Adult Faith Formation and School of Holiness 2015

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Register Now for the Following Events:

Adult Faith Formation Weekend

"Becoming Thoughtful Men & Women of God"

 

We are delighted to announce another DFOT Adult Faith Formation weekend.

The speakers will be Anne, a lay apostle, Fr. Darragh Connolly and Margaret McGahon, MSc, MIAHIP. The weekend will have a special focus on contemplative prayer and overcoming mind pollution (noise, distraction, psychological, mental/emotional baggage etc.) which can stunt growth in our vocations and ability to pray.

The curriculum covers content in the area of human and spiritual development necessary to live out our vocations, and will be offered on a continuous basis in the future at our new premises in Kilnacrott.

This is not your average retreat weekend. This is an educational setting where you will be learning about your relationship with yourself, others and God.

Be prepared to take notes, have fun and be creative!

Two opportunities available:


 Justice, Illinois, USA
February 27th- March 1st, 2015
For more information and to register for the Adult Faith Formation weekend in Justice, IL click here or contact Justin, 708-496-9300 or emailjustin@directionforourtimes.org


Cavan, Co. Cavan, Ireland
February 13th-15th, 2015
For information on costs and to register for the Adult Faith Formation Weekend in Cavan, Ireland please contact Emma: +353(0)49-437-3040 or 
contactus@dfot.ie



School of Holiness 2015

Young adults from all over the world come together for three weeks in Cavan, Ireland for a time of learning about their relationship with self, others and God. The three weeks are filled with fun, friendship and our beautiful Catholic faith. The curriculum incorporates human and spiritual development and each day is led by Anne, a lay apostle, Fr. Darragh Connolly and Margaret McGahon MSc, MIAHIP. Field trips and weekend adventures to many places in Ireland are also included.

Cavan, Co. Cavan, Ireland - June 1-20, 2015
To apply for the School of Holiness 2015 please click here

Payment plans are now available. For more information please contact Justin: 708-496-9300 or justin@directionforourtimes.org

 

 

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Direction For Our Times relies on donations to supplement the cost of publishing the messages. Currently, only 40% of the publishing cost is covered by the sale of the books. Thank you for your prayerful consideration. 

 

Direction for Our Times (DFOT) is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to spreading God's messages as revealed in the Volumes.

Fame Can Get You Killed

Celebrities have it rough. The pressure from society for non-celebrities is tough enough. But to have every move photographed or videotaped would be exhausting . . . and anger-inducing. So many have turned to drugs and/or alcohol in order to calm themselves and escape. Some to the point of death . . . John Belushi, Chris Farley, Whitney Houston, and Michael Jackson, to name a few. You know what I wonder when I see these talented people literally killing themselves with abuse of substances? I wonder if God was a part of their life . . . and if things would have turned out differently if they did everything for His Glory. Famous people have the opportunity to impact so many, leading their followers to God. Instead, many demonstrate behaviors leading in the opposite direction. Think about the pressure Jesus was under. Talk about becoming famous! Yet despite the chaos, He continued on with His mission, knowing it would culminate in His Death. A death He didn't choose for Himself. A choice His "fans" made. Do you see the irony? 

The Gospel (Mark 1:21-28) today demonstrates how fast the news of good works can spread. And they killed Him because . . . ? 

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”  Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Climbing the Mountain, the quote she shares from Father Raneiro Cantalamessa basically sums up the problem with our society:

"For almost twenty centuries, Christians have been awaiting the return of the Savior King. Even His own apostles thought they would live to see His return as He had promised. While we pray for His return as an article of faith, “Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again,” we no longer truly anticipate Jesus’ return in our hearts, but consider it an event both remote and uncertain in time. Father Raneiro Cantalamessa, preacher to the Pontifical Household, in his homily on the Feast of Christ the King, said: 'A general atmosphere of impunity is established in today’s society, in which there are competitions to break the law, to corrupt and allow ourselves to be corrupted, with the justification that ‘everyone does it.’ Is not this, in a certain  sense, the situation in which we all live? One after the other, the commandments of God are calmly broken, including the ones that say, ‘Thou shall not kill,’ ‘Thou shall not steal,’ ‘Thou shall not commit adultery,’ with the pretext that ‘everyone does it,’ that culture, progress and even human law now allow it. But God has never thought of abolishing the commandments or the Gospel, and this general feeling of security is no more than a fatal deception.'"

Lay apostles, who do you admire? They may be incredibly talented people within their field, but how do they conduct themselves in reality? Are they choosing drugs and alcohol or Christ? Are they using their fame to further His Kingdom or are they making it cool to live a Godless life? I used to give my oldest daughter a hard time about certain actors she refused to spend a dime on at the movie theater because of their liberal political views. I'm thinking she is on to something . . .

