Editor’s Note: Below is a letter from his Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services (AMS). He invites us to all join in prayer for U.S. military personnel, veterans, and their families this Christmas season. Let’s never forget the innumerable sacrifices our soldiers are making so that we can have a peaceful Christmas here with our families, in the warmth of our homes.

“The traditions surrounding our annual celebration of the Savior’s birth fill us with joy and a deep longing for that peace announced by the angels. The birth of absolute Goodness, the Incarnation of the Son of God, reminds men and women that we are all brothers and sisters, children of God our heavenly Father.

For the men and women in uniform who serve our country at home and abroad, holiday time is special, but my heart goes out to those who are deployed far from home and the warmth of their families. Indeed these valiant men and women bend under the weight of combat and the tension provoked by an elusive enemy. They are anxious about their future and they are far from their loved ones.

The long and frequent deployments to the Middle East take their toll on everyone: the military, families, and our long-suffering chaplains who care for our brothers and sisters both during deployments and afterward.

This particular archdiocese without territorial boundaries also looks back and remembers those who have served in previous wars and are now cared for in the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and Clinics.

I boldly beg you to pray for our servicemen and women, veterans and all their families. Christmas is the occasion when we remember the Gift of the Father to us. Each of us tries to respond by giving something we have received to those in need. Those who serve our country in uniform need and deserve our prayers.”

Prayer of the Archdiocese for the Military Services

Almighty God and Father, look with love upon our men and women in uniform and protect them in their time of need. Give them health and stability and allow them to return to their loved ones whole and unshaken. Be with their families and sustain them in these uncertain times.

Grant strength and peace of mind to the Veterans who have given their best for the country they love. Support them in infirmity and in the fragility of old age. Teach us to remember their sacrifices and to express our gratitude.

Manifest your tender care to those in the Military Academies who prepare for future service and to those who serve our Nation far from home. Teach us to remember the sacrifices of those whose efforts contribute to ensuring our way of life.

Bless and multiply the priests who minister to the faithful of the Archdiocese for the Military Services. Reward their generosity and keep them faithful.

Hear us as we present our prayers to You through Christ our Lord

Catholics do not pray to statues.

That would be idolatry and therefore, a violation of the First Commandment. If a person prays to a statue out of superstition, believes that the statue has special powers or is even God – that is idolatry.

However, this is not what Catholics do when they pray in front of a statue. Catholics worship with their whole person and all of the senses. A statue, or any other piece of religious art, is intended to draw the soul deeper into prayer by helping the senses to recall the mystery that it represents.

Crucifixes, a statue of Mary or stain glass windows help to provide a “centering point” for a soul to meditate and contemplate the great mysteries of God.

Statues have quite a history in the Church – they’ve been around for awhile. Before the printing press was invented, it was difficult for a person to find the Bible in print. People didn’t have individual Bibles to teach them about the story of salvation. And even if there was a Bible around most people couldn’t even read.

Statues and other pieces of religious art became a means for the Church to teach the Bible. A person could walk into a monastery or church and learn about Jesus Christ by simply looking at the religious art and the story that the art told.

In fact, the Catholic Church’s long history of art reflects her ability to impact and evangelize within culture. The greatest artistic period of the modern world was the Renaissance period. If you do a tour of Europe and look at Renaissance art, it’s almost all religious art pointing to Christian Tradition or Biblical stories. The art of the time period reflects the Catholic Church’s ability to evangelize an entire culture so that everything spoke of the glory of God.

The day after Thanksgiving is a big day in the Bielski home. Why? It’s Christmas list time! That’s right. Being from a big family, we pick names from a hat and then my sister pulls out a HUGE stack of catalogues (J-Crew, Eddie Bauer, Best Buy and Target – to name a few). She dumps them on the living room table and the fun begins.

My sisters and brothers comb through each page. From new computer equipment, video games, sporting goods and the cutest clothing out this season, we circle what would be best for “Santa” to bring this year. We don’t even have time to recover from the “food coma” we’re in as a result of our turkey dinner before we’re already thinking about Christmas lists and shopping!

Shop ’til You Drop

According to the National Retail Federation, America spent over $4 billion last Christmas. People keep talking about the hard economic times, but statistics prove one thing has not changed in our family traditions – we love to shop!

