13th Personal Contemplation

Note from the Webmaster:

As a spiritual testimony in regards to John's messages, I want to let you all know that every time John gives me a new message to deliver to the world, my entire household falls under a complete demonic attack.  Over the past few weeks it has gotten worse and worse when-ever he reaches out to me, often taking days just to get his message published.  

Earlier today I was speaking to John and before he could say anything, I told him that every time I receive his messages all Hell seems to break loose in my home and family.  To my surprise, he explained that I just said exactly what he was just thinking.  Apparently his family also goes thru severe attacks when-ever he is asked to release another message to the world.  But only today did we both come to the realization as to what was really happening.

So, if all of hell is adamant in deterring John and I from publishing these messages, it just goes to show all the more reason why you need to be listening to them.

God Bless.
-Jimmy

Dear Friends,

This past Thursday at 10:00 pm (CT), my wife and I went before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament at our parish, St. Mary’s Catholic Church. I asked the Lord to guide me in supporting His children who are clearly seeking and pleading direction and guidance. I pondered as to how Jesus wanted me to continue to share teachings; how could I help in the task of caring for the remnant, a task that is so urgent and important to Our Lord and His Blessed Mother?

At approximately 10:10 p.m. (CT), I felt the presence of our Lady, who with a beautiful gentle voice greeted me in Spanish “Juanito, mi hijito…” In this locution, she came as Our Lady of Guadalupe. This was the first time she has ever addressed me in Spanish.

“Estoy mu contenta con tu ayuda”…… “Do not concern yourself with how my messages are reaching my people throughout the world. It is the Holy Spirit who has touched the hearts of my children from many countries, and many are receiving my messages and teachings and are sharing them with others. They in turn are passing my love letters to their friends and neighbors. A special grace of love from God is being given to them as they have this heartwarming desire in their hearts to reach as many of their family members and their friends as possible. I bless you, my son, for one of several tasks that the Father has for you as His Plan is unfolding. The time is getting very short and thousands of prayers are reaching the Throne of God. My Remnant is slowly coming together, but there are still many of my children that need to convert and declare their commitment to My Son.

Ask your priests to pray at Mass for a special intention of mine; the Holy Eucharist and the rosary continue to be extremely vital in the formation of our Remnant. I have shared with my children of the awful things to come, but many have cast them aside and continue as in the days of Noah— the completion of Fatima is about to come to its conclusion. I have gained a very short time for God the Father to awaken those that have fallen asleep and strayed from my Son. I need my apostles to continue to pray with me to bring salvation to all that are seeking God as you have not yet experienced the atrocities that are taking place all over the world. The pain and suffering of my little saints who have suffered martyrdom have long reached the heart of God the Father. The faith and prayers of my authentic children are giving us a short time to continue our mission. After the formation of the Remnant, the Warning will occur and the Miracle will follow. Time is short. My Son can no longer allow the suffering caused by so much sin. I ask that you listen to your heart and pray, pray, pray.”

Formation of Home-Based Prayer Groups and Communities:

Since our last Contemplation (#12), we have received many questions on beginning a Home-Based Prayer Group. I will try to answer and direct you in this regard according to my personal experiences in forming/participating in a Home-Based Prayer Group:

1. Please begin by reading Contemplation #12.
2. After you have discerned and prayed, seek the Holy Spirit to guide you in determining if this is His will for you and your family.
3. It is best that the head of the household be the prayer group leader. (I highly recommend a lay person become the prayer group leader.)
4. When you feel comfortable, invite your parish priest to join you. Ask him to bless the group’s efforts and journey of faith. Tell your parish priest what you feel you are being called to do in your home.
5. Assure your Pastor that this is a Catholic Prayer Group and that the teachings and doctrine of the Church will be the foundation of the Prayer Group. Reassure him that there will not be a “watering-down” of Catholic teachings and doctrine to satisfy non-Catholics or others of different persuasions. Let him know that this will be a continuation of the Holy Mass in its faithfulness to God and His church.
6. Invoke the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit; they will be in your midst. You will feel their presence and peace. Thus, I recommend the group pray the Rosary before the Prayer meeting.
7. I urge everyone to start wearing the Brown Scapular. Have a priest or Deacon bless them and give one to each member of your home-based prayer group members. You can buy them at your local Catholic Christian Store. Wear it all the time.
8. Once the Prayer meeting starts, give all praise and glory to the Holy Spirit.
9. Always pray for the holy intentions of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Father.
10. After praying, spend a time of silence as God speaks to all those present.
11. Allow everyone to share their spiritual experience after this silent prayer.
12. At the conclusion of the Prayer Meeting, pray for the special intentions of all those present.
13. Conclude the Prayer Meeting with a prayer to the Holy Trinity.

