American Messages: 2003

The Apparitions of August 8 – 25, 2003

 

Paolo, Marija and their four boys returned to Caritas for a personal visit and a time of rest and vacation. They arrived on August 7 to Birmingham, Our Lady appeared at Caritas on August 8, and then a week at a secluded Florida beach was planned with the Community from August 9-15. The following week they returned to Caritas.

August 8, 2003

The first apparition of Marija’s visit took place in the Bedroom at 11:44 a.m. Our founder, who was present with his family and Marija’s family, asked Marija to ask Our Lady two questions. The first, if She would come again this evening in the Field, so that the Community could be present (who were all gathered in the Field during this apparition) and secondly, if She would appear in the evenings, as She does in Medjugorje, rather than in the mornings.

After the apparition, Marija said that on both occasions when Our Lady was asked these questions, She smiled and agreed, by giving a nod “yes,” both times. She agreed to return again this evening in the Field, and She agreed to have Her apparitions in the evenings. Marija said Our Lady was happy throughout the apparition.

In the evening, Our Lady appeared in the Field, at 6:40 p.m., in the presence of all the Caritas Community. Marija said:

“Our Lady came. She pray over us and She blessed us.”

August 9, 2003

Early this morning the Community with Paolo and Marija’s family, left for Florida. Realizing that they would not make the beach house in time for the apparition, they pulled off on the side of the road, climbed over a rock barrier, knelt down in the sand as they took in their first site of the ocean, and began to pray the Rosary. Just before Marija went into ecstasy, the founder leaned over to ask Marija to ask Our Lady exactly what time the apparition would be each day. When Marija asked Our Lady this question, Our Lady smiled and gave the following message:

“Because it is your vacation, I will come whenever you pray.”

Everyone was stunned by this message. Being given the ability to have the apparition at their choosing made for a beautiful week in which each apparition was prepared for in a special way so that their hearts were fully prepared to receive Our Lady each time.

August 10, 2003

The Community worked the next day setting up an altar for Our Lady. They had brought a large statue of Our Lady with them and set it upon a table that overlooked the ocean. The apparition on this day took place at 3:35 p.m. Our Lady prayed over everyone and blessed them. Our Lady continued to appear each day in the house at the time the Community prepared for the apparition in prayer. [see appendix, page 575.]

August 11, 2003

The apparition did not take place until after dinner. Even though it was late, the Rosary was peaceful, and the prayer was felt deeply. The apparition was longer than normal. Marija said afterwards that Our Lady had prayed a long time over everyone, praying the whole time, until She ended the apparition with Her blessing. [see appendix, page 575.]

August 12, 2003

This was another late night apparition. The Rosary began around 9:35 p.m. It was, again, peaceful and prayer was deep. There has been a strong feeling of the presence of Our Lady each evening. In the apparition tonight, Our Lady prayed over everyone and blessed them. [see appendix, page 575.]

August 13, 2003

As the altar was being prepared today, the founder suggested everyone write out petitions to Our Lady. He then asked Marija if they could present their petitions to Our Lady “during” the apparition. Marija agreed. When Marija went into ecstasy that evening, one by one, each person carried their petition up to Our Lady and dropped it into a small sailboat canister. It took several minutes for all of them to do so. All during this time, Marija gazed silently at Our Lady. When Marija came out of ecstasy she told us what had happened:

“The moment of apparition, I recommend all of us and our intentions and Our Lady pray over us and I recommend our special letters and Our Lady smiled and She said:

‘I wish to give you graces. Ask for them.’”

Having just spent nearly an hour writing down all their petitions, they were in awe of Our Lady’s word. [see appendix, page 575.]

August 14, 2003

The apparition took place later in the afternoon. The Community gathered around 4:00 p.m. to pray the Rosary. When Our Lady came, Marija particularly recommended a couple on their wedding anniversary to Our Lady. Marija said Our Lady prayed over everyone and blessed them. [see appendix, page 575.]

August 15, 2003

Today was the Feast of Our Lady’s Assumption into Heaven. It was also the last day of the Community’s stay in Florida. Tomorrow they would return to Caritas. Still very moved by Our Lady’s message two days ago, the founder suggested that they again write out their petitions and with Marija’s approval, present them to Our Lady during the apparition. Our Lady continued to stay until the last petition was placed at Her feet. When Marija came out of ecstasy, she let out a happy sigh, then after pausing slightly, she said:

“Our Lady came with angels…thousands of angels.”