The day after Thanksgiving drives American consumers into a buying frenzy. Every Black Friday, shoppers stampede through the malls like wild elephants ready to trample anyone in their way of a great deal. This year, a woman actually pepper sprayed a competing customer in Wal-mart to get their Black Friday video game sale. I mean, have we gone too far?!

Don’t get me wrong, I love to give and receive gifts from the people I love. That is the fun of Christmas! But with all the Christmas lights and Santa statues, endless Holiday commercials, and glittering BUY NOW signs, who’s really thinking about Jesus? We’re either counting down the days until we get presents or stressed over what we should buy.

It makes me wonder …

Have we lost the meaning of Christmas?

As Catholics, the preparation time for Christmas is called Advent, which is the Latin word for waiting. The early Jews waited and longed for the day of the coming of the Messiah, the savior. The irony of the materialism during the time of Christmas is that materialism (as well as other sins) is exactly what Christ came into the world to free us from! He came to take us away from our idols, our “false gods” in this world and long only for Him.

This Christmas, let’s re-examine our “Dear Santa” list and look to Jesus. Ask yourself what you really need this Christmas. Sure, we all have “wish list” items for Christmas. Something that is definitely not coming off my list is upgraded software for my mac and a new pair of jeans from my favorite store. It is good (and fun) to give and receive.

A Different Wish List

God didn’t come into the world to give us material things. He came for the interior – God came for the desires of our heart. So let’s make a Christmas list for our Lord that counts.

What am I truly longing for in my heart this Christmas season?

Do I need to to be less anxious, pray better or have more faith?

Let’s spend some time in prayer searching our hearts for what our Lord could give us this Christmas.

Jesus’ Gift To You

Sometimes in the mist of the hustle and bustle of Christmas, we forget why it’s so amazing that Jesus came into the world. This first reading from last Sunday’s mass, Isaiah 61, is one of my favorites. It is the same scripture Jesus recites in Luke to proclaim his mission:

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor,
to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and release to the prisoners,
to announce a year of favor from the LORD
and a day of vindication by our God.

Jesus came to change our hearts . . . to heal and restore the broken-hearted, bring freedom into spiritually imprisoned, hope for the weary and salvation for those who believe in Him. This is who Jesus is, and this is why he came. This is good news we celebrate at Christmas!

Baby Jesus doesn’t want to give you a new iPad, blue-ray DVD or designer jeans. He comes to us to give His very self. The greatest gift we could ever ask for on our Christmas list is a child born in a manger 2000 years ago – Jesus Himself.

Even the new iPhone 4S or the greatest video game has nothing on that!

Sometimes I find myself itching for a good miracle story. And I know I can just open the Bible for one but sometimes I find myself asking, “Lord, how about a good modern day miracle story on the news tonight?” It’s kind of a bad attitude to have because after all, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (John 20:29)

I’ve come to realize that God likes being anonymous. He is the Author of all of creation and yet He’s not a god who flaunts his power or shows off.

Throughout the Scriptures, Jesus performed miracles for people so that they might come to believe that he was God. Miracles defy the laws of nature and the only person that can defy the laws of nature is the Person who created those very laws: God. So when Jesus multiplies bread, walks on water or heals incurable diseases, he does this so that you and I (not just first century Jews) might realize that he is the Creator, that he is God.

Miracles like the kind we hear about in Scripture aren’t as common today. When Jesus does perform miracles though, it’s often through other people, typically the saints.

When I heard this miracle story it blew my mind! It’s about Pope Benedict’s role in the rescue of the Chilean miners, whose one-year anniversary we observed last Thursday. Check it out …

Trapped but Alive

In the early aftermath of the accident, when it was confirmed that the miners, originally believed to be dead, had all survived the collapse, a Chilean flag was sent below ground at the request of a miner’s wife. Each of the men signed it and inscribed it: “The 33 of us are alive in this refuge.”

Through a change of hands that only providence could design, the flag was soon presented to Pope Benedict XVI by a Chilean delegation to the Vatican. The Holy Father accepted it and promised to pray for the miners’ safe delivery.

Saint who? The what?

Not long after, Pope Benedict departed for his visit to England. While in London, he attended an ecumenical prayer service at Westminster Abbey. After the service, the Holy Father went into a small side chapel in the Abbey dedicated to St. Edward the Confessor. Never heard of him? That’s okay. Most people haven’t in spite of the fact that St. Edward was king of England and has a cameo in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth (he’s also briefly mentioned in The King’s Speech). King Edward I died in 1066 and not long after, he was all but forgotten.

