Our Lady of Medjugorje, in private revelation given to Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti, on December 25, 2023:
“Dear children! I am carrying my Son Jesus to you to fill your hearts with peace, because He is peace. Little children, seek Jesus in the silence of your heart that He be born anew. The world needs Jesus, therefore seek Him through prayer, because He gives Himself daily to each of you.”
Our Lady of Medjugorje, in private revelation given to Jakov Colo, on December 25, 2023:
“Dear children, today with my Son in my arms, I desire to call all of you to pray to the little Jesus for the healing of your heart. Children, often in your hearts sin rules which destroys your life and you can not feel God’s presence. That is why, on this day of grace, when grace is spreading throughout the whole world, surrender your life and your heart to the Lord, so that the Lord may heal them with His grace. Only with pure hearts will you be able to experience the birth of Jesus anew in you, and the light of His birth will illuminate your life. I bless you with my motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
An excerpt from “Heart of the Message of Medjugorje” by Dr. Mark Miravalle:
The gift of peace seems to have entered the world from the very moment of Christ’s birth, as proclaimed by the multitude of angels in their Christmas praise: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14).
The disciples were to bring the gift of peace to those with open hearts: “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you” (Luke 10:5-6)
The individual’s peace should even surpass that of family, of community, and of society. The peacemakers are praised in the Beatitudes for bringing about social peace (Matthew 5:9); Christ proclaims the need for the “salt of the earth” to remain in peace among themselves (Mark 9:50).
The peace the Christian experiences in this world is a foreshadowing of the ultimate peace to be experienced in the glory of eternal life. The Canticle of Zechariah points to peace as the goal for those followers of the Lord who will “…give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79).
Yet, the Gospels state that not all will accept the peace of Christ. As Jesus neared the city of Jerusalem, He wept in sorrow for those who refused to accept His message of peace. Their rejection of Christ and His way of peace eventually led to the destruction of Jerusalem. Our own generation would do well to reflect upon the sorrowful words of Jesus, “Would that even today you know the things that make for peace” (Luke 19:42).
Despite the turmoil of the world, Christ assures His followers of His final victory over earthly tribulation through the peace found only in Him: “I have said this to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Peace as a divine gift from Christ, peace as a goal of the Christian life, and social peace as a result of interior peace—all are present in the Gospels. There is a notable conformity to the Gospel in the message of peace attributed to “Mary, Queen of Peace.” It is evident that the way the message of Medjugorje speaks of faith, prayer, fasting, penance, conversion, and peace is solidly grounded in the heart of Sacred Scripture.
“There is the same humility in my Son now in the power of His Godhead as there was then, when He was laid in the manger. Although He knew all things in accordance with His Godhead, nevertheless, while lying between two animals, He spoke nothing at all, in accordance with His humanity. So too now, sitting at the right hand of the Father, He hears all who speak to Him with love, and He answers through infusions of the Holy Spirit. To some He speaks with words and thoughts, to others as if from mouth to mouth, just as it pleases Him.” –Our Blessed Mother, in private revelation given to Saint Bridget of Sweden
An excerpt from “Crossing the Threshold of Hope” by Saint John Paul II:
The time must come for the love that unites us to be manifested! Many things lead us to believe that that time is now here, and as a result, the importance of ecumenism for Christianity should be evident. Ecumenism is a response to the exhortation in the First Letter of Peter to “give an explanation [of] the reason for our hope” (cf. 1 Peter 3:15).
Mutual respect is a prerequisite for authentic ecumenism. Earlier, in recalling my experiences in my homeland, I pointed out the historical events that shaped Poland as a society characterized by a broad tolerance for many beliefs and many nationalities. At a time in Western history when heretics were being tried and burned at the stake, the last Polish king of the Jagiellon dynasty gave proof of this with the words “I am not the king of your consciences.”
Let’s remember for that matter that the Lord Jesus conferred upon Peter certain pastoral duties, which consist in preserving the unity of the flock. The Petrine ministry is also a ministry of unity, which is carried out in the field of ecumenism. Peter’s task is to search constantly for ways that will help preserve unity. Therefore he must not create obstacles but must open up paths. Nor is this in any way at odds with the duty entrusted to him by Christ: “strengthen your brothers in faith” (cf. Luke 22:32).
It is significant that Christ said these words precisely at the moment when Peter was about to deny Him. It was as if the Master Himself wanted to tell Peter: “Remember that you are weak, that you, too, need endless conversion. You are able to strengthen others only insofar as you are aware of your own weakness. I entrust to you as your responsibility the truth, the great truth of God, meant for man’s salvation, but this truth cannot be preached or put into practice except by loving.” Veritatem facere in caritate (To live the truth in love; cf. Ephesians 4:15); this is what is always necessary.
