This week our family took a little trip, just before a major snow storm hit, to hear Anne speak in a parish a couple of hours away. This was the second time I heard her speak, but the first time for my husband.
Since finishing all the Volumes, I have felt quite certain that the messages Anne reports to receive from Heaven are in fact just that. Hearing her again just makes me all the more unhesitating to say, yes, it is all Jesus.
Not that she personally is so persuasive. Really, quite the opposite. She appeared subdued -- physically ill, really. Her message reminded me of what I have heard of visionaries who patiently repeat the same things to people who ask the same questions again and again. She absolutely does not come off as someone who would be crossing the world to speak of this if not directed by Heaven to do so.
But the focus is not Anne, it is Jesus. The focus is God the Father, who grants great graces of healing and conversion and who longs for the hearts of all to be at peace in Him, in His immense love.
There is such grace that accompanies the call to live as a lay apostle, as Jesus outlines in these messages. Every day when I wake up I have to say I can't wait to offer the day again and pledge my allegiance again to the Father and then undertake my normal daily routine, bringing it into union with heaven as best I can that day.
I heartily recommend this way for anyone who longs for God,or who wants to long for God, or who has problems they'd like God to handle for them. For anyone who wants peace in their heart.
From www.directionforourtimes.com:
We seek to be united to Jesus in our daily work, and through our vocations, in order to obtain graces for the conversion of sinners. We pledge our allegiance to God the Father. Through our cooperation with the Holy Spirit, we will allow Jesus to flow through us into the world, bringing His Light. We do this in union with Mary, our Blessed Mother, with the communion of saints, with all of God's holy angels, and with our fellow lay apostles in the world.
As lay apostles of Jesus Christ, the Returning King, we agree to perform our basic obligations as practicing Catholics. Additionally, we will adopt the following spiritual practices, as best we can.
1. Morning Offering, along with the Allegiance Prayer and a brief prayer for the Holy Father.
2. One hour of Eucharistic Adoration each week.
3. Participation in a monthly lay apostle prayer group, which includes the Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary, and the reading of the monthly message.
4. Monthly Confession
5. Further, we will follow the example of Jesus Christ, as set out in Holy Scripture, treating all others with His patience and kindness.
Allegiance Prayer
Dear God in Heaven, I pledge my allegiance to you. I give You my life, my work and my heart. In turn, give me the grace of obeying your every direction to the fullest possible extent. Amen.
Morning Offering
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you the prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, and for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.
Prayer for the Holy Father
Blessed Mary, mother of Jesus, protect our Holy Father, Benedict XVI, and bless all of his intentions.
Five Luminous Mysteries
1. Jesus' Baptism in the Jordan
2. Jesus' Self-Manifestation at the wedding of Cana
3. Jesus' Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
4. Jesus' Transfiguration
5. Jesus Institutes the Eucharist
Prayer to the Holy Angels
Angels from Heaven, direct my path today.
10 comments:
I think we should also take into account that 'anne' said the following which is on her website under the online store for prayercards 'St. Faustina told Anne that the image of Jesus Christ the Returning King would be spread throughout the world and promised that those who venerate this image would be blessed'.
Now how does St Faustina jump from the Divine Mercy to the Returning King Image....clearly we already know that the Divine Mercy is fully approved. It also is a devotion that saves many souls from perdition which of course satan doesnt want. So let us put on common sense and see what is going on here. One bad apple can corrupt a whole barrel...Be careful there are many false visionaries around in these times. Stay within the confines of the Church and you cant go wrong. God bless you.
My dear anonymous friend,
As a simple believer involved in several different charisms, I have no trouble conceiving of a saint loving God and evangelizing via more than one image (Jesus, Divine Mercy and Jesus, the Returning King, just to name two). Do we not have myriads of images of Our Lady in the Church to contemplate her many different roles? Why not varying images of our Lord?
You leap from this concern about St. Faustina to statements of judgment of Anne's messages, and I see no logical connection. Since Anne's Bishop has given her permission to speak and publish works, are not your concerns addressed? Discernment is needed to know what to take into your own spiritual life, but it is the Bishop's role to judge bad apples which no one should take in.
I fully embrace the Church -- no question there. I do not find "confinement" in the Church, however, but a path to the fullness of life.
I agree with anonymous...Yes the Church has many images of Jesus, Mary and the Saints. But one Saint promoting two Images in two different times, begs some questions. It doesnt make sense at all to have St Faustina who is associated with the Divine Mercy Image now supposed to be promoting another one 'The Returning King' through this so called 'visionary anne' who doesnt even give her real name. Does St Catherine Laboure promote another medal ? I recommend that people study the Diary of St Faustina. The Divine Mercy devotion is fully authenticated by the Church.
Remember the Lord did say even many of the elect would be deceived by false prophets at the end times. Anyone who comes back from Medjugorje claiming to have visions is a bit suspect also....
one Saint promoting two Images in two different times, begs some questions
Why?
The Church promotes how many different charisms? Religious orders? The Holy Spirit gives how many spiritual gifts?
Where is the evidence that variety is a sign of evil?
I also recommend that people read St. Faustina's diary. (Btw, did you know there was a time when the devotion of Divine Mercy was banned?)
Use evidence, listen to the Church, and discern. And don't be so afraid!
This supposed visionary 'anne' is just another in a long line of false visionaries. In a year or even six months time we will hear nothing of her. Just like Vassula and so many others.
'Anne' doesnt even go by her real name. Did St Bernadette, Jacinta, Lucia and Francesco and so many other approved visionaries hide their identity. Nope ! They suffered alot because of what they saw and heard and opened themselves up to that suffering by being completely honest.
But 'Anne' comes back from an apparition site in Medjugorje and claims to hear the voices of Jesus, Mary and the Saints. She causes confusion in her very long and mundane messages and all the saints seem to sound the same. It is boring. To read the lives of the Saints is much more interesting. Keep well away from this stuff from 'anne' and leave it on the shelf.
Stick with what is already approved. And you cant go wrong.
Ok friends,
I'm not sure what has brought on this kind of a response to a post that has been up for two years, but you are all entitled to your views. Wish you would point to some ecclesial authority for them, and not just your feelings and suspicions, however.
I would ask you to spend some time reading the rest of this blog.
You've expressed your views. I disagree. Let's put it to rest now, ok?
Well unfortunately even though the post is old, anne is still doing the rounds. She is definitely false and why do we need visionaries anyway. Has the Church not got enough for us to work on ? Stay close to the Church...forget the visionaries. God bless you all.
John: Speaking of the Church, why don't you take up your concerns with Anne's Bishop, who has given her permission to continue with what she is doing?
Yes it is always better to steer clear of visionaries with messages especially visionaries who claim to have messages after coming back from an apparition site, which is the case with this person who calls herself 'anne'. That should beg some questions. St. John of the Cross warned us of these experiences which can seriously delude many good people and send them on the wrong track. And also why doesnt this woman reveal her real name, I mean whats wrong with that and does she not realise that suffering is the hallmark of a true visionary or locutionist. There are many other questions around her messages especially on purgatory. People need to wise up and study their faith properly.
Bella,
Have you spoken with Anne's Bishop about your concerns? How has he addressed them?
"It is always better to steer clear of visionaries with messages".... What do you do with the fact that the Catholic Church is about to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima? Has the Church made an error in not steering clear of visionaries with messages?
I hope you spend as much time praying for the conversion of the world as seeking out blogs on which to leave your opinions.
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