Thank you, Lord, for continually showing me unless I'm doing everything for Your Glory, it is not worth doing. 

God bless,

Bonnie

Is It Disobedience?

Secrets and gossip. I despise them. Especially if the gossip is detrimental to another person who is unaware of a situation. Although I am guilty of this sin (as we all are at one time or another), I have learned to avoid joining in the chaos the best I can. How do we respond to the "gossiper" initially?  Do you tell the "gossipee" the slander being spread about them or do you keep it to yourself? Is it disobedience when we don't keep secret what was asked to be kept secret? I don't know what the right answer is to any of those questions, but I know how I respond now. The gossiper usually gets an encouraging word about the "gossipee" from me. Focus on the positive. Or, I keep my mouth shut. I try to assess the pros and cons of revealing the information to the "gossipee." If the information can create a positive outcome for the person being talked about, then it can be appropriate. But if it is information which could cause catastrophe, I take it to prayer. Sometimes what we don't know doesn't hurt us. 

In the Gospel (Luke 5:12-16) today, Jay and I have differing viewpoints on what happened.  Read and see what you think:

It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”  Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.”  And the leprosy left him immediately.  Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”  The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

Jay believes Jesus asked the leper not to tell anyone because He knew our human nature leans toward telling the world about something miraculous. He feels it wasn't disobedience but God's Will to spread the word about Our Savior.  I think the leper was disobedient to Jesus. After word spread about the leper's healing, Jesus became a celebrity who couldn't walk into a town without being recognized. He didn't listen to what Jesus asked. So, He had to retreat to "deserted places to pray."  I see Jay's point. But, in my heart I feel any disobedience to Jesus is just that . . . disobedience. What do you think? Comments would be greatly appreciated!

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, I love the following quote and advice to make sure what comes out of our mouthes furthers the Kingdom . . . not evil:

"In moments of useless communication when we are not in communion with Jesus, the enemy can come with temptation. Our talk is then subject to a dark influence. Our talk can then become subject to the enemy’s plan. In many ways and on many occasions we have furthered the plan of Satan through talking and other forms of communication that are not willed by heaven. Better we be mute than assist Satan in tearing down what the Lord attempts to build. Many things can happen in useless talking and random communication. Often what happens is destructive gossip. Before any communication, therefore, we must seek to determine if Jesus wants us to communicate. Is Jesus asking us to make this communication? Many times and probably most times the answer will be ‘No’. Jesus needs only the smallest percentage of the communications we make."

Lay apostles, do you find yourself gossiping or responding to others' negative gossip? If you are or do, stop it now. Reread the quote from Anne above. Even better (this idea just came to me!), print out the above quote to hand to the next gossiper you come across.  Or, print it out for yourself if you have a gossiping problem. Nothing like a little reminder of the damage gossip can render in an already struggling world. 

Thank you, Lord, for the words from Anne above. I will print them off straightaway and carry them with me as a reminder to myself and others to stay focused on You. 

God bless,

Bonnie

Pitying Others

*Repost from 2013:

I am not a cat person (although, I do love Rocky and Burke, my oldest daughter's cats when I visit DC). A few nights ago, while Jay and I were having dinner, a pesky cat I've seen hanging around my house suddenly appeared at my patio door. My first instinct was to jump up and shoo him away as I have done in the past. But as he peered in the window, I noticed he was missing an eye.  Darn it! Poor thing was homeless and missing an eye. Flashes of me feeding him and acquiring a new pet quickly evaporated when I remembered how allergic I am to cats (I live on Benadryl when I stay with my daughter!). But I did pity the poor little guy and feel moved to be compassionate the next time he comes around. Would it be a mistake to put kitty food in a bowl in my backyard? 

In the Gospel reading (Mark 6:34-44) today, Jesus shows just how much He loves every one of us, despite lack of love for Him. It's kind of like the cat . . . he showed his weakness leading to more compassion from me:

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.  By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late.  Dismiss them so that they can go  to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”  He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.” 

But they said to him, “Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”  And when they had found out they said, “Five loaves and two fish.”  So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass.  The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.  Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven,  he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all.  They all ate and were satisfied.  And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments and what was left of the fish.  Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.

In the Monthly Message of November 2007, Jesus continues to demonstrate patience in waiting for us to love Him:

"My heart is moved to such pity for those who do not seek Me. Let your heart also be moved to pity. Show constant compassion, never judgement, to those who do not understand what they lack. I am trying to show you, My beloved apostle, that you have begun a journey that must be taken by each person who will spend eternity in the family of God. If others delay the journey, that is their affair. My beloved apostles understand that this journey, the journey to holiness, is the most important journey they will ever take. This is your first priority, My friends. Continue to make your pledge and I will see to it that you become holier."