This is one of several ways of forming a small Home-Based Catholic Prayer Group.  After the Prayer Meeting, you can even have pot luck, refreshments and fellowship with one another. 

These prayer groups are for connecting to God in various ways, for listening to Him, and for praising Him. You can also choose to share Scripture as well as pray for one another and your families. The group can include prayers for healings (for any person present or not present in your prayer group) and prayer for the needs of Our Lady and the Holy Spirit in the formation of Her Remnant. Although this type of prayer group might not be popular in your parish, you may be surprised as to how many people seek this kind of spiritual support and fellowship. Therefore, even if it starts small, it will flourish by God's grace.

Forming or belonging to a small Home-Based Prayer Group is simply living our baptismal brotherhood and sisterhood with people who share God's word, prayer, gifts, time, and pot luck meals. Daily life and its challenges are shared as we pray for one another.

As a reminder, please know these communities are approved and encouraged by the Catholic Church, are Biblically-based and have been proven to be a means to renewal and evangelization, both personally and to the church as a whole.

I remain in prayer, love and hope for all of you as I ask for your prayers for me.

In Jesus and our Blessed Mother, John

More Resources on Home-Based Prayer Groups

1. Everything You Need to Know About Starting a Prayer Group
   http://www.sharefaith.com/blog/2013/11/starting-prayer-group/
2. How to Form a Charismatic Prayer Group in your home.
   http://www.thsonline.org/?q=charismatic-prayer-meeting
3. Is corporate prayer important? Is corporate prayer more powerful than an individual praying alone?
   http://www.gotquestions.org/corporate-prayer.html

ADDENDUM

Small Home Based Catholic Prayer Group Formation: In the Official Teachings of the Catholic Church.

The following quotations from Pope John Paul II and Pope Paul VI indicate how the Spirit is developing small Prayer Groups and Catholic Christian communities and that the Church approves and encourages the formation of small communities.

• Communautes de base (basic communities) "will be a hope for the universal Church to the extent: that they seek their nourishment in the Word of God and do not allow themselves to be ensnared by political polarization or fashionable ideologies, which are ready to exploit their immense human potential;
• that they avoid the ever present temptation of systematic protest and a hypercritical attitude, under the pretext of authenticity and a spirit of collaboration;
• that they remain firmly attached to the local Church in which they are inserted, and to the universal Church, thus avoiding the very real danger of becoming isolated within themselves, then of believing themselves to be the only authentic Church of Christ, and hence of condemning the other ecclesial communities;
• that they maintain a sincere communion with the pastors whom the Lord gives to His Church, and with the magisterium which the Spirit of Christ has entrusted to these pastors;
• that they never look on themselves as the sole beneficiaries or sole agents of evangelization — or even the only depositories of the Gospel — but, being aware that the Church is much more vast and diversified, accept the fact that this Church becomes incarnate in other ways than themselves;
• that they constantly grow in missionary consciousness, fervor, commitment and zeal;
• that they show themselves to be universal in all things and never sectarian."
• "On these conditions, which are certainly demanding but also uplifting, the ecclesial communautes de base will correspond to their most fundamental vocation; as hearers of the Gospel which is proclaimed to them and privileged beneficiaries of evangelization, they will soon become proclaimers of the Gospel themselves" (Pope Paul VI, On Evangelization, 58).

Small Home Based Prayer Groups / Communities in the Holy Bible

"The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the assembly that meets in their house, send you cordial greetings in the Lord." —1 Corinthians 16:19

Small Catholic Prayer Group to for your home:

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' instruction and the communal life, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." —Acts 2:42

Note: John felt inspired to also include the following spiritual stories.  May they deepen your faith as you continue your spiritual journey on this side of Heaven.

Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The well authenticated story of the five apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary is briefly related here:

1st Apparition: At dawn on December 9, 1531, Juan Diego, an Indian convert, was going to Tlatelolco to attend catechism class and hear the Mass. As he was passing Tepeyac Hill, he saw a brilliant light on the summit and heard the strains of celestial music. Filled with wonder, he stopped. Then he heard a feminine voice asking him to ascend. When he reached the top he saw the Blessed Virgin Mary standing in the midst of a glorious light, in heavenly splendor. The beauty of her youthful countenance and her look of loving kindness filled Juan Diego with unspeakable happiness as he listened to the words which she spoke to him in his native language. She told him she was the perfect and eternal Virgin Mary, Mother of the true God, and made known to him her desire that a shrine be built there where she could demonstrate her love, her compassion and her protection. "For I am your merciful Mother", she said, "to you and to all mankind who love me and trust in me and invoke my help. Therefore, go to the dwelling of the Bishop in Mexico City and say that the Virgin Mary sent you to make known to him her great desire."

