Its relevance is borne of the need for us to sacrifice, do penance to make amends with God and mitigate the punishments prophesied for our times.
In an interview in 1972, Conchita Gonzalez, one of the visionaries of Garabandal in the 1960’s, said the following about penance:
“The Lady explained about the sacrifices, and said that they ought to be remembered every moment of the day, as we are always in the presence of God…[Once] we wore tight knotted belts. We were trying to do things so that the Lady would notice that we were sacrificing. She noticed, and smiled, telling us that this was not the penance She meant; never to harm ourselves, but to accept what God gives us in everyday life…just small things in everyday life.”
Such penances must be done above all else for God’s designs. Not that God needs anything from us, but that He has given us the free will for choices between good and evil, good and better, evil and more evil.
Apart from accepting small things in our daily lives, penances can be done through acts of charity, such as helping others in need. But Mother Teresa cautions us: such work done without God is mere social work. Some who do it declare they do so because they feel fine for doing good. That’s a description of a feeling over good work done, not an objective for doing good. The saints all agree that opting to do good must be a conscious, if not subconscious act of offering to God. Then the value of good work takes on prime value in the context of eternity.
From Medjugorje where the Blessed Mother continues to appear to visionaries since 1981, I derive much consolation. Our Blessed Mother speaks simply, with much love, and offers practical guidance for us all.
Last Sept. 2, Our Mother again advised us, through visionary Mirjana, as follows:
“Dear children, my dear apostles of love, my carriers of truth, again I am calling you and gathering you around me to help me, to help all of my children who thirst for love and truth – who thirst for my Son. I am a grace from the Heavenly Father, sent to help you to live the word of my Son. Love one another. I lived your earthly life. I know that it is not always easy, but if you will love each other, you will pray with the heart, you will reach spiritual heights and the way to Heaven will be opened for you. I, your mother, am waiting for you there because I am there. Be faithful to my Son and teach others faithfulness. I am with you. I will help you. I will teach you faith that you may know how to transmit it to others in the right way. I will teach you truth that you may know how to discern. I will teach you love that you may come to know what real love is. My children, my Son will make it possible for Him to speak through your words and your actions. Thank you.”
Last Aug. 25, our Blessed Mother also conveyed the following message in Medjugorje:
“Dear children! Also today I am calling you to prayer. May prayer be for you the wings for an encounter with God. The world is in a moment of trial, because it forgot and abandoned God. Therefore you, little children, be those who seek and love God above all. I am with you and I am leading you to my Son, but you must say your ‘yes’ in the freedom of children of God. I intercede for you and I love you, little children, with an endless love.
Thank you for having responded to my call.” Earlier last Aug. 2, our Blessed Mother again prayed with Mirjana for the unbelievers and then said the following:
“Dear children, I, as a mother who loves her children, see how difficult the time in which you live is. I see your suffering, but you need to know that you are not alone. My Son is with you. He is everywhere. He is invisible, but you can see Him if you live Him. He is the light which illuminates your soul and gives you peace. He is the Church which you need to love and to always pray and fight for – but not only with words, instead with acts of love. My children, bring it about for everyone to come to know my Son, bring it about that He may be loved, because the truth is in my Son born of God – the Son of God. Do not waste time deliberating too much; you will distance yourselves from the truth. With a simple heart accept His word and live it. If you live His word, you will pray. If you live His word, you will love with a merciful love; you will love each other. The more that you will love, the farther away you will be from death. For those who will live the word of my Son and who will love, death will be life. Thank you. Pray to be able to see my Son in your shepherds. Pray to be able to embrace Him in them.”
