Sr. Emmanuel’s March Newsletter from Medjugorje
March 15, 2013
Dear Children of Medjugorje, praised be Jesus and Mary!
“Dear children, I am coming to you as a mother and I desire that in me, as in a mother, you may find your abode, consolation and rest. Therefore, my children, apostles of my love, pray. Pray with humble devotion, obedience and complete trust in the Heavenly Father. Trust as I have trusted when it was said to me that I will bring the blessing of the promise. May out of your hearts, from your lips, always come forth ‘May your will be done!’ Therefore, trust and pray so that I can intercede for you before the Lord, for Him to give you the Heavenly Blessing and fill you with the Holy Spirit. Then He will be able to help all those who do not know the Lord – you, apostles of my love, will help them to call Him ‘Father’ with complete trust. Pray for your shepherds and place your trust in their blessed hands. Thank you.”
2. Finally Success in Fasting?
Two years later, he no longer had any difficulty with monthly confession, the Eucharist, daily reading the Word of God, and praying the rosary.
But fasting, that endeavor among the five stones . . . impossible! There was nothing he could do. He was a fine gourmet, and a connoisseur of the best wines of France. He enjoyed great health, and mealtime, for him, was a sacred and unquestionable necessity. Every attempt at fasting proved to be in vain. When Matthew came to Medjugorje, he used to joke with his friends, “When you go to Sister Emmanuel’s house, if you want to eat well, avoid going there on Wednesday or Friday!”
One day, Matthew asked me for advice: How could he finally succeed at fasting? I was surprised at his question, I wondered if he expected me to reveal a quasi-magic remedy. Then I found out that he had no actual hope of putting his problem to rest. He admitted to me that each time he took one step forward in his attempt at fasting, he had to take two steps back when it became obvious that it wasn’t working for him. All the gleaming lights from the Gospa in her messages on the necessity of fasting had become for him points of discomfort, of suffering, even of guilt. He enumerated for me a profusion of disastrous symptoms that attacked him when he began to fast.
“I tried to force it”, he told me. “But in vain. I would force myself to eat bread, but then I’d have a bad day. I’d be in a bad mood, and at 2 o’clock in the morning, when I couldn’t sleep, I’d get up and go into the kitchen to have an omelet or something like that, so I could get back to sleep. Finally, I just quit fasting. Ever since we experienced our retreat in Medjugorje my wife and I have organized our daily schedule putting Jesus in the first place. Since our children no longer live with us, each day we follow the same routine: in the morning we attend Mass and in the early afternoon we say the rosary or go to adoration. But there’s still the problem of fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays. I want bread to become my only nourishment two times a week, the way it is for the other apostles of the Gospa!
“You ought to try bread made with spelt,” I told him. “That flour is really rich and contains all you need. It will really fill you up (Note 2). You can also use a bread machine (Note 3). And don’t forget to give your struggle over to Jesus the night before fasting so that you make the decision beforehand, then we wake up with a strong mind and will! you’ll see. He’ll help you!”
Matthew went for it. “I followed your advice,” he wrote to me later. “The other day, after I had decided to buy a bread machine and spelt, I went to my local bakery to get some information on it, and saw some loaves of spelt bread on the display shelf. It was a Tuesday, so I bought enough for the next day, Wednesday, but with no assurance as to the hoped-for result. Wednesday morning I cut into my new spelt bread with the firm resolution to eat only bread until the next morning. At morning Mass, I entrusted my fasting to Jesus, so He would help me. Miracle! The bread alone was enough. I fueled up all day on the bread: a marvel! I was flabbergasted to have ‘gotten by’ morning, noon, and night on spelt bread with some honey and water.
The fasting hadn’t been a trial. On the contrary, it was astonishing, because I hadn’t suffered my usual upset stomach. I had a very good night, as though I had eaten normally, and woke up at 7 in the morning with no heaviness. What’s more, the entire day Thursday was spent in joy. I then committed myself to fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays for the intentions of our heavenly Mother. And to think it took me 17 years to find this recipe! Maybe it was a gift from St. Therese as well, because I had to live in Lisieux (France) to find a bakery which made this bread. Fasting is no longer servitude but a source of joy that my wife shares with me.”
