Holy Relic Visitation: Our Lady of Fatima Prayer Group, 2/25/2017

Our prayer group statues of the Holy
Family displayed in their new home.

Our Fatima Prayer Group underwent a big change this month - our host and prayer leader, Andrea, recently moved with her family to a townhouse - a much smaller home - in another part of Mililani, which meant our prayer meetings had to move, too. But our group was determined to continue with our monthly prayer, despite the downsizing of our meeting place... so we made due with the space we had in the home's living room and it was actually quite cozy! Some of us plopped down on the floor to do our rosary and our host was most thrilled to have their new place blessed with lots of prayer and positive energy.

And tonight, for our Saint of the Month, we honored a little-known French mystic and founder - Bl. Marie of Jesus Deluil-Martiny (read about her life here). After I relayed her bio to the group, several were deeply impressed by her heroic life despite being dismayed with her violent death at the hands of a fanatical anarchist; one person curiously asked, "What could she be the patron saint of?"

It then sort of dawned on me that Bl. Marie of Jesus could very well be a timely role model for all Christian "Prayer Warriors" who are prayerfully battling moral and spiritual evils, including anarchists who are increasing all over the world in this day and age; individuals totally given over to the diabolic, self-serving spirit of rebellion against anything having to do with the Lord, his Church, and his precepts.

Bl. Marie of Jesus Deluil-Martiny,
pray for those who rebel against God.

Bl. Marie of Jesus made it her life's mission to defend the Lord's honor and to make reparation for the insults directed towards Him by sinners, via prayerful Eucharistic Adoration and continued self-sacrifice in the spirit of Love. Her example could serve as inspiration for all of us to also pray more for these godless dissenters to experience the truth of the Holy Spirit, and break away from immoral ideologies that are misleading modern society.

I shared my opinion with our members and they seemed to take it to heart since tonight there were many vocal prayers offered for the conversion of rebellious souls, especially here in the USA.  May Bl. Marie of Jesus pray for us.

Of course, after all the prayers finished, our first ever potluck fellowship in the townhouse was celebrated. We made that work, too, despite the tiny kitchen... and all the dishes and desserts were delicious!

By the end of the evening, any concerns we had about having monthly gatherings in our new location were gone. It felt like home... and we're already looking forward to the March meeting.

Monthly Messages from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: February 2017

Dear Children!

Our Lady's Monthly Message to the World on February 25th:

   “Dear children! Today I am calling you to profoundly live your faith and to implore the Most High to strengthen it, so that winds and storms cannot break it. May the roots of your faith be prayer and hope in eternal life. Already now, little children, work on yourselves in this time of grace, wherein God is giving you the grace – through renunciation and the call to conversion – to be people of clear and persevering faith and hope.  Thank you for having responded to my call.”

Our Lady's Special Message to Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo on February 2nd:

   “Dear children, you who are striving to offer every day of your life to my Son, you who are trying to live with Him, you who are praying and sacrificing - you are hope in this peaceless world. You are rays of the light of my Son, a living gospel, and you are my beloved apostles of love. My Son is with you. He is with those who think of Him - those who pray. But in the same way, He is patiently waiting for those who do not know Him. Therefore, you, apostles of my love, pray with the heart and with your works show the love of my Son. This is the only hope for you, and this is also the only way to eternal life. I, as a mother, I am here with you. Your prayers directed to me are the most beautiful roses of love for me.  I cannot but be where I sense the scent of roses.  There is hope. Thank you.”

First Saturday Parish Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 2/4/2017

I was still on a spiritual "high" today after having been in the presence of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima during the past two evenings.  I experienced Our Lady's maternal love deeply during my visits with the statue and it was still with me as we prayed our First Saturday Rosary for Peace this evening. Perhaps it was the reason why I could sense the Blessed Mother in our Day Chapel, as well... and it felt satisfying knowing that this monthly devotion we established over 6 years ago, was in direct response to the requests she made in Fatima in 1917... and I'd like to think she is pleased that my parish was responding in this manner; that there are several dedicated participants who have blossomed in their personal devotion to our Blessed Mother and her Rosary.

For this particular prayer day I introduced the participants to St. Margaret of Cortona (d. 1297), whose Feast will be celebrated on February 22nd (read more about her here). This Saint's inspirational life was all about repentance and redemption, and it corresponds perfectly with the requests Mary made at Fatima - Convert and Pray... and Peace will surely follow. St. Margaret lived and exemplified the very same message in the 13th Century, long before Fatima happened... but it just goes to show how timeless the Message is; that God continues to call us, in every era, to make a "U Turn" if we ever find ourselves headed down the wrong road; that Our Lady's many apparitions/messages and the lives of the Saints can often serve as traffic signs to help us head back in the right direction, away from disaster.  We need to be attentive.

Video:  After the Rosary Prayer, I found the

fabric doily on which the Rosa Mystica statue

stood, sprinkled with silver escarchas -

note the random sparkles.

So for anyone who's searching to head back on the right road, Our Lady's recommendations are always consistent - return to Jesus, who is present at every Mass... and pray from the heart, especially the Holy Rosary. Our parish's schedule of First Saturday Confession, Rosary, and Mass can be a start for anyone who wants to make a positive U Turn in their lives.  The next prayer is scheduled for 4:25PM on Saturday, March 4th.  All are welcome!