Why I love Medjugorje
Medjugorje is one of the most powerful medicines for today’s world afflicted as it is by the great misery and tumor of indifference.
I really love Pope Francis and the wisdom God gives him for us. In his homily with the new Cardinals, among whom our Maltese Cardinal Mario Grech, at the Holy Mass in the Vatican Basilica the Argentinian Pope said: There is also another kind of interior slumber: the slumber of indifference. Those who are indifferent see everything the same, as if it were night; they are unconcerned about those all around them. When everything revolves around us and our needs, and we are indifferent to the needs of others, night descends in our hearts. Our hearts grow dark. We immediately begin to complain about everything and everyone; we start to feel victimized by everyone and end up brooding about everything. It is a vicious circle. Nowadays, that night seems to have fallen on so many people, who only demand things for themselves, and are blind to the needs of others.
But how to get out from indifference? Pope Francis wisely tells us within the same homily: How do we rouse ourselves from the slumber of indifference? With the watchfulness of charity. To awaken us from that slumber of mediocrity and lukewarmness, there is the watchfulness of prayer. To rouse us from that slumber of indifference, there is the watchfulness of charity. Charity is the beating heart of the Christian: just as one cannot live without a heartbeat, so one cannot be a Christian without charity. Some people seem to think that being compassionate, helping and serving others is for losers. Yet these are the only things that win us the victory, since they are already aiming towards the future, the day of the Lord, when all else will pass away and love alone will remain. It is by works of mercy that we draw close to the Lord. This is what we asked for in today’s opening prayer: “Grant [us]… the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming”. The resolve to run forth to meet Christ with good works. Jesus is coming, and the road to meet him is clearly marked: it passes through workings of charity. Dear brothers and sisters, praying and loving: that is what it means to be watchful. When the Church worships God and serves our neighbour, she does not live in the night. However weak and weary, she journeys towards the Lord.
In her turn, St Teresa of Calcutta said is so well when she emphasized: We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love.
In Medjugore Our Heavenly Mother Mary is saying the same thing in her messages. On October 25, 2001 she said: Dear children! Also today I call you to pray from your whole heart and to love each other. On March 25, 2005 Our Lady said: Dear children! Today I call you to love. Little children, love each other with God’s love. At every moment, in joy and in sorrow, may love prevail and, in this way, love will begin to reign in your hearts. On August 2, 2015 Mary told us: If you live His [Jesus’] word, you will pray. If you live His word, you will love with a merciful love; you will love each other. The more that you will love, the farther away you will be from death. For those who will live the word of my Son and who will love, death will be life… On September 2, 2015 the Gospa told us: Love one another. I lived your earthly life. I know that it is not always easy, but if you will love each other, you will pray with the heart, you will reach spiritual heights and the way to heaven will be opened for you.
On 2 January 2016 the Mother of God and Ours tells us: Love each other as He loved you. Love each other in His name, in memory of Him. The Church is advancing and growing because of those who listen to the words of my Son; because of those who love; because of those who suffer and endure in silence and in the hope of final redemption. Therefore, my beloved children, may the words of my Son and His love be the first and the last thought of your day.On November 2, 2017 Mary told us: He [Jesus] accepted your sins upon Himself and obtained redemption for you, and in return He asked that you love each other. My Son is love. He loves all people without difference, all people of all countries and of all nations. If you, my children, would live the love of my Son, His kingdom would already be on earth. Therefore, apostles of my love, pray, pray that my Son and His love may be all the closer to you; that you may be an example of love and may help all those who have not come to know my Son.
On January 2, 2018 Our Lady said: My desire is that you be just and that you love each other. My children, be joyful in your soul, be pure, be children. My Son used to say that he loves to be among pure hearts, because pure hearts are always young and joyful. My Son said to you to forgive and to love each other. I know that this is not always easy. Suffering makes you grow in spirit. For you to spiritually grow all the more, you must sincerely and truly forgive and love.On January 2, 2019 the Queen of Peace explained: My children, apostles of my love, I am teaching you that my Son is not only asking for continuous prayers, but also for works and feelings – that you believe, that you pray, that with your personal prayers you grow in faith, that you grow in love. To love each other is what He asks for – that is the way to eternal life.
On December 2, 2019 Mary tells us: Among those who love my Son and who love each other through Him, words are not necessary. A gaze is sufficient for the unspoken words and unexpressed feelings to be heard. There where love reigns, time no longer counts. We are with you. My Son knows you and loves you. Love is that which brings you to me, and through that love I will come to you and speak to you of the works of salvation. On Marcy 18, 2020 Mary said: My children, you cannot be happy if you do not love each other, if you do not have love in every situation and at every moment of your life. Also, I, as a mother, am coming to you through love – to help you to come to know true love, to come to know my Son. This is why I am calling you, always anew to thirst all the more for love, faith, and hope. The only spring from which you can drink is trust in God, my Son. My children, in moments of peacelessness and renunciation you just seek the face of my Son. You just live His words and do not be afraid. Pray and love with sincere feelings, with good works; and help so that the world may change and that my heart may win. Like my Son, I am also saying to you: love each other because without love there is no salvation.
Finally, on June 25, 2005, in the apparition Ivanka had at her home in the presence of her family, her husband and her three children, Mother Mary gave this message: Dear children, love each other with the love of my Son. Peace, peace, peace.
This is precisely what our world and we personally need and cry for: to love and be loved by Jesus’ love through one another! Our Lady in Medjugorje is beautifully and practically replying to this need we all have in the deepest recesses of our hearts!
Come, Lord Jesus, we need you! Draw close to us. You are the light. Rouse us from the slumber of mediocrity; awaken us from the darkness of indifference. Come, Lord Jesus, take our distracted hearts and make them watchful. Awaken within us the desire to pray and the need to love. Mary pray with us and for us to love in order to be loved. Amen.
That is why I love Medjugorje!
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap
