Direction for our Times

 

The fifth in a series of twelve new locutions from Jesus. 

 

August 30, 2018

Jesus

"In time, events rise and fall. When you come to Heaven and study your life, you will see that graces were always available to you. My desire for each of my followers is that they accept the grace that I send, in each moment, for peace. For those who accept my grace, peace is easily restored after periods of distress. For those who study my graces as they accept them, peace remains with them in each day and in each moment in each day. My friend, do you feel peaceful? Are you prepared to advance into the period to come? Have I done everything possible to equip my apostles to remain clear-sighted during confusing times? I believe that I have given you everything necessary. Here is another question. Do you wish to retain your peace? Do you wish to remain faithful to me and to the Church that I suffered to establish? If your answer to those questions is ‘yes’, then I am certain that you have all that you need to proceed with your time serving quietly and happily, despite sufferings that you endure. If your answer to those questions is ‘yes’ then I know that you will grow in holiness, day by day, because of your closeness to me and your decision to allow me to direct your time on Earth. I want you to be happy and full of joy. Joy is for you, my beloved apostles. Let others do what they will. Let us proceed into the world with apostolic joy and gladness. There is enormous joy available right now, in this day, because Heaven sends extraordinary graces for our Church. The most important part of your service to me is that you receive these extraordinary graces for joy in this time. If you receive them, you can offer them to others. Talk about me, please. I am so pleased that the leader I have chosen points constantly to me. He loves me and brings my love to others. Do you love me? Do you bring my love to others? Do you trust me to care for my Church tenderly and constantly? I will never abandon my Church. I am with you in the Eucharist. Do you visit me there and ask for peace? For guidance? Please. I am asking you to remain close to me and talk about me. Let others endlessly discuss the challenges of the times. I want you to talk about me. My love for my children, all of my children, means that I have hopes in you. There are little assignments today that only you can fill. Will you fill these opportunities for me? Will you listen to my gentle movements in your heart? I feel so close to you. Do you feel close to me? My beloved apostle, we walk together. We walk in fidelity to our Church and to the man I have chosen to lead it during this period. Be confident that you will understand exactly what Heaven needs from you in each day if you remain in peace with me."

Medjugorje: August 25, 2018 Message from Our Lady, Queen of Peace

"Dear children! This is a time of grace. Little children, pray more, speak less and permit God to lead you on the way of conversion. I am with you and love you with my motherly love. Thank you for having responded to my call."

A Message from Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley, OFM, CAP. Archbishop of Boston

“Mary Poppins” and Catholicism: An Interview with Julian Ahlquist

Today, Catholics are celebrating the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when at the end of her life she was assumed body and soul into Heaven.

Which makes it the perfect time to share this fun discussion I had with Julian Ahlquist, founding faculty member of Chesterton Academy, about Mary Poppins and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Julian makes a strong case that Mary Poppins represents the Mother of God, and one of his reasons is because both Marys experience an assumption (see the end of the Mary Poppins film.)

Julian and I walked through the entire Mary Poppins narrative, noting other Catholic connections, including Bert as St. Joseph and “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” as an unavoidably religious invocation.

Here are some of the connections we discuss:

• 8 reasons why Mary Poppins represents the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Bert represents St. Joseph
• George Banks embodies materialism
• Winifred Banks embodies wayward feminism
• Jane and Michael represents Marian visionaries
• Wind represents the Holy Spirit
• Bert’s chalk drawing as a religious icon
• “Spoonful of Sugar” represents the acceptance of grace
• “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” as an invocation of Mary’s salvific role
• Uncle Albert as a Charismatic Catholic
• Admiral Boom as a Traditionalist Catholic
• “Feed the Birds” pointing to Mary Poppins as church
• The main Christ-figure in the film
• Mary Poppins’ final assumption

Enjoy the interview!

The Pray More Retreat

The Pray More Healing Retreat

Inspiring talks about the healing Jesus offers you, how to pursue healing and how to move forward from your pain into a place of peace.

+ Click to Register for the Retreat! +

Here’s a preview of the retreat! 

+ Click to Register for the Retreat! +

Here’s What You Get When You Register:

6 Speakers
20 Reflective Study Guides
20 Video & Audio Presentations

The Retreat is self-paced.

This means that you can participate wherever you are and whenever you have the time. 

“There were many personal moments in which the speakers touched my heart and brought me closer to God’s love.”

Katherine

“All the speakers were wonderful and it felt like they were speaking directly to me. I did not want it to end!”

Marguerite

“Wonderful talks! Great concept! Easy access!!!”

Julie

+ Click to Register for the Retreat! +

TOPICS

What to Do When God is Silent

by Tim Glemkowski

The Power of Hope & Prayer in Dark Times

by Amy Thomas

Moving from Fear to Faith, Part I

by Gary Zimak

Our Mission and the Fruit of Our Suffering

by Tim Glemkowski

Moving from Fear to Faith, Part II

by Gary Zimak

Healing from Wounds Caused by Others

by Amy Thomas

Moving from Fear to Faith, Part III

By Gary Zimak

The Longest Hour: The Story of My Son, a Soon-to-be Saint, and a Miracle, Part I

by Bonnie Engstrom

Consoling Jesus’ Heart and Growing Closer to Him

by Tim Glemkowski

The Longest Hour: The Story of My Son, a Soon-to-be Saint, and a Miracle, Part II

by Bonnie Engstrom

Healing the Father Wound, Part I

by Maura Preszler

The Longest Hour: The Story of My Son, a Soon-to-be Saint, and a Miracle, Part III

by Bonnie Engstrom

Healing the Father Wound, Part II

by Maura Preszler

Letting God Make the Most of a Broken Past, Part I

by Mario St. Francis Herrera

Healing the Father Wound, Part III

by Maura Preszler

Letting God Make the Most of a Broken Past, Part II

by Mario St. Francis Herrera 

How You May Be Preventing Your Healing & How to Move Forward

by Amy Thomas

Letting God Make the Most of a Broken Past, III

by Mario St. Francis Herrera 

When God Asks Us to Be Little: The Little Way

by Tim Glemkowski

Letting God Make the Most of a Broken Past, Part IV

by Mario St. Francis Herr

SPEAKERS

Maura Preszler

Tim Glemkowski

Amy Thomas

Gary Zimak

Bonnie Engstrom

Mario St. Francis Herrera B.A., M.T.P.T 

+ Full Bio’s Below +

-- Why join the Pray More Healing Retreat? -- 

Hear inspiring testimonies about God's presence throughout even the darkest of times. 

Receive guidance and practical advice about how to move on from your pain.

Learn more about who God is as our Father and about how you can grow closer to Him through your cross

Learn how to move forward from your pain into a place of peace, and from your fear into a place of faith

Deepen your faith and pray more from the comfort of your own home or while you're on the go! 

Renew your hope as you wait expectantly & joyfully for God to work in your life and to answer your prayers.

“There were many personal moments in which the speakers touched my heart and brought me closer to God’s love.”

Katherine

"All the speakers were wonderful and it felt like they were speaking directly to me. I did not want it to end!"

Marguerite

“Wonderful talks! Great concept! Easy access!!!"

Julie

Welcome to the Pray More Healing Retreat!

We invite you to join us for the next few weeks to reflect on God’s faithful love and presence in your life, and learn how to move from a place of pain and fear to a place of peace and faith.

St. John Paul II said that suffering is almost inseparable from man’s earthly existence. At times, suffering can lead you closer to Christ. And at other times, it can seem to lead you further away from Him. We created this retreat to help steer you closer back to Him, who is the divine healer.

As a part of this retreat, you will receive access to 16 different talks on healing. Some of them are about healing from specific problems – things like anxiety and worry, addiction, abuse, miscarriage and divorce. Some are about healing the wounds of our heart, and learning our worth and dignity. Others are about God’s faithfulness in the darkest of times. Lastly, we also have a few talks about what to do when you don’t receive the healing you’ve been praying for and working towards.

You can participate in this retreat at your own pace. Some of the talks are 10 minutes long, and others are closer to 20. You will be able to watch them whenever you have the time, or to download them and listen to them even while you’re on-the-go.

We hope the Pray More Healing Retreat will bring you closer to God’s healing love — wherever you are, and whenever you have the time.

All the presentations will be available beginning on Monday, August 6th. If you register now, we will send you an e-mail as soon as it is live and available for you to enjoy :)

God bless you!
John-Paul & Annie
PrayMoreNovenas.com

Why Join the Pray More Healing Retreat?

Hear inspiring testimonies about God's presence throughout even the darkest of times.

Receive guidance and practical advice about how to move on from your pain.

Renew your hope as you wait expectantly & joyfully for God to work in your life and to answer your prayers.

Reflect on God's mercy and immeasurable love for you. He is always with you.

SPEAKERS

Gary Zimak is the author of several books, including A Worrier’s Guide To The Bible, From Fear To Faith and Stop Worrying & Start Living. He is a frequent speaker at parishes and conferences across the country and is recognized as the leading Catholic speaker on the topic of overcoming anxiety. In addition, Gary is the creator and host of Spirit In The Morning on Holy Spirit Radio in Philadelphia, a regular guest on EWTN TV and Radio and the Director of Parish Services for Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Church in North Wales, PA. Gary also writes for The National Catholic Register, Catholic Digest and Catholic Exchange. He resides in South Jersey with his wife Eileen and daughters Mary and Elizabeth. You can follow him online at FollowingTheTruth.com.

Maura Preszler was born and raised in northern New Jersey, where she graduated college from Seton Hall University. After college she moved to Nashville, TN where she worked as a baker and pastry chef. In September 2011 God etched in her heart the desire to launch a ministry for women recovering from eating disorders and abuse inspired from her own story. She left her job and founded Made in His Image.

Maura has an immense yearning to inspire others to choose to see beauty in their suffering and in the ambiguity of life. It is her desire to use her story to foster hope and healing in the lives of all she encounters. Maura is dedicated to breaking the stigma associated with therapy and educating women about their inherent dignity, beauty and the love that God has for them as Father.

Maura is a former Division 1 runner and soccer player. She lives in San Diego, California with her husband Michael and two sons, Pio and Noah.

Tim Glemkowski is the president and founder of L'Alto Catholic Institute, a not-for-profit apostolate dedicated to helping parishes become more effective at forming disciples. Tim is a sought after international speaker and leader who has served in various roles in evangelization including teaching high school theology, youth and young adult ministry at a parish, and as a director of evangelization and catechesis. He double-majored in theology and philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville and has his Master's in Theology from the Augustine Institute in Denver, CO. Tim is passionate about seeing the Church renewed through discipleship. His favorite way to recreate is to be in the outdoors with his wife Magdalene and their two young children.

Bonnie Engstrom is a writer, baker, speaker, and homemaker. She, her husband, and six children live in central Illinois, and her son’s alleged miraculous healing through the intercession of Venerable Fulton Sheen was submitted to the Vatican for Sheen’s beatification. Bonnie enjoys chai tea, baking, and putzing about her yard. She blogs at A Knotted Life and you can find her on Instagram at @BonnieEngstrom.

Mario St. Francis Herrera B.A., M.T.P.T. is a husband, father,  speaker, model, actor, producer and is currently becoming a certified personal development facilitator and trainer, and he's based out of the Washington DC area. Since experiencing a radical call to conversion at the age of 24, Mario has been a highly sought-after Catholic Speaker around the world most known for his conversion story from a “Hollywood to Holy-wood”. A young man without faith turned overnight into a passionate Eucharist-loving daily Mass-attending proud Roman Catholic Christian. After experiencing  his first World Youth Day in Toronto, 2002, he attended Franciscan University of Steubenville studying Catechetics, Philosophy, Theology and TV/Film. While there he was offered the opportunity to work for the manager of the most notable Catholic actor in Hollywood Jim Caviezel (Passion of the Christ). Leaving Steubenville, he spent a decade  working as a producer of Catholic media projects and speaking as a missionary on every continent, mostly to youth and young adults.

In 2012 he left his final long term Mission in India and settled back in the US. He  finished his undergraduate in Texas, graduating Magna Cum Laude from the Mexican American Catholic College with a degree in Pastoral Ministry. While in Texas, he met his wife and they have two beautiful young children and look forward to growing that family.

Amy Thomas hails from the great state of Kansas, though she's lived the last 16 years away from the “Land of Oz” traveling the country with her Air Force Airman. She graduated from Kansas State University in 2001 and married her love, Dustin, that same year. She has three amazing kiddos–two daughters and a son. Amy runs the website Catholic Pilgrim and loves to write about the incredible journey of living a genuine, authentic Catholic life.

+ Click to Register for the Retreat! +

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