Lay apostles, are you treating others with compassion? At times people (or animals!) can become very annoying. But in reality, aren't they just needy of love and understanding? We can pity others as Jesus does . . . without judgement. We can recognize the weakness and understand we have all been there at some point in our lives. Today, show some understanding in a difficult encounter or situation. A little bit of love goes a long way!

Thank you, Lord, for showing me that pitying others doesn't mean judgement of the person. For every ounce of compassion I show, the closer I come to the holiness You aspire me to achieve.

God bless,

Bonnie

A Diehard Fan

*Note: Reposting from last year. And, yes, another rebuilding year for the Bears!

There are so many wonderful things Jay has brought to our relationship . . . faith, trust, love, and the Chicago Bears. He is a diehard Bears fan. Every Sunday after Mass this year, I opened my Bears iPhone app to find kickoff time. Unless it was Monday Night Football or they were playing an east coast team, the radio was all we had. In Fort Myers, there are two restaurants/sports bars boasting Home of the Chicago Bears. We chose to watch the game this time at a place called The Edison. This was a big game determining if the Bears were going to the playoffs. And, they were playing the Packers. The place was packed inside and out. We fit right in with our Bears gear on in a sea of orange and blue (there were a few brave sorts wearing green and gold . . .). After a very exciting but disappointing game, Jay solemnly said as we walked to our car, "Bears fans have broad shoulders and we are used to this. It was another rebuilding year." Gotta love a fan!

Todays Gospel (John 1:19-28) brought to mind the commitment we must all make to Christ despite the random disappointments or difficulties in life:

This is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

In Anne a lay apostle's book The Mist of Mercy, Jesus explains how our commitment to Him allows His Kingdom to grow:

"Dear apostles, during this time I send you great graces. Everything you need comes from Me. Do not hesitate to answer My call because you feel you are not holy enough. You are called to holiness, it is true, but all genuine holiness comes from Me. If you ask Me I will send it to you in great abundance. I notice that many souls fear a commitment to Me because they see only their flaws and weaknesses. At this time I want you to stop thinking that it is your humanity that gives Me glory. Souls in heaven give Me praise, it is true. And I return their love. But when a soul on earth, acting from faith, makes even the smallest act of love or fidelity to Me, I am given great glory and the family of God is given power. Yes, each time a soul on earth steps out for God in any way, the Kingdom grows. Do not put a limit on the importance of each little act and each little prayer."

Lay apostles, think about something you are deeply committed to. Is it football? Shopping? Exercise? Whatever it is, are you as committed to Jesus? If yes, keep climbing the mountain! If no, 2015 is the year to begin.

Thank you, Lord, for Jay, the Bears, FSU and our commitment to You! Help us to continue to improve our prayer life and shine Your Light to all we meet.

God bless,
Bonnie

Monthly Message for January 2015!

We continue our cycle of monthly messages for 2015 with the message from January 1, 2007 for our prayer groups and personal reflection.  January 1, 2007 (2015) Jesus I, Jesus, take delight in My apostles. I look into the world and see My friends, serving each other and growing in love and, truly, I experience delight. My friends, you will be well rewarded. The holier you become, the easier it will be for you to come to heaven. That is My goal for you, that you become so holy on earth that your death is a time of great peace and joy. How I anticipate the homecoming of each of My beloved servants. I plan for the day and prepare for the great rejoicing that will take place. You will be welcomed into eternity by a multitude of apostles, all of whom served before you. You will recognize your friends and family in heaven and they will assemble to greet you. Such joyous reunion. Such well-earned reward. My friends, your life will pass quickly, far more quickly than you can imagine. I speak to you today to remind and encourage you. I remind you that you are committed to Me, to My will. Begin each day remembering that you have made a commitment to serve heaven on that day. If you pledge your allegiance to God, you are on the side of God. If you are on the side of God, you are working against God’s enemy. I want you to reject all that comes from the enemy. Be diligent about your time in silence and I will reveal anything that I wish you to reject or abandon. I draw you into My heart, further and further. There is always a need to advance. Today, I call you to make an even greater commitment to advancing in holiness. I will help you, of course. I will make your path even more obvious to you. I come today to remind you of your pledge, but also to encourage you. I look into the world at this time and there is darkness, it is true, but there is also light and that light comes from your commitment to Me. The angels see your service and they rejoice. The saints see your service and they applaud. Our mother, Mary, sees your service and she is comforted. I, Jesus Christ, see your service and I experience delight. You are part of a team, My team. We are the team that brings salvation and we do that through love. In your heart I am placing a love for humanity. You will experience this love individually, for each person with whom you come in contact. This is how I experience love. I love all mankind. I do so one person at a time. You must do the same. Love those around you, particularly those in your family. Treat each person with dignity and respect because if people see that you are good, they will understand that I am good. Be at peace. I am with you in everything and your service delights Me.