2nd Apparition: The Bishop was reluctant to believe Juan Diego's story. Juan returned to Tepeyac Hill where he found the Blessed Virgin waiting for him, and told her of his failure. She bade him return to the Bishop the next day and repeat her wishes.

3rd Apparition: The Bishop then requested that the Lady give him a sign. Juan reported that evening and she promised to grant his petition on the following morning. But Juan was prevented from coming because of a sudden and severe illness of his uncle, Juan Bernardino.

4th Apparition: Two days later, on December 12, as he was going to the Church at Tlatelolco in order to bring a priest to his dying uncle, Juan Diego was stopped by the Lady, who had come down from Tepeyac Hill to meet him in the road. She listened quietly to Juan's excuse for not having kept his appointment with her the day before. When he had finished speaking she said, "It is well, littlest and dearest of my sons, but now listen to me. Do not let anything afflict you and be not afraid of illness or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Are you not in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need? Do not fear for your uncle for he is not going to die. Be assured... he is already well."

Having heard these words, Juan Diego rejoiced and asked for the sign he was to take to the Bishop. He was told to climb to the top of the hill where she had spoken to him on three previous occasions. She said he would find many flowers blooming there which he was to cut and bring to her. Juan Diego did as he was told though he knew no flowers had ever bloomed before on the stony summit. He discovered a marvelous garden of dew-fresh blossoms which he cut as she had asked. Placing them in his rough cloak, or tilma, he brought the flowers to the Lady who rearranged them and told him to take them to the Bishop; that this was the sign to persuade him to carry out her wishes.

When Juan Diego, radiantly happy, stood before Bishop Fray Juan de Zumarraga and told him of the fourth encounter with the Lady, he opened his tilma to show the Bishop the sign; the flowers cascaded to the floor - but to the astonishment of the Bishop and Juan Diego, there appeared upon the coarse fabric of the Indian's mantle a marvelously wrought, exquisitely colored portrait of the Blessed Virgin, just as Juan Diego had previously described her.

5th Apparition: Earlier that same day, December 12, she had also appeared to Juan's uncle, Juan Bernardino, and restored him to health as she had told Juan Diego. Juan Diego was at that time fifty-seven years old; his uncle was sixty-eight. Both had been among the first of the natives to be baptized into the true faith several years before.

The Name of Guadalupe Juan Bernardino told his nephew the Blessed Virgin had ordered him to relate to the Bishop in what miraculous manner she had cured him. She also told Juan Bernardino her image was to be known as "Santa Maria de Guadalupe" and thus she has been venerated by this title for nearly five centuries.

The Mantle of Juan Diego The mantle or tilma on which the Sacred Image of the Blessed Virgin is imprinted is hand-woven from the fibers of the Maguey cactus, a fabric which has a life span of little more than thirty years. It is six-and-a-half feet long by forty-two inches wide and has a seam running down the middle.

The Sacred Image Directly on this rough, burlap-like material is the exquisitely delicate figure of Our Lady, four feet, eight inches in height. This authentic portrait of the Virgin Mary has remained fresh and lovely for nearly five centuries and may be viewed today at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City where it occupies the place of honor above and behind the main altar.

It is well documented that the Spaniards who had conquered Mexico were given orders to genocide over 2,000,000 Million Indians. The Indians were being forced to become Catholics and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The Spaniards would drag and hold the Aztec Indians into the rivers and if they did not become Christians, they were decapitated. The Indians only new Symbols, but their Prophets of old had prophesied that a “Woman with the Sun behind Her and with the Moon at her feet would bring to them Her child as their only God to worship. When the Indians saw the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Saint Juan Diego’s tilma, they immediately converted. Our Blessed Mother intervene and save the lives of over 8,000,000 Aztec Indians.

The Pictograph The Sacred Image is a pictograph or picture writing; every detail symbolic. She is brighter than the sun; her foot rests upon the moon; the stars on her mantle are in the same relative configurations as the stars in the heavens on the morning of December 12, 1531; the northern constellations on her right - the southern constellations on her left. Further, the golden filigree over her rose colored gown matches the topography of the Mexican lands once ruled by the Aztecs.

