July 1, 2008

Jesus

My heart never stops loving and not for a moment does My heart stop craving love in return. I crave love from you, My dear apostle. You love Me, I know. You serve Me with steadiness, I know. ‘What is it that Jesus wants from Me that I am not giving’, you ask. I will tell you. I want you to show Me that you understand My love for you by trusting Me. I am hurt when you do not trust Me. Look at your time of service. Would you agree that I have provided you with everything you need to see to your part in My plan? Would you agree that I have given you consolation when you were afraid? Have I not guided you when you were unsure? What have I withheld from you? You are growing in holiness and I am answering your prayers for your loved ones with heavenly prudence and steadiness. The part you are called to play in My plan is important and I need your service but I would never ask you to serve to the detriment of your holiness. If you are not increasing in holiness, My dear apostle, it is because you are not allowing Me to direct you. Perhaps you are increasing but not as quickly as you would like. That is another matter altogether. It is for Me to decide how quickly to advance you. It is for you to cooperate. I am speaking today so that I can urge you forward. My apostles must be willing to benefit from the guidance I am sending. You must sit in silence with Me each day, asking Me where you can improve in holiness. What habits are you holding on to that you need to relinquish? What new habits should replace them? Apostles, it is not to stand still that you are called, but to move forward in holiness. This advance is necessary for these times or I would not be calling you to it so seriously. I am looking for you to change. I want you to grow. Many of you are saintly now, walking closely with Me in each day. I rejoice in you, it is true. You know that I do. And yet, I allow you to remain on earth, to work, yes, but also to become even holier. One of the ways you can become holy in a short time is by trusting Me in everything. A small child does not worry about one meal shortly after she has been fed another. She trusts her parents to provide for her, particularly if she has never gone hungry. You, dear apostles, have never been without My providence so there is no reason for you to fear. You can trust Me. I have proved this to you many times. I desire that you serve in joy and confidence and only through trusting Me will that be possible. Return My great love for you by trusting Me in everything.

June 1, 2008

Jesus

I am here, with you at all times. I watch you struggle for holiness and I encourage you to continue along on the path you have chosen. When you are discouraged, you sometimes look to other paths, chosen by other people. From where you are looking, their path might look smooth and easy, happy and fulfilling. Perhaps their path does not include the sacrifices that you find are necessary to travel along the path I have marked out for you. Perhaps their path does not appear to be as steep, as filled with obstacles, and perhaps their path appears to include more worldly acclaim and acceptance. Poor little apostles. Here is what you cannot see when you admire the apparent easiness of the paths of others who are not chosen as you are chosen. You do not see that others, who have not made the same level of commitment, are not enjoying the same level of unity with heaven. Yes, their struggle seems less. Yes, their rewards seem immediate and plentiful. But you have something that nobody else has in the same way and that is Me. Nobody has the same relationship with Me that you have. You are My beloved apostle and I love all of My apostles. But the love I have for you and the plan I have for you is unique. It will never be repeated. I need you to continue on in your service to Me. I need you to remember that you are called to live differently, that your life, which may not be proceeding exactly as you planned, is proceeding exactly as I planned. Can you accept this? Can you remind yourself that you have allowed your Saviour to navigate your earthly journey? Can you rejoice in the path that I have marked out for you, even if it includes suffering? Please, My beloved apostle, try. I will help you with this. Rejoice in your apostolic commitment to Me. I will send you graces in each moment. These graces are unrepeatable, meaning that if a person rejects My grace in this moment, that grace moment cannot be recaptured. Time passes while you are on earth. Opportunities also pass. You are taking advantage of your time on earth for the family of God and for your loved ones and for you, yourself. You are so precious to Me. I am caring for you, I promise. When you are tempted to discouragement, remember that I am with you in each moment, sending perfect graces and blessings to you and through you. Be at peace in My will for you and I will protect My plan for you. You are loved by all of heaven and you are loved by Me.

“As we give thanks for past blessings, and look to the challenges of the future, let us implore from God the grace of a new Pentecost for the Church in America. May tongues of fire, combining burning love of God and neighbor with zeal for the spread of Christ’s Kingdom, descend on all present.”
Pope Benedict XVI, Papal Visit to the United States, April 19, 2008

Our world is in great danger. It is under constant threat from unprecedented acts of terrorism and war, disasters of nature, economic crises, mass hunger, moral decline, attacks on human rights and the sanctity of human life.