New Beginnings

The last day of 2014 . . . this year has flown by. As I look back at all the blessings and challenges of this year, there is one thing I know for sure . . . I am still alive on this earth, so God must need my service to Him for a bit longer! This morning Jay and I were talking about our goals for 2015. The usual "New Years Resolutions" of eating better, exercising more and becoming more organized at work and home were discussed. But, more importantly, our spiritual well-being was first and foremost. We have slacked a little in our one hour of Adoration/week the past few months as life has become very busy. Our marriage book was put on the back burner due to many factors . . . work, two new grandchildren, life in general. So, tomorrow is a new day. We will work harder to make God the priority in everything and serve Him to the best of our ability. Here is to new beginnings, lay apostles! How are you going to serve Him in 2015?

Todays Gospel (John 1:1-18) takes us back to the beginning:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light,  so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God,  to those who believe in his name,  who were born not by natural generation  nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision  but of God.

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth.

John testified to him and cried out, saying,  “This was he of whom I said,  ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me  because he existed before me.’” From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses,  grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,  has revealed him.

In Volume Three, God the Father gives us a new beginning if we chose Him:

"My children, you await union with Me, even though you do not realize this. There is always something lacking, something you are longing for, while you remain on earth. Those who are close to Me, and who attempt to serve Me in their daily lives, feel less of the emptiness. Those who are far from Me, particularly those who once knew Me and then moved away from Me, feel it to a greater degree. I do not care how you have tried to fill that emptiness in the past. What I am saying to you now is that I wish to fill the void you are experiencing. Souls close to Me, I refer to you too. I want to renew you. Souls far from Me, turn to Me, pray to Me, and I will fill you with such gladness that you will not regret your decision against the false gods the world uses to distract you. Souls undecided, I gently call out to you. Do you hear Me? Do you hear the voice of your Creator within your soul? It is I. Have faith, little ones. I am calling out to you all. To some I call gently and quietly. To some I call with a thunderous command. What do I say? I say turn away from insulting your God. Turn away from sin. Come back to Me now, while I can salvage your earthly experience. Soon your time here will run out and you will have made your decision. Do you want Me? Truly,
I want to be with you. I want to rejoice in you, My little one. I want to give you great joy, great peace, great security and safety. 

There is no substitute for the one true God and I am He. I have given you instruction on how to return to Me. My Son has explained how you fall away, how you stay away, and how you must eradicate habits that lead you away. Your heavenly mother, Mary, shows you nothing but love and care. She has brought many souls to heaven and will bring legions of them now in these times. Follow these lights. Follow these words. Follow this call and come to Goodness. Children, please, your Father wants each and every one of you. I want you to be with Me. I can say this no differently. When you turn to Me, I will give you a sample of My love. To many I have already done so. This is the very tip. This is the very beginning. I do not reprimand you. Because of the Sacrifice of My Son, your sins will be forgiven. They will be forgotten. I am issuing you a pardon from your sins, little ones. That is the kind of Father I am. I have a short memory of your sins, particularly for these current struggling souls who have contended with a time of great darkness. So there is nothing left to consider except the love that I have for you. There is nothing standing in the way of you, My beloved child, and Me, your merciful Father."

Lay apostles, there will always be setbacks in our life which throw us off our climb up the mountain of holiness. We can either give up or start anew . . . the choice is ours to make. God is hoping we choose Him. 

Thank you, Lord, for Your Great Mercy. It would be so easy for me to give up when things are not going the way I want. Instead, Your Love propels me forward to achieve what You ask of me.

God bless and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Bonnie

A Christmas Letter From Anne

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A Christmas Letter from Anne



Dear Lay Apostles,

Merry Christmas to you all and may your days be blessed with confidence in God’s presence. This year, as we reflect on the Infant in the manger, perhaps we might consider ourselves lifting Him gently from His first throne into our arms. How tenderly we would cradle Him. Consider how reverently we hold any new born baby. We are so careful to protect a baby from danger, including our own clumsiness.

Lay apostles, every person we encounter was once a newly born infant. And when a mother or father look upon their baby, they do not love the child because he or she is in agreement with them. They do not love the child because the child thinks like them or practices the exact same spirituality, although they hope the child eventually will. They just adore the baby because they know that the baby is connected to them. They accept that their actions will impact the baby, positively and negatively.