Marija went on to describe what she had seen. She initially said hundreds of angels, but later with her husband translating, she qualified that it was countless, thousands of angels. The angels were all baby angels. They were wearing something like roman tunics all in pastel colors. They were all behind Our Lady, not far in distance. When Marija was asked what the angels were looking at, Marija replied, “At us.” This surprised the Community because Marija said the angels, when appearing with Our Lady, always stare only at Our Lady (refer to the December 13, 1999 message on page 445). The apparition was shorter today, two and a half minutes, but Marija said that always on feast days the apparitions are shorter. Marija thinks it’s because Our Lady must get back to Heaven for the celebration. The Community ended their “vacation” with much to ponder and be thankful for. When they returned home, on August 16, Our Lady immediately returned to Her normal apparition time. The apparitions returned to the Bedroom. Our Lady continued to appear each day, praying over all those gathered and giving them Her blessing.

August 18, 2003

Today’s apparition was longer than usual. The Community gathered at 6:00 p.m. in the Bedroom. Our Lady appeared around the normal time of 6:40 p.m. Marija said of the apparition:

“Our Lady pray over us, and She blessed us. She pray long time over us.”

Marija was then asked if the apparition was long for her today because it was long for those gathered. She said:

“All the time She pray over us.”

August 19, 2003

The founder of Caritas arranged to have several tractor-trailer rigs of salt delivered to the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages, with the hope that Our Lady would bless the salt as She had done in the apparitions at Caritas in December of 2001, with the first loads of salt. This would be the first apparition in the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages, and though the salt was on the first floor, where the print shop is located, the Community desired to have the apparition in the writing office of their founder, where all the writings concerning Our Lady’s messages take place. The Community met at 6:00 p.m. to begin the Rosary, with Marija and Paolo joining them. Marija said:

“Our Lady blessed us, and She prayed over us.”

Marija asked Our Lady to bless the salt during the apparition. Marija said:

 

“Our Lady bless also, I ask for all salt, on first floor…She bless, She make sign of cross…I recommend all of our intentions and what we have in our hearts, and I ask to bless all salt together. She make little prayer over us, and after She bless.” [see appendix, page 575.]

August 21, 2003

This was the only public apparition during Marija’s visit. It was a very hot, humid evening, with record-breaking heat. The air was still, the heat suffocating. As the third Rosary began, a large storm cloud covered the sun. At the same time, a strong, cool wind began to blow, and continued all through the Rosary up to apparition time refreshing everyone. Marija described what happened in the apparition:

 

“The moment of apparition, I recommend all of our intentions, all that we have in our hearts. And Our Lady pray over us. And I ask also that She bless all objects that we have here. And Our Lady after praying, She blessed all objects with the Sign of the Cross, and I recommend in a special way all these people who are here and in a special way all sick people and Our Lady one other time, She open Her hands and She begin to pray, and She pray five minute, I don’t know (a long time). And after She give blessing like Sign of the Cross, and She say ‘Go in peace,’ and She leave. Today Our Lady is tranquil, and She watch all of us.”

When Our Lady “watches all of us,” She actually scans the crowd, looking at each face. Marija says it is a very endearing grace as it shows that each face is dear to Her. [see appendix, page 575.]

August 25, 2003

Paolo, Marija and their children would be returning to Italy today. The apparition took place in Atlanta, from where they would be leaving. Today, also, Our Lady would give the monthly message to the world before their flight home. The founder and his family were present for the apparition.

The Community back home was made aware of when the apparition would be. They went to the Field early to pray in preparation for Our Lady’s words. When Marija knelt down, she said, “Let’s ask for a beautiful message today.” The apparition lasted 4 ½ minutes. The message:

August 25, 2003—Monthly Message to the World

“Dear children! Also today I call you to give thanks to God in your heart for all the graces which He gives you, also through the signs and colors that are in nature. God wants to draw you closer to Himself and moves you to give Him glory and thanks. Therefore, little children, I call you anew to pray, pray, pray and do not forget that I am with you. I intercede before God for each of you until your joy in Him is complete. Thank you for having responded to my call.” [see appendix, page 575.]

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