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| "Go often to holy Mass and receive Communion." (Medjugorje, June 23, 1982) |
The Blessed Mother at Medjugorje has made it clear that Holy Mass is the most beneficial and crucial exercise of our Spiritual Lives. The Great Sacrifice stirs the holy footsteps called "Way of the Cross," and fulfills the Great Promise of Salvation. It is the invitation to apostleship and imposition of missionary graces.
"And a certain scribe came and said to him: Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou shalt go. And Jesus saith to him: The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests: but the son of man hath not where to lay his head." (Matthew 8:19-20)
WE CAN CHERISH THE HOLY MASS Our Lady at Medjugorje advised us to value Holy Mass and participate with humility and reverence, gratitude and joy.
"My children, I wish that the Holy Mass be for you the gift of the day. Attend it, wish for it to begin. Jesus gives Himself to you during the Mass. Thus, look forward to that moment when you are cleansed. Pray very much so that the Holy Spirit will renew your parish. If people attend mass with lukewarmness, they will return to their homes cold, and with an empty heart." (On March 30, 1984)
"Dear children! Today I invite you to renew prayer in your families. Dear children, encourage the very young to pray and to go to holy Mass." (March 7, 1985)
"I am anxious to tell you that it is a special time for you and for the parish. During the summer, you say that you have to work very much. At this time, there is no work in the fields. Thus, I invite you to work on yourselves. Come to Mass; the time is being provided for you. Dear children, there are many who come; in spite of the bad weather, because they love me, and want to prove their love to me. I ask all of you to prove your love to me by coming to Mass. The Lord will reward you generously for it." (to Marija, for the parish, November 21, 1985)
"Dear children, I am calling you to live the Holy Mass. There are many of you who have experienced the beauty of the Mass, but there are others who go unwillingly. I have chosen you, dear children, and Jesus is giving you His graces in the Holy Mass. Let everyone who comes to Mass be joyful. Come with love and rejoice in the holy Mass." (April 3, 1986)
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| "I wish that the Holy Mass be for you the gift of the day. Be anxious for the Mass to begin." |
PRAY THE MASS IN THE HOLY SPIRIT Before the novena to the Immaculate Conception, the Blessed Virgin tells Jelena: "Before Mass it is necessary to pray to the Holy Spirit." Jelena said, "We followed this message during the novena, praying before Mass and asking the faithful to respond, 'O Come Holy Spirit.' After Communion, we sang the hymn to the Holy Spirit, then we stopped doing it." In January, 1983, Jelena says that the Blessed Virgin requested that these prayers be resumed. "We should not have stopped it. The prayers to the Holy Spirit should always accompany the Mass." (Medjugorje, November, 1983) The Blessed Virgin also said on another occasion,
"... most important in spiritual life is to ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit comes, then peace will be established. When that occurs, everything changes around you. Things will change." (October 25, 1984)
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"Before Mass it is necessary to pray to the Holy Spirit.
The prayers to the Holy Spirit should always accompany the Mass.
The most important in spiritual life is to ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
When the Holy Spirit comes, then peace will be established.
When that occurs, everything changes around you.
Things will change." (October 25, 1984)
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DON'T MAKE EXCUSES TO MISS MASS We want to help ourselves and the family of God by attending Mass even when it is difficult. The Gospa said to Jelena,
"Thank you, thanks to everyone!" (That evening, it was particularly cold.) "You are very good to come to Mass without looking for an excuse. [You] show me that you have a generous heart." (December 2, 1983)
GIVE FULL ATTENTION TO THE MASS When we are at Mass we should pay attention to what is happening. Mary said, another time, to Maria (Marija) for the parish,
“The Mass is the greatest prayer of God. You will never be able to understand its greatness. That is why you must be perfect and humble at Mass, and you should prepare yourselves there.”
"Pray, pray, pray!" "Besides," Maria (Marija) said, "she asks that everyone, and especially the young people, behave in a worthy manner during Holy Mass." (August 23, 1984)
SAY A PRAYER OF THANKS AFTER MASS Our Lady says that we should make an act of thanksgiving at the finish of Holy Mass.
"... where [were you] with your thoughts yesterday during Mass? When you go to mass, your trip from home to church should be a time of preparation for Mass. You should also receive Holy Communion with an open and pure heart; purity of heart and openness. Do not leave the church without an appropriate act of thanksgiving." (October 25, 1984)
"... there are in the parish, some persons, who have not entirely given themselves. As soon as Mass has ended, they are in a hurry to leave the church [and prayer]. That is not good. That way they will never be able to give themselves completely. It is not good for them to linger about the church [chatting and gossiping]."(February 4, 1984)
“Mass represents the highest form of prayer.
You must be humble and respectful during Holy Mass,
and prepare yourself for it with care.
Come with love and rejoice in the Holy Mass.
I recommend to you in a special way,
to attend Holy Mass every day."
“Dear children, In my coming to you, here among you, the greatness of God is reflected and the way with God to eternal joy is opening. Do not feel weak, alone or abandoned. Along with faith, prayer and love climb to the hill of salvation. May the Mass, the most exalted and most powerful act of your prayer, be the center of your spiritual life. Believe and love, my children. Those whom my Son chose and called will help you in this as well. To you and to them especially, I give my motherly blessing. Thank you.” (August 2, 2008: to Mirjana)
LEARN ABOUT THE HOLY MASS Mary says to study the Mass in an effort to participate and appreciate it more.
"Dear children, strive to deepen your knowledge of the Mass as you should." (to Jelena, June 1, 1985)
receives locutions from the Gospa since 1982 at age 10.
Jelena Vasilj-Valente was a member of the parish of Saint
James in Medjugorje who received "locutions" or an inner
voice of the Blessed Mother instead of seeing her. She led a
prayer group of young people in Medjugorje for several
years. She married Massimiliano Valente in 2002, lives
in Rome, Italy, and has four children. She still shares in
the ministry of Medjugorje.
Love, Jeanne