We should view everyone in the world like this because we are connected by God to every member of the human race and to some degree, our actions will impact all others. How are we impacting others?

And yes, just as Jesus was an innocent baby, each person we encounter was an innocent baby. In most circumstances, babies are received into waiting arms and wrapped tenderly. And it is our job to see that babies are received into waiting arms and wrapped tenderly. But then life happens and we know that pain can lead people to bad choices.

Lay apostles, for this Christmas, perhaps we will focus on what is good about the people around us as we try to be a servant to all. And just as we would try to help Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus in their poverty, we must look to bring others what they need. For example, how would it have been if we brought Saint Joseph, Mary and the newly born Baby Jesus an electric can opener, for example? A little odd. It would be like saying, “We have not contemplated you.”

Most of us crave recognition as people who contribute some good, despite our imperfection. The greater the suffering and the failure, the greater and more acute the need for recognition as a valuable member of a family, a culture, a society, a world. Our incarcerated prisoners often do not know they are loved and valued and while many of us will forget this or believe we have no role to play for prisoners, it is also true that many in our families or faith communities also do not know they are valued and loved. And that is where we, lay apostles, come in, with our Allegiance Prayer, our spirituality of service, and yes, possibly a booklet or two!

Lay apostles, we are all loved infinitely by God, who created us. God is like the parent of the newly born baby, only He is the perfect parent. He contemplates us with delight and hope, regardless of our wounds, mistakes and life’s quandaries. And that is the Christmas message to all from God. We are all loved, infinitely. Everyone around us is loved in that same way. If we can communicate the smallest bit of this love to others, they will encounter God and that will make Christmas full of wonder for them.

We should not begrudge God the preparations, even as we keep the preparations as simple as possible. We serve Christmas by serving the experience of Christmas in others. This means different things for different people and as we pray contemplatively using our prayer structure, we will know what to offer others. Focus on eye contact and listening, along with smiles and laughter.

One final note is this. We all carry crosses. We offer special prayers together right now for anyone carrying crosses of grief, illness, addiction, incarceration or financial distress this Christmas. We feel loss so acutely at Christmas. One way of managing our sufferings might be to acknowledge the cross in our life, and then, look beyond it. What else is in our day in addition to the cross we are carrying? What can we be grateful for? To whom should we express gratitude openly, in words and actions? We ask God not to let us be crushed by our crosses, but to allow our crosses to give us compassion and perspective and patience.

You have all of my love, dear lay apostles. We are doing great things around the world because we are united and focused.

Remember that the weary world rejoicing includes you!

Your sister in God’s love,
Anne, a lay apostle

A Time to Be Bold

As Christians, we are called to be His light on earth, drawing others to Him as John the Baptist did. What behaviors are you displaying on a daily basis? Do they emulate Christ? Are you forgiving, thankful, loving, kind, and nonjudgemental? Nobody ever said being a Christian is easy . . . but if we live as John did, think about our reward in heaven. Now is the time to be bold, lay apostles. Don't shy away from speaking His Name constantly and out loud. Stop caring what others will think of you. Care about what Jesus thinks of you.

In todays Gospel (Luke 1:57-66), as an infant, the crowds knew John was special: 

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. 

In Anne a lay apostle's book Serving in Clarity, our Blessed Mother encourages us to be bold as the reward will be great:

"This is the time of my Son. Dear apostle, how overjoyed I am at the loyalty He receives from this current band of followers. You are like apostles of the past in that you serve with consistency and joy. You are unique, though, given that you serve during a time when the enemy seeks to have a complete hold on this world. This attempt to overcome the world is bold. It insures that you will have to fight, as all apostles are called to fight. The difference for apostles in this time is the consistent level of resistance they face from the enemies of my Son. Consistent with the increased resistance is the increased grace, of course. Heaven and earth work together as in no other time."

Lay apostles, do you shy away from speaking the name of Jesus in public? I used to be that way. I used to think I didn't need to "convert" anyone . . . as long as I tried to do my best. Well, I was wrong. We are asked to spread His Words and this mission. We are asked to live our lives boldly, as the first apostles did. It can be scary and overwhelming to stand out in a crowd. Let me tell you . . . I have done it and sometimes great conversions happen. Sometimes there is ridicule and mockery. But when it's all said and done, I know I have done, to the best of my ability, what He asks of me. What can you do today to be bold for Christ?

Thank you, Lord, for the strength, wisdom and support You have given me in times I was a little leery of being bold. Please continue to nudge me when I'm not bold enough!