Nevertheless, when the Holy Father entered the side chapel, he knelt before the tomb of St. Edward the Confessor and pulled out the Chilean flag he had received from the miners. He spread it before the saint in prayer and asked for their safe delivery.

Rescued

Meanwhile in Chile, it had been speculated that it would be well past Christmas before the miners would be raised to safety. By some baffling feat of engineering, the rescuers worked at a breakneck speed and, defying the odds, all 33 miners were pulled to safety only 69 days after being trapped, taking less than half the time at first speculated for their rescue. It was October 13th, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Our Lady of Fatima shares her feast day with none other than St. Edward the Confessor.

Seeing through Eyes of Faith

It’s a side of the story that the media never picked up. In fact much of what the media did choose to cover during that period was the scandal that surfaced. During the many days of intense rescue efforts wives and family members had stayed vigil above ground in incredible loyalty and hope. Mistresses had also come forward and families were torn apart by this awful knowledge of sin and betrayal. And yet still another little known fact becomes visible to those with eyes of faith: St. Edward the Confessor, in addition to being the patron of kings, is also the patron of difficult marriages and separated spouses.

The next time you hear the news call something a “miracle of engineering” or “an incredible coincidence” don’t take their claim at face value. Chances are, if you do a little digging and you look at it through the eyes of faith, you’ll be pointed back to a very real miracle. You’ll see God working.

St. Edward the Confessor, pray for us.

Here in South Bend, people get pretty pumped over Notre Dame football. They dress in blue and gold, paint their faces, prepare food all night for the tailgates, even get up early. When the game starts, the crowd goes nuts! Cheers. Standing. Sitting. High fives to strangers you don’t know. We are fully engaged in the event. I wonder what would happen if we participated with the same heart and passion at Mass on Sunday?

Let’s be honest. Mass … it’s boring, right? Growing up, that’s what I thought. In grade school, we went to daily Mass, while wearing ugly, green, plaid uniforms, with an old lady playing the organ. At that point, I would rather watch paint dry.

College Smack-down

It wasn’t until college that God smacked me over the head with a 2 by 4, and I learned what Mass really was. My friend, who was a theology major, sat down in the college cafeteria and said: “Mass is a sacrifice, Mary.” I grumbled back: “Yup, Mass is a sacrifice to go.” But for the next twenty minutes my friend began to unfold salvation history. He told me how the Jews had to sacrifice an umblemished lamb during passover, and how Christ was the perfect Lamb for the new sacrifice of the Mass. (1 Cor 5:7)

He walked me through the last supper leading to Jesus’ death on Calvary. He even pulled out his Bible and read John 6, where Jesus commands us to “Eat my flesh and drink my blood.” And the words at the last supper, “Do this in memory of me.” (Lk 22:19)

“Do you know what is happening at the Mass, Mary?” he said. “The veils of heaven are lifted, and the offering given 2000 years ago on Calvary becomes present on the altar.” We the church, offer ourselves at Mass (as a living sacrifice) back to God. And we receive His body and life, to be sent out into the world. “What!!???” I was so blown away I almost dropped my bowl of mac and cheese on the floor.

Why didn’t anyone tell me!

Mass is a sacrifice!? How did I go through 14 years of Catholic education and never know what was happening at Mass? My eyes were opened that day.

That year in college was a year of great conversion. I fell in love. I began to listen to the words at Mass. “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us” … “All the angels cry holy, holy, holy” … The mysteries of Mass came alive for me. I started reading early church history and Scott Hahn’s book “The Lamb’s Supper.” I was forever changed.

Mass is not boring — it’s the most exciting mystical event we can encounter. But like a ND football game, (or anything else in life) you get out of it what you put in. And Mass is not meant to be lived on the sideline — it is a full (heart-body-mind) contact sport. So here are some helpful tips!

Learn.

Take the time to learn about the Mass. What is happening and why. The incense and rituals are not there just “because” some old guys wanted to make your Easter Vigil as long and as painful as possible. Catholicism is a very sensual (as in we use our senses) religion. We use smell, sound and touch in the sacraments to encounter God. Why and How? Because the invisible God makes himself visible. (God became man) Through humanity and sacraments, (through water, oil, and bread) God uses the visible world to reveal and encounter invisible mysteries. It’s pretty cool stuff, if you ask me!

