There is a bad spirit on this thread. I must pray about it. A shadowy spirit of contention and confusion. Very bad, malicious and malevolent. A forum like this will always be under attack. I will pray for discernment, Please join me. View attachment 2186
God well knows how to protect His own. Beware. Psalms 91 1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare of the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him. 3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from the fatal plague. 4 He will shield you with his wings. He will shelter you with his feathers. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. 5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor fear the dangers of the day, 6 nor dread the plague that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. 7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. 8 But you will see it with your eyes; you will see how the wicked are punished. 9 If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. 11 For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. 12 They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone. 13 You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! 14 The LORD says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them. 16 I will satisfy them with a long life and give them my salvation."
I am sorry to have contributed to a sense of contention, Padraig. There is an old dictum that, if you don't have to comment on something, you should keep your peace. I should have lived that. Thank you for your prayer. I hope you won't be offended if I delete my offending comments.
I don't want to add any contention here. But because someone promotes a certain apparition does not affirm that what he does comes from God. I am afraid we do not know enough about this man to make reasoned judgements. Time to close this thread, I think.
I heard the Friend of M last month. He first gave a presentation from They Fired the First Shot and then a couple of hours on Medjugorje. He presented himself well and has given his adult life to promoting what he believes are Our Lady's messages. I cannot make a call one way or the other on him or Caritas or even Medjugorje (that is the Church's job) but this much I do know: I love the people that embrace the Gospa and her messages. I like to be with them and we all speak the same 'language' of love for Our Lady and for Our Lord. My own reconversion is because of the Gospa. I have not continued to follow the messages but the conversions, healings, vocations, and more that have come from Medjugorje are undeniable. I believe I read that the church of St. James is to be officially a shrine and that is a good thing. The folks that follow the events of Medjugorje are some of the best people I know and the way they live their faith lives is usually exemplary. That in itself speaks volumes.
10 Brothers, I urge you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, not to have factions among yourselves but all to be in agreement in what you profess; so that you are perfectly united in your beliefs and judgements. 11 From what Chloe's people have been telling me about you, brothers, it is clear that there are serious differences among you. 12 What I mean is this: every one of you is declaring, 'I belong to Paul,' or 'I belong to Apollos,' or 'I belong to Cephas,' or 'I belong to Christ.' 13 Has Christ been split up? Was it Paul that was crucified for you, or was it in Paul's name that you were baptised? - 1 Corinthians 10-13
In light of Charlie removing his postings, I feel I should do likewise with the two responses I made to them. I would however like to leave in the link to the retraction from the person who was the source of a lot of the historic negativity to Mr Colafrancesco: http://defendingcaritas.blogspot.co.uk/ Additionally, I would like to copy here a posting from another forum a few years ago by the owner of the 'Crown of Stars' blog on Medjugorje. It followed a series of posts similar to the exchanges between Charlie and I. I had found it quite a powerful little 'homily' and so saved it. The writer refers to Caritas as the 'Birmingham' group: I think the real challenge for anyone disturbed or unsettled by the Birmingham group is really a question of how we cope with the disturbance in our own heart. If we look on the organisation as a family member that we can’t seem to get along with, then rather than expecting that member to change perhaps it is we that have to consider our approach and attitude, how we cope and respond when the family member is carrying on in a way that does not meet our expectations. We know that it is only by love that we can receive peace. If we are not at peace, then our love is fractured or incomplete. To love on our own terms and conditions is not the love that comes from Jesus and his Blessed Mother. We may not agree or accept another person’s behaviour but we should accept the person and Jesus tells us that we must forgive them and love them, all of the time. Our Lady’s messages give good advice on how to deal with the challenges in our lives and in our families. In the first instance we are required to pray and in prayer we will receive an answer in how to cope with the challenge, especially when we become disturbed, or we declare “war’ in our hearts against another person or group. We can see just by this thread alone how easy any disturbance in our own heart can lead to skirmishing with others. Then a divide is created. And we all know where this divide stems from. It is not from God or Our Lady. In reality, we are asked to go within ourselves and root out the reason for our disturbance. Until we do so, peace will not reign. Forgiveness is probably the hardest thing for many of us to do. Stubborn and obstinate hearts block the healing grace that Jesus and Our Lady wish to give to us. Pride and a sense of righteousness can also get in the way of letting things be and allowing God to work in our lives and even in the lives of the B’ham group. God is not blind. He sees everything but sometimes our own blindness can build walls and resentment. Whether the Birmingham group is going about its business in the right or the wrong way, whether Marija is doing right or wrong by visiting the group, whether our view and opinion is right or wrong… none of this matters as far as Jesus is concerned. All that matters is that we love as he commands us to do. So when we are pained or disturbed by the actions or words of another, then this is a certain sign that it is time to look within. In may ways it is a time of grace because when we do sit down and look within then Jesus is happy to sit down with us and assist us with our burden. He promises us rest and an opportunity to share in his gentleness, to take away any anger and frustration that has built walls or weapons and words to use against others. Look within… for Jesus is within all of us, and if that is not possible at a particular time because we are not ready to do so, then look for Jesus in others. Look for Jesus in each and every member of the Birmingham group for he loves them also in no lesser way than he loves any of us. Dear children! As a mother I beseech you, do not go on the way you have been going. That is a way without love toward neighbour and toward my Son. On that way, you will find only hardness and emptiness of heart, and not the peace that everyone is crying out for. Genuine peace will be had only by the one who sees and loves my Son in his neighbour. In whose heart my Son reigns, that one knows what peace is and tranquillity. Thank you having responded to my call. Medjugorje message, March 18, 1997
Thank you Davidtlig, I read Charlie's post today on his website blog and he publicly corrects himself. Your writing here is profound. I know its from someone else, but it speaks volumes to me today. I've been suffering a great deal and ol red legs is tormenting me about something and someone close to me. I see it through different eyes now. Thank you for the reminders!
the way this thread evolved is a demonstration of true Christian humility and a model to all of us. Thank you Charlie and David for your humility and ability to make amends to an issue. This is truly what Christian brotherhood looks like. And thank you Padraig, for always being watchful and gently redirecting us in the forum..... Peace to all!
We should follow Jesus and not any group. Read the gospel, try to live it; hear only the voice of The Good Shepherd; go to Holy Communion as often as possible; confess your sins at least monthly; examine your conscience every day; forgive everyone; be patient; don't judge; love God and love your neighbour; live in peace with everyone if it depends on you; thank God for everything; ask God to make you humble; try to find out what are your false gods; ask a clean heart. Trust Jesus ALWAYS, His goodness and mercy.
I believe Medjugorje to be true. Where our Lady is present, there too will you find Satan causing havoc. Because the secrets of Medjugorje have not been reavealed, there is little one can do with the apparition, but perhaps make a pilgrimage there and ponder the words coming from the seers that have been ongoing for just over 30 years now. At this phase it is still a call to prayer and holiness. I have offen wondered: We all know the secrets of La Sallette, Fatima, Garabandal, Akita, Kibeho to name a few. What will the messages of Medjugorje reveal new to us when they are released? Will the guide us in a very specific way in what to do, how to do it, where to be etc....? Will they announce events forthcoming days/weeks/months ahead of time for preperation? Will the messages be realeased before the Warning? What significance will they bring the faithful that other messages have not already done? That is why I have not tried to second guess what the secrets are, because we simply do not know. For now, the Medjugorje apparitions are all about preparing for events ahead by doing what the Church has always said: sacraments, prayer and penance.
