attachment 1531 I also think we should think less with our brains and more with our hearts. Just look at this picture of the Lady of Peace in Medjugorje. When my friend died and I went there three weeks after his death, I had such a pain in my heart, it was so teared up. But when I was in front of this statue and I looked up to Her Face, She gave me such a profound Peace in my heart. Some days later, I even got a sign right under the clouds above the Church (I took a picture but I only noticed it when I returned home) where I saw the Cross of Jesus, the above part of His Body and His Head hanging down to the right. It was as if this had been signed with a pencil. I understood from this that Jesus showed me that He was with me in this pain and loss, as if He was feeling the same pain. He is SO GOOD. Do not tell me that sudden Peace in a painful and teared up heart, comes from the devil. If God would permit that we receive so much graces to conversion in a place where in fact, according to some, the devil is appearing, He would loose ALL his children. He will not allow that.
The believer does not have to believe in any private apparitions, whether recognized or not. I know it's all been said, and this would just spin in circles. Elisa I live 25 km from Medjugorje and I've been there countless times, does not record the exact number. The decision, it can not possibly be positive, it can be negative or very negative.
With all my respect Rino, it is not because you live 25 km from Medjugorje that you cannot be blind. Sorry for that. But even Jesus when He was ALIVE did not succeed in touching hearts in His own environment.
It is also possible that you are blind in healthy eyes. As said Francis, turn to the Gospel. It's hard to convince yourself that you so many years believed in falsehood, the brain will always find an excuse, and possible alternatives in order to falsehood still proved to be true. Who is here blindness is hard to say.
My eyes are not important, but my heart is. If my heart believes so many years of falsehood, then confession, Holy Communion, Rosary prayers, the Gospel, conversion, love, charity, evangelize, the reading of books of Saints etc. are also fake.
Let's stop this discussion about Medjugorje because it is of no use to God. The only thing that is important to God is the conversion of our heart.
Pope meets Putin at the Vatican View attachment 1532 http://www.rferl.mobi/a/25180013.html Sorry Padraig, I do not know how to open a new thread.... or in which existing thread I have to place it.
^^^ what an interesting picture. I just don't know what to make of the expressions on each face but it is troubling for some reason.