Prepare.

Read the scripture readings before Mass. You can get them online, (check out Mark Hart’s Sunday podcast), download an iphone app, or subscribe to the Magnificat or DailyBread. It takes five minutes to read while you brush your teeth. This will help you to listen better for what God is saying to you through scripture.

Listen.

Usually when the readings start, we tune out. But listen. God speaks to us personally through scripture. Listen for what God is trying to say to you through the four readings at Mass. Try to connect with specific phrases or words that jump out to you: “Be not afraid” or “But you will receive power.” Sometimes the Lord gives us profound truths in small bites.

Participate.

Don’t just go through the motions. Mass is meant for full participation. Engage the mind. When we pray the intercessory prayers (example: praying for Haiti) I actually imagine the people of Haiti in my mind to make it real. Engage your heart. Pray the prayers, experience the words you are saying. They are powerful and real. Engage the body. Open your mouth and sing! Extend your hands back to the priest when you say “Peace also with you.” Mass is a full body sport. Because our bodies and souls make up our one being, we engage the mysteries of God in and through our bodies.

Receive.

After you receive the Eucharist (the body, blood, soul and divinity of God). Allow yourself to just be absorbed in His presence in you. Calm your mind, listen for God’s whisper, feel His love. That moment is the most intimate time you can spend with Jesus.

There are two things that happen at Mass. Communio and Missa: two cool Latin words. “Communio” in Latin means communion (come to union). “Missa” is where the word Mass comes from and means to be “sent out.” Think of it like our lungs. We take in air (communio) and we breathe out air (missa). This is the process of our faith. We take in the word, prayer and the sacraments to fill and transform us. As we breathe in and receive God’s love, we can go out and live God’s presence in the world. This is what Mass is all about.

In the end, I still wish some of the priest’s homilies were more relatable. I still wish my parish would break out with some cool praise and worship or Matt Maher music during Mass. And of course I still get distracted sometimes by the girl’s cute shoes next to me and the many to-do lists running around in my head.

But regardless of the great preacher, or music, or my many distraction; it is Jesus Himself in the living mystery of the Eucharist, that we seek. And if we engage and unite with Him on the altar, Mass will be more life-changing and life-giving than even the most exciting of ND football games. (Hopefully when ND is winning!)

This past Sunday my day started with a run. I don’t know if you’ve ever gone for a run or not, but you kind of get in this “zone.” It was just me, the sun, the pavement … my gasping breath (but that’s embarrassing to talk about) and my thoughts. I didn’t want to miss this quiet opportunity to chat with God, so I let Him know I was listening to whatever He wanted to tell me.

I began praying about what I should write this week and the simplest thing came to me. I felt like God was telling me to let you know that I’m praying for you. I honestly thought the idea was kind of lame (sorry, God). It seemed too basic. But we all need to hear it once in awhile, don’t we?

Who Are You?

It doesn’t matter if you’re reading this the day I post it, or two years from now.

I don’t even know you personally or what you need prayers for. That’s okay though because prayer is cool like that. God knows you very well – He knows everything. So when I pray for you, God takes that prayer and gives you grace wherever you need it.

No! … vena

Do you know what a novena is? That’s how I’m praying for you right now. It’s a traditional prayer of the Church where you pray for nine days in a row. There are a lot of different kinds of novenas. You can pray certain prayers to a saint nine days before their feast day, or nine rosaries, nine chaplets, etc.

I’m doing a novena of Masses. I’m going to Mass nine days in a row and offering it up for you!

Novena Number One

The first novena ever was when the Apostles and the Blessed Mother prayed together for nine days between when Jesus ascended into heaven and when the Holy Spirit descended upon them at Pentecost. It’s a powerful prayer.

I love praying a novena because as an old Tradition of the Church, it reminds me what a huge “story” we’re a part of.

You know what? You don’t even know my middle name (or all three of my middle names), and I don’t know your first name – but it doesn’t matter. We’re all brothers and sisters in this community of the Church, so none of us ever has to feel alone.

As your sister, I got your back … in the prayer realm.

Growing up, I was the typical nerd. I was always the student in class who would raise their hand saying, “I have a question … ” (I learned quickly not to stand up, wave my hands, and yell … thanks to first grade.)

I just loved asking all types of questions. I still do.