3. In Rome? Last month the six visionaries were invited to go to Rome together in order to meet a few Cardinals from the Commission on Medjugorje. Things must be moving along since this is the first time that they have been invited together. In the past few years of investigation, they had been invited separately, some of them even several times, but not together.
Mirjana gave a touching witness on Radio Maria-Italy after the meeting. Of course, none of the visionaries are allowed to reveal what was said to them there. No problem, they are used to secrets! However, she mentioned that before she went, she was a bit afraid to speak to Cardinals! Let’s keep up praying with confidence until the Roman statement is issued.There is much at stake with this statement, both for the Church and for the world! We can also help the experts who are involved by sending them our Guardian Angels because Angels are excellent to whisper the ways of God in men’s hearts. May Our Lady’s plans be fulfilled!
Dearest Gospa, during this Lent, we wish to please God above all. We wish to get closer to Jesus, adoring Him in His sufferings for us. You know so well how to do that! Please, lead us, help us, inspire us!
Sister Emmanuel +
(Translated from French)
Nota Bene: A big “Thank You” to all those who are or will be sending me their testimonies for the new book I am writing, they are very touching! May I suggest another request to make the book more attractive? If you have any beautiful photos that have to do with Medj, please send them to me at gospa.fr@gmail.com and put “My witness” as a subject.THANK YOU with all my heart!
Note 1 – praying the Rosary, fasting, reading the Bible, going to confession once a month, and receiving the Eucharist frequently.
Note 2 – Spelt is a rustic grain, the forerunner of wheat, which the Gaul consumed. Its cultivation goes back to 9,000B.C. This grain is recognized for its nutritional and dietetic qualities. It contains the eight amino acids essential to the human body and improves the circulation of the blood. It is an exceptionally complete and very digestible food, ideal for fasting! The Bible mentions its use. (Ex.9: 32; Ez. 4:9; Isaiah 28:25). See this spelt recipe at the bottom.
Note 3 – Bread machines allow you to make bread in 2 or 3 hours, depending on the machine. You put the ingredients in the machine and the bread comes out ready to eat. Those who fast can choose their flour and produce “homemade bread” without spending too much time at it. The cost of the machines is about $100.00, but you save on health, good humor, and longevity!
* Don’t forget the Novena to St. Joseph before his feast day (March 19). It starts on March 10. We can recite his litany, or any prayer to him that we like.
* Why not write a letter to Our Lady? She loves letters and she’ll bless you for it!Send it to:”Queen of Peace”, BP 2157, F- 06103 Nice cedex, France. We will give it to a visionary.
* Take Medjugorje home! View the celebrations live! http://www.medjugorje.hr/en/multimedia/tv-web/
* The Youth Festival will take place from Aug. 1 to 6. Why not make this a gift to a young person? You may save lives! http://www.medjugorjeyouthfestival.ba/
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1. In a small bowl, place 1 tsp of dry yeast in 1/3 cup of water at 98° F.
Add 1 tsp of sugar. Let it stand for 10 min or until the volume doubles.
2. Put 12 oz of warm water in a large bowl.
Add 11/2 teaspoons of salt and a little more than a tablespoon of coconut or olive oil.
3. Mix.
4. Gradually add the flour while kneading.
5. Cover with a damp cloth and let it rise for 60 min in a warm place at 77° to 86° F.
6. Remove the cloth, punch down the dough and let stand 30 more minutes covered with the damp cloth. Let it rise again in a warm place, at around 82°F.
7. Grease a loaf pan.
8. Remove the cloth and shape a loaf of bread using a little flour on a flat surface.
9. Let rise for about 20 minutes in a warm place.
10. Bake in the center of the oven at 350° F for 50 minutes.