God bless,

Bonnie

Miracles are Real

The first time I read Volume One with a promise from Jesus to convert all our loved ones when we dedicate our lives to Him, I was so overwhelmed. Sometimes those conversions don't happen as quickly as I would like! But, I trust Him completely in this matter. And, I see the evidence of His Work on a daily basis. If we believe His Promises and do as He asks of us, we will see that miracles are real. Most importantly, all is in His Time, not ours.

Todays Gospel (Luke 1:5-25) teaches us when God promises something and we believe Him, miracles occur:

In the days of Herod, King of Judea,

there was a priest named Zechariah

of the priestly division of Abijah;

his wife was from the daughters of Aaron,

and her name was Elizabeth. 

Both were righteous in the eyes of God,

observing all the commandments

and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. 

But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren

and both were advanced in years. 

Once when he was serving as priest

in his division’s turn before God,

according to the practice of the priestly service,

he was chosen by lot

to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. 

Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside

at the hour of the incense offering,

the angel of the Lord appeared to him,

standing at the right of the altar of incense. 

Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. 

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah,

because your prayer has been heard. 

Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,

and you shall name him John. 

And you will have joy and gladness,

and many will rejoice at his birth,

for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. 

He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. 

He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb,

and he will turn many of the children of Israel

to the Lord their God. 

He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah

to turn the hearts of fathers toward children

and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,

to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” 

Then Zechariah said to the angel,

“How shall I know this? 

For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 

And the angel said to him in reply,

“I am Gabriel, who stand before God.

I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. 

But now you will be speechless and unable to talk

until the day these things take place,

because you did not believe my words,

which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah

and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 

But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them,

and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. 

He was gesturing to them but remained mute.

Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. 

After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived,

and she went into seclusion for five months, saying,

“So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit

to take away my disgrace before others.”

In Volume One, Jesus makes this promise to us . . . and I have no doubt He will fulfill that promise:

Promise from Jesus to His Lay Apostles May 12, 2005 

"Your message to souls remains constant. Welcome each soul to the rescue mission. You may assure each lay apostle that just as they concern themselves with My interests, I will concern Myself with theirs. They will be placed in My Sacred Heart and I will defend and protect them. I will also pursue complete conversion of each of their loved ones. So you see, the souls who serve in this rescue mission as My beloved lay apostles will know peace. The world cannot make this promise as only heaven can bestow peace on a soul. This is truly heaven’s mission and I call every one of heaven’s children to assist Me. You will be well rewarded, My dear ones."

Lay apostles, are you becoming impatient with prayers for conversion of loved ones moving too slowly? Honestly, I know I do at times. Reflect on the impatience within ourselves . . . maybe He is giving us the time we need for our own full conversion first? After all, when you trust someone, you have no doubt they will come through for you, right? 

Thank you, Lord for teaching me the importance of waiting patiently for miracles to occur. Because when they do, I am blown away!

God bless,
Bonnie

A Serious Matter - Fr. Darragh Connolly

Bullying is bullying no matter who the bully is . . . let's all focus on the Volumes and all the work DFOT is doing to build the kingdom! God bless, Bonnie





Dear lay apostles,

This is a brief letter to inform you of a new position we are taking on a matter which emerged a few years ago. The prudence of this organisation has been heavily borrowed upon and we are now setting a firmer boundary regarding this issue.

Most of you are unaware of this but for the last four and a half years we at DFOT have been the subject of bullying behavior by a religious sister and a priest who works with her. Some priests and lay apostles have been told false stories by them and then sworn to secrecy under the guise of confidentiality. Confused by the request for secrecy, many have phoned to let us know. Indeed, this is how we have come to understand the extent of what has been circulated. We are grateful to the priests and bishops from several countries, as well as religious and lay people, who have not only been disturbed by these actions, but felt it their responsibility to alert us.

In other arenas in the world, this behavior would be classified as character defamation. The entire organization and specific members have been subject to false accusation, and yet never directly, always covertly. We have written reports of this and summaries of how it was done and I have dealt with this in many countries, at every level.

Some prayer groups were instructed by these individuals to stop reading the monthly message and either cease their prayer groups altogether or change them entirely. Others were told they had to burn their books. Letters written by them and people associated with them were passed along to us and are in our possession. Aspersions have been cast on the bishop, the staff and the writings. And again, in most cases, people were sworn to secrecy, suggesting some form of a covert campaign.

Burning books with an official Church Imprimatur? Lay apostles, we are steering our organization into healthy portions of Human Development for a reason. Indeed, as we piloted our human and spiritual development program in high schools in our diocese, we realized that we were advising responses to bullying that we, ourselves, had not implemented. Specifically, we tell the young people that secrecy is a red flag and that we must bring these issues into the light of day.