Despite more than twenty-two languages and almost fifty dialects spoken at that time, all were able to read and understand all that is contained in this Sacred Image. So it was in this manner eight million natives were converted to Christianity in the incredibly short span of seven years.

Blessed Mother’s Call to Prayer and Penance.

By Pope John Paul II

The following is taken from the Homily by Pope John Paul II at Fatima, May 13, 1982, one year to the day after the attempt on his life in St. Peter's square in Rome.

.. In the light of the mystery of Mary's spiritual motherhood, let us seek to understand the extraordinary message, which began May 13, 1917, to resound throughout the world from Fatima, continuing for five months until October 13 of the same year.

Convert and Repent

The Church has always taught and continues to proclaim that God's revelation was brought to completion in Jesus Christ, who is the fullness of that revelation, and that "no new public revelation is to be expected before the glorious manifestation of our Lord." (Dei Verbum, 4) The Church evaluates and judges private revelations by the criterion of conformity with that single public revelation.

If the Church has accepted the message of Fatima, it is, above all, because that message contains a truth and a call whose basic content is the truth and the call of the Gospel itself. "Repent, and believe in the Gospel!" (Mk 1:15) These are the first words that the messiah addressed to humanity. The message of Fatima is, in its basic nucleus, a call to conversion and repentance, as in the Gospel. This call was uttered at the beginning of the 20th century and it was thus addressed particularly to this present century. The Lady of the message seems to have read with special insight the "signs of the times," the signs of our time.

Recommends the Rosary

The call to repentance is a motherly one. At the same time it is strong and decisive. The love that "rejoices in the truth" (1 Cor. 13) is capable of being clear-cut and firm. The call to repentance is linked, as always, with a call to prayer. In harmony with the tradition of many centuries, the Lady of the message indicates the Rosary, which can rightly be defined as "Mary's prayer," the prayer in which she feels particularly united with us.

She herself prays with us. The Rosary prayer embraces the problems of the Church, of the See of Saint Peter, the problems of the whole world. In it we also remember sinners, that they may be converted and saved, and the souls in purgatory.

The words of the message were addressed to children, ages seven to ten. Children, like Bernadette of Lourdes, are particularly privileged in these apparitions of the Mother of God. Hence, the fact that also her language is simple, within the limits of their understanding. The children of Fatima became partners in dialogue with the Lady of the message and collaborators with her. One of them is still living.

When Jesus on the Cross said: "Woman, behold, your son," (Jn 19:26) in a new way He opened His mother's Heart, the Immaculate Heart, and revealed to it the new dimensions and extent of the love to which she was called in the Holy Spirit by the power of the sacrifice of the Cross....

In the light of a mother's love, we understand the whole message of the Lady of Fatima. The greatest obstacle to man's journey toward God is sin, perseverance in sin and, finally, denial of God. The deliberate blotting out of God from the world of human thought. The detachment from Him of the whole of man's earthly activity. The rejection of God by man.

In reality, the eternal salvation of man is only in God. Man's rejection of God, if it becomes definitive, leads logically to God's rejection of man, to damnation. (Mt. 7:23;10:33)

Can the Mother, who . . . desires everyone's salvation, keep silence on what undermines the very basis of their salvation? No, she cannot.

So, while the message of Our Lady of Fatima is a motherly one, it is also strong and decisive. It sounds severe. It sounds like John the Baptist speaking on the banks of the Jordan. It invites to repentance. It gives a warning. It calls to prayer. It recommends the Rosary.

The message is addressed to every human being. The love of the Savior's Mother reaches every place touched by the work of salvation. Her care extends to every individual of our time and to all the societies, nations and peoples. Societies menaced by apostasy, threatened by moral degradation. The collapse of morality involves the collapse of societies.

Learn More: Rosary-Center.org

The Scapular Is a Silent Prayer

As Our Lord taught us to say the Our Father, Our Blessed Mother taught us the value of the scapular. When we use it as a prayer, Our Lady draws us to the Sacred Heart of Her Divine Son. It is good, therefore, to hold the scapular in the hand. A prayer offered while holding the Scapular is as perfect as a prayer can be. It is especially in time of temptation that we need the powerful intercession of God’s Mother. The evil spirit is utterly powerless when the wearer of a scapular faces temptation, calling upon the Holy Virgin in this silent devotion. “If you had recommended yourself to me, you would not have run into such danger,” was Our Lady’s gentle reproach to Blessed Alan de la Roche, one of her devoted servants.

Learn More at: SistersOfCarmel.com