As people of faith, we know we are engaged in a colossal battle between the Gospel of Life and the “culture of death.” We are deeply concerned, but not without hope. More and more people realize that our world needs conversion. More and more people realize that our efforts alone will not be enough. We need the help of heaven.

As the great feast of Pentecost approaches, this is the opportune time for a mass appeal to the Lord to send again and anew His Holy Spirit over our wounded world. Let us respond to and extend the call of our beloved Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI for a “new Pentecost” for the entire Church and world.

This is the time to gather around Mary, as the Apostles did in the Upper Room 2,000 years ago, in praying for a New Pentecost in our day. We share the deep inspiration that the Lord entrusted our time and our world in a special way to the Immaculate Heart of His Mother. Remembering her promises, we make an urgent call on her motherly advocacy. Through the power of her maternal intercession as Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate, the Lord will work miracles and send His Holy Spirit.

Please join us in praying the Pentecost Novena Prayer, starting Thursday, May 1 (Solemnity of the Ascension) to Sunday, May 11 (Solemnity of Pentecost).

PRAY EVERY DAY THE HOLY ROSARY.

Add to it from among these prayers:
“Come Holy Spirit, come through Mary.”

Pray the following powerful prayer:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Father,
send now your Spirit over the earth.
Let the Holy Spirit live in the hearts of all nations,
that they may be preserved
from degeneration, disaster and war.
May the Lady of All Nations,
the Blessed Virgin Mary, be our Advocate. Amen.”

The beautiful Pentecost prayer of the Church:
“Veni Sancte Spiritus…”

Pray as your heart leads you…

Prayer can change the world. Prayer is great in the eyes of the Lord and will also lift up your own life. International lay leaders, as well as cardinals, bishops, clergy, and religious have given their support to the prayer novena. Among the most noteworthy supporters are Mother Angelica, foundress of the worldwide Catholic network EWTN; Ambassador Howard Dee, former Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican; Michael O’Brien, renowned Canadian novelist and social commentator; and Sister Briege McKenna, O.S.C., an Irish Sister of St. Clare, who has an international ministry to priests and bishops.

Please join us. Time is short. Let us use this time of mercy! Please feel free to distribute and translate.

International lay leaders, as well as cardinals, bishops, clergy, and religious have given their support to this Pentecost prayer novena. Among the most noteworthy supporters are Mother Angelica, foundress of the worldwide Catholic network EWTN; Ambassador Howard Dee, former Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican; Michael O’Brien, renowned Canadian novelist and social commentator; and Sister Briege McKenna, O.S.C., an Irish Sister of St. Clare, who has an international ministry to priests and bishops.

As part of the Pentecost Novena, participants are called to pray the Rosary, along with their choice of prayers calling for a new descent of the Holy Spirit into the hearts of all peoples through the intercession of Mary, Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate. For more information, contact Ambassador Howard Dee at the Assisi Foundation.

During his recent papal visit to the United States, Pope Benedict XVI specifically requested to implore God for a “new Pentecost for the Church in America”: “As we give thanks for past blessings, and look to the challenges of the future, let us implore from God the grace of a new Pentecost for the Church in America. May tongues of fire, combining burning love of God and neighbor with zeal for the spread of Christ’s Kingdom, descend on all present” (St. Patrick’s Cathedral, April 19, 2008). This novena seeks to respond to Pope Benedict in imploring the grace of a new Pentecost for the entire Church and world in our presently threatening global situation.

To obtain a copy of the novena, please visit the following link: www.mariansolidarity.com

Assisi Development Foundation, Inc.
Unit 503, 5/f, Prestige Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road,
Ortigas Center, Pasig City, 1605 Metro Manila
Philippines
E-mail: newpentecost@hotmail.com
Tel.: (632) 632-1001 to 03
Fax: (632) 632-7844
Website: www.mariansolidarity.com

Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine!

You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;

In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
And our inmost being fill!

Where you are not, man has naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away;

Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.

On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
In your sev’nfold gift descend;

Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end.

Amen. Alleluia.