January 27, 2014 A.D.
Our Lady started giving monthly messages in January 1987, and this first monthly message was a very important one. This message should be central in our understanding of Medjugorje. It expresses the reason for the apparitions which is “the salvation of mankind,” and tells us that “each one of us is chosen by God in order…to save mankind.” Our Lady starts the message with a word we translate “Behold.” At first it seems this word does not add anything to the actual meaning of the sentence. Seemingly the word is insignificant, but it is used to emphasize the great importance of the whole message. When a King, or in this case a Queen, prefaces a statement with “Behold,” then the following words turn into a proclamation. The visionaries think that when Our Lady speaks of “each one,” She speaks in fact to every sincere man who hears this message and wants to live it. Father Jozo Zovko, the first parish priest of Medjugorje at the time of the first apparitions, thinks that this call to “each one of us to save mankind” concerns particularly and primarily each pilgrim who comes to Medjugorje. Each pilgrim is thus invited by God and chosen to have a “great role in God’s design for the salvation of mankind.” We already knew at the very beginning, that the desire of Our Lady through these apparitions was “the conversion of the whole world.” (June 26, 1981) Now we hear that everyone is invited to participate in this plan of conversion. But first we have to change our lives. Here is this essential and crucial message in its entirety:
January 25, 1987
“Dear children, behold, also today I want to call you to start living a new life as of today. Dear children, I want you to comprehend that God has chosen EACH ONE OF YOU, in order to use you in a great plan for the salvation of mankind. You are not able to comprehend how great your role is in God’s design. Therefore, dear children, pray so that in prayer you may be able to comprehend what God’s plan is in your regard. I am with you in order that you may be able to bring it about in all its fullness. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
Here Our Lady says that She is with us, that She appears to fulfill the plan to save mankind through each one of us. But we cannot comprehend the magnitude of it all nor our role in this plan without prayer. Then in April of the same year, She confirms:
April 25, 1987
“…pray in order that you may be able to comprehend all that I am giving here….You know that without prayer you cannot comprehend all that God is planning through each one of you. Therefore, pray! I desire that through each one of you God’s plan may be fulfilled…”
The Mother of God starts something new. She does it with each one of us. She cannot do it without our prayers:
February 25, 1987
“…Therefore, dear children, pray, and in prayer you shall realize a new way of joy…”
She is appearing each day for us. She is appearing to help to fulfill Her plan, God’s plan, to save mankind. Our Lady said on October 30, 1986:
“…Dear children, it is for your sake that I have stayed this long so I could help you to fulfill all the messages which I am giving you…”
Again and again, without our prayers nothing is possible!
October 23, 1986
“…Without your prayers, dear children, I cannot help you to fulfill the message which the Lord has given me to give to you…”
Sinful human nature blocks our intelligence so we are not able to understand the greatness of our role in God’s plan. Only through prayer can this veil be removed so that we can see the reality and the truth – we are chosen personally by Our Lady. In June 1981, She gave four sentences to the visionaries, but those sentences were also said for us now, today:
“I invite you. I need you. I chose you. You are important.”
Yes, we are important because Our Lady has said:
August 28, 1986
“…without you I am not able to help the world…”
Without us, without our prayers and conversion, She cannot help mankind.
In an Invitation to Answer Her Call,
Our Lady’s call is for the change of our life. Here a few Caritas pilgrims from this past summer are praying during the evening Rosary in Medjugorje. Each person is called by Our Lady, but, every pilgrim in particular who comes to Medjugorje has been called by Our Lady in the January 25, 1987 message, to a be part of the “great plan for the salvation of mankind.” Are you being called to Medjugorje? Do you want to be part of that great plan? For information about a pilgrimage to Medjugorje click to visit here.
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