Two kinds of questions that I ask are random questions and life questions.

The “random question”

One of my random questions was “What would sun tan lotion taste like?”

Oh, believe me – growing up in Florida this is something I had thought about since I was eleven. I know it’s completely absurd, but what’s great about a random question is that it just passes through my mind. I don’t need to know the answer immediately and it doesn’t cause me any anxiety.

Picture this, I was fifteen and it was my first day working at Haagen Daaz. My tattooed, sixty-year-old boss let me sample every ice cream we carried.

I took a spoonful of Pineapple Coconut ice cream and it was like there were fireworks in my mouth; it was exactly how I imagined sun tan lotion should taste!

It was exciting to have the answer to that question, and it didn’t matter that it took me four years to figure out.

The “life questions”

On the other hand, the second type of question is a bit different. These are the substantial “life questions.”

These begin in my heart and tend to stop in my head, they linger. They usually have to do with seeking God’s will in my life, such as:

“What is my vocation?”
“What is my purpose?”
“Where’s my future spouse at?”

I remember at fifteen, asking the Lord who I was supposed to marry. But that didn’t affect me at that point in my life. I wasn’t getting married any time soon.

I wanted solutions immediately and I tried to figure them out instead of waiting for the answers to come.

Walk then Run

When I try to figure things out before God’s time, it’s like I’m trying to finish a race without putting my shoes on. I’m skipping an important step. Which only leads to losing, getting nasty blisters and probably breaking my big toe.

I have to let the Lord teach me how to walk first and then He will “guide my feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:79) Only after that can I put shoes on and start running.

He knows the precise moment for me to lace up and “run so as to win” (1 Corinthians 9:24) so why rush it?

“Many days you will wait for me … ” (Hosea 3:5)

While we wait for Christ, our fears and anxieties cease because if we surrender to the Lord we can know in faith that he hears us and listens. He created our desires and only He can fulfill them.

He won’t let me miss out on the next step He has for me. I have to remind myself of this daily. My hope has to be in Him, and He cannot disappoint (Romans 5:5).

It might be years before He reveals some of my big “life questions” to me, but His timing is perfect because He is perfect.

I don’t think God is going to tell me whether or not I should eat lucky charms or yogurt tomorrow morning. But I do know for the life questions, whenever I begin “I have a question,” from my heart, I have to wait for God to respond, “I have an answer.”

Because He does.

Editor’s Note: While there are many reflections, testimonies, and stories about the tragedies that occurred on 9/11/2001, we wanted to share with you a prayer. This special prayer occurred when Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States. His time spent at Ground Zero in New York City helped bring healing to the people of New York, as well as Catholics world-wide. As you reflect upon the events of 9/11, take time to pray with the Holy Father to pray for peace among our world.

O God of love, compassion, and healing,
look on us, people of many different faiths
and traditions,
who gather today at this site,
the scene of incredible violence and pain.
We ask you in your goodness
to give eternal light and peace
to all who died here—
the heroic first-responders:
our fire fighters, police officers,
emergency service workers, and
Port Authority personnel,
along with all the innocent men and women
who were victims of this tragedy
simply because their work or service
brought them here on September 11, 2001.

We ask you, in your compassion
to bring healing to those
who, because of their presence here that day,
suffer from injuries and illness.
Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families
and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Give them strength to continue their lives
with courage and hope.

We are mindful as well
of those who suffered death, injury, and loss
on the same day at the Pentagon and in
Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Our hearts are one with theirs
as our prayer embraces their pain and suffering.

God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women
and peace among the nations of the earth.
Turn to your way of love
those whose hearts and minds
are consumed with hatred.
God of understanding,
overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy,
we seek your light and guidance
as we confront such terrible events.
Grant that those whose lives were spared
may live so that the lives lost here
may not have been lost in vain.

Comfort and console us,
strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage
to work tirelessly for a world
where true peace and love reign
among nations and in the hearts of all.

Pope Benedict XVI
Prayer at Ground Zero
New York, 20 April 2008

The cheers exploded! There was singing and dancing. The outdoor arena was packed with 50,000 teens and the energy was tangible in the air because of their excitement. No, we weren’t at a Lady Gaga concert. We came for the greatest “Lady”—Our Lady, the Blessed Mother. It was the 22nd annual Medjugorje Youth Festival, and I was there to experience the pilgrimage of a lifetime!

