Magnificat of the Shepherds

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."

So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. Luke 2 15:20

 
My soul delights in the greatness of the people summoned by angels,

And my spirit embraces each puzzled face that peers through the lamplight at the warm-bundled gift of our song-filled God.

As our eyes meet, joy flows between us and our chins are lifted with gladness.

Yes, from this day forward all generations shall raise their voices to proclaim those who gather here as blessed, for the

Almighty has done great things for us.

Holy are the simple people.

And God’s mercy reaches from age to age for those who would join hands and follow a holy calling.

The power of wonder has called them from the meadows;
they are no longer cold.  

Kings sit alone in their palaces,
and we laugh together in this comfortable place.

In the midst of this night we have shared the bread and meat of our haversacks and our wineskins pass from mouth to mouth.

The kitchen of the inn is long locked and shuttered.
Come, God of Israel, celebrate with your people.  
 Magnificat of the Sheperds, Ann Johnson Miryam of Nazareth



Laughter could be heard throughout the streets of Bethlehem as men and woman made merry. But it was in the quiet of this humble stable that true joy was found, where hope entered the world. May we too, be like the simple shepherds, glorifying and praising God for what we have seen and heard.

"Dear children! Today, I and my Son desire to give you an abundance of joy and peace so that each of you may be a joyful carrier and witness of peace and joy in the places where you live. Little children, be a blessing and be peace. Thank you for having responded to my call." December 25, 2010 Message to Marija

The Juggler

Her juggling act was superb! The more she practiced the better she got and it seemed as though every week she was adding another ball. As a result, her act was getting bigger and bigger. Practice took up more and more of her time; soon it consumed her.

She began to get cranky, a sign of fatigue. The simple things she loved to do, well, there just wasn’t time to do them. Depression was becoming a frequent companion. Happiness had lost itself along the way.

Driving home one night, after another long day of juggling, she drove by a church and decided to go in. As she entered she blessed herself with holy water, noticing how quite everything was, and she took a seat up front close to the tabernacle.

It took a minute or two for her to settle herself down; she was so use to juggling. As she relaxed, many thoughts, memories and people came into her mind. Soon, she began to talking to God in a way she hadn’t done in quite some time and wondered why it had taken her so long to come here.

When she was done she sat there before Him, silently and peacefully. When it was time for her to go, she thanked Him for listening to her and for being there. She felt so refreshed and wondered if she would continue to juggle as much as she had before.

"Take time to be aware that in the very midst of our busy preparations for the celebration of Christ’s birth in ancient Bethlehem, Christ is reborn in the Bethlehems of our homes and daily lives. Take time, slow down, be still, be awake to the Divine Mystery that looks so common and so ordinary yet is wondrously present.Edward Hays, A Pilgrim’s Almanac, p. 196


"Dear children! I call you to work on your personal conversion. You are still far from meeting with God in your heart. Therefore, spend all the more time in prayer and Adoration of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, for Him to change you and to put into your hearts a living faith and a desire for eternal life. Everything is passing, little children, only God is not passing. I am with you and I encourage you with love. Thank you for having responded to my call." BVM Message of March 25, 2008

Open Your Hearts

"The world is not as just, not as loving, not as whole as we know it can and should be. But the coming of Christ and his presence among us—as one of us—give us reason to live in hope: that light will shatter the darkness, that we can be liberated from our fears and prejudices, that we are never alone or abandoned. 1

God, in His Supreme Mind, knew the faults mankind.

He saw our weakness, and loving Father that He is, still sought the way of our redemption.

He could have chosen any means to do this; however, He chose a spotless womb, a new Eve to aid humanity from falling, to lead us on the path of holiness, purity, charity and virtue. She would be the God-Bearer, the perfect temple, the Ark of the Covenant. Her name would be Mary, conceived without sin, the Immaculate.

From the moment she said “yes” to God, she has been our Co-Redemptress, tirelessly working to lead us toward her Son, continually asking us to open our hearts to Him.

Today she is still calling us to open our hearts, to become the change we seek in the world. She has given us a way to do this through prayer, fasting, the Holy Bible, confession, and attending Holy Mass .

"Dear children; Today I am praying here with you that you may gather the strength to open your hearts and thus to become aware of the mighty love of the suffering God. Through this His love, goodness and meekness, I am also with you. I invite you for this special time of preparation to be a time of prayer, penance and conversion. My children, you need God. You cannot go forward without my Son. When you comprehend and accept this, what was promised to you will be realized. Through the Holy Spirit the Kingdom of Heaven will be born in your hearts. I am leading you to this. Thank you."BVM 12/02/2010 to Mirijana

“May this Advent season be a time for bringing hope, transformation and fulfillment into the Advent of our lives."2  

1,2  CONNECTIONS, 11-28-93