Many years ago, a Friend of Medjugorje recorded one of his first and most profound lessons that he learned when he began his walk with Our Lady of Medjugorje in the mid-1980’s. The following is taken from his short book, written in 2006, How the Early Church Learned…
“In looking at the Holy Scriptures, I began to see so many parallels between the events that took place 2,000 years ago when Jesus walked the earth and Medjugorje today. The Holy Scriptures, indeed, help us to understand the profoundness of Medjugorje. One of the lessons we learned involves St. Paul, and it helped me to make the best decision concerning our formation at Caritas.
St. Paul, after being knocked off his horse and converted to Jesus, did not go out immediately to the people to begin preaching, rather he went into prayer and formation for eight or possibly twelve years. Evidently, he did this because he realized that a spiritual formation was necessary before he would adequately be able to spread Christ’s messages of love, peace, and reconciliation. St. Paul had to learn and experience the ways of Christ on a personal level before he could teach others this new way of living.
When it came time for St. Paul to speak, he did so with authority, strength, and conviction because he was living what he preached. He had more than just words to offer the people. He gave, with his life, proof that Jesus truly is the Way because St. Paul’s life witnessed to the authenticity of Jesus’ own words and example.
Our Lady’s messages show us that She allowed necessary formation and before telling the visionaries, the parish, and others to take action. The January 25, 1987, message is a good example:
“Dear children, behold, also today I want to call you to start living a new life as of today…”
Our Lady, who for six years had guided them, then called them to “start” living a “new life”—six years after the apparitions started. What had they been doing for six years? Through Our Lady, they were receiving spiritual formation, slowly learning to live the messages.”
by a Friend of Medjugorje, 2006
It is good to look back on your personal conversion story—your “St. Paul moment,” that led you to a much more serious commitment in living your faith. For millions like a Friend of Medjugorje, Medjugorje was the touchstone of their conversion, a call from Our Lady to deepen their love for God, especially through what He is offering man through Our Lady’s apparitions.
What You Are in Love With…Will Affect Everything is one such conversion story by a bishop visiting Medjugorje that a Friend of Medjugorje recorded years ago. The intimate encounters with Our Lady upon souls in Medjugorje open the heart to grace, and many who would normally be reticent, find themselves sharing intimate events of their own walk with Jesus and Our Lady. It is the willingness to be real and vulnerable that breaks open other hearts to grace. One conversion begets another conversion. A Friend of Medjugorje once said, “Conversion is the air one breathes in Medjugorje.” Read What You are in Love With…Will Affect Everything, and you will understand.
A Free Download of a Friend of Medjugorje’s writing is available here: How the Early Church Learned…
3 thoughts on “Do You Remember Your St. Paul Moment?”
City: tulare
State: ca
Country: usa
I HAVE LEARNED TO START MY DAILY PRAYER TIME AND FAITH JOURNEY AS MANY SAINTS DO. BY JUST INTIMATELY FOCUSING ON LOOKING AT JESUS PRECIOUS EYES AS HE LOOKS AT MINE. THEN ALLOWING HIS WORDS IN SCRIPTURE TO DEEPLY PENETRATE MY HEART AND WHOLE BEING. RECALLING HIS WORDS OF LOVE AND MERCY TO ME, PERSONALLY. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU.
Country: Mexico
God is,every day, giving us big opportunuties and wide chances of conversion. But we are sadly declining His gifts. We have experienced how generous nature is and how difficult is for people to understand it. The world is sinking because of the love for money, wich is not love at all. Our region is a very agrarian one but also very money-oriented. So, when you tell people about conversion and a change in the direction of their lives, they reply very often saying ” How am I supposed to pay my bills?” as if you were asking them to go to the desert with only what they are wearing. right now. A lady said once “I won´t renounce air cnditioning” as if conversion would disconnect her from everything included electricity. We know that the upcoming changes are for everybody and precisely for that reason we must convert. Otherwise we will be very weak to survive or to face this new situation. We need to convert and we need to keep converting as the new time approaches and becomes present time, regardless of mankind preparedness or unpreparedness. Our Lady is warning us in a very tender manner but strong and clear as the Sun. Thanks to a Friend of Medjugorje and Caritas community we have a easy-to-understand translation and interpretation of Our Lady Messages to live them as strongly and deeply as we can. Blessings.
City: Houston
State: NY
Country: United States
How many of us have ignored God’s incessant call? I did for 15ish years
When I finally listened, I “lost” family members, secular titles/income and the opinions of people whom the secular world adulates and envies
It was a Job like loss and at times, unbearable. Still, when I finally humbled myself and repented, I began to thirst daily for his word, sacraments etc.
I am praying I am storing up treasures in heaven