After more than 24 hours of travel, a herd of foreigners, long lines in customs, a bad stench of BO, and three hours of driving through the winding streets of Bosnia; I finally reached the hills of Medjugorie.

There were no Wal-Mart’s, stoplights, or fast food restaurants in sight. With majestic mountains to my left and the clear blue Adriatic Sea to my right, and rocky terrain surrounding me, I entered a different world then the flat corn fields of Indiana. I could’ve easily felt lost there for 12 days. But I came to on this pilgrimage to find something … well someone – the Blessed Mother.

The Story of Medjugorje

On June 24, 1981, Our Lady appeared to six youth on a hill in a small village in Bosnia-Hercegovina called Medjugorje. And over the last thirty years, the Blessed Virgin Mary has been appearing and giving messages to the world. You may have heard of other famous apparition sights such as Lourdes or Fatima. But what makes this apparition sight unique is that the visionaries claim the visions are still continuing today.

Her Message

How often does your mom repeat the same things over and over to you? Like, “Do your homework!” Or “Clean your room!” Well, Our heavenly mother is repeating the same message to us – “Turn to my son!”

Our Lady doesn’t tell us anything new to our Catholic faith. Her message is of peace and love. She is calling us, with urgency, to her son Jesus. She has come to wake us up from, what one of the visionary calls, a “spiritual coma.” Many Catholics and Christians have fallen away from their faith. Like a loving mother, Mary comes to wake us up and bring us into what she calls “the school of love and prayer.”

Consistent pillars in Our Lady’s messages are the following:

• Prayer (Rosary) with the heart
• Conversion
• Peace
• Love
• The Eucharist (Mass)
• Monthly Confession
• Fasting

My Experience

Can I just say … I love being Catholic! Here I was in a small village in the middle of nowhere Bosnia, waving through the air were flags from Sweden, Ireland, Japan, Canada and hundreds more. Throughout the festival we prayed the rosary, attended daily mass, adoration, confessions, testimonies, and heard live music in all different languages.

“This is what it means to be Catholic.” I thought. Catholic means “Universal.” What I experienced during the youth festival was the Universal Church – a living faith. Mass was translated in over 18 languages, and it didn’t matter the ethnicity, culture, or what flag we waved through the air. We were Catholic, and we were here to respond to our Lady’s call.

I had the opportunity to walk barefoot up Apparition Hill, the place where Mary first appeared. The mountain is covered with big, jagged rocks and the hike to the top is more than my average work out on the elliptical. Did it hurt? Yes, it did. But as I prayed the mysteries of the rosary and huffed up the hill, I took all the intentions of my family and friends with me. And honestly, this was my favorite part of the trip! Each time I would step on a painful pebble I would offer it up my sick parents, Life Teen, my friend, and all the teens I minister to. It was powerful!

Lost and Found

Along with cheesy Mary statues, painful heat, and rocky hills, from the world’s eye, this small village seems lost. In the midst of soccer practice, Facebook, and Entertainment News, why should anyone pay attention to six visionaries in the hill country of Bosnia?

But that’s how God works! Like the small, hidden stable in Bethlehem for example. He comes in the most unexpected ways to small, lost places … so that we can be found.

The miracle of Medjugorje is not in the apparitions. It’s in the long lines to the confessional that last til the early hours of the morning. It’s the countless rosaries being prayed. It’s the praise and worship, tears and 50,000 youth on their knees for adoration.

No, I didn’t get to see any apparition or vision. No lightning or twirling sun.

I found something much greater during that pilgrimage. I found the love of a mother, peace, and a conviction to prayer. In my busy life, I often make excuses to not pray the rosary more. I mean, Facebook and American Idol can take up a lot of time! But if our heavenly Mother thinks it’s important enough to come down to earth and tell us, with great urgency, to pray – I think we should listen. Because she loves us … and she loves her son.

“If you knew how much I love you, you’d cry for Joy” – Our Lady, Medjugoje

For more information on Medjugorje or on Our Ladies monthly messages go to http://www.medjugorje.hr

Church’s Official Position on Medjugorje: The church has not officially confirmed or denied the apparitions in Medjugorje. In conformity to the decree of Pope Urban VIII, and the directives of the Vatican Council II, Life Teen, Inc in regards to Medjugorje© , declares that we do not have the intention to precede the judgment of the Roman Catholic Church in regards to the validity of the supernatural character of facts and messages related to the reported events in Medjugorje. This judgment belongs to the authority of the Church, to whom we submit ourselves fully. Words used in any of Life Teen’s blogs and/or in Medjugorje© literature, publications or on our website – such as “apparitions,” “miracles,” “messages,” “visionaries,” and similar – have the value of human witness and personal faith.

