Our Lady's recent emphasis on PEACE

I had another remarkable spiritual experience this past May 12th, which also happened to be Mother's Day 2024.  I've only spoken about it to my prayer group co-members, but am now prompted to blog about it after a friend texted me this morning about a special plea made by Our Lady in Medjugorje.  In short, the Blessed Virgin requested through the visionary, Marija, a 9-day Rosary Novena "for World Peace" to be prayed beginning tomorrow: June 16th.  The novena will end on 6/24 - the eve of the 43rd Anniversary of the official start of her appearances in Medjugorje.

What is unusual about this request is that Marija was also asked to climb Apparition Hill each night during the novena where she will receive her daily visit from the Holy Virgin at 11:30pm (versus the routine time of 6:40pm - read about the details here); it adds an element of sacrifice to the entire matter and many speculate that the designated time is significant, in itself, not just for its deviation from the norm but also given its close proximity to 12:00am, which marks the start of a new day.

Now going back to my experience on 5/12 ... being that it was Mother's Day, I told Our Lady that I would write her an icon as my personal gift to her.  After thinking for a while as to what title of the Holy Mother I should illustrate, I settled on representing her as Our Lady of Peace, based on the mysterious image seen on a pillar in our Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu (one can read about the Cathedral image here).

Shortly after making my choice, I was surprised to hear a female voice speak to me in a majestic tone, yet full of maternal love.  I knew it was the Blessed Virgin and her words were brief, but relevant and profoundly insightful ... and I immediately set about writing the icon, which took me roughly 3 days to fully complete; I titled it "Our Lady of Peace and Reparation" and below is a short clip showing the finished icon, plus the "message".

As previously mentioned, I only shared the experience with my prayer group, but after I learned about Our Lady's urgent request for a special novena for Peace, I couldn't help but think there was a close correlation between this recent development in Medjugorje; what I heard; and even the holy figures in our cathedral - ALL have an emphasis on PEACE and it has me wondering if something's up, especially with the ongoing war in Ukraine and the escalating war in the Holy Land.  Hence, my decision to share what I believe are also words from Our Lady ... and please note - I AM NOT A SEER - but I don't want to answer to the Lord for not having said something when I should've.

With everything happening one after another, I know for certain we all need to take immediate action ... but, of course, each reader must discern for themselves on how to accept this post.  Even if one dismisses my personal testimony, the Medjugorje Novena still deserves our individual responses.  

Reflecting on everything as a whole, I personally interpret this series of prophetic "lights" as indications that a difficult era is soon dawning upon our world, and we have to be prepared for it, via much prayer, especially through the Eucharist and the Rosary.

Again, we need to act ... and we can start by offering daily Rosaries in union with the Peace Novena asked for by our Blessed Mother.  Then we continue on by consciously praying daily for the CONVERSION OF SINNERS; making REPARATION FOR SINS; praying for WORLD PEACE; and trusting that GOD IS IN CONTROL.

Lord Jesus, King of Peace,

have mercy on us.

Our Lady, Queen of Peace,

pray for us!

We ask for a speedy and

peaceful end to the

war in the Middle East ...

as well as, all other wars

raging in the world.

Help us to also amend

our lives.  Amen.

* * *  UPDATE - AUGUST 2024  * * *

The icon pictured above was presented to our Bishop Larry Silva in celebration of his recent 75th Birthday, and in commemoration of his tenure as Bishop of our Diocese.

May Our Lady of Peace, Patroness of the Diocese of Honolulu, bless and protect our Bishop Larry.  God bless him!