To be clear, the claims of these individuals have all been examined by the competent authority, Bishop Leo O’Reilly, as well as the official diocesan commission formed to evaluate Anne’s experience and the writings, as well as the organization, years ago. The claims of these two people, some of which were specific, were deemed unfounded and objectively false. Furthermore, it must be noted that these individuals have neither competence nor authority to make claims or assessments of any kind.

As stated, these types of actions are not uncommon in the world and can be seen within the Church, at times, in a particularly insidious way, creating confusion and uncertainty. Because we are human, this is inevitable and we know that many of you may have experienced similar situations in your lives. However, we are all responsible for our feelings and how we choose to act upon them. In this situation, several of the people who have alerted us as to what is being said and done, have expressed fear that if we make their name known, they will also be targeted. Clearly we wouldn't do that except to our bishop. Nevertheless, the only mature and transparent action at this point for us is to name this openly and call it unacceptable.

One final reason for sending this email is that as we move into this next phase of the mission we will be drawing a line under this matter. For the last several years we have treated this as a distraction from our work and given it little attention, except when absolutely necessary. In the future, we will be passing along all evidence of further coercive or covert behaviors for the attention and handling of the appropriate authorities, including their own superiors. If you have experienced this behavior please contact me. If you have suggestions for us around this issue, we would like to hear them. In turn, I can help you to understand how this is happening and that you are one of many who have been approached in this way. You can email me at the below email address.

We continue to work hard with you in spreading the many blessings we have received in this Apostolate and we wish to support all lay apostles out in the field working. We thank you for your prayers and remind everyone that this work belongs to Jesus Christ.

Sincerely,

Father Darragh Connolly
Chaplain
Direction for Our Times
chaplain@dfot.ie

A Father to Emulate

Loving your own children comes easy. Loving step-children (and grandchildren) requires a special kind of man. One who understands we are all children of God worth loving. For the last few years I have witnessed this special kind of man . . . my husband Jay. When meeting people for the first time and asked about children, he immediately says we have four daughters. He loves my three girls as every father/step-father should. What is even more stunning is his love for our four grandbabies. He is "Papa" to them and the love they feel is evidenced as they squeal with joy when he is crashing cars on the living room floor or following their every command ("Papa do it!"). Jay is the perfect example of emulating the most important father who ever lived . . . St. Joseph. Want to be that kind of father/step-father? Read Volume Six. And take the words of St. Joseph to heart. 

Todays Gospel (Matthew 1:18-25) shows the integrity of St. Joseph and the love he had for Mary:

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us." When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

In Volume Six, St. Joseph spells out how important a father's role is:

"Dear fathers of the world, you must heed my voice. I am speaking to you from kindness and concern. We in heaven watch the events in the world because we are eager to assist you. We hear your prayers and immediately begin interceding for you so that any graces available will be utilized. Allow us to help you to examine your role as father so you can be certain you are fulfilling this role as God has willed. You must examine your role in comparison to me, Joseph, the head of the Holy Family. Do not examine your role in comparison to a soul who is not following God. You must take this opportunity to also look at your companions. Are they true followers? Do they encourage you to be a good father and husband? Are they themselves good fathers and husbands? Dear man, if they are not fulfilling their role as father and husband, it will be difficult for you to resist their influence. Many in this time will encourage you to put yourself first, but I tell you in all seriousness that you should not do this. Your wife and children must come first. You are to lead your family to heaven. In heaven, the first will be last. Consider yourself a servant to your family. In this way you will not spend too much time meditating on how you would like to follow the world. You live in a world of great darkness. I must speak the truth so that you know that it is critical that your family be steered safely through these times. With the help of heaven, you will do this successfully. But in order to obtain this help, you must ask for it. In order to ask for it, you must be prayerful. If you are not prayerful, you will not see the need to pray because you will be too busy scurrying from one day to the next and telling yourself that all is well because this is what everyone else is doing."

Lay apostles, especially fathers, are you surrounding yourselves with people living a good Christian life? Are they devoted mothers and fathers or are they more interested in hitting the bar after a long day with friends or coworkers while their family waits at home? As harsh as this may sound, eliminate toxic people from your life. I know it's a difficult task, I've had to do it. But ultimately, it was good for my soul and good for my children. Take a look at who you spend time with. If it isn't building the Kingdom, pray about it. Remember, your family always comes first.

Thank you, Lord, for showing me the kind of man Jay is not only as a partner, but as a father. Thank you St. Joseph for your integrity, strength and love of Our Savior!  

God bless,
Bonnie

Where I Came From

A few years ago I began converting my mother's old 8mm films into DVDs. I had no idea what they contained, but I knew they embodied memories of her past . . . my past. Excited to see some old movies, the first one I popped in stunned me. I sat there staring at a loving, happy family. A mom, dad, four girls and a white French poodle danced and played around a Christmas tree. No traces of Mom's mental illness or her frequent hospitalizations for "nervous breakdowns." Mom and Dad appeared in love . . . a memory so distant to me I almost forgot it existed. 

Dad, me and Pepe, Mom and Sheryl

 Sisters!

This is how the movie ended . . .

After this final kiss, the film jumped to another 8mm movie combined with the first. It was my paternal grandparents playing with my older sisters before I was born. I replayed this DVD over and over, thankful for a glimpse of a time where all seemed peaceful.  I am forever grateful Mom and Dad gave me life. More importantly, they gave me faith. I was chosen by God to be born to these two people and live the life I did for a reason. This is where I came from. I had to experience what I did to discover His love and mercy.  Every one of us is on a journey called life. What brought you to Him?

Todays Gospel (Matthew 1:1-17) shows we all come from somewhere and eventually it leads to Christ:

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar.
Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king.

David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph.
Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile.

After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ,
fourteen generations.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she stresses the importance of leading our children to Christ and to truly know their Catholic faith:

"Giving children a Catholic identity is important. Both adults and children must know who they are and where they come from. Parents, it is true that we want our children taking their identity as Catholics out into the world and influencing others. The opposite of this would be our children lacking Catholic identity and going out into the world only to be influenced by others who lack a Catholic identity. We, parents in the home, are primary formatters of our children."

Lay apostles, are you living your Catholic faith by example to your children or grandchildren?  Are you teaching them about where you came from and how it lead you to Christ? Teach them that no matter what happens in life, Jesus will always be there with the graces to heal and the joy to celebrate every second of every day. All we have to do is pray . . . and patiently await His answer.

Thank you, Lord, for my family and all the crazy things which had to occur in my life to lead me to You. Thank you for choosing Anne to be your messenger to give Your Words true meaning in my life. I am forever grateful.

God bless,

Bonnie

Don't Spread More Hate

**Today I am borrowing a post I wrote last year around this time . . . funny how things haven't changed . . . just take "Zimmerman" out and fill in the blank:


This morning Jay told me about something he heard on the radio en route to the office . . . a group of protesters stopped traffic on a freeway in Texas. In one of those cars was a mother, grandmother and granddaughter, trying to get to Texas Children's Hospital as the 7 year old girl was having an allergic reaction to medication. When the grandmother rolled down her window to yell they needed to get through, a man went up to the window, and proceeded to grab her and hit this innocent woman. 

When are protesters going to realize when they spew hateful behavior, it does no good for their cause. It only proves they have issues within themselves needing some healing salve. They've been hurt, so why not hurt others? Well, wake up, people! Realize Christ is the ultimate Judge and Jury. If things don't turn out the way you expected, let Jesus take care of the justice. Trust Him in everything. Spreading lies, as the liberal media does so well, only creates more hate. Shame on every person adding to the drama of the Zimmerman case. Especially those who call themselves Christians. Work on healing yourself instead of inflicting your pain on innocent bystanders. And this applies to every public (and private) situation, not just what's currently in the news. 

In todays Gospel (Matthew 11:28-30), Jesus tells us, loud and clear, to turn to Him:

Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

In Volume Four, Jesus asks us to look for love and goodness, not hate and evil:

"Children of the world, look toward the light. Raise your eyes to all that is goodness. I come to you with joy and celebration. The time for mourning is past because God has taken His children back to His breast, never to be parted. This world, your world, has suffered. Sin obscured the light until children began to doubt the very existence of God. This will never be allowed to happen again. God, in all His omniscience, allowed mankind to direct itself and direct the course of humanity so that he could see the fruits of separation from heaven. Children, with all of the wisdom of heaven, you can now see the level of darkness that settled in ever growing layers upon the world. Prophets from even one hundred years ago could never have imagined such evil. They could not fathom the depravity that would be accepted by men of the future. The enemies of heaven have persuaded humanity that much of this evil is good. We have visited those absurdities and need dwell no longer on them because I have come. I am leading you to the light that never changes. There will not be a new light tomorrow. God is and will be. He is eternal. His laws have no need of adaptation to new generations, children, because they are the guides for all humans, given the inclinations that can draw man from God."

Lay apostles, are you contributing to the drama going on around you in a negative way? Think twice about what comes out of your mouth. Do your words and actions align with Christ? If not, make some changes. Look within before you react.

Thank you, Lord, for the peace and calm You have given me. Continue to give me the insight to look at what's occurring and view it with Your Eyes.

God bless,
Bonnie