How many “true” friends?
How many Facebook friends?
How many friends in my whole lifetime?

Actually, it’s far more than any of those numbers. In truth you have more friends than you can count. The saints in heaven are the best friends you could ask for – and they’re pulling for you.

What We Believe

Just to make it very clear up front, Catholics and Protestants believe firmly in the command that we are to pray to God constantly, and without reservation. We agree on that.

The Catholic Church does not and has never encouraged folks to take their attention or prayer off of or away from Jesus.

When I, Mark, pray to Christ for you, as your friend, it’s called secondary mediation. I am doing the same thing that the saints do for me when I ask them to pray with me to Jesus … to join their prayers to mine, en route to Christ. Since they’re closer to Him than I am, it actually makes even more sense for them to pray for me, than for my earthly friends to pray for me.

Let me explain more …

Different types of prayer

It’s important to explain that there are different types of prayer. Prayer to God includes worship. Prayer with Mary and the saints includes honor, but not worship.

Mediation

Many people are confused about what “mediation” really is and quote something like 1 Timothy 2:5 – speaking about how Christ is the only Mediator between man and God (which the Catholic Church agrees with, by the way).

But mediation in a more general sense is any one of us praying for or with each other. This is what St. Paul encourages in the four verses immediately preceding that verse about Christ as the one mediator (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

Prayers on our behalf to Christ by either saints living in Heaven, or friends living on earth would be called a secondary mediation.

St. Paul talks about this throughout his epistles, like in Romans 15:30-32, Colossians 1:4, 9-10 and 2 Corinthians 1:10 … (want a couple more? Try Romans 10:1, and 2 Timothy 1:3).

Saints alive!

The saints in Heaven are alive and are perpetually in prayer. They are absolutely living in Heaven, just as you and I live, but to an even fuller extent, because they are back home with God. He is “the God of the living, not of the dead” (Mark 12:26-27).

Since they are far closer to God than we are (2 Corinthians 3:18), as sinful humans walking the earth, their prayers are more powerful.

The saints in heaven are free of all sin, which is what hinders our prayers (Matthew 17:20, 1 John 3:22, Psalms 66:18) and they are in total, perfect union with God.

We are still united with our saintly brothers and sisters (1 Corinthians 12:21-27, Romans 12:5, Ephesians 4:4, Colossians 3:15), as “death cannot separate us from Christ” (Romans 8:35-39).

Deserving of honor

As Christians we’re supposed to honor those worthy of it (Romans 12:10, 1 Peter 2:17) … and the saints are absolutely worthy of it! To give honor is not the same as “adoration” which is only appropriate to give to God. It’s less a matter of praying to Mary and the saints as it is praying with or through them, to Christ.

After all, the Mother of our Lord prophesied that “all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). No other faith on earth fulfills this prophecy with the degree of faithfulness that the Catholic Church does. We honor Mary and the saints not because they desire it, but because they deserve it.

Obedience is Godly

Lastly, we are commanded to “honor father and mother” (Exodus 20:12). In honoring Mary – who was given to us as our spiritual Mother (John 19:26-27) – we follow in Christ’s footsteps and fulfill God’s command.

Mary is the new Eve, perfectly obedient and mother to all the living. Christ proves this by calling Mary “woman” at Cana (John 2) and upon the cross (John 19). This was not a sign of disrespect (since Jesus is sinless – Hebrews 4:16) but, rather, to demonstrate that Mary fulfills the prophecy in Genesis 3:15.

Best Friends Forever

Do you see how the saints really are your friends? They’re praying harder for your salvation than any soul on earth. Pretty cool, huh?

If you want to learn more about the communion of saints and the “goings-on” of prayer in heaven, check out Hebrews 12:1, 12:18-19 and 12:22-24 and Revelation 5:8, 14 and then Revelation 6:10 and 8:3-4.

Mother Mary, through your humble intercession lead us even closer to your Son, Jesus Christ. May all the saints and